Local Community News Briefs


Recycle Your Christmas Trees at Calvert Co. Convenience Centers

Calvert County residents can take their live Christmas trees and wreaths to county convenience centers for recycling at no charge through Jan. 31. After Jan. 31, all trees must be brought to the Appeal landfill and standard fees will apply.

Trees and wreaths must have all decorations, metal frames, lights and metal stands removed. Trees and wreaths may not be in plastic bags. Trees are accepted whole. All materials will be taken to the Appeal landfill to be mulched. Mulch is available to county residents for free.

Wrapping paper and cardboard boxes are accepted at the convenience centers for recycling at no cost, any time of the year. Cardboard boxes should be flattened and all packing materials, ribbons and Styrofoam must be removed.

Locations of the six convenience centers and their hours are listed on the county website at www.co.cal.md.us/recycle. For more information call 410-326-0210.

Jan. 6 Charles Co. Planning Commission Meeting Canceled

The Charles County Planning Commission meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6, has been canceled.

Planning Commission meetings are generally held on the first and third Mondays of every month, unless otherwise noted. The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Monday, Jan 27 at 6 p.m., in the Commissioners' meeting room at the Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata).

For more information, contact Ms. Theresa Pickeral, Clerk to the Planning Commission, at 301-645-0638 or PickerTh(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov.

Leadership Southern Maryland Class 2015 Information & Recruitment Breakfasts

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Board of Directors announced that they will host four informal breakfast meetings in Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert Counties to invite potential candidates to learn more about the benefits of LSM. Board, Alumni and Class 2014 members will be available to share information about the LSM Program and Application Process with interested LSM candidates. Meeting locations include:

January 15, 2014 & February 5, 2014 (Wednesday) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
University of Maryland
Charles Regional Medical Center
La Plata, MD 20646

January 22, 2013 (Wednesday) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Calvert County Department of Economic Development
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

January 29, 2013 (Wednesday) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Technology Security Associates, Inc.
California, MD 20619

An RSVP is required to attend. To RSVP, please contact Karen Holcomb, Executive Director Leadership Southern Maryland via email LeadSOMD@verizon.net or call 240-725-5469; messages welcome! To learn more about LSM, please visit www.lsmlead.org, www.facebook.com/leadsomd, and leadershipsomd.blogspot.com/ .

Leadership Southern Maryland is a nine-month tuition-based program specially designed to develop leaders from the Southern Maryland area for regional collaboration. The LSM program is dedicated to building a cadre of informed regional leaders, prepared to address common issues and bring long-term benefit to their neighbors and communities. LSM values diversity and seeks a cross-section of leaders from across the region.

Leadership Southern Maryland is an independent, educational leadership development organization designed to broaden the knowledge base of mid to senior level public and private sector executives about the critical issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the region. Leadership Southern Maryland is a not-for-profit organization.

The Newtowne Players Announce Open Auditions for Little Shop of Horrors

Do you love to sing? Are you in the choir at church, chorus in school, or are you the first one to put your name in at karaoke? Why not try out to be a part of the Newtowne Player’s amazing musical production for 2013, Little Shop of Horrors?

You know the story — A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon, “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

This musical production is directed by Stacy Reynolds Oosterink and will be performed July 25 to August 10, 2014.

Audition Dates & Times: Thursday, January 2 (6:30-9 p.m.) or Saturday, January 4 (9 a.m. - noon). Choose one audition date. Callbacks will be announced later, consisting of readings from the script.

Contact: To obtain songs/music for the auditions, contact Stacy Reynolds Oosterink, director, at Stacy.lynne(at)gmail.com with your name, phone number, vocal range, and desired role no later than January 1.

Character Descriptions are available in pdf format at our website, www.newtowneplayers.org. You will find the link on the home page, along with the other Little Shop of Horrors information. You must contact the director with your desired role(s).

Ready to give it a try? The Newtowne Players perform at Three Notch Theatre at 21744 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park. The building is known as the former Lexington Park library.

Support local community theatre by spreading the word, attending our quality shows and perhaps … being in a show yourself!

If you cannot make these audition dates/times but wish to work either onstage or backstage for this production, contact the Director.

Chesapeake Choral Arts Society Announces Auditions for 2014 Season

The Chesapeake Choral Arts Society, under the direction of Michael K. Santana, will be conducting auditions on Monday, January 6th and Monday, January 13th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. by appointment. Alternate dates may be arranged. All auditions will take place at Peace Lutheran Church, 401 E. Smallwood Dr, Waldorf, MD 20602.

Auditions will consist of vocal warm-ups, pitch matching and vocal exercises to determine the singer's vocal range.

No prepared piece is necessary! High School age singers and older are welcome!

The choir meets regularly from September - June, rehearsing at Peace Lutheran Church on Monday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., and produces three different concerts throughout the season. The remaining concerts this season are "Music of the Great War (WWI)" on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30; and "Mozart Requiem" on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22. For more information about CCAS please visit www.chesapeakechoral.com. Please call Carol at 301-642-0594 to set up an audition appointment.

MCAC Presents High School Art Exhibit

Mattawoman Creek Art Center presents the Charles County Six Picks High School Art Exhibit from January 17 through February 9, 2014.

Reception and awards presentation on Sunday, January 19, 2014 from 1-4p.m. Inclement weather date January 26, 2014.

The art center is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11-4p.m. located in Smallwood State Park, Marbury. Telephone (301)-743-5159.

Charles County Commissioners to Hold Town Hall Meetings in January

The Charles County Commissioners invite the public to attend January town hall meetings as scheduled below. The purpose of the Commissioners' town hall meetings is to take questions from those in attendance and to discuss items of importance to the citizens and the community.

Ken Robinson (District 1)
"Coffee with the Commissioner" (Meeting will be videotaped for online viewing)
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2013, 11 a.m.
Starbucks (6675 Crain Highway, La Plata)

"Facebook Town Hall Meeting"
Saturday, Jan. 18, 4 p.m.
Online - To participate in the meeting, you must go to www.facebook.com/CommissionerKenRobinson and like the page.

Reuben B. Collins, II, Commissioner Vice President (District 3)
Monday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Capital Clubhouse (3033 Waldorf Market Place, Waldorf)

Bobby Rucci (District 4)
Commissioner Bobby Rucci will meet with any citizen at any available time or through email, text messaging or telephone, to discuss issues of concern. He may be reached at RucciB@CharlesCountyMD.gov or by calling 301-645-0550.

Future town hall meeting dates are available at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.

For more information, contact Ms. Crystal Hunt at 301-645-0580 or HuntC(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.

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