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145 Waldorf, MD

Thursday, April 19, 2007 St. Marys County, Maryland

Established 2006 Volume 2 Issue 16 FREE

Christmas in June for County Students

Schools to close six days early
By Adam Ross Staff Writer Superintendent Michael J. Martirano didnt get a drum roll, or a loud roar of approval at last weeks Board of Education meeting, but he certainly knew students across St. Marys County were on cloud nine after he announced the school year would be shortened by four days. The last day of classes will be Friday, June 8, nearly a week earlier than originally scheduled because four of the countys five snow days went unused. Snow days are major challenges in St. Marys County, Martirano said at the Board of Educations April 11 meeting in front of students from the three county high schools who were being recognized for Youth Art Month, Music In Our Schools Month and a variety of athletic achievements. When the rest of the state is closing its sunny and bright in St. Marys County. The last full day of school will be Tuesday, June 5, followed by three days of early dismissal. The last day for Catholic schools in the county is also Friday, June 8. If youre a senior, I apologize, said Martirano jokingly. Graduating seniors are not required to make up snow days. County schools closed on Feb. 7, after threats of ice, not an accumulation of snow, led Martirano to shut things down for the day, he said. Martirano makes the final decision whether to close schools during bad weather after consulting with the schools See Closing Early page A-10

Students at Esperanza Middle School file back into class after county volunteer firefighters give the all-clear sign Tuesday. The students, about 900 of them, had to leave the school because of concerns of a possible electrical fire and power outages. School officials say power outages caused fans to turn on and off, causing a burning smell throughout the building, but no fire was found. Power was eventually restored but not before students were dismissed early from school.

Photo by Andrew Knowlton

Esperanza Middle School Evacuated For Fear of Fire

Students sent home early for continual power outage
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer About 900 students, along with 87 faculty and staff members, evacuated Esperanza Middle School yesterday amid fears of an electrical fire related to a continual power outage. Students and faculty exited the building at about 9 a.m. and were allowed back into the building at 10:15 a.m., though the building was without power. The St. Marys County School System soon after announced that all the students would be sent home as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police on the scene said that teachers and students had been dealing with intermittent power outages all morning. The lights were going on and off all morning, said Deputy James Molitor. They just smelled something coming from the electrical [system.] Brad Clements, Chief Operating Officer for county schools, said that no fire was found but that the burning smell came from fans in the school affected by the power outages. You could burn out the motors of these fans with the power going on and off, Clements said. Clements office later said that power had been restored See Evacuation page A-11

Index
Liquor Board A-2

Big Dividends Possible for Tobacco Farmers

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Farmers in St. Marys County and throughout the region are partnering with researchers at the University of Maryland in an experimental tobacco growing project that farmers hope will reap greater profits for their industry and that researchers believe could serve as a valuable source of nutrient rich protein in food products as well as for industry use. Researchers estimate that the protein extract will sell for $5,000 per acre with todays current market, said Joseph Wood, president of the countys farm bureau who has high hopes for the project. If it holds true [the experiment] will generate more money than regular tobacco. The project just started at the end of March and includes only four farms in all of See Tobacco page A-11

Hoyer Plans to Use his Influence for St. Marys County

By Adam Ross Staff Writer In five years Naval Air Station Patuxent River could face another Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), leading community leaders to work collaboratively with senior staff at Pax River, and anyone else with clout to ensure the safety of the air station without compromising Marylands character. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md 5th.) spoke Wednesday in Lexington Park to 250 local and state officials and members of the Maryland Economic Development Association, a nonprofit coalition of professionals in the field, and ensured them he would do everything he could to get more money into the region to face the issues ahead. Senators. [Barbara] Mikulski and [Ben] Cardin will be working hard together, said Hoyer of the implications of future BRAC decisions. As majority leader, I have some influence as well and we are going to use it. See Realignment page A-10

Womens Lax B-1

Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 9 Police ............Page B - 5 Classifieds.....Page B - 7

RPD Task Force Could Be Ahead of Its Time

By Adam Ross Staff Writer The Rural Preservation District Task Force could still be ways away from specific recommendations, but in just its second meeting it may have determined that the countys proposed Transferable Development Rights and Adequate Public Facilities programs could in fact be the key to its objective effectively protecting agricultural land in the rural preservation district. However, the question that remains on unanswered is just how much land should be set-aside as non-developable land? Collectively, county officials have said that amount is 60,000 acres, but just how they arrived at that target, and what type of land that 60,000 acres represents, are still unknowns. Task force member John Parlett thinks the new Transferable Development Rights (TDR) program alone could be the answer See RPD page A-10

For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com Local Weather

Friday Mostly Cloudy 59 Saturday Mostly Sunny 64 Sunday Sunny 67

Photo by Adam Ross

McKAYS Grand Opening Friday April 20th

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md 5th.) speaks to over 250 local and state officials at the J.T. Daugherty Conference Center on April 18 about BRAC and its implications on responsible development in St. Marys County.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, April 19, 007

Local Restaurant in Hot Water

By Adam Ross Staff Writer In a confusing and virtually incoherent hearing at the St. Marys County Alcohol and Beverage Board meeting April 12, the licensed holder of the Hot Noodle in California was found guilty of serving alcohol past the hours of operation. David Tran plead not guilty, and called two witnesses on his behalf but was unable to prove his claim that patrons and employees were cleaning up bottles of beer rather than consuming them past the restaurants 1:30 a.m. closing. Tran appeared confused throughout the hearing, often turning to his brother for advice. At times, Tran was unable to ask even the most basic questions to Sgt. Christopher Medved the officer who issued the citation - and his own witness Frederick Sommerville, a security representative from the restaurant. The Liquor Board found The Hot Noodle guilty, and sentenced it to a $200 fine and a 1 a.m. maximum closing time for the next 90 days. Medved said he arrived at the California restaurant at approximately 1:59 a.m., where he witnessed 20 individuals consuming beer and what appeared to be mixed drinks. I spoke to a security person and asked if they were all employees, said Medved, and he said for the most part. Tran told the liquor board that the security person the officer spoke with was fired, but did not disclose the details of his removal. According to Medveds testimony, a man with Trans characteristics approached him, and said it was his interpretation that all alcoholic beverages had to be consumed or thrown away by 2 a.m. They immediately got all the alcohol into trash cans, added Medved. Tran denied ever having that conversation with Medved the evening, which was the night of Feb 25. Under Maryland state law, licensed bars and restaurants are only permitted to serve alcohol up to 2 a.m.. However, hours of operation trump the state law. In the case of The Hot Noodle, Tran submitted a request in November 2006 to extend the restaurants operating hours to 1:30 a.m., which was granted unanimously by the Liquor Board. In November, Tran told board members his objective was to open and serve a new late menu, and jumpstart the bar because the bar crowd is not as busy. Because that request was granted, Tran is not legally authorized to serve until the 2 a.m., state law limit. At times Tran appeared to understand this, and at other points he did not. When asked by Liquor Board Chairman Albert Babcock what his hours of operation were, Tran was able to successfully recite those hours, however he failed to explain why there were no clear closing rules set for his employees. Somerville, a security guard at The Hot Noodle for almost a month, and present the night of the violation, explained to the board that he assumed the closing hours were [2 a.m.]. I didnt know they had the 1:30 a.m. [closing], said Sommerville, a security guard of almost 10 years. However, despite Sommervilles unfamiliarity with the 1:30 a.m. closing, he said he would normally tell patrons to finish or throw out their drinks at approximately 1:15 a.m. We try to hire a good staff and follow our protocols as far as removing alcohol and cleaning up, said Lam Tran, part owner and brother to David Tran. Liquor Board member Nathaniel Lawrence voted against the imposition of a 1 a.m., maximum closing time for the next 90 days. A flat out fine would have been better for them, Lawrence said after the meeting. They will end up losing more money in the 90 days. Board members Lynn M. Canty and Thomas C. Bennett said that the hearing may have rendered a few inconsistencies, but it was clear that people were drinking past the hours of operation. In other news, former Liquor Board Vice Chairman Charles P. Miedzinski had open-heart surgery, according to Canty. Miedzinski was reappointed to the liquor board to replace Babcock as its chairman. Deputy Emory Johnson, the countys alcohol enforcement coordinator, said 10 people under age 21 were charged for possession of alcohol this toxicated (DWI) citations. cols for the countys sobriety last meeting and I have to be month, and the county issued Babcock asked Johnson check points, reminding the careful from here on out. a total of 38 driving while in- jokingly about the proto- board that this would be his

Photo by Adam Ross

The Hot Noodles bar area pictured above will have to shut down early for the next 90 days, after the license holder of the restaurant was found guilty of serving alcohol past the restaurants legal hours of operation.

Photo by Adam Ross

Pictured from left-to-right, owners of The Hot Noodle in California, Lam Tran and David Tran, are accompanied out of the Liquor Board meeting by Frederick Sommerville, a security guard for the restaurant.

