Equine-assistedTherapy for VeteransPage 2

Accolades AroundThe Air StationPage 3

Pax People:Gary LohmanPage 5

Vol. 71, No. 48 Celebrating 71 Years of Community Partnership December 11, 2014

TESTERNaval Air Station Patuxent River

Shaw Road: Through Dec. 14There will be one lane open in each direction at

all times. Traffic will be flagged around during thisconstruction. Roadworkwill be conductedonShawRoad from 450 feet west of the traffic circle to Swit-zer Road. From Dec. 11-12 construction will haveno effect on traffic due to the nature of the work(roadway expansion). The work taking place Dec.13-14 will be paving of the existing roadway and alltraffic will be flagged to help traffic flow. One laneof traffic in each direction will remain open duringall phases of construction.

Buse Road: Dec. 13-14Traffic will be flagged around while crack sealing

takes place from Cedar Point Road to Tate Road. Arolling one-lane road closure will be taking placefor the crack sealing. Traffic will be flagged around.All work is pending good weather. Striping of BuseRoad from Gate 1 to Cedar Point Road will occurNo Later Than Dec. 25 and will cause one-laneclosures. A specific date has not been set yet dueto scheduling conflicts and pending weather. Thework may be carried out on a weekday, in whichcase no work will be conducted during peak traffichours (morning, lunch and evening). This workwillinflict a moving one-lane road closure and trafficwill be flagged as needed. Traffic flow is not antici-pated to be heavily influenced.

Cuddihy Road: Dec. 13-14One lane closed at a time. Traffic will be flagged.

Road work will be conducted on Cuddihy Roadbetween Buse and Tate Road. Work includes cracksealing the road. The road will be limited to onelane of traffic during these days; traffic will beflagged around.

All work is pending good weather.

NAS Roadwork Schedule

By Donna CipolloniNAS Patuxent RiverPublic Affairs

They don’t have wingsand they don’t wave

wands, but the volunteerswith Fairy Godmother Proj-ect are no less magical to thefamilies they assist at a timewhen help is most needed.

The mission of Fairy God-mother Project is to ease theburden of everyday life for lo-cal families who have a childin treatment for a form ofpediatric cancer by provid-ing things like cooked meals,house cleaning, lawn care,gas cards, grocery cards or amuch-needed parent or fam-

ily night out.“Imagine what those

things would mean to you ifyou were traveling every dayto a treatment center hoursfrom home because thereis no local pediatric oncol-ogy treatment facility here,”said Vicki Quade Hoffman,chapter coordinator of theSouthern Maryland FairyGodmother Project. “Parentsare missing work and strug-gling to raise their other chil-dren as normally as possiblewhile watching a child fightfor their life. We provide dayto day support that allowsthem to better focus on theirfamily.”

Hoffman became in-volved with Fairy God-mother Project through itsexecutive director and her

friend, Andrea McConnell,who cofounded the organi-

Fairy Godmothers in Southern Maryland

Courtesy photo

Fairy Godmother Project (FGP) volunteer Olivia Douglass, con-tract specialist with F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265), prepares a meal for donation. Since the formation of theSouthern Maryland chapter in spring 2013, FGP volunteershave donated and delivered more than 300 meals to supportlocal families dealing with pediatric cancer.

Commentary from theNaval DistrictWashington/NAS Patuxent RiverFire PreventionOffice

It’s that time when manyfamilies deck the halls in

preparation for the holi-days, but did you know thateach year, more than 200fires are attributed to thisfestive tradition?

Christmas trees ac-count for 240 fires an-nually, resulting in 13deaths and more than$16.7 million in propertydamage, according to theNational Fire ProtectionAssociation (NFPA). Treefires are typically ignit-

ed by shorts in electri-cal lights or open flames

‘O Christmas Tree’Keep fire safety in mind whendecorating for the holidays

Courtesy photo

See Fire, Page 5

Pax volunteers support familiesdealing with pediatric cancer

See Godmother, Page 5

Courtesy photo

Army-Navy Football Game• Kickoff is 3 p.m. Dec. 13 on CBS• M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

Eggs ‘n Legs Breakfast• 7:30 a.m.Dec. 12• River’s Edge Catering and Conference CenterMenu consists of scrambled eggs, Maryland friedchicken legs, waffles, ice cream and strawberries.Cost is $15 per person. Cash and personal checkspayable to “GSMC” will be accepted at the door.

Wright Brothers DayDec. 17

2 Thursday, December 11, 2014Tester

By Donna CipolloniNAS Patuxent RiverPublic Affairs

Post-traumatic stress dis-order (PTSD) is defined as aserious condition that candevelop after experiencing orwitnessing a traumatic, tragicor terrifying event in whichserious injury occurred orwasthreatened.

“It starts with a traumaticincident; one where you be-lieve your life or the lives ofthose near you is in dangersomehow,” said Lt. (Dr.) Al-len Grove, licensed clinicalpsychologist and departmenthead of Behavioral HealthandSubstanceAbuse atNavalHealth Clinic Patuxent River.“For our local patient popula-tion, the most likely time thishappens is during war wherethey’re being shot at or an IED[improvised explosive device]explodes near or on them; butit canhappen to anyone. Rapeor physical assault is alsoa common instance wheresomeone might experiencetraumatic stress.”

Grove explained that thesevere reactions people haveduring the trauma are normaland healthy.

“It’s common during warto stay awake, to be up doingwatches, paying attention tothose around you, holding aweapon you’re ready to fire atany moment,” he said. “At thesame time, during a sexual as-sault, it’shealthy to justwant toshorten the attack as much aspossible and live through theexperience. All of these hypervigilant reactions are normalandhealthy—at the time.”

It’s how an individualreacts after the trauma thatcould signal a post-traumaticstress disorder that requirestreatment assistance.

Grove noted the threemain symptoms of PTSD are:Re-experiencing, which cantake the form of flashbacks,nightmares, visions ormemo-ries; Hyper arousal, where anindividual might be afraid togo to public places, becomesirritable with others, has dif-ficulty sleeping or repeat-edly checks the safety of theirhouse; and Avoidance, stay-ing away from situations orpeople to prevent a repeat ofthe trauma.

“Avoidance is an attemptto solve the problem of thefirst two symptoms,” he said.

“A car accident might leadto avoidance of driving, ora sexual assault to avoidingmen. But in the long term,it prolongs PTSD symptomsbecause it is almost impos-sible to avoid every situationin which we can be afraid.Functioning thendecreases atwork, educationally orwith re-lationships, which can greatlyincrease personal conflict.”

Justin Williams, infra-structure technologist withBase Telephone Operationsat NAS Patuxent River, servedsix years with the Army and

deployed twice to Iraq. Heknows firsthand what itmeans to live with PTSD.

With only ninemonths be-tween deployments, Williamsserved his first tour cleaningup unexploded ordnance,and his second attached tocompany headquarters, serv-ing asmachine gunner on thecommander’s Humvee.

