2011-12-08 Calvert Gazette

December 8, 2011

Priceless GazetteEverything Calvert County

Calvert NOW WEEKLY!

Photo By Frank Marquart

0

Running ERRands FoR a Living

Thursday, December 8, 2011 2The Calvert Gazette

community

Crowds of people lined the North Beach Boardwalk for the annual Christmas Parade on Saturday. Later, students of dance and music provided an evening performance at Town hall after the parade.

The crowd at Southern Middle School for the fourth annual Staff vs. Students bas-ketball game was more tame than the two teams they came to watch. The action on the court kept some on the edge of their seats.

Also Inside On The Cover

4 County News7 North County News8 Community9 Education10 Feature Story11 Business12 Crime13 Letters14 Obits15 Newsmakers16 Games17 Health18 Entertainment19 Out and About

Jan Gibson, owner of Infinite Errands says as long as it is “legal, ethical and moral” her concierge ser-vice is available to help.

out & aboutFOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 19 IN OUT AND ABOUT

local news

www.somd.com

Your Online Community for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties

Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders

can’t be wrong!

New to the area? Lifelong resident?Stop by and see what

Southern Maryland Online has to offer!

• Stay abreast of local happenings• Check our highly popular classifieds• Speak your mind in the forums• Enter our contests and win terrific prizes

Thursday, December 8, 20113 The Calvert Gazette

MHBRNo. 103

Thursday, December 8, 2011 4The Calvert GazetteCOUNTYNEWS

By Corrin M. HoweStaff Writer

Last year a Department of Natural Re-sources officer found a family who had no Christmas tree, no holiday decorations, no food and didn’t know how they were going to pay their electric bill.

According to Sgt. Mike Bomgardner these are the types of families for which Calvert County’s Annual Shop with A Cop program is designed. This year the program partnered with Calvert County schools, churches, food banks and previous families in the program to find approximately 70 at-risk youth.

The county’s Fraternal Order of Po-lice and Optimist Clubs sponsor the event which pairs approximately 40 officers from the Sheriff’s Department, Maryland State Troopers, DNR Police and Prince George’s County officers with youth for a shopping spree at Wal-Mart.

“The response has been tremendous as many different aspects of the community come together,” said a representative from the Optimist Club.

Financial sponsors such as Stoney’s, Outback Steakhouse, SMECO, FOP, Ameri-can Legion and Wal-mart make Shop with a Cop possible.

“Christmas is even more of a challenge. We want to make life-long connections or experiences which are positive with law en-forcement,” said Bomgardner.

The kids are picked up from their homes and taken to Outback where they will receive a morning snack and have their pictures tak-en. Then they ride in marked police cars with flashing lights and wailing sirens to Prince Frederick Wal-Mart. At the store, each child is given a gift card. In the past it has been for $100. This year it might be raised to $150. The youth can purchase gifts for themselves and family members.

“It’s amazing,” said Bomgardner. “We have to make some kids buy something for themselves; they are so generous to their family. That’s the rule; they have to get something for themselves.”

After shopping, they will be driven down to St. Leonard’s Fire House, where they will receive breakfast and help wrap-ping their gifts. Then the officers will take

them back home.In the past, the group went back to Out-

back for breakfast, but the group has out-grown their venue.

The community support has been such

that this year Shop with a Cop included tak-ing middle school students to Wal-Mart for back-to-school shopping. The organizers hope that they will be able to continue the before school shopping in the future.

By Sarah MillerStaff Writer

Sales tax money that went into the Trans-portation Trust Fund last year is now being fun-neled instead into the state general fund.

To help rebuild the Transportation Trust Fund, there are murmurs among state officials of raising the gas tax and other transportation taxes, which are supposed to go directly into the transportation trust fund.

Unfortunately, just because the funds are slated to go into a dedicated fund doesn’t mean that fund is what they get used for, a fact Del-egate Mark Fisher (R-27B) discussed during a recent town hall meeting in North Beach.

He said raising taxes to rebuild trust funds will do nothing unless there are also laws passed to put “lock boxes” on the trust funds, preventing the monies from being used for other purposes, such as helping to balance the state budget.

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-29C) echoed Fisher’s concerns, saying raising the taxes to replenish the trust funds will only serve to give the state more money unless preventative measures are taken to make sure the trust fund money is used for its intended purposes. Getting such legislation passed, though, would be “difficult” because of the amount of people who would have to vote to close those loopholes.

“The government gets creative when they spend more than they make,” O’Donnell said.

Potential tax increases include motor fuel taxes, increased registration fees and titling taxes, among other things.

O’Donnell said the taxes punish the rural areas of Maryland, like Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, by making it more expensive to own cars and drive from location to location, a ne-cessity in rural Maryland. This type of propo-sition, which would have the most negative impact on less urban areas of the state, has be-come common for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, in O’Donnell’s opinion.

“The governor is engaged in a war with rural Maryland,” O’Donnell said.

He said in addition to being difficult for rural areas, the transportation taxes would be difficult for the state as a whole to swallow.

“In my opinion, the government can’t withstand the gas tax,” O’Donnell said.

Raquel Guillory, communications di-rector with Governor O’Malley’s office, said O’Malley has no such grudge against rural Maryland, and the tax increases were a recom-mendation from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding – a rec-ommendation which may or may not be sup-ported by the governor.

“We have not finalized any plans in regard to potential revenue enhancements,” Guillory said.

As for the gas tax increase having a dis-proportionate affect on people in rural areas, she said there are also people in urban areas that use a lot of gas commuting into the cities and sitting in traffic. She said before anything is done, they have to study the idea and its po-tential impact on all the residents in Maryland.

[email protected]

Shopping For A Positive Experience With Law Enforcement

Phot

o B

y Se

an R

ice

Republicans Warn of State Tax Hikes

Commissioner’s Bid to Lower Taxes

DisregardedBy Sarah MillerStaff Writer

An idea of County Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt, Jr. to look at county spend-ing and how to put money back in the pockets of taxpayers fell on deaf ears during last week’s commissioner meeting.

While making a motion to approve the one-time incentive pay for county employees, Slaughenhoupt added a lengthy addendum to his motion to look at reducing county spending.

“Initially, it seemed we had an either/or decision. Either we provide relief to county employees, or to the taxpayers. But, that is not who we are. We are still Americans. We can do both; provide this incentive and seek to lower county tax rates,” said Slaughenhoupt in his motion during the Nov. 29 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

His motion involved identifying redundant systems, and determining whether they are truly needed.

“We will find efficiencies and financial savings by consolidating duplicated services,” he said.

Essentially, Slaughenhoupt called for an overhaul of the way the county does business and builds the budget.

“I am not sure this can be completed during the ongoing FY13 budget build, but can be completed for the following fiscal year build,” he said in his motion.

During a short discussion, Commissioner Jerry Clark was one of the most vocal in arguing that the county has made cuts, but Calvert, unlike other counties, has never made cuts in education funding and public safety. The county has, thus far, been careful about prioritizing the cuts to have the least impact on the taxpayers, he said.

“To say we haven’t done that is just not correct,” Clark said.The rest of the county commissioners saw Slaughenhoupt’s suggestion as two separate

motions in one statement, and it failed to receive a “second” from any member.Slaughenhoupt said in a later interview with the Calvert Gazette that he will be bringing

the matter back to the commissioners, and wants to find a way to provide “relief to taxpay-ers who are feeling the pinch of the economy.” He said he intends to push for a reduction of expenditures and county services in order to give the taxpayers more money in their pockets.

[email protected]

Thursday, December 8, 20115 The Calvert Gazette COUNTYNEWS

Free InItIal ConsultatIon

Auto Accidents Workers’ comp

• Divorce/Separation• Support/Custody

• Domestic Violence• Criminal/Traffic

• DWI/MVA HearingsPower of Attorney

• Name Change • Adoption• Wills • Guardianship

SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT

The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years

99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111Accepting:

Scan this “Times Code” with your smart phone


Between the County Commissioners and the Planning Commission, the structure of county government is poised for some changes.

Effective as of Dec. 5, Planning and Zon-ing Department officials have restructured the department, making it more streamlined and user friendly, according to Director of Planning and Zoning Chuck Johnston.

He said they have been working on the changes for the past couple of months, after getting the suggestion during his interview. Johnston himself has only been working for Calvert County for eight weeks.

Under Planning and Zoning, there are four sub groups – Board of Appeals, Policy Division, Development Review Division and Inspections and Permits. As part of the revi-sions, the long range planning division was moved from the planning and plan review di-vision to the Policy division. Other divisions were renamed to be more descriptive of their functions.

Johnston said the changes are not set in stone, and the department will continue to streamline their processes.

Also approved is a change in the num-ber of election districts for the County Com-missioners. While there are currently three election districts and two at large members, County Commissioner President Susan Shaw said the board has asked the state legislature to change that to five election districts and eliminate the at large position.

She said she doesn’t anticipate a problem finding candidates in each election district.

[email protected]


The argument about giving the Calvert County Ethics Commis-sion’s subpoena power, among other issues, has still not been settled. Instead, the County Commissioner voted 3-2 to bring the issue into an-other public hearing.

Commissioner President Susan Shaw and Commissioner Jerry Clark were vocal about their opposition to having another public hear-ing on the matter.

“It just feels like kicking the can down the road,” Shaw said.She also expressed concern that the commissioners were trying to

let the public do their jobs for them. Clark agreed with Shaw, saying he would have preferred a work session on the revisions to the ethics code before taking it into another public hearing.

Major sticking points on the matter include giving the ethics com-mission the ability to issue subpoenas in order to obtain the information

they need during their investigations. The ethics commission represen-tatives said they had changed the wording so they could issue summons instead of subpoenas. The change begged the question of whether it had to go back to the beginning of the process with public hearing and com-ment periods on the document.

There were also concerns about grandfathering employees who could potentially be hurt by new ethics policies due to family members being higher up on the chain of command. Those employees could either be trapped in their positions with no chance of job growth or even lose their jobs to avoid conflicts of interest.

Shaw said she personally knows a person who couldn’t be promot-ed due to a chain of command issue, and wants to make sure nobody is hurt by the new code.

The date for the next public hearing has not yet been set.

[email protected]


Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is preparing to build a new electric-ity utility substation and switching station, which received approval from the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday.

SMECO sought permission to modify the boundary of an agricultural preservation dis-trict and get permission to adjust its covenants. SMECO already owns the land that the new station will be going on, and will be replacing the land with area on an adjacent parcel of land that is not already protected. The project re-quired 17,564 square feet for access and 15,163 for storm water requirements. The county

commissioners voted 5-0 to allow the project to move forward.

Also approved during Tuesday’s meeting was a budget adjustment for fire and rescue fa-cilities. Capital Projects Analyst Julie Paluda and Coordinator for the Division of Fire, Res-cue and Emergency Medical Services James Richardson presented three additional projects to be done during the FY 2013 budget cycle.

The projects, totaling $195,477, are an as-phalt overlay and restriping of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department parking lot, replac-ing the apparatus bay heating system at Solo-mons Island Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department and getting an emergency genera-tor for St. Leonard VDF to properly power the entire building, the fire suppression system and

the St. Leonard town water supply.Paluda said the money for the projects

will come from savings on the roof replace-ment and installation of a second entrance for the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

While the board voted 5-0 to allow the additions, Commissioner Clark expressed con-cern over the amount left over from the pervi-ous projects and asked that they try to refrain from over estimating projects too much. Rich-ardson said the leftover was due to the econ-omy, which allowed them to get the projects done at a lower rate.

