Cavalier - Calvert County

News for Calvert County Government Employees
Volume IV, Issue V
March 1, 2013
Calvert County
Courthouse
Blood Drive is
March 5
March is Red Cross
Month. Be an American
Red Cross everyday
hero when you help save
lives by giving blood or
platelets, volunteering
or taking a lifesaving
skills class.
The next Calvert County
Courthouse blood drive
is scheduled for Tuesday,
March 5 from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. The Bloodmobile
will be at the County
Services Plaza at 150 Main
Street in Prince Frederick.
The Board of County
Commissioners has
approved up to one
hour (plus travel time)
of administrative leave to
those employees wishing
to donate blood.
Additional blood drives
scheduled for this
year will be held on
Wednesday, June 19,
Wednesday, Sept. 18, and
Wednesday, Dec. 18.
If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact
Dina Davis in Personnel
on extension 2382.
Carl Brown, center, accepts his proclamation as Employee of the Month from the Board of County
Commissioners, including, from left, Gerald Clark, Steve Weems, Evan Slaughenhoupt Jr. and Susan Shaw.
Carl Brown is Employee of the Month
Emergency Planning Specialist Carl Brown has been named the March Employee of the Month by
the Employee Recognition Committee (ERC).
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, Brown’s
expertise in emergency management strategies was sought out by
Andrew Schook, a research analyst at Washington Core LLC. Schook
reached out to Brown on behalf of the Tokyo Electric Power Company
(TEPCO) and asked about planning and response in the U.S. Brown
offered plans and programs to Schook, then helped schedule an on-site
meeting in the Calvert County Emergency Operations Center with
representatives from Calvert County Emergency Management and
Constellation Energy.
Brown has continued to provide planning and public outreach
perspective, including programs for day care centers, schools and parks
for response to incidents at any fixed nuclear facility. Schook said that
because of Brown’s help, his organization was able to put together a
detailed report for the people at Japan Nuclear Emergency Services.
Brown went above and beyond his duties as the planning specialist
for emergency management and that is why his department nominated
him for Calvert County Employee of the Month.
During the proclamation presentation on Feb. 26, Brown deferred the praise to his co-workers.
“This is work that’s done every day in emergency management,” Brown told the Board of County
Commissioners. “No one person can do great things. It takes a team and I certainly have that with my
co-workers and my bosses.”
Brown’s supervisors, Public Safety Director Jackie Vaughan and Emergency Management Division
Chief Bobby Fenwick, both spoke about Brown during the presentation.
MILESTONES
New Hires
Lamont Q. Howard
Truck Driver, Solid Waste
Mary F. Layman
Payroll Specialist, Finance & Budget
Ellen B. Simpson
Risk Management Assistant, Finance & Budget
TIMOTHY FRIDMAN
The Employee Recognition
Committee is pleased to
announce that Timothy is
the March birthday winner!
The lucky winner receives
a $25 check and
two movie tickets
compliments of
Apex Cinemas in
Prince Frederick.
IN BRIEF Office on Aging
Maryland Law Day
Wednesday, May 1
Calvert Pines, North Beach and Southern Pines senior centers
The three senior centers, in conjunction with a local law office, will offer free preparation of an Advance Directive.You
must be at least 50 years of age. Call your local senior center to schedule an appointment.
Calvert Pines Senior Center - 410-535-4606/301-855-1170
North Beach Senior Center - 410-257-2549
Southern Pines Senior Center - 410-586-2748
Intergenerational Summer Camp
July 15-19 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Calvert Pines Senior Center
Enjoy a week of activities with your elementary-age grandchild(ren).You can
select two classes each day. A brochure with class selections will be available
at all three senior centers in mid-March. Some of the classes include Amazing
Super Heroes, Wacky Games, Lego Mania, Sports Zone, Ceramics and more.
Fee is $35 per grandparent/grandchild pair and $15 for each additional
person. Fee includes all supplies and one free DVD. This camp is extremely
popular and fills up fast. Registration forms must be received by
May 25. Make checks payable to Calvert Pines Senior Council. For more
information, contact Sandy Marquess, Sally Schofield or Keri Lipperini at
410-535-4606 or 301-855-1170.
WRITING TIDBITS Working Together to Fix Common Mistakes in Our Writing
Let’s work together to fix common mistakes in our writing. Email us at employeenews@co.cal.md.us with
suggestions for future tidbits.
Use these tips in your everyday life, not just in communication with coworkers and
constituents, and they’ll become habit.
You almost never mean: infamous. You almost always mean: famous.
