Knights Stand Up To National Power

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PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD

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Club House Gets Face Lift

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Thursday, October 2, 2008 St. Marys County

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Established 2006 Volume 3 Issue 38

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St. Johns School In Hollywood Goes International

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Known for years as a small, private Catholic institution in Hollywood, St. Johns School is stretching its reach across the Atlantic Ocean all the way to Milan, Italy in hopes of forging a long-lasting partnership with a similar school to promote cultural awareness and cooperation. Karen Oliver, a St. Johns parent, said the idea started through a

Maryland Politicians Clash Over Budget Priorities

Its giving these licenses away for pennies on the dollar - Del. Anthony ODonnell (R)

Photo by Guy Leonard

Collins Bailey, Republican challenger for U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyers 5th Congressional District seat, talks to students at St. Marys College of Maryland about his political agenda and philosophy.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Hoyer Opponent Bailey Woos Students At St. Marys College

Del. Anthony ODonnell (R-Dist. 29C)

Cassie Oliver, a student at St. Johns School in Hollywood, gets some computer time in with new found friends during her trip to the Collegio San Carlo in Milan, Italy back in February. St. Johns and the Milan school have formed a partnership that exchanges ideas, teachers and students.

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Collins Bailey, Charles County School Board member and Republican challenger in this years congressional race for Marylands 5th District, said the federal government must return to fiscal responsibility or saddle future generations with crippling debt. Bailey, 54, chatted with students at St. Marys College of Marylands Center for the Study of Democracy Tuesday in hopes of getting his message out to unseat incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer. Hoyer has held the 5th District seat for nearly three decades and is now the House Majority Leader.

lot, explained Wortman, who added that instructors were not sure what material would be covered on this years assessments, so preparation had been The Maryland State Department of Edu- difficult. The target, obviously, would be 100 percation (MSDE) released St. Marys County Public cent, she said, but teachers had not seen this test Schools student performance results for the Mary- so it was difficult to anticipate what would be on land Science Assessment for students in grades five it. and eight, which boast that a vast majority of stuAlthough there is much work to be done, we dents successfully completed the assessment, sur- are pleased that the majority of our students are passing state averages. meeting or exceeding the Maryland Science AsAt the fifth grade level, 75.8 percent of students sessment standard, said Superintendent Michael completed the assessment with a proficient or ad- Martirano. The science assessment provides us a vanced score, as compared with the state average of good comparison of how well our students are per64.1 percent. At the eighth grade level, 72.6 percent forming relative to the state standard and to their of students in St. Marys County scored proficient peers around the state, he said. or advanced, compared with the state average of SMCPS performance data compared favorably 61.4 percent. to other school systems in the state, ranking St. Claudia Wortman, Supervisor of Science In- Marys County sixth out of 24 school systems for struction for St. Marys County Public Schools, said fifth grade students, and seventh for eighth grade that the scores are expected to go up next year. This students. Carroll County ranked first for fifth is the first time the MSDE Division of Accountabil- grade performance on the test, and Howard Counity and Assessment Office has released the MarySee Science Assessment page A-7 land Science Assessment scores. We had a pilot last year, but no scores were released from that pi-

Walden Programs SMCPS Students Perform Well On New Science Assessment to Highlight Domestic Violence Awareness
See St. Johns page A-7 See Bailey page A-8 Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Andrea Shiell Staff Writer As the fall months chill the air and the leaves start to change, the staff at Walden/Sierra will be working to highlight domestic violence programs for the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Well be doing a lot more public outreach, and we do a proclamation with the See Walden page A-5

round of e-mails she had with teachers at the Collegio St. Carlo in Milan. They wanted to know how American teachers prepared lessons for their students, Oliver said, and the move

Bailey started off with a history lesson, stating that when he was 17 the minimum wage was just $1.20 an hour, but with that, you could take your paycheck to Waldorf, buy a split foyer house and support a family on top of that. But prices have gone up, Bailey said, because with home prices being what they are now, minimum wage would have to be raised to untenable levels. Youd have to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour now to do that, Bailey told the roughly 20 students Monday. Bailey talked about the national financial crisis that

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer State Republicans led by local Del. Anthony ODonnell (R-Dist. 29C) have penned a budget package that calls for $3.8 billion in tax cuts See Budget page A-8

Inside
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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, October , 008

The Big L
Andrea Shiell Staff Writer When turning onto Lagoon Drive in the tranquil Longview Beach community, it is hard to miss the Lucas household amongst the other homes as it boasts a sign out front calling it the Big L Ranch. The head of this charming household is none other than

Celebrated Senior Weighs in On Secrets to Long Life

Bernard Lionel Lucas, who celebrated his 91st birthday Sept. 12, and held a formal celebration in his home with more than 100 friends and family members the following day. I was born in Prince Georges County, but I was only down there for one year, Lucas said, explaining that he was born in 1917 and grew up in Anacostia, the most famous neighborhood in Southeastern Washington D.C. Back then it was rural; it had farms, he said, adding that housing developments and populations changed the landscape significantly before he left the neighborhood in 1965. Lucas did not leave Anacostia, however, until his family had made their mark on the area. His father Samual

Lucas had been a carpenter, and built many homes in the region, some of which are still standing today. My father built all the houses in Lincoln Place in Anacostia, Lucas said, adding that he himself had started work at a very young age, delivering papers at 16. When I started serving papers, I served 30 papers every day, he said, adding that he saved up his own money Photo by Andrea Shiell to buy a car, and then began delivering as many as 500 pa- Mr. Bernard Lionel Lucas celebrated his 91st birthday recently with family pers a day while still going to and friends. Despite his age, he continues to work in security for his community, and deliver newspapers.

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Phelps Vocational High School to study carpentry, electricity, and plumbing. By the time Lucas was 17, he had gone into business as a house painter. He worked as a pipe fitters helper at the Navy Power Factory in Indian Head, Md., before transferring to the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. and advancing to the position of First Class Optical Instrument Assembler, a position he held until the end of World War II. He worked in the same capacity in Philadelphia, all the while falling back on his freelance work as a painter. Even with his dizzying work history though, Lucas said his secret to long life and happiness had been to retire early. When my first wife (Theresa) died, I said if anything happened to my wife, I was going to do what I wanted to do, he said, explaining that he decided at the time to retire from his job as a Mechanic Yard Supervisor with Ace Wrecking Company and come to Longview Beach, to the land of better living when he was 48 years old. I decided I was just sitting there and getting fat, he said, laughing, so I decided to resign the job and spend the rest of my life doing what I wanted to do. He raised four daughters with his second wife, Lucille, all of whom grew up to enjoy independence and occupational prestige. Hes a mans man, a no nonsense kind of guy, exclaimed his granddaughter, LaTanya Thomas, one of his seven grandchildren. Hes a wealth of wisdom. Lucas also has seven great-grandchildren, and everyone in Lucas family has a nickname, from his oldest daughter Antoinette, who he calls Tweedly, to his youngest daughter Alice, who he nicknamed Home Alone, because it dont matter when you call her, shes home alone, he said, laughing. After coming to Southern Maryland and resuming work both as a carpenter, housepainter, and delivering papers, he and his late friend George Gardner were the first male members of the St. Marys County Democratic Club, and Lucas has served the democratic party faithfully since then, volunteering his time as a poll watcher at Maryland voting sites. He said he is excited about this years election, and he will be supporting Barack Obama. Hes the man, he exclaimed, adding that he never did think he would see the day when a minority could achieve such political standing. Nearing his centennial has not slowed Lucas down one bit, as is evidenced by his continued activity and excellent health. He continues to deliver papers daily to his entire neighborhood, and he also works as a security guard for the Longview Beach Club Association, of which he was on the Board of Directors for 19 years. He fishes, hunts, and enjoys boating as well. The Big L Ranch is Lucass second home in the Longview Beach community, and he has lived there for six years. His latest birthday was recognized by dignitaries as well as friends and family, and according to his granddaughter LaTanya, next year should be just as much fun. The entire family looks forward to celebrating Mr. Lucas 92nd birthday, she said, smiling as her grandfather nodded.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

The County Times

Section A - 

Wicomico Shores Clubhouse Gets A Facelift

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Its taken about seven years of planning, negotiation and work but the oncedeteriorating clubhouse at the Wicomico Shores public golf course stands anew after a $2.1 million expansion and renovation project. Phil Rollins, director of the county Department of Parks and Recreation, who oversaw the project, said that plans were originally in the works to tear down the structure already there on Airport Yacht the clubhouse and made access to facilities like the dining room and pro shop much easier. Golfers can come in from the greens and immediately stop in at the refurbished banquet area or make a turn into the newly renovated pro shop, which was actually placed on top of one of the roof sections and enclosed, Meyers said. The inside of the clubhouse comes complete with a recently improved look and fresh coat of paint and furniture. The interior even smells new. Rollins said that when the original build the new facility started in 2001 but by the time bids came in 2003 they were too high. County commissioners eventually decided on a renovation and expansion project in 2005 with construction starting in April of 2007, Rollins said. Part of the funding for the project came in the form of $500,000 in state Program Open Space funds, Rollins said, while about $1.35 million was borrowed by commissioners from banks to pay for the rest of the project. That amount will be paid back over

