A Mid-Summer Faire at Historic St. Mary's City on June 20

On Sunday, June 20, Historic St. Mary’s City will host a Mid-Summer Faire. Commoners and gentry are invited to spend the day enjoying merriment, games, music, entertainment, and competitions inspired by the colonial past. Sawing contests, wooden-horse jousting, pig races, juggling, and more! Food will be available from vendors throughout the day. Festivities will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at each of Historic St. Mary's City’s living history sites. Admission is $10 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 6 to 12 years, and free for those ages 5 and younger.

For more information, visit http://www.stmaryscity.org/ or call the museum at 240-895-4990 or 800-SMC-1634.

River Concert Series Music Festival Starts June 18

The 2010 St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) River Concert Series concert season kicks off Friday, June 18, when accomplished jazz and classical pianist Jeffrey Chappell joins the Chesapeake Orchestra and music director Jeffrey Silberschlag to perform American composer Samuel Barber’s “Piano Concerto.” The concert also includes Robert Schumann’s No. 1 “Spring.” The weekly celebrations on the college’s Townhouse Green continue every Friday through July 30 with world-class music and a variety of food from local vendors. Gates open at 5 p.m. and concerts start at 7 p.m. These outdoor concerts are free and open to the public, and picnic baskets are welcome.

The first evening concert celebrates the special birthdays of Barber’s 100th and Schumann’s 200th. Pennsylvania-born Barber won the Pulitzer Prize twice, in 1958 for his first opera “Vanessa” and in 1963 for his “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.” Critics call Schumann’s “Spring,” written in 1841, “exuberant and lyrical” and “melodic.”

Pianist Chappell has performed throughout the United States and abroad in recitals and at chamber music events. He has been a soloist with the symphony orchestras of Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Denver, among others, as well as with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, the Missouri Symphony, and the Mississippi Symphony. His many appearances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra include concerts at Carnegie Hall and Wolf Trap Park. Chappell is on the faculties of Goucher College in Baltimore and the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C.

Silberschlag, music director and conductor of the River Concert Series, Chesapeake Orchestra, and the Italian Alba Music Festival, has recorded with the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, and Czech Radio Orchestra. His performances have been hailed by European critics as thrilling, compelling, and outstanding. Silberschlag has collaborated with such artists as Hilary Hahn, Lara St. John, Terence Blanchard, the Ahn Trio, and Jane Monheit.

For more information, visit the River Concert Series web site at http://www.riverconcertseries.com/ or call 240-895-3038.

Free At Last! Black History Celebration

Rescheduled from the Blizzard of February 2010! At Last, indeed! On June 26, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Sotterley Plantation is partnering with The Boeing Company to offer this important all day, free to the public event, as part of the 2010 Speaker Series: FREE at Last! ~ Black History Celebration!

As time passes, life changes. Learning from the tragic mistakes of the past, we come together as a community of FREE people. One of the ways to honor the past is to recognize: It should not be forgotten. Our reflection upon the past helps us to measure our progress and strive for improvement in the future. In the 1790’s, Sotterley held nearly 100 enslaved people, who were largely responsible for the prosperity of this once over 4,000 acre plantation. Today we honor the sacrifices, struggles, and survival of those who have been lifted.

For a full day, there will be character presentations, tours of the original 1830’s Slave Cabin, hands-on learning, children’s activities, and the soulful praising performances by the St. Peter Claver Choir at 11 a.m. and the Southern Maryland Gospel Choir at 2:00 p.m.

Sandi English will revive her 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 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.

Sotterley Plantation Education Director Carolyn Hoey will give Slave Cabin Tours featuring slave inventories, new findings from the 2009 restoration project of this important structure, and a hands-on exhibit of day to day tools and household items used by the slaves.

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

This event is free to the public.  For more information, visit http://www.sotterley.org/ or call 301-373-2280.

Fourth of July in St. Mary’s County

The Fourth of July weekend is always a special one in St. Mary’s County for residents and visitors.

The holiday weekend in 2010 will start for many on Friday, July 2 at the River Concert Series at St. Mary’s College. The July 2 concert will showcase the Chesapeake Orchestra and conclude with fireworks. On Saturday, July 3, the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department has an event-filled day planned and will launch fireworks after dusk. The Annual Independence Day Celebration and Concert will be held on Sunday, July 4 at Sotterley Plantation from 1-4.

The holiday weekend in St. Mary’s County will begin by “Summoning the Heroes” at the Lawn of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Jeffrey Silberschlag and the Chesapeake Orchestra welcome the 4th of July weekend with music of John Williams, George Gershwin and Sousa Marches, featuring Brian Ganz, piano, the Sax Quartet from the “President’s Own Marine Band” in P. Goldstein’s “Abundant Air” and Ian Chaava, Young Artist Concerto Competition runner-up PLUS Fireworks!! Additional information about the River Concert Series can be found at www.smcm.edu/rcs.

An old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration on July 3 is being staged at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department with live music by No Green Jelly Beenz from 7-11, carnival food and games in the evening and a car, truck and bike show during the day. A fireworks display is planned for dusk. For more information, call 240-925-7863 or visit http://www.hvfd7.com/.

The Independence Day Concert at Sotterley on July 4 will feature the Concert on the Lawn. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Members of Sotterley and military families are free; other visitors will be charged one fee per car. For more information on membership and Sotterley, log on to http://www.sotterley.org/.

Potomac River Maritime Exhibit Building and Kayak Launch Opens at Piney Point Historic Park

The Potomac River Maritime Exhibit Building and Kayak Launch at Piney Point Historic Park both open to the public on Friday, June 18 at 3 p.m. All are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour the new exhibits.

