Save Big, Shop Local

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1 1 County St. Mary s Times Priceless Save Big, Shop Local Discover Treasures In Your Own Backyard 1st In A Series On Local Small Businesses IN LOCAL Sotterley Winefest Rescheduled for Nov. 7th and 8th IN LOCAL Economic Diversity Project Stalled IN BUSINESS Heritage Chocolates Opens In Leonardtown Photo Courtesy of Maria Fleming

2 2 Ghosts of Sotterley pg. 21 COVER STORY Businesses with under 50 employees are by far the vast majority of our chamber membership and the biggest percentage of those are under 15 employees. - Bill Scarafia, president and CEO of the St. Mary s County Chamber of Commerce CONTENTS Save Big, Shop Local pg. 13 Free InItIal ConsultatIon The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years Auto Accidents Workers comp Divorce/Separation Support/Custody Domestic Violence Criminal/Traffic DWI/MVA Hearings Power of Attorney Name Change Adoption Wills Guardianship Scan this Times Code with your smart phone Accepting: 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD SERVING CHARLES ST. MARY S PG CALVERT (301) (301) Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill in the Mail? Give Us A Call. You ll Be Glad You Did. An Independent Agent Representing: ERIE INSURANCE GROUP Dan Burris, Lisa Squires, Paula Lillard, Jake Kuntz Forrest Hall Farms pg. 22 Weather Watch Gary Simpson, Matt Laidley, Katie Facchina 7480 Crain Highway La Plata, MD April Hancock PO Box 407 Bryans Road, MD Burris Olde Towne Insurance Auto - Home - Business - Life Leonardtown, MD Bus: (301) Local News 4 Cops & Courts 10 Letters 11 Obituaries 12 Feature 13 Marriage Licenses 14 Restaurant Guide 16 Sports 18 Education 19 Business 20 Community 21 Library Calendar 21 Games 23 Community Calendar 24 Church Directory 25 Business Directory 26 Classifieds 27 Entertainment 28 Contributing Writers 29 P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: For staff listing and s, see page 12.

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4 4 Local News By Guy Leonard Staff Writer By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Governor Refuses Hike On Property Taxes David Brinkley, Maryland s Secretary of Budget and Management, told business and elected leaders from Southern Maryland that the state s budget outlook will continue to be tough with structural deficits and gaps in the pension funds dogging lawmakers for the foreseeable future. But, Brinkley said, one thing Gov. Larry Hogan will not do to bridge those funding gaps is raise property taxes, which can impact rural counties heavily. No, he will not support a property tax increase, Brinkley told the gathering at the Bay District Volunteer fire station in Lexington Park on Tuesday. Fiscal restraint is the order of the day. The numbers Brinkley shared were stark regarding the state s fiscal situation. According to the latest figures in 2014 the state was only 68 percent funded for its retirement and pension accounts, while in 2000 it was more than 100 percent funded. More than the unfunded pension liability, the state had borrowed heavily just to pay for its operating expenses, Brinkley said. And now those bills are coming due, he said. This past year, the state had to use just under $300 of its general fund to pay off debt service, but projections show that As two competing plans for a possible turf field sports complex take shape in the county some elected leaders are actively searching for a site in Leonardtown, Mayor Dan Burris told. Though a similar project has been proposed on more than 200 acres of developerdonated land on St. Andrews Church Road, Burris said he has shown both Commissioner Mike Hewitt and Commissioner President James Randy Guy possible sites in town. Perhaps the most suitable, he said, was on one-half of the Tudor Hall Farm parcel that the town owned; the other half is owned by developer Donald Pleasants. It could be a tourism and economic development draw, Burris said of the potential sports complex. I would like to know more. I d like to see other jurisdictions that have had amount skyrocketing in a pure dollar figure in the next nine years. By fiscal 2024, the state expects to pay nearly $700 million out of its general funds to pay down debt service, Brinkley s data showed. He said elected leaders from more urbanized counties had asked whether a property tax hike was in order to make up the vast defecits and it was then that he relayed the governor s negative answer. Despite recent revenue increases that have given the state s coffers a boost to $295 million in reserves, the problems looming meant those reserves had to be used wisely. Look at those numbers but then turn them around and look at them the other way, Brinkley said. We still have a $925 million structural deficit. The state can expect to continue to get 3.7 percent growth in revenues, he said, but the program spending at the state is still at about 4.5 percent, which means the Hogan Adminsitration s goal is reigning in spending. But the governor continues to watch with a keen eye what is happening in St. Mary s, Brinkley said, especially with activity at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and autonomous systems building planned for the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. The governor remains focused on the success of what you re doing down here, Brinkley said. guyleonard@countytimes.net Leonardtown Scouted for Sports Complex Site Students at Capt. Walter Francis Duke Elementary School in Leonardtown lead attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance at the school s official dedication Tuesday. Capt. Duke was a Leonardtown native who fought in World War II as a fighter pilot in the China-India-Burman theatre. At the age of 22 he was killed in combat action over Burma but not before becoming the leading ace in his unit and earning numerous commendations and medals. them and what the impact is. Pleasants has offered in the past to donate 20 acres in downtown Leonardtown for a library, but since that has been placed on the Hayden property, Burris said the 20-acre parcel would be too small for a turf field complex. Guy told that the idea was only in the preliminary stages but the overall vision was to have a football stadium at the center of the complex with sports fields surrounding it. We d like to see something closer to downtown Leonardtown, Guy said. The St. Andrews parcel had some attraction, he said, but it also had quite a few drawbacks. That would be a good place, too, Guy said. But it s completely undeveloped and water and sewer is miles away. Leonardtown has more than 100 acres available and the infrastructure is close. guyleonard@countytimes.net Capt. Walter Francis Duke Elementary School Dedication

