The County Times 2007.12.06 A Section

By Guy LeonardStaff Writer

Linda Palchinsky, the owner of Linda’s Café in both Lexington Park and Leonardtown, is suing her landlord Irene Parrish for $1 million after Parrish allegedly tried to have her business on Washington Street closed down late October.

But Parrish has also filed a lawsuit against Pal-chinsky seeking damages for the same amount.

The lawsuit is the latest in an ongoing property dispute between the restaurateur and the landlord.

“It’s one of those things that has snowballed,” said Palchinsky’s attorney John Lawrence. “It’s got-ten to be pretty acrimonious.”

Thursday, December 6, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

PRSTD STD

US Postage Paid

Permit No. 145

Waldorf, MD

Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 49

Weekly Specials Inside!

St. Mary’s Largest And Only Locally Owned Newspaper 16,524 Readers

ThursdaySunny 40°

SaturdayPartly Cloudy

52°

FridayPartly Cloudy

47°

Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4Obituaries..... Page A - 8Community... Page B - 4Police ............ Page B - 7Classifieds..... PageB-9

For Continual News Updates

Visit:

somd.com

Inside

Thank You!

PINEY POINT LIGHTHOUSE

County TimesThe

Bay District Christmas Tree Lighting

Santa visits Bay District Volunteer Fire Department for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Parents bring their children from all over the county to celebrate this special event.

I’m here because I like the firemen; and I like Sparky!” - Jaimi Gibson, 6

of Lexington Park“I’m here because I like the firemen; and I like Sparky!” - Jaimi Gibson, 6

of Lexington Park“


The controversial Rowing Center lo-cated on the banks of the St. Mary’s River at St. Mary’s College of Maryland will stay where it is by decision of the college’s board of trustees.

The board made their decision Saturday

after the Building and Grounds Commit-tee voted without dissent to recommend the boathouse remain as it stands on southbound Route 5.

Michael O’Brien, chair of the grounds committee said Nov. 30 that the placement of the boathouse did compromise the view on the campus, but the cost of moving the build-

College Trustee Board: Rowing Center Stays Put

$32,543 For Landscaping

$860 Thousand More For Education

Comptroller Prepares For Tax Collection

The County Commissioner’s agreed to provide pub-lic funding for landscape inprovements in Lexington Park to Serge Performance Cycles, Lexington Park Fam-ily Denistry, Tidewarter Denistry, and Bay District Vol-unteer Fire Department

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is ready to col-lect the $1.3 billion in new taxes passed in the recently concluded special session but he won’t be happy about it. Most difficult will be figuring how to collect sales tax for computer services.

It’s all hands on deck here, now we have an extra amount to do” -Peter Franchot Md. Comptroller

“

Its a real possibility that Maryland-based tech companies would flee the state to avoid tax” -Ron Wineholt VP Md. Chamber of Commerce

“

The County Commissioner’s agreed to increase the Board of Education’s current budget by $860,000. Current funding level exceeds $9,700 per pupil.

Chopticon Basketball Preview

We have to finish games strong” -Terry Mumau CHS Coach

“

See Boathouse page A-7

See Linds’a page A-9

Local Businesses Compete For Holiday Sales

Local businesses use inno-vative approaches to compete for holiday sales such as Rick’s Jewelers in the San Souci Plaza who will be hosting his “15th annual men’s night” December 7th from 5 to 8 p.m.

By Cynthia BrysonStaff Writer

A public information meeting to discuss St. Mary’s County FDR Boulevard project, Phase 1, was held Monday night at the Loffler Senior Center at Chancellor’s Run Region-al Park. The Directorate of Public Works and Transportation’s Deputy Director John Groeger and other members of that department host-ed the meeting. Over 100 citizens showed up to voice their concerns.

Phase 1 of the project runs for 1.7 miles and begins at the intersection of FDR and First Colony Boulevards heading southeast to state Route 237. The purpose of the meeting was to inform interested citizens on the many facets of the project, which includes proposed crosswalks, side-walks, street lighting and bike lanes. The meeting was then opened up for a question and answer session. The majority of the attendees were clearly not happy with the impact this boulevard will have on their communities.

Afterwards those residents who

Not all Residents Happy With Proposed FDR Boulevard

See FDR page A-8

File PhotoThe Board of Trustees at St. Mary’s College decided over the weekend that the controversial Rowing Center would stay despite complaints from the public that it obstructed the scenic view of the river and took up pre-cious shoreline unnecessarily.

Photo courtesy of Denise EbentheuerExecutive Officer Captain Andrew Macyko, USN, presents Denise Eb-entheuer-Miller with a American Flag for her leadership of the Women of the Moose US-Troop Care Package Drive. The Hollywood Moose Lodge delivered 308 care packages to soldiers servering in Iraq.

Story Pg. B-1

Restaurant Owner, Landlord Suing Each Other For $1 Million Each

SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,December6,�007

The Solomons Business Association, Oyster Bay at Solomons IslandPresents the 23rd Annual

Schedule of Events

Thursday, December 66:00-9:00 pm Christmas Walk Cocktail Gala and Silent Auction at the Oyster Bay community center:

Reservations are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Call 410-326-4855. Proceeds benefit theSolomons Business Association to help fund the Christmas Walk. Checks should be madepayable to “SBA” and should be mailed to P.O. Box 873, Solomons, MD 20688.

Friday, December 76:00 pm Tree Lighthing Ceremony with Santa at the Solomons Riverwalk Pavilion6:00-9:00 pm P.A.W.S. pet adoptions and live music by Upstroke & Friends at Carmen’s Gallery6:00-9:00 pm Christmas crafts for kids at the Solomons Medical Center6:00-9:00 pm Boat building for kids at the Southern Maryland Sailing Association6:00-9:00 pm Christmas crafts for kids and live entertainment at the Calvert Marine Museum

Santa will visit the museum at approximately 7:30 pm.6:00-9:00 pm Annmarie Garden in Lights / Suggested donation is $5 per car.6:30-8:30 pm Live Nativity scene at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (weather permitting)7:00 pm Puppet show at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, sponsored by County First Bank

Saturday, December 88:00 am Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk for Arthritis & Rudolph Romp for kids. Starts at the

Calvert Marine Museum.

8:30 and Breakfast with Santa at the Naughty Gull Restaurant. Two seatings available.10:00 am Reservations required. Call 410-326-4855 for reservations. $8 for adults and $6

for children under 10. Adults accompaning children only. Breakfast with Santa will berepeated on Saturday, December 15.

1:00-4:00 pm P.A.W.S. pet pictures with Santa at Solomons Veterinary Medical Center6:00-9:00 pm Annmarie Garden in Lights - Suggested donation is $5 per car.6:00-9:00 pm Santa’s Coffee House - enjoy coffee or hot cider and local musicians in a relaxed

atmosphere in the Calvert MarineMuseum lobbywith Santa lending the holiday cheer.6:00-9:00 pm P.A.W.S. pet adoptions at Carmen’s Gallery.6:15 pm Boat Light Parade (can be seen frommost Solomons restaurants).

WEATHER PERMITTING, the parade will start at the Solomons Island Yacht club at approximately 6:15 pm,go around Sandy Point and up the Patuxent to the bridge. The boats will retrace this route but continue upBack Creek before returning.

6:30-8:30 pm Live Nativity scene at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (weather permitting).

Sponsors:County First BankSolomonsTowne CentreJBG Rosenfeld RetailMaryland Bank &Trust CompanyCalvert Internal Medicine Group, PA, SMECO, Solomons IslandWinery, SolomonsTrue Value, Solomons Veterinary Medical Center, Stoney’s at Solomons Pier,The CD Cafe, Vincenzo’s Mediterranean Grill

December 7 & 8, 2007

SOLOMONS

Christmas Walk

Walden’sResidentTreatmentFacilityFightsLackOfFundsByGuyLeonardStaffWriter

The Anchor Intermediate CareFacility of Walden/Sierra Inc. hasbeenopentopeoplesufferingfromseriousdrugandalcoholaddictionsforthepastsevenyearsbutit’sstillstruggling to keep its doors opensaysthegroup’sexecutivedirector

The problem comes down tomoneyandwithnoextrastatefund-ingcomingthisyearthefacility’sfu-tureisuncertain.

“We’realwaysindangerofclos-ing without a more stable fundingsource,” said Walden’s chief Kath-leenO’Brien.“Andwe’veworked25yearstogetthis.”

The facility offers residentialtreatment for addictions patientsfromallovertheSouthernMarylandregion,O’Briensaidbutisnoteven

beingutilizedtoitsfullpotential.“We’ve had the space for 42

bedsbutonlygottenfundingfor20,”O’Brien told The County Times.“We have a higher number of St.Mary’sresidentsthanfromtheothercounties.”

According to Walden/Sierra’sown2007annualreporttheAnchorfacilityserved430clientswitheachstayinganaverageofabout19daysinresidentialtreatment.

Of those430clients72percentweredischargedsuccessfully,nearlytwo-thirds also had a concurrentmentalillness.

The most recent annual reportshows that theAnchor facility alsocomprises the most significant sin-gle expenditure in Walden/Sierra’sbudgetat39.5percentof itsoverallprogramexpenses.

Walden/Sierra’s budget for fis-

cal2007was$3.92millionwiththevastmajorityofthefunding—$3.15million—comingfromgovernmentgrants.The rest came fromservicefees,donationsandothersources.

Walden’s budget for fiscal 2008 isabout$4.1million.

Stillthefundingtheygetisnotenough to fully fundAnchorwith-outsupplementaryfunding,O’Briensaid.

“We run at a deficit of $150,000 to$200,000ayearandwecan’tcon-tinue to stay open with that deficit,” O’Briensaid.