[email protected]

Commissioner Meeting Notes

County Government

Structure Being

Revised

Debate Continues Over Ethics Code

By Guy LeonardStaff Writer

Volunteer craftsmen have been busy building a new working boat to adorn the front of the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, and now that their work is coming to a close the new vessel is due for a new name.

The new working boat, known as a bugeye type, is used histori-cally to troll local waters for oysters and set to replace the old Marie Therese vessel which had recently become unsafe, museum staff said.

“She just rotted to the point where she couldn’t be salvaged,” said Richard Dodd, curator of marine history at the museum.

Bugeye-type vessels were developed in the post-Civil War peri-

od, a double-ended work boat that would sail the waters of the Chesa-peake Bay; many of its type were constructed in Solomons and the area became known for such industry, according to information from the museum.

The new bugeye craft is not seaworthy, but will be used on land as an educational tool on the water-based industry of the area.

The Calvert Marine Museum is offering the naming rights for the boat to the highest bidder; bids can be placed with the museum staff but must be reviewed and approved for their suitability for public viewing.

For more information contact the museum at 410-326-2043.

[email protected]

New Marine Museum Boat Nearing Completion

Photo Courtesy of Calvert Marine Museum


410.286.8212 www.mellomar.com

MELLOMAR GOLF PARK

Obscurely Located: 6215 Scaggs Rd., Owings, Maryland 20736

Gift Certificates:

$5 and Up

Any $100 or more:

10% OFF

Antique & CollectibleFriday, December 9th - 6 p.m.

Grocery AuctionSaturday, December 10th - 4 p.m.

Consignments now being taken for our

upcoming New Years Day Auction and a

future Gun Auction

Chesapeake Auction HouseSt. Leonard, MD 20685 • 410-586-1161 • chesapeakeauctionhouse.com


A recent state report has found that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) did not have proper oversight over taxpayer funded grant money doled out for various septic system contracts, nor did it adopt proper regulations over programs that were part of the Bay Restoration Fund, which is supposed to fund reduction of pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous in the Chesapeake Bay.

The discrepancies found in the awards of grant monies for septic systems projects were referred to the Office of the Attorney General’s criminal division, the report stated.

One example found in the report by the Office of Legislative Audits showed that MDE awarded $1.1 million for 51 projects associated with the Septic System Program, paid for by the taxpayer funded Bay Restoration Fund, to two installation contractors in the same area.

Documentation submitted by the two contractors was sometimes incomplete and also did not always meet with MDE policies, the audit stated.

“Comprehensive reviews of Septic System Program grant applications … were not performed and resulted in the approval of questionable awards …” the report stated.

The report went on to state, that “as a result, there was a lack of assurance that septic system bids submitted were independent and fair.”

Another finding of the report showed that a former employee at MDE received nearly $225,000 through eight consulting contracts over an extended period of time; this “appeared to violate state laws, including procurement and ethics laws.”

The report showed that in February 2007, the employee established their own management con-sulting business and got a year-long contract from MDE.

That employee retired from their state position May 31, 2007, the report stated, with other con-tracts following.

“Our review disclosed that the contract qualifications and bid specifications for the initial pro-curement were specifically tailored to the former employee’s experience, skills and job functions,” the report stated. “This is a violation of state procurement law, which requires that specifications be written to permit maximum practicable competition and not be written in such a manner as to favor a single vendor over other vendors.”

The audit noted several other flaws in MDE’s administration of certain functions, including properly standing up a records keeping system so that it was not fully utilized.

This system, known as the Enterprise Environmental Management System, which was designed to replace several disparate permit and compliance databases, was said by MDE to be fully functional when in fact it was not.

MDE also exceeded costs on the new system, the report stated, spending $7.8 million so far, instead of the original $6.4 million in the original contract, the report stated.

Also the report found that MDE did not ensure that some hazardous materials facilities met state security standards, nor was there proper oversight of monitoring properties affected by lead paint.

MDE officials responded to the audit by agreeing with some of the deficiencies while denying that other findings were true.

MDE officials stated they have already taken steps to ensure that septic grants to local jurisdic-tions would meet oversight requirements and they would cooperate with an investigation into any questionable grant awards, but it did not agree with the audit’s assessment of the new environmental database.

“The current MDE management cannot change the historical fact that in 2004, when this project was initially proposed, it was overpromised and underfunded,” the response to the audit stated.


An audit released late last week shows the State Highway Administra-tion, along with certain contractors it employed to inspect taxpayer funded construction projects, deliberately mis-managed funds in the amount of $11.3 million, and steered those monies toward projects other than for what they were in-tended to conceal the overspending.

By using funds for projects that they were not appropriated for, SHA and the contractors circumvented the Board of Public Works, which must give final ap-proval for using money for any other state endeavor, the audit stated.

Also, the cost of certain contracts could not adequately be measured be-cause paperwork attached to each job was not outlined with specific goals, the report from the Office of Legislative Au-dits stated.

This latest audit is the second in re-cent weeks to criticize major state agen-cies and their use of tax payer dollars; a previous audit of the Maryland Depart-ment of the Environment showed that there was not enough oversight on the awarding of $1.1 million in grant money from the Bay Restoration Fund to con-tractors to install septic systems.

Nearly all of that money was spread between two contractors ; the report called the expenditures questionable.

It also chided MDE for telling offi-cials it had fully implemented a permit and inspection database to keep track of septic system usage, but the audit’s find-ing showed it had not.

The contract price to install the electronic database was $6.4 million but MDE so far has spent $7.8 million.

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Dist.29C) said that both

audits fly in the face of some elected of-ficials’ push for an increase in both the “flush tax” and the gasoline tax.

O’Donnell has been a frequent critic of increasing the gasoline tax, especially because the state has raided the transpor-tation fund in recent years to pay for gen-eral fund expenses.

The mismanagement of funds by both agencies, which would gain from increases in either tax, showed why the increases should be denied, O’Donnell said.

“It’s crazy,” O’Donnell said. “They’re talking about [mismanaging] millions of dollars and they want more. They’re wasting money on both of these programs … and they both affect rural areas dramatically.”

Many rural areas of the state, such as St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, have a disproportionately high amount of homes on septic systems, meaning they pay a substantial portion of the “flush tax”.

O’Donnell has argued that because rural areas have less public transporta-tion options, a gas tax hike would also disproportionately hurt residents there as well.

This latest examination of SHA’s business and contracting practices fol-lows a summer audit that showed many of the same problems in questionable contracts. That audit was triggered by tips received on the waste, fraud and abuse hotline.

In the second audit, SHA’s responses all concurred with the auditors recom-mendations to shore up its procurement practices, including using funds only for their original intentions and to seek ap-proval from the Board of Public Works before shifting those funds.

[email protected]

Audit Chides MDE for Lax Oversight of

Flush Tax Money

State Report Shows Deep Mismanagement of Highway Contracts

COUNTYNEWS



Tax increases may be in the future; the unemploy-ment rate is higher than people have been led to believe; and the state will continue raiding money from dedicat-ed funds – these are a few points Delegate Mark Fisher (R-27B) warned of during a town hall meeting in North Beach last week.

But one issue that could not be ignored, especially in the face of a crowd of citizens in yellow shirts bearing the motto “Save Our Jobs” was whether or not Fisher would support eliminating the “sunset” clause that will remove pull tab machines from Calvert County as of July 1, 2012, and the jobs that depend on them.

Fisher said he would support fighting to keep the

machines legal, as long as local communities like Chesa-peake Beach get a fair portion of the proceeds.

Fisher, in the first of three town hall meetings in Northern Calvert County in December, updated North Beach citizens on his forecast for 2012 legislative session starting in Annapolis next month.

“There are few people who are going to tell you what I’m going to tell you,” Fisher said.

He said while Maryland’s unemployment rate is of-ficially upwards of 7 percent, the people only working part time but seeking additional or alternative employ-ment and people who have gotten discouraged to the point of not even looking for work are not counted. With those factors included he said the true unemployment rate in Maryland is closer to 13 percent.

Maggie Chaney, who works for Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, said she felt Fisher defi-nitely listened to the people in the room and their concern, adding that for many people, their liveli-hoods depend on the pull tab machines and the revenue they bring.

The 430th ses-sion of the Maryland General Assembly begins Jan. 11, 2012.

[email protected]

COUNTYNEWSNorth

Don’t Wait For A Loss To Occur And Be Surprised To Find Out You Have A High Wind

Deductible Or No Coverage! Call Today For A Comparison Quote And You’ll

See How Great Our Coverage & Rates Are!

Let The Mattingly Agency & Erie Insurance Give You The

Homeowner’s Coverage You Need!** No Separate High Wind Deductible

** Earthquake Coverage Can Be Added

DON’T WORRY…BE HAPPY AT MATTINGLY INSURANCE!!

**BLOWN AWAY BY A HIGH WINDSTORM DEDUCTIBLE ON YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE???**

Local residents came out to make their concerns known – keeping pull tab machines in the area and saving jobs.

Pull Tab Machines Sticky Topic for the Beaches Christmas on The Beach

Photos by Guy LeonardCrowds of people lined the North Beach Boardwalk for the annual

Christmas Parade on Saturday. Students of Abigail Francisco School of Classical Ballet, pictured below, joined singers from Calvert High School and Windy Hill Elementary for an evening performance at Town hall after the parade. The Santa Claus that rode on the Chesapeake Water Park float sported a tank top.

Thursday, December 8, 2011 8The Calvert GazetteCommunity

By Carrie MunnStaff Writer

The crowd dining at the Ruddy Duck in Solo-mons last Saturday was pleasantly surprised when a “flash mob” broke out in dance in the middle of the restaurant. Joined by many costumed charac-ters. The covert performance was to promote the sixth annual performance of “Holly Jolly Musical.”

The holiday-themed show which features dancing, singing and humor was created and writ-ten by Grace Myles, owner of Gracie’s Guy and Gals Dance Studio in Hollywood, with her son Justin Myles serving as director and artistic advisor.

“Holly Jolly Musical” is a fundraiser for the dance troupe with parents making props, stage decorations, costumes and some even participating as cute costumed characters.

“It is a very professional show with lots of scenery changes and fun choreography,” Myles said.

The kids in the troupe and their parents have been traveling all over St. Mary’s and Calvert counties to drum up, or rather dance up, interest in the production.

Myles said this is her studio’s 24th year in business. Offering recreational opportunities and professional training for dancers, the show troupes from Gracie’s have become a fixture at community events.

The musical features a cast of wacky characters like Elf’is, the Elvis of Elves, Jingles the comical horse, Santa Mouse and the Grinch and promises to be an entertaining holiday show combining song, dance, acting and perfor-mance to bring cheer to audiences for the holidays.

The show goes on Saturday, Dec 10 at the Mary Har-rison Center in Owings at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. In-formation on obtaining tickets can be found by emailing [email protected] or by calling (301) 475-5265.

To see a preview of the high-energy show or find out about the opportunities to hone dance skills at Gracie’s studio, visit www.graciesguysandgalsdancestudio.com.

