Southern Maryland Thang

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1 Thursday, April 3, Local Musicians Unite for a Photo by Kaitlin Morrissette Southern Maryland Thang Story Page 20

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3 3 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Thursday April 3, 2014 Every year, there s another boogeyman, another excuse. Sequestration, BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) they re all excuses for not properly funding public education in the county. Anna Laughlin, President Education Association of St. Mary s County. 4 Local News 10 Cops & Courts 12 Business 14 Letters 16 Education 20 Feature Story 22 Newsmaker 23 Home Page 24 Obituaries 26 Sports 28 Community 29 Library Items 31 Senior 31 History 32 Community Calendar 34 Entertainment 35 Entertainment Calendar 36 Classifieds 37 Business Directory 38 Games 39 Wanderings of an Aimless Mind 39 Health P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: For staff listing and s, see page 14. Weather Watch Free InItIal ConsultatIon The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Accepting: 27 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 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 Standing: Dan Burris, Jake Kuntz, Seated: Lisa Squires, Susan Ennis, Donna Burris 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)

4 Thursday, April 3, Brewery & Grill Local News Medstar to Bolster Fight Against Domestic Violence By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Gov. Martin O Malley s office is providing $40,000 in grants to Medstar St. Mary s to be on the front lines of getting help to victims of domestic violence; the hospital is the ninth in the state to take part in the program that has become a key initiative led by Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Brown made the announcement at the hospital in Leonardtown Monday morning with hospital staff, elected leaders and law enforcement in attendance. The program provides more resources for the hospital to identify potential victims of domestic violence early in the cycle of violence and get them help to prevent being hurt further. The fight against domestic violence is a personal one for Brown as his cousin was killed by an estranged boyfriend in front of police who in turn shot him to death. Today is about domestic violence, Brown said. It s a public safety issue and it s a public health issue. Brown also touted bills he was helping lead through the state legislature this year to combat domestic violence including one that lowers the evidenciary requirements to get a protective order. In 49 states everyone else is the preponderance of evidence, Brown said. Here we have to have clear and convincing evidence. The grant money means that the hospital will be able to hire a domestic violence victim coordinator to administer the program and equipment such as a new camera to quickly document injuries to victims to better preserve evidence. The greater ease of getting a protective order in Maryland also means that victims would be able to get state monetary assistance to better distance themselves from an abuser they might otherwise be dependent on. Darla Hardy, the nursing resources director at Medstar St. Mary s said hospital staff are encountering victims more and more. Domestic violence cases are steadily increasing and it involves both sexual and physical abuse, Hardy said. Domestic violence is not an accident. Sheriff Timothy Cameron said deputies are encountering the same increase but more alarmingly they are finding that victims often tell police they do not want anything done about their abuse. One reason for that may be their economic dependance on their abuser, Cameron said. That gives me real cause for concern, he said. Brown said vigilance among law enforcement and elected leaders has led to a 20 percent decrease in domestic violence assaults and a 32 percent decrease in the number of of women and children who have died from domestic violence over the past seven years. guyleonard@countytimes.net Former Judge Candidate Joins Gop By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Assistant State s Attorney Joseph F. Stanalonis, who ran unsuccessfully for Circuit Court judge in 2012, officially switched from being a long time conservative Democrat to the Republican camp Tuesday at the Board of Elections in Leonardtown. Stanalonis said he plans to aid in the re-election campaign of State s Attorney Richard Fritz this election cycle but plans to one day run for the office. The assistant prosecutor said his campaign for the judgeship two years ago was hailed by many Republicans but jeered by many in the local Democrat party leadership who he said were more liberal in their attitudes to the judiciary. I decided I was going to change during the last election, Stanalonis said. It was very disheartening the way I and my family were treated by more liberal Democrats. We were sort of like outcasts. Stanalonis faced off against appointed Circuit Court Judge David W. Densford, who was installed in the seat by Gov. Martin O Malley after Judge C. Clarke Raley retired. The campaign was a tense one with attacks from both sides on the other; Densford prevailed in the campaign to take the seat for a 15-year term. guyleonard@countytimes.net

5 5 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Former Deputy Appeals to Commissioners Local News By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Mike George, once the county sheriff s office most celebrated deputy who developed post traumatic stress symptoms after a shooting two years ago, appealed to the Board of County Commissioners to change the county s disability retirement policy after claiming he was dismissed before given enough time to show he was not fit to return to duty. George said he wanted to be reinstated to county employment so he could continue his recovery in order to show that he should be granted a disability retirement. Former Deputy Mike George A recent report from the county s retirement board showed that the county believed he could have recovered from his traumatic experience given enough time and treatment but that he discontinued that treatment. Because of that the county denied him a disability retirement because they believed his situation was one from which he could recover. George claimed during a Tuesday night public forum at the Northern Senior Center that the time alloted for his recovery one year was not sufficient and that he was never given an official exam to determine whether he should return to duty. I had to take a man s life, George said. One year was not enough time to come to terms with that. Commissioner Dan Morris (R-Mechanicsville) said he favored extending the one-year time frame for deputies to recover from injuries either mental or physical. He said he would propose a two-year time frame of recovery to the Board of County Commissioners. The right thing to do was to keep him in a job where he wouldn t have had to carry a gun and been in any stressful situations, Morris said. I think it was wrong what happened to him. George served as a K-9 officer while with the sheriff s office and complained of severe anxiety and gastrointestinal problems after the Sept. 29, 2012 shooting and was awarded temporary full disability benefits back in June of 2013 by the local worker s compensation Photo by Frank Marquart Photo by Frank Marquart commission. The incident involving Stephen R. Wycoff began outside the man s home when George and Cpl. William Rishel responded to complaints of a man setting fire to things in the Sugar Maple Court neighborhood of Wildewood and threatening to kill people. A melee ensued between Wycoff and George and Rishel in which Wycoff eventually began raining blows down on George; when George went for his weapon Wycoff attempted to knock the weapon away and George discharged his gun multiple times, killing Wycoff. After his testimony George said the desire to do police work was still in his heart. Sure, it s something I d like to go back to but I know it can t happen, George, who was named Deputy of the Year in 2012, said. guyleonard@countytimes.net Annuals Perennials Herbs Vegetable Plants Fruit And Berry Plants Trees Shrubs Native Plants Bulk Mulch and Compost Organic Products

