DISCOVER St. Mary’s: Celebrate Earth Day & Learn How to “Go Green” this Weekend in Leonardtown

Find out how being green can save environmental resources and your hard-earned dollars at the Go Green Expo at the Forrest Career & Technology Center on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local and regional companies and experts will be on hand to share information on environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices.

Celebrate Earth Day in Leonardtown on Sunday April 22, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Talk to experts in soil and water conservation, animal rescue, solar energy, gardening and recycling. Watch painting and yarn spinning demonstrations, and visit live animal exhibits. Relax with a massage in the Square, or stroll around and find Earth Day specials at local shops and restaurants. Walk to the Wharf for free kayak and canoe rides, or bring your mat and join in a yoga class. Kids can jump around in a moon bounce, sing along at the puppet show and make earth-friendly crafts to take home.

 

SAVOR St. Mary’s: Farm to Table Freshness at the Good Earth

Get fresh grown produce and organic goodness right off the Leonardtown Square at The Good Earth Natural Foods Co. You can find farm fresh fruits and veggies – including local strawberries from Southern Comfort Berry Farm and greens from Even’ Star Organic Farm. The store also hosts events to help inspire healthy living and stocks all natural health products, gluten free and vegan food options and even natural treats for your pets. To find out more about all the Good Earth has to offer, visit http://www.goodearthnaturals.com/.



UPCOMING EVENTS:

Going Green Expo
April 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Forrest Career & Technology Center, Leonardtown
For more information, call (301) 475-4200 Ext.1505

Earth Day Celebration
April 22, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Leonardtown Square
For more information, call (301) 475-9791

Plant Sale & Free Exchange
April 28, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
April 29, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood
For more information, visit: http://www.sotterley.org/

500 Years of Music for Guitar
April 28, 7 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, Chaptico
For more information, visit: http://www.christepiscopalchaptico.org/ or www.myspace.com/petergriggsnyc

SoMD Kids Expo & Women's Show
April 28, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
So. Maryland Higher Ed. Center, Hollywood
For more information, visit: http://www.somdexpos.com/

Spring Fling Classic Car Show
April 29, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Leonardtown Square
For more information, visit: stmarysrodandclassic.com

DISCOVER St. Mary’s The Barnwood and Beach Glass Trail


Uncover many surprising stops throughout St. Mary’s as you traveling along “the long, lazy loop” that makes up the Barnwood & Beach Glass Trail, part of Southern Maryland Trails. Explore the county to find friendly farms (including Southern Comfort Berry Farm), pristine parks and beautiful beaches. Uncover treasures when you stop at boutique and antique shops. Sample local cuisine, including fresh seafood caught in the waters that surround St. Mary’s county - the Potomac, the Patuxent and the Chesapeake Bay. Visit artists’ studios and galleries for original works and country stores for original personalities. Discover “a thousand small delights” along the trail in St. Mary’s Count.

Southern Maryland Trails is a guidebook produced by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, for more information, visit: http://www.somdtrails.com/, http://www.somarylandsogood.com/ and http://www.smadc.com/.

SAVOR St. Mary’s Pick-Your-Own Strawberries

Pick and eat delicious strawberries ripe off the vine at Southern Comfort Berry Farm in Bushwood. The farm offers strawberries in spring, watermelons in summer and pumpkins in fall. Southern Comfort Berry Farm will be opening to the public early this year. While the strawberry harvest generally isn’t ready until May, the mild winter in Southern Maryland has lead to early berries and an April opening. The farm has already starting supplying strawberries to the Good Earth in Leonardtown and will be opening to the public on April 18. Pick-Your-Own hours are Monday - Friday 10a.m. to 5p.m., Saturday 8a.m. to 5p.m. and Sunday noon to 5p.m. Check the farm’s Facebook page for the latest updates. Savor spring in St. Mary’s as you enjoy strawberries from Southern Comfort Berry Farm.

UPCOMING EVENTS in St. Mary’s

Cabaret
April 13, 5:30p.m. - 9:00p.m.
Mechanicsville Moose Lodge
For tickets or more information, call (301) 475-4200 ext. 1073

Second Saturday at Sotterley "From the Ground Up"
April 14, 9:00a.m. - 3:00p.m.
Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood
For more information, visit: http://www.sotterley.org/

Autism Awareness Day
April 14, 12:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.
Olde Town Pub, Leonardtown
For more information, call (301) 862-2505 or visit: www.facebook.com//AutSupGroupSoMd/

Free Comedy Night
April 19, 8:30p.m.
DB McMillan’s, California
For more information, call (301) 866-0777 or visit: dbmcmillans.com