5 Local News 5 Economic Diversity Project Stalled By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Nearly two years ago the county government appointed 15 citizens to oversee work on a comprehensive strategy to diversify the county s economy but insiders close to the process say that the work has fallen behind and are fearful the problems will poison the critical effort. Both they and county staff have said that the consultant hired to aid in the group s deliberations, the University of Maryland, is trying to catch up. Economic diversification has become one of the county government s key initiatives in light of shrinking defense budgets and the subsequent decline in work available at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Still, both commission members and county staff say that the project is still well worth the effort and is coming back on track. These are rolling studies, said Robin Finnacom, deputy director of the county s economic development department. We re just now getting some reports in. This is not something you want to rush. The commission is working with three different consultants including the University of Maryland; the other two are Towson University and the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) that is handling a sub study on tourism and hospitality industries. Funded by federal money, the comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) pursued by the citizen commission was originally scheduled to take about a year starting from the first meetings in May of last year to complete, meaning that the effort is long past time for public hearings on the plan s recommendations. But insiders say there is not even a draft plan for review. Members have said the consultants have given swaths of economic data to them at monthly meetings but no time prior to the meetings to review it and when members question the accuracy of the data and where it came from the consultant does not return with revised reports or explanations. Finnacom said there was at least one instance when a report from a consultant about the status of the seafood and agriculture industry just didn t ring true, but the relationship between the commissioners and consultants is improving. Chris Kaselemis, economic development director, said the initial problems were frustrating but the sometimes adversarial process helped to ensure that the data going into the advisory report was accurate and the recommendations were solid and applicable. The consultants are open to questions and changes, Kaselemis said. This is exactly the kind of process we want. The overall budget for the three consultants is about $250,000, with $100,000 going to the SAG for a tourism industry analysis. guyleonard@countytimes.net Leonardtown Vintage Mar ket OPENING October 3 rd & 4 th 8 A.M. - 5 P.M Washington St. Leonardtown, Md. sonia572010@gmail.com Facebook: Boutique De Garcia by Sonia

6 6 Local News FALL IS FOR PLANTING Fall Decorating HeaDquarters The Purple Tractor That Keeps on Giving By Crista Dockray Staff Writer 9 Premium Mums 5 or more $ 7 88 ea. LeafGro Totes NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ Clethra Pink or White 3 Gal. Only $ Zebra Grass & Variegated Miscanthus Only $ FALL FINANCING: 0% INterest For 15 MoNths, or FINANCe For 50 MoNths Sample $10,000 Project (min payment only $200.00) or $15,000 min payment $ or $20,000 project min payment $ See store for details and payment terms. Program available 10/3/15 thru 11/8/15 (Work completed by 2/8/16) Charlotte Hall Three Notch Rd, Charlotte Hall Ornamental Cabbage & Kale 5 or more $ 5 99 ea. Fall is For lawn renovation Wentworth White House Grass Seed 50 lb. bag Buy 2 or More Only $ ea. color shrubs Kaleidoscope Abelia 3 Gal. Only $ ornamental grasses screening plants Pennisetum Hamlin & Karley Rose 3 Gal. Only $ Leyland Cypress 3-4 Only $ Green Giant Arborvitae 3-4 Only $ Wentworth Nursery Prince Frederick 1700 Solomon s Island Rd, Prince Frederick HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8-7, Sat. 8-6, Sun. 9-6 Full Flat Pansies Pumpkins, 48 Plants Only $ Corn Stalks, Indian Corn & More! Greenview Starter Fertilizer NEW LOW PRICE! 5000 sq. ft sq. ft. 88 $ $ 19 Callicarpa - Purple Beautyberry 3 Gal. Only $ Apples, Peaches, Plums, Cherries, Pears Buy 3 Get 4th FREE Crape Myrtle Select 3 gal. reg. $29.99 Only $ PennMulch Easy to cover newly seeded turf NEW LOW PRICE! 40 lb. Only $ Fruits & berries trees Bloom-A-Thon or Encore Azaleas Special $ Blueberries, Grapes, Raspberries & Blackberries Buy 3 Get 4th FREE Red Leaf Japanese Maple Weeping & Upright Varieties Save 25 % Off now scheduling Fall landscaping New Lawns Lawn Renovation Landscapes Hardscapes Don t Wait! Schedule an Appointment With a Designer Today or WALKWAYS NATURAL STONE WALL PAVER PATIOS WALLS & TERRACES Sales good thru October 13th, 2015 Oakville 5 minutes North of Hollywood Oakville Road Mechanicsville Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7:30-5, Closed Sunday Circulating St. Mary s County is a purple tractor named The Survivor. The Survivor holds a long story of charity and donations to cancer awareness and to Mother Catherine Academy. The story of the purple tractor starts with Charles Beaver whose brother Jimmy Beaver passed away in 2005 from cancer and whose sisterin-law Ruth Beaver is a four-time cancer survivor. Both were board members of the Cancer Support Group of Southern Maryland Inc. and Charles respected the work the group did, especially when it came to the financial support the group provided. He decided he wanted to give back and put out a flyer asking for tractor donations. He received responses, but the tractors were in bad shape, until The Survivor. A man, who wished to remain anonymous, donated the tractor to him in memory of his