The Annual Tradition
Even in this digital age, the old-school practice of following the year month by month — and enjoying a lovely scene each month with room for jotting down notes — is worth preserving. Consider these locally conceived calendars for yourself, as stocking-stuffers or as New Year’s gifts.
Baltimore Orioles Pet Calendar
The boys of summer paired up with adorable pets and shelter animals for 15 months of pinups. Proceeds from this calendar, presented by Pet+E.R., benefit the nonprofit BARCS — Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter. The Orioles have helped raise more than $320,000 for the shelter the past seven years. $15 online, at Oriole Park and the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria: http://m.mlb.com/orioles/tickets/info/pet-calendar.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
The Foundation’s annual calendar for members features the winners of the 13th Save the Bay Photo Contest. The competition received more than 1,400 submissions illustrating the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Kevin Moore’s photo of a paddle boarder in Annapolis won the honor of first prize. (Moore was also the winner of the DNR calendar contest). See these award-winning photos of the Bay region from Pennsylvania to Virginia, from the Shenandoah Mountains to the Eastern Shore each month, when you make a donation of $25 or more. www.cbf.org/2019calendar.
Chesapeake Beach
There may not be a better local calendar on this list than the one produced by the Town of Chesapeake Beach. All the info you need is right here: tides, moon phases, town hall meetings, holidays and important phone numbers on every page. We can’t reveal the pages to you. That’s top secret until the winners of the town’s photo contest are announced December 20. Free, Chesapeake Beach Town Hall: 301-855-8398.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
If you love our state and all the amazing wildlife and wild places it encompasses, this calendar needs to be on your wall. The 13 photos (one each month, plus the cover shot) are winners of DNR’s annual photo contest. The competition is demanding. More than 4,300 photos were submitted by more than 800 photographers, shattering last year’s record of 1,500 photos. This year’s grand prize-winner was Baltimore County photographer Kevin Moore’s photo of a little blue heron. Squares are a decent size with important fishing, boating and hunting dates noted. $9.99: www.shopdnr.com
Prince George’s County Senior Service
Created by the Prince Georges Department of Parks and Recreation, this calendar features a year of healthy inspiration for seniors. Each month depicts residents living their best lives at an area park or senior center. It’s pre-filled with holidays and special events at the six senior activity centers for those over the age of 60. Great for the grandparents, this calendar reminds us we have the power to “Change the way you age.” Free at any senior activity center or the Division Office in Greenbelt: www.pgparks.com.
U.S. Naval Academy
Photographer Bob Peterson specializes in landscape and architecture photography and is especially fond of his Annapolis hometown. His annual calendar of the Academy features some of his favorite scenes in the yard and from the water. “This is my third year creating a calendar. I started when the mother of a midshipman suggested I create a calendar from all of my photos.” $10: www.bob-peterson-photography.com.
The Calendar You Make Yourself
The best calendar you can give is the one you make yourself. Turn your digital photos into an amazing gift at many local or online sites that let you upload and personalize your own printed wall, desktop and poster calendars. Then your loved ones can see your smiling face on their wall every single day for months.
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