Cobb Island celebrates its civic spirit

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photos by Gary Smith Cobb Island Day was Saturday as the island’s citizens association observed its 80th anniversary. Gayle Kraus, an art teacher at Piccowaxen Middle School, decorates the face of Samantha Sause. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Bob Curran of the Charles County Amateur Radio Club listens to other amateurs in Wisconsin at the club’s working ham site.

Since its inception in 1927, the citizens association has hoped to define and convey a sense of service and unity on the island.

‘‘This is a celebration of life right here on Cobb Island,” Charles County Commissioner Samuel N. Graves Jr. (D) said. ‘‘They started out as nothing fancy, but just a group of people that loved the simple life, getting together to discuss their civic responsibilities as American citizens.”

The association has taken this responsibility and, over the years, fought to bring repairs to the connecting bridge, replacing it twice. The group also brought a water treatment plant to the island and has been a part of constructing a new playground for the island’s youth.

‘‘It’s like going back in time. You cross the bridge, and we’re our own little island,” said Stephanie Potts, treasurer of the citizens association. ‘‘Everyone knows everyone, and everyone looks out for everyone. It’s a little hometown community that you don’t find anywhere else.”

Cobb Island Day began with annual Labor Day weekend field days back in the 1930s. This year, the association, partnering with businesses and other organizations within the community, returned the festivities to their roots with a similar celebration.

Guests were treated to afternoon games, a helicopter landing, a woodcarving demonstration, craft booths, an amateur radio broadcast and a rededication of the Memorial Brick Walk.

Since 1995, the centerpiece of the island has been the Memorial Brick Walk.

The project surrounds an original Cobb Island flagpole and allows everyone who passes it to remember family members and friends of Cobb Island.

The civic association rededicated the walk and encouraged passersby to remember those individuals whose names are carved into the bricks.

Cobb Island, recognized by a plaque on the island as the birthplace of voice radio, invited the Charles County Amateur Radio Club to broadcast the festivities around the world. Bob Curtin and Bob Curran brought their equipment down to Cobb Island and talked with other radio enthusiasts from as far as Switzerland.

‘‘It’s just chit-chat,” Curran said. ‘‘The last guy was telling us about his set-up, and we had a guy from New York earlier.”

The radio club has been coming to Cobb Island Day for 10 years, and was also involved in the 2002 tornado relief efforts in La Plata. The club boasts a membership of individuals from all over Southern Maryland.

‘‘It’s a hobby, but it’s also a public service,” Curtin said.

The day’s event that captured everyone’s attention was a planned landing by MedEvac helicopter Trooper 7. After the landing, spectators were able to sit inside and get up close and personal with the flying machine.

‘‘I’m an [emergency medical technician], and I deal with them all the time. I’m always thrilled by helicopters, and I thought that kids would love them,” said Rick Pike, president of the citizens association. ‘‘The fire department worked with me to get the zone set up, and we had about 20 kids over there.”

In addition to the special events, local vendors such as Billy Sonntag and Robyn Graham shared their crafts and enjoyed the day.

While Graham sold her handcrafted jewelry, Sonntag brought his array of carved wood and gave a chainsaw carving demonstration in the afternoon. Both vendors attested to the community feel and are returning participants in the Cobb Island Day festivities.

‘‘My aunt lives here on the island, and when she found out I made jewelry she told me to come over,” Graham said.

‘‘I’m just a county guy; I stay in the tri-county area,” Sonntag said. ‘‘However, every February we get together in Pennsylvania, about 100 of us, with a chainsaw carver rendezvous, and we do a fundraiser. Last year we raised about $54,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Big burley chainsaw guys, but we’re nice guys.”

Email Michael Berger at miberger@somdnews.com.