thursday,march 21, 2013 - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

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COUNTY NEWS The County Times Thursday, March 21, 2013 6 Non-Profit Funding To Stay Same By Alex Panos Staff Writer By a vote of 3-2, the St. Mary’s County commissioners elected to keep funding for non-profit agencies at the same level as last fiscal year. With commissioners Cynthia Jones and Larry Jarboe opposing the decision, $1.34 million will be used to fund last year’s qualifying non-profit organizations. No new entities will receive county funding this year, despite bids from Summerseat Farm, St. Mary’s County Art Council, Chesapeake Orchestra, St. Joseph Community Center, Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation, Center for Independent Living and Leah’s House to get on the list. Jones voted against the funding rates because of the uncertainty surrounding St. Mary’s County as sequestration looms. Jarboe, meanwhile, is against the decision because he is not certain all the agencies are non-profit. He said he would be more comfortable with professionally conducted audits, as opposed to the current system where groups submit their own audits to the board – some organizations skip sending in audits all together, according to the county’s Chief Financial Officer Elaine Kramer. Jarboe would prefer to award grant money where each agency is required to come before the board and explain what they plan to do with the money. “I would rather have some professionals look at it,” concurred Commissioner Dan Morris, “get the most bang for the buck.” However, Morris did not want to continue slashing funding as in the past because he anticipates the entire process to change next year. Joe Anderson, a spokesperson for the non-profit organization Vital Community Connectors, is relieved non-profits will not experience funding cuts this year as they did the previous two. The group was formed because he and many others in the community were concerned if they did not do something the county would again cut funding. From discussions last year, it was apparent to Anderson funding would again be cut. Vital Community Connectors initiated a public awareness campaign to present the commissioners with some “eye opening stats” of the economic benefits. Anderson says the group plans to continue efforts to get more agencies funded. The group sent the commissioners a large petition, signed by many people, explaining how non-profits allow the community and the economy to “thrive.” The group made an effort to show the commissioners how the agencies diversify the economy, and serve over 50,000 people each year. “These organizations enhance and augment many aspects of what makes St. Mary’s County special,” the letter states. “They [non-profit agencies] also provide a great return on investment of the counties tax monies,” Anderson said, noting for every $1 of funding the county grants, they see a return of $23. “We have a large impact on the community. We were very, very happy the vote turned out the way it did.” As for the $350,000 budgeted for the agencies not added to the commissioner’s non-profit list, the board moved the money to the Department of Economic Development. Russell says this investment, proposed by Commissioner Todd Morgan, will allow the board to utilize this money in the best way possible. All agencies must participate in the College of Southern Maryland’s Non- Profit Institute to receive funding. alexpanos@countytimes.net Commissioners Approve Construction and Renovations HISTORIC ST. MARY’S CITY MUSEUM Spring Season 2013 opens with MARYLAND DAY Free Admission Saturday, March 23 ~ 10am - 4pm Kids Crafts, Concerts, and much more. By Alex Panos Staff Writer The board approved St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission’s loan agreements on Tuesday, and construction has already begun between Great Mills Road and South Shangri-La Drive. The old sewer pipe is being replaced and a water line will be installed, which will serve the future site of the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. If the project is completed on time, Director of Community Development Corporation Robin Finnacom said, then the road, sidewalk, bike path and landscaping will begin in May. Spring Valley Apartments will open up 128 new apartments, including 59 Section 8 dwellings, after the board approved the use of Maryland state funds and state tax-exempt bonds to renovate the building. Executive Director of St. Mary’s County Housing Authority Dennis Nicholson called the building a “prime location” because of its proximity to the base. “The restoration will benefit to Lexington Park and the surrounding community,” he said. The Sheriff’s office sent a request for funds to help target third and fourth DUI offenders to participate in a drug rehab court. Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell approved and authorized as well as the execution of completing the emergency shelter features to Great Mills High School. The Commissioners recognized April as National Financial Literacy Month, and hosted students from Chopticon High School’s Finance Academy. alexpanos@countytimes.net Become a Member and Support Maryland’s History and Heritage Members receive free access to the museum, 10% discount in the gift shop and our newsletter A Briefe Relation visit www.stmaryscity.org or call 800-SMC-1634 Resurfacing Great Mills Road Beginning Monday, March 18 the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will resurface 2.5 miles of MD 246 (Great Mills Road) from St. Mary’s Square to MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) in the Great Mills area of St. Mary’s County. Work includes milling, resurfacing and restriping all through travel lanes as well as the MD 237 (Chancellor’s Run Road) tie-in with MD 246. All work will take place at night, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. During these hours a lane closure and flagging operation may be used to guide motorists safely through the work zone. An average of 18,000 vehicles travel this stretch of MD 246 each day. This work is being performed as part of a $6.1 million multiple-project “areawide” resurfacing contract awarded to Bardon/Aggregate Industries of Greenbelt. Major St. Mary’s County resurfacing projects already completed under this contract include MD 234 (more than five miles), MD 6 (more than one mile) and MD 238 (nearly four miles). SHA urges motorists to exercise caution while driving through work zones. Slow down, cooperate with other motorists during merges, and always be alert for changing conditions. Call 511 or log onto www.MD511.org for traffic information. Follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.