[email protected]

Seventh and eighth grade National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students from Saint Mary of the Assumption School in Upper Marl-boro, recently donated 355 books for pediatric patients at Calvert Memorial Hospital. Roman Huntley, right, presenting a book to Chad Lankford, Emergency Department RN, spearheaded the project after visiting his brother in the hospital. President of the NJHS, he and other honor students worked with the school and church to collect brand new books and the school sanctioned a “Jersey Day” where kids could wear a sports jersey to school if they dropped off a new book.Also pictured with the students are Principal Steven Showalter, left, Rev. William Foley, pastor, and William Clancey, vice principal and NJHS Advisor.

Children’s Books Donated to CMH

Mini Grant Funding OpportunitiesThe Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Board has announced that ap-

plications for the Mini Grant Program are available.Projects selected for funding will assist RC&D in implementing its Annual Plan and Area Plan which are

both focused on community development, land conservation, land management and water management in Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s and Anne Arundel counties.

The maximum amount for each mini grant award is $500. The Southern Maryland RC&D Board will accept applications at its office in Leonardtown via email, fax or regular mail.

The Mini Grant Program will operate on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year (July 2011 to June 2012) while funds are available. Applications are due the 1st of every month.

Visit the website at www.somdrcd.org for more information about RC&D. Call the RC&D office at 301-475-8427 X 6 or email [email protected] if you are interested in applying and would like to receive an application.

The RC&D is a nonprofit organization that carries out community development and conservation projects in Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s and Anne Arundel Counties.

Flash Mob Promotes Upcoming ‘Holly Jolly’ Shows

5th Annual Firewood for Families

Armed with trucks, wood splitters and cutters, axes and willing hands and spirit, more than 110 Summit Men’s group members from Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown cut, loaded and delivered free fire-wood to 28 less fortunate families on Saturday. The men delivered be-tween a half cord to three cords of firewood at each stop. For many, the firewood will be their only source of heat during the winter months, a press release states.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Chesapeake Church has spearheaded the Firewood for Families endeavor. This year brought the largest number of volunteers and more than doubled the amount of deliv-eries, 90 percent of the deliveries were Calvert County residents.

“The need is out there and it is strong,” said Chet Taylor, Ches-apeake Church’s Summit Men’s Leader. “The men at the church an-swered the call to serve. I hear the stories of how the men who delivered the wood are just as touched as the firewood recipients when they return to the church. It is rather humbling.”

The majority of the families who received the firewood utilize the church’s Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry and others came from referrals. The food pantry serves more than 450 families every week.

“I’m very thankful for the wood delivery,” a Firewood for Families recipient said. “I cannot thank the church (Chesapeake) enough as I use the food pantry, the twice a year oil changes and now the wood delivery.”

For the fifth straight year, Summit Men’s Member Steve Krouse manned the splitter and cutter to help those who need help to stay warm this winter.

“I do this to serve the Lord, to help those in need,” he said in a press release. “This is my way of giving back to those less fortunate.”

As the men, women and even young children cut, split and loaded trucks for delivery, the Chesapeake Cares Serving Seniors team was pre-paring food for delivery around Calvert County. Hunger does not take the weekends off and the Serving Seniors provide hot meals on week-ends. And later that same Saturday at Chesapeake Church, a 24-hour prayer event was held with the last hour culminating in an Unhindered praise worship led by the church’s praise band Scattered Leaves. Over 350 people were in attendance.

“Bottom line is those who attend Chesapeake Church have a ser-vant’s heart,” Taylor said. “They are called and answer every time. It’s contagious and the number of volunteering continues to grow.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities or learn about Chesapeake Church visit chesapeakechurch.org or call 410-257-0700.

Chesapeake Church Notes: Christmas Eve Services entitled “What The Shepherds Saw” will be held at 2:30, 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Also the church is launching a Saturday service beginning Jan. 28, 2012, at 5 p.m.


Teachers, Support Staff Agree to New Contracts

Preparing for the Next Step Bernie’s Beauty Salonwelcomes

Call now for your holiday appointments &

SpeCial OfferS

Brand Name Hair Products & Styling Tools

Margie Nelson Nancy Ciancio

Bernie

PeggyJulia

Donnell KarenPatty Debbie

Amy

301-475-681140845 - 130 Merchant Lane

P.O. Box 1858Leonardtown, MD 20650

Mon.: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Tues.- Fri.: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sat.: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Specializing in family Hair Care!To Our Full-Service Styling Staff

Gift Certificates available

LocallyCrafted

Home Decor& Jewelry

HolidayStockingStuffers

Walk-Ins Welcome

Spotlight On

The Calvert County Board of Education (BOE) and the Calvert Education Association, the association that represents Calvert’s teach-ers, announced Dec. 1 that the two negotiating teams reached a tentative agreement on the remaining articles in the teacher employment contract, a joint press release states.

On Dec. 1, the teams reached agreement on the following items:

• Tenured teachers with 10 or more years of experience earned shall be allowed to con-vert one day of sick leave, per school year, to be used as personal leave when all personal leave has been exhausted;

• If additional operating funds become available … negotiations will commence with-in 20 days, following the appropriate approval process, to provide additional salary and/or compensation;

• For changes in teacher certification, teachers submitting paperwork by Aug. 15 will receive a full salary adjustment for that school year; teachers submitting paperwork by Ja. 30 will receive one-half pay adjustment for that school year; and,

• Teachers who lose their jobs because of a reduction in force and are rehired, with no break in service, will be placed on their proper pay scale.

Teachers will receive no cost of living or longevity (step) increases for this school year.

Both the teachers and the BOE must now ratify the contract addendum.

On Dec. 5, the BOE and the Calvert As-sociation of Educational Support Staff also reached a tentative agreement on the remain-ing articles in the support staff employment contract, a BOE press release states.

On Dec. 5, the teams reached agreement on the following items:

• Employees with 10 or more years of experience earned shall be allowed to convert one day of sick leave, per school year, to be used as personal leave when all personal leave has been exhausted;

• If additional operating funds become available to the school system … negotiations will commence within 20 days, following the appropriate approval process, to provide addi-tional salary and/or compensation to employ-ees for the Fiscal Year 2012 school year;

• The parties will establish a study com-mittee to review the job responsibilities and compensation for school nurses. Within 60 days of the initial meeting, the study commit-tee will provide written recommendations to the Superintendent for implementation;

• Support employees will receive ap-proved professional leave to attend the MSEA fall conference; and,

• Employees will receive no cost of liv-ing or longevity (step) increases for this school year.

Both the support employees and the BOE must now ratify the contract addendum.


Students, parents and members of the community came out to College of Southern Maryland (CSM)’s Prince Fredrick Campus to discuss what students want to do with their lives and how to prepare to succeed.

The Southern Maryland Campus Access Network (CAN) hosted the first-ever CAN Ca-reer Summit on Dec. 3, bringing in 26 students, parents and Calvert County Rotary members to discuss the tools students need to succeed and how to guide students in achieving their goals.

The summit was aimed at students in the You CAN: Early Awareness Program at Cal-

vert Middle School, and was a success “for the first time out of the gate,” said CAN Executive Director Shelby Potts.

“I would not hesitate to do it again,” she said.

Along with meeting successful adults and getting advice on getting ahead in their ca-reers before even graduating from high school, students received instruction on using Career Puppy, CAN’s career resource website, and got tips on networking.

Calvert Middle School eighth grader Deija Henderson said she was asked to go to the summit, and she thought the morning was “very helpful” for guiding her in choosing courses to take in high school to prepare for life after graduation.

[email protected] Schiada talks to Darius Jackson during a networking breakout session.

Paige Wagner shares her goal of being a chef, and the steps she has taken to achieve that goal.



Jan Gibson, owner of Infinite Errands says as long as it is “legal, ethical and moral” her concierge service is available to help.

Stand in line on Black Friday?“I haven’t yet. No, I take that back. I did pick up something

for someone, but I was already planning to be in line myself. But I do Christmas shopping.”

Decorate homes for the holidays?“I’m scheduled next week to decorate someone’s home. I

don’t do outside lights.”Take cars for the emissions testing?“I thought I would be doing of that type of thing when we

first started the business. But I think people are nervous about others driving their cars.”

At the end of 2007 Gibson and a co-worker were becom-ing unhappy in their work as consultants for Northrop Grum-man. At her friend’s suggestion they looked into concierge services. Gibson called some of the companies around the country in business and asked them questions. After some research, she and her co-worker began the business together.

Early this year, Gibson bought out her partner, who returned to consulting work.

Over the years Gibson has done a variety of things. One of her long term clients “hates to open mail. She puts it in a bag and every week I weed through it, toss the junk mail and pay her bills. She opened an account for me and she transfers the right amount of money into it. I like it because I can go online after midnight.”

One of her original clients asked if she was an escort ser-vice. “No, but I had an elderly customer ask me to go online and help find her a man. I told her I’d sit beside her and show her how to go online but that she’d have to answer all the emails.”

When she and her partner first started the business, they envisioned having more clients among two income families who were too busy to do their errands. However, the business has mostly senior citizens and corporate clients.

“I do a lot at Asbury-Solomons. Their staff can’t help them move units, so I help pack, move, unpack and hang pictures. I do a lot of grocery shopping. Food Lion staff knows me well.”

Her corporate clients use her services as a personal assis-tant. She manages their calendars, makes their travel arrange-ments, plans parties and meetings, answers phones and does data entry.

She said with technology, her corporate clients can forward their phones to her and when she an-swers the clients don’t know they aren’t talking to someone in the office. Available technology offered through such services and “Google Voice” and “LogMeIn” makes her remote service to the corpo-rate client seemless.

“(Phone clients) will say, ‘I’ll see you then.’ And I’ll laugh to myself, ‘No you won’t.”

She does a fair amount of shopping. She does “Trader Joe runs and BJ runs. So far I haven’t been able to get people to let me put those runs on the same day as other clients.”

Some clients give her specifics on their shop-ping lists such as brand names, but for the most part, she’s learned what is important to each of her clients. “For some it’s brand names, for other’s it’s cost savings and others it’s gas points.”

A relocation company from out West calls her about once a month to help with transferring em-ployees finding a place to live. She’ll take them around to see apartments and houses. She takes a realtor with her, but she likes the fact that she’s not bound by the same laws and professional codes. “I can drive by an apartment complex or neighbor-hood and say, ‘We’re not going to look there today.’ While a realtor can’t.”

Among her favorite activities is planning meetings and parties. She’ll make all the arrange-ments and arrive to make sure everything is set up. She says she won’t plan weddings; however.

She then listed a number of weddings she did help plan.

“There is not too much that I don’t want to do. I haven’t woken up in the morning yet and regretted having to go do something,” she said.

Even with a tight economy her business is do-ing well. “For some of my clients it is not a luxury, it is a necessity. I have two legally blind women I’ve helped but I’ve learned a lot from.”

She charges by the hour in 15 minute incre-ments. She sells 10, 20 and 30 hour packages, each coming with a discount for purchasing more hours. She also provides a 10 percent discount to senior citizens.

Although there is concierge software available to organize her time and billing, Gibson prefers a spiral notebook. She writes down what she did, how long she did it and for whom. Then she transfers her data every couple days into her Quickbooks and Outlook Calendar which syncs to her phone.

