Local home featured in magazine's holiday edition

THIS ‘N' THAT

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

"It was fun," Charlene said of hosting one of the stops on the tour. "My husband and I, we had a good time."

The couple left their house decorated into January, because just a month after they opened their home to about 300 home tour visitors, the Tsirigotises were also visited by staff from "Country Sampler" magazine.

The same decorations that area visitors saw at the home are featured in the magazine's just-released quarterly issue that covers holiday decorations. Copies of the magazine should be available this week at The Apple Basket in Laurel Grove, which Charlene owns. A part of the article that features the Tsirigotis home can also be seen at the magazine's Web site, www.sampler.com.

"The pictures turned out really nicely," Charlene said.

In an eight-page photo layout and article called "A Nostalgic Noel," the story is advertised as "a Maryland homeowner pulls out all the stops to create good-cheer holiday displays using colorful trimmings that weave seasonal spirit among furnishings with a sense of sentiment and history."

It isn't the first time that a Tsirigotis home has been featured in a magazine spread. "Country Accents," "Country Collectible" and "Southern Maryland, This is Living" have all highlighted the Tsirigotis current home or previous home in North Town Creek in past issues.

Photographers for those magazines keep contacting them for stories, Charlene said.

Pumpkin shatters record at county fair

Walter Russell's mammoth 452-pound pumpkin handily won the biggest pumpkin contest at the 63rd Annual St. Mary's County Fair, held Sept. 24 to 27 at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown. Russell's pumpkin, which was grown on the Russells' farm in Clements, was more than 100 pounds heavier than last year's winner, a 290-plus pumpkin that was itself a record breaker.

For more information about results from this year's fair, visit www.smcfair.somd.com.

Program offers help to parents of teens

A series of Staying Connected with Your Teen workshops will begin at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, at the St. Mary's governmental center's Potomac Building on Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown.

The five two-hour Thursday evening sessions to be held in Room 14 are designed to bring parents together to learn and practice communication skills that can help their children avoid negative behaviors. The program is being provided at no charge to the participants through funding by the state Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration.

"It will help the parents build stronger relationships with their children, and help the parents and their children ease the transition into adulthood," according to Walter Biscoe, the county's prevention coordinator. "It's for all parents, [and] any caregivers. A grandparent can take a program like this if they're caring for the child."

The interactive program helps parents and caregivers identify and reduce risk factors that children may encounter in their communities, schools and families.

To register, call Biscoe at 301-475-4200, ext. 1847, or send e-mail to walter.biscoe@co.saint-mary.md.us.

Area residents encouraged to join statewide read

Maryland's only statewide reading program, called One Maryland One Book, is under way throughout Southern Maryland now through October. The program is designed to encourage everyone in the state to read and then discuss one common book — "Song Yet Sung" by James McBride.

A program of the Maryland Center for the Book, One Maryland One Book is designed to bring together people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in discussions and related programs.

"Song Yet Sung" is set on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the 1850s and tells the story of escaped slaves, free blacks and slave catchers. It was selected because it offers Marylanders the opportunity to discuss topics such as race, identity, the intricacy of relationships and Maryland history.

Programs developed by the three Southern Maryland public library systems around those themes, include writing workshops, book discussions, a play and a documentary viewing and discussion. Some non-traditional book discussions following a civic reflection model — the practice of reading and discussing short pieces of literature as a means of reflecting on the central questions of civic life.

For more information about One Maryland One Book and to see a list of area programming, visit an area library or www.stmalib.org. 

New regional map is now available

The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium announces the release of a new regional attractions map of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.

The map, which features sites of interest across the region, was created by the Tourism Marketing Committee of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium. Titled "Destination: Southern Maryland," the full-color large-scale piece is a detailed map on one side and a directory of tourism resources on the other.

Contact the consortium at 301-274-4083 or by e-mail, SoMdHeritage@tccsmd.org.

Farm life festival set for Oct. 10, 11

The 12th Annual Southern Maryland Farm Life Festival will be sponsored by the John K. Parlett Farm Life Museum on New Market-Turner Road in Charlotte Hall on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit Christmas in April-St. Mary's County.

This family event features more than 60,000 square feet of indoor historical exhibits and demonstrations. There will be a power tractor parade both days at noon, children's events and crafts, petting zoo, Southern Maryland Mini Pullers, Southern Maryland Antique Power Association Tractor Pull, National Lawn Mover Association and live entertainment by local bands. There will be an auction at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Cost is $7 for adults, $3 for students and free for children 5 and younger.

Visitors can present a Discover St. Mary's Value Card for $1 off adult admission.

