The County Times 2009.01.22 (Low-Def)

Change of Command

THURSDAY January 22, 2009

Story 1

PAGE 25

Man’s Body Found On 235

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Police Investigation Continues, Cause Of Death Unknown.

Students Talk Hope

PAGE 13

CSM Forum Focuses on New President.

AP Photo

Thursday, January 22, 2009 �The County Times

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County To Get Federal Money For Airport Fix-Up

The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement Tuesday with the Maryland Aviation Ad-ministration for $37,360 in grant money to make improvements to the county’s re-gional airport.

The money is slated to be used for up-dating the airport’s security plan, emergen-cy plan and wildlife management plan as well as sealing cracks in public use ramps.

The grant is matched by an equal amount in the county’s budget for the project.

“It’s not quite a stimulus package, but nonetheless it’s money we didn’t expect,” said George Erichsen, director of the De-partment of Public Works and Transporta-tion that oversees airport operations.

County To Hold Public Forum Tuesday

Residents are invited to come out to a public forum to discuss county-wide issues Jan. 27 with the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners at the Chesapeake Buildiing at 41770 Bal-dridge Street in Leonardtown.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in commissioners’ meeting room.

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By Guy LeonardStaff Writer

Last year’s production for local farmers was a good one according to agriculture insiders in St. Mary’s County; while they had to deal with high crop input costs for fuel, seed and fertilizer, prices for their commodities were comparably high.

But this year is a different story. The costs farm-ers endured in the later part of last year were high and they have taken a loss since commodity prices have dropped due to poor economic conditions and a lagging demand from the rest of the world for their products.

“It’s the old supply and demand game,” said Ben Beale, an educator with the Maryland Cooperative Extension in Leonardtown. “It’s like a high stakes poker game, if you had a bad year you lost twice as much.”

Beale said farmers locally had to spend as much as $600 an acre to plant their corn crop in 2008, which is nearly double the cost over the three to four years prior.

But when “commodities prices dropped pre-cipitously,” Beale said, farmers started to feel the pressure.

According to market figures, Beale said, corn was selling at seven dollars a bushel last year in the summer, but when the economic collapse hit the na-tion in September, the market price of corn dropped to about four dollars a bushel.

Soybean prices also dropped, he said, from a high of about $15 a bushel in June of last year to just about $9.60 a bushel in November.

Last year high prices for corn were supported in good measure by the quest for ethanol production as an alternative to fossil fuels.

But when the world-wide economic crisis hit and demand for oil cratered — prices have gone below $35 a barrel from a high of almost $150 a barrel in just a few short months — the demand for ethanol stalled and corn prices plummeted.

Despite the recent volatility in the market, Beale said commodities prices have stabilized in the past week and have even risen by about a dollar.

With seed costs starting to drop, as well as the lower cost of fuel, this growing season might not be too bad for local farmers, he said.

“Things are starting to look up,” Beale said, add-ing, that high food prices in the recent past have not translated into current windfall profits for farmers.

“What people sometimes don’t realize is the cost of doing business doubled for farmers,” Beale told The County Times. “They’re not raking in that much money.”

In Clements, farmer James “Bubby” Norris said farmers are still reeling from the price drop and are not sure what this year holds in store.

Norris said the cost of fertilizer in the spring of 2007 was just $260 a ton, but by 2008 the cost had nearly quadrupled to $1,000 a ton.

Unless global demand for grain sparks up again, he said, farmers could be in for a tough year.

“Planting time is only about 60 or 70 days away,” Norris said. “I don’t know what I’m going to plant.

“I’m going to have to wait to see what the market does. I don’t see where [commodities prices] will go back to the highs where they were.”

Farmers See Uncertainty In High Production Costs, Falling Commodities Prices


Officials at the St. Mary’s County Met-ropolitan Commission (MetCom) say they have a plan that will ensure the Marlay-Taylor Waste Water Treatment plant, which provides sewage treatment for the entire Lexington Park Development District, will be able to support growth for the next two decades.

MetCom Director Steven King told The County Times that the 20-year plan for the aging facility, which will be presented to the county planning commission this coming Monday, will enhance the sewage treatment process so that the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in treated water sent out to the Chesapeake Bay meets tough state standards without having to build a completely new facility.

King said that the solution would ensure that growth of any kind in the district would not stall.

“It [could have] capped growth if we didn’t come up with a solution,” King said Tuesday.

King said that under the current state guidelines for removing nitrogen and phos-phorous from wastewater, only 73,000 pounds a year can be returned back to the Chesapeake Bay.

That translates into just four milligrams per liter from the Marlay-Taylor plant at its current capacity of 6 million gallons a day.

But King said he expects the state to change that cap because the enhanced nutrient removal process that the state will help pay for can achieve a one-milligram lower cap.

“I think they’re going to take it away,” King said of future state environmental man-

dates. “I feel certain they’re going to.”At a cap of just three milligrams per liter

the plant would then only be able to put 50,000 pounds per year into the bay.

King said that with the new system that will be installed at Marlay-Taylor, called the Bardenpho process, the plant would actually be able to treat up to 7.5 million gallons per day because they will control the flow of water into the plant more efficiently.

While that would produce more nitro-gen and phosphorous compounds on a yearly basis, the 20-year plan calls for the use of the extra treated waste water to be used for spray irrigation.

By using spray irrigation, King said, Met-Com could avoid building an untenably expen-sive replacement for Marlay-Taylor — which at its high could have cost $120 million — and instead pay just $24 million for the upgrades.

Chet Frederick, chief engineer at Met-Com, said that the Bardenpho process up-grades at Marlay-Taylor could eventually al-low the plant to reduce its nutrient output to just 1.5 milligrams per liter.

“That’s the bottom end, it can’t go any lower with the current technology,” Frederick said.

Construction on the upgrades is set to start by 2011 and be completed in 2012, Fred-erick said.

King said the amount of equivalent dwell-ing units (EDUs) left at Marlay-Taylor for treatment capacity was just about 1,500, with between 300 to 500 being taken up each year.

Without EDUs available, growth in the district cannot continue.

“We’ve got about three years left,” King said.

MetCom To Unveil 20-Year Plan For Marlay-Taylor Plant

In a letter from the hospital’s board of directors, Chairwoman Linda Dudderar informed the St. Mary’s Board of County Com-missioners that a 15-bed addition to their hospital would open in February.

“The good news is that our vol-umes have picked up and last week we were at capacity,” Dudderar wrote to the commissioners. “We clearly need these beds for the win-ter months.”

Dudderar also reported that the hospital is continuing with its annex expansion project and that they ex-pect to receive about $16 million in financing from the Maryland Health and Higher Education Facilities Au-thority within the next about one week.

The expansion, known as the Centennial Project, is designed to increase the available beds and ser-vices at the hospital to keep up with expected demand for patient care in the coming years.

The county is actively consid-ering financing assistance for the project.

St. Mary’s Hospital Reports Extra Beds Soon On-line, Progress In Centennial Project


We’llhaveextratreatmentcapacityincasegrowthoccursfasterthanwepredict.Wedon’thaveacrystalball.

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St. Mary’s County government has closed the Northern Se-nior Center in Charlotte Hall after a water pipe inside the building

ruptured in multiple places and left some rooms flooded with water over the Jan. 17 weekend.

William Russell, the building manager at the senior center, said that the pipe responsible for the problem broke in places that spread the damage around the center.

“It broke or burst in five or six places,” Russell said, adding that the usually busy senior center was empty over the weekend. “Someone was taking a walk and saw water coming out of the building and called it in.”

Russell said that the water in some rooms got to about one-inch deep. Maintenance and repair workers were busy Tuesday cleaning up the mess and excess water, while sheet rock had been ripped away and discarded outside after having been damaged by moisture.

Russell said that cold weather was likely responsible for the pipe bursting.

“This building hasn’t experienced real cold since it was built, not like we had Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Russell said.

He explained that when certain pipes were installed in the building they were in-stalled above insulation in the attic space under

the roof.“And of course the cold weather froze it,” Russell said.Problematic pipes would likely be moved between the ceiling

and the new insulation to prevent further freezing, Russell said.Fortunately, much of the equipment in the center, especially

computers, were not damaged by the encroaching water, Russell said.

Still the damages could come to about $25,000 to $30,000 after sheetrock and insulation are reinstalled and other repair work finished.

Russell said it that programs like Meals on Wheels could probably resume by the middle of the week since there was no damage done to the kitchen.

The senior center has been closed until further notice but Russell said is expected to reopen soon.

Karen Everett, spokeswoman for county government, said that the center could be closed through Friday, but that county transit buses were still available for the elderly to participate in programs and meals.

“We’ve contacted all the regulars and told them not to come, but they can still come to the Garvey Senior Center in Leonard-town or the Loffler Senior Center at Chancellor’s Run Park.”

County Commissioners Look To State Leading Up To Budget SessionBy Guy LeonardStaff Writer

County commissioners will start their budget work session Monday with a look at all the capital con-struction projects but officials and staff are still wait-ing for more information from the state on how much the county can expect to get from revenue allotments.

“In terms of what comes from the state, we’re waiting,” said Elaine Kramer, director of the finance department at county government.

While most commissioners seem to believe that the state will provide less in funds from sources like income taxes or other revenue streams, Kramer said it would be “premature” to say that their would be dras-tic cuts in revenue.

Kramer said she has also advised commission-ers to avoid dipping into an $11 million fund balance to pay for any one-time expenses until state funding reports come in.

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (D-Leon-ardtown) said that a capital project to build more com-munications towers for emergency responder use was on his mind for approval to move ahead sooner rather than later, as it was slated.

“I’d like to see if we can move that up a year,” Mattingly said. “It could be a $5 million project if it’s done all in one year.”

Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said he would continue his efforts to press for a

budget that eschews five-percent increases allowable to county departments in tough economic times.

“We should hold the line on the budget and on the constant yield [property tax rate cap,]” Jarboe said, who added that his would likely not be the ma-jority view on the commissioner board.

“It’s kind of hard being the gang of one,” Jarboe said.

Jarboe is not the only official to propose a tax cut; Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) has proposed an additional cut in the energy tax in a repeat of a proposal he made last year.

Mattingly said, as Raley has argued in the past, that initiating the constant yield would carve about $5 million to $6 million out of the county’s operation budget, something it could not afford if it wanted to maintain services.

“To sit and say we can do constant yield is way ahead of the game,” Mattingly said. “It may be politi-cally popular… but it’s not realistic.”

Both commissioners agreed that the state may also try to unload teacher pensions and possibly other expenses onto local jurisdictions. Some state repre-sentatives have predicted that such a move would fis-cally hurt counties.

The proposal has been batted around before at the state level, Mattingly said, but this year it could happen.

“If it were ever going to happen this is the year,” Mattingly said.

Water Damage Closes Senior Center

Willpropertytaxcappass? OnupgradesproposedforMarlay-Taylor?

MetropolitanCommissionDirectorStevenKing

William Russell, building manager at the Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall

surveys water damage that caused the center to be shut down temporarily.

Photo by Guy Leonard


Drug Complaints


Mayor J. Harry Norris says he’s concerned over citizen reports that drug activity has sprung back up in the surrounding neighborhoods of Duke Street and Norris Circle in town.

The area has been the target of several police enforcement initiatives in the past several years, including a large-scale raid in the spring of 2007 that brought down open-air drug deal-ing in the neighborhood at Leonard’s Freehold that involved tactical teams from both Charles and Calvert coun-

ties to execute the operation.

Norris said there have been similar op-erations in the past six

months in the surrounding neighbor-hoods, but according to calls he’s re-ceived from residents the problems have crept back in.

“They tell me that the drug prob-lems have resurfaced,” Norris said of citizens complaints in recent weeks, which he made public at the Jan. 12 town council meeting. “For some reason it’s flared back up; it’s a little discouraging.”

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron confirmed there have been further anti-drug operations in the that area of Leonardtown in the past year and that investigations in the area will continue.

“It’s something we’re looking into,” Cameron said. “It’s been quiet [there] for a while but you know how that goes.”

Mayor Concerned Over Drug Complaints In Older Neighborhoods


The owners and developers of a small, three-unit apart-ment building on Lawrence Avenue in Leonardtown want to tear the old building down, which they say is in serious need of renovation, and build a new project of six apartments for workforce housing.

The Leonardtown Town Council voted to approve the project for further review by the town’s own planning com-mission by a 4-to-1 vote Jan. 12 afternoon with council member Tom Collier the lone vote against the measure.

Collier said the council did not know enough about how many equiva-lent dwelling units of waste water capac-ity was available given other projects in town to justify the tearing down of the apartments and their eventual rebuilding and expansion.

“I don’t think we know enough,” Collier told other council members. “And the prospects for our expanding capacity at the treatment plan are not looking good at this time.”

Last year, the council voted to enact an ordinance that strictly ra-tioned out the EDUs, or the average amount of water used by a household that could be properly treated at the Van Wert Lane treatment facility, to certain projects like revitalization efforts.

This was done shortly after the town realized it would not have the money to expand the treatment plant as it had planned, complete with enhanced nutrient removal processes for nitrogen and phosphorous, by 2011.

The town has only about 90 EDUs of capacity left, ac-cording to town officials.

Under town law, projects must first be approved for further study at the planning commission by the town coun-cil. Then, if the project is approved there, it goes back to the town council for a final up or down vote.

Mayor J. Harry “Chip” Norris told Ann Hooper, the developer on the project and her architect Angela Healy, that the council’s vote was not a slam dunk for the project.

“It’s not a guarantee, it’s not even an endorsement,” Norris said.

The new apartments would be rented out for about $1,500 a month; approximately twice what tenants are

paying now, according to de-

veloper plans.Council member Leslie Roberts said the con-

cept plan was impressive.“This is right out of cutting edge housing and zoning,”

Roberts said.

Town Council Mulls Rebuilding Of Apartment Complex

Leonardtown Mayor Ponders Concerns About Vacant Buildings

TownAround


Leonardtown Mayor J. Harry “Chip” Norris told The County Times last week that it might be time for town leaders to consider condemnation for vacant buildings that have been unused for extended periods.

The idea comes at a time when revitaliza-tion efforts in the town, while still progressing and meeting with some success, have slowed down due to the faltering national economy.

Projects that are slow to get started be-cause of economic problems would not be the target of a condemnation exercise, Nor-ris said, but he noted that several properties in Leonardtown’s domain that are either un-safe or chronically vacant may need serious consideration.

“They’re not just eyesores but potentially dangerous, too,” Norris said of dilapidated properties. “Any vacant building we’re aware of, we try to keep track of.

“It has the potential for a lot of problems.”

The problem of blight, Norris said, was something any municipality or jurisdiction had to deal with.

“We have to be more proactive… and you can start with the vacant buildings,” he said.

Currently the town does not have the authority to engage in condemning property, Norris said, which is a measure the town gov-

ernment may have to consider voting on.Town Councilmember Dan Burris said

one particular property on Route 5, a house just off the road that has fallen down, was an example of the blight the town had to deal

with.Burris added that it would be a difficult

issue for the council to sort out, balancing the interests of the town with individual property

rights.“We’ve not discussed it… but if it’s in the

town’s interest we can certainly do that,” Bur-ris said.

However, Norris said, the town has been

loathe to press property owners to have de-pressed structures torn down because state regulations usually take away their property rights once they do.

“It’s a fine line; when should you step in?” Norris said “We’re reluctant to take away their property and rebuilding rights.”

Any of the town’s concerns over vacant or stressed properties have so far been han-dled by the county’s health department, Nor-ris said.

Sometimes, Norris said, the town asks property owners to invest in refurbishing or renewing their buildings. The town offers several incentives, he said, but not everyone takes advantage.

“It’s mostly absentee landlords that are the problem,” Norris said. “You can have all the incentives you want, but the attitude is ‘Why should I spend the money when I’m at 100 percent occupancy?’”

Norris added that he is concerned over the slow progress of the revitalization of cer-tain properties in town.

One example was a vacant gas station and bar on Route 5 owned by a local devel-oper, which has been promoted as a potential site for a restaurant and other amenities.

“It didn’t seem as big an issue a year ago,” Norris said of stalled revitalization proj-ects in town. “But now with this economy we are concerned about things not moving ahead as planned.”

Norris said, however, that the Commu-nity Bank project as well as the Executive Inn and Suites Park Avenue rebuild are major im-provements the town has been waiting for as well as an ongoing streetscape project.



The Town Council of Leonardtown is considering an application by a developer to raze these apartments

on Lawrence Ave and build a new apartment complex for workforce housing.

Town officials are concerned about the future of properties like this one on Route 5 which have been slated for redevelopment bye may have stalled because of the economic recession.

They tell me that the drug problems have resurfaced

-Mayor Norris


ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ Gov. Martin O’Malley is planning to emphasize efforts to repeal capital punishment in Maryland by sponsoring his own bill to end the death penalty.

O’Malley met Thursday with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to talk about his intentions to move the measure out of a Senate committee, where the bill has stalled for the past two years.

O’Malley is following through with a state commission’s recommendation late last year that Maryland should abolish capital punish-ment. The commission cited racial and juris-dictional disparities in how the death penalty administered, and the expense of the process.

Md. Governor Sponsors Bill To End Death Penalty

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ For the first time, there are now three female judges on Maryland’s highest court.

Gov. Martin O’Malley pointed that out Thursday at the swearing in ceremony for Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, who is the governor’s third appointment to the seven-member Court of Appeals.

O’Malley also appointed Judge Sally Adkins to the court. Judge Lynne Battaglia is the third female judge currently on the bench. She was ap-pointed by former Gov. Parris Glendening.

Maryland’s Highest Court Includes 3 Women

By Dylan WaugCapital News Service

ANNAPOLIS - The morning after reports surfaced that state employee layoffs will be in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed budget next week, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. told the governor he opposes the idea.

Speaking to the Maryland Economic De-velopment Association Wednesday, Miller, D-Calvert, said that he “took the governor to task” about the possibility of layoffs at a break-fast meeting earlier in the day.

“I just felt that our state employees had suffered enough,” Miller said later, citing a fur-lough plan and a lack of pay increases. “When you come to state employment, you hope for job security.”

O’Malley Spokeswoman Christine Han-sen declined to discuss the specifics of the breakfast.

“The governor is working to solve the fis-cal year 2009 budget and is working to propose his fiscal year 2010 budget,” she said. “He’s go-ing to be working together with Senate Presi-dent Miller, [House] Speaker [Michael E.] Busch and Republicans and Democrats alike to help Maryland’s middle class get through these tough economic times.”