7 Thursday, March 21, 2013 The County Times By Alex Panos Staff Writer Maryland’s historical landmarks in St. Mary’s County will celebrate the state’s history this week. St. Clement’s Island Museum will host a commemorative program Monday, beginning at 11 a.m. Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Anthony Brown will be in attendance, Cullins continued, and the celebration is a tremendous opportunity for the community to meet him. Keynote speaker Julia King, professor from St. Mary’s College, will share her knowledge of one of Maryland’s first landowners Thomas Gerard. “It’s important to understand why we celebrate Maryland,” said Kim Cullins, the museums marketing specialist. Bushwood residents Jim and Gina Clifton will allow some of their artifacts to be on display for the patrons. Cullins admitted, St. Mary’s College is choosing which ones to display and even the museum is unsure of what artifacts will be on display. “We’re hoping they will tell the story of how he lived and the life of the colony at the time,” Cullins said. Cullins added, a 13-minute film will explain how Maryland was founded and the museum’s focus of the day is to tell the “history of the island in total.” Historic St. Mary’s City is featuring a living history exhibit. Wilkinson encourages children to celebrate by flying kites, an original colonial past time and great opportunity to take advantage of March’s winds, in the “great big open fields,” beginning at 10 a.m. The official program is slated for 1 p.m., when dignitaries will take the stage and the Ceremony of Flags will take place – children will carry flags to the stage representing each county in Maryland. Pageantry and the ceremony highlight the day, says Wilkinson. Cheryl LaRoche, keynote speaker and professor at University of Maryland, will discuss reasons to look beyond “big stories” in history, according to the museum. Wilkinson believes people will enjoy the “great celebration,” and will be enjoyable to many patrons to visit the site after the winter. Participants of the kite flying activity are required to bring their own materials. The holiday, which has been a statewide celebration since 1903, commemorates the original colonists landing in Maryland in 1634. Historic St. Mary’s celebrates during the weekend closest to the original landing date, March 25, while St. Clements Island will be recognizing the holiday on Monday, March 25. The holiday signifies the start of the spring and summer season for both museums. Historic St. Mary’s City will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, while St. Clement’s Island will now be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Contact info@stmaryscity.org or call 240-895-4990 for more information on Historic St. Marys and call 301-769-2222 or visit stmarysmd.com for the event at St. Clement’s Island Museum. alexpanos@countytimes.net COUNTY NEWS Museums to Recognize Maryland Day Kids will have the opportunity to fly kites, one of Maryland’s oldest pastimes, at historic St. Mary’s City on Saturday. Correction The County Times ran an article last week citing St. Mary’s official tourism site as visitstmarys.com. The correct site is visitstmarysmd.com. Canadian Imports U.S. Natural Gas Processing U.S. Petroleum Refineries DID YOU KNOW… Primary Above Ground Storage Propane is 270 times more compact as liquid than as a gas, making it highly economical to store and transport. Propane is readily stored in large tanks and underground facilities and is shipped by pipeline, rail, or truck to thousands of secondary storage facilities throughout the U.S. Tanks used in smaller bobtail delivery trucks and larger highway transport vehicles have capacities that range from 3,000 - 12,000 gallons and are built of thick, high-strength steel. ? Other Imports Primary Storage Pipeline Transport Propane is delivered from nearly 10,000 bulk plant storage facilities to millions of customers throughout the U.S. Primary Underground Storage Today's Propane Distribution Network Secondary Storage These bulk plants consist of one or more steel tanks, with typical capacities of 18,000 to 30,000 gallons each. • 90 barges and tankers • 6,000 transports • 9,778 bulk/storage distribution points • 25,000fuel delivery trucks (bobtails) • 22,000 railroad tank cars • 70,000 miles of pipelines • 162,000 cylinder refiners (such as hardware stores, gas stations, campgrounds) • 47,500 employees Rail Bobtails + Transports Engine Fuel for LPG Fleets Agriculture Residential Industrial Commercial Global Exports 12% Taylor Gas Company, Inc 21541 Great Mills Road Lexington Park, MD 20653 (301) 862-1000 or 1-855-764-(4GAS) 4427 www.taylorgascompany.com
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