County trying to increase awareness of underage, binge drinking

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Underage drinking and binge drinking are serious problems in St. Marys County, according to several studies conducted nationwide and in the county. County officials say parents and children should pay close attention to the problem. According to the countys Assessment of Child-Well Being, which uses state data from 2004, the 43.8 percent of St. Marys 10th graders who reported using alcohol was much higher than the states 31.4 percent. And of the countys 10th graders who responded in the 2004 Maryland Adolescent Survey, which provided the data for the countys child well-being assessment, 27.2 percent said they binge drank, up from 22.9 percent from 2002. This puts St. Marys County 19th out of 24 jurisdictions, 24th being the highest level of severity for binge drinking, said Walt Biscoe community services coordinator with county Department of Recreation, Parks & Community Services. Biscoe defined binge drinking as having five or more drinks in a sitting within 30 days. Theres concern that our children are drinking more aggressively than in the past, said Biscoe And theyre drinking just to get drunk. Biscoe is helping raise awareness of the problem as part of the countys Alliance for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention. A nationwide report from the Surgeon Generals office detailing the problem of underage drinking also showed that the county likely shared in the problem, he said. The report showed that out of 11 million underage drinkers in the nation, 7.2 million are considered binge drinkers. County officials say they are doing more this year to increase awareness of the problems connected to underage and binge drinking among night party free of drugs and alcohol. Another program called Parents who host lose the most will also inform and educate parents of the risks and consequences of providing alcohol illegally to minors. Biscoe admitted that the use of older data made it difficult to quantify the problem in the county, but said that the trends showed it was still likely a significant concern. Until someone self reports or gets into some kind of difficulty where they have to seek treatment, then how are you going to know? Biscoe said, adding that more recent data form 2006 on underage and binge drinking should be forthcoming by October. Kelsey Bush, a youth coordinator in Biscoes office, said the preponderance of past evidence coupled with his own observations indicated to him the problem is prevalent in St. Marys County. training in behaviors to move Project Graduation as an opIf its any indication of away from alcohol abuse by tion to keep teens sober. The what were seeing in the nastrengthening family bonds. project takes high school seThe partnership, which niors to Patuxent Naval Air tion, well see it in the counincludes the Sheriffs Office Stations drill hall for an all ty, Bush said. From talkand the public schools system are also reaching out to all four high schools to tell students of the effects and consequences of underage drinking, physical and legal. They are also pushing county youth. Biscoe said the focus is to get grassroots organizations on board to get the community to talk about the problem and his office. This includes involving parents in skills ing to kids whats reported is probably accurate. Their [young peoples] perception is everybodys doing it, even though thats not really the case. Gary Lynch, assistant director for Walden Sierra, a local mental health organization that helps treat alcohol and substance abusers, said that binge drinking represented a serious health threat to young people aside of being involved in a vehicle wreck. All kids are at risk when they binge drink, Lynch said. When you have someone drinking eight or nine drinks, that can drive a 125-pound female into 0.32 alcohol [Blood Alcohol Content] level. Lynch said that students mental health and acuity could also be negatively affected by binge drinking. And when they do that at a young age, that affects their mental capacity, they can experience decreased understanding, decreased problem solving ability and decreased memory, Lynch said.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The County Times

cuss her writing process, at the first annual BooksAlive, St. Marys County Librarys Celebration of Children and Reading. The event will be held at the Leonardtown Library Tuesday April 24 at 6:30 p.m. Book signing follows. Books available for purchase. Program funded by proceeds from the sale of the cookbook, 300 Years of Black Cooking in St. Marys County Maryland. Free tickets available starting April 10. call 301-475-2846.

Section A - 
the Democratic Club of St. Marys County Thursday April 26 at the Leonardtown Firehouse. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo begins at 7 p.m. $20 for 20 regular games, additional books $5 per book. Children must have their own book. Also specials, a raffle, and a 50/50. Food and drink available. For more information contact Leslie Roberts @ 301-475-8671 or robertss@ olg.com. This basket bingo is in no way affiliated or endorsed by the Longaberger Company, although all products to be won are genuine Longaberger.

In Your Community
Live Concert
The Chamber Singers, a group of select choral vocalists at St. Marys College of Maryland (SMCM), will present their Springa 2007 concert on April 22 at 3 p.m. in Trinity Church. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Gwen Degentesh at (240) 895-4498. tinue through October 31. The summer hours are as follows: Monday - Friday 11:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. register at 301-863-8188 ext. 1004. at (240)-210-5342.

Ballroom Dance Lessons

Learn fun new steps in Jitterbug and Tango, and then spend the rest of the night perfecting your moves. Well teach a beginner-level lesson of ballroom dance from 78 p.m., and play music of all styles from 8-11 p.m. Singles always welcome. Bring a snack to share, water and soda will be provided. The cost is $8 per person, $15 per couple, and $5 for students and seniors. The even will be held at the Little Flower School, on Route 5 in Great Mills. For more information call 301-645-8509.

SMAWL Adoption Day

The St. Marys Animal Welfare League will hold an adoption day on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Petco store on 235. Come and meet the rescued cats, dogs, puppies and kittens that are fully vetted, spayed, neutered and looking for a home they can call their own. Every day there are affectionate and playful cats and kittens at Petco waiting to meet you. Call 301-373-5659 for more information.

Live Theatre
Join Leonardtown High Schools Rose Players for its production of Little Women on April 19, 20, and 21, at 7:30 p.m., in the schools auditorium. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students, and $2 for thespians. Little Women is a drama/comedy adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher from the writings of Louisa May Alcott. This particular play is based on the first part of Alcotts novel and centers around the lives of the March girls during the time of the Civil War. For more details, contact Leonardtown High School at 301-475-0200.

Computer Class
Free Adult Computer Class Introduction to Email Monday, Tuesday, April 23, & 24, 2:00 p.m., Lexington Park Library New user will be introduced to this popular from of communication by setting up their own accounts and sending and receiving messages. Free. Limited space. Registration required. 301-8638188 or lexi.ref@stmalib.org

College Lecture Series

Armand Cerbone, a Chicago-based psychologist, will speak on Sex, Love, and Stigma in Same-Sex Relationships on Friday, April 20 at 3 p.m. in Cole Cinema at St. Marys College of Maryland. The talk is sponsored by the Department of Psychology
and is part of the 2006-2007 Diversity & Multicultural Lecture Series. It is free and open to

Panel Discussion
The League of Women Voters of St. Marys County will sponsor a panel discussion of Living with the Living Wage. The discussion will take place at the Lexington Park Library from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. The speakers include Dr. Kristen Sheeran, Department of Economics, Saint Marys College of Maryland, Ms. Robin Finnacom, President, Community Development Corporation, and Ms. Ellen Flowers-Fields, Director of Regional Economic Development, Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland. The meeting is open to the public. For further information contact Virginia Stein, President at 240-895-0414.Enter your Event information here just as you want it posted within the calendar.

Plant Clinic
Ask a Master Gardener any gardening questions you might have. Bring plant samples and/or photos to the Leonardtown Library on Tuesday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free. Contact 301-475-2846 for more information.

Springtime to Shop Expo/Fundraiser

The MOMS Club of California is having their second Annual Springtime to Shop Expo on April 21 at The Church of the Ascension, Lexington Park, Md. from 10a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds will be going to the family of James Culver. Local artisans, handcrafts and more will be displayed and up for sale. Space is still available for vendors as well. For more information please contact Tracey Sheluga

Live Music
An Evening of Story and Song with Danny OFlaherty brings the traditions of Ireland to Southern Maryland. Saturday May 19 at 7:00p.m., Lennys Restaurant. Doors open at 6:00pm. Tickets $20.00 in advance $25.00 at the door.

the public. For more information, contact Terell Lasane at 240-895-4448.

Workshop
A teen writing worship with Author A.C. Crispin, known for his Star Wars and Star Trek novels will be held Thursday, April 19 at the Lexington Park Library. Attendees are encouraged to bring any fictional writing samples to receive feedback from Crispin. The workshop will start at 6 p.m. Free, and available to ages 14-17; please

Summer Hours
The St. Marys County Department of Public Works and Transportation announces that the summer hours of operation at the six (6) Convenience Centers will be effective Tuesday, May 1, and con-

Book Feature
Priscilla Cummings, well-known author of Chadwick the Crab series, Red Kayak and other books for various age groups, will dis-

Basket Bingo
Basket Bingo to benefit

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) announced today that St. Charles Towne Center, a major Southern Maryland shopping destination since its opening over 15 years ago, will be one of the first malls to be completely renovated as part of a threeyear, multi-million dollar Simon initiative. The 980,000-square-foot regional mall, anchored by Macys, Macys Home Store, JCPenney, Sears, Kohls and Dicks Sporting Goods, originally opened in 1990. Kohls joined the shopping center in 1997, followed by the addition of Hechts (now Macys) Home Store in 2002 replacing the ground level of the former Montgomery Ward store, and Dicks Sporting Goods in 2003 in the upper level of the Wards space. We have established a very loyal shopper base over the years and have strived to

keep our mall contemporary and inviting, said David Gott, mall manager. However, our trade area has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Through this renovation we intend to examine a myriad of ways through which St. Charles Towne Center can even better serve the needs of our customers, whether they are here to shop, to dine, to be entertained, or just to enjoy a welcoming and comfortable environment, said Gott. While we intend to focus on improvements that will appeal to all segments of our shopper base, we will place special emphasis on familyfriendly amenities, especially since families account for much of the regions population base and growth, and St. Charles Towne Center is such a popular destination for families to spend time together, Gott added. ST.CHARLESTOWNE CENTER RENOVATION

