Calvert Marine Museum News Briefs

CMM Welcomes New Deputy Director

The Calvert Marine Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Murray as the new Deputy Director. He brings a wealth of experience encompassing staff supervision, budgeting, strategic planning, interpretation, collections management, event coordination, and grant writing. Throughout his career, he has been involved in developing and implementing educational programs in both formal and informal settings.

Jeff Murray was born in Germany into a military family, but grew up and spent most of his time in the Midwest. Murray earned a Bachelor's degree in History and German from Ball State University, and a Master's degree in History & Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois. His wife, Laura is a University Academic Dean and she, along with their two year old daughter, is looking forward to moving East and exploring Southern Maryland and the surrounding areas.

Murray served as the Administrator for the Lakewood Heritage Center in Lakewood, Colorado, where he oversaw all day-to-day operations of a multi-faceted regional museum. The center has both permanent and changing exhibits, a museum gift shop, a 15-building campus, and a festival event area. Previously, he worked at the Wade House Historic Site in Greenbush, Wisconsin, for 17 years, two years as a Program Assistant before being promoted to the Curator of Interpretation and Collections. These years in Wisconsin made him a Green Bay Packers fan!

An avid history and lighthouse enthusiast, Jeff also enjoys playing soccer, basketball, swimming, biking and looks forward to getting out on the Chesapeake. "I am beyond thrilled to be joining such a diverse group of highly skilled professionals, who, with the support of the Society and the museum's highly talented corps of volunteers, are providing visitors with a multitude of opportunities to explore the history and biology of the Chesapeake Bay region in very unique and engaging ways, " said Murray.

Please welcome Jeffrey Murray to the Calvert Marine Museum family. He can be reached at murrayjt@co.cal.md.us or by calling 410-326-2042, ext. 7162.

Lighthouse Lovers Welcome for Adventure Cruises

Lighthouse lovers are invited to enjoy the popular Lighthouse Adventure Cruises on Saturdays, June 17, July 15, August 19, and September 23 aboard a private charter vessel. The cost is $130 for the day-long trip; museum members pay $120. Reservations for lunch are made at a local restaurant; meal costs are not included. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 410-326-2042 ext. 41 to reserve your spot.

On June 17 and August 19, participants enjoy the Southern route. Visit Point No Point, Point Lookout, and Smith Point Lighthouses before stopping for lunch on Smith Island. After taking in the local sites, the cruise will continue on to circle Solomons Lump and Hooper Island lighthouses.

On July 15 and September 23, lighthouse cruisers experience the Northern route. Departing from the Drum Point Lighthouse, the cruise includes Cove Point, Thomas Point, Sandy Point, Bloody Point, and Sharps Island lighthouses. Lunch is on Kent Island.

On the journey, cruisers will learn the history of the lighthouses they visit from the museum's lighthouse expert, along with fascinating stories that make each light unique, from fires to ice floes to ravaging storms. Bring your sunscreen, camera, hat, and rain jacket, and be prepared for a day of fun!

Participants will meet at the Calvert Marine Museum under the Drum Point Lighthouse at 7:45 a.m.; expected return time to the museum is 4:30 p.m. For information or to register, call 410-326-2042 ext. 41. Register 5 days prior to the scheduled cruise date. Space is limited and sold on a first come, first served basis.

Fossil Field Experience at the Calvert Marine Museum

Would you like to find and identify your own fossils? Did you know that the largest exposed seam of Miocene fossils in North America is here in Calvert County at Calvert Cliffs? This explains why even the casual beachcomber finds fossilized shark teeth that are millions of years old. Learn more about this remarkable natural resource, and what it can teach you about our prehistoric past.

The Fossil Field Experience programs are Saturdays June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, and October 21. The program begins at the Cove Point Lighthouse at 9 a.m. Participants learn how to find and identify fossils with the assistance of a trained expert. Enjoy time on the beach until 11:30 a.m. Bring a bag lunch or eat at one of the many local restaurants. The program continues at 1 p.m. at the Calvert Marine Museum where you can discuss fossil finds and explore the Paleontology Hall.

The fee for the Fossil Field Experience is $20 per person, ages 8 and over, and includes museum admission. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, please contact Melissa McCormick at 410-326-2042 x41, or visit the museum's website at www.bit.ly//FossilFieldExperience.

