Inaugural Senior Expo to highlight local resources
The Senior Expo, presented by Southern Maryland Newspapers and sponsored by Network of Care, the Charleston Senior Community, Regent Healthcare, Travel Leaders Waldorf and Dr. Mullin’s Hearing Center will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Middleton Hall, 4505 Renner Road, Waldorf. This event is free and open to the public.
The Senior Expo showcases 25 vendors representing resources including lifestyle, wellness, housing, aging in place, finance, real estate, legal, medical and many others.
“This event is a live extension of The Senior Resource Guide, an annual directory published in coordination with the county offices of aging and Maryland Access Point (MAP) offices,” said Betsy Griffin, senior expo director. “Attendees will have the opportunity to have face time with each vendor to ask personalized questions to the experts featured in the resource guide.”
A speaker break out schedule has sessions
The GUIDE summer edition available on June 7
The summer edition of The GUIDE will be available online Wednesday, June 7, at www. CharlesCountyParks.com. The GUIDE is a resource listing current activities being offered in Charles County. The GUIDE features classes, youth camps, sports programs, aquatic programs, amusement park discount tickets, historic sites and places to visit within the county, along with opportunities to experience the outdoors.
Online registration for most programs is available. Go to www.facebook.com/CharlesCountyParksRecreation, www. charlescountymd.gov/ rpt/recreation-parks-tourism or call 301-932-3470 for more information. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 866-269-9006.
‘Chasing the Dragon’ screening set for June 21
The public is invited to attend a free screening of “Chasing the Dragon,” a 45-minute documentary about opioid and heroin addiction, 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21 in the Charles County Government Building Commissioners Meeting Room, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata. This film chronicles how drug abuse devastates lives and draws attention to the prescription drug and heroin epidemic in the United States.
“Chasing the Dragon,” a joint production of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, was created to raise awareness about heroin and opioid abuse. The documentary contains several case studies of people who became addicted to opiates themselves or had family members who were addicted. This movie includes adult content and is not recommended for children younger than 12.
Following the screening, representatives from the Department of Emergency Services, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, University of Mar yland Charles Regional Medical Center and the Charles County Department of Health will address the topic of opioid abuse in Charles County and how their agencies are addressing this crisis.
The Charles County Department of Health will offer an overdose response training, to include instructions on how to administer Narcan (naloxone). Naloxone is a drug used to treat narcotic overdose in an emergency situation. Each attendee will receive a free NarcanTM (naloxone) kit; access to naloxone could be the difference between life and death.
Go to http://conta.cc/2siqYpe to register for the free screening of “Chasing the Dragon” and for the Naloxone training. Registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accepted if space allows.
For additional information or questions, contact Erica Rizor at RizorE@CharlesCountyMD.gov or 301-645-0553. Citizens with special needs may contact the Mar yland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.
Army veteran organization to hold reunion
The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at any time. This year the association will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the division which was formed in France during World War I. For information about the association and the annual reunion in Arlington, Va., from Sept. 13-17, contact Secretary-treasurer Bob Haynes at 2idahq@comcast.net, call 224-225-1202, or go to www.2ida.org.
SMECO applies for rate reduction
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) submitted a filing to the Maryland Public Service Commission on May 31 to reduce its base energy charges by more than 10 percent for residential customers. If approved, the lower rates will go into effect with August 2017 bills.
Austin J. Slater Jr., SMECO president and CEO, said in a press release, “Our residential base rate for August will be the lowest it has been in 12 years. Base rates for all customers — commercial accounts, schools, government buildings, and churches — will be reduced across the board. The base rate for an average residential customer with 1,300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of monthly usage will be nearly $9 less in August than in July.”
SMECO’s Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate is made up of the energy charge and the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). On SMECO’s monthly electric bills, lower power supply costs have consistently been reflected in the PCA, which has been a credit for 30 of the last 34 months.
“We work diligently to manage SMECO’s power portfolio. We purchase energy using a combination of long-term and short-term contracts, as well as base load and peak load contracts. Lower rates can make a huge impact, especially on facilities that use a lot of energy,” Slater added. “When SMECO reduces energy costs, those savings are passed on to customers — that’s the value of a cooperative.”
SMECO’s base residential energy charges for summer will decrease by 8.76 percent, from 7.53 cents per kWh to 6.87 cents per kWh. Summer energy charges appear on bills rendered May through September. Base residential winter energy charges will be reduced from 8.13 cents per kWh to7.2 cents per kWh, an 11.44 percent reduction. The reduction for winter and summer months combined total about 10 percent on average.
The PCA, which changes monthly, is a credit of 0.4727 cents per kWh for June. The combination of the base energy charge and the PCA credit effectively reduces the SOS rate from 7.53 cents per kWh to 7.0573 cents per kWh.
Exhibitors sought for 2017 Celebrate Charles: A Fun-Filled Fourth
The Charles County Office of Tourism invites local businesses, artisans, and food establishments to participate in the “Best of Charles County” showcase at the 2017 Celebrate Charles: A Fun-Filled Fourth. A Fun-Filled Fourth will be 4:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, at Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf.
Artisans, crafters, and food vendors are invited to sell goods, and showcase their talents. Spaces are available for $10. Space includes one 10 feet by 10 feet area, one 8-foot table, and two folding chairs. Register today to secure a spot. Registration is available online at
www.CharlesCountyMD. gov/CelebrateCharles. Nonprofit organizations interested in participating should contact Rachel Ammerman at AmmermaR@CharlesCountyMD.gov or 301-6450601.
For more information, go to www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, or contact Rachel Ammerman, Promotions Specialist, at 301-645-0601 or AmmermaR@CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.