Economic pinch is affecting the family pet now as well

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Pat Johnson of Valley Lee, founder of Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland, says area animal rescue groups are noticing that more animals are being given up and needing assistance.

‘‘Summer is always a busy time for rescue groups,” Johnson said Monday morning. Many puppies and kittens are born in the spring, and not all are wanted, she explained. In addition, people sometimes decide to give up their pets because they think it is too difficult to deal with them during family vacations, most of which occur in the summer.

This year the problem seems to be exacerbated by everyone feeling the economic pinch and deciding medical bills for a family pet, for instance, can no longer be part of the budget, Johnson said. The mortgage crisis is also a factor.

‘‘We’re ... seeing people give up their dogs because they are being evicted,” she said. ‘‘They can no longer keep up their mortgage and they’re giving up their home for an apartment, which often won’t allow [pets.]”

What the rescue groups need during this time of increased demand, Johnson said, is for more people to step up to foster some of the rescued animals while the groups work to find permanent homes for the animals. ‘‘We could take in lots more dogs and cats if we just had more foster families,” she said of her and other rescue groups in the area. ‘‘People could literally save a life.”

The commitment to foster a rescued animal is sometimes misunderstood, she said. ‘‘I think families don’t realize it doesn’t really cost a thing ... It’s temporary and no-cost ... except for some time. All medical care is paid for. Most [groups] pay for food if you need it ... Training and support if provided.” Also, rescue groups generally cover foster families when they go on vacation.

For more information on fostering opportunities, contact one of the area’s rescue groups, including Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland at www.goldenretrieverrescueofsouthernmaryland.org; St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League, which also handles horse rescues through its Snowflake Society, at www.smawl.org; Animal Relief Fund at 301-866-0305; Feral Cat Rescue at feralcatrescue@hughes.net; Second Hope Rescue at 240-925-0628 or via e-mail at katmc@secondhoperescue.org; or Greyt Expectation greyhound rescue at www.greytexpectations.org..

Public schoolemployees honored

St. Mary’s public schools honors employees for outstanding performance each month, as nominated by school system employees. The Work Hard and Be Nice award recognizes distinct and extraordinary accomplishments of public schools employees.

Award recipients for May 2008 are: Linda Berry, building service manager, White Oak Secondary Center; Justin Turpin, Great Mills High music teacher; Iva Berg, Spring Ridge Middle guidance counselor; Katie Eck, Spring Ridge Middle special education paraeducator; Virginia Meadows, Hollywood Elementary instructional resource teacher; Shirley Milhorn, Department of Fiscal Services program manager; Mary Marquis, Esperanza Middle media clerk; Susan Gagliardi, Margaret Brent Middle instructional resource teacher; Mary Szczyglowski, Margaret Brent Middle instructional resource teacher; Bonnie Kelly, Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center teacher; Brenda Stotlemyer, Forrest Center secretary; Victoria Mayor, Forrest Center secretary to the principal; Erin Johnson, Lexington Park Elementary instructional resource teacher; Janice Albright, Esperanza Middle instructional resource teacher; Nancy Shoemaker, Leonardtown Elementary kindergarten paraeducator; Camille Colvin, Leonardtown Elementary kindergarten paraeducator; Chris Plath, Leonardtown Elementary kindergarten paraeducator; Deena Kelly, Leonardtown Elementary kindergarten paraeducator; Lorraine Snyder, Great Mills High financial assistant; Ramona Smith, Great Mills High career center paraeducator; Annett Bernier, Great Mills High child development teacher; Sharon Weiner, Town Creek Elementary instructional resource teacher; Joyce High, Chopticon High social studies teacher; and Karin DuBois, Great Mills High English teacher.

Congregation tobreak ground

Congregation Sha’are Shalom will break ground June 22 for the first synagogue to be built in Charles County. This event is the culmination of a 13-year-goal for the congregation to have its own house of worship. Sha’are Shalom hopes to meet the religious and social needs of the Charles County as well as the entire Southern Maryland Jewish community in its new building. For more information call 301-645-4606.

Yeckley honored for service to Scouting

A certificate of service was granted to Skipper Douglas Yeckley of Sea Scout Ship 548 for 60 years of service to youth in the Boy Scouts of America. At the Western Shores District of the National Capital Area Council monthly round table meeting in the fall, Yeckley was awarded this veteran status.

Yeckley, a resident of Lusby, started his career in Scouting in 1947 while living in western New York. He went through Cub Scouts, earning its Arrow of Light Award and as a member of Troop 46, earning Eagle Scout rank. He served as an assistant Cubmaster of Pack 46 and assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 46 before entering the U.S. Army in 1957. While in the Army, he served as assistant Scoutmaster in two different troops in Leavenworth, Kan., and in Washington, D.C.

He continued his scouting career as a Scoutmaster and commissioner until 1972. At that time Yeckley became a Sea Scout Skipper and joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. In the late 1970s he became NCAC Sea Scout Commodore, a position in which he still serves. In 1998, the Rev. John Brady of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue, a longtime Scout himself, asked Yeckley to help him form Sea Scout Ship 548. Yeckley stepped in to be Skipper (Scoutmaster).

Sea Scout Ship 548 meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Angels Hall in Avenue. It is a program for girls and boys 14 to 21 years of age. Visit www.SeaScoutShip548.com or call 410-326-4291.

Water taxi service available

St. Clement’s Island is a pivotal historic landmark in Southern Maryland. It is also a Maryland State Park, managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It offers a covered picnic pavilion, grills, chemical toilets and hiking trail. The St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point is the island’s mainland destination for exhibits and detailed information about the island’s history.

Tickets for a water taxi out to the island can be purchased at the museum. There is a fee of $5 per person. Water taxi service is available every weekend 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. weather permitting. For more information about directions, hours of operation, upcoming events or programs, call the museum at 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com⁄recreate⁄museums.

School seeks principal

Holy Angels Sacred Heart School in Avenue needs a principal starting with the 2008-2009 school year.

Applicants should be practicing Catholics, have a master’s degree in educational administration or related field and have at least five years classroom experience, with a preference for three years in Catholic schools.

Additional expertise in standards-based curriculum, assessment, technology integration and community relations is desirable.

An application is downloadable at www.adw.org⁄employment or call Joan Warczynski at 301-769-4223 for a copy. Applications may be sent to Joan Warczynski, c⁄o HASH School, P.O. Box 473, Avenue, MD 20609.

Farmer candidatenominations open

Elizabeth Anderson, state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, has announced that farmer candidate nominations began June 15 for local Farm Service Agency county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 1. Elections take place this fall.

Producers are encouraged to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates by the deadline. County committees are considered an important link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. Producers may also nominate themselves, and organizations representing minority and women may also nominate candidates.

To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about FSA county committee elections are available at: www.fsa.usda.gov; click on ‘‘News & Events,” then ‘‘County Committee Elections.”

FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues.

Members serve three-year terms. Committees consist of three to five members who are elected by eligible local producers.

FSA will mail ballots to producers beginning Nov. 3. The voted ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2009.

For more information call 301-475-8431, ext. 2, or e-mail amelia.farrell@md.usda.gov.