The mall renovations will include new interior and exterior features/amenities such as additional seating, larger restrooms, redesigned site and mall entrances, landscaping, lighting, flooring and handrails. Specific projects include: Redesign of the malls center court area with expansive seating areas, featuring soft seating, furniture and planters Addition of a new childrens soft play area and introduction of Simons Kidgits Club Architectural changes creating larger, more convenient mens and womens restroom facilities in the food court Extensive food court improvements with additional seating Construction of new lower level restrooms. These Grand rest rooms will be larger, incorporating many family-friendly amenities including a family restroom,

a nursing room, an infant changing room and a lounge area. Redesign of all three mall entrances incorporating automatic sliding doors for shopper convenience Carpeted soft seating areas added throughout the mall for customer comfort and convenience New flooring installed throughout the mall Relocation of Guest Services to a more customer friendly location New exterior signs, including an attractive feature pylon sign at the Route 301 mall entrance Gott said that additional details about the renovation, including renovation timetable, color renderings and samples of new mall amenities and finish materials, will be announced in the near future. Improvements are expected to begin in a few months, and work performed will be done in such a way as to minimize interference or customer in-

convenience during the malls operating hours. Construction is scheduled to be finished in early 2008. About Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc., an S&P 500 company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, development and management of retail real estate, primarily regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers and community/lifestyle centers. The Companys current total market capitalization is approximately $56 billion. Through its subsidiary partnership, it currently owns or has an interest in 324 properties in the United States containing an aggregate of 245 million square feet of gross leasable area in 41 states plus Puerto Rico. Simon also owns interests in 53 European shopping centers in France, Italy, and Poland; 5 Premium Outlet Centers in Japan; and one Premium Outlet Center in Mexico. Additional Simon

Property Group information is available at www.simon.com. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For Further Information, Please Contact: Kristine Winternitz, St. Charles Towne Center: (301) 870-6997 kwinternitz@simon.com Billie Scott, Simon Property Group: (317) 263-7148 bscott@simon.com SIMON PROPERTY GROUP ANNOUNCES PLANS TO UNDERTAKE MAJOR RENOVATION AT ST. CHARLES TOWNE CENTER WITH FOCUS ON FAMILYFRIENDLY FEATURES -Details of extensive interior and exterior renovation to be unveiled in the near future-

The mall renovations will include new interior and exterior features/amenities.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Editorial & Opinion

Maryland Legislature Faced With Tough Choices... Taxpayers Lose
You wouldnt manage your household budget that way, taking on expenses you know you dont have money enough to repay. You wouldnt manage your business that way, increasing expenses knowing there are not sufficient revenues to pay the bills. Your parents raised you better, telling you it isnt how much you make that brings financial stability, its how much you spend that counts. Individuals, families and businesses live every day controlling expenses and limiting spending to ensure that at the end of the month the bills are paid and hopefully there is a little left over. And there always seem to be tough decisions that have to be made. Choices, sacrifices, things you do without, priorities you must set to assure you, your family, your business can meet your financial obligations. In economics we discern the difference between the private sector and the public sector, the difference between families and government, the difference between business and government. Individuals, families and businesses that spend more than they make go bankrupt, while government that spends more than it makes raises taxes. The governor and the Maryland state legislature last week ended their 90 day spending spree, spending not only the large increase in tax revenues the state is enjoying, they also blew through the entire $1.6 billion reserve Governor Ehrlich had managed to put away. Going practically unnoticed, they even dipped into the states rainy day reserves. It was a year of spending taboos, using savings to pay for reoccurring expenses. If you stayed awake in Economics 101, you know what that means; tax increases are only another legislative session away. Next January, faced with the consequences of overindulging, our state Senator and Delegates will head back to Annapolis to fix the problem. On the way, there will be much said about their opposition to tax increases, but they will give us harsh warnings that something will have to be done. They will probably talk about the economy being not as good as expected and the cost of doing business being higher than expected. Almost like a business owner, they will talk about finding another revenue source. The majority of those in the legislature will vote to take more of your money, they will vote for sweeping tax reform designed to make you believe the other guy will bear the greater burden, not you. Some will even be quite successful in convincing their voters back home that it was the fault of other senators and delegates, not them. When we hear the talk about needing more revenue to meet the states obligations, remember what we learned early on, its not how much you make, its how much you spend. Faced with the need to make tough choices like you do everyday, to set spending priorities so revenues would be more than expenses, the people we elected to manage our tax dollars decided they would spend more than the state has in revenues. And if your Senator or Delegate says he wont vote for tax increases, ask the more important question, did you vote for less spending? Did you vote against the budget this year and offer sensible choices to reduce spending so to avoid the need for tax increases?

Big City Boy, Small Town Heart

Early Summer Break
By Adam Ross Staff Writer Back in grade school I never had my school year shortened because not enough snow fell over the winter season. On Wednesday, April 11, Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano did just that. Each year, Martirano allots a certain amount of snow days, and if those days arent used he has the authority to chop them at the end of the year. Now students from the depths of pre-kindergarten right on up to eleventh grade will end the school year six days early. How nice it must be. And pointless too. I dont think youll find a parent thrilled by Martiranos decision to cut four school days off the end of the year. The summer is already long enough for parents, especially those with young children. Arranging activities, babysitters, and pointless jobs for the vacationing student body is

often left up to parental providers who now take on the task a bit earlier. But the true point is that there is no harm in keeping students in school four extra days. In fact, over the years there have been whispers around the country for a revolving school year. That idea might be a bit extreme for my taste, but in a time where students are consumed by outside activities that so often break the mold of a schools principles and foundations, shouldnt administrators be rejoicing that students had an opportunity for four extra days of instruction? Why is it the other way around? Im certain St. Marys County Public School filled its school calendar day requirement, but an opportunity presented itself and instead administrators showed stu-

dents that simply meeting the requirement is acceptable. Over my own grade school experience I remember teachers skipping over chapters, and focusing less time on certain lessons. Four additional days of class is a small chunk of the summer break, but its an excellent opportunity to revisit the lesson plans left short or overlooked. But then there is part of me that sympathizes with the student. The last day of school is sort of a surreal experience. I remember trashcans lining the hallways. Students one-by-one threw out their binders, notebooks, pens, paper, backpacks filled with month-old ham and cheese sandwiches and whatever else happened to be somehow related to school. For one day each year, all of the documents that were so vital to a grade-point-aver-

age or a quiz had digressed to the relevance of a month old french fry. At that point in my life, I probably would have done anything to achieve that satisfaction six days earlier. Needless to say I expect the expectations of most students to be in line with what Martirano ultimately did. But I wouldnt expect an administration with the motto Charting a Course of Excellence, to necessarily side with a students frame of mind. Unless of course, it is illegal in the state of Maryland to extend the school year four days beyond the allotted calendar days, but I have found no evidence for that to be true. So students rejoice, parents cringe, summer is around the corner and this year its showing up a little bit earlier.

Va. Tech Shooting Leaves Maryland Colleges Reevaluating Security Measures

By Scott Shewfelt Capital News Service WASHINGTON - Marylands higher education institutions are waiting for more details about the Virginia Tech shooting that left 33 dead Monday before reviewing their security measures, but vowed changes if needed. On Monday, a student identified as Cho Seung-hui, 23, killed two in an early morning shooting in a dormitory at the Blacksburg, Va., campus and then two hours later opened fire in a lecture hall and classrooms before committing suicide. In total, 33 died and dozens were wounded, in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. All schools have plans in place for catastrophes, said Deb Moriarty, vice president of student affairs at Towson University. Everything looks good on paper until youre in the middle of a crisis, Moriarty said. It all comes down to a human judgment call. Mondays shooting began shortly after 7 a.m. when two people were found murdered in a dormitory. However, the university administration did not send an e-mail warning to students until 9:26 a.m., the Associated Press reported. By that time, the shootings in Norris Hall had begun. Communication is always a problem, Salisbury University Police Chief Ed Lashley said, adding a plan can be great, but with poor communication it will always have a weak link. Every university will take this somber opportunity to learn from any mistakes and incorporate positives into their own plans, Lashley said. The Salisbury University Police have been working closely with local sheriffs departments to perfect an active-shooter plan and hope to have an on-campus test in the coming weeks, Lashley said. Salisbury also has a hostile-intruder policy, addressing hostage situations in both resident and non-resident halls, he said. Under this plan, the police are the first responders and identify the magnitude of the situation. A shooting would generally lead to a category-three situation, meaning a communications command center would be set up, the university would be locked down and students moved where necessary, he said. The Virginia Tech campus of more than 25,000 fulltime students is no stranger to lockdowns. In August 2006, there was a manhunt for an escaped inmate that led to a campus shutdown and sent students to their dorms. On Monday however, the campus was not locked down following notification of the two shootings in the dormitory. We dont know what happened at Virginia Tech, said Cathy Atwell spokeswoman for the University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Public Safety, there are no lessons learned. Marylands emergency plan includes mass e-mail and voice mail notification and warning sirens. The police also have the ability to lock all buildings from a central location if need be. The full emergency plan is posted on the Universitys Web site, but Atwell said nothing will be discussed as far as changes go until all the information becomes known. Schools dont want to create a prison fortress, Moriarty said. They need to rely on good policy, prevention efforts and hope. Towsons campus emergency plan involves the coordination of dozens of units, which are currently reviewing their protocol individually. They will all meet later this week once more information becomes known, Moriarty said. Likewise, Steve Simon of Montgomery College said, this is a difficult situation to immediately evaluate and break down. Montgomery College is the second-largest undergraduate enrollment institution in the state and has campuses throughout the county, said spokesman Simon. It is a different environment than Virginia Tech, Simon said noting the lack of on-campus housing and large numbers of commuters. The college has a campus response team, but they also work with the countys emergency management team because of the separated locations. Their emergency plan is periodically revised and is often event-driven, Simon said. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 led to major revisions in the colleges emergency plans, which are broken down us-

ing a color-coded threat system. This emergency plan has been moved to a more prominent location on their Web site, Simon said, but as far as protocol changes, it is too soon. The size and layout of a campus is a huge factor in designing emergency preparedness plans. At the Cumberland campus of the Allegany College of Maryland, Shauna McQuade, director of public relations, said its small size and location have helped the college avoid catastrophes. The campus is, however, working on finalizing a security plan and has hired a security coordinator. Were taking security issues much more serious than before, she said, and not just because of yesterday, because of the world.