Busch Spokeswoman Alexandra Hughes said the Speaker will evaluate O’Malley’s budget when it is delivered to the House next week.

“The Speaker is interested in keeping as

many people in the workplace as pos-sible,” she said.

Busch, D-Anne Arundel, was not at the breakfast.Miller also said Wednesday that O’Malley

will make budget cuts that affect the current year’s deficit, as well as the projected $1.9 bil-lion shortfall in the coming fiscal year.

“Instead of coming up with $500 million in cuts right now, what he’s going to do is pres-ent cuts in programs that will deal with the 2009 budget” and also affect the 2010 budget, Miller said.

There are alternatives to layoffs, Miller said, including shifting some of the financial burden to the county level. Approximately 40 percent of the state’s budget supports local governments.

“The counties, for the most part, haven’t had layoffs, they haven’t had furloughs,” Mill-er said. “Forty percent of our budget. It’s got to be a little (more) equally shared.”

Miller said the counties should be responsible for paying at least some of the teachers’ pensions, a responsibility the state currently holds.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold, a Republican, said such a shift would severely hinder his administration’s ability to provide es-sential services.

“I realize the county governments are not immune from the budget cuts,” Leopold said. “This would be a particu-larly pernicious additional cost to the county. I strongly oppose the idea.”

More debate on the topic

is expected as legislators await next week’s budget.

“There has to be more equitable division of sharing that cost with the jurisdictions of the state,” Miller said.

Layoff Friction

THOMAS V. MIKE MILLER, JR., President of Senate

Democrat, District 27, Calvert &

Prince George’s Counties

Ijustfeltthatourstateemployeeshadsufferedenough


Editorial

Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can’t be wrong!

Economic Recovery; Economic Disaster; Property Rights Could Hold The Key

Dear Editor:

Your 1st Amendment rights, we don’t have to remind many people what particular rights are referred to by this amendment to our nations Constitution. Commonly referred to as “freedom of speech” rights, Americans revere this right, will stand together to defend such right, and inherently interpret this right in the broadest of terms. It is a Constitutional right of all citizens to be able to speak freely, and Americans shed blood to defend our rights.

Due largely to the nations media wanting to protect freedom of speech rights for their own benefit, and they should, any attempt by government to take away even a small amount of your 1st Amendment rights, or better stated the media’s 1st Amendment rights, become national headlines. Our government has even been unsuccessful in controlling “online chat rooms” and the like where people, hiding be-hind a mask of unknown identity are allowed to slander, lie, and even go so far as to cause harm and threats of personal injury to others. These can sometimes be almost terrorist type activities that social liberals claim should be protected by the 1st Amendment.

But what about the 5th Amendment to our nations Constitution, and what about the 14th Amendment? How many Americans can tell you what rights these Amendments afford, and more importantly who are the watchdogs for these rights?

Americans are afforded property rights by our Constitution under the 5th and 14th Amendments, and many economists would argue that property rights represent the most fundamental economic freedom we hold.

The primary economic benefit of private property lies in its use and the owners ability to use the property for financial benefit. Even as simple as building a home on your personal property is to leverage that property for finan-cial gain, even if you plan to live the rest of your life in that house, your personal wealth could be enhanced by using that property for a home.

When government controls the use of pri-vate property through land use policies which gives government the authority to determine how and when land can be used, then govern-ment has the ability to control the economic benefit of your property. When government places economically burdensome land controls on your property, your largest asset, the affect is no different than controlling the funds in your bank account.

While Americans are willing to die to protect 1st Amendment rights, most have stood idly by as government has piece by piece seized almost total control of our largest assets, our land and our buildings.

Of course, the planning of communities, the desire to prevent one property owner from using property to cause harm to a neighboring property owner, and the health and welfare of all are legitimate arguments for the need to balance the rights of the individual against the common good. Social elites do believe in property rights, however they believe those rights should be shifted from the individual to government, and the more centralized the gov-ernment, the better.

The shifting of those rights is exactly what has occurred over many years, especially over the past 30 years. Property rights advocates have understood the need for local land use policy and have fought to keep land use deci-sions local. By keeping land planning at the local government level it keeps property rights as close as possible to the people. It allows communities to balance growth and industry, to protect jobs while protecting the character of their hometown.

This year, Maryland’s Governor, Martin O’Malley will propose a bill to the Maryland Legislature that will represent the most sweep-ing attempt to centralize land use policy at the state level in the history of Maryland. The socialist policy of transferring land use poli-cy to a centralized state agency began under former Governor Glendenning who initiated Maryland’s “smart growth” policy. Be care-ful who coins a phrase, one could just as easy call betting your money on the lottery “smart money”.

Does “smart growth” hold some good concepts, certainly, should these be adminis-tered on the state level, absolutely not. Four years ago Senator Roy Dyson sponsored a bill in the Maryland Senate that would take land use decisions out of the hands of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners and the Commission-ers of Leonardtown and place those decisions into the hands of the state government. Is there anyone in St. Mary’s who believes someone in Baltimore City should be given the power to decide the property rights of people in St. Mary’s over our local elected officials?

Fortunately Dyson’s plan was thrown out, primarily to the efforts of Delegate Wood and Delegate O’Donnell and St. Mary’s was al-lowed to maintain the same land use authority that all other Maryland counties have.

Now comes O’Malley, unlike Dyson who wished to strip the local government complete-ly, O’Malley’s plan will be like a cancer that keeps alive and accelerates the Glendenning plan to slowly take the local land use decisions away from local governments.

One only has to look at the state of Cali-fornia to see the devastating negative impact this will have on our state’s economy. These centralized policies have the effect of driving up the cost of land and construction to the point where it is unaffordable to the average worker. When folks can’t afford to buy a house, jobs are lost, companies move out and economies suffer. California today is nearly bankrupt.

Additionally, when more power is central-ized, more corruption will follow. The real power brokers in Annapolis and Baltimore will find ways to use centralized power to their ad-vantage while those with little power and little representation will find themselves at a clear disadvantage.

O’Malley’s tenure as Governor continues to highlight the largest social agenda in our state’s history. Unfortunately there are only a handful in Maryland’s Legislature who oppose this agenda, two are our own, Delegate’s Wood and O’Donnell. Unfortunately our other two, Senator Dyson and Delegate Bohannon remain on O’Malley’s side.

Dear Editor,As a member of the community you

serve I would like to thank you. The redesign of your publication is exactly what this com-munity needed. It gives an easier more effec-tive way to get the information about what’s happening in our community. The layout and size makes it very easy to find the stories I want to read and the fact that I don’t have to trace through the paper to get the second half of the story really makes me happy. I think that’s one of the best parts of the new format. Also some of the new sections you have are things I think people will want to read. I

enjoy the new lifestyle section as well as the real estate. Featuring high school athletes on your back page really gives what they do a professional look and is great for those. I also went online out of curiosity to see what the paper looked like online and found your new experimental reader. I found it to be great to have an interactive way to read the paper on-line. I’ve always enjoyed getting The County Times but more so now with all the changes. I like having another point of view for news in the county. Hat’s off to you guys on a job well done.

Sincerely,Shannon Russell

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Send us a letter telling us what’s on your mind!Send to:

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Quote Of The Day Thereisonerulefortheindustrialistandthatis:Makethebestqualityofgoodspossibleatthelowestcostpossible,payingthehighestwagespossible. -HenryFord

WHEN:Monday, Jan. 26, 2009At 7 p.m.

WHERE:HSMC Auditorium, adjacent to the HSMC Visitor’s Center, Rosecroft Rd.

WHY:After its review of citizen feedback on the proposed solutions exhibited at the Jan. 21 open house, the CDA will report the results of the open house to SMCM and HSMC, who will in turn submit their recommendations for action to their boards.

For more information on the CDA, visit http://smcm.edu/cda/Or call 240-895-4412

You’re Invited to a Public Meeting on the Review of Options for Increased Safety at Pedestrian

Crossings in St. Mary’s City

The Capital Design Advisory Committee (CDA)of St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM)

andHistoric St. Mary’s City (HSMC)

Invites Concerned Community Members

Legal NoticeNotice of Public Hearing

The Leonardtown Mayor and Town Council will hold a public hearing on February 9, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. in the Town Office, located at 41660 Courthouse Dr., Leonardtown, MD. The purpose of the hearing is to present for public review and comment a text amendment to the Leonardtown Zoning Ordinance – Article XIX, Chapter 155-128, A and Article XX, Chapter 155-132, B. All interested parties are encouraged to attend or to submit written comments by 4:00 p.m. on Febru-ary 9, 2009 to the Commissioners of Leonard-town, POB 1, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Special accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities upon request.

By Authority: Laschelle E. Miller, Town Administrator.

01-22-09

In The Matter Of Thomas Hunter WebbFor Change Of Name To Thomas Hunter Webb JoyBy And Through His Mother Jessica Sutherland Joy

In the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s Coun-ty, Maryland

Civil No.: 18-C-09-000006 NC The above Petitioner has filed a Petition for

Change of Name in which she seeks to change the name of a minor child from Thomas Hunter Webb to Thomas Hunter Webb Joy. The Petition-er is seeking this name change for the child for the following reasons: To make his last name the same as his mothers and siblings last name.

Any person may file an objection to the Peti-tion on or before the 13th day of February, 2009. The objection must be supported by an affidavit and served upon the Petitioner in accordance with Maryland Rule 1-321. Failure to file an objection or affidavit within the time allowed may result in a judgment by default or the granting of the relief sought.

A copy of this Notice shall be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least fifteen (15) days before the dead-line to file an objection.

JOAN W. WILLIAMS,Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County Maryland

01-22-09

Speaks

By Sean RiceStaff Writer

Residents have the opportunity to review and comment on several proposals aimed at improving the safety of pedestrians crossing Route 5 at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

The Capital Design Advisory (CDA) for the college and Historic St. Mary’s City held two open houses on Jan. 21, which provided details for sev-eral alternatives to the pro-posed pedestrian crossing over Route 5.

Officials with Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) and the college agreed to investigate alternative so-lutions after community members voiced concerns about a pedestrian bridge at previous public hearings.

Residents who attend-ed the open house were able to provide written comments for officials on hand. Full details of the proposals are also available at the college’s Web site, and comments can be emailed in response. The “Analy-sis of Proposed Pedestrian Footbridge and Alternatives” can be downloaded by following the links at www.smcm.edu/cda.

The CDA has scheduled another public hearing for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, to review the feedback and com-ments received from community mem-bers about the alternatives.

The timetable released shows the CDA then forwarding the comments to officials with the college and HSMC, who will announce a preferred op-tion in February. A final CDA meet-ing will be scheduled in February to review it, and design activities are

expected to begin in March. The options for enhancing

the safety of the Route 5 crossing include the earlier proposed footbridge; im-proving the existing cross-walk; using traffic control devices; making general improvements throughout the Route 5-campus cor-ridor; and building a tun-nel in place of the south crosswalk.

Officials say the safe-ty of students, staff and visitors crossing Route 5 prompted the initial pro-posal for a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

According to the college’s Office of Plan-ning and Facilities, when school is in session, nearly 600 people cross Route 5 daily between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Most cross at the south crosswalk which is between the Campus Cen-ter and the St. Mary’s City Post Office.

Foot Bridge Alternatives Explored


Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations are look-ing into the cause of death of a man identi-fied as 44-year-old Thomas Leroy Dyson of Mechanicsville.

Dyson was found dead on the right-hand side of north-bound Route 235 Wednesday at about 8 a.m. in Lau-rel Grove.

According to a press release from the investigative unit there were no signs of injury to Dyson, who they described as a black male wearing eye-

glasses, a baseball cap, blue jeans and a dark blue jacket.

Investigators hope that the description will prompt any witnesses who may have seen Dyson walking in the vicinity of Laurel Grove between 4p.m. Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 to come for-ward with any information regarding the case.

Detectives at the bureau can be reached at 301-475-4200 at extension 9098.

Detectives Looking For Clues In Man’s Death

An official with St. Mary’s college of Maryland explains one of the alternatives to a com-munity resident.

Photo by Sean Rice

Thursday, January 22, 2009 10The County Times

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FactunDuring fiscal year (FY) 2008, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced

approximately 38 million notes a day with a face value of approximately $629 million.

Andrea ShiellStaff Writer

Hundreds of soon-to-be-brides crowded into the Dougherty Center in Lexington Park Jan. 18 for the 7th annual Bridal Show, featuring 25 vendors from the tri-county area selling everything from save-the-date cards to ceremonial doves.

As models walked by draped in elegant white gowns and the glow of unity candles softened the air, wedding fever was all about, as the mimo-sas flowed next to the chocolate fountain and the vendors enthusiasti-cally engaged potential customers.

As representa-tives from local busi-nesses displayed their wares, from tiaras to tuxedos, all seemed happy to spend the af-ternoon engaged in the business side of “I do.”

Statistics show that the average wed-ding in St. Mary’s County costs between $19,000 and $32,000, not including honey-moon costs, but busi-nesses in the area that have not buckled due to the economic downturn are fitting their newly narrowed niche quite comfortably. This is the case with florist Laurie Garrison, owner of Country Bouquet in Great Mills, who said the closing of seven local florists in the last year and a half has re-ally only helped her own business turn a healthy profit, particularly with the Southern Maryland wedding cir-cuit. She said she expected to book the rest of her year in the weeks after the bridal show, already having a full schedule for the first rash of spring weddings due in the next few months.

Other business owners admitted to a general downturn, however, like photographer Darrin Far-rell, who works for Images Photography in California, Maryland.

“We’re always slow this time of year…we’re down by about 13 percent this year,” said Farrell, “but that’s not that bad to me. Other businesses are down a lot more.”

DJs like Marc Shubrooks said the number of people insisting on having IPOD parties instead of spending the money for a professional DJ has indeed

made a dent in business, but he saw it as a temporary lag that has mostly affected office parties rather than weddings.

“People are having IPOD parties and realizing it doesn’t work, so they’re calling back once they figure that out,” he said, adding that his extensive music li-brary and years of experience give him the upper hand over any pre-set play-list.

Vendors said the first step was to connect per-sonally with potential customers, and Sunday’s show

offered the perfect forum. Such was one of the perks for St. Mary’s County’s local “ace of cakes,” Anita Kriner, owner of Anita’s Wedding Cake Company in Great Mills. Kriner said business typically starts booming in early spring, when she is commissioned to create all manner of celebratory confections, her most popular wedding cake flavor being butter almond with Chambord Raspberry filling.

“The average cake that they purchase from me is about $550,” she said, adding that she expected to see an increase in bookings after any event like Sunday’s show.

All vendors could agree that Sunday’s bridal show would pad their schedules with bookings as the warmth of spring brings with it a robust wedding season.

If the number of interested parties at the bridal show indicates anything, then in St. Mary’s County there is no shortage of couples wanting to tie the knot in style, happily married to the idea of a perfect wed-ding day.

The Business of Selling “I Do”


St. Mary’s County continues to see rising unem-ployment numbers on par with the job losses being felt across the country, though at a proportionally lower level.

Since June 2008, the monthly unemployment rate in St. Mary’s County has gone from 2.9 percent to 4.2 percent in November – which are the most recent numbers released.

The average for all of Maryland in November was 5.1 percent.

“We’re sort of holding our own,” says Bob Schaller, St. Mary’s County Director of Economic and Community Development. “There’s no doubt, our un-employment rate is up a whole point over this time last year, and that’s not good.”

The local defense industry can take credit for keeping St. Mary’s County’s unemployment rate at a steady level just above national averages.

“There’s always been this assertion that we’re buffered, since we have a steady employer with the

base,” Schaller said. “And during the last year and a half or so, that gap or buffer is actually widening.”

While the numbers show that locations other than Southern Maryland are getting worse at a faster rate, the effects are being felt at home.

Officials point out that residential construction is an industry hardest hit by the recent downturn, as well as industries directly related to home building, such as painters and carpenters.

“Retail is also a big concern,” Schaller said. “Big ticket items, houses, cars and luxury items, right now those are hurting. It’s a tough time, and those kinds of places are either laying off or giving people fewer hours.

Small businesses that don’t have the capital or corporate backing to sustain the economic drought face the most danger.

“Our unemployment is up and it’s mostly being felt, as usual, by small businesses and we’re trying to help them in any way we can.” Schaller told The Coun-ty Times. “Who knows, maybe during the next year it will all turn around, but for the last six months to a year, it’s been like something like we’ve not seen.”

Unemployment Rate Continues to Climb

Arlene Sauter and Jim Fletche, sales associates with Griffin’s Flooring America (California branch) have recently earned their designation as Certified Sales Professionals for 2009.

To earn the certification, an applicant must pass a comprehensive examination and demonstrate a mastery of knowledge in the industry. Attaining certification demonstrates a commitment to person-al excellence and a consistent dedication to superior customer service and professionalism.

Flooring America and Flooring Canada, with a sales volume of $1.4 billion, consists of more than 575 member-owned floorcovering stores through-out the United States and Canada, providing mem-bers with exclusive brands and warranty programs, comprehensive multi-media advertising programs, complete Showroom merchandising packages, plus training in management and sales. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.

Sauter and Fletcher Earn 2009 Certification

Photo by Andrea ShiellAnita Kriner of Anita’s Wedding Cake Company was one of 25 vendors at this year’s Bridal Show at the Dougherty Center.

Company Symbol Close Close Change

1/21/2009 12/31/2008

WalMart WMT $49.14 $56.06 -12.34%

Harley Davidson HOG $13.56 $16.97 -20.09%

Best Buy BBY $27.31 $28.11 -2.85%

Lockheed Martin LMT $80.03 $84.08 -4.82%

BAE Systems BAESF $5.35 $5.41 -1.11%

Computer Science Corp. CSC $36.66 $35.14 4.33%

Dyncorp International Inc. DCP $15.25 $15.17 0.53%

General Dynamics Corp. GD $54.01 $57.59 -6.22%

Mantech International Corp. MANT $55.94 $54.19 3.23%

Northrop Grunman Corp. NOC $47.98 $45.04 6.53%

Thursday, January 22, 200911 The County Times

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President Barack Obama successfully surfed his wave of hope and change from the campaign trail right into the Oval Office – Now what?