neighbor Victor McCambell. The tractor is a 1939 Ford 9N and it was in great shape after most likely sitting in a barn for a large portion of its life. It wasn t purple originally, but gray. Charles brought the newly acquired antique tractor to Two Guys Collision Center in California for repairs. At the time, owner Charles Guy and his father Charles Guy Sr., had a co-worker with cancer and the cause hit home with them. They made the decision to donate all the work to the tractor, including the purple paint, which is the universal color of cancer survivors. The tractor has better paint on it then my car does, said Beaver. Shortly after the purple paint, the name The Survivor was painted on the body. Following the repairs at Two Guys, Beaver brought the tractor to Big Ed s Tire in Leonardtown. After hearing about the cause, he too decided to donate his work, which included four brand new tires. All together, over $5,000 is estimated in donated repairs. With the tractor restored, Beaver introduced The Survivor at the 1 st Annual Jimmy Beaver Memorial Day in the Vineyard Benefit Event in August of last year. There AG Frosh: Maryland to Investigate VW Deception Harm to Buyers, Environment Must Be Addressed Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that Maryland will be investigating deceptive emissions mechanisms in Volkswagen diesel vehicles, and will examine ways to compensate vehicle owners and protect against future environmental harm. Maryland will coordinate with at least 28 other states that are investigating Volkswagen, Attorney General Frosh said. I am furious that the world s leading car company willfully took steps that polluted our environment and deceived consumers, Attorney General Frosh said. I share the anger of those who put their trust in this company and its promises. We will fight aggressively for the best possible outcome for he started to the yearlong raffle, selling tickets for $5 each and 3 for $10. All proceeds were donated back to Cancer Support Group of Southern Maryland Inc. They also had another kind donor, David Hall from D&G Custom Signs, who donated all the signs for the events the tractor attended. After a year of selling raffles tickets and hauling the tractor almost every weekend to events such as Bubby Knott s fall auction, the oyster festival, and the tractor parade, they raised around $3,000 to $4,000 for the Cancer Support Group. They also chose a winner, Patty Raley who had bought a raffle ticket as a vendor at the Still Creek Vineyards and won not long after. Patty Raley then donated the tractor to the benefit auction for Mother Catherine Academy held on Aug. 28 at Old Breton Inn. She chose Mother Catherine Academy because she believes in Catholic education and wanted to donate to local schools. Ronnie Farrell was the auctioneer and the winning bid was $5,000, purchased by Bubby Knott. Bubby Knott will be auctioning The Survivor this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 3. With the original purchase of the tractor, he promised Mother Catherine Academy that he would donate the winning bid back to them. There is hope from those that are and were involved with the tractor that The Survivor will continue its path of charity and keep on giving. To see the purple tractor or to place a winning bid, visit the auction on Oct. 3 at 8:30 a.m. at Bubby Knott s Flat Iron Farm located at Highway to Heaven Ln., Flat Iron Rd. in Great Mills. crista@countytimes.net Marylanders. Volkswagen has acknowledged installing software in its diesel passenger vehicles that turned on full emissions controls during testing, but switched them off during normal road driving, allowing the vehicles to emit as much as 40 times as much pollution as allowed under the Clean Air Act. Maryland law imposes more stringent emission standards than the federal government and Maryland s Consumer Protection Act prohibits misleading statements made to consumers about the vehicles that they are buying. Press Release Photos Courtesy of Ronnie Farrell

7 Local News 7 Citizens Reminded To Be Wary of Flooded Roadways The Department of Emergency Services & Technology reminds citizens to Turn Around Don t DrownTM. With the forecast calling for heavy rains over the next few days, roadways may become flooded. Avoid roads already flooded or prone to flooding. Roads may be washed out under flood waters. Turn Around Don t DrownTM when you encounter a flooded road. Many drivers over estimate their ability to navigate flooded roads, putting too much stock in their heavy vehicles. In reality, most motorists lose control of their vehicles, including SUVs, in just six inches of water, while inches of moving water will force a vehicle off the road. The menace is buoyant force. When By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A report from the state s Office of Legislative Audits on the St. Mary s County Public Schools reports numerous deficiencies continue to dog the system, though there has been improvement since the last audit performed back in The audit, completed in September but just released by the state, focused mainly on the financial management practices of the school system. The school system needs to improve its internal controls, essentially accountability measures, in the areas of procurement and disbursements of funds as well as collecting payments for its food service operations. The audit specifically noted deficiencies in the system s payroll processing and information systems. SMCPS did not sufficiently ensure that the critical system capabilities assigned to employees were necessary, appropriate or properly restricted, the audit stated. Due to the lack of propet procedures and controls in these areas, there was an increased risk of inappropriate transactions being processed without detection. In one instance, the auditors looked at 20 procurements with a value of $10.2 million and found that there were defeciencies with 11 of those procurements which totaled $4 million. For example, contracts with nine vendors in special education services were not competetively bid and were not approved by the board as required by it s policy, the audit stated. The audit also chided the system s practices when it came to choosing and managing health insurance for its employees. Auditors