Letters to the Editor

If you wish to send a letter to the editor, please include your name, address and phone number for confirmation purposes. We will only publish your name and city of residence. We can withhold your name by request if circumstances merit it. We must receive all letters by Monday morning for publication in the next issue. Any letter received later than Monday will be held for the following issue.

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager ...........................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Adam Ross - Government Correspondent ..............adamross@countytimes.net Andrew Knowlton - Sports Correspondent ...... andrewknowlton@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net Jimmy Hayden - Advertising Director ..............jimmyhayden@countytimes.net Eileen McDonald - Advertising Rep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net

P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, advertising, circulation, classifieds: 301-373-4125

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 

Police Nab Serial Robbery Suspect

Worries grow over frequency of armed robberies
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Deputies with the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office say they have captured a Lexington Park man responsible for three armed robberies in the last two weeks that stretched from Great Mills to Callaway. Otis Scorpio Williams, 22, of Pleasant Drive allegedly robbed the Shell convenience store and gas station on April 14 in Callaway at about 10:15 p.m. with a handgun, according to the Deputies. That handgun, once recovered by deputies, turned out to be a pellet gun that looked much like the real thing. Sheriffs officials believe Williams used the same pellet gun to conduct two other robberies, also at Shell gas stations, on April 12 and April 4. Deputies investigating the other two robberies over the weekend got the call of the late night robbery April 14 and arrived on the scene. Using leads from previous incidents they were able to establish a connection. Wed been investigating the other two robberies and had been following up leads when this robbery occurred, said Lt. Rick Burris, head of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. This robbery was different in that the alleged perpetrator apparently got more than he bargained for. The victim, instead of complying with his demands, chased [the alleged perpetrator] out of the store and he wound up fleeing on foot, added Burris. Burris said investigators tracked Williams to a residence in Piney Point where they took custody of him without a struggle. They [the investigators] were able to determine he was the suspect in the other two robberies and charged him, Burris said. He faces three counts of armed robbery and is currently being held in the countys Adult Detention Center. Burris said he knew of no reason why Williams allegedly struck three Shell gas stations. I believe its just a coincidence, Burris said. The other two robberies took place on Pegg Road, April 4, and on Route 235 April 12. Burris said that while deputies were able to handily capture this alleged suspect, armed robberies in the county are rising. He said that so far this year there have been 20 such crimes, which is more than normal for this time. As the county grows we seem to get more and more types of these cases, Burris said. Fortunately weve been able to close most cases like this recently. Over the past four months weve closed all armed robbery cases with an arrest except one. Burris said Johntonna Young, 19, and his alleged accomplices - Terrell Thomas and Cruitien Bryan - are the alleged perpetrators of a robbing of a convenience store and sporting goods store. Young was later arrested for the murder of a Lexington Park man while he allegedly attempted to steal the victims camcorder from his vehicle in February. Were looking at ways to deal with these armed robberies, said Burris. Thats the trend were dealing with right now.

Generators For Radio Stations To Be Installed Before Hurricane Season

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer County public safety officials say they expect backup power generators that would keep local radio stations running in case of an electrical blackout to be installed on or before the start of hurricane season June 1. The installation of the generators will correct a flaw in how the county communicates with its residents in the event of a serious weather event or disaster; back in 2003 when Hurricane Isabel struck, county officials could not get the word out to residents over the local airwaves because power had gone down at the stations with no backup option. Theres been pressure from the community for a couple of years on this, said Public Safety Director Dave Zylak, Its been an issue since Isabel, we lost power and there were no radio stations operating at the time. The obvious problem was that you couldnt get a message out about flooded roads or other dangers. Since Isabel, the county has relied on other means to get the word out to its residents, such as partnerships with The Weather Channel and with WTOP 107.7 on the FM dial. But, Zylak said, relying on local radio stations for information was the best way to get the word out about disaster or weather related warnings. People are more inclined to tune in to local stations, Zylak said. Their [local stations] output covers the entire county. Zylak said that his department has been working with Somar Communications owner Roy Robertson, who controls WPTX 1690AM and WSMD 98.3FM in Lexington Park and Mechanicsville respectively, to solve the problem quickly. Somar Communications also operates radio stations in neighboring Charles and Calvert counties. Thats our expectation [that Robertson will have the generators installed before hurricane season] and hes agreed to do everything in his power to make that happen, Zylak said. Robertsons attorney, Eugene Pitroff, said that he and Robertson also expected the generators to be installed soon, but that delays in production caused by disaster relief efforts in other parts of the country, namely Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina made it difficult to get the generators because of high demand. Tim Bennett, Emergency Management Division head, confirmed this. He [Robertson] stepped up to the plate and is cooperating with us, Bennett said. Logistics were slowed by the Gulf States Katrina disaster; a lot of generator manufacturers are playing catch-up. Zylak and other officials are hoping to get the generators soon in preparation for what weather forecasters are predicting will be a very active storm and hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. Zylak said the latest reports predict 17 named storms and five major hurricanes that could strike the East Coast this year. He said that in the last century their was an average of a 52 percent chance that a major storm could hit the East Coast, but this year there was 74 percent chance that such an event could strike, meaning St. Marys County faced an elevated threat. It is elevated, Zylak said. But again its still a prediction.

How to Calm Wedding Jitters

The work involved with planning a wedding can stress out even the most stable of individuals. Even those bridesto-be who knew all the reasons why they were getting married a few months ago may be facing the prospect of walking down the aisle with anxiety. Call it cold feet or wedding jitters, the feeling is common among newlywedsto-be. Stress has a funny way of making mountains out of molehills - little idiosyncracies in a partner can quickly grow into horrible character traits. The key is recognizing when fears are just the result of too much planning and not deep-rooted relationship issues. Usually a person quickly realizes theyre more overwhelmed about the wedding details than the thought of making a commitment. The What If Guy, by Taylor G. Wilshire has messages of love, forgiveness and affirmation at its roots, which can offer help at this important time in your life. It also provides an entertaining story that gives you a chance to kick back and escape. 1. Put your thoughts onto paper - Make a list of what is causing the most anxiety. This release technique is something main character Ryley McKenna used in the book to clear her fears and prevent overworrying. Sometimes having all of your racing thoughts organized and on paper can help you rationally address the issues and see that there is no serious cause of the jitters. It can also help you pinpoint a common stress trigger, such as a financial concern or a conflict with a family member. Compare these fears to a list of reasons why you love your partner and want to enter a commitment with this person. This simple task can bring order to jumbled feelings and offer clarity on any nervousness you may have. 2. Learn to relax - Make time for yourself and enjoy activities that are not directly related to wedding planning. For example, some women benefit from a massage or facial treatment. Others find that a relaxing drive or walk along the beach or through another quiet area can help promote calmness. Or take a cue from Ryley and learn to relax by meditating to put your mind at peace: Find a quiet place and focus on deep breathing. 3. Talk to your partner Open up to your partner about how you are feeling. You just may find that he is experiencing some of the same things as you and that jitters are completely normal. Working through fears to a place of love is one of the underlying concepts of A Course in Miracles, the inspirational text that helps guide Ryley throughout the book. By expressing your fears and doubts, and working through them as a team, this can be the first step you take as a married couple to support each other in good times ... and bad. 4. Recognize that changes understandably make people uncomfortable - One of the most life-altering changes a person can make is getting married, particularly if youve both been used to living on your own and making your own decisions. Instead of focusing on what you could be losing by getting married, reaffirm all of the things you will be gaining. It may help to talk to married couples who have been successful in keeping their relationships strong. Remember though, your relationship is unique to you as a couple. So dont be sidetracked over what could or may happen. 5. Keep in mind that love is most important - While you want the weather to cooperate and the day to be flawless, you cannot control the outcome of everything when getting married. There may be some minor (or major) bumps along the way. Being able to recover gracefully and enjoy yourself can help start your relationship off on the right foot. Remember, youll have many other chances to create winning memories as you grow old together with your partner, so dont put so much emphasis on the wedding details or the most important moments may pass you by. For further inspiration, see the ways Ryley overcomes challenges to find her path to true love in The What if Guy. Add The What If Guy to your bridal shower wish list to provide some much-needed salvation during this wonderful, but often stressful time. It is available wherever paperbacks are sold. Learn more about the book and author at www.thewhatifguy.com.

