2018-10-04 St. Mary's County Times by Southern Maryland Online

Thursday, October 4, 2018

St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

The County Times

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018

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Banagan Still Optimistic After All These Years

The County Times

ON THE COVER:

JIM BANAGAN, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE 7TH DISTRICT OPTIMIST CLUB, STANDS ON A PIER JUST ACROSS FROM ST. CLEMENTS ISLAND, ONCE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE BLESSING OF THE FLEET.

CONTENTS

Local News

“

LOCAL

Thursday, October 4, 2018

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“WE’RE SHIFTING AWAY FROM SCHOOL CAPACITY AND MOVING TO MAINTENANCE OF OUR FACILITIES, TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE.”

Cops & Courts

On the Cover

PAX River

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SCOTT SMITH ON THE EFFECTS OF STABLE STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

Community 11

In Local Education 21 Page 7 Sports 18

Contributing Writers

Obituaries 25 Community Calendar

Library Calendar

Senior Calendar

Business Directory

In Community Page 11

Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill In The Mail?

In Education Page 21

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

The County Times

Local News

Sheriffs Candidates Trade Barbs at Forum

Sheriff Timothy Cameron, seated, and challenger Ted Belleavoine prepare to take part in what would become a tense candidate forum.

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

The tension between Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron and the Democrat challenger for his office, former sheriff’s lieutenant Ted Belleavoine, was almost palpable at Tuesday night’s candidate forum at the Lexington Park library. As they took questions from the audience that tension boiled over into acrimony at times. Early on Bellevoine said he was run-

ning for Cameron’s position to continue his passion for community service, while criticizing what he called the administration’s “failed hiring and retention practices.” He also said he wanted to expand the vice/narcotics unit and engage in the “relentless pursuit of those who sell opioids.” He also wanted to expand the agency’s community policing efforts to more than just Lexington Park, but to areas such as Mechanicsville and Chaptico. Belleavoine currently works for the

Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and is a 26-year veteran of the St. Mary’s agency. Cameron defended his record, saying he had made the agency more accountable since he took office in 2006, increasing training opportunities and raising standards for deputies. He said bringing in civilian employees to work in information and intelligence analysis meant more deputies were available for patrol. He also said the addition of body cameras for patrol deputies has helped increase confidence in the agency, since most footage often exonerates officers of complaints. “We put cops back to doing cop work,” Cameron said. Several times Belleavoine alluded to continuing agency vacancies; he also criticized the agency for “parading” Dep. Blaine Gaskill after his rapid response to the shooting at Great Mills High School on March 20. “After the fact we paraded the officer in front of the cameras,” Belleavoine said. “That’s inappropriate. “We don’t need to show off.” Cameron retorted quickly. “You had the opportunity to say the right thing and you didn’t,” Cameron said, adding that Gaskill had been asked if he would want to represent the agency after the tragedy.

“He agreed to do that,” Cameron said. When asked what the county’s greatest challenge was Belleavoine said the agency was suffering from a lack of manpower. “We’re currently at half-staff,” Belleavoine said. “We’re running people down.” Later in the forum Belleavoine said he “would not be muted, not like the 400 employees who’ve left here.” Some sheriff’s office personnel said later privately that there was no evidence such a high number ever left; the sheriff’s office approved strength is about 133 sworn officers. Belleavoine’s comments were in response to Cameron’s remarks about the sheriff’s campaign having taken on an air of “character assassination.” “I understand that some people have to blame everybody else for what’s happened to them,” Cameron said. “I had hoped this campaign would be about something; what it’s turned into is character assassination.” The two men agreed that metal detectors in schools should be an option for greater security but not the only option; Belleavoine pledged to put a school resource officer in every high school and middle school. Belleavoine supported the idea floated by the Ben Jealous gubernatorial campaign of releasing 30 percent of non-vioContinues on page 4

51ST ANNUAL

Blessing of the Fleet Blessing 51st Annual

SPONSORED BY THE OPTIMIST CLUB OF THE 7TH DISTRICT

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The County Times

Local News

Rhythm & Riches 2018

The Amish Outlaws

Continued from page 3 lent offenders from state prisons. “Prisons should be there to protect us from predators,” Belleavoine said. “Rehabilitation is the key.” Cameron flatly opposed the idea, saying that of the prisoners released some would filter back to St. Mary’s County, raising costs to taxpayers and putting them in jeopardy. “We know a percentage of them will re-offend.” Belleavoine said he “would like to get an education from Dr. [Meena] Brewster,” the county’s health officer, on the effectiveness of needle exchanges to help stop communicable diseases from the opioid crisis. Cameron said he was in favor of needle exchanges only as “part of a harm reduction strategy” that worked to get addicts into treatment when they came into contact with health care professionals. Both men said education was key to ensuring young people could be diverted from dropping into lives of crime. Cameron touted the COPs Unit in Lexington Park as a successful effort in deterring crime through community policing, but Belleavoine was critical of substations like the one in the South Hampton community because crime was still a problem there, he said. Belleavoine advocated for district stations throughout the county so residents did not have to go to the Leonardtown headquarters to file complaints or voice their concerns. The forum hosted by the NAACP and the St. Mary’s County League of Women

