Republican Election Workers Sought for November Election
Training classes available now through Friday, Oct. 3
The Charles County Board of Elections is seeking citizens willing to serve as Republican election judges for the 2014 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Election judges play important roles in the election process, help voters, and work as a team to ensure a fair and accessible election.
Election judges are required to attend a two-hour training before Election Day. Training classes are scheduled between Sept. 23 and Oct. 3. Each election judge is paid $30 for training and $125 for working on Election Day. Election judges must report about one hour before the polls open at 7 a.m., and serve until all duties are completed after the polls close at 8 p.m.
Under Maryland law, you can serve as an election judge if you are:
-- Age 17 or older*
-- A registered voter in Maryland
-- Physically and mentally able to work at least a 15-hour day**
-- Willing to work outside your home precinct
-- Able to sit and/or stand for an extended period; and
-- Able to speak, read, and write English.
* If you are 17 years old, you may be able to serve if you show your local board of elections that you are qualified to be an election judge and a parent or guardian gives permission.
**Some positions require election judges to be able to lift boxes and other items weighing 10 to 25 lbs.
You cannot be an election judge if you are a candidate or currently hold a public or political office, including state and county political party central committees; or you are a chairman, campaign manager, or treasurer for a political or candidate committee.
If you are interested in being an election judge, contact Ms. Claire Mower, Charles County Board of Elections, at 301-396-8872 or MowerC [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Charles County 2014 Gubernatorial General Election Early Voting Information
For the 2014 Gubernatorial General Election, citizens of Charles County are able to vote at one of two designated early voting locations:
The Charles County Board of Elections Office
201 East Charles Street
La Plata, MD 20646
The St. Charles Gleneagles Neighborhood Center
4900 Kirkcaldy Court
Waldorf, MD 20602
Early voting centers will be open for voting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Thursday, Oct. 23 through and including Thursday, Oct. 30. Charles County voters may vote at either designated early voting center. Addresses, driving directions and photographs of all of the early voting centers are available at
www.elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html.
Voters who prefer to vote on Election Day can vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at their assigned polling location. Polling places will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you do not know your assigned polling location to vote on Election Day, you can look up your voter registration information at
www.elections.maryland.gov and click on find your polling place. You can also call the Charles County Board of Elections at 301-934-8972 or check the front of your specimen ballot when it arrives in the next couple of weeks.
Take Steps, Save Lives at the 9th Annual Breast Cancer Walk
Walk to save lives at the 9th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Fitness Walk on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event begins at Indian Head Village Green (100 Walter Thomas Road, Indian Head) and continues for three miles on the Indian Head Rail Trail.
Participants can enjoy music, vendors, door prizes, raffles, and an exercise warm up. The event will be held rain or shine.
The registration fee is $25. Fee includes morning snacks, bottled water, and a nutritious lunch. The first 100 registrants receive a free T-shirt! To download and print the registration form, visit
www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.
Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This foundation educates and researches breast cancer causes, treatments, and the search for a cure. This event is sponsored by the Indian Head Senior Center Council, the Town of Indian Head, and local community businesses.
For additional information, call the Indian Head Senior Center at 301-743-2125. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Annual Celebrate Charles FallFest Event Returns Oct. 25
The 3rd annual Celebrate Charles: FallFest event is set for Saturday, Oct. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium (11765 St. Linus Dr, Waldorf). Event highlights include a Celebrate Charles marketplace showcasing some of Southern Maryland’s most talented artisans and crafters, and a premier concert series featuring favorite local musicians, Sam Grow and The Sara Gray Band. Event admission is free, and the event will take place rain or shine. Food and market items will be available for purchase.
Children can give their Halloween costumes a trial run on the Trick-or-Treat Trail and play all day in the Family Fun Zone, which will feature inflatables, rides, facepainting, balloon twisters, and a photo booth.
For more information and vendor opportunities, visit
www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, or contact Ms. Rachel Reynolds, Promotions Specialist, at 301-645-0601 or ReynoldsR [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Scheduled for Oct. 4
The Charles County Department of Public Works would like to remind citizens the next household hazardous waste collection will be held Saturday, Oct. 4. The household hazardous waste collection site is 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, 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), latex paint, 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, paint hardener, or sawdust 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: 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.
Economic Development Using Locally Designed Client Software System
The Department of Economic Development is now using Blink, a customer relationship management (CRM) program developed by Charles County entrepreneur, Connie Fuksa. Blink is customizable to meet many small business needs. Fuksa created the customer-focused program with the notion that businesses should be able to reach out easily and consistently to their customers. Blink was developed with simplicity in mind so business contacts are simple to manage.