Maryland Schools Desperate for Qualified Teachers

St. Marys County Above State Average
Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Statistics show that St. Marys County Public schools enjoy a significant advantage as opposed to other school systems in the state of Maryland, which leads the nation with its glaring gap in the number of quality teachers at wealthier versus poorer schools. Statewide, Maryland elementary schools in wealthy areas boast a rate of 94.8 percent of classes taught by highly qualified teachers, whereas poorer districts have only 66.2 percent of classes taught by quality instructors, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education. The 28.6 percent gap in Maryland is 12 percent greater than the second-highest gap in Illinois, and among secondary schools, Maryland as a whole led the nation with a 25.7 percent gap between wellto-do and disadvantaged schools. Dr. Edward Weiland, director of Human Resources for St. Marys County Public Schools, said the criteria for what constitutes a highly qualified teacher, as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, would take seven hours to explain. Highly qualified basically means that an individual is certified in a certain area, and on a certain level, he said, adding that the candidate must have a bachelors degree in their area of teaching as well as their certification from the state of Maryland, and demonstrate knowledge of their subject. As a rule, Weiland said St. Marys County Public Schools aims to hire only highly qualified teachers, with very rare exceptions being made when candidates are not fully certified, but have one or two remaining courses to take for certification. Were usually in the top tier of counties with that, he said. Were always above 90 percentwe work very hard to make sure that all of our teachers are highly qualified and certified. The five states with the largest gaps in qualified teachers also have notably urban populations, such as Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia, with smaller gaps coming from states with fewer urban populations. Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County make up 54.5 percent of the states student population and account for 70 percent of the classes not taught by highly qualified teachers. Its a very challenging market across the state, said John Smeallie, acting Deputy State Superintendant, when asked about recruitment of teachers. Teach for America has placed 174 teachers, considered highly qualified, in the city, but their help is temporary because there is no long-term commitment, he said. Weiland said St. Marys County will have to step up efforts to recruit teachers with programs like the residential teacher certification program, offered through a partnership with state colleges like the University of Notre Dame and the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, and targeted at people interested in changing their career to teach or using the degree they already have to build toward their teaching certification. Such programs require candidates to commit to teaching within the county for a number of years after they earn their certification. Weiland conceded that the states dismal percentages of qualified teachers could be indicative of the higher education systems failures. He said St. Marys County has been lucky with its recruitment, but that Maryland as a whole does not train enough teachers to keep up with the needs of its schools. Maryland never produces enough teacher candidates, but weve been lucky Weiland said. We have not had as difficult a time as I thought we might haveand colleges and universities are working hard to reduce that deficiency, but we still have a long way to go.

Patty Meyers, golf course manager at Wicomico Shores, looks out from the newly renovated banquet hall of the clubhouse onto the greens.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Club Road in Chaptico, but high bids several years ago caused county commissioners to go for an overhaul of the clubhouse. The old clubhouse was in deplorable condition, Rollins told The County Times. One of the things I saw when I came on in 1991 was that we needed to do something with this building. And thats just what happened, said Patty Meyers, course manager at Wicomico Shores. Players can utilize it a lot more in the current format, Meyers said, adding that the renovation project opened up space in

clubhouse was donated from a private group back in the 80s that its condition was so poor that they could not even fully operate the banquet facilities. But now the facility can comfortably accommodate 175 people, Meyers said. Its a whole new outlook, Meyers said of the clubhouse facelift. We brought it up to the 21st century. The Board of County Commissioners formally dedicated the clubhouse Tuesday after the operations staff moved back into the facility Sept. 12. Rollins said that the initial plans to

the next 15 years from golf course revenues; as a county enterprise fund, Rollins said, the course is self sustaining from user fees. Meyers, who has been at the golf course for almost 12 years, was happy to be back in a permanent office she and her staff had been in a trailer for 18 months of construction but was just as pleased with the reception from players. There were no tears when that [trailer] rolled out of the parking lot, Meyers said. But everybody I see walking in the clubhouse says they love it. two thirds of my life has been lived here, and in that time, I have seen landmarks taken down and new ones built in their places. I know it must be harder for those who are a bit older than me and have lived their entire lives in this beautiful county. I have raised my two wonderful sons, Robert and Ryan here, loved the beauty of each day in each season, and found so many loving, caring friends. I would like to bring you my impressions and memories of the county and Southern Maryland from a relative newcomers perspective along with other aimless mental wanderings. To each new days adventure, Shelby Please send comments to: shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com

With Love and Best Wishes To Terri and a Hello from Me

By Shelby Oppermann Hello to Terri Bartz Bowles Ramblings of a Country Girl readers, Im Shelby Oppermann. I received a call from my good friend Terri, telling me she was going to finish her college degree and expand her career horizons. This also meant ending her warm, homespun column which we, as her readers had all followed weekly. I have known Terri for seven years through our affiliation with the Maryland Antiques Center in Leonardtown. Boy, have we had some fun times, and some great talks. She is just like what she writes, funny, off-the-wall, and compassionate. I wish her many hours of endless enjoyment studying to fulfill her dream. I say this with Love, Terri. Which leads me to how I am writing this column. Reading Terris got me to thinking how I ended-up in St. Marys County 29 years ago this month. My Dad used to take me on Sunday drives through Southern Maryland, and my Mother and I would camp in our camper trailer at Point Lookout when the camp ground was on the left side of the road by the old hotel. This was all in the late 60s, early 70s. So, I had fleeting memories of this and that from traveling down Route 5. One of these memories was of a beautiful village on the way down. I always thought that this vivid picture in my mind was a dream, until I was deciding what college to attend and was reading through college catalogs in the Guidance Office at Surrattsville Senior High in Clinton, MD. One of the catalogs was for St. Marys College of MD, and as I leafed through it I saw the pictures in my dream. It was a real place. How could anything be so beautiful? All the pictures were sepia-toned, black walnut pen and ink drawings by local artist Charles Wolf III. After I was accepted at St. Marys, which was no easy feat since I was considered a late bloomer having only done well in High School my last two of the three years, I was thrilled to actually meet the artist Charles Charlie Wolf. Charlie worked in the equipment room at the college gym when he wasnt helping on the family farm or being a waterman. I thought I had met a real celebrity. I told him that he was the reason that I came to St. Marys College. The dream had become real. Even the caption under my senior picture said Dreams of attending St. Marys. St. Marys County was like another world, even though its only an hour away from Clinton. I was amazed passing by people either on campus or in the community who waved to you and said hi. Everyone says hi to you here. I couldnt figure it out at first. Especially anyone in a pick-up truck. No one seemed as wary or rushing to be anywhere. I remember telling people back home that there was one traffic light that I knew of in 1979, and that was at the intersection of the Roost and McDonalds in Lexington Park. If there were more than three or four cars at the light it was a traffic jam. I grew up right next to malfunction junction, where I counted 29 lights. We lived within 1000 feet of it and it would take 20 minutes to get through the series of lights. So coming down here was completely different in that respect also. One of the biggest changes was the amount of bars in the county and how many diverse people frequented them. We had one bar in Clinton, The Clinton Inn, that I never would have thought of going in. It just wasnt something any women or girls I knew did. We did house parties. My Father asked me sometime during my first semester what we did for fun down here. I told him about FOD night at the college. That was we called Thursday nights, since everyone went home for the weekends. FOD was Flake-Out and Die. And then I told him, Well Daddy, on Thursday nights, we go to the Oar House. He said, You do what! I said, The Oar House, Daddy, The Oar House. I dont think he quite heard me correctly the first time. I explained to him that whole families went in bars here. But, really I did gain so much from my years at St. Marys College. I was a Social Science major with my particular love being Social Psychology and the study of individuals in groups. The Oar House, Monks Inn, and The Green Door were excellent places to study human behavior. Of course, I used my degree and have been a Picture Framer for 27 years, but thats o.k. I am glad I received my B.A. St. Marys College was, and is, a beautiful college with dedicated professors who have left their mark on thousands of students over the years. It continues to grow each year meeting more needs of the students. The county has changed in the last 29 years as well, but I love it intensely and cannot imagine ever living anywhere else. Almost

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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Editorial & Opinion