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Voters also featured candidates for District 29 Senate Republican Jack Bailey and Democrat Thomas Brewer and the candidates for County Commissioner President incumbent Republican Randy Guy and Democrat challenger Howard Thompson. District 1 Commissioner candidates Eric Colvin, a Republican, and Roy Alvey, an unaffiliated candidate were also in attendance. Democrat candidate Timothy Ridgell did not attend the forum. Bailey and Brewer sparred over school safety. “We need to work with the sheriff’s office, commissioners and the school board,” Bailey said. “They’re the ones who fund it. “Schools are becoming safer every day because of what they are doing.” Brewer said the Great Mills High School shooting and the shooting at the Annapolis Gazette were both examples of “toxic masculinity” that had to be guarded against in young men in school. Having been in county schools at the time of the Columbine, Colorado school shootings in 1999, Brewer said he remembered the shock of the event. “I can see the fear amongst the students,” Brewer said. The commissioner candidates agreed mostly on issues such as transportation, that many road projects like FDR Boulevard and improving the intersection at Great Mills Road and Route 5 were a priority.

World Architecture Day Celebrates

Friday, October 19, 2018

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

October 1, 2018 is World Architecture Day as established by the International Union of Architects (UIA). Beginning in 1986, the first Monday in October has been set aside to recognize the contributions of architecture to the greater good of society and as part of the United Nations’ World Habitat Day. This year’s theme is “Architecture … for a Better World.” In commemoration, a display will be set up in the lobby of the Leonardtown Library which describes the new Leonardtown Library/Garvey Senior Activity Center replacement project. “The Garvey Senior Activity Center and Leonardtown Library replacement project is a visionary design which will enhance our community’s quality of

life. The co-location of partners will bring together citizens of all ages for education and entertainment,” said Michael Blackwell, St. Mary’s County Library director. “It is a great example of how architecture, realized by the energy and will of our residents and the careful planning of our county with the support of its commissioners, can make for a ‘better world.’” “The type of coordination and partnership of all involved with the project is a testament to its importance,” said Lori Jennings-Harris, Aging and Human Services director. “There’s great anticipation of all the wonderful things to come as a result of the new building. This is an exciting time!” For more information about the UIA and World Architecture Day, visit www. uia-architectes.org For more information on the Leonardtown Library/Garvey Senior Center Replacement Project, visit https:// www.facebook.com/Leonardtown-Library-and-Garvey-Senior-Activity-Center-346614472498531/ or http://www. co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/engineeringservices/leonardtown-library-garveysenior-activity-center/ St. Mary’s County PIO

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Local News

Straight Talk on Straight Teeth

BY: JEFF TOMCSIK Orthodontic braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign® are not just for straightening teeth and making your smile look better. In fact, a highly trained and skilled dentist will use orthodontic treatment to improve the function of the teeth which will result in a healthier, longer-lasting smile. While good looking teeth are attractive, the purpose of your teeth is to chew food. When teeth are misaligned, they can slowly damage opposing teeth during the chewing process. When they are in proper alignment, teeth break down the food they are chewing without damaging each other.

To help illustrate the point, think of a well working pair of scissors. When in good alignment the two blades come together and meet at a very precise point that makes them excellent at cutting paper. On the other hand, imagine one of the scissor blades had a slight bend or a ding in the metal. This imperfection would surely affect the scissor’s ability to cut as well as when it was in perfect alignment. If the one blade is bent away from the other, there will be a gap between the points of contact that cause the cutting action. The result would likely be a failure

to cut effectively or efficiently. If the bend in the one blade is toward the other, it would cause the blades to scrape each other, making cutting difficult. More importantly to note, the blades scraping each other slowly destroy the cutting surface of both blades. These same principles can be applied to your teeth. In any area of the mouth where your opposing teeth do not meet when you perform a chewing motion (meaning there is a space between the top and opposing-bottom tooth in any area of your mouth when your jaw is closed), like the scissor in the first scenario, it is rendered ineffective in the chewing process. On the other hand, if there are any teeth that are colliding with their opposing teeth, they are likely causing trauma to each other and slowly wearing down the enamel surface and eventually the tooth structure. This will likely lead to greater risk of decay and eventually risk the tooth’s overall vitality. Many people who have ongoing problems with decay or pain despite their efforts to keep their teeth clean, might be suffering from malocclusion issues that are causing the ongoing dental problems. The good