“That second time, I wasthere one week when a frienddied,” Williams said. “Youknow you’re going to be therefor a year and you lose some-one in the first week. It set the

stage for the rest of the de-ployment.”

Asmachine gunner, ridingatop the vehicle,Williamshadto scrutinize everything andanything on the side of theroad thatmight serve as a hid-ing place for an IED— from adead animal carcass to thecurb itself. He had to be warydriving under bridges andlook out for wires stretchedhigh across the road. Hyper-vigilance was a constant wayof life, necessary for survival,and not something easily dis-missedwhenhis years ofmili-tary service ended.

“A lot of us had issues, butit’s that culture of not want-ing to look weak in front ofyour battle buddies, so noone says anything,” he ex-plained. “They’d offer for usto come talk, but nobody did.Of course, now when I lookback, it’s stupid; but, at thetime, that’s what we did.”

Williams left the Army in2006 and about a year and ahalf later, his wife — also anArmyveteran—suggested thathe seek some assistance. Hehad anger problems, becameirritablewith thosearoundhimandwasn’t fond of crowds.

“It’s hard when it’s your-self,” he said. “You don’t look

inside and recognize what’sgoing on. It tookmywife, Sar-ah, to tell me I needed help.I was lucky to have a spousethat understands becauseshe’d been through similarsituations. A lot of guys whocame back, pretty much all ofthem got divorced.”

Williams still deals withsome issues today, but he’simproving all the timeandhasfound a therapy that workswell for him—Equestrian As-sistedPsychotherapy,workingwith horses and a therapist inan outdoor setting.

“Different things work fordifferent people; don’t giveup,” he said. “Even if one typeof therapy doesn’twork, thereare other options. “

Grove urges anyone whosuspects they may be suf-fering with PTSD to seek thehelp they need now, addingthat what often leads some-one to finally come to therapyis misery, or something badhappening.

“We want to begin help-ing before that occurs,” hesaid. “PTSD is very treatable;in fact, we treat it here at the[Pax River] health clinic Ourgoal is to get you back to do-ing what you were doing inthe best way you can.”

PTSD sufferers should seek the help they need

Courtesy photo

JustinWilliams, infrastructure technologist with Base Tele-phoneOperations at NAS Patuxent River, served six years withthe Army and deployed twice to Iraq.

By ShawnGrahamNAS Patuxent RiverPublic Affairs

You won’t find equine-assisted therapy at your typi-cal therapist’s office, but for agrowing number of local vet-erans suffering from the invis-ible wounds of war, OperationWarrior Refuge (OWR) has be-come a viable option.

OWR, based at GreenwellState Park in Saint Mary’sCounty, is a cooperative part-nership,whichuseshorsesandfacilities for equine-assistedpsychotherapy.

Sarah Williams, cofounderof the program, said equinetherapy isn’t for everyone, butsome warriors returning fromIraq and Afghanistan havefound itmore helpful than tra-ditional treatments.

“MyhusbandandIarebothU.S. Army veterans with twotours of duty in Iraq,”Williamssaid. “I began to experiencePTSD shortly after returninghome and sought treatment. I

tried different treatments, butnothing seemed to work untilI started the Equine AssistedGrowth and Learning Associa-tion [EAGALA] therapy.”

Rather than teach riding orhorsemanship, EAGALA ther-apy focuses on interactionsbetween the horse and the in-dividual.

Williams said the horse’sheightened awarenessmatched her own. They con-nected, she said, onadifferent,spiritual level.

“Horsesareperceptive,ma-jestic animals,” explained Wil-liams. “Youhave tobe calm forthem to trust and accept you.My therapy started off slowly,

but as treatment progressed,the animal showed me thethings I needed towork on.

“I’ve been in a lot of tensesituations,” she said, estimat-ing that she’s suffered fromPTSD since her first deploy-ment. “My family and I suf-fered in silence before I foundthis therapy.”

Since attending therapysessions at Greenwell StatePark,Williams said she’smadesignificant progress.

“It takes a while to healfromthis,” she said. “This ther-apyhasbeenahuge step in theright direction for my entirefamily.”

Dianne McKissic, OWRprogram director, said mostof the group’s activities aregeared toward action and re-action.

“The animal’s mood oftenmirrors the veteran’s,” ex-plained McKissic. “You mustcontrol your emotions andbuild a relationship with the

therapy animal. The horsemust trust you and you musttrust the horse.”

McKissic said another goalof OWR is to create a commu-nity of veterans who come to-gether and support eachother.

“Many of our returningwarriors are apprehensiveabout opening up to strangersabout the traumas and hard-ships they endured.Many vetshide their true feelings in agroup setting but they cannothide their emotions with ourhorses.”

More information is avail-ableatwww.operationwarrior-refuge.org.

Equine-assisted therapy heals invisible wounds

Photo by Reid Silverman/The Enterprise

Sarah and JustinWilliams of Lexington Park, both Army combat veterans, participate in anequine therapy session with OperationWarrior Refuge at Greenwell State Park.

Operation Warrior Refuge Goals•Raise awareness about PTSD and how it affects veterans

•Raise awareness about equine-assisted psychotherapy•Create awhole program to helpwarriors with PTSDwhile helping themwith family life and giving them theresources they need to succeed

•Create a community of warriors to give veteransa refuge and new found purpose.

One veteran's road to recovery

Thursday, December 11, 2014 3Tester

Accolades around the air stationU.S. Navy photo by J. Raynel Koch

Teammembers from theUnmannedCarrier LaunchedAirborne Surveillance andStrike System (UCLASS)programat Patuxent Riverrecently received the 14thAnnualMichael G. SimodejkaOutstanding Logistics Teamaward. The employees fromPax River, alongwith theirteammates from LakehurstandOrlando, were recog-nized during an awards cer-emonyNov. 25.

U.S. Navy photo by Marcia Hart

Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers(COMFRC) andNAVAIR Assistant Commander for Logisticsand Industrial Operations, presents Chief Roberto Jaramillo,COMFRCRadiation Safety officer andNon-Destructive In-spection subjectmatter expert, with a Navy andMarine CorpsAchievementMedal. The awardwas presented during a recenttown hall meeting at NAS Patuxent River, hosted by Sohl.

U.S. Navy photo by Gary Younger

Moving upMichael Trammell receives his petty officer 1st class pins fromLt. Cmdr. Ian Espich during a frocking ceremony Dec. 5 at theLogistics and Industrial Complex onNAS Patuxent River. Tram-mell currently serves as flagwriter for the Commander, FleetReadiness Centers (COMFRC), and Espich is the COMFRCFlag Aide.

U.S. Navy photo by Gary Younger

Celebrating a Special DayMarkusMcCraney, second from left, was frocked to the rankof petty officer 1st class during a promotion ceremony Dec. 5at the Logistics and Industrial Complex onNAS Patuxent River.Senior Chief Taryll Mason, left; McCraney’s wife, Joana; andCapt. Eric Schoch pinned the new rank onMcCraney.Mc-Craney is a ConfigurationManagement Information Systemanalyst within NAVAIR’s Logistics and Industrial Operations(AIR 6.0) competency.