6 Local News Recent Shootings Put Focus on Security at Pax River Thursday, April 3, Suspended Deputy Alleges Discrimination, False Charges By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The commander of Patuxent River Naval Air Station told county elected leaders Tuesday that tests of the base s security measures in recent months have shown the facility has good defensive measures but resources are still limited. We have a robust force protection posture but we have a way to go, said Capt. Ben Shevchuk. The threat continues. He noted that the massacre of civilian workers at the navy yard in Washington, D.C. by a mentally disturbed contractor with a security clearance was still fresh in the mind of the military the most recent shooting occurred at the navy base in Norfolk, Va. where a suspect was able to drive through security with a transportation worker credential but no official base access and wrest control of a master at arm s weapon while he was standing guard on a destroyer at dock. Easter Services Churches, Advertise Your Easter Services In Our Church Guide on April 17th! Contact An Advertising Representative sales@countytimes.net Another master at arms was killed in the struggle with the weapon the suspect took control of. The suspect was also killed in the melee. The navy is currently running an investigation into how the suspect, who apparently had a criminal record for drugs and manslaughter charges, was allowed on base. Shevchuk said the number of security personnel on base was mostly fixed because of budget constraints but they continued to remain vigilant. We re not expecting it but we re expecting it, Shevchuk said. Base security personnel in conjunction with tactical teams from regional sheriff s offices recently completed training exercises focused on dealing with intruders who seek to shoot and kill base employees, also known as active shooter training. guyleonard@countytimes.net $30 Per Block (3 wide x 2.25 high) Deadline: April 11th By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A senior female deputy with the St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office who has been suspended since September of last year on allegations that, among other issues, she submitted false time sheets and overtime reports for hours she did not work, now plans to sue the county for what she claims is gender based discrimination and false allegations of fraudulent conduct, her legal counsel stated. Lt. Julie Yingling, who has served with the sheriff s office for 15 years and was promoted in July 2011, filed a letter noting her intention to sue the county dated March 10. obtained a copy of the letter Wednesday; she has retained the law firm of Joseph, Greenwald and Laake in Greenbelt to represent her. According to the notice of intent Yingling s lawyers say the sheriff s office leadership illegally makes transfers and squad assignments decisions based on gender. Her lawyers allege that Yingling was transfered to four separate shift assignments from the time of her promotion to her suspension in September of last year. Each transfer was to benefit a male officer, her lawyer Timothy Maloney wrote. None of these transfers were at Lt. Yingling s request. During one of those shift assignments Yingling was home on maternity leave and when she returned in Nov. 2012, the notice claims, she was assigned to a squad on a midnight shift which necessitated attendance at COMPSTAT meetings. COMPSTAT is the data system the office uses to track and combat crimes. This regularly would result in a 17 hour day, which is extraordinarily difficult for a mother with a new baby, the notice reads. From November of 2012 until her administrative suspension, Lt. Yingling was assigned to Squad 1B on midnights. Clearly, this disparate treatment is further evidence of illegal discrimination in the terms of Lt. Yingling s employment. When Yingling was suspended last year, the sheriff s office claimed that between November of 2012 and August 2013, she had failed to report for duty at her scheduled work time before and after COMP- STAT meetings without prior approval to alter the work schedule, the letter reads. Yingling denies the allegations that she fraudulently submitted timesheets; she also claims that sheriff s office Lt. Michael Gardiner said that You can manage your squad anyway you deem fit, to include COMP- STAT attendance. She claims that Gardiner and her immediate supervisor Capt. Steven Hall were aware of her work schedule changes. To the extent these allegations relate to Lt. Yingling s physical location, it is common for supervisors, detectives and other deputies to complete administrative paperwork in their patrol vehicles or at home, the missive reads. Yingling claims mistreatement was directed at her from Hall, who she claims is dismissive and highly critical of women in law enforcement. Her notice claims that Hall often uses pejorative language in refering to female deputies. Captain Hall s treatment of women is no secret as Lt. Michael Gardiner has ordered on more than one occasion that Captain Hall cease yelling comments at women from a patrol vehicle, Yingling s notice claims. She further claimed that Hall attemtped to order her to attend training for which she would have had to reschedule surgery; when she asked for a copy of that order in writing Hall apparently rescinded the order and allowed her to get surgery. Further, Yingling claimed that since she has been under investigation she has had her police powers revoked when male counterparts who had been investigated for more serious charges retained their ability to act as law enforcement officers. Yingling s notice claims that other male officers had been investigated for lying to internal affairs investigators, evidence tampering and even being the target of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation for a deputy who allegedly provided information to a drug dealer. None of these male officers had lost their police powers during the investigation, her legal counsel claimed. She also claims the sheriff s office has allowed the investigation to drag on. To this date the sheriff s office has not disclosed the results of its investigation to Lt. Yingling, the notice alleges. The six month period constitutes an unprecedented amount of time to conduct this investigation. Finally, the notice alleges that someone in the agency leaked confidential details of the internal investigation into Yingling s case to the local tabloid The Chesapeake Today in violation of the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights. Despite the claims in the article, Lt. Yingling only earned $ in paid overtime in 2013, the missive claims. The information was clearly leaked by someone employed by the sheriff s office for the purpose of maliciously attacking Lt. Yingling. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron declined to comment on Yingling s notice of intent to sue the county, saying the investigation into her conduct was continuing. Maloney did not return calls seeking comment on behalf of his client. guyleonard@countytimes.net

7 7 Thursday, April 3, 2014 on the Leonardtown Square Sunday, April 13, :30 PM 4:30 PM Children s Nature Crafts & Activities Energy & Water Conservation and Recycling Information Animal Welfare and Rescue, including local Birds of Prey Seated Massages, Canoe Rides on Breton Bay Live Music & Entertainment Food & More! For more information call Sponsored by the Leonardtown Business Association and the Commissioners of Leonardtown, with funding in part by a grant from the St. Mary s County Arts Council

8 Thursday, April 3, Local News Wind Turbine Moratorium Jumps First Senate Hurdle By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The effort to hold off a wind turbine project on the Eastern Shore passed its first test in the state senate Wednesday after it succeeded in a finance committee vote, according to Del. John Bohanan (D-29B). The bill must now go on to the full senate; it has already passed a full house vote. The Southern Maryland delegation to Annapolis is continuing its push to enact a one-year moratorium on the wind turbine project because they say it would severely restrict critical radar and air operations at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Bohanan, head of the St. Mary s County delegation and a key force behind the moratorium said he believed there was a good chance the moratorium would survive its first senate committee hearing but acknowledged the governor would not be happy with the proposal. This obviously goes against what the governor wants, Bohanan said. O Malley has been a long-time proponent of clean energy through wind power but the list of political power players who are lining up to support the moratorium is growing. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer testified Tuesday in favor of the moratorium and Senator Barabara Mikulski has also expressed concern the project could hamper military aircraft testing if it were placed on the shores of Somerset County. The project is expected to come up with about $40 million of revenues over the 30 year life of the project for Somerset which is obviously a major consideration for them, but the operations at the naval base put $4.5 billion into the state s coffers each year and supports jobs across the bay, moratorium proponents say. But from the point of view on the Eastern Shore, where unemployment is much higher and salaries lower, the financial windfall from the project would be significant and even the state s bureaucracy believes that a one-year moratorium could doom the project. While the bill places a one-year delay on construction, it may result in project failure if certain federal incentives expire or contractual timelines are not met, an analysis of the bill s fiscal impact states. guyleonard@countytimes.net New Catalogue System Will Benefit Library Users By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Have you ever wanted to save searches on the local library website? How about getting updates when new books by your favorite author are available at the library? Or maybe receiving text message reminders when materials are due at the library? Starting on May 15, all this and more will be offered at all libraries throughout the tri-county area with the implementation of Polaris Library Systems region wide. Polaris will replace the current vendor, SirsiDynix, as the integrated library system (ILS) software and support to the public libraries in Southern Maryland, according to Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA) Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Victoria Falcon. The ILS is the main component of running a library, Falcon said. The contract with SirsiDynix is up for renewal in the summer, and after hearing of some growing dissatisfaction with the system, representatives from Charles, St. Mary s and Calvert counties spoke to a consultant and collaborated in an evaluation committee to look at different systems, eventually settling on Polaris. Because all the Southern Maryland libraries use one common ILS, it is important for it to meet everyone s needs, Falcon said. The committee made their decision in August 2013 and the contract with Polaris was signed in November The change is funded by SMRLA. They set aside $450,000 in the last few years in anticipation of needing to upgrade or replace the ILS, which is typically done every 10 to 15 years, Falcon said. Calvert Library Director Carrie Plymire is familiar with Polaris, having used it at other library systems. One feature she likes is that patrons san save whatever search you can think of and they will receive automated alerts when new items are added to their searches. The overdrive system will be integrated into the library catalogue in the fall, Plymire said. This will make it more convenient to borrow e-books, she said. Another perk Polaris offers is a map it feature. When users look up a book, they can see on a map showing which libraries have a copy on the shelves and which have a copy that is checked out in relation to the user s current location, Plymire said. The transition to Polaris will be from May 9 to 14 and the new ILS will be active on May 15. The online catalogue and account systems will be unavailable during the transition. No holds can be placed between May 7 and 14. The libraries request returns be brought in before May 9 or after May 14. Renewals can only be done at a branch. Patrons must have the item and their library card for both renewals and checkouts. During the transition period, all information, including checkouts and holds, will be ported over. The only information that cannot be transitioned is booklists. Customers with book lists in their account will need to save them before the transition. To save your current book lists, go into the book lists under your personal account and select an action to print or lists for safekeeping. For assistance saving booklists, talk to a librarian or helpdesk@somd.lib.md.us. For more information, visit or visit your local library. sarahmiller@countytimes.net Mike Batson Photography Freelance Photographers Events Weddings Family Portraits mikebatsonphotography@hotmail.com The Cove/D.F.Z.: a safe, fun & sober place to be for youth ages with concerns related to drugs or alcohol. Free activities & peer support for guests located at St. Andrew s Church Rd. in California. 2/16 Flying Trapeze Class outing Sign up required: x 865 Beacon now open Tuesday evenings! 5-6:30 p.m. SMART Recovery & Family & Friends 7-8 p.m. Co-dependents Anonymous Beacon of Hope: a free center offering peer support for adults in a fun & sober atmosphere, at N. Shangri La, Millison Plaza, Lexington Park.

