Local Author’s New Book about Sotterley!

Sotterley Plantation has announced the release of David G. Brown’s newly published book, Sotterley ~ Her People and Their Worlds. Generously, all of the proceeds of the publication will be donated to Sotterley Plantation. His motive: “I love the place. I want to see Sotterley succeed … to survive for future generations.”

With retirement from his long-standing career with the U.S. State Department at the beginning of the new millennium, Dave and his wife Erna adopted Southern Maryland as their second home and were introduced to Sotterley Plantation. The connection was immediate, and they dove into volunteer work. For the past decade, they have dedicated time, resources and energy to this National Historic Landmark and its mission. Brown’s impressive work experience, combined with his passion for Sotterley’s history as an Interpreter and member of the Education Committee’s Oral History Project, motivated him to write the stories of some 50 people who lived and worked at Sotterley over 300 years.

The story of Sotterley Plantation began shortly after the founding of Maryland and continued over the next three centuries. It rose from humble beginnings, prospered in the age of tobacco and slavery, endured The Great Depression, and survived three wars, only to stumble toward imminent ruin until a generous fate brought both restoration and a renewed relevance for our time. Some who resided at Sotterley were socially prominent, though many were not. Some were free, while others were enslaved. Some were white, many more were black. Yet together their stories have much to tell us about the history of Southern Maryland and a maturing Chesapeake society.

The book is $17. To order, call Sotterley Plantation at 301-373-2280 or email Kim Husick at officemanager@sotterley.org.

Historical Society announces addition of Newtown Manor to List of Endangered Places

The St. Mary’s County Historical Society's nomination of the Newtown Manor House for the Endangered Maryland program, a partnership between Preservation Maryland and Maryland Life Magazine, was accepted as one of eleven endangered sites in Maryland for its 2010 program. All the sites are featured in the March/April 2010 issue of Maryland Life. A selection committee of preservationists from throughout Maryland evaluated the nominations based on a list of seven criteria, including:

- historic significance of resource,
- urgency of the threat facing the resource,
- feasibility of solution and usefulness of the Endangered Maryland listing,
- level of community support;
- geographic diversity;
- diversity of resource type, and
- diversity of threat.

The Newtown Manor House is thought to have been erected in the mid-18th century. The major threat to the structure is its slow deterioration from a lack of continuing maintenance. It is part of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Newtown Manor House Historic District in Compton. This mission is the oldest Catholic Church in English-speaking America. From this area of Newtown Neck and from other locations in Southern Maryland, English Jesuit priests conducted missionary activities among the Indians and ministered to the needs of the settlers beginning in the 1630s and 1640s. The St. Mary's County Historical Society felt that, by bringing attention and focus to this unique resource, progress could be made to preserve this wonderful historic building. The Historic District marks a location and site important in the 17th century ecclesiastical history of Maryland, as an example of a self-contained Jesuit community made self-supporting by a surrounding 700-acre farm. The Jesuit community recently sold that farm to the State of Maryland with the intent of developing a state park. In 1967, the Society of Jesus sold 7.5 acres to the Archdiocese of Washington, which included the old church and the House.

For more information, contact Susan Wolfe, Executive Director, St. Mary’s County Historical Society, by email at smchs@md.metrocast.net or by phone at 301-475-2467.

Second Savor St. Mary's Restaurant Week Kick-off Meeting

For locally-owned restaurants, caterers, food service providers, growers and wineries that were unable to attend the first Savor St. Mary's Kick-off Meeting, it's not too late to participate in Restaurant Week!

On March 1, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., there will be a meeting for possible Restaurant Week participants at Lenny's Restaurant in California, Maryland.  This is the second gathering of possible Restaurant Week participants and is intended to be a planning session as well as to encourage partnerships between area restaurants and growers who are now preparing for summer demand. If you would like to be part of this initiative or find out more, please come. There is NO FEE for attending and all are welcome.

Occuring twice annually, “Savor St. Mary’s” will feature a seasonal line-up of items locally grown and produced as presented through the creative interpretation of area restaurants. Kicking off this summer: July 25 – August 8, 2010, “Savor St. Mary’s” will highlight fresh seasonal produce and then again February 15th – 28th, 2011 will have an emphasis on local seafood and wine.