On Base:Pax River Clinic Flu Vaccine

Active-duty military: 8-11:30 a.m.and 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thurs-days at the Preventive Medicine De-partment. Eligible beneficiaries andDOD civilians: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.weekdays at the Immunization Clinic.TRICARE beneficiaries enrolled offbase can receive the vaccination fromtheir Primary Care Provider. TRICAREbeneficiaries can also receive the vac-cine from a TRICARE retail networkpharmacyatnocost andwithout aPri-mary Care Manager referral. To find aparticipating pharmacy, search http://express-scripts.com/TRICARE/phar-macy/ or call 877-363-1303.

Pass Office Hours ChangeBeginningDec.19

The pass offices at NAS PatuxentRiver,WebsterOutlyingField andNavyRecreation Center Solomons will closeat 1 p.m. every other Friday, beginningDec. 19, for training. The building willremainopen forCAC services only.

BLDG 2272 Food Court ClosesDec.15 through Jan.7

The food court at Building 2272closes for renovations Dec. 15 and willtentatively reopen Jan. 7. The coffeeoperation will offer customers foodservice options during the closure.

Clinic Holiday HoursDec. 24: Access for urgent medical

and dental services available until 4p.m.Thepharmacy, laboratory, immu-nizations and radiology close at noon.

Dec.25-26:Theclinic isclosed.Nor-mal operations resumeDec. 29.

Dec. 31: Access for urgent medicaland dental services available until 4p.m. Pharmacy closes at 4 p.m.

Jan.1:The clinic is closed.Jan. 2: Access for urgent medical

and dental services available until 4p.m.Pharmacyclosesat 4p.m.Normaloperations resume Jan. 5.

Where’s Gnorman?Somewhere in this issue we’ve hid-

den Gnorman the gnome. Anyonespotting Gnorman can email tester@dcmilitary.comorphone301-342-4163nowthrough5p.m.Friday,andincludea brief description of where he’s locat-ed. All correct answers are entered intoa drawing and one name is chosen towin a Center StageTheatermovie tick-et. The same person cannot win morethan once permonth. Last week’s win-ner, Jim Cooney, found Gnorman inthe craft fair front pagephoto.

Off Base:

“Gifts from Gee-Dunk” Holiday Bazaar11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Dec.14Patuxent RiverNaval AirMuseum

Local artists and vendors will be atthe museum and the LeonardtownHighSchoolHabitat forHumanityClubwill be on-hand throughout the day tohelpwith your giftwrapping.

Children’s Hanukkah Party9:30 a.m. Dec. 12Beth Israel Synagogue,Lexington Park

Even if your kids are not currentlyenrolled in Hebrew school, you’re wel-come to join in. For more information,email bethsiraelmd@gmail.com.

NEWS BRIEFS

St. Nicholas ChapelService ScheduleCatholic ServicesMass5p.m.SundaysContinuing Catholic Development (CCD)Postponeduntil further notice

Protestant ServicesWorship11a.m.SundayMen’s Discipleship6-7:30p.m.SundayReligiousProgrammingCenterWomen’s Study6-7:30p.m. Tuesdayand10-11:30a.m. ThursdayReligiousProgrammingCenter

2014 Holiday Gate ScheduleGate 1will maintain normal hours

of operation, 24 hours a day, sevendays a week during the holiday pe-riod. Laneusageandmanningduringthemorning rush hour commutewillbe as follows.

Dec. 15-19: Four inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Dec. 20-21: Normal weekend op-erations

Dec. 22-24: Four inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Dec. 25: Normal operations; norushhour configuration

Dec. 26: Normal operations; norushhour configuration

Dec. 27-28: Normal weekend op-erations

Dec. 29-31: Four inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Jan.1:Normal operations; no rushhour configuration

Jan. 2: Four inbound lanes; eachinbound lanewill have one sentry

Jan. 3-4: Normal weekend opera-tions

Jan.5-9:Four inbound lanes; eachinbound lanewill have one sentry

Jan. 10-11: Normal weekend op-erations

Jan. 12-13: Four inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Gate 2will maintain normal hours

of operation, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.weekdays, during the holiday period.Gate 2 will be closed weekends andholidays. Lane usage and manningwill be as follows.

Dec. 15-19: Three inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Dec.20-21:Gate closedDec. 22-24: Three inbound lanes;

each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Dec. 29-31: Three inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Jan. 2: Three inbound lanes; eachinbound lanewill have one sentry

Jan.5-9:Three inboundlanes;eachinbound lanewill have one sentry

Jan. 12-13: Three inbound lanes;each inbound lanewill have one sen-try

Gate 3 will be open 5:30-9 a.m. forinbound and outbound traffic, and3:30-5:30 p.m. for outbound traffic.Gate3will beclosedonweekendsandholidays.Gate 3will be closedDec. 24.Morning trafficwill have two inboundlaneswith one sentry per lane.

Webster Field main gate will beopenandmannedasnormal throughthe holiday period.The back gate willbe closed from Dec. 15 through Jan.13.

Navy Recreation Center Solomonswill be open and manned as normalduring theholidayperiod.

All gates will resume normal op-erations Jan. 14.

For MWR news, visit www.cnic.navy.mil/PatuxentandclickontheFleet and Family Readiness tab.

Phone directoryInformation, Tickets and TravelOffice - 301-342-3648Drill Hall - 301-757-3943Customized Creations

- 301-342-6293River’s Edge - 301-342-3656NRC Solomons - 410-326-2840Special Events - 410-326-6830RassieurYouth Center

- 301-342-1694Energy Zone - 301-342-4559

Special EventsFourth Annual Holiday Whobilationat MWR’s Whoville6-9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20Mattapany Day Camp

A celebration of the HolidayWhobilation. This year we willalso be holding the NAS Patux-ent River annual Tree Lighting.Cost: $4 per person.

Customized CreationsWhite House ChristmasOrnaments Available

The 2014White House Christ-mas Ornament is a two-pieceset depicting the locomotiveand Pullman car commonly re-ferred to as the “PresidentialSpecial,” of the 29th U.S. Presi-

dent, Warren G. Harding. Limit-ed quantities are available. Cost:$22.

ITT

Tickets availablePippin at the National Theater:

2 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets: $96 each.

Harlem Globetrotters at theRoyal Farms Arena, formerly theBaltimore Arena: noon or 5 p.m.Dec. 26. Tickets: $21.75 to $27each.

Rassieur Youth Center

Winter Wonderland Dance6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 12

All Pax River families are invit-ed to the Lincoln Military Hous-ing Community Center for a spe-cial night of dinner and dancing.Winter Wonderland Ticket in-cludes: Dinner, piano perfor-mances and dancing. All guests

ages 17 and younger receive aspecial gift. Come celebrate thewonder of the season with yourfamily. For more information,call 301-342-1694. Event will be$5 per person, children ages 2and younger and seniors age 65and over are free.