Going Green Expo
April 21, 10:00a.m. - 2:00p.m.
Forrest Career & Technology Center, Leonardtown
For more information, call (301) 475-4200 Ext.1505

Earth Day Celebration
April 22, 12:30p.m. - 4:30p.m.
Leonardtown Square
For more information, call (301) 475-9791

Discover St. Mary’s County Destination and Relocation Guide and 2010 Calendar of Events Now Available

The Discover St. Mary’s County Destination and Relocation guide and the 2010 Calendar of Events are now available in both print and digital formats! The glossy magazine-style destination and relocation guide is published in partnership with the publishers of Maryland Life magazine. It features articles on the area as well as visitor information including listings for sites, attractions, and lodging and dining establishments. The guide also features information on relocating to St. Mary’s County.

"The destination and relocation guide serves as a great travel planner and business recruitment tool," notes St. Mary's County Tourism Manager Carolyn Laray. "We began our partnership with Maryland Life magazine in 2009 during the 375th birthday of Maryland and have again printed 75,000 copies of the magazine." The new publication includes a special feature on Leonardtown. The feature will also be included in the July/August 2010 issue of Maryland Life magazine.

The 2010 Calendar of Events features the major events taking place throughout St. Mary's County this year including the Crab Festival, River Concert Series, Riverside WineFest, and the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival.

The guide and calendar are free and are available at the St. Mary’s County Welcome Center in Charlotte Hall.  The guide is also available at participating businesses throughout the county, at the county libraries, throughout the Naval Air Station Patuxent River and at state and regional visitor information centers. The guide will be mailed to those requesting visitor or relocation information and will be distributed at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Print copies can be requested by emailing visitus@stmarysmd.com or calling 301-475-4200, x 1404.

Digital versions of the guide and calendar may be viewed at the Tourism website at http://www.visitstmarysmd.com/.

Black History Celebration Kicks-off Sotterley's 2010 Speaker Series

The 2010 Speaker Series at Sotterley will kick-off with “FREE at Last! Black History Celebration!” on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. This event is free to the public and recounts the days of slavery, as well as the impact of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. There is something for all ages - dramatic portrayals, a spirit lifting gospel choir performance, hands-on learning, children’s activities, and tours of the original 1830’s Slave Cabin.

Sandi English will revive her character performance of “Mammy Reminiscence” at 11 a.m. in the Customs Warehouse. Having mastered the art of African-American storytelling, she and her daughter Liana English will transport guests back in time to when slaves risked all to make their way to freedom. At 1 p.m. and
3 p.m., Ms. English will take on the persona of “Grandma Wisdom,” who recounts the significance of the more modern-day revolution for equality to her questioning granddaughter.

Lifting their voices in soulful praise, members of the St. Peter’s Claver Gospel Choir from Ridge will perform. Established in 1977, this well-known choir combines old and new age gospel, raising the spirits of all.

Education Director Carolyn Hoey will give Slave Cabin Tours featuring slave inventories, new findings from this past summer’s restoration, and a hands-on exhibit of tools and household items used by the slaves.

The 2010 Speaker Series at Sotterley Plantation is sponsored by the Boeing Company.

For more information, contact Sotterley Plantation at 800-681-0850 or 301-373-2280 or visit http://www.sotterley.org/.

Sotterley Plantation's Holiday Events

Sotterley Plantation has two great events coming up this weekend to get you and your family into the holiday spirit: Holiday Candlelight Tours and A Family Plantation Christmas.

Holiday Candlelight Tours
Kick-off the holiday season with a historical dramatization of life at Sotterley during The War of 1812 in the Holiday Candlelight Tours at Sotterley Plantation, December 4th & 5th from 6 p.m.–10 p.m. The tours take place inside the over 300 year old historic Mansion, which will be graced with period decorations.

The plot for this year's tour is that Sotterley is under siege by the British occupation. The family is determined to hold their annual holiday celebration no matter what! Family and friends join the Platers for a very entertaining evening which will be quite different than holiday celebrations experienced in previous years. Join the Sotterley Players as they step back in time and witness for yourself the unfolding dramatic holiday events.

Live musical performances from local premiere high school choral groups and complimentary cookies will be available in the historic Barn, prior to the reserved tour time.  Reservations are required.
 
A Family Plantation Christmas
Family Plantation Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Sotterley Plantation, offering a full day of wonderment and Christmas spirit!

