Couple burned out of home to take firefighters to dinner

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

The couple now lives during the week in a condominium in Northern Virginia, where they work, and spend their weekends in St. Mary's in a neighbor's recreational vehicle. The Oct. 30 fire erupted shortly after Mark Mueller lit a fire in the two-story house's wood stove, but the cause of the blaze remains undetermined, and they won't be back in the residence for several months.

Tonight, the couple has invited the volunteer fire departments whose members doused the blaze to the Blue Wind Gourmet in California. Eighteen firefighters responded to the blaze, but Laurie Lee Mueller said the invitation is for 40 people of the departments' choosing. The couple also has made direct donations to the Bay District and Hollywood organizations.

"We just want to do something to thank them for saving all of us," she said. "We were 30 seconds away from the propane tank blowing the whole neighborhood up."

Restaurant proprietor Robert Plant is helping out as well, Mueller said.

"We're paying for it," she said, "but he's supplying the staff."

Silent Angel tree memorial scheduled

The seventh annual Silent Angel Memorial Tree Lighting to honor St. Mary's homicide victims and offer support to their families will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, at the social hall of the Leonardtown firehouse.

Ornaments with the name of each victim are hung each year on a tree, which is relocated after the ceremony to the front lobby of the St. Mary's Sheriff's Office. Call 301-475-4200, ext. 1950.

Golf course to host Thanksgiving event

The Wicomico Shores Golf Course staff will host its eighth annual Thanksgiving Day charity golf event next Thursday, Nov. 27, donating their time to open the course on the holiday and waiving greens and cart fees for patrons who contribute nonperishable 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, which serves the 7th District community and helps needy citizens throughout the county. 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 non-perishable groceries including items such as canned fruits and vegetables, boxed mixes, baby items, paper products and cleaning supplies. Cash donations also will be accepted. Call 301-884-4601 or 301-934-8191.

Town tree lighting

set for Nov. 28

Leonardtown is hosting its annual Christmas on the Square from 5 to 9 p.m. next Friday, Nov. 28, on Washington Street. The main stage will have a variety of entertainment including seasonal music and Christmas carols, a magic show, dance groups and costumed characters.

Other holiday festivities around the town square and on Fenwick Street will include pony rides, an oyster scald, sleigh rides, train rides, fire truck rides, hay rides, horse-and-carriage rides, a petting zoo, live nativity, face painting, make-and-take crafts for children, an ice sculpture demonstration, cookie decorating at Kevin's Corner Cafe's "Gingerbread House" and visits with Santa Claus.

Watch for Santa's arrival and lighting of the town Christmas tree at 7 p.m. He'll be accompanied, of course, by Mrs. Claus. Decorated trees and wreaths honoring military service men and women will be on display at the Christmas Festival in the Bell Motor Co. showroom.

A free round-trip shuttle bus service will be provided from the College of Southern Maryland's Leonardtown campus to the town square. Other traffic into the downtown area will be detoured to designated parking areas and streets.

Christmas on the Square is sponsored by the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, the Leonardtown Business Association and the town council. The rain date will be Saturday, Nov. 29. Call 301-475-9791.

Firefighters receive $311,964 federal grant

The office of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) recently announced that $311,964 in federal grant funds have been awarded through the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase replacement radios for Mechanicsville, Bay District and Leonardtown volunteer firefighters.

Thomas A. Mattingly Sr., a longtime Leonardtown firefighter and St. Mary's County commissioner, praised the grant in a statement, noting that the "funding will provide the departments with the resources to update and expand their communications capabilities within our system.  Interoperable and reliable public safety communications has for too long been one of our greatest challenges."

Schools take part in home-building project

Many St. Mary's elementary schools are participating in Cans for Habitat, a community service program to help Patuxent Habitat for Humanity raise money to build affordable homes. Each week, students collect aluminum drink cans, which are then picked up by a Habitat volunteer and taken to Guy Distributing in Leonardtown for recycling. All proceeds go to Patuxent Habitat for its home-building programs.

The students are competing to see which school can collect the most cans. A trophy is awarded each month to the top school. The participating elementary schools include Benjamin Banneker, George Washington Carver, Chesapeake Public Charter School, Green Holly, Hollywood, Piney Point and Town Creek. The Key Club at Great Mills High School is also involved in the recycling program, along with many other churches, businesses and organizations.

Since last year, the students have raised more than $2,000. That amount of money could help pay for the plumbing of one new house. Call 301-863-6227.

Bay District firefighters to host tree lighting

The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department will host its Christmas tree lighting and Winter Wonderland from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Station 3 firehouse on South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park. Santa Claus will arrive at 6:15 p.m., 15 minutes before the tree lighting, and fire truck rides will be offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m. There also will be a magic show, Christmas choir and crafts for children.

In addition, a breakfast with Santa will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the next day, Sunday, Dec. 7, at the firehouse.

Fairgrounds to host Dec. 13 flea market

The St. Mary's County Fair Association is having a flea market and yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the county fairgrounds off Route 5 south of Leonardtown. Crafters are welcome, and they may rent an 8-by-10 space for $15. For information or to reserve a space, call 301-475-9543.

Hollywood VRS to host breakfast with Santa

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad will host a breakfast with Santa event from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the squad building off Route 235 in Hollywood. The menu will include scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast sticks, sausage, bacon, hash browns, sausage gravy and biscuits, escalloped apples, juices and coffee.

Tips on Thanksgiving kitchen safety offered

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's office urges Thanksgiving Day cooks to mind the kitchen and prevent holiday fires that can destroy homes and cause severe injuries.

The National Fire Protection Association studied the problem and concluded that six out of seven home cooking fires ignited while the cook was out of the kitchen. Distraction and forgetfulness are the key reasons why devices intended to cook food end up starting a fire.

People often try to put out cooking fires on their own, and most cooking fire injuries occur while fighting the fire. Using a fire extinguisher inappropriately or applying water increases the risk of splattering and spreading the fire. A safer choice is to smother the fire by covering a pan with a lid or closing the oven door.

In addition to staying on task in preparing hot food, holiday cooks should roll up their sleeves, avoid wearing loose clothing, keep pot handles turned inward to avoid spills, keep clutter off the stovetop and clean cooking equipment to eliminate hazardous built-up grease.

Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors, a safe distance from buildings. Make sure the equipment is set up on a flat non-combustible base, away from decks and other materials that can burn. Never leave the fryer unattended. Avoid overheating the oil in the cooker. Make sure food is completely thawed prior to immersing it in the hot oil. Read carefully and follow all instructions with the cooker. Set up a "safe zone" around the cooker to keep children and pets away.

For more information, call 800-525-3124 or go online to www.firemarshal.state.md.us.

Gallery announces

holiday exhibit

The CalvART Gallery in the Prince Frederick Shopping Center will host its "Gifts for a Lifetime" holiday art exhibit from Nov. 19 through Jan. 4, including an artists' reception from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Call 410-586-9356.

jwharton@somdnews.com