Community Information Forum to Help Citizens Discover Programs and Services Available in St. Mary's County
LEONARDTOWN—Residents experiencing problems with paying utility bills, veterans in need of services, unable to access healthcare, in danger of becoming homeless, in need of assistance to apply for disability or other services should plan to attend the Community Information Forum!
The St. Mary's County Aging & Disability Resource Center/Maryland Access Point* will host the FREE forum on Thursday, September 25, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Bay District Fire Department Hall, 46900 South Shangri La Drive in Lexington Park. All St. Mary's County residents are invited to attend regardless of age or income. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about essential, resources and services available within St. Mary's County. The first 200 attendees will receive a free emergency kit.
Representatives from several organizations in the county will address topics such as Home and Community-Based Services, the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, Services for Veterans, Homeless Prevention, and the Health Enterprise Zone.
Attendees can speak one-on-one and ask specific questions of representatives from: St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services--Home and Community-Based Services Division, Aging and Disability Resource Center/ Maryland Access Point, Maryland's Commitment to Veterans, Three Oaks Homeless Shelter, Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc., MedStar St. Mary's Hospital's Health Enterprise Zone, Adult Medical Day Care and Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living,
"This event will be a wonderful opportunity for people in need of one or multiple services to be matched with an organization that can fulfill their needs," said Monika Williams, Aging and Disability Resource Center/Maryland Access Point Coordinator. "We have strategically created the focus of this Information Forum around the services with the most need: energy assistance, homelessness and the need for healthcare access."
For more information and a full event brochure contact Monika Williams by email at Monika.Williams [at] stmarysmd.com, or phone at 301-475-45200, ext. 1057. Visit our website at http://www.stmarysmd.com/aging.
* The Aging & Disability Resource Center/Maryland Access Point is a community link to health and support services. The ADRC/MAP is a FREE information and referral service open to the public and to individuals of all income levels. It provides older adults, persons experiencing a disability and caregivers with a single point of entry to available resources, programs and services.
General Aviation and Community Airports Honored in September
Governor issues proclamation recognizing aviation statewide
LEONARDTOWN—Governor Martin O'Malley has declared the month of September General Aviation and Community Airport Month in Maryland. The goal is to acknowledge the importance general aviation plays in Maryland.
The Governor issued the proclamation to highlight the vital role aviation plays in the lives of the state's citizens, businesses and farms. Locally, the St. Mary's County Regional Airport received one of the proclamations to display.
"It's wonderful the Governor has decided to focus attention on general aviation in or state," said George Erichsen, P.E., Public Works and Transportation Director. "St. Mary's County Airport is finalizing the design for the relocation of Lawrence Hayden and Airport Roads in preparation for the expansion of the taxiway and runway." Erichsen says the improvements should help industrial, technological and corporate based companies transport their goods and services.
Also a plan for construction of over 100,000 square feet of hangar space and eight Research and Development office buildings has received concept approval. The projected facilities represent an increase in space to serve the aviation and local business communities.
In August, the University of Maryland cut the ribbon on the nation's first Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site at the airport. The site will offer researchers, students, government and industry access to extensive resources and pools of expertise in all aspects of UAS research.
A 2013 Maryland Economic Impact of Airports study found St. Mary's County airport had 146 based aircraft and more than 38,000 aircraft operations annually. Approximately 265 local jobs were directly tied to the airport.
Winter Youth and Pee Wee Sports Registration Open
LA PLATA—Youth leagues and Pee Wee sports are back! Log on to http://www.CharlesCountyParks.com or call 301-934-9305 or 301-870-3388 to register for these fun-filled winter sports.
Pee Wee sports include: co-ed and girls’ basketball, and co-ed soccer. Co-ed soccer is open to four year olds, co-ed basketball open to five and six year olds, and girls’ basketball open to five and seven year olds (as of Sept. 1, 2014). Pee Wee sports registration fee is $65 but you can save $15 if you register by Wednesday, Oct. 15. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 29.
A one-hour practice or game is held each Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for Pee Wee sports leagues. Practices begin in December. Games and practice alternate Saturday’s beginning January. Players and coaches each receive a team t-shirt.