found that the school system has not bid its third-party healthcare administrator contract or its health care stop loss insurance contract for the last seven years. The school system could also not find copies of all its health care contracts nor could it account for the accuracy of payouts for the healthcare claims of all its employees. the buoyant force is greater than the vehicle s weight, the vehicle will move with the moving water. Besides the buoyant force, erosion is another significant concern. Moving water is very powerful and can undermine the integrity of a road. A motorist will be unaware he is driving into a scoured out section of the road. Be especially cautious when driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. For more information: Turn Around Don t DrownTM online Toolbox - tadd prepare.stmarysmd.com Audit Lays Out School System Deficiencies The audit stated the system paid out $1.6 million in fiscal 2014 for administrative fees and $1.2 million for stoploss insurance; the total health care expenditure, including fees and claims, was $34.4 million. The bus routes the school system were also not proven cost-effective, according to the audit, since the system has not performed a broad ranging route analysis. Ridership on routes we selected for testing was significantly lower than bus capacities, with some bus routes operating at less than 50 percent of desired capacity, according to the audit. The auditors also found that the school system could not account for the reasonableness of payments to contract bus drivers for $12.6 million in fiscal Auditors estimated that for the 63 buses in service between July of 2009 and December 2013 the system will pay out $2.3 million more than it has to over a 12-year period because the rate was not established on market values. And while the school system pays contractors for the fuel they use, they did not exclude the federal excise tax from which the contractors are exempt. Those drivers could claim that as credit on their income tax returns, according to auditors. In response to the audit, the school administration led by Superintendent J. Scott Smith stated in a letter that they agreed with may of the findings and recommendations from the state. Specifically the system stated that at the time of the audit finding of lack of internal financial controls there was a lack of staff to ensure the controls were in place. The system will also review its contracts with bus drivers but said it believed the rates it was paying were reasonable. For health insurance claims, the system said it recognized the need for ensuring propriety but said that could not be done within the system; instead it said it would seek an outside vendor to verify the claims. guyleonard@countytimes.net Located at the intersection of Route 234 and Pincushion Road in Clements, Md. For More Details Visit Us At: bowlesfarms@rcn.com Office: OCTOBER 3 RD & 4 TH St. Mary s College of Maryland Weekend October 3rd & 4th (Saturday & Sunday) All students/past students and faculty come out this weekend and you will receive $2.00 off general admission (School ID Required) Antique CAr Show Sunday, October 4th Come check out the display of Classic, Antique and Muscle Cars & Trucks.

8 8 Drawing will be held on Nov. 9, 2015! Go to Tomhodgesauto.com for full disclaimer 25th Anniversary Honda Giveaway! $4,985 $28,960 $12,960 $12, Cadillac DeVille w/nav 13 Lincoln MKS AWD 12 Honda Civic EX 06 Toyota Highlander LTD $7, Honda Civic 4DR $15, Honda Crosstour EX-L $12, Honda CRV $16, Hyundai Tucson LTD $12, Honda Accord EX Go to Tomhodgesauto.com for Full Details! Registration Form Name Address $27, Ford Mustang GT $7, Honda Element SE TOM HODGES DRIVE HOLLYWOOD, MD CARS Sales: M - F 9-7 Sat 9-6 Service: M - F 8-6 Sat 8-1 Phone Fill out this form completely and bring it into Tom Hodges Auto to register to win! ONE ENTRY PER QUALIFYING PERSON

9 Free Mulch Now Available for County Citizens The St. Mary s County Department of Public Works & Transportation is once again sponsoring the free mulch program while supplies last. County residents are welcome to pick up mulch free of charge at the St. Andrew s Landfill. Mulch is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The St. Andrew s Landfill is closed on Sundays. Customers are responsible for the loading and transportation of the mulch and are asked to bring a shovel, pitchfork or similar hand tool to load the mulch. Covering the load with a tarp prior to transporting is recommended in order to minimize material from blowing off the vehicle. If assistance is required, special needs exist or additional information is requested, please contact the Department of Public Works & Transportation at Additional Recycling/Solid Waste Program information is available on the web at dpw/. Press Release Riverside WineFest at Sotterley Rescheduled! Now Scheduled for Nov. 7th and 8th at Noon! We are usually fearless at Sotterley about holding our events Rain or Shine, but with the upcoming potentially damaging and dangerous weather this weekend, the safety of our valued visitors, participants and volunteers trumps all. We are not cancelling the 13th Annual Riverside WineFest, however, but are rescheduling the event for November 7th and 8th! The fun will go on, and the beautiful fall weather will be a backdrop for our fabulous wineries, vendors and activities. Mark your calendars to join us, and we are certain that the 2015 Riverside WineFest will be our best to date!! All advance tickets purchased for the October 3-4th event will be honored on either November 7th or 8th. We also have reopened advance ticket sales for this event until November 1st at midnight. Stay safe this weekend and be sure to join us in November! Press Release Local News 9

