Charles County to Host Green Expo and Tech Showcase
Early Registration Discount and Non-Profit Rate for Vendors Available!
Is caring for and preserving our natural resources important to you? Do you want to learn about the latest technology advances? The Charles County Green Expo and Tech Showcase event has something for you. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 9 at Regency Furniture Stadium (11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf).
A family-friendly event, the Green Expo will feature products and services to educate and inform residents and businesses on ways to save money by adopting sustainable practices. This year’s Green Expo includes a Tech Showcase, featuring electric vehicles (EV). EV owners and enthusiasts from the nonprofit group, MD Volt, Inc., will be on hand with their EVs, starting at 3 p.m. Talk to and learn from local EV dealers, who will be offering test drives onsite.
Free, secure document shredding will also be offered during the Green Expo. Eco-Shred will provide shredding services in the parking lot of Regency Furniture Stadium from 3-6 p.m. Bring up to five boxes (per vehicle) of personal documents for shredding and recycling.
Green Expo Sponsorship and Vendor opportunities are available. The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 1. Vendors that register before Tuesday, July 15 will receive a $50 discount. A non-profit/government agency rate of $150 is available. For more information on becoming a sponsor or vendor contact Beth Groth at 301-645-0684 or GrothB [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov.
The Green Expo starts at 5:35 p.m. when the gates open for the Blue Crabs baseball game against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Tickets for the game are required. For more information, contact Beth Groth at 301-645-0684 or GrothB [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Free Fishing Class Offered to County Youth
Are you between the ages of eight and 15 and interested in learning how to fish? Tuesday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Charles County Parks Division and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free fishing class at Gilbert Run Park (13140 Charles Street, Charlotte Hall).
This is a great opportunity for children to learn the basics of fishing and have fun. Prior fishing experience is not needed. Bait and tackle will be provided.
Pre-registration is required. To register, call the Gilbert Run Park office at 301-932-1083 Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
County Announces Curbside Collection Day Changes
Reminder: New collection day schedules starts July 1
On Tuesday, July 1 collection day and/or week changes go into effect for approximately 15,000 of the 38,000 residences included in the curbside collection program. All residents are asked to have their recycling containers curbside before 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection day to ensure pick up. Collection times will change for many, including residents that have not experienced a change to their collection day.
During the month of July, residents who have overflow as a result of the change in collection, will be allowed to set recyclables in clear plastic bags, formed cardboard boxes, or marked reusable containers weighing less than 50 pounds.
For a complete listing of the new collection days or for more information, visit http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/RecyclingCart or call 301-932-5656 or 301-932-3599. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection July 5
The Charles County Department of Public Works would like to remind citizens that the next household hazardous waste collection will be held on Saturday, July 5. The household hazardous waste collection site is located in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works building, located at 10430 Audie Lane, off of Radio Station Road in La Plata. Collection hours are 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Items accepted free of charge include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, gasoline, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pool chemicals, batteries, fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers, and other poisons found in the home. Please remember to mark any container that does not have a readable, original label.
Unacceptable materials include bio-medical waste (sharps, needles, anything with bodily fluids), expired prescription drugs, and ammunition. Used motor oil, anti-freeze, propane tanks, and batteries are accepted on a regular basis at various collection sites. Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and can be placed in your household trash as long as it is solidified. This can be accomplished by adding kitty litter, shredded paper, or sawdust to the liquid latex paint to aid in drying it out.
Household hazardous waste collection will occur on the first Saturday of each month through December. Upcoming 2014 collection dates are: July 5, Aug. 2, Sep. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6.
For more information, call the Charles County Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division at 301-932-3599 or 301-870-2778, or the landfill and recycling information line at 301-932-5656. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
White Plains Golf Course Hosts Community Food Drive
Play 18 holes of golf for the price of nine
How would you like to play 18 holes of golf for the price of nine? The Charles County Department of Public Works’ Park Division will be hosting a community food drive Monday, July 14 through Thursday July 31 at the White Plains Golf Couse. Any player who donates two cans of non-perishable food items will receive an 18-hole green fee for the price of a nine-hole green fee. An 18-hole golf cart rental is required.
All collected non-perishable food items will be donated to the Southern Maryland Food Bank. Join in and help those in need. Not a golfer? Donations from the general public are accepted.
For additional information, call the White Plains Golf Course at 301-645-1300. The White Plains Golf Course is located at 1015 St. Charles Parkway, south of DeMarr Road, in White Plains.
Dr. Schablitsky and Cowherd Speak on 1812 Archaeology and Research
Join Dr. Julie Schablitsky and Carol Cowherd at St. Francis de Sales Church Hall (7185 Benedict Ave, Benedict) on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. to learn about recent archaeological and historical research in and around Benedict.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky is the chief archaeologist and the head of the cultural resources section at the Maryland State Highway Administration. She will discuss the military occupation of Benedict sharing the search for the British War of 1812 encampment and the re-discovery of the African American Civil War site, Camp Stanton. She will also explore life of enslaved African Americans nearby sharing the discovery and findings from a late 18th-early 19th century burial ground. A selection of colonial and military artifacts will be displayed after the presentation.
Carol Cowherd is the President of the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland. She has done extensive research on the history and property ownership in colonial port towns of Charles County. Ms. Cowherd has published her research in Maryland Archaeology, the Journal of the Archaeological Society of Maryland. On July 27, she will share her latest discoveries about Benedict during the 19th Century.
The next upcoming event in celebration of the War of 1812 will be the Benedict Underfoot, which is a Historical Village Walk. This event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31. Bring the whole family to the event to learn about our history in Charles County.
For more information, contact Sheila Geisert at 301-645-0682 or GeisertS [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Find Fun, Friends, and Competition at Fifth Annual Youth Triathlon
Come to North Point High School swimming pool (2500 Davis Road, Waldorf) on Saturday, July 26 for the fifth annual Youth Triathlon event planned especially for children. This event is open to youth ages 14 and younger. Each child will swim, bike, and run specified distances determined by their age group. Check-in/registration time is 7 a.m. The event starts at 8 a.m.
During an awards ceremony at 10:15 a.m., first, second, and third place finishers in each category will receive awards and all participants will receive a finisher medal.
Early bird registration is $25. From July 2 through July 13, registration is $30. All participants registered before July 14 will be guaranteed a T-shirt. On-site registration will be available the day of the event with a fee of $35. Online registration is available at http://www.CharlesCountyParks.com. For details, call 301-934-9305 or 301-870-3388.
For information on other events offered by the Charles County Department of Community Services, visit http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CS, or call 301-934-9305 or 301-870-3388. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Charles County Commissioners’ July Town Hall Meeting Schedule
The Charles County Commissioners invite the public to attend July 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.
Reuben B. Collins, II, Commissioner Vice President (District 3)
Monday, July 28, 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 [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov or by calling 301-645-0550.
Future town hall meeting dates are available at http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.
For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 301-885-2779 or PressRoom [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 866-269-9006.