Youth Cross Training Classes6-7 p.m.Wednesdays in JanuaryRassieurYouth Center

For youths ages 6 and older.Classes focus on: Increasingspeed, agility, flexibility, prop-er running techniques, circuittraining, core, explosive firststep, improved balance and sta-bility, increased vertical leap,hand and eye coordination, fit-ness and nutrition. Cost: $50 perchild.

Drill Hall

Lifeguard Refresher/ChallengeStudents need to prepare

ahead of time by referring to thetraining available at www.red-crossrefresher.com Cost: $100.Register at the Fitness & SportsOffice or by telephone.

Session 1:11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16Session 2:11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 18

MWR4 Thursday, December 11, 2014Tester

Stay up to datewith us onFacebook

Naval Air Station Patuxent River • tester@dcmilitary.com • www.facebook.com/NASPaxRiverThe name Tester is a registered mark in the

state of Maryland.This paper is published by Comprint, Inc., 9030

Comprint Ct., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, 301-948-1520, a private firm in no way connected with theU.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract withNaval District Washington.

This commercial enterprise newspaper isan authorized publication for members of themilitary services. Contents of the Tester are notnecessarily the official views of, nor endorsedby the U.S. Government, the DoD, or the De-partment of the Navy. The appearance of ad-vertising in this publication, including inserts orsupplements, does not constitute endorsementby the DoD or Southern Maryland Newspapersand Printing of the products or services adver-tised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall

be made available for purchase, use, or patron-age without regard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, marital status, physical handi-cap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit fac-tor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violationor rejection of this equal opportunity policy by anadvertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuseto print advertising from that source until the viola-tion is corrected.

Editorial content is edited, prepared, andprovided by the Public Affairs Office. News copyshould be submitted by Friday to be consideredfor the following week’s edition. All material is ed-ited for accuracy, brevity, clarity, and conformity toregulations. To inquire about news copy, call 301-342-4163 or fax the Tester at 301-863-9296.

Commercial advertising may be placedwith the publisher by calling 301-862-2111.

Capt. Heidi FlemingCommanding Officer

Capt. Scott StarkeyExecutive Officer

CMDCM Jeffrey OwejanCommand Master Chief

Connie HempelPublic Affairs Officer

Shawn GrahamPublic Affairs Specialist

Donna CipolloniStaff Writer

Breton Helseland

Deirdre ParryCopy/layout editors

Scan to seemore MWR events

on Facebook.

All classes are held at the Fleetand Family Support Center inBuilding 2090 off Bundy Roadunless otherwise noted. Classesare open to active-duty and re-tired military and Reservists.Reservations are necessary andcan be made at FFSC or by call-ing 301-342-4911.

Playgroup - 10-11 a.m. Dec.11 & 18

Stress Management - 1-2:30p.m. Dec. 15

Accessing Higher Education -8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 17-18

Interviewing Techniques -1-4 p.m. Dec. 17

Ten Steps to a Federal Job -1-4 p.m. Dec. 18

Ready Navy- www.ready.navy.milHazardous weather is possible

any time. Get a free informa-tion packet on how to preparefor hurricanes, severe weatherand other potential emergenciesat the Fleet and Family SupportCenter.

Clinical Counseling ServicesClinical Counseling services

can directly improve the qual-ity of life of service membersand their family by addressing

the stressors facing today’s mil-itary. To make an appointmentwith a counselor, call 301-342-4911 or 202-685-6019.

Exceptional Family MemberProgram (EFMP)

EFMP is a DOD program thataddresses the special needs ofmilitary families. Sailors withan exceptional family mem-ber — a family member withspecial needs such as a medi-cal or educational disability —are encouraged to enroll in theEFMP so the Navy can do itspart in caring for EFM needs.

Email James Lettner at james.lettner@navy.mil.

Financial Counseling ServicesThe Personal Financial Edu-

cator can help individuals andfamilies in managing their fi-nances, resolving financial prob-lems and to reach long-termgoals. Take control of your fi-nances and make an appoint-ment with a counselor by calling301-342-5442.

Find Your Command OmbudsmanFind out who your Ombuds-

man is. Visit www.ombudsman-

registry.org, click on “ContactYourOmbudsman” and follow theprompts, or call 301-757-1861 tospeakwith theNASPatuxentRiverOmbudsmanCoordinator.

FFSC

See more FFSC classeson Facebook.

By Navy Exchange ServiceCommand Public Affairs

The holiday season is rapidlyapproaching. For a seasonof familyand fun, be sure to make the NavyLodge the destination of choice forholiday guests. Guests of the NavyLodge save over 40 percent com-pared to other hotels and there arenever any additional fees or taxes.

“Navy Lodges are the perfectplace for guests of military mem-bers to stay during the holidays,”said Navy Lodge Patuxent RiverGeneral Manager, Rachel Guer-rero. “Navy Lodges offer a greatvalue with our spacious rooms,kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi and manyother amenities we offer. We alsoprovide a complimentary break-fast in the morning, a manager’s

reception, in-roomcoffee and Pre-mier Guest Service.”

Navy Lodge guests will experi-ence a variety of room types to in-clude family suites, with cable TVand DVD player, as well as kitch-enettes with a microwave and fullsize refrigerator. Navy Lodges areequipped with guest laundry facili-ties, vendingareas andplaygroundsfor the little ones. As an added con-venience, pets can stay at manyNavy Lodges. Please contact theNavy Lodge regarding pet policies.

To make a reservation for anyof the 39 Navy Lodges worldwide,call toll free at 1-800-628-9466(NAVY-INN) or log onto www.navy-lodge.com. For other mili-tary lodging options, go to www.dodlodging.com.

‘Tis the season for travelU. S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

Thursday, December 11, 2014 5Tester

By Donna CipolloniNAS Patuxent RiverPublic Affairs

So famous isCincinnati forits rocks and fossils, geologistsworldwide use the term “Cin-cinnatian” to describe thefossil-rich Ordovician Periodrock layers that date back 450million years when a shallowsea teeming with marine lifecovered the state.

Gary Lohman grew up inCincinnati and was only 7years old when he collectedhis first fossil specimen,which he thought was a di-nosaur tooth.

“I took it to the naturalhistory museum and learnedit was a piece of horn coral,which is actually a few hun-dred million years olderthan the last dinosaurs,” saidLohman, who works at NASPatuxent River Atlantic TestRanges.

The story piqued youngLohman’s interest in rocks,minerals and fossils, and ledto a hobby serious enoughthat he participated in ar-chaeological digs as a sum-

mer intern in college, evenas he studied to earn a PhDin physics.

His wife, Cindy, also grewup in Cincinnati and sharedhis interest.

While living in Europe,they continued to casuallycollect fossils and crystals.After returning to the UnitedStates, they joined a localrock and mineral club, andparticipated in collectionfield trips; and vacationscoast to coast would includestops at quarries and visits toother clubs.

Throughout the years,the Lohmans accumulat-ed bucketsful of collecteditems.

They eventually tooktheir hobby to the next levelby giving presentations toschools, groups and organi-zations; and, more recently,began selling some of theircollection at craft fairs andarea festivals.