A collaboration between locally-owned restaurants, St Mary’s County Department of Economic & Community Development and the Division of Tourism, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) as well as locally-owned small businesses and community-minded individuals, “Savor St. Mary’s” was conceived in order to offer support to local agriculture, promote the area’s independent small businesses, and give back to the community.
A portion of the proceeds resulting from “Savor St. Mary’s will be donated to the two local kitchens; “St. Mary’s Caring” in Lexington Park, MD and the “Loaves and Fishes” ministry at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Leonardtown, MD, which provide food to the community’s hungry and homeless.

For more information about Restaurant Week, visit http://www.savorstmarys.com/ or contact Rebecca Deprey, St. Mary's County Division of Tourism, at 301-475-4200 ext. 1404 or Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com.

"FREE at Last! Black History Celebration!" Cancelled

Due to icy conditions at Sotterley Plantation, this weekend’s event, "FREE at Last! Black History Celebration!," will be cancelled. The snow date had been scheduled to take place this Saturday, February 20th from 10 am – 4 pm.  The concern is for the safety of all who visit the site. Sotterley Plantation hopes to reschedule this important event.

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

Don't Forget! Restaurant Week Kick-Off Meeting is February 8th

All chefs, restauranteurs, growers, or those involved in a civic organization or activity that is food-related are invited to the Restaurant Week Kick-Off Meeting from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on February 8th at Lenny's Restaurant in California, MD. This is the first gathering of possible Restaurant Week participants and is intended to be a planning session as well as to encourage partnerships between area restaurants and growers who are now preparing for summer demand. If you would like to be part of this initiative or find out more, please come. There is NO FEE for attending and all are welcome.

For more information about Restaurant Week, visit http://www.savorstmarys.com/ or contact Rebecca Deprey, St. Mary's County Division of Tourism, at 301-475-4200 ext. 1404 or Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com.

Legends and Lore Tours are Back!

The spirits have been restless as of late – more so than usual. On Saturday, February 27th, Education Director, Carolyn Hoey will lead guests on this eerie after-hours tour experience through the over 300 year old Mansion at Sotterley Plantation.

Over the past few years, the Legends and Lore Tours have grown in popularity, with visitors coming from both near and far. At various times, some have had “experiences” of their own while taking this tour. For those who have longed to hear about actual spirit sightings from past to present at Sotterley Plantation, this is the tour to take. Stories of unexplained happenings will be shared, providing guests with enough information to decide whether or not they believe.

Space on the tours is limited and participants must be ages 16 and up.  Tours cost $20 per person and begin at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.  Reservations are required!  Group tours available.

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

Restaurant Week Introductory Meeting on February 8th

All chefs, restauranteurs, growers, or those involved in a civic organization or activity that is food-related are invited to the Restaurant Week Kick-Off Meeting from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on February 8th at Lenny's Restaurant in California, MD. This is the first gathering of possible Restaurant Week participants and is intended to be a planning session as well as to encourage partnerships between area restaurants and growers who are now preparing for summer demand. If you would like to be part of this initiative or find out more, please come. There is NO FEE for attending and all are welcome.

Occuring twice annually, “Savor St. Mary’s” will feature a seasonal line-up of items locally grown and produced as presented through the creative interpretation of area restaurants. Kicking off this summer: July 25 – August 8, 2010, “Savor St. Mary’s” will highlight fresh seasonal produce and then again February 15th – 28th, 2011 will have an emphasis on local seafood and wine.


A collaboration between locally-owned restaurants, St Mary’s County Department of Economic & Community Development and the Division of Tourism, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) as well as locally-owned small businesses and community-minded individuals, “Savor St. Mary’s” was conceived in order to offer support to local agriculture, promote the area’s independent small businesses, and give back to the community.

A portion of the proceeds resulting from “Savor St. Mary’s will be donated to the 2 local kitchens; “St. Mary’s Caring” in Lexington Park, MD and the “Loaves and Fishes” ministry at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Leonardtown, MD, which provide food to the community’s hungry and homeless.
 
For more information about Restaurant Week, visit http://www.savorstmarys.com/ or contact Rebecca Deprey, St. Mary's County Division of Tourism, at 301-475-4200 ext. 1404 or Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com.