Marbury to host Fishing League Worldwide Tour
The seventh and final regular-season event of the 22nd season of the Fishing League Worldwide Tour, FLW, the most competitive circuit in professional bass fishing, is coming to Marbury June 15-18 for the FLW Tour at the Potomac River, presented by Costa Del Mar. Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament will feature 320 pros and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.
The FLW Tour last visited the Potomac River in 2015, when pro Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, took top honors with a four-day cumulative weight of 60 pounds even. This year, local pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, said he expects a lot more weight to come from the tidal fishery.
Schmitt said areas like Chicamuxen Creek, Wades Bay, Aquia Creek and Nanjemoy Creek will be popular because they tend to harbor the cleanest water.
Schmitt said an assortment of baits including soft-plastic worms, jigs, frogs, stickbaits and swimbaits will be featured in this event. The Maryland veteran predicted the winner will need as much as 80 pounds of bass over four days to secure the win, a major increase in weight from just two years ago.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. each day from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road, in Marbury. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at Smallwood State Park beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weighins will also be held at Smallwood State Park, but will begin at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, fans are invited to come out and experience the free FLW Expo at Smallwood State Park from noon to 4 p.m. The FLW Expo is a great opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meetand-greet with top FLW Tour anglers, enjoy games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Youth are also invited to participate in the free FLW Foundation Unified Fishing Derby at Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, on Saturday, June 17, from 9-11 a.m. The event, hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, is free and open to area youth (18 years of age and younger) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for the first 50 participants to use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weighin, while the top 20 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, the world-championship of professional bass fishing. The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 11-13.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Costa Del Mar is more than $800,000, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Costa Del Mar will premiere on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 20 at noon.
For complete details and updated information, go to FLWFishing.com.
AVIAN, CSM partner to provide workforce training
Avian LLC and the College of Southern Maryland marked a new partnership at a ceremonial signing at the CSM Leonardtown Campus May 22.
CSM signed a collaborative training agreement with AVIAN’s commercial training group, AVIAN Institute, to offer three new workforce development and training courses at CSM’s Leonardtown Campus beginning fall 2017.
The courses were developed to bring immediate value to the Southern Maryland community, corporate peers and service members in the fleet. The three course offerings available at CSM this fall include “NAVAIR, Simplified;” and “Cyber Awakening and Flight Test: The Discipline.” These courses provide the “so-what” and “why” of naval aviation acquisition, a look at the realities of the modern cybercriminal and the basics tenets of flight test.
All course developers and instructors are retired U.S. Navy test pilots, flight-test engineers, contracting officers, and NAVAIR program managers and team leads.
AVIAN has offered Workforce Development and Training services to the Department of Defense and commercial clients since 2009. Since then, AVIAN has created more than 60 customer unique training courses and instructed over 200 classes to over 10,000 students at 16 client sites throughout the United States.
Md. Humanities receives $25K from Old Line Bank
In support of its programs Chautauqua and Maryland History Day, Maryland Humanities has recently been awarded a $25,000 sponsorship from a new corporate partner, Old Line Bank. The sponsorship will support upcoming Chautauqua performances in Baltimore and Charles counties, and next year’s Maryland History Day program.
Maryland History Day, coordinated since 1999 by Maryland Humanities, is an engaging, yearlong educational program in which students showcase their historical research through research papers, performances, exhibits, documentaries, and websites. More than 27,000 middle and high school students from 18 counties and Baltimore City participate in the History Day program each year. Maryland History Day is open to Maryland public, private, parochial, and homeschool students in grades 6 through 12.
Chautauqua is an annual living history performance series taking place this year from July 5 through July 14 in seven counties throughout Maryland. For its 23rd season of Chautauqua, Maryland Humanities is observing the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War One. Free and open to the public, each show begins with live local musical and theatrical acts. Question and answer sessions follow living history performances by actors/scholars, which spark spirited conversation and provide educational family fun. This summer audiences will meet W.E.B. Du Bois, General John Pershing, and President Woodrow Wilson.