The couple also offersjewelry handmade fromtheir natural materials.

“I continue developing

my stone cutting, faceting,polishing and silversmithingskills,” Lohman explained,“and Cindy does a lot of wirewrapping and beading workwith natural stones.”

Last year, after partici-pating in an outdoor saleat Friendship Antiques andVintage Collectables inFriendship, Maryland, theowners of the facility askedif they’d be interested in in-door space.

“I like to joke that we of-fer the oldest antiques in theantique mall,” Lohman said.

For Lohman, however, it’smore about the story behindan item, than the item itself.He enjoys talking to people

about his collection, and any-thing he sells comes with adetailed written description.

Lohman passed on hisinterest to his children, in-cluding the stepson he raisedfrom the age of 4 years. Thatson, Army Sgt. Ryan P. Bau-mann, became the third sol-ider killed in action from St.Mary’s County when he diedinAfghanistanonAug. 1, 2008.

“As a young boy, Ryanliked playing in creeks andcollecting rocks and fossils;and while he had other inter-ests as a teenage boy, someof what we collected wouldfrequently turn up moved ormissing,” Lohman said. “Heenjoyed sharing our finds

with his friends. Without adoubt, he was much moreinterested in the prospect ofone day inheriting our col-lection than our daughter.”

Asked what advice hewould give newcomers in-terested in starting their owncollection, Lohman suggests

joining rock, mineral andfossil clubs.

And you can’t simply diganywhere or always keepwhat you find.

“Laws vary from state tostate and, legally, you need toknow where you can searchfor fossils [or artifacts],” heexplained. “Join clubs thathave liability insurance, per-mission to dig, know whereto dig, and whose memberscan take you and teach you.”

Meanwhile, Lohmanplans to continue enjoyinghis lifelong interest.

“It’s amazing how westart as kids with a cigar boxfull of rocks and stuff,” hemused. “Life intervenes fora while, but then we comeback later in life and pick itup seriously again. Both mywife and I are always happyto assist anyone thinking ofjoining our hobby.”

Groups or organizationsinterested in a rock, min-eral and fossil presenta-tion can contact Lohmanat lohmang@verizon.net or301-373-0388.

Pax People: Gary LohmanTelling the stories of rocks, minerals and fossils

U.S. Navy photo by Donna Cipolloni

NAS Patuxent River’s GaryLohman, Atlantic Test Rang-es, shows a chunk of crystalquartz he dug himself whilevisiting Jessieville, Arkansas,during the 2014 Fourth ofJuly weekend. Arkansasquartz is world-renownedfor its incredible crystals withglass-like clarity.

Find a Local Club• Maryland Geological Society: www.ecphora.net/mgs

• Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club: www.free-webs.com/smrmc

• Calvert Marine Museum Fossil Club: www.calvert-marinemuseum.com/cmmfc

• Maryland Minerals: www.marylandminerals.com

• Find more through the Maryland Geological Survey atwww.mgs.md.gov/geology/clubs.html.

from candles, lighters ormatches.Well-watered trees are

not a problem. Dry and ne-glected trees can be.On average, one of every

nine Christmas tree firesresulted in a fatality com-pared to an average of onedeath per 75 non-confinedhome structure fires over-all. Further, 49 percent ofChristmas tree fires spreadbeyond the room of ori-gin. The fires that spreadbeyond the room of origincaused 94 percent of theassociated fatalities.Don’t be one of these

statistics and keep the fol-lowing safety tips in mindwhen decorating for theholidays.

Live Tree Safety:Pick a tree that is fresh.

A fresh tree is green andits needles are hard to pullfrom branches. When bentbetween your fingers, freshneedles do not break.Keep the tree away from

heat sources like fireplaces,radiators, candles.Keep the tree watered.

The trunk of a fresh tree issticky with resin.A shower of falling nee-

dles shows that the tree istoo dry.Remember, Lincoln Mil-

itary Housing allows theuse of cut Christmas treesin individual family hous-ing units only; cut Christ-mas trees are not allowedin the townhome units.

Decorative Lights:Only use lights that have

been tested for safety; thisapplies to both indoor andoutdoor lighting. Checkthe light’s label to identifythose that have been test-ed.Check each set of lights,

new and old, for brokenor cracked sockets, frayedor bare wire, or loose con-nections. Discard damagedsets.

Candles:More than half of home

candle fires are cause bysome form of combustiblematerial coming too closeto the candle. NFPA foundthat residential fires sparkedby candles are twice as likelyto occur in December as anyothermonth in the year.

FIREContinued from 1

zation in her Virginia com-munity.

“I knew it was some-thing I wanted to bring toSouthern Maryland,” saidHoffman, full-time momand former teacher.

Using social media tospread the word, a gen-eral interest meeting washeld in March 2013 andjust two months later,the group’s initial fund-raiser raised over $5,000,enabling them to beginsupporting their first fam-ily. Embraced by the localcommunity, they went onto raise more than $18,000and were quickly support-ing four families.

“It was October 2013when we were devastat-ed by the loss of our first‘godchild’ to this awfuldisease,” Hoffman said.“We’re still serving theother three families.”

Fundraising and out-reach events continued suc-cessfully into 2014, but “ul-timately, we’re a volunteer

organization and the num-ber of families we can sup-port depends on the num-ber of volunteers we have tohelp,” Hoffman added.

Two of those volunteers— Olivia Douglass andJennifer Young-Tomech-ko — work at NAS Patux-ent River, and both foundthe project a great way tohelp the community whileworking within their ownbusy schedules.

Douglass has been vol-unteering for two years,primarily helpingwithmealdonations and delivery.

“”I’ll prepare the mealand drop it in a cooler out-side the home,” said Dou-glass, contract specialistwith F/A-18 and EA-18GProgram Office (PMA-265).“Each family is assigned acontact person to commu-nicate any needs, such asdietary restrictions, timesthey’ll be away, etc.”

Also volunteering fortwo years, and with limitedtime to devote, Young-To-mechko isn’t able to pro-vide meals, but has foundother ways to help instead.

“I recently ran the

Across the Bay 10K andraised raised $250,” saidYoung-Tomechko, man-agement analyst for the4.0C Staff Office. “I handout fliers at events andsold raffle tickets at theannual gala. Using my BJsmembership, I was alsoable to purchase somehousehold supplies for afamily whose child wasundergoing intense treat-ments and they just didn’thave time to shop.”

As the main representa-tive for SouthernMaryland,Hoffman is in direct contactwith the families she andthe other volunteers arecurrently able to assist.

“I speak with them of-ten,” she said. “Any needthese families may have,I’ve tried to anticipate or

take care of, so that theycan cross it off their list.”

As they continue learn-ing of other area familiesthey’d like to support, thegroup is in need of addi-tional volunteers for mealmaking and fundraising,Hoffman noted.

“We welcome anyamount of time someoneis willing to give; and we’recurrently holding a giftcard drive to collect gas,grocery and restaurantcards for our families, sothat’s another way to helpif a time commitment ischallenging,” she said.“We want to do all we canto help those facing thisawful time in their livesand our goal is to neverturn a family away for anyreason.”

