Lions say there will be crabs for June 8 festival

Friday, May 23, 2008

The new site for the event, off Route 5 south of Leonardtown, will provide more room than the previous venue of the governmental center’s lawn – more room for people, show cars, crafts booths, musical performers and bushels of the steamed crustaceans.

‘‘We’re going to get them from right here in St. Mary’s County,” according to Kennedy Abell, treasurer of the event’s sponsor, the Leonardtown Lions Club.

‘‘If we can’t find them here,” he said, ‘‘we’ll get them from somewhere. It’s a fact there aren’t many out there right now. They’re just starting to run ... but they’re out there.”

Perhaps a little official encouragement from the county government will help the harvest.

We’re going to get the commissioners to announce that that week is blue crab week,” Abell said.

Other caterers and food providers for the 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. event will include Bailey’s Catering, Copsey’s Seafood Catering, Sandgates Inn, Scrumptious Entrees, Sunshine Catering and the Lexington Park Lions Club.

Stuffed ham will make its debut appearance at the festival, Abell said, in sandwiches – and a whole ham to be raffled off by Bailey’s Catering.

Other highlights will include appearances by Miss Maryland 2008 Casandra Tressler and Miss Maryland Teen 2008 Ana Maria Lawson.

There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, a John Deere toy collection, crab-cannery memorabilia and a BoxerJocks robotic boxing game.

For more information, go online to www.stmaryscrabfestival.com.

Firefighters take the cuffs off child’s play

It’s all fun and games with play handcuffs until they won’t come off, which brought St. Mary’s sheriff’s deputies and Bay District volunteer firefighters to a child’s aid at a home in the Patuxent Park neighborhood last week.

Like real handcuffs, the play set from a gift shop had its own key, which couldn’t be found. It turned out that the handcuff keys carried by sheriff’s deputies wouldn’t fit the shackles wrapped around the child’s wrists. ‘‘All they could do was push the button so they wouldn’t lock any tighter on his arms,” Bay District Assistant Chief Joe Gould, but the firefighters brought the tool for freedom. ‘‘All we did was cut them off with bolt cutters,” Gould said.

Music to returnto town square

Outdoor concerts on Leonardtown’s town square resume at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, as the Gretchen Richie Jazz Cabaret takes the stage. The ‘‘Downtown Tunes” events will continue on the last Saturday of the next three months – with acoustic music in June, country and bluegrass in July and rock ’n’ roll in August. Bring chairs and blankets.

Deputies helpoversee alcohol sales

Sheriff’s deputies Emory Johnson and Cpl. Christopher Morley took part in a ‘‘Cops in Shops” program last Friday, by helping Cook’s Liquors in Park Hall detect and intercept any underage would-be alcohol purchasers. Six visitors to the store were checked and found to be of lawful age to buy alcohol, a sheriff’s release states, but a 49-year-old Lexington Park man was given a citation for drinking beer in the passenger seat of a pickup truck. The truck’s driver was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license.

Sheriff’s office announces awards

Sheriff’s deputy 1st Class Robert A. Russell and Correctional Officer Justin R.J. Call recently were recognized as the agency’s Officers of the Year at a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day event in Leonardtown, and the awards kept coming last weekend at the agency’s annual banquet in Piney Point. Kelly M. Castle was recognized as the agency’s Civilian Employee of the Year, and St. Mary’s Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis was awarded by the sheriff’s office as Citizen of the Year during the event held at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, in the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education.

Simmons to behonored at dinner

The Public Action Committee of St. Mary’s County is holding a dinner to honor Benjamin Simmons Sr. on May 31 at the Leonardtown firehouse social hall. This event starts at 6 p.m. and the cost is $40 per person. Call 301-373-3536 for more information.

Soap Box Derby set for June 7 in Leonardtown

The 12th annual Lexington Park Lion’s Club Southern Maryland Soap Box Derby will be held on June 7 in Leonardtown. Registration, the inspection of cars and practice day will take place May 31.

Local winners will go to Akron, Ohio, to represent Southern Maryland in the 72nd running of the All American Soap Box Derby.

For more information, send e-mail to christopher.hayden@l-3com.com or go online to www.lexingtonparklions.org.

Walden-Sierra to hold run-walk on June 14

Walden-Sierra will hold a timed cross-country 5K run and fun walk at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, rain or shine, at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood. Dogs on a leash and children in strollers are welcome.

Proceeds from the event will benefit programs of Walden-Sierra, which include domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse services and a continuum of substance abuse treatment.

For more information, call Valerie Colvin at 301-997-1300, ext. 804, or go online to www.waldensierra.org.

Registration opensfor livestock expo

The fourth annual Southern Maryland Invitational Livestock Expo at the St. Mary’s Fairgrounds near Leonardtown will be held June 27 to 29 for animal owners age 8 to 21.

The three-day competition includes traditional livestock breeds of sheep, beef, swine and goats, along with a dog show and horse show.

The event sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission provides an opportunity for youth in the Southern Maryland region to participate in a local competition and to increase awareness of the region’s agricultural heritage.

Registration is required by June 6 for all livestock classes.Ê Breed registration and veterinary certificates are required. Preregistration for the horse show must be done by June 18.

For registration forms and information on show days and times, rules and breed class requirements, go online to www.somarylandsogood.com⁄events or call 301-274-1922.

Registration begins for Patuxent River Sojourn

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s annual Patuxent River Sojourn kicks off June 19, and registration now is open for the week-long environmental education event.

This will also be the inaugural year of the alliance’s Patuxent Teen Paddle, an educational and awareness-building event that will bring together 30 youths for a four-day paddling and camping trip on the Patuxent.

Call 410-377-6270, ext. 31 or see www.acb-online.