10 10 Cops & Courts Mark s Electronics Inc Your Electronics Sales & Service Center Sales Service Installation Pick - Up & Delivery TV VCR Camcorder Wide Screen TV Antennas Desktop and Laptop Computers Car Stereos Video Games Monitors Home Stereos CD/DVD Players Fritz: Shooting Suspect Returning to St. Mary s markselectronics@yahoo.com LOCATED IN THE HICKORY HILLS SHOPPING CENTER NEXT TO ALLEGRO MUSIC AND NICOLLETTI'S PIZZA This Year at the Calvert County Fair: Saturday, October 3rd DARRYL GRANT AND CHIEF ZEE 4-6 P.M. CLINTON PORTIS 5-7 P.M. By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Tyreke Delante Butler, the man accused of shooting another man on Sept. 11, has been captured by U.S. Marshals in Georgia and is awaiting extradition back to St. Mary s County on charges of first-degree attempted murder. State s Attorney Richard Fritz said detectives were able to learn that Butler might have absconded to Atlanta to stay with friends and the information they gathered turned out to be right. They staked out the place and they saw him walking down the street, they jumped out and nabbed him, Fritz said. Fritz said Butler waived his extradition proceedings in Georgia, allowing him to come back here more quickly. He should be back here very shortly, Fritz said, adding Butler will likely face first-degree assault charges as well as a count of using a handgun in the commission of a felony. Butler was, until recently, serving a lengthy sentence for an attempted armed robbery that he was first convicted of in 2011; the judge sentenced Butler to 20 years in prison but suspended all but 12 years of the term. The state s Court of Special Appeals reviewed Butler s case in 2013 and affirmed his convictions, in which it was alleged that Butler aided in the robbery of a man of his winnings at a poker game as part of a setup. But his coviction was later overturned and he was released. A little more than a week before the shooting Butler was served a criminal summons for being a felon in posession of ammunition but he was not incarcerated. The victim in the shooting suffered as many as five gunshot wounds, Fritz said. guyleonard@countytimes.net LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL A. M. SLADE, L.L.C. LOKER BUILDING COURT HOUSE DRIVE, SUITE 301 P.O. BOX 288 LEONARDTOWN, MARYLAND PHONE: FAX:

11 11 Domestic Violence Awareness Month Evolving from a Day of Unity back in October of 1981, October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Walden serves over 500 domestic violence cases annually. We would like to remind you that we are always here to help. Our 24 hour crisis hotline ( ) has been funded by St. Mary s county for over 40 years and has taken roughly half a million calls. Our goal is to offer assistance to individuals and families in crisis to safely stabilize their crisis situation. Walden provides individual and group counseling, court advocacy, hoteling services, and assistance with linkage to safe houses for victims of domestic violence. Walden also continues to collaborate with the Department of Social Service, local hospital and law enforcement agencies to identify victims and family members of abuse via Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) screening, in order to provide support, outreach, information, resources and service. In addition, Walden works with local elementary schools to implement the Maryland Student Assistance Program (MSAP) to identify and provide referral, assessment, intervention and follow-up of at-risk students impacted by domestic violence. Walden s services are available to anyone with any type of crisis in St. Mary s county. Our crisis and trauma services can be accessed a few different ways: call our 24 hour crisis hotline ( ) anytime, connect with one of our collaborative partners, or come in our Hope Place office in Lexington Park for same day walk in access. Don t be a silent victim fooled by so-called love.say no more to domestic violence Ty Howard. Together with our partners in County Government, MedStar St Marys, DSS, the Family Advocacy Center, the State s Attorney office, the courts, the Sheriff s department and State police we strive to help end domestic violence. We help thousands of our local citizens annually. No matter what the issue, our staff is ready to provide support and assistance. Please call us anytime day or night at We are here to listen. Thank you for your continued support. We pledge to continue to bring Southern Maryland Help for today. Hope for tomorrow. Sincerely, Kathleen O Brien, PhD CEO Walden x 803 Letters to the Editor The Papal Nunciature We got on the bus long before the sunrise and arrived at our bus stop, bags under our eyes and smiles on our faces. It was the day we had been awaiting for weeks; we were going to see the Pope. We knew that the chances of seeing him up close were slim, but we were buzzing with excitement just to be in his presence. Our guide motioned us forward, sat us on our shuttle bus, and we were on our way. As we walked towards the embassy, we saw two gated off sections; one on the front lawn, and another on the sidewalk across the street. It wouldn t seem likely that eleven students from a small high school in Southern Maryland would end up in arm s length of Pope Francis, and yet, there we were. Excitement grew as we stood waiting to see the Holy Father emerge from the embassy, chanting words of praise. The sunlight spilled over the front lawn as it rose, and the more security moved around, the more excited we became. Suddenly, the doors to the embassy flew open, and all of the time spent waiting felt as if it had flown by. There he was, smiling and waving, already moving towards the crowd on the lawn. We were awestruck, completely filled with the love and peace of Pope Francis presence. If that had been the only thing we experienced that day, we all would have been completely content, but then we saw the Pope making his way towards us. Suddenly, Pope Francis was there, smiling at us and shaking our hands. Pray for me, he said multiple times. The joy we felt at that moment was immeasurable, but we will hold it in our hearts forever. The chance to meet Pope Francis was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the chance to go with our XBSS family was a blessing that we will be eternally thankful for. Kayla Collins Hop On The Bus And Go With Us To Featuring Over 1,800 Slots & Thrilling Table Games SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015 Bus Leaves Hollywood Fire House Lot At 9 A.M. Returns At Approximately 6 P.M. (4 Hours At Harrington) $40 PER PERSON Payable In Advance (No Refunds) Price Includes: Coach Bus, $10 Free Slot Play, Free Lunch Buffet 50/50 Raffles & Door Prizes On The Bus! Participants Must Be Over 21 Years Of Age (Must Have Current Valid