GODMOTHERContinued from 1

Fairy Godmother Project contact informationTo learn more about Fairy Godmother Project orvolunteering your time, visit fairygodmotherproject.org. For details on the local chapter and its events,follow them on Facebook at Fairy Godmother Proj-ect-Southern Maryland Chapter. To contact the localchapter, email southernmd@fairygodmotherproject.org or phone 301-904-6887.

Thursday, Dec. 116:30 p.m., St. Vincent

(Rated: PG-13, 1 hr. 42mins.) Maggie, a singlemother, moves into a newhome in Brooklyn withher 12-year old son, Oli-ver. Forced to work longhours, she has no choicebut to leave Oliver in thecare of their new neighbor,Vincent, a retired curmud-geon with a penchant foralcohol and gambling. Anodd friendship soon blos-soms between the improb-able pair. Together with apregnant stripper namedDaka, Vincent brings Oli-ver along on all the stopsthat make up his daily rou-tine - the race track, a stripclub, and the local dive

bar. Vincent helps Olivergrow to become a man,while Oliver begins to seein Vincent something thatno one else is able to: amisunderstood man witha good heart.

Friday, Dec. 126:30 p.m.,Beyond the Lights

(Rated: PG-13, 1 hr. 56mins.) This is the story ofNoni, the music world’slatest superstar. But notall is what it seems, andthe pressures of fame haveNoni on the edge -until shemeets Kaz Nicol, a young

cop and aspiring politicianwho’s been assigned to herdetail. Drawn to each oth-er, Noni and Kaz fall fastand hard, despite the pro-tests of those around themwho urge them to put theircareer ambitions aheadof their romance. But it isultimately Kaz’s love thatgives Noni the courageto find her own voice andbreak free to become theartist she was meant to be.

9 p.m., Interstellar(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 49

mins.) With our time onEarth coming to an end, ateam of explorers under-

takes the most importantmission in human history;traveling beyond this gal-axy to discover whethermankind has a futureamong the stars.

Saturday, Dec. 134 p.m., Big Hero 6

(Rated: PG, 1 hr. 48mins.) An action comedyadventure about brilliantrobotics prodigy HiroHamada, who finds him-self in the grips of a crimi-nal plot that threatens todestroy the fast-paced,high-tech city of San Fran-sokyo. With the help of his

closest companion-a robotnamed Baymax-Hiro joinsforces with a reluctantteam of first-time crimefighters on a mission tosave their city.

7 p.m., Interstellar(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 49

mins.)

Sunday, Dec. 142 p.m., Big Hero 6

(Rated: PG, 1 hr. 48mins.)

4:30 p.m., Interstellar(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 49

mins.)

Monday, Dec. 15 andTuesday, Dec. 16

Theater is not open

Wednesday, Dec. 176:30 p.m., Interstellar

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 49mins.)

6 Thursday, December 11, 2014Tester

l Movie Line: 301-342-5033l Reservations: 301-342-3648l Ticket Prices: E-1 to E-5 category:adults, $3.50 and youths ages 6-11,$2.50. All others: adults, $4.50;youths ages 6-11, $3.50.

l 3-D glasses: $1

l Authorized ID required foradmission

See moreCenter Stage movieinformation online.

CENTER STAGE MOVIES

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A Dr. David J. Cooper Practice690 Prince Frederick Blvd N.Prince Frederick, MD 20678

877-606-8301

21534 Great Mills RoadLexington Park, MD 20653

877-606-8302

Paid Advertising

BY: JEFF TOMCSIKResearch Reporter

If you’re lucky enough to have a jobthat provides dental insurance youshould know what’s covered and whathappens if you don’t take advantage ofthe coverage you are provided. Dentalinsurance is not a required insurance forbusinesses to provide. In fact manybusinesses offer dental coverage at thesole expense to the employee throughpaycheck deductions. Whether you oryour employer is paying for thecoverage, you need to know what’scovered andwhat’s free.

Almost without exception, all dentalinsurances provide their insuredindividuals and families with twoprophylaxis (traditional) dentalcleanings per year, provided they are sixmonths apart, at no cost to the patient.They will also cover the necessary x-rays, doctor’s exam, education, andoften time fluoride, sealants and otherpreventative services. Depending onthe age of the patient and the insurancecoverage the patient has, these are at nocost to the insured party and it has noeffect on their annual limits.

With most insurance plans these arethe only procedures that are fullycovered as they are consideredpreventative procedures. In otherwords, your dental insurance companyknows that preventative measures (i.e.dental cleaning, fluoride, sealants) areessential to avoiding very expensiverestorative procedures. Restorativedentistry is expensive for both theinsurance company and the individualgetting the procedures done. Dentalinsurance companies are very smart.They’ve done themath. They know it ismuch less expensive (more profitable)for them to provide you with freecleanings than it is to assist in thepayment of restorative care to bringyourmouthback to goodhealth.

The cost to a dental insurancecompany to have your teeth cleanedranges from $70 - $200. The cost to theinsurance company for you to have twocrowns could be well over $1500. Yourout-of-pocket cost for the same twocrowns, even with dental insurance,could easily be over $1000 dependingon the coverage you have and yourannual limits. So it is in the best interestfor you and the insurance company thatyou get your teeth cleaned as prescribedby the dentist, as regular cleanings andpreventativemaintenance are proven toreduce the risk of decay and damage tothe teeth andgums.

If you do need restorative care, suchas fillings, root canal therapy,periodontal treatment, or crowns yourinsurance company has negotiatedspecial fees for you with the dentist, aslong as they are a “preferred provider”dental office with your carrier. Thismeans your dentist agrees to charge youthe discounted fee that was prearrangedwith the insurance company. Yourinsurance company will cover themajority of those fees until your annuallimit is reached. Your annual limit is the

amount of money your employer andinsurance company has agreed to payfor your restorative treatment under theinsurance terms defined by theemployer agreement. Most insurancecompanies will cover between $1000and $2500 worth of treatment per year.If you don’t use your benefit that yearyou lose it.

The “use it or lose it” policy is howdental insurance companies make theirmoney. They are charging you a feeevery month that comes out of yourpaycheck, or from your employer. Theycollect that fee knowing that a portion ofitmay go to restorative dentistry. If yourmouth is in good health, you both win.They keep the money you paid eachmonth and you never have out-of-pocket costs for your preventative care.On the other hand, if you have

restorative care that needs to be done,they’ve set a limit to the loss they arewilling to accept (your annual limit).But, if you put off needed dentistry andthe year expires, so does your benefit.

In other words, if you have a $1500annual limit and you have $3000 worthof dentistry that needs to be done youcan take full advantage of yourinsurance benefit by having half thedentistry done in the current year andthe other half in the beginning of thesecond year. Conversely, if you are thetype of person to put off dentistry foryears, you could end up having atreatment plan for over $10,000. Yourinsurance company will still only paythe annual limit. The rest becomes yourresponsibility. Situations like theseoften times end up with the patientneglecting care due to the cost. The endresult is usually a very sad health and

esthetic situation for those who neglecttheir care for so long.

