Features (All)

Article - News; by Angela Worland - 1/24/13

Taking the Plunge

I may be crazy, but I know what I’m wearing

With several inches of snow on the ground and more steadily falling, I watched from the sidelines of the 2010 Polar Plunge. Who, I wondered, would be crazy enough to run into the Chesapeake Bay in the middle of winter? For the 2013 Plunge, I’ve answered that question. I am. On Saturday, January 26, I will join 12,000-plus plungers for a quick dip in the Bay at Sandy Point State Park to raise money for Special Olympics Maryland. ...

Article - News; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/17/13

Happy 40th Birthday Maryland Watermen’s Association

Celebrate at the annual Trade Expo

Maryland Watermen’s Association celebrates its 40th birthday at the association’s annual East Coast Commercial Fishermen’s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition Jan. 18 to 20 in Ocean City. Commercial and recreational fishermen will find a marine extravaganza at the Expo: boats, engines, fittings, fishing gear, equipment, clothing, aquaculture demonstrations and even maritime art and cuisine. Nearly 100 exhibitors show their wares, from model boats to real ones...

Article - News; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/17/13

15,000 Butterflies for 15,000 Children

CSM honors the child victims of Terezin

Think spring by creating a handcrafted butterfly to help the College of Southern Maryland stage I Never Saw Another Butterfly. The play tells the story of Raja, one of 132 survivors from the 15,000 kids who went to Terezin. Nazis disguised the World War II concentration camp with flowerbeds and concert venues to deceive International Red Cross inspectors. There Raja created an imaginary world with flowers and butterflies to give him and other children...

Article - Creature Feature; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/17/13

This Week’s Creature Feature ... Trash-Talking...

Student-artists show why turtles and balloons make a bad couple

When the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response team found Kermit washed ashore, the small green sea turtle was wasting away. X-rays showed balloons and plastic bags blocking Kermit’s throat. Kermit and many turtles like him inspired the students at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach to use the trash to get people talking. The student-artists created turtles stuffed with the balloons collected on the beach to demonstrate what turtles swallow. ...

Article - People; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/17/13

Band Dodges Tragedy — Twice

After two members survive cardiac arrest, music keeps Telesma alive

Last spring, Ian Hesford dropped to the stage from cardiac arrest while playing a show with his band, Telesma. After 93 minutes of CPR, a hypothermic treatment and stents in his heart, Hesford survived. Knowing CPR saved their friend’s life, band members and dedicated fans took classes. Telesma vocalist Joanne Juskus didn’t realize how soon she would put that training to the test. In the middle of the night November 5,...

Article - Gardening; by Gail Martinez - 1/10/13

From Your Garden: Still Growing

Winter Cauliflower

I am at best a haphazard gardener. To my delight, I recently discovered these cauliflower, which I had given up for a loss, the leaves a lacy design after the insects had eaten their fill. I am amazed and feel the thrill of the winter gardener. I made cauliflower-cheese soup with this small head. –Gail Martinez, Fairhaven

Article - News; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/10/13

Ready, Aim, Shoot

Your photos of weekend high tides will help CoastSmart see into the future

January 9 thru 13, Maryland’s tides will rise higher than usual due to the alignment of sun, moon and earth. CoastSmart Communities wants you to illustrate the rise. Snap photos showing high water and submit them to www.flickr.com/groups/ MarylandKingTide. The collection of images will give CoastSmart Communities, an initiative of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, a crystal ball look into what sea level rise. Foreknowledge means plans can...

Article - Creature Feature; by Rick Dove - 1/10/13

This Week’s Creature Feature ... Snow Bird

Rufous hummingbird thrives in winter

My procrastination finally paid off. Long after the summer visitors to my hummingbird feeder had departed for their winter home, my feeder hung like a lone beacon in the leafless maple tree. I’ll get around to it, I kept telling myself. While I was lazily watching out my window a flash of tan caught my eye. Then again. What was it? I knew it was some kind of hummingbird, but why was it here this time of the year? My bird guide confirmed it was a...

Article - Green Living; by Michelle Steel - 1/10/13

Money Down the Well

By the glass, water’s cheap. Not so when you have to drill 260 feet for it

Water is pretty cheap in the United States: 61 cents a day supplies each of us with our daily ration of 123 gallons of water. Cheap enough that we take it for granted, until the well runs dry. That’s the day dreaded by every well owner, and there are lots of us. Public water is a blessing of urban and suburban communities. Rural communities still use wells. In Calvert County, where I live, approximately 15,400 out of roughly 34,150 households draw their water from...

Article - News; by Ashley Brotherton - 1/3/13

New Town America

How fifth graders are taking over

Fifth graders are taking over the world in 2013. They’re starting at Junior Achievement’s BizTown. In Central Maryland, BizTown is one of the nationwide organization’s approaches to teaching financial skills to kids of all ages. BizTown is a real place, a 10,000-square-foot city with its own micro-economy. The town has a mayor’s office, newspaper, Bank of America, café, real estate office, Toyota dealer, insurance company, Northrup...