Thursday, July 26, 2007 St.

Marys County, Maryland

Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4
Obits .............Page A - 7
Police ............Page B - 7
Classifeds.....Page B - 9
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Wild Looks And A Big Heart
Funding Spark
for STEM
Academies
By Guy Leonard
Staff Writer
A Lexington Park woman has been for-
mally charged with frst degree arson for al-
legedly setting on fre back in April the front
door of a neighbor with whom she had a
disagreement.
Offcials with the State Fire Marshals
Offce arrested Yvette Lee Brooks July 19
in connection with the April 4 fre on Old
Missouri Avenue in Lexington Park and also
charged her with second degree malicious
burning and reckless endangerment.
Brooks is no longer being held in the
county detention center.
Charging documents fled by Deputy
Fire Marshal Jeff Frye allege that Brooks
had accused one of the victims in the case,
Carol McCarthy, who lived at the home were
the fre was set, of sleeping with her husband
earlier the day of the fre.
The charging documents go on to say
that McCarthy claimed that Brooks had
threatened to kill her that same day.
Based on what the complainant said in
the investigation it was clearly a revenge type
of thing, Frye said.
Charging documents stated that when
Yvette Brooks was interviewed by investiga-
tors the morning of the fre, she denied any
knowledge of how the blaze started and that
she was asleep at the time of the incident.
The night of the fre Yvette Brooks hus-
band, Timothy Brooks, was sitting in the
home where the fre was set with another
of the homes residents, Parker McCarty,
and heard a loud bang at the front door and
saw fames lapping up from underneath the
entrance.
The damage to the door was estimated
to be $500.
Charging documents state that when Mc-
Carty opened the door he saw Yvette Brooks
Woman Faces 30 Years
On Arson Charges
See STEM page A-
See Arson page A-
See Pixie Bobs page A-9
By Guy Leonard
Staff Writer
There have been nearly four times as
many brush fres in St. Marys County and
in the Southern Maryland region so far this
summer compared to years where moisture
levels have been normal offcials with the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
said.
John Fisher, regional fre manager with
the forestry service, a division of DNR, said
that there have been 40 brush fres in South-
ern Maryland in the past two months, with 16
of them occurring here in St. Marys.
In Charles County frefghters have had
to battle 1 of them, while in Calvert Coun-
ty theyve had to deal with only six, Fisher
said.
On average Southern Maryland has
only about 10 brush fres during the summer
months, with only about four in St. Marys.
In St. Marys, though, the most acreage
has been burned because of these brush fres
that can be set easily by the smallest fame
because of the intense heat and lack of mois-
ture that have beset the region this summer.
Weve had a variety of fres; one was
caused by lighting in Mechanicsville and that
burned four acres, Fisher said.
Another fre took place on Abells Wharf
Road where a farmer who was driving their
harvester through their feld, Fisher said.
The harvester caused a single spark that
ignited the dry feld and caused a 1-acre
fre.
Of the 40 acres burned in Southern
Maryland, 27 of them have been here in the
Brush Fires Taking
Their Toll
See Fires page A-
By Adam Ross
Staff Writer
When creating its budget, St. Marys County Public
Schools accounted for a worst-case funding scenario for
its highly anticipated Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics academies, but last week the inaugural program
received a $200,000 boost from the state.
Before Superintendent Michael J. Martirano received the
good news via telephone at a school board retreat, admin-
istrators had meticulously budgeted for approximately $1.4
million in funding. The budget was in part based on the as-
sumption that the countys STEM initiative would receive a
minimum state grant of $10,000.
You can imagine the excitement shared in the room,
Martirano said of the jubilation when State Superintendent
Nancy Grasmick called the retreat to deliver the news.
The $350,000 is the largest grant awarded to any district
participating in STEM, and was awarded from a $2 million
pool.
These additional dollars will allow us to go back and
pick up some things from our dream list, Martirano said
Tuesday to the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners,
who approved the extra grant money.
In addition to the barebones structure planned under the
original fnances, the school system exempt fnanced certain
technology initiatives, but the excess funding will relieve
some of the borrowing.
With the excess funding, SMCPS was able to shore up a
program coordinator, support technician, classroom technol-
ogy enhancements, extended day activities, transportation
for elementary and middle school STEM academies and ad-
ditional professional development.
I am very proud of the grant writing team and the pro-
posal that secured $30,000 additional dollars to invest in our
STEM initiatives, said Martirano, in a written statement.
We plan to provide a continuous pathway of education that
creates STEM-literate graduates ready to accept the chal-
lenges of advanced education and the needs of tomorrows
workforce.
By Guy Leonard
Staff Writer
The chief of the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad has
been charged with second- degree assault and a fourth degree
sex offense in an incident where the apparent female victim, a
volunteer at the rescue squad, alleged he committed these acts
while she was on duty.
William Holmes, 64, of Leonardtown, has since been
served with a criminal summons that also charges him with
false imprisonment during the alleged assault which occurred
the morning of July 12, according to court documents.
Holmes lawyer, Shane Mattingly, said that his client was
choosing not to comment at this time regarding the charges
against him.
Since the allegations against Holmes have come to light, he
has been relieved of his duties at the rescue squad.
Rescue Chief Charged With
Assaulting Volunteer
See Assault page A-9
Photo by Guy Leonard
By Adam Ross
Staff Writer
Some of the worlds greatest technological fantasies are
developed and tested here in St. Marys County. On August
6, Pax Rivers Webster Field will host the fourth Unmanned
Systems Demonstration, a collection of air and ground ma-
chines operated outside of the cockpit, and inside the realm
of 21st centurys vast capabilities.
The demonstration is a one of a kind opportunity for
defense and industry partners to showcase unmanned tech-
nology to the engineers who dream up the systems, the law
makers who allocate funding, and department of defense and
homeland security personnel who have the fun fying and
spying.
Cmdr Chuck Stuart of the Navys Unmanned Air Sys-
tems program offce discussed this years demonstration with
the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners at Tuesdays
regular meeting.
What makes this year even better is we are presenting
the systems with an operational context, Stuart said. We
are actually going to show these unmanned systems used in
their operational environment, to see how people use them.
The demonstration will showcase 17 unmanned air sys-
tems, and 10 unmanned ground systems including; Aero-
sande, Hornet Micro, Raven B, Nighthawk, Shadow, gMAV,
Scan Eagle, Mini Falcon, Viking 100, Inventus, Aerostar,
NASAs jFLIC, Talon SOTAL and Talon SWORDS.
While the event is not open to the public, it is suggested
for anyone interested in unmanned systems, including those
from Capitol Hill, and math and science teachers from St.
Marys and Calvert counties.
Its a very positive focus, Stuart added.
Meanwhile, Webster Field was chosen because of its
friendly airspace, ample parking, center feld of view, utili-
ties and isolation from the Pax Rivers daily activities, Stuart
said.
Parking will be at St. Marys College.
I was at the frst one, said Commissioner Dan Raley,
Ive seen it grow.
And grow it has. Stuart said he expects up to 420 VIPs,
including congressional staffers, senior defense department
offcials, political appointees, aviation offcers, embassy at-
taches, aviation offcers, state offcials and local offcials.
Webster feld could see more than 7,000 people pass through
its gates for the demonstration if all goes as planned.
[VIPs] fock down here to on a technical feld trip,
Stuart said, to see these systems work in their actual
environment.
Unmanned
War Vehicles
On Display
See War Vehicles page A-
Maryan Horne, of Scotland, plays with two of her pixie bobs, a unique breed of domestic cat that bears close resemblance to the North American bobcat.
Despite the cats wild looks they are highly intelligent, loyal and friendly to strangers.
Saturday
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Sunday
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SectionA-
The
County Times Thursday,July6,007
ByGuyLeonard
StaffWriter
Offcials with the St.
Marys County Sheriffs Of-
fce are trying to return seized
frearms to their rightful
owners under the appropri-
ate circumstances, but the
sheer number being taken
as evidence in criminal in-
vestigations means space is
running out at the Sheriffs
headquarters.
Theres no question,
said Lt. Rick Burris, com-
mander of the Bureau of
Criminal Investigations. We
have to seize guns for all
kinds of reasons; were taking
in about 300 guns a year.
A total of about 1,200
guns are currently stored in
a single room at the Sheriffs
offce, which was specially
remodeled to accommodate
the frearms and prevent them
from taking up too much
space.
The guns were compet-
ing for space with mountains
of other evidence seized in
criminal investigations, Bur-
ris said.
Already Sheriffs investi-
gators and patrol offcers have
seized 145 guns as of June 30,
Burris said, putting them right
on course for taking at least
another 300 by the time the
year is out.
He added that he expects
the number of guns seized
by deputies to continue to in-
crease given the population
growth trends and the popu-
larity of shooting sports here.
As the population in-
creases the weapons increase,
Burris said. There are a lot of
weapons in homes here.
Our offcers have to be
aware that wherever they go
there might be a weapon.
Some of the guns are
stolen and can be returned to
their rightful owner, Burris
said, as long as they pass a
background check and an in-
terview process with a special
frearms review board that
acts as a fnal check to ensure
the person claiming owner-
ship can legally possess them.
But the process is still a
slow one, Burris said, because
of the volume of guns and the
necessity of making sure the
guns dont fall into the wrong
hands.
Its 60 to 90 days is the
best case scenario, Burris
said. An owner has the right
to that weapon.
This is a process we go
through to get these weapons
back into the right hands.
Cpl. J. Michael Gray, an
investigator in BCI, was the
one who started the frearms
review board last year as a
way of getting the frearms
no longer critical as evidence
