Silent Angel Memorial set for Bay District firehouse

THIS ‘N' THAT

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

A St. Mary's holiday tradition born eight years ago out of tragedy and in memory of the victims of violent deaths will continue this month in Lexington Park.

The annual Silent Angel Memorial tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Bay District firehouse at 46900 South Shangri-La Drive, the new venue for an event that was launched after a young man's shooting death at a party at a home in Drayden.

Eileen Bildman founded the memorial gatherings in tribute to her 22-year-old son, Kevin Michael Clarke, and other lives lost to violent crime, with assistance from the onset by personnel with the St. Mary's sheriff's office. Bildman has completed years of coordinating the event, and it now has been turned over to the agency led by Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron. "Sheriff Cameron wants to keep it going," detective Cpl. Clayton Safford said this week, and the support continues to come in from near and far.

This year's speakers will include the sheriff, State's Attorney Richard Fritz and Mary Atlas-Terry, whose husband was murdered in December 1993 in Philadelphia. David M. Atlas Jr. was a Leonardtown High School graduate and was in his second year of medical school when he was shot, at the age of 23, outside a nightclub.

Atlas-Terry became a victims' advocate in Philadelphia, Safford said, and she now works in that same role with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

The social hall of the Bay District firehouse offers new technology for the event's video presentation portion, and this year that will include a video statement from John Walsh, the father of a homicide victim and host of the "America's Most Wanted" television program. Safford said that Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) assisted in contacting Walsh.

"We made a request through Steny Hoyer's office, and he made it happen," the detective said.

The main part of the memorial ceremony will remain unchanged, as angel-shaped ornaments bearing the name, birth date and date of death of each victim are placed on a tree and their names are read allowed. The tree is relocated each year to the lobby of the sheriff's office in Leonardtown, where it remains on display until the end of the year. Call Safford at 301-475-4200, ext. 1959, or sheriff's senior office specialist Kathy Kreps at 301-475-4200, ext. 1950, or send e-mail to silentangelmemorial@gmail.com.

Wicomico Shores to host golf event

Wicomico Shores Golf Course staff will host its ninth annual Thanksgiving Day charity golf event next Thursday, Nov. 26, as the staff members once again plan to donate their time to open the course on the holiday.

The staff will waive greens and cart fees for patrons who contribute various non-perishable food and household items for charity. This year's donations will be provided to the Catholic Community Services St. Clement's Family Center food bank, a program located on Route 242 in Avenue that serves the 7th District community and also helps citizens in need throughout St. Mary's.

The family center provides direct aid to individuals and families who face unexpected hardships and need temporary assistance with food, counseling and utility and rental/mortgage assistance. The family center also houses the Salvation Army program for St. Mary's County.

The golf course's staff hopes to exceed last year's event total of more than 2,000 items collected. Traditionally, most players donate at least one bag of nonperishable groceries including items such as canned fruits and vegetables, boxed mixes, baby items, paper products and cleaning supplies. Cash donations also will be accepted. Patrons are encouraged to reserve tee times. Call 301-884-4601 or 301-934-8191.

Women sought for committee vacancies

The St Mary's County Democratic Central Committee is seeking women Democrats to fill two vacancies on its committee. All interested candidates are encouraged to promptly submit a resume and letter of interest to the committee. Send application materials to St Mary's Democratic Central Committee, Attn: Kathy O'Brien, chairman; 41161 Knight Road, Leonardtown MD 20650, or by e-mail to kathyoobrien@gmail.com.

Church to hold Dec. 5 holiday fair

A Christmas-holiday craft and vendor fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Parish Hall, located at 28297 Old Village Avenue in Mechanicsville. Items for sale will be displayed on craft tables, a food table, bake table and vendor tables featuring Tupperware, Tastefully Simple and Avon products. For more information call 301-290-0186.

Sotterley to host plantation Christmas

Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood will host a Family Plantation Christmas event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, featuring visits with Santa and treats from Mrs. Claus' kitchen.

Participants also can take a horse-drawn carriage ride, sing along with the carolers, make holiday crafts, get their face painted, see what they can find at the scavenger hunt in the garden and visit the Sotterley Museum Shop to find holiday gifts. Children can buy presents at Santa's Secret Shop, and seasonal greens and hand-crafted items from Sotterley's Garden Guild also will be available. Sandi English will give an encore performance of "Mammy Reminiscence," giving a glimpse into how slaves celebrated the holiday. Go online to www.sotterley.org.

Santa coming to Bay District firehouse

The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department will hold its third annual Breakfast with Santa event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Lexington Park station on South Shangri-La Drive.

Scrambled eggs, home fries, pancakes, sausage, bacon and French toast sticks will be served. For more information, call Melissa Gould at 240-298-3305.

In addition, Bay District's Lexington Park station will host its third annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, featuring fire truck rides, a magic show, Christmas choir and crafts for children. Call Lauren Johnson at 301-481-3191.

Attorney general warns of ID scams

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has warned Maryland residents to be on the lookout for new scams that are using cell phones to obtain sensitive personal bank information.

Gansler urged that anyone who receives an unsolicited call, text message or e-mail should not give out any personal information. People should never give out sensitive personal information unless they initiate the contact with a financial institution, and are certain that they can trust the person on the other end of the phone.

Identity thieves use their tactics, the attorney general's office reports, to obtain account numbers, Social Security numbers and other information. Suspicious communications can be reported to the Maryland attorney general's office at idtheft@oag.state.md.us, or 410-576-6491.

jwharton@somdnews.com