Americans are eagerly waiting to find out what Obama had in mind while spreading his mantra of change, and pledging to begin “remaking America” after taking the oath of office.

What does a remaking of America mean for Southern Maryland and its military instal-lations? Most say only time can tell, but the defense community entrenched in St. Mary’s County has been working hard to earn its share of military contracts.

“The president has said he has a number of programs in his agenda to put forth, and I think at the end of the day, defense is going to get hit somewhere,” said Todd Morgan, presi-dent of the Navy Alliance.

“What we have going in our favor is that it’s all about research and development, test and evaluation here at Pax River,” retired Navy Capt. Glen Ives told The County Times. “I think that the work we see here at Pax will continue to remain here at Pax.”

Ives, who was the previous commanding officer at Patuxent Naval Air Station, said any speculation on how the defense budget will shake out in 2010 is purely guesswork.

Pax River and the Webster Field Annex are currently involved in a seven Acquisition Category 1 (ACAT 1) projects. The ACAT 1 title is given to the Department of Defense pro-grams that take the highest priority.

“The most the base has had at one time, up until now, has been two. So that’s pretty sig-nificant,” Bob Schaller, director of economic and community development for St. Mary’s County, said about the current major projects.

“People tend to look at our large programs, and that’s a good thing,” Ives said. “But you know what’s even better? We have over 100 other smaller programs, and it’s those smaller programs that continue to be viable.”

The work underway at Pax River and Webster Field should be allowed to continue, according to Morgan with The Navy Alliance. If anything, the local capabilities are so highly specialized, even more work should be brought to Pax River.

“This is the largest research, development, test and evaluation center in the free world. With the labs, and the people and the expertise

that we have here across the board, we really believe that this place has to be more than just naval aviation and wings,” Morgan said. “We really believe that if you take Pax River and St. Inigoes and combine their forces that we can compete with anybody out there, and probably do a job in a more cost effective manner.”

According to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Southern Maryland just might see the types of growth that many think is warranted.

“President Obama has stressed the need for technological expansion, innovating and harnessing new technologies. Pax River, Web-ster Field and Indian Head are on the cutting edge of research, excelling in the implementa-tion of new technologies,” Sen. Mikulski told The County Times. “They will continue to be essential in providing the engineering and the testing expertise necessary to field many of our military technologies and make our nation stronger.”

“It’s always good to be worried about it, because we always have worried about it and we’re pretty good at worrying,” said Joe Ander-son, former St. Mary’s County Commissioner.

“As long as we have Hoyer up there watch-ing out for his district’s best interest, even in a case of diminishing revenues, we’ll be getting our lion’s share,” Anderson continued.

Maryland Delegate John Bohanan (D), who is also senior advisor to Congressman Steny Hoyer, said cuts in the overall defense budget were coming no matter who was elect-ed president.

“You can go back to when Bill Clinton was elected. There was a lot of doom and gloom expressed then,” Bohanan told The County Times. “And looking back, those were some of the best 8 years we’ve had, period.”

Though not everybody is convinced all will be fine.

“There’s a lot of unanswered questions about how he is going to operate and how Con-gress is going to operate with him, I’ve been picking up mixed signals myself,” said retired Navy Capt. Don Brown.

Brown, a former chairman of the St. Mary’s County Republican Party, said the military overall has been getting cut with each new administration in recent years, and that needs to stop.

“I think the military down here would be of some level of import,” Brown said. “I don’t think he’s going to cut off everything down here even if he got into an anti-military cutting mode.”

Considering The Obama Factor At PAX

DAHLGREN, Va. (AP) _ The Na-vy’s Aegis training center at Dahlgren will get a new commander.

Capt. Russ Haas will take over in a change-of-command ceremony Jan. 26 at the Aegis Training and Readiness Center.

The 47-year-old Haas was opera-tions officer of Carrier Strike Group 7 and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group from 2007 until December. He re-places Capt. Alexander Casimes.

Aegis is a computerized weapons system that uses radar technology to de-tect and engage threats. The training cen-ter employs more than 300 military and civilian workers. About 1,200 enlisted personnel and 550 officers go through the training program annually.

Navy’s Aegis Facility To Get New Commander

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Barack Obama is vowing to `̀ responsibly leave Iraq to its people’’ and also to build what he calls a `̀ hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.’’

In his inaugural address, Obama says earlier generations understood that the na-tion’s security comes not from using power `̀ as we please,’’ but from its `̀ prudent use.’’ He says the nation becomes stronger through `̀ the justness of our cause’’ and `̀ the force of our example.’’

He vowed to work with `̀ old friends and former foes’’ to reduce the nuclear threat and to `̀ roll back the specter of a warring planet.’’

And he had this warring for terrorists _ that `̀ our spirit is stronger and cannot be bro-ken.’’ He said, ̀ `You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.’’

Obama Vows Responsible End To Iraq War


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Thursday, January 22, 200913 The County Times KnowIn T

he Education

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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) recognized 344 candidates for degrees and cer-tificates Jan. 15 at the La Plata Campus during its 10th Winter Commencement.

“What makes our graduates so special is that they have com-pleted their studies while juggling so many other responsibilities,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gott-fried as he welcomed the family and friends gathered to celebrate the 129 graduates who participated in the college’s first graduation fol-lowing its 50th anniversary year.

This winter, CSM awarded 352 associate degrees and 108 cer-tificates: 47 percent of the students receiving awards are from Charles County, 27 percent are from St. Mary’s County, and 21 percent are from Calvert County; 5 percent are from outside of the Southern Maryland region.

Of the graduates, 65 percent are female and 35 percent are male. Associate degrees were awarded predominantly in the fields of gen-eral studies, business administra-tion and nursing. Certificates were awarded predominately in the ar-eas of general studies: transfer, and advanced and basic accounting. The ages of this winter’s graduate and certificate recipients ranged from 17 to 66.

The keynote speaker for the commencement was Rear Adm. Steve Eastburg.

CSM Celebrates 10th Winter Commencement

MD Department of Education Offering Summer Meals

The Maryland State Depart-ment of Education (MSDE) an-nounced that federal funds are now available to assist public and private nonprofit agencies in pro-viding free meals and snacks to children this summer.

The funds are available through the Summer Food Ser-vice Program (SFSP), but the state is seeking additional agencies to sponsor the program.

“In a struggling economy compounded by the rising cost of food, the Summer Food Service Program is an increasingly impor-tant resource to provide nutrition-ally balanced meals and snacks to children during the summer months,” said State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick.

The SFSP provides reim-bursement to agencies for meals and snacks served to children in ar-eas where at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced price meals. In St. Mary’s County alone, the number of students ap-plying for free and reduced-price meals has risen by more than five percent in the last year.


Inaugurations were not always the grand public spec-tacles that they are today, said Assistant Professor Chretien Guidry, as he nodded to the large screen projecting scenes from this year’s inaugural celebration, which was markedly different from the ones that preceded it, as it saw the swear-ing-in of America’s first African American president. But it was also different in that presidents from Washington to Lin-coln had taken their presidential oath of office on their own porches and balconies as a matter of course. James Monroe was the first president to have his inau-guration outdoors in 1816, opening the ceremony to public viewing.

Since then the public’s access to the inauguration has only grown, from the semi-private affairs that started the country in its earliest days, to the glamorous visage seen by billions dur-ing election years today.

Guidry’s statements resonated with others in the room at CSM in Leonardtown as they gathered to dis-cuss what this year’s election, and this year’s inauguration, meant to them.

“I’m glad I’m alive to see some-thing like this,” said 26 year-old student Michael Mitchell at the forum, “and there were a lot of people involved in this big event…so for me as a member of my generation, I’m just glad I got to see it happen,” he said.

Other generations were repre-sented at Tuesday’s forum, including Arthuretta Bowman, her daughter Regina, and her granddaughter Kayla. “I came up at a time when schools were segregated,” said Arthuretta, “and they had black students on one side of town and white students on the other…and you tried not to

run into each other…but now to have a black president, it’s wonderful...as an African American, I am very proud of my country now.”

“Sometimes too much experience can be just as dan-gerous as too little,” said Regina when asked about Obama’s lack of executive experience. She later added that she felt the new president should be scrutinized the same as any other leader.

One visitor from London, Michael Black, had been at the inauguration in D.C. and attended the forum, sharing some of his own insights on the inauguration. “I don’t really think it’s hyped at all…this is like breaking the glass ceiling

for a lot of people,” said Black. “If he’s done nothing else, he’ll at least be able to see children say they can do any-thing. He’s set that example for them,” he said.

Students Share About the “Obama Factor” At Public Forum


Rachel Gilman, 15, a sophomore at Leon-ardtown High, has accomplished a great deal. She maintains a 3.8 grade point average, at-tends AP classes, plays basketball and swims, and spends her free time volunteering at the animal shelter, but she has never been out of the country before, and her mother Jennifer commented that, “she’s had a passport for two years, but she’s never used it.”

But that is about to change as Rachel goes to Europe as part of the People to

People Student Ambassador program, an educational travel program that takes students to foreign countries to learn about other cultures and sys-tems of government.

Gilman was selected to be a member of the Northern Virgin-

ia/Maryland delegation, and she will soon spend 21 days travel-ing across France, Germany,

the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, while completing a service learning project and a research project for high school credit.

After being invited to en-roll in the ambassador program, Gilman submitted letters of recommendation and faced a three-person panel interview, learning of her official designa-tion in November. She will be spending her trip sitting in on Parliament, walking the beach-es of Normandy, and hiking the

Swiss Alps. When asked what prompted her to enter the

program, Gilman told the County Times that other than being interested in foreign cultures, her cousin had also been chosen as a member of the Northern Virginia delegation, which will be traveling under the leadership of Ric Campbell, a retired teacher from Alexandria, Virginia.

“I’m basically going to Virginia so I can go to Europe with my cousin,” she said, noting that the Baltimore delegation would be visiting Australia this year while her delegation, which includes 35 ambassadors from parts of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, toured parts of Europe.

“I think the home stay will be fun,” said Gil-man, explaining that she would be staying with a family in Germany for four days so as to im-merse her in their culture and language. “We don’t know who we’re staying with until we get there,” she said, adding that she was not sure if her hosts would be fluent in English.

“My cousins actually have a foreign ex-change student from Germany, and he’s taught me a little bit,” she said, “but I’m nowhere near fluent.”

Before departing, Gilman will attend sev-eral orientation meetings with program leaders and fellow delegates. In the meantime though, Gilman is content to brush up on her German and research her summer destinations.

President Eisenhower founded People to People in 1956 with citizen leaders including entertainer Bob Hope, Olympic champion Jesse Owens, amusement entrepreneur Walt Disney, and Hallmark Cards founder Joyce Hall. People to People Student Ambassador programs are based in Spokane, WA, and have been coordi-nating educational travel for over 50 years.

Gilman Selected As Student Ambassador

Korean-born poet Ann Buech-ner will read from selected works during the 16th VOICES Reading Se-ries Jan. 29, at 8:15 p.m. in Daugherty Palmer Commons at St. Mary’s Col-lege of Maryland (SMCM).

The English department-spon-sored reading is free and open to the public. For more infor-mation, contact Karen Anderson at 240-895-2017 or [email protected].

The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) will host the 2009 Chaney Visiting Scholar, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, author of Maryland Designe: The First Wall Between Church and State.

The lecture will be held in Daugherty Palmer Commons Jan. 27, at 4:30 p.m., and will address the politics surrounding Maryland’s at-tempt to establish civil government in the 17th century.

Jackson is a retired judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is a member of the SMCM Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board for the Center for the Study of Democracy.

This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Abby Thompson at 240-895-6432 or [email protected].

SMCM Presents Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson

SMCM Presents Poet Ann Buechner

Photo by Val NyceThree generations were represented at CSM’s inauguration forum on Tuesday night, in-cluding Arthuretta Bowman, her daughter Regina Bowman-Goldring, and granddaughter Kayla.


PunishmentCrime&


It’s been a little more than a year since Sheriff Timo-thy K. Cameron took the vice/narcotics branch of the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations and made it it’s own division, complete with a commander and covert group of detectives.

So far, Cameron said, the results have been impressive.

“The breakout… that’s the best thing we’ve ever done,” Cameron said of the vice/narcotics division’s suc-cesses. “We needed to get them out there working the streets.”

The unit’s leader, Capt. Daniel Alioto, said that he and his detectives work long hours with a short staff but the rewards justify the load.

Since the narcotics unit broke out on its own, Alioto said, they have made 147 arrests and investigated 292 cases in a little over a year’s time.

They’ve also received authoriza-tion to serve 150 search and seizure warrants and so far have executed 119 with the assistance of the office’s Emergency Services Team.

That averages out to about two drug raids a week.

“We can do nothing without EST,” Alioto told The County Times. “They’re our life line.”

Alioto did not divulge the total amount of narcot-ics or property seized in the year’s operations but he did say that the unit’s work has led them to taking down suspects they believe are key players in the local drug trade.

Citizen information on suspected drug activity has been increasing, Alioto said, and with good results.

“It’s leading us to some fat targets,” the unit com-mander said. “They’re giving us some phenomenal information.”

Some of the most prominent raids the narcotics unit has executed include one on a suspected drug house in

Avenue that police say has been a problem for nearly 15 years.

Also a series of arrests at a local bar in Oakville has broken up a significant portion of the local drug trade, Ali-oto said.

“We’re not done there yet,” Alioto said, “That’s al-ready led us to somebody bigger.”

Late last year the vice/narcotics division also execut-ed a warrant sweep that netted 29 arrests.

Alioto deliberately leaves out details because of the necessity for security in hitting the narcotics trade.

“This is a patient business we’re in,” he said. “He who lies in the weeds longest is the one who wins.”

With all the work the narcotics detectives are doing, Alioto said, things are changing on the streets.

“It used to be in some neighborhoods you could just drive through and get dope,” Alioto said. “One of

the biggest things we’re seeing now is it takes three or four phone calls to get something [drug related] going.”

The narcotics unit also has greater access to federal anti-drug resources to make federal cases in higher courts; State’s Attorney Richard Fritz also helps the unit build up their cases and even advises when to send them on to the federal system for higher sentences now, Alioto said.

“There’s much better coordination with the federal authorities,” Cameron said of Alioto’s work.

Sheriff Says Narcotics Unit Making Waves


The past week has kept investi-gators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office busy in St. Mary’s County when two separate incidents of arson occurred, one in Mechanics-ville and the other in Leonardtown.

The first incident, on Flora Cor-ner Road the night of Jan. 17, saw a blaze destroy a 40-foot recreational vehicle and cause minor damage to a house already under construction.

John Nelson, the deputy fire marshal investigating the Mechan-icsville arson attack, said that it was the first incident of arson so far this year in the county.

However, this is the second time the house has been set on fire, he said.

“There was an ignitable liquid sprayed all throughout the house under construction,” Nelson said. “They were in the process of putting the second floor on so it was about 40 percent complete.”

The damage to the house was negligible, Nelson said, since the fire burned itself out before engulfing the structure.

However the camper was com-pletely destroyed, Nelson said, add-ing that the vehicle was 100 feet away from the house and was set at the same time, linking it to the house fire as a deliberate act.

The second incident took place at the Breton Bay Garden Apart-ments just days later, Nelson said, when an unknown suspect took a mass of wadded paper and stuffed it into some vinyl siding in the building structure and tried to set it a blaze.

The fire was minor, Nelson said, and there was no serious damage.

Fire marshals had reported a rash of arson fires set last year throughout Southern Maryland that specifically targeted vacant buildings or homes under construction. This year has been relatively uneventful, Nelson said, and the arsons in Mechanics-ville and Leonardtown do not appear to be linked to any previous cases.

Fire Marshals Investigate Dual Arsons


Valerie Buckner, branch manager at the Maryland Bank and Trust on Shangri La Drive in Lexington Park, thought about going to the sentencing hearing of Antonio Warren Gantt, the man who was found guilty of robbing her bank twice in as many months in 2007 but decided against it.

“I’d been through enough,” Buckner told The County Times. “I was determined I’d never see that man again.”

When she learned of Gantt’s double life sentence without parole however, handed down Jan. 16, she was elated.

“Amen,” Buckner said. “I got a chill from head to toe and it was a chill of joy,

“The law worked.”Gantt, 42, of St. Leonard, had first robbed the branch

where Buckner worked in September of 2007, telling bank employees he had a gun and wanted their money. He got the money and fled the state and is suspected in the robberies of several other banks in Nevada before he

came back to St. Mary’s to hit the Maryland Bank and Trust again in October that same year.

This time he was armed with a bottle filled with gasoline that he sprayed on tellers, threatening to burn them and the bank down if they didn’t once again hand over cash.

Gantt again escaped but was quickly captured by sheriff’s deputies as he was riding in a cab towards the Thomas Johnson Bridge to Solomons Island.

A year later Buckner and her co-workers faced Gantt down from the witness stand as he acted as his own at-torney in two trials where he a jury found him guilty of assault and robbery.

She and her co-workers testified of his threats and their being herded into the bank vault in fear of their lives; they also witnessed Gantt being gagged and restrained by court security when he acted out in the courtroom several times.

Buckner said she was glad that Gantt won’t be around to bother them any longer, she said.

“He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere but where he is now [in prison],” Buckner said. “What a relief.”

Victims Cheer Bank Robber’s Life Sentence


Terry A. Clarke, co-owner of the Tiki Bar on Solomons Island, is set to plead guilty to multiple counts of assault and illegal weap-ons charges as part of a case against him charging him with firing on several young hunters near his property last year.

In a 16-page plea agreement filed in county Circuit Court, Clarke has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of second-degree assault, one count of reckless endangerment as well as four counts of possess-ing several firearms. The firearms charges also include knowingly

engaging in the illegal sale and transfer of those four weapons.

The weapons include an AR-15 rifle, a .44 Magnum cali-ber automatic pistol, a 9mm car-bine and a .45 caliber automatic pistol.

Clarke carries a felony drug conviction from 1986 and is forbidden as a result

from owning firearms.The maximum penalty for

the assault charges is 10 years in prison for each count, while the

firearms charges carry five years in prison each.

The reckless endangerment charge carries a penalty of five years in prison also.

According to charging docu-ments against Clarke filed in 2007, he was alleged to have fired on Cody Philip Burch, Nicholas Ryan Han-cock, and Kevin Michael Gragan, all aged 17, when they went hunt-ing waterfowl at a pond on Johnson Pond Lane in Leonardtown at about 7:30 a.m. that day.

