The

Thursday, December 20, 2007 St. Marys County, Maryland

County
Im proud of the kids, we really worked hard for this win -LHS Coach Heibel

P IN

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Established 2006 Volume 2 Issue 51

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GMHS vs. LHS Face Off

Needy Families Still Waiting To Be Adopted For Christmas

Two New Positions Approved For METCOM

The St. Marys County Commissioners passed a motion to approve the creation of two new staff positions at the Metropolitan Commission. The new jobs will be added to help METCOM accommodate new housing developments in the county. The new jobs have been added to the FY08 budget.

Mechanicsville Man Struck, Killed After Motorcycle Wreck

A 63-year-old Mechanicsville resident was killed Monday when he was struck by another vehicle on Route 5 after he was in a motorcycle accident during his morning commute to the District
See Story On Page A-3 Ronald Joseph Despres

Kelsey Bush, of the Division of Community Services, helps unload a donation of toys for the Christmas Caring program that helps needy county families during the holiday season.

Photo By Guy Leonard

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer For the past several years the countys Division of Community Services has partnered with local organizations and businesses to adopt needy families for clothes and presents for Christmas. Most of the families who have taken part in the pro-

gram, after being vetted by the Department of Social Services, have gotten the assistance they need. But this year about 200 families here have not been adopted by any family, business or community organization out of 640 families on the list. Its the largest number that may have to go without for See Christmas Caring page A-

Affordable Housing Hampering Pax Rivers Ability To Attract Workers

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

More Moving Out Than Moving In

Almost 20,000 more people moved out of Maryland than moved into the state in 2006, the largest net loss in a quarter-century. It was the third consecutive year of a net migration loss for Maryland, after four years of gains earlier this decade brought a net of more than 2,00 new state residents. Experts point to a slight softening in the economy here, and lower housing costs in nearby states for some of the shift.

Busy Intersection To Get Signal Improvements

The State Highway Administration has approved modifications to the traffic light at MD 5 and Fairgrounds Road. Bulbs will be replaced and a video detection unit will be installed to replace pavement sensors. Work at the intersection is scheduled to begin in early January.

Communities closer to Baltimore are going to experience heavy growth with the influx of military related jobs to installations like Fort Meade, but that doesnt mean that the state will turn its attention from Southern Maryland, which continues to grow from events of the 1995 federal Base Realignment and Closure commission, according to the states leader for economic development. Southern Maryland will not be ignored, said David Edgerley, secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development to a symposium at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. Groups David Edgerley - MD Secretary of Business such as this need to make sure we pay atten- and Economic Development tion to them.

Its the work of all of us to bring in the right balance of transportation, housing, and education
-David Edgerley MD Secretary of Business and Economic Development

Edgerley said that the state would do all it could to ensure that Southern Maryland would continue to receive support from the state for improvements such as infrastructure to continue to cope with the increase of the program work at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in St. Marys and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in See Housing page A-6

Patuxent River Plan Reccommends One Home Per 30 Acres

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland passed a resolution to recommend the use of what is known as the Patuxent River 20/20 Plan for future updates to the broader Patuxent River Policy Plan. On Monday, the final draft of the report, entitled Patuxent River 20/20: The Need for Effective Action and Effective Solutions, was released to state and county fanfare and is See River page A-8

Given the choice between vegitation in the river,... and drastic zoning measures, I think well support cleaning up the river.
-Commissioner Lawrence D. Larry Jarboe
Third Commissioner District
Commissioner Lawrence D. Larry Jarboe Third Commissioner District

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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, December 0, 007

Adult Drug Court New Tutoring Program Could Begin Next Year Moves Past Pilot Stage
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Officials with the St. Marys County Circuit Court say that they want to replicate the successful juvenile drug court model and make the same opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation available for adults. Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams, who would preside over the drug court, said the courts activation is still not confirmed but its something that could be a reality if they can get the funding and get court officers trained for it. Its something Ive always been interested in pursuing, Abrams said. Were very hopeful and optimistic. Staff are busy preparing grant applications for federal funding, Abrams said, and court officers could receive training for drug court early next year. The goal of the adult drug court will focus more on therapy than on punishment for drug addiction, said Pete Cucinotta, coordinator of the Juvenile Drug Court. This is a problem solving court, Cucinotta told The County Times. All the research weve found shows that drug courts do a better job of lowering recidivism rates and substance abuse. A 2006 study of Marylands Juvenile Drug Courts by NRC Research of Portland, Oregon showed the offenders in drug court spent more time in the program than in a youth center program. The cost of treating a juvenile in the court program cost about $49 a day as opposed to an average of about $227 a day in the youth center program. The total cost for a youth in drug court was about $14,000, while the state-funded center program average was more than $43,000. The study also showed that after juveniles have been through drug court there was a 75 percent drop in chronic offenders on average state-wide. The offenders who will be eligible for the program include those who have been convicted of some narcoticsrelated offense and are placed on probation. Drug dealers and violent offenders will not be allowed admission, Cucinotta said. The drug court model means more supervision of addicts while theyre on probation including random, unannounced drug testing. Theyre more closely supervised in a drug court program, Cucinotta said. And they come back to court on a regular basis; the judge become very familiar with them. Were going to be on them right away were looking for that change in behavior. While in the adult drug court system offenders can be chided or rewarded by the judge in their case depending on how their many drug tests turn out, he said. The rewards could range from verbal praise from the judge to gift certificates for staying off drugs, Cucinotta said. Thats a big incentive, it gives them a sense of accomplishment, Cucinotta said. And thats a big deal because most of these people havent been praised for much. Punitive measures could include a return to incarceration and being expelled from the program. Cucinotta said the court is applying for federal grants to get the program started on time, and the court officers have already been accepted into the federal training program for drug court. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron said that the drug court model provides drug offenders with hope to be able to better beat their addiction and return to a normal, productive life. Juvenile drug court is an example of a very successful program; and thats the power of education and opportunity, Cameron said. Everybody deserves an opportunity. The drug court model would also serve the practical purpose of keeping offenders out of an already strained county detention center. The question is how many will we take out of there and keep out of there, Cameron said pointing over his shoulder to the detention center. States Attorney Richard Fritz said he was in support of the program because of its practical value in reducing crime related to narcotics sales and usage. I think we have to deal with reality, Fritz said. We can send them to the penitentiary but when they get back on the street theyll have the exact same addiction problem. The program could also encourage family members to inform law enforcement of a loved ones addiction problem since there would be more of a possibility of them getting treatment rather than being convicted and incarcerated. I think in the long run well reduce the kinds of crimes [burglaries, thefts and armed robberies] weve seen an increase in, Fritz said. Andrea Shiell Staff Writer A new tutoring partnership between the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and St. Marys County Public Schools that is expected to help develop students reading skills is starting up this winter. On Wednesday, citizens met at the St. Marys County Board of Education and were given training for their upcoming work with elementary school kids in the area. Prospective tutors were given instructions on fluency training and reading comprehension, and were introduced to elementary school principals in the area who are participating in the partnership. Schools that were chosen to participate in the program were those with few other tutoring systems in place. Park Hall, Green Holly, Greenview Knolls, Benjamin Banneker, Ridge, and Oakville Elementary will be opening their doors to volunteers in the next month. The Chamber of Commerce has been distributing information to businesses across the county to encourage participation. The hope is that participating companies will allow their employees paid time off during the week to meet with children for tutoring. The Maryland state curriculum for reading focuses on five components, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These new tutoring sessions are designed to target fluency, which is defined as rapid, accurate and expressive oral reading, and is generally measured with the number of words read per minute. Educators agree that this is a key component for reading comprehension. Tutors will work in eightweek cycles, and spend one hour a week helping students work on reading accuracy, speed, phrasing, pauses, and expression. The program, known as the Fluency Partnership, was piloted last year with seven volunteers, and is being expanded this year to include more schools, more students, and more than 28 volunteers have signed up so far. Bill Scarafia of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce noted that more volunteers are always needed. Additional training sessions for tutors will be held in early January. Those interested in volunteering should contact Martina Green at St. Marys County Public Schools for more information.