The rich and famous are widely known (and wealthy). But the rich and infamous have a
reputation of the worst kind (... and money, which doubtless has dubious origins). Another way
to look at it: Unless Aunt Donna’s chocolate chip cookies are notoriously evil and disgraceful,
they are famous, not infamous.
You might say: evoke.You might mean: invoke.
A photograph evokes emotion; a joke evokes laughter. Evoke means “to elicit or call forth.” Save
invoke for when you mean “to call on a higher power, petition for support or implement.” For
example, “Allison invoked Robert Frost for her first assignment” or “The principal invoked the aid
of the teachers.”
You might say: uninterested.You might mean: disinterested.
Careful writers who wish to convey a lack of bias want to use disinterested. Writers who don’t care about grammatical
subtleties are uninterested.
All best offers considered for the following items. For specs and pictures, email tvaudio@comcast.net.
King Comforter Set, $300. New, in original packaging (more than $600 value). Croscill Classics “Concerto” set includes
one king size comforter (oversized and overfilled), two king shams, dust ruffle, pole top drapery (82 by 84 inches), valance
(88 by 14 inches) and a shower curtain. Beautiful taupe/cream background with deep purple, deep green and cream flowers.
Hatteras Hammock and Side Table, $260. Mint condition. Classic green and white stripes reversing to a solid forest
green color with removable pillow. Can be hung in its forest green powder-coated stand (assemble in 10 minutes) or
freestanding. Made in USA.
Vintage Bookcases, $75/pair. Two bookcases measuring 30 inches wide by 38 inches high by 11.75 inches deep.
Beautiful, heavy and solid with detailed trim and three shelves. Medium to dark finish.
Mission-style Solid Wood Three-Position Chair with Ottoman, $200. Solid wood chair with ottoman will lay flat
for sleeping. Stuffed cushions with washable cotton covers. Chair footprint is 31 by 30 inches. With ottoman extends to 79
by 28 inches.
Storage Bench, $45. Measures 33 inches wide by 25 inches high by 12 inches deep. Bottom shelf. Medium stained pine.
Grillin’ Prep Table, $70. Beautiful 2.5-inch slatted cedar prep/serve table. Measures 3 feet wide by 22 inches deep by 34
inches high. Has bottom and back shelves and a 12- by 14-inch hidden removable tub.
Pet/Kid Circus Wagon, $45. Measures 16.5 inches wide by 25 inches long by 20.5 inches high. Unique and whimsical with
bright paint colors and cutouts for access and fun. Made in the USA.
Vintage Oak Child’s Rocking Chair, $30. Natural finish.
Vintage Maple Potty Chair with Removable Porcelain Pot, $30.
Norma Buas, Circuit Court, buasnc@co.cal.md.us
Send your Trading Post items to employeenews@co.cal.md.us.
Please note that all items will be posted for two consecutive newsletters only.
ON TAP Calvert Marine Museum
First Free Friday
Friday, March 1 (5-8 p.m.)
The museum is open and free to the public. Harmony Grit
performs at 6:30 p.m. Bob Augustine, Terri Nevins, Sam
Bauman and Anneliese Augustine combine their talents in
a “musaic” of beautiful harmonies complimented by guitar,
mandolin, fiddle, banjolele, bass, harmonica and cello.
Sea Squirts - Special Guest from Southern Library
Thursday, March 14 (10:30-11 a.m.)
Special guest Robert Gatton from Southern Library in
Lusby will present a themed county story time. Free but
space is limited to 40 people. Preregistration is suggested.
Call 410-326-2042, ext. 41, to register. This event is
sponsored by PNC Bank.
PEM Talks: Buy Local - The Sustainable
Food Movement
Thursday, March 21 (7 p.m.)
Greg Bowen, who grew up on a tobacco farm
in Calvert County, will share the surprising
progress and challenges in the local food
movement in Southern Maryland. This will be a
great opportunity to learn where to find local
food sources and get the latest news about
the local food movement. Greg helped create
the Calvert County Sustainable Agriculture
Awards, helped sponsor numerous agricultural
workshops and helped form a local food
group called Calvert Eats Local. In the museum
auditorium. Free.
EMAIL TIPS Suggestions to Prevent Common Email Problems
Want to do a better job of emailing coworkers and county residents? We’re offering some
tips that will prevent common email problems.
Don’t use special formatting, backgrounds, colored text or emoticons. Many feel
they’re unprofessional.
Double check for correct email addresses and attachments. Avoid being
embarrassed or disseminating proprietary information.
Be clear in the subject line. Briefly explain the content of your message to prevent people
from ignoring your emails.