Picture ID) And Provide Full Name, Harrington Players Card # Or Date Of Birth Sponsored By: TOPS MD 0184 Hollywood FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION CALL: Ray Trossbach At or Lanette Trossbach At St. Johns Rd. Hollywood, Md. P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: news@countytimes.net James Manning McKay - Founder Eric McKay - Associate Publisher...ericmckay@countytimes.net Kit Carson - General Manager...kitcarson@somdpublishing.net Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager...tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Kasey Russell - Graphic Designer...kaseyrussell@countytimes.net Nell Elder - Graphic Designer...nellelder@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Reporter - Government, Crime...guyleonard@countytimes.net Sarah Miller- Reporter - Community...sarahmiller@countytimes.net Crista Dockray - Reporter - Business, Community...crista@countytimes.net Sales Representatives...sales@countytimes.net Contributing Writers: Ron Guy Laura Joyce Debra Meszaros Shelby Oppermann Linda Reno Terri Schlichenmeyer Doug Watson Muirgheal Wheeler

12 12 Obituaries runs complimentary obituaries as submitted by funeral homes and readers. We run them in the order we receive them. Any submissions that come to after noon on Mondays may run in the following week s edition. Raymond Keith Barber, 19 Raymond Keith Barber, 19, was taken from this world on Sept. 16. Raymond was the loving son to Elizabeth Ann Morgan Barber and Theodore Ervin Barber. Born on the Nov. 8, 1995, at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick Md., he lived his entire life in., attending school at Bay Montessori, Hollywood Elementary, Esperanza Middle School, and culminating with his graduation in 2013 from Leonardtown High School. Following graduation, Raymond began his working career first at Dunkin Donuts California Md. as the night donut maker while also working the morning shift at the DQ store in Charlotte Hall. In January 2015, he began work at the Family Care Pharmacy Lexington Park as a Pharmacy Tech until his untimely death. Liked by all, Raymond was always there with an ear and a shoulder for those who were going through troubling times, as a perfectionist there was never any task he could not take on and complete. Everything had to be painstakingly done and aligned just right when it belonged to someone else, but when it came to his own things, he never followed that same process. He had commented to his friends numerous times that he would like to one day work on cars like his namesake grandfather. He also had a vision to one day own his dream car, a WRX. In addition to his parents, Raymond is survived by his Grandparents George and Regina Morgan of Leonardtown, his brother SSGT Steven Barber USMC (Kellie) of Hawaii, his sister Christina Rowan (Alex) Mechanicsville, nieces Alyssa and Amelia (Mechanicsville), nephew Steven (Hawaii), uncles George Morgan (Michelle) Inwood, W. Va., James Morgan (Laura) Leonardtown, aunt Amy Harrell (Richard) and many, many cousins, great aunts, great uncles, and friends from St. Mary s County and central Pennsylvania. He was predeceased by a sister (AnnaMarie) and his paternal Grandparents Raymond and Neva Barber of Williamsport, Pa. The family received family and friends for a Celebration of Raymond s Life on Sept. 24 at the Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, Md. A Mass of Christian Service was celebrated at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Compton, Md. Gwendolyn Renee Morgan, 37 weeks Gwendolyn Renee Morgan passed peacefully on Sept. 14. She was born at 5:36 p.m.. Gwendolyn was the daughter of Adriane Dupont and Kenneth N. Carpenter both of. She is survived by her Aunt Angela Carter and her Uncle Roger Wathen Jr both of Lexington Park. She was preceded in death by her Uncle James Wathen. Maternal grandmother Colleen Morgan of Lexington Park. Great Grandparents are James (Jimmy) and Ella Morgan of Mechanicsville. Gwendolyn is also survived by her cousins Desiree Carter, Aiden Carter, Madasyn Russell, Brooklyn Russell, and Rylee Russell all of Lexington Park. Precious little one, we had you in our lives for a very short time, but we will hold you in our hearts forever. It seemed like only a fleeting moment, but it was long enough to see you, hold you touch you, and love you. It was enough to know that your life was indeed a gift, no matter how brief, no matter how fragile your life was our gift and we will hold you in our lives and hearts forever. Ronald Lee Stone, 65 Ronald Lee Stone, 65, of Hollywood, Md., passed away peacefully on Sept. 19 at the Hospice House of St. Mary s, Callaway. Born Feb. 19, 1950, in Frederick, Md., he is the son of the late Thomas Brightwell Stone, Sr. and Doris Burman Stone. He moved to St. Mary s County in 1969 to attend St. Mary s College of Maryland and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Ronald served the community in various ways throughout his 46 years in St. Mary s including owning and operating Family Flour Antique Store from 1978 to 1982, Stone s Seafood from 1977 to 1988 and since 1989 working at The Center for Life Enrichment as a Contracts Manager. Ronald was a family man, an artist, an animal enthusiast, enjoyed being on the water and had a passion for helping less fortunate people. Ronald is survived by his daughters, Nichole Stone Drury of Abell, Md., and Stefanie Stone of Hollywood, Md., He was the grandfather of Ayanna Weems of Abell, Md. and Holden Drury of Abell, Md. He is survived by his sibling Thomas Brightwell Stone, Jr. of Rockville, Md. Family received friends on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Patuxent Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of St. Mary s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md or The Center of Life Enrichment, Three Notch Rd., Post Office Box 610, Hollywood, Md., Condolences may be made to www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md. Agnes E. Browning, 89 Agnes E. Browning, 89, of., passed away Sept. 14, at St. Mary s Nursing Center in Leonardtown, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Aug. 21, 1926 in Leonardtown, Md., to the late John Freeman Mattingly and Agnes Elizabeth Bowles. After graduating from St. Mary s