St. Marys County Commisoners Made The Following Appointments

BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS TERMS TO EXPIRE Agriculture Preservation Advisory Board Dr. Henry A. Virts (reappointment) Agriculture, Seafood and Forestry Commission Rudolph Baliko (reappointment) Patrick E. Dugan (reappointment) James Barry Roache (reappointment) Airport Advisory Committee James J. Davis Randy Willis Board of Trustees, Museum Division, St. Marys County James Banagan (reappointment) Helen Dorsey (reappointment) Frank L. Maio John L. Madel, Jr. (reappointment) Cable Advisory Committee Steven P. Cooper (reappointment) Laurence Whitbeck (reappointment) Commission for People with Disabilities Susan Erichsen (reappointment) Community Health Advisory Committee Christina M. St. Clair Georgette B. Gaskin Development Review Forum Elfreda Mathis (reappointment) Electrical Examiners Board Donald M. Haskin Human Relations Commission Theo L. Cramer Andree Wells Marcy House Board Joyce Dyson (reappointment) Darlene C. Jones (reappointment) Planning Commission Shelby P. Guazzo (reappointment) Brandon Hayden (reappointment) Stephen T. Reeves (reappointment) Recreation and Parks Board Mr. Richard L. Bucker (reappointment) Thomas E. Nelson 12/31/2011 12/31/2011 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 6/30/2012 6/30/2011 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2011 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2010 12/31/2012

I greatly appreciate the support you have given me over the years and I will continue to do my best to represent the people of St. Marys County and the state of Maryland. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and may all the blessings of the season, peace, hope and happiness be with you in the New Year.

Johnny and Barbara Wood and family.

Christmas Eve Family Service at 6:00 PM Christmas Eve St. Maries Musica Candlelight TriniTy Concert: Dec 10 at LuTheran Communion Service ChurCh 7:30 PM at 8:00 PM 46707 Shangri-La Drive Advent Services: Dec 12 and 19 at 6:00 PM
Lexington Park, MD 20653

Sheriffs Office Retirement Plan Board of Trustees Daniel Morris Tri-County Youth Services Bureau Yvonne M. Cummings Alma A. Shearin Wicomico Shores Golf Course Advisory Board Wayne Pettit (reappointment) Chico Rivers (reappointment) 12/31/2011 12/31/2011 12/31/2009 12/31/2009 No term

301-863-9512

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The County Times

we all had to help him. Helen Despres said her husbands energy could be infectious as well. He lightened up a room when he walked in, his wife said. He had more energy than you could imagine. The one thing he had a hard time with, she said, was putting up Christmas decorations each year in the family homes front yard. He didnt like putting up Christmas decorations but hed do it for me, Helen Despres said with a small laugh. Hed fuss the whole time. Ronald Despres was also

Section A - 
faithful to church, his family and friends said. He was one of our best Bible school teachers, said his longtime friend Bruce McDonald, who preached for the Church of Christ. He was interested in knowing the truth and studying the Bible. Memorial services for Ronald Despres will be held Dec. 22 at the Widercroft Church of Christ in Riverdale, located at 6330 Auburn Avenue. Services will start at 11a. m.

Mechanicsville Man Struck, Killed After Motorcycle Wreck

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A 63-year-old Mechanicsville resident was killed Monday when he was struck by another vehicle on Route 5 after he was in a motorcycle accident during his morning commute to the District. According to reports from the Maryland State Police, Ronald Joseph Despres was riding a 2005 Honda motorcycle shortly after 5a.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle after he hit an icy patch at the intersection of routes 5 and 231. Despres was thrown from his motorcycle and landed on the road where he was subsequently hit by another motorist, who was also heading north, state police reports stated. The day after the tragic accident, the Despres family was still in shock at having lost a beloved father and grandfather. Hes going to be greatly missed, said his wife of 38 years Helen Despres. Its a big time shock; we werent ready for any of this. Ronald Despres had a lifelong love of motorcycles, his wife said, never riding in a regular vehicle if he could help it. He liked to ride alone, said his daughter Cindy Dean. He would ride his motorcycle from January through December. He enjoyed riding so much he bought a suit that could be hooked into his bikes motor to keep him warm on the coldest of days, his family said. He also loved yard work and doting on his five grandsons, she said. Blowing leaves, [spending time with] his grandsons and bikes were his top three, Helen Despres, said. The motorcycle enthusiast was well known in his neighborhood for getting rid of all the leaves from neighbors yards using a special leaf blower as well as plowing their driveways in the winter when snow hit with his all-terrain vehicle and plow attached. He loved his toys, Helen Despres said. And they had to be the very best. Her husband was originally from Canada in the Niagara Falls area but later moved to the United States and joined the U.S. Army. He served in the Vietnam War as a combat infantryman and radio operator on the front lines of the conflict for two tours of duty, she said. After the returning home from the war he worked for Verizon as a telecommunications specialist and most recently for the National Gallery of Art in the District in much the same capacity. His other daughter Sherry Despres, remembered her father as having boundless energy and often running circles around the family doing housework and other chores. Hed gripe at you if you didnt help him, Sherry Despres said. If he was working

Senior Service Worker Retires

Clancy Lyall was honored with a plaque from the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday in recognition of his service to the community as a food transporter for the Department of Ageing, and a local organizer of veterans events. A celebrated World War 2 veteran, he was presented a plaque in recognition of his retirement.