Gary Callis.....is 60 today...the 20th

Gary was born and raised in St. Marys County and has lived in Hollywood all his life. He belongs to the American Truck Historical Society, as well as the Antique Firetruck Club. He enjoys going to the Shows and hes happy driving his Auto Car. He has a 1959 REO which he has retired, so he says. He also has a 1965 Ford Firetruck. He has been going to Shows for over 20 years. He is a very caring and giving person, for which Id like to ask everyone who sees him to wish him a Happy Birthday and Thank Him For Everything He Does. He is appreciated very much by his family and friends. He is also a member of Hollywood Methodist Church.

So Happy 60th Birthday Gary!!!

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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, April 19, 2007

SkillsUSA Maryland State Championship

The countys most technologically advanced students competed last month in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties for medals and bragging rights at the SkillsUSA Maryland State Championship. At the awards ceremony, 52 St. Marys students were recognized for placing sixth or higher, and 38 students earned medals. Students competed in 25 different contests, all part of programs offered at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. In addition to being declared State Champions, gold medalists have qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA National Skills and Leadership Conference to be held in Kansas City, Mo., on June 25. Fifteen Forrest Center students have earned the right to compete in Kansas City this year. Fundraising efforts are currently underway. For more details, or to support the students through donations, please contact the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center at 301-475-0242. The results are as follows: Place Contest Contestant 1st Place 3D Visualization & Animation Blake Lowther, Eric Conley 1st Place Aviation Maintenance Devin Skinner 1st Place Graphic Communication Andrew Talbert 1st Place Radio Production Desiree Osvatics, Cari Lawrence 1st Place Team Works Josh Hill, Matthew Tippett, Jeff Anderson, Brandon Gass 1st Place Television News/Anchor Stan Pajak, Krystal Burns, Alex Meath 1st Place Video Product Development Cameron Noar, Tatiana Mieux 2nd Place 3D Visualization & Animation Jeff Heern, Tiffany Hill 2nd Place Aviation Maintenance Bradley Minghella 2nd Place Carpentry Jarred Norris 2nd Place Crime Scene Investigation Tyvie Herbert, Kyle Blazer, Brittany Cook 2nd Place Diesel Equipment Technology James Harris 2nd Place Related Technical Math Brianna Hampton 2nd Place Residential Wiring Ryan Spittle 2nd Place Technical Drafting Josh Mora 2nd Place Television (Video) Production Joe Rongione, Chris Kalnasy 3rd Place Advertising Design Kevin Parlett 3rd Place Aviation Maintenance Ben Hamlet 3rd Place Crime Scene Investigation Dorothy Nortey, Asia Blake, Ashley Galow 3rd Place Criminal Justice Kyle Hayden 3rd Place Residential Wiring Travis Quade 3rd Place Television News/Anchor Ashley Lindsey, Sarah Smith, Eric Silvertsen 3rd Place Aviation Maintenance Ben Luffey 4th Place Collision Repair Technology Keith Burch 4th Place Crime Scene Investigation Cynthia Taylor, Latasha Moreland, Shannon Snell 4th Place Criminal Justice Lauren Payne 4th Place Job Skills Demo A Rm. 222 Stephanie Goodson 4th Place Television (Video) Production Stacey Elliott, Hailey Wallace 5th Place Culinary Arts Jonathan Collins 5th Place Job Skills Demo B Emily Howe 6th Place Action Skills Natalie Lanigan 6th Place Carpentry Andy Nelson 6th Place Criminal Justice Ryan Selph

Three Students for the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center participate in the crime scene investigation competition at the State Skills USA competition.

Courtesy of Forrest Career Technology Center

Courtesy of Forrest Career Technology Center

The 2nd and 3rd place team of the Crime Scene Investigation, on top left-to-right: Kyle Blazer, Brittany Cook, and Tyvie Berbert. On bottom from left-to-right: Asia Blake, Dorothy Nortey and Ashley Galow.

Family of Slain Army Ranger Moves Ahead With Their Own Investigation
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The family of James Emerick Dean, the Army Ranger who was killed by a Maryland State Police tactical marksman in a barricade situation in December, said they are investigating the events that led to his death with their own forensic expert. Deans widow, Muriel Dean, said that, depending on the investigations findings, the family could seek civil damages from the Maryland State Police. Thats our intention, once we get our investigation done, Muriel Dean said. Were having our own investigation done and we have our own expert. The familys investigation follows a report from States Attorney Richard Fritz that criticized the actions of the Maryland State Police as being overly aggressive in trying to resolve the barricade situation that took place at James Deans fathers home Dec. 25 and 26. Weve said that from the beginning, Muriel Dean said. Dean was killed after a long standoff with police in which, he fired several times at them and their vehicles but caused no injuries. Dean, an Army Ranger who had served in Afghanistan, had just received orders to return to Iraq during the Thanksgiving holiday, Muriel Dean said, and he soon became depressed at the prospect of leaving the woman he had been married to for only about four months. The return orders triggered his behavior, exacerbated by diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder, she said. He said If I didnt have you it would be easier to go back, Muriel Dean said. He had everything he wanted and he felt like it was being ripped away from him. Deans family members called police the night of Dec. 25 and said they believed he was suicidal, according to Fritzs report, and when police came to check he warned them to back away. The actual barricade situation ensued from there on. Deputies attempted to talk Dean out of his parents home on Dusty Lane throughout the early morning hours of Dec. 26 but eventually tried to use tear gas to get him to leave the house. At the end of the standoff Dean exited the home and leveled a weapon at the state police armored vehicle; at that point the sniper fired once and killed Dean. Fritzs report said that the st ate trooper who fired the shot acted properly, but Fritz criticized the aggressive state police use of an armored vehicle. The tactics used by the Maryland State Police were overwhelmingly aggressive and not warranted under the circumstances of the facts present in this case, Fritz stated. The use of Peace Keeper 2 [the armored state police vehicle] in the manner in which it was endangered every officer that was located within the vehicle and created a needless circumstance wherein lethal force would be necessitated if Mr. Dean acted in an aggressive manner, as he did. In Fritzs report he noted that response teams from St. Marys and Calvert counties did not return fire when Dean fired his weapon and seemed willing to use less than lethal force to end the situation. The familys attorney, Daniel Guenther, said he and the forensic expert, who he declined to name, would look over a nearly 600-page report provided by Fritzs office to do their own in-depth investigation of the incident. Theres a lot in the report that raises questions, Guenther said. Theres certainly enough here to justify our independent review. The state police have also started their own review of the shooting incident. It is being reviewed by Col. Thomas Hutchins [superintendent of state police] and his command staff, said Greg Shipley, state police spokesman. We agree with the assessment that the troopers actions that day and the other concerns are under review by our command staff. Some of the other concerns in Fritzs report include the use of the state police vehicle instead of a vehicle from the Charles County Sheriffs Office that had superior armor that was not in danger of being penetrated by rounds fired by James Dean. The superior vehicle was held in reserve in the barricade incident, Fritzs report stated.

Fritzs report also criticized the decision to cut power to the house Dean was barricaded in because it cut off the phones, making it more difficult to negotiate with James Dean. Muriel Dean said she and the family are still coping with Deans loss but they are together in moving ahead with their own investigation into his death. She said that since his death she has sought solace in counseling and religion. Ive been talking to a counselor, she said. You have your good days and your bad days. She said she has gotten a little closer to God through all this but shes still unsure about why it all had to happen. Sometimes you have to question his [Gods] motives, she said. Its all about justice for Jamie now.

Photo Courtesy of Muriel Dean

Muriel Dean, the wife of slain U.S. Army Ranger James Dean says the family is pursuing its own investigation into his death at the hands of the Maryland State Police back in December. James Dean got into a standoff with police Dec. 25 and 26 when he refused to leave his fathers house after local law enforcement had been warned by family members he may have been suicidal upon learning he would have to return to Iraq.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The County Times

and her husband, Charlie of Finksburg, Md., Betty Longmore of Owings Mills, Md., and Marian Bowser and her husband, Joe of Leonardtown, Md., brother, James Abell Longmore, Jr. and his wife, Mary Anne of Leonardtown, Md., six nephews, seven nieces and ten grand-nephews and nieces. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 18 from 5- 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 19 at 11 a.m. in St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, Hollywood, Md. Reverend Raymond Schmidt will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Leonardtown, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be T.W. Bell III, Gerald Gardiner, Jr., John Gough, George Kalnasy, Jr., Mike Mattingly, Tommy Mattingly, Wayne Miedzinski, and Teddy Wathen. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, Md. 20650 and/or HOSPICE of St. Marys, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. 20650. Condolences to the family may be made to www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. were recited at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted on Wednesday, April 18 at 10 a.m. in St. Andrews Episcopal Church, California, MD. Reverend Paula Robinson will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery, St. Marys City, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 600, California, Md. 20619. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. friends on Thursday, April 19, 2007 from 5-7 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. where a Funeral Service will follow at 7 p.m. with Pastor Barry Goodson and Bob Davies officiating. Interment will take place on Friday April 20 at 10 a.m. in St. Johns Cemetery, Hollywood, Md. Pallbearers will be Kirk Rice, Stephen Rice, Michael Schulte, Merle Rusaw, John Harris and Harry Nelson. Contributions may be made to Arthritis Foundation, Maryland Chapter, 9505 Reisterstown Road, Suite 1 North, Owings Mills, Md. 21117 and/ or the charity of your choice. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Section A - 9
ary pallbearers will be Rhodie Stewart, George Stewart, Terrill Terry, Maurice Stewart, James Thomas and Ben Hebb. Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md., 20650. Arrangements were provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.

