Pictured left to right: Brian Forsyth (PSCG member), Simon and Neroli Greig.Patuxent Small Craft Guild Announces Winner of Canoe Raffle
The Calvert Marine Museum Patuxent Small Craft Guild (PSCG) maintains the historic boats in the museum’s collection, and preserves the art and skills of wooden boat building. These volunteers build and raffle a canoe each year to benefit on-going activities of the Guild.
The winner of the 2015 canoe was Squadron Leader Simon Greig of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Greig and his family are returning to Australia and are thrilled to take this unique memento of their time in Southern Maryland.
There were over 3,000 tickets sold last year at the museum’s annual events, including the Maritime Festival, Patuxent River Appreciation Days and the summer concerts. The winning ticket was bought at the Barenaked Ladies concert in July.
The 2016 canoe is on display in the Exhibition Building and tickets are on sale now for $1 each or six for $5 in the Museum Store or at the Patuxent Small Craft Center. They will be available at the museum’s annual events and 2016 summer concerts. The raffle winner will be announced in late November.
Church Street (MD 231) is open to traffic in Prince Frederick
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) announced that Church Street (MD 231) is now open to traffic. Church Street provides access to Main Street (MD 765) and downtown Prince Frederick’s many shops and businesses.
The $3.5 million contract is part of the ongoing streetscape project in Prince Frederick which includes:
Raising the road profile at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street three feet to enhance driver visibility;
• Installing a raised brick island to create a right-turn lane from Main Street to Church Street;
• Constructing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant brick sidewalks on Church Street between Heritage Blvd. and Main Street and on Main Street between Old Field Lane and Armory Road;
• Installing bicycle compatible shoulders;
• Improving drainage in the projects limits and
• Resurfacing and restriping the road.
While Main Street opened to traffic on October 30, 2015, Church Street has remained closed while storm drain and sidewalk work was being completed. Now that both roads are open to traffic, the contractor will utilize a flagging operation to do all necessary work: curb and gutter, sidewalk and other work along Main Street and Church Street. Click here for overall project information.
SHA awarded the contract to Corinthian Contractors, Inc. of Upper Marlboro. Construction is projected to be completed in the fall of 2017, weather permitting. Crews are permitted to work between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the day, and between 9 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. overnight. Customers with questions about this projects may contact the District 5 Office at 410-841-1000 or toll-free at 1-800-331-5603 or by email at hgonzales@sha.state.md.us.
Petition for Municipality Referendum Gets the Green Light
The Calvert Shores Organizing Committee gathered more than 2,300 signatures over a 13-month period to petition the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to consider a referendum to incorporate the municipality of Calvert Shores. The petition was submitted on November 4, 2015. The Calvert County Board of Elections recently verified the petition submitted by the Committee, finding that at least 25% of registered voters within the boundaries of the proposed municipality signed the petition, the legal requirement for verification. The boundaries include most, but not all, of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates (CRE), and extend out to Route 4, including the commercial center in Lusby. On January 5th the BCC appointed John Norris, III, county attorney, to serve as their liaison to the Committee.
The next steps in the incorporation process are for the Committee to:
• Actively seek information and input from the county through the liaison
• Hold a Community Information Meeting at the CRE Clubhouse on January 11, 2016, at 7PM to discuss the draft Charter
• Hold a Public Meeting to collect testimony from the affected community on February 3, 2016, at 7PM at the Southern Community Center
• Submit a report on issues related to the proposed incorporation to the BCC within 90 days after receiving verification of the petition
Cathy Zumbrun, the chair of the Committee, stated, "We are excited that this critical hurdle has been achieved so the community's decade's long quest to improve financial solvency and quality of life is one step closer to realization." For more information on the proposed municipality and the incorporation process, visit the web site at CalvertShores.org, or send an email to calvertshores@gmail.com.
SUV Crashes into Strip Mall in Owings; Fire Ensues
On January 6 at 12:18 am, CCSO units responded to a motor vehicle crash reported into a building involving fire. The building involved was the strip mall known as Bright Center West located at the intersection of southbound MD 4 at Chaneyville Rd. in Owings. Upon arrival it was confirmed that both the vehicle involved and the strip mall—which contained Floral Expressions, Owings Cleaners, Andy Nails, and Tax Depot—were all on fire. The driver of the vehicle involved—Vincent Troy, age 32, of Upper Marlboro—was already out of the vehicle and being assisted by citizens. A check of the vehicle for other persons was negative and the scene was secured as EMS/FIRE handled their assignment fighting the fire.
During further investigation it was determined that Troy was suspected to be under the influence of an intoxicant and subsequently arrested for DUI/DWI by DFC Durner.
Cpl. Marty McCarroll managed the scene for the Calvert County Sheriff's Office and coordinated operations with Dunkirk Fire Chief Bill Rector.
A NIXLE notification was sent out from the CCSO notifying the public of the event and to expect delays in the area into the morning rush hour times.
Both County Roads and State Highway were notified to respond to the scene for both traffic road closures and to treat the roadways as they were iced over from the water used by the fire department to extinguish the fire.
The State Fire Marshal was notified and responded to the scene to conduct their investigation with EMS/FIRE.
A Calvert County building inspector was notified to respond and inspect the building for structural damage and occupancy restrictions.
SMECO was notified and responded to handle all electrical power connections/disconnections and inspect the damage to their utility pole.
Business owners were notified for Floral Expressions, Tax Depot, and Andy's Nails. The only business owner not notified was Owings Cleaners.
EMS/FIRE units responded to assist from multiple jurisdictions to include PG County, AA County, and Charles Co.
Vincent Troy, age 32, of Upper Marlboro, was suspected to be under the influence of an intoxicant and subsequently arrested for DUI/DWI after he crashed his vehicle into a strip mall, causing an estimated $750,000 in damages.