Colonial Faire to celebrate 250 years of Maxwell Hall

The Crossroads of Hughesville Garden Club has announced a Colonial Faire to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the historic Maxwell Hall property in Charles County at 17388 Teagues Point Road in Hughesville on Saturday, Oct. 13, according to a news release.

The celebration will begin with family-friendly activities at 10 a.m. and run through 3 p.m. Daytime events are free to the public. The evening event, Tavern Night, begins at 5 p.m. and is for adults only. The Tavern Night is a fundraiser for the Hughesville Garden Club. Tickets for the Tavern Night must be purchased by Sept. 28.

The schedule of events includes a history of Maxwell Hall at 11 a.m.; colonial period music at 11:30; First Maryland Regiment of the Continental Line demonstration, noon; a Hessian reenactment, 12:30; Calvert Arundel Swordsmen demonstration, 1 p.m.; and Native American storytelling, 1:30. There will be other ongoing demonstrations as well as food and a marketplace.

For more information, contact Rose Gazarek at rosegazarek@gmail.com, or phone 585-233-6265. Checks for Tavern Night at $60 per person can be mailed to Hughesville Garden Club, P.O. Box 403, Hughesville, MD 20637.

The Crossroads of Hughesville Garden Club supports home gardening, floral design, civic beautification, conservation, and the environment in the Southern Maryland

SMECO holds 80th Annual Meeting

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) held its 80th Annual Meeting on Aug. 29 at its headquarters in Hughesville. The board of directors election was conducted by mail prior to the meeting, according to a news release.

The following SMECO members were elected to serve on SMECO’s board for three years: Samuel “Jack” Hammett of Calvert County; Fern G. Brown and Kenneth L. Dyson of Charles County; and W. Rayner Blair III and William R. Cullins III of St. Mary’s County. Several bylaw amendments were also included on this year’s ballot, and all of them were passed, according to the release.

To allow more time for printing annual meeting notices and ballots, one of the bylaw amendments adjusts the deadline for nominations for board of director candidates. Additional amendments provide guidelines for any future online voting that the board may consider for SMECO’s annual meeting. Because of a misprint on the ballot, votes for one of the proposed amendments to the bylaws were not counted. If approved by the board of directors, that proposed amendment will appear on the ballot next year.

In 2016, SMECO members voted to amend the bylaw that outlines requirements for meetings and voting, and this is the second year the election was conducted entirely by mail. Ballots were mailed on July 26, and customer-members were instructed to return their ballots by Aug. 22. Members who returned their ballots were eligible to win one of 36 electric bill credits of $50 each. More than 6,000 members voted, and election results were announced at the meeting.

Richard A. Winkler, chairman of the SMECO board of directors, welcomed SMECO’s members to the event and called the meeting to order, according to the release. SMECO’s president and CEO, Austin J. Slater Jr., explained that an electric cooperative’s members have the ability to vote each year for their representatives who serve on the board. While SMECO has approximately 138,000 customer-members, in 2016 only 882 members registered to vote, and 16 percent of those voted by absentee ballot.

In other matters, Slater said that SMECO completed installing 167,000 smart meters at homes and businesses throughout Southern Maryland last year. SMECO expects the new meters to improve outage response times, increase efficiency and save money.

A capital credit general refund of $3.7 million was issued to members last month. Slater explained that SMECO’s margins for 2017 totaled $23.4 million, and all of those funds were allocated to members’ capital credit accounts.

According to Slater, “We continue to focus heavily on cost reduction and performance improvement, and we have racked up some significant cost reductions of $4.2 million since we began a concerted effort in 2017.” Earlier this year, SMECO was able to refinance $135 million at a ver y favorable interest rate of 4 percent through the private placement market. “Establishing this source in the capital markets allows the cooperative to obtain financing without onerous and costly government requirements,” Slater said.

More than 5,400 SMECO customer-members have had solar panels installed. SMECO continues to receive about 12 applications per week from customer-members who want to install solar power at their home or business.

Below are the results of the voting:

• Calvert County (one seat available): Samuel “Jack” Hammett, 5,022 votes.

• Charles County (two seats available): Fern G. Brown, 3,660 votes; Kenneth W. Cross, 3,207; and Kenneth L. Dyson, 3,686.

• St. Mary’s County (two seats available): W. Rayner Blair III, 4,868 votes and William R. Cullins III, 4,928.

SMECO was incorporated in 1937 and is one of the 15 largest electric cooperatives in the United States with more than 165,000 member accounts in Charles, St. Mary’s, southern Prince George’s and most of Calvert counties.

Leadership Maryland applications due Oct. 31

Leadership Maryland, the professional development program dedicated to building a better state by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders, reminds potential applicants that all applications for the Class of 2019 must be submitted online at www. LeadershipMD.org by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, according to a news release.