After shooting several water-fowl, charging documents stated,

they went into the water to retrieve the birds. It was then that Clarke ap-peared on the shoreline and alleg-edly began shooting at them.

Victims claimed that Clarke fired between 25 and 30 rounds at them from what they believed to be an AR-15-type rifle, and that the rounds impacted some 30 to 40 yards away from where they were.

Two other witnesses at the pond corroborated the story of the three victims, charging documents stated.

According to information from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Of-fice, Clarke said after the Dec. 29, 2007 incident that the hunters were making too much noise.

Once responding deputies re-alized that Clarke was in posses-sion of a regulated firearm as well as being a convicted felon, detec-tives with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations arrived to serve a search warrant of his home.

Investigators, according to sheriff’s office information, found numerous rifles, shotguns, hand-guns and about 3,000 rounds of ammunition.

Investigators also found that one of the weapons in Clarke’s home was registered to Deputy First Class Randall Wood, who was subsequently placed on restricted work status at the county detention center while an administrative in-vestigation was conducted into his involvement.

Wood was a member of the sheriff’s office tactical team and has since been deployed overseas to serve with the U.S. Navy Reserve in the Iraq and Afghanistan theatres.

Wood will face a police trial board after his tour of duty.

Co-Owner Of Tiki Bar To Plead In Shooting Assault Case

Members of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team prepare for a warrant service connected with a narcotics investigation.



Kevin J. McDevittAttorney At Law

Former Baltimore City Assist. State’s Attorney

Former St. Mary’s County Assist. State’s Attorney

Former Baltimore City Assist. State’s Attorney

Former St. Mary’s County Assist. State’s Attorney

CRIMINAL & DUI/DWICRIMINAL & DUI/DWIOffice: 301-475-0093Cell: 410-925-8992

Dorsey Professional Building22835 Washington Street • P.O. Box 952, Leonardtown, MD 20650

www.kjmcdevittlaw.com

BEN BURROUGHS JR.

BAIL BONDS

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 33 YEARS

“WHEN YOU’RE IN & WANT OUT CALL BEN”7 Days a Week - 24 Hours A Day

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Douglas Browning, 84

D o u g l a s Browning, 84, of Lexington Park passed away Jan. 11 in Wash-ington Hospital Center. He was born in Verner, W.V. Sept. 8, 1924 to the late Owen Browning

and Lizzie Runyon Browning. He enlisted in the United States

Navy in June 1943, and served as an Aviation Ordnanceman at Na-val Air Station Patuxent River. His career continued at Pax River as a civil servant working in Ordnance, Photography and Electronics at Armament Test, Weapons Systems Test, and Technical Support Divi-sion. He logged hundreds of hours yearly, flying in numerous military aircraft performing flight test sor-ties on various systems.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Agnes (Mattingly) Brown-ing; his daughter, Lois Ann Cory-ell and her husband, Neil; his son, John Douglas (Sonny) Browning, and his wife, Marge; his daugh-ter, Mary Lynn Hammett, and her husband, Ray; and his daughter, Joyce Michele Spadarella, and her husband, Tony. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; as well as his sisters, Hattie Johnson and Mila Blankinship.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sib-lings; Gilford, Clayborn, Emmett, Lois, and Marie.

The family received friends for Mr. Browning’s Life Celebra-tion Jan. 15 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonar-dtown. A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catho-lic Church, Lexington Park. Rev-erend Jack Kennealy was the cel-ebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216 Glenn Allen, VA 23058-5216.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfu-neral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Arcadia Ann Holt, 62

A r c a d i a Ann Holt, 62, of Lexington Park died Jan. 16 at G e o r g e t o w n University Hos-pital, Washing-ton, D.C.

She was born in Morgan-za March 5, 1946

to the late John Columbus Holt and Carrie Elizabeth (Mason) Holt.

She is survived by a daughter,

Shirley A. Holt-Yates and her hus-band Michael of Mechanicsville; a son, Donald Holt and his wife Me-lissa of Lexington Park; four sis-ters, Sarah Holt of Lexington Park, Agnes Courtney of Leonardtown, Evangeline Holt of Leonardtown, Rose C. Holt of Morganza; two brothers, Robert Holt of Morganza and David F. Holt of Hughesville; three grandchildren, Robert C. Toye Donald A. Holt, Jr. and Wil-liam D. Holt.

In addition to her parents, Ar-cadia was preceded in death by a sister, Pauline A. Medley, three brothers; James P. Holt, Philip Holt and John Columbus Holt.

Family will receive friends Jan. 23 from 9 – 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mor-ganza, MD 20660 where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Father Keith Woods, pastor of the church, will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in the Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.



Hillary Edward Kane Sr., 80

Hillary Ed-ward Kane Sr., 80, of Mechan-icsville died Jan. 18 in Future Care Health Center in Clinton, Md.

Born June 7, 1928 in Califor-nia, Md., he was one of ten chil-

dren born to the late Laura Beale and Samuel Kane.

Hillary grew up and attend-ed school in St. Mary’s County. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexing-ton Park. He married the late Vera McKinnon in 1948 and from that union three sons were born. In the late 50’s, Hillary left St. Mary’s County and resided in Washington D.C. He attended Bibleway Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. until his health failed in June 2008.

Hillary was a construction foreman and loved using his hands building different things and was amazed with his results. He had been retired for 20 years. He loved wrestling, watching court TV, Jer-ry Springer, CNN News, trouble-shooting cars and spending time with family and friends.

Over the past sixteen months, he also enjoyed the historic cam-paign of President Barrack Obama. Hillary could give you the history of what things were like during the days of Martin Luther King, Jr., and felt it was so important to appreciate how far times have progressed. He would always say, “We have a way to go, but we have come so far since my childhood.”

Hillary leaves fond memories

in the hearts of his loving sons, Hillary E. Kane, Jr. (Rolanda) of Clinton, Md., Calvin J. Kane (Fe-licia) of Albany, N.Y.; grandchil-dren, Angela, Durell, Michael, Marcus, Marceles, Tariq, Khallid and Jamilla Kane, Vaughn Wil-liams, Kiana Whittington, and Brian Suber; great-grandchildren, Kayla, Kheli, Jalen and Kanryn; sister; Bertha Johnson; brother in law, Sylvester Barnes and beloved niece and caretaker Betty Ann Bankins. He leaves a host of lov-ing nieces, nephews, and friends and family.

Hillary was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son, Curtis M. Kane; grandson, Derrick Kane;

three brothers, Oliver, An-drew and Webster; five sisters, Vernette Hopewell, Flora Nored, Isabella Barnes, Elsie Pierson, and Elizabeth Johnson.

Family will receive friends for Hillary’s Life Celebration Jan. 22 from 9 – 11 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. with Reverend Roderick Mc-Clanahan of First Missionary Bap-tist Church, Lexington Park, of-ficiating. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen.


Arrangements by the Brins-field Funeral Home, P.A., Leonar-dtown, MD.

Glenn Edward Lawrence, 49

Glenn Ed-ward Lawrence, 49, of Chaptico died Jan. 14 in G e o r g e t o w n University Hos-pital, Washing-ton, D.C.

Born July 30, 1959 in Leonardtown, he

was the son of Edward Clyde and Barbara Cecil Lawrence.

He is survived by his daughter Samantha Lawrence of California, Md. and his sisters Susan Keen and her husband Joe Dyer of Edge-water, Md. Sharon Cox and her husband Lloyd of Leonardtown, Nancy Smith and her husband Leon of Spotsylvania, Va., and his brothers Gregory Lawrence and his wife Theresa of Annapolis, and John Lawrence and his wife Erin of Owings.

A lifetime resident of St. Mary’s County, he graduated from Ryken High School’s Class of 1977. For most of his adult life, he worked for construction compa-nies as an on-site superintendent.

The family received visitors at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funer-al Home Jan. 20 from 5 – 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church with Fr. John Dakes officiating. Inter-ment followed in the church cem-

etery. Pallbearers were Gregory Lawrence, John Lawrence, Leon Smith, Jed Leatherman, King Nor-ris and Jimmy Dillow.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Georgetown Univer-sity Hospital, ATTN: Mary Her-old, MICU, 3800 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC 20007.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Paulo Rodolfo Martinez, Sr., 52

Paulo Ro-dolfo Martinez, Sr., of Holly-wood, Md. was born in Detroit, Mich. Jan. 9, 1957 and passed away Jan. 9 in Leonardtown.

He was the son of Rodolfo

Martinez of Ecrose, Mich. and the late Margaret Martinez. Paulo had seven siblings: Roy Martinez, Paula Martinez, Dolores Ramirez, David Martinez, Juan Martinez and Dennis Martinez, all of De-troit, Mich. and Pamela Hicks of Tennessee.

He was a devoted father to his six children: Paulo R. Martinez, Jr., of Baltimore, Eric R. Martinez of Hollywood, Md., Jason M. Mar-tinez of Reading, Pa., Christopher Clark, Charlie Martinez and Pa-mela Martinez, all of Hollywood, Md. and his granddaughter Emily R Martinez of Hollywood, Md.

In April of 1974 at the age of 17, Paulo Martinez joined the Unit-ed States Navy. He served both ac-tive duty and in the reserves until June of 1984. Paulo began his law enforcement career in 1983 as a police office with the Department of Defense Police, stationed at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park. On July 9, 1984, he was hired by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and began service as a Deputy Sheriff. Paulo had an extensive and diverse ca-reer with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, serving in many positions and divisions within the agency.

Paulo completed his training and graduated from the University of Maryland Police Academy in November of 1984. Upon gradua-tion, Paulo was assigned to the Pa-trol Division, where he worked as a Patrolman First Class from 1984-1988. He excelled in patrol and was promoted to Patrolman First Class. Paulo’s excellent investigative skills led to his transfer in 1988 to the Criminal Investigations Divi-sions as a detective. Paulo served as a detective, investigating crimes against persons and property, as well as serving as a detective con-ducting narcotics investigations. Paulo was one of the original de-tectives assigned to the Southern Maryland Narcotics Task Force.

Paulo was also assigned to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office

Special Operations Division, where he again excelled and was promot-ed to the rank of Corporal May 14, 1999. In addition to his regu-lar law enforcement duties, Paulo was a Field Training Officer and a member of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.

Off duty, Paulo enjoyed soft-ball and darts. He was a past Presi-dent for the St. Mary’s County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7. Prior to retiring, Paulo returned to the Patrol Division where he was a supervisor. He trained and men-tored many young deputies.

On June 30, 2004 Corporal Paulo Martinez retired from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Of-fice. Not wanting to leave the law enforcement profession complete-ly, Paulo accepted a job with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Of-fice and continued his service as a Special Deputy working Court Security. Corporal Paulo Martinez was a valued member of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Depart-ment where he served the citizens of St. Mary’s County diligently for 25 years.

The family received friends Jan. 14 from 5 – 8 p.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church, Holly-wood, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church, with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment followed in Joy Chapel Cemetery, Hollywood. Pallbearers were members of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

James Leo “Jim” McCoy, 71

James Leo “Jim” McCoy, 71, of Chaptico, formerly of Dar-win, Minn., died Jan. 12 in his residence.

Born May 19, 1937 in Dar-win, Minn. he was the son of

the late Charles and Jette Keigan McCoy. He was the loving hus-band of Patricia Lynn McCoy of Chaptico.

He is survived by his daughter Jennifer McCoy of Lutsen, Minn. and his brothers Harold McCoy of Cold Spring, Minn. and Charles McCoy of Citrus Hills, Fla.

Jim graduated from Darwin High School’s Class of 1955 and attended Charles County Com-munity College. He was a security specialist for the Department of Defense for 23 years until his re-tirement in June 2007 and he also served in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed playing golf, baseball, do-ing yard work, watching NASCAR and spending time with his family and friends.

The family received friends Jan. 16 from 9 – 10 a.m. in the Mat-


tingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where a funeral service was held at 10 a.m. with Rev. Joe Orlando of-ficiating. Interment followed in Sa-cred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood. Pallbearers were David Delozier, Daniel Delozier, Cory Friest, Johnny Joy, Larry Joy and Ronnie Joy. Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s County, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.


Doris Ann Ramos, 78

Doris Ann Ramos, 78 of L e o n a r d t o w n died Jan. 15 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown.

Born Oct. 16, 1930 in Ir-vington, Va., she was the daughter

of the late William Dyke, Sr. and Ellen (Tate) Dyke.

Mrs. Ramos and her husband, the late Lenwood Carroll “Sookie” Ramos, who died Dec. 24, 2006, were owners of the Town Clean-ers in Leonardtown from 1968 un-til their retirement in 1987. They were also founding members of the Leonardtown Baptist Church.

Mrs. Ramos is survived by two sons, John Michael “Mickey” Ramos and his wife, Gloria of Leonardtown, and Dr. Carroll Les-lie Ramos and his wife, Margaret of Weatherford, Okla.;

three grandchildren, Harmo-ny Ramos Ferris of Baltimore, Jo Hanna Ramos Shriver of Califor-nia, Md. and Nicholas C. Ramos of Weatherford, Okla..; two great-grandchildren, Cooper H. Ferris and Ava Shriver.

She was predeceased by two sisters; Evelyn Hutt and Virginia Dyke, and two brothers, John Dyke and William Dyke, Jr.

Family received friends Jan. 21 from 10 –11 a.m. in the Leon-ardtown Baptist Church, Leonard-town, with a funeral service at 11 a.m. Pastor Mark Dooley and asso-ciate pastor John Fields officiated. Interment followed in the Charles Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Hospice House, c/o Hospice of St. Mary’s,

P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650



Evelyn “Ebby” Brown Schellhase, 85

Evelyn “Ebby” Brown Schell-hase, 85, of Valley Lee, and for-merly of Silver Spring, Md. and Arlington, Va., died Jan. 16 in her

residence. Born Aug.

19, 1923 in Wash-ington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Ro-land and Lillian Troupe Brown.

She was pre-ceded in death

by her husband Robert L. Schell-hase, whom she married Feb. 14, 1948 and who passed away Jan. 21, 1987.

She is survived by her daugh-ter Kimberly Schellhase Nokleby and her husband Jerry of Piney Point, and her son Paul S. Schell-hase of Valley Lee, as well as her grandsons, Ronald R. Watt III of Seattle, Wash., Cody R.M. Nokle-by of Piney Point, and Joshua S. Schellhase of Valley Lee, Md. She

is also survived by her niece Sher-rill Toole of Front Royal, Va., her friend Patricia K. Norris and her best friend (dog) Kipper.

She was preceded in death by her sister Doris Brown Toole.

She was a graduate of Mont-gomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, in the Class of 1941. Evelyn was raised in Silver Spring. When she married in 1948, she moved with her husband to Arlington, Va. where she lived until his death in

1987. She then moved to St. Mary’s County to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She loved sit-ting and watching the water as well as going to lunch with friends. She was an avid baker, specializing in her rum cakes.

The family will receive friends Jan. 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Mat-tingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where a funeral service was held at 7 p.m. with Rev. Bill Arick offici-ating. The family will also receive friends Jan. 23 from 11 a.m. – 12 noon in National Funeral Home in Falls Church, Va. where a sec-ond funeral service will be held at 12 noon. Interment will follow in National Memorial Gardens, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. Pallbearers will be Cody R. M. Nokleby, Joshua S. Schellhase, Roger Cook, Gary Cook, Mike

Geigan and Billy Brooks. Contributions may be made to

Hospice of St. Mary’s County, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or 2nd District Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692.


Ethel Irene “Gran” Smy-thers, 86

Ethel Irene “Gran” Smy-thers, 86, of Hol-lywood, Md., formerly of West Piney, Va., died Jan. 13 in her residence.

Born Sept. 22, 1922 in West

Piney, Va. she was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Nannie Malvania Parks Arnold.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vivian Leon Smythers April 23, 1995. They were married Dec. 19, 1941 in Wytheville, Va.

She is survived by her chil-dren, Carolyn Bowen and her

husband James of Lusby; Richard Smythers and his wife Joan of Hol-lywood, Md.; Robert Smythers of Ionia, Mo. and Kenneth Smythers of Branford, Fla.; siblings Eliza-beth Turner of Max Meadows, Va., and Claude Arnold of Cooksville, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings Lillie Arnold, Anna Mae Jones, Rosa Shupe, Ada Arnold, Willy Gray Arnold, Elmer Arnold,

Marvin Arnold, Ernest Arnold, Lawrence Arnold and John Win-ton Arnold.

Gran moved to St. Mary’s County in 1946 from Virginia.

The family received friends Jan. 16 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mat-tingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service was held Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sheldon Reese officiat-ing. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown. Pallbearers were Dennis Dailey, Travis Dailey, Kenneth Smythers, Craig Hill, Dave Lang and Tim McElfresh. Honorary Pallbearers were Jessie Case, Robert Case, Michael Case, Rebecca Smy-thers, Kerry Trossbach and Tonya Vance.


Virginia Estella Sullivan, 86

Virginia Es-tella Sullivan, 86 of Woodsboro, Md., formerly of St. Inigoes, passed away Jan. 14 in her residence.

Born Sept. 17, 1922 in Hern-don, Va., she was

the daughter of the late George O. and Mary E. Coberth. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Paul T. Sullivan.

Mrs. Sullivan was a Housing Director aboard Patuxent River Naval Air Station, retiring in 1986 after 20 years of service.

Mrs. Sullivan is survived by her children; Mark T. Sullivan of Ridge, Linda M. Wharton of Cali-fornia, Md., Brian O. Sullivan of Snow Camp, NC.., Craig F. Sulli-van of Fairfax, Va., Christine M. Martin of Springfield, Va. and Vir-ginia A. LaRoche of Woodsboro, Md., 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Family received friends for Virginia’s Life Celebration Jan. 18 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Brins-field Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were recited at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. in St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, St. Inigoes with Father Raymond Moore officiating.

Interment took place Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. in Culpeper National Cem-etery, Culpeper, Va.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, P.O. Box 240, St. Inigoes, MD 20684

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfu-neral.com

Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. 22955 Hollywood Road

Leonardtown, Maryland 20650 (301) 475-5588

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Caring for the Past Planning for the Future


Budgeting Tips for Brides and Grooms

Down to Earth

When it comes to planning a wedding, finances are first and foremost on the minds of many couples. As the costs associated with weddings continue to rise, the need for a bud-get only grows more apparent.

