Calendar designed to catch attention, raise some funds

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

They got the idea from the 2003 movie, "The Calendar Girls."

As volunteers with the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Auxiliary, Pamela Kuniecki, president of the auxiliary, and Georgia Wheeler, an auxiliary member, are always looking for fundraising ideas.

When they saw "The Calendar Girls," a movie set in England about a women's group effort to raise funds for a local hospital — an effort that involved the middle-aged women posing nude for a calendar — Kuniecki and Wheeler were intrigued.

Why not apply that idea to the fire department and rescue squad in Valley Lee?

They suggested a tamer version of the fundraising calendar to the department. In general, they expected calendar models to keep at least most of their clothes on. People liked the idea, according to Mike Wilson of Great Mills, Kuniecki's husband, who is a volunteer at the Valley Lee facility and the department photographer.

Last year, the department produced its first calendar. "It was a learning experience," Wilson said.

The department now has copies of its latest calendar, the 2010 version. And department volunteers are hoping that members of the community, particularly residents of areas served by that department, show their support by stopping by the station and buying one of the latest calendars. "They're available now," Wilson said. "They make great Christmas presents."

The calendar features members of the department and auxiliary according to different themes — women of the calendar committee in fishnet hose for January's photo, firehouse couples for February, tech center graduates for June and military veterans that volunteer with the department for November.

But December is the month that will raise some eyebrows — and that comes closest to the calendar's original inspiration. The month of December features some of the longest-serving volunteers at the station — Puggy Russell, Fuzzy Knott, Ray Carter, Greg Adams and Larry Proctor — decorating a Christmas tree in an eye-catching, shirtless photo. The men are clothed only in Santa hats and fire department pants with red suspenders.

"Well, everybody likes that picture," Wilson said. "That is the picture everyone looks forward to every year."

The calendars are being sold by donation, with the hope that the community will be generous in its support of the fire and rescue volunteers. The calendar is available by stopping by the firehouse on Wednesday nights or by contacting Wheeler at 301-994-1960.

Wilson noted that many other fire and rescue departments in the county are producing calendars, some as fundraisers, some just for in-house use. He encouraged area residents to support their local department by purchasing one of those calendars. For more information, visit www.sdvfdrs.org.

Exhibit to be featured at Piney Point

The Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park will present a holiday exhibit "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to be viewed at the lighthouse keeper's quarters. The exhibit will showcase Christmas as it would have been celebrated in five different time periods. Visitors can view a nostalgic variety of Christmas trees, ornaments and holiday music. Museum staff and volunteers will offer tours of the exhibit, museum, lighthouse and maritime exhibit and the lighthouse tower will be open for a climb to the top.

The museum and holiday exhibit will be open noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 and daily from Dec. 26 through Jan. 3. Admission is $3 per adult, $2 for senior citizens and military personnel, $1.50 for children 6 to 18 and free for children 5 and younger.

All are invited to the museum's Christmas open house on Sunday, Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park is is located at 44720 Lighthouse Road in Piney Point. The museum, maritime exhibit and grounds are handicap accessible. For more information, call the museum at 301-994-1471.

St. Michael's to sponsor home tour

St. Michael's School Holiday Home Tours will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. During the tour, homes and businesses in the community will be on tour in an "open house" format. Tickets are $10. Stops include Maryland's Old State House, Mary's Hope, Woodlawn and a living nativity at T&A Farms. Call Jacqui Cooper at 301-872-5047 or e-mail her at cooper594@md.metrocast.net.

Holiday plants for sale for school

St. Michael's School Holiday Plant Sale, sponsored by St. Michael's Catholic Church, St. Cecilia's Catholic Church and St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, will offer several holiday plants for sale to benefit the school.

Poinsettias of various sizes and colors, 6.5-inch potted Christmas cactus of various colors and 6.5-inch potted amaryllis of various colors are available.

All plants are nursery grown at Radebaugh and Sons Greenhouses.

For more information or to order, call Linda Yeatman at 240-258-5043.

Nutrition program run by stimulus funds

The St. Mary's County Department of Aging is now providing meals to residents of New Towne Village, a 35-unit, residential community for seniors age 62 and older and adults with disabilities.

The nutrition program also provides meals at the three county senior activity centers and the Ridge nutrition site.

The department of aging began providing meals two days each week to the New Towne Village residents in September.

A part-time AmeriCorps member has been approved for hiring by the St. Mary's County commissioners, which may allow the meal service to be expanded to five days a week.

The department serves mid-day meals, Monday through Friday, which provides one-third of the daily nutritional requirements for an older adult.

Meals are planned by a dietician and are prepared by a contracted food provider. Meals are served without cost to persons age 60 and older; however, donations to help defray the cost of meals are strongly encouraged.

To eat lunch at one of the county's senior activity centers, call the center by noon the day before to make a reservation.

Call Garvey Senior Activity Center at 301-475-4200, ext. 1050; Loffler Senior Activity Center at 301-737-5670, ext. 1652; Northern Senior Activity Center at 301-475-4002, ext. 1001; and the Ridge site at 301-475-4200, ext. 1063.

To view the department's monthly lunch menu, visit www.stmarysmd.com/aging and click under "Forms & Publications."

School to offer automobile in raffle

St. Michael's School in Ridge is raffling a 2000 Honda Civic with 65,000 miles. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25. The car is currently at the school.

For more information about the car raffle to or to purchase tickets, contact the Rev. Lee Fangmeyer at 301-872-4321.

Registration available online for programs

Online registration is now available for recreation leisure activities, including youth and adult classes, gymnastics, aquatics, indoor sports, camps and trips. Account payments will also be accepted beginning Dec. 2

Preregistration is required. Visit www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate and click on "On Line Registration."

Forrest center invites Santa to breakfast

Area residents are invited to join the students and staff of the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center for their annual breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 8 to 11 a.m., at the school in Leonardtown. Santa will arrive at 8:30 a.m.

The morning will include a breakfast prepared by the Forrest center's culinary arts students.

Cost for breakfast is $8 per adult and $4 per child (ages 3 to 11). An omelet bar will be available for an additional $2. Santa's Workshop will be available for children to purchase small gifts for less than $10. Children will be assisted by Forrest center students.

In addition, students from the center's graphic communications program will be on hand to photograph children with Santa for a small fee, and students from the TV/video production program will be available to record holiday greetings on CDs for $7 and DVDs for $8.

New this year is a gingerbread man decorating room. For $2, attendees will have a chance to decorate their own gingerbread man.

Proceeds will benefit the Forrest center's student programs and SkillsUSA chapter. For more information call 301-475-0242.

Thomas Stone class seeks alumni

The Thomas Stone High School Class of 1995 is looking for classmates for its 15-year reunion to be held Aug. 14, 2010, in Alexandria, Va. E-mail TSHS95@gmail.com, or go to the Facebook group "TSHS Class of 95: 15-Year Reunion" for more information.

scraton@somdnews.com