Youth sports include: co-ed indoor soccer, co-ed and girls’ basketball, and select basketball. Co-ed and girls’ basketball is available for youth ages seven to 18 and co-ed indoor soccer for ages five to 18 (as of Sept. 1, 2014). Select basketball teams are open for boys’ ages nine to 14 years, and girls’ ages 11 to 14 years. Players interested in participating in the select league must register and attend a mandatory try out. Any player not selected will play in the Youth Co-Ed or Girls Basketball leagues. Youth sports registration fee is $80 but you can save $15 if you register by Wednesday, Oct, 15. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Teams are based on area, age, height, and experience. Youth practices will be scheduled to start no later than 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Practices begin in December and games begin in January. Locations vary. Practices begin in December. Players and coaches each receive a team t-shirt.
The Department of Community Services’ Pee Wee and Youth sport leagues offer children the opportunity to have a positive and rewarding experience. Children learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play. The non-competitive atmosphere of these sports is designed for children to develop skills and promote fun.
For information on other programs offered by the Department of Community Services, visit http://www.CharlesCountyParks.com. Citizens with special needs can contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
“Pride of Benedict” Contest Winners Announced
LA PLATA—On Friday, Aug.29 on the newly completed boardwalk at the waterfront in Benedict, in celebration of the War of 1812 historical anniversary, the Charles County Garden Club announced the “Pride of Benedict” contest winners.
-- First Place: Robert and Diane Correll (Porch)
-- Second Place: Darren Jewell (Deck)
-- Third Place: Diane E. Dean (Porch)
-- Fourth Place: Michelle Quade (Home)
-- Fifth Place: Logan T. Cross (Home)
Benedict residents showed community pride and patriotic creativity with flags, buntings, flowers, and shrubs. The Garden Club judged entries on creativity, originality, and appropriateness to the theme of patriotic pride. Winners received a gift certificate, rosette, and lawn sign. Gift certificates were courtesy of S.D. Lohr Home Remodelers, The Port of Leonardtown Winery, Rivers Edge Restaurant, and Serenity Farm.
Event photos can be viewed online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/CharlesCountyGovernment/sets.
Following the awards ceremony, the Garden Club hosted a reception at Rivers Edge Restaurant for all “Pride of Benedict” contest participants and their families.
Traffic Pattern Change on Armory Road in Prince Frederick Begins Sept. 9
PRINCE FREDERICK—A new traffic pattern along the Armory Road corridor in Prince Frederick will take effect Tuesday, Sept. 9, as progress continues in the third phase of the road improvement project for Armory Road and Dares Beach Road.
The traffic pattern change will affect the intersection of Dares Beach and Armory Roads and the Fairground/Armory Road intersection as follows:
-- The intersection of Dares Beach and Armory Roads will continue in a full roundabout pattern.
-- Traffic exiting the roundabout south onto Armory Road will be directed to the new (Armory) road.
-- Access to and from the old portion of Armory Road (Monnett Court) will be via a new connection with the new Armory Road.
-- Through traffic between Main Street and Dares Beach Road will be in effect.
-- Fairground Road at Armory Road will be closed. Access to Fairground Road will be from Dares Beach Road only.
Portable message boards will provide advance notice to motorists who utilize this area. The traffic pattern will remain in effect for approximately two weeks.
As part of the road improvement project, enhancements will include new sidewalks, wider shoulders, pedestrian lights and a traffic circle at the intersection of Chesapeake Boulevard and Dares Beach Road. The project is part of the larger Prince Frederick loop road.
Maps plotting the project by phase and additional information are available at http://www.co.cal.md.us/roadproject
Calvert Co. Receives $124,645 from State for Hallowing Point Park
ANNAPOLIS—Calvert County will receive $124,645 through Program Open Space to further develop Hallowing Point Park with additional parking for the baseball field, restrooms, several picnic shelters, and a new ADA-accessible playground area to replace the existing 20-year-old playground. Funds totaling $421,079 were previously approved by the Board of Public Works for this project.
Governor Martin O’Malley and the Board of Public Works approved the project at a meeting in Annapolis on Sept. 3.