Her family has been supportive of her business and helps out time to time. Her husband will provide handyman services while her daughter helps with the pet sitting. Occasionally she does have to contract help. In fact, Gibson said Infinite Errands is on the cusp of needing to hire employees. However, mentally she’s not prepared to take the next step just yet.

She has been able to accept all jobs coming to her and still schedule her work so it hasn’t interfered with her personal life. She tries to keep her work Monday through Friday during the day.

She has a small advertising budget; however, she finds most of her business comes to her by word of mouth and her website. In fact, her presence on the Internet is what attracted her corpo-rate clients. She did not approach them first.

The one area she has not expanded her business is in trans-portation. She looked into it one time, but even occasionally car-rying a client was cost prohibitive when it came to insurance. She finds providing affordable transportation is a desperate need in the county if someone wants to attempt to fill it.

Gibson said one service she planned to provide but no one has taken her up yet is planning and delivering a romantic meal. After Christmas and New Year’s the next major holiday is Val-entine’s Day.

Infinite Errands can be reached by phone: 410-414-5222, email: [email protected] or website: in-finiteerrands.com.

[email protected]

STORY

Former Defense Consultant Makes a Living on Running Errands

Infinite Errands’ services include, but are not limited to:

• Concierge Services (schedule appointments, schedule tee times,

reminder service)

• Errand Services (UPS/FedEX drop off, gift wrapping,

gift returns, shopping)

• Hospital Stay (meet deliver people, house sit, pet sit, bring personal items)

• Travel Arrangements (set up romantic get-a-ways,

arrange for out-of-town guests)

• Wedding Help (pick up and return rentals, wedding day errands,

stock newlywed kitchen)

• Car Services (take in for repairs, maintenance, inspections)

• Personal Assistance (catering, event planning, Internet research,

Thank you notes, Invitations)

• Pick up/Drop off (dry cleaning, videos, library books,

prescriptions, donations)

• House Sit & Pet Sit (feed and walk pets, water plants,

open up vacation homes, rotate blinds and lights)

• Home Repairs: (waiting services, installation, scheduling contractors)

• Home / Office Organization (“One client calls me the throw away lady.”)

• Relocation Services (packing, unpacking, hanging pictures,

waiting for telephone and cable)

Jan Gibson Photo By Frank Marquart



In difficult economic times, farmers in the area have been forced to find alter-native revenue streams for their farms, delving into “agritourism” and even tak-ing second jobs that take farmers away from their land in order to keep their live-lihoods afloat.

Debbie Jones, the county’s agricul-ture commission chairperson, said finding alternative revenues is necessary.

“Unfortunately, you have to,” she said. “You can’t make it on farming anymore.”

Jones co-owns the Windy Willow Farm in Sunderland, which tied for the Sustainable Meat Producer of the Year award with Crooked Branch Farm, also in Sunderland. The farm was a former to-bacco farm until the state buyout, she said. She and her husband took over the farm after the buyout.

According to information from the Southern Maryland Agriculture Commis-sion, 195 growers in Calvert County took the buyout, which started in 2001 and end-ed in 2005. Jones said the last of the pay-ments for the first year participants were made in 2011.

The planning commission recently received questions to consider before their Dec. 14 meeting pertaining to proposed zoning code changes for farmland. The questions include the number of public events farms can have and the size such events can be. There were also questions about retail greenhouses selling non-plant items and the size of the locations at which non-plant things can be sold.

Changing the zoning codes can be “extremely frustrating and cumbersome,” Jones said.

There are tweaks and revisions that have to be read, and the zoning code is so complicated that it is impossible to make a one-size-fits-all change due to the dif-ferences in zones, or to find changes that please everybody, she said.

“You always know you’re not going to get everything you want,” Jones said.

While the alternate revenue streams are necessary, Jones said it is also neces-sary to make sure the secondary busi-nesses run on farms mesh well with the location. She wouldn’t support industrial additions, but she said bed and breakfasts, corn mazes and other farm-friendly agri-tourism uses are needed to help keep local farmers afloat.

[email protected]

Mark ‘Doc’ Grace, Owner/Operator of Mellomar Golf Park in Lower Marlboro has teamed up with Mary Bowen of Prosperity Acres, a beef and goat farm in Sunderland. to create a true win-win arrangement in the world of golf and goats.

In the world of golf course maintenance, two of the biggest expenses on the balance sheet are labor and chemicals, a press release from Mellomar states. In the world of goat raising and breeding, there is always a need for more grazing land and larger herds. All

this is coming together at Mellomar Golf Park.“What we have here is basically a free

lease arrangement,” explains Grace. “My situation is the need to control unwanted veg-etation in certain areas of the golf course. But the times being what they are, budget restric-tions are hindering my ability to adequately address this problem. Mary’s goats are the answer. They willingly work weekends and aren’t aware of any scheduled holidays.”

Tee one up on any given day at Mello-mar and you’ll come across the herd, dutifully

munching, gnawing, and trimming back the underbrush that restricts much needed air cir-culation around the turf.

“The farm needed room to expand,” ex-plains Bowen. “So when Doc came looking to purchase a couple goats we discovered our mutual needs and the arrangement was made. It all came together perfectly.”

Turns out this has a become a win-win-win-win situation. Mellomar Golf Park has saved money in manpower and chemicals, and Prosperity Acres has found new grazing

land and the goat herd is in the process of ex-panding. It really is a sight to see, just don’t touch the fence, the press release states.

Prosperity Acres, a family-owned beef and goat farm, produces local, naturally fed meats for their family and community. Find them on the web at www.prosperityacres.com.

Mellomar Golf Park consists of a driv-ing range, nine-hole par three course, and a regulation length nine-hole course. They can be found on the web at www.mellomar.com.


Last Thursday night, Meraj Dental Spa turned into a calm and quiet place for ladies to hang out, visit and check out some new ways to pamper themselves.

Although the turnout was low for this scheduled event, Dr. Sharmin Meraj’s previ-ous Ladies’ Night Out has had between 30 to 60 women attend. She is still trying to find the right format.

“This is the first time we’ve tried this in December. We also charged a nominal fee to sample the services,” said Meraj. In the past the services were provided for free.

The dental office doesn’t have the look and feel of a typical dental office. Women ar-rived to a warm environment of Harvest yel-low walls and dark hardwood floors. The lights dimmed with tea candles burning and red rose buds sprinkled throughout the office. One area served drinks while another area was set up with cheese, crackers and grapes.

Meraj and Tracey Eno, who provides mas-sage therapy both for Meraj Dental Spa and her own clients, invited a number of other busi-nesswomen to make the night of pampering complete.

Sergina Rodriguez took one of the dental rooms to introduce women to her Esthetician and Makeup Artistry by way of waxing and skincare.

Victoria Ronan, a certified makeup artist and District Manager for Arbonne International took over another room to apply make-up.

Eno already has her own room at the Den-tal Spa for her massage therapy and Trager Bodywork.

And Meraj was on hand to answer ques-tions about her Dental Spa. “No, I don’t massage your gums.”

Providing a relaxing experience when go-ing to the dentist was Meraj’s goal when she opened up her Dental Spa. She also takes advan-tage of her office space to network and support other women-owned businesses.

To find out when the next Ladies’ Night

Out is, go to Meraj Dental Spa’s Facebook page or her website at www.merajdentalspa.com.

[email protected]


A farmer who wants to establish a pro-cessing facility on his land to allow for the packaging and freezing of locally raised meats to regional markets will present his proposal to the St. Mary’s Board of Zoning Appeals tonight.

Johnny Knott, who ran into community opposition to his plan’s last year to establish a slaughter house on his Mechanicsville prop-erty, says his latest proposal will still benefit farmers in the tri-county region but will have much less impact than the relatively small slaughter operation he first planned.

Knott’s plan is to have the processing facility receive the butchered lo-cal meat from surrounding farms via a mobile freezer unit in the form of a vehicle trailer.

County records of the project show the facility would only be used for aging, cutting and packaging meat and will be situated 800-feet from Reeves Road on Knott’s 30-acre farm.

The mobile meat trailer, was well as two fixed trailers on the site, are designed to prevent the escape of odors, animal byproducts and gray water. A 2,000 gallon tank on site will be used as a container for all gray water com-ing off the site, county documents stated.

Knott has proposed to operate four days a week, split between off-site and on-site work to initially process between three to four cattle a week, and the mobile meat truck will be the only one traveling to and from the site.

County officials said because of the novelty of Knott’s original slaugh-terhouse proposal, there was confusion over whether that new plan amount-ed to a major or minor agricultural use.

Thursday’s hearing of the appeals board will decided whether they will grant a conditional use to the newly proposed processing facility, which has been

deemed a major agricultural use, according to documents from county staff.

“It’s a murky issue, we’ve never done what he’s asking,” said Bob Schaller, direc-tor of the St. Mary’s Department of Economic and Community Development.

Schaller added that such a facility would mean much lower costs for local farmers who want to raise livestock for meat sale; currently they must ship their meat to a U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture (USDA)-certified facility in either in Virginia or Northern Maryland for processing.

Having a processing facility locally, however small at first, makes sense to kick-starting another agricultural industry in Cal-

vert, St. Mary’s and Charles counties, Schaller said.“That’s the reason he wants it on Reeves Road, to make it a more central

location for regional farmers,” he said.Knott said the trailer he proposes to transport the already-slaughtered

animals to his processing facility would be able to carry no more than seven beef carcasses at one time, limiting the traffic on Reeves Road.

Potential traffic generated by his proposed slaughterhouse was one of the central concerns of nearby residents and resulted in significant commu-nity opposition.

“It’s not going to have any impact, no noise, no smell, no traffic,” Knott told The Calvert Gazette last week. “The USDA man will be right there to put his stamp on it.”

Knott said because many Southern Maryland farmers abandoned farm-ing tobacco to take part in the state-sponsored buyout 10 years ago, they need to find new industries to stay profitable.

“I hope they go back to livestock to save their farms,” Knott said.

[email protected]

Golf Course Shows Environmental Responsibility Not A Baaaaad Thing

Farmers Look for Alternative Money Makers Ladies’ Night Out Focuses on Pampering

Meat Processing Farm Could Help Budding IndustryJohnny Knott, on his 30-acre farm in Mechanicsville, is pressing ahead with his proposal to open a meat processing facility on his farm.

Sergina Rodriguez shows off one of her catalogues to a Ladies’ Night Out visitor.


Annual Science Fair

Reengineered

www.somd.com

Your Online Community For Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties

POLICE BLOTTER

www.somd.com

Your Online Community For Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties

Man charged with pot possession

On Nov. 27 at 4:09 p.m., Trooper Costello stopped a vehicle for traffic vio-lations on Main St. near Armory Rd. in Prince Frederick. Lesley R. Campbell, 30 of Prince Frederick, was found to be in possession of alleged marijuana. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.

Guitars stolen from homeOn Nov. 30 at 3:03 p.m., Trooper First

Class Sorenson responded to the 11800 block of Crown Dr. in Dunkirk for a report-ed burglary. A home was broken into and four electric guitars were stolen. Investiga-tion continues.