9 9 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Commissioners to Hold FY2015 Budget Hearings April 15 Proceedings will be televised The St. Mary s Board of County Commissioners will hold public hearings to present information regarding the Recommended FY2015 Operating and Capital Budget. The hearings will also address a proposed fire tax rate increase for the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department, and the Constant Yield Tax Rate. The hearings and presentations will take place on Tuesday, April 15. The hearings will take place in the Chopticon High School auditorium, located at Colton Point Road in Morganza, Md. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the proceedings beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and participate. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities should be requested by contacting the Public Information Office at , extension The hearings will be televised live on St. Mary s County Government TV 95 (SMCG TV 95) and taped for rebroadcast. Log on to for a schedule. The hearings will also be available for live viewing on the county s website at marys.md.us/broadcast.asp. Click on the Live link at the top of the page. The evening will begin with an overview of the FY2015 Budget, followed by the hearings in the following order: Tax Rate Increase for Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department (affects only those citizens in that district) live on SMCG TV 95 Constant Yield Tax Rate FY2015 Recommended Budget Citizens wishing to comment are required to sign in before the hearing begins. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person and five minutes for those representing a group. Written comments can be submitted at the hearing or mailed to: Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary s County Baldridge Street, Chesapeake Building P.O. Box 653 Leonardtown, Md bocc@stmarysmd.com Comments must be received by April 25 for consideration during budget work sessions scheduled for April 28 and May 5. The Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2015 can be found on the County s website at Copies are also available for viewing at all three St. Mary s County Libraries in Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown and Lexington Park. The document can also be viewed at the St. Mary s County Public Information Office inside the Chesapeake Building on the Government Center campus, Baldridge Street, first floor, Leonardtown, Md. Tommy McKay: Local News Time to Prioritize Our Transportation Needs As folks in Southern Maryland are being burdened by increases in numerous taxes by the state of Maryland, including higher gas taxes that will continue to escalate over the next several years, it is time that our real transportation needs be addressed. Traffic congestion and unsafe roads through towns such as Charlotte Hall, New Market, Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, and Clements create an undue hardship on our citizens, and risks the safety of our families, said Tommy McKay, candidate for Maryland House of Delegates. As Commissioner President, McKay and his board were successful in spearheading major road improvements throughout the area that were critical in his board s plan to prepare St. Mary s for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Major road projects such as the Hughesville Bypass, Chancellors Run Road Expansion, completion of Route 235 widening to PAX Naval Base as well as other smaller road projects were secured by the McKay board and proved vital to protecting jobs. Additionally, the McKay board adopted St. Mary s County s very first Transportation Plan. We simply cannot afford to ignore the problems of today in hopes that another BRAC won t happen. Improvements to Rt. 5 thru Leonardtown as well as Charlotte Hall and New Market need to become priorities at the state and local level and moved ahead of other projects. The plan the board under my leadership adopted some seven years ago needs to be moved forward with the help of Federal, State and local resources. said McKay. As Delegate, McKay plans to utilize his experience and knowledge of transportation funding processes to bring the community together along with the bureaucracy in Annapolis to assure St. Mary s County s transportation needs are once again made a priority at the state level. Press Release Submitted by Tommy McKay. CONVERT YOURTANK TO TANKLESS! Call us today for a free estimate on converting your hot water system to a more efficient tankless system. STEP 1 A hot water tap is turned on. STEP 2 Cold water enters the heater & the flow sensor detects the water flow. STEP 3 The computer automatically ignites the burner. STEP 4 Water circulates through the heat exchanger. The burner heats the water to the designated temperature. HOW DOES A TANKLESS WORK? The obvious difference between a tank and a tankless is its size. 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10 Cops & Courts Thursday, April 3, By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Plea in Loveville Stabbing Case A man accused of repeatedly stabbing his estranged girlfriend last year has agreed to take a plea to first-degree assault and carjacking in county Circuit Court, avoiding a trial on attempted first-degree murder charges and other felony counts, prosecutors said late Wednesday. Joseph Berry, 50, was set to take his plea Thursday afternoon. Assistant State s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis said Berry s propsed plea agreement calls for 37 years incarceration. Police allege Berry brutally stabbed his victim in Loveville back in July of last year after forcing her to drive him to a parking lot that became the scene of the crime. Local investigators say Berry, 49, accosted the victim when she was at a business in Leonardtown, produced a knife and forced her into her car. Both Berry and the victim had been in a relationship that had ended. When she had driven him to the parking lot he allegedly stabbed her multiple times, police said, but she was eventually able to escape and seek help. Berry fled taking the victim s 2001 blue Ford Focus, according to police reports. Berry, a lifetime sex offender registrant, had been convicted of second-degree rape from a case in Charles County back in guyleonard@countytimes.net LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL A. M. SLADE, L.L.C. LOKER BUILDING SHERIFF S BLOTTER The following information is compiled directly from publicly released police reports. ASSAULT On March 25 Deputy Manns responded to a residence on Brook Mill Court in Great Mills for a domestic assault. The victim alleged suspect James Willie Kittrell Jr., 43, of Great Mills, strangled the victim during an argument. Deputy Manns observed fresh evidence of injury on the victim. Kittrell was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. ASSAULT On March 25 Deputy Cole responded to a residence on Chaptico Road in Mechanicsville, for a domestic assault. The victim alleged suspect Michael Joseph Fischer, 47, of Mechanicsville, grabbed the victim violently and threatened the victim and other family members during an argument. Fischer was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. INDECENT EXPOSURE On March 20 suspect Candace Rebecca Carroll, 23, of Park Hall, was placed under arrest by Deputy L. Johnson after Corporal W. Raddatz observed Carroll urinating in the street near a vehicle on Spring Valley Drive in Lexington Park. The investigation revealed Carroll had been operating the vehicle prior to stopping to urinate in the street. Carroll did not complete Standardized Field Sobriety Tests satisfactorily and was placed under arrest. She was transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center and charged with Driving Under the Influence and Indecent Exposure. THEFT On March 23 Deputy Schultz responded to Walmart in California, for a theft. Loss Prevention personnel observed a female suspect, identified as Kathleen Marie Wagner, 29, of Lusby, conceal items of merchandise in her handbag. She then attempted to leave the store without paying. Wagner was charged with Theft Under $1,000 by criminal citation. CHILD ABUSE On March 23 Deputy Lawrence responded to a residence on Hollywood Road in Hollywood, for a reported assault. The victim alleged suspect William Henry Mattingly Jr., 36, of Hollywood, grabbed the victim repeatedly during an argument. Mattingly continued to assault the victim after the victim exited the residence to get away, by grabbing the victim around the throat. Deputy Lawrence observed fresh evidence of injury on the victim. Mattingly was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Child Abuse and 2nd Degree Assault. ASSAULT On March 22 Deputy McCuen responded to a residence on Elderberry Way in Lexington Park, for a reported assault. The victim alleged suspect Justin Jordan Ponticelli, 28, of Lexington Park strangled the victim by putting a towel around the victim s neck during an argument. Deputy McCuen observed fresh evidence of injury on the victim s throat. Ponticelli was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault. DISORDERLY CONDUCT On March 23 Deputy S. Cameron responded to a residence on Bates Road in Greta Mills for a disturbance. On deputy s arrival, they observed a large crowd surrounding a vehicle in the driveway of the residence. The investigation revealed, suspect Pierre Antonio Butler, 37, of Lexington Park, was highly intoxicated and was refusing to exit the backseat of his father s vehicle. Deputies then attempted to help get Butler to exit the vehicle when he became more aggressive and confrontational. Butler s actions caused several other people to respond to the scene surrounding the deputies. Butler was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Fail to Obey Lawful Order, and Disturbing the Public Peace. DUI/POSSESSION CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE On March 23 Deputy Schultz stopped a 2001 Ford Taurus for a traffic violation on Chancellor s Run Road in the area of Longfields Boulevard. The operator and sole occupant, identified as Jennifer Lee Boone, 31, of Lexington Park, was subsequently placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. She was transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center and a further search was conducted on her person. During the search, a straw containing suspected Xanax was recovered. Boone was charged with DUI, Possession Controlled Dangerous Substance Not Marijuana, Possession Paraphernalia, and Possession CDS Place of Confinement. SUSPECT CHARGED FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT WITH HANDGUN COURT HOUSE DRIVE, SUITE 301 P.O. BOX 288 LEONARDTOWN, MARYLAND PHONE: FAX: Lexington Park, Md. On March 22 a victim responded to Sheriff s Office headquarters and reported an assault, which occurred on March 21, 2014 in at a residence in Lexington Park. The victim alleged suspect Branden KensleyHanlin, 19, of Lexington Park, grabbed the victim around the upper torso. Hanlin then retrieved a handgun from his waist band then pointed it at the victim s face. The victim was able to slap the handgun from Hanlin s hand and flee the residence. Deputy Lawrence observed fresh evidence of injury on the victim. Hanlin was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 1st and 2nd Degree Assault.