Let Santa know what you want for Christmas, purchase scrumptious treats from Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, sing along with the carolers, make holiday crafts, get your face painted, see what you can find at the Scavenger Hunt in the garden, visit the Sotterley Museum Shop to find unique holiday gifts while the children are buying presents at Santa’s Secret Shop, and purchase seasonal greens and hand-crafted items from Sotterley’s Garden Guild! Back by popular demand, Sandi English will perform “Mammy Reminiscence,” giving a glimpse into how slaves celebrated this holiday.

To make reservations or get more information, contact Sotterley Plantation at 800-681-0850 or 301-373-2280 or visit http://www.sotterley.org/.  Also, be sure to check out Sotterley Plantation's new blog at http://www.sotterleyplantation.blogspot.com/ for information about news and other upcoming events!

Join the party in Leonardtown this Friday, December 4th from 5 – 8 p.m.!

First Friday Town Celebration:

Visit Leonardtown this Friday, December 4th, for their holiday First Friday raffle! A Fuji Crosstown bicycle will be raffled off at 7:30 p.m. in Town Square. Santa will be on hand to draw the winning name! No purchase is necessary to register to win the bicycle, just stop in to any participating First Friday business to enter! Many shops, galleries and restaurants are offering specials unique to this “Holiday First Friday.” There will be live music, wine tastings, award-winning appetizers, Christmas caroling, and more! The galleries have special preview receptions for their featured artists, and most of the restaurants offer samples of their delicious menu items or a discount off their menu. Jump start your festive holiday season by visiting Leonardtown this Friday! To learn more about the specials, visit http://www.leonardtownfirstfridays.com/.

St. Clement's Island Museum's 24th Annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit Celebrates Maryland's 375th!

The St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point, MD will present the 24th annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit beginning December 2nd for a month-long exhibit to feature antique and collectible dolls and toys, and working miniature trains to delight children from one to 101!


The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Christmas in Maryland” which continues the year-long celebration of Maryland’s 375th birthday. Visitors will see and learn the official symbols of Maryland and many other interesting facts about the Old Line State.

A favorite feature of this exhibit is found in the c. 1820 Charlotte Hall School, a one-room schoolhouse transformed into a holiday train station. Children can take the controls of a working miniature train that chugs and toots its way around an endless track offering a fun and interactive experience.


Visitors can also enjoy browsing through the Crab Claw Museum Store which features a myriad of unique gifts, children’s books and toys, clothing, jewelry, Maryland flags, lighthouses, souvenirs, and much more! All gift shop proceeds benefit museum programs, projects and exhibits.

The exhibit opens December 2nd and will be available through January 3, 2010 during the Museum’s winter hours of operation, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Museum hours for this exhibit will be extended to 7 days a week - the week after the Christmas holiday.

For more information, contact the St. Clement's Island Museum at 301-769-2222 for more information or log on to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Christmas on the Square

Get into the holiday spirit at Christmas on the Square in Leonardtown!  On Friday, November 27, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., Leonardtown will be decorated with holiday lights and filled with the sounds of Christmas carols as the town kicks off the holiday season. 

There will be fun activities for everyone including sleigh rides, a live nativity at the Church of the Nazarene, costumed characters, horse & carriage rides, hay rides, fire truck rides, and of course…Santa’s arrival at 7 p.m. to light the Christmas tree!  The Leonardtown businesses will be competing in a window decorating contest, so the store windows will be filled with charming holiday decorations, and Kevin Thompson's Corner Kafe on Park Avenue will be decorated like a gingerbread house.

Love Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol?  Fenwick Street Used Books & Music will be holding readings of this timeless tale starting at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.  The readings will be an abbreviated version of the story and will last approximately 30 minutes.  Dianna Diatz will also be performing in the store.

The raffle for the Fuji Crosstown Bike is still going on, so be sure to ask for a raffle ticket from each business that you visit in Leonardtown during Christmas on the Square.  Tickets are free.  The winner of the bike will be drawn during the December 4 First Friday.  

If you're planning to get started on your holiday shopping, then you don't want to leave home without your Discover St. Mary's County Card.  It's a great way to get special deals at participating businesses in Leonardtown.  To find out what Leonardtown businesses are offering, click here.

Scarecrow Making Postponed

The scarecrow making and Trick-or-Treating on the Square in Leonardtown had to be postponed due to inclement weather.  It will now be held on Saturday, October 31, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  From 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., the Southern Maryland Artisan Center is sponsoring “Scarecrow Making” on the Square. The cost is $8 per scarecrow and includes all supplies to make a life size scarecrow, perfect for fall decorating.