Maybe The Folks Will Get The Government They Deserve
We average folks are understandably nervous. We are not quite sure just how the current economic crisis will impact us. Are our jobs safe? Is our little bit of savings safe? Will we be able to pay the mortgage, provide for our childrens education as we planned, and so on. And everyday the news seems to get worse. The federal government is going deeper and deeper into debt. Main Street bailing out Wall Street (is there a difference?). More talk of raising taxes on the folks to pay for more entitlement programs. The cost of being the worlds freedom police has never been heavier. Oh my, our federal government is broke, we are broke! Our State government reports that despite Governor OMalley and our State Legislature passing the largest tax increase in our States history, Maryland will have a $1.5 billion dollars deficit next year. Oh my, our State government is broke, we are broke! Our County Commissioners, despite collecting 20% more in property taxes from the folks this year than last year say they cant keep up and will probably have to raise taxes. Oh my, our County government might go broke, will we go broke? In the meantime, the folks are just holding on, wondering who will save us from this mess. Everyone is blaming someone else. No matter the party affiliation, its the other partys fault. No matter the level of government, its the other level of governments fault. All of the career politicians warned all of this was coming, but nobody would listen to them. Dont you remember when they warned us? And by the way, all of this is not our elected officials fault, its everyone elses elected officials fault. Its Congresses fault, but not my Congressman. Its the Maryland Legislatures fault, but not my Senator. County governments runaway spending is the Commissioners fault, but not my Commissioner. These are all nice guys; its not their fault. And by the way, did you see the nice citation my Congressman, Senator, and Commissioner gave Mom and Dad for their 50th Wedding Anniversary? They are such nice people; this mess cant be their fault. Its Bush, hes at fault. Its OMalley, hes at fault. Its the economy stupid, its at fault. Oh by the way, you know Congressman Hoyer is up for re-election this November, he is such a nice guy, he saved Pax River, not just the military base, he saved the river. And we sure are lucky to have a guy like him with his experience, leadership, and ability to get what we need, especially now that he is the Majority Leader. It must be hard on Steny, having to put up with all those idiots in Congress everyday. Thank goodness hes the leader. And you know, that boy Roy, he sure is a nice guy, he saved Pax River, not just the military base, he saved the river. Hes a former Congressman (but lets not talk about that), and now we have all his years of experience in the Maryland Senate. Boy, just think how bad off our State would be if we didnt have Roy up there in Annapolis, we would be broke. Oh, thats right we are broke! Did you see that citation Roy gave dad for his 80th birthday? He sure is a nice guy. Back to the mess we are in. Maybe it is time for change. This country is headed in the wrong direction, something has to change. Im going to vote for change, Im going to vote to change the President, that will show those people that we mean business, that will turn this Country around, then we will get the kind of government we deserve. By the way, did you see that nice citation my mom got for her 70th birthday?

Local Conservation Chapter Thanks You The Economy: Today and Tomorrow
The Coastal Conservation Association Marylands Patuxent River Chapter extends a big thank you for all who helped us make our second annual Banquet and Auction last weekend a rousing success. We were able to raise around $11,000 to help restore and protect marine resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. More than 85 recreational anglers and local residents joined us for a night of celebration. A special thanks goes to our major sponsors, Dominion Cove Point and ManTech International Corporation. In a little over 15 months our chapter has planted more than 61,000 oysters in two local creeks which we will grow to adult size when they will be able to each filter 55,000 gallons of water a day, run a fishing day for wounded veterans and their families, and supported the first week long youth fishing camp administered by a CCA chapter in the United States. The support this community provided our banquet will allow us to continue that work. Thanks to all! Scott McGuire Chapter president Lexington Park, Md By: Bob Schaller Hows the economy? Were all asking this question to one extent or another. The message lately on the state of the economy has been a mixed one. On one hand, were facing a financial industry crisis nationally that has broad and uncertain impacts. The economy will likely play a dominant role in the upcoming elections. Closer to home, news of local business closures and cutbacks add to the uneasiness. At the same time, some businesses are having their best year ever. Businesses feel the effects of changing consumer behavior and adjust plans and operations accordingly. Likewise, each of us as households absorb all this along with our individual employment and income situations, and adjust our behaviors accordingly. So were all connected in some way through the system we call the economy. Depending on what you do in the economy will determine how much you are affected. Fortunately, St. Marys County as a whole has done fairly well throughout the current economic times. This is largely due to our strong employment base. One thing to keep in mind is that business cycles come and go. The same set of circumstances that brought about the current situation will ultimately be corrected and lead to a turnaround. The key for every player in the economic system, whether its a business owner, consumer, or government agency, is the ability and willingness to adapt to the changing environment. This is our everyday challenge. Dealing with short-term economic challenges is first priority. But Id also like to offer some encouraging news for longer-term prospects in St. Marys County. In particular, the work thats been done to attract, retain, and develop a world-class workforce is being reflected in our changing demographics. The U.S. Census Bureau released demographic information based on its most recent annual survey from 2007. Ill briefly describe just three measures that relate to our workforce: educational attainment, median age, and commuting patterns. In educational attainment, theres continued improvement nationally, statewide, and locally. Since 2000, the rate of improvement in St. Marys County is greater than that of the state and nation. We now exceed the U.S. rate of Bachelors Degree completion (27.8% vs 27.5%). In 2000 we lagged the national rate by almost 2%. St. Marys County has also narrowed the gap with the state average over the same time period. The Maryland average was 35% in 2007 and ranked 2nd nationally. The growth of program offerings and enrollments at our local institutions of higher education including the College of Southern Maryland, St. Marys College of Maryland, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, and others has contributed to this progress. Future growth plans at all institutions will only narrow this gap further. Improved high school graduation rates have also played a key role in preparing students for post-secondary education. St. Marys Countys High School Graduate completion rate exceeds both the state and nation. The organic progress weve seen in the local school system along with the partnerships developed with NAS Patuxent River and other employers and organizations will infuse even more graduates into the workforce pipeline. In terms of median age, St. Marys County repeats in 2007 with the youngest population in the state. At 34.4 years, St. Marys median age is the lowest of all Maryland counties with populations of 65,000 or more. The growth of young professionals attracted here by employment opportunities and the growth of families are the key factors. A younger and more highly educated workforce is a great economic foundation for the future. In commuting patterns, St. Marys County continues to stand apart with only 29% of our labor force commuting out of the County to work. Compared with our neighboring counties of Charles and Calvert both at about 60% and the state at 46%, theres more time to enjoy the quality of life that surrounds us. With rising fuel and energy prices, this is an even greater factor in our favor. An increasingly homegrown workforce with the opportunity to live where they work is a tremendous asset. So three basic ingredients - increased educational attainment, a young population, and a work where you live pattern - combine for longterm workforce and economic development opportunities. Back to the original question on the current state of the economy, its not an easy one to answer. Theres little question though that todays situation is different than it was even a year ago. Attention needs to be paid to the immediate economic issues at hand. But lets not forget that some of the fundamental and structural features of our economy which have been years (and decades) in the making will be there to make the economy even stronger when the current business cycle turns more favorable.

