Musicians get big opportunity

Writer'S NOTEBOOK

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Three young musicians from Huntingtown High School have gone on to perform with All-Eastern Honors Choir and All-Eastern Honors Orchestra, highly selective groups that draw students from across the Northeast.

Trumpet player Ian Dahlstrom was selected to join the orchestra, while tenor Joshua Olexa and alto Molly Wilkerson joined the All-Eastern Honors Mixed Choir.

Dan Boyer, Huntingtown's choir teacher, said it was an honor for students to be nominated for either group.

"Its more of an honor to get nominated," he said. "Each state nominates students who are capable of being selected and participate in the ensembles, and after that it's a statistical issue. They go through and it's a long, drawn-out process. In order to be selected you really had to be in the top echelon in terms of getting the selection. … We were all very proud here at Huntingtown of their accomplishments.

Join Marine Museum's lighthouse cruises

The Calvert Marine Museum is once again offering lighthouse lovers a chance to join the Lighthouse Adventure Cruises during the 2009 season.

All cruises are aboard a private charter vessel, and require advanced ticket purchase to secure a spot, according to a release.

The cruises are scheduled for Saturday, June 6, and Sept. 26. Both cruises will head south with departures from the Drum Point Lighthouse. Participants will visit Point No Point, Point Lookout and Smith Point Lighthouses before stopping for lunch at The Bayside Inn on Smith Island. After taking in the local sites, the cruise will continue on to circle Solomons Lump and Hooper Island Lighthouses.

On the journey, cruisers will learn the history of the lighthouses they visit from the museum's lighthouse expert, along with fascinating stories that make each light unique, from fires to ice floes to ravaging storms. Participants should bring sunscreen, a camera, hat and rain jacket,

The cost is $150 for the day-long trip; lunch is on your own. Register by May 15 and get the early bird special rate of $130. Museum members pay $125. Participants will meet at the Calvert Marine Museum under the Drum Point Lighthouse at 7:45 a.m.; expected return time to the museum is 4 p.m. Preregistration is required. For information or to register, call 410-326-2042, Ext. 41. Space is limited and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

County hosting meeting on flood control

The Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning will host the first public forum on Thursday, April 30, to present the assessment of the flood risk in the county and solicit public input, according to a release. All residents owning property in flood or other hazard-prone areas, or those who would be affected by potential regulatory changes, are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held at the Courthouse Square.

The meeting will be held Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. at 205 Main Street in Prince Frederick. Enter the building from the parking lot at the lower level of the building.

A second public forum will be held in June. At the second meeting, the Draft Flood Mitigation Plan with mitigation actions will be presented.

League of Women Voters hosts nuclear safety forum

Those more concerned about Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant than flooding can attend a forum on nuclear safety being hosted by the Calvert and St. Mary's counties' League of Women Voters chapters.

The forum is titled "Nuclear Waste: Safety, Health and Environmental Issues," and will include a diverse panel of guests, according to a release. The forum panel will address issues and concerns including nuclear technologies, health, safety, environment and waste. The forum format includes a question and answer session from the audience.

Issues involving nuclear reactors are complex and difficult topics worthy of exploration to help raise the level of public understanding, according to a release. The league was encouraged to conduct such a forum by public demand in reference to the proposed third nuclear reactor at the Lusby plant, already the site of two other reactors in Lusby.

The forum will be held Wednesday, May 20, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Calvert Pines Senior Center, 450 W. Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick.

April 22 activities planned to recognize volunteers

April 22 is the day set aside for special recognition of Girl Scout leaders. The day is known in Girl Scouting as Leader Appreciation Day. Girls in the Washington, D.C.-area plan a variety of special activities and tributes to acknowledge the contributions of dedicated volunteers, without whom troops would not exist.

"Please, if you see a Girl Scout volunteer on April 22 or any other day, take the time to say ‘thank you' [because] they are helping to build a better tomorrow for each of us by working with our girls today. Girl Scout Volunteers help to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place," according to the release.

Complete information on the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital is available at www.gscnc.org, or by calling 800-523-7898 or 800-834-1702, Ext. 4020. To learn more about volunteering, e-mail ldavis@gscnc.org.

emitrano@somdnews.com