11 11 Thursday, April 3, 2014 VICE NARCOTICS BLOTTER The following information is compiled directly from publicly released police reports. Detectives identified Tyler Shane Abell (Age 19 of Callaway, Md.) as a distributor of marijuana. Numerous undercover purchases of marijuana were made from Suspect Abell. After reviewing the cases with State s Attorney Richard D. Fritz and presentation to the St. Mary s County Grand Jury several arrest warrants were issued for Suspect Abell for Distribution of Marijuana. He was originally held without bond. A search and seizure warrant was obtained by detectives and executed on a Loveville, Maryland residence by the St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office Emergency Services Team, K-9 deputies and Support Team Members. Once inside the home a quantity of crack cocaine, cash and a firearm were recovered. Additional charges are pending a State s Attorney s Office review. Arrested for drug possession were James Thomas Somerville aka Tim (Age 56), Agnes Louise Dickerson aka Pee Wee (Age 49) and Julie Ann Clarke (Age 46). Kimberly Michelle White (Age 49 of Mechanicsville) was indicted and subsequently arrested for Obtaining a Controlled Substance by way of a Fraudulent Prescription. Kevin Russell Bryant (Age 22 of Lexington Park) was identified as a distributor of marijuana by detectives. Undercover purchases of marijuana were made from Suspect Bryant which led to his indictment and ultimate arrest. He was originally held without bond. DeAndre Terille Taylor (Age 24 of Bushwood, Md.) was indicted on drug charges and an arrest warrant was issued. Suspect Taylor fled to Florida and was arrested there on the outstanding St. Mary s County warrant. His extradition was authorized by State s Attorney Richard D. Fritz and Suspect Taylor was returned to St. Mary s and served with the warrant that included charges of Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute. Herbert Gaylor Niles aka Herb (Age 40 of Lexington Park) was identified by detectives as a distributor of cocaine. Several undercover purchases of cocaine were made by detectives and Suspect Niles was indicted. He was charged with numerous counts of Distribution of Cocaine. Additional charges are pending and he was originally held without bond. Joseph Henry Payne (Age 37 of Lexington Park) was identified as a distributor of crack cocaine. Detectives conducted an investigation into suspect Cops & Courts Payne s alleged criminal activity and as a result obtained a search and seizure warrant for his home. Detectives, along with members of the Emergency Services Team and K-9 deputies, executed the search warrant and items recovered included crack cocaine, nearly $1,900 in cash and two cellular phones. Suspect Payne was arrested and additional charges are pending a review with the State s Attorney s Office. Notification was made to the Office of Parole and Probation of suspect Payne s arrest as he is monitored by that office. In addition to that notification, Detective William E. Raddatz (Sex Offender Compliance Coordinator) was advised of suspect Payne s change of address due to the fact he is a sex offender. Suspect Payne was held by the District Commissioner on a No Bond status. John Edward Nunley Jr. aka Snowman was identified as a distributor of marijuana in the Great Mills area of Lexington Park. Due to his criminal activity in a specific neighborhood, suspect Nunley had been issued a notice not to trespass. Detectives were able to obtain a search and seizure warrant and upon executing the search warrant items recovered included a large amount of marijuana, a digital scale, packaging material and three cellular phones. Additional charges are expected and are awaiting a State s Attorney s Office review. Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can t be wrong! Your Online Community for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary s Counties New to the area? Lifelong resident? Stay abreast of local happenings Check our highly popular classifieds Speak your mind in the forums Enter our contests and win terrific prizes Stop by and see what Southern Maryland Online has to offer!

12 Thursday, April 3, Business News How to Tackle the RFP Seminar to Demystify the Process for Small Business Owners By Kay Poiro Staff Writer AMA Consulting in Charles County is hosting a seminar called How to Tackle the Request for Proposal on April 7. This free seminar is open to any small business owner interested in growing their business by competing for contracts. Facilitated by Maria Asuelimen, Managing Partner with AMA Consulting, LLC., the event will consist of an hour presentation with 30 minutes for questions and discussion afterward. The focus of the seminar is demystifying the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Maria says one of the most common misconceptions is that every RFP opportunity is wired ; that is, already promised to a company and not competitive. That s unfortunate because they end up ignoring it altogether, she says. The second misconception is that the RFP process is simply too complicated for a small business owner with limited resources. An RFP may be 60, 70 pages, but many reviewers are looking for a small proposal, explains Maria. We re teaching them what to look at first. The statement of work, the instructions. She adds that many of the pages of an RFP can be standard reference information that can be read later. Those business owners who are not gun-shy about pulling the trigger are subject to making three common mistakes when approaching the RFP Process. Maria cautions small business owners to pay attention to the three Cs of proposal preparation: staying in compliance, and presenting a compelling and complete proposal. Compliance is simply following the instructions, she says, adding that instructions are there to give reviewers a standardized process for reviewing proposals. Not being in compliance can disqualify a business right away. Another mistake businesses make is submitting a boilerplate proposal to the reviewers. A compelling proposal should tell them, I am the best. Here are my differentiators. I ve done it before and I can do it again on your project, she explains. To ensure a complete proposal, include any requested additional documents like licenses or financial statements. Laura Boonchaisri, Economic Development Coordinator for St. Mary s County says that although there are no plans to offer the seminar in St. Mary s County, all three Southern Maryland counties work together to try and help all businesses, including small businesses, in our region succeed. St. Mary s County open bids for county contracts can be found at co.saint-marys.md.us/bids/openbids. Registration deadline for the seminar is April 4. For more information or to register, contact Lucinia Mundy at or Mundyl@charlescounty. org. For information about AMA Consulting, visit The seminar is scheduled for April 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata. kaypoiro@countytimes.net Open All Year Gift Shop Special Orders 50% OFF FOR NEW CUSTOMERS Herbs Vegetable Plants Perennials Planters Trees & Shrubs Pavers Concrete Statuary Patio Containers Hanging Baskets Gift Baskets Tropicals Liberty Tax, at any of our Southern Maryland locations, announces 50% off paid tax preparation Includes federal and state tax returns Easter Flowers PRINCE FREDERICK (410) LEXINGTON PARK (301) CALIFORNIA (301) And our new location in LEONARDTOWN (240) LibertyTax.com Valid at participating locations. Cannot be combined with other offers or used toward past services. Other exclusions may apply. Void where prohibited by law. Valid 2/28/14-4/3/14. Not available on Patuxent River NAS. Green Acres Nursery Mon. - Fri. 8:00 to 6:00 Sat. 8:00 to 5:00 Closed on Sundays March Thru June Open 1 Hour Longer Parson Mill Road Leonardtown, MD 20650

