Children's Day to Offer Food, Fun and Festivity
LEONARDTOWN—The Museum Division of St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks is offering its annual Children's Day program. The free event will take place at the St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point on Saturday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Museum staff and volunteers will provide kids with heritage games, face painting, crafts and free sno-cones. Reggie Rice, known as the SuperMagicMan, will provide music and magic throughout the event. The museum's water taxi to St. Clement's Island will begin operating at 10 a.m., weather permitting. The fee for children waived for this special event. The fee for adults will be $7 each. This is a great opportunity to take your kids to see the replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse which will be open for tours!
Representatives from the St. Mary's County Library will offer story time and the ladies from The Delicados will give away free balloons! The 7th District Optimist Club will give away a boy's and girl's bike (winner need not be present), a kiddie tractor pull, and 50-cent per item lunch menu! Also, meet community heroes from the volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad and St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office!
The first 100 kids will receive a free t-shirts courtesy of the following generous event sponsors: Avenue Flags & Flagpoles, Chesapeake Custom Embroidery, Cullins Pool Water, Combs Drury Reeves Insurance Agency, Tidewater Dental Associates, Community Bank of the Chesapeake, Delegate Johnny Wood, Ultimate Therapy, Quite Pies, LLC. and a private donor honoring the memory of Bobbie McWilliams.
The St. Clement's Island Museum is located at 38370 Point Breeze Road in Colton's Point at the end of Route 242, nine miles south of Clements intersection. The museum and grounds are handicap accessible. For more information, please call 301-769-2222 or log onto the Museum Division website at http://www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.
Commissioners Vote to Honor Purple Heart Veterans
Resolution authorizes designated parking spaces for veterans wounded in combat
LEONARDTOWN—At their weekly business meeting the Commissioners of St. Mary's County approved a resolution which provides special recognition to Purple Heart veterans.
By a 4-0 margin the commissioners authorized the designation of one parking space (at each county owned facility) immediately adjacent to an existing handicapped parking space as Purple Heart Parking. The spaces will be appropriately marked with a Purple Heart Parking sign. Approximately 50 signs will be installed at a cost of $2,000. Purple Heart Parking will donate the signs.
SSGT Justin Skotnicki (ret.) came before the commissioners on July 22 to formally present the plan. Skotnicki said the idea was a way to recognize Purple Heart recipients. He believed designated parking spots for those injured in the course of serving their country was the ideal way of honoring them.
Commissioner Dan Morris (2nd District), a Vietnam Veteran, applauded the plan. "I wholeheartedly support the concept. It's a great idea and I want to thank Purple Heart Parking for stepping forward and doing the right thing. I wish we could do more."
Commissioner Cindy Jones (1st District) noted that Southern Maryland has among the highest percentage of veterans than anywhere in the state of Maryland. "This is a great place to kick off this initiative and we hope that other jurisdictions will also join."
Purple Heart Parking signs will be placed at designated locations on the Governmental Campus in Leonardtown as well as other county-owned facilities, such as museums and parks.
George Howard Post Talks about Benedict History
Enjoy a walking tour while envisioning the past
LA PLATA—Learn more about Charles County’s history and how Benedict has been impacted as George Howard Post discusses the history of Benedict and what it has become today. This event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the at St. Francis de Sales Church Hall (7185 Benedict Ave, Benedict)
George Howard Post is a local historian who recently published Benedict on the Patuxent: From Beginnings to its Tercentenary, just in time for the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 in Southern Maryland. Based on his extensive research, Mr. Post will be providing visitors an in-depth tour of Benedict that will bring to life this historic village along the scenic Patuxent River.
Through excellent story-telling, learn how the colonial village appeared when it was a bustling international seaport in the 1760s, and what events took shape at Benedict in 1814 that would alter the course of history and give rise to our National Anthem. Finally, Mr. Post will share previously unknown accounts from the Civil War when a Union African-American Recruitment Camp was established just outside the village. Copies of Mr. Post's book will be available for purchase.
This tour involves a fair amount of walking so we would like to encourage participants to wear appropriate footwear and attire to fully enjoy this experience.
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.
September Declared “Forget-Me-Not” Month
LA PLATA—On Tuesday, July 22, the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed September as “Forget-Me-Not” month. The proclamation recognized and supported those who have fought for our country in military service. During September, the Charles County Disabled American Veterans will conduct the annual sale of simulated Forget-Me-Nots to honor those who served in our wars for the maintenance of freedom. The blue flower received after giving a donation is a symbol of love, hope, and remembrance for those who have suffered or have been lost in war.
