Mike Sullivan of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department knew he’d been nominated for Maryland State Firefighter of the Year before he and about eight other nominees from around the state got on stage last week at the state firemen’s convention in Ocean City.

But he didn’t think he’d be the one to get the prize.

“I was totally taken by surprise,” he said Tuesday.

Sullivan, a 42-year-old Hillville area resident, also said even the nomination was unexpected, but his department reported this week that he has devoted countless hours to the organization and has done whatever it takes to make sure tasks are completed.

Sullivan has served 22 years with the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, and added helping with the fire department seven years ago.

“It wasn’t that difficult. I took different classes to do that,” Sullivan said. “I wanted something different. I enjoy running calls and doing the fundraisers, but fire prevention is something I also enjoy doing.”

National Fire Prevention Week in October brings a special opportunity to make visits to schools and host open houses that emphasize home smoke alarms and escape plans, and the same tips are presented during the National Night Out events in neighborhoods in August and during birthday party visits to homes.

“With every event, we try to send a fire prevention message,” Sullivan said.

When not at the fire department or rescue squad, Sullivan works for the St. Mary’s Metropolitan Commission utility service as chief of facilities and operations.

See fireworks, hear tunes Saturday in Hollywood

The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department’s fourth annual Independence Day celebration beginning at 5 p.m. this Saturday, June 30, will feature fireworks, carnival rides and live music from No Green Jelly Beenz, Broadcast and Jukebox Thieves.

Food and beverages will be available. No coolers or pets will be allowed.

Motorists may want to be aware of heavy traffic in the area.

Forecast cancels dinner dance

A dinner dance scheduled for today, Friday, at the St. Mary’s fairgrounds south of Leonardtown to benefit Christmas in April St. Mary's County has been canceled due to a forecast of hot weather and possible storms. The event may be rescheduled for this fall.

Tipsy Taxi provides safe rides home

Summer brings out the crowds and an increase in the number of alcohol-related fatal automobile crashes, so St. Mary’s liquor board is urging local taverns and restaurants to utilize safe transportation options for their patrons by actively promoting designated drivers and offering Tipsy Taxi services when needed.

Tipsy Taxi is a program for on-sale alcohol licensed establishments to provide a safe ride home for impaired customers.

For more information about the Tipsy Taxi program, call the Alcohol Beverage Board office at 301-475-7844, ext. 1600.

Waldorf resident wins Crime Solvers shotgun

The drawing on June 15 for a joint St. Mary’s & Charles County Crime Solvers fundraising raffle made Allen Harper of Waldorf the winner of a Maryland State 375th Anniversary Special Edition over-and-under double-barreled shotgun.

The winning ticket was drawn from the entries by state Sen. Roy Dyson at the event held at the Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall.

Detectives’ staff member wins safety award

The 2012 St. Mary’s County Employee Safety Matters Award has been bestowed upon Margaret “Dolly” Baroniak, a senior officer specialist assigned to the county’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Baroniak was nominated by her co-workers to receive the award, which recognizes an employee who consistently demonstrates involvement and leadership in creating and maintaining safety at work for themselves and their co-workers.

The sheriff’s office reports that Baroniak is vigilant in her efforts to maintain a safe work environment by removing hazards from work areas and checking equipment to ensure operational safety. She also provides her co-workers with updated safety advice and reminders regarding such things as appropriate attire during inclement weather, maintaining cleanliness and safe driving tips.

First Friday fun to return July 6 to Leonardtown

The lineup for the monthly First Friday event in Leonardtown on July 6 in Leonardtown will be pretty much the same one wiped out by rain on June 1, featuring live music, an Info Share on The Square program, a raffle and a new charity drive supporting Hope Phones.

GeeZer, a local classic rock ‘n’ roll cover band, will play its “Music for the Middle Aged,” including songs from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Santana, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett and the Eagles.

Information tables for Leonardtown Business Association members like the Craft Guild Shop and the Leonardtown Arts Center, as well as MedStar St. Mary’s Health Connections, will be set up in the Square.

Raffle tickets on sale at the Port of Leonardtown Winery, Fuzzy Farmers Market, North End Gallery and Fenwick Street Used Books and Music will be for prizes including town business’ gift cards, and a grand prize of hand-crafted coffee display table built by artisan carpenter Rob Seltzer of Herring Creek Furniture,

Dropoff stations are set up at Port of Leonardtown Winery on Route 5 or in town at the North End Gallery to collect old cell phones for the international charity Hope Phones, which takes old phones, erases their data and refurbishes them for sale or recycling to generate revenue to buy new phones to distribute all over the world and provide communication between doctors, medical centers and people in need of medical attention.

Sign-ups continue for National Night Out

The St. Mary’s sheriff’s office has issued a reminder for the county’s communities to sign up to participate in the 29th Annual National Night Out to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 7, to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

Last year, 22 St. Mary’s communities and one church organization participated in National Night Out. Most of the communities have participated in National Night Out since the beginning. They include the Country Lakes Homeowners Association, Longview Beach, Persimmon Hills, St. Joseph’s Community Center, Leonardtown Village, Holland Forrest Landing, Patuxent Woods, Hickory Nut subdivision, Birch Way in Wildewood, Riverside Farms, Woodland Acres, Town Creek, All Faith Church, the South Essex community, Greenview Village, Lord Calvert Park, Lexington Village, Westbury, Meadow Lake, St. Clement Shores, Hollywood Shores and the Valley Court community.