5 Days Until Christmas

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Editorial & Opinion

The True Christmas Meaning
If you had to explain Christmas to someone who knew nothing of the season what would you say? Is it about religion? Is it about the spirit of giving? Or is it about the frantic rush of running from store to store in search of the best gifts? The deep personal traditions and cherished memories from Christmass past would probably be the easiest to recite. Favorite Christmas foods, beloved mementos and decorations from the past, visiting relatives you see too infrequently, attending church on Christmas Eve, a unique gift you cant wait to give that someone special or the feel of snow in the winter air would all likely be in your first attempt at explaining this time of the year. The importance of family and friends, especially the children, all surround the emotion of the holiday season. But how do we convey the conflicting actions of the spiritual side of Christmas and the frenzied, money spending stress that the season conjures up to most of us. What does all the retail madness of wrapping paper and bows have to do with Peace on Earth? What does hitting the shops at five a.m. and beating your neighbor to that Nintendo Wii have to do with the good will of the season? Can you plan, shop, wrap and bake till you drop and still capture the beauty and spirit of Christmas? Is it really all of those gifts that you give and receive that will portray the true feeling we were searching for? My hope is that as we all ponder that conflict in our effort to enlighten this person who knows nothing of Christmas we will take the time to look into our own hearts and clarify for ourselves the genuine meaning of what Christmas signifies to you and your family. To bring back the things we hold dearest in our hearts and to recapture the true spirit of the season. To take the time to once again enjoy the true purity of the sentiment of peace on earth and good will toward men. Poem by: Linda Lee Wolovich www.alighthouse.com, 2003

Thousands of years ago, Revealed by prophets of the past, Under the dark and starry night, Emmanuel was born at last.

Covered in his swaddling clothes, Honor was given to the newborn King,
Representing peace and goodwill to all men, Its because of Him that the angels did sing. Sent by King Herod to find him, Three wise men were led by a star, Myrrh, gold and frankincense were given, As gifts from the men from afar. Standing in awe at the manger, Magi worshipped and gave praise joyfully, Eventually this child would grow older,
nd give His life for you and for me.

This is a very busy time for local business owners. With holiday sales often being the difference between a profitable year or not, owners of small business need to focus their attention on the nuts and bolts of managing sales through the end of the year. But dont tell that to the Maryland Legislature, they have other ideas about what small business owners should be doing this time of year. Over the past several days, businesses have been bombarded with letters, notices, and instructions from the Comptroller of Maryland, Peter Franchot, which businesses must implement as a result of the recently completed special session in Annapolis. A December 12, 2007 notice went out giving businesses just a two-week notice to get computers and bookkeeping methods changed to accommodate a new Income Tax and Employee Withholding schedule effective January 1, 2008.

Local Businesses Facchina Donates A Struggling to Meet St. Marys Boy New State Laws Scout Property Into Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) Program
Now as we set apart a special day of the year, In remembrance for all who believe, Never forget why our Father did send Him, Gods gift is the greatest we will ever receive.
Some are faced with having to find computer programmers to rewrite software on a two-week notice during the holidays to accommodate the change in rate brackets. Only days ago, the Comptroller sent notices with information about the 20% increase in sales tax. This tax changes takes place on January 3, 2008. Once again, most small businesses will be searching for computer programmers on short notice to meet the deadline. In their haste to collect more tax revenue, the state legislature has placed a difficult burden on many small businesses during their busiest time of year with a very short notice. It is fair and reasonable for businesses to expect a 90 day notice in order to properly implement major changes in government requirements, anything less is an undue hardship, especially during their make or break time of year. Paul V. Facchina Sr. founder and CEO of the Facchina Group of Companies, and his family have been the single largest donators of land development rights into the Maryland Environment Trust (MET) since its inception in 1967. To date the total dedications have surpassed 1,925 acres in Southern Maryland. Now, the Facchina family will add another 179 acres to the environmental trust. Known as the Boy Scout Property, in St. Marys County the paperwork is in progress to dedicate this tract of development land into the Maryland Environment Trust program. This unique parcel, located in St. Marys county just south of the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River and east of highway 235, has 950 feet of frontage on the Chesapeake Bay making it a vital part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed1ecosystem. The land is also seen as a key bridge parcel by St. Marys county connecting the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area and providing a further buffer between the expanding operations of the military base and the community. Under PUD planning for residential development the parcel would accommodate up to 258 dwelling units; with inclusion into the MET program the parcel will now be limited to (4) residential units. In donating the land into the Trust program, Paul V. Facchina, Sr. said I am glad we were able to work with MET and St. Marys County to conserve this vital property while also benefiting the Countys Rural Legacy program, the Naval Air Stations buffer zone and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Protection Area. Previous Dedication by the Facchina family: Paul Facchina Sr. on behalf of the Facchina family donated his first four environment easements in Charles County in I996 and I999 preserving the historical 400-acre Mt. Air plantation occupied by his family. In 2003 he donated an easement on 327 acres in the Gunston area and in 2004 he granted another easement of 233 acres on the Nanjemoy River known as Audubon Woods. Facchinas first St. Marys County donation was significant because it protected 222 acres as part of the headwater streams of the St. Marys River and provided habitat protection for forest interior dwelling birds. The Boy Scout Property dedication continues the Facchina commitment to assist in preserving key rural and environmental sensitive areas where possible by public and private partnerships such as MET and the regional rural legacy programs.

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James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager ...........................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net . Andrea Shiell - Government Correspondent ..........adamross@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Sports Correspondent .............. ........chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net Eileen McDonald - Advertising Rep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net George Schaffer - Advertising Rep..................georgeschaffer@countytimes.net

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 

Ramblings of a Country Girl Playground Shooter

Gets 10 Years
After serving his 10 year sentence, Johnson must submit to five years One of two shooters of supervised probation convicted of opening fire upon his release to the on rival gang members community, Judge Stamm near a Lexington Park said, and also as part of mobile home park play- his probation he must not ground will serve 10 years have any contact with any in prison for his crime. victims or co-defendants Jarrell Raheim John- in the case. You Might son, 20, received his senThe shooting on Subtence from Judge Michael urban Drive brought to Be From St. 14 for an the existence of Marys County J. Stamm Dec.two counts light local gangs that enAlford plea to small, of first-degree assault in gage in criminal activity If. the April 24 shooting in- including drug sales. The April 24 shootYou know what squirrels cident on Suburban Drive in Lexington Park. ing also sparked a countaste like (bonus you know His sentence also cov- ty-wide effort to identify what squirrel soup tastes ered a charge of reckless possible gangs in comlike). munities as well as satuYou know the verbs top, endangerment. Johnson showed some ration patrols designed to sucker, spear and strip all recontrition for his actions crack down on street-level late to tobacco. You know what fatback when he received his crime. is, how its used and how it sentence. According to chargtastes. I apologize to the ing documents filed by You knew how to pick court for my actions, investigators in the case, a crab by the time you were Johnson said. the shooting arose from able to walk, talk and feed Judge Stamm, howev- a domestic dispute that yourself. er, told Johnson his apolo- set the two rival factions You dont call deer meat gies were misplaced. the Outsiders and the venison, you call it deer meat. Your apology should Boom Squad against You know when someone be to the community, each other. says theyre going to the park, Judge Stamm told JohnJohnson, a Boom they mean Lexington Park. son. What you did was Squad member, and felYou know that going up reckless low gang members gaththe road means going to the extremely you couldve killed ered weapons and ammuD.C. area. somebody. nition to confront one of Johnson nodded his the victims, Joseph Payne, Merry Christmas and head in agreement with who had been involved in Best Wishes for 2008! Stamm. the domestic dispute with The convicted shooter his wife earlier that day, You can email the Country Girl at countrygirlram- was originally charged charging documents state, with attempted second- and drove down to Suburblings@gmail.com degree murder, but that ban Driver in several vecharge was not pursued hicles looking for Payne. by prosecutors. When they found Johnson, who was 19 Payne, charging docuat the time of the shooting, ments state, Johnson and agreed to cooperate with fellow gang members prosecutors and detectives opened fire on him and investigating the crime af- his associates, including ter he admitted his guilt Sherron Torrill Bush who back in September. was struck by shotgun By Guy Leonard Staff Writer pellets. The gunfire erupted next to a small playground located on the main road leading down to the mobile home park and endangered as many as nine children who were playing there, investigators and prosecutors have said. The proximity of the playground to the shooting netted both Johnson and another defendant, Lamont Drewell Carey, their reckless endangerment charges. Carey who is scheduled to be sentenced this week, will only serve time in a juvenile facility until he is 21 years of age as he fired on the other gang members when he was 17 years old. Carey turned 18 after the shooting. The prosecutions efforts in the case netted as many as seven arrests, some of whom were convicted of lesser charges while others had the charges against them dropped. Assistant States Attorny Joseph Stanalonis said the main shooters in the case so far have been brought to justice. Our primary goal was that the two people in the Boom Squad be prosecuted, Stanalonis said, adding that as of yet there have been no charges filed against members of the Outsiders gang. One of the most serious aspects of this case was discharging a firearm in this community where children were present.