13 13 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Business News MedStar Orthopaedics Expands Foot and Ankle Program Welcomes Jacob M. Wisbeck, MD, to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital MedStar Orthopaedics has expanded its renowned foot and ankle program, welcoming Jacob M. Wisbeck, MD, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in foot and ankle surgery, to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Wisbeck specializes in sports-related foot and ankle injuries, ankle instability, foot and ankle trauma, degenerative arthritis, flat foot deformities, and tendon disorders. Dr. Wisbeck joins a team of accomplished, fellowship-trained specialists known throughout the mid-atlantic region and beyond for their expertise. The foot and ankle specialists of MedStar Orthopaedics are committed to providing the highest level of comprehensive care for the entire range of foot and ankle injuries and disorders from diagnosis to innovative treatment and specialized rehabilitation. After attending medical school at Temple University School of Medicine, Dr. Wisbeck completed an internship and residency at MedStar Union Memorial. Under the leadership of renowned educators and surgeons, Dr. Wisbeck completed the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Program at MedStar Union Memorial, receiving one-on-one mentorship and personalized surgical and clinical experience. The program, entering its 20th year, combines its surgical, clinical and research programs to provide extensive training in all facets of the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Wisbeck is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. We are excited to welcome Dr. Wisbeck back to our Center, said Lew Schon, MD, chief of foot and ankle services and director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Program at MedStar Union Memorial. Our Program pro- Now providing specialty care in Leonardtown, Maryland Introducing H. Charles Kim, MD, colon and rectal surgeon with MedStar Washington Hospital Center. A leader in minimally invasive laparoscopic colonic stenting for obstruction and PPH Hemorrhoidectomies. duces some of the finest experts in foot and ankle surgery and we are honored to have one of those leaders re-join our team. Dr. Wisbeck s clinical and surgical skills are a valuable addition to our group and our patients. Ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report, MedStar Union Memorial s orthopaedic program is part of MedStar Orthopaedics, a network of nearly 100 physicians extensively trained in orthopaedic subspecialties, including trauma; hip and knee; spine; shoulder and elbow; hand, foot, and ankle; sports medicine; and physical medicine and rehabilitation. MedStar Orthopaedics is comprised of experts from MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, MedStar Union Memorial, The Curtis National Hand Center, and more than 20 community locations. Click here to learn more about foot and ankle services at MedStar Orthopaedics. To learn more about Dr. Wisbeck, click here, or call for a physician referral. Dr. Kim is one of the few surgeons board certified in colon and rectal surgery and among the most Surgeries are conveniently performed of Simon Cudby Photo Courtesy Gazette Locally Owned Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Procedures Include: Colon Surgery, Hernia Repair, Appendectomy Includes Care and Treatment for: Colon Cancer, Crohn s Disease, Diverticular Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Priceless Also Inside Back-to-School, Back to $AVINGS A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO & Calvert Gazette Pros Set to Battle at Budds Creek S tory Business Startups Could Help Innovation, Diversification in St. Mary s See Page 10 Back-to -School, back to $AVINGS Higher Education Center Offers Defense Opportunities College is Not Just for Kids Making Healthy School Lunches Open House Schedules August 12-18th Page 20 One Dismissed, One Resigned From School System See Page 12 The County Times Serving St. Mary s Local Band Breaking e Into the Big Timon Sam Grow Opening For Bost Page 12 Photo By Frank Marquart tte Calver t Gaze rt County Everything Calve Now accepting Specialty Physicians at St. Mary s Second Floor August 9, 2012 Everything Calvert County To make an appointment, call you are, you re never far from MedStar. matter where you go, no matter who Surgery for Chronic Constipation Calvert Office hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. new patients. St. Mary s Outpatient Pavilion at MedStar St. Mary s Hospital. So, no Archaeologists Unearth Original Newtowne Chapel Board-Certified Colon and Rectal Surgeon extensively trained experts in his field. Thursday, June 20, 2013 See Page 6 Dr. H. Charles Kim colon and rectal surgery, he also offers Your Local Community News Source On Newsstands Every Thursday Complete Colon and Rectal Surgical Care and Treatment MedStarStMarys.org Point Lookout Rd. Leonardtown, Md.