Public Sails Aboard The Dee of St. Mary's

Looking for a great way to experience the Patuxent River? The Calvert Marine Museum is offering two-hour public sails aboard the historic skipjack Dee of St. Mary's, departing from the museum dock at 2:30 p.m. Sail on Saturdays June 24, July 29, August 26, and September 30 and on Sundays July 9 and August 13. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children age 5 to 12. No children under 5 permitted. Call 410-326-2042, ext. 41 to make a reservation. Advance reservations are taken by noon the Friday prior to the sail. Any remaining tickets may be purchased at the Admissions Desk on the day of the sail.

The Dee of St. Mary's, built in 1979, is one of the last skipjacks ever constructed on the Chesapeake Bay. The Dee was used originally in the commercial oyster fishery and later as a floating classroom starting in 1989 when the oyster population dwindled. The Museum took ownership in May 2013 and is pleased to offer public sails, educational opportunities, and private charters.

Historic Sunset Supper Cruises

Climb aboard the Wm. B. Tennison for a 90-minute Sunset Supper Cruise through history, followed by a light supper, on Saturdays , June 17, August 5 and September 2 from 5 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Reserve your spot today by calling 410-326-2042, ext. 41 or emailing mccormmj@co.cal.md.us.

Coby Treadway, historian and museum educator, will share fascinating facts about Solomons, the WWII Amphibious Training Base, and Solomons' rich tradition of boat building. While munching appetizers, see old steamboat wharfs and hear about the important role they played in town life. View historic homes, landmarks, and other points of interest. Discover where heroic battles were fought, submarines sunk, lighthouses lit, Ghost Fleets docked, and watch the sunset over the horizon.

After the cruise, participants will return to the museum for a short presentation and a light supper prepared by No Thyme To Cook. Guests are invited to bring their own libations.

Prad Committee Announces Grant Recipients

The Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD) Committee is pleased to announce the awarding of three grants aimed at raising awareness and concern for the productivity of the Patuxent River. The awards were issued to CHESPAX, Historic Sotterley Plantation, and the Patuxent Riverkeeper.

The PRAD committee, through proceeds from its annual festival held in October, makes grant awards to non-profit organizations that either provide educational programs or conduct research activities focusing on the Patuxent River or Patuxent River Basin. Awards are made on a competitive basis by the PRAD, Inc. Board and do not exceed $1,000 per organization in any one year. The PRAD, Inc. Board includes members of the Calvert Marine Museum, Calvert Artist Guild, American Legion Post 274, the Pa-Po-Peake Shrine Club, and Calvert County Waterman's Association. The PRAD festival is made possible by the generous support of the Calvert County Commissioners and NRG Chalk Point Generating Station.

Funding for this year's PRAD grants will provide a host of programs to the community that help educate citizens about the importance of the Patuxent River and the need to protect it. The first grant is awarded to the CHESPAX program for 7th graders in the Calvert County Public school system. The money will be used for the enhancement of the CHESPAX SAV program and will assist in the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics goals for the school system. Historic Sotterley has school programs that are interdisciplinary, touching on the environment, social studies, and the history of the Patuxent River. The Patuxent Riverkeeper works throughout the Patuxent watershed to rally and engage people and communities toward the aim of conserving, protecting and replenishing the Patuxent River's water quality.

These grants are made possible through the efforts of the PRAD Inc. board members and contributors. For more information on PRAD grants or future grant programs, please contact Melissa McCormick at 410-326-2042 x41.

27th Annual Bugeye Ball a Huge Success

It was an evening of enchantment at the 27th annual Bugeye Ball held at the Calvert Marine Museum on Saturday, April 1. More than 380 guests were in attendance, which was the most ever for the Bugeye Ball. The event raised over $60K with all proceeds supporting the restoration of the historic Drum Point Lighthouse.

Eileen Bildman, the Board of Director's Ball chair, has led the event for the last four years and taken the Bugeye Ball to a new level. Seen as a way to thank our friends while enjoying a wonderful evening for a good cause, the Bugeye Ball has become one of the museum's highlight annual events. "Without the support of our generous 74 sponsors and the local community this event would not be possible," said Bildman.