Terri Bartz Bowles For those who love St. Marys County - natives, naturalized countians and wannabes, heres my Christmas gift to you You Might Be From St. Marys County If. You call the Jams A. Forrest Career and Technology Center the Tech Center because it started life as the St. Marys County Technical Center. You know that the dualization of Route 235 occurred in phases and you know where it went from single to dual and back again. You understand the 10 ounce Budweiser. You kn ow that most softball games used to be played at local bars because they had softball fields and the county didnt. You know Margaret Brent Middle School started out as Margaret Brent High School. You know that back roads

are made of tar and chip. You also know they used to be crowned for water runoff and didnt have painted lines or shoulders. You know that back roads were sometimes dirt roads. Just because a county road had a name didnt mean it wasnt dirt. You buy a season pass to the county fair. You know the volunteer fire department carnivals occur in a certain order and you know what that order is. (Bonus you know which fire departments used to have carnivals and where they fit in the order.) You know the last day of the week is properly pronounced Sarday. When you go out to eat, you dont order oysters in summer or crabs in winter because you know theyre not in season. Nobody has ever had to explain to you what stuffed ham is.

How Economics Could Affect Christmas Decorating

Fuel and housing trends may impact home decorating this holiday season. But what does the cost of fuel or rising interest rates have to do with the holidays? According to financial forecasters . a lot. Decorating and the Price of Oil Most ornaments and decorating items are made from plastic. Plastic is a derivative of petroleum, which comes from oil. As the cost of oil continues to rise due to political unrest in oilproducing nations, so, too, will the cost of manufacturing plastic products. This could lead to shortages in ornaments or increased costs passed on to consumers. While it is possible that people may skimp on ornaments due to increased oil costs, the opposite could also occur. Since higher fuel costs may keep people from doing extensive holiday travel, they may simply spend the holidays at home and put more effort into decorating this year. Decorating and Home Costs Houses have gotten bigger in recent years, which means there has been more square-footage for a homeowner to heat and cool. As fuel costs go up, so do monthly bills. Additionally, foreclosure rates are at all-time highs due to gradually rising interest rates and the bottoming-out of creative financing plans offered through many bankrupted mortgage companies. As a result of these factors, many homeowners may be looking to downsize their homes. Smaller spaces mean less room for ornaments and less need for huge Christmas trees to fill great rooms and impressive entryways. Decorating and Baby Boomers Baby Boomers have traditionally held the honor of being top ornament collectors. Primarily this is because the demographic is the largest of those with ample buying power. But as Boomers continue to retire, they may have to put their income toward other necessities over holiday decorating items. Still, for those who will continue to collect against all odds, key licensing items, such as ornaments with a Simpsons theme, based on the hit summer movie, or Family Guy ornaments, and other non-traditional holiday representations are predicted to lead the way for ornament sales

St. St. Mary's City Marys City

DATE Fri. Dec. 21 Sat. Dec. 22 Sun. Dec. 23 Mon. Dec. 24 Tue. Dec. 25 Wed. Dec. 26 Thu. Dec. 27 HIGH 12/20 10:36 p.m 12/21 11:34 p.m. 12:29 a.m. 1:23 a.m. 2:15 a.m. 3:07 a.m. 3:58 a.m. LOCATION Breton Bay Bushwood Wharf Colton's Point Point Lookout Piney Point Wicomico Beach Solomons Island LOW 4:31 a.m. 5:34 a.m. 6:34 a.m. 7:32 a.m. 8:28 a.m. 9:21 a.m. 10:14 a.m. HIGH "+31 min." "+45 min." "+50 min." "-51 min." "+9 min." "+58 min." "-10 min." HIGH 10:54 p.m. 11:50 a.m. 12:45 p.m. 1:39 p.m. 2:33 p.m. 3:26 p.m. 4:19 p.m. LOW "+29 min." "+45 min." "+24 min." "-51 min." "-8 min." "+63 min." "-25 min." LOW 5:47 p.m. 6:44 p.m. 7:38 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 10:08 p.m. 10:54 p.m.

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 Section A - 

The County Times

region. Edgerley said that communities like St. Marys and Charles had to ensure that they had a vibrant and competitive work force to ensure they could keep the gains theyve received as a result of military programs operating here. My encouragement is dont relax, Edgerley said about looking for the type of jobs that will be common in the future. They may become elusive. He praised the work of institutions like the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, which was one improvement that helped St. Marys adjust to BRAC impacts, for keeping the workforce well educated. Capt. Matt Scassero, vice commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, said that getting qualified personnel to work on base was a critical need that seems to never be filled. He said that as many as 30 to 40 percent of the civilian work force recruited from outside the community to work on the base leave relatively quickly. Those recruited from the community tend to stay much more he said. They dont feel an attachment to the area, Scassero said. Our attrition is killing us. The need for qualified personnel could grow stronger in the next two years since the base will become the home of eight multi-billion dollar programs in research and development and test and evaluation, Scassero said. Scassero also said that affordable housing was another critical need already being addressed by the county government. At the starting salary for most new employees on the base, between $35,000 to $42,000, he said, it was difficult to attract qualified personnel to the area. Scasssero said, however, that he was encouraged by the states commitment to include Southern Maryland in the states BRAC development plans. Edgerley said that after Southern Marylands successful 1995 BRAC the state

Thursday, December 20, 2007

would use it as a model for how other communities can cope to the changes. Southern Maryland was the model for how BRAC got done right, Edgerley said. When were looking at other communities we always asking ourselves What did they do in Southern Maryland? How did they get that done?

