IN BRIEF

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Sounds of Vermont

The Wood's Tea Company, a Vermont-based folk group, will perform at the State House in Historic St. Mary's City on Nov. 16.

WTC's acoustic repertoire includes fiery Celtic tunes, bluegrass, sea shanties and traditional American songs. The group is known for vocal harmonies and musicianship on the banjo, bouzouki, guitar, bodhran and the tin whistle.

The Wood's Tea sound has been produced by Howard Wooden, Mike Lussen and Tom Mackenzie since the deaths of founding member Rusty Jacobs, in August, and Chip Chase, last October.

The group formed a partnership with public television stations and produced a concert DVD. A national touring schedule has spread the Wood's Tea sound to 48 states and New York's Lincoln Center.

The concert will take place in the State House of 1676 in St. Mary's City. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the entertainment will begin at 8. Admission is $12 for the general public and $10 for members of the Friends of Historic St. Mary's City. Snacks and beverages will be sold. For information, call 240-895-4991 or visit http://www.stmaryscity.org.

Salute to Veterans

The annual Veterans Day Parade through Leonardtown will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, the St. Mary's County commissioners and the Town of Leonardtown announced.

Organizers said the parade will begin on Washington Street and will feature special guest Brooks Robinson, a former Baltimore Oriole and Hall of Famer and a partner in the new Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team.

Others in the parade will include veterans, dignitaries, elected officials, local school marching bands, military units, color guards, bagpipers, Native American dancers, classic cars, Boy and Girl scouts, cheerleaders, motorcycles, horses, and fire, police and emergency personnel and equipment.

There will be a veterans memorial ceremony in the Town Square immediately after the parade.

Spectators and participants are encouraged to park at the Governmental Center and take the free St. Mary's County Transit System shuttle bus into downtown Leonardtown to view the parade and ceremony.

The annual Veterans Day Parade, one of the biggest in the state, is sponsored by the commissioners of Leonardtown, the St. Mary's County commissioners and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2632 in California.

Holiday Lights at Park

The annual Garden in Lights drive-through light show will open Dec. 7 at Annmarie Garden, coinciding with the kickoff of the Solomons Christmas Walk.

Garden in Lights will be open every day except Dec. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m., weather permitting, through Jan. 1. In the event of inclement weather, call 410-326-4640 for up-to-the-minute cancellation notices.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per car. Garden in Lights cannot accommodate buses.

New this year is a Mutiny on the Bay! display, as pirates invade, searching for treasures buried among the sea life. The Endangered Animal Expedition will present some of the world's imperiled species. There also will be displays presenting dazzling dresses from "Dancing with the Stars," and glimpses of unicorns, dragons and other mystical creatures while visitors Travel Through the Rainbow, a Circus Animal Parade and a Winter Wonderland.

Annmarie Garden is at 13480 Dowell Rd., just off Route 2/4 in Solomons.

Better Than a Puppy

November is "senior" month at the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville.

The shelter's staff members are recommending that residents consider adopting an older, more mature animal -- rather than the always popular puppies and kittens.

As an incentive during this month, the adoption fee for senior pets has been halved to $45.

Senior or mature pets are 5 or older. In a statement, the shelter staff members listed the benefits of such pets : They are housebroken; they are calmer and less destructive than their younger counterparts; and they may know some tricks that they can share with new owners.

People often think that adult animals are at a shelter because of behavioral problems, but in most cases this is not so, the staff members said.

The shelter accepts donations of kitten and puppy food, dog and cat food, blankets, towels, laundry detergent, trash bags, hard rubber toys, treats, bleach, and paper supplies.

The Tri-County Animal Shelter is at 6707 Animal Shelter Rd., off Route 231 east of Hughesville. For information about items accepted for donation, how to adopt a pet or how to volunteer at the shelter, call 301-932-1713 or 800-903-1992, or visit http://www.charlescounty.org/es/animalcontrol.

Rescuing Retrievers

Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland is offering training on Saturday for volunteers interested in helping to rescue golden retrievers in Charles, Calvert and St Mary's counties. The training begins at 10 a.m. at the Lexington Park Library.

The first hour of training focuses on paying visits to homes of potential adoptive families. The second hour will be directed at those interested in providing a temporary foster home to a golden retriever.

All expenses of a foster placement are paid by the rescue group, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization. For information about the training or the rescue group, go to http://www.goldenretrieverrescueofsouthernmaryland.org or call 301-994-0132

-- Complied by TOM LANSWORTH