back into the hands of lawful
owners.
Until the board, Gray said,
there was no way to ascertain,
face to face, who would take
possession of the frearm once
technicians at the crime lab
had run a back ground check
on it and its owner.
We didnt have anything
in place, but the ones [owners
who show up at the review
boards] are very cooperative,
Gray said. This way is more
professional and we are cov-
ered from liability.
But if those guns seized
are part of a criminal inves-
tigation regarding an assault,
armed robbery, drug case or
even a homicide, the wait can
be up to three or four years
before the owner of a frearm
can expect to get it back.
In the case of an ex parte
order or a domestic violence
case the sheriffs offce could
hold the weapon for as long as
two years.
Sometimes we have to
retain these weapons for a
long time, Burris said.
People have come to the
sheriffs offce begging for
their guns back Burris said,
but they have to wait their
turn.
We release about 10 a
month, but we get in another
10 a month. Thats the prob-
lem, Burris said. [The fre-
arms review board] has helped
but its a slow process.
As Sheriffs deputies
continue to battle the violence
inherent in some crime, Bur-
ris said, the need for effective-
ly storing and returning guns
to their rightful owners would
be all the more important.
We certainly dont want
weapons on the streets, Bur-
ris said.
Guns Piling Up At Sheriffs Offce
ByGuyLeonard
StaffWriter
Offcials with Chesapeake
Public Charter School in Lex-
ington Park, the countys frst
ever charter school, say that
the school should still be able
to open on its expected Au-
gust 16 date despite concerns
over construction delays.
Stacy Maffei, project di-
rector for the charter school,
said that the main stumbling
block to opening on time is
the installation of the fre
sprinkler system in the build-
ing, which has met with sev-
eral delays.
That slows everything
down because thats in the
ceiling, Maffei told The
County Times Tuesday. If
that gets fnished by the end
of the week, which is what
we expect, everything will be
fne and dandy.
Maffei said that building
safety concerns, such as the
sprinkler system installation,
were the only foreseeable
problems that would delay the
opening of the charter school.
The only other alternative
would be to open the school
for a couple of days at differ-
ent location, Maffei said, but
that was a decision that would
be up to the directors of the
school, she added.
We want to bring the
students into a safe environ-
ment, Maffei said. Were
still anticipating an August
16 opening, but we are com-
ing down to the wire on the
construction.
Brad Clements, chief
operations offcer for the St.
Marys County Public School
system, said that the construc-
tion concerns at the charter
school were the reason for the
school board canceling their
Photo by Guy Leonard
Mother Nature offers
many wonders that are a
spectacle to behold. Rank-
ing among some of the more
awe-inspiring is lightning.
Lightning strikes the earth
roughly1,800 times at any
given moment.
While lightning is cer-
tainly a beautiful vision illu-
minating the sky, its immense
power can have a downside,
including the potential for
destruction and even death.
Lightning is fve times as hot
as the sun in every one-inch
diameter bolt. In the U.S.,
lightning kills more people
than hurricanes and torna-
does, combined. Only foods
are more deadly. According
to Underwriters Laboratories,
lightning also accounts for
more than one billion dollars
annually in structural damage
to buildings in the U.S.
Considering lightning in-
spires awe and wonder, and
also some fear . it is benefcial
to separate fact from fction
when it comes to lightning
safety.
1. People are poor light-
ning conductors.
Fiction: The human body
is a better conductor than in-
sulating building materials,
water, and many metallic
systems. The body is over 90
percent fuid, which is why
sticking a fnger in an electric
socket or even experiencing
static electricity when touch-
ing a doorknob can shock
you.
2. If you are caught out-
doors, it can be safe to seek
shelter from lightning in a
car.
Fact: A vehicle that is
fully-enclosed with metalcan
provide better protection
against lightning than stand-
ing outdoors in a storm.
3. Lightning rods attract
lightning.
Fiction: A lightning pro-
tection system simply inter-
cepts a lightning strike and
provides a safe path to ground
for discharging the dangerous
electricity.
4.Surge arresters, sup-
pressors and whole-house
protectors can protect my
home.
Fiction: Surge protection
devices are important compo-
nents of a complete system to
protect incoming utility lines
against infltration, but can
do nothing to protect a struc-
ture against direct lightning
strikes. Surge protection must
be installed in conjunction
with a structural lightning rod
system (air terminals, bond-
ing and grounding) to provide
whole house protection.
5. Insurance covers all
damages caused by lightning.
Fact & Fiction: While this
is generally true for an initial
occurrence with lightning,
many insurance companies
will deny second or third
lightning claims and many
will non-renew a policy after
a lightning claim is entered.
Since a single bolt of
lightning can carry over 100
million volts of electricity
(enough power to rip through
a roof, explode walls of brick
and concrete and ignite fres),
homeowners may want to
consider the security and
peace of mind that a lightning
protection system offers. A
professionally installed light-
ning protection system pro-
vides a safe path to channel
lightnings electrical energy
into the earth. The Lightning
Protection Institute (LPI),
a not-for-proft nationwide
group founded in 1955 to pro-
mote lightning safety, aware-
ness and education, stresses
that homeowners should only
use experienced contractors
to install protection systems.
LPI states that the contrac-
tor should be reputable, use
UL-listed materials and be
LPI-certifed in lightning
protection.
It is important to have an
experienced professional in-
stall the lightning protection
system, says Bud VanSickle,
executive director for LPI.
Contacting a certifed pro-
fessional ensures safety and
expertise to save consumers
time and money.
FactsandFalsehoods
AboutLightning
Lt. Rick Burris, commander of the sheriffs offce Bureau of Criminal Investigations holds a sawed off shotgun that was probably found at the bottom of a
body of water. Its one of 1,200 guns held at the sheriffs offce that are taking up more and more space.
ConstructionPushForCharterSchool
scheduled July 23 tour of the
facility, which would have ne-
cessitated stopping construc-
tion for several hours.
The contractor there is
working long days, Clements
said. They are working sev-
en days a week, and 12-hour
days.
The few hours theyd
be shut down would be det-
rimental to the time [needed]
for construction.
Clements said he was
uncertain whether the school
would open on time as an-
ticipated but said the school
system was watching the con-
struction progress closely.
Were concerned, Cle-
ments said. Ill be visiting to
see who they are doing.
Ive opened a lot of
schools and that when we
were coming down to the
last day before opening and it
opened on time. This could be
one of those situations.
The charter school has
160 students enrolled so far,
Maffei said, and all the nec-
essary furniture and school
supplies are there, or expected
to be delivered to the school
soon in time for the opening.
The students range in
grade from kindergarten to
the 5
th
grade.
The charter school is a
highly anticipated project that
has received strong support
from the community, school
system and the school board.
The students at the char-
ter school will also have a
uniform dress code once they
begin attending class. Limited
bus service will also be avail-
able to some students.
Maffei said that since
the charter school construc-
tion and renovation project
has taken place it has helped
to restore the looks of the
surrounding community on
Great Mills Road which has
fallen into aging and disrepair
in some spots.
The installation of the
sprinkler system has so far
been the only major set back
to bringing the charter school
project to its completion.
To only have this one
sticking point were very
fortunate, Maffei said. Its
turning old into new, which is
not nearly as easy as building
something new.
Its tough doing
renovation.
For more information
about Chesapeake Public
Charter School visit their Web
site at www.chesapeakepub-
liccharterschool.org or call
301-863-9585.
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Photo by Guy Leonard
Sen. Roy Dyson (D-MD), at right, cuts the ribbon on the newly completed Periwinkle Point Boardwalk July 24
at Point Lookout State Park. Dawn Letts, center, project supervisor of Maryland Conservation Corp, and Christy
Bright, assistant park director take part with volunteers who helped construct the boardwalk that will allow park
visitors and campers to safely traverse salt marsh land.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
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SectionA-
The
County Times Thursday,July26,2007
Editorial&Opinion
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DearEditor,
On behalf of the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life Planning Committee,
I wish to thank the people of St. Marys County for making this years 10th annual Relay For
Life an overwhelming success! With the help of all our teams, committee members, several
generous donors and sponsors, we have raised over $199,000 thus far this year. It is yet another
example of great generosity and commitment of the St. Marys County people to the fght against
cancer. With help like this, the American Cancer Society can continue to work toward its goal
of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Funds raised at events like Relay For Life are
used to provide: Advocacy efforts to ensure things like patient 24 hours a day/7 days a week (1-
800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org ). rights and insurance coverage of early detection tests. First,
we would like to thank W.M. Davis, Inc. Contractors, Outback Steakhouse, Ms. Tricia Hadley of
FRC Patuxent River, Walls Bake Shop, Fletchers Flowers, and Kennys Flowers for their gener-
ous support of our Cancer Survivors Reception. It was a wonderful evening of celebration for
our 130 guests. Next, we must thank our sponsors: Southern Maryland Oil, Dash In Stores, Navy
Federal Credit Union, SMECO, Quality Built Homes, Inc., Ridge Lions Club, Home Builders,
Inc., Thomas Builders, the Law Offces of Jacquelyn V. Meiser, and the American Legion Post
255 for their gracious fnancial support. Finally, we owe many thanks to our donors of materials,
electronics, and muscle. Those include Mr. Jeff Rocheteau, Ms. Joey Brown, Mr. Doug Lively
of NAS Patuxent River, Mr. Glen Larnerd of Leonardtown High School, Mr. George Young of
SMECO, Ms. Beverly Russell of the College of Southern Maryland, True Value Hardware of
Leonardtown, Lowes of California, Sign Systems, Mr. Alf Haaversen of Bear Cub Entertain-