But how can a couple establish and stick to a budget? Doing so depends on each indi-vidual couple, how much they can spend and what they’re willing to sacrifice for their big day.

Establishing a Budget

Wedding budgets can vary greatly de-pending on the couple and the type of wed-ding they desire. A wedding budget should be established as far in advance as possible.

When setting the budget, it’s best to de-termine exactly how much you can spend, and then set the budget lower than that. For exam-ple, if the most you can afford is $25,000, set your budget at $22,000. This will allow you some wiggle room when the inevitable hap-pens and you’re forced to go over budget.

Monitor Your Spending

Once a budget has been determined, a good way for couples to adhere to that bud-get is to establish a separate wedding spend-ing account. This account should be separate from personal accounts, and all wedding ex-penses should be drawn solely from this wed-ding account. This is a good way to monitor how much you’re spending, and your monthly statement will provide an itemized list of how

much is being deposited and spent.

Be Ready to Spend More

Regardless of how well you’ve planned the wedding, you’re going to end up spend-ing more than your initial budget allowed. This happens for a number of reasons, rang-ing from overtime fees at the reception to tipping the vendors to larger guest lists than you might have o r i g i n a l l y intended.

P r e -pare for the inev it able overspend-ing by cut-ting back on other expens-es leading up to the big day. Rather than go-ing out to dinner on weekends, make a homecooked meal to save some money. Instead of costly trips to a night club, invite friends over for the night. You’ll be surprised how much these subtle lifestyle changes can save you.

Stick to Your Guns

While you should be prepared to spend more, that extra spending should be saved for things such as tipping the staff and possibly

paying more for an additional guest or two. Where couples should be

budget-cautious is when vendors try to up-sell

services. For exam-ple, while a top-

shelf bar might be a nice ges-

ture, it can be con-siderably more ex-pensive than just offering beer at your re-cept ion, and let-

ting your guests pay

for liquor.If a ven-

dor tries to up-sell, couples should

not hold that against the vendor. After all, that

is the vendor’s job. Instead, prioritize what you want before you

go visit any vendors. You’re much more likely to be happy with your selections.

Budgeting Tips for Brides and Grooms

If you’ve recently become engaged, you may want to check your homeowners or renters insur-ance policy. That’s because your engagement ring may not be fully covered by that policy.

An engagement ring is a cherished gift and one you will want to protect. No one wants to imagine their ring being damaged, lost or stolen, but the fact is that these situations can and do happen.

Typical insurance policies for your home or apartment set limits for certain categories of per-sonal property, like jewelry. They may only cover $500 to $1000 on a stolen ring. If the theft or loss occurs outside of the home, you may not be covered at all.

Talk to an insurance agent to see if you can amend a policy or purchase other insurance if you want to protect your ring in case of theft or if it be-comes lost or damaged. Here are some questions to ask if you’re considering jewelry insurance.

* Is there a deductible on the insurance, and if so, how much?

* Do I need to have the ring appraised for in-surance? Can I use my own appraiser or does the insurance company need to handle the appraisal?

* Will the insurance cover theft or loss of the ring wherever it takes place, even if it occurs in a foreign country?

* Can I receive a cash settlement for the val-ue of the ring, or must the ring be replaced with another?

* Does the policy cover repairs to damaged jewelry?

* Can I purchase a “valued at” plan if my ring is one of a kind and cannot be replaced? This pol-icy allows you to value your ring at a higher dollar amount than its appraised worth.

Engagement Advice: Insure Your Ring

It only takes a single car to sub-stantially impact the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the aver-age car emits as much as 575 pounds of carbon monoxide into the air each year. Until automakers devel-op a more environmentally friendly automobile, it’s up to each driver to help reduce their car’s footprint on the planet. Here are five easy ways to drive green without buying a new car or drastically changing your driving habits:

* Simply follow the mainte-nance recommendations in your owner’s manual. An out-of-tune engine can increase emissions and fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent. Always follow your car manufacturer’s suggested tune-up schedule to ensure your vehicle is performing at its best.

* Upgrade your motor oil. Some of the newer high-performance syn-thetic motor oils have been proven to significantly reduce emissions. For instance, according to indepen-dent tests, Royal Purple motor oil has been shown to reduce carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 62 percent when compared to con-ventional petroleum-based oils. It also improves fuel economy by as

much as five percent and produces notable horsepower and torque in-creases. So you can switch to an environmentally friendly product without giving up performance. More information is available at www.royalpurple.com

* Regularly replace your air fil-ter. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Air filters keep impuri-ties from damaging the interior of the engine, so replacing dirty fil-ters will save gas and protect your engine.

* Keep the tires of your vehicle properly inf lated. The U.S. Energy Department reports that under-in-f lated tires can increase fuel con-sumption by up to 6 percent. One study estimates that 50 to 80 percent of the tires rolling on U.S. roads are under inf lated. Astonishingly, we could save up to 2 billion gallons of gas each year simply by properly in-f lating our tires.

* Avoid topping off your gas tank. Topping off releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the pump’s anti-pollution devices. Capping your tank once the pump automatically shuts off is safer and reduces pollution.

Five Easy Ways to Drive GreenReduce Your Impact On The Environment Without Changing Your LifestyleBy Ashton Carkhuff

[email protected]

Each January is an opportunity to start fresh. Many people use this time to get organized and healthy while they are still inspired and have the desire to change. While we are all still trying to remember how to write 2009 in the check book there are dates that have been long forgotten on items that have surpassed their usefulness; particularly in the medicine cabinet. Whether pre-scription or over-the-counter, medica-tions need to be evaluated at least once a year and checked for their expiration date. Once these items are past their ex-piration date they need to be properly disposed of. I have talked to many local and national sources and they parallel with their disposal techniques. The gen-eral consensus from professionals that deal with pharmaceuticals was either to dispose of these items both liquid and pill form in the toilet or down the drain. Both suggestions allow the medicines to enter our water systems and overtime these trace amounts of chemicals build up creating problems for our eco sys-tem. This situation is one of grave con-cern. We are called to be good stewards of our earth and to maintain a healthy balance within our eco system yet we are being directed to carelessly dump chemicals that can harm and alter our environment and our health. Our edu-cation system is teaching children to ‘Save the Bay’ but when did we decide that it was ok to f lush expired medi-cations in the Bay’s water. Medicines are prescribed to promote good health; however improper disposal can compro-mise the health of ourselves and others. We as a community need to take the re-sponsibility for the disposal of our med-icines. The most recent directive by the U.S. Government with these environ-mental concerns in mind is to combine all unwanted and or expired medication in an empty milk carton with coffee grinds and water then discard. This will keep these medications from acciden-tal ingestion and from directly entering the water system. These items will lose their potency and decompose over time. When finished with prescription bottles remove labels to protect your personal information from being compromised. Empty bottles should be washed out, recycled or reused for storage of small items such as: beads, coins, and seeds. In some areas unwanted and or expired medications can be taken to an abate-ment site. These sites are usually locat-ed at the pharmacies that they are con-tracted through and they will properly dispose of the chemicals. Contact your pharmacy or local government for more information about abatement programs. Several ways to reduce the number of over-the-counter medications that are disposed of by your family annually are to always check the expiration date be-fore purchase. Also, reduce the need for medication by following a healthy diet and exercise program. Remember to continue to always take medications as prescribed by physicians.


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After months of nothing but bad news about the housing market and gloomy forecasts for the economy, Southern Maryland’s Quality Built Homes Inc. is sending signals that the worst might lie behind us.

Quality Built Homes recently kicked off their next phase of home building at the Pembrooke subdivi-sion, off Willows Road in Lexington Park.

A total of 107 new homes are planned to go into Pembrooke in this second phase of construction.

There was a waiting list in 2004 for buyers to be among the first group

of homeowners in Pembrooke. Since the first “delivery” in October 2005, 148 homes have already been sold and constructed there by Quality Built Homes.

“It’s a very nice community, and being so close to the base has been a real draw,” reports Michele Groot, sales manager at Pembrooke. “We have a lot of military, retired mili-tary and contractors who are asso-ciated with the base.”

Groot says she has seen buy-ers recently who are second- and third-time customers for Quality Built Homes. That is a result of the reputation of the company, which was started by two brothers years ago, and now has homes across Southern

Maryland.Already 11 homes are sold in

the second phase of building at Pem-brooke, and customers are contact-ing Groot daily. Available lots range from 1/4 to 1/3 an acre, and a small number of larger, premium lots are available as well.

Potential buyers can find a wealth of details about the endless options available at Quality Built’s Web site: www.qbhi.com. Home prices start at $289,900.

“They will move walls, they’ll add square footage.

They really love to work with the people,” Groot

said. “You really should visit our design center off Route 231.”

At the design center, prospec-tive buyers can see, touch and feel all the upgrades and options available when selecting their

custom home, such as carpet samples, kitch-

en set-ups, flooring and bathroom options.

“The grand shower has been very popular, it’s a won-

derful upgrade,” Groot said. “You have to see it to believe it.”

The grand bath upgrade includes a 4.5- by 7-foot tiled shower with a frameless glass door and a bench in the shower. It comes with the Moen vertical spa package that includes multiple sprayer heads and tempera-ture selection. The grand bath also comes with a large corner bathtub separate from the shower.

When buyers select an upgraded bathroom, included is a state-of-the-art tank-less hot water heater by Rin-

nai. The Rinnai system contains no hot water storage tank. The water is instantly heated when it passes through the unit, which is no larger than a typical fuse box. The result is literally an endless supply of hot water.

Michele Groot is available at the Pembrooke model home to talk about home options, and can be reached at 410-610-6405.

Quality Built Homes Living Up to Their Name

A House is a Home

Photos By Sean Rice


A House is a Home There is a reason why our signs

are everywhere!!CALL US

Karen Alford [email protected]

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Brooks & Barbourwww.brooksandbarbour.com

23063 Three Notch Rd.California, MD 20619Office: 301-862-2169Fax: 301-862-2179

What Are Mortgage-

Backed Securities?In October 2008,

U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law a bill for a $700 billion financial rescue plan to stabilize the economy. Among the items the government would be purchasing were “toxic” securi-ties that were festering in the global market. As part of the bank rescue plan, Presi-dent Bush requested bids from managers of mortgage-backed securities.

With this his-toric government in-tervention, the topic of mortgage-backed securities has been mentioned on many occasions. They have been a drain on the economy and contributed to this financial crisis, contrib-uting to the insolvency of many banks and investment firms that have been around for decades. But many peo-ple aren’t quite sure just what mortgage-backed securities are.

The mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market came into play in the early 1980s. Before then each mortgage was a separate transaction from a bank. With MBSs, companies such as the now defunct Bear Stearns or Lehman Brothers buy several mortgages from a primary lender, which is the company from which you actually received your mort-gage. This “pool” of mort-gages is used by investment banks that use your monthly payments, and those of thou-sands of others whose mort-gages have been bought out, as the revenue stream to pay investors who have bought chunks of the securities of-fering. This scenario allows smaller lenders to replen-ish funds and continue to sell mortgages to the people who want them. Though many firms dabble in mort-gage-backed securities, most MBSs are issued by the Gov-ernment National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), a

U.S. government agency, or the Federal National Mort-gage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), U.S. govern-ment-sponsored enterprises.

In a good economy with a stable housing market and relatively low interest rates, MBSs may be a sound in-vestment. Mortgage pay-ments are made on time, and the people or companies that bought the mortgage-backed securities receive a steady stream of payments. But when the housing mar-ket isn’t faring well, interest rates rise, and people who took out “creative mort-gages” have trouble making their payments. As was the case during the latter half of 2008 in the U.S., problems can arise. Owners of mort-gage-backed securities are no longer receiving steady payments, and firms that borrow heavily to finance the purchase of these securi-ties find they cannot remain solvent. Foreclosures also have a large impact because owners of MBSs are not re-ceiving any payments.

In time one will see if the housing market, and in turn the mortgage-backed securities market, will stabilize.

The high foreclosure rate and declin-ing housing market have contributed to the mortgage-backed securities crisis.


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A House is a Home

By Patrick DuganContributing Writer

This week I want to talk about choosing your Realtor when it comes time to sell your house. Obviously I want you to choose me, but I thought I would pass on some questions that I and other agents I know have been asked by potential clients who were trying to decide on a Realtor.

The first one most people ask is “How long have you been in real estate?” When I started in this profession over 6 years ago,

I feared this question the most. Now I realize it is actually one of the least important questions to ask. Yes, experience counts, but more important is hard work and a good plan of action. If your po-tential agent has a ton of years in the business that can benefit you. However, what if your potential agent has a ton of drive? If they are going to be excited about your business and make sure they talk about it, and advertise it and really work hard, that may make up for experience.

I would say that once you get an offer for your home, that is where the experience factor is go-ing to count the most. So if you do go with a Realtor who isn’t long on experience, make sure that he/she is a good negotiator and that they have a full time manager in their office who can help them if any

problems should arise.More important questions to

me are…”What do you know about this area?” Is the agent familiar with all of your community ame-nities? Can they sell your neigh-borhood as well as your house? It is important that your agent be able to talk about the experience of living in that neighborhood. So it is important that the agent ask you questions, as well as answer them.

“What is your marketing plan” This is a great question and really one of my top three to ask. What is the agent going to do to sell your home? How familiar is the agent with internet advertising? The in-ternet is where buyers start their search 81% of the time. Will they find your house when they start looking? What other kind of ad-vertising do they do? Newspaper,

radio, T.V., magazines? Do they do mailings of postcards, or fly-ers? This is all very important to be sure that they get your home in front of the highest number of buyers.

Next, maybe you could ask for some samples of the agents work. Have them show you some of their past ads, flyers and post-cards. This will help you decide who can present your home in the most positive fashion. How are the photos of the houses? Do they show the house in a positive way? Are the ads creative? Do they make you want to go see that property? If the agent is good at marketing, this will help get more buyers through the house.

Ask your potential agent about a time line. A real estate timing analysis is essential. How long will it take to get your home into the multiple listing service? How long until they will have photo’s? How long until it ap-pears on websites?

There are many questions you can choose to ask, how many active listings do you have? How many are in this area. That last question can go two ways. If the

agent has a number of listings in your area, they probably know the neighborhood well. They can have an open house and feature the whole neighborhood. The downside can be that you may wonder if your agent is trying as hard to sell your home as they are trying to sell “the Jones’” home which is just down the street.

No matter what questions you ask, never forget that you are going to be working with that agent on a large financial deal, so definitely also consider how you think you will work with that per-son. Is the agent the type of per-son you will get along with, and the type of person you want to represent you in this deal?

There are many wonderful agents out there, so take your time; this is a very important decision.

As always, if you have any questions about this article, or suggestions for future ones, contact me at [email protected].


By Shelby OppermannContributing Writer

A regular reader asked that I write about the problems between savers versus non-sav-ers. You know, whether you keep items with the thought that someday I’ll need this. But it also includes collections, which may or may not interest you anymore. I felt like that was still a good January issue, and a dilemma fac-ing many people. Somehow I think that this is an either/or; you are either a saver or a non-saver, like you are a morning person or a night

person, or a math person or a history person. If you are in a committed relationship or

married, then this issue has probably come up, possibly not in a pleasant manner. It can create decorating confusion as well. When my hus-band and I melded our two households it was an interesting mix of design elements. I had what you might call Victorian, primitive-coun-try clutter; a mix of antiques, some rustic hand-worn pieces, and a country blue and oak living room set. His furniture was contemporary and beige. My collections ranged from “The Pas-sions of Scarlett” plate collection, and Bavar-

Book Review

Wanderings

“Savers vs. Non-Savers”

of an Aimless Mind

ian china to Ball jars and enamelware. Of course there are many other collections and keepers be-sides that.

My husband’s collections were every soft-ball hat from every team he has ever been on, his Dad’s treasured fishing hat, and a really impres-sive shot-glass collection. You can see the prob-lem. He was overwhelmed with new “stuff”, and disliked antiques.

I always think well, I’ll hand the collections down to my children. I have two sons. “Gone with the wind” plates and china are not going to be high on their list. Get ready folks for a big yard sale with some great deals. They might keep some of the old books we have collected or my Father’s collection of books. I like what one friend does to all the family heirlooms to keep them from yard sale fate. She tapes notes to the bottom of all the pieces explaining their provenance. That’s a great idea, and will be on one of my January to do lists.

But what about those everyday items that you want to throw out, but as the saying goes, ”You need it the minute you throw it out”. Why is that?! Is there truly some law of the universe we are not aware of that creates a need for some-thing you have just gotten rid of? That lone lid to a Tupperware container. Two weeks later you find the bottom on the pantry shelf. The extra sock that sits alone on top of the dryer pining for its mate, you finally throw it out. Of course the mate, who had been cavorting somewhere as a single for some time, suddenly reappears, cling-ing to the inside of your dress pants.

Where does the psychological fear come from, I wonder. Your hand hovers over the fated object, knowing that some unseen force will make you suddenly desire it again. Or something terrible will happen to you. Espe-

cially with sentimental objects. An old plastic blue spatula meant nothing to my husband as he threw it in the trash, saying we have too many of these. I was horrified, to me that spatula with it’s burnt and melted end was given to me as a set by my mother and cooked many batches of French toast and eggs in 26 years. I pulled it right back out of the trash. It had meaning. It had family history. I had been thinking of hav-ing it bronzed as a matter of fact. My Mother would haunt me.

My husband and I did solve some of our decorating dilemmas. Several years ago, we purchased, after much heated debate and tears (on my part), a new living room set. His set was taken to the burn pile, which he has never let me forget and mine was taken out to the big shed awaiting one of my son’s to give it a home. We cleared out all collections from the living room and started fresh. It’s fairly contemporary and serene. I won the yellow walls, he won the con-temporary furniture. We both enjoy it now. He lets me keep one of my antiques in the dining room. He has the big screen TV a friend gave him in the living room. Big screen TV’s still don’t look serene to me.

I am actively starting to re-think my collec-tions and de-clutter, so if anyone is interested in “Gone with the wind plates”, oh wait a minute some of those were gifts, you can’t give away a gift. How about my enamelware collection, no I better not. I know just as I get rid of that is when I’ll find the elusive tin cup that matches the one in my painting. I have been searching for it for 20 years. I‘ll find something to get rid of.

To each new day’s adventure, Shelby.Please send comments or ideas to: shelbys.