Charles County Commissioners’ August Town Hall Meeting Schedule
LA PLATA—The Charles County Commissioners invite the public to attend August 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, Aug. 25, 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.
Armory Road Name to Remain Following Prince Frederick Construction Project
Change to Chesapeake Boulevard Withdrawn
PRINCE FREDERICK—Armory Road in Prince Frederick will retain its name following the road improvements project along the Armory Road/Dares Beach Road corridor in Prince Frederick.
According to county regulations, road name changes require concurrence from at least 75 percent of the property owners abutting the road for which a name change is proposed. The proposed Chesapeake Boulevard name did not reach that threshold of support. A new road, Monnett Court, remains part of the project. It will intersect with Armory Road and serve the cluster of businesses just to the south of the Dares Beach Road intersection.
The project is now in the second of four planned phases of construction and is approximately 55 percent complete. It will provide a number of improvements, including new sidewalks, wider shoulders, roadway lighting and a traffic circle at the intersection of Armory Road and Dares Beach Road. The project is part of the Prince Frederick loop road.
Maps plotting the project by phase and additional information are available at http://www.co.cal.md.us/roadproject. To learn more, contact Karl Deugwillo at deugwikr [at] co.cal.md.us or 410-535-1600, ext. 2546.
Calvert County Crime Solvers' Case of the Week
PRINCE FREDERICK—Calvert County Crime Solvers and the Calvert County Sheriff's Office are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for the recent rash of property destruction in the county that occurred between July 22 and 23. Two mailboxes, one on Parkers Creek Road and the other on Sharpes Court, were both knocked off their posts. A house, fence and street signs were spray painted on Parkers Creek Road and Wash Hance Road in Port Republic.
Another mailbox, this one at a home on Mattapany Road in St. Leonard, was also damaged and knocked off the post. Two additional mailboxes were knocked from their posts on Fireberry Court in Prince Frederick.
Citizens with information on this crime or any criminal activity in Calvert County who wish to report it anonymously can now access the Calvert County Crime Solvers link at http://www.CalvertCountySheriff.us or by calling 410-535-2880.
If the information leads to an arrest and conviction, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.
Heritage Grant Awarded for Kings Landing Park Project
Funds to Support Renovation of Former YMCA Cabins
PRINCE FREDERICK—Calvert County was recently awarded $15,000 in grant funds to support the renovation of seven cabins at Kings Landing Park that once housed a summer camp for African-American youth run by the Baltimore YMCA.
The funding comes through the African American Heritage Preservation Program, a partnership of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust. The grant program supports the preservation of buildings, communities and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.
The YMCA ran summer camps at the Kings Landing site from approximately 1950 to 1980. Rustic wood-frame cabins were built to accommodate overnight campers and their counselors. Seven of the original cabins remain. The grant funding will support their renovation as overnight camping cabins, classrooms for interpretive programs and day-use shelters. Picnic amenities and campfire rings will also be installed.
The project will showcase the role Calvert County played in providing summer and outdoor recreation to inner-city youth and the African American community.
In August 1984, the YMCA sold the property to the State of Maryland and that November Calvert County leased the property to provide residents swimming and other recreational opportunities. This site is now managed by the Calvert County Division of Natural Resources.
The Board of County Commissioners approved $15,000 as matching funds for the African American Heritage Preservation Program grant. The Battle Creek Nature Education Society is also working to provide additional funding. To learn more about Kings Landing, visit http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=1205.
Local Projects to Improve Area Roads
-- Mt. Harmony Road, Owings
This two-week project involves the resurfacing of nearly 700 feet of the roadway between Valley View Court and Rue Court. The section of roadway will be closed to through traffic beginning on or about Monday, July 28.
Access to residences on Mt. Harmony Road will not be affected during the closure though delays can be expected. Detour routes will be established for motorists traveling along the east/west axis in the Owings area. To learn more, email Frank Schlotter [ schlotfc [at] co.cal.md.us ] with the Calvert County Department of Public Works or call 410-535-2204, ext. 2568. A Web page [ http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=1583 ] features details and a map of the project area.
-- Church Street/Main Street, Prince Frederick
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is planning road improvements for the Church Street/Main Street corridor including safety improvements at the intersection of Rt. 231 (Church Street) and Main Street.
SHA will raise the elevation of the intersection approximately three feet to enhance visibility from all approaches. The project will also include construction of new sidewalks, road resurfacing, bicycle lanes and drainage improvements.
The $7.5 million projected is estimated to be completed in 2017. Visit the projects page online [ http://md-calvertcounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=1403 ] for further details from SHA.