ment, Ms. Karen Schroeder of Best Buy, Steve Dyson Hauling, J Portables, Barbara Rowell and
Karon Strickland, the Leonardtown Rescue Squad, and the men and women of NAS Patuxent
River who helped us with event setup, tear down, and site security. Of course we appreciate our
St. Marys Board of Education and Leonardtown High School for hosting our event. Thanks also
gotoourmanydancers,singers,entertainers,guestspeakers,aswellasourgreatdoorprize
donors for helping make the night so enjoyable. I want to thank EVERYONE who helped in this
volunteer-driven community event and I apologize in advance to anyone who I inadvertently left
out. All participants are playing an important role in the fght against cancer. Because of Com-
munity Leaders like these Lives are changed Lives are saved.
Sincerely,
Sue Lyddon-Hayes
2007-2008 Event Chair Relay For Life,
St. Marys County
We all spend a great deal
oftimetalkingaboutpreserv-
ing our rural character, gov-
ernment spends a lot of tax
dollars acting on your behalf
to preserve our rural char-
acter, and farmers are faced
with diffcult decisions about
whether to continue growing
cropsonlocalfarmsorplant-
ing that fnal crop, houses.
Each year, the last week
in July is designated Buy lo-
cal week! While July 21-28 is
setasidethisyearforthatpur-
poseandeveryoneisaskedto
pledgetoeatatleastoneitem
from a local farm every day
duringbuylocalweek,itisas
much a reminder of how we
all can enjoy preserving our
rural character.
Shopping local is some-
thingwecanactuallydoyear
round. It is estimated that if
every household in Southern
Maryland were to spend just
$8perweekonlocallygrown
products for a period of 12
weeks, $54 million would be
invested back into our local
economy. Thats better than
$200 million per year, and
you could do your part quite
easily.
Local grocery stores
and restaurants are abundant
with local goods. Local farm-
ers markets, roadside stands,
local specialty shops, and lo-
cal gift shops all carry local
products year round. If you
want local products you can
always fnd them. And buy-
ing local means you are do-
ing your share. Keeping local
farmers and stores working,
producing and selling local
products is fundamentally
betterthangovernmentusing
your tax dollars to pay farm-
ers who dont farm.
At www.buy-local-chal-
lenge.com you can fnd help-
fulhintsaboutlocalproducts
thatmayberightforyouand
your family. Find local recipes
alongwithwheretobuylocal
products, including a list of
grocerystoresandrestaurants
featuring local products.
One local grocer that al-
waysfeatureslargedisplaysof
local produce throughout the
local growing season is McK-
ays Family Markets. With 5
locations serving St. Marys
County, including Charlotte
Hall, Leonardtown, Holly-
wood, California, and Great
Mills, local produce is only
a short drive for any county
resident. McKays produce
buyerscanalwaysbefoundat
the Amish Wholesale Produce
Market in Loveville, buying
the freshest and best local
produce for their customers.
Other retail locations for
localproducefoundlistedon
the So. Maryland, So Good
web site include Blue Wind
Gourmet, Bon Appetit at
St. Marys College, Chap-
tico Market, Kellam Seafood,
Raleys Market, and The
Good Earth Natural Foods
Company.
Many local restaurants
and caterers also feature lo-
cal products. Among those
listed on the So. Maryland, So
Good web site include: Black-
Hawke Productions, Brew-
ing Grounds Coffee & Tea,
Brome Howard, Caf Des
Artistes, J.T. Daugherty Cen-
ter, Lennys, Petruzzis, Tea N
Scones, The Coffee Quarter,
The Tea Room, and The Tides
Restaurant.
Locally grown products
such as the freshest fruits
and vegetables are plentiful
now through the fall. Grow-
inginpopularityisasteady
increase of Southern Mary-
land wines, most of which
can be purchased year
round. The fall brings har-
vests of fall plants and other
typesoffruitsandvegetables
aswellasthebeginningofthe
harvest of local oysters.
Local meats, cheeses,
jams, jellies, sauces, baked
goods, and many other prod-
ucts are becoming more and
more common in the market.
The key for all this is a good
wholesome product offering
good value to loyal customers.
You can do your part to help
protectthebeautifulfarmsin
Southern Maryland by being
oneofthoseloyalcustomers,
and get a good value doing
so.
BuyLocal,YouCanMakeADifference
Art designed by Peter Gergely
at Three Notch Theatre
21744 South Coral Drive, Lexington Park, Maryland
July 26
th
6:30 9:30 pm
July 28
th
12:30 2:30 pm
Callbacks: July 28
th
3:00 5:00 pm
Performance dates: October: 12-14, 18-21, 25-28 (Sundays at 3:30 pm, all other days at 8 pm)
Seeking 5 diverse female musical theatre performers
(all ethnicities encouraged to audition)
Strong singers required, one with a gospel tone and one who can dance.
Come in comfortable clothes/shoes for a movement exercise and be prepared to sing
Amazing Grace a cappella and the theme song Nunsense is Habit Forming with piano.
Cold readings from the script may also be required.
For more information about auditions, email Lisa Gregory at
lisaenvironmental@gmail.com
For information about volunteering, sponsoring the theatre, upcoming events, or to reserve tickets,
please call 301-737-5447, or visit our website at
www.newtowneplayers.org.
Auditions for
Grilling season is in full
swing for many. For others, it
never ended at all.
Some people equate grill-
ingtoanartformandprofess
to be ultimate grill masters.
Whether you consider grilling
to be a full-fedged sporting
activity or just have a fancy
forfoodscookedoveranopen
fame, you can beneft from
information regarding dos
and donts related to prepar-
ing and grilling foods.
DO clean out the ash
catcher beneath charcoal be-
fore lighting to allow proper
air circulation from bottom
vents.
DONT start the grill for
the frst time of the season
without doing a thorough
safety inspection. If using a
gas grill, check for holes or
leaks in gas hoses.
DO preheat gas grills for
approximately 10 minutes.
Charcoal grills should be
heated until the coals are 80
percent gray and ashy.
DONT place the grill
too close to a house, garage
orwhereanyitemscanbeig-
nited,suchasbyleafpilesor
chemicals.
DO keep children and
pets away from the grill so
that it isnt bumped into or ac-
cidentally knocked over.
DONT use metal-han-
dled utensils on the grill. They
can transfer heat to the palm
of your hand. Opt for wooden
handles or use a fexible, heat-
resistant glove.
DO marinate meats to
tenderize them. There is also
evidencetosupportthatmari-
nades reduce the production
of cancer-causing substances
onmeatsthataregrilledfrom
fat in the meat and built-up
drippings in the grill.
DONT press down on
burgers or meats while theyre
on the grill. This releases juic-
es and could dry out the food.
It may also cause fare-ups.
DO trim fat from meat
before cooking.
DONT use a fork to
turn over foods on the grill.
Use tongs, which will not
piercethefoodandreleasethe
juices.
DO put sweet basting
items on the food during the
last 10 to 15 minutes of cook-
ing so they dont char.
DONT thread foods on
wooden skewers and cook
without frst soaking the
skewers in water for 30 min-
utes. Otherwise the skewers
could burn.
DO brush the grill with
vegetable oil to prevent food
from sticking.
DONT leave the grill
unattended. Food can fare up
and burn quickly. Try to pre-
pareasmuchofyourmealin
advancesothatyoucancare-
fully watch the grill.
DO try other meats and
foods on the grill such as
pork, lamb and fsh.
DONT grill indoors or
inanenclosedareadevoidof
properventilation
GrillingDosandDonts
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The
County Times Section A -
Photo by Adam Ross
Ramblings of a Country Girl
Odd News
Terri Bartz Bowles
Its Saturday morning and
I need to clean house. Bleah.
Its been a busy week, so
theres clutter to deal with frst,
then dusting things, wash-
ing things, cleaning things. I
dont enjoy cleaning. I enjoy
a clean house, I just dont like
the process of getting it there.
Its nice at the end of the day
to look around and sigh with
satisfaction as you survey the
fruits of your labors. A clean
house not only looks better, it
feels better. The sense of ac-
complishment is a good feel-
ing and even though youre
tired, its a good tired and as
you sit down to rest, its nice
to enjoy the happy house. I do
think a clean house is a happy
house.
I can think of a gazillion
other things Id rather do than
clean house. Literally. Okay,
maybe thats getting a little
carried away. I can think of a
million other things Id rather
do. Theres yard work to be
done for instance, and we
have new neighbors so I re-
ally should bake something
nice and take it next door. My
car needs washing. Ive been
working on the same scrap-
book for months. But, I want
the house to be clean, so its
best to just get started and get
it over with. There is a clean
gene that some women have,
but I dont have it. The clean
gene belongs to women who
enjoy the cleaning process.
They enjoy not just the end
result (me), they enjoy all the
actual chores. I wish I had
that gene but its missing from
my DNA. I envy those wom-
en because their houses are
always clean. Housecleaning
does not consist of a bunch
of chores theyd rather avoid,
they just jump in, start clean-
ing, enjoy the work and then
enjoy the satisfaction of a job
well done.
Maybe science should
research that. They spend
enough time researching ri-
diculous things, why cant
they search for that missing
gene and try to replicate it?
They have medication for all
kinds of odd stuff, maybe
they could invent a cleaning
pill. Its not that Im clean-
ing-challenged, I know what
to do and how to do it. I just
dont like doing it. There are
others in worse shape than me
women that dont know how
to clean and probably dont
want to learn. They could use
the gene implant or pop the
cleaning pill once or twice a
month. I guess theres already
a cleaning cure though and
its hiring someone to clean
your home. Weve all heard
the stories of women who
clean up before the cleaners
get there. I guess its just some
weird little woman thing we
want stuff clean and we want
to have done it ourselves or we
feel we should do it ourselves,
even if we dont enjoy it.
So instead of cleaning,
Ive been sitting here writing
this column. But Ive fnished
it now and theres only one
thing left to do start clean-
ing. Sigh.
Isnt It Clean
Enough?
WASHINGTON- We all know violence is increasing in
the metropolitan area, but who wouldve thought it would be-
come this severe? A man named Gareth Groves, who lives in a
neighborhood where most are environmentally aware, brought
home a brand new Hummer last Wednesday. Five days later, he
was stunned to fnd that the windows had been smashed, the
tires had been slashed, and written in the paint was the message
For The Environ. Police say they have seen many other kinds
of vandalism, but never something so clear that the motive is
apparently obvious. Police are in full search for the vandals but
dont have very many leads thus far. The only evidence they
have is what few witnesses tell them; two men in masks did the
damage and fed.
MADRID- After taking his 10-year-old son bull running
during the Pamplona festival, a Spanish man got his visitation