The sheriff’s office’s goal this year is to reach communities that are newly established, never participated in National Night Out before, or would like to revamp their participation.

For additional information about National Night Out, contact Cpl. Angela Delozier at the sheriff’s office by calling 301-475-4200, ext. 9094, or sending email to angela.delozier@stmarysmd.com.

Take part in July camps at Sotterley

Children can still be enrolled in Sotterley Plantation’s “Colonial Farm” three-day summer mini camps for two age groups to be held at the Hollywood landmark, beginning on July 9. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Sotterley’s history as a farming community in creative and fun ways. Registration forms can be found online at www.sotterley.org.

Greenwell adds August camps

Greenwell State Park’s Nature Time Camp sessions in July and early August have filled up at the Hollywood facility, but registration now is open for sessions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7; Wednesday, Aug. 8; and Thursday, Aug. 9.

Nature Time Camp is based at Greenwell’s air-conditioned Nature Center. From there, campers will embark on outdoor adventures and discover their natural world through games, crafts, short hikes and exploration.

Each session is limited to 10 campers age 4 years old, at the time camp begins, and 5 years old, who have not yet attended kindergarten.

Nature Time Camp will introduce children to summer camp, through a shorter day and a shorter week than Greenwell’s traditional camp offerings. And with only 10 children per session, each child will have lots of hands-on opportunities to make new friends, interact with nature and their environment, and receive focused attention from the Nature Time Camp counselors.

For more information and to register for Nature Time Camp, visit www.greenwellfoundation.org.

Sotterley 1812 talks continue July 14

Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood will present its second War of 1812 Living History event, titled “The Choice,” at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, to tell of the war with Great Britain that brought hardship to the plantation but a chance at freedom for the enslaved. The event is free to the public, but space is limited. Advance reservations can be made by calling 301-373-2280.

Apply by July 15 to be park coordinator

The Greenwell Foundation at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood is seeking a Volunteer Maryland Coordinator to organize the volunteers that help with inclusive and accessible programs at Greenwell, including the therapeutic riding program, a summer camp, nature programs and beautification projects.

The 11-month commitment as a member of AmeriCorps begins in September and includes extensive training, a modest living allowance and a post-service education award. The application deadline is July 15.

For more information and an application, go online to www.greenwellfoundation.org or call 301-373-9775.

Church to benefit from baseball game

A “Fun Raising” Day at the Blue Crabs baseball game at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf on Friday, July 20, will provide $6.50 to the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church’s youth group in Mechanicsville for each ticket purchased online at www.somdbluecrabs.com using the code “mtzion” in the “Fun-Raisers” tab.

All proceeds will support the Mt. Zion Youth Group Ministry. For more information, call the church office at 301-884-4132.

Conservation film to be shown at Sotterley

The film “A Place in the Land” will be shown as part of the 2012 Speaker Series at Sotterley Plantation at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, in the historic barn at the Hollywood landmark. It is the story of George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and Laurance S. Rockefeller, three seminal figures in the history of the conservation movement in America. For more information, call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850.

Auction planned for July 28 at church

An auction will preview at 11 a.m. and kick off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church of Laurel Grove, at 27108 Mt. Zion Church Road in Mechanicsville.

To make a donation to the auction, call Tom Keller at 301-481-6388. All donations are tax deductible.

Sotterley introduces audio tours

Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood now offers audio tours to visitors as a new way to experience the history of the site.

The audio tours are based on a new interpretive tour launched in 2011. The 1703 Plantation House Audio Tour is available on Fridays only, with interpreter-led guided tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. A self-guided audio tour of Sotterley’s grounds is available every day, except Mondays. There will be no additional fees for the new tour options.

Additionally, a new 15-minute introductory video can be viewed at the Visitor Center, which sets the stage for the many visitors who come to hear more about Sotterley and its 300-year history. For more information, call 301-373-2280.

County launches new tourism website

St. Mary’s County’s Division of Tourism has launched a new website at www.visitstmarysmd.com with a marketing message of “Real People. Real Places. Real Close” and many new features, such as an interactive map, trip planner and searchable events calendar.

The site also offers continuously updated listings of county restaurants, accommodations, shops, events and attractions. Local tourism and hospitality businesses and attractions are invited to provide and update their own listings through an interactive feature on the website. Tourism partners can edit their businesses’ information, which allows them to add content, photos, events and special deals.

The new travel and tourism site is being publicized with an online campaign and sweepstakes in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis to promote weekend travel to St. Mary’s.

For more information, contact Rebecca Lira, St. Mary’s tourism coordinator, at rebecca.lira@stmarysmd.com or by phone at 301-4754200, ext. 1404.

jwharton@somdnews.com