Leadership Maryland’s selection committee will choose 52 applicants to complete an eightmonth hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. The Class of 2019 will be announced in early February.

Applications are open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in their careers or their communities. Ideal applicants will have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and a personal commitment to be a force for positive change in their organizations, their communities and their state. The chosen class will reflect a cross-section of the state by including diversity of geographic location, profession, age, ethnicity and gender.

To be considered, application packages must include:

• completed application, available online only at www.LeadershipMD. org;

• paid application fee of $250; • two references; • one letter of recommendation;

• authorizing official statement from applicant’s supervisor or CEO (unless applicant is self-employed or are their own supervisor); and

• professional color photo.

Anyone with questions may contact Leadership Maryland at 410-841-2101 or email Info@LeadershipMD.org.

Mulch loading ends Oct. 27 at Piney Church Road facility

Saturday, Oct. 27, will be the last day residents can have mulch loaded at the Piney Church Road Mulch Facility for the season. Residents can continue to self-load mulch while supplies last:

• Breeze Farm Recycling Center, 15950 Cobb Island Road, Cobb Island: Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Pisgah Recycling Center, 6645 Mason Springs Road, La Plata: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Piney Church Road Mulch Facility, 5370 Piney Church Road: Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call the Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division, at 301-932-3599 or 301-870-2778. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.

Health department announces flu immunization clinics

The Charles County Department of Health has released its schedule for free flu immunization clinics. Flu Mist will not be available, according to a news release.

Additional evening clinics in schools throughout the county have been scheduled in order to accommodate those parents that wish to have their children immunized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a

yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible, according to the release.

The remaining clinics are as follows:

• Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, 2040 St. Thomas Drive, Waldorf.

• Thursday, Oct. 18, 3 to 7 p.m., La Plata High School, 6035 Radio Station Road, La Plata.

• Thursday, Nov. 1, 3 to 7 p.m., Piccowaxen Middle School, 12834 Rock Point Road, Newburg.

• Saturday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Charles County Dept. of Health, 4545 Crain Highway, White Plains.

• Thursday, Nov. 8, 4 to 7 p.m., Smallwood Middle School, 4990 Indian Head Highway, Indian Head.

• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 3 to 7 p.m., Thomas Stone High School, 3785 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf.

• Thursday, Dec. 13, 3 to 7 p.m., Charles County Dept. of Health, 4545 Crain Highway, White Plains.

For additional information about flu clinics, go to www.CharlesCountyHealth.org, or call the Charles County Department of Health at 301-609-6900.

Business network brings Speed to fundraiser

The Southern Maryland Business Network is hosting High Energy and Comedy with Speed to raise money for Charles County Crime Solvers.

Speed, the original “high energy magician and illusionist,” is known for his hyperactive and fun modern performance style. He has performed over 4,200 live shows up and down the East Coast and Canada over the past 23 years.

The event will include heavy hors d’oeuvres by Apple Spice Junction, desserts by Spring Dell Center and a cash bar.

The fundraising show is Oct. 20 at the Family Life Center, Grace Lutheran Church/School, at 1200 Charles St. in La Plata. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at smbn. org or by calling Cindy at 301-374-9059.

Volunteers needed for Christmas Connection program

Christmas Connection is a volunteer and interagency partnership providing holiday cheer to seniors and families in need. The Charles County Department of Community Services leads the “Adopta-Senior” portion of the project and is seeking volunteers to prepare and deliver holiday food baskets to seniors who have been determined to be financially needy and without support of family at the holiday time, according to a news release.

Individuals wishing to volunteer should call the Department of Aging at 1-855-843-9725 or 301-9349305, ext. 5737, by Friday, Nov. 2. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.

Hinkle hired as chief of tourism

Charles County Administrator Michael D. Mallinoff announced Kellie S. Hinkle as the chief of tourism. Hinkle will begin her employment with Charles County Government on Monday, Sept. 24, according to a news release.

As chief of tourism, Hinkle will be responsible for implementing marketing programs designed to increase the economic impact of tourism in Charles County. She will promote county tourism events and sites, facilitate special events designed to attract visitors, and maintain contact with area attractions and tourist/visitor services.

Hinkle has expertise in assisting agricultural and rural businesses with the development of business plans and securing financing to start or expand operations. She most recently served as the acting assistant director for the Loudoun County (Va.) Department of Economic Development. She previously served as an agricultural development officer for that department and the Jefferson County (Va.) Development Authority. She has a background in marketing and teaching.

Hinkle holds a master of science degree in agricultural and environmental education from West Virginia University and a bachelor of science degree in plant and soil science from West Virginia University.