The facility receives moneyfromthestateandSt.Mary’sCoun-ty(isabout$160,000),O’Briensaidaswell asPrinceGeorge’sCounty,which was supposed to have con-tributedasmuchas$500,000atthefacility’sinceptionbutfundingprob-lems there particularly with Prince

George’s Hospital Center have sty-miedthoseplans.

Insubsequentyearsthefundinghasdwindleddowntojust$100,000,O’Briensaid.Thefacilitycouldoper-atethefullnumberofbedsitshouldwith$300,000,sheadded.

Prince George’s, along withHowardandAnneArundelcountiesonlypurchasebedspaceonacasebycasebasis,O’Briensaid.

“Themoneycontinuestoshrinkfrom Prince George’s,” O’Briensaid.

Peter Luongo, director of theMarylandAlcoholandDrugAbuseAdministration,apartoftheDepart-mentofHealthandMentalHygiene,agreedwithO’Brien’sassessmentofAnchor’spossiblefuture.

He said that thedata showedatrend in the tri-county area meansthat people getting drug treatmentwhowouldnormallygoontoplac-es like Anchor have to be deniedaccess.

The same problem can also befoundstatewide,Luongosaid.

“People weren’t able to moveto it,” Luongo said. “There sim-ply weren’t enough halfway house

beds.”Luongo said that

drugandalcoholaddic-tions treatment fundsoftenfellbythewaysidewhenbudgetsstatewidebecametight.

“There’sbeenmoreneeds than resourcesovertheyears,”LuongotoldTheCountyTimes.“There’skindofamis-match… we hit toughtimes and we’ve hadno substantial increase

in funding for the last four to five years.”

Moreover, drug treatment ser-viceswerenotwrittenintothestateconstitution, like public education,whichcouldputthemevenloweronGov.MartinO’Malley’s(D)prioritylist.

“Alcohol anddrug services arenotmandated,they’reoptional.Theydon’t have to be funded,” Luongosaid. “O’Malley’s going to have toweighthemagainst theotherneedsinthebudget.”

Luongo confirmed that there wouldnotbeanyextrafundsforAn-chorbedseither,thisyear.

Eachcounty is requiredby thestatetocreateitsownstrategicplanfor addictions treatment and in theSt. Mary’s County plan one of thepriorities is to secure funding formoretreatmentbedsattheCharlotteHallbasedfacility.

Fornow,O’Briensaid,Walden/Sierra has had to refinance it’s op-erationsatAnchorandhasonlyre-ceivedaonetimegrantofassistancefromthestatetokeepitsdoorsopen.Theycontinuetotrytoraisefundstocontinuetreatmentoperations.

“It’s very precarious,” O’Briensaid.

If Anchor has to shut down,O’Briensaid,thatwouldmeanmorepeople suffering from addictionscrowdingemergencyroomsandthedetention centers. Walden wouldhavetotransferclientstootherfacili-tiesweretherewouldbewaitinglistsfor treatment and likely even morepeopledeniedaccess,sheadded.

“Itwouldbedevastatinginways,topeoplesufferingfromaddictionsand the community as a whole,”O’Briensaid.

ByGuyLeonardStaffWriter

Detectiveswiththecoun-ty Vice/Narcotics unit alongwith sheriff’s office tactical team members arrested five people Nov. 30 in a narcot-icsraidonMillstoneLandingRoadthattheunitcommand-er said removed two allegedsuccessful marijuana dealersfromthecommunity.

“It’s a good bust,” saidvice/narcotics commanderLt. Daniel Alioto. “We hadtwo dealers who were sell-ingonthestreetandfromtheresidence.

“The marijuana was [di-vided]upinbaggiesandreadytobesold.”

PolicechargedGaryNa-thanielThomas,25,andNor-man Kenneth Dickerson, 26,ofCaliforniawithpossessionof marijuana and intendingtodistributeit,accordingtoaBureauofCriminalInvestiga-tionspressrelease.

Clifton Antonios Rob-inson,21,ofForrestville andRobert Anthony Robinson,39, of Prince Frederick werebothchargedwithpossessionof marijuana and MichelleCatherine Miles, 21 of Lex-ingtonParkwaschargedwithobstructing thearrestsof theother suspects while at theresidenceonMillstoneLand-ingRoad.

In total police seizedabout$700ofmarijuana,$300in cash and two handguns,Aliotosaid.BothThomasandDickersonwerechargedwithfirearms violations, Alioto said.

Themarijuanawasdivid-edupinto$20incrementsforsale,Aliotosaid,whichmeantpolicetookabout35bagsoutofdistribution.

Bothmenhave not beenconvicted of crimes in thepast, Alioto said, but detec-tives are currently confirm-

ing the exact origins of theweapons.

Detectives found sus-pectedmarijuanainthehomehiddeninaclosetandababycrib, charging documents al-lege, and both Thomas andDickerson admitted, charg-ingdocuments state, that themarijuanafoundwastheres.

Aliotosaidthatneighborsinthecommunityhadnoticedahighvolumeofvisitortraf-fic coming to and from the homeanddetectiveshadbeenwatching the home, whichwas being rented, for sometime.

Alioto also alleged thatThomas and Dickerson hadusedavehicletosellmarijua-naonthestreets.

“They were definitely movingahigherthanaveragevolumeofmarijuanathroughthe community,”Alioto said.“Anditwasrightinaresiden-tialneighborhoodnearGreenHolly Elementary School; itwasimportanttoshutitdownjustasquicklyaswecould.”

The Millstone LandingRoadraidtookplacejustoneweek after a major narcoticssweepovertheThanksgivingholiday weekend that netted14arrestsandalmost$40,000in drugs, cash and property,including firearms.

Thismostrecentraidcon-tinuedtherippleaffect,Aliotosaid, of making the businessofsellingandbuyingdrugsinthe community a precariousproposition. Increased streetpatrolsandeffortsbynarcot-ics detectives meant that itwasgettinghardertogetawaywittradingnarcotics.

“There is a ripple affect,andpricesaregoingup,”Ali-otosaid.“Butthere’salsothefact that were disrupting thedealersandthebuyers.

“The buyers are just asscarednowtobuyasthedeal-ers are to sell it. It’s gettingthemontherun.”

FiveArrestedInNarcoticsRaids

Michelle Catherine MilesRobert Anthony Robinson

Norman Kenneth Dickerson Gary Nathaniel Thomas Clifton Antonios Robinson

Thursday, December 6, 2007 The County Times Section A - �

Lexington Park, Md301-863-6979

Thanks!For 40 Great Years

Currently we are the only I-CAR Gold Class facility in St. Mary’s County. This is the highest level of

training in the automative industry. We have a viable working relationship with all insurance companies

and we are a direct repair facility for many.Sitting on two secured, fenced areas with 24-hour/day

surveilliance, we are conveniently located 1000 feet outside of Gate 1 of Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

We have been family owned and operated in Lexington Park, MD since 1967. Our goal is to ensure the complete satisfaction of every customer, while offering knowledgeable and friendly service at cometitve rates.

Pleasing you is why we are here...

22132 Pegg Road • Lexington PaRk, MaRyLand • 20653

Visit Us Online:www.georgesbodyshopincorporated.com 301-863-6979

HouRs:Mon-FRi: 8:00 aM to 5:00 PM24 HouR towing seRvice

aReas seRved:cHaRLes, caLveRt, and saint MaRy’s

$25 OFFRepairs

($500 or More)

Valid thru 20071967 - 2007

Celebrating40 Years

National Institute forAutomAtiveServiceexcellence

SaleHoliday

Marilyn’s Fine Fashions

McKay’s Plaza

Charlotte Hall, MD

Marilyn’s

Holiday Store HoursMon-Fri: 10am-7pm

Sat: 10am-6pmSun: 11am-4pm

VisaMaster CardDiscoverAmerican Express

We Accept:

Fine Fashions

Other Markdowns Throughout Store

Holiday

301-884-8682 • 301- 274-0615

Savings throughout the entire store.Savings throughout the entire store.30- 70% off30- 70% offEvening GownsEvening Gowns50% off50% off

Now Through December 31st


Members of the Board of County Commissioners and the Metropolitan Com-mission met at a joint work session Tuesday to discuss MetcCom’s possible takeover of water and sewer operations

on Patuxent River Naval Air Station, how the county can reduce nitrogen being flowed back into the Chesapeake Bay and how to turn around the perception that MetCom is not as responsive to the public as it could be.

Commissioners on both sides of the table agreed af-

ter the meeting that with the county’s rapid growth and need to use water resources more efficiently, more infor-mation sharing between the two bodies was not only ben-eficial but necessary.

“The level of growth were experiencing will re-

See MetCom page A-10

County Commissioners, MetCom Discuss Water Issues, Public Perception

PINEY POINT LIGHTHOUSE

SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,December6,2007

Editorial&Opinion

LetterstotheEditorIfyouwishtosendalettertotheeditor,pleaseincludeyourname,addressand

phone number for confirmation purposes. We will only publish your name and city of residence. We can withhold your name by request if circumstances merit it. We must receive all letters by Monday morning for publication in the next issue. Any letter re-

ceived later than Monday will be held for the following issue.

P.O.Box250•Hollywood,Maryland20636

News, advertising, circulation, classifieds: 301-373-4125

JamesManningMcKay-Publisher

Tobie Pulliam - Office [email protected]

AdamRoss-GovernmentCorrespondent..............adamross@countytimes.net

ChrisStevens-SportsCorrespondent.............. [email protected]

GuyLeonard-CommunityCorrespondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net

EileenMcDonald-AdvertisingRep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net

GeorgeSchaffer-AdvertisingRep..................georgeschaffer@countytimes.net

Doyouhavesomethingtosay?Wouldlikeyourvoicetobeheard?

Send us a letter telling us what’s on your mind!Send to:

The County TimesP.O.Box250•Hollywood,MD20636

Makesureyouincludeyourname,phone#andthecityyoulivein.

