Farm-Life Festival to return this weekend to Charlotte Hall

Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

The 11th annual Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival kicks off at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, at the John K. Parlett Farm Life Museum on New Market-Turner Road in Charlotte Hall, featuring more than 60,000 square feet of indoor historical exhibits and an array of outdoor demonstrations and events.

The two-day festival, running to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, will include a power tractor parade, children's events, petting zoo and a mini-tractor pull. Businesses manning booths at the festival will include antique dealers and crafters.

The admission charge is $7 for adults, $3 for students and it's free for children age 5 and younger. All proceeds benefit Christmas In April St. Mary's County, the annual program that finds scores of volunteers repairing and improving the houses of elderly, low-income and disabled county residents.

Mary Ann Chasen, the local Christmas in April executive director, said this week that about 24 percent of the program's budget for materials and other costs is funded by the Farm-Life Festival.

"It's the biggest fundraiser that we have," Chasen said. "We're very grateful that the Parlett family has done this for us."

The festival draws crowds from throughout the tri-county region, and Chasen said attendees from out of state generally start arriving on Friday.

"They make a weekend of it down here," she said, and many bring along entries for the festival's expanding parade, of "not only the tractors, but other farm equipment. They bring down the old cars and trucks.

For more information, call 301-290-1621.

Clothing for Georgians still being accepted

Blankets and warm clothing that are new or gently used and clean can be dropped off for a Blankets for Georgia project – to assist people in Georgia recovering from the recent conflict with Russia – at boxes in Pro Fitness Gym, Shoppers Food Warehouse and Patuxent Presbyterian Church in California. Several schools have drop-off boxes, including Hollywood Elementary, Esperanza Middle, Spring Ridge Middle, Great Mills High and Leonardtown High. Shipping boxes also would be a welcome donation.

For more information on the drive and how to donate toward shipping costs, go online to http://jeningeorgia.blogspot.com/.

Trails Month events slated in St. Mary's

Upcoming "Trails Month" events in St. Mary's coordinated with the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission include a wine-tasting event and gifts showcase today and tomorrow, Saturday, at Dragonflies Fine and Unique Gifts in Lexington Park. For more information, call 301-863-7474.

The North End Gallery in Leonardtown will host a free drawing class for children from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Friday. To reserve a spot, call 301-862-3421.

Next Tuesday, Oct. 14, Southern Maryland Trails will be recognized by county officials at 4 p.m. in Charlotte Hall during the grand opening ceremony for phase II of the Three Notch Trail, a recreational trail designated for non-motorized bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian traffic along the 28-mile right of way beginning in Hughesville. For more information, call 410-475-4200, ext. 1811.

In addition, an "open studio" event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Creekside Fine Woodworking and Viewpoint Art Studio off Route 244 south of Leonardtown. For more information, call 301-475-7225.

Special events running throughout the month are being held at Blue Wind Gourmet in California on Wednesdays, and at Brictoria Cottage in Charlotte Hall, Heron's Way Gallery in Leonardtown and the Leonardtown Galleria in Leonardtown. Leonardtown Galleria is sponsoring an Emerging Artist Show which will include senior students in St. Mary's public schools. For more information, call 301-274-1922 or go online to www.somdtrails.com and www.somarylandsogood.com.

Hollywood church revival starts tonight

Hollywood United Methodist Church will be holding a Joy Revival today through Sunday at the church on Mervell Dean Road in Hollywood. The congregation, which is 157 years old, will be celebrating the 140th anniversary of the building of the original Joy Chapel. The Rev. Gordon Douglas of Philadelphia will be the guest speaker.

A dessert fellowship will be held at 7 p.m. today, Friday, followed by a potluck supper at 7 p.m. Saturday with a talk by Douglas.

Douglas will preach on Sunday morning, and a 4 p.m. service in the sanctuary will include participation of both choirs, followed by an ice cream social.

For more information, call 301-373-5200.

One-man show on Gospel of Mark set

"The Gospel According to St. Mark," a one-man show featuring Michael Ellis-Tolaydo, will be performed at 8 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, at Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park.

The play is a story-telling performance of the entire Book of Mark from the King James' version of the Bible. The story follows the life and death of Jesus, including many of the parables Jesus told and miracles he performed.

Ellis-Tolaydo is professor of theater, film and media studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

To make reservations, call 301-737-5447, or go online to www.newtowneplayers.org.

Church to host

pumpkin picking

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville will host its Pumpkin Pick'n Days on Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26.

Take a hayride to a pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin.  There also will be free activities including face painting, children's games, pumpkin decorating and crafts.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, there will be a chicken barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 301-884-4132.

Veterans Day parade entries now accepted

Registration is now open for marching units, individuals and organizations wishing to participate in the annual Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown.

Parade entries can include marching units, floats, bands, schools, Scouts, clubs, cheerleaders, bikes, vintage cars and horses.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the area of Church Street and Washington Street, proceed on Washington Street through the Town Square, and disassemble on Courthouse Drive.

For more information about the parade and to request a 2008 Veterans Day parade entry form, e-mail parade chairman Tom Warren at tom_warren55@hotmail.com or to Julie Lemmon at Leonardtown's Town Hall at julie.lemmon@verizon.net, or call 301-475-9791.

DNR certifies base

site as ‘clean marina'

The West Basin Marina located at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station recently became the 110th clean marina certified by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Francisco Pace, manager of West Basin Marina, reported that the designation followed perseverance through construction delays, and signifies the Navy's widespread move to transfer environmental management to recreational facilities.

West Basin Marina offers 125 slips, a junior sailing program and club, sailboat rentals, a pump out, and a do-it-yourself repair yard. The marina plans to build a new fuel dock in the next year.

The West Basin Marina, operated by the U.S. Navy's Department of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, is the second of its facilities in the region certified as a clean marina. The first was Point Patience, across the Patuxent River in Solomons.

Hollywood woman part

of recreation event

Deborah Morgan of Hollywood attended the National Wild Turkey Federation's 10-year anniversary of its Women in the Outdoors outreach program, attended by more than 300 women last month in Edgefield, S.C.

Morgan and other participants were offered more than 30 hands-on classes including fly fishing, kayaking, camping, Dutch oven cooking, outdoor photography, archery, shot gunning, ATV safety and turkey calling.

Participants also received a message from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, during the event's opening festivities.

jwharton@somdnews.com