Obituaries
Maggie Geneveive Biscoe, 86
Maggie Geneveive Biscoe, 86, of Great Mills, Md. died April 12, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital. Born January 31, 1921 in Callaway, Md., she was the daughter of Guy Lawrence and Violet Briscoe. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 18 from 9:30 11 a.m. in St. Marks U.A.M.E. Church, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 p.m. with Rev. Rudy Brooks officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. A full obituary will appear at a later date. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. follow at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery, Lexington Park, Md. Pallbearers will be John L. George, Christine F. Ferguson, Daniel J. Pignatiello, Jereme M. George, Kevin Ferguson, Melissa L. Pignatiello and Joshua D. Pignatiello. Arrangements were provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.

Bernadette Grace Yeatman, 84

Bernadette Grace Yeatman, 84, of Scotland, Md., died April 13 at her residence. Born January 21, 1923 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Cora Clarke. Mrs. Yeatman was a lifelong resident of St. Marys County and attended St. Michaels School in Ridge, Md. She worked for the Food Service Department of the Board of Education until age 75. She and her husband operated Yeatmans Inn in the 1950s and early 1960s and later ran the restaurant at Schiebles Fishing Center. She loved walking her poodle, Precious, and watching boats go up and down the bay. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Everett Yeatman on Nov. 7, 1990, whom she married on Oct. 3, 1944 in Arlington, Va. She is survived by her children, James H. Yeatman and his wife, Paula of Leonardtown, Md, Herbert E. Yeatman, Jr. and his wife, Virginia of St. Inigoes, Md, Bernadette G. Trossbach of Valley Lee, Md, 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. The family received friends on Monday, April 16 from 5- 8 p.m. at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Ridge, Md. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, April 17 at 11 a.m. in the church. Reverend Maurice OConnell was the celebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were grandsons; Jamie Yeatman, Jody Yeatman, T.J. Boothe, Wayne Boothe, Kevin Boothe, and Brian Boothe. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, Md. 20680. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

Agnes Cecelia Rice, 77

Agnes Cecelia Rice, 77, of Leonardtown, Md. died April 14 in INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Va. Born July 6, 1929 in Mechanicsville, Md. she was the daughter of the late Clarence Leo and Magdalene Gertrude Pilkerton Evans. She was a homemaker in her early years, but held various jobs after the death of her first husband, Hubert Z. Graves in January of 1965. In her later years she returned to being a homemaker and in December of 1987 she married T. Brooks Rice. She enjoyed cooking for her family, sewing, crocheting, working crossword puzzles and gettogethers with friends and family. She was a very warm, friendly and caring person with the sweetest smile who struck up conversations with people everywhere she went whether she knew them or not. She had a very loving spirit and a love for life. She felt blessed to have lived long enough to see the birth of two great grandchildren, Kiley and Tyler. She was our rock and we will forever miss her. She is survived by her husband, T. Brooks Rice; two daughters; Darlene Brinkley and her husband Allen of Ocala, FL and Elise Graves of Tall Timbers, Md.; her sister, Mary Aleathea Redmond of St. Marys City, Md.; Three stepchildren; Stephen Rice and his wife Trudy of Lusby, Md., Kirk Rice and his wife Barbara of Sunman, Ind. and Rebecca Schulte and her husband Michael of Loveland, OH. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Brian, Heather and Amanda; ten step-grandchildren, John, Jimmy, Brian, Eric, Elizabeth, Hannah, Benjamin, Megan, Evan and Ellen and two great grandchildren, Kiley and Tyler. The family will receive

William Leonard Longmore, 65

W i l liam Leonard Longmore, 65, of Leonardtown, Md. died April 14 at his residence. Born July 17, 1941 in Leonardtown, MD, he was the son of the late James Abell Longmore and Rose Theresa (Alvey) Longmore. He lived in St. Marys County all of his life. In 1960 he graduated from Ryken High School and then served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Together with his father and his brother, he owned and operated the Ben Franklin variety store in Leonardtown. Later he owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store in Lexington Park. After twenty-seven years of service as a District Court Commissioner for the Fourth District Court of Maryland, he retired in 2003. Mr. Longmore was a member of the Leonardtown Lions Club for many years. He was a member of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department with over 30 years of service, receiving a number of awards for his commitment and dedication to his work. He was recognized for his work in renovating the merrygo-round and he took pride in working yearly in the food stand at the Leonardtown Carnival. He loved his cats and enjoyed woodworking, yard work and the time spent with friends preparing Southern Maryland stuffed ham. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Nicole Longmore and Monique Marie Longmore, both of Annapolis, Md., sisters, Rose Marie Weiland and her husband, Hugh of Leonardtown, Md., Elsie Theresa Sullivan and her husband, Kevin of Woodbridge, Va., Mary Lou Frain

John Ignatius Stewart, 63

John Ignatius Johnnie Stewart, 63, of Leonardtown, Md. died April 12 at his residence. Born August 31, 1943 in Hollywood, Md., he was the son of the late John Henry and Beatrice Somerville Stewart. He was the loving husband of Henrietta Stewart whom he married October 26, 1968 in Compton, Md. He is survived by his children; James Berry of Leonardtown, Md., Louis Berry Sr. and his wife Javara of Leonardtown, Md., and Donna Stewart of Leonardtown, his brothers; Joseph Stewart of Hollywood, Md., Francis Stewart and his wife Ann of Leonardtown, Md. and Albert Stewart and his wife Margaret Ann of Callaway, Md. and five grandchildren. A lifelong St. Marys County resident, Johnnie graduated from Banneker High School. He worked as an auto mechanic for Mattingly & Company for 25 years and at Russell Farm as a farmworker for 25 years, retiring in 1999. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. where prayers will be said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Compton, Md. with Fr. John Mattingly officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Pallbearers will be Joseph Young, Calvin Berry, Robert Butler, Michael Hebb, James Somerville and James Berry. Honor-

Leslie Shirley George, Jr., 79

Leslie Shirley George George, Jr., 79, of Sun City West, Ariz., formerly of Lexington Park, Md., died April 5 at his residence. Born December 30, 1927 in Mobile, Ala., he was the son of the late Leslie Shirley and Josephine Hylton George, Sr. He was the loving husband of the late Lois Potter George whom he married October 14, 1947 in Lexington Park, Md. and who preceded him in death on October 1, 1999; they had been married for 52 years. He is survived by his children; John Leslie George and his wife Rose Mary of Avenue, Md. and Starr Pignatiello and her husband Joe of Peoria, Ariz., and his grandchildren; John L. George Jr., Jereme M. George, Christina Fay Ferguson, Daniel J. Pignatiello, Melissa Leslie Pignatiello and Joshua D. Pignatiello. George worked for the Federal Government at Patuxent Naval Air Station, retiring on December 31, 1981. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served in World War II. He belonged to Grace Community Church of Sun City, Grand, Ariz. and was an avid golfer with a 16 Handicap. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 10-11 a.m. at Mattingely-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. where a Funeral Service will

Anna Johnson Machael, 90

A n n a J o h n s o n Machael, 90, of Leonardtown, MD died April 14 in St. Marys Nursing Center, Leonardtown, Md. Born January 25, 1917 in Clinton, IA, she was the daughter of the late Andrew P. Johnson and Laura Heath Johnson. She is survived by her son, James R. Edgar, Jr. of Schenectady, N.Y., two sisters, Ruth J. Hamann of OFallon, Ill. and Barbara Morthland of Sterling, Ill., four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Ray A. Machael, sister, Bea Wheeler and four brothers, Ray Johnson, David Johnson, Jens Johnson, and Andrew Johnson, Jr. The family received friends on Tuesday, April 17 from 5- 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. Prayers

Virginia Tech Massacre Rattles County Families

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The shooting massacre that rocked Virginia Tech and the rest of the nation Monday with 33 deaths and 15 injuries appears to have left attendees from St. Marys County unharmed. Steven Moritz, of Leonardtown, said he was in his home off campus about a quarter mile away when the alleged shooter, Cho Seung-Hui, 23, went on a rampage, authorities said, with two handguns. I was asleep and my roommate woke me up and told me what happened, Stephen Moritz, a senior animal and agricultural student there said. I got up and checked to make sure all my friends were OK and I basically just watched [the television reports] in horror for the rest of the day. He called the tragedy, which is the worst school shooting ever recorded in the nations history, unreal. His brother, Matthew Moritz, also a senior engineering student set to graduate this year, could not be reached for comment. But Steven said his brother was in a building near the location where the first shootings occurred, that took the lives of engineering faculty as well. I think hes more visibly upset than I am, Steven Moritz said. That was a little closer to home for him I think. Steven Moritz attended the university convocation that took place to honor the dead and give solace to the survivors. The mood was very quiet and somber, Steven Moritz said. But you could tell people were there for each other. Jason Moritz, the oldest brother, said the family was initially afraid for the safety of the two going to school in Virginia. Theyre both fine, thank God, Jason Moritz said. When it happened I called and got right through to Steven and we found out they were both safe; we were so relieved. The reality of the situation was still sinking in with the brothers. I cant imagine what it would be like if I had lost one of my brothers, Jason Moritz said. God forbid theres no way to predict when someone will have a meltdown and shoot somebody. Officials with St. Marys County Public Schools say they know of no current graduates who are attending Virginia Tech. Mary Joy Hurlburt, president at St. Marys Ryken High School, a private Catholic school, said there were about 10 graduates attending Virginia Tech but that none were reported injured or killed. Authorities at the university are still investigating the events that took place Monday and are learning more about the alleged shooter. According to information from the university, Cho Seung-Hui, who took his own life in the shooting rampage, was a senior undergraduate student there majoring in English. Steven Moritz said he did not personally know the apparent gunman. I may have walked past him and never even known it, he said. Theres so many different people and so many different faces on campus. There are about 25,000 students enrolled at Virginia Tech with about 9,000 living on campus, Steven Moritz said.

