Calendar of events

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

The 142nd Calvert County Jousting Tournament will take place on Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Christ Church, located at 3100 Broomes Island Road in Port Republic.

The event is the oldest tournament of Maryland’s official state sport. The event will feature a bazaar, organ recitals, country supper and more.

Jousting starts at noon. For more information, go to www.christchurchcalvert.org or call 410-586-0565.

Join River Riders at Greenwell State Park for a guided kayak trip on the Patuxent River.

There will be a Twilight Paddle on Saturday, Aug. 30. Check in by 5 p.m.; kayaks will be in the water at 5:30 p.m. Kayakers will return by 8 p.m.

Cost is $45 (Greenwell Foundation members pay $40).

Reservations are required; call 301-373-9775 to reserve a spot. More information is available at www.greenwellfoundation.org.

Sunday, Aug. 31

The Chesapeake Community Chorus, composed of members from many churches in Calvert County as well as friends from other areas, is in its sixth year of performing sacred music concerts and raising funds for Calvert County charities. The chorus needs the public’s help and participation to raise important funds for the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House.

The chorus begins practice for its 2008-2009 season Sunday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. at Mt. Harmony⁄Lower Marlboro United Methodist Church in Owings and is seeking new singers. No auditions are necessary. Anyone with a love and excitement for singing sacred music is welcome. The chorus meets every two weeks to practice and learn the music for performances.

In addition to singers, the chorus is seeking new church locations to hold its concert series. Churches interested in sponsoring a benefit concert can contact Larry Brown at 301-855-7277.

Sponsorship only requires access to the church an hour before a concert, opening and ending of the program by the church pastor and ushers to give out programs and take up donations. Concerts are usually performed on Sunday afternoons, but the chorus is open to other days.

There is a free-will offering at the intermission of each concert. The offering in its entirety is donated to the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House. Look for concert dates in the coming months.

For more information, go to www.calverthospice.org, or call 410-535-0892 or 301-855-1226.

Tuesday, Sept. 2

Children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join a naturalist at Kings Landing Park to discover what plants are in bloom on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. Participants will search for wildflowers. Bring a picnic to enjoy after the hike. Reservations are required. Fee: $3 per child; Battle Creek Nature Education Society members pay $1. Call 410-535-5327.

Wednesday, Sept. 3

The Southern Maryland Audubon Society will host its monthly meeting Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at La Plata United Methodist Church in La Plata. The talk will be ‘‘Brazil Highlights” by Greg Kearns, a naturalist with Patuxent River Park. Kearns spent time in Brazil on an exchange program through Partners of the Americas. He will share his experience through stories and pictures of Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls and the Pantanal.

Thursday, Sept. 4

Children ages 18 months to 3 years are invited (with a parent) to join a naturalist at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. for a program about tadpoles and frogs. Participants will meet a live frog and tadpoles in different stages of becoming an adult. Reservations are required. Fee: $3 per child; Battle Creek Nature Education Society members pay $1. Call 410-535-5327.

Dr. David Watt from Retina Associates will present ‘‘Everything You Need To Know About Macular Degeneration” at Calvert Memorial Hospital’s monthly Lunch & Learn. He will discuss risk factors, signs and symptoms and current treatments. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. Because the disease develops as a person ages, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration.

The lecture will be held on Thursday, Sept. 4, from noon to 1 p.m. in the KeepWell Center.

The cost for lunch is $10. Registration is required. Call 410-535-8233 or 301-855-1012, Ext. 8233.

Friday, Sept. 5

Calvert Marine Museum will host the next First Free Friday on Sept. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy free rides on the Wm. B. Tennison, tours of the Drum Point Lighthouse, and all of the museum’s exhibits for free.

DiGiovanni’s Restaurant is sponsoring the event and will be serving hot Italian sausage⁄pepper⁄onion sandwiches for $2 per sandwich; Lusby Starbucks is offering complimentary coffee. The Calvert County Arts Council is supporting local performers, so come and hear Lissie Deere on keyboard, serenading as visitors stroll the museum’s boardwalk.

Be sure to stop by the museum’s store on the way out. Many of Solomons’ businesses are participating in First Free Friday, including Annmarie Garden and Carmen’s Gallery. For more information, go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Girl Scouts will hold its annual Girl Scout Information Sessions throughout Calvert County in September. The sessions will be held at: Windy Hill Middle School on Sept 12 at 7 p.m.; All Saints Episcopal Church on Sept 15 at 7 p.m.; Southern Middle School on Sept 25 at 6 p.m.; and Church of Christ (Broomes Island Road) on Oct 1 at 7:30 p.m.