Wewillnotpublishyourphone#,onlyyournameandcity

E-mail letters to: [email protected]

We are at your service with:- Aprofessionalsalesteam- Creativeaddesignservices- Competitiverates- Acommunityserviceorient-

edpublication

Call us today to start making

your advertising campaign a success.

(301) 373-4125

The County Times

YouhavetowonderwherethesetaxandspendSenators,Delegates,andtheGovernorlearned fiscal discipline. Faced with what they described as a $1.7 billion dollar bud-get deficit, they went to Annapolis last month for a special session and increased govern-mentspendingbysome$300milliondollarsin new programs. Those suffering from the illsofbankruptcycouldusethatlogictoex-plain to the bankruptcy judge. Of course, the judge would probably find you had defrauded your creditors and put you behind bars.

SonowwehavetheStateofMaryland’sfiscal woes painfully addressed, or do we?

The Maryland Legislature made drastic changesinthe3-weekspecialsession,morethanyouwouldeverexpectinany3-monthregular session. Part of the reason for con-ducting public policy in this limited timeis to limit debate and public understandingof the issues. Remember, for every action,

there is an equal or greater reaction. The public will not know all the rami-

fications of this recently completed special sessionforsometime,yetthereisonethingtaxpayersshouldcountonrightnow,itisgo-ing to cost you more than your Senator orDelegate wants you to know.

We know the obvious costs, higher sales taxes,higher incometaxes,highercigarettetaxes, etc., yet these were not enough to cover the spending spree that our elected officials plan when they go back to Annapolis in Janu-ary. So they did what only very experienced politicians would do, they threw us a bonethat really is more like bait and switch.

Despite $1.3 billion in new taxes, the Legislature will cut funding for public edu-cation by $152 million ($4.2 million for St. Mary’s). This will free up even more money fornewspendingprogramswithouthavingtoincrease taxes even further, right? Wrong!

In order to increase spending evenmore, the Legislature decided to shift some of the burden to local governments. Not directly, but they knew what would hap-pen. Legislators are well aware that the strongestlobbyinggroupforlocalgovern-

ment is the localBoardofEducation alongwith the verywell funded and experiencedteachers union. These people know how to squeeze money out of elected officials.

Over the next 4 months, you will begin to hearrumblingsabouthowtheBoardofEdu-cationwillnotbeabletodelivertheservicesexpected of them because of state fundingcuts. The future of our children will be at risk. Let the spin begin.

Ultimately, the County Commissionerswill be asked to fill in and provide the fund-ing to replace the state funds. On Tuesday, the commissioners agreed to increase thisyears Board of Education budget by morethan $800,000. That increase means the statefundingincreaseforthenextbudgetisalready 75% spent. Now the Board of Edu-cationwill attempt to compile a budget for

next year with substantially no increase infundingfromstategovernmentwhichover-all provides approximately 60% of the entire education budget.

The County Commissioners will be ex-pectedtoprovidesomewhereneara$12mil-lion dollar increase in education funding. With the power of the education lobby, it will take strong political will to say no.

What these politicians sometimes fail to understand,it’snotreallythestatelegislatorsorthecountycommissionerswhoareprovid-ing the funds, it is the taxpayers. And re-gardlessifitisstatefundsorcountyfunds,itis the same taxpayers paying both bills.

With the increased cost of living we are allexperiencing,coupledwithtaxincreasespassedbythestate,andpropertytaxincreas-es at the local level, taxpayers are taxed out. Passing costs on to other levels of govern-mentmaymakelifealittleeasierforelectedofficials, but it is their constituents who suf-fer the same. The only way to change these taxandspendpracticesistochangewhoweelect.

It’sTheSameTaxpayer

ByCynthiaBrysonStaffWriter

The St. Mary’s Coun-ty Commissioner’s meetingagenda on Tuesday contained several budgetary items re-gardingongoingprojectsim-pactingcountyschools,localbusiness improvements, roadsafety, leave forCounty em-ployees and a recommenda-tion for an interim positionfor the Department of Public Safety Volunteer Task Force.

One budget amend-ment took the remaining$13,400fromcompletedproj-ects,addingittotheirCapitalImprovement Program re-serve, while $108,000 reim-bursed from the state fundscost overrunson theGeorgeWashington Carver Elemen-tary Replacement School proj-

ectapprovedbytheBoardofEducation earlier last month.

A refund of $2.8 million from the County’sCareFirst insurance program resulted in the funding of$860,000foremployeepremi-umholidayandapayadjust-mentforparaprofessionalstoaddress having enough quali-fied people in classrooms on a “credentials based” basis,providing incentive for fur-ther education among theirranks. This motion also pro-vides paraprofessionals op-portunity for promotion. The remaining $1.98 million from the refund was put aside forpossible inclusion in the fiscal year 2009 budget.

Dr. Michael Mar-tirano, Superintendent ofSchools, acknowledged hisappreciation for this motion.

“The actions you have taken here today have allowed usto move forward in a verypositivemanner…whileac-knowledging the support ofouremployeeswhoworktire-lesslyeverydayonbehalfofour children,” he said.

A motion to award four local businesses withlandscaping grants rangingfrom almost $6000 to about$10,000wasunanimouslyap-proved. Torres Enterprises, the Bay District VolunteerFire Department, Lexington Park Family Dentistry and C & O Enterprises were the re-cipientsofthesegrantsbasedon their commitment to im-prove their facility’s appear-ance and accessibility.

An amendment was required to bring the Commu-nity Traffic Safety Program

budget into alignment withwhat they received. Jackie Beckman,coordinatorof theprogram, was present to ex-plain where the funds willbe used. Motorcycle safety enforcement, sobriety check-pointsandfurthertrainingfortheir employeeswereamongthe items she brought up.

Emphasis isalsobe-ing placed on driving safetyfor younger citizens especial-ly in lightof the recent roadtragedies in Southern Mary-land. Beckman’s proposal will includecontactswiththeCol-lege of Southern Maryland,Leonardtown campus, and parentalandlawenforcementinvolvement. The commis-sioners laudedherprogram’sdepartment for its initiativeswith young drivers.

“Ifwecanteachour

youngpeopletheimportanceofwearingaseatbelt…nottodrinkanddrive,nottodrinkunderage,thenwe’rejustset-ting the tone of them learn-inggoodskillsandbecomingbetterdriversastheybecomeadults,” Beckman said.

A change to the County’s employee’spolicieswill allow them to rolloverexcess annual leave that hasnotbeenusedintosickleave,without exceeding 360 hours. This benefits those about to retire who could apply it totheirpensionandindividualswith long-term illnesses. This motion was unanimouslyapproved.

The Chair of the Department of Public Safety Volunteer Task Force, David Deaderick, proposed an in-terim recommendation thatwould raise the levelof sup-port the Advance Life Sup-portprogramwouldbeabletoprovide. This is sorely needed to improve the services theCounty provides, accordingto Deaderick. The commis-sionersagreedwithhisevalu-ation,howeverconcernswere

raisedastothefundingoftheposition, whom they wouldberesponsibletoandthepre-cedence it would set. “The devil’sinthedetailsasfarasI’m concerned,” said DanielRaley (D-Great Mills).

“I am eager to sayagainthatitisourintentiontobeefupthevolunteersystemand make recommendationsthatwillenhanceandenablethe volunteer system, not tomove in any way toward apaid service. And I think I speakforthemembersofthetask force who articulatedthatatourlastmeeting,”Dea-derick responded. After much discussionofdetails the rec-ommendation was approved.

“It’s about fulfilling a commitment I feel is nec-essary todo,” saidCommis-sioner Larry Jarboe (R- Gold-en Beach).

For access to the County’s meeting agendasandminutes,visithttp://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/.

CommissionersAddressWideSpectrumofCountyIssues


Ramblings of a Country Girl

Rick’s Jewelers Presents Our 15th Annual Men’s Night

Decmeber 7th 5-8 pmPlease join us for this unique event- it’s the perfect

chance to find that one ideal gift for her!

Call us today.... 301-737-4241

Diamonds, Gemstones, Grandfather Clocks, Watches, Earrings, Chains, Gemstone Globes, Evening Purses, Jewelery Boxes & Armoires..

We do custom work including repairs and engraving.

Extended Holiday Hours: Monday-Friday 9-8; Saturday 9-5; Sunday 11-4

Free gift wrapping with every purchase.

Free pizza and adult beverages.

Home of the original St. Mary’s County Hook Bracelet

ERIE®

The Next Time You Pull Your Insurance Renewal Out Of The Mail Box,

Give Us A Call.

You’ll Be Glad You Did.

Erie Insurance Group can provide real savings on your insurance program. Please see the below table from the Maryland Insurance Division, comparing

Auto rates. As developed by he Maryland Insurance Administration. For full details see the Comparison Guide for Maryland Auto Insurance

rates, St. Mary’s County. August 2005.

www.mdinsurance.state.md.usMarried Couple Age 35 with Good Credit Reporting

ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE $899Allstate Indemnity $1,046Farmers New Century $1,332Nationwide Mutual $1,204Peninsula Insurance Co. $1,292State Auto Insurance Co. $1,376State Farm Mutual $1,495USAA $1,504

Jake Kuntz • Donna Burris • Dan Burris • Amy Muchow • Gary Simpson

Burris’ Olde Towne InsuranceAuto - Home - Business - Life

Leonardtown & La PlataBus: (301) 475-3151 • (800) 872-8010

(301) 934-8437 Charles Countywww.danburris.com

An Independent Agent Representing:ERIE INSURANCE GROUP

return on their investment by

where from 8 to 12 minutes, but a fire typically burns out of control within 6 minutes. The commissioners observed a live simulation of a sprinkler system extinguishing a fire in less than 50 seconds, this

There were 111 residential fires in St. Mary’s County in

erty damage throughout the county in 2005, according to the National Center for Injury

Mattingly responded to

tion saying he wouldn’t move to a new state with his ideas, and that he was born here and people would have to put up

After Mattingly made his

onded it so it could be voted

“I seconded the motion

tingly deserved to have the

ey said just before he voted against the motion, “we all know he feels so passionate about it and I thought for this motion to be held out there without a second would be

But he did not support Dyson’s current move to put the college under the state

tingly said. “I think they’ve done extremely well and it would be a terrible mistake to

solve the problem… it’s just

O’Donnell said he would

son in Annapolis to change the governance structure of

Terri Bartz Bowles

It’s getting close to that time. The weather is getting colder but it’s not quite there yet. It needs to get cold and stay cold; there needs to be a snap to the air. Once that happens, then it’s time. Hog killing time. Not so many peo-ple raise and butcher their own hogs any more. I remember my grandparents doing it when I was a kid. There was a time when practi-cally all farmers raised a hog or two. Hogs are nature’s recyclers. All of the kitchen scraps we now put into compost used to be put into the hogs. All kinds of vegetable peelings, squash that got too big on the vines, leftover pumpkins – it all went to the hogs. Once they’re fattened up and the weather is cold, it’s time.