In these instances it is important tonot give up hope and let finances standin theway of your health. Workwith ourdental office and your insurancecompany to come upwith an affordableplan to get back your smile and restoreyour health. A good dental practice willhave multiple options for helping youpay for your treatment while workingwith your insurance.

It is in your best interest to go to thedentist twice a year for all of yourpreventative care and get other dentalwork done as needed. The longer youput off dentistry the more you will payin the long run. Don’t let your dentalinsurance company keep yourmoney.

Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?

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By Morgan AllenF/A-18 and EA-18GProgram Office (PMA-265)Communications Support

TheNavy’s infrared searchand track (IRST) system re-ceived Milestone C acquisi-tion approval Dec. 2, autho-rizing low-rate initial produc-tion (LRIP) of the sensor pod.

Approved by Vice AdmiralPaul Grosklags, Principal Mil-itary Deputy for the AssistantSecretary of the Navy (Re-search, Development and Ac-quisition), LRIP authorizationprovides the Navy’s IRST pro-gramwith the sixpodsneededto achieve future initial opera-tional capability (IOC). IOC isa key procurement milestoneachieved when a militarysystem or product meets op-erational capabilities beforeproceeding to full operationalcapability.

The IRST system, man-aged by Naval Air SystemsCommand’s (NAVAIR) F/A-18 & EA-18G Program Office(PMA-265), is a long-waveinfrared sensor pod thatsearches for, identifies andtracks heat sources at extend-

ed ranges. The IRST pod is apassive system that does notemit radiation, thereby hin-dering the enemy’s ability todetect the system.

“Integrating the infraredpod onto the Super Hornetrevolutionizes how we fighton a networked battlefield,”said Capt. Frank Morley,PMA-265 program manager.“IRST advances the SuperHornet’s role in air-to-aircombat operations, keepingus ahead of our adversariesin an evolving threat environ-ment.”

The pod allows simulta-neous tracking of multipletargets under normal andelectronic attack warfareconditions. The sensor podis mounted within the SuperHornet’s centerline fuel tank,requiring no modifications tothe aircraft’s airframe.

The IRST system com-pleted its first flight aboardan F/A-18F Super Hornet inFebruary 2014.

Following the MilestoneC decision, performance andaeromechanical flight testingwill continue todetermine the

IRST capability’s limits withinaircraft constraints and toensure operational stabilityand safety. These are criticalsteps toward attaining IOC,expected later this decade,Morley said.

“The team worked hard toreach the milestone despitebudgetary challenges dur-ing the manufacturing de-velopment and engineeringphases of the IRST system,”said Michele Moran, PMA-265 Electro-Optics/Infra-Redintegrated product team lead.

“Like many programsacross the Navy, budget cutspresented significant finan-cial uncertainties, and theIRST programwas not imper-vious to these cuts,” Moransaid. “Our team was able tocompletely restructure theprogram, overcome the bud-get constraints and press for-ward withMilestone C.”

PMA-265 will now transi-tion into the limited produc-tion and introduction phasesof the next-generation capa-bility with the support of in-dustry partners, Boeing andLockheedMartin.

In addition to the IRSTsystem, next-generation ca-pabilities incorporated inthe Navy’s F/A-18E/F FlightPlan include advancedfused sensors, Active Elec-tronically Scanned Arrayradar, counter electronicattack, Distributed Target-

ing System, multi-sensorintegration, anti-surfacewarfare, IP-based linkednetworks and advancedair-to-ground and air-to-airprecision weapons operat-ing on an open architecture.

PMA-265 is responsible foracquiring, delivering and sus-

taining the F/A-18A-D Hor-net, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet,and EA-18G Growler aircraft,providing naval aviators withcapabilities that enable mis-sion success.

Morgan Allen provides con-tract communication supportas an employee of Avian, LLC.

Infrared Search and Track System achieves Milestone C approval

Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin

In February 2014, the aircrew of an F/A-18 Super Hornet carrying the Navy’s infrared search andtrack (IRST) system, inspects the aircraft before the first flight with the pod at Edwards Air ForceBase, Calif. IRST reached a critical milestone Dec. 2, authorizing low-rate initial production of thesensor pod system.

Thursday, December 11, 2014 9Tester

By J. Raynel KochNaval Air Warfare CenterAircraft DivisionPublic Affairs

The classroom normallyused for lectures now looksmore like a computer labhumming with activity — ta-bles filled with micro boards,wires scattered and clumpedhaphazardly and pre-college-aged students connectingLight Emitting Diodes (LED)in patterns.

But this youthful crowdisn’t part of some productionline — they’re taking theirfirst tentative steps into whatcould be a high-tech career.

Fourteen students from St.Mary’s County schools grades6-12 participated in a daylongstudent programming work-shop hosted by the NavalAir Warfare Center AircraftDivision (NAWCAD) Educa-tional Outreach Office andthe National Society of BlackEngineers (NSBE) Jr. at NavalAir Systems Command (NA-VAIR), Patuxent River Nov. 2.

The workshop intro-duced students to mechani-cal and electrical engineeringskills using microcontrollersthrough a kit called ArduinoUno. The workshop is alsoan introduction for potentialparticipants in the upcom-ing NAVAIR summer Super

Computing Program, a sum-mer programming internshipopportunity for high school-ers, 16 years of age and older,slated for five weeks in thesummer of 2015.

“We’re going to have a be-ginner workshop now, anoth-er more advanced workshoplater and then possibly an in-termediate boot camp, “saidHolly Kellogg, NAWCAD di-rector of Science, Technology,Engineering, and Mathemat-ics (STEM) and EducationalOutreach. “The students willlearn and build their skillsthrough these events, so they

can be at an intermediate toadvanced level when they ap-ply for the summer internshipprogram.”

“Today’s workshop is fo-cused on NSBE Jr. groupsfrom St. Mary’s County, andthere are plans to offer work-shops to NSBE Jr. groups inCalvert and possibly evenCharles County,” said Kellogg.“I’m also looking for femaleengineering or STEM groupswithin the communities, sowe can have more females inour summer program.”

Among the students par-ticipating was Nasya Jackson,

a sophomore of Great MillsHigh School, “I think it’s actu-ally really cool to get a handleon the mechanical side ofelectrical engineering. Myinterest is really in biomedi-cal engineering, so it’s nice toget a real background in otherfields of engineering.”

After participating in oneof the programming and cod-ing activities she added, “I’m

now finding myself a lot moreinterested in other fields ofengineering. I think beforeI was a little narrow mindedabout the path I wanted to go,sonow this just opensmyeyesand shows me that computerengineering is not just someboring stuff with coding.”

NAVAIR supports edu-cational outreach programsto help students gain confi-dence in their abilities and toencourage them to enroll inhigher-level STEM courses.

