Democrats note passing of longtime party activists

THIS ‘N' THAT

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009

Patricia Ann Woodburn, 75, of Leonardtown died last Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital. The real-estate agent's role in local politics also included supporting other candidates and reaching out to help people in general.

"She always wanted to do the very best she could for the county and all the constituents," said Sal Raspa, a county school board member who served with Woodburn on the central committee in the 1980s. They were both also members of the St. Mary's Democratic Club.

"She always came out and worked the polls" on election days, Raspa said, "and supported the Democratic Party."

Earlier this month, Doris L. Cunningham Bean, 75, of Valley Lee died on Sept. 11 at the hospital. She also was a member of the central committee and was a past president and treasurer of the club.

Robert L. Hall, a retired sheriff's lieutenant and past chairman of the central committee, remembered Bean as an advocate for other women entering politics.

"She was an outstanding and faithful Democrat who exemplified the advancement of women, both as an individual and as a role model and mentor for other women," Hall wrote. "She represented and protect[ed] the interests of working Americans."

Raspa said Bean was instrumental in helping Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th, Md.) get to know his Southern Maryland constituency after congressional redistricting in the early 1990s. "She had gatherings at her house when Steny first came into the county," Raspa said.

Hoyer and other Democratic elected officials were listed last week as honorary pallbearers at Bean's funeral.

Tractor-trailer rescue drill set for weekend

Firefighters and rescue crews from throughout Southern Maryland will participate in a Big Rig Rescue Level 1 training program today and tomorrow, Saturday, at the Mechanicsville firehouse and Chaney Enterprises' Waldorf plant.

The program coordinated by Bret Krabbe of the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and Charley's Crane Service of Landover, and presented by Billy Leach Jr., the co-author of "Big Rig Rescue," is designed to teach personnel the safest and most efficient rescue techniques involving big rig and small car collisions.

Classroom exercises to be held at 5 p.m. today at the Mechanicsville firehouse will cover topics including air bag lifting systems, timber cribbing and strut support operations, a five-step discipline of overturns, under-rides and fundamentals of winching.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Chaney Enterprises plant on Acton Lane in Waldorf, fire and rescue personnel will engage in five scenarios involving auto collisions with a concrete mixer, an overturned tanker, a bobtail trailer, a school bus and a semi-truck. At the end of the training, participants will see an air cushion demonstration using multiple airbags to assist in uprighting an overturned semi-truck with a box cargo trailer.

Scheduled participants include fire and rescue crews from Mechanicsville, Hollywood, La Plata, Prince Frederick, Waldorf, St. Leonard, Hughesville and Hyattsville.

For more information, call 301-932-5665 or go online to www.ChaneyEnterprises.com.

Church to offer Oct.1 spaghetti dinner

St. Paul's Lutheran Church is offering fellowship to all from 5:30 to 7 p.m. next Thursday, Oct. 1, with a free spaghetti dinner. The church is located behind 84 Lumber, at 37707 New Market Turner Road in Mechanicsville.

Sheriff's academy begins on Thursday

The St. Mary's Sheriff's Office's Fall Citizens Academy Class, providing an inside look into the agency's day-to-day operations, begins its seven weekly 6 to 9 p.m. sessions next Thursday, Oct. 1. Anyone interested in participating can still apply to reserve a seat by contacting Kelly Castle at 301-475-4200, ext. 1910, sending e-mail to kelly.castle@co.saint-marys.md.us or going online to www.firstsheriff.com.

Health care forum set

A forum on the state of health care in St. Mary's, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of St. Mary's County, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the county commissioners' meeting room of the Chesapeake Building, next to the main governmental center building in Leonardtown.

Panelists will include Christine Wray, president and CEO of St. Mary's Hospital; Dr. William Icenhower, St. Mary's County health officer; and Ella May Russell, president of Health Share and St. Mary's director of social services. There will be a question-and-answer period following presentations by the panelists. This forum will not address the current health care insurance bills under consideration by Congress. For more information, see www.smc.lwvmd.org.

Farm-Life Festival set for Oct. 10, 11

The 12th annual Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival will be held Oct. 10 and 11 at the John K. Parlett Farm-Life Museum on New Market-Turner Road in Charlotte Hall.

The family event features more than 60,000 square feet of indoor historical exhibits and demonstrations. Included will be a power tractor parade on both days at noon, children's events and crafts, a petting zoo, Southern Maryland Mini Pullers, Southern Maryland Antique Power Association Tractor Pull, National Lawn Mover Association event and a Saturday afternoon auction. Also on Saturday, the Lipizzaner Stallions will perform as part of their 40th anniversary tour, courtesy of Flat Iron Farm. The stallions also can be seen at the farm in Great Mills from Oct. 16 to 18, to benefit Hospice of St. Mary's.

Local bands will provide live musical entertainment on both days of the festival.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students and no charge for children age 5 and younger. Present a Discover St. Mary's Value Card for $1 off adult admission.

The St. Mary's Hospital Health Connection van will be at the event both days, giving flu shots at a cost of $20, payable by cash or check.

Antique sellers and crafters can rent 10-by-20-foot spaces for $25 per day, or $40 for both days. For more information on rentals, call Julia Bohle at 301-884-5678 or send e-mail to jbohle@md.metrocast.net.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit Christmas in April St. Mary's County.

For more information on the event, call Darene Kleinsorgen at 301-290-1621 or send e-mail to barnaby@md.metrocast.net.

Callaway school to hold Oct. 10 auction

The King's Christian Academy in Callaway has announced its annual autumn fund-raising auction, to be held Oct. 10 in the multi-purpose facility on the school's 193-acre campus.

The school has added a one-hour preview time, at 9 a.m., before the auction is held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donations to the auction come from school families, friends and local businesses. Auctioned items include furniture, artwork, gently used or new household items, time-share vacations and gift certificates.

The school is located at 20738 Point Lookout Road in Callaway, just south of the intersection of Route 249 and Route 5.

For more information, call 301-994-3080.

jwharton@somdnews.com