County board, committee, commission vacancies open
The Charles County Commissioners are seeking county residents to fill vacancies on several boards, committees, and commissions.
The Compensation Committee reviews the salaries of elected judges of the Orphans’ Court and elected county commissioners and recommends modifications to compensation, if any, to the commissioners on or before Dec. 1.
The Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board hears appeals from Charles County property owners, who disagree with the values assessed by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and appeals concerning local tax credits, local taxes and other local tax matters. This is a governor-appointed board, which the commissioners nominate citizens for the governor’s consideration.
The Board of Licensed Commissioners (Liquor Board) reviews and approves the issuance and renewal of liquor licenses in Charles County and establishes penalties for violations. Seeking District 2 residents only at this time.
The Area Council on Aging promotes the welfare and betterment of Charles County senior citizens by working actively and cooperatively within the community, develops awareness and understanding of concerns and develops community support for programs that benefit and support the senior citizen population.
The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council establishes and implements plans, strategies and priorities for alcohol and drug abuse evaluation, prevention and treatment services.
Additional vacancies include: Adult Public Guardianship Review Board; Alarm Review Board; Animal Matters Hearing Board; Board of Social Services; and Heritage Commission.
Positions will remain open until filled. A separate application must be submitted for each vacancy. Go to www. CharlesCountyMD.gov for applications and a detailed list of all current vacancies, or contact Carol DeSoto, Senior Commissioner Specialist, at 301-645-0691 or DesotoC@CharlesCountyMD.gov.
Independence Day celebration to be held at Regency Furniture Stadium
Spend Independence Day with family and friends at the 2017 Celebrate Charles: A Fun-Filled Fourth 4:309:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 4, at Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf. Event schedule: 4:30 p.m.
Best of Charles County Marketplace opens
Celebrate Charles Family Fun Zone opens
Music by No Green Jellybeenz 6:35 p.m.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game vs. Sugar Land Skeeters 8 p.m.
Music by Sam Grow 9:30 p.m.
Fireworks Display Admission and parking are free. Family Fun Zone wristbands are $5 each. There are additional fees for marketplace, food, and drink purchases.
Additional parking will be available at St. Charles High School, 5305 Piney Church Road. Seating outside the stadium is limited. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
Guests who purchase game tickets will receive a complimentary
wristband for the Family Fun Zone. To purchase tickets, call 301-638-9788, or go to www.SoMDBlueCrabs.com.
For more information, go to www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CelebrateCharles, or call the Crain Memorial Welcome Center at 1-800-766-3386. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Inaugural Senior Expo to inform local aging population
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 that include topics such as estate liquidation, healthy hearing, poor circulation, affordable housing and rental assistance, and assisted living.
Complimentary hearing tests, brain games and a raffle to win a seven-day cruise to Florida and the Bahamas will be available on site. For the full schedule of speakers, topics and presentation times, go to www.somdnews.com and click on the Senior Expo icon. For information on being an exhibitor at the Senior Expo, contact Brook Ash at 240-5611390. For general information, contact Tim Matis at 410-770-4157 or email tmatis@chespub.com.
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.
WTTG FOX 5 Zip Trip returns to Waldorf July 7
WTTG FOX 5 Zip Trip will broadcast live at O’Donnell Lake, 10400 O’Donnell Lake, Waldorf, beside Waldorf West Library and St. Charles Companies in Waldorf between 6 and 11 a.m. on Friday, July 7.
This is a “drop in” event; audience members may come at any time and are not required to stay for a specific duration.
WTTG FOX 5 Zip Trip is part of the weekly Friday series that highlights the best spots to visit around the D.C. region. This event will include on-air personalities and crew who will broadcast live at O’Donnell Lake.
For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 301885-2779, ext. 2779, or FuquaD@CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Mar yland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.
‘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 Maryland 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 Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.