Located at 44701 Lighthouse Road in Piney Point, Maryland, the county park and indoor exhibits are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September. The grounds are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

The Potomac River Maritime Exhibit Building houses the collection of four historic wooden vessels on loan from the Paul Hall School of Maritime Training and Education. The collection is comprised of a 67-foot skipjack (Joy Parks), an 84-foot bugeye (Dorothy A. Parsons), a log canoe, and Potomac River dory boat. The new exhibits include the “Working Boats of Yesteryear.” This exhibit is anchored by the immense 81-foot bugeye. Adjacent to the Potomac River log canoe is the “Harvest and Hauls” exhibit.

Also new is the “Waterways of Southern Maryland’ exhibit that gives visitors an orientation to their location in our region and to the Chesapeake Bay. Two additional exhibits continue the story: “Watermen and Their Life” and “Seasonal Cycles.” A new exterior sign for the Exhibit Building will also be debuted. These exhibits focus on the life of the watermen who make their livelihoods working the waters of the Potomac for crabs, fish and oysters.

A new recreational resource – a kayak launch – has been installed on the creek side of the park grounds. The launch will accommodate kayaks and canoes and will be available during museum operational hours.

The Park also contains the Piney Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac River. The 35-foot lighthouse tower is open for climbing. The Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park is also accessible by boat, offering a sturdy handicap accessible pier with accompanying step down platform. The pier connects to the wooden boardwalk that surrounds the lighthouse grounds. The scenic riverside venue of the lighthouse park offers guests not only an aesthetic panorama and serene escape but comfortable benches and picnic tables to accommodate an extended visit.

This park and its exhibits are part of the county’s Department of Recreation and Parks Museum Division. For more information on joining the Friends of St. Clement’s Island and Piney Point Museums, a membership organization committed to supporting the county’s museums, contact Carol Cribbs at 301-769-2222. For more information on the museums, including directions and special events, call 301-769-2222 or log on to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Photos are available upon request.

Kirk Ranzetta to Sign Copies of "I'm Goin' Down County"

On Monday, May 24, 2010, from 10 am to 3 pm, author Kirk Ranzetta will be available to sign copies of I’m Goin’ Down County in the St. Mary's County office of Land Use & Growth Management.

St. Mary’s County, Maryland, the “Mother County” of the State, is blessed with an architectural heritage that speaks to the history of its past residents. From the earliest colonial buildings such as Sotterley Plantation and Ocean Hall to the historic hangars and aircraft testing facilities at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, the County’s historic buildings chronicle the exceptional events and the everyday lives that shaped the place that 100,000 people now call home. I’m Goin' Down County includes a historical narrative from the earliest periods of the County’s history to the present. This book weaves the churches, stores, residences, marine railways and boatbuilding shops, tobacco barns, camps, lighthouses, as well as schools into a story of how “countians” shaped, modified, and rebuilt the world around them to fit their needs. The volume also includes a detailed narrative of hundreds of historic properties located throughout the County. Profusely illustrated with black-and-white images taken of historic buildings, the book takes readers on an architectural journey through the oldest county in Maryland.

The St. Mary's County Department of Land Use and Growth Management is located at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown.  For directions, click here.

For additional information, contact Grace Mary Brady at 301-475-4200 ext. 1549.

Celebrate St. Mary's County's Heritage!

Mark your calendar now for St. Clement’s Island Heritage Day on Saturday, June 12.  St. Clement’s Island is the site of Maryland’s first colonial landing in 1634 and during Heritage Day, visitors will learn more about the founding colonists through fun interactive activities! 

Take a free boat ride aboard the historic wooden oyster buy boat to St. Clement’s Island, Birthplace of Maryland. Departures from the St. Clement’s Island Museum pier begin at10 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.  On the island, see the reconstructed Blackistone Lighthouse, a replica of the original built by John Donahoo in 1851, and the 40-foot commemorative cross dedicated by Governor Albert Richie in 1934 in honor of Maryland's 300th birthday, which recognizes St. Clement's Island as the birthplace of religious toleration in America.

Enjoy the scenic and natural beauty of the island, Potomac River, and waterfowl with a walk along the hiking trail or picnic at the pavilion or any of the tables dotting the island shore. The recreated Blackistone Lighthouse will be open and available for tours from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sun screen, and bring plenty of water (available for sale on the island and in the museum store). Pack a picnic lunch and bring the camera for some scenic and relaxing island fun!

The kids will enjoy playing heritage games and listening to the folk tunes of Joe Norris from noon to 2 p.m. Other participants include Frank Maio with information and gear of the colonial militia, Coby Treadway from Historic St. Mary’s City with hands-on learning about the Native Americans, and colonial reenactors portraying the island’s first owner Dr. Thomas Gerard and his daughter Elizabeth. Don’t miss author Pete Imirie signing his book “Touch the Wind” and sharing his fond childhood memories of St. Clement’s. Books are available for purchase in the museum store.

In addition, the St. Clement's Island Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is handicap accessible (the island is not handicap accessible). A 13-minute orientation film will give you a comprehensive history of the island and the building of the Blackistone Lighthouse replica. Admission to the museum is free for this event. Meet Maureen Appleby, an artist whose artwork depicts life near St. Clement’s Island. The Crab Claw Museum Store offers an array of unique gifts, souvenirs, home decor, clothing, jewelry, books, and so much more. 

Located on the museum grounds will be the St. Mary’s County Master Gardeners with free Black-eyed Susan seed packets and abundant information about how to raise and maintain Maryland’s official state flower.

The St. Clement’s Island Museum is located at 38370 Point Breeze Road in Colton’s Point, MD. For more information please call the St. Mary's County Museum Division at 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.