A flyer with more information will be sent home with students during the first few weeks of school. Girl Scout Information Sessions are open to all adults and girls interested in finding out more about Girl Scouting in the community. Information will be available about getting involved as an adult and a girl. Girl Scouting is for all girls in grades Kindergarten through 12. There are a variety of volunteer positions that offer an opportunity to work with other adults or to work with girls.

For more information you may call the Girl Scout Office at 301-638-5373; 800-834-1702, Ext. 4020, or e-mail at ldavis@gscnc.org

Saturday, Sept. 6

The annual ‘‘Affair at Point Farm” will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There will be live and silent auctions to benefit the archaeology, education, environmental and heritage programs, projects and events at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. To donate auction items or to purchase tickets, call 410-586-8515. Advance tickets are $60 per person; after Sept. 1, $70 per person. For tickets by mail, send donations to: Friends of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum 10115 Mackall Road St. Leonard, MD 20685. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

The affair will feature a very special Southern Maryland creation from Charm City Cakes, stars of ‘‘Ace of Cakes” on the Food Network.

An all-you-can-eat shrimp feast will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. The feast is being sponsored by the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 206 of Chesapeake Beach. Music will be provided by The Boys and Me from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are nonrefundable. Texas hold’em games will begin at 8:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the American Legion at 410-257-9878 or 301-855-6466.

Connie Reeves, a Southern Maryland author and publisher, will be signing her book ‘‘Hawthorne’s Cottage” on Sunday, Sept. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Annmarie Garden in Solomons. Free admission. Books will be available for purchase. For more information, call 410-326-4640.

The College of Southern Maryland will host auditions for its fall musical ‘‘The Fantasticks” on Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sept. 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the College of Southern Maryland Fine Arts Center at the La Plata Campus. ‘‘The Fantasticks” is a classic story of love, loss and redemption. Prepare a short monologue and a song. To reserve an audition time, contact the Box Office or sign up in the FA lobby. For more information, call 301-934-7828, 240-725-5499, 443-550-6199 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7828,; e-mail, BxOffc@csmd.edu or go to www.csmd.edu⁄FineArts.

There will be an arboretum maintenance day, hosted by the American Chestnut Land Trust, from 9 a.m. to noon a the Warrior’s Rest Sanctuary, 1920 Scientists Cliffs Road, Port Republic. Join ACLT staff and volunteers o maintain this majestic and historic arboretum with many unusual varieties of trees and hollies. Projects for the day range from pruning, mulching, clipping and mowing. For more information, go to www.acltweb.org, or call 410-414-3400.

North Beach will host Movie on the Beach on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. on the North Beach Public Beach at 5th Street and Bay Avenue. Bring chairs or a blanket and the entire family to watch ‘‘National Treasure” starring Nicholas Cage and John Voight., weather permitting,Êby the Chesapeake Bay, under the stars, on a new 30-foot big screen.

St. Paul United Methodist Church will host a Back to School Picnic on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the church, located at 11000 H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby.

Sunday, Sept. 7

The Calvert Marine Museum will host its Annual Dinner Cruise Aboard the Tennison on Sept. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy the annual dinner cruise with crab cakes, a Southern Maryland favorite. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information, go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com, or call 410-326-2042, Ext. 41.

Come join the Calvert County Natural Resources Division at Flag Ponds Nature Park for Family Day At The Bay on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature fun and educational activities and entertainment by Ship’s Company and will feature Deana Dove at 4 p.m., along with displays about Calvert’s natural heritage. Free. For information, call 410-535-5327.

The American Chestnut Land Trust will host a guided canoe trip on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Parkers Creek from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required. A $10 per person donation is appreciated. Reserve a seat by calling 410-414-3400, or reserve online at www.acltweb.org.

Monday, Sept. 8

Registration for cardio classes, hosted by Calvert County Parks and Recreation and Bio Aerobics Inc., begins the week of Sept. 8. Classes will be held at Windy Hill Middle School in Owings and Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach. For class days and times, call 410-451-4056. Bio Aerobics is also looking for enthusiastic, energetic fitness-minded individuals to instruct new classes in Calvert County. For training information, call 410-451-4056 or go to the Web site at www.bioaerobics.com

The Doug Segree Band will be performing a free concert on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Grace Brethren Church, located at 9870 Old Solomons Island Road in Owings, in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. An intermission demonstration will be conducted by the Black Belt Academy of Prince Frederick Demonstration Team.

This free concert on the lawn will be open to all and attendees are invited to bring chairs and blankets. In the case of rain, the concert will be held inside. A free will offering will be taken with all proceeds benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.Ê

Segree was recently voted best solo artist in Annapolis for the third year in a row (2005, 2006, 2007) by What’s Up Annapolis Magazine. He has successfully recorded and released four CDs over the past six years. The band features an all-star cast with world renowned percussionist Victor Williams (John Mclaughlin, Dennis Chambers), saxophonist Scott Paddock (Little Feat, Bela Fleck), guitarist Dan Leonard (Deanna Bogart), bassist Steve Zerlin (Facing East, Jerry Garcia) and drummer John Thomakos (Carl Filipiak).