news is that orthodontics may be a solution to these problems, and a straighter, more beautiful smile is a bonus to the treatment, not the reason for the treatment. If you’re like most adults, the thought of braces is unnerving. Years in metal brackets and sharp wires is no-one’s idea of a good time. If these thoughts are keeping you away from approaching your dentist about a straighter, more beautiful, better functioning, healthier smile, consider a clear aligner option such as Invisalign®. Invisalign® is a clear, removeable retainer that may achieve the same results as traditional braces in less time. The fact that aligners are removeable means you can take them out whenever you eat. This makes eating more comfortable and cleaner as you will not have to worry about food particles being stuck in your braces. They also allow you to easily clean your teeth, where braces with wires make flossing and thorough brushing more difficult. The material used by Invisalign® is by far superior to all other aligners on the market. Not only is it the most invisible, it is also the fastest working material, meaning you will reach your desired outcome in a fraction

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of the time to other safe orthodontic options. Finally, with Invisalign® technology, your dentist can take a scan of your mouth and show you virtually what your results will look like, from the improved esthetics of your smile profile to the benefits of improving any occlusion issues that may be causing damage to your teeth. The next time you go to your dentist, ask them if they are Invisalign® certified. Ask them if they can provide a virtual, digital smile makeover with the use of an iTero® scanner so that you can see your likely outcome. Also ask them if you have any occlusion issues during chewing and if orthodontics is right for you. One of the biggest barriers to getting orthodontic treatment dentists hear the most is that it costs too much. Before you allow money to get between you and a healthy, beautiful smile, think about the amount of money you spent on your last car. That car will likely not be in your life ten years from now. The cost of braces or Invisalign® is a fraction of the cost of that car, and the results will last you a lifetime!

The County Times

Local News

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Commissioners Approve Request for School Upgrades

missioners of St. Mary’s County that local government would soon likely have to pay a greater share for school construction projects as the state was prepared to spend less. “We’re shifting away from school capacity and moving to maintenance of our facilities, taking care of what we have,” said School Superintendent Scott Smith. Kimberly Howe, schools capital projects director, told the commissioners

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

The St. Mary’s County Public Schools system is seeking more than $7 million in state funding to make repairs, upgrades and renovations to several of its schools for the next fiscal year in a shift of priorities that are directly impacted by relatively flat student enrollment over the past several years. Also, school officials told the Com-

that new laws in Annapolis have taken school construction decisions regarding state support funding from the public school construction program and given it to the Interagency Committee on School Construction (IAC), which had much greater authority to carry projects forward. The IAC only requires school districts to submit their needs for one fiscal year but Howe said St. Mary’s would continue to submit projects as it has always done. “We’ll be submitting the entire sixyear CIP as we always have,” Howe said, noting that the state plans on giving St. Mary’s $4.6 million for fiscal 2020, based on what their average allocation has been for the last three years. Howe said this could be problematic if a more expensive need, such as a new school arose, but school officials later said there should not be a need for a new school for the next 10 years. The state has also reduced its share of funding to St. Mary’s schools projects from 58 percent to 57 percent, which included an analysis of the county’s wealth. Essentially the greater the county’s wealth index the less the state provided for school projects.

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The baseline for state support is 50 percent. “We are clearly headed to that 50 percent model,” Howe said. Commissioner Todd Morgan said the wealth index could be easily misunderstood. “The wealth index doesn’t help St. Mary’s County at all,” Morgan said. “It costs the taxpayers more overall. “It is regressive to St. Mary’s County at the end of the day.” Smith said the state’s share used to take much of the burden off the county. “The state used to cover 75 percent of the cost,” Smith said. “It’s eroded over time.” The state’s mandate of just $4.6 million for fiscal 2020 was problematic, Smith said, since they had not even examined the needs projected by the local school system. He said despite more families moving into the county, there were about 4,000 children who were not enrolled in public schools, rather their parents had chosen to teach about 1,000 of them in homeschool environments while the other 3,000 had been enrolled in parochial schools. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

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Local News

Pax River NAS Improvement Oyster Season Opened Oct. 1 Minimum Size for Harvested Oysters is 3 Inches Projects Proceeding By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

The commanding officer at Patuxent River Naval Air Station told county leaders Tuesday that many construction projects designed to modernize and improve base operations are either finished or underway. Touting the projects as “really good news” Capt. Jason Hammond told the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County that the improvements will help keep the 75-year-old installation competitive in its ability to bring in new programs and jobs for the community. One of the key projects is the laboratory revitalization program, which will modernize several different facilities on base at the cost of nearly $28 million. Hammond said the laboratory facilities at Patuxent River NAS were unique and matchless in their scientific and research abilities. “They are facilities unlike anywhere in the world,” Hammond said. The aircraft prototyping facility’s second stage of construction has also reached completion, Hammond said, at a cost of just under $46 million, with the Navy seeking funding for the third phase of construction. This facility has laboratory and engi-