14 Letters to the Editor LEGAL NOTICES Patricia Cregon Plaintiff V. Carolyn Virginia Dorsch Bank of America, NA TIM, Inc, nka PRLAP, Inc, Trustee Register of Wills for St. Mary's County St. Mary's County Maryland State of Maryland All person that have or claim to have any interest in the property identified in the Tax Rolls of the Treasurer and Collector of State and County taxes for St. Mary's County as follows: First District, Property No , 43, 124 Sq Ft & Imps, Scotland known as Point Lookout Rd Defendants 4/3/2014 IN THE ORDER OF PUBLICATION CIRCUIT COURT FOR St. Mary's County Case No.: 18-C This object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the following property sold by the Collector of Taxes for St. Mary s County and State of Maryland to the Plaintiff in this proceeding: First District, Property No , 43, 124 Sq Ft & Imps, Scotland, known as Point Lookout Rd. The Complaint states, among other things, that the amount necessary for redemption have not been paid. It is thereupon this 25th day of March, 2014, by the Circuit Court for St. Mary s County, ORDERED that this notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some daily newspaper having general circulation in St. Mary s County once a week for three successive weeks before the 25th of May, 2014, warning all persons interest in said properties to be and appear in this Court by the 25th day of May, 2014, and redeem these properties and answer the Complaint, or thereafter a final judgement will be rendered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the said property and vesting in the Plaintiff a fee simple title, free and clear of all encumbrances. Joan W. Williams, CLERK, Circuit Court for St. Mary s County Christian radio station WGWS 88.1 FM will be holding a public meeting at Trinity Parish Hall, on Friday, April 4 at Noon. This is a general meeting that will address public issues, and any questions or concerns about CSN International. The public is invited to attend. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD To Submit a Letter to the Editor, your letter to news@countytimes.net or mail to P.O. Box 250, Hollywood, MD /3/2014 Thursday, April 3, The Cats of the Bay I get it all the hoopla about the Snakehead, the unwelcome transfer to the Chesapeake Bay area that has not only DNR officials from Maryland and Virginia up in arms but, too, sportsmen worrying about their beloved stocks of perch, bass, stripers and other prize catches. This fish is easy to detest, non-indigenous, ugly, a feeder on the fishes that make up the top of the Bay s food pyramid. Regardless of the state fishing license you hold, the DNRs have put out an all hands for anyone who catches these out-of-towners to cut off their heads, to keep them from walking to the next body of water. In addition, the DNRs preach their tastiness, you just have to get past the ugly. But this letter is not about the Snakeheads, it is about a creature that I feel is even more of a detriment in our beloved Chesapeake Bay. Now, this creature is a celebrated fish as American as Mark Twain, a long time part of the red, white and blue culture as hamburgers and apple pie. This fish continues to be the prize catch of tens of thousands of fishermen all across this great nation. But in the Chesapeake Bay, their presence is grave. I am talking about the nonindigenous-to-the-bay catfish. These cats, as they can be affectionately called - yet in this case not-so-affectionately, are achieving a greater and greater presence in the Bay s food chain. They are growing larger and larger and are ranging wider and wider. And, yet, they do not garner the same vilification, attention and catch-at-all-costs responses from our DNR offices. You may ask, why should all of us pay more attention to Bay Catfish? Consider the bloodworm. If you have ever wanted to wet your line in any waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the number one choice of baits are these guys. Yes, the package these bloodworms come in might be from Maine or some other place hundreds of miles from here, but bloodworms are here, too, and they are vital to the health of the Bay waters. Living in the mud and marshes that has some salt, they are herbivores and live and thrive off of the nutrients introduced from trees, leaves, plants and other organisms, whatever may be in the water. Yet, these little guys are delicate, living only three to five years and, when mature, they exit their mud domains for the last time in June and July to spawn, males ejecting the necessary spores and females bodies rupture releasing up to 10 million eggs to become next year s legion of Bay Cleaners and bottom-of-the-food-chain food source. Did the light bulb come on for you? Midsummer is when the bloodworms spawn, in sync with hundreds of thousands of Spot, Croaker and other bottom feeders come into our region to clean up on the last generation bloodworms who are now at the end of their lifecycle and are easy, ready-to-eat meals. This is where the catfish is doing the most harm. I know the health of the Bay is a serious matter and very complex. But, to me there is nothing to scratch my head over when thinking about who the real bad guy is swimming in our waters the catfish. They dig up the bottom sediments to feed on bloodworms creating cloudy water and yes, I understand the argument regarding the loss of oysters and farming run off. But, we did not have an invasive catfish when John Smith sailed clear waters of the Bay. In any matter concerning the Bay, there are many factors to understand; yet, the presence of catfish is a contributing factor to cloudy water and our inability to see our white sneakers at wade-in. Catfish eat worms, fish and shellfish of all types, fingerling perch, stripers, baby crabs, molting crabs and so on. The full impact of catfish in these waters has been and continues to be studied. Search Catfish Chesapeake Bay on any Internet machine and you will be able to read any number of efforts to fully grasp the impact of the catfish on Bay waters, but none of them mention the lowly bloodworm s price they are having to pay. While study after study is commissioned, the bloodworms who I consider the very foundation of the Bay s health (sans oyster) is in jeopardy. It is time for our DNR offices to wake up and to paint a Snakehead face on the Catfish, turn them into public enemy number one. We all know Striper Diamond Jim has a nice price on his head to spur the rockfish interests bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars to the economy, but now we should consider Platinum Cat, a tagged catfish worth just as much, maybe more since with every catfish removed from our waters, pounds of bloodworms/crabs/fingerlings/ shellfish can be saved. I know catfish are not sexy, not the top prize for fishermen, but everyone who loves the Bay should consider ways to get more catfish removed from these waters. Everyone should support no catch and release for catfish, local governments and DNRs should encourage catfish catches with Snakehead-like consequences (head removal and/or human consumption), free licenses for catfish-fishermen, industrial harvesting of catfish meat, catfish fishing tournaments, catfish festivals, anything to get one more of these Bay predators out of the water. Just like the effort to change the name of the Snakehead to make it more plate-worthy, perhaps we should change the name of the invasive Bay Catfish, since cats are cute and cuddly and the catfish itself reeks of apple pie and lemonade anywhere in the USA - but not in the Chesapeake Bay! Free Tax Preparation Ron Tucker On the Patuxent, Mechanicsville, Md. The AARP Tax-Aide program, the nation s largest volunteer-run tax assistance and tax preparation service, is providing free tax preparation and electronic filing in St. Mary s County for low-to middle-income taxpayers with special attention paid to those ages 60 and older. AARP Tax-Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation offered in conjunction with the IRS. Taxpayers do not need to be a member of AARP. Taxpayers must bring their social security cards and picture IDs (to prevent identity theft), as well as a copy of last year s tax returns and all income and tax related information including names, social security cards, and birth dates for everyone who will be listed on the return. Call , Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to schedule an appointment at a site near you, or visit our walk-in site at McKay s Shopping Center (in the old Beauty Salon) on Great Mills Road. Unfortunately we are not able to prepare tax returns involving businesses, farms, rental properties, or partnerships. Additional information, including walk-in site hours, is available at: P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: James Manning McKay - Founder Eric McKay - Associate Publisher...ericmckay@countytimes.net Angie Stalcup - Editorial Production Manager...angiestalcup@countytimes.net Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager...tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Reporter - Government, Crime...guyleonard@countytimes.net Kay Poiro - Reporter - Business, Education, Entertainment...kaypoiro@countytimes.net Sarah Miller- Reporter - Kasey Russell - Graphic Designer...kaseyrussell@countytimes.net Sales Representatives...sales@countytimes.net Contributing Writers: Kimberly Alston Ron Guy Laura Joyce Debra Meszaros Shelby Oppermann Linda Reno Terri Schlichenmeyer Doug Watson

15 15 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Looking for a Career, Not Just a Job? Have You Thought About Media Marketing as a Possibility? Now HiriNg Marketing Professionals Meet New, interesting People get out From Behind a Desk Determine Your own income get Paid for what You Sell Apply Now for immediate Consideration Send a resume to kitcarson@somdpublishing.net and let s discuss the possibilities

16 Education Thursday, April 3, CSM Finalizes Location for New Campus By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Plans to build a regional College of Southern Maryland campus came closer to fruition at the March 27 meeting CSM Board of Trustees meeting. During the meeting, the trustees approved spending $1,137, on 70 acres of property in Hugesville in order to build a fourth campus, in addition to approving a contract award to Grimm + Parker Architects for the design of a new building for the Center for Trades and Energy. The new campus is almost exactly in the middle of the tri-county area, according to CSM President Brad Gottfried. The first program to be housed there, the Center for Trades and Energy, is currently housed in rented space, he said. The new campus will allow it to Photos by Sarah Miller be moved to a building the school owns when the lease is up, which will save money in the long run, Gottfired said. In the future, Gottfried said the Health Sciences building will be relocated to the regional campus. Other departments that might be moved to the new campus are the Fine Arts Building and the athletic fields. All three Southern Maryland counties will contribute to running the facility, Gottfried said. In addition to purchasing the land for a new campus, the board welcomed a new trustee Calvert County based Samuel Jones. For more information, visit www. csmd.edu. sarahmiller@countytimes.net Academy Application Deadline The deadline for students to apply for the Academy programs for St. Mary s County Public Schools is Friday, April 4. We remind students and families to ensure all parts of the application are complete, including teacher recommendations. Applications and the link for recommendations can be found at org/academies. Students can apply for the following differentiated pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Academy: This rigorous and unique program of study emphasizes the core areas of mathematics and science with an infusion of technology and engineering. This program is open to students in grades NOTE: Current STEM students transitioning from 5th to 6th or 8th to 9th will need to reapply. Academy of Finance: This program offers students in grades 9-12 opportunities to develop professional skills, receive specialized instruction in business finance and New CSM Trustee Samuel Jones management, and gain an awareness of the marketable skills needed to be successful in the field. Academy of Global and International Studies: Students in grades 9-12 participating in this program, develop understanding and knowledge of world regions, cultures, and global/international issues. Academy of Visual and Performing Arts: This program, open to rising 9th grade students only, provides students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the dedication needed to find success as a performer or artist, with an emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. NOTE: Due to fiscal constraints, the academy will not be able to offer Dance as a program of instruction this year. For more information contact your school counselor or the Office of the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction at , ext or classof2018@ smcps.org. Forrest Center Hosting Annual Yard Sale and Plant Sale The Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center is hosting two major events on Saturday, April 26. The Criminal Justice Yard Sale, which benefits the SMCPS Shoe Fund, takes place from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Donations of items to be sold at the yard sale are being accepted at the school site. For more information, contact SGT Mickey Bailey, Criminal Justice instructor, at , x28209 or at mmbailey@smcps.org. The annual Horticulture/FFA Plant Sale takes place from 8:00 a.m. to noon. A variety of plants will be for sale. For more information, contact Mr. Ed Carney, Horticulture instructor and FFA advisor, at , x28217 or at elcarney@smcps.org. Please note: These events may be recorded and presented on SMCPS Channel 96, the school system s educational cable channel, and the internet.