rights taken away. The mother of the boy apparently saw a pic-
ture in the newspaper of her son, led by her ex-husband, run-
ning right in front of the bulls. She went to police, and a judge
ordered the police to locate the child immediately and give him
back to his mother. No wonder the mother was distraught; close
to 15 people have been killed running the bulls in the festival
since 1924!
WISCONSIN- A World War II-era plane made an emer-
gency landing on a southeast Wisconsin highway Sunday, ac-
cording to reports from the Associated Press. The plane landed
on U.S. Highway 41 near Fon du Lac County Airport shortly be-
fore 8 p.m., and no injuries were reported, authorities said. The
highway was closed in both directions as offcials attempted to
move the plane, but vehicles were eventually able to pass on
the shoulder. The Oshkosh Northwestern newspaper reported
that a man and his son were fying the plane to an air show in
Oshkosh.
UNITED KINGDOM- A seagull waddled into a conve-
nience store in the United Kingdom and plucked a bag of Tangy
Cheese Doritos from off the shelf, according to the Associated
Press and a live feed of the incident. The seagull walked gin-
gerly into the store, grabbed the bag of chips and turned right
around and exited the building. The seagull, nicknamed Sam,
has now become so popular that locals have started paying for
his chips, according to a report from BBC news. The stores
owner told BBC news that the seagull steals only that particular
kind of chips, and has the process down to a fne art. Accord-
ing to the owner, the seagull waits until there are no customers
around, and the clerk has his back turned, and then raids the
place.
COLORADO- A chihuahua jumped in front of a 1-year-
old splashing his hands in a birdbath as a rattlesnake slithered
up and went for the kill, according to the associated press. The
dog jumped in front of the baby, and was struck by the snake
several times. The dog received treatment, but survived the
encounter.
CHINA- Chinese police seizing a suspicious vessel on a
border river in southwest China found 270 crocodiles in a shock-
ing search and seizure, a state news agency reported Monday.
Border police noticed the boat trying to land on the Chinese
side of the Beilun River, marking the border with Vietnam. Xi-
nhua News Agency said four people carried bags off the boat,
but fed when police approached. It said the bags contained 270
crocodiles, which are on Chinas wildlife protection list. Xi-
nhua quoted the border police as saying the crocodiles would
have ended up in underground leather factories and made into
shoes and bags.
MINNESOTA- A dog feasted on $750 in cash, when its
owner went on vacation and left the dogs care to her mother in
Oakdale, Minn. Pepper, an 8-year-old black Labrador-German
shorthair, got into a purse belonging to her mothers friend and
chewed up cash in an envelope. Some of the money was recov-
ered after the dog spit it out around the yard, but much of the
cash had been chewed or swallowed. When the owner returned
from her vacation and learned of the incident she sorted through
Peppers feces and netted about $400 in the process. In all, the
owner recovered $647 of the $750 dollars eaten in the binge.
standing there; Timothy
Brooks confronted his wife,
charging documents stated,
and asked her What the [ex-
pletive] is your problem?.
According to statements
in the fre marshals report,
Yvette and Timothy Brooks
continued to argue while Mc-
Carty attempted to extinguish
the fre.
Investigations found that
the fre had been aided by a
liquid accelerant, gasoline,
and had been intentionally
set.
Last month, fre mar-
shals reports said, investiga-
tors talked to other neighbors
about the fre and one of the
neighbors said they had a con-
versation with Yvette Brooks
near the end of April, where
the alleged arsonist admit-
ted to blowing in McCarthys
door.
Frye said that the witness
statements about conversa-
tions with Yvette Brooks re-
garding the alleged arson were
instrumental in his being able
to fle charges against her.
The witness said, charg-
ing documents state, that
Yvette Brooks was laughing
about the incident, saying that
McCarthys supposed philan-
dering with Timothy Brooks
justifed the alleged arson.
This same witness also
claimed, according to charg-
ing documents, that Timothy
Brooks had called her and
said he was considering turn-
ing Yvette Brooks in for the
alleged April 7 arson.
Another witness inter-
viewed by investigators re-
garding the alleged arson
claimed that they, too, had had
a conversation with Yvette
Brooks in which she allegedly
admitted to the witness that
she had created a gasoline ex-
plosive using a cup full of the
accelerant and used it to blow
in McCarthys door.
The second witness also
said that Timothy Brooks new
where the cup was that his wife
had allegedly used to create
the gasoline explosive; tucked
away behind their townhouse
wrapped in a plastic bag.
The additional reck-
less endangerment charges
against Yvette Brooks carry
a fve-year prison term, while
the malicious burning charg-
es could net an additional 18
months in prison.
Arson
Continued from page A-
Effective immediately,
the St. Marys County Metro-
politan Commission is plac-
ing Level I water restrictions
in place for the following pub-
lic water systems:
Breton Bay, Cedar Cove,
Charlotte Hall, Country
Lakes, Forrest Farms, Green-
brier, Hunting Quarters, Lex-
ington Park , Mulberry South,
Persimmon Hills, Piney Point,
Piney Point Landings, Rolling
Acres, Villages of Leonard-
town, and Wilderness Run
These restrictions are
being imposed as a result of
recent and continued drought
conditions and drastic in-
creases in water usage in these
communities. These restric-
tions will continue through
the duration of the drought
conditions. Level I water re-
strictions are as follows:
Watering of lawns,
gardens, landscaped areas,
trees, shrubs, and other out-
door plants are permitted ev-
ery day between the hours of
8 pm and 7 am only
Irrigation must be
personally supervised at all
times to eliminate run-off or
excessive watering
Washing of paved
surfaces such as streets,
roads, sidewalks, driveways,
garages, parking areas, tennis
courts, and patios are permit-
ted only under the following
conditions:
o For pre-washing in
preparation of asphalt street
or driveway recoating and
sealing
o At the minimum rate
necessary for sanitation or
public health purposes, such
as eating and drinking areas
o At the minimum rate
necessary to maintain effec-
tive dust control during the
construction of highways and
roads
The use of water for
washing or cleaning of mobile
equipment including auto-
mobiles, trucks, trailers, and
boats are permitted under the
following conditions:
o The use of commer-
cial car washes are highly
encouraged, as they utilize
recycling
o Cleaning of construc-
tion, commercial, emergency
and public transportation ve-
hicles only as necessary to
preserve the proper function-
ing and safe operation of the
vehicle.
o Privately owned ve-
hicles may be washed once
per week only by means of
a bucket or hand-held hose
equipped with an automatic
shut-off nozzle.
o Fundraising car
washes are permitted
No limitations on fll-
ing pools
The Hydrant Water
Withdraw List for existing
permit holders will be amend-
ed to limit or prevent hydrant
withdraw from the water
systems identifed in these
restrictions. No new hydrant
water withdraw permits will
be issued during Level I water
restrictions.
The St. Marys County
Metropolitan Commission
is requesting the assistance
of all residents in conserv-
ing this precious resource.
Penalties for violating these
restrictions range from writ-
ten warnings to termination
of water service. Should you
have any questions regarding
these restrictions, please feel
free to contact the Operations
Department of the St. Marys
County Metropolitan Com-
mission at (301) 373-4733, ex-
tension 217.
Announcement of Level
I Water Restrictions
Then Pick Up The Phone And Get Added To Our Mailing List!
The County Times Offeres Creative Ad Design, A Professional
Sales Team, And Competitive Rates!
Our Classified Section Gets Results!
SectionA-
The
County Times Thursday,July2,2007
You Can Get A
FREE
GALLON
OF MI LK
For Ever y 9 Gal l ons
You Buy Wi t h Your
Mc Kays Gol d Car d!
You Can Get A
FREE
GALLON
OF MI LK
For Ever y 9 Gal l ons
You Buy Wi t h Your
Mc Kays Gol d Car d!
Route 246 & Great Mills Rd.
Lexington Park, MD 20653
301-862-7702
Wildewood Shopping Center
California, MD 20619
301-866-5702
Route 5 & Mohawk Drive
Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
301-884-5636
Route 245
Hollywood, MD 20636
301-475-2531
No need t o save r egi st er t apes.
You pur c hases w i l l be aut o-
mat i c al l y ac c umul at ed... j ust
c hec k your r egi st er r ec i ept f or
your updat e.
No need t o save r egi st er t apes.
You pur c hases w i l l be aut o-
mat i c al l y ac c umul at ed... j ust
c hec k your r egi st er r ec i ept f or
your updat e.
The Shops at Breton Bay
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-997-1828
Sunlight and warm
breezes signal the season for
outdoor entertaining. For
some, those words conjure
up images of lounging on
the beautiful backyard patio
with friends and family. But,
for many of us, outdoor en-
tertainingsetsoffaninternal
alarm, reminding us of tears
in the canvas cushions and
umbrellas, cracks in mosaic
tables,andchippedorbroken
patiopots,nottomentionthe
statue that has lost a few fn-
gers.Italladdsuptoaslightly
shabby look to our outdoor
paradise.
Before you panic and
spendtoomuchmoneyonde-
sign consultants and all new
patio furniture, stand back
and take a look around your
backyard like youre seeing
it for the frst time. Decide
what is too shabby to save
and get rid of it, whether its
that scraggly shrub that has
never thrived or those faded
and chipped lawn trolls that
havegonefromcutetotacky.
Clean away all trash- that
stack of empty plastic fower
pots from the nursery, debris
around the barbecue area
or tools leaning against the
house.Bemercilessingetting
rid of scraggly fowers and
shrubs. Replace them with
hardy colorful species that
are proven winners for your
climate. If you have a black
thumb,dontworry.Tucking
some seasonal silk fowers or
ferns in a few hanging pots
can be very effective and, of
course,care-free!
Now you are ready to
transformyouroutdoorliving
space, armed only with your
imaginationandatubeofver-
satile one-part adhesive like
Amazing GOOP Lawn &
GardenbyEclecticProducts.
Herearesomeideas:
Try re-creating your
outdoorspaceasseveralinti-
materoomsbythewayyou
group your furniture around
the lawn or patio. Subtle
lighting and colorful clusters
of pots or curving beds with
seasonal fowers or shrubs can
maketheseareasirresistible.
Paintinexpensivechairs
and tables in bright colors to
add a touch of whimsy and
fun.Youcanturnanoldtable
into a beautiful mosaic with
somebrokenchinaandalittle
Amazing GOOP Lawn &
Garden. This adhesive also
will easily repair tears in
canvas umbrellas and chair
upholstery; it wont chip or
fake off because it dries to
a rubbery, fexible fnish that