Pork is yummy. Ham, pork chops, bacon and sausage; it’s all good. Back in the day, country folks didn’t run to the grocery store to get sausage, they made their own. First things first, the hog gets killed and prepped which includes scalding them and scraping the hair off with a hog scraper. After he’s ready, the butchering begins. I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying about using every part of the hog but the oink. It’s pretty true. When times were hard, nothing was wasted. Lard was rendered, the brains were fried up with scrambled eggs, fatback was salted and preserved, the head was cooked, (jowls are a gourmet dish in some places as is hog maw which is the stomach). If you think you’ve never eaten some of these more obscure parts of the hog, I’d say you’re wrong. If you’ve eaten hot dogs made with pork, you’ve eaten parts of the hog you never even thought about before, like lips, snouts and weasands. The FDA allows all sorts of little odds and ends to be ground up into hot dogs and other stuff. Hey, don’t take my word for it, look it up. Weasands, by the way, are windpipes.

You butcher hogs when it’s cold, of course, because you’re working with raw meat and it needs to stay cold. Lots of cutting and wrap-ping ensue. The tenderloin is saved out and that’s cooked for dinner, a nice treat after a day of hard work. You fix your hams and bacon

for curing if that’s what you want to do. Some folks like fresh ham, some salt or smoke their hams. The best part of all this is making the sausage. You need a meat grinder and you grind up both fat and lean. Sausage without fat is not sausage, I don’t know what it is, but it’s not sausage. Then you season the ground meat. I can remember my grandmother add-ing sage and red pepper flakes to the ground meat and mixing it with her hands in a big enamelware basin. When she thought it was right, she’d fry a little bit to taste. Once it was perfect, the stuffing began. A sausage stuffer is a big, heavy metal contraption that clamps onto the table or work surface. You add the meat and turn the crank and the lid pushes the meat down and out of a snout at the bottom. You will have already threaded your casing onto the snout. Traditionally, sausage casing is the intestines, also known as chitterlings. You can buy casings ready to go, though, and it’s much easier. It’s called link sausage because the casing is long and you twist it a certain way as it’s filled to make the links.

Do yourself a favor and stop by one of the local purveyors of country sausage and buy some links. They come hot or mild. When you’re ready to cook them, cut the links apart and using the point of your sharp knife, poke a few slits through each casing. This lets the fat out as they cook. Boil til done and enjoy! The casing is completely edible, you don’t have to peel them. You can get good country bacon, too, that is so different and better than what you buy pre-packaged at the grocery store. If you buy your bacon already cooked, that’s just sad. You don’t know what good, real bacon tastes like.

After all the hard work, you have plenty of pork to enjoy through the winter and beyond and good link sausage for Christmas morn-ing breakfast. That’s a tradition in our family. Daddy always got the sausage started and let it cook while we opened presents. It’s hard to tear kids away from their toys and stockings, but link sausage always worked in our house!

You can email the Country Girl at [email protected]

Lips, Snouts and Weasands

St. Mary’s CitySt. Mary's City

DATE HIGH LOW HIGH LOW

Fri. Dec. 7 12:01 a.m. 5:45 a.m. 12:14 p.m. 6:44 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 8 12:45 a.m. 6:27 a.m. 12:52 p.m. 7:27 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 9 1:26 a.m. 7:08 a.m. 1:28 p.m. 8:08 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 10 2:04 a.m. 7:48 a.m. 2:02 p.m. 8:47 p.m.

Tue. Dec. 11 2:40 a.m. 8:28 a.m. 2:37 p.m. 9:25 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 12 3:14 a.m. 9:09 a.m. 3:15 p.m. 10:03 p.m.

Thu. Dec. 13 3:50 a.m. 9:51 a.m. 3:56 p.m. 10:42 a.m.

LOCATION HIGH LOW

Breton Bay "+31 min." "+29 min."

Bushwood Wharf "+45 min." "+45 min."

Colton's Point "+50 min." "+24 min."

Point Lookout "-65 min." "-69 min."

Piney Point "+9 min." "-8 min."

Wicomico Beach "+58 min." "+63 min."

Solomons Island "-27 min." "-62 min."

Several Dignitaries were on hand to witness the dedication of a brand-new arsenic well Tuesday afternoon in California. “The new well is designed to make our drinking water even safer than it already was,” said County Public Information director Karen Everett.

Metcom, County Commissioners Dedicate New Well

SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,December�,2007

BRING YOURTRUCKS AND

TRAILERS

All advertised items subject to prior sale!All sold as is and all sales final!Extra charge for delivery!All sold on a first come basis!No phone orders - no prior sales!Merchandise must be removed immediately!

DON’T MISS IT!

THURSDAY10 am - 8 pm

FRIDAY10 am - 8 pm

GREAT BUY GREAT SELECTIONLIVING ROOM, BEDROOM,DINING ROOM, OCCASIONAL,

RECLINERS, PICTURES, LAMPS,MATTRESS SETS, CURIOS, LEATHER, AND MUCH MORE

FAMOUS BRAND NAMES!EXPECTLARGE CROWDS!

LASTDAYS!

THE LASTDAYS!DEALERS

WELCOMEUP TO

85%*OFF

This is it. If you ever wanted to buy furniture or bedding at or near cost, now is your chance! Measure your space, bring your carpet and fabric samples. Bring your trucksand trailers. Be ready to make a decision. We will not refuse any reasonable offers. This is it! Don't pay more later, nothing held back.

RELINQUISHMENT COMES TO A CLOSE THE LAST DAYS!Bring your trucks and trailers and save even more . Financing isAvailable but cash really talks. All day today furniture andBedding will be offered at prices far below what you wouldExpect to pay. All will be sold on a first come basis. Brave theCrowds and get your share. Extra sales personnel will be onHand for this event. Extra credit desks are in place. Some items Priced at 15 cents* on the dollar. This Remerchandising Relinquishment must come to a close...now

The last days of the huge Remerchandising Relinquishment has arrived. Time has run out. Every piece of furniture and every set of bedding must and will be sold! The management of Thompson’s Furniture City has ordered the remaining inventory sold to the public or to dealers at what it will bring. No reasonable offer will be refused as every living room suite, bedroom suite, dining room suite is sacrificed along with every set of bedding and every recliner. All must go...Wall to wall!!!

RULES OF RELINQUISHMENTREMERCHANDISINGRELINQUISHMENT

REMERCHANDISING RELINQUISHMENT

PatrickDugan

Welcome back!Itoccurredtomethatwiththisyearendingandall ofusgettingready tostart 2008,nowwas the timetosend out more in-formation that mayhelpyouinyoursell-ing, buying, invest-ing or even renting

endeavor.Thisweekwetalkaboutselling. How is the market? “I hear terrible

things,droppingprices,foreclosuresandbadloans”ThisiswhatIhearallthetimeandmyansweristhatallofthatistrue,initsplace.

Therearepartsofthecountrywhereforeclosures are sky rocketing and houseprices are dropping. California, Ohio andFloridaleadtheway.Yetifyouweretogotocertain parts of those states you would find areaswherehomepricesareincreasing.Youhavetolookatthewholepicture.

So when you look at our local marketandtrytojudgeitbythenationalnewsyouaredoingyourselfadisservice.

Locally things arenotnearly asbadasyoumaybeleadtobelieve.Homepriceshavestabilizedandnewsubdivisionsareopeningup.Leonardtown,St.Inigoes,Hollywoodallhave subdivisions that have opened in thepasttwomonths,andtherearemorehomesbeingbuiltalloverthecounty.Singlefam-ilyhomes, townhomesandapartments arebeingbuilt.

So,whoisbuyingthem?Inmostofthesubdivisionsyourpurchasersarebuyerswhoarelookingtoincreasethesizeoftheirhome.ButifIweretotellyouthatiswhereallthebuyerswhere looking for Iwouldbedoingyou a disservice. You have to look at thewhole picture.There aremanybuyers nowwhoarelookingtodownsizetheirhome,orevenbuyasmallerlot.SomewantadifferentcommunitywheretheHomeOwnersAsso-ciationisveryactiveandcontrolling.Otherswill not even live in a subdivision with anH.O.A..

Somebuyersarelocal,somearefromoutofstate.Texas,WashingtonandMissouriarethreestatesthatwillbesendingworkershereoverthenextfewyears.

Thesebuyersaretakingtheirtimeintheirdecisionmakingprocessandbeingsuretogetwhattheywantinahouse.So,ifyouare trying tosellyourhome, itbetterbe intop shape! There are many homes for saleandifyourhousedoesnotshowaswellasothers,youaregoingtoknowitbythefactthatyourswillstillbeforsalewhileotherswillbesold.

