St. Mary's briefs

Environmental review information for bases available

The Department of the Navy and the US Environmental Protection Agency, with concurrence from the Maryland Department of the Environment, are beginning a five-year review of existing Record of Decision documents and ongoing remedial (environmental cleanup) actions at the Webster Outlying Field, and completed the sixth five-year review of existing Record of Decision documents and ongoing remedial actions at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. A review is required for remedial actions which result in any hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants remaining at a site at levels that do not allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.

The review for the Webster Outlying Field contains information on one Munition Response Site: UXO-0001 Former Aerial Bombing Range. The Navy will submit draft findings to MDE in June. The final report will be made available to the public in September.

The completed review for the NAS Patuxent River contains information on the multiple environmental restoration sites. The final report has been reviewed by EPA and MDE and is available to the public.

For more information, contact the Public Affairs Officer Patrick Gordon at patrick.a.gordon10.civ@us.navy.mil. Environmental documents are available for review at the NAS Patuxent River public website at https://go.usa.gov/xSjbt and the Webster Outlying Field Public Webster Administrative Record site at https://go.usa.gov/xSjbJ/.

Oral histories of Lexington Park ‘Flat Tops’ now available online

The St. Mary’s County Historical Society, in partnership with St. Mary’s County government, recently announce the digitization of the Lexington Manor Oral History Collection, which is now available to the public on the St. Mary’s County Historical Society website at www.stmaryshistory.org.

The collection features eight interviews with former residents of the Lexington Park and Lexington Manor “Flat Tops” neighborhoods, both from their early days as WWII and post-WWII Navy housing for civilian contractors.

For more information, contact the historical society at 301-475-2467.

Crime Solvers accepts tips

St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers allows people to submit anonymous tips related to alleged crimes in the county. In some cases, rewards up to $1,000 will be given for information leading to the arrest of criminals.

To submit a tip, call 301-475-3333 or text TIP239 along with the message to CRIMES (274637).

Environmental awards winners announced

The St. Mary’s County Commission on the Environment recently announced the 2023 St. Mary’s County Sustainability Award winners. In the school category, the winner was Father Andrew White and honorable mention went to the Elms Environmental Education Center, Maryland Master Naturalist Program. In the nonprofit category, the winner was Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development and honorable mention went to St Mary’s River Watershed Association.

Father Andrew White school began a food waste program midway through last school year, in late winter to spring of 2023. Victoria Rutherford manages the school’s kitchen, and when she noticed food being discarded due to absences, she partnered with the school nurse, a volunteer at Summerseat Farm, to devise and implement a plan to reduce food waste. They collected leftover or spoiled food appropriate for the farm animals to eat.

Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development in 2023 launched several educational programs. Sunday Eco-School, held at the Barns at New Market in Mechanicsville, was designed to provide free environmental education for all ages. RC&D also started a virtual Winter Seminar series presented by experts in the field.

For more information on the Commission on the Environment, visit stmaryscountymd.gov/coe.

Pax River moves to 100% ID checks

Naval Air Station Patuxent River has instituted a 100% ID check policy for all personnel entering the base. While the Trusted Traveler Program remains in effect, all vehicle passengers must present valid state or federal government ID in order to gain entry to the base.

This is an added security measure intended to protect the personnel and assets of NAS Patuxent River, according to a release from the base.

Fore more information about base access, visit https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Patuxent-River/About/Visitor-Information/Base-Access/ or call the Pax River Visitor Control Center at 301-342-3231.

Charter school student wins third in state poster contest

The top three prizes have been awarded for the 2024 Maryland Fifth Grade Arbor Day poster contest, sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Grace Birch of Chesapeake Public Charter School in Lexington Park won third place and a prize of five trees. Second place, with a prize of 10 trees, was awarded to Riya Dholakia of Emmorton Elementary School in Bel Air. And, Edison Lee of Rockford Elementary School in Elkridge won first place and the school will receive 15 trees for planting.

Tourism group names new executive director

The board of directors of Visit St. Mary’s MD last month named Liz Mildenstein as its executive director. Mildenstein assumed the role at the nonprofit tasked with promoting St. Mary’s County as a destination for visitors. Mildenstein comes to Visit St. Mary’s with 15 years of experience supporting the U.S. Department of Defense as a communications professional. She has worked for multiple programs at Naval Air Systems Command in various communications roles.

For information about travel to and around St. Mary’s County, go to VisitStMarysMD.com.

Land trust adds acres to conservation

With the addition of 413 acres in mid-February, Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust closed on its newest conservation easement. The property belonging to the Greenwell Catholic Trust on Jones Wharf Road in the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area contains numerous wooded tracts and abuts tidal water and open waters at the mouth of Cole Creek on the Patuxent River. Several woodland trails along ridges and side slopes allow hunting and waterfront access. For more information, visit www.PTLT.org.

Libraries in need of ‘memory lab’ donations

The St. Mary’s County Library is seeking donations for its memory labs at each of the library branches. The memory labs will allow patrons to take their physical memories and make them digital. VHS tapes, cassettes, film negatives, slides, photos and documents can all be converted to digital files in just a few simple steps.

If you have any of the following items in good working condition that you’d like to donate, you can bring them to the nearest St. Mary’s County Library branch. Items needed include VCRs and DVD players; camcorders that play Video8, Hi8, Digital8 and MiniDV; and audiocassette, CD players reel-to-reel players. Donations will not be returned.

For more, go to www.stmalib.org/library-services/makerspace-at-leonardtown-library/memory-lab/.

Mulch available for free at landfill

St. Mary’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation continues to offer free mulch for residents to pick up from the St. Andrew’s Landfill. Mulch is available for residents to pick up between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, as supply allows. Residents are responsible for the loading and delivery of the mulch. Bring a shovel, pitchfork or similar hand tool to load the mulch and a tarp to cover the load if necessary. More information, call 301-863-8400 or go to www.stmaryscountymd.gov/dpw.

Roller skating offered at Leonard Hall

Family Skate is offered at the newly renovated Leonard Hall Recreation Center in Leonardtown every Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. Entrance is $5 per person and skates are available to rent for $2.50 or bring your own skates.

Online registration is available at stmaryscountymd.gov/recreate, click the Online Registration button and then choose Special Events. For more information, call 301-475-4200, ext. 1800, or email webtrac@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Lexington Manor Arts Park plan announced

St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation & Parks has partnered with the St. Mary’s County Arts Council in the development of an Arts Park Plan for Lexington Manor Passive Park. The park is home to multiple events throughout the year, including the annual Juneteenth Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival, 5k runs and other community gatherings. The park is also home to the Southern Maryland Disc Golf Course; the U.S. Colored Troops Memorial and Interpretive Center; and attracts many visitors that enjoy a picnic, walk, jog, stroll or bike ride.

The Lexington Manor Art Park Plan is available at www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/LMAPP.pdf to view. For more information, contact Arthur Shepherd at arthur.shepherd@stmaryscountymd.gov or Susie Glauner at director@smcart.org.