The St. Mary's County Board of Elections will conduct a canvass of 2016 Presidential Election absentee and provisional ballots as follows:
• Absentee 1 Canvass: November 10, 2016 at 10 a.m.
• Provisional Ballot Canvass: November 16, 2016 at 10 a.m.
• Absentee 2 Canvass: November 18, 2016 at 10 a.m.
• Post Certification Canvass: December 1, 2016 at 10:30 a.m.
Absentee and provisional canvassing will take place at the St. Mary's County Election Board warehouse, 47382 Lincoln Avenue, Lexington Park, MD 20653 (old Carver Elementary School). The post certification canvass will take place at the Election Office, 41650 Tudor Hall Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
For more information contact Wendy Adkins at 301-475-7844, ext. 1613.
Human Relations Commission Meeting Rescheduled
The Human Relations Commission meeting, scheduled for the evening of 13-OCT, has been rescheduled until Thursday, November 10, at 5 p.m. The meeting will take place in Room 14 inside the Potomac Building.
Human Relations Commission Institutes New Meeting Time
The Human Relations Commission for St. Mary's County is changing its meeting time from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the October 13 meeting.
The change will be permanent effective with the January 12, 2017 and April 6, 2017 meetings.
For more information, contact Kelsey Bush at 301-475-4200, ext. *1848, or via email to kelsey.bush@stmarysmd.com.
Commissioners Stand Unified Against Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a crime which violates an individual's privacy, dignity, security and humanity. The systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic control and/or abuse including abuse to spouses, children, and the elderly are ways in which the crime occurs.
According to studies by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. This equates to more than 10 million women and men per year. Overall, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. As a way of bringing increased awareness to the problem, the Commissioners of St. Mary's County proclaimed October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the county.
"These studies further indicate that on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide," said Commissioner Tom Jarboe (1st District). "1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence."
Community groups and agencies stepping up their efforts to combat domestic violence with a confidential, coordinated community response, include the St. Mary's County Family Violence Coordinating Council. The council works with such agencies as MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, Southern Maryland Family Advocacy Center, St. Mary's County Department of Social Services, Three Oaks Center and Walden Sierra. These agencies and resources are available to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault.
In recognition of the vital work being done by these groups, and in declaring National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in St. Mary's County, citizens are urged to work toward improving victim safety and further increase awareness about how to prevent, recognize and stop domestic violence.
Final Commissioners Public Forum to Take Place October 18
The Commissioners of St. Mary's County will host their final Public Forum for 2016 on Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. The forum will be held inside their meeting room in the Chesapeake Building, at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown.
Citizens not able to attend and wishing to voice a concern can do so on social media. Residents can 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 should include their full name and the area of the county in which they live when posting to social media as the comments will become part of the official record.
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 forum will re-air on SMCG TV 95 on Sunday, October 23 at 7 p.m. Videos of the Forums are also available for viewing on demand 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.
Women's Adult Basketball League Forming
Informational meeting to be held
With basketball season rapidly approaching, women's teams are beginning to form. To prepare teams for the upcoming season the Department of Recreation and Parks will hold an informational Women's Adult Basketball League meeting.
Ladies, gather a group of friends, co-workers or put a team together consisting of have the family members to play the great sport of basketball. The idea is to have fun, take a break from the kids, and get a little work out at the same time.
Informational Meeting
• Ages 18 and up
• Wednesday, November 2–7 p.m. at Leonard Hall Recreation Center
League/Game Information
• Sundays, January 8–March 26
• 2–5 p.m.
• $900 per team
• Margaret Brent Middle School
For more information please contact Kenny Sothoron at 301-475-4200, ext. *1830.