[email protected]

c.2008, Little, Brown $25.99 / $28.99 Canada 256 pages

“Rich Like Them” by Ryan D’AgostinoBy Terri SchlichenmeyerContributing Writer

The sign said “Open To-day!” and you couldn’t resist. So what possessed you to go through a for-sale house that you could never afford?

Curiosity, sure. But may-be it was a little bit of what-iffing that led you to peek into cavernous closets and run your fingers over marble baths, rare-wood mantles, and imported countertops.

What if? What would it be like to live there? To have money like that?

Author Ryan D’Agostino wondered the same thing, and in his new book “Rich Like Them”, he knocked on a few doors – literally - and asked.

Whenever he and his wife went out of town, Ryan D’Agostino says they made a point of taking walks into luxurious neighborhoods. They loved looking at the im-maculate grounds and imag-ining the lives of those who lived there.

One day, curiosity got the better of D’Agostino, an editor at Esquire magazine. He purchased a list of the 100 wealthiest ZIP codes in the U.S., based on median house-hold income, net worth, and home value. Then, with his trusty reporter’s notebook in his pocket, and comfortable shoes on his feet, he stepped

into some of the richest en-claves in America.

Not everyone agreed to speak to him. D’Agostino says he was sometimes met with silence, and security guards often turned him aside. But when he found people who would talk, he learned lessons of a lifetime.

Always – always – keep your eyes on your goal, even when on vacation. Never miss a chance for opportunity. Re-member that you have to see the dots to connect them. Follow through with your connections. Understand that there are risks in everything, study the risk before leaping, and know that sometimes doing nothing is a risk it-self. Stick to your plans but know when something isn’t working. Never let failure be an option. Remember that you can’t do business with yourself. Work hard, and if you look forward to going to work, that’s even better. Be humble.

What a refreshing busi-ness book!

Author Ryan D’Agostino took a simple concept (find people with money and ask them how they got it) and created something that seems like a blueprint for wealth, not only of the monetary kind but of that for the soul.

I was struck by sev-eral things here: first, in this wacky world, that D’Agostino

found so many people who invited him, a stranger, into their fabulous homes.

Secondly, he often steps aside to let stories speak for themselves. The titles of the mini-chapters practically beg you to read further, and D’Agostino is quick to re-fresh your memory if he re-fers to someone from another chapter.

Thirdly, I loved how D’Agostino conveyed a sense of contentment. While almost every one of the subjects in this book admitted to work-ing hard, they all seemed so Zen-like with their lives now. Just reading these stories in-spired me.

If you’re ready for a new start in the New Year, pick up this book and get energized. “Rich Like Them” is filled with a wealth of great moti-vation for you.


Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

erKiddieKor n CLUES ACROSS

1. Impertinence 5. Not early 9. Flour container13. Burn plant14. Possessing life16. European owl genus17. Enclosed shopping center18. More huffy19. Dealing box game20. Potter Professor Severus23. A long narrow opening24. Swiss river25. Popular herb seed28. Common trellis designs33. Quahog or Littleneck34. Gaming table covering35. Macaws36. Currant genus38. Universal standard time39. Chair back slat41. Rapid bustling movement42. Donkeys44. If not, then45. Rapid escapes47. Lowered in prestige49. Bird beak50. R____y - prayer beads51. Ag .925

58. ____eter -length59. Wear away60. Not less61. Jai ____, sport62. More lucid63. Particle of an element64. 7146565. A county in SE England66. Crime fighter Eliot

CLUES DOWN 1. Tennis great Pete ____ras 2. Daminozide 3. Activity performed alone 4. Being the very one 5. Famous collie 6. Cather story “_ ____ Lady” 7. Beginner 8. Of all time 9. African hunting expedition10. As fast as can be done (abbr.)11. Designer Trudon12. ___ky: bonkers15. Artificial and inferior

21. Ornamental shade tree22. TV characters Archibald & Fisher25. Lean end of the neck26. Omit or slur over27. Wooden shoe28. Emits coherent radiation29. Small island (British)30. Doctor visits31. Delete recorded information32. Dulled by surfeit34. Very active37. Lumberjack40. Boy band manager Lou43. Dark brown fur pelts46. A deficiency of red blood cells47. State categorically48. ___liff: court officer50. Utah town51. The bottom of a doorway52. Afrikaans53. Current war zone (alt. sp.)54. Not one55. Cast a ballot56. Son of Aphrodite57. Dream states58. Taoism


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WildeRidge Apartments

New service introducedThe libraries are introducing a new ser-

vice which allows library users to add a per-sonal review to an item listing in the catalog or read other library users’ reviews. These reviews are posted not only by local users but by library users across the country, thus developing a sense of community and shared experiences among library users. To add or read a review, users click on the “Reviews” link on the item listing in the catalog.

Students and parents can explore options to pay college expenses

Tim Wolfe, Director of Financial Aid at St. Mary’s College, along with the local high school career counselors, will discuss the options available to pay college expens-es tonight, Jan. 2, at Lexington Park and at Charlotte Hall on Feb. 4. Both programs be-gin at 7 p.m. The FAFSA form will also be discussed.

TAGs sponsoring free teen movie matinee

Teens are invited to a free movie mati-nee sponsored by Charlotte Hall’s TAG (Teen Advisory Group) on Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. at Char-lotte Hall. A PG-13 movie will be shown. Teens can check the library’s website or con-tact the library for the titles. The next TAG meetings are Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. at Lexington Park; Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. at Charlotte Hall and Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Leonardtown.

Home schooled Science Fair

A science fair for home-schooled stu-dents will be held at Leonardtown Library on Jan. 22. The public is invited to stop by and view the science fair projects from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Adults can learn basic computer skills

The libraries offer basic introductory computer classes for adults. Adults will be introduced to computers, Windows, the Internet and e-mail in these free classes. Space is limited and registration is required. Contact the libraries for dates and time of the classes.

Lexington Park is offering an introduc-tory class to Power Point 2007 on Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Libraries offer book discussions

Each library offers a book discus-sion which is open to the public. The fol-lowing books will be discussed: Mitch Albom’s book, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” on Feb. 2, 7 p.m. at Charlotte Hall; Dashiell Hammett’s book, “The Mal-tese Falcon” on Feb. 9, 6 p.m. at Lexington Park and Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s book, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” on Feb. 19, 7 p.m. at Leonardtown.

LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factun Roadrunners are large (about two feet long) crested birds that prefer to run rather

than fly. They eat rattlesnakes whole, and they can sprint 15 miles per hour. CommunityFive Generations!

On January 10, four descendant’s of Marilyn Callis of California, Maryland gathered at the Callis home to welcome the fifth generation. Kaili Rae Romero, to the family. Shown in the photo seated left to right is Mother, Virginia Rae Romero, Kaili Rae, and Great-Great Grandmother, Marilyn Callis. Standing left to right is Great-Grandmother Karen McAlister, and Grandmother Heather Larosa.

Tri-County Dart Association announces its 21st Annual TRICO-DA Open to benefit Hospice of St. Mary’s. Last year the Tri-County Dart Association donated more than $3200 to this fine organization.

In addition to providing a top-notch local tournament for residents of Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s coun-

ties and surrounding areas, they are also anticipating the participation of many top darters from all over the United States. The tournament will be held February 20-22, 2009 in Sol-omon’s Md.

For more information on how to become a sponsor or a participant in this event please call 240-925-2403.

Come celebrate St. Valentine’s Day with us February 14, 2009, 6-10 pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexington Park.

Tony Esser is catering and his food is great! Just ask people from Jesus, the Divine Word parish!

We’ll have appetizers: shrimp cocktail, fruit, cheeses, anti pasto! Our main course will include your choice of salmon or lemon caper chicken, saf-fron rice, asparagus, steamed carrots, lemonade, ice tea, sodas, coffee, tea and dessert.

Plus, hear the marriage testimony of Ed & KC Schnitker: from the false promises and illusions of the Hollywood culture to true happiness & peace in the life & teachings of the Catholic Church.

I personally can’t wait to hear them talk. I’m sure it will be very moving, informative and entertaining!

Tickets are only $15 per person!Go online at www.breadoflifecenter.org to purchase tickets. (Website is

not ready yet, but hopefully later this week!)Or make checks payable to: Bread of Life Center for Peace and mail to:

Cookie Pontzer 21623 Harrison St, Great Mills, MD 20634. Or, purchase tickets at Heavenly Presents Gift Shop in Leonardtown

(301-475-9770). Contact Cookie Pontzer for more information at 301-737-1796 or pon-

[email protected] your tickets by February 9!

TRICODA 21st Annual Open

St. Valentine’s Dinner Party


You Can Get A

FREEGALLONOF MILKFor Every 9 Gallons You Buy With Your McKay’s Gold Card!

You Can Get A

FREEGALLONOF MILKFor Every 9 Gallons You Buy With Your McKay’s Gold Card!

Route 245Hollywood, MD 20636

301-475-2531

Route 246 & Great Mills Rd.Lexington Park, MD 20653301-862-7702

Route 5 & Mohawk DriveCharlotte Hall, MD 20622301-884-5636

Wildewood Shopping CenterCalifornia, MD 20619

301-866-5702

The Shops at Breton BayLeonardtown, MD 20650301-997-1828

No need to save register tapes. Your purchases will be automatically accumulated... just check your register reciept for your update.

No need to save register tapes. Your purchases will be automatically accumulated... just check your register reciept for your update.

Keep That “Eat Healthier” New Year’s Resolution

Every year millions of us make the same New Year’s resolu-tion to eat healthier and lose weight in the upcoming New Year. It is easier than you think if you follow a few helpful tips that are tried and true. This year you can keep your resolution and become a healthier you.

Healthy Eating Strategies• Moderation, moderation, moderation! Food is a source of enjoy-ment so don’t try and force yourself to give up all your favorite not so healthy foods altogether. • Keep portions reasonable. Today’s food portions have ballooned to unhealthy sizes. • Limit sugar, salt and refined grain products. One 12 ounce can of soda per day can add 16 pounds in one year.• Drink plenty of water. On average women need 9 cups of fluid a day and men need 13.• Eat a variety of foods especially fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes.• Eat the right amount of calories per day. The average caloric intake recommended is 2,000 per day, but it depends on your age, sex, height, weight and physical activity.• Add exercise to your day. Adding physical activity will enhance any healthy eating benefits.• Don’t skip breakfast! Studies show that breakfast skippers make

up for the calories by eating more later in the day. Breakfast is im-portant to give you energy to jump-start the day and get your brain working at its peak.

Focus on one food habit at a time. Don’t try and do it all at once.

Healthy BitesOn The Menu

Today in St. Mary’s County we have many wonderful options for

dining out. Each week we will feature a local

restaurant and give our readers an overview of what they can enjoy on

the menu at each location. Bon Appétit!

Trapiche Argentinean WinesTrapiche, located in the Mendoza foothills of the

Andes Mountains, is the most worldwide known brand of Argentine wine. Rich in diversity, Trapiche has been producing fine wines for 120 years. Tak-ing advantage of Argentina’s different types of soils and climates affords Trapiche results of wines with a fruity character and great concentration of colors and aromas.

Malbec is one of the most popular Trapiche wines. Its deep color, ample tannin and plum-like flavor add significant complexity to this wine whose characteristics fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot. Definitely a red meat wine that is versatile enough to stand up to Mexican, Ca-jun, Indian or Italian fare (especially with tomato-based sauces).

Trapiche also offers other varietals, all available for under $10.00 a bottle, including Cabernet Sauvi-gnon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose.

Since 1952 this local favorite has been welcoming its patrons as “one of the fam-ily” with a diverse menu that offers something for everyone. In 1981 founder Leonard Rebarchick retired, selling the business to son Daniel and his wife Robyn, who have carried on the down-home traditions and great food. The menu boasts a large assortment of appetizers ranging from $4.99-$9.99 with specialties such as Oysters Imperial. Homemade soups and salads are available. A great choice of sandwiches ranging in price from $5.50-$16.00 can be enjoyed. Entrée choices include steak and seafood to pasta and comfort foods ranging from $9.00-$30.00. Nowhere else around can you pick out your own live lobster as you enter the restaurant! A full bar is on premises which features 12 different beers on tap!

Lenny’s is open Monday thru Thursday from 11:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. and Sunday features the popular Sunday Brunch from 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. and dinner from 2:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Earlier this year Dan and Robyn added a new 2,000 square foot kitchen, a new look for the dining room and beautiful private banquet facilities for up to 150 people. Stop in for a look today!

seven layer bean dip

Spread a layer of refried beans in a 13x9 pan. Top with a layer of sour cream. Sprinkle the sour cream with a light layer of chili powder. Top with diced green onions, shredded Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses and diced tomatoes. Chill and serve with tortilla chips.

Recipe

lenny’s restaurant23418 Three Notch Road, California, MD

301-737-0777 www.lennys.net

On The Vine

CuisineCreative

Cuisine


Healthy Bites

The Tea RoomThe Tea RoomOpen Daily

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Open Daily

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

(301) [email protected]

26005 Point Lookout Road (Rt 5) Leonardtown MD, 20650

Business DirectoryClassifieds

The County Times will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any reason. The County Times reserves the right to edit or reject any clas-sified ad not meeting the standards of The County Times. It is your responsiblity to check the ad on its first publication and call us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad only if noti-fied after the first day of the first publication ran.

Important

To Place a Classified Ad, please email your ad to: [email protected] or Call: 301-373-4125

or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. The

County Times is published each Thursday.

Deadlines for Classifieds are Tuesday at 12 pm.

Don’t spend what you don’t have!www.ProfessorMoneyWise.com

(301) 997-8271

Wildewood Shop. Ctr., California, MD 301-866-0777 www.petruzzis.com

$699 Adult • $399 8 & Under

Wednesday: Spaghetti Night

Prime Rib • Seafood • Sunday BrunchBanquet & Meeting Facilities

23418 Three Notch Road • California, MD 20619www.lennys.net

301-737-0777

25470 Point Lookout Road • Leonardtown, MD 20650

Authentic Mexican Cuisine(301) 997-0442

Fax (301) 997-0554

Martin’sAuto TechAutomotive and Transmission Repair

Complete Auto & Transmission Service Celebrating our 9th year at this location.

23876 Mervell Dean Road • Hollywood, MD 20636 • 301-373-2266

Real Estate

3 Bedrooms/2 full baths, large living room, fam-ily room, carport, kitchen/dining room combined. W/D, fridge, freezer included. Window air condi-tioner units included. Easy to heat and cool. Carpet & vinyl flooring throughout. Stick built rambler. Brick/siding outside. New roof, new well. Every-thing elec, fuel oil furnace/hot water baseboard heat. Lots of attic area. Wonderful neighborhood. Great for retirees or families with children. Shown by appt only. Call 301-769-2060 between 5:00 & 8:00 pm only. Will pay 8,000 closing costs. Price: $235,000 Firm

Real Estate Rentals

Like New 1 bedroom guest-house on private horse farm. Located aprox. 3 miles off Rt.5 on Charles/St.Mary’s Co. Line in Mechanicsville. Complete Renovation floor to ceilings-New Heat/AC unit, All new appliances, including Washer/Dryer.Private set-ting w/ large carport and storage shed, Convenient to Pax River NAS, Morgantown, and Chalk Point Power Plants. Available immediatly Please call Casper @ 301-518-0813 or 410-414-9103. Price: $990.

Apartment Rentals

Help Wanted

Winegardner Motor Company in search for body shop mechanics. If interested, please call Tommy Cooksey at 301-292-6500.

Vehicles

Spring Valley Apartments

Two bedrooms available 805-1103 Sq. ft. $938-$992

46533 Valley Court301-863-2239 (p) 301-863-6905 (f)

[email protected]

Call For Current Specials!

One 1 BR AvailableOne 3 BR Available

Computer Systems Analyst: Newport Hall Inc., MD seeks Sr. Comp. Systs Analyst w/3 yrs or

more exp to wrk in the locat’n of Charlotte Hall, MD. Duties: Dsgn, dvlp, a’lyze & suppt complex automated desktop publishing systs in the legisla-tive environmt. Req: Must’ve Bach’s Deg in Comp Sci or Math w/supervisory exp & 3+ yrs of exp in

Visual Studio 2003/2005/2008, SQL Srvr, XMetal, InstallShield, XSLT, C#, VB, ASP.NET, ADPDB,

XPath, Desktop syst archit & dsgn, Web Syst archit & dsgn, HTML, .NET Framework 2.0/3.0/3.5,

reqmt spec, unit & regress’n test’g strategies. Send resume to [email protected]

CORVETTES WANTED!Any year, any condition. Cash buyer. 1-800-369-6148.

Finishline Concrete

Need Concrete Work?

Quality Work

Affordable Rates

All Types Of Flat Workas well as

Decorative ConcreteStamping

Specializing In:

Call:301-399-4686

Thursday, January 22, 2009 28The County TimesSt

. Mary’s

Show TimeGet Out & Have Fun Right Here in St. Mary’s County!

Bedtime Stories Rated PG, 1 hr 35 min

Bride Wars Rated PG, 1 hr 30 min

Hotel for Dogs Rated PG, 1 hr 40 min

Marley & Me Rated PG, 2 hr 0 min

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Rated PG, 1 hr 27 min

Unborn, The Rated PG-13, 1 hr 28 min

AMC Loews Lexington Park 6, (301) 862-5010Shows and Rating Provided By Yahoo Entertainment. Check Local Listings For Show Times.

Now Playing

Going On

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

It’s been a while since his 1987 first-place win at the National Flatpicking Cham-pionship in Winfield, Kansas (The Walnut Valley Festival), but since then musician Stephen Bennett has become known as a versatile guitarist who, among other things,

sports a 1930 National resophonic steel gui-tar for slide guitar performances.

The most candid image of Stephen, however, is with his harp guitar, an instru-ment that he indirectly inherited from his great-grandfather.

“The one that started it all for me is a Dyer Brothers symphony harp guitar,” wrote Stephen on his website. “It belonged

to my great-grandmother’s second husband – Edgar Pierce. They were married for 50 years so I think of him as my great-grand-father, even though there’s not actually any blood relation.”

Stephen’s semi-relative played in Port-land, Oregon in a band called the Hoot Owls, and also spent his nights playing in saloons in the Yukon during the gold rush early in the twentieth century. “Talk about a rough gig, imagine playing for a bunch of lonely minors in Alaska in 1915,” wrote Bennett.