Man arrested, charged with theft

On Nov. 30 at 10:41 p.m., Trooper Williams responded to the Fast Stop in St. Leonard for a shoplifting complaint. Ron-ald L. Bowie, Jr., 21, of Prince Frederick, was arrested for shoplifting and was also found to have an open warrant through Montgomery County, police reported. He was incarcerated at the Calvert County De-tention Center.

Woman charged with cocaine, pot possession

On Dec. 3 at 12:57 a.m., Trooper Esnes stopped a vehicle for traffic violations at Little Cove Point Rd. and Rudolph Lane in Lusby. Amy M. Blount, 33, of Lusby, was found to be in possession of cocaine and marijuana, police alleged. She was charged and incarcerated at the Calvert County De-tention Center.

Restaurant window defaced

On Dec. 3 at 11:28 a.m., Sr. Trooper Gill responded to the EZ Thai Restaurant in Prince Frederick for a destruction of property complaint. Unknown suspect(s) cracked the plate glass front window of the business. Investigation continues.

Vinyard’s cash register pilfered

On Dec. 3 at 2 p.m., Sr. Trooper Gill responded to the Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick for a reported burglary. The business was entered after hours and money was stolen from the cash register. Investigation continues.

Police investigate mailbox destruction

On Dec. 3 at 10:43 p.m., Trooper Mat-thews responded to the 1900 block of Con-stitution Drive in St. Leonard for a reported destruction of property. A mailbox was destroyed. Investigation continues.

Police seeking fuel thiefOn Dec.4 at 11:30 a.m., Trooper First

Class Evans responded to the Fast Stop in St. Leonard for a reported theft. Gas was taken and the vehicle left without payment. Investigation continues.

Man arrested for pot possession, driving under the influence

On Nov. 28 at 8:34 a.m. Dep. C. Fox contacted the driver of a vehicle that had been called in to the Calvert Control Center. It appeared the driver was slumped over the wheel of the vehicle while it was in the turn lane near Town Cen-ter Blvd. in Dunkirk. Cpl. M. McCarroll tried to open the door but it was locked. He knocked numerous times on the win-dows of the vehicle and the driver woke up and drove into the BP gas station near the car wash. He initially would not open the door or window but finally did, police said. Ryan Daniel Mullen, 27, of Dunkirk, was arrested and charged for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and possession of marijuana.

Police investigating vehicle burglaries

Unknown suspect(s) stole over $1,000 worth of property from an unsecured ve-hicle parked outside a home on Long Beach Drive in St. Leonard on Nov. 25 between 5-6 p.m. A black leather Dooney & Bourke purse containing a make-up case and Maui Jim sunglasses as well as some cash was stolen. Cpl. R. Selkirk is investigating.

Someone entered an unlocked vehicle on Long Horn Circle in Lusby overnight between Nov. 27 and 28 and stole an Ipod touch, Nike boots, a wedding ring set and blank checks all together valued at over $2600. Dep. R. Kampf is investigating.

On Dec. 3 at around noon a victim advised DFC J. Norton that someone had entered her locked vehicle while it was parked outside Asbury Retirement Com-munity in Solomons between 10:30 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. that day. The culprit(s) stole a gray Garmin Nuvi GPS and a Verizon cell phone charger.

Over $1400 in property was stolen from an unlocked vehicle outside a home on Stella Drive in Huntingtown between midnight and 2:00 p.m. on December 4. Some of the items are a Tom Tom GPS, Ipod touch, Oakley sunglasses, Ipod Nano, Bose headphones, and a Slime air com-pressor. Dep. R. Kampf is continuing the investigation.


Opening arguments began Tuesday in the trial of Keith D. Little, 50, of Boyds, who is accused of killing Roosevelt Brockington, Jr., of Lusby the beginning of this year at Suburban Hospital in Mont-gomery County.

Little faces first-degree murder charges in Brockington’s slaying, court records show, as well as a charge of armed robbery.

Brockington, 49, had been an employee at Suburban Hospital since August 2006, Montgomery County police stated in a press release.

Montgomery County police arrived at the hospital after an assault was reported just before 10:30 a.m. Jan. 1 at the hospital located on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda.

Police officers found the victim suffering from trauma to his upper body and he died on the scene despite efforts to treat him for his injuries.

The assault occurred in an area separated from patients, visitors and hospital staff, police stated.Just days after the homicide, Montgomery Police Chief Tom Manger said in broadcast interviews

that police believed that anger was the motive for Little’s alleged killing of Brockington.According to police, Brockington was Little’s maintenance supervisor at Suburban Hospital and

had just given him a poor performance evaluation; this would prevent Little from getting a raise, police said.

“We believe this may have been the motive for the homicide,” Manger told reporters back in January.

Manger said information gathered by police showed that at the time of Brockington’s death he was on the phone with a friend making the call from the hospital’s boiler room.

That friend overheard someone say to the victim, “Give me your money … Do you have any more?” Manger said back in January. “There was a commotion and the phone went dead.”

Manger had told reporters that the boiler room was only accessible by hospital employees and that narrowed the investigators’ search, also an employee tip naming Little focused their investigation.

That employee told police they had seen Little carrying a bucket with a black ski mask and gloves soaking in liquid, Manger said.

The police chief said that Brockington’s killing was brutal to the extreme.“He had been stabbed over 70 times,” Manger said.Manger said that Little had been charged with first-degree murder of another co-worker in the

District several years ago, but Little was never convicted of that crime.

[email protected]

Ryan Daniel Mullen

Alleged Killer of Lusby Man on Trial

Info Sought on Huntingtown Crash

On Nov. 29, at approximately 8:39 p.m. members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bu-reau and Crash Reconstruction Team were dispatched to the area of Plum Point Road and Tobacco Road in Huntingtown for the report of a single motor vehicle crash involving injuries.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2008 GMC Yukon operated by Brian Keith Rader, 23, of Huntingtown, was traveling east bound on Plum Point Road approaching Tobacco Road.

For unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and subsequently made contact with a guardrail. The vehicle continued to travel in the easterly direction straddling the guardrail. The vehicle ultimately struck a tree causing the vehicle to roll over and come to rest in the westbound lane of Plum Point Road prior to Tobacco Road, police report.

Rader was subsequently transported via ambulance by ground to Baltimore Shock Trauma, where he was listed in critical condition.

Det. N. DeFelice of the Crash Reconstruction Team is conducting an investigation into the events that lead up to the collision. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office at 410-535-2800.


The other controversial zon-ing issue, which is awaiting Planning Commission ac-tion before their recommendation is forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners , involves what ac-tivities will be per-

mitted on Agricultural Preservation Dis-tricts (APDs).

APDs are agricultural land that has been certified for a specific number of Transferable Development Rights to be sold in return for a deed restriction that requires that the land remain agricultural forever.

What agritourism or ecotourism or other uses should be allowed on a working farm?

Currently, the Zoning Ordinance is contradictory. In an effort to clarify, with-out confusion, an unlimited number of events was proposed.

Corn mazes are already allowed. So are commercial kitchens on farms. As I described in my last article, restrictions are placed on nurseries and greenhouses on farms or outside town centers. What about farm equipment repair or sales? Should farm stands be allowed? If so, should they be limited in size or in what they can sell? Remember that MOST retail was supposed to be limited outside of Town Centers to maintain the rural character of Calvert.

The main controversy stems over events on APDs, however. There was a proposal that only non-profit events be held on APDs, except for two other events al-

lowed per year, like weddings, reunions, concerts, picnics, parties, political fundraisers, for example. Additionally, the Agriculture Preservation Advisory Board (APAB), citizens connected to farming and ap-pointed by the commissioners, wants to be able to approve or deny each event at their monthly meetings.

Working farms, including vineyards, are often beautiful and scenic locations for events like weddings and those just listed above. The members of the APAB do not want these events on farms. They embrace “traditional” agriculture. However, other Advisory Boards including the Economic Development Commission, the Tourism Advisory Commission, the Agriculture Commission, which promotes agriculture, and others disagree. They point out that weddings and other events draw guests and tourists to our hotels and restaurants and make our whole local economy viable while encouraging a positive attitude about agriculture and greater knowledge of local farms.

Do you see how complicated zoning and allowed uses become? What is your opinion on this controversial topic? Should a vineyard be allowed to host weddings and concerts, as in other counties? If so, with what restrictions? Should a farm also host an agricultural education center?

To make comments on either of these zoning issues, go to www.co.cal.md.us, then Planning and Zoning on the home page or call 410-535-1600 and ask for Plan-ning and Zoning.

How “business-friendly” should Cal-vert County be regarding preservation ar-eas? Stay tuned as this debate continues.

By Marta Hummel MossburgThe stink ema-

nating from the planned move of the Department of Housing and Com-munity Develop-ment from Anne Arundel County to Prince George’s County rivals rot exposed from cor-ruption trials this year of politicians from the agency’s

future home.Financial concerns are one component

of the stench. Abandoning the agency’s cur-rent headquarters — owned by taxpayers — in Crownsville for a new $170 million de-velopment in New Carrollton will cost about $3 million per year in rent, not counting any state financing for the developer. Even more important, the state is broke and legislators likely will raise taxes next year to cover core expenses.

But money and economics are not the only issues.

Carl S. Williams is the other. He is the developer who for years has been trying to build the large mixed-use project known as Metroview that the state selected as the new DHCD headquarters.

Williams will not discuss his back-ground with me. And his record has so far been shrouded by the state, which chose his project over 16 others but will not release the bids, which include information on the back-ground of the developers, their financing and past history.

Williams is part of a development group, but the state will only release his name and the fact that he is from Prince George’s Coun-ty — both important factors for a project to be built there.

Keeping a low profileAs it turns out, it’s easy to see why Wil-

liams would like to maintain a low profile.Public records raise many questions

about Williams’ ability to finance the $170 million project, his credibility and the preva-lence of crony capitalism in Maryland.

This comes on the heels of legal troubles for two Prince George’s County political fig-ures — former County Executive Jack John-son, who pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge for shaking down developers and busi-ness owners, and state Sen. Ulysses Currie, the former head of the Budget and Taxation Committee who is facing possible legislative censure after a federal jury acquitted him of corruption charges in hiding his financial connection to Shoppers Food Warehouse while advocating on the company’s behalf.

Public records show that Williams is firmly entrenched with Democrats. Williams gave $19,000 to candidates from the state’s dominant party from 2003 to 2011, including $4,000 to Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, $4,000 to Currie and $1,400 to Johnson.

The records also reveal someone with many debts rising from his businesses, The Carl Williams Group and the nonprofit St. Paul Community Development Corp.

The Carl Williams Group website lists the firm as a partner in Metroview. How-ever, according to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, the company status is “forfeited.” This means “its exis-tence has been ended by the State for some delinquency.”

A 2008 legal notice showed the company was the subject of a foreclosure sale by Ur-banAmerica, a previous partner, to recoup $5.5 million. UrbanAmerica did not return a phone call seeking information about the sale.

DHCD, the agency whose new headquar-ters Williams is supposed to build, rejected a loan application from him for senior living apartments he wanted to build in 2005 and 2006.

In response to a Maryland Public Infor-mation Act request, the department would not release information about its reasons for rejecting Williams’ loan application, saying that was private information not covered un-der the state public information law.

Questionable DHCD loansDHCD is not known for its high lending

standards.One of its questionable decisions, accord-

ing to a state audit, was extending $385,000 to Tom Kiefaber, the previous owner of the Senator Theatre in Baltimore. When Kiefaber defaulted on that loan, DHCD loaned him an-other $378,000.