moves with the material. In
fact, this kind of adhesive is
formulated for withstand-
ing temperature change and
moisture is your best bet for
repairing almost anything
outdoorsthatiscracked,torn,
wornorbroken.
Createawarm,inviting
experienceinyourownback-
yard - whatever fts your taste.
Onewomancreatedawhim-
sicaltouchforherchildrenby
GOOP-ing little ceramic
fairiesamongthebranchesof
asmallJapanesemapletree.
For all your outdoor fx-
up projects, slip a tube of
Amazing GOOP Lawn &
Garden adhesive into your
pocket. One of the strongest
and most versatile one part
adhesivesavailable,theprod-
uctreplacesglues,paste,rub-
ber contact cement, and sili-
cone and patch kits. It is un-
surpassedforpermanentlyre-
pairing,mending,andsealing,
andforbondingtwodifferent
materialstogether.Itisready
touserightoutofthetubeand
easy to apply. It can also ac-
commodate the difference in
dryingtimewhentwounlike
materialsarebonded,suchas
metal to wood. Use it on al-
most any material - wicker,
wood, metal, glass, ceramic,
rubber, cement, leather, mar-
ble, plastic, PVC/ABS, tile,
vinyl,andevenfabric-repair
it,bondittoanothermaterial
orjustglueitbacktogether.
There are hundreds of
glues on the market. When
workingoutdoors,makesure
the one you choose is water-
resistant, UV-resistant and
dries to a fexible rubbery fn-
ish that wont crack or break
underpressure.
Forbestresultswhenus-
ingaone-partadhesive:
Make sure surfaces are
clean,dryandfreefromdirt.
If the tube has been
stored in cool place, hold it
underwarmwatertoincrease
easeofapplication.
Apply a thin coat of
adhesive, like Amazing
GOOP Lawn & Garden,
directlytoeachsurfacetobe
bondedorrepaired.Allowto
partiallycuretwoto10min-
utes before bringing the two
surfaces together. Because
this adhesive has one of the
strongest bonds of any one-
part adhesive, carefully posi-
tion the two surfaces before
applyingpressure.
Allowtherepairtodry
for 24 hours, more or less,
dependingonroomtempera-
ture. The warmer the room,
thefasteritdries.
Clean threads of tube
and cap with acetone before
storing.
Mosthomeimprovement
and hardware stores, includ-
ing Ace Hardware, Rite Aid
andTrueValue,carryalarge
variety of adhesives, includ-
ing Amazing GOOP Lawn
& Garden. For more infor-
mation about fast and easy
repair of almost anything
withonepartadhesives,con-
tactEclecticProducts,Inc.at
1-800-767-4667 or visit the
companysWebsiteatwww.
amazinggoop.com.
QuickandInexpensiveTips
toBeautifyYourBackyard
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The
County Times Section A - 7
Obituaries
Nathaniel Hazel Nat
Campbell, 68
Nathaniel Hazel Nat
Campbell, 68, of Lexington
Park, Md., died July 15, 2007
at his residence.
Born Feb. 5, 1939 in Her-
manville, Md., he is the son of
Mary Agnes Campbell-Walk-
er and the late Bernard August
Harris.
Nat retired as an electri-
cian from Public Works De-
partment at Patuxent Naval
Air Station. He drove for St.
Marys County Public School
Transportation System part-
time for three years. He also
did electrical work part-time.
After retiring he enjoyed
lounging around, fshing,
watching CNN (all the time),
spending time with his mother
and helping her around the
house, and would you believe
it Nat even loved to go danc-
ing. If you knew Nat then you
knew there was always a card
game going on or a pool table
nearby.
He also enjoyed trans-
porting and assisting his elder-
ly family and friends to and
from the hospital and doctors
appointments. Within the last
several years, Nat took the
time to assist others in any
way possible and never gave a
second thought about his own
self.
In addition to his moth-
er, he is survived by his son,
Nathaniel Gerard Roddy
Campbell of Lexington Park,
Md., step-children, Anthony
Tony Smith, Sr. of Lexing-
ton Park, Md., and Tamara
Tammy Smith of Fort Wash-
ington, Md., seven sisters,
Ann Wells and Ethel Ellis,
both of Boston, Mass., Gwen-
dolyn Russell of Atlanta, Ga.,
Patricia Chaplin of Lexington
Park, Md., Ilene Womack of
Boston, Mass., Marnette Har-
ris and Teresa Lawrence, both
of Lexington Park, Md., four
brothers, Leroy Campbell of
Lexington Park, Md., Darnell
Harris of Washington, D.C.,
James Thompson of Clinton,
Md.m and Mack Lawrence
of Lexington Park, Md., and
a host of nieces and nephews,
other close relatives and great
friends.
In addition to his father,
he is preceded in death by two
sisters, Cecelia Price and Car-
olyn Roach and three brothers,
John Griffn, Thomas James
Harris and Bernard Harris.
The family received
friends Friday, July 20 from
9:30- 11 a.m. in Immacu-
late Heart of Mary Catholic
Church, Lexington Park, Md.,
where a Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated at 11
a.m. Reverend Jack Kennealy
conducted the service. Inter-
ment followed in the church
cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers
were be Edward R. Smith,
Reuben L. Smith, Christopher
Roach, Sr., Anthony Smith,
Sr., Andrea Butler, and Na-
thaniel G. Campbell.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Joann Elizabeth Ham-
mett, 44
Joann Elizabeth Ham-
mett, 44, of Lexington Park,
Md., died July 15, 2007 in Dr.
P. Phillips Hospital in Orlan-
do, Fla.
Born June 6, 1963 in At-
glen, Pa., she was the daugh-
ter of Earl Howell and Sarah
(Hanna) Howell of Atglen, Pa.
In addition to her parents,
she is survived by her hus-
band, Stephen L. Hammett
and two daughters, Christa
Joy Hammett and Anna Eliza-
beth Hammett, all of Lexing-
ton Park, Md.
She is preceded in death
by her paternal grandmother,
Mary Hanna.
The family received
friends Friday, July 20 from
5-8 p.m. in the Brinsfeld Fu-
neral Home Chapel, Leonar-
dtown, Md. A Funeral Ser-
vice was conducted on Sat-
urday, July 21 at 11 a.m. in
Life Community Church of
God, Great Mills, Md. Pastor
Brian Shepard conducted the
service. Interment followed
in Evergreen Memorial Cem-
etery, Great Mills, Md.
In lieu of fowers, me-
morial contributions may be
made to CareNet Pregnancy
Center of Southern Maryland,
P.O. Box 31, Lexington Park,
MD 20653.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Michael Anthony Hutzol,
53
Michael Anthony Hutzol,
53, of California, Md., died
July 19, 2007 at his residence.
Born April 3, 1954 in Fall
River, Mass., he was the son of
the late Anthony Paul Hutzol
and Bertha Marie (Levesque)
Hutzol.
He is survived by his
friend, Debra K. Sisler of
California, Md., daughter,
Mary Katherine Deschenes of
Lodi, Cal., son, Anthony Paul
Hutzol of Stockton, Cal., four
siblings, Karen Mathews of
Woodbridge, Va., Catherine
Morris of Fall River, Mass.,
Frank H. Hutzol of Grand
Forks, ND and John Paul Hut-
zol of Marretta, Ga., and one
grandchild.
The family will receive
friends on Wednesday, July
25, 2007 from 5-8:00 p.m. in
the Brinsfeld Funeral Home
Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. A
Prayer Service will be con-
ducted at 7 p.m. Father Keith
Woods will conduct the ser-
vice. A Graveside Service
will be conducted on Thurs-
day, August 9, 2007 at 11:00
a.m. in Arlington National
Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Arc of
Southern Maryland, Inc., P.O.
Box 1860, Prince Frederick,
MD 20678.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Condolences to the family
may be left at www.brinsfeld-
funeral.com.
Catherine Louise Mason,
83
Catherine Louise Mason,
83, of Leonardtown, Md., died
July 14, 2007 in Bayside Care
Center, Lexington Park, Md.
Born Aug. 1, 1923 in
Leonardtown, Md., she was
the daughter of the late John
Albert Holly and Mabel Lu-
cille (Curtis) Holly.
Louise received her aca-
demic education at Banneker
School, Loveville, Md., and
her religious education at St.
Aloysius Catholic Church in
Leonardtown, Md.
Louise and her late hus-
band, James Mason, Sr., were
tied in holy matrimony at St.
Aloysius Catholic Church. The
two made a humble home on
Greenbriar Road in Leonard-
town, where they raised four
children, several grandchil-
dren and great-grandchildren.
During her time on earth,
she worked as a caregiver and
a homemaker. Her hobbies in-
cluded watching and playing
baseball, canning of fruits and
vegetables and her fantastic
baking made her happy. Her
overfowing kindness kept her
door opened to anyone who
had a problem and the numer-
ous grandkids, nieces, neph-
ews and other relatives that
would vacation at the home
during the summer. She had
the ability to make you smile
when you thought you had
reached the lowest point in
your life. This ability and her
kindness earned her the title
of Momma Mason which
is used by everyone she has
graced with her presence.
She is survived by her
four children, John F. Holly
of Hollywood, Md., Catherine
Ann Mason, James S. Mason,
Jr. and Helen Louise Curtis,
all of Leonardtown, MD, 13
grandchildren, Wayne, Shelly,
Shaun, Catherine, Cynthia,
LaTanya, Stephanie, Stacey,
Sheari, Keturah, Chris, Mike
and Darryl, 31 great-grand-
children, fve great-great
grandchildren, three daugh-
ters-in-law, Mary Ellen, Carol
and Toni, son-in-law, James,
eight sisters-in-law, Alberta,
Catherine, Idella, Nellie, Sara,
Veronica, Mary and Doris,
four brothers-in-law, Joseph,
Walter, Harry and Joseph and
a host of nieces, nephews,
goddaughters, godsons, rela-
tives and friends.
In addition to her parents
and husband, she is preceded
in death by three grandchil-
dren, Jacqueline, Michael and
James and twelve siblings,
Frank, John, Paul, Oscar,
James, Charles, Lizzie, Gene-
vieve, Elsie, Lillian, Liza, and
Elvie.
The family received
friends Friday, July 20 from
9-10 a.m. in St. Aloysius Cath-
olic Church, Leonardtown,
Md., where a Mass of Chris-
tian Burial was celebrated at
10 a.m. Reverend John Dakes
was the celebrant. Interment
followed in Charles Memorial
Gardens, Leonardtown, Md.
Serving as pallbearers
were Wayne Mason, Aaron
Young, James Davis, Shaun
Bowman, Clarence Miles and
James Young. Serving as hon-
orary pallbearer was Robert
Dailey.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Adrian Michael Mendo-
lia, 30
Adrian Michael Mendo-
lia, 30, of Hollywood, Md.,
died July 14, 2007 in Buffalo
General Hospital, Buffalo,
N.Y.
Born Oct. 22, 1976 in
Myrtle Beach, S.C., he was the
son of Anthony M. Mendolia
and Julia M. Dent.
Adrian enjoyed going
to the beach, feeding the
seagulls, collecting seashells
and building sandcastles. He
lived in South Carolina until
he was seven years old, then
he and his mother moved to St.
Marys County to live with his
great-grandmother, Eleanor
Dent, on Denton Farm in Av-
enue, Md. There he learned
how to fsh and crab. He loved
to go out in the boat, spend
time with his many cousins,
aunts and uncles and being on
the farm where it was peace
and quiet.
As an adult, Adrian,
did extensive traveling. He
learned about working with
carnivals and operated the
rides and game booths. While
he traveled, he also learned to
shoot a good game of pool and
taught himself how to detail
18 wheelers. He followed the
racing circuit for a short time,
where he found The Worlds
Largest Grill, Period, which
he thought was the coolest
thing. At the time of his death
in Buffalo, N.Y, Adrian had
been traveling with the carni-
val again.
He leaves behind his
mother, Julie Dent of Holly-
wood, Md., and her longtime