Academy, Agnes went to Washington, D.C., where she worked for a brief time for the FBI. She then returned to St. Mary s County to begin her married life. She was a children s librarian at the Lexington Park Library for over 20 years. She enjoyed her job and loved every minute she spent with the children. After retiring in 1987, she became more active in her church, attending Mass frequently and participating in many events sponsored by the church. She was also able to spend more time gardening and reading, two of her most favorite pastimes. Visits with the family were cherished, and almost every holiday was celebrated at her home, where everyone was welcomed with food, fellowship, and love. Agnes is survived by her children, Lois Ann Coryell (Neil) of Leonardtown, Md., John Douglas Sonny Browning (Marge) of Lusby, Md., Mary Lynn Hammett (Ray) of Lusby, Md., and Joyce Michele Spadarella (Tony) of.; her siblings, Joseph Wade Mattingly of Compton, Md., Mary Catherine Sipe (Art) of Dallastown, Pa., Catherine Noema Hutzell of Petersburg, Va., Joseph Donald Mattingly (Ann) of Compton, Md., Dorothy Elizabeth McFadden (Jim) of Compton, Md., Ann Genevieve Hunt (Joe) of.; nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, James Aubrey Mattingly and John Freeman Mattingly Jr. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Browning, with whom she celebrated 63 wonderful years before his passing in January Family received friends for Agnes Life Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Reverend Michal Sajnog on Friday, Sept. 25 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary s Nursing Center, Post Office Box Peabody St., Leonardtown, Md., or St. Mary s County Special Olympics, Whiskey Creek Rd., Hollywood, Md., Condolences may be made to Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md. Stanley Bryant Harris, 79 Stanley Bryant Harris, 79, of St. Inigoes, Md., passed away on Sept. 19 at Med Star Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He was born on Feb. 12, 1936 in Washington, D.C., to the late Theodore Harris and Nancy Ann Keys. On Dec. 21, 1955, Stanley married his beloved wife, Beatrice K. Harris in Arlington, Va. Together they celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage. He owned his own electrical company in Vienna, Va., with over 30 years of dedicated service, until his retirement in He retired to St. Mary s County, MD where he became a charter boat fishing captain. He built his own charter boat which he called the Miss Bea. During his life he built many houses and boats. He could do every aspect of building, which included carpentry, brickwork, plumbing, electric, dry wall, heat pump etc. He was very talented and could observe others doing something and then do it himself. Stanley enjoyed fishing and boating. He loved going to his winter home in the Florida Keys. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He was very generous with his time and you would often find him helping others by fixing something for them. He also loved exploring and traveling. He was a member of the IBEW Local 26 Electrical Union and the Charter Boat Association. In addition to his beloved wife, Stanley is also survived by his daughters, Diane Harris, of., Joy Harris Schwab and son-in-law, John M Schwab, of Yuba City, Calif.; his grandchildren, Holly Elder, Lucas Elder, Ryan Schwab, and Kristin Schwab; and his great grandchild, Coral Sprout. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his brother, Theodore W. Harris. Family received friends on Saturday, Sept. 26 with a Funeral Service at 11 a.m., celebrated by Reverend Joe Orlando, at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown, Md., Interment followed at the St. George s Episcopal Church, 1167 Poplar Hill Lane, Valley Lee, Md. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Saint Jude s Children s Hospital. Condolences may be made to www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md. Burton Benedict Raley, 87 Burton Benedict Benny Raley, 87, of Lexington Park, Md. passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C. Born on Dec. 13, 1927 in Callaway, Md. he was the son of the late Rose Marie Price Raley and Harry Hamilton Raley. Ben was the loving husband of the late Frances Sissie Raley, whom he married on April 29, 1965 in Leonardtown, Md. and who preceded him in death on May 8, Ben is survived by his children: Debbie Abell (Norbert) of Chaptico, Md., David R. Raley (Sally) of Lexington Park, Md., Judy Bean of., Lillian M. Raley-Clarke of., Betty Jo Tennyson (Donnie) of Ridge, Md., Chuggy Raley (Christina) of Ridge, Md., 20 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, daughter in law Lee Lee of Hermanville, Md., and sister Marjorie Causey of Prince Frederick, Md. He was preceded in death by his son Marvin Raley, daughter Darlene Connelly, siblings; Maude Twiss, Joseph Raley, Genevieve Payne, Ralph Raley, Woodrow Raley, Virginia Lewis, and Harry Raley. Ben graduated from Great Mills High School in 1944 and was a lifelong resident of St. Mary s County. Ben served in the United States Army from February 1946 to April 1947, earning the World War II Victory Medal. Ben started working at PAX River in 1943, at the age of 16, on the trash truck. When he retired in 1974, he was the supervisor of the transportation department. After retirement as a civil servant, he worked with his brother Doc running their own carpentry business. After retiring from carpentry, he worked as a tavern operator, retiring in Christmas was his favorite holiday. For many years, his house was an extravagant light display for all to see. Family was the most important aspect of his life. Anytime spent with family, was time well spent for him. He loved traveling, cruises and spending time at the lake with Connie. The lake house was where he fed the squirrels and deer, watched the birds, and enjoyed time on the pontoon. Ben enjoyed reading, watching westerns, playing cards and maintaining his yard. The family received friends on Tuesday, Sept. 29 with prayers recited at 7 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, Md. A funeral service was held on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Father Scott Woods officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, Md.