Whenyougetanofferonyourhouseanditisfromanoutoftownbuyerwhoneedstoselltheirhomebesureyouknowwhatthemarketinthatareaislike.Isitprobablethattheirhousewillsellinareasonableamountof timefor theprice theyneed tobuyyourhome?Youneedtoknowthisinformation.

More information foryouwillbecom-ing in futureeditionsbut in themean timeifyouhaveanyquestionsorcommentsyoucanreachmeatpatrick.dugan@obrienrealty.com,or301-672-1925.

SellingInToday’sMarket

Chicken Tracks

301-475-1960Open Daily 10 - 526005 Point Lookout Rd.

Leonardtown, MD

December 8th & 9th during the Maryland Antiques Center

Holiday Open House

Spend the day and enjoy the Tea Room for lunch or dinner!

Crazy Chicken Christmas Clearance

“ALittleFruitcake”byDavidValdesGreenwoodc.2007, DaCapo Press $14.95 / 182 pages

Forelevenmonthsoftheyear,youbarely thinkaboutit.ButeveryChristmastime,the memory of it fills your brainwith the samekindoffeelingsyouhadthatholidaywaybackwhen.

Maybe that morning,Santabroughtyouwhatyouwanted more than anythingelse. Or maybe you didn’tgetwhatyouwant,anditstill

stingsafteralltheseyears.Orperhaps a family member’spresence or absence makesyou recall that Christmasmorethananyothersyou’vehadinyourlife.

We all have those un-forgettable Christmases, butonly the brave put them topaper.AuthorDavidValdesGreenwood is one of thosesouls, and in the new book

“ALittleFruitcake”,ValdesGreenwood shares twelvememoriesofChristmaspastand a few that should havejustbeenpassed.

Starting with his fifth Christmas, Valdes Green-woodremembershowmuchhewantedadollofhisveryownthatyear.Hisnewly-di-vorcedmotherwaspreparedtowrapthetoyandputitun-der the tree. Valdes Green-wood’sformidableGrammy,a small woman who seems,in this book, to be 10 feettall, was completely againsther youngest grandson’swish. The first chapter in this book “ThePowderKegUnder the Tree” speaks tothechildinuswhocapturedthegiftmostwanted,despiteadultmisgivings.

A little later in a kid’slifecomesthetimewhenheorshequestionsthepresenceof a Santa on every streetcorner. Has the truth beendeduced?Inthechapteren-titled“BadtoSanta”,ValdesGreenwood and his olderbrother figure it all out, but instead of being nice aboutit, they’re definitely naughty.

And who can forgetthose old sibling skirmishesatChristmas?Grammywasfamousforherfudge,herdi-vinity,andherfruitcake,andin“TheWaroftheFudges”,she finds an unusual (but very practical) way to evenout the “he’s got more thanme”battle.

Andthenthere’sthetimewhenakid realizeshe’snota kid anymore, andChrist-mases are changed forever.In the last chapter, ValdesGreenwood remembers theendofhischildhoodandthesudden realization that hisnutty-as-a-fruitcake familywasactuallywaymore thanjusthalf-baked.

This timeofyear,whenyou’re about finished fight-ingthecrowdsandlisteningtotheumpteenthrenditionof“JingleBells”,there’sanan-tidotetoallthatperfunctorycheer:realcheer,intheformofabooklikethisone.

“ALittleFruitcake”willmake you laugh out loud atsome of the universal, al-most-from-a-movie memo-ries that Valdes Greenwoodshares,includingmessingupat Christmas programs, be-ing the kid most picked-on,andtheoh-nofeelingyougetwhenyouknowthatpreciouslast crinkly paper-wrappedpackageunder the tree con-tains (ugh) new socks. Later oninthebook,thememoriessoberupabitbutarenolessappealing in theireverymanfeel.

Ifyoucherishanymem-ories of Christmas past, letthisbookhelpyourememberand laugh. “A Little Fruit-cake” is a real peach of aholidaybook.

Thursday, December 6, 2007 The County Times Section A - 7

Cecil’s Country Store

www.cecilscountrystore.com

Store Specials • Door Prizes • Refreshments• Dept-56 Sidewalk Sale - Up to 40% off!• Chamilia Jewelry• Webkinz• Byers Choice• Soot Free Soy Candles• Mary Lou Troutman Prints• Antique Furniture

301-994-962220853 Indian Bridge Rd Great Mills, Maryland

Open 7 Days a WeekMonday - Saturday 10am - 5:30pm

Sunday 11am - 5:30pm

HolIday open HouSe

dec. 1st & 2nd

10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Meet Local Artist Mary Lou Troutman, Marilyn Randall

author of “Razzle Dazzler” and Joe Dunn photographer of “Best of St.

Mary’s” between 11-2 pm Saturday Dec. 1st.

Step into the past...and experience the charm of a

turn-of-the-century country store

Jewelry that defines you. TM

* Antique Furniture * WEBKINZ ** Mary Lou Troutman Prints * Dept 56 ** Yankee Candles * Chamilia Jewelry ** Willowtree * Beanpod Soy Candles *


There are literally thousands of sites in St. Mary’s County, the mother county of Maryland, that could yield as yet undiscovered ar-chaeological footnotes in history, preservation advocates say, but some kind of local protection may be needed in the future to ensure their survival.

Currently, there is no ordinance in St. Mary’s County that would de-lay or shift the scope of a housing development or a building project that might cover up or destroy key artifacts that could tell historians more about the lives of Maryland’s first colonial residents or even the natives who first claimed the land.

“If sites are disturbed, that de-stroys the ability of archaeologists

to make careful observations,” said Teresa Wilson, preservation plan-ner for the county’s Department of Land Use and Growth Manage-ment. “The best protection is local protection.”

While the creation of an ordi-nance is an uncertain possibility at this point, Wilson said, the county’s Historic Preservation Commission has already begun to educate the public on what other jurisdictions have done in using the law to pro-tect archaeological sites.

In late October, the preservation commission held a small commu-nity meeting at Leonardtown High School complete with a presentation from the Maryland National Capi-tal Park and Planning Commission in Prince George’s County about a new ordinance there that protects archaeological sites that are endan-

gered by development.The ordinance there allows ar-

chaeologists to start various stages of excavation to see how prevalent artifacts are on a particular site and catalog their significance. Develop-ment can proceed once the archaeo-logical process has run its course.

Wilson said the county is not seeking to get into the business of archaeological investigation, but rather to find a way to preserve the resources and still allow de-velopment on a piece of land to continue.

“We have to look at what oth-er jurisdictions have done and get public input,” Wilson said. “The planning department is not going to become involved in archaeology. But an ordinance, it just means that we’d have the ability to have some-thing left alone.”

An archaeological pres-ervation ordinance is a goal of the county’s historic pres-ervation plan that has not been achieved yet, Wilson said.

“We’re at the beginning of looking at our plans for archaeology [preservation],”

Wilson said.Archaeological resources

are mainly focused in St. Mary’s City, she said, where the focused mandate is to eventually restore Maryland’s first capital city back to life. But other excavation sites are being studied around the county right now, she said, though it is not widely known.

“The ones surveyed aren’t pub-lished to keep them safe from peo-ple seeking artifacts,” Wilson said, adding that she was also unaware of the exact locations of surveyed sites.

Henry Miller, director of re-search at Historic St. Mary’s City, said an archaeological preservation ordinance would serve the interests of developers and preservationists well.

“That’s something proven to be economically effective and allows development to occur but preserve our past,” Miller said.

Miller said there are probably thousands of sites of archaeological significance in St. Mary’s County, only a fraction of which have been tapped for their potential.

The history here encompasses not only about 400 years of colonial settlement, but nearly 10,000 years of American Indian habitation, Miller said.

“St. Mary’s County is an ex-tremely rich archaeological region,” Miller told The County Times.

One of the prime archaeological resources the preservation commis-sion is attempting to catalog now are the many small plot or family cemeteries in the county that have become lost or have succumbed to the ravages of time and the environ-ment. The commission is attempt-ing to create a database of docu-mented cemeteries that would warn developers to take caution and not disturb them during construction.

County Looking For Ways To Preserve Archaeological Troves

ing plus safety factors necessi-tated their recommendation.

“We acknowledge the im-pact of the Rowing Center on the view of the river,” O’Brien said. “We were all surprised.”

The committee reviewed several options to move the rowing center that included realigning Trinity Church Road and reapplying for con-struction permits.

According to Chip Jack-son, associate vice president in charge of Facilities, mov-ing the boathouse could cost anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million depending on the option taken; but moving it would take it farther from the shoreline and scuttle its in-tended purpose.

“It’s like building your garage 200 feet from your house,” Jackson said.

The Rowing Center has been at the center of signifi-cant tumult in the commu-nity since the summer when neighbors of the college com-plained about its placement blocking the view of the river as commuters traveled north. They were also angered by a perceived lack of effort on the college’s part to get public in-put on the project.

Sen. Roy Dyson (D-Dist.29) jumped into the fray early on, saying the boathouse should be moved and the col-lege should be put under the governance of the University of Maryland system if the col-lege’s leadership did not acqui-esce to community demands.

Some in the state legisla-ture and the county have op-posed his idea to change the college’s governance, saying it would damage the leadership that has led the college to na-tional prominence as a liberal arts honors institution.

The college, while a state-funded institution, enjoys sig-nificant autonomy not found on other publicly funded cam-puses in Maryland.

Local residents unhappy with the boathouse’s place-ment also circulated a peti-tion calling on Gov. Martin O’Malley to issue a stop work order on the project.

That petition is still being circulated, said activist Gladys Siegel, and is gaining support.

“There are 500 signatures on it and they’re still signing it,” Siegel, a member of the Citizens for the Preservation of Historic St. Mary’s City,

said.Siegel said attempts by

the college to hold community meetings to discuss the build-ing of the Rowing Center were disingenuous; the college ad-ministration had no intention of ever moving the boathouse, she said.

