Preliminary 2015 State Legislative Package Public Hearing Set for Oct. 21
The Charles County Commissioners have scheduled the Charles County Citizens’ Preliminary 2015 State Legislative Package public hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners' Meeting Room at the Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata).
Seventeen proposals have been submitted to date and will be available for viewing at http://www.boarddocs.com/md/chrlsco/Board.nsf/Public. The author of each proposal is asked to attend the public hearing to present a brief synopsis of the initiative and to answer any questions that may arise from those in attendance. Work sessions will be scheduled following the public hearing to review the legislative proposals and determine which ones will be included in the County Commissioners' 2015 General Assembly Legislative Package and forwarded to the Charles County Delegation for their consideration.
For more information, contact Ms. Lisa Bailey, Office of the County Attorney at 301-645-0555 or BaileyL [at] CharlesCounty.org. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
3rd Annual Celebrate Charles: FallFest Scheduled for Oct. 25
Celebrate Charles: FallFest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium (11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf).
The Celebrate Charles Marketplace will showcase some of Southern Maryland’s most talented artists, authors, crafters, jewelers, and more. Vendors include: Amethyst Artist, Chrystal's Princess Treasures, Elf Sea Glass, Everee Jewelry, Hassan Fashions, Kids Coffee and Crochet, Kylie's Kreations, Laura Mae Creates, Lilla Rose Jeweled Hair Gems, Live Out Loud Yoga, Lularoe by Ashley, Mai's Stitches, Nature's Soy Candles, Organo Gold, Origami Owl, Pop's Jewelry Shop, Premier Designs, Scentsy, Seribella Studio, ShellyCusicArt, Simply Wrapped, Sole Plex Stones, Spin It Again, Stampin' Up, and Tastefully Simple.
Live music is being performed by Sam Grow and The Sara Gray Band.
Children can give their Halloween costumes a trial run on the Trick-Or-Treat Trail and can play all day in the Family Fun Zone, which will be full of inflatables, rides, face painting, a photo booth, and balloon twisters.
Admission is free. However, there are fees for food and market purchases. This event will be held rain or shine.
For more information, visit http://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.
County Agencies Discuss Ebola Preparedness Plans
There are no reported cases of the Ebola virus in Charles County or Maryland; however, given the seriousness of the Ebola outbreak in western Africa and the recent cases diagnosed in the U.S., local government and health care officials are at an increased level of preparedness regarding the potential risk of Ebola.
Charles County leaders are working closely to ensure the safety of the public in the event of an Ebola incident. On Oct. 15, Charles County Government officials met with key representatives from the Department of Emergency Services, Charles County Health Department, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center to discuss countywide Ebola preparedness measures.
Charles County Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney said, “While we are at a heightened awareness, there is no current risk of the Ebola virus in this area. Extensive planning is taking place nationally as well as on the state level and locally.”
The Charles County Department of Health is in continuous communication with the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the latest information regarding Ebola. On Oct. 28 during the County Commissioners meeting session, Dr. Abney will provide a report on the Ebola virus, flu season, and other health matters of interest to Charles County residents. Commissioners meetings are broadcast on CCGTV cable television stations (Comcast channel 95 and Verizon channel 10) with online viewing available at http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.
The CDC and top health officials in the region have said the risk of Ebola spreading widely in the United States is low. Ebola is spread through direct contact with body fluids from a person who has symptomatic Ebola virus disease. For more detailed information about the disease, visit the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov.
“With all of the recent attention to Ebola, it is important to be mindful of the upcoming flu and pneumonia season. All residents are urged to get a flu shot and those over 65 should get a one-time pneumonia vaccination,” added Dr. Abney.
Charles County Government Election Day Holiday Schedule
The Charles County Commissioners wish to remind residents of the following offices and facility schedule changes on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in observance of Election Day.
The following offices will be closed for normal business hours:
-- All Charles County Government offices and the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville
-- All Senior Centers
-- The Nanjemoy Community Center
-- School based community centers
-- Charles County Public Library (All branches)
The following offices will be open normal hours:
-- The Crain Memorial Welcome Center located at 12480 Crain Highway in Newburg
-- VanGO will operate on a regular weekday service schedule
-- The Charles County Landfill and Recycling Center off Billingsley Road in Waldorf, and the Pisgah Recycling Center on Route 425 in Pisgah
-- Curbside recycling collection service will not be affected
-- Elite Gymnastics and Recreation Center and Port Tobacco Recreation Center
-- Lackey and North Point High indoor pools
-- Charles County Parks
For questions about County Government holiday closures, 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: 800-735-2258.
Tri-County Animal Shelter to Hold Free Rabies Clinic Nov. 2
Maryland law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets are vaccinated for rabies. Protect your furry friends, bring your pet to a free rabies clinic Sunday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department (911 Washington Avenue, La Plata). Dog and cat licenses will be available for purchase. The fee for a pet license is $5 if your animal is altered and $25 if your animal is not altered. All dogs must be leashed and all cats and ferrets must be contained in a carrier.
The Charles County Animal Response Team (CART) volunteers, Charles County Animal Control, and the Charles County Department of Health are sponsoring the clinic.
For more information about the free rabies clinic, contact the Charles County Department of Emergency Services at 301-609-3425 or e-mail Debbie Yost at YostD [at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Open House on Joint Land Use Study Public Draft for NAS Patuxent River
The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, in partnership with Calvert County, Caroline County, Charles County, Dorchester County, St. Mary’s County, Northumberland County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Westmoreland County, Wicomico County, and participating communities within these jurisdictions is preparing a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) to address compatibility planning around Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS PAX).
The primary objective of the JLUS is to reduce potential conflicts between NAS PAX 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.
The public is invited to attend Public Open Houses to review, discuss, and comment on the Public Draft of the JLUS Report with the JLUS development team. Two previous public workshops were conducted for the JLUS that provided the public with an overview of the process and solicited input that was incorporated into the JLUS. The Public Draft documentation will be available on the JLUS website, http://www.paxjlus.com on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, for review.
Public Open Houses will be held in two different locations for your convenience:
Western Area Public Open House
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
44219 Airport Road
California, MD 20619
Eastern Area Public Open House
Date: Thursday, Nov. 6
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Delmarva Community Services
2450 Cambridge Beltway
Cambridge, MD 21613
The public is encouraged to attend these open houses. It is critical to obtain input from the community in order to develop a plan that is responsive to local needs. Please join us to hear about the JLUS and provide your input on the Public Draft JLUS Report.
For more information, visit the project’s website at: http://www.paxjlus.com/ or contact: George Clark (Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland) at 301-274-1922 or gclark [at] tccsmd.org.