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

The County Times

Section A - 

Agenda Items For The St. Marys County Commissioners

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9/29/08 (additions) 1. 2008 *Revised Draft Agendas for October 7 and 14, 2. Sheriffs Office (Sheriff Timothy Cameron; Erin Shoemaker, Fiscal Manager; Elaine Kramer, CFO) a. Motion (1): To approve and accept the Targeted Enforcement and Education Grant Award from the Governors Office of Crime and Prevention. a. Motion (2): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $49,485, that will closeout MD0934 for funding reclassification from state revenue to federal revenue for the Targeted Enforcement and Education Grant, which will increase the Supplemental Reserve Accounts. a. Motion (3): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment that will reflect the set-up of $40,200 in federal revenues and expenses for the Targeted Enforcement and Education Grant and decrease the Supplemental Reserve Accounts. Motion By: Jarboe Second:Dement Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes b. Motion (1): To approve and accept the Compstat Program Award form the Governors Office of Crime and Prevention. b. Motion (2): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $32,334, that will closeout MD0915 for funding reclassification from state revenue to federal revenue for the Compstat Program, which will increase the Supplemental Reserve Accounts. b. Motion (3): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment that will reflect the set-up of $15,080 in federal revenues and expenses for the Compstat Program and decrease the Supplemental Reserve Accounts. Motion By: Raley Second: Dement Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes c. Motion (1): To approve and accept the School Bus Safety Enforcement Award from the Governors Office of Crime Control and Prevention. c. Motion (2): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $14,500, that will decrease the project budget revenues and expenses and increase the supplemental reserve accounts, aligning the project budget with the grant award. Motion By: Mattingly Second: Jarboe Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes d. Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $22,800, to set-up the expenses and revenue for the Sex Offender Registration grant. Motion By: Dement Second: Mattingly Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes *e. Motion (1): To approve and accept the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Award from the State Highway Administration. *e. Motion (2): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $800, that will increase the project budget revenues and expenses and decrease the supplemental reserve accounts, aligning the project budget with the grant award. Motion By: Mattingly Second: Dement Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes Dept. of Recreation and Parks (Phil Rollins, Director; Christy Chesser, County Attorney, Bob Schaller, Director, DECD) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Declaration of Covenant document establishing the replacement property for the Port of Leonardtown, Leonardtown Winery, as specified in the Program Open Space Consent and Release agreement approved by the Board of County Commissioners on June 10, 2008. Motion By: Mattingly 3. Second: Dement Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes 4. Dept. of Public Safety (David Zylak, Director) a. Motion (1): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency allowing the Maryland State Highway Administration to retain the awarded funds for the construction of one tower to provide microwave connectivity at Mary McLeod Bethune School, and to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $143,200, closing grant number US0940 since the State Highway Administration will be paid direct. Motion By: Mattingly Second: Jarboe Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes b. Motion (2): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment to close-out the $290,000 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant funds, Project US0980, and return the budgeted match of $96,667 to the BOCC Emergency Appropriation Reserve. Motion By: Dement Second: Jarboe Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes *Motion (3): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Charles County, Calvert County, and St. Marys County for the expansion of the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NSPAC) channels, and to sign the associated budget amendment. Motion By: Mattingly Second: Raley Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes c. Motion (4): To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, in the amount of $30,000, moving funds from Public Safety to the BOCC Emergency Appropriations Reserve Fund, realigning accounts to cover partial match of the NPSPAC grant. Motion By: Mattingly Second: Raley Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes Dept. of Human Services (Bennett Connelly, Director) Motion: To approve and sign the resolution, with an effective date of October 14, 2008, to rescind prior designation of the Local Management Board of St. Marys County, Inc. as the Local Management Board and to designate the Department of Human Services as the Local Management Board for St. Marys County. Motion By: Dement Second: Mattingly Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes (Cynthia Brown, Manager, Community Services) *Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Memorandum of Agreement between the Corporation for National and Community Services and the Office of Community Services, for the assignment of two costshare AmeriCorps *VISTA members to the Division of Community Services and one non-county VISTA to the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity, and *Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the related Memorandum of Agreement between the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity and the Board of County Commissioners, and *Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the related Sub-recipient Agreement between the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity and the Board of County Commissioners, and *Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment, reflecting the decrease of $22,776 in both revenue and expense, due to the decrease of two cost-share positions. Motion By: Raley Second: Jarboe Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes . Dept. of Land Use & Growth Management (Denis Canavan, Director; Elaine Kramer, CFO) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment moving $10,000 from the Planning Consultants and Zoning Administration Other Contract Ser-

vices Accounts to the Supplemental Reserve Revenue and Supplemental Reserve Expense Accounts, to cover the shortfall in state funding projected in FY2009. Motion By: Dement Second: Mattingly Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley No Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes

Board of Education Voting Record

Meeting Held on September 23, 2008
Consent Agenda 10.01 & 10.02 - Personnel-Teachers/Administrative Supervisory In accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland (Section 6-201), the superintendent shall nominate for appointment by the county Board of Education all principals, teachers, and other certificated personnel. The superintendent shall assign them to their positions and transfer them as the needs of the system require. Motion: To approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion By: Second: Cathy Allen Salvatore L Raspa Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Gary K Kessler Not Present Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes 10.04 - FY 2009 Categorical Request Attached for your review and approval is a categorical request summary for the increase for a .05 FTE for General Fund - Instructional Salaries and .15 FTE for the Local Management Board - Care Management Entity Grant for FY 2009. Funding Source: FY 2009 Approved Operating Budget and Local Management Board funding. Motion: To approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion By: Second: Cathy Allen Salvatore L Raspa Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Gary K Kessler Not Present Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes Action Items 11.01 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan Comprehensive Maintenance Plan 2008 - By regulation, each local educational agency (LEA) is required to submit annually a Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (CMP) that has been approved by the Local Board of Education (COMAR 23.03.02.18.A.2 ). The CMP describes the LEA strategy for maintaining public schools. Motion: To approve the comprehensive Maintenance Plan for 2008 as presented by staff. Motion By: Second: Cathy Allen Mary M Washington Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Gary K Kessler Not Present Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes

Walden
Continued from page A- Board of County Commissioners, said Community Development Manager Valerie Colvin, adding that recent changes at Walden, including a new policy of cross-training counselors to deal with both domestic violence and substance abuse issues, will help extend existing services and make them more efficient. Were training all of our substance abuse counselors for trauma and our trauma counselors in substance abuse, said Executive Director Kathleen OBrien, explaining that the two issues often overlap. There is a correlation between substance abuse and domestic violence. Octobers observance will be a time to educate the public about domestic violence as a serious public health issue, say the managers at Walden, who concede that the economy is placing a lot more stress on families, which could be leading to more incidences of domestic violence in the community. As times get tougher the demand for our services will increase, said OBrien. Weve already seen a dramatic increase. As the demand for services peaks, OBrien said that newer programs at Walden will be integrating services and offering a more streamlined approach to solving community problems. Among the newer initiatives are the development of a fatality review committee, a multidisciplinary case review committee, and a new lethality assessment program, which has been set up to administer an assessment to domestic violence victims to determine their need for counseling, treatment, and other services. Assistant Director Gary Lynch described the fatality assessment as a test that police now administer to victims when responding to domestic disturbances in the community. If a victims risk of fatal injury is high, then police

officers would call a counselor and encourage the victim to inquire about counseling services for themselves and their family members. Since this has started weve gotten about 20 calls a month, said Lynch. These are cases that we might have seen, but we might not have. They might not have called about counseling otherwise, he said, adding that since the program was initiated, 60 percent of test recipients scored at serious risk of being killed or seriously injured by their partner, and of those, 80 percent of the victims who took the assessment have called to talk to counselors. Were certainly seeing more since this program started, Lynch said. A Day of Unity was first initiated by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1981, the purpose at the time being to connect battered womens advocates across the country, but it soon grew into a week of activities observed at the state, local, and national levels. The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987, and the Day of Unity is still celebrated on the first Monday in October. Domestic violence itself is described as a pattern of behavior that seeks to establish power over another person in a relationship through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Perpetrators are most often men, making the majority (73 percent) of victims female. Statistics show that females between the ages of 20 and 24 are at the greatest risk for intimate partner violence, and incidents result in more than 16,000 homicides and over $2.2 million in medically treated injuries every year. The St. Marys County Family Violence Coordinating Council encourages members of the Southern Maryland Community to speak out against domestic violence, and urges those who are in violent or abusive relationships to seek help by calling Walden/Sierras 24-hour crisis hotline at 301-863-6661.

 Section A -  Thursday, August 21, 2008

The The County

County Times Times

Thursday, October 2, 2008 Section A - 

Obituaries
Alice Mildred Brown, 99 Dhirajlal Nathalal

Contractor, 7
Dhirajlal Nathalal Contractor, 76, Lexington Park, Maryland died at his home on September 27, 2008. Born January 30, 1932 in Nadiad, India he was the son of the late Nathalal Arjunlal and Maneckbai Nathalal Contractor his wife Paige Ellen died in February 2002. Mr. Contractor was a graduate of the University of Wichita in Kansas with a double major Brown, 99 in AeroAlice Mildred nautical Engineering 16 of Leonardtown died Aug.and in her home. Industrial Engineering. Born Nov. 9, 1908 in After graduation, was the Baltimore, Md., she he went daughter of the late James and to work for the Department Lilly Mae Jackson Rebham. of She was a an AeronautiNavy as member of St. cal Engineer retiring in Georges Episcopal Church, Valley Lee, and Order of the 1997 from the Naval Air Eastern Star, Chapter 107, JuWarfare Center at Patuxent lia Halla, Hollywood. Mrs. Brown is River, Maryland. survived by two sons, survived by a He is Lloyd E. (Jerry) Brown, Jr. of Leonardtown daughter Diana and Willard Suman Brown Bruce of Terraand a son Drew is Kaba Alta, W. Va. She J. also survived by six grandContractor both of Odenchildren, Julie Brown-Rund, ton, MD; one sister, Suman Jeff Brown, Nancy Deal, Wendy Jarda, Judy and one Graybill Wilson Christian and eight and Pheobe Brown, grandson Ian Kaba. In adgreat-grandchildren Clay and Will Rund, his parents Josh dition to Kristen and and Brown, Shawn and Bruce wife, Mr. Contractor was Deal, Audrey and Samantha preceded in death by two Jarda. She was predeceased sisters; Gunvanti Salamat by a daughter Betty Ruth Singh, Sarojini Ramesh Brown and a brother John B. Fenwick. and two brothers; Doctor Relatives and friends atWilson Nathalal Contractended Mrs. Browns Life tor and Shantilal Nathalal Celebration in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown Contractor. Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 5 Relatives and friends 8 p.m. with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A funeral service will were invited to D.N. Deno be held Thursday, Aug. 21 at Contractors Life Celebra11 a.m. in St. Georges Epistion on Friday, October 17, copal Church, Valley Lee. Reverend Greg to 8:00 p.m. 2008 from 6 Syler, pastor of the church, will officiate. in the will follow in the IntermentBrinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 church cemetery. Hollywood Memorial Contributions Road, Leonardtown, MD may be made to The Misto or sionsCondolences Fund the Endowment Cemeterymay be made at family and Grounds Fund, c/o St. Georges Episcopal w w w.br i n sf ield f u ne r a l. Church, P.O. Box 30, Valley com. Lee, MD 20692. Condolences to the famArrangements by the ily may be made at www. Brinsfield Funeral Home, brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by P.A., Leonardtown, MDthe
Brinsfield Funeral P.A., Leonardtown. Home,