The echoes of those many shows start-ed ringing in Bennett’s ears in 1988, when he resurrected his great-grandfather’s gui-tar from the basement and learned to play, building on his own experience with 6-string and steel guitar playing.

Though several instruments over the centuries have borrowed the term “harp guitar,” the term today refers to a specific family of hybrid-like instruments, a motley assortment of guitars of all kinds that also have additional unstopped strings that can be plucked independently. In order to earn their titles, harp guitars needn’t have any other harp-like properties such as pitch range, volume, silhouette, or floor-stand-ing capability, but unstopped strings, including at least one unfretted string lying off the main fretboard, seem to be essential.

Even if it is an odd-look-ing instrument, it is one that seems to fit Bennett quite well as he has molded his home-

spun image over the years, collecting more instruments to round out his collection.

“I have three and a half harp guitars,” he said during a phone interview, laughing. “There’s one that’s being rebuilt, so it’ll be half old and half new when it’s done,” he said.

In addition to releasing 20 CDs, with sounds ranging from old standards to folk to classical, this eclectic composer and ar-ranger not only plucks six-string guitars, but slides his way up and down the frets of his steel guitar as well.

But all leads him back to his first pas-sion, for which he has spearheaded the annual Harp Guitar Gathering, which fea-tures concerts and presentations by play-ers, luthiers, scholars and enthusiasts in a weekend-long celebration in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Bennett will be playing at a concert for the Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance Society at Christ Church Parish Hall in Chaptico at 7:00 p.m on Jan. 23. For tickets and event details, call 301-475-5522 for more information.

Harp Guitarist Stephen Bennett: An American Classic

Stephen Bennett on harp guitar.Photo Courtesy of harpguitar.com


Seabreeze

CH

IL

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FEB 3

BIG GAME

BIG GAMEFEB 3

Give Aways,

Games &Prizes!

Turn on South or North Sangates Rd. We Are Located on the Beautiful Patuxent River

301-373-5217

COOKOFFCOOKOFFEVERY WEDNESDAY NITEALL YOU CAN EAT

CRAB LEGS & SHRIMP

EVERY THURSDAY NITEKARAOKE

Chili must be in a crock pot & must be checked in before kickoff.

Popular Vote:To pick the top 5

Official Judges: Coors Light Girls

CO

OK

OF

F

1st, 2nd,& 3rdPlace

Trophies

FEB 1ST, 2009COOKOFF

3RD ANNUAL 3RD ANNUAL SUPER SUNDAYSUPER SUNDAY

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& Coors Light PresentFEB 3COOKOFFCOOKOFF

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Going OnWhat’s

Thursday, Jan. 22

Wing Night at VFW 2632VFW in California - 5 p.m.Wings sold and served 5 – 8 p.m., eat-in or carry-out.

Newtowne Players “The Foreigner”Three Notch Theater, Lexington ParkShowing 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Visit www.new-towneplayers.org or call 301-737-5447 to reserve seats.

LHS Band Basket BingoLeonardtown Fire House – 6 p.m.$20 for 20 games, $5 for each additional set of cards, $1 for each special. Call 301-863-2583 to reserve seating and purchase raffle tickets.

Deep Stack Hold’Em TournamentDonovan’s Irish Pub – 7:30 p.m.$100+$20 Deep Stack $10,000 starting chips. Cash games available. Call 443-975-1591 for more information.

Friday, Jan. 23

CSM Presents “The Little Mermaid”CSM Fine Arts Center, La Plata Campus – 8 p.m.Hans Christian Anderson’s classic. $5 admission. Call 301-934-7828, 240-725-5499, or 443-550-6199 for more information.

Legends and Lore TourSotterley Plantation – 5:30 p.m.Call 301-373-2280 for reservations.

Special Olympics Hold’Em TournamentBennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Road, Hollywood, MD 20636. Texas Hold’Em. No Limit with side games. Sign up from 6:15 to 7 p.m. Call 240-577-0983 for more information or to pre-register.

Taste and Sip of Italy Wine DinnerJ.T. Dougherty Center – 6:30 p.m.Five course dinner with Italian wines. Call 301-863-9345 for reservations.

Homespun Concert – Stephen BennettChrist Episcopal Church Parish Hall, Chaptico – 7 p.m.Guitarist Stephen Bennett plays assort-

ment of classics on harp guitar. Admis-sion $10 ($8 for SMTMD members). Call 301-475-5522 for more information.

Saturday, Jan. 24

Appraiser FairSt. Clements Island Museum – 10 a.m.Appraisers for jewelry, furniture, glass-ware, pottery, artwork, etc. Dolls, coins and jewelry will be $5 for the first two items. Only bring items that can be hand-carried. For additional information, con-tact the museum at 301-769-2222.

DanceMechanicsville VFD Social Hall – 8 p.m.Featuring “The Wanders” band, ben-efiting the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s 2009 parade committee. Call 301-343-5130 for more information.

The Worx, DJ Rob & Full SteamHotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.Cover charge. Call 301-274-4612 for more information.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Burgers for BoobiesCheeseburger in Paradise – 11 a.m.Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Team fund-raiser for cancer research. Tickets $20.

Thursday, Jan. 29

Open HouseFather Andrew White School Leonard-town, MD will host an open house from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.Experience the school while classes are in session. Speak with faculty and administration. For more information please call the school. 301-475-9795. fa-therandrewwhite.org

Sunday, Feb. 1

All - You-Can-Eat BreakfastFather Andrew White School’s Home and School Association is sponsoring a community all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.The Menu is:Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits, Sau-sage Gravy, Pancakes, Fried Potatoes, Danish,Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Juice, Milk Cost is: Ages 13 - up: $7 Ages 8 -12: $5 Ages 5 - 7: $3 Ages under 5: FREE fatherandrewwhite.org


BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.You will be greeted by your host and shown to your private table located in one of the rooms throughout the Antiques Mall and Art Galleries while partaking of

Valentine’s Punch and enjoying our silver tray service of both hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.

BEGINNING AT 7:00 P.M.With lighting dimmed and candles lit, you will be served a

glass of wine with a delicious three- course dinner, special-ly prepared by The Maryland Antiques Center Tea Room,

and you will be serenaded with romantic violin strings.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14th

SEATING IS LIMITED. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL THE TEA ROOM @ 301-475-1980 OR THE MARYLAND ANTIQUES CENTER @ 301-475-1960. $60 PER PERSON (plus $15 Tax and Gratuity, a Total of $75 per person all inclusive).

THE MARYLAND ANTIQUES CENTER “A Unique Dining and Shopping Experience”

26005 Point Lookout Road (Route 5), Leonardtown, MD, 301-475-1960

Sponsored byTHE TEA ROOM

&THE MARYLAND ANTIQUES

CENTER DEALERS

A Magical CandlelightValentine’s Dinner

You’re Invited to Join Us at

With private seating throughout The Antiques Center

Great Mills Road Just Outside of NAS Patuxent River, Gate 2

Expires 1/31/09Excludes Sale Items.

Bring in This Ad to Receive

5% discount

LEXINGTON PARK STORE301-863-2242 • 800-762-BEDSGreat Mills Rd • Lexington Park, MD 20653

(Next to Subway & Popeyes)

LA PLATA STORE301-392-5600

6541 Crain Highway • LaPlata, MD 20646

“Serving Southern Maryland”Family Owned & Operated

Business DirectorySt. Mary’s SquareGRAND OPENING

A new Liberty Tax Service office is here!301-290-0100

30385 Three Notch RoadCharlotte Hall

(just north of Oak Rd)

301-737-781121600 Great Mills Road

Lexington Park(in front of Roses)

1-866-871-1040www.libertytax.com

Good at participating locations. For new customers.Not valid with other offers. Expires 2/28

Tax Preparation

$20off

Route 246 & Great Mills Rd.Lexington Park, MD 20653301-862-7702

at

Care for your lawn.Not the equipment.

Thatchers. Leaf blowers. Aerators. For rent. Along with the lawncare supplies you’ll need, including advice, all in one place.

Buy what you want. Rent what you need.®


By Andrea ShiellStaff Writer

At this year’s Martin Luther King Breakfast, hosted by St. Mary’s College, there were many voices serenading the crowd, from the gospel choir from St. Peter Claver Catholic Church to SMCM professor Dr. Garrey Dennie, who used to write speeches for Nelson Mandela, but the voice of Dr. Janice Talbert Walthour seemed to rise above the all as she related stories of grow-ing up during the era of segregation.

While the attendees joined in song and speculation to celebrate not only the achieve-ments of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., but also the impending Obama administration, which many are already crediting with a vast

change in the country’s political landscape.Walthour, principal at Holy Angels Sa-

cred Heart School in Ridge, brought with her a vast array of memories, having graduated from George Washington Carver High School when it was one of the two segregated public high schools in St. Mary’s County in 1964. She later became the school’s principal, and shepherded its transition to George Washington Carver El-ementary School, retiring from the public school system after 36 years as a teacher and principal.

Walthour stays busy with both her admin-istrative duties and her work as an activist for the NAACP and the county’s Unified Com-mittee for Afro-American Contributions. But Monday’s gathering saw Walthour talking more about what she called a “much needed revival” in the community.

“We all know that the conditions in our country right now are right for a revival,” she said, citing the biblical story of Ezekiel, who witnessed a mass resurrection of the dead in the famed Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

“The revival can come when we recog-nize it’s needed. Under the leadership of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement, we had a revival,” she said, adding that if King could advise the nation’s new president, “I think that Martin would tell him that faith is the first step when you can’t see the staircase.”

Walthour also stressed the importance of community service.

“The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great con-flict,” Walthour said, “so we need you to step up to the plate of community activism…revive this country.”

Between prayer and song, Monday’s break-fast seemed to usher in Tuesday’s inauguration, as dignitaries continually tied in Martin Luther King’s achievements with those of President Barack Obama.

“This is the day that the Lord has made,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md. 5), reflecting on the impending inaugural celebration, “and tomor-row is the day that the Lord will be glad.”

In addition to Hoyer, the breakfast was well attended by elected officials and community leaders. Del John Bohanan (D-29B), members of the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Education, and representatives from the local community all turned out to cel-ebrate the life and accomplishments of King.

Newsmakers33QuestionInterview

Interviewing: Brandon Clark

As a barista in Lexington Park, Brandon Clark fuels the daily grind by cheerfully serv-ing coffees of all kinds for his customers. He was kind enough to tell the County Times about some of the perks of his trade.

CT: What is the strangest or most compli-cated drink a customer has asked you to make?

BC: “Oh wow, I honestly can’t think of things without going down the list and making one up myself. But if I can think up a quad-venti, three-quarter half-decaf, half soy, half or-ganic, one and a half pump mocha, with whip, extra hot cappuccino, then I’ve prob-ably made it. (Laughing) People order stuff like that a lot.”

CT: What’s the worst breech of coffee shop etiquette?

BC: “Well I don’t like it when people act rude or impatient. Sometimes they’ll park at my counter and ask, “Is that my mocha?” while I’m trying to make drinks, and they’ll see that there are 20 people in front of them and they expect us to have their drinks ready in 30 seconds. That does bother me sometimes.”

CT: What kind of coffee drinks do you like?

BC: “I prefer tea, actually, but when I drink coffee, a gingerbread latte is my favorite. I look forward to it every year.” Dr. Janice Walthour gave a revival-style speech

at this year’s MLK Prayer Breakfast, hosted by St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Photo Courtesy of SMCM

MLK Prayer Breakfast Packs the HousePoet, Educator and Activist Janice Walthour Calls for a Revival

St. Peter Claver Catholic Church Gospel Choir performed selections from their varied repertoire at this year’s MLK Prayer Breakfast.

Photo by Andrea Shiell


By Linda RenoContributing Writer

In July 1814, British naval forces were cruising the Patuxent River, raiding almost at will, leaving destruction in their wake. Cattle, crops, furniture, and anything of value was sto-len. Homes and crops in the field were burned. In Calvert County the jail and court house was burned. In St. Mary’s they raided the planta-tion of Benedict Heard but were chased off by our local militia. The next day they returned and in retaliation, burned every building on Mr. Heard’s property. Losses were estimated at $4,000-- a very large sum for that time.

Just a few days later, the British arrived in Breton Bay and with a force of 1,500 troops, under the command of Admiral Cockburn, landed and took possession of Leonardtown. While it is said they very polite to the ladies and respected private property, they “destroyed about 100 barrels of supplies, belonging to Col. Carberry’s regiment, the whole of Mr. Haislip’s store, and the furniture, clothing and bedding of Captains Forrest and Hillard, all of whom had left town. They got possession of some mus-kets, belonging to the state, which they broke to pieces, saying they were only fit to stick frogs with—Mrs. Thompson and Miss Eliza Key were very instrumental in saving the Court house, stating that it was sometimes a place for divine worship.”*

In the past, Mrs. Thompson has been er-roneously identified as Ann “Nancy” King,

wife of James Thompson but by the time of this event, she was long deceased. The Mrs. Thompson in this case was Janet Wherritt, the second wife of James Thompson and by this time his widow.

Miss Key was Eliza Maynadier Key, the daughter of Philip B. Key and his first wife, Re-becca Jowles Sothoron. Eliza was born Janu-ary 28, 1792, so by the time of this event, she was 22 years old and engaged to marry John Scott, Jr., a young lawyer from Queen Anne’s

County, Maryland. As was often the case in those

days, when people of property mar-ried, there would be a marriage con-tract. Unfortunately, the contract would probably have been filed in St. Mary’s County and since the court house burned in 1831 (this time by accident and not because of the British), it was lost. However, there was a chancery court case filed in 1834 in which it was stated “Sometime in the year 1813, a mar-riage contract was entered into by John Scott & Eliza M. Scott, (then Eliza M. Key), daughter of Philip Key, the elder. Philip Key agreed in writ-ing that his daughter should have a child’s por-tion of his estate at his death. On July 14, 1816 John Scott & Eliza M. Key were married.”

The Scotts made their home in Montgom-ery County, Maryland where John Scott died in 1843. Eliza never remarried and died in 1866. Their daughter, Cecelia Ashton Scott, was born in 1832. Cecelia married Michael Fitzgerald in 1850 and they had several children, one of whom was Edward Fitzgerald. Edward mar-ried Mary McQuillan and their son was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, one of America’s greatest writers and author of The Great Gatsby.

Now we have two things to thank Eliza Key for—saving the court house and her great-grandson.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota where his father Edward was then working for Proctor & Gamble. His life has been chroni-cled many times and does not bear repeating here. Suffice it to say that he had a great talent but wasted much of it through his addiction to alcohol.

F. Scott Fitzgerald died in Hollywood, California on December 21, 1940. He was initially buried at Rockville Union Cemetery

as Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockville would not allow his burial in the family plot because he was a non-practicing Catholic at the time of his death. Eventually, his daughter Scottie (Frances Scott Fitzgerald) was able to get a reversal of the Baltimore Diocese’s verdict and, in 1975 his grave and that of his wife Zelda were moved to Saint Mary’s church cemetery where he lies near his great-grandmother. His is the most visited site in the cemetery. In-scribed on his tombstone is a quote from The Great Gatsby that reads: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Unfortunately, we no longer have writers of his caliber.

Last week I decided that I would go see “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” as I had noted that it was based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. While rather long, it was an interesting tale. Unfortunately, aside from the premise of the story, the Hollywood writ-ers changed everything else. For instance, Fitzgerald’s version was set in Baltimore, didn’t include a clock that ran backwards, included no child abandonment, Benjamin had a son and not a daughter, and the story didn’t end with Hurricane Katrina. But, everybody needs a job, right?

*Paulson’s American Daily Advertiser, July 29, 1814.

A Journey Through TimeA Journey Through TimeThe Chronicle

Photo Courtesy of Ron Williams

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BALTIMORE (AP) _ A new edition of a map-guide to 41 places and programs related to the Underground Railroad in Maryland is now available in the state’s 11 Welcome Centers.

The guide, `̀ The Underground Railroad: Maryland<s Network to Freedom,’’ describes places where you can learn about the personal stories of slaves who tried to outrun slave catchers and civil authorities in the decades before the Civil War.

All of the sites in the Maryland guide are associated with the National Park Services

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, a program mandated by Congress in 1998.

Sites include the Harriet Tubman Un-derground Railroad Byway and the Freder-ick Douglass Driving Tour of Talbot County on the Eastern Shore, Sotterley Plantation in Southern Maryland, and Uncle Tom<s Cabin/Riley Farm in Rockville.

Copies of the guide are also available through the Maryland Office of Tourism Web site, http://www.visitmaryland.org, or by call-ing 800-719-5900.

Maryland Releases Updated Underground

Railroad Guide

Special Now Through March 1st!$1599

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&Recreation ParksBy Sean RiceStaff Writer

There’s still plenty of good fishing opportunities to be had this winter, if you know where to look.

Local anglers are looking forward to the coming run of yellow perch, which is typically “the first good run of fish in the early spring,” according to local fishing guide Capt. Brady Bounds.

Toward the end of February yellow perch will begin to file into the tidal tributaries of the Potomac and Patuxent riv-ers to await their spawning run. The fish wait in pockets un-til the water reaches a precise 44 degrees to begin the spawn, Capt. Bounds tells The County Times.

“And they will stay there until the water gets to that magical 44 degree mark,” said Bounds, who hosts “Fishing Tips with Capt. Brady” on Metrocast channel 10.

The best fishing is just before the spawning begins, while the fish are congregating in dark pockets near the bot-tom. The best response can be had with small minnows for bait.

Before the yellow perch run ushers in fishing season, there are plenty of good places to try your luck.

There’s large rockfish still in the Bay near Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel, as rockfish continue to move out of the Bay down the coast to the Carolina capes.

There’s some catfish to be had in the Potomac River near the Fort Washington Area, Bounds says, particularly in the deep water channels with the use of live bait.

Local farm ponds on warmer days can also be a source for sun fish and perch types. Bounds recommends fishing on the sunny side of the shore using bait good for cold water and ice fishing, such as maggots or tiny minnows.

Fishing Is Not Just Spring Sport

Greenwell Needing Horse Help

By Andrea ShiellStaff Writer

Since November Greenwell Foundation has been working to provide more comfortable shelters for their horses, but their latest campaigns are showing that the horses at Greenwell still need some help. A recent campaign has focused efforts to con-struct shelters for horses outside, so they can weather the out-doors for longer periods of time.

