St. Mary's County Library Names Acting Director
Mary Anne Bowman to lead Library until new director is selected
The St. Mary's County Board of Library Trustees has appointed current Library Deputy Director, Mary Anne Bowman, as Acting Director of the St. Mary's County Library effective September 5, 2015. Ms. Bowman will serve until a permanent Director is selected. The Library Board has selected the search firm Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates to assist with the search for its the next Director.
Ms. Bowman began her career at the St. Mary's County Library in 1998 as a Reference Supervisor at the Charlotte Hall branch. She has held numerous positions within the organization, including acting as a Reference Coordinator, Electronic Services Coordinator, Branch Manager of Charlotte Hall and Lexington Park branches and Staff Development Coordinator. Ms. Bowman was appointed Deputy Director in 2014.
Ms. Bowman will step in as Acting Director immediately following the retirement of Kathleen Reif on September 4. Ms. Reif has served as St. Mary's County Library Director since 2003.
Commissioners to Hold Public Forum September 1
The Commissioners of St. Mary's County will hold their next Public Forum on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m. The forum will take place in their meeting room, inside the Chesapeake Building, at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown.
As with the May public forum, citizens unable to attend in person and wanting to voice a concern, can take to social media to pose their issue or question. Citizens are invited to post comments or questions using the hashtag #CSMCforum to the county's Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/StMarysCountyGovernment) or twitter feed (@StMarysCoGov.) Time permitting, comments and questions will be read at the forum. Citizens are asked to include their full name and mailing address when posting to social media as the comments will become part of the official record.
The final commissioner Public Forum for 2015 is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6.
All Commissioners of St. Mary's County Public Forums are televised live on St. Mary's County Government TV 95 (SMCG TV 95) on Metrocast Cable and streamed live for online viewing on the county's website at
www.stmarysmd.com/broadcast.asp. Click on the LIVE link at the top of the page (note: this feature is not available on Apple or mobile devices).
The September 1 Public Forum will be rebroadcast on SMCG TV 95 on Sunday, September 6 at 7 p.m. Forums are also available for viewing on the county's YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/user/StMarysCoMDGov?feature=mhee.
Individuals wishing to speak at the Public Forum will be allowed up to three (3) minutes to address the Commissioners (those representing a group will be allotted five (5) minutes to speak.) Anyone wishing to provide more detailed comments may do so via email or regular mail.
The Commissioners of St. Mary's County can be reached via e-mail at csmc@stmarysmd.com or by U.S. mail at Commissioners of St. Mary's County, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.
Commission for Women Observes Womens Right to Vote Anniversary
The St. Mary's County Commission for Women will commemorate Women's Equality Day on August 26. This year marks the 95th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote and hold elective office.
For 132 years women weren't allowed to vote in this country, a country founded on the premise that taxation without representation was intolerable. It took over 70 years of hard work on the part of American suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and a host of others to win this right for women to vote and hold elective office, a right all Americans take for granted today. There are a number of reasons to celebrate.
The 19th Amendment also demonstrated the possibility of peaceful yet revolutionary political change. Young women who were active in the movement when the final ratification was achieved hadn't yet been born when the movement began and women who began the movement had passed away when it ended. In an effort to win this right, women circulated petitions, gave speeches, and campaigned to get woman suffrage issues on state agendas and in Congress, published newspapers, pamphlets, and magazines. They were often attacked by mobs and police and harassed, even thrown in jail for peacefully demonstrating. It may have taken a long time, but these women and men persevered.
With the right to vote comes a responsibility to exercise this hard won right and to do so after careful consideration of choices. With a presidential election coming in November 2016, all citizens should listen to what various candidates are saying and look at their records to make informed choices.
In 1971, New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced legislation to ensure that this important American Anniversary is celebrated each year. The St. Mary's County Commission for Women challenges everyone to take this opportunity to teach our youngest citizens about the struggle these women endured to acquire voting rights for them. The commission asks that you honor them by registering to vote, casting an informed vote in the next election, and giving thanks to those men and women who made it the process possible.
Seminar will Focus on Legal and Financial Matters
The St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services will host a free seminar for the community entitled "Securing Your Future…A Legal & Financial Seminar" on Friday, September 18. Featured speakers specialize in Social Security, Long-Term Care Medicaid, Medicare (Part D), Bankruptcy, Probate and Estate Planning. The seminar is being held in response to frequent requests from residents for more information about these key topics.
"The complexity of each of these programs may become overwhelming for older adults and their families," said Debbie Barker, Senior Information & Assistance Manager. "The panel will bring together experts in the legal and financial fields who can provide information and guidance to individuals currently experiencing - or on the cusp of experiencing - issues which pertain to these topics."
The Senior Information & Assistance Division of the Department of Aging & Human Services provides seniors and their families with guidance and referrals to the Department's programs, public and private community resources and information regarding assistance programs. Service coordination is available to seniors who require assistance in accessing services, applying for various assistance programs, or who simply need help or information about a variety of issues.
Aging and Human Services' mission is to meet the educational, physical, health and social needs of county residents with disabilities and ages 50 and older.
The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Forrest Career and Technology Center, 24005 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The Department will provide a continental breakfast and boxed lunch at no charge. To reserve your space, call Debbie Barker at 301-475-4200, ext. 1050.
Tri-County Orientation and Training for Maryland Responds Volunteers
Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is looking for volunteers to enhance Maryland’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities in the Tri-County region. Stand ready to respond to public health emergencies and the needs of the community.
MRC is a community-based, civilian volunteer program that assists public health workers in times of an emergency. Responders include medical and public health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, epidemiologists and non-medical members of the community.
A tri-county orientation and training for Maryland Responds is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the St. Mary’s County Health Department, 21580 Peabody Street in Leonardtown. Continuing education credits are available. To register online, please
click here, or call:
Calvert County Health Department: Lisa Laschalt (410-535-3922)
Charles County Health Department: Mary Lilly (301-609-6762)
St. Mary’s County Health Department: Tasha Henderson (301-475-4295)
Please visit the
Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps website to learn more.