Prince George’s County court records show judgments against Williams in relation to his capacity as head of St. Paul Community Development Corp.

He owes MMA Capital Corp. $1,995,611.97 from a 2009 judgment listed as still active. In 2005, LaSalle Bank won a judgment against him of $718,468.21. That case is closed.

Publicly available tax records from 2006 to 2008 list Williams as executive director of the nonprofit St. Paul Community De-velopment Corp., where his salary reached $125,000 in one of those years.

Also of note: The Carl Williams Group spent $125,000 lobbying the state legislature in 2008 — the same year as the $5.5 million foreclosure sale noted above and one year be-fore the nearly $2 million judgment against him.

Bills listed as subjects of lobbying in-clude one that codified transit-oriented devel-opment, important for Metroview, and one to allow bond proceeds to be used for tax incre-ment financing in Prince George’s County.

According to Prince George’s County court records, The Carl Williams Group did not pay Gally Public Affairs, its lobbyist, in full. A judg-ment against the company for $73,801.96 in 2010 is still ac-tive. Eric Gally did not return a phone call for comment.

The members of the state Board of Public Works — Gov. Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptrol-ler Peter Franchot — should not vote on the project when it comes before them with-out knowing Williams’ back-ground. It would be like hiring someone without a resume, in-terview and background check.

The agency’s current building is already owned by the state and meets its needs, so the proposed move should be cancelled. Maryland taxpayers deserve better than a secretive, expensive deal at a time they can least afford it.

Marta Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Mary-land Public Policy Institute.

Publisher Thomas McKayAssociate Publisher Eric McKayEditor Sean RiceGraphic Artist Angie StalcupOffice Manager Tobie PulliamAdvertising [email protected] [email protected] 301-373-4125Staff WritersGuy Leonard Law EnforcementSarah Miller Government, EducationCorrin Howe Community, Business

Contributing WritersJoyce BakiKeith McGuire

The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of Calvert County. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper is published by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, and policies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims made by its advertisers.

Calvert GazetteP. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636

Guest Editorial:Crony Capitalism in Maryland

c

c

ommissioners

or

ner

What Should Be Allowed on Farms?By Susan ShawPresident, Calvert County Commissioners

L

ETTERSto the Editor


Capt. Edward Duffy, 75Capt. Edward

J. P. Duffy, USNR Retired, the be-loved husband of Peggy, his wife of 27 years passed away peacefully on Nov. 27, 2011 at his home in Lusby, MD at age 75.

He was born on Sept. 2, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY to immigrant par-ents, the late James and Kathleen Duffy.

He graduated from Erasmus High and then the Brooklyn School of Aeronautics certi-fied in aircraft maintenance. The Navy recruit-ed him for a cadet program where he graduated flight training at US Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX in 1957. He served 6 years active duty as a Transport Training Commander and Pilot, then served most of his 18 years in the Na-val Reserve as a Transport Pilot at Andrews Air Force Base, MD until his retirement in 1978.

His commercial career with the airlines spanned almost 30 years beginning with Capi-tal Airlines in 1959. Capital merged shortly thereafter with United Airlines where he flew domestic flights until he retired in1988. After 30 years of residing in California he returned to Maryland with his wife in 2008.

He was proud to be a member of The Na-val Reserve Association, The American Le-gion, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colo-nels, and The Retired United Pilots Associa-tion. He belonged to both Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Solomons, MD and St. Teresa of Avila in Bodega, Calif. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, boats, reading and researching Civil War History.

He was a loving father of daughters, Mary Clabaugh of Roswell, NM, Anna Duffy of Rohnert Park, Calif, and son Tim Duffy of San Jose, Calif. He is predeceased by his daugh-ter Katie Duffy and his sister Anna Mahoney. Also survived by his sister, Patricia Warnock of Hackettstown, NJ, 6 stepchildren, 15 grand-children, 3 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be celebrated at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Bodega, Ca-lif. The Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 and Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, Dec. 10. Inurnment immediately following at Calvert Catholic Cemetery in Bo-dega, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be

made in his memory to The Katie Duffy Me-morial Scholarship Program c/o YWCA, So-noma County, P O Box 3506, Santa Rosa, Calif, 95402, The Fisher House Foundation, Inc.111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168 or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by the Rausch Funeral Home, P. A., Lusby, MD, www.rauschfuneral-homes.com.

John Firebaugh, 89John Clifton Firebaugh, 89, of Lothian,

MD died Dec. 5, 2011 at his home.Surviving are his beloved wife Ruby L.

Firebaugh; sons Barry L. Firebaugh and his wife Linda of Sykesville, MD and John C. Fire-baugh, Jr. and his wife Juanita of Severn, MD and seven grandchildren.

Friends were received on Wednesday, De-cember 7, 2011 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD where services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m.

Interment will follow in Ft. Lincoln Cem-etery, Brentwood, MD.

For information visit www.RauschFuner-alHomes.com.

Bernard Greenwell, Sr., 74, Bernard Rob-

ert Greenwell, Sr., 74, of Bran-dywine, MD died Nov. 26, 2011 at Southern Mary-land Hospital in Clinton, MD.

He was born July 27, 1937 in North Beach, MD to Alfred Hamil-ton and Delaware Amanda (Hall) Greenwell and at-tended Calvert County schools.

Bernard was a proud veteran who enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on Oct. 21, 1955. He was assigned to the Marine Corps School in Quantico, VA and was discharged as a Private on Oct. 20, 1959. He was a second-generation plumber and had been employed by Krick Plumbing and Heating and Breeden Me-chanical, and as a plumbing inspector in Cal-vert County before retiring in 2002. He enjoyed farming, hunting, fishing, and stock car racing. Bernard was a lifelong member of the Catholic faith.

Bernard is survived by his wife Dorothy T. Greenwell of Brandywine, MD; four sons, Bernard R. Greenwell, Jr. of Cape Coral, FL, Michael D. Greenwell of Broomes Island, MD, A. John Greenwell and his wife Kim of Lusby, MD, and Gary S. Tippett and his wife Donna of Brandywine, MD. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters Betty Gibson and her husband Jim of Drum Point, MD and Dale Cusick of North Beach, MD.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred and Paul Greenwell.

Friends were received on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where services were held Wednesday December 7, 2011. Inter-ment followed at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Marjorie Lortz, 81Marjorie Doris Lortz, 81, of Port Orange,

FL, formerly of Lusby, MD passed away on No-vember 29, 2011 in Daytona Beach, FL.

She was born on December 2, 1929 in Washington, DC to the late Patrick and Alberta Thomas Ketner.

Marjorie is survived by her son, Wallace Thomas Campbell and his wife Helen of Frisco, TX; brother, Robert T. Ketner and wife Grace of Lusby, MD; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, William David Lortz, and brother, Er-nest F. Ketner.

The family will receive friends on Fri-day, December 16, 2011 from 10 – 11 a.m. in the Rausch Funeral Home, Lusby, MD where a funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. with Rev. David Graves officiating.

Interment will follow in the Maryland Vet-erans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

John Nutwell, 91John Bunyan

“Bunny” Nutwell, 91, passed away Nov. 26, 2011 at the Baltimore Washington Med-ical Center in Glen Burnie, MD.

Bunny was born Dec. 25, 1919 in Deale, MD to Marion Fenni-more and Edna (Sherbert) Nut-well, and resided his entire life on the historic Nutwell Farm “Loch Eden” in Deale until moving with his wife Mary in 2009 to Pasadena, MD to live with their son John and his wife Debbie.

Bunny attended Tracey’s School in Tracy’s Landing, MD, and was a lifelong farmer. Over the years Bunny was employed at the Maryland Tobacco Growers Association, worked as a car-penter for his cousin Bill Nutwell and for his brother Ray in his appliance business. For over 25 years Bunny was a funeral assistant with Rausch Funeral Home in Owings, MD, retiring in 2000. Bunny was a lifelong member of Ce-dar Grove United Methodist Church in Deale where he served in numerous positions includ-ing Sunday School Superintendent for fifteen years. Bunny enjoyed gardening and sharing

the bounty with his friends and neighbors, and loved visiting and spending time with family, friends and people in his community.

Bunny was preceded in death by his par-ents and by siblings George, Reginald, Carl, Ray, Emma and Edna Nutwell.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Mary Louise (Randall) Nutwell, a son John B. Nutwell, Jr. and wife Deborah, and grandson J. Ross Nutwell, all of Pasadena, and by a great-grandson Mason Ross Nutwell of Ft. Lauder-dale FL. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends and family were received Wednes-day Nov. 30 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD. Funer-al services and a celebration of Bunny’s life was held on Thursday Dec. 1, 2011 at Cedar Grove U.M. Church in Deale, MD. Interment followed at St. James Parish Cemetery in Lothian, MD.

Expressions of sympathy in Bunny’s name may be made to Cedar Grove U.M. Church, 753 Masons Beach Rd, Deale, MD 20751.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Jack Vickery, 66Jack Pulliam

Vickery, 66, a resi-dent of Owings, MD since 1979 passed away Nov. 27, 2011 at Wash-ington Hospital Center in Wash-ington, D.C.

Jack was born September 28, 1945 in Wash-ington, D.C. to Ot-tie Inez (Pulliam) and Roger Burton Vickery.

He was raised in Suitland, MD and gradu-ated from Suitland High School, class of 1963. Jack was employed as a chief engineer manag-ing HVAC systems in office buildings in the District of Columbia. He had been retired since 2009. In his leisure time Jack enjoyed NAS-CAR, fishing and hunting, and for many years owned racehorses that ran at local racetracks.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Lorraine L. Martin.

He is survived by daughters Deborah L. Martin of Owings, Tammy J. Heinrich and husband Dewey of Prince Frederick, MD, and Kristine Martin. He is also survived by grand-children Jaimie, Marissa, Nick, Justin, Jes-sica, Nicole and Mike, and by a brother George Thomas “Tommy” Vickery and wife Maria of University Park, Sarasota, FL, and their chil-dren Brian, Michelle and Christopher.

Friends and family were received Friday Dec. 2 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where funeral services and a celebration of Jacks life were held Saturday Dec. 3. Interment will be private.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.Affordable Funerals, Caskets, Vaults,

Cremation Services and Pre-Need PlanningFamily Owned and Operated by Barbara Rausch and Bill Gross

Where Life and Heritage are Celebrated

During a difficult time… still your best choice.

Owings8325 Mt. Harmony Lane

410-257-6181

Port Republic4405 Broomes Island Rd.

410-586-0520

Lusby20 American Lane410-326-9400

www.RauschFuneralHomes.comTo Place a Memorial,

Please Call 301-373-4125


NewsmakersBy Corrin M. HoweStaff Writer

Southern Middle School science teacher Lorraine Dunigan set the tone for the fourth annual Staff vs. Students basketball game. As ref-eree Mark Wilding tossed the ball up into the air for the opening tip off, Dunigan started taunting eighth-grader Darien Chase with a little jig.

Both Dunigan and Chase missed the ball in the air, but Dunigan recovered first and pushed the ball down to her teammate. The teachers struck first with mediocre attempts to draw first blood. The students made the first real shots on the basket but failed to score.