Housing
Continued from page A- Charles County. But it local communities would have to help ensure that they matched their response to the growth. Its the work of all of us to bring in the right balance [of transportation, housing, and education], Edgerley said. Gov. Martin OMalleys (D) plan to support communities dealing with BRAC growth includes funding for more higher education opportunities and incentives to local governments to build enhanced roads, streets, utilities and parks to make way for more jobs coming into communities. According to the governors BRAC action report, a 2003 study by the TriCounty Council showed that the BRAC gains from 1995 generated $80 million in revenue from the new jobs in the

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David Edgerley, secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development talks with Catherine Meyers, executive director of The Center for Children at an economic development symposium at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.

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The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech, performed by Jennifer Wiltsie

Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer Lets pretend for a minute that you are a prince or princess. Your mother, the Queen, does nothing all day but sit on her throne. Your father the King counts his money. Servants bring you everything you want, including the gold crown you wear on your head. Sounds great? Well, then, sit back and listen to a tale of royalty, secrets, and dreams in The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech, performed by Jennifer Wiltsie. Not so long ago and not so far away there was a castle that sat high above the banks of the Winono River. In the castle, lived a king, a queen, and their children. The peasants that lived in the kingdom were poor, but the king and his family had poor attitudes. King Guido thought about things he didnt have and he feared that others might take what he owned. Prince Gianni, the eldest son, was a dreamer who wanted to be a poet. Gianni had riches and horses but he didnt have his freedom. Alas, he never would. Gianni was the firstborn. He was destined to be king some day. Young Prince Vito was much smarter than his older brother, and much braver. He thought he would be a much better king than Gianni! It just wasnt fair! Little Princess Fabrizia was the kings favorite. Pampered and primped, Fabrizia had elegant gowns and lovely jewels. But none of this made her happy. She wanted, well, she didnt know what she wanted. She wanted something. And then there was beautiful Queen Gabriella, beloved by her husband and respected by her servants. But there was something missing in Gabriellas life and now she keeps a secret close in her heart. In the land far below the castle lived two peasant children, Pia and Enzio, poor orphans who shared a home with a cruel guardian. When the children find a pouch that had been stolen from the King, the Kings horsemen snatch them up one night and carry them to the Castle Corona. Pia and Enzio are sure that theyll

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meet their death in the castle. Does Happily Ever After really ever happen? What little girl doesnt want to be a beautiful, pampered princess? What young boy doesnt want to be a swashbuckling prince? Both of them as well as parents and grandparents will be captivated by this enchanting fairy tale that includes royalty, adventure, and a lesson in not taking either for granted. Former Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech has twisted the classic secretlyroyal-orphan story to include a Queen with a conscience and not one but three mysterious schemers. Yes, there is a bad guy in this story, but sensitive children wont be too upset by him because hes not all that terrible. Add wonderful voicework by Jennifer Wiltsie and your 6-to-12-year-old will be completely captivated by this adorable tale. If youve got a prince or princess wanna-be you want to charm, this is the next audiobook to tuck in the car or suitcase. The Castle Corona is a tale fit for royalty.

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 7
on the bright side. About 400 of the 600 families on the list have been adopted and provided for this Christmas season, and the donations have been coming in from businesses, community philanthropic organizations and even private families. Kauffmann said some families have even opted to help other families this Christmas instead of buying gifts for themselves. One person who got assistance from the Christmas Caring program in a previous year and has now gotten back on their feet has even asked to help a family in need. Those are the ones that bring tears to our eyes, Brown said. Some families are even willing to forgo presents this year just to make sure they can get the basic necessities, Brown said. We get applications that say Please, just coats and socks, things like that we need those more than toys, Brown said. Donations for teenagers, who often like electronics or higher-end items, are often the hardest to collect, Brown said, but those who want to give for teenagers can still submit gift cards. For more information on where to give and what to give call the Division of Community Services at 301475-4200 ext. 1851 from 8 a.m. to 5p.m.

Holiday Shopping Tips When Shopping for Toddlers and Preschoolers

The chaotic holiday shopping season seems to approach sooner each year, and while visions of toy recalls dance in their head, consumers shopping for young children will be on their toes this season. While safety should be a big concern, toy shoppers should keep other things in mind as well, say early childhood experts at Parents as Teachers National Center. Age and skill level Consult the age guidelines shown on toy boxes, but remember they are just that - guidelines. Imagine the child playing with the toy; is it challenging enough to capture his interest without being overwhelming or unsafe? If you are unsure, ask the childs parents. They know their childs skills and capabilities best, and can decide if he is ready to enjoy a particular toy, suggests Jane Kostelc, early childhood specialist at Parents as Teachers National Center. Opportunities for parent-child interaction - the play with me factor When shopping for gifts for young children, look for items that will foster parent interaction with the child. Adults can support and extend childrens play. Look for play materials that provide such opportunities. Games are good choices as they require more than one person to play. For parents, think of things you like to do and see if you can extend those pastimes to include your child. For example, if you like to cook, child-sized utensils, apron and a cookie-baking date could make a gift both you and your child will enjoy. Interests At a very early age children develop interests that guide their learning and enjoyment, says Kostelc. Parents should watch what their child chooses to play with and listen to the things she talks about. At the same time, help a child who is engrossed with a particular type of plaything to branch out and have other play experiences. For example, a child who is fascinated with trains might enjoy a puzzle with a train theme. Toys are not the only things children play with. Look for everyday objects that can support and extend a childs interests. For example, a child interested in bugs might like a flashlight and an unbreakable magnifying glass to find specimens. The value of play Young children learn things every day through play. Toys that do everything for the child dont have much play value, nor are they likely to engage a child for long. But toys and materials that allow a child to use his imagination will also help his brain grow. Look for activities that are open-ended, that is, that can be played with in many different ways. Building blocks, for example, can be played with by children at different ages. They can become anything the child imagines them to be. All things considered Always focus on how safe playthings are when choosing gifts for children. Safety depends on how toys are manufactured, but also on how appropriate they are for a childs age, skill level and activity level. There is no such thing as an absolutely safe toy. Children require supervision during play. And remember that more than anything else, young children crave time and attention. These are the best gifts a parent can provide. When you play with your child you foster learning and support his development in a number of areas. Kostelc adds. Early childhood development specialists at Parents as Teachers National Center recommend safety always come first, but also advise these tips when shopping for toys for youngsters this holiday season: Age and skill level: these are just guidelines; you want a childs toy to stimulate his imagination. Parent interaction: look for toys and games that foster interaction with the child. The play value: children learn so much from play; choose toys that can be played with in many different ways. Interests: children develop interests at a very early age that guide their learning and enjoyment; keep these in mind.