Lori Louise Chesser Cromwell, 48 Francis Joseph

Brown, Sr., 66

Francis Joseph Brown, Sr., 66, passed away in his home in Indian Trail, N.C. Aug. 12. Mr. Brown was born July 1, 1942 in Leonardtown, son of the late Mary Edna Brown Norris. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife Jacqueline Mercer Brown; a son Francis J. Brown, Jr. and his wife Shelia of Stanfield, N.C.; a daughter Jennifer Lynn Brown of Indian Trail, N.C. and two granddaughters Christianna Page and Allyson Grace Brown. The family received friends Sunday, Aug. 17 from 2 Lori Louise Matting5 p.m. in the Chesser ley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Cromwell, 48 of Great where Prayers were said at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Mills passed away Sept. Burial was celebrated Mon24. day, Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Lori Xavier wife of St. Franciswas the Catholic Church with Fr. John MatNickolas Cromwell, and tingly officiating. Interment the daughter of Ralph and followed in Charles Memorial Gardens. Lois Chesser of Florida. Arrangements provided Lori attended Town by the Mattingley-Gardiner Creek Elementary, EsFuneral Home, P.A.

Luis Antonia Castillo, 70 until she was able to make her own way and franchise Luis Antonia Castillo, 70, of Leonardtown died Aug. 16 her own Seven Eleven, in St. Marys Nursing Center, eventually owning a secLeonardtown. Born Sept. 20, 1937 in ond store for several years. Puerto Rico, he was the son of She had over three and a the late Luis Antonia and Elsa Monserrate Morales Castillo. half decades of service in Luis is survived by three the franchise. sisters, M. Elaine Ohler of Lori Del., Evelyn CasMillsboro, was a loving, entillo of Chestertown, Md. and dearing wife and mother Elsie Collins of Las Vegas, who loved sports of all Nev. He is also survived by several nieces anddidnt pass kinds. A year nephews. Family received friends when she wasnt seen at the Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. noon in the Brinsfield Redskins football games or Funeral Home, Leonardtown, NASCAR recited at noon. with prayersraces. She also Deacon George L Heureux attended countless sportofficiated. Graveside service ing events 2 p.m. children, of her at Cedar followed at Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Md. Chris and Mary. She served Memorial Contributions as a board member for the may be made to the St. Marys Southern Maryland AthletNursing Center Foundation, Inc., ic Little League (SMALL) 21585 Peabody Street, while her son Chris played Leonardtown, MD 20650. Condolences to the fam- baseball for many years. ily may be made at www. Lori was a true nurturer, brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the always thinking of everyBrinsfield Funeral Home, one elses needs before her P.A., Leonardtown. own. Lori loved traveling Lloyd Raymond with her husband and chilHarris, 97 dren to the Caribbean islands, including cruises and trips to Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, and the U.S Virgin Islands. She enjoyed relaxing with her family in her vacation home in the Deep Creek Lake area of Western Maryland. She loved watching movies and her favorite sitcoms, while spending quality time with her family. She was the loving and caring mother of Hilary Lloyd Raymond Harris, 97, died peacefully Aug. Hartenstein of Lexington 12 in the St. Marys Nursing Park, Center. Christopher Spak Mr. Harris was longtime and Mary Spak aof Great resident of St. Marys County. Mills, stepmother to ThomHe was born in Gallatin, Mo. as 13, 1911 to and Taylor June Cromwell the late Howard May Harris Brooksville, and Frankie Cromwell of He married Lee Jackson. Fla., and wife of Stephen his belovedsister of 59 years, Mary Catherine Sis Nelson Chesser of Cape Coral, at the Washington Cathedral Fla. in Washington D.C. Sept. 2, 1939. She preceded him in Loris Life celebration death in 1998. He was also was held death 30 in by preceded in Sept. in 1998 the his beloved Funeral Home, Brinsfield sister Margaret Harris. Leonardtown. served in the Mr. Harris A Funeral United States Army as an AsService was conducted Oct. sistant Chaplain. Following 1 at 10 a.m. in the Patuxent his army service he was emPresbyterian Church, Caliployed in Washington, D.C. by the Federal Government fornia, Md. with Reverend for many years before retirMike Jones officiating. Ining. He then worked in the tax department for the State terment was private. of Maryland and retired in In lieu of flowers Me1971. During his retirement, he and his wife enjoyed travmorial contributions may eling throughout the United be made to an account esStates. He enjoyed the children tablished for playing cards, dancing and buying new cars. of Lori Cromwell in care of Ray loved life and most of Maryland Bank and Trust, all he enjoyed helping others while Box 340, nothing in P.O. expecting Lexington return. He was devoted in the Park, MD 20653. care of his wife and sister until their death. Condolences received to the The family family may Mattingleyfriends in thebe made at Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., w w w.br i n sf ield f u ne r a l. Leonardtown, Friday, Aug. 15 com. from 9 10 a.m. with a funeral service that followed at 10 Arrangements provided a.m. officiated by Rev. Keith by the Brinsfield followed Schukraft. Interment Funeral at Charles Memorial Gardens Home, P.A., Leonardtown.
in Leonardtown. Pallbearers were Frank Nelson, Donnie Bowles, Fred Nelson, Harry Nelson, Jr., Michael Russell Joseph Clarence Evand Roy Copsey. Contributions may be ans, Jr., 4 made to American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-4101. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Valorie Anne Henry, 48 Joseph Clarence Evans, Jr. (Kingfish, Pop Pop) was born Feb. 26, 1944, to the late Joseph Clarence Evans, Sr. and Sarah Turner. He departed his earthly home Sept. 21 in St. Marys Hospital. Kingfish received his education through St. Marys Countys Public Schools. Kingfish retired in 2005 after being employed at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point for over 25 Valorie Anne Henry, 48, years. He enjoyed formerly hunting of Mechanicsville, and rabbit hunting, fishing, of Grandview, Mo., died Aug. 17, in Lexington Park. going to dog meets and Born Oct. playing cards. 31, was the He 1959 in Lincoln, Neb. she thought his four beagles (Cry Baby, daughter of James Ray Dickinson of Mouldrow,Snoop) Jack, Banjo and Okla. and Hortense Anne Campbell were the Grandview, Mo. Crawford of best of rabbit She was the loving wife of dogs. Earl Allan Henry, whom she During his youngmarried July 16, 1986 in Warer years, he rensburg, Mo. spent many She at Budds Creek nights is survived by her son Earl Ian Henry. Raceway watching graduraceMrs. Henry ated from Grandview High cars with Mary Rose, Pam Schools Class of 1977. She and Toeno. His favorite moved to St. Marys County car was a 1988 from Walin October 63 Chevy called dorf,Calvert Shaker. He esthe Md. The enjoyed Aug. 23 pecially family will receive friends Saturday, spending from 10 11 a.m. in Patuxtime with his family and ent River His pastime God friends. Assembly of was Church, California, where a going Service will be held Funeralto Medleys Garage at 11Loveville Pastor Lanny in a.m. with and every Clark officiating. Interment Sunday at Burchmart in will be held Wednesday, Aug. Leonardtown in Maryland 27 at 10 a.m. to shoot the Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenbreeze with his friends. ham, Md. Kingfish had may be Contributions his ways made to Hospice if St. Marys, about him you never asked P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, a question if you were not MD 20650. ready to hear the provided answer; Arrangements by would tell it like it was he the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. and didnt care if you liked it or not. That was him. To Karen A. our surprise, Kingfish had McEntyre, picked his own 51 pallbearwith a memo that of ers Karen A. McEntyre, 51 he Lexington Park, formerly of did through his job back Plano, Texas, died Aug. 13 in in 1997; he wanted his coWashington Hospital Center. Born Feb. 24, 1957 in workers to carry him to his Sweetwater, Texas she was resting place. the daughter of Carold and To cherish his of PlaMary Aleese Benson memono, Texas. ries, Kingfish survived his leaves by She is also lifetime companion of 40+ her children Jeremy Porter of Snyder, Texas, Jonathan years, Mary Rose Young; Porter of Plano, Texas, Angie one brother George M. Porter, Sheila Horton and MaSomerville, Sr. (Ruth); one rissa Horton, all of Lexington Park as well as Savoy (Sildaughter Pam her brother Victor Benson of Plano, Texas vester); grandchildren. and threethree granddaughKaren was employed as a ters, Tiara Baker, Latrice registered nurse. Blackwell and private. Samala All services are Savoy; one aunt, Marie Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Young; his nieces Deborah Funeral Home, P.A. Somerville and Barbara Somerville; his nephews, Timothy Brian George Somerville, Jr. and McGrath, 50 Clarence Somerville; his great nephew, Ian SomerTimothy Brian McGrath, 50, of and a host Park died ville; Lexington of family Aug. 11 in St. Marys Hospiand friends. tal, Leonardtown. Born was preceded in He June 14, 1958 in Freeport, Ill., he was the son death by his parents and son of Patricia (Chambers) McGeorge (Toeno) Young. Grath of Mesa, Ariz. and the late Charles McGrath. The family received Timothy attended Lafriends High 28 from 2 salle-PeruSept. School in Lasalle, Ill. where he graduated 5 p.m. in the Mattingleyin 1976. He served in the U.S. Gardiner Funeral Home, Navy from 1976 until 1999. with Prayers being said at After his service in the Navy, Timothy A Mass of Chris3 p.m. was employed by a Government Contractor and tian Burial was held Sept. worked at the Patuxent River Naval Air a.m. in He was an 29 at 10 Station. St. Johns Elks Lodge member HollyCatholic Church, and a past member of the Lexingwood, with Fr. Raymond ton Park Volunteer Rescue Schmidt officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown. Pallbearers were Sam Spalding, Jr., David Hammett, Mickey Hayden, Tommy Swann, Steve Pratt and Freddie Knott. Honor-

