For those wanting a break from “Fifty Shades of Grey,” two St. Mary’s County women have started a book club particularily for people in, or wanting to hold, leadership positions.

Emily Harman and Kim Mozingo have launched The Read 2 Lead book club which will hold its first meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center next to the St. Mary’s County Airport.

According to a press release, the club is designed to explore and grow leadership capabilities through discussion of literature in the field. The release said the club is supported by the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center and Leadership Southern Maryland.

Membership is free and open to the public, and the first book is “The Starfish and The Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations” by Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom. Future titles will be chosen by participants.

Charlotte Hall resident Mozingo said she and Harman had been talking for a while about helping the public keep up with the latest information in their fields of employment.

“It’s so critical for people to stay up with the latest thinking. We’re all so busy but we need to keep reading and we need to pay attention,” said Mozingo, who owns her own strategic communications firm.

“I think leadership is a topic where there’s a neverending wealth of information to be discussed to help get us thinking in different ways,” she said.

Mozingo said the group has sent a few targeted invitations to attend the club through Leadership Southern Maryland and Facebook.

She said the only requirement to attend is “that you actually read the book.”

While speaking in the group discussions is not required, Mozingo said “it’s a much more rich experience if we have a dialogue and share what we know.”

For more information, contact Mozingo at 240-416-0012, email kimmozingo@theconwellgroup.com or go to www.facebook.com/somd.read2lead.

Solomons Civic Association meeting

The Solomons Civic Association will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, at the Calvert Marine Museum. According to an email from the organization’s president, the meeting will include an update on the Solomons Master Plan and Sustainable Communities by Planning and Zoning, in addition to an update on Farren Avenue road closures.

CalvART hosts Patrons’ Show

The CalvART Gallery is holding a special Patrons’ Show in honor of Pat Carpenter, the former executive director of the Arts Council of Calvert County who died last spring. According to a press release from the organization, for each ticket drawn, the ticket-holders go home with a work of art valued anywhere from $300 on up. These tickets cost $300 each and will be on sale starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at The CalvART Gallery in Prince Frederick. Ten dollar tickets will also be available to those interested in just attending.

The press release said the event features 10 to 15 works of original fine art or fine art services donated by CalvART Gallery members, and the number of tickets sold matches the number of works donated. Tickets will be randomly drawn and when the name of each ticket-holder is announced he or she may select a work of art from the show to take home. All proceeds go to benefit The CalvART Gallery, exhibits and community outreach programs. For more information, contact The CalvART Gallery at 410-535-9252, or go to www.calvartgallery.com.

Flag Ponds Nature Park expands hours

Flag Ponds Nature Park has expanded its public hours to include Friday and Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new hours are in addition to the regular weekend hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The park is closed to the public Tuesday through Thursday.

According to a press release from the Calvert County government, the entrance fee will be waived on Fridays and Mondays until Dec. 31. On weekends the normal entrance fees will be charged. Fees from April to October are $4 per vehicle for county residents, $6 for non-residents; from November to March the fee is $3 per vehicle, regardless of residence. The beach and entrance gates will close 30 minutes prior to park closing time. Groups of 10 or more are required to make reservations prior to visiting the park.

Flag Ponds Nature Park is located at 1525 Flag Ponds Parkway in Lusby.

Christmas bazaar vendors wanted

Vendors are wanted for the Annual Xmas Bazaar held by the American Legion Auxiliary Stallings-Williams Post 206. The bazaar will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. The cost to rent a table is $30 plus a saleable gift for the auxiliary sale table. If no gift is forthcoming, the cost is $35. Applications can be obtained by calling Kimberly Faull at 410-257-0908, or by emailing AmericanLegion.Auxiliary206@gmail.com or kimberlyfaull@gmail.com . The deadline for applications is Nov. 3.

PRAD turns 35

Patuxent River Appreciation Days, or PRAD, is celebrating 35 years on Oct. 6 and 7 at the Calvert Marine Museum. According to a press release from CMM, the free event has activities for all ages and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The press release said the activities will include a juried arts and craft fair; local food vendors; live performances; toy model boats; free harbor cruises; local wine tastings; a “green village;” and pony rides for a fee. The annual PRAD Parade, with a 1-mile route along Solomons Island Road will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. To enter a float or organization, contact Randy Geck at rgeck@xecu.net.

For more information about PRAD, including a complete schedule of events, go to www.pradinc.org, or call 410-326-2042, ext. 41.

Networking lunch for women

The Calvert County Commission for Women is holding a Dutch Networking Luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Crystal Palace Chinese Restaurant. An email said each lunch is hosted by a member of the Calvert County Commission for Women and the September host is Annette Funn, vice chair of the commission and chair of the Dutch Networking Lunch Committee.

Future luncheons will be on Nov. 15, Jan. 17, March 21 and May 16.

ldukes@somdnews.com