MQ-25A Stingray (Photo courtesy of Boeing)

neering capabilities built in, with enough space to allow different projects to work at the same time at different levels of security classification, according to NAVAIR information. “It’s a huge leap forward in the capability of this installation,” Hammond said. One of the newest programs coming to the base is the MQ-25, essentially an unmanned drone aircraft that acts as a midflight refueling platform. Boeing recently won the contract to develop the new aircraft at a cost of $805 million; base officials say the program will mean more jobs at the base but it is unknown how many. The program to refurbish the runways on the base, central to the mission of testing and evaluating new aircraft, has resulted in one runway project completed with another still under construction, Hammond said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the 2018-2019 public oyster harvest season opened Oct. 1 and run through March 31, 2019. Opening month is reserved for divers and watermen using patent and shaft tongs, as well as recreational oystering. During the season, recreational oyster harvesting is open to any Maryland resident and does not require a license. Each harvester may take up to one bushel of oysters per day as long as they are only for personal use. Recreational oyster harvesting is only permitted from sunrise to 3 p.m. weekdays and from sunrise to noon Saturday and Sunday. Commercial watermen may work Monday through Friday from sunrise to 3 p.m. in October, and again from January through March. In November and December oysters may be harvested from sunrise to sunset. The daily limit is 15 bushels per person, not to exceed 30 bushels per boat for divers and tongers. The minimum size for all harvested oysters is 3 inches. The department recommends all oyster harvesters check the Commercial Shellfish Harvester Closure Area Information Portal, which enables them to access maps of aquaculture lease coordinates and locations. Oyster season for dredging and skipjacks opens Nov. 1 in designated areas

Patent Tonging by Jay Fleming

of Calvert, Dorchester, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot and Wicomico counties. For power dredging the limit is 12 bushels per person, not to exceed 24 bushels per boat. During the 2017-2018 oyster season, 940 licensed watermen harvested 181,329 bushels with a dockside value of roughly $8.6 million. Funding generated through the state’s license surcharge and oyster tax revenue and well as additional funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation helps the department replenish oyster seed and shell plantings annually. Press Release from MD DNR

The County Times

Local News

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Democrats Honor New and Veteran Workers By Dick Myers Editor

St. Mary’s County Democrats gathered Sept. 21 for their Annual Democrat of the Year Dinner at Olde Breton Inn in Leonardtown. The Democrat of the Year Award was bestowed on one of their younger members, Amanda Cross. And, a Life-time Achievement Award was presented to long-time member James Banagan (see separate story in this issue). Guest speakers at the event were Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and lieutenant governor candidate, Susan Turnbull. Former Democratic Central Committee chair Dr. Kathleen O’Brien noted that after the 2016 election newcomers were attracted to the party who lacked the historic knowledge of the party and that there was some divisiveness. “That is the power of this president to turn Dems against Dems, family members against family members,” she said. But, O’Brien said they have learned their lesson. “Long-timers need to mentor newcomers. We are all in this together. We have reset. We now have the collective energy necessary to take

us to new heights. We know that together we can do better.” O’Brien said that the Year of the Woman in 2016 has become in 2018 the year in which an unprecedented number of women are running for office. O’Brien and Cross attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Cross called the pair “partners in crime” for their escapades there. Cross, who was elected to the Democratic Central Committee, proposed to help win back the local and state seats that the party has lost. “This party has changed my life. All of you inspire me,” she said in accepting the award. Cross became a Democratic activist after cutting her political teeth in the campaign for circuit court judge of her brother-in-law, Joseph Stanalonis. His wife, and Amanda’s sister, Jodi Stanalonis, is ironically a member of the Republican Central Committee. Jodi and Joe Stanalonis, along with her parents were at the banquet to cheer on the new Democrat of the Year. Guest speaker Frosh has been given authority by the Maryland General Assembly to legally challenge actions by President Donald Trump, and he has

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repeatedly done so. Frosh, who calls himself “the People’s Lawyer, said he needed that authority under Maryland law because he does not have “common law powers” to sue on behalf of the state’s citizens. Frosh said Gov. Hogan refused to give him permission to sue, so he had to go to the General Assembly. “That’s why it’s important to have a super majority in both houses of the General Assembly,” he said. Frosh was in court along with other states by the time Trump issued his second Muslim ban order, he said, adding “and subsequently we have sued him several times to protect the Affordable Care act. Frosh asked anyone in the audience who did not have a pre-existing condition to raise their hands and no one did. “They are the original anti-corruption law,” Frosh said of the emoluments clause. The clause says, “No federal official can receive any emolument (gift) of any kind from a foreign state.” The domestic part says the president receives his salary from the citizens of the United States and can’t receive gifts from any other state. “He is violating both emoluments clauses every single day,” Frosh said of the president. One example of he said, was receiving the lease with the federal government for the Trump Plaza Hotel in DC on the old U.S. Post Office site. Frosh also rattled off countries, including China and Saudi Arabia, from which he alleged Trump is receiving gifts. Frosh said the Chinese government gave a trademark to the Trump name after a lengthy battle, after the president reaffirmed the One China policy, which he had formerly said he was not sure he would continue to support.

