Special scholarship remembers daughter’s life, community

Friday, July 6, 2007

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photo by Gretchen Phillips Earl Hurrey Gives Tara O’Toole a scholarship check in memory of his daughter Caitlin. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Staff writer Gretchen Phillips reports that O’Toole is the newest recipient of the Caitlin Hurrey Scholarship, given to a high school student based on merit.

Caitlin attended Huntingtown Elementary School and died in 1995. Caitlin was in the fourth grade.

Caitlin’s father Earl Hurrey began a scholarship in his daughter’s name in 2004. The scholarship is awarded to a senior who has a personal connection to Caitlin. In this case, O’Toole attended Huntingtown Elementary School.

Hurrey began the scholarship to keep his daughter’s memory alive.

‘‘It’s really exciting to have a scholarship in somebody’s name,” O’Toole said.

Since 2004, the Caitlin Hurrey scholarship fund has grown into awarding three additional scholarships along with the scholarship given to a high school student.

Hurrey awards a scholarship to a senior in college aspiring to be a teacher, as he said his daughter knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was nine. Another scholarship is awarded to the son or daughter of a member of the National Association of Music Education because his daughter was also involved in music. The newest scholarship is awarded to the son or daughter of a person serving in the military, as Hurrey himself was in the U.S. Marine Corps Band.

O’Toole said with her scholarship of $500 she would purchase textbooks and other college supplies.

Hurrey continues to raise funds for the scholarship program in efforts to offer more money to scholarship recipients. Hurrey plans a golf tournament each year to raise money for the fund. He said Caitlin enjoyed golf and he thought it would be a good way to raise funds by participating in an activity his daughter liked.

The Caitlin Classic Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17 with honorary host Doug Hill, chief meteorologist with ABC 7 and News Channel 8.

Celebration of Life Gala set

The American Cancer Society’s Calvert County Unit announced it’s 26th Annual Cancer Crusade Gala. The date is set for Thursday, Aug. 2, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. The gala is a celebration of life with proceeds contributing to research, education and patient services in the fight against cancer. Come dance and dine under the stars. Experience fantastic waterside dinning indoors and outside. Enjoy heavy appetizers, buffets, desserts, open bar, live music and dancing inside and out. Advance tickets are $125 per person or $150 at the entrance. Tickets can be purchased at any branch of Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, Ticketmaster, the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant, Stoney’s Seafood House and online at www.RodNReelCancerGala.org. For more information, call toll-free 1-877-RODNREEL, 1-877-763-6733, ext 108, 109, 119, or online at www.RodNReelCancer Gala.org.

Lighthouse Luau planned at museum

Grab flip flops and tropical shirts and come to the Calvert Marine Museum on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 7 to 11 p.m., as the museum presents a Lighthouse Luau to benefit the Drum Point Lighthouse. The luau will be held under the lighthouse overlooking Back Creek. Tickets to the benefit are $65 each, and include a buffet barbecue dinner, entertainment by the Nautical Wheelers, games and prizes. A cash bar will be available.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 410-326-2042, ext. 17.

State warns of gypsy moth outbreak

Maryland is currently experiencing the worst gypsy moth outbreak in a dozen years. Despite the spraying of more than 50,000 acres of public and privately owned land in May by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, wooded areas of Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties are having problems with defoliation by the gypsy moth. MDA encourages land owners to call the nearest regional Forest Pest Management Office to report gypsy moth damage.

‘‘Many areas that were not expected to have gypsy moth damage and have not had any problems in recent years are now being defoliated unexpectedly,” said Mary Ellen Setting, MDA assistant secretary for plant industries and pest management.

‘‘We are asking land owners to report defoliation and egg masses to their nearest MDA field office so that we can prepare next spring’s gypsy moth suppression program to protect against further damage to our forests and neighborhood trees.”

The increase in gypsy moth populations this year can most likely be attributed to dry weather the last two seasons. Dry weather generally benefits the gypsy moth because it discourages the spread of the virus and fungal diseases that can infect and kill gypsy moth caterpillars.

Many residents and home owners are seeking advice to combat the heavy populations on their properties. At this time of the year, gypsy moths are mostly full grown and have already done their damage, so spraying and other preventative measure are not likely to be effective. The best actions to take are those which preserve the health of the trees.

More information about the gypsy moth, what home owners can do, and current conditions is available on line at www.mda.state. md.us⁄ go⁄gypsymoth.com, or by calling the Southern Regional Office at 301-782-7156.