By Southern Maryland Notebook
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Gov. Martin O'Malley is teaming with Maryland Public Television to launch "Ask the Governor: Special Edition of Direct Connection," a monthly live program that will feature questions from the public. The half-hour show, hosted by MPT's Jeff Salkin, will debut at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Questions can be submitted to directconnection@mpt.org. Calls will also be taken during the program at 800-926-0629.
Beginning next month, the program will run regularly on the third Wednesday of each month.
"This is an extraordinary opportunity to partner with Maryland Public Television and speak directly with the people of Maryland about their concerns and ideas for our shared future," O'Malley (D) said in a statement.
St. Mary's College Professor HonoredLaraine M. Glidden, a St. Mary's College of Maryland psychology professor known for her research on raising children with developmental disabilities, has received the Arc of the United States' 2008 Distinguished Research Award.
Glidden was presented the award at the group's national convention in Albuquerque on Nov. 7. Her research demonstrates that adoptive and birth families are extremely resilient and find great rewards in raising children with disabilities.
Domestic Violence Victims Offered HelpThe St. Mary's County sheriff's office is encouraging residents to seek help for domestic violence, saying incidents typically increase during the holidays. Authorities said families are facing increased stress during this economic downturn, with jobs lost, homes foreclosed and worries about making ends meet.
Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron is encouraging families to seek help at Walden Sierra counseling centers throughout the county. The center has a 24-hour hotline at 301-863-6661 for people to talk with a crisis counselor and arrange emergency shelter.
People also can contact the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy at 301-373-4141 for help, including assistance with obtaining a protective order.
Another resource is the Community Mediation Center of St. Mary's County at 301-475-9118. Also, call Senior Deputy 1st Class Julie Yingling at 301-475-4200, Ext. 1955, or domestic violence coordinator Heather Bauer, at 301-475-4200, Ext. 1944, for help.
Shop With a Cop To Benefit ChildrenChildren whose families cannot afford Christmas presents will be teamed with members of the Calvert County Fraternal Order of Police and the Optimist Clubs for a shopping trip Dec. 13 at Wal-Mart.
Under the Shop With a Cop program, each child will get a $100 allowance and a 10 percent store discount to shop for presents for their families and themselves. After shopping, they will go to Outback Steakhouse in Prince Frederick for breakfast and to wrap the presents. Police officers will pick up and return the children to their homes.
The goal is to take 60 children shopping. For information, call 410-535-5400, Ext. 349, or 301-855-1353, Ext. 349.
Green, Smart Growth Initiative LaunchedGov. Martin O'Malley unveiled Maryland: Smart, Green & Growing, a multi-agency, statewide initiative to help Maryland link community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmental restoration efforts.
O'Malley made the announcement in Jessup last week during the kickoff of Marylanders Grow Trees, an initiative to plant a million trees across the state by 2011 and promote resident involvement in forest restoration.
During the event, inmates from the Patuxent Institution planted 1,000 seedlings on prison grounds. The inmates will care for the native seedlings, purchased by Howard County from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, until they are mature enough to plant in the county.
The program includes a Web site, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/growtrees, where Marylanders can register the trees they plant.
Heritage Consortium Wins Project FundingThe Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium received more than $410,000 for six major projects in fiscal 2009 in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties, Roz Racanello told Calvert County commissioners this week.
"In a year when most grant makers are cutting back, . . . Southern Maryland has received more funding in the heritage area than in its four previous years," said Racanello, the group's executive director.
The grants include $27,000 to continue restoration work on the Dolores Railcar for the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, $92,500 to help fund the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Park Enhancement Project and $100,000 to begin development of the Indian Head Heritage Rail Trail. The group also used $200,000 in grants from Save America's Treasures to restore tobacco barns.
County Seeks Owners Of Seized PropertyThe Calvert Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the seizure of a small portion of property along Armory Road to continue construction of the Prince Frederick Loop Road. But the county hasn't been able to locate the property owners, because no tax identification number was assigned to the lot and taxes have not been collected.
About a half-dozen people, listed as Trustees of Morning Star Tabernacle No. 47, an Order of the Society of Gallilean Fisherman, were the last known owners. The deed was recorded in 1902.
Robert Gray, a lawyer working for the county, said that some trustees were members of Mount Olive United Episcopal Church but that the current pastor knew nothing about the society.
Leonard Sewell was named as one of the trustees. His grandson, Ernest A. Sewell, 79, of Prince Frederick attended the meeting after being notified that his grandfather's name was on property.
"It was before our time," said Sewell, who lives about a half-mile from the property.
Sewell said he has not decided whether he will claim the land.
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