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St. Mary's County Fair chairs now look even fairer
THIS ‘N' THAT
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Photo by John Richards
Gabrielle Cory, 12, a member of the Chaptico Chargers 4-H Club, helps restore and
beautify the metal folding chairs used at the fairgrounds along with a crowd of other volunteers at the fairgrounds. Students at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center also participated in the painting project.
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It was a painting project that was so much fun, the painters just kept going.
"It's an artistic happening," said Ann Richards.
Richards and others were repainting the dates on all the county fair signs that are set up along county roads this summer, in preparation for this year's county fair Sept. 24 to 27. They were having so much fun, the volunteers just kept painting once the signs were done. They turned to the scores of metal folding chairs used in the fairground's old auditorium and decided to restore and beautify them, too. Richards estimates that the chairs are probably about 50 years old — in good shape, just rusty.
For a period of about two weeks in July, a group of widely varied volunteers — "I just called anyone I thought would be interested in decorative painting," Richards said — met every morning to sand, prime and then let their imaginations go with colorful latex paints, decorating the chairs.
"We finished about 70 chairs," Richards said, describing the variety of themes and ideas the artists came up with.
Casey Page, the graphic arts teacher at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center and the chair of the fair's flower show this year, saw the chair project as a potential project for her students. So, when school started this year, the graphic arts students were asked to come up with some sketched designs for the fair chairs and the Richards delivered about 40 chairs to be restored. "The chair design project was perfect for my students," Page said in an e-mail. "They had to come up with four sketched designs. We discussed the designs and they chose the best."
All the newly decorated chairs will be used in the old auditorium at the fair. "They're very impressive as a group," Richards said.
Richards said they had so much fun with the chair project, she thinks they'll do it again next summer with about 100 more chairs that need some attention.
Tickets available for event at Pt. Lookout
The Kiwanis Club of St. Mary's County presents "The Spirits of Point Lookout" at Point Lookout State Park on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, rain or stars. Tours leave every 10 minutes from 7 to 10 p.m. each night.
A limited number of tickets are now on sale. Advance purchase is required. Information on the event and how to purchase tickets is available at www.stmaryskiwanis.org or by calling 301-866-0145.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers of all ages are needed to collect hardwood seeds at Historic St. Mary's City on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for RiverFest 2009 as part of Growing Native's initiative to restore the lands and waters of the Potomac.
Volunteers can stop by the Potomac Conservancy's booth at RiverFest 2009 to learn more about the program and pick up supplies for seed collection.
For more information or to organize another collection event, visit www.growingnative.org, or contact Deanna Tricarico at 301-608-1188, ext. 204, or e-mail tricarico@potomac.org.
Wicomico to host golf tournament
The 18th annual golf tournament benefiting The Center for Life Enrichment and Special Olympics St. Mary's County will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Wicomico Shores Golf Course in Chaptico. Rain date is Oct. 5.
For more information or to register, call Laurie at 301-373-8100, ext. 814.
Both The Center for Life Enrichment and Special Olympics St. Mary's County are United Way organizations that meet the needs of persons with disabilities in our community.
Crafters needed
Organizers of Mother Catherine Spalding's annual Christmas bazaar, which will be held Sunday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., are looking for crafters interested in participating in the event. Contact Betsy Farrell at bfarrell@ftrinc.net or at 301-884-4545.
Fair offers chance to ‘stuff the bus'
The St. Mary's County Fair, the Department of Human Services and St. Mary's Transit System are teaming up to hold a "Stuff the Bus" event at the St. Mary's County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donations will be delivered to pantries and food banks throughout St. Mary's.
Food banks are experiencing a shortage of non-perishable food items. Requests have increased while donations have decreased. This community food drive will help to replenish local food pantries and soup kitchens.
Some suggested items include canned goods and nonperishable foods that do not need cooking, like canned meats and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and puddings, canned fruit juices, dried fruit and nuts, cookies and crackers, peanut butter and jelly, coffee and tea and bottled water. For more information call 301-475-4200, ext. 1846.
Chamber prepares for golf tournament
The St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual chamber golf tournament on Friday, Oct. 2, at 9 a.m. at Breton Bay Golf Course. Proceeds will go toward chamber programming for the 550-plus chamber businesses. Anyone interested in participating or advertising at the event can contact the golf chairman, Phil Riehl, at 301-863-7007 or the chamber office at 301-737-3001.
Help offered for parenting teens
St. Mary's County Department of Human Services is offering the nationally recognized "Staying Connected with Your Teen" program on five consecutive Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Oct. 1 and ending Oct. 29.
The program is designed to teach parents skills needed to help teens successfully make the transition to adulthood by reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. This parent education program will be held at the Governmental Center, Potomac Building, Meeting Room 14, located at 23115 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown. Registration and program materials are free. Call 301-475-4200, ext 1847, or e-mail walter.biscoe@stmarysmd.com.
Fire department to host open house
The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department continues its 75th anniversary celebration with an open house on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Company 2 on Hill's Club Drive in Mechanicsville, off Route 5. Area residents, fire members and families are invited.
At 10 a.m. the public is invited to a memorial tribute for those of the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and ladies auxiliary who have died in the past year. Starting at noon and throughout the day there will be vehicle extrication, fire extinguisher demo, indoor guided history tour with photos of the department's past, indoor fire truck pull, fire prevention demos with Freddie the baby fire truck, burn trailer demo, roof ventilation demo and live vehicle extrication with entrapment and EMS assistance. Those with antique fire apparatus are invited to bring it to be displayed. Other companies can register for the truck pull.
There will also be a children's area, moon bounce, door prizes and 50/50 raffle. Free food along with Rita's frozen treats will be available all day. Call 301-884-4709, or visit www.mvfd.com.
Reif appointed to state council
Gov. Martin O'Malley recently appointed St. Mary's County Library Director Kathleen Reif to serve as a member of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care until July 30, 2011. She will represent Maryland's public libraries.
This advisory council will coordinate efforts among the early childhood care and education programs, conduct needs assessments concerning early childhood education and development programs and develop a statewide strategic report regarding early childhood education and care.