17 17 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Education EASMC: $4 Million Extra Not Enough to Fund Both Raises and Tech Requirements By Kay Poiro Staff Writer Ahead of the Board of County Commissioner s budget hearing, Education Association of St. Mary s County (EASMC) President Anna Laughlin says the commissioners offer to the Board of Education for $4 million over maintenance of effort costs simply isn t enough to fund teacher salary increases and technology requirements at the same time. The fact remains that our teachers are two steps behind, says Laughlin. Steps are salary increases earned by teachers based on previous experience. Laughlin explains that one step for the county s eligible educators equal around $1.9 million. She says if teachers were given their two step increases, the total would near the $4 million mark, spending virtually all of the money offered by the commissioners. Laughlin acknowledges that teachers should be paid according to their contracts, but she says she also understands that technological requirements needed to remain in compliance with federal mandates such as Race to the Top take precedent. Negotiations are ongoing, but Laughlin says the union requests during the process have been reasonable and well within what the county can afford, based on information presented at the commissioners budget work session last month. Laughlin also calls into question the scheduling of the upcoming budget public hearing. The hearing, scheduled for April 15, take place right in the middle of spring break, Laughlin points out. Almost all of the teachers will be gone. Most of the parents will be out of town. Every year, there s another boogeyman, another excuse. Sequestration, BRAC (Base and Realignment Closure) they re all excuses for not properly funding public education in the county, says Laughlin. The St. Mary s County Board of County Commissioners FY2015 Public Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at Chopticon High School auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. with proceedings starting at 6:30 p.m. Information regarding the recommended FY 2015 Operating and Capital Budget will be presented. The public is invited to participate. kaypoiro@countytimes.net Status of Make-Up Days Due to Inclement Weather At the March 26 Board of Education Meeting, Dr. Martirano presented to the community the status of make-up days due to the inclement weather experienced during this past winter season. He noted that schools have been closed twelve full days due to inclement weather. The school system calendar had five inclement weather days built in and has utilized Monday, Feb. 17 (President s Day) as one make-up day. Also, Friday, May 2, which was an additional make-up date, will be utilized leaving five as make-up days. Pursuant to the Maryland State Board of Education action on Tuesday, March 25 for a limited waiver process for Maryland school system calendars affected by a very active winter, Dr. Martirano asked for a waiver of the five remaining days. Based on approval from the State Superintendent of Schools for a five day waiver, the Board of Education, at their meeting of March 26, approved the Superintendent s most current calendar adjustment plan that will supersede any calendar adjustment made at the Feb. 12 Board Meeting as follows: Register now to save your spot LEAD 2014 June 22 ~ St. Mary s College of Maryland 4-day/3-night unique residential learning experience For students entering 10th-12th grade in Calvert, Charles & St. Mary s Gain life-long leadership skills & create lasting memories Visit us on the web or call for more info today Application Deadline : May 16 Monday, April 21 will be remain a holiday for all students and staff. *Thursday, April 17 will be a holiday for all 12 month employees to make up for the President s Day holiday. Friday, May 2 will be a school day for students and staff. All schools and offices will be open. Thursday, June 12 will be the last day of school for students. The last day for teachers is to be determined. The Chesapeake Public Charter School calendar will be affected by the following modifications: Monday, April 21 will remain a holiday for all students and staff. Friday, May 2 will be a school day for students and staff. School and office will be open. Friday, June 13 will be the last day of school for students. The last day for teachers is to be determined. Our school calendar can be viewed on our website at under community links. For more information, please call , ext Presented by Leadership Southern Maryland and Maryland Leadership Workshops

18 Education Thursday, April 3, College of Southern Maryland Supports Non-Profit Organizations By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The College of Southern Maryland hosted the fourth annual Nonprofit Institute Conference, March 28 at the La Plata Campus on March 28. The keynote speaker was Executive Vice President of TransitionGuides and author of For the Good of the Cause: Board Building Lessons from Highly Effective Nonprofits Don Tebbe. During his speech, he addressed the need Don Tebbe Rodgers & Hammerstein s Advance Ticket Prices Adults $10, Students $5 (Add $2 at door) Tickets available in school office or call The King s Christian Academy APRIL Thursday & Friday: 6:30 p.m. Saturday: 5:30 p.m. KCA Auditorium Photo by Sarah Miller Point Lookout Road Callaway, Maryland for leaders in businesses, such as chief executive officers, to help ensure smooth transitions when they retire. Businesses can prepare for transitions by keeping job advertisements up to date instead of pulling out old, dated advertisements to find a successor. The first year is a critically important year, Tebbe said, explaining that the first full year with a new leader is all about finding the new normal. The transition process does not just affect the individual leaving the organization, Tebbe said. For individuals who will be remaining, there will be a period of disruption and a feeling of loss, followed up by the time and energy required to find a successor, all of which can be psychologically and emotionally draining. A transition can also be an opportunity, Tebbe said. It can result in a fresh direction, realignment and diversity in the organization. Overall, he said the best During the month of April 2014, St. Mary s County Public Schools (SMCPS) Department of Safety and Security, in coordination with school administrators and supporting community partners, will coordinate festivals at all SMCPS high schools. The festivals will include activities and events designed to further educate SMCPS high school students about personal safety and avoiding high risk youth behaviors. The festival day for each high school is: Monday, April 7: Chopticon High School, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 9: Great Mills High School, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 11: Leonardtown High School, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. way to make a transition is to be prepared for the inevitability that a leader will leave the organization at some point. Following the keynote address, attendees separated into breakout sessions centered around four topics boards, fundraising, management and marketing. For more information, visit hwww. csmd.edu or lifeafterleadership.com. sarahmiller@countytimes.net Safety And Security Festivals To Be Held At High Schools The event will include two student assemblies, demonstrations, displays, exhibits and activities. Exhibitors will provide hands on information to the students during the assemblies and at exhibit stations in or adjacent to the school cafeteria during scheduled lunches. This will enhance the awareness experience and provide supporting resources for students. Supporting community partners participating in the event are the St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office, Maryland State Police, Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, 7 th District Volunteer Fire Department, Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, St. Mary s County Department of Emergency Services and Technology, the St. Mary s County Community Alcohol Coalition (Med-Star/St. Mary s Hospital), and Brinsfield Funeral Home. Assemblies, demonstrations, and exhibits will include: Stop Bullying-Speak up Campaign Assembly A student led initiative with students participating in a student assembly to increase awareness and provide information on the national campaign Stop Bullying-Speak Up. Following the student assemblies, student leaders from each school will staff an exhibit station in or adjacent to the school cafeteria during scheduled lunches for the purpose of having other students participate in an electronic pledge for the national campaign. Facilitator: Mr. Peter Widmayer, Student Board Member and student leaders from each school s Student Government Association (SGA). Drug Abuse Prevention Assembly - Educational information will be presented to students by representatives from the St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office during student assembly. The information presented will focus on the risks and dangers associated with abuse of prescription medications and other drugs. Facilitator: Designated school resource officers, St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office. Mock Vehicle Crash and Emergency Response Demonstration will occur in the morning at each school to focus students attention on the potential results of poor driving decisions. Facilitators: Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, St. Mary s County Department of Emergency Services and Technology, Maryland State Police, and St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office. Alcohol Abuse Prevention Exhibit - Educational information will be presented to students by representatives from the St. Mary s County Community Alcohol Coalition pertaining to the risks and dangers associated with the abuse of alcohol. Facilitator: Med-Star/St. Mary s Hospital Health Connections. Seatbelt Safety Check (Maryland Chief s Challenge) Activities - The St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office and Maryland State Police will hold a seat belt check at the entrances to the three high schools to see if drivers and passengers are wearing their seatbelts at the beginning of school. Facilitators: Designated school resource officers, St. Mary s County Sheriff s Office and Maryland State Police. Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Service Recruiting Exhibit will provide students with the opportunity to discuss volunteer service in our community with the fire and emergency medical services. Facilitator: St. Mary s County Department of Emergency Services and Technology. Any additional questions should be directed to F. Michael Wyant, Director of Safety and Security for SMCPS at extension