Turnbull, a long-time member of the Democratic National Committee, chair of the state party and now Ben Jealous’ running mate, touted his accomplishments while at the helm of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Turnbull said, “In the last four years our schools have gone from first to sixth.” Turnbull charged that Hogan was against the legislation that established the lockbox for lottery revenues to go only to education. She said she and Jealous “will make sure our schools are fully funded.” Turnbull said, “When I met Ben, the first conversation we had was about college affordability.” She said that resonated with her and her own experiences.” They had a similar conversation about health care affordability, she said. She said their campaign’s promise to lower the sales tax will resonate with voters. Turnbull said their candidacy was not a long-shot, pointing out that Jealous received 25,000 more votes in a six-person primary than Hogan did in an uncontested primary. “We are doing this by tying together the notion that we can do better,” Turnbull said. Other awardees at the dinner were: John G. Lancaster Award – Mary Washington Mary Ann Chasen Award – Mary Bohanan Emerging Leaders – Wrenn Heisler and Anne Marie Dailey Grassroots Organizer Award – Laura Hart Excellence in Service -- Lois Duke dickmyers@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Local News

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Cops & Courts

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Man Charged Fatal Collision Under Investigation With Child Sex Abuse St. Mary’s County sheriff’s detectives have arrested and charged a Charlotte Hall man with sexually abusing a young girl he had close contact with for a period of four years. Paul Michael Hess, 40, also faces charges of second-degree rape; he remains incarcerated at the county adult detention center. When detectives learned of the alleged sexual abuse they interviewed the victim and she confirmed that Hess, who is a relative, had started sexually abusing her when she was 10 years old up to the present day. The victim reported Hess had started to touch her inappropriately both above and under her clothing, and continued with more severe sexual assaults through the years, court papers stated. These assaults occurred not only in the victim’s home but in Hess’s home as well, court papers stated. The defendant has a small home close to that of the victim, according to court papers. When detectives interviewed Hess he confessed to sexually abusing the victim, court papers stated.

On October 1, 2018, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 18000 block of Three Notch Road, in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving an overturned vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies located the vehicle on top of an embankment with the operator of the vehicle trapped inside. The operator of the vehicle was ultimately pronounced deceased by paramedics on scene. The Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and continued the investigation. Preliminay investigation determined a 2005 Honda Civic operated by David Joseph Johnson, age 24 of Ridge, was traveling northbound on Three Notch Road, in the area of Kessler Way, when for unknown reasons the operator lost control of the vehicle. Johnson crossed the southbound lanes of Three Notch Road, and struck an embankment. The vehicle continued to travel and struck a tree, at which time the vehicle overturned trapping Johnson inside the vehicle. Johnson suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced decased. At this time speed appears to be a contributing factor in the collision. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or events leading up to the collison is asked to contact Corporal Dale Reppel at (240) 496-6694 or by email at Dale.Reppel@stmarysmd.com. Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 4753333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment. For official news and information, follow the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter @firstsheriff.

guyleonard@countytimes.net

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office PIO

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Shooting Investigation

On September 29, 2018, at approximately 10:50 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 45000 block of Sunflower Street in Great Mills, for the report of an individual who had been shot. Contact was made with the victim, an 18 year old male, who had sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh. The victim advised he was walking in the area of Millison Plaza, located in Lexington Park, when a vehicle approached and fired a round in his direction. The victim was able to leave the scene on foot, and was transported to an area hospital where he is in stable condition. The Criminal Investigations Division responded and is continuing the investigation. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Trevor Teague at (301) 475-4200 extension *8128, or by email at Trevor.Teague@stmarysmd.com. Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment. For official news and information, follow the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter @ firstsheriff. St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office PIO

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

The County Times

St. Mary’s City to Build New Dock Waterfront, Dove to Be Closed to Visitors Construction to build a new dock for the Maryland Dove will begin on Tuesday, October 2, 2018. Due to safety concerns, the ramp leading to the waterfront, the waterfront area, and the Maryland Dove will be closed to the public until further notice. Weather permitting, the Maryland Dove will be open for tours at the annual Blessing of the Fleet on St. Clement’s Island of October 6. The ship will be open at a temporary location in St. Mary’s City and will only be accessible by museum shuttle on the following dates: October 13 and October

27, and November 3, 2018. For more information, contact the Historic St. Mary’s City Visitor Center at 240-895-4990, 800-SMC-1634, info@HSMCdigsHistory.org. Historic St. Mary’s City is a museum of living history and archaeology on the site of Maryland’s first capital in beautiful, tidewater Southern Maryland. For more information about this program or the museum, contact the Visitor Center at 240-895-4990, 800-SMC-1634, or info@HSMCdigshistory.org.