13 Feature Story 13 Small Businesses Thrive But Regulations Abound By Guy Leonard Staff Writer By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The base at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and its tenant commands may employ the single largest block of people here but small businesses employ almost all the rest, said Bill Scarafia, president and CEO of the St. Mary s County Chamber of Commerce. In fact, just about every business here qualifies as a small business, he said. Technically there are very few that are not small businesses, Scarafia told. Businesses with under 50 employees are by far the vast majority of our chamber membership and the biggest percentage of those are under 15 employees. Some of those small businesses are even defense contractors who make up the fabric of the county s economy, he said. Small businesses provide the bulk of products Officials with the county s Department of Economic Development (DED) say small businesses continue to be the broadest base of the local economy but the challenges they face can be daunting, particularly when it comes to regulations from the state and federal levels. That is why the department is refocusing its priorities to ensure small businesses always have an advocate for their interests. Small businesses are crucial to our economy, said DED Director Chris Kaselemis. It s our job to make sure they are one of our pillars. Kaselemis deputy Robin Finnacom said small business concerns on how to deal with regulations are a constant job. No one likes regulations but the weight continues to grow, Finnacom said. But our [county] regulatiosn are about average, they re not onerous. Some of the constant complaints they get are about the costs to install new sprinkler systems in commercial buildings or homes, which in some cases can raise the costs of construction by tens of thousands of dollars. Also, small businesses have to deal with restrictive critical area laws that restrict development or even clearing of trees within 1,000 feet of the watershed. These restrictions, Kaselemis said, hinder the tourism industry which the county hopes to bolster in order to diversify the economy. He said the department is working on a list of regulations that impede businesses here to send them to Gov. Larry Hogan s administration for possible removal or modifications. While the department cannot help businesses circumvent or ignore regulations they can help breakdown or deal with other barriers, such as a lack of knowledge about how to start a small business in the first place. We continue to reach out to small businesses to let them know we are here, Kaselemis said. guyleonard@countytimes.net Why You Should Shop Locally 1st In A Series of Reports On Small Businesses and Their Positive and Powerful Effect On The Local Economy I m a small business owner in Leonardtown and part of the movement to promote shopping at small, locally owned businesses. There are lots of benefits to having a vital main street shopping district with locally-owned businesses. Some are obvious, but some of the larger and more important benefits are not readily apparent. Leonardtown is kicking off a Small Business Saturday campaign, and the County Times has graciously invited me to share with you some of the reasons small businesses are so valuable and why it s important to shop in small and locallyowned businesses. Locally-owned businesses are a huge economic driver. Multiple studies by Civic Economics and other research organizations show that locally-owned independent businesses and restaurants return twice as much per dollar of revenue to our local economy than chain stores and restaurants. Those figures represent not only the money that comes back to us through tax and payroll expenditures, but the reexpenditures that local businesses and their employees make in the community. It s a proven fact that supporting local businesses with local dollars can generate powerful returns in our community. Over the next six weeks, we ll look at how small businesses not only support our local economy, but what they offer in terms of a quality shopping experience and a unique product mix. We ll also look at how small businesses and their owners build the heart of our community. If you already choose to shop in small, locallyowned businesses, thank you! You are making a real difference. If you never considered how your shopping decisions affect our local economy and community, I hope that these articles will show you how very important your patronage is, and how a simple change in your buying habits can ripple through our county creating a stronger, more vibrant, and diversified economy. I look forward to sharing the importance of small business with you. Content Source: Small Businesses Employ Most of the County and services to the entire community, said Scarafia. You re talking about everything from defense contractors, to service providers to grocery stores. Small businesess are also the foremost creators of new jobs for a growing county. They are by far the largest creator of new employment, Scarafia said. As they get bigger they create new jobs. Many larger companies have reached their desired size and employment levels, he said, and usually provide employment when they have vacancies. Small businesses also provide services that larger ones either cannot or do not from tire changes and plumbing to home improvement work. All of these services they provide, customers are going to go to the little guy, Scarafia said. There are small businesses in every corner of this community They keep they community going. guyleonard@countytimes.net Find everything you need for healthy living at The Good Earth in Leonardtown. Keepin It Local is located in Morganza. Find Elements in Lexington Park for a bite to eat and a drink. All About Beads has all of your jewelry needs in California.