19 19 Thursday, April 3, 2014 Education Kids are Authors at Barstow Elementary IT S SPRING PROJECT TIME Let s Decorate! 1 Qt. Perennials 5 for $ 25 Boston Fern 10 Pot Special Only $ ea. Roses Teas, Floribundas, Grandifloras & Climbers Buy 3 or more Only $ ea. Geranium 4 1/2 Premium Plants 5 for $ 25 Spring Color Trees Choose from Redbud, Dogwood, Magnolias, Flowering Cherry, Flowering Plums, Crape Myrtle & more Buy 3 Get 4th FREE Spring Color Shrubs Mix or match any 5 Lilacs, Quince, Viburnums, Forsythias or Hydrangeas. 3-5 gallon size shrubs ONLY. Buy 5 or more & Save $ 25 00* *DISCOUNT IS OFF ENTIRE SHRUB PURCHASE, NOT OFF EACH INDIVIDUAL SHRUB. Eleven Barstow Elementary School students participated in a school-sponsored club to write a fiction book for a national competition sponsored by Scholastic Books. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Michael Johnson, Payton Stevens, Lucia Owens, Aashka Patel, and Nikki Tjiputra. Back row, left to right: Andrew Seawell, Julia Merranko, Ben Rachic, Hayley Spicknall, Emma Brezina, and Aidan Lee. First and second grade students from Barstow Elementary School participated in an 8-week school-sponsored club to write a fiction book for the Kids are Authors national competition sponsored by Scholastic Books. Eleven students from the school participated in the club, and were solely responsible for writing and illustrating a book for submission to this national contest. Their book, The Adventures of Bob and Lucy, tells the story of two twins who meet a Genie after being swept up by a tornado. The Genie offers to grant them four wishes, but is challenged by granting them the correct wishes as the twins continually interrupt each other. As a result, many crazy wishes are granted until the twins decide to take turns and not talk over one another. Several of the students said they joined the endeavor because they are aspiring authors. I wanted to be in the club because I already wrote a book at my house and I like writing books, echoed Aidan Lee. One of the first graders, Aashka Patel, also enjoys writing and said, I decided to be in the club because my mom told me that she would help me write books and I am already up to 10 books. First grader Michael Johnson said he enjoyed the creative process: My favorite part of the club was when we just started to see what the book was going to be about. Second grader Emma Brezina, also enjoyed drawing pictures for the book. It was fun to draw pictures that may be in the book. I am very excited we were able to offer this unique opportunity to our students. The chance to become a published author is priceless! said Barstow Elementary Principal Donna House. We offer after school enrichment clubs twice a year but this is the first writing club we have sponsored. The students were very enthusiastic and passionate about their project. Many thanks to Sarah Merranko for providing the vision and follow through for this club. I am very proud of each of our authors and illustrators and I will cherish my personal copy of The Adventures of Bob and Lucy. The Kids Are Authors competition has occurred annually since Scholastic chooses two grand prize winners each year, one in fiction, and one in non-fiction, from tens of thousands of students nationwide. Scholastic publishes the grand prize books, which are distributed by Scholastic Book Fairs across the country. Although the children do not receive any royalties from the sales of the books, the winning school receives $5,000 in merchandise from the Scholastic Book Fairs School Resource Catalog to be awarded to the public/private school or non-profit organization of their choice, 100 copies of their published book and a framed award certificate and gold medallion for each student. Additionally, Scholastic chooses 25 books that are selected as honorable mention winners. Those winning teams receive $500 in merchandise from Scholastic and student award certificates. The grandprize winners and honorable mention winners will be notified by Scholastic by May 31. For information about the program, visit Big Green Egg Purchase Large or XLarge, Get $100 Gift Certificate Purchase Small or Medium, Get $50 Gift Certificate Now ScheduliNg For SpriNg installation call today to Schedule an estimate Shredded MoleMax Hardwood Mulch Works fast to repel moles, voles, gophers, rabbits, skunks & more. 3 cu. ft. bag 10 for $ ,000 sq. ft. Granular $ Charlotte Hall Three Notch Rd, Charlotte Hall Strawberries Early, Mid-Season & Late Season Varieties $ 9 99 /bundle Everbearing Varieties $ /bundle Wentworth Nursery Prince Frederick 1700 Solomon s Island Rd, Prince Frederick Miracle Gro Potting Mix Feeds for up to 3 months 1 cu. ft. bag $ 9 88 ea. When you buy 3 or more $ 20Off any purchase of $75 or more of lawn & garden items. 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20 Feature Story Thursday, April 3, Local Musicians Unite for a Southern Maryland Thang By Kay Poiro Staff Writer A new regional anthem is poised to hit the airwaves in time for Spring. Southern Maryland Thang is a compilation song written by Donovan Farrell, featuring local musical artists Wes Ryce, Donald Quade, Lindz Owen and John Luskey. Singer Donovan Farrell says once he decided to create a song as a nod to the culture of the county, the rest of the process was fairly straightforward. I sat down one night and came up with the music, says Donovan. Still, as much as he liked the song, Donovan knew he needed four different quality voices to make the song complete. The first person I thought of was Wes, he says. Wes Ryce, lead singer of local band No Green Jelly Beenz, suggested Donald Quade and Lindz Owen. Donovan says while the four of them agreed on Charles County native John Luskey, they weren t sure if Luskey s schedule could accommodate the project. They were thrilled when he was available. Although Donovan, Ryce, Quade, Owen and Luskey enjoy playing together, Donovan says there are no plans to tour as a Southern Maryland supergroup. This was originally a one-time thing, Donovan explains. Schedulewise it would be hard because we all have our bands, but if we re asked to perform, I m pretty sure we could make it happen. Donovan says when he heard his song on John Hunt & The Phoenix Internet radio last week, it was amazing. John s [Luskey] probably the only one who s ever heard his song on the radio before, but for the rest of us, it was pretty special, says Donovan. Since that first spin, the response to Southern Maryland Thang has been overwhelming. The Facebook Photo by Kaitlin Morrissette page, launched a week ago, has over 1,100 likes. Local country station WKIK-FM has the song in rotation and J.J. Roth, a disc jockey at 98.1 out of Ocean City, Md. and fellow Southern Maryland native, is also playing it. The music video for Southern Maryland Thang is currently being filmed and is scheduled to wrap in early April. The video, shot entirely by Sargas Media of Lexington Park, showcases several Southern Maryland locations including Bowles and Vallandingham farms in St. Mary s County, as well as North Beach boardwalk and the Port Tobacco Marina. The official release date for the song and music video is April 11. A release party is planned for Port Tobacco Marina with the band No Green Jelly Beenz headlining. We are blown away by the support we are getting, says Donovan. We just wanted to pay tribute to our beloved Southern Maryland and we re hoping the song and video will do just that. For more information about the project, visit com, or Southern-Maryland-Thang. kaypoiro@countytimes.net