In Our Community

Air Force One Replica On Display in National Harbor

Press Release from HSMC

Slave Dwelling Project Founder Returns to Sotterley

Air Force One Replica. Photo by Charles County Commisioner Ken Robinson

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

A decommissioned Boeing 747 refurbished to look just like Air Force One barged its way up the Potomac River this week to rest in National Harbor in Prince George’s County. The plane is part of an effort by the

Children’s Democracy Project to give visitors an inside look at the aircraft used to fly the President of the United States around the world. The project is designed to teach the value of democracy and voting to children across the country. guyleonard@countytimes.net

LAW OFFICE OF

Joseph McGill

Joseph McGill, founder of the Slave Dwelling Project, returns to Historic Sotterley on Thursday, November 1st as part of our Common Ground, Connected Heritage project made possible through a grant from Maryland Humanities. McGill has taken his message of historic preservation and heritage to over 20 states, drawing attention to those slave dwelling structures that would have been forgotten and ensuring that the places that enslaved families built and passed on their culture will be here for future generations. Historic Sotterley connects to generations today through the stories and lives of its past. As members of this community and nation, we seek to understand our-

selves through looking at the history, art, culture, and stories that highlight our different perspectives, experiences, and our human commonness. In October 1864, the Union controlled government of Maryland ratified the third of four state constitutions. It abolished slavery in Maryland only with the help of votes from returning Union soldiers. It failed to franchise anyone except white males who pledged loyalty to the Union. Maryland was a border state, along with Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri, which meant they did not succeed from the Union but kept slavery. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to Union slave states. On November 1, 1864, 154 years ago, slavery officially ended in Maryland. Many slave owners petitioned the government for compensation for their lost property years after the war ended. With government power shifting to Democratic southern sympathizers, the 1864 constitution was replaced by the present constitution of 1867. Racial discriminatory laws and social practices continued in Maryland. St. Mary’s County, Maryland schools were desegregated in 1968. This Speaker Series event is free to the public. Due to limited seating, please call 301-373-2280 for reservations. Press Release from Sotterley

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In Our Community

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

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Thursday, October 4, 2018

The County Times

Harvest and Grape Stomp Festival

Port of Leonardtown Winery paired up with Scorpion Brewery, Tobacco Barn Distillery, and Heritage Chocolate and had over 750 people attend their Harvest and Grape Stomp Festival, September 29th and 30th. They used local grapes for the stomp, but emphasized that they will not be using the crushed grapes in their wines! Instead they sent them to a farm where they will be a treat for the animals. There were lots of local vendors at the event, including Nature’s Body Co. with her homemade bath and body products.

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The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

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During the month of October, St. Mary’s County’s three welcome signs will be glow in pink and purple light in recognition of two important events. From October 1 – 15, all welcome signs will be bathed in pink light in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From October 16 – 31, the signs will be awash in purple light to in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The county’s welcome signs are located along MD 234 (Budds Creek Road) and MD 5 in Charlotte Hall (along the Charles County line) as well as on MD 4 just south of the Thomas Johnson Bridge in California. St. Mary’s County PIO

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The County Times

St. Michael’s School Celebrates its Centennial St. Michael’s Catholic School in Ridge Maryland marked its 100th year of providing a quality Catholic education experience to St. Mary’s County on Saturday, Sept. 30 with a commemorative mass and alumni dinner. St. Michael’s School (SMS) welcomed its first students Sept. 20, 1918. Since that day, the school has faithfully served families in the local St. Mary’s County area. “We are proud to say Saint Michael’s has been a pillar of this community for a century,” said Lila Hofmeister, SMS current principal and school alum “We provide a quality Catholic education, in a family friendly atmosphere. We have been able to continually serve the local community for so long because of the generosity of our community. Without community support we would not have remained open.” The roots of St. Michael’s are planted deeply in St, Mary’s. In the spring of 1911, a rally was held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Easter Sunday after Mass to raise money to build the school and hall on the church premises. A committee of parishioners was formed under the direction of the church’s Pastor Father Abraham J. Emerick, S.J., that successfully saw the construction of a large, two storied wooden building. The precursor to the school that stands today. “We are celebrating the school and it’s rich history, but we are also celebrating the community that supports the school,” said Father Giovanoni Peter, St. Michael’s Church pastor. SMS has been successful because the community values the impact the church has and understands we are forever tied together. We are

Reverand LeRoy Fangmeyer, Deacon James Dominic, Bishop Michael William Fisher, Deacon Joel Carpenter, Reverand Peter Giovanoni

thankful to have stood as a symbol of Catholic education excellence for a century and hope to continue to provide that service for another 100 years.” Since its inception, St. Michael’s School has played an important role in the Ridge community and continues to serve the parishes of St. Michael’s, St. Cecilia

and St. Peter Claver. St. Michael’s School is honored to have a proud history of faithfully educating the Ridge community, and its goals remain -- as it has been for 100 years – academic and spiritual excellence. Submitted by SMR