From the Division of Emergency Management
Protect Against Hearing Loss
Approximately 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work, according to National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Hearing damage caused by exposure to loud noise may occur long before
changes in hearing are perceived.
Lost hearing due to noise is permanent and cannot be reversed. NIOSH recommends
taking the following precautions to prevent permanent hearing loss in the workplace:
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Use feasible noise controls such as enclosures, coated chains and isolators.
Maintain and lubricate equipment.
Inform management about worn or broken noise controls and noisy machinery.
Clean and maintain fan silencers.
Replace or repair defective mufflers.
Use remote controls for machine operation.
Limit time in noisy areas by rotating with co-workers.
Turn off equipment when not in use.
Wear hearing protection such as expandable foam plugs, canal caps or earmuffs when exposure to noise is anavoidable.
PRACTICAL TIPS from the Office of Personnel
Personnel Needs YOU! Serve on an interview panel
What is the role of an Extra Panel Member (EPM)?
The role of the EPM is to serve as an impartial member of
the interview panel and provide additional objectivity to the
process.
Who qualifies to be an Extra Panel Member?
The EPM will be someone outside of the hiring department,
and, whenever possible, someone whose job is similar
in nature to the one for which the interviews are being
conducted. The EPM may be an employee, someone from
another jurisdiction with a similar position or a subject
matter expert from the public.
Who selects the Extra Panel Member?
Personnel recruits the EPM. Selection of appropriate EPMs
ensures that interview panels reflect the diversity which may
exist among the pool of candidates being interviewed.
How can I become an Extra Panel Member?
Employees interested in serving as an EPM are invited to
attend EPM training presented by the Office of Personnel
on Thursday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to noon in the County
Services Plaza, Conference Room No.102.
Contact Melanie Woodson at 410-535-1600, ext. 2402, or woodsomd@co.cal.md.us.
Around Town ... Calvert County Events Calendar
Family Program: Salamander Soiree
Saturday, March 2 (1:30-3:30 p.m.)
Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm
Don’t miss this great opportunity to
explore one of the lesser known Calvert
County Natural Resource Division areas the Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm. We’ll hike
through the woods to search for vernal
pools and streams fed by spring rains and
look for spring wildflowers and amphibians
along the way. Wear your rain boots and
wear clothes that can get muddy. This hike
may not be suitable for children under the age of 5 as it
will be off-trail on uneven ground.
War of 1812 Exhibit Barn
Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
Enjoy the new War of 1812 exhibit as well as the farm
equipment and “12,000 Years on the Chesapeake” exhibit.
Potters’ Show: Amanda Willis, Randy
Estabrook, Denise Breitburg and Ray Bogle
Thursday, March 7, through Sunday, March 31
CalvART Gallery
Opening reception will be held on Saturday, March
9, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sunday Afternoons with the Pattersons Tour
Sunday, March 17 (2-3:30 p.m.)
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
Point Farm was the country retreat of the late
Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Patterson. In 1983 Mrs.
Patterson donated the property to the state in
honor of her late husband, creating Jefferson
Patterson Park & Museum. Join us for a guided
tour of this beautiful 1933 Colonial Revival brick
house and gardens designed by noted female
architects Gertrude Sawyer and Rose Greely. Ages
10 and over.
FAMILY FUN Parks and Recreation
Craft Time
Wednesday, March 6 (4-5 p.m.)
Northeast Community Center
Come join us after school and create some of your very own,
very cool crafts! For ages 6 through 12. Fee is $3 per person.
Hello Kitty
Wednesday, March 6 (10-10:30 a.m.)
Mt. Hope Community Center
Come play Hello Kitty games, enjoy snacks and read Hello
Kitty stories. For ages 1 through 5. Fee is $3 per person.
Indoor Soccer Tots
Wednesday, March 6 (10:30-11 a.m.)
Mt. Hope Community Center
Enjoy a game of indoor soccer with friends! Snacks provided.
Free.
Beyblade Tournament
Thursday, March 7 (6-7:15 p.m.)
Southern Community Center
Bring three of your beys for the tournament and battle it
out for the ultimate glory! Prizes to the winners! Snacks and
drinks provided. For ages 5 through 12. Fee is $5 per person.
Price is Right
Thursday, March 7 (1-2 p.m.)
Southern Community Center
Come on down and enjoy playing
the famous pricing games. Great
fun and laughter! For ages 50 and
over. Free.
Carnival Fun
Friday, March 8 (10:30-11:15 a.m.)
Southern Community Center
Children will have fun playing
old-fashioned carnival games
while winning prizes. Popcorn,
face painting and much more fun!