Christmas Caring
Continued from page A- the holiday season, according to Cynthia Brown, community services manager. Were very much in need of more donations, Brown told The County Times. Well be taking donations right up to the end; as long as were here well continue. Brown said that last year only 30 families out of 546 that participated in the program went without donated presents or clothes. Theres just fewer donations, said Elaine Kauffman, the Christmas Caring coordinator, who added that people looking for help keep applying. Were still getting people calling and asking if its too late. The deadline for donations of Christmas gifts and clothes for all ages, from children to adults, is Dec. 21. Donations will still be accepted on that day, Brown said. All of the families accepted into the program currently receive food stamps or cash assistance. The pressures in some families are great, Kauffman said, and that drives the need for Christmas season help. We have a lot of large families, Kauffman said. I have one family with 10 children. Still, staff and volunteers with the Division of Community Services are looking

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 Section A - 

The County Times

river. The goal is to restore the water quality of the Patuxent to what it was in 1950. County commissioner Lawrence Jarboe was present at the meeting, and commented later on his impressions of the reports recommendation that zoning updates restrict development to one house per thirty acres (current zoning permits one house per five acres of land in rural and conservation areas). Given the choice between vegetation in the river, which could be accommodated and is needed, and drastic zoning measures, I think well support cleaning up the river with vegetation and oyster restoration. He explained that much of the problem was due to sewage treatment plants in the north, and with respect to zoning recommendations he added if they feel that strongly about it, why not ask for it to become retroactive? How many people on their acre lot would like having to give it up because it has to be on a bigger lot to save the Patuxent when theyre dumping the sewage upriver? You have to find solutions that really affect the problem rather than creating more problems. The 20/20 report states that the three biggest pollutants in the Patuxent are nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment, with the biggest contributors of each coming from urban runoff, agriculture, and wastewater treatment plants. Senator Bernie Fowler, a long-time champion of the clean-up cause, noted on Thursday evening that development in northern counties has posed a serious threat to the health of the river, since water flows downhill, and that action is needed now to ensure the watersheds future. Development was cited as the number one threat to water quality, accounting for two-thirds of nutrients in the watershed. Were pressed for more economic development, Senator Fowler said, six-lane highways, new bridges, and the report noted that the population in the watershed is expected to grow another 22% by the year 2020, making action at the state and local levels all the more important. Discussions of the situation noted that in 1963, an estimated three million gallons of waste material were dumped into the river. Today, an estimated 60 million gallons are being dumped. Point source pollution from wastewater treatment plants, industrial polluters, and federal facilities account for roughly a third of the total nutrients in the watershed, including nitrogen and phosphorous deposits that feed overgrowths of algae blooms and block sunlight, impairing the survival of plants and animals on the river floor, also contributing to dead zones where nothing can survive in the river. Sediment deposits from construction sites smother grasses and oyster beds, and produce a milky-brown color in the water. The report cites these as the most obvious symptoms of poor water quality. When asked at the Tri-County Council Meeting about challenges to the implementation of these policy recommendations, Senator Fowler stated that the number one challenge would be educating the public about the danger posed to the watershed. We have failed miserably to raise public awareness about the Patux-

Thursday, December 20, 2007

ent River, he said. Im here tonight to sound the alarm...The Patuxent River is dying. Commissioner Mattingly was also present at the meeting and had comments about the zoning recommendations as well, indicating the zoning was not high on the list of priorities. Our efforts have been very much focused on creating easements on property, like the Rural Legacy program in the northern part of the county, which is a main piece of the watershed. As far as general impressions, he said I think everyone is anxious to take on this monumental task. A lot of it is dependant on cooperation from the entire river basin. Its not just a Saint Marys County problem. The 20/20 report will be presented to state legislatures on February 18 at the annual Legislative Day in Annapolis. At Mondays press conference, the Riverkeepers also announced plans to release yearly report cards on the Patuxent to measure progress. All involved in the project agreed that the report is the first step to finding solutions which Bevan-Dangel described as multiple and sometimes overwhelming. When asked about the timeline for these recommended policy changes, Bevan-Dangel said their goal for getting these recommendations off the page and into action would be the year 2020. At the Tri-County Council meeting, Senator Fowler admitted that many of the reports recommendations should have been implemented years ago, but hindsight is always 20/20.

River
Continued from page A- now available on the groups website. At the Thursday evening meeting, Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, the Executive Director of the Patuxent Riverkeeper, an advocacy group focused on the watershed, outlined the plan as a comprehensive list of policy changes and updates that would help mitigate pollution from development, agriculture and urban run-off in the waterway. There is no single solution that will restore and protect water quality, said Be van-Dangel at the Monday press conference. The approach we are calling for today cites specific actions that can be taken immediately to protect our river. The 72-page report contains 23 specific recommendations for state and county governments to restore the river. Among the recommendations are zoning updates to allow one house per thirty acres, thereby minimizing the risk of overdevelopment, reformed critical area laws to protect tidal buffers, the establishment of wetland permit fees and tougher wetland enforcement, adoption of Environmental Management Systems for federal facilities, upgrades to wastewater treatment plants in the area, increases in mass transit funding for areas throughout the watershed, increased permit violation fees for air pollution permit holders, and guidelines for total pollution limits in the

New Grant Awarded for Adolescent Reading Study

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer St. Marys County Public Schools (SMCPS) will be the beneficiary of a five-year, $2.8 million grant awarded to the University of Marylands College of Education by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The purpose of the partnership is to improve adolescent reading skills by designing interventions for struggling readers in middle school. All four middle schools in St. Marys County will participate in the study, which if successful, will also serve as a pilot for future interventions in other subjects. Nationally, statistics reflect that reading motivation and comprehension among adolescents has declined, leaving 69 percent of 8th grade students reading below the proficient level. In St. Marys County, 24.2 percent of 8th grade students are below proficiency in reading. The project will support SMCPS in meeting their achievement goals of helping all students gain proficiency in reading. Success in reading at the middle school level is important to success in high school. The instruction is set to focus on the four Cs: connections between books and real life, choices that give students ownership of reading, competency that gives students confidence in reading, and collaboration between students to boost their enthusiasm for gaining knowledge from the text. The study will be implemented by Professor John T. Guthrie from the University of Maryland, who will be accompanied by Dr. Allan Wigfield of the Department of Human Development. Also working on the project will be Linda Dudderar, SMCPS chief academic officer, and Liz Cooper, SMCPS supervisor of reading instruction. During the five-year study, professional development opportunities will be provided for teachers, including new tools for locating books that are aligned with the curriculum and students reading needs. Multimedia resources, including streaming videos and authentic documents, will be available on Web-based computer systems. The project will provide teachers with professional development in research-based classroom practices. Leadership for this professional development will come jointly from Dr. Guthrie and the investigators at the University of Maryland, and the leadership of SMCPS under the guidance of Dr. Michael Martirano, superintendent of schools. According to Linda Dudderar, the five-year grant is the first of its kind to be awarded in St. Marys County. Were delighted to have this opportunity, she said. This will provide a lot of insight into our middle school readers. Teachers are set to begin training for the program in June 2008.