“They’ve totally disre-garded the will of the people,” Siegel said. “It’s a sham.”

Relations between the preservationists and the col-lege became tense when threats of arson were attrib-uted to Siegel’s group after an article was published in a local tabloid newspaper, suggesting some residents felt the proj-ect would be better off burnt down.

Siegel denied any such comments were made by her group, but the college in-creased security and surveil-lance at the construction site in light of the threats.

Siegel and the group also want work to stop on the ad-joining River Center project.

In addition to questions on the practicality of moving the project, the committee mem-bers were also loathe to move the center because it was built entirely on donations and pri-vate funds; meaning that if it were moved, donors might ask for their money back or be lost as benefactors to the college.

The tight state budget this fiscal year also means the like-lihood of getting state assis-tance in moving it is unlikely.

“The prospect of raising $1 million [to move the cen-ter] is not good,” said Torre Meringolo, vice president for Development.

The board of trustees also voted to create a special com-mittee that would meet early – on with community members to discuss building projects on the college campus in an effort to avoid the uproar caused by the Rowing Center.

“It makes good sense,” said Tom Botzman, vice presi-dent of Business Administra-tion at the college of the Capi-tal Design Advisory Council.

Seigel said her group would continue to build oppo-sition to both the Rowing Cen-ter and River Center projects.

“Our committee is not going to stop,” Siegel said. “We’re not accepting this as a final answer.

“Those people have too much autonomy.”

BoathouseContinued from page A-�

Photo by Guy LeonardThe River Center project, right next to the Rowing Center, is continuing to be built unabated. Some local residents are working to have its construction stopped as well.

SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,December6,2007

Obituaries

December 6, 1955 - January 15, 2006

Happy Birthday Mom!

Love Vernon, Cheree,

Michael,and Jaylin

Dr.CharlesEugeneEd-wardsIII,�0

Dr. Charles Eugene Ed-wards III ofCalifornia,Md.,and longtime resident ofRockville, Md., passed awayinhishomeSaturday,Dec.1,attheageof80.

A physician, educator,husband, father, and grand-father,hewasbornApril28,1927inWashington,DCandwasthesonofthelateCharlesEugeneEdwardsIIandPhoe-beLynchEdwards.

Hewillbedeeplymissedbyhiswifeof52years,Eliza-bethNistalEdwards, his sonCharlesEdwardsandhiswifeKimberly of Marietta, Ga.,daughter Sharon Edwards ofBerkley, Calif., son MichaelEdwardsandhiswifeBeckyof Leonardtown, son JohnEdwardsandhispartnerPaulAlbergoofWashington,DC,grandchildren Erin, BetheAnne, Ashley, Joseph andKyle, as well as many otherextendedfamilymembersandfriends.

AMemorialServicewillbe held Saturday, Dec. 8, inSt.AloysiusCatholicChurch,Leonardtown,at11a.m.TheReverendJohnDakeswillof-ficiate. A Memorial Service will be held in January inRockville,Md.

The family requests thatcontributions in his name bemadetotheNationalParkin-son Foundation, Inc., 1501N.W. 9th Avenue, Miami, FL33136and/orHOSPICEofSt.Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625,Leonardtown,MD20650.

Arrangements by theBrinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. inLeonardtown,MD.

WilliamHenryFowler,��

William Henry Fowler,88,ofLeonardtown,diedDec.3,inhisresidence.

Born April 8, 1919 inWashington, DC, he wasthe son of the late WilliamAmbrose Fowler and LillianLangley Fowler. Mr. Fowlerhad worked as a fireman at the Navy Yard in Washing-ton,DC.Heservedhiscoun-tryduringWorldWarIIintheArmy Air Corps as a gun-ner aboard B-24’s. He was amemberoftheSt.Mary’sRodandClassicCarClub.

He is survived by twosons, David Lee Fowler ofLeonardtown, William D.FowlerofWoodbridge,Va.,asister,CatherineGraceLam-burgerofFallingWater,W.V.,12 grandchildren, 25 greatgrandchildrenandtwogreat-great grandchildren. In ad-dition to his parents, he wasprecededindeathbyhiswife,KathrynL.PhelpsFowlerandabrother,LeonardE.Fowler.

The family receivedfriends Wednesday, Dec. 5from5–8p.m.intheBrins-field Life Celebration Chapel, Leonardtown.AFuneralSer-vicewillbeconductedThurs-day,Dec.6.at11a.m.intheLife Celebration Chapel. In-termentwill follow inCedarHillCemetery,Suitland,Md.

Serving as pallbearerswill be John Hynson, Fred

Calvert, Bill Higgs, JohnGogul, Bert Collier and RayRupertus.

BeverlyAnnGisriel,72

Beverly Ann Gisriel, 72ofLeonardtowndiedDec.2,inherresidence.

Born Aug. 26, 1935 inBaltimore, Md., she was thedaughterofthelateEdwardW.Murphy and Ruth MadelineWolf.Shewasaruralcarrierfor the United States PostalService until 1989. She wasa wonderful and much-lovedwife, mother, grandmother,sister,auntandfriend.

She is survived by herhusband,HerbertFultonGis-riel,whom shemarriedDec.11, 1953. She is also sur-vivedbyherbrotherEdwardS. Murphy of Millersville,Md.andsisterJudyHambyofGlenBurnie,Md.,herchildrenDavid Gisriel of Rockport,Texas,DougGisrielofDam-eron,KimBrowne ofValleyLee,LoriBaumanofBuffalo,Minn. and their spouses; hergrandchildren Sherri Nor-sworthy,CrystalGisriel,Jen-niferDominiak-Olson, JustinBrowne, Erika Gisriel, Jo-hel Browne, Melissa Gisriel,ShannonBrowne,DerekGis-riel, Nicholas Browne, Dani-elleGisriel,RebeccaBaumanand Victoria Bauman; hergreat-grandchildren MikaylaNorsworthy, Dylan Norswor-thy,AlissonMagee andTra-visBrowne.

Inadditiontoherparents,Beverlywasprecededindeathby her sister Ethel Murphy,brothers Edward and PatrickMurphy,andgrandsonAaronBrowne.

The family will receivefriendsFriday,Dec.7,from10– 11 a.m. in the Brinsfield Life Celebration Chapel,Leonardtown. A MemorialService will be conductedat 11 a.m. in the Life Cel-ebration Chapel. Father JoeDobson will be officiating. Inurnment will be private.MemorialcontributionmaybemadetoHospiceHouse,c/oHOSPICEofSt.Mary’s,Inc.,P.O. Box 625 Leonardtown,MD20650orSecondDistrictVFD&RS,P.O.Box1,ValleyLee,MD20692.

AlbertDwightLedman,54

Albert Dwight Ledman,54,ofBushwood,diedDec.3,inhisresidence.

He is survived by adaughter,CarlaAnnLedmanofLexingtonPark,Md., twosons, Albert D. Ledman, Jr.of Tall Timbers, ChristopherMichael Ledman of Leonar-dtown,sixgrandchildren,twosisters, Shirley Liberti andBonnie Thayer of WV anda brother, Daniel Ledman ofSevernaPark,Md.

The family will receivefriendsSunday,Dec.9from2– 5 p.m. in the Brinsfield Life Celebration Chapel, Leon-ardtown. Inurnment will beprivate.

MaryGertrude“Trudy”GroverPegg,�4

Mary Gertrude “Trudy”GroverPegg,84,ofLexingtonPark,diedDec.2 inBaysideCareCenter,LexingtonPark.

Born Feb. 14, 1923 onSolomons Island, Md. shewas the daughter of the lateJesse Guy Grover, stepfatherWalter A. Wise and motherFrancesEllaAbellWise.Shewas the beloved wife of thelate Charles W. Pegg whomshemarriedFeb. 14, 1974 inImmaculate Heart of MaryCatholicChurch.

Shewas the sisterof thelateEarlA.GroverofMyrtleBeach, SC; John Thomasand niece Caroline Cum-mings.Sheissurvivedbytwonieces Barbara Feddon andMary Ann Siniscalchi. Sheattended Great Mills HighSchoolandwasalifelongSt.Mary’s County resident. Shewasa civil service employeeatPatuxentRiverasaBudgetAnalystfor33years,retiringin 1980. She was a memberofImmaculateHeartofMaryCatholic Church and of theCountingTeam.She enjoyedreadingandspoilingherdog.

The family will receivefriendsThursday,Dec.6from5 – 8 p.m. in the Matting-ley-Gardiner Funeral Home,wherePrayerswillbesaidat6:30 p.m. A Funeral ServicewillbeheldFriday,Dec.7at10 a.m. in the funeral homechapelwithFr.JackKennealyofficiating. Interment will follow in Charles MemorialGardens.

Pallbearers will be Ed-ward Sanner, Robert Pegg,Richard Pegg, Ronald Pegg,DonaldStricklandandBruceStrickland.

Contributions may bemade to the Lexington ParkVolunteerRescueSquad,P.O.Box339,LexingtonPark,MD20653 and/orSt.Mary’sHu-maneSociety.

Arrangements providedby the Mattingley-GardinerFuneralHome,P.A.

VioletElizabeth“Vi”Smith,90

Violet Elizabeth “Vi”Smith,90,ofDuluth,Ga.for-merly of Tall Timbers, diedDec. 2 in Duluth, Ga. BornJuly 19, 1917 in Great Millsshe was the daughter of thelate Wathon Cleveland andCoraElizabethOwensPotter.

She was preceded indeath by her husbandMerrilPaul Smith Oct. 17, 1973 inWashington, DC and whomshemarriedin1943inWash-ington, DC. She is survivedbyherdaughterMaryJoAnn

NicholsofMontgomery,Ala.;siblings: Lawrence Potter ofRidge, and Frances Potterof Hughesville, Md.; grand-daughter: Deborah A. Jonesof Duluth, Ga.; her husbandBradley of Duluth, Ga., andgreat grandchildren: AnnaKatherine and Burke Hamil-tonJonesbothofDuluth,Ga.