 Section A - 10

The County Times

Dorsey to the task force. If we are able to have a set funding mechanism for this purchase development program this county could purchase more land and compete with developers. The task force is scheduled to hear a presentation Monday from a representative who worked with Howard and other counties to set up PDR and Installment Purchase Agreements (IPA). In a letter from Elizabeth Bobo, a Howard County executive back in 1990, she wrote: The installment purchase program is unique in its ability to offer farmers an attractive financial package which developers cannot match. This program also creates immediate financial power, so that Howard County can use future dedicated revenues to buy development rights now, while the land is still available. IPAs help counties compete with developers by spreading out purchase payments over time. Doing so keeps landowners in a lower tax bracket. Parlett remained insistent that the TDR program headed to public hearing next week could be a significant difference in all this. The board has not yet recommended a target amount for land to be purchased. Sixty thousand acres is sort of a moving target for me, said Merl Evans, a member of the Planning Commission and RPD Task Force. Im not sure we have 60,000 acres of tillable land.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Because the school year will end prematurely, the halfday prekindergarten classes will end early as well. Afternoon prekindergarten will have its last day June 5, and morning prekindergarten will end on June 7. The last day for teachers will be on Monday, June 1. The beginning of the 20072008 school year will be on August 22. The approved academic calendar can be found on the St. Marys County Public Schools website: www. smcps.org.

RPD
Continued from page A-1 to the task forces objective; whatever the amount is ultimately determined. In the last 17 years the county has preserved 3,000 acres with TDRs, said Parlett. The new program will preserve that virtually every year If we did nothing else in 20 years that would get us to our 60,000. Parlett and other members agreed it would be more advantageous for the RPD Task Force to wait a few years to see how the implementation of the TDR and APF programs impacts the amount agriculturally preserved land held onto by the county. In the past, preserving agricultural land has been a sporadic and under-funded venture, which has resulted in a number of property owners being turned away from selling their lands developable rights. Meanwhile as the county continues its delay on purchasing agricultural acreage, the cost continues to soar at an alarming rate. In fiscal year 2003 the average price per acre in St. Marys County was $2,600. Today, the average price per acre approximately $10,000, according to Donna Sasscer, the countys agricultural specialist. If [the county] wanted to purchase easements on all 33 applicants using the fiscal year 2006 coverage purchase price, Sasscer said of the number of applicants that applied last year to sell their lands development rights at an average cost of roughly $9,000 through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF), we would need over $21 million. I dont think anyone could have predicted how much land prices went up in the last few years, Sasscer added. We shot ourselves in the foot. In 2006, the county had $2.8 million dollars to purchase farmland - $2.5 million of which was used in purchasing Fenwick Property 169 acres at the corner of Route 235 and Forest Park Road designated as Rural Legacy Area in the Mattapany. Still, Sasscer says the county is caught in a catch 22 because a number of landowners want to enter into a purchase agreement, but cannot because the funding is not available. Several counties across the state have cured similar woes with the implementation of a Purchase Development Rights program (PDR). Task force member Philip H. Dorsey, III outlined a memorandum from 2001 that he submitted to Joe St. Clair, chairman of the chamber governmental affairs committee, requesting St. Marys to implement its own PDR program modeled after Howard County. The Howard County model uses 50 percent of their County Transfer Tax to support its program, said Dorsey in his memorandum. They started with $9 million and leveraged it into $45 million. St. Marys County today still has no PDR program in place. This county [funds what it has now] by dedicating certain portions of transfer tax and recordation tax, added

Closing Early
Continued from page A-1 department of transportation and surrounding school districts. Board members I am informing you as well as the public today in hope that we dont have any freak snow storms like we had this past Saturday, he said in reference to an April snowstorm that unexpectedly hit the county. While the county averages about 16 inches of snow a winter, this winter only produced about 7 inches. Weather conditions did disrupt schools a few times this year, including two-hour early dismissals on Sept. 1 and March 7. On Jan 2 and Feb 14 schools opened two hours late. And on Nov. 16, Feb. 1, Feb 13 and March 7 afterschool and evening activities were cancelled. If additional school days are lost to inclement weather, Martirano can still make adjustments to the school calendar.

Realignment
Continued from page A-1 Hoyer called BRAC one of the foremost challenges facing the state because of its insistence on protecting operations at Pax River without fostering irresponsible development. Finding that middle ground that exists somewhere between growth and sprawl will be your primary mission in the coming years, Hoyer said during his 25-minute address. In past years, St. Marys County has struggled with developing residential and commercial properties in the countys most desirable locations. While overcrowded schools may have been more directly attributable to sprawl in years past, future BRACs present new problems, as the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners prepares to sign its very first cooperation agreement with Capt. Glen Ives, commanding officer of Pax River. The agreement pledges six terms and conditions in establishing a formal cooperative encroachment mitigation and prevention agreement. Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr., who was in attendance and recognized by Hoyer as a partner in this process said the cooperation agreement was probably one of the most significant documents signed between the commissioners and the Navy since the AICUZ. While the agreement should go far in protecting the base from encroachment, it does little to ensure that the county continues to push for responsible development. St. Marys County is unique to Maryland in that it is a peninsula with thousands of acres of critical area and wetlands. When factoring in the limitations developing around the base, and the Rural Preservation District, it leaves developers with less than the desirable amount of land in the Development District. However, because Pax River is the economic engine of St. Marys, bringing thousands of jobs and opportunities for the county to grow, both entities have enlisted each others help to establish an ongoing partnership. In the last few base re-

alignment rounds, thousands of workers have been brought into the county and surrounding counties including 16,000 workers to Harford Countys Aberdeen Proving Ground, Anne Arundel Countys Fort Meade and the new Walter Reed national Military Medical Center in Bethesda. Hoyer warned that Southern Maryland residents must not become complacent, and must face base realignment discussions continually. Hoyer also said that officials must prevent encroachment on the base and build a thriving economy with affordable housing and high-quality schools. This conference is about a proactive mindset to work together as team Maryland, Hoyer said. Your congressional delegation is very much on the team. Other speakers at the all-day conference include Business and Economic Development Secretary David W. Edgerley and Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Pocari. County Administrator John Savich led the discussion, and presented Hoyer with a Vita Umbrella before the congressmans departure.

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Thursday, April 19, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 11
they waited for some kind of resolution and teachers tried to keep them in line. Teachers also struggled with the cold as some of them had to leave the school without a jacket. Chelsea Tremlow, 13, of Hollywood said she and her friends were about to change class when they entered a hallway that was dark except for the emergency lights that had come on in the building. We were in the band room and the bell rang and we came out and we could smell smoke and the lights were out, too, Tremlow said. Her friends sitting next to her out in front of the building said they were scared by the incident but Tremlow said she wasnt afraid. It was a little fun, sort of, Tremlow said.

Simple Landscape Tricks to Increase Curb Appeal

These days, the home-improvement industry is as big as its ever been. Take a casual drive through a typical suburban neighborhood and youre liable to see a fair number of houses undergoing some sort of reclamation project. Be it a new garage door, a fresh coat of paint or the ever-popular add-on, homes across the country are getting more facelifts than an aging Hollywood starlet. That said, many homeowners are left looking for ways to keep up with the Joneses while not breaking the bank. Thankfully, the answer for a lot of people is right outside their windows. Improving the landscape of a yard doesnt have to be expensive. And such improvements can go a long way to increasing a homes curb appeal, making it more attractive to prospective buyers. buyers. A good trick is to plant flowers along the edges of a driveway or walkway. This can provide a strong contrast to a drab driveway or walkway. In addition, such flowers will draw the attention of guests or those in the real estate market, taking their eyes away from potential problem areas you might not be able to fix at the moment.