Squad. ary pallbearers were David In addition to his mother, Kane, Herbert Taylor, John Timothy is survived by his wife Debra Kay (Houtz) McTaylor, Mark Medley, ClarGrath, his son, Sean Patrick ence Miles, Joseph Clark McGrath of Lexington Park, and Robert Short. his sister, Karen McGrath of Mesa, Ariz. and his providArrangements brother, Michael McGrath of Ill. ed by memorial service will A the Mattingley-Garbe held Saturday, Aug. 23 at diner Funeral Home, P.A. 10 a.m. at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Lexington Park. Douglas V. Johnson, 75 Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Patrick Connor Miller 2

Douglas V. Johnson, of Elkton went to be with the Patrick Connor MillLord Sept. 11, surrounded er 2, of Avenue died Aug. by in St. Marys Hospital, his loving family and 12 Leonardtown. friends. He was 75. Connor was born Oct. 11, Born in Gainesboro, 2005 in Anne Arundel MediTenn., he Annapolis, Md., cal Center, was the son of the son of James L.Lucille the late Virgil and Miller and Krystal Kaldenbach of (Henson) Johnson. He Avenue. He in the U.S. Army served is survived by two sisters, Lillian and Kayla Miller, during the Korean War and a brother Kyle Miller, his paternal grandparents James L. retired after 21 years. and Darlene Oliver Miller of Douglas is survived Chaptico, maternal grandparents,his wife Kaldenbach of by Eugene of 53 years, Harrimon, Tenn., and Debra Brigette Johnson; a son Adams Kaldenbach of WinRalf Johnson, of Hollychester, Ky.; great-grandparents Francis and Audrey Oliwood, Md; four grandchilver of Chaptico and dren, rBenjamin, m o t h e r s G e a t - g r a n d Rebecca, Mary Lou Adams of Waldorf, Ryan and Regan; a great Md. and Shirley Miller of grandson; Kaleb, five sisNewburg, Md. The family received ters, Joann Kirby of Elkton, friends for Connors Life Margarite Sullivan, Eunice Celebration Sunday, Aug. 17 from 3 4 p.m. Young, and Bilbrey, Lois in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, LeonardJoy Wallace. He service at town, with a funeral was also 4 p.m. Interment was private. preceded in death by sister Condolences to the famBobbie Cowen and Willoily may be made at www. dean Allen, of Tenn. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Funeral services for Brinsfield Funeral Home, Mr. Leonardtown. his son Johnson and P.A., Raymond, who passed away Mary 17, will be priAug. Aleathea vate at Harford Memorial Redmond, 84 Gardens. Online condolences may be made at www.tarringcargo.com Arrangements entrusted to the family owned Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, P.A. of Aberdeen.

William Lucas Will Smith, Jr., 19

Mary Aleathea Redmond, 84, of Leonardtown died Aug. 16 in St. Marys Hospital. Born April 18, 1924 in Mechanicsville she was the daughter of Clarence Leo Evans and Gertrude M. (Pilkerton) Evans. Aleathea graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1941. She worked from 1961 to 1971 as a secretary/receptionist for St. Marys College. She enjoyed cooking, croqueting, playing cards, gardening, and sewing; often making clothing for her and her daughter. She is preceded in death by husband James Franklin

peranza Middle, and St. Marys Academy High School. She then went on to Towson University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting. Lori worked in her fathers Seven Eleven

William Lucas Will Smith, Jr., 19, of Scotland, Md., died Sept. 21 in University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Mass. William Lucas Smith,

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Redmond, whom she Jr. was born to at themarWilliam ried March 4, 1945 ImWill Lucas Smith, Sr. maculate Conception Catholic Church in Mechanicville. She and Jeanne her beloved chilMarie (Mulis survived by hall) Smith Jan. 4, 1989 in dren Gayle A. Hancock and her husband William of FairPatuxent River. fax, Va., and James Frank William attended Ridge Redmond and his wife Wanda of Fredericksburg, Va. She is Elementary School, Spring also survived by three grandRidge Middle School and children, Jeffery A. Hancock and his wife High of FairGreat Mills JenniferSchool. fax, Va., Mark D. After wife TanyaRedmond graduating of from and his FredGreat Mills High School, ericksburg, Va., Jason P. Redmond of Fredericksburg; and William decided t o continue four great-grandchildren. his education at West death She was preceded in Virby her sister University ginia Tech Agnes Rice. and Family received friends later transferred to Becker Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 9:30 10:30 a.m. in the Brinsfield College in Massachusetts, Funeral Home, P.A., Leonarwhere he planned to major dtown. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated 11 in Sports Management.a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20 at St. William was an all-star Aloysius Catholic Church, athlete and loved playing Leonardtown, with Rev. John Dakes Interment sports. officiating. Memorial Williams favorfollowed in Charles ite sport was basketball. Gardens, Leonardtown. Serving, feel pallbearers as the When you Redmond, wind were Mark Jason blowing, it is William playRedmond, Jeffery Hancock, Bill one-on-one with the ing Hancock, Lawrence Pilkerton, and Arthur Pilkerton. Heavenly Basketball Team. Honorary pallbearer was Earl Dean. William was a member Memorial contribution of the Great Mills School can be made to the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. basketball, football and Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680. baseball teams. He enjoyed Condolences to the famplaying basketball, football ily may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. and spending time with his Arrangements by the family and friends. Home, WilBrinsfield Funeral P.A., was a member of St. liam Leonardtown. Luke United Methodist Church. William will be Louis Marshall Junior Thompson, Jr., 84 deeply missed because of the love and support that he shared with all he met, and will be remembered for his smile genuine love for life, laughter and friendship. William leaves to cherish his memory his loving parents William and Jeannie Smith, and his brother Timothy Smith; grandparents, Guffrie Smith, Sr. and Parthenia Smith of Scotland, Md., John and EsLouis Marshall Junior telle Mulhall of Cleveland, Thompson, Jr., 84, of Avenue Ohio. He also leaves twendied Aug. 4 in his residence. He was born and uncles; 1924 ty-seven aunts July 20,Louis in Dynard to the late Timothy and Catherine EleaMarshall Mulhall (Sandra), nor Harris Voyticky (KenMaureen Thompson Sr. He neth), was the loving husMargaret Walters band of Rose Lee Thompson whom he married July 26, (Jerry), Patricia Hansady 1942 in Sacred Church, (Michael), HeHeartMulhall Bushwood. Kevin also suris vived by his children, Mar(Mary), Thomas Mulhall, garet Taylor and her husband Michael Hollywood, (CathMulhall, Buddy George of erine) Patrick wife DebThompson and his Mulhall bie of Avenue, Benny Thomp(Laurie), Dennis Mulhall ( son and his wife Mary of Victoria), Kathleen Gorentz (Robert) all of Cleveland Ohio; Guffrie Smith, Jr. (Casey) of St. Leonard, Md.; Marva Johnson (Reno) of Upper Marlboro, Md.; Zerita Shade of St. Inigoes; Alberta Smith of Forestville; Orlando Smith (Donna) of Lexington, Ky.; Beulah Barnes of Scotland, Md.; Eugene Smith (Joyce) of Dale City, Va.; Desiree Berry (Paul) and Ramona Smith both of Scotland, Md.; Holly Powell (Larry) of Glenarden, Md.; Aaron Smith (Gloria) of Scotland, Md.; Wendy Morton (Terry) and Vivian Smith of Lexington Park; Shayne Smith, and Cindy Smith, and one brother-in-law Robert Bennett (Mae) all of Scotland, Md., and a host of cousins and friends. William was predeceased by his aunt Mae Helen Bennett, his cousin Paul June Johnson and a close friend and brother-inlaw William Shade, Jr. Family received friends

