Torch Run returns May 30 to benefit Special Olympics

Friday, May 9, 2008

The event returns to St. Mary’s on Friday, May 30, and St. Mary’s detective David Alexander said he hopes to top last year’s tally of about 150 participants, probably the biggest so far, and the contributions of local businesses to the cause. A $10 registration fee provides the participant with the meals and a ball cap or T-shirt. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the Outback steakhouse in California’s Wildewood shopping center. ‘‘We have a breakfast and warmups there, both the runners and walkers,” Alexander said.

The runners’ seven-mile trek begins in Wildewood, and the walkers’ shorter course starts at the intersection of routes 4 and 235. ‘‘You can run or walk any portion of it. There are buses that are following behind,” the detective said, and participants ‘‘can get on the bus, [after they] walk or run as little or as much as they want to.”

Both courses wind up on the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge over the Patuxent River. ‘‘It’s a beautiful thing. It’s not very often that people are able to walk on the bridge,” Alexander said. ‘‘We’ll shut down one lane and go at a slow pace.”

The aftermath is even more relaxing. ‘‘All the runners and walkers are brought back to Outback for lunch, and awards,” Alexander said, and the proceeds fund sports training and competition for Marylanders with developmental disabilities. ‘‘It’s awareness, and fundraising, for Special Olympics, he said. Call 301-475-4200, ext. 1954, 1951 or 2278.

‘Take cover’ alarmsto be tested Saturday

St. Mary’s ‘‘Take Cover” alarms will be tested at noon tomorrow, Saturday, as they generally are on the first Saturday of each month.

Designed as a tornado warning, the signal lasts for 13 cycles and is significantly different from a fire or rescue call signal. If the signal is heard any other time, citizens should tune into radio or television stations for more information. If they ever see a funnel cloud, they immediately should take shelter and not wait for the ‘‘take cover” signal. They should listen to NOAA weather radio, watch weather broadcasts on TV, listen to the radio, call the county’s emergency information hotline at 301-475-4911 and check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available.

During emergencies, St. Mary’s will open public shelters for citizens who may be required to evacuate their homes or workplaces. The shelters are located at the Chopticon, Great Mills and Leonardtown high schools. For more information, go online to www.stmarysmd.com⁄emergencycomm or call 301-475-4200.

CAP to hold training exercise Saturday

The Group 3 squadrons of the Maryland Civil Air Patrol will be conducting a training exercise all day tomorrow, Saturday, in a scenario dealing with post-hurricane damage assessment operations.

The mission base for the operation will be the St. Mary’s County Airport, and aircraft and ground teams from across Southern Maryland will participate. Residents of coastal areas in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties may spot very low-flying red, white and blue CAP aircraft. These aircraft will be conducting aerial photography and air-ground team coordination training. For information about the Maryland Wing of CAP, go online to http:⁄⁄mdcap.org.

The St. Mary’s Composite Squadron meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the airport, in the Capt. Walter Francis Duke terminal building.Ê For information on the county’s squadron, go online to http:⁄⁄www.capstmarys.com⁄.

Law enforcement appreciation dayset for May 13

The St. Mary’s Department of Aging, TRIAD⁄Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council, and the county commissioners will sponsor the seventh annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. next Tuesday, May 13, on the governmental center lawn in Leonardtown.

The event will take place during National Police Memorial Week and pay tribute to law officers who have perished in the line of duty as well as honor the Officer of the Year selected from each department, based on their outstanding service to the community.

Call 301-475-4200 ext. 1073, send e-mail to sherrie.wooldridge@co.saint-marys.md.us or go online to http⁄⁄www.co.saint-marys.md.us⁄doa⁄docs⁄L.E.A.D.Flyer08.pdf.

Local bicyclist to lead May 17-18 charity ride

Ed Turbush, financial adviser at the California office of Edward Jones, will be leading a team of riders in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Bike MS event on May 17 and 18, a two-day bike ride that will cover more than 100 miles of Virginia countryside near Dulles Airport, and will raise funds for research into a cure for MS.