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Banagan Rememb

Blessin of the Fl

and avoid underage drinking. Club members said it could take at least two weeks to get everything set up for the blessing. Joined by friends like Eddie Bailey, local restaurateur and former county commissioner, they were still able to get rides, games and food concessions out to the island year after year, until they finally decided to keep the festival on the shore of the grounds of the St. Clements Island Museum. “Back then we didn’t have hardly anything,” Banagan said, noting how the camaraderie of the original Optimists helped them forge ahead with the event. “Those were good years.” “But you’ve got to remember we were

Eddie Bailey, left, and Jim Banagan are both founding members of the 7th District Optimist Club and helped start the Blessing of the Fleet more than 50 years ago.

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

More than 50 years ago Jimmy Banagan and 40 other 7th District men had formed their own branch of the Optimist Club, a group dedicated to serving the community and especially raising funds to better the lives of young people. As the group’s first president, Banagan would work on various projects around the Avenue area with the original group members but they were still looking for that one project that would help the group make their permanent mark on St. Mary’s. When the group painted the Holy Angels School at the behest of the parish priest Fr. John Madigan, that sparked the inspiration for their signature event, The Blessing of the Fleet, that continues to this day. “When we finished painting the school I asked him what we could do next,” Banagan, 89, told The County Times. “He said, ‘The Blessing of the Fleet.’” The first year, Banagan and the other members had very little to work with to initiate the festival on St. Clements Island, the first landing site of English colonists in 1632, but still the attraction of dozens of

working and even recreational boats coming to be blessed by local religious was enough to eventually bring thousands out to one of the most famous of St. Mary’s County events. That included bringing all kinds of large items over to the island from the mainland including Ferris wheels and horses for horse pulls. Optimists estimated that about 10,000 would make their way to the island in the old days to enjoy the festivities. Few knew just what it took to make it all happen. The blessing is considered the largest fundraiser for the group, and it is certainly its biggest event. The funds are used to support a wide range of programs that particularly support young people, often allowing them to attend college with thousands of dollars in scholarship money. The Optimists also help pay for cancer treatments for children, continuing sports teams for youth and supporting the elderly with donations of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers. The club also supports Project Graduation, which helps young people just out of high school celebrate their gradutation

50 years younger, too,” Bailey said, sharing a laugh with Banagan at his waterfront home in Avenue. When the brush is cleared from part of property, Banagan said he could see St. Clements Island from his property. Banagan is used to starting things from scratch and seeing them through to success. Years ago he started a business with Bailey, B&B Maintenance, Inc. which still runs under the guidance of younger family members. Born in 1931 in St. Mary’s County, Banagan often accompanied his father, who earned his living as a watermen, on his boat to harvest the richness of the local waterways.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The County Times

bers His Blessings

ng leet

51st Annual

He joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a young man and served in distant posts away from St. Mary’s County but he returned home. He credited his wife of 59 years Dorothy, who has since passed away, with helping him in all his community endeavors, which were many. “She helped me so much,” Banagan said. Along with being a charter member of the Optimist Club and an entrepreneur, he also helped charter the 7th District Fire Department and promote the St. Clements Island Museum. He’s served on multiple county boards and commissions and been in close company with Maryland political legends such

as Gov. Marvin Mandel who named him as “Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay.” He and the Mandels were close friends. Banagan and Bailey also credited Mandel and other political allies in the state with helping to preserve St. Clements Island, which was slowly washing away in the bay of its own name, a victim of erosion. Bailey said the Optimists helped lead the charge to preserve the beginning of Maryland and the establishment of the Blessing of the Fleet. “If it weren’t for the Blessing of the Fleet there wouldn’t be a St. Clements Isth said Bailey. land left,” Banagan has long been active in the local Democratic party, having been finance

Sponsored by The Optimist Club of the 7 District

chair for Bailey’s political runs for county commissioner. He still proudly wears the faded yellow campaign golf shirt of his long-time friend. His home is replete with plaques and certificates noting his long service to the county; he was just honored with a lifetime achievement award for his work for the Democratic Party. When he thinks about the Blessing of the Fleet, he considers it one of this greatest achievements. “It was for the island and for the watermen,” Banagan said. “The priests were good, they worked as hard as we did.” Crowds still flock to the Blessing of the Fleet, Bailey said, but it isn’t quite the same as the days when thousands would be ferried over to the island in vessels provided by the U.S. Navy. Also there were many more volunteers

to do the heavy lifting, then as well; the community would more actively come out to support the Optimists. “We got support in them days,” Bailey said. “If you don’t support the community, it won’t support you.” Banagan said he hoped the Blessing of the Fleet would continue on as it has for 51 years now, but that will depend on the strength of the Optimist Club. He said of the original 41 members when the club started, just seven are left. “With just seven of us left, I don’t know.” This year’s Blessing of the Fleet will take place Oct. 6 at the St. Clements Island Museum in Colton’s Point from 11a.m. to 10 p.m. with a Catholic Mass at 4:30 p.m. In recent years a two-day event, Oct. 7 has been set aside as a rain date. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Fr. John Madigan, left, and Arthur Goode, the second president of the 7th District Optimist Club at the old Capt. Sam’s Crab house in the late 1960s. Madigan was the one who gave the Optimists the idea for holding the Blessing of the Fleet.

