IN BRIEF

State Officials Field Inauguration Requests

The rush for presidential inauguration tickets is well underway, and Southern Maryland's congressional representatives have been inundated with requests.

Anyone can stand on the Mall on Jan. 20, potentially in the freezing cold, and watch from afar as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president. For a closer spot, attendees will need a ticket.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said it has printed about 240,000 tickets, most of which are given to members of Congress to pass out to their constituents. At most, each official expects only a few hundred tickets.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) announced on his Web site that his office was no longer taking names of people seeking tickets. Later, his staff agreed to accept requests via e-mail for a "small number of tickets" -- but only from those who live in Maryland's 5th District, which includes Southern Maryland, a chunk of Prince George's County and a portion of Anne Arundel County.

Maryland Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin Jr. (D) and Barbara Mikulski (D) are also accepting ticket requests through their Web sites.

As of Friday, Cardin's office had received more than 50,000 requests, and his staff members reminded people that only a few would receive tickets.

Cardin spokeswoman Sue Walitsky said there are many inaugural events that don't require a ticket, such as standing along the parade route or watching the inauguration from the Mall.

"They are going to be setting up large screens and speakers so that people can be a part of this," she said.

Photography Contest Announced in Calvert

The Calvert County Department of Economic Development announced the Focus on Calvert photo contest last week. The deadline for entries is April 30.

Contestants may submit their photos on any scene or activity that depicts the county's qualities and beauty. Prizes will be awarded.

Winning photographs will be exhibited at a reception next summer, featured on the department Web site and might be included in a calendar.

The contest is open to county residents and others.