“Through these experi-ences we hope it builds ex-citement and enthusiasm;

and hands [the students] op-portunities to meet our peo-ple, and to make them pas-sionate as well, said Kellogg,who also hopes some of theparticipants in these kinds ofprograms may eventually jointhe NAVAIR work force, whichhas many highly-experiencedtechnical employees who maytransition into retirementoverthe next several years. “Hope-fully, the wonderful experi-ences they had with us willbring them back to us, oncethey have graduated college,rememberingNAVAIRwas theone who gave me my start.”

Decoding the next supercomputing engineers

St. Mary’s County students connect resistors to the ArduinoUno microcontroller circuit board during during the Nov. 4 Edu-cational Outreach Office student Programming Workshop withthe National Society of Black Engineers.

U.S. Navy photos by J. Raynel Koch

Joshua Butler, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) 6.8.4 Logistics Maintenance Informa-tion System and Technology computer scientist, guides Donovan Dabney, St. Mary’s Countystudent, on how to connect resistors to the Arduino Uno microcontroller circuit board during theEducational Outreach Office student Programming Workshop with the National Society of BlackEngineers Nov. 4.

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St. Mary’s County:www.visitstmar ysmd.com/events-entertainment/

Holidays are Sotterley6:30 -9 p.m. Dec. 11, 12 and 18-20Sotterley Plantation

Celebrate the season at Sotterley’s 300year-old plantationhouse decorated in dif-ferent historical periods for the holidays.Experience Sotterley’s 2014 interactive liv-ing history tour, “Common lives, sharedsentiments;” candlelight tours are every15 minutes. Advance reservations are re-quired at www.sotterley.org. Cost: $15.

Sotterley’s Family Plantation Christmas10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13

Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, visit the animals in ourpetting zoo, take a pony ride, sing alongwith carolers, create-your-own holidaycrafts or take a wagon ride. Food vendorson site. Cost, $5; free 2 years and younger.

Decompression Night at PRNAM5-8 p.m. Dec. 18Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

A great time to come decompress be-fore the holiday frenzy really gets into ac-tion. Bring your friends and coworkers tohang-out. Food, beer and wine available.Regular admission fees apply.

Christmas Village3- 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20

Noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 21St.Mary’s County Fairgrounds

Over 1,000 vendors, snow tubing, iceskating, live nativity and entertainment,crafts, pictures with Santa, tree lightingandmore. Fun for the entire family. Free.

Military Exhibits at Piney Point LighthouseThrough Jan. 4

Military exhibits fill the lighthouse keep-er’s quarters and feature the U.S. CoastGuard, U.S. Navy,War of 1812,WorldWar IIand the U. S. Civil War. The keeper’s quar-ters are not normally open to the publicso this is a chance to look inside. Cost: $7,adults; $3.50, senior citizens, military withID, and youths ages 6-18; free, childrenages 5 and younger. Admission includesthe holiday exhibit, tour of the museum,Potomac RiverMaritime Exhibit and PineyPoint Lighthouse tower. Dec. 1-19 hours:noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sun-days; Dec. 20 through Jan. 4 hours: 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. daily. The exhibits and tours areclosed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day andNewYear’s Day.

Christmas by the BayThrough Jan. 4St. Clement’s Island Museum

The exhibit features special doll col-lections from the Black-eyed Susan andSouthern Maryland Doll Clubs. Dolls arearranged to depict Christmas scenes andvignettes of Chesapeake coastal living inthe early 20th century. Cost: $3, adults; $2,senior citizens andmilitarywith ID; $1.50,

youths ages 6-18; free, children ages 5 andyounger. Dec. 1-19 hours: noon to 4 p.m.Wednesdays through Sundays; Dec. 20through Jan. 4 hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.daily. The exhibit is closed Christmas Eve,Christmas Day and NewYear’s Day.

Calvert County:www.calvertcountymd.us

Patuxent Voices in ConcertDec. 12, 13, 14 and 16

Patuxent Voices, an all-female a cap-pella group, will perform a selection ofholiday music on Friday, December 12,7:30 p.m. at All Saints Church, Sunder-land; Saturday, December 13, 7 p.m. atChrist Church, Chaptico; Sunday, De-cember 14, 3 p.m. at Trinity Church, St.Mary’s College; and Tuesday, December16, 7 p.m. at Calvert Pines Senior Centerin Prince Frederick. Performances arefree, but donations are welcome. For de-tails visit: www.patuxentvoices.org.

Christmas Market10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13All Saints’ Episcopal Church, corner ofRtes. 2 & 4, Sunderland

Expert craftsmen, gourmet cocoa,Glühwein, and home-baked goods Rain,snow or shine! Free. Proceeds benefit par-ish & community projects.

Holiday Concert Sing-a-long7-8 p.m. Dec. 18Calvert library, Prince Frederick

Bring the family for hot cocoa and glo-rious holiday music with popular vocal-ists Emily Bowen Mudd, Nate Bowen andothers, as they share some of their favor-ite holiday tunes .

Annmarie Garden in Lights6-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3Annmarie Sculpture Garden and ArtsCenter

The gardens is stepping it up this yearwith more one-of-a-kind light sculpturesand LED lights that provide rich, vividcolors. Walk the wooded path and expe-rience the brilliant vignettes of famouspeople, places and works of art. Don’t for-get to ask for a “Holiday I Spy” program.This year’s game will feature a greenshamrock hidden in each vignette for vis-itors to find. Admission: $6 for ages 5 andolder; free under 5 years. A dollar-off cou-pon is available online. Garden in Lightsis closed December 8, 9, 10, 24, and 25.

Prince George’s County:

‘Tis the SeasonNoon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13Surratt House Museum, Clinton

With the onset ofwinter, howdid South-ern Maryland families prepare for theseason and celebrate the holidays whileenduring the hardships of the Civil War?Receive a holiday discount in themuseumshop and sample cider and cookies. Ad-mission: $3 Adults; $2 age 60 and over; $1ages 5-18; free under five years.

AROUND TOWN

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Leonardtown Hollywood California Lexington Park Great Mills

SHOPLOCAL.SHOPOFTEN.

There’s no doubt that you’ll visit thebig box stores found along Routes235 and 246 while shopping thisyear, but be sure to also include theCounty’s many traditionalbusinesses and specialty shops inyour search for just the rightholiday gifts. Who wouldn’t enjoy atasty treat from Wildewood PastryShop or the unique home décoritems you’ll find at Lola Belle Co.,Traditions of Loveville, the AppleBasket and Cecil’s Old Mill? Ifartwork is your fancy, then a stop at

the North End Gallery in Leonardtown is a must. And, there’s no need tosearch high and low to find gifts for the hunters, fishermen and marksmenin your family… the Tackle Box issure to have everything on your listand more. Now, don’t forget aboutthe importance of bling! Purchasesomething that sparkles fromBlair’s Jewelry and Gifs, G & HJewelers, Inc. and Rick’s Jewelersto keep the hearth lit in your home.There’s simply no better time ofyear than the holidays to give backto your community so ShopLocal and Shop Often!

Ad sponsored by theAd sponsored by theSt. Mary’s County Department of Economic DevelopmentSt. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development