companion, Blaine Caldwell
of St. Marys County, father,
Anthony Mendolia and his
wife, Holly of Plant City, Fla.,
step-brother, Joseph and step-
sister, Nicole, both of Plant
City, Fla., and a host of aunts,
uncles, cousins and family
friends.
The family received
friends Saturday, July 21, 2007
from 1-2 p.m. in the Brinsfeld
Funeral Home Chapel, Leon-
ardtown, Md., where a Memo-
rial Service was conducted at
2 p.m. Inurnment was private.
Condolences to the family
may be left at www.brinsfeld-
funeral.com.
Joseph M. Skip Russell,
83
Joseph M. Skip Rus-
sell, 83, a life long resident of
Leonardtown, died peacefully
surrounded by his family on
July 19, 2007 in St. Marys
Nursing Center, Leonardtown,
Md. His death culminated a
13-year battle with Parkinsons
disease.
Born Oct. 14, 1923 in
Leonardtown, Md., he was
the son of the late Wilson and
Mary Russell.
Skip was the oldest child
and became the man of the
house in 1935 at the age of 12
upon the death of his father.
After graduating from Mar-
garet Brent High School he
entered the Army and served
during World War II. He
served with distinction in the
war theaters of North Africa,
Italy (Anzio), and Germany.
One of the happiest days of
his life was when he returned
home to Leonardtown on Dec.
21, 1945.
On Dec. 24, 1949 he mar-
ried the love of his life, Barba-
ra Wathen. He was a federal
employee and retired from the
Solomons Annex in 1979. He
and several others commuted
by boat from Seven Gables
to Solomons for thirty plus
years. Ironically, he retired
shortly after the opening of
the Thomas Johnson Bridge
negated the need for the boat
commute.
His retirement years
were vibrant and busy until
the effects of Parkinsons dis-
ease robbed him of his motor
skills. He was an award win-
ning gardener. He garnered
numerous champion and frst
places at the County Fair. He
was an accomplished amateur
photographer before the era of
point and click digital cam-
eras. He spent many Sunday
afternoons following NAS-
CAR events. He loved bird
watching and stocked bird
feeders around the house for
many years. Likewise, he be-
came a noted squirrel fghter
due to their fondness for bird
seed. While not internation-
al travelers, he and Barbara
were able to travel extensively
within the United States and
Canada. He loved their winter
trips to Florida. He especially
enjoyed spending Race Week
at Daytona.
Ultimately, family and
sense of place were the most
important components of his
life. He loved Leonardtown.
In his retirement years he and
his friends held a Leonard-
town coffee klatch at lunch
time nearly every day. Family
events and holidays were al-
ways the most important dates
on the calendar. He truly be-
lieved the camaraderie and
shared love of a holiday meal
was far more important than
any material possession. He
was a devoted father, grand-
father, and husband who be-
lieved in family frst.
He is survived by his lov-
ing wife of 58 years, Barbara
Wathen Russell, three chil-
dren, Tom Russell and his
wife, Karen Long Russell,
Mike Russell and his wife,
Mary Choporis Russell, and
Patricia Guy and her husband,
Glenn Guy, grandchildren
Meghan Russell Thomas, Mi-
chael Russell, Thomas Rus-
sell, Mark Guy and Angela
Guy Pickeral, great- grand-
children, Joseph G. Guy II
and Presley Pickeral, three sis-
ters, Irene Dixon, Marie Bai-
ley, and Edith Wood, and he
also leaves a special adopted
daughter and caregiver, Judy
Burroughs.
In addition to his parents,
he was preceded in death by
his two brothers, Vivian and
Merril Russell.
The family received
friends Monday, July 23 from
10- 11 a.m. in St. Aloysius
Catholic Church, Leonard-
town, Md., where a Memorial
Mass will be celebrated at 11
a.m. Reverend Thomas La-
Hood of Our Ladys Church
of Medleys Neck will be the
celebrant. Inurnment will be
private.
In lieu of fowers, me-
morial contributions may be
made to St. Marys Nursing
Center Foundation, 21581 Pea-
body Street Leonardtown Md.
20650 or to Hospice House
c/o Hospice of St Marys, P.O.
Box 625, Leonardtown, MD
20650.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Jonathan Robert Senn, 18
Jonathan Robert Senn, 18,
of Callaway, Md., died July 16,
2007 at his residence.
Born April 8, 1989 in Low
Moor, Va., he was the son of
Anthony J. Senn of Milford,
Del., and Lorraine Snyder of
Callaway, Md.
Jon graduated from Leon-
ardtown High School in 2007.
He enjoyed fshing and had a
love for all animals.
In addition to his parents,
he is survived by his sisters,
Stephanie Senn of Callaway,
Md., and Lyndsey Senn of
Milford, Del., grandmothers,
Marilyn Senn of Hollywood,
Md., and Nancy Lee of Ridge,
Md., step-mother, Riki Senn
of Milford, Del., aunts & un-
cles, Sherry Murphy of Hol-
lywood, Md., Bob and Angie
Graves of Boise, ID, Tim and
Andrea Senn of Shrewsbury,
Pa., cousins, Joshua and Na-
than Senn, both of Shrews-
bury, Pa., Gabriel and Collin
Murphy of Hollywood, Md.,
Danielle and Meagan Graves
of Boise, ID.
The family received
friends Thursday, July 19
from 5-8 p.m. in the Brinsfeld
Funeral Home Chapel, Leon-
ardtown, Md. Prayers were
recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrat-
ed Friday, July 20 at 10 a.m. in
St. John Francis Regis Catho-
lic Church, Hollywood, Md.
Father Ray Schmidt will be
the celebrant. Interment will
follow in Charles Memorial
Gardens, Leonardtown, Md.
Serving as pallbearers
will be Alex Rothkamp, Chad
Kenney, Justin Clausen, Sean
Roberts, Dillion Mills, and Ja-
son Buda.
In lieu of fowers, memo-
rial contributions may be made
to St. Marys County Dept. of
Juvenile Services Drug Court
Program, P.O. Box 653, Leon-
ardtown, MD 20650. Make
checks payable to L.M.B. of
St. Marys in Memory of Jon
Senn.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
Clarence Leo Young, Sr.,
86
Clarence Leo Young, Sr.,
86, of Lexington Park, Md.,
died July 17, 2007 in Bayside
Care Center, Lexington Park,
Md.
Born April 23, 1921 in
Budds Creek, Md., he was the
son of late Woodley and Su-
san A. (Bowman) Young. He
attended St. Marys County
public school system.
He served in the United
States Army during WWII
from June 14, 1944 to Feb.
28, 1946. He was briefy em-
ployed with the Naval Ordi-
nance Laboratory in Indian
Head, Md. He was a share-
cropper for many years. After
sharecropping, he started his
own business, C. Leo Exca-
vating Services.
He was a member of
the Banneker School Par-
ent Teachers Association. He
later became the frst minority
school member and the only
minority Vice President of the
St. Marys County Board of
Education. He also was an ac-
tive member of the St. Marys
County Chapter of NAACP.
He was a former mem-
ber of the St. Josephs Church
choir.
His favorite pastime ac-
tivities were playing the gui-
tar, dancing, taking pictures,
playing cards and reminiscing
with family and friends.
He is survived by one
brother, Vincent Young of
Hughesville, Md. and two sis-
ters-in-law, Gertrude Young
and Mary Young, fve chil-
dren, Clarence Leo (Agnes)
Young, Jr. of Callaway, Md.,
Alice C. (William) Holly of
Leonardtown, Md., William
Thomas (Alice) Young of Fos-
ter City, Cal., Mary Lillian
(Joseph) Jenifer of Chelten-
ham, Md., and Henry Patrick
(Annie) Young of Mechanic-
sville, Md., 14 grandchildren,
17 great-grandchildren, four
step-great grandchildren, two
step-great-great grandchildren
and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins and friends.
In addition to his parents,
he was preceded in death by his
loving wife of 51 years, Alice
C. Young, sisters, Catherine
Bush, Susanne Bowman, Ol-
ivia Young, Elizabeth Young,
brothers, Thomas Young,
Charles Henry Young, James
W. Young, Joseph E. Young,
and adopted granddaughter,
Melody McRae.
The family received
friends Monday, July 23 from
9-10 a.m. in St. Josephs Cath-
olic Church, Morganza, Md.,
where a Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated at 10
a.m. Reverend Keith Woods
will be the celebrant. Inter-
ment will follow in Queen of
Peace Cemetery, Helen, Md.
Arrangements by the
Brinsfeld Funeral Home, P.A.
in Leonardtown, Md.
To Place A Memorial
Anniversary Notice Call
301-373-4125
SectionA-
The
County Times Thursday,July26,2007
STEM
Continued from page A-
Navy News
The U.S. Navys next-
generation aircraft radar sys-
temwasapprovedforfull-rate
productionJune25.
ThePMA-265wasgrant-
ed authorization to enter into
Full Rate Production for 437
next-generation APG-79 Ac-
tive Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) radars after
extensive review by the offce
of the Assistant Secretary of
theNavy(Research,Develop-
mentandAcquisition).
Super Hornet Block
II and EA-18G aircrafts
equipped with AESAs revo-
lutionary war fghting capa-
bility makes Naval Aviation
morerelevantthaneverinour
history to the joint combat-
ant commander. Our Super
Hornets and Growlers - with
cutting edge radar technol-
ogy, precise and networked
enabledweaponsincombina-
tion with joint interoperable
and open architectures - in-
creases the combat effective-
ness of all those operating in
thebattlespace,saidCaptain
BDGaddis,PMA-265Pro-
gramManager.
TheAESAprogramstart-
ed in 1999 and the radar had
its frst fight in July 2003. The
programcompletedanopera-
tionalevaluationinDecember
2006 and will begin tests and
evaluation later this summer
in preparation for frst deploy-
ment in 2008.
With more than 8200
fight hours on LRIP hardware
in the past 2 years, AESA
system hardware has been
extremely reliable and main-
tainable,saidShirleyFranko,
AESA program co-lead.
With its highly advanced
built-in-test capability and
no moving parts to fail, the
system boasts an operational
availabilityof96percent.
Asofnow,theAESAra-
darprovestobeapproximate-
ly seven times more reliable
thanthesystemitisreplacing.
Program offcials expect this
advancement to increase in
thefuture.
AESA systems are cur-
rently fying in four Fleet
squadrons and have im-
pressed aircrew and mainte-
nance users on both coasts,
saidFranko.
This cutting-edge radar
is a critical enabler for Block
IISuperHornets,saidCom-
mander John Green, AESA
programlead.Atotalof437
Block II Super Hornets will
have AESA radars, bring-
ingadvancedcapabilitiesand
improved reliability to the
Fleet.
Australia is also acquir-
ing24F/A-18FBlockIISuper
HornetequippedwithAESA,
Greenadded.
Advancedcapabilities[of
thenewaircraft]includecruise
missile defense, an enhanced
SAR-mapping capability, ex-
tendedair-to-airrange,andan
interleaved mode capability
that allows air-to-air and air-
to-ground modes to be used
simultaneously, a particularly
useful mode in two-seat air-
craft,saidGreen.
VFA-213,inOceana,VA,
was the frst operational unit
to use an AESA-equipped
F/A-18F squadron in October
2006. VFA-22, in Lemoore,
CA,iscurrentlytransitioning
to the AESA-equipped F/A-
18F aircraft. Both squadrons
have started a training regi-
men that will prepare them
fordeploymentwithAESAin
2008.
Thisnewdevelopmentin
aircrafts marks the end of a
Low Rate Production (LRIP)
periodof84radarsthatbegan
with delivery of the frst LRIP
1 unit in July 2003.
NewNavalAircraft
ApprovedforProduction
The P-8A Poseidon,
the Navys newest mari-
time patrol aircraft, com-
pleted its Critical Design
Review on June 15, 2007.