Salsa Dance Level 1 will be taught on Mondays, Sept. 8 through Oct. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Classes will take place at the House of Dance, 25741-C Three Notch Road in Hollywood, Md. From energetic and passionate, to subtle and sensual, learn to dance the salsa in any social setting.

This class is designed for those who have never danced salsa or danced with a partner. All levels are welcomed. Sponsored by the College of Southern Maryland. There is a class fee. For more information, call 301-934-7652, 301-870-2309, 443-550-6199 or 240-725-5499, Ext. 7652, or e-mail vickieg@csmd.edu.

The Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers will meet Sept. 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Charlotte Hall Library in Charlotte Hall. For more information, call Tom Williams at 301-884-5230.

Wednesday, Sept. 10

The 14th annual United Way Day of Caring will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Volunteers are needed to splash a fresh coat of paint on some old walls, spruce up overgrown gardens, stock pantry shelves or conduct a supply drive to help the United Way of Calvert County. Many employers have pledged manpower for the 2008 Day of Caring: from large companies, such as Constellation Energy, PNC Bank, Community Bank of Tri-County, Maryland Bank & Trust, Dominion and SMECO, to local businesses such as Chesapeake Potomac Home Health, Lord Calvert Bowl and Kaine Homes, and local organizations such as Calvert County Government, Calvert County public schools, Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Department of Juvenile Services and Catholic Charities. Other local businesses have bestowed goodwill through an in-kind sponsorship, including Bayside Toyota, Top Hat Party and Mom’s in the Kitchen who will be providing a delicious continental breakfast for all the volunteers.

Teams are forming now. To find out how to get involved, call United Way at 410-286-0100, e-mail uwadmin@unitedwaycalvert.org or go to the Web site at www.unitedwaycalvert.org.

A new Essential Tremor Support Group will begin on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at Calvert Pines Senior Center. This group will meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m.

The original Essential Tremor Support group will continue to meet at All Saints Episcopal Church at the library in the parish hall on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The date and time change is now on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

Come and seek information, understanding and empathy for this neurological life-altering condition. Contact Linda Coty at 410-535-3509, or e-mail lhcoty@comcast.net.

Thursday, Sept. 11

The season finale of the Bay Breeze Summer Concert, a free concert series, will be Sept. 11 and feature The Cocuzzi Quartet. Back by popular demand, the season finale will feature these award-winning musicians performing swing, blues and jazz standards from the resort era in addition to their expansive repertoire of other music. The concert will be outdoors on the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum porch at 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is located at 4155 Mears Ave. in Chesapeake Beach. For more information, call 410-257-3892, e-mail cbrailway@co.cal.md.us or go to www.cbrm.org.

The Tri-County YouthÊServices Bureau will host ‘‘Sensational Marketing Strategies for Nonprofits,” a fascinating and effective workshop that will show how to get target audiences to see, hear and pay attention to a message by using proven scientific marketing principles. Join the Tri-County Youth Services Bureau and speaker Chris Ripley of the Strategic Marketing Group on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Spring Dell Center (6040 Radio Station Road in La Plata). Breakfast will be served. The fee is $35 ($45 after Sept. 1) and registration can be completed by e-mail at jdehaventcysb@yahoo.com, fax to 301-645-9169, or call 301-843-2960. Payment can be mailed or paid at the event.

Saturday, Sept. 13

A night golf tournament, sponsored by Calvert County Parks and Recreation and the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse Inc., will take place Saturday, Sept. 13, at Mellomar Golf Course.

Check in is from 7 to 8 p.m. with dinner starting at 7 p.m. Tee-time is 8 p.m. or dusk. Teams are comprised of four people.

The deadline for registration is Monday, Sept. 8. The registration fee of $45 per person for adults or $25 per person 18 and younger includes green fee, dinner provided by Red Hot & Blue, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tournament is limited to the first 48 people (or 12 teams) to register. Proceeds will benefit Project Graduation, an alcohol- and drug-free graduation celebration for the 2009 graduating seniors from Calvert, Huntingtown, Northern and Patuxent high schools. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place along with door prize drawings.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Southern Maryland will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at DiGiovanni’s Restaurant, located at 14556 Solomon’s Island Road in Solomons. The guest speaker will be Dr. Julia King, whose topic will be the Slack Water Books. This is a collection of oral folk stories of Southern Maryland. Nonmembers are welcome to attend. Call 410-394-1713 for reservations.