Morganza, Donnie Thompson Sept. 27 from 8:30 11 a.m. and his wife Debbie of Mein St. Peter Claver Catholic chanicsville and Rose Mary George and her husband John Church, St. Inigoes. A fuof Avenue; 16 grandchildren, neral service was held at 11 44 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and his a.m. with Reverend Leroy sisters Mary Ozella Lacey of Boldley pastor of St. Lukes Abell, Gertrude Osborne of King George, Va. and Susan United Methodist Church Vallandingham of Bushwood. officiating. preceded in death He was Interment folby one great-grandchild and lowed in St. Lukes United his sisters Catherine Hall and Methodist Cemetery, ScotLouise Bryant. land, Md. resident of St. A lifelong Marys County, Junior was Memorial contributions a self-employed waterman. may be made to an account While enlisted in the U.S. Army from for Timothy established Oct. 19, 1944 to Nov. 19, 1945, he served as M. Smith in care of Cedar a rifleman, a light machine gunner and a Union, 22745 Point Credit cook. He belonged the Maple of Columbus to enKnights Road, Lexington and joyed playing cards Park, MD 20653 and being with his family and his two Condolences to the famspecial buddies Maynard and ily may be made at www. Ringo. The family received brinfieldfuneral.com. friends in the Mattingley-GarArrangements by the diner Funeral Home Thursday, Aug. 7 from 5 8 p.m. with Brinsfield Funeral 7Home, prayers being said at p.m. A P.A., Leonardtown. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, with Fr. Joseph Michael TrickWilliam Gurnee officiating. ett, 2 Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood. Pallbearers were Johnny George, Jereme George, Tina Fay Ferguson, Dave Hodges, Matthew Thompson and Donnie Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Contributions may be made to Holy Angels Sacred Heart School, 21335 Coltons Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609, Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609 and/or Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

To Place a Memorial Ad Please Call The County Times at 301-373-4125

Joseph Michael TrickEvelyn Tillotson ett, 62 of Lexington Woods, 86 Park died Sept. 25 in his Evelyn Woods, residence. Tillotson Aug. 14 86, of California died Born Sept. 10, 1946 in in St. Marys Nursing Center, Leonardtown. Callaway, Dec.was the son he 18, 1921 in Born of Wilson and Verda Buller LeMoyne, Pa., she was the daughter Trickett. of the late George C. Tillotson and Eva (DowhowMr. Trickett was an er) Tillotson. Evelyn wasthe avid Pittsburgh Steelers Pest owner/operator of a fan. Evelyn is survived by Control Company. Christine her daughters, W. He is survived by his Moore of Chesapeake Beach, Md. and Deborah wife, Anna of California, Trickett of J. Standish Lexington Park; son Wilfour grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. liam Flarida of Lexington All services are private. Park; siblings; to the famLorrine Condolences ily may be made at www. Baker of Punta Gorda, Fla., brinsfieldfuneral.com. Joan Nussberger of HollyArrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, wood, Md., Ruth Damarr P.A., Leonardtown. of Mechanicsville, Frances Brewer of Sugar Valley, Ga., Regina Knott of Lexington Park, Wayne Sheets of La Plata and Rodger Clifford of Jackson, Tenn. He was preceded in death by a sister Betty Lou Knott. A Memorial Service was held Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home with Reverend Joseph Dobson officiating. Inurnment was private. In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society St. Marys County Unit350, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Condolences to the family may be made at w w w.br i n sf ield f u ne r a l. com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

The County Times

Section A - 

Port Tobacco Players Bring Stylish Screams to the Stage

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Those interested in getting into the spirit of Halloween might want to consider checking out the Port Tobacco Players latest production, Dracula: The Case of the Silver Scream, a clever and stylish adaptation of Bram Stokers classic novel. The play itself is done in the style of film noir, characterized by stark contrasts of black and white, low-key lighting, and eerie visuals. It is a style that lends itself perfectly to horror and crime stories, which have been blended seamlessly in this production. Early noir filmmakers like Karl Freund and Fritz Lang,popularized both the gritty and the romantic in the 1930s, when filmgoers became obsessed with the darker side of fiction. In the 1940s, when this play is set, Americans in particular became obsessed with detective stories as noir entered its classic period with movies like the Maltese Falcon and Murder, My Sweet. This production gives a heavy nod to classic noir here, with its chief character being Detective Abe Van Helsing, a private eye who climbs into a whisky bottle every night after his wife dies. A damsel in distress appears in the form of Hollywood starlet Lucy Murray, who wants to hire the detective to investigate a series of murders. She has recently arrived in tinsel town to replace the missing lead actress who turns up dead, drained of blood, which makes Lucy fear for her life. Lucys ex-boyfriend is Jonathan Harker, director of a financially struggling horror film currently shooting on location at Whitby Hill Sanitarium. Head shrink, Dr. Seward suggests that he may have a potential lead on a financial backer for the film, the mysterious new neighbor living in the estate across the street, Count Dracula. What follows is a wild ride of classic literary characters revamped and served with a twist of violence, blood, gore, and gunfire that is not for the faint of heart. Smoking and fog machines are

used on stage, and there are strobe light effects, though audience members can rest assured that there will not be creepy characters jumping from the aisles at them, nor will there be profanity or nudity. In this case the famous Hays production code still seems to apply here, giving the play a wonderfully quaint quality that nods to two eras of storytelling, the first being Bram Stokers, the second being the 1940s and 50s, during which directors and producers had to come up with creative loopholes to censorship laws in order to have their films released. The Port Tobacco Players will run the play Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at their location on Charles Street in La Plata from Sept. 26 to Oct. 12. For reservations, call 301-932-6819 or go online at www.ptplayers.com.

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St. Johns
Continued from page A- to a partnership between the two schools seemed natural. As an experiment to see how a partnership might work out, Oliver, and her young daughter Cassie, set out on a trip to Milan where her daughter spent a week in San Carlo classes. She was terrified, Oliver said. But I said youre going to do this and it was an awesome experience for Cassie. By the end of the week she was a star, kids would call out her name at San Carlo. By summertime, teachers from San Carlo had traveled to the University of Maryland at College Park as part of a program to encourage the use of the arts in everyday classroom teaching. The teachers made trips all over Maryland, including stops here in Hollywood, and even learned how to incorporate environmental science and the arts to improve their lesson plans. This month, Oliver said, two teachers from the San Carlo School will come to St. Marys County as part of the exchange program. One will be a middle school math teacher who will bring her own sixth grade son as part of the program, while the other will teach in the elementary school grades. What was Olivers passion for starting all of this? What struck me is realizing even though were miles apart, we have a lot in common with educators around the world, Oliver, who is also a public school teacher at Lettie Dent Elemen-

tary School, said. I wanted kids to see that we are part of one big global community. Patricia Suit, principal at St. Johns School, said the new partnership would help give her students the chance to have a window on the world. We want to help give students a respect for what other cultures have to offer, and to show how interdependent we are as a world, Suit told The County Times. Though this is uncharted territory for a local school that has stayed close to its roots for decades, Suit said, the partnership will help broaden students horizons early in life. We were trying to think what we could offer our kids as a unique life experience as being a St. Johns student preparing for the world, Suit said of the schools choice to get behind the plan. Because this was a small thing and now it isnt anymore. While the exchange program gets underway, which by April or May of next year may entail teachers from St. Johns as well as students and parents traveling to Milan, students can still get a taste of Italy here. An afterschool program of almost 40 students recently started up, Oliver said, funded by a grant from the National Italian American Foundation. This will allow children to pick-up a foreign language as well as learn about the countrys cultural aspects. Were going full force with this, Oliver said, adding that the son of the soon-to-be-arriving mathematics teacher will probably face the same jitters as the ones her daughter had. Itll be like a sink-or-swim situation, but I know hell swim, Oliver said. Hell feel so thankful he had the opportunity.