Shewasalsoprecededindeathbyhersiblings:BlondellHammett, Cleveland Potter,RosalieLedonne,MevrilPot-terandCalvinPotter.

Mrs. Smith moved fromSt.Mary’sCountytoDuluth,Ga. in 2003. She graduatedwith the Great Mills HighSchool Class of 1935. SheworkedasaDivisionalMan-agerforC&PAT&TTelephoneCompanies in Washington,DCfor30yearsuntilherre-tirementin1975.Sheenjoyedgardening, boating, reading,going to church, spendingtimewithfamilyandfriends.SheworkedformanyyearsatSt. George Catholic Churchafterherretirement.

The family receivedfriends Wednesday, Dec. 5,from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mat-tingley-Gardiner FuneralHome, where Prayers weresaidat7p.m.AMassofChris-tianBurialwillbecelebratedThursday,Dec.6at10:30a.m.inSt.GeorgeCatholicChurchwith Msgr. Karl Chimiak offi-ciating.Intermentwillfollowin Resurrection Cemetery,Suitland,Md.


JohnBernard“J.B.”Somerville,Sr.,6�

John Bernard “J.B.”Somerville,Sr.,68,wasbornAug. 27,1939 in Compton,Md.HewasthesonofthelateFelixAlbertandMaryEliza-bethArmstrongSomerville.

He was a lifelong resi-dent of St. Mary’s County.He attendedSt.Mary’s Pub-licSchools as a child and inadulthood worked for theState Highway Administra-tion for twentynineyearsasatruckdriver.Healsoworkedpart-timeatFastopandFoodLion.

He enjoyed spendingtimewithhisfamily.Healsoenjoyedwatchinghisfavoritefootball team, the Washing-tonRedskins.Hewasa fun-loving person, very outgoingand very talkative. He lovedtoplaythelottery.Youwouldalways see him atA&W.Heopened his home to anyonewhoneededaplacetostay.

John was united in mar-

riagetoMaryCeceliaDorseyNov.6,1965inLeonardtown.Theyhadsixchildrenwhomhe cherished and loved aswellasaspecialniece,LeslieYoung and one grandchild,ShonitaSomerville,whomheraisedsincetheirbirthashisownchildren.

John leaves to cherishhis memories, his wife offorty twoyears,MaryCece-liaSomerville;children:Kel-vin M. Dorsey (Rhonda) ofMechanicsville, BernadetteC. Barnes (John) of Leonar-dtown, John B. SomervilleJr. (Yolanda) of LexingtonPark, Brenda L. Somerville(George) of Lexington Park,Stephanie A. Somerville ofHagerstown, Md., WilliamA.Somerville(Ellie)ofLeon-ardtown, Md.; one brotherClarenceSomervilleandonesister Theresa Smith, bothof Washington, D.C.; broth-ers-in-law, John Dorsey Sr.,HarryDorsey,MitchellDors-ey,JosephDorsey;sisters-in-law Margaret Dorsey, RosaScriber, JeanetteGordonandfourteen grandchildren, ninegreat-grandchildren alongwith a host of nieces, neph-ews, cousins and friends. Inaddition to his parents, hewasprecededindeathbyhisbrothers; Thomas, Edwardand Ignatius Somerville, hissisters, Eleanor Somerville,Alice Barnes and BeatriceStewart and granddaughtersLakiaandTakiaSomerville.

The family will receivefriendsSaturday,Dec.8,from9–10:30a.m.intheMatting-ley-Gardiner Funeral HomeChapel where a funeral Ser-vicewillbeheldat10:30a.mwith Elder Harold Bowmanofficiating. Interment will fol-lowinCharlesMemorialGar-dens,Leonardtown.Pallbear-ers will be Rhode Stewart,William Stewart, FritzgarldGordon, Mark Miles, JohnDuckett and John Barnes.Honorary pallbearers willbe Wendall Spears, TerrillSwales,AntonioWashingtonandDe’MarcusSpears.


Mary“Helen”(Thomas)Vallandingham,�9

Mary “Helen” (Thomas)Vallandingham, 89 of Leon-ardtown, died Dec. 2, at St.Mary’sNursingCenter.

BorninChapticoonJuly25,1918,shewas thedaugh-ter of the late Joseph FrankThomas Sr. and SnowdenElizabeth Rebecca (Thomp-

son) Thomas. She was pre-cededindeathbyherhusbandWilliam Lawrence Valland-ingham, Jr. whom she mar-ried in theLorettaChapel inChapticoOct.10,1933.

Mrs.Vallandinghamwasa lifelongSt.Mary’sCountyresident and was a memberof Our Lady of the WaysideChurch. She was the motherof:JosephWarren“Joe”Val-landingham of Bushwood,Mary Virginia Gragan ofChaptico, Peggy Bowles ofLeonardtown, Robert Law-rence Vallandingham of Ft.Meyers, Fla., JamesBertram“Bert” Vallandingham ofHughesville, Thomas Aloy-sius “Tommy” Vallanding-ham of Bushwood, ClarenceMarion Vallandingham ofLoveville, Daniel Walter“Danny” Vallandingham ofMechanicsville, Marjorie“Margie”JeanHicks,ofMe-chanicsville, Helen Fay Wal-lace of Hollywood, and thelateJohnWilliamVallanding-ham, Deborah Mae Valland-ingham and Elizabeth AnnVallandingham.

ShewasthesisterofSu-sanElizabeth“Susie”Wathenof Waldorf, Md. and MaryMarjorie Dennison of Nor-folk, Va. and the late AmyThomas, Catherine Luvenia“Toots” Lacey, Joseph Mc-Quillian “Mac” Thomas,PaulAloysiusThomas,JamesBruceThomas,JosephFrankThomas, Jr. and Violet The-resaAltman.She issurvivedby22grandchildren,37great-grandchildrenandeightgreat-greatgrandchildren.

She enjoyed arrangingflowers, gardening, reading, cookingandtraveling.

The family receivedfriends Wednesday, Dec. 5from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mat-tingley-Gardiner FuneralHome, Leonardtown, whereprayersweresaidat7p.m.AMassofChristianBurialwillbecelebratedThursday,Dec.6, at10a.m. inOurLadyoftheWaysideCatholicChurch,Chaptico, with Fr. TimothyBaer officiating.

Interment will followin Sacred Heart Cemetery,Bushwood. Pallbearers willbehersons,Joe,Robert,Bert,Tommy, Marion, and DannyVallandingham. Honorarypallbearers will be MaryVirginia Gragan, MargueritePeggyBowles,MarjorieJeanHicks,HelenFayWallaceandSusanElizabethWathen.

Contributions may bemade to the LeonardtownVolunteerRescueSquad,P.O.Box 299, Leonardtown, MD20650.

Arrangements providedby Mattingley-Gardiner Fu-neralHome,P.A.

wishedtoremainbrokedownintogroups around the roomsetupwithareasarrangedtodisplaylargemapsofthedif-ferentportionsoftheimmenseproject with representativesfromDPWandTavailabletoaddress concerns unique tothoseareas.

This long-going proj-ect was designed to addresscongestion issues within thecounty, which grew by 13percent between 1990 and2000withthepopulationnownearing 100,000 which hasreduced “quality of life forour residents,” according toGroeger. The military com-munity has grown alongsidethe civilian sector, significant-ly increasing road traffic. The

plan is to reduce traffic on state Route 235 and providealternate routes for residentstoschools,shoppingareasandotherfacilities.

Theroadhasbeenintheplanning stages for20years,beginning as a parallel roadtostateRoute235.In1999anengineering consultant pro-ducedplans,publicmeetingswereheldandtheprojectwasputonholdduetoresidentialopposition.

It was brought back tolifein2006asatwo-laneresi-dential connector. This timearound it was reduced fromfour lanes to two to addresstraffic concerns and other featureswereadded, suchas“roundabouts,” or traffic cir-clesandalandscapedmedian.It is now in the design andpropertyacquisitionphase.

The design is 15 to 20percent complete, according

toDPW&TProjectManagerAllenSettle.

The county’s budget hasallotted $7.3 million to thisphase,fundedthroughcountybonds,impactfeesandtrans-fer taxes. Environmental as-sessments, wetland mitiga-tion plans, multiple permitsand traffic and transportation assessments were required.Developers are responsibleforconstructioninsomeareasalongtheroute.

Some of the attendeesvoiced concerns over theuse of roundabouts insteadof traffic circles, but studies have shown that, althoughmore costly, roundaboutsaremoreeffectiveatslowingand controlling traffic. Speed bumps and speed limits willalsobeusedtokeepspeedtoaminimum.

“Based on some of theconcerns we heard before,

we believe we can providea neighborhood connectionthat’s badly needed while atthe same time limiting thethrough traffic that would im-pact the neighborhood,” saidGroeger.The residents in at-tendancedidn’tseemtoagreewithhisassessment.

Gary Pratz, 41, of Bare-foot Acres asked how muchofthe$7.3millionearmarkedfor theprojectwasforsafetyfeaturesornoisebarriers.“Asmuchasneedstobe,”Groegersaid.

Dana Marshall, whogave her age as being “over21,” is concerned for thesafety of her neighborhood.“Generally people see a signthatsaysmilesperhour,theydo50.Isthatsafeforchildrenrunningbackandforthacrossthatroad?”

Marshall’s neighbor,George and Lynn Keenan,

alsowereinattendance.Theyfeel that traffic lights will be necessary to control traffic.