Delicious cuisine was provided by Ken Upton of Ken's Creative Kitchen, music by Playlist had guests dancing the night away, casino entertainment was provided by Entertainment Avenue, and Top Hap Party Design of Huntingtown, Maryland generously created the ambiance for the evening.

The "Chance to Win" raffle featured two prizes. A weeklong stay for two in Belize at the Beaches and Dreams Resort, including airfare, was won by Chris Holt of BB&T Bank. Carmen Gambrill was the winner of a unique piece of jewelry from Dickinson Jewelers.

The 2017 Bugeye Ball Sponsors included: Top Hat Party Design, Printing Press, Inc., Eileen and Steve Bildman, BB&T Bank, Bruce Newell, Calvert Health, Marianne Harms, KBRwyle, Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa, AMEWAS, Incorporated, CTI, Dixie Miller & Jim Ritter, Dominion Cove Point LNG, Don & Jean McDougall, Holly Management, The Lighthouse Restaurant & Dock Bar, R.A. Barrett & Associates, Inc., Smartronix, Stephen L. & Marjorie L. Clagett, The Bird Barkman Daly Wealth Management Group, Micheline Lopez & Joseph Lynch, BAH Curtis Investments, Hilton Garden Inn Solomons, Calvert Marina, Heron Systems, IAP, Ken Reed, Sandy Hunt, Michael & Barbara Gardner, Old Line Bank, PAE, SMECO, Tom & Helen Daugherty, WGL, Tim & Cindy Parlett, College of Southern Maryland, Berkshire Hathaway Haye Services McNelis Group Properties, Shirley Mihursky & Robert Pfeiffer, Taylor Gas, Michael & Wanda DeBord/TitleMAX, LLC, John Toates Architecture and Design, ReMax One Mark Davis & Sally Showalter, Nicoletti's Pizzeria, Whitten Laser Eye, Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C., Burch Oil, Drury Insurance, Ellen & Skip Zahniser, Margaret H. Phipps, Register of Wills, Mike & Linda Colina, Mike & Sherry Carter, Glenn & JJ Perryman, Personalized Therapy, Phil Dorsey Law Office, Shah Dermatology, RWO, Jack & Barbara Fringer, C3 Innovations Inc., Davis & Upton, Walt & Missy Stammer, Mary & Doug Alves, Associated Insurance Centers, LLC, Chesapeake Trails Surveying, Brooks & Barbour, Bill Ewing, Askey, Askey & Associates, CPA, LLC, Judy & Kevin Switick, Jim & Sharon Tate, Celebrate with Travel, Classic Group, and Michael Paxson Insurance Agency—State Farm.

Please consider joining us at next year's annual Bugeye Ball on Saturday April 21, 2018.

Jay Fleming's first book celebrating life on the water available in the Museum Store

"Working the Water" by Jay Fleming is a visual narrative of those individuals whose livelihood is directly dependent upon the Chesapeake Bay, America's largest estuary. The book comprises photographs of seasoned watermen, scenic seascapes, weathered workboats and bay bounty, a true and complete depiction of Chesapeake Bay life. "Working the Water" is available for purchase in the Calvert Marine Museum Store for $50 per copy.

Fleming has spent the past three years actively documenting the fascinating and rapidly changing way of life of those who make their living off of the Bay's resources. He has travelled thousands of miles around the Bay's watershed and photographed hundreds of individuals and dozens of fisheries with the goal of documenting all aspects of the Bay-influenced industries.

Organized chronologically by season, "Working the Water" illustrates a behind-the-scenes view of commercial fisheries not visible to the average seafood consumer. From underwater shots of the fish in their natural habitat to images of them being harvested, and ultimately processed, Jay's collection of photographs creates an all-encompassing vignette of the seafood industry that is sure to evoke a newfound appreciation for the seafood on our plates.

Jay's flagship book is informative and aesthetically pleasing and is relevant to the seafood enthusiast, the history buff, the biologist, photography fan and Chesapeake Bay lover alike. For more detailed information about "Working the Water" or to purchase a copy, call the Museum Store at 410-326-2750 or email baughmmp@co.cal.md.us.