“We sent out our first fundraiser on the 20th of November,” explained Kate Morris, Volunteer and Program Coordinator for Greenwell Foundation. Morris said that the foundation would be moving away from stalls for their seven horses, ranging in ages from 12 to 28, and which can be cramped and unhealthy for animals.

“It’s more healthy for the horse to be able to be out in the paddock,” she said, explaining that when the horses are in the paddocks, they do not have cover from the sun, rain, sleet or snow. “What we’re trying to do is get shelters so that the horses can stay out longer,” she said.

To help with the effort, which is expected to cost the foun-dation $5,896, the foundation is renewing the campaign to raise the rest of the money for the project, asking everyone to ask five family members and friends to donate just $10 each.

Morris said that since fundraising started, the foundation had raised $2,690, but $3,206 was still needed to purchase ma-terials for the project.

“We’ve gone a little over half way to our goal…and if you look on our website, there are two ways you can donate,” said Yolanda Campbell, who has been heading up fundraising efforts with the Greenwell Foundation to benefit the horses. She said that the foundation will purchase three 10 by 20 foot shelters, each of which can fit three or four horses.

Please call the Greenwell Foundation today at 301-373-9775 to learn how you can help shelter the horses, or fill in the form below and a member of the Foundation staff will contact you.

Submitted Photo


By Chris StevensStaff Writer

WALDORF – Mer-cy rules have no place

in hockey, as far as St. Mary’s Ryken act-ing ice hockey coach Adam Buckingham

is concerned. “Only if

the game gets rough and out of

hand should there be a mercy rule, this

kind of game doesn’t help the players at all,”

Buckingham said after the Knights lost a 10-0 decision to

Huntingtown in a Maryland Scho-lastic Hockey League Southern Di-

vision game Friday night.The Hurricanes, current division

leaders at 6-1, lined up shots all night long against freshman goaltender Greg Myers, who did his best to stop every-

thing thrown at him. The duo of Kyle Powers and Kirby Kinslow teamed up to baffle

the Knights with their passing and scoring. Powers came up with four goals and three as-

sists, while Kinslow added a hat trick, including a slap shot that nicked the top of the post and went in just four

minutes into the third period, invoking the mercy rule and ending the contest.

Alex Kreppel added two goals and Alex Brunstrom also scored for the Hurricanes, who used their experience as travel

players to their advantage against Ryken, who have some kids that are skating for the first time.

“They have a lot more to draw from,” Buckingham said of the experience factor playing a role in Friday’s game. “When you’re playing

a team like this, we’re mainly focusing on the fundamentals and the basics; especially on defense because we don’t have the firepower that Huntingtown

has offensively.”The Knights got off a few good opportunities on Hurricane goalie Brian

Merewitz, but most of the evening was spent chasing Kinslow and Powers up and down the ice, giving them limited chances to attack the Huntingtown zone.

Buckingham felt the Hurricanes superior play in front of the net is what hurt the Knights Friday, and they will have to improve on that as the season progresses to improve as a team and to preserve their lone goaltender.

“They have to play better there, that’s where Huntingtown was all night long,” he said of the constant passes right on the doorstep that the Hurricanes converted.

As for Myers, Buckingham is working with the young goalie and believes that he will be fine as soon as he gets Friday’s goa l- scor i ng blitz out of his mind.

“He might take it personal, but he knows he’s our only goalie, and he knows the team doesn’t blame him for our problems,” Buck i ng h a m said. “It takes a whole team breakdown for guys to score on him, and that’s what happened tonight.”

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High

Sch

ool H

ocke

y Inexperienced Knights no Match

for Hurricanes

Knights goalie Greg Myers and defenseman Matt Scott surround the puck.Photo by Chris Stevens

Photo by Chris Stevens

St. Mary’s Ryken’s J.D. Webb handles the puck during Friday night’s game against Huntingtown.


High School Basketball Sp rtsBy Chris StevensStaff Writer

LEONA R DTOW N – In another first quarter gone wrong for the St. Mary’s Ryken boys’ bas-ketball team, St. John’s College High School raced

out to a 15-3 advan-tage and cruised

to a 55-39 vic-tory over the Knights Friday evening in the

R y k e n

Gymnasium. “When we shoot well, we’re pretty good,” said Cadets head Coach Paul DeStefano. “We made the extra pass more in this game than we did in any other game this year. We feel pretty good about the way we played and getting out of here with a win.”

The Cadets (8-8 overall, 4-7 in Wash-ington Catholic Athletic Conference play) snapped a four-game losing streak with the win, led by Derrick Thomas’ 25 points, in-cluding 20 in the decisive first half. Knights coach Dave Tallman was not pleased with the effort the Knights (4-11 overall, 1-5 WCAC) put forward, as Gokhan Sirin and

Gorkem Sonmez didn’t see much action due to disciplinary reasons.

“We didn’t come out with any energy tonight,” Tallman said of the Knights’ lowest scoring out-put this season. “It’s easy to make passes like St. John’s did when

nobody’s pressuring them.”The Knights trailed from the

start, and it got out of hand quickly when Thomas fired in his second three-pointer of the first quarter to open up a 10-3 lead for St. John’s, who led by double digits most of the contest.

“It’s been the reverse for us lately,” DeStefano said of the Cadets’ first quarter

outburst. “We usually fall behind and have to play catch up. It was impor-tant for us to come out the way we did.”

The closest Ryken would get was nine points when Kai Smith, who led the Knights with 13 points, knocked down a baseline jumper with 4:17 left in the third to cap a 12-5 Knight burst. However, St. John’s just kept firing and hitting while the Knights had trouble mak-ing shots.

“If we had the intensity from the start that we did in the third quarter, it would’ve been a different story,” Tallman said.

He credited senior reserve David Booz for his hard work on the defensive end (“he’s never asked for anything, he’s been with the program for four years and works very hard”) and said this team members have to look for something inside themselves to have any success this season.

“They’ve got to find a will to win,” Tallman said simply. “If we put a full 32 minutes together ev-ery night, then we’re going to win some ball games. If not, then it’s the same story as it’s been all year.”

Sharp-Shooting Cadets Snipe Ryken

Kai Smith led the Knights with 13

points, but Ryken fell short to St.

John’s 55-39 in a WCAC game Friday night.

Gokhan Sirin of St. Mary’s Ryken looks to pass as the Cadets’ Tim Snyder defends.

Photo By Chris Stevens

Photo By Chris Stevens



GREAT MILLS – Many rivalries in sports are born not out of a genuine dislike for one another, but a mutual respect of the opponents’ skill and a burning desire for one team to prove itself by topping that opponent.

Although Patuxent High S c h o o l s w e p t t h e

Great Mills boys (156-113) and girls (144-125) swim teams last Wednesday night, one could consider this rivalry a friendly one.

“I always expect a great match with Great Mills,” said Panthers head Coach Shan-non Doleski. “We have a very happy rivalry with them.”

Due to the close proxim-ity of the schools, athletes from both teams swim on a club team, where friendships were

forged, and w h i l e

both teams gave their all last Wednesday night, in the eyes of the Hornets’ Jackson Hold-en, no one lost.

“ S i n c e we’re all friends, you really don’t worry about winning and los-ing,” said Holden, who won the boys’ 500-yard freestyle and was a part of the winning team for the boys’ 400-yard freestyle relay. “We just want to get as many of us to states as we can.”

Ivan Palaroan, 100-yard butterfly winner, added that, “It keeps the pressure off you, swimming against people you know. You don’t get scared or

nervous like “oh no, what am I going to do?”

Patuxent’s Jeffrey Lewis used the friendly competition to pump himself and place sec-ond in three different events, aiding the Panthers’ drive for a conference victory.

“You’re racing against your good friends,” Lewis said, “So my competitive drive just pushed me a little more.”

The first three events (boys’ and girls’ 200-yard med-ley and Boys 200-yard free-style) were seesaw matches, but Patuxent’s Courtney Parkes gave the Panthers the edge for good with her six second vic-tory over Rachael Bailer in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle.

“Great Mills has always been a fast pool for us, and I think everybody had their best times this season here today,” Parkes explained. “Coach has been working us really hard in practice and you just know it’s worth it.”

The Hornets did their best to keep up with the more expe-rienced and efficient Panthers, but missing athletes forced Great Mills to switch things up.

“We have some people missing and sick, so we had to change what we do at the last minute,” Palaroan said.

With the regular season winding down and the confer-ence meet at Lackey coming up in two weeks time, the Hornets are focusing their eyes on the task at hand, as well as the big-ger picture.

“We’re hoping we can get a lot of us to states,” Holden said.

“Especially in that 400-yard relay,” Palaroan added with a grin.

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FactunJames Naismith, a teacher at a YMCA in Springfield,

Massachusetts, is credited with inventing basketball in 1891.

Thursday January 22ndWrestlingGood Counsel at St. Mary’s Ryken, 6:00 p.m.Thomas Stone at Chop-ticon, 7:00 p.m.

Friday January 23rd Boys’ BasketballCalvert at Chopticon, 7:30 p.m.Great Mills at Urbana, 7:30 p.m.Northern at Leonard-town, 7:30 p.m.St. Mary’s Ryken at Paul VI, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ BasketballChopticon at Calvert, 6:30 p.m.Leonardtown at North-ern, 6:30 p.m.Paul VI at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7:30 p.m.

Ice HockeySt. Mary’s Ryken vs. Leonardtown at Capital Clubhouse (Waldorf), 6:45 p.m.

SwimmingGreat Mills/North Point/Thomas Stone at Lackey, 5:00 p.m.Chopticon/McDonough/Patuxent at Lackey, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday January 24thChopticon/Great Mills/Leonartown at South-ern Maryland Athletic Conference champion-ship meet, P.G. County Sports Complex, 8:00 a.m.

Monday January 26thIce HockeySt. Mary’s Ryken vs. Southern High School at Piney Or-chard, 6:50 p.m.

Tuesday January 27th Boys’ BasketballLeonardtown at Hun-tington, 7:30 p.m.Bishop McNamara at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ BasketballHuntingtown at Leonar-dtown, 6:30 p.m.St. Mary’s Ryken at Bishop McNamara, 7:00 p.m.

Ice HockeySt. Mary’s Ryken vs. La Plata at Tucker Road Ice Rink (Fort Washington), 5:00 p.m.

WrestlingLeonardtown/Mc-Donough/La Plata at La Plata, 6:00 p.m.Lackey at Great Mills, 6:00 p.m.Patuxent at Chopticon, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday January 28thBoys’ BasketballChopticon at Thomas Stone, 7:30 p.m.McDonough at Great Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ BasketballThomas Stone at Chop-ticon, 6:30 p.m.Great Mills at Mc-Donough, 6:30 p.m.

SwimmingLeonardtown/Patux-ent/Thomas Stone at Lackey, 4:30 p.m.Great Mills/Lackey/Cal-vert at Lackey, 5:00 p.m.

WrestlingBishop O’Connell at St. Mary’s Ryken, 6:00 p.m.

High School Sports Schedule 01/22/09-01/28/09

All high school, recreational and youth league

coaches, if you would like the scores, statistics and standings from your

respective games and leagues to be published, contact Chris Stevens

at 301-373-4125 or at chrisstevens@

countytimes.net

SPECIAL NOTE:

Patuxent Sweeps Great Mills Swimmers in Friendly Rivalry

High School Swimming

Kate Ferran of Great Mills swims in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle dur-ing last Wednesday’s match with Patuxent High School.


The Hornets’

Robert Bishop makes a splash during the boys’

200-yard individual medley.

Photo by Chris

Stevens



MORGANZA – Brock Morris, according to Chop-ticon wrestling coach Dane Kramer had been preparing for his 215-pound match with Leonardtown’s Mark Bohan-non all season long. “When we scrimmaged them before, Mark handled him pretty good,” Kramer said after Morris, a se-nior on the squad, earned his re-venge for what turned out to be the winning pin in the Braves’ 37-30 victory over the Raiders Tuesday night.

“They were both undefeat-ed in SMAC and we were lucky to come out on top in that match.”

“I go out there and try to

be aggressive, but not too aggres-sive,” Morris said of his strategy in his matches. “Mark got too

aggressive and tried to push on me, but I got

him on his back and pinned him. It could’ve gone either way.”

M o r r i s took advantage of Bohannon’s miscue and

held him down for a pin and ignited

a roar among the Chop-ticon faithful and gave

Morris a one-up on his rival. “That’s the difference between

being Number 1 and being Number 2,” he said of the close match up. “He has beaten everybody except me and I’m still

undefeated.”Morris’ pin in the 215-pound

weight class gave the Braves (12-3 overall, 5-1 in Southern Mary-

land Athletic Conference matches) a 25-23 lead and

they managed to out-point the Raiders the rest of way, handing Leonardtown (7-2 overall, 5-1 SMAC) its first conference loss of the season.

“I really don’t know what to say after a loss

like that,” said Raiders head coach Dave Cummins in his only comment

after the match.Leonardtown’s B.J. Frederick, who pinned his opponent in 10 sec-

onds, had more to say about the shocking loss. “We didn’t put forward any effort, we gave up special points, we got pinned in places we shouldn’t have been pinned,” Frederick listed as reasons for the setback.

“We have to learn to come out strong every match.”The Braves looked at this match as an important one for several

reasons, one being a chance to beat a tough team on their way to the conference tournament and regionals and secondly, there was the rivalry factor, which Vincent Shontere is glad to have in his final high school season. “This is the only time we’ll wrestle them this year,” the 135-pounder says of the Braves’ impressive triumph. “We’ve got a year’s worth of victory laughs I guess.”

“Everybody was looking forward to this match, I know I was,” Morris added. “We had a couple of guys pull through and Shontere went down a couple of weight classes and pulled through. Altogether, we had a real good team effort.”

Wrestling Spotlight

Vincent Shontere

135lb

Chopticon

Sp rtsMorris Pin Clears Way

For Brave Victory

High

Sch

ool W

rest

ling

Vincent Shontere of Chopticon struggles to a get a hold on Leonardtown’s Eric Bose during Tuesday night’s SMAC wrestling match.

Photo by Frank MarquartPhoto by Frank Marquart

Photo by Frank Marquart

Leonardtown’s Ellis Truitt locks up the Braves’ Cody Reiter.

The Braves and Raiders were tied up most of the night in an intense county rivalry match.

Photos by Frank Marquart

Brian Samuels

135lb

Leonardtown

Robert Frederick

145lb

Leonardtown

Brock Morris

215lb

Chopticon



ST. MARY’S CITY – Camontae Griffin’s 25-point, seven-assist and five-steal effort sparked the St. Mary’s Col-lege men’s basketball team to a thrilling 81-77 overtime win over the University of Mary Washington Saturday evening.

The win comes on the heels of a 101-97 overtime loss at York (Pa.) Col-lege last Monday night, and Griffin was not about to let lightning strike twice in the same week.

“I just had to lead my team to a win,” Griffin said of his thought process in the final minute, when he came up with a steal and uncontested basket with six seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

There was some contact on the play with Eagles guard Matt Hale (UMW’s leading scorer with 24 points) that had a strong Mary Washington following up in arms, but Griffin felt “the referees should swallow their whistles and let us play a little bit.”

“That was the right time to let us play,” he added with a smile.

In the overtime, Griffin handed off two key assists, one to sophomore swingman Mike Fitzpatrick on a crucial three-pointer to open up a five point lead for SMCM (12-3 overall, 5-1 in Capital

Athletic Conference play), and a no-look pass in the final minute to senior forward Calvin Wise, whose lay-up put the game out of reach.

“I knew I had to do more passing once [Alex] Franz fouled out,” Griffin said. Franz scored 13 points and dished out four assists before picking up his fifth foul late in the second half.

“What you saw tonight was two really tough teams going toe to toe,” Hawks coach Chris Harney said. “Nei-ther team was going to give an inch. It was a fun game to watch if you’re fan, not if you’re a coach.”

“Tonight ,” said Fitzpatrick, who scored a career-high 19 points and made f i v e three-point shots, “ w e p rove d that we’re still the team to beat in this con-ference and that we are a tournament team.”

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ST. MARY’S CITY – Sophomore guard Jamie Roberts characterized the current state of the St. Mary’s College women’s basketball team with simple eloquence.

“We’re just not shooting the ball very well and we’re going through a rut right now,” Rob-erts said after the Hawks managed just eight field goals in a 66-39 loss to nationally-ranked Mary Washington Saturday afternoon.

Roberts was the leading scorer for SMCM (3-10 overall, 2-4 in Capital Athletic Confer-ence games) with 14 points, and senior forward Allie Scott added 10, but the Seahawks were overmatched by the taller and deeper Eagles, ranked number 21 in the NCAA Division III national polls.

“They are a tall team, everyone is 5’10 and above, and they play really good defense,” Roberts explained of the Hawks’ eight-for-35 shooting slump on the evening, contributing to their lowest point total this season. St. Mary’s was also out-boarded by an astounding 55-25 margin.

The game was scoreless for the first two minutes and 39 seconds before Mary Washing-ton (12-2 overall, 4-1 CAC) ripped off a 27-9 scoring run over the next 10 minutes to firmly take control of the contest. They were led by Jenna McRae’s 16 points on seven-of-eight

shooting from the field and also got 11 points and four steals from Katie Wimmer.

Even with three players returning from various injuries, the Seahawks are still finding themselves shorthanded against other teams, and it has proven to be a frustrating situation for Roberts and her teammates.

“We can’t scrimmage each other in prac-tice because we don’t have enough players and other teams can bring in subs when they’re playing us,” Roberts said of not having a full roster of players. “It’s really tough.”

Seahawk Women Can’t Find the Range in Loss

St. Mary’s College

Seahawks Work Overtime for Win

Mike Fitzpatrick’s 19 points helped SMC edge UMW 81-77 in overtime Saturday.


Photo by Chris StevensSMC’s Megan Seeman looks for a way around Mary Washington’s Ashley Reed during Saturday afternoon’s CAC Women’s Basketball game.

THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2009

Page 38

Photo By Frank Marquart

Dr. Janice Talbert Walthour Speaks at MLK Prayer Breakfast

The Business of Selling “I Do”

PAGE 10PAGE 31

SMAC Powerhouses

Collide

7th annual Bridal Show at the Dougherty Center

The County Times 2009.01.22 (Low-Def)

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Transcript of The County Times 2009.01.22 (Low-Def)