I Want a Pony!: A Shoppers Guide to the Inevitable Holiday Request

Lets face it - for as long as most can remember, when a parent asks a child what she wants for the holidays, a pony usually makes the top of the list. While this request may seem like more of a fantasy than a practical gift, these days, this dream is increasingly becoming a reality. This can in part be attributed to the fact that in the last decade, the Internet has helped make selling and purchasing virtually anything under the sun faster and easier - and horses are no exception. Aaron Bromagem, founder of Equine. com, one of the largest online horse marketplaces on the Internet, has seen the online buying and selling of horses skyrocket in the past two years alone. A search for a new horse is begun every second on Equine.com, and approximately one horse is sold every 29 minutes, and the holidays are no exception, said Bromagem. With more than 55,000 horses available for sale, stud or lease every day, there is a massive global network of buyers and sellers looking to connect, making Equine.com a great resource for parents looking to do some serious, educated holiday shopping. Today, consumers have instant access to numerous Web sites that offer hundreds of thousands of horses in all breeds and disciplines, from miniature ponies to thorough-

helped ensure online horse brokering keeps pace with todays technology, notes that there are several smart and time-saving tips shoppers should keep in mind this season when exploring buying a horse. 1) Look to technology to showcase the horses abilities: While visiting an animal in person is always ideal, it is not always practical, especially as the weather cools and schedules fill with all the goings-on associated with the holidays. Online advertisements featuring videos and photos allow buyers to make more informed choices. By searching ads with action-filled clips of a horse trotting, galloping or jumping, consumers can see for themselves a horses conformation and abilities, right from their own computer.

bred stallions. If cost is an inhibitor, Web sites such as Equine.com offer many horses free to a good home. Armed with the proper knowledge, families worldwide can safely and conveniently search, purchase and provide a new home for their favorite animal just in time for the holidays, said Bromagem. We can easily help parents make their childs dream of owning a pony come true. But how does one go about shopping for such an important gift during the most hectic 2) Connect with fellow buyers: Contime of the year? Bromagem, who has wit- necting with horse owners who have been nessed the industry grow since he founded through, or are going through, the buying the company more than a decade ago and has or selling process can be helpful given the tips and inside information they can share. Consumers should communicate with other users via online forums, message centers or blogs, whenever possible - this instant communication can make life a little easier as the autumn bustle kicks into high gear. 3) Beware of scams: The online shopping industry often is targeted for scams, particularly around the holidays when more people are buying online, so consumers should be cautious when completing equine sales, just as they are when purchasing other goods over the Internet. While the online horse industry works to protect users from scammers, consumers always should be cautious by using secure methods of payment and keeping detailed records when conducting transactions. Additionally, consumers should perform thorough research on transportation companies, as many that promote their businesses to online horse brokers do not specialize in equine hauling, raising concerns about the safety of the animals they carry.

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4) Gear up: Once a horse has found a good home, he will need equipment and a few holiday gifts of his own. Shoppers should explore what they and their new animal may need to get comfortable in their new relationship - including trailers and trucks, tacks, saddles, feed, books and informational DVDs, as well as apparel and grooming materials. Horse products and accessories can be found online at Equine.com and the newly launched shopping site, http://shopping.equisearch.com. While each family may have their own unique needs, with the right know-how, they can easily find the perfect present at their fingertips. By following these guidelines, families seeking a horse this season can practically and promptly grant the ultimate wish to their family, while also protecting their animals and their investments. For more information, or to post or browse for a horse, visit www.equine.com.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 

Obituaries
Sheila Rae Simms Drury, 61
Hastings, W.V., died Dec. 16, in St. Marys Hospital. Born September 9, 1934 in Hastings, W.V. she was the daughter of the late William and Wilda Riley. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph F. Irvin Sept. 23, 2007 in Georgetown University Hospital, whom she married Dec. 7, 1953 in Westover, W.V. She is survived by her children: Sheila Rae Corbin and her husband Mark of Waldorf, Md., Joseph Martin Irvin and his wife Linda of Mechanicsville and Charles Riley Irvin and his wife Terri of Bel Alton, Md.; brother: Charles Riley of Fortona, Calif.; six grandchildren: Randy Corbin, Megan Corbin, Dixie Corbin, Andrea Irvin, Danielle Irvin and Ann Irvin and three great- grandchildren: Zakk Corbin, Jake Corbin and Kelsie Irvin. She is also preceded in death by her sister Virginia George. Mrs. Irvin graduated from Pinegrove High School Class of 1952. She moved to St. Marys County in October 1993 from Forestville, Md. The family received friends Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 5 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, Dec. 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop William McClean officiating. Interment will follow in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. at 11 a.m.. Pallbearers will be: Randy Corbin, Mark Corbin, Charlie Corbin, Russell Bednarik, Scott Bellevou and Joseph Mays. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A Service will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 27 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. at 11 a.m. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown.

Mary Agnes Pumphrey, 84

Elizabeth Margaret Messick, 87

Sheila Rae Simms Drury, 61, of Ridge died Dec. 8 in Georgetown University Hospital. Born Oct. 10, 1946 in Riverdale, Md., she was the daughter of Dorothy and Charles Simms of Ridge. She was the loving wife of Donald Franklin Drury, Jr. whom she married Nov. 19, 1966 in St. Michaels Church, Ridge. She is survived by her loving children; Dawn Drury Turner of Ridge, Lisa Drury Brizek, of Chapin, S.C., Michael Drury of King George, Va. and Emily Drury of Greensburg, Pa.; brother: Glenn Simms of Owings, Md. and eight grandchildren: Nikolai Yamaner, Isaiah Turner, Raegan Brizek, Michaela Turner, Gavin Brizek, Aiden Drury, Addison Brizek and Conner Drury. She was preceded in death by her brothers Bruce and Steven Simms. Shelia was a doting grandmother who enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren. She is best remembered as always smiling and supporting her entire family. She would always put others before herself and constantly looked after not only her own family but also others in need. Shelias passing is a great loss not only to the Drury family but to her extended family and all that were touched by her love. Mrs. Drury graduated from Great Mills High School, Class of 1965. The family received friends Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. in St. Michaels Catholic Church, Ridge, with Fr. Maurice OConnell officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Michael Drury, The Rose Family, Thomas Drury, Michael Brizek, John Edward Drury, Nikolai Yamaner and Daniel Russell. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Upon Graduation from high school, she relocated to Washington, DC where she met her husband James F. Garner. They were married in 1937 and lived in Bethesda, Md. until 1944, when they moved to Tall Timbers, Md. and operated a successful general merchandise store for 20 years. Shortly after selling the store in 1964, she worked at the First National Bank of St. Marys in Lexington Park, Md. until 1971. She lived in Leonardtown, at Cedar Lane from 1987 to 1997 and for the past ten years lived in McLean, Va. at the Lewensville Apartments. Mayme will be remembered for being generous and having a zest for life. She had a unique ability to make all those around her feel welcome. Her family and friends will miss her. She is survived by three children: James F. Garner, Jr. of San Diego, Calif., Judith Garren of Jacksonville, Fla. and Joseph Garner of Great Falls, Va. She had six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Francis Garner. The family and friends were invited to Maymes Life Celebration Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Life Celebration Chapel, Leonardtown. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. in St. George Catholic Church, Valley Lee. The Reverend Msgr. Karl A. Chimiak was the celebrant. Interment followed in St. George Catholic Church Cemetery, Valley Lee. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD

Mildred Leilani Kai Long, 85

Mildred Leilani Kai Long, 85, of Leonardtown died Dec 10 in St. Marys Hospital, Leonardtown. Born Jan.6, 1922 in Hilo, Hawaii, she was the daughter of the late David Kai and Silvava Carrena Kai. Mrs. Long had worked as a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines and worked with the Postal Service for 10 years. She retired from Civil Service at Andrews Air Force Base in 1979. Mildred was an avid quilter and homemaker and loved her afternoon soap operas. She raised and loved her Yorkies. She is survived by a son, Charles L. Long and his wife Rosalinda of Monticello, Maine, and three grandchildren, Charles D. Long of Maine, Andrew Wilton Long and Cynthia Marie Long of Md. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband David Wilbur Long, whom she married May 24, 1947 and a son, David Paul Long. The family received friends for Mrs. Longs Life Celebration Sunday, Dec. 16 from 1:30 3 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown. A Graveside

Rachel Ann Nan Irvin, 73

Mayme Ferrell Garner, 1

Mayme Ferrell Garner, 91, of Leonardtown died Dec. 9 in INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Va. Born Sept. 24, 1916 in Danville, Va., she was the daughter of the late Thadious Oscar Draper and Mayme Ferell Draper.

Elizabeth Margaret Messick, 87, of Ridge died Dec. 16. Born July 15, 1920 in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of the late Brady R. and Helen M. Smith McKay. Mrs. Messick was a 1939 graduate of St. Marys Female Seminary, St. Marys City. She worked for the U.S. Government in the Treasury Department in Washington, DC from 1939 to 1948 and in Public Works and the Security Department aboard the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River from 1951 until retiring in 1977. Mrs. Messick was a member of the American Legion Post #255 Ladies Auxiliary, the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, St. Michaels Ladies of Charity and the Ridge Lions Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Mahoney Messick. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Harry C. Wright, a sister-inlaw, Annie Lucille Wright both of Ridge and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family received friends Tuesday, Dec. 18 in St. Michaels Catholic Church, Ridge from 5 8 p.m. with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. in St. Michaels Church. The Reverend Maurice OConnell was the celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Robbie Wood, Johnny Wood, C.D. Wood, Joe (Herbie) McKay, Kim McKay and Jimmy Wood. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 520, Ridge, MD 20680 or Hospice House, c/o HOSPICE of St. Marys, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

George Edward Norton, 0

George Edward Norton, of Ridge passed away Monday, Dec. 17 in the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.

Rachel Ann Nan Irvin, 73, of Abell, Md., formerly of

Mr. Norton was 90 years old. He was born to Clarence Mortimer and Laura Nesius Norton Sept. 26, 1917, in Washington, DC. Mr. Norton was a U.S. Navy veteran, and served during World War II as a carpenters mate. He worked as a television repairman and carpenter in Washington, DC, after the war; he and his wife moved their family to Ridge in the early 1950s. Mr. Norton then began his civil service career as an electronics technician at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River and retired in 1977. Mr. Norton was a past member of the St. Michaels Church Choir, past president of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and served on the Board of Directors of the St. Jerome Creek Citizens Association. He also served as an usher at St. Michaels Church in Ridge. His hobbies and interests included organic gardening, coin and stamp collecting, American history, chess, checkers, dancing, classical music, old movies, and studying the stock market. Mr. Norton is survived by his wife Audrey Raley Norton, whom he married Oct. 14, 1943, in Washington, DC, and by his children Diane Varner, and her husband Donald, of Severna Park; Larry Norton and his wife Elizabeth, of La Plata; Karen Jensen and her husband Peter, of Ridge; and Kevin Norton, and his companion Karen Headley, of Mechanicsville. He is also survived by his grandchildren Douglas Varner, and his wife Christina; David Varner; and Brandi Norton. Mr. Norton was predeceased by his parents and his brothers Howard Norton and Henry Norton. Family received friends at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Ridge Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 5 8 p.m., with prayers recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Maurice OConnell Thursday, Dec. 20 at noon in the church, with burial following in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bruce Dalton, Peter Jensen, Henry Norton, Bruce Raley, David Varner, and Douglas Varner. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680; Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650; or Monsignor Peacock Memorial Fund at St. Michaels School, P.O. Box 259, Ridge, MD 20680. Funeral arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Mary Agnes Pumphrey, 84, of California, Md. died Dec. 11 in her residence. Born Aug. 14, 1923 in Haverhill, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Patrick Francis Aherne and Mary A. Sullivan Aherne. She is survived by her children, Peggy Chaney of Clarksville, Tenn., Pat Pumphrey of Knotts Island, N.C., Ann Tennison California, Md., five grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a sibling, Fran Aherne of Canton, Ohio. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Stanley Pumphrey. The family received friends for a Celebration of Life for Mrs. Pumphrey Friday, Dec. 14 from 5 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Lexington Park. The Reverend Eamon Dignan was the celebrant. Interment was be Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to the March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605.

John Francis Little Man Ryce, III (Infant)

John Francis Little Man Ryce, III, 11 days old, of Avenue, Md. died Dec. 6 in Childrens Hospital. Born Nov. 25 in Leonardtown, he was the son of John F. and Teresa L. Ryce, Jr. He is also survived by his grandparents, John F. Ryce Sr. and Pamela S. Ryce, and Robert B. and Mary L. Trossbach, Jr. as well as his great grandparents Mary E. and Robert B. Trossbach, Sr., Mary D. and William R. Norris, Jr. and Martha T. Ellis. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents James W. Ellis, Sr. and Thomas L. and Joan M. Ryce, Sr. Although he was only here for a short time, he was loved and cherished and will forever be in our hearts. All services were private. Pallbearers were Billy Downs, Jr., Robbie Bennett, J.R. Robertson and Joey Dean. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

 Section A - 10

The County Times

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Knights of Columbus Council Announces Poster Contest Winners

St. John Francis Regis Council #7914, Hollywood, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest. Entries were judged on artistic expression as well as how well they captured the theme of keeping Christ in Christmas. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who participated!

Everyone here is hoping that your Christmas delivers everything you've been wishing for. Merry Christmas and heartfelt thanks for your continued support.

Thompsons
(Front row, l. r.) Allison Johnson (winner, grades 7 8), Mary Kate Morgan (winner, grades 4 6), Audrey Norris (winner, grades 1 3); (Back row, l. r.) Knights Ray Dicus and Bill Sneeringer

Furniture City
In Business For 60 Years

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ALL CHRISTMAS ITEMS IN STOCK

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UP TO 40% OFF
Sale $15900
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35 Year Anniversary Sale

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