The St. Mary's Hospital Health Connections van will be at the event both days giving flu shots at a cost of $20 — cash or check — no Medicare or insurance. Also, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Lipizzaner stallions, which are on their 40th anniversary tour, will perform one show. They are appearing at the festival courtesy of Flat Iron Farm. The stallions can be seen at the Great Mills farm on Oct. 16 to 18 to benefit St. Mary's Hospice.

Spaces are available for antique sales and crafters. Contact Julia Bohle at 301-884-5678 or e-mail jbohle@md.metrocast.net.

For more information about the festival, contact Darene Kleinsorgen at 301-290-1621 or e-mail barnaby@md.metrocast.net.

County's tourism office seeks input

The St. Mary's County Division of Tourism is seeking information on new hospitality and tourism-related businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and specialty shops, for inclusion in the St. Mary's County Destination Guide and on the St. Mary's County Tourism Web site.

Representatives from these kinds of businesses are asked to provide business name, street and mailing address, phone and fax number, e-mail address and Web site, plus a 35-word maximum description of the business. Listings are free. Sample listings can be viewed at www.stmarysmd.com/tourism.

Mail listings to St. Mary's County Division of Tourism, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650; or e-mail to visitus@stmarysmd.com; or fax to 301-475-4414.

For more information call 301-475-4200, ext.1404.

Recreation and parks offers NYC bus trips

Two bus trips to New York City are being planned by the county's department of recreation and parks. The first trip will be on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 6 a.m. to midnight. Registration deadline is Oct. 2. Cost is $88 per person, which covers transportation only.

The second trip will be Dec. 12 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Registration deadline is Nov. 23. Cost is $88. For more information call 301-475-4200, ext. 1800.

American Legion installs officers

Past department commander Gail Murdock recently installed the following officers of American Legion Post and Auxiliary Unit 255 in Ridge for the administrative year 2009-2010: Commander Skip Disharoon; First Vice Commander Lindy McKay; Second Vice Commander Terry Morton; Adjutant John Matthews; Chaplain Terry Morton; Service Officer Chuck Myers; Finance Officer Jim Yeatman; and Sgt. at Arms Chris Dorosz. The new executive committee is Neil Roberts, Francis Smith, Sean Tibbs and Charlie Tennyson.

Disharoon presented the awards for outstanding service to the Post. Legionnaire of the Year was awarded to Lindy McKay and the Post Commander's Award to Mike and Elaine Stone. Honorary Life Membership was awarded to Neal Roberts.

American Legion Auxiliary, Southern Maryland District President Roxanne Berry installed the following unit officers: President Ann Thomas, Vice President Ethel McKay; Secretary Audrey Pratt; Treasurer Flora Norris; Chaplain Wendy Morton; Historian Brenda Bassford; and Sgt. at Arms Sherry Pope. The executive committee is Anita Birdine, Evelyn Turner and Bobbie Bell-Ocfemia.

Thomas announced the unit had received 11 certificates of award at the annual state convention in Ocean City for its outstanding work on the various programs for the veterans, children and community. Delegates attending the convention were Skip Disharoon and Terry Morton from the post and Ann Thomas, Audrey Pratt, Shirley McKay, Sherry Pope and Wendy Morton from the unit.

Bingo on Oct. 3 to benefit Father Andrew White School

A Longaberger basket/Vera Bradley choose-your-prize bingo to benefit Father Andrew White School will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, at the school. Doors open at 6 p.m.; games begin at 7 p.m.

There will be 20 regular games and four special games. There will also be a raffle of a collector's club celebration cake basket set.

Admission of $20 includes one admission ticket with 20 games. Additional books are $5 each. Specials will be $1 each. Children must purchase admission ticket and be accompanied by a paying adult.

There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and a grand raffle. There will not be specific prizes labeled for each game. Winner can choose from available prizes. Food will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

To reserve a seat in advance, call Denise Pietsch at 301-475-3192. Those who call with a reservation for 10 and check in with at least 10 in their group and the group planner will get a free retired Longaberger pink Horizon of Hope mug.

School's fall festival to return Nov. 22

St. Michael's School in Ridge will host its fall festival Sunday, Nov. 22, from noon to 4 p.m. at the school, including an all-you-can-eat dinner catered by Paul Thompson of Thompson's Seafood that includes stuffed ham, fried oysters and turkey. There will be a bake sale, craft room, raffles and children's games.

Ticket prices for the dinner are $23 for adults, half-price for children 6 to 10 and free for children 5 and younger. Carryouts are available for $21.

All proceeds will go toward supporting St. Michael's School. For tickets or more information call Shirley Kovich at 301-872-4321 (St. Michael's Rectory) or at 301-872-5771 (home); Ada Spelz at 301-862-4600 (St. Cecilia's Rectory) or 301-872-4129 (home); or Kay Fenhagen at 301-872-5381.

scraton@somdnews.com