For ages 2-1/2 through 5. Fee is
$4 per person.
Pancake Day
Wednesday, March 13 (10-10:45 a.m.)
Mt. Hope Community Center
Bring your family and friends and let’s have a
delicious pancake breakfast! Activities will include
coloring and a cartoon movie. For ages 2 through 5.
Fee is $3 per person.
Little Leprechauns
Thursday, March 14 (11-11:45 a.m.)
North Beach Recreation Center
Wee lads and lasses are invited to a St. Patrick’s Day
party. For ages 3 through 5. Fee is $2 per person.
Birdhouses Galore
Thursday, March 14 (10-10:45 a.m.)
Mt. Hope Community Center
Let’s paint a beautiful birdhouse to hang in your
backyard! Snacks provided. For ages 2 through 5. Fee
is $5 per person.
Dodgeball
Friday, March 15 (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
Mt. Hope Community Center
This is a fast-paced game designed for the bravest of
all! We will use soft Nerfballs so ages 5 and over can
participate! Free.
Leprechaun
Search
Friday, March 15
(10-10:45 a.m.)
Mt. Hope
Community
Center
Find the hidden
shamrocks and
stay for lucky
leprechaun
snacks. Dress in
green and bring
your favorite
lucky toy or
stuffed animal
for show ‘n’
tell! For ages 1
through 5. Fee is
$3 per person.
DISCOVERING NATURE Natural Resources
KINGS LANDING PARK
Patuxent Kids - For ages 3 to 5 years.These programs
introduce youngsters to the many wonders of our natural
environment through stories, songs and outdoor hands-on
activities. Reservations are required. Fee is $3 or $1 for
BCNES members. Adult participation is required.
Blustery March
Tuesday, March 5 (10-11:30 a.m.)
March is the windy month, or so they say. How are
birds and animals surviving the bitter cold winds of
winter? Come out for an adventure as we look for
the impact of the North Wind and how it affects our
plants and wildlife at the park. Don’t forget your hats
and mittens!
BATTLE CREEK CYPRESS SWAMP
Nature Puppet Playtime - For children 18 months
to 5 years.This program meets the first Monday of the
month and introduces children to the natural world with
puppets, stories and exploration. Reservations are required.
Fee is $3 or $1 for BCNES members. Adult participation is
required.
Fine Feathered Friends
Monday, March 4 (10-11 a.m.)
Do you have a bird feeder at home? We will spend
some time looking at the bird feeder here at the
swamp, learn about migratory and non-migratory
birds, touch feathers of different sorts and even make
a mini bird feeder to take home. Finish with a walk
outside looking for some our fine-feathered friends!
Nature Tykes - For ages 18 months to 5 years.This
half-hour discovery program allows the child to experience
nature with a parent through the use of senses and motion.
Reservations are required. Fee is $3 or $1 for BCNES
members. Adult participation is required.
Mouse House
Thursday, March 7 (10-10:30 a.m.)
Saturday, March 9 (10-10:30 a.m.)
I like mice, do
you? Lots of
people don’t like
mice, but they are
an important part
of an environment.
Come meet a
real live mouse
up close and then go on a hike looking for things that a
mouse might eat or places they could hide.
Scouts Only - Each month we offer a program just for
scouts! These programs are open to boys or girls who
belong to a scout troop.Your troop leader can sign up an
entire troop (up to 20) or you can sign up individually!
Campfire Cooking
Saturday, March 9
Session 1(Third-fifth grades) - 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Session 2 (Sixth grade and up) - 2-3 p.m.
We’ve all made s’mores over a campfire, but have you
ever made bread? We will build a fire and then try our
hand at a few different types of campfire cooking, like
using a stick, a can, a foil packet, a dutch oven or the
hot coals. We will be outside the entire time, so dress
for the weather! Bring a metal spoon, a ceramic mug
and cloth napkin.
Call 410-535-5327, email CypressSwamp@co.cal.md.us or visit www.calvertparks.org.
Job Openings
Information on job openings is available on the county website or by calling the Personnel Office at extension 2359.
Position (Open to Public)
Closing Date
Aquatics Supervisor, Parks & Recreation
03/06/13
Position (Seasonal/Hourly)
Golf Course Maintenance Worker, Parks & Recreation
Bartender/Cook - Golf Course, Parks & Recreation
Beverage Cart Attendant - Golf Course, Parks & Recreation
Outside Golf Services Attendant - Golf Course, Parks & Recreation
03/06/13
03/13/13
03/20/13
03/20/