Thiseventmarkstheachieve-
ment of an extremely signif-
cant milestone, completed in
tremendous fashion, said
Rear Admiral Brian Prindle,
commander, Fleet Patrol
and Reconnaissance Group.

Prindle said he was looking

forward to continuing great
teamworkbetweenNAVAIR,
N88theNavysairwarfare
requirements offce, and the
feet, to move P-8 success-
fully in to the next phase,
as he congratulated hun-
dreds of outstanding profes-
sionals who contributed to a
great critical design review.

Tom Laux, program executive

offcer for Air Anti-submarine
Warfare, Assault and Special
MissionPlatforms,stressedthe
importanceofthisevaluation.

The critical design review

is just that critical, said
Laux. Its objective evi-
dence the Boeing/Govern-
mentteamcontinuestomake
progress towards deliver-
ing this essential capability
to the warfghter in a timely
and cost effective manner.

Poseidon fuselages will be

built in Wichita, Kansas and
then taken to Boeings com-
mercial division in Seattle,
for wing and tail assemblies.
The virtually complete air-
craft will then be moved to
the Integrated Defense Sys-
tem line for completion and
then delivery to the Navy.

Iamextremelyproudofthe
NAVAIR/Boeing team, said
Capt. Joe Rixey, NAVAIRs
Maritime Patrol Reconnais-
sanceAircraftprogramman-
ager.Thisisanindicationof
thesolidteamingbetweenthe
program offce, competencies,
Navyleadershipandindustry.

The team is ready

to build! he said.

Theprogramwillseekitsap-
proval this summer from Dr.
DeloresEtter,assistantsecre-
taryoftheNavyforResearch,
DevelopmentandAcquisition,
inaprogramreadinessreview,
tobuildtwotestaircrafts.

Testing will be performed

at St. Marys own Pax Riv-
er Navy Base. The tests
will be completed by Test
and Evaluation Squad-
ron 20 (VX-20) and VX-1.

This is a transformational
program and an acquisition
approach unlike any other.
This is the frst time the Navy
will use an existing produc-
tionlineintegratingbothcom-
mercial and Navy aircraft,
providing both time and cost
reduction by not construct-
ing a Navy-specifc line, said
Capt. Mike Moran, leader of
NAVAIRs P-8 program. I
am confdent in, and proud of,
thededicated,integratedteam
thatismotivatedandcommit-
tedtoexecutingthisprogram
successfully. We are ready
to provide a new generation
in maritime mission capa-
bility to the feet we serve.

Production of the frst P-8A

testaircraftisexpectedtobe-
ginlaterthisyear.

