Free Mulch Available for Residents
The St. Mary's County Department of Public Works & Transportation is once again sponsoring the Free Mulch program while supplies last. St. Mary's County residents are welcome to pick up mulch free of charge at the St. Andrew's Landfill.
Mulch will be available for pickup between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday beginning July 28 (the St. Andrew's Landfill is closed on Sundays) until the supply has been depleted.
Customers are reminded they are responsible for the loading and transportation of the mulch. Please bring a shovel, pitchfork or similar hand tool to load the mulch. Covering the load with a tarp prior to transporting is recommended in order to minimize material from blowing off the vehicle.
If assistance is required, special needs exist or additional information is requested, please contact the Department of Public Works & Transportation at (301) 863-8400. Additional Recycling/Solid Waste Program information is available on the web at http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/.
Family Violence Coordinating Council Cancels Meeting
The Family Violence Coordinating Council meeting for August 27, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. is canceled.
The next scheduled meeting will be September 24, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. in room 14 of the Potomac Building.
For more information, call 301-475-4200, extension 1680.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days Coming This Fall
The time has once again arrived for citizens to clean out their barns, basements, sheds, garages, storage areas under kitchen sinks, etc. to take advantage of the opportunity to properly discard of potentially toxic/dangerous materials. Residents wishing to safely dispose of household hazardous waste materials will have two opportunities this fall.
The St. Andrew's Landfill will host Hazardous Waste Collection days on Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Saturday, November 1, 2014. Both events will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Hazardous waste items which will be accepted for collection include Acids, Ammonia, Bleach, Cleaners, Fuels, Gas/Oil Mixtures, Gasoline, Household and Lawn Pesticides, Mercury Thermometers, Photography Chemicals, Pool Chemicals, Solvents, Wood Preservatives, Paint Thinners, and Alkyd (oil-based) Paint. Since Latex Paint is not considered hazardous, it can be disposed with your regular trash collection as long as the mixture is harden by adding absorbents (cat litter, sand, sawdust, or paint drying crystals) prior to disposal. However, if you are unable to do so, Latex Paint will also be accepted.
Items which will not be accepted include Ammunition, Asbestos, Explosive Materials, Medical Waste, Pharmaceuticals, Radioactive Materials, and Picric Acid.
Almost 50 tons of materials were collected during last year's event. Help us collect even more this year and dispose of it through safe, environmentally responsible practices.
For more information please contact the St. Mary's Department of Public Works and Transportation at 301-863-8400. You can also log on to their website at www.stmarysmd.com/dpw/RecycleAnnouncements.asp.
Local Lighthouses to Open for National Lighthouse Day
The Piney Point Lighthouse in Piney Point, MD and the reconstructed Blackistone Lighthouse on St. Clement's Island State Park will be available for viewing in recognition of National Lighthouse Day, Sunday, August 3. August 7 is the official day of commemoration as designated by Congress, August 7, 1989 on the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Congressional Act "for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers" and the date of the first commissioned Federal lighthouse.
The Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and open for tours of the museum, Potomac River Maritime Exhibit, lighthouse tower and grounds. The keeper's quarters, normally closed to the public, will offer local artists Mary Gault, Nancy Wathen, Eric Berg and River Edge Fiberworks with an exhibit and sale of their lighthouse-themed artwork. The Piney Point Lighthouse, built in 1836, is located at 44720 Lighthouse Road, Piney Point, MD. For more information contact the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum at 301-994-1471.
The reconstructed Blackistone Lighthouse stands on St. Clement's Island State Park and is available by private boat or by water taxi service from the St. Clement's Island Museum. Water taxi service will begin at 10 a.m. with the last ride to the island at 2 p.m. The last ride from the island to the museum is at 3:30 p.m. The lighthouse will be open for tours by volunteers of the St. Clement's Hundred organization. A fee of $7 per person is required and can be paid inside the museum. The fee also includes museum admission. It is advised to call ahead at 301-769-2222 to ensure service as weather conditions in Colton's Point determine water taxi operation.
The Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park and the St. Clement's Island Museum are managed by the Museum Division of St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks and the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners.
Exhibitor and Sponsor Registration Now Open for Community Health Fair
Those interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor at the 2014 Community Health Fair now have the opportunity to register for the Friday, October 24 event. The St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services will hold its Annual Community Health Fair: The Way to Wellness, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, 44219 Airport Road in California, MD.
Several opportunities are available for companies and non-profit organizations to join as exhibitors, presenters or sponsors at the Health Fair. Attendance has grown each year. In 2013, the event drew more than 700 visitors and even more are expected this year! A variety of comprehensive health screenings and wellness information will be provided to those who attend.
Sponsors may participate by giving a monetary donation or offering door prizes. The sponsors will be recognized in all marketing releases if their commitment is received by fax or mail before September 3, 2014. Sponsorships are still needed after that date, but recognition opportunities will be limited.
For additional information, contact Jennifer Stone at 301-475-4200, ext. 1073 or visit our website at www.stmarysmd.com/aging and click the Health Fair tab. You can also check out the Health Fair's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WaytoWellness.
Job Opportunities Remain with Recreation & Parks' School Age Care and Summer Camp
The St. Mary's County Department of Recreation & Parks continues to accept applications for part time positions for current year School Age Care (SAC) programs and Summer Camp positions. Positions for SAC programs are open & continuous. The deadline for Recreation Specialist positions is August 1. Recreation & Parks is seeking people with varying degrees of childcare experience.
The following positions are currently available:
-- Recreation Specialist (Salary Range: $16.32-$18.36/hour)
-- Child Care Director (Salary Range: $14.79-16.07/hour)
-- School Age Child Care Teacher (Salary Range: $9.69-$12.24/hour)
-- Child Care Assistant/Substitute (Salary Range: $8.42-9.69/hour)
The SAC Program operates from 6:30 a.m. to the beginning of the school day and from the end of the school day until 6:30 p.m. Summer Camps are open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at varying locations. Activities include group games, arts & crafts, dramatic play, music, cooking, science experiments, nature and much more!
For more information on job opportunities with School Age Care, please call 301-373-5410 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/docs/rpjobopenings.pdf to view the job descriptions and review the application process.