IN BRIEF

Sunday, November 30, 2008

St. Mary's Gives Students Day Off for Inauguration

St. Mary's County has joined a number of other Maryland school districts in canceling classes Jan. 20 so students can attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama in Washington.

During the county Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Michael J. Martirano proposed moving a staff professional development day from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20. The board approved the recommendation, meaning students will attend school Jan. 16 and be off Jan. 20.

The Charles County Board of Education made a similar change last week, moving a semester break day off from Jan. 23 to Jan. 20. Students will not have class, and staff members will be allowed to take leave on Inauguration Day.

Calvert County public schools plan to have classes Inauguration Day.

'Farms for the Holidays' Guide Is Available

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission has released its "Farms for the Holidays" guide.

The guide is a directory of farms offering locally grown or produced items and seasonal activities. It features information about buying greenery, handmade centerpieces, wine, poultry, seafood and winter produce. Other products include homemade jams, jellies, honey, soaps, and blankets made from sheep or alpaca wool.

The guide also provides information about cutting Christmas trees at local farms, candlelight caroling, nature walks through Christmas tree farms and a fantasy trip to the North Pole.

The guide can be downloaded at http://www.somarylandsogood.com or picked up free at area stores. For information, contact the commission at P.O. Box 745, Hughesville, Md., 20637; call 301-274-1922; e-mail cbergmark@somarylandsogood.com; or visit http://www.somdtrails.com or http://www.somarylandsogood.com.

State Web Site Offers Help In Tight Economic Times

A Maryland Web page that provides access to state and federal resources during difficult economic times is available at http://www.problemsolver.maryland.gov.

Marylanders can find information about heating and energy assistance, employment assistance and information for senior and disabled residents.

The site also provides a link to an assistance eligibility calculator, which helps residents determine which services they might qualify for, such as food stamps, temporary cash benefits, medical help and assistance with utilities.

Safety-Message Signs Hit Highways in S.Md.

The Maryland State Highway Administration and the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland have begun a highway safety messaging campaign in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.

Three signs will be used exclusively for safety messages and will be rotated throughout state highways in Southern Maryland during the holiday season.

Community Traffic Safety Program coordinators in each county will determine the locations and messages. For information, contact Debbie Jennings in Calvert at 410-535-2200, Rebecca Martin in Charles at 301-932-3056 or Jackie Beckman in St. Mary's at 301-475-4200, Ext. 1850.

Chaneyville Road Bridge To Be Closed for Repairs

The bridge over Graham Creek on Chaneyville Road will be closed for at least six months beginning next month while the structure is replaced, Calvert County road officials said. The $1.1 million project should be completed by summer.

About $800,000 will be paid by the federal government, and the remainder will come from county funds.

Old Wallville School Showcases Its History

The story of the Old Wallville School, the oldest standing one-room schoolhouse for African American students in Calvert County, is now posted outside the building, which was built in the early 1880s.

The school, originally in the Wallville community, was used until 1934 for students in grades 1 through 7. The average number of pupils attending was 35 to 45. After the school closed, it was moved a short distance to private property and used mostly for storage. The structure remained in the family of Edith Gray, who attended the school in the 1910s.

The Calvert public school system and local residents raised money to relocate and rebuild the structure on school property, near Calvert Elementary in Prince Frederick. The wood-frame schoolhouse is about 18-by-18 feet. Parts of the original frame, stone piling, fixtures and chimney were retained. The interior reflects its appearance in the 1930s, with a combination of antique furnishings and reproductions.

The signs outside the school include photos of it before the restoration, students and teachers in classrooms, maps and a timeline of Calvert black history.