Evacuation
Continued from page A-1 as of about 2:15 p.m. and that school would be in session today. The fire alarm brought several emergency apparatus from both the Bay District and Hollywood Volunteer Fire Departments. Volunteers went into the building to check for danger but gave the all-clear sign after about an hour. Some teachers were unsure of what was going on when they were forced to quickly leave the building. They just said get your jackets and we all wound up outside, said Jan Gallagher, a 7th grade reading and language arts teacher. I think it had to do with the old circuitry and the new circuitry, said Richard Adams, an industrial arts and technology teacher there. You could smell it in the band room and out in some of the hallways. Students and teachers braved the cold and windy weather Tuesday morning and were anxious either to get back inside or go home. Do we get to go home? one student asked at the scene. Some children huddled close together to stay warm because they did not have heavy coats to combat the unseasonable windy chill. Others played and joked amongst each other while

Walkways & Surrounding Landscape

Unless you have young children, you and your guests will likely spend more time on walkways and patio decks than you will in the actual yard lawn. Take advantage of that by further lessening the time you spend on the actual grass as a means to keeping it in even better shape. For example, if you have a backyard garden youre especially proud of, install a concrete walkway that leads you and potential visitors back to the garden. This will greatly reduce the around of wear and tear your lawn takes each time you visit the garden. In addition, a concrete walkway wont be damaged by wheelbarrows full of soil or new plants. If walkways leading into the home are already lined with foliage, make sure you keep them well-trimmed. Keeping shrubs and bushes well-trimmed doesnt require a lot of effort but does give the impression of a home thats been well cared for. On the other hand, unkempt shrubs and bushes are an eye sore, and can imply a homeowner has been lax in other maintenance areas as well.

Plant Trees
If, like many homeowners, you simply dont have the time to keep your lawn looking lush and green throughout the year, consider planting some trees around the property. This is not only environmentally friendly, but effortfriendly as well, as tending to trees is not nearly as time consuming as keeping a lawn in great shape. Once a tree begins to sprout, envelop its base in a bed of mulch. Mulch only needs to be replenished once per year, and the look it creates is both beautiful and serene. In addition, planting trees is inexpensive. Just make sure you consult with neighbors first if you plan on planting near property lines.

Tobacco
Continued from page A-1 and he said and the other farmers are participating in the experiment to show what kinds of problems they will encounter when growing the tobacco in a somewhat altered fashion than what they are used to doing. Russell said he plans to plant his small experimental tobacco plots by the end of this month. The project involves growing large amounts of the plant on less land to prevent the tobacco leaves from sprouting outwards to their full growth. Traditional tobacco growing required more acreage than what the experiment requires, which means there were risks in getting this project to succeed, Wood said. You might not get anything, because its so overcrowded, Wood said. In 2000 many Southern Maryland tobacco farmers took the states buyout settlement that barred them from growing tobacco for human consumption in exchange for state money that would support their farms for 10 years. With seven years of the tobacco buyout funds already used, farmers are looking for alternative ways to aid the financing of their farms, which have been financially pressed despite recent agricultural tourism projects. There are other problems associated with the project, Wood said, which includes cutting the young tobacco plant without intensive and expensive labor and getting it to the extraction process without damaging it. Wood said he and other farmers were considering a

Southern Maryland. Two of them are in St. Marys, while one is in Charles County and the other in Prince Georges. Leroy Russell, the second county farmer to participate, said the need for the tobacco protein came about because Think Foliage of fears of Mad Cow Disease when some food manufacturUpon planting flowers, ers turned away from extractmany homeowners are suring protein from beef blood prised at the impact those for human consumption. flowers have on the look and It should be very safe feel of their home. Flowerwhen it gets to the food marbeds around the perimeter ket, Russell said. Its got no of a house add to the color allergens or toxins in it. This of a home, while also makcould be a replacement for ing it feel more welcoming to things like that. Work On Your guests, including prospective Wood said it involves planting tobacco in volume on close acreage to increase crop yields of very young plants. Researchers can then extract nutrient rich proteins from the plants. They want 50,000 to 80,000 plants per acre or 80 tons per acre per season, Wood said. Were doing this to find out how close we can plant the tobacco and get a yield. They want a green leaf right at its most tender stage of growth to extract the [protein] juice. Robert Kratochvil, an agronomist attached to the project said the protein extract could prove very useful. Its better than soy protein and it could be used as a supplement for people who are on protein restricted diets, Kratochvil said. The protein could even have industrial uses such as acting as a coating for printing paper to prevent smudging of ink, Kratochvil said. Planting flowers along walkways can be a great way to create a more welcoming feel to your home while increasWood said that farmers ing curb appeal. are only planting small plots to grow the test tobacco now

co-op arrangement if the experiment was a success. That arrangement would cut down on middlemen and keep more profit in farmers pockets since they would be the ones cutting, processing and assisting in merchandising. Wood said the process would be even more profitable for farmers if they could use cost effective machinery to harvest the plants instead of hiring farm hands to do the work. That equipment still had to be developed Wood said. We have to make it economically feasible to grow and then find a way to get it to market intact and without any damage, added Russell. He and Wood are both hoping the experiment holds promise for farmers, but Russell said that was tempered with uncertainty. The farmers are unsure how long it will take to see if the experiment is successful or whether they will be able to reap profits from it. We dont know how far its going to go, Russell said. So far theres no buyers for the [tobacco protein] product. Everything is in the development stages at this point. Back in 2000, 86 percent of the states tobacco producers accepted the tobacco buyout. That eliminated 94 percent of Marylands tobacco production.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Tobacco.doc Joseph Wood, a local farmer and president of the county Farm Bureau shows his small plot of land he is using in a tobacco growing experiment in a partnership with the University of Maryland. Researchers can extract useful protein from the plant and they need farmers to plant small test plots to see they how much can be grown effectively for mass production.

 Section A - 12

The County Times

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Safety First In and Around Water

Thousands of people will be turning to the water to find cooling relief or some fun this season. Whether you take a leisurely dip in the backyard pool or a high-speed adventure aboard a jet ski, safety should always take precedence where water is involved. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) reports that, in 2003, there were 3,306 unintentional fatal drownings in the United States, averaging nine people per day. This figure does not include drownings in boating-related incidents. Males account for about 80 percent of all fatal drownings. And 25 to 50 percent of all water-related deaths among adults and adolescents can be attributed to alcohol being mixed with recreational water activities. No one wants to put a damper on water fun. Its just important to keep safety in mind every time you are in or around water. To do so, here are some safety tips and water-related how-tos. First and foremost, knowing how to swim can help save lives. You dont have to be an Olympic medalist; simply knowing how to stay afloat and do something as simple as a dog paddle can be all it takes to remain safe. Children are usually physically and mentally ready for swimming lessons by age 4. And remember, water wings or other floaties are not safety devices and shouldnt be relied upon as such. They may present a false sense of security to a child who doesnt really know how to swim. A life jacket is the best protection. these areas includes knowing what the body of water entails. Unlike controlled scenarios, such as pools and water parks, natural water sources may vary in depth and current. They also have marine life and other potential dangers, such as slippery rocks. It is very important never to dive into these water sources. You dont know what may be under the water, even if youve visLakes, Rivers, ited the spot before. Entering Streams slowly and feet-first is always advised, unless there are signs These fresh-water de- indicating diving is allowed. lights can be popular gather- Also look for postings about ing spots for families and oth- whether the water is safe. At er fun seekers. Safety around times, contamination - both natural and man-made - can make swimming off limits. If choosing a public park or campground, select one that is clean and well maintained. A clean bathhouse, tidy restrooms, and a litter-free environment show concern for your health and safety. can sting and be poisonous. Always engage in water activities with a buddy. This way if something happens to either of you someone can go back or signal for help. Additionally, stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms when in the water. The current could push you up into one of these and you could be injured. If caught in a current, dont try to swim against it. Rather, swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it, advises the Red Cross. proved life jackets for safety in and around water. Anytime you go out in a boat or on a personal watercraft (PWC), give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important because if you are delayed because of an emergency, become lost, or encounter other problems, you want help to be able to reach you. Take a course that will teach about navigation rules, emergency procedures and the effects of wind, water conditions, and weather. The Coast Guard, the Red Cross and other organizations may host them. Know the rules of the water and be cautious and courteous with swimmers and others sharing the area. Obey no-wake and speed zones. Alcohol impairs your judgement, reaction time and balance. Never drink when you are operating a vessel. Know weather and water conditions in advance of your trip. Scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing Though independent recreational activities, all of these require strong swimming ability and training from a professional. Always go out with a buddy or a group in the event of an emergency. Know how to properly operate all equipment. And keep skill level in mind. Do not enter rough or dangerous waters or environments for which you are not trained. When safety comes first in the water, the chance for injury diminishes and the opportunity for fun increases

Pools
Adult supervision is always recommended around a pool, especially when children are swimming. Learn CPR as a safety precaution, and install a phone nearby or keep a cordless or cellular phone outside by the pool to dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency. Many laws state that the pool be completely enclosed with a self-locking fence with vertical bars. Furniture or other objects that can be scaled should not be next to this fence to restrict climbing and entry. Set house rules for the pool, deterring diving and running around the perimeter of the pool (in-ground varieties). Alcohol and swimming dont mix, so encourage adults to act responsibly when entertaining.

Oceans
Oceans present all types of currents and swimming situations that can change very rapidly. Always know the surf and forecasted weather conditions before venturing out to swim. When in the water, always swim in designated areas. These are set up for your safety. Swimming out of range could put you in harms way, either in the path of dangerous marine life or too far to safely swim back to shore. Dont touch any aquatic animals or fish while in the water. Also, some ocean life, such as anemones, coral and jellyfish,

Boating and Watercraft

Use Coast Guard ap-

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