The first few Blessings of the Fleet took place on the island, where the Optimists brought over items such as cotton candy makers and popcorn makers to feed visitors.

Sports

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

SMAC Scoreboard 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 VA R S I T Y F O O T B A L L Chopticon vs. Leonardtown

10/1/18

34-0

Great Mills vs. Westlake

9/28/18

6-27

Huntingtown vs. North Point

9/28/18

6-31

Patuxent vs. Mc Donough

9/28/18

36-0

Northern vs. St. Charles

9/28/18

0-12

October 13th, 2018 UAW Hall 1010 S. Oldham Street Baltimore, Maryland 21224

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Heart and Faith It is fascinating how a story finds you. One minute you’re lost, out of ideas and incapable of creative thought, then a daydream, a song, a headline or a random event delivers the goods. It’s the chase - the pursuit of inspiration. That’s the best part of the writing process. The words themselves…that’s a love-hate thing. Sometimes the sentences come easy and the final product does the original idea adequate justice; other times it’s a grind to type a coherent sentence. For this “View”, the idea arrived by accident – the best kind of delivery. A deliberate, early-morning search of the infinite World Wide Web offered nothing. I was trying too hard. The topic was waiting in my in-box. It wasn’t obvious. A friend sent an innocuous YouTube link to an NFL Films segment on one of our favorite players. I clicked on it with no expectations other than a distraction from my lack of leads. Minutes later I was feverously searching for a killer excerpt from a poet and a poem I had never heard of. That’s the chase. Love it. And now for those sometimes troublesome words… The player was ‘Skins Hall of Famer John Riggins. The poet? Robert W. Service. The poem? “The Law of the Yukon.” And the excerpt? Well, I’ll get to that. It is easy to underestimate Riggins. A self-proclaimed horse of a different color, his showmanship and appetite for debauchery always lead his story. Yes, he did drink a couple morning beers during his first visit with new ‘Skins coach Joe Gibbs. Yes, he was “El Presidente” of team’s infamous post-practice beer-slinging “Five O’clock Club.” And yes, he did once encourage Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to “loosen up, Sandy baby, you’re way too tight” in an obnoxious drunken stupor. But Riggins was and is more than an inebriated jock. He is very thoughtful and a keen skeptic of conventional wisdom. He possesses both the intelligence to see situations for what they are and the courage to speak about them honestly. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Every man is born an original, but sadly, most men die copies.” Riggins isn’t “most men.” During the NFL Films piece, Riggins talked eloquently about how the nasty business of football affected him personally. He described his initial naiveté, his quick loss of innocence and how it bothered him to see teammates cut. Riggins loved the game between the lines; the game played outside the lines weighed on him. The process of tearing through veils and uncovering the truth isn’t unique to football; it is part of growing up. Eventually the fairytale of youth diminishes and the world is seen through an adult lens. From that more complex and conflicted perspective, politicians become less virtuous, corporations less just, churches less wholesome and many people less genuine than advertised. It’s the messy truth…making peace with it is an on-going internal wrestling match within us all. Riggins eventually found some peace with the underbelly of professional football. When reflecting on his infamous playoff run after the 1982 season, Riggins, by then an 11-year veteran, talked about being aware of the moment and the opportunity to rewrite his legacy. This awareness was the impetus for him demanding carries from the coaches. Riggins was all-in. Football was going to be just a game again, if just for this brief stretch. Riggins’s run to glory ended with Washington’s first Super Bowl championship and the Super Bowl MVP trophy for its eccentric running back. Riggins was lost in the moment, a grown up once again playing a child’s game. He found something in the competition between the lines that allowed him to play true to the excerpt he quoted from Service’s “The Law of the Yukon” poem: “Men with the hearts of Vikings and the simple faith of a child.” Riggins found something pure during his legendary playoff run, something that, despite knowing the impurities of football, allowed him to play with all his heart and believe with the uncorrupted faith of a child. While navigating our own complex and imperfect worlds, may we all find something worthy of such unqualified commitment. Send comments to RonaldGuyJr@gmail.com

The County Times

Thursday, October 4, 2018

2018-2019 SEASON

Schedule

OCT. 3

BOSTON