Between 3:00-4:00 p.m., children, accompanied by a parent or guardian, can dress up in their Halloween costume and walk around the Leonardtown Square “trick-or-treating” with participating downtown merchants. Bring a goodie bag for your candy and treats! This free, kid-fun activity with plenty of treats is sponsored by the Leonardtown Business Association. For more information, call the Commissioners of Leonardtown at 301-475-9791 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

Also, the Leonardtown Church of the Nazarene, the Church on the Square, is having a Fall Festival & Fun Fair on Saturday the 24th of October 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Crafts, food, candy, music, carnival games! All proceeds go to support their Youth Programs. Free Hot Chocolate outside and tons of fun inside! For more details or to volunteer, please contact Donna French at 301-351-9242.

Scarecrow Making And Trick Or Treat On The Square This Saturday!

Enjoy all the festivities of fall in Downtown Leonardtown on Saturday, October 24th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. From 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., the Southern Maryland Artisan Center is sponsoring “Scarecrow Making” on the Square. The cost is $8 per scarecrow and includes all supplies to make a life size scarecrow, perfect for fall decorating.

Between 3:00-4:00 p.m., children, accompanied by a parent or guardian, can dress up in their Halloween costume and walk around the Leonardtown Square “trick-or-treating” with participating downtown merchants. Bring a goodie bag for your candy and treats! This free, kid-fun activity with plenty of treats is sponsored by the Leonardtown Business Association. For more information, call the Commissioners of Leonardtown at 301-475-9791 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

Also, the Leonardtown Church of the Nazarene, the Church on the Square, is having a Fall Festival & Fun Fair on Saturday the 24th of October 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Crafts, food, candy, music, carnival games! All proceeds go to support their Youth Programs. Free Hot Chocolate outside and tons of fun inside! For more details or to volunteer, please contact Donna French at 301-351-9242.

Ghosts of Sotterley Tours!

The year is 1812 and the war is on! Shots ring out both far and near, and the trees glow a burning orange. Is there nowhere safe? Deception abounds during this dramatic production; those you meet along the way are not as they appear. This year’s walking tours on the grounds of Sotterley Plantation, promises to be the spookiest ever.

The “Friends of Sotterley” acting troupe are taking this event to a whole new level. This year’s script, written by Morriah Cell and James LePore, has twists of intrigue and shock factor as never before. Under the direction of Dawna Diaz and the technical wizardry of Ming Diaz, the entire creative team offers a seemingly real-to-life (and death) exposure to Sotterley Plantation during this volatile time in history.

Weather permitting, guests are invited to take the chill off by a roaring bonfire and refreshments are available for purchase. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED! The cost is $13 per person. Group rates are available. Sotterley Members can come on Thursday night for $10 – yet another advantage of membership! Call 301-373-2280 to make your reservation at this Sotterley Plantation haunting or for further information. Visit http://www.sotterley.org/ for more details.

Spooky Fun at Camp Merryelande

Are you looking to have a spooky camping experience with your friends or family?  Camp Merryelande, located on St. George Island, is holding haunted weekends at Camp MD!  Every weekend from now until Halloween, Camp Merryelande has planned a variety of haunted activities to make your camping experience even more fun.  Set up your own spooky campsite or rent a cabin.  From 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., enjoy haunted hayrides where the woods and beach surrounding Camp Merryelande come alive!  After the last hayride on Halloween night, attend a costume party at the campground.

For more information, please contact Camp Merryelande at 301-994-1722, 1-800-382-1073, or visit http://www.campmd.com/.

Pumpkins for Pigs at HSMC

Before you visit Historic St. Mary’s City this fall, pack a pumpkin for the pigs.  Present your squash at the Visitor Center and receive $1 off one admission to the museum.  The plantation pigs love these big orange fall fruits, which often end up in the trash after serving ornamental purposes.  Retired jack-o’-lanterns are most welcome.  The carved grins and grimaces amuse the staff and the pigs, Rosemary, Maizie, Pumpkin, and Scarlet.  Visit the Plantation at 2:30 p.m. and share the pigs’ delight as they consume delectable donations.  One pumpkin per person, per visit please, through the 2009 season.

Don’t miss the new Plantation walking tour at 3 p.m.  Discover how the colonists handled illness and death 300 years ago, when the state of medical arts was a combination of superstition and science.  The tour is included with admission to the museum’s living history sites.

For more information about Historic St. Mary’s City, archaeology, or this event visit www.stamaryscity.org or call 240-895-4990 or 800-SMC-1634.

Tonight is the October Leonardtown First Friday!

Don't forget that tonight, October 2, is the October Leonardtown First Friday!  Join Historic Leonardtown's art galleries, restaurants, cafes, gift shops, antique shops, book stores and more as the town hosts a free evening of art, entertainment, and specials.  Many shops and restaurants offer live music or poetry readings.  The art galleries have special preview receptions for their featured artists, and msot of the restaurants offer samples of their delicious menu items or a discount off their menu.  The First Friday fun starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m.

