Commissioners hope to send local pictures to troops

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

County spokesperson Mark Volland sent out a press release this week asking for help from the family and friends of military personnel. There are no lists of information from the U.S. military, so the county is depending on submissions of names and contact information.

"The people and places of Calvert County can have a powerful hold on the memories of those who have lived and grown up here. Those memories can be especially acute for active duty military personnel stationed far from their homes," stated the release.

The commissioners are making available a special CD of images from the recent Focus on Calvert Photo Contest. The collection features images of the county's bucolic scenery and affable citizens taken by local shutterbugs, according to a press release.

"The idea came from Commissioner Jerry Clark," said Danita Boonchaisri, marketing/communications specialist with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development. "He, along with [Commissioner] Susan Shaw, was at the reception in July [for the photo contest winners]. He saw the photos and the turnout and thought it would be a good idea to send those photos to our troops who may be missing the scenery in Calvert County … CDs cost pennies to make these days, and we thought this would be an easy way to do something for our local troops."

Boonchaisri said the photos, nearly 200 in all, depict many barn scenes, marinas, farm animals, people having fun, "all the things you would typically think of in Calvert County."

The department of economic development is administering the project and needs help in identifying local active duty military personnel.

"We were attempting to find listing of servicemen and women, but the military doesn't make that public," Boonchaisri said.

Friends and family of those serving can e-mail the department to pass on the names and addresses of their loved ones or request a CD of images, which can be picked up at the economic development office. Photo collections sent by the department will include a letter of thanks for the recipients' courage and dedication.

Service member information or CD requests may be e-mailed to info@ecalvert.com.

Lighthouse Challenge set for this weekend

The Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society and the Maryland Lighthouse Organizations will host the 2009 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge — "Celebrating Maryland's 375th Birthday" on Sept. 19 and 20.

The award-winning driving tour will take participants to some of the most beautiful sites in Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Throughout the weekend, enthusiasts are invited to visit Chesapeake Lightship, Concord Point, Cove Point, Drum Point, Fort Washington, Hooper Strait, Piney Point, Point Lookout, Seven-Foot Knoll and Turkey Point.

Receive the event brochure at the first lighthouse visited, which includes driving instructions to all the lights. Receive a complimentary souvenir at each lighthouse; lighthouses may be visited in any order and it is not necessary to visit all of them to participate, according to a press release. Enthusiasts visiting all 10 lights within the allotted 20 hours will receive a special commemorative souvenir to mark their accomplishment.

Custom Lighthouse Challenge socks for $9.95 will be available exclusively at the Calvert Marine Museum store. Socks may also be purchased by calling the store at 410-326-2750.

Once again, two bonus lights are being offered — offshore Sandy Point Shoal (to be viewed offshore from Annapolis), and the recently constructed Blackistone Lighthouse replica on St. Clements Island. This island is where colonists first landed in 1634.

For more information about the 2009 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge, go to www.cheslights.org.

Beagle Rescue to host Beagle Bash

Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland Inc. will host its fourth annual fundraiser and alumni celebration "Beagle Bash" on Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at Countryside Kennels in Owings.

Beagle Bash is a free event celebrating all things beagle and features a variety of activities in a securely fenced area for off-leash fun and play, including: canine good citizen testing; swimming and lounging by the doggie swimming pool; games and contests (Cake Walk with Your Beagle, Best Look-a-Like, Best Bugler, Dancing with the Hounds and more); raffles and free goodies; food and drinks for hungry and thirsty hounds and humans; professional pet photographs.

"Beagle Bash is a wonderful event for the entire family, both the two and four-legged members, that helps raise funds for the care of our beagles all year long," said Mara Melton, founder of Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland Inc., in a press release. "Our volunteers are able to reconnect with our dogs who have found their forever families and celebrate their hard work and dedication to finding loving and safe homes for the dogs that come to Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland."

Countryside Kennels is located at 9214 Boyds Turn Road in Owings. For more information about Beagle Bash, call 301-934-3616 or e-mail beaglebash@beaglemaryland.org.