The first points came from the teachers at 3:35 minutes into the game. They followed up immediately with four more points.

The wooden bleachers along one side of the gym were almost completely filled with students, a few parents and staff families. The crowd came to watch a basketball game but was treated to some wrestling, bowling and soccer too as the teachers tried to creatively keep their advantage throughout the game.

“The teachers call this the Teachers Beat the Students game, because they win every year,” one sixth-grader said.

Principal Dr. Cheryl Johnson smiled at the comment. She explained a raffle determines the student play-ers. They use their PBIS SOAR bucks (awarded for good behavior) for chances to be picked to play. Six students repre-sent each grade level. SMS Safety Ad-vocate Kenny Seibert coached the stu-dents for the first time.

“They only found out yesterday they were on the team. We didn’t have a chance to practice. I just told them to have fun. I’m excited about the turn out. Hopefully we raised a lot of money. And nobody got hurt,” said Seibert.

Seibert agreed with the observation that the teachers advantage comes from height, patience and better communication on court. Referee Wilding appeared to help the students by suggesting students spread out before he would whistle the beginning of play.

The students trailed the entire game. At halftime they were behind 10 points and brought it within four points with six minutes left in the game.

Toward the end of the third quarter the students became scrappy in their play. Eighth grader Ryan Endress wrestled Physical Education teacher Tiffany Belleavoine for the ball. The ref called for a jump ball, allowing Endress to throw it in from out of bounds. Belleavoine tried unsuccessfully to garner sympathy from the crowd by rolling and rub-bing her shoulder.

Seventh grader Cameron Bond came out of nowhere to steal a pass to Belleavoine. He raced up the side of the court at lightning speed and made a three point shot before the team of teachers recovered from their shock.

In another play, three of the smallest student players managed to bring one of the taller teachers to the ground like turkey vultures on a wounded deer. But all for naught. At the closing buzzer, the teachers won 66-55.

“It was a little scary toward the end,” said the staff’s coach Pamela Mackall. “But I had confidence we’d win. We didn’t run the score up.”

Mackall also said she is excited about this year’s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.

“The students played well. I saw a lot of potential out there. I’m looking forward to watching them from the stands.”

The staff team received DARE t-shirts from the school’s DARE officer and team member DFC Andrew Clas. The students wore the school’s reversible team shirts.

All the money raised from ticket and concession sales goes to the school’s PBIS program to reward students for displaying the behavior the community wants to see throughout the year.

[email protected]

SMS Teachers Still Perfect After Four Years of Playing Students

Anna Kelly scores two for the students.

Southern Middle School teachers take a team photo before the Fourth Annual Staff vs. Students Basketball game.

Southern Middle School crowd was more tame than the two teams they came to watch. Rarely did any play evoke more than a couple of students to stand and cheer.

Eighth Grader Darien Chase, left, represents the students,

Lorraine Dunigan represents the teachers as Referee Mark

Wilding starts the game.

Photos by Corrin M. Howe


CLUES ACROSS 1. Abu __, U.A.E. capital 6. Herring-like fishes11. 55120 MN12. Indigo bush13. Pollyanna-ish15. Pleasing to the ear18. Parcels of land19. Microns (alt. sp.)20. Cooking containers21. Express pleasure24. Meat from a calf (alt.)25. 7th Greek letter26. Operated the sales register30. Blueprint for the day32. Congressperson (abbr.)33. Angle (abbr.)35. Fragrant health promotion43. Trespasses44. ___ Lanka45. Wife of Hercules47. A large body of water48. Chicken house49. Sicilian volcano51. Coarse edible red seaweed

52. __ May, actress54. Opposites of credits55. Unable to move57. Someone who is highly skilled58. 100 = 1 kwacha59. “Rocky” star Talia

CLUES DOWN 1. Having a sophisticated charm 2. Minute amounts (Scot.) 3. Turkish leader’s title 4. Used for hitting the ball in various games 5. Not out 6. South Dakota 7. Possessed 8. Grad 9. UPS driver10. Fired13. In a way, augmented14. River in SE S. Am.16. Division of geological time17. Follows sigma

21. Sign language22. Expression of surprise23. Hull Identification Number26. Salmwood27. Associated Press28. Half of an em29. Networks in Spanish31. Dough fermenting agent34. Auto fuel36. An alternative37. Manuscripts (abbr.)38. Digested39. Darjeeling or green40. Horsepower41. 1985 Formula 1 champion42. Expression of alarm43. Gain possession45. Own (Scottish)46. Snake-like fish48. Dicer50. Afresh51. Hindu mother goddess53. Before54. Code for dash56. Atomic #5257. Millisecond

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

erKiddieKor n

Tie W ord Find

BUSINESSELEGANTFANCYFATHER

INTERVIEWKN OTLONGMAN

NECKTIE

W ARD ROBE

WYOKGEITMNCL

XECQNECWPCSI

XEIAORXBSDJG

NMJVLIUTDECZ

FLIBRSUMZLBK

GARLIENVTEOQ

EMTNVTTENGWB

RLEHAHTNFAQF

RSRJEHQOINNV

SHRAWRYJNTAM

ACUTFANCYKAE

EBORDRAWLNBF


Some people think they have to spend hours at the gym sweating on the treadmill or elliptical trainer in order to burn calories and lose weight. As it turns out, the things you do every single day could be burning more calories than you realized. Some discipline with your diet and certain healthy habits can make the difference for those attempting to lose weight.

Getting eight hours of sleep can burn more than 300 calories for the average person. But there's a good chance you are interested in what activities you can do while awake to help burn calories.

Courtesy of Discovery Health and Harvard Medi-cal School, here are common everyday activities and how many calories can be burned depending on weight. These figures are based on a person weighing around 150 pounds and a duration of one hour of activity.

• Supermarket shopping: Pushing a wagon around the supermarket for an hour can burn 240 calories or more. Up the ante by bagging groceries yourself and packing and unpacking them from the car.

• Raking leaves: If you spent time manually raking leaves this past fall, you were doing something good for your body. In addition to working several muscle groups, you may have spent 300 calories.

• Dusting: Spring cleaning is right around the corner, and that can be good news for your health. Dusting alone can burn as much as 160 calories.

• Cooking: Here's a reason to get fired up about cook-ing. Making a simple meal can add up to 200 calories lost. Just don't sabotage those lost calories by cooking up a fat-tening dinner.

• Moving: Packing and moving may seem like a big task one rarely looks forward to, but carrying boxes can burn 460 calories an hour. Packing, moving and unpacking yourself may be the diet plan you've been seeking.

• Painting: Perhaps you've been procrastinating on that house painting project. Here's inspiration to break out the rollers and brushes. Spending an hour painting can burn 350 calories. After several hours applying a primer and then top coat, you may find you painted yourself thinner.

• Community service: If you want to help the environ-

ment and your health, spending time picking up trash from a park or seaside can shed some serious calories -- 450 an hour.

• Playing with kids: Engaging in some fun family time can burn around 400 calories. Plus, it's a great way for parents and children to bond.

Debra Meszarosis a Certified Sports Nutri-tionist and Bio-feedback prac-titioner with further educa-tional studies in Naturopathy, Homeopa t hy, Or thomolecu-lar Nutrition and additionally holds fourteen U.S. patents. Through her extensive health education, and experi-ence of 20-plus years in cellular biology, she has developed an all-encompassing Holistic health service that allows in-dividuals to discover their biochemical uniqueness, allowing them to fine tune their health. The basis of her service is to facilitate access to information that will help your understanding of health pro-cesses and elements that are within your area of control. Her services are available in Maryland, Virginia and South Caro-lina. She can be reached at (540) 622 – 4989 Monday through Friday.

Keeping Muscle Tone as You Age

Daily Activities Can Burn Calories

By Debra MeszarosMXSportsNutrition.com

Aging gracefully is actually an obtain-able goal. Just raising your awareness about certain processes of your body can help you reach it successfully.

First, we must clarify a belief, that car-diovascular training is the answer to being in shape. Cardio training is only part of being fit; aging gracefully is a more com-prehensive program. The larger issue is tissue deterioration due to immobilization. This makes strength training on a regular basis one of the main components of an anti-aging program. Older muscles do not respond too well to sudden exercise; so do not rest those muscles for long periods of time. Your objective should be to keep exer-cising throughout your life. If you are at the point in your life where you have already been immobile or not exercising, then start by gently beginning a program that is age appropriate and within your level of current fitness. Otherwise you increase the likeli-hood of causing scarring or inflammation. Seeking the help of a qualified trainer or physical therapist is a safe approach.

Feeding your musclesAs we age our bodies biochemistry

changes. After the age of twenty, our body begins to manufacture less enzymes with each passing year; enzymes desperately

needed to carry out vital functions of the body. We get to a point where we struggle to utilize the protein in our food for growth, maintenance, and building muscle. Both digestive and metabolic enzyme supple-mentation has been the focus of providing some of what the body may be missing to overcome this issue. Adding a highly ab-sorbable protein source, like a protein pow-der drink, within fifteen to twenty minutes after your exercise can give the body the nutrients needed to fuel repair, recovery, and growth. Protein powders are not just for body builders.

Managing stressStress whether in the form of mental,

emotional, or physical, creates a higher de-mand from your body for some key nutri-ents, primarily the ones fueling your adre-nals: Vitamin C and most of your vitamin B’s. With adequate supply of these nutri-ents, the body has an easier time dealing with stress. For many, incorporating these into your supplementation program has its benefits, so you may want to explore this option. Lastly, both yoga and meditation are two anti-stress forms of exercise that can contribute greatly to anyone’s anti-aging program.

So, take your health into your own hands, stay active, feed your body, and manage your stress. It’s easier than you think. You can build a new you through a healthy routine.

DISCLAIMER: When you read through the diet and lifestyle information, you must know that everything within it is for informa-tional purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. I am making no attempt to prescribe any medical treatment. You should not use the information here for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. The products and the claims made about specific products have not been evalu-ated by the United States Food and Drug Ad-ministration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Confirm the safety of any supplements with your M.D., N.D. or pharmacist (health-care professional). Some information given is solely an opinion, thought and or conclusion based on experiences, trials, tests, assessments or other available sources of information. I do not make any guarantees or promises with re-gard to results. I may discuss substances that have not been subject to double blind clinical studies or FDA approval or regulation. You as-sume the responsibility for the decision to take any natural remedy.

You and only you are responsible if you choose to do anything with the information you have read. You do so at your own risk. Use your intelligence to make the decisions that are right for you. Consulting a naturopathic doctor is strongly advised especially if you have any existing disease or condition.

Cleaning rain gutters can burn 372 calories in one hour.


The Calvert Gazette is always looking for more local talent to feature! To submit art or band information for our entertainment section,

e-mail [email protected].

By Carrie MunnStaff Writer

Charlotte Hall resident Robert Smith is a die-hard drummer. He has performed across the nation and the world as a mem-ber of the military for 15 years and said he’s been drumming every chance he’s gotten since the fifth grade. When not playing in the Air Force Band, he’s the beat-man and driving force behind Southern Maryland’s “Synergy”, a variety band of five seasoned musicians.

Smith explained the name of the band says a lot, as synergy is defined as, “The in-teraction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.”