For information about all of the special and fun activities going on during this First Friday, be sure to visit http://www.leonardtownfirstfridays.com/.  Here, you will always find current information about the upcoming promotions being offered by Leonardtown businesses for First Fridays!

Fuzzy Farmer's Market

One First Friday event that you definitely don't want to miss is the Fuzzy Farmer's Market at the Southern Maryland Artisans Center from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. tonight (as part of the Leonardtown First Friday fun) and tomorrow, October 3 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Visit this farmer's market of locally made products from sheep, goats, and alpaca including fleeces, wool, hand-spun yarns, hand-made shawls, scarves, and bags, goat's milk soaps, funky fiber art, and home textiles such as rag rugs and patchwork quilts.  Additional activities include a Knit In and collection baskets for hats, scarves, and gloves; raffles; and a Food Drive to benefit local shelters and the food bank.  The Chesapeake Spinners and Weavers Guild members will give demonstrations.  The event is sponsored by the Crafts Guild of St. Mary's County and the Chesapeake Spinners and Weavers Guild.  The Southern Maryland Artisans Center is located in the Maryland Antique Center Annex at 26005 Point Lookout Road.  For more information about the Fuzzy Farmer's Market, contact the Southern Maryland Artisans Center at 301-997-1644 or visit http://www.fuzzyfarmers.com/.

Lecture and Book Signing by Major General Fred J. Ascani, USAF Ret., and Lieutenant Colonel Sheryl Hutchinson, USAF Ret.

The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is holding its fourth “Flight Test Tech Talk” program: a lecture and book signing by Fred Ascani and Sheryl Hutchison on Friday, October 2, 2009, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. They will present the new book Mentor Inbound: The Authorized Biography of Fred J. Ascani, Major General, USAF Retired: Holder of the 1951 World Speed Record.

The Rockford Register-Republic newspaper carried this headline in January 1945: “Aboard a Flying Fortress which appeared a flaming torch, spewing gasoline from its load of 15,000 gallons and trailing fire like a comet, a bomber crew which included Lt. Col. Fred J. Ascani, Rockford pilot, continued its run over a Ploesti oil field target and came through safely . . .” Fred Ascani flew 53 combat missions in command of the 816th Bombardment Squadron during World War II. The newspaper article about that ordeal over Ploesti is an early example of the extensive media coverage that the aviation exploits of Fred Ascani would generate throughout a legendary career.

Fred Ascani is one of the “Men of Mach 1,” and participated in the selection of Chuck Yeager as the pilot to surpass Mach 1 in the Bell X-1. Maj Gen Ascani’s contributions to airpower span over 40 years. Ascani began his association with flight test in 1944 at Wright Field, Ohio. He reported for duty at Edwards Air Force Base in 1950; as Director of Experimental Flight Test and Engineering, and as the first vice commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Ascani was an active test pilot, flying more than 50 research aircraft and experimental prototypes. At the 1951 National Air Races, Ascani established a new world speed record flying an F-86E Sabre: 635.686 miles per hour over a 100-kilometer closed course. General Ascani is considered by the USAF to be the “Father of Systems Engineering” and was also the System Program Director for the XB-70 Valkyrie Mach 3 bomber program, the spinoff technologies of which were vital to the development of the Space Shuttle. Ascani retired from the Air Force in 1973 with 6288 flight hours in a uniquely wide range of aircraft. He then taught systems engineering at the Pentagon to the next generation of acquisition professionals.

Author Sheryl Hutchison was on active duty with the USAF for more than 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 2006. In July 2000, when then-Major Hutchison became a squadron commander at Edwards Air Force Base, California, she contacted Maj Gen Ascani to request his eyewitness account of how historic Edwards AFB sites looked in the 1940s. They developed an association that led to Mentor Inbound, the biographical account of Ascani’s career, written by Lt. Col. Hutchison in gratitude for his advice and to serve as inspirational history for future generations of airmen.

This event is free and open to the public. Though seating is not reserved, it is limited (standing room attendance is permitted): please RSVP to director@paxmuseum.com or 301-863-7418. Lecture and Q&A: 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. Maj Gen Ascani and Lt. Col. Hutchison will sign copies of Mentor Inbound from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The book will be available for purchase at the Museum Store throughout the event.

The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is one of 12 Official U.S. Navy Museums, and the only facility that preserves and presents the history of the research, development, test, and evaluation activities of U.S. Naval Aviation. Learn more about the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum via its website link on the Naval History and Heritage Command’s homepage: http://www.history.navy.mil/.