Other riders from the area will include Turbush’s wife, Timea, Jeff and Michelle Quesenberry from the Prince Frederick Edward Jones office and Randy Matteson from the Owings office. For more information, call Turbush at 301-863-0116 or send e-mail to edward.turbush@edwardjones.com.

Mechanicsville to kick off carnival season

The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 47th annual carnival June 12 to 15 and June 19 to 22.

The carnival will be open from 7 to 11 p.m. nightly and Sundays from 6 to 10 p.m., with rides provided by M&M Amusements. Ride-all-night bracelets will be available every night, and single tickets will be available.

Raffle tickets for nightly and last-night prizes will be available at $1 each or six for $5. On the last night of the carnival, there will be a cash raffle for $200, $300, $500 and $1,000. Winners of nightly and last-night prizes must be present. Winners of the cash raffle do not have to be present. For more information, call 301-884-8602.

Crafts guild sponsoring trip to West Virginia

The Crafts Guild of St. Mary’s County is sponsoring a trip on Saturday, June 14, to the West Virginia Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival in Charles Town, W.Va.

About 300 crafts persons will be selling and demonstrating wares at the nationally acclaimed festival, which also features many varieties of food and live bluegrass entertainment. Departures from St. Mary’s will be in Leonardtown and California. For more information, call 301-997-1644 or 301-994-2621.

Young writer wins state award

Natalie Wolfe is a winner in the Maryland International Reading Association’s Young Author Contest for her story, ‘‘The Mermaid Who Danced,” which won second place in the short story category for second grade. Wolfe’s story initially was submitted through Hollywood Elementary School and won first place for short story in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties before it was submitted for the contest at the state level. The Maryland International Reading Association Council held a reception and awards ceremony for all the state winners last month in Hunt Valley. All winners were presented with a 2008 Young Authors Anthology including their winning stories.

Commission honorstwo St. Mary’s women

The St. Mary’s County Commission for Women recently honored two local women at its annual Women’s History Banquet at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown.

In keeping with the National Women’s History Month theme of ‘‘Women’s Art: Women’s Vision,” the commission recognized Yvonne Lynn Patton, an art teacher at Mechanicsville Elementary School, for her 24 years of inspiring students through art and enthusiasm. Other nominees for the award included Morriah Cell for her work with the Newtowne Players, and Stephanie Taylor for her dance performing and teaching.

In addition, Maureen Pomerville of Leonardtown was named Woman of the Year by the commission, which each year recognizes a person who has made significant contributions to her local community through volunteering and creativity.

Pomerville was chosen for her willingness to help those in need by giving freely of her time, groceries, furniture and friendship.

Other nominees were Regina Bowman-Goldring from the College of Southern Maryland, Mary Ann Chasen from Christmas in April, Francine Dove-Hawkins for her work in education, Viola Gardner from Christmas in April, Florence B. Lanham for a wide variety of volunteer activities and Marguerite Morris for her work in founding the Leah’s House Shelter for Women and Children.

All nominees also were presented with certificates of appreciation and recognition from the offices of Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th), and the St. Mary’s County board of commissioners.

Coffeehouse launches open-mic nights

Room with a Brew, a coffeehouse located across Route 5 from Leonardtown High School, recently announced the start of its weekly open-mic nights, held at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday. Singers, songwriters, dancers, actors, poets, magicians, comedians and others ‘‘from all walks of artistic life” are welcome to attend. For more information, call 301-475-8811 or go online to www.roomwithabrew.com.

Sponsors sought for regional ‘trails’ guide

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission is planning the third edition of the ‘‘Southern Maryland Trails – Earth, Art and Imagination” guidebook of the region’s local eateries, lodging, gardens, farms and arts and crafts venues, and is offering sponsorship opportunities to area businesses and individuals to help support the community program. Call 301-274-1922, send e-mail to info@somarylandsogood.com or go online to www.somdtrails.com.

CalvART Galleryto hold reception

A reception for an exhibit titled ‘‘In Women’s Hands ... Paint & Clay” by artists Abbey Griffin, Denise Breitburg and Mimi Little will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, at the CalvART Gallery in the Prince Frederick Plaza shopping center in Prince Frederick.

The new show will open to the public from May 7 to June 8. Call 410-535-9252.