Forming up originally as “Locked-n-loaded,” the group started anew in 2011, selecting a new name that represented the efforts of Bobby Thomas, formerly of the well-known local band “Hot Ice,” who plays keyboards, rhythm guitar and sings; lead guitarist George Gillum; bassist Bruce Tyler and female vocalist Julia Oberti, all who pre-viously made a name as “Captain Woody,” and drummer Smith.

Synergy’s members have decades of collective musical experience and have shared the stage with popular local groups like The Sam Grow Band, No Green Jelly-Beanz and Hate the Toy.

Playing a wide-reaching variety of songs, from classic rock tunes to a rap and soul dance medley, Smith said the five play-ers each bring different musical influences and tastes to the group. The band members can also learn new material quickly and like to give a lively show, “with one song leading right into another without a lot of dead air,” Smith said.

Synergy’s rendition of the Santana jam song, “Black Magic Woman,” showed off the band’s chops during a show the day after Thanksgiving at Toot’s Bar in Hollywood. From mellow grooves to a hard-hitting cover of Drowning Pool’s “Bodies,” the band of-fered something to suit a plethora of tastes.

Oberti’s raspy, rocker-chick voice sounded spot on during the Joan Jett and 4 Non-Blondes songs, while Thomas showed an adaptive vocal range able to carry the rock ballad, the heavy metal intensity and a James Brown-esque funk mash-up. Several of the band members sing backing vocals and play multiple instruments through a Synergy performance, including Smith who, while drumming, also controls the band’s in-ear monitors and light show.

“If I could just have a computer going, booking the next week’s gigs …” he joked.

The father of three said he manages the band and handles marketing and booking tenaciously with the support of his wife of 16 years.

“We’ve been blessed and lucky that we’ve been steadily making a name for our-selves … seeing the crowds at our shows grow … and are excited to have already booked Vera’s, Hotel Charles and Gilligan’s Pier for the upcoming year,” Smith said.

With a tight, professional sound adapt-able to the size of the venue, Synergy plays with no amps on stage, eliminating extra noise and working with a sound techni-cian to ensure a high-quality sound. With a playlist based off of audience feedback – what gets people singing along, dancing, or pumped up – Synergy focuses on musician-ship and keeping the crowd engaged.

Synergy recently picked up the spon-sorship of Bully Bling Energy Drink, whose promotional help, along with Facebook net-working and Smith’s pavement pounding, have led to the band playing all over the tri-county area and beyond.

Band t-shirts will come out at Syn-ergy’s Dec. 10 show at Hotel Charles with the Sam Grow Band and will celebrate their official first birthday as a band at Lisa’s Pub in Indian Head this New Year’s Eve.

The group also plays private parties and special events and can be reached for book-ing details at [email protected].

“It’s a busy life,” Smith said, “But to-tally worth it.”

[email protected]

Synergy Gains Momentum in Southern Maryland Music Scene

Thursday, December 8, 201119 The Calvert Gazette &Out AboutCalvert County Events – December 2011

Tens of thousands of holiday lights twin-kle in Chesapeake Beach to make it the Bright-est Beacon on the Bay. Take the family and ride through Chesapeake Beach to enjoy holiday lights displayed until the week after the New Year. (www.chesapeake-beach.md.us)

Make a stop at Tan’s Cycles to visit their free Holiday Train Garden. The train garden is on a 20’ X 20’ platform with five levels, 30 trains, seven super streets, a carnival, waterfall, construction site, disappearing trains, tunnels, bridges and much more. The Holiday Train Display begins November 25 and runs through January 14, weekdays 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 5 p.m.; special times on Dec. 24 and 31 (noon to 5 p.m.) and Dec. 27 thru 30 (noon to 8 p.m.). Tans is at 9032 Chesapeake Ave-nue, North Beach. For more information, call 410-257-6619.

Surround yourself with one-of-a-kind, handmade creations at Annmarie Garden’s annual Garden in Lights. Mythical creatures, spectacular wild animals, illuminated works of art, hidden beasts, romantic dancers and more will delight all ages. Don’t forget to ask for a “holiday I spy” program. After your walk, en-joy a hot drink, entertainment, the Ornament Show and the Celebrations Glass Exhibit in the Arts Building. Garden in Lights runs through January 1, 2012. Check the website for more information: www.annmariegarden.org.

The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) will host a Greens Sale Prep Day and Wreath Making Workshop on Friday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For $25 you will make at least two wreaths, one to take home and one for donation to the annual Greens Sale. If you donate both wreaths, you can join them for free! Lunch is provided and registration is required. Contact the office at 410-414-3400 or visit on-line, www.acltweb.org. All proceeds from the sale go to Parkers Creek Preserve managed by the American Chestnut Land Trust.

The frost is on the pumpkin and Christmas is around the corner. All Saints Church will hold their annual Christmas Market on Satur-day, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Craftspeo-ple will help with all your Christmas shopping. To add to the holiday spirit you will find baked goods, hot chocolate and glühwein. Lunch will be available. Rain, snow or shine, of course! For more information, call 410-257-6306 or visit www.allsaints1692.org.

Looking for unique holiday gifts? Come to the Northern High School annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the school’s cam-pus, 2950 Chaneyville Road, Owings, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local vendors will showcase unique gifts and crafts. The event benefits the Northern High School Music Boosters.

The Calvert Artists’ Guild members will hold a meeting in the art room at Calvert Pines Senior Center, 450 West Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. After CAG board member elections, Ger-ry Wood will provide a water color demonstra-tion. Members are asked to bring “finger foods” (no cutting required) to share. Free to the pub-lic. For additional information, contact Lonnie Harkins at 410-326-7199, [email protected] or Gerry Wood at [email protected], 301-863-7199.

Looking for a traditional wreath for your door? Attend the Greens Sale & Beach Hay-ride at the Parker’s Creek Preserve managed by the American Chestnut Land Trust on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Purchase fresh-cut decorative evergreens, drink hot cider and take the family on a beach hayride. The greens sale benefits the Warrior’s Rest Sanctuary. For more information, visit www.acltweb.org.

Discover downtown Prince Frederick on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Artwalk. Enjoy shopping, great food, art and music as you explore stores, galleries and nonprofit organizations along Main Street, Duke Street and in the Prince Frederick Shopping Center from noon to 5 p.m. Participating businesses will offer donated art, coupons and gifts for a $1 raffle ticket draw-ing at each business. Artwalk attendees can visit each business on the map and buy as many raffle tickets as they wish, putting the ticket in specially wrapped raffle gift boxes located next to the items of their choice. Raffle proceeds benefit Safe Harbor. Drawings will be held at 4:30 p.m. at each business. Winners will be no-tified the following week. For more information on participating businesses and to download a map, visit www.artwalkprincefrederick.com.

The Lusby Business As-sociation presents the Lusby Town Center’s tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m.

in front of the Bank of America. Santa Claus will arrive in grand style courtesy of the Solo-mons Fire Department and kick off the holiday season with the official tree lighting. Other ac-tivities include live music, pictures with Santa Claus and local business giveaways. The event is free and open to the public. www.shoplusby.com

Saturday, Dec. 10, join the Town of North Beach and the North Beach Business Loop for an evening of holiday shopping, caroling and cheer. Beginning at dusk, the streets will be lined with candles and businesses will be open late with specials, holiday refreshments and more. Sing along with local carolers and let the holiday spirit take over. See you at the beach! For more information, visit www.northbeach-md.org.

On weekends through Dec. 11, the Twin Beach Players will present “A Christmas Carol” at the North Beach Firehouse banquet hall. This all-children’s musical performed by the Twin Beach Players Youth Troupe will put you in the holiday spirit. The Twin Beach Players Youth Troupe includes students in the first through 12th grades who are interested in learning all aspects of the theater, from acting to working as stage manager. Friday and Satur-day the show begins at 7 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. For more information, visit online: www.twinbeachplayers.com.

On Sunday, Dec. 11, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church will host the 10th annual TUBACHRISTMAS concert at 4 p.m. Local musicians look forward to this unique holiday celebration. All low brass players in the local area are welcomed to play in the group. TUBA-CHRISTMAS features traditional Christmas carols arranged for tuba and baritone horn play-ers. The performance is open to the public and free. www.tubachristmas.com.

Trinity United Methodist Church’s Chan-cel Choir will present their annual cantata Sun-day, Dec. 11 at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship ser-vices. This year’s performance is the Christmas favorite—Handel’s Messiah. The cantata is free and open to the public. Make plans to attend this beautiful performance. For more informa-tion, visit www.trinityumchurch.org.

Enjoy PEM Talks at the Calvert Marine Museum with thought-ful discourse on paleon-tology, the environment and maritime history, the three themes covered by the museum’s exhibits. The 2011-2012 PEM Talks

focus on Lost Landmarks and the “bones” of the past hidden around us. Learn to look with new eyes at places you pass every day and un-derstand how the past informs our lives today. Thursday, December 15, features Laura Tri-eschmann discussing how the country store played a major role as both a commercial and social center. The talks begin at 7 p.m. in the museum auditorium and are free. For more information about the 2011-2012 PEM Talks Series, visit the website at www.calvertmarine-museum.com.

Dunkirk Baptist Church will host our an-nual Christmas Shoppe Elf Xtravaganza for the needy from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Please Call Dave Walton to register, volunteer or make donations: 301-775-6241

Dunkirk Baptist Church invites you to

join us at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 for our Christmas Cantata Worship Service. For more information call: 301-855-3555 or click: www.dunkirkbaptistchurch.org

The Chesapeake Beach Railway Muse-

um invites you to share in a holiday tradition as their “conductors” read a classic children’s Christmas story, “The Polar Express,” on Thursday, December 22, at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. After each reading there will be a tour of Ches-apeake Beach on the Holiday Trolley. Space is limited and reservations are required. Learn more about this event at www.cbrm.org or call the museum at 410-257-3892. You may reserve your space online at http://www.planetreg.com/E101111521898.

Looking for things to do with the family during the holidays? The Calvert Marine Mu-seum offers programs throughout the school holiday. Each day from December 26 through December 30 you can discover interesting facts about sea life. Did you know horseshoe crabs have been around since dinosaurs? What good are jellyfish? On Friday, December 30, visit the Discovery Room for a hands-on lesson about the different kinds of turtles that can be found in our area. On Monday, January 2, kids can

take special tours of the Drum Point Light-house and learn what life was like for children stationed at the lighthouse with their families. Check the Calvert Marine Museum website, www.calvertmarinemuseum.com, for complete listings and registration information. All pro-grams are free with museum admission.

Start off your New Year with an invigo-

rating swim in the Chesapeake Bay! Join the crowd at North Beach as they run across the beach into the chilly waters for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. After, everyone will warm up be-side a large beach bonfire and enjoy a hot drink. It is great fun for all ages – both to participate and to watch! The fun starts at 1 p.m. at the beach located at the intersection of 5th Street and Bay Avenue. (www.ci.north-beach.md.us)

LUSBY TOWN SQUAREShop Local

Michelangelo’s Hair Salon & Day Spa: December 7th • 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.Sunkissed Tanning: December 10th • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Express Fitness of Lusby: December 10th • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Refreshments, Food

Holiday Open Houses &Customer Appreciation Days

Special Rates on Memberships

& Tanning

2011-12-08 Calvert Gazette

Documents

Transcript of 2011-12-08 Calvert Gazette