Science Assessment
Continued from page A- ty ranked first at the eighth grade level. Curriculum units have been designed that are aligned with the Science Voluntary State Curriculum ensuring that students master the indicators and objectives of the state standards, said Chief Academic Officer Linda Dudderar. Data from county assessments is collected, analyzed, and used to design instruction that ensures that all students are prepared to be successful on the Maryland Science Assessment. Being a smaller county I think we did really well, said Wortman, echoing Dudderars statement with confirmation that quarterly assessments administered by the county school system had served as a model for the science assessment long before it was administered by the state. Quarterly assessments offer insights into knowledge gaps, and help us set goals, she said, adding that teachers are also being offered professional development throughout the school year to help them teach new units and instructional strategies. I am extremely pleased with the results, said Wortman. Administrators and teachers are working very hard to ensure the success of our students in science. Strong science instruction is vital to the future of our nation, its defense, and its place in the world.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, October 2, 200

commit the crime. Valerie Buckner, branch manager at Maryland Bank and Trust on Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park knows about bank robberies. Her branch was robbed twice in two months last year, allegedly by the same suspect. That man, Antonio Warren Gantt, 41, of St. Leonard has just been deemed mentally competent to stand trial in St. Marys Circuit Court after a year of being incarcerated. Gantt has also been charged along with other inmates in attempting to escape from the St. Marys County Detention Center while facing the robbery charges. Weve had a buzz-in system installed since the last robbery, Buckner told The County Times, but even the extra security couldnt protect her from the anxiety of learning of the latest bank heist. Everybody needs to be more aware of their surroundings, Buckner said. I literally lost my breath when I read about it [the PNC Bank robbery.]

Detectives Continuing Search For At-Large Bank Robbers

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer One week after bank robbers allegedly kidnapped a PNC Bank branch manager from her home in Lusby and had her remove money from her own place of work in California as the robbers held her two young children captive, St. Marys detectives are still looking for suspects in the case. We havent developed any specific suspects, said Bureau of Criminal Investigations commander Lt. Rick Burris. Weve gotten a lot of calls we still have a lot of work to do. Were going to be busy for a while. Police are looking for at least three suspects involved in the Sept. 24 robbery, all of them black males. The too suspects that approached and allegedly abducted the PNC Bank manager at her Lusby home as she and her two children, a 1-year-old son and 5year-old daughter, were preparing to leave are said to have worn camouflage clothing, masks and were carrying either shotguns or rifles, according to police information. The suspects drove the bank managers 2008 Chevy Tahoe to her branch and ordered her to go in and remove an undisclosed amount of money. They then ordered her back into the vehicle when she came back out. The suspects then drove the three victims to Green Holly Elementary School and released them unharmed. The two suspects drove to the CVS Drug Store on Rue Purchase Road and abandoned it, one was seen fleeing on foot. A third suspect was seen driving a 2003 or 2004 black Nissan Sentra with tinted windows at the McDonalds restaurant on Route 235. Burris said that, so far, the account of the abducted bank manager has remained credible as detectives continued their investigation. PNC Bank has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. The incident had other local banks and credit unions wary of possible further crimes against them. Theres no way to prevent it [if criminals are determined, said Aaron Chase, security specialist at Cedar Point Federal Credit Union. You can only make it harder for them. The more deterrents they [banks] put up the more likely criminals will go someplace else. Chase said that he was encouraging credit union employees to avoid wearing their identification badges outside of work, as they could identify them as a target for a bank robbery scheme. It was well thought out, Chase said of last weeks robbery that led to law enforcement to lock down heavily traveled roads and search individual vehicles. Someone was watching [the bank employees] patterns. The criminals always show you what you have to after they

Budget
Continued from page A- and serious curbs in government spending. GOP leaders also say their slots plan is better than the constitutional amendment Gov. Martin OMalleys administration proposes that would bring 15,000 machines to five locations in Maryland. A local opponent to the GOP measure, however, says revenues to the state will decrease over time. State residents will have a chance to vote on the slots referendum Nov. 4. ODonnell, who supports bringing slots to Maryland, has criticized the OMalley plan because he believes it gives licenses for slots away too cheaply. Its giving these licenses away for pennies on the dollar, ODonnell told The County Times. Im in favor of slots but the constitutional amendment is a bad deal for the state of Maryland. ODonnell said that the GOP slots plan would bring in $850 million in up front licensing fees, almost nine times what the OMalley plan would bring in. The Republican budget plan would also slash corporate as well as sales taxes to the tune of $3.8 billion in tax relief. GOP leaders maintain that the plan would be able to rid the state of its structural deficit and bring in a surplus. Last month the OMalley administration came out with statements dolling out more bad news on the states economy. The first notice said that the Board of Revenue expected budget shortfalls for this fiscal year and 2010 to the tune of about $1 billion. OMalleys statement said the state had moved to cut $1.8 billion in program spending and eliminated some 700 state government positions in the last two years, but in the same breath mentioned that the slots referendum was fast approaching and, if passed, would provide $650 million for education. Just two weeks later, OMalleys second statement said his administration was working to scope out hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts to bring before the Board of Public Works, which approves public construction projects, as well as telling departments to push for upwards of 5 percent cuts in their budgets. The more reductions we make now, the better off we will be in dealing with an extraordinarily difficult budget next year, OMalley

said in his statement. While these cuts will not be easy, it is clear that the economic crisis that our nation is experiencing will have a dramatic impact on next years budget. ODonnell said that the governor was disingenuous in implying that slots would help solve the states budget woes and scolded his administration for pushing for a sales tax hike in last years special legislative session just as the national and state economies were starting to teeter. Del. John Wood (D-Dist. 29A) said neither slots nor tax cuts would help Marylands struggling economy without curbing state spending. Weve got a budget shortfall to address, Wood said. Weve got to make some cuts. It has to be done and were not doing it. Even if the slots referendum passes, Wood said, most of the money would have to go to the general fund just to pay down the states deficits. The money the state raised from the previous sales tax hike did little to assuage that problem, Wood said. Before we left town we spent $1.4 billion in programs and that didnt address the structural deficit, Wood told The County Times. The revenues arent keeping up with spending. Wood said he did not believe Republican plans to call for more tax breaks would get much traction in the State House when they reconvene in January. All that would do is make the deficit worse, Wood said. Del. John Bohanan (D-Dist. 29B) supported both of the OMalley plans, adding that the latest GOP budget plan smacked of their efforts to stop the sales tax hike. It is basically trotting out the same plan they floated last year that failed to gain traction, Bohanan said. There are no specific cuts; its a plan that doesnt have a lot of details. On the Republican slots plan, Bohanan said that it meant cashing in now, but over the long term it provides less revenue to the state. Bohanan said that, fiscally, Maryland was still doing well compared to about 29 other states. If we hadnt raised the additional $1.4 billion wed probably be closing in on a $3 billion shortfall, Bohanan said. Right now we have a manageable shortfall.

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Bailey
Continued from page A- currently grips the publics interest as well as their pocket books, and how the Wall Street bailout congress is considering passing to buy up rotten investment bank mortgages and other securities does accomplish a certain mission. Weve got an economy thats based on debt and increasing [that] debt, Collins said, adding that if the goal was to prop up that level of debt to keep the economy going then the bailout package was a good plan. However, Bailey said, the answer to the nations money woes lies in part with sound money and he illustrated that point with the experiences of his grandfather up to the point in 1971 when the country left the gold standard as a benchmark for valuing the dollar. Up to that point the prices he experienced up to my lifetime hadnt really changed that much, Bailey said, adding that the nation needed to return to money that holds its value. Bailey told the students that the dollar had lost about 40 percent of its value through inflation through the past decade. Education costs have spiraled as well, Bailey said, answering one students question about his opposition for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which posits strict accountability for a students ability to read and compute in the grades up to high school by 2014. This years federal budget, Bailey said, had nearly $100 billion in education funding, which translated into roughly $18,000 expended per student.

If Charles County tried to do that, he said, it would cost the school board $50 million. The county is set to receive just a fraction of that this year for education from the federal government, he told the students. No Child Left Behind has brought standards down, Bailey argued. Its a top down centralized approach that didnt work in Russia, it didnt work in China and it wont work here. Bailey said he would abolish No Child Left Behind in favor of taking that revenue and giving it to local and state authorities who would better know how to spend it. Acts like No Child Left Behind, along with other federal government programs that put pressure on local systems, is a form of oppression, Bailey said, and reduced the contents of the wallet as well as freedoms. Government placed to high has the potential for tyranny, Bailey said. But it also has the potential for fraud, waste and abuse. Though a registered Republican, Bailey declined to answer student questions about which candidate he would support for the upcoming Nov. 4 presidential ballot. Of the six candidates out there (four are from parties other than Republican or Democrat) I could say there are things that are good about all six and that are bad about all six, Bailey said. But Bailey, who was a vocal supporter of Texas representative Ron Paul in the primaries, had no qualms about scolding his party for their lack of fiscal responsibility in Washington D.C. up to 2006. The first six years of this

decade the Republicans [fiscal responsibility] has been horrible, Bailey said. Things like fiscal responsibility and the national debt arent liberal or conservative issues, theyre American issues. Jennifer Yogi, a senior political science and philosophy major, said she differed with Baileys core philosophy, but was happy to hear from a new face on the political congressional scene. Hes advocating a more local [power-centered] approach but I think the federal governments role is to ensure theres no local discrimination when distributing aid, Yogi told The County Times. But theres definitely room for what hes saying.

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