TheP-8programplanstopro-
vide 108 Poseidon aircraft to
aviators beginning in 2013.
NewPatrolAircraft
CompletesCritical
DesignReview
county,Fishersaid.
The increase in brush
fres have kept volunteer fre
fghters hopping answering
themall,Fishersaid.
One brush fre that oc-
curred July 22 was caused
by the use of freworks, ac-
cording to a deputy state fre
marshal.
Ithadbeenshotthenight
before,saidDeputyFireMar-
shallJohnNelson.Asdryas
itisitsverydangeroustobe
shooting freworks.
The freworks, when
launched into the air, came
downandsetthetopofatree
on fre an then the embers set
the woods below ablaze as
well sending the fre out to
aboutanacre,Nelsonsaid.
The fre reached a shed
andalsotorchedaFordsport
utility vehicle. The total
property damage was about
$7,000.
It completely destroyed
bothofthem,Nelsonsaidof
theblaze.
The resident who used
the freworks, which Nelson
said were an illegal bottle
rockettype,wasnotcharged.
Nelson warned residents not
to underestimate the danger
of freworks.
They dont understand
what the frework can do, es-
pecially with the dry condi-
tions,Nelsonsaid.
Fisher said that there has
beennooutdoorburningban
instituted in St. Marys so
far this summer. A burn ban
would cease after there had
been an adequate amount of
rainfall,Fishersaid.
Butthatmaychangesoon
given the number of brush
fres that have started here.
At this time [a burning
ban] is being considered,
Fishersaid.
The brush fres that spark
in the woods are often the
onesthatarethemostserious,
Fishersaid.
The woods fres are
burning deep into the duff
layer,ortheleafpack,Fisher
said. We constantly have to
check the forest fres because
they are burning down deep
near the roots and those fres
canberekindled.
Fisher said that county
residents should refrain from
starting fres outdoors even
though there is no offcial
burning ban and also cau-
tioned them that the simplest
outdoor activities involving
machinery posed a serious fre
riskbecauseofthedrought.
Just be cautious, even
whenyourecuttingthegrass
be cautious, Fisher said. If
you hit anything and cause a
spark the threat of a brush fre
isthere.
Fires
Continued from page A-
The school system wast-
ed little time hiring its frst
STEM coordinator, Paula
Perry, a math teacher from
NorthernHighSchoolinCal-
vertCounty,whowilloversee
the countys three academies
at Lexington Park Elementa-
ry, Spring Ridge Middle and
GreatMillsHighSchools
Amongahostofrespon-
sibilities, Perry will network
withKathyGlockner,theedu-
cationpartnershipcoordinator
forNavalAirWarfareCenter
Aircraft Division, to provide
a strong educational link
between STEM and Patux-
ent River Naval Air Station.
While the initial $150,000 ac-
countedforhiringaSTEMco-
ordinatortoworkcloselywith
Pax River, the extra $200,000
will primarily foster technol-
ogy enhancements at each
gradelevelineachclassroom,
according to Linda Dudderar,
chief academic offcer.
The STEM advisory
group has worked diligently
to establish a clear vision,
goals, and objectives for our
program, said Dudderar in
astatement.Theywereinte-
gral in writing the grant and
bringing valuable informa-
tion from the business and
military communities to the
discussion.
Specifcally, the $350,000
grant will also go towards a
second technician position,
a wireless Internet hub, a
middle school transportation
initiative, and a secure route
tostatewidecompetitionsand
otherevents.
Insum,thegrantwillal-
lowtheschoolboardtobring
on two additional full-time
employees, something Com-
mission President Jack Rus-
sellcautionedagainstbecause
the grant will likely be cut
nextyear.
Martirano said he was
wellawareoftheconsequenc-
es of bringing on additional
staff members, but asserted
that the program needed a
big thrust at the beginning,
to put all hands on deck and
getthingsupandrunning.
Withthesupportandas-
sistance of our community,
Dudderar said, we will pre-
pare our students for a world
theycannotyetimagine.
STEM academies will
open in August in grades 4,
6 and 9. Grades 5, 7 and 10
will be added the following
year,withgrades8,11,and12
comingaboardinsubsequent
years.
Approximately 90 stu-
dentsappliedforthe48spots
available in fourth grade,
while 52 participants were
chosen from more than 100
applicants at the sixth grade
level. Spots are still available
at the ninth grade academy
forinterestedstudents.
According to a presenta-
tiongivenbyStuart,thedem-
onstrations vision is to pro-
mote the unmanned systems
capabilities, present current
andfutureconceptsofopera-
tions and of course showcase
the worlds most advanced
militarytechnology.
Iveattendedallofthem
sofaranditsamazinghowits
grownandthenumberofpeo-
ple that come into support,
said Commissioner Thomas
A.MattinglySr.Wedevelop
systemsatPaxRiverthataid
inthewar,andyouknowthat
technology was developed
here.
According to Stuarts
handout to the commission-
ers, every Demo[nstration]
has resulted in new USA
technologiesacquiredandde-
ployed in the feld.
Commissioner Lawrence
Jarboealsoreveledintheidea
that part of the systems will
likely one day end up at his
disposal.
I hope one day when I
drive my electric vehicle,
addedJarboe,Icanuseaset
of lithium batteries you have
inyourplanes.
WarVehicles
Continued from page A-
Photo Courtesy of NAVAIR
Photo Courtesy of NAVAIR
Raytheon Corporations EODBot, an unmanned ground system based on a Bobcat skid steer loader, examines a
simulated explosive device during the 2005 Unmanned Systems Demonstration at the Webster Field Annex in St
Inigoes.
Spectators at the 2005 Unmanned Systems Demonstration at the Webster Field Annex in St Inigoes observe
iRobot Corporations Packbot go through its paces on the jumbotron.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The
County Times Section A -
Whether theyre in the market
for a new home, apartment, con-
do or co-op, people still turn to
the Classifeds frst.
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services in
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The DeluxeBed by Tempur-Pedic
Therapy and comfort, perfectly balanced.
By Guy Leonard
Staff Writer
Its hard to tell just who
runs the household of Mary-
an and Michael Horne in
Scotland, them or the unique
breed of domestic cat they
have come to love that bears
a striking resemblance to wild
bobcats.
While the seven or so cats
she has roaming freely in her
house have a defnite wild
look to them, the pixie bobs,
as they are known, are thought
of as highly intelligent, loyal,
gentle and very playful.
Horne is the only breeder
of this unique kind of cat in
the county and shell tell you
so theres no question as to
whos really in charge of the
house.
This house belongs to
the cats, Horne said. What
can I say?
Horne calls herself a hob-
by breeder of these wild look-
ing felines and enjoys show-
ing them off at TICA (The
International Cat Association)
competitions in which several
of her cats have been triple
and quadruple grand champi-
ons, exhibiting the best quali-
ties of the breed.
Horne also sits on
the TICA committee that
maintains the standards
of the pixie bob breed, she
said.
One man recently came
all the way from Holland to
pick up a pixie bob and take
it with him to a new foreign
home, Horne said, illustrating
the popularity of the breed.
She also enjoys giving
these cats to other cat lovers
who want a special kind of
companion.
We call them dogs in
disguise; they like to ride in
cars, they are easy to train on
a leash and they like to fetch
things, Horne said. Theyre
very friendly; theyve never
met a stranger.
Their natural energy often
keeps them out of their own-
ers laps, Horne said, but pixie
bobs always take an interest in
what their owners are doing
with a wild looking gaze.
They are so smart that
they come to the call of their
name, Horne said. They dont
know the meaning of the word
kittie.
Theres no bobcat blood
in these cats, but everyone
wants a wildcat that looks do-
mesticated, Horne said. The
story is that a bobcat snuck
into a barn and bred with a fe-
ral cat but thats not so.
Horne said that pixie
bobs were likely the result of
a union between feral cats and
barn cats and have only been
around for about the last 23
years. The pixie bobs original
home is thought to be Wash-
ington state, she said.
Cindy Gay, who works
at Park Veterinary Hospital
in Lexington Park, owns two
pixie bobs from Horne and
she said her cats exhibit out-
standing qualities of loyalty,
intelligence and friendship.
Theyre an outstanding
breed of cat, Gay told The
County Times. I like them
because they are cuddlers;
they like to be next to you and
they follow you around the
house.
Plus they are just
beautiful.
Pixie bobs are recogniz-
able by their spotted coats,
which resemble those of wild
bobcats, their short tail and
their large limbs and feet.
Some pixie bobs have long
tails, however.
Pixie bobs are usually
much larger than the aver-
age house cat with a strong,
heavy, muscular body and
dense bones according to
TICA standards.
Additionally, pixie bobs
ears often have tips like those
found on bobcats, and their
brows are fat and heavier than
those of most domestic cats,
according to TICA standards.
For all the joy that pixie
bobs have brought her and
to those shes given them to,
Horne said she will probably
stop breeding the cats soon, so
anyone who wants to get one
of these unique and affable
cats has to act quickly.
I enjoy pixie bobs, but Id
rather not breed, Horne said.
I love the kittens and I have a
hard time letting them go. But
I just cant keep them all.
Anyone interested in giv-
ing a home to a pixie bob fe-
line can visit Hornes Web site
at www.pixiebob-breeders.
com or can call the cattery at
301-872-4569.
For more information
about the pixie bob breed
visit the Web site for The In-
ternational Cat Association at
www.tica.org.
Pixie Bobs
Continued from page A-1
William S. Holmes is
suspended from active mem-
bership with the Leonardtown
Volunteer Rescue Squad un-
til appropriate legal dispo-
sition can be made, wrote
Danny Bowles, captain and
public information offcer for
the rescue squad in a written
statement.
Bowles said this was the
only statement the rescue
squad leadership would make
at this time regarding the
charges against Holmes.
Joan Williams, president
of the Southern Maryland
Volunteer Firemens Asso-
ciation said she regretted the
development.
Im sorry to hear about
the charges, Williams said.
The only thing I can say is
that we dont make any judg-
ments ahead of time.
According to an applica-
tion for statement of charges
against Holmes fled by the
alleged victim, Holmes had
called her into an offce at the
rescue squad station to speak
to her.
The victim said that she
and Holmes were the only
ones there at the time.
The complainant went on
to say that once they were in
the offce Holmes allegedly
started to look down her shirt,
touch her breast and buttocks.
The female complainant
alleged in the court documents
that she tried to stop him by
placing her arms across her
chest at which point he alleg-
edly stated, just a peek.
The complainant said she
refused Holmes alleged ad-
vances and when she tried to
leave the room he allegedly
pulled her back and licked the
back of her neck.
The complainant goes on
to say in the court documents
that she went to a senior mem-
ber of the command staff to
complain where she was ad-
vised to fle charges, which
she did three days later.
Several attempts to con-
tact the victim resulted in no
returned phone calls.
Holmes has not been in-
carcerated and his next court
appearance will be before the
county District Court for a
preliminary inquiry regarding
the charges on August 29.
The second degree assault
charge against Holmes carries
a possible 10-year prison sen-
tence, while the fourth degree
sex offense could mean one
year in prison if Holmes is
convicted.
Assualt
Continued from page A-1
Photo by Guy Leonard
For older Americans,
the topic of technology in
the home is typically greeted
with less than open arms.
Many take the approach that
they made it through much of
their life without e-mail, cell
phones and the like, so they
dont really need them now.
However, as more seniors are
fnding out, technological ad-
vancements can enhance their
life and make these products
much easier to use as well.
For the younger genera-
tion, imagining a world with-
out things like the Internet, e-
mail and digital cable is nearly
impossible, while for many
seniors, such things largely re-
main a mystery. However, as
more and more Baby Boom-
ers are fnding out, something
as simple as the cable package
they choose can make a world
of difference in ways they
might otherwise never have
imagined.
Watching movies. See-
ing a movie used to mean
having to drive down to the
nearby movie theater or brav-
ing long lines at the local
video store. However, those
days have quickly become a
thing of the past. For seniors
who fnd it a hassle to rent and
return movies, Comcast Digi-
tal Cable with ON DEMAND
will greatly enhance their
movie-watching experience.
With over 800 movies avail-
able each month at either no
cost or below both theater and
video store prices, watching a
movie has never been easier
or more affordable.
Seniors can select from a
large variety of movies, from
new releases to timeless clas-
sics, with flms from Turner
Classic Movies, the Hallmark
Channel and even premium
channels such as HBO, Show-
time and STARZ. In addition,
movies can be viewed at any
time, meaning active seniors
dont have to plan their day
around what time the movie
is playing at the theater or on
television.
Watching favorite
shows. For many seniors, re-
tirement doesnt mean their
schedules get any less hec-
tic. Tee times, the grandkids
soccer games or dinner with
friends can make consistently
catching your favorite shows
almost impossible. Fortunate-
ly, the right cable package can
ensure you never miss your
favorite show, no matter how
busy you are.
Comcast Digital Cable
with ON DEMAND gives se-
niors more control and conve-
nience when it comes to see-
ing their favorite programs.
A host of programs are avail-
able, including shows from
channels such as National
Geographic and The History
Channel, among others.
Vastly improved pic-
ture and sound quality. Gone
are the days of rabbit ears,
when getting a clear picture
was something to write home
about, and rain or other harsh
weather made radio a more at-
tractive option than television.
These days, however, watch-
ing television has never been
clearer or more concise. Digi-
tal cable provides a dramati-
cally improved picture and
sound quality that heightens
the TV viewing experience
- from a baseball game to a
classic flm - on consumers
existing TV sets.
Finding something to
watch has never been easier.
With more channels, one
would think its harder to
sort through myriad choices
to fnd what youre looking
for. Thats not the case with
Comcasts onscreen program
guide. Simply pressing the
Guide button on the remote
will help viewers quickly fnd
programs. Discovering whats
on is simple because channels
are listed by category, such
as Sports, Movies, Network
Shows and Kids Program-
ming. The guide also can be
used to see whats on later, so
viewers can scroll ahead to
see what their favorite chan-
nels are offering, and plan
their day accordingly.
Television More Accessible Than Ever for Baby Boomers
Everett, one of Hornes pixie bobs, takes a break from play in the vegetable sink in Hornes home. Everett ex-
hibits some of the core traits of pixie bobs, which include a stubby tale, spots on his fur and a playful, energetic
personality.
SectionA-10
The
County Times Thursday,July26,2007
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New Millennium
ByGuyLeonard
StaffWriter
St. Marys County Sher-
iffs deputies are taking off
theiruniformsandworkingin
civilianclothesinliquorstores
countywide to curb liquor
salestounderageindividuals.
Deputies will also wait
outside the liquor stores par-
ticipating in this program,
calledCopsInShops,toen-
surelegalbuyersdonothand
the alcohol off to anyone un-
der21yearsofage.
Jackie Beckman, coordi-
natoroftheprogramwiththe
Division of Community Ser-
vices, said the program will
be the frst of its kind in St.
Marys and will help balance
out the kind of enforcement
that has taken place so far;
focusedmostlyonpenalizing
theshopkeepersandclerksfor
sellingtounderagepersons.
Its the opposite of po-
lice looking for shops doing
something wrong, Beckman
said.Theownercantalways
betheretoseewhattheclerks
aredoing.
Thedeputieswilldotheir
besttobeunobtrusive,Beck-
mansaid.
Theylleitherbelooking
like customers or like some-
one stocking shelves, Beck-
mansaid.
Emory Johnson, alcohol
enforcement offcer for the
Sheriffsdepartment,saidthe
two-deputy teams will take
shifts at various liquor stores
tospreadouttheenforcement
effort.
Well also be trying it
at other stores so that theyll
never know what store wed
beat,Johnsonsaid.
The county has handed
out stickers warning of the
programtoabout20ofthe39
liquorstoresinthecountythat
only do what are called off-
sales out of there establish-
ments with no consumption
allowedonthepremises.
Thesewillserveasano-
tice to underage buyers us-
ingeitheranother personsor
false identifcation to obtain
alcohol, Johnson said, and
could also serve as a deter-
rent against armed robbers
whowouldnotbeabletotell
whetheranarmed,undercover
police offcer was in the estab-
lishmentornot.
Parents, government and
police have to take on the
problem of underage drink-
ing, Beckman said, as it has
becomeaseriousissue.
St. Marys County ranks
sixth in the state for under-
age binge drinking, Beck-
man said and young drivers
are involved in 17 percent of
thecountysimpaireddriving
crashes.
She also said that young
driversaccountfor33percent
ofallcrashesinSt.Marysand
areatfaultinthosewrecks87
percent of the time; but they
represent only 7.5 percent of
thecountystotalpopulation.
Moreover, a full 29 per-
cent of all Teen Court cases
involve underage drinking,
Beckman,said,andthosecas-
es represent only those who
have been caught in their frst
offense, making it diffcult to
ascertain how prevalent un-
deragedrinkingreallyis.
Johnsonsaidthatin2006,
deputies cited 243 underage
suspects for possession of
alcohol. Of those, 147 were
adults between the ages of
18and20,whiletheother96
werejuveniles.
Sofarthisyear,74under-
age adults and 35 juveniles
have been charged with pos-
sessingalcohol,Johnsonsaid.
The partnership between
the Sheriffs offce and divi-
sion of community services
on this project should be a
fruitfulone,Beckmansaid.
I cant imagine its not
goingtobesuccessful,Beck-
mansaid.
The program should run
until about Sept. 30 of next
yearonatrialbasis,Beckman
said, adding that she hoped
the program would continue
to run for the next three to
fve years if it proved to be
successful.
The program is funded
by a grant from the Mary-
land Highway Safety Offce
inconjunctionwithTheCen-
turyCouncil,agroupofalco-
hol distillers who cooperate
with law enforcement to halt
drunk driving and underage
drinking.
DeputiesGoUndercoverInLiquorStores
GET I NTEREST
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Photo by Guy Leonard
Signs like these at local liquor stores, like McKays Fine Food and Drug in Charlotte Hall, warn underage buyers
not to attempt to purchase alcohol. If they do, they could meet up with an undercover sheriffs deputy.