Seven-year-old Josh-uaToney,a secondgraderatKing’s Christian AcademyandresidentoftheLaurelGlensubdivision offered a voiceof compromise on whetheror not he was pleased withthe project. “Sort of both,”hesaid.Helikestheideabe-causeitwillconnectwithOldRollingRoad,butwasnotsopleased “because of the tworoundabouts.”

Pratz’swife,Hannah,also 41, drew applause withthe question, “Who givesyouguystherighttoputthisroad through housing devel-opments?” Hannah has at-tended these meetings since1999andvociferouslyvoicedherconcernsatthattime.Sheassertedthattheyhavenotad-dressedthecitizensconcerns

thatpromptedthedelayatthattime.Shealsoblameddevel-opersforcomplicatingtheis-sue. She was also concernedwithlosingareascommunitychildren use for the project.“I’m very perturbed,” shesaid.“Itiscomingrightinmybackyard.”

“We are committedto working with the citizensoftheareatoassurethatthisroadwayprovidestheneededaccesswhileatthesametimeassuringthelivabilityofeachcommunityittraverses,”saidGroeger.

Anotherpublicinfor-mationmeetingontheprojectisslatedforAugust2008.Formoreinformationofthestatuson the on-going project visithttp://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/.

FDRContinued from page A-�


Celebrate the Season

Dinners &

Platters

$49.99$49.99

Turkey Dinner

• 9-11lbs Fully Cooked Turkey• 2lbs Fresh Herb Seasoned Stuffing• 2lbs Green Bean Casserole• 2lbs Fresh Mashed Potatoes• 1qt Savory Turkey Gravy• 1 1/3lbs Cranberry Orange Salad• 1dz Dinner Rolls• 10” Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie

Prime Rib Dinner

• 4lbs Fresh Boneless Prime Rib• 2lbs Fresh Mashed Potatoes• 2lbs Fresh Green Beans• 1 1/3lbs Fresh Cranberry Orange Salad• 1dz Dinner Rolls• 10” Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie

All American Deli PlatterBoars Head Meats

$34.95Serves 5-7 people

Chicken Wing Platter


Garden DelightPlatter


McKay’s Stuffed Ham

Platter


LaPetite Sandwich

Platter


Fruit & Cheese Platter


$5.00 off any 2 or more Platters offer expires 12/31/07 PLU 540

Stuffed Ham Dinner• 5lbs Sliced Stuffed Ham• 2lbs Sweet Potato Casserole • 2lbs McKay’s Ham Dressing• 2lbs Green Bean Casserole• 1 1/3lbs Cranberry Orange Salad• 10” Pumpkin or Apple Pie• 1dz Dinner Rolls$69.99

Linda’sContinued from page A-�

New Year’s Eve is a time when revelers remember all that has happened during the year, and look forward to a fresh start in the one to come. A part of the celebra-tion is making resolutions for the new year.

The idea of resolutions is thought to have come from the ancient Babylonians. These people believed that what a person did on the first day of the new year would affect him or her throughout the entire year.

Resolutions range from many things, from quitting smoking to getting more or-ganized. Although the pri-orities and hobbies of people change throughout the gen-erations, most resolutions remain the same through the years.

The key to keeping reso-lutions is to think about them in advance of New Year’s Eve festivities and decide on one or two that are really important to you. If you need some inspiration, consider these top 15 resolutions.

1. Exercise/weight loss

2. Reduce stress

3. Make time for yourself

4. Volunteer work

5. Save money

6. Eat more healthfully

7. Treat friends/family/ neighbors better

8. Spend more time with family/kids

9. Get more sleep/relaxation

10. Get a new job or start a new career

11. Pay off debt

12. Get organized

13. Watch less television

14. Balance the checkbook

15. Quit smoking/drinking/ another bad habit

What will your resolutions be?

Resolutions Rarely Change Through the Years

According to the lawsuit filed in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court in late October Palchinsky claims that Par-rish has been trying to dis-rupt her business by saying falsely that Linda’s Café was going through foreclosure proceedings, and advertising a new restaurant in Leonar-dtown called Ye Olde Towne Café to replace Palchinsky’s business.

Palchinsky’s suit also claims that since entering into an agreement with Parrish last year to lease her business from Parrish that the landlord has failed repeatedly to make critical repairs to the ameni-ties at the restaurant.

Palchinsky’s suit claims that Parrish’s actions, which include changing the locks on

the entrance to her Leon-ardtown restaurant as well as the burglar alarm code one week in October is a malicious attempt to dis-credit her and run her out

of her business.“Linda was locked out in

late October,” Lawrence said. “That was the last straw.”

Since the closure, which lasted several days, the res-taurant has since reopened and continued to wait on customers.

John Norris III, attor-ney for Parrish filed Parrish’s countering lawsuit in Circuit Court Oct. 25 and Palchinsky

was served with the notice of the suit Tuesday.

Norris said that Palchin-sky was the one who had failed to live up to her part of the lease agreement.

He also said that the dis-pute has been hashed out in District Court many times.

“It means that Linda breached the lease,” Norris said of his client’s suit. “She failed to pay rent, she failed to pay the security deposit required under the lease. And she failed to get insurance that was required under the lease.”

Norris also stated in the

suit that Palchinsky was liable for trespass for having locks replaced that Parrish used in late October to shut down the restaurant on Washington Street.

Norris also said that Pal-chinksy wrote checks that “bounced for having insuffi-cient funds.”

Lawrence said that Pal-chinsky would still like to come to some kind of amica-ble settlement with her land-lord but that the lawsuit may still be their only option at this point.

“It’s what we think is reasonable,” Lawrence said

of the $1 million in damages Palchinsky is seeking. “You get beat up so much you’re forced to react.”

In the section of the lawsuit claiming breach of contract on Parrish’s part, it claims that Parrish had dis-covered asbestos at the Leon-ardtown location but failed to have it removed.

Parrish and her company have not installed proper gas lines in the restaurant, the suit alleges, causing appliances to malfunction; the defendant in the case has also not repaired the leaking roof that has caused damage to the floor

and walls of the restaurant.Palchinsky, who declined

to comment on the lawsuit, also claims in court papers that there are numerous elec-trical problems in the building that inhibit her business’s op-erating properly.

Along with the $1 million lawsuit, Palchinsky is also su-ing for an undisclosed amount of punitive damages.

Parrish has retained a Towson-based lawyer, Neil James Ruther, to defend her against Palchinsky’s claim, but The County Times could not reach him in time for comment.

SectionA-10 The County Times Thursday,December6,2007

St. Mary’s Yachting Center46555 Dennis Point Way

Drayden, MD 20630

301-994-2404 Fax:301-994-2405 www.stmyc.com

Sunday Brunch 10am - 2pm

Kitchen closes at 6pm

Call For Reservations301-994-2404

Winter Hours:

Hollywood301-373-9339

www.ladiesworkoutexpress.com/24502ThreeNotchRoad

PHAT Girls Weight Mangement ProgramStarting in January 2008Call Today

**Owned & operated by a Registered Nurse

**Cardio Equipment & Circuit**Multiple resistance

levels & dual hydraulics**PHAT Girl Weight

Management Program**New expanded hours

FREE REGISTRATION Or

3 FREE MONTHSwith this ad

Expires 1/31/08

Carol Coffren, LWE Member & PHAT Girls Participant

has lost over 80 lbs and 54 inches. Hard work, determination

and portion control is the key!

Trish Elliott, LWE Member & PHAT Girls Participant Shows off her “Big Girl Pants.” She has lost over 60 lbs

and dropped several dress sizes. Look great & feel great too!

Mechanicsville28967 Route 5 South

1-800-794-0693301-884-2513

Fax: 301-884-5382

The DeluxeBed by Tempur-Pedic™Therapy and comfort, perfectly balanced.

quire a level of interactionhigher thanwe’veeverhad,”said County AdministratorJohnSavich.

MetComboardchairmanFrankTaylorsaidthatsomeinthepublichadtheperceptionthatMetCommadedecisionsof how development was topanoutinthecountyorthatitmadedecisionswithoutanypublic input. Not so, Taylorsaid.

“That’s a perception weneed to change,” he said. “Itmight be people feel there’sno accountability, that itmarches to its own it’s owndrummer.”

One of the biggest proj-ectsMetComwantstoensurethe public is informed on isthepurchaseofthewaterandseweroperationsatPaxRiv-er NAS. MetCom executivedirector Steve King told the

joint meeting members thatafter several years the U.S.NavyandMetcomwerecom-ing to terms on the final sale ofthelines;MetComisdoingon-site inspections to ascer-tainhowtheycaneffectivelytakeovertheoperations.

KingsaidthewholepointwastoreducethecosttotheU.S. Navy to run the entirebaseandmake itmorecom-petitivetosurvivethecomingcongressional Base Realign-mentandClosureCommitteeprocess.

It also won’t cost Met-Com customers any money,Kingsaid,becausetheNavy’ssalepricewillbebilledbackto them in an equal amountforservicefees.

“One of our require-ments was that this cannotcostour customeronecent,”King said. “If they [theU.S.

Navy]changetheirminds[onthe payment terms] later wewon’tsign.”

The takeover plan couldcostatotalof$24million,ac-cording to information fromMetcomandbe completebyJanuaryof2009.

King also said thatMet-Comiscontinuing itsdesignfortheexpansionoftheMar-lay- Taylor Water Reclama-tion Facility as well as find ways to reduce nitrogen putbackintotheChesapeakeBaywaters to below three milli-gramsperliter.

Theanswerstoachievingthose state mandates couldinclude reusing treated ef-fluent water for irrigation or washingminedgravelinsteadofputtingitbackintothewa-terwaysdirectly.

“We can’t get down tothese low levels with watertreatment plan technology,”Kingsaid,whoaddedthatthecountywason track tomeetthe2011deadline.

MetComContinued from page A-�

The County Times 2007.12.06 A Section

Documents

Transcript of The County Times 2007.12.06 A Section