Economic Development Department Director Kwasi Holman remarked, “Our department is excited to be given the opportunity to utilize a product developed by a local business person. Blink will help our department keep in touch with the many businesses we work with on a regular basis—at an affordable price."
Fuksa, president of Blink, struggled with a common business frustration—how to stay in touch with clients. In order to build lasting relationships with clients, she needed to increase contact frequency with potential and former clients so they would remember her company when they needed repeat or additional services. Fuksa tried several different CRMs, but all were either too cumbersome with unnecessary features or too large, taking up valuable computer space. Fuksa decided to create a software application to fit her needs.
“Blink is a different kind of CRM with unique, easy-to-use reminders that don’t pop up on a calendar to be accidentally snoozed away; instead, they’re sent in an email that includes everything about your contact. Blink is unique in that tasks are pre-designed based on your specs, not how we think you should use it. It is simple to use and simple to act on. Blink equals simple plus powerful plus affordable,” said Fuksa.
For more information about Blink, visit
www.BlinkInformation.com. To contact the Charles County Department of Economic Development, call 301-885-1340. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Second NSF Dahlgren Joint Land Use Study Public Forum Set for Oct. 9
King George County (Va.), in cooperation with Charles County and other communities, agencies, and organizations in the region, is conducting a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) to address compatibility planning around Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren. In order to develop a JLUS that is responsive to local needs, public input is critical. The second public forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the University of Mary Washington, Dahlgren Campus (4224 University Drive, King George, Va.).
At the forum, citizens will be able to review and comment on a list of issues identified for evaluation as part of the JLUS. Suggested additions or changes to the list, and prioritization of the identified issues, are welcomed.
The primary objective of the JLUS is to reduce potential conflicts between NSF Dahlgren and surrounding areas while accommodating new growth and economic development, sustaining economic vitality, protecting public health and safety, and sustaining the operational missions of the installation.
For more information, visit the project’s website at
www.dahlgrenjlus.com or contact Jack Green, AICP, director of
King George County Department of Community Development at 540-775-7111 or jgreen [at] co.kinggeorge.state.va.us. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
2014 Economic Development Summit Sponsorship Deadline Extended
The deadline to receive sponsorship advertising for this year’s Charles County Economic Development Summit is extended to Friday, Oct. 3. Summit sponsor registration forms can be downloaded at:
www.MeetCharlesCounty.com. Individual tickets can be purchased online also using this link.
Sponsorship opportunities range from silver to diamond levels. Sponsors are recognized in select advertising prior to and during the event, and receive eight complimentary registrations. Sponsor information is included in a printed event program distributed to attendees. Both printed and electronic versions of the event program are circulated throughout the year, extending recognition opportunities long after the event.
The 2014 Economic Development Summit is an annual event that brings together the business community, industry experts, and thought leaders to share and discuss the strategic insights on the ever-changing landscape of local, regional and national economy. This year’s theme “Meet Charles County: Local Advantages, Regional Assets” highlights why Charles County is well-positioned for investment, growth, and development. The event is Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center (3090 Crain Highway, Waldorf). Individual tickets are $50/per person if you register by Wednesday, Oct. 15, ($60 after). The registration fee includes a full breakfast and light lunch.
Ashley Johnson, of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD), has been added to the lineup of featured speakers. Johnson will present his vision for the future of NSWC IHEODTD and the installation’s upcoming Industry Day. As the new technical director for NSWC IHEODTD, Johnson directs employees at the naval installation at Indian Head and detachments in other national locations with annual operations of more than $1 billion.
Previously announced speakers at the Economic Development Summit include James C. Dinegar, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and renowned economist Anirban Basu, of Sage Policy Group.
The Department of Economic Development extends a sincere thank you to all event sponsors who have already signed up, including:
-- Diamond Level: University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
-- Platinum Level: Cyber Security Research and Solutions Corp.; Charles County Public Library; Goode Companies
-- Gold Level: CHUTES International; College of Southern Maryland; Facchina; G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc.; Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
-- Silver Level: Shasho Consulting; Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; St. Charles Companies; White Plains Corporate Business Park; Southern Maryland Real Estate Network; Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
-- In-Kind Donations: Charles County Chamber of Commerce, Energetics Technology Center
For more information about the 2014 Economic Development Summit, contact the Department of Economic Development at 301-885-1340 or Info [at] MeetCharlesCounty.com. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.