Job fair focuses on returning vets

Writer'S NOTEBOOK

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The fair, sponsored by the post and the Veterans Employment Representatives of Southern Maryland Workforce Services, is geared toward veterans but all are encouraged to attend.

The fair is held semi-annually but this is the first time it has come to Lusby, according to Edwin Downey, local veteran employment representative with the Veteran Employment and Training Program. This one comes as it is especially needed, when jobs are scarcer than they have been in years.

"There's a lot of vets that are unemployed. With the economy the way it is, the downturn, so many businesses are just literally hanging on for dear life," Downey said.

Also, those recently discharged from the military face their own hurdles as they seek to reintegrate into civilian life, he said.

"You're in a protected world when you're in the military. You're coming out and some of the vets have no idea what labor market is, what it's about. You've got somebody in a foxhole firing a weapon; he comes out or she comes out and [asks], ‘What skills do I have? What transferable skills?' Generally there are transferable skills but the veteran really needs some assistance in that direction," he said.

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 11820 H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby. Admission is free.

Employers may contact Ed Downey at 301-645-8712, Ext. 309, for registration information.

County seeking foster parents

Calvert County Department of Social Services is seeking qualified foster parents, who will receive training and resources to gain the skills required, according to a release. Benefits include a tax-free monthly check and medical coverage for the foster child.

For more information, call 443-550-6969.

Yard sale to benefit Relay for Life

A community yard sale to benefit Relay for Life, a cancer charity, will be held Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Prince Frederick, according to a release. The rain date is April 26.

"Many local businesses and craftsmen are showing their support by making a $25 donation to Relay for Life to rent a space and participate. This will be a family friendly event with bake sales, crafts, games and raffles, while a spa will offer massages and animals will be available for adoption, according to the release. Local artists will also be selling their work.

The sale will be held at 830 Solomons Island Road at the Whimzy Eco-Boutique.

For more information or to rent a table, contact Judi Kane at 410-535-0724, or info@chesapeakegarden.net.

Some county facilities to close for Good Friday, Easter

- All County government offices, libraries and senior centers will be closed Friday, April 10, for Good Friday. Transportation services will be suspended on Friday, April 10 and resume regularly scheduled service Saturday, April 11.

- County solid waste facilities will remain open for their regular schedules on Friday, April 10.

- County solid waste facilities normally open on Sundays — Appeal Landfill, Mt. Hope and Barstow Customer Convenience Centers — will be closed on Sunday, April 12 for Easter.

- County parks and recreation sites will remain open for regular hours throughout the weekend.

- All county offices and facilities will open for regular hours Monday, April 13.

Guided hike in Port Republic

The American Chestnut Land Trust will hold its annual spring guided hike on the Stream Loop on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., according to a release. Meet at the South Side trailhead across from Gate A on Scientists Cliffs Road, Port Republic.

For more information and to RSVP, call 410-414-3400, or go to www.acltweb.org.

Deanna Dove to perform at Asbury to honor Earth Day

On Wednesday, April 22, from 7 to 8 p.m., Asbury Solomons Island will host a performance by local artist Deanna Dove in the Community Center, culminating a day-long celebration of Earth Day.

Deanna Dove is a gifted composer with an extraordinary vocal and performance style. Her music and voice have been described as an "earthy, clear voice that blends rock, country, and R&B with warmth and clarity." Growing up along the Chesapeake Bay, her songs are about her life, but at the same time, they are stories of the bay from its glorious past to its present-day plight, according to a release.

For more information, contact Andrew Applegate, president and executive director, at 410-394-3030, or via e-mail at aapplegate@asbury.org, or go to the Web site at www.AsburySolomons.org.

Workshop helps homeowners with conservation

The Calvert Marine Museum will host BaySmarter: A Conservation Workshop for Watershed Homeowners and Educators on Saturday, April 18, starting at 9 a.m.

This workshop, appropriate for anyone interested in being a better steward of the environment, will bring participants together with environmental experts and government representatives for a morning of conservation related discussions and activities, according to a release.

This workshop focuses on how the community can become "BaySmarter."

In the morning there will be sessions on the state of Calvert County's watersheds, Living Shorelines as an alternative to bulkheads, and rain gardens. There will also be breakout sessions on Critical Area guidelines, plants for living shorelines and rain gardens, nitrogen-reducing septic systems, and native and invasive plants.

In the afternoon, participants can learn about oyster gardening, watch the installation of a rain garden, visit a living shoreline at Asbury, or visit a Baywise yard. There will be a rain barrel workshop at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. for $40 to cover the cost of the barrel. Space is limited and preregistration is required. The BaySmarter Workshop is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

For information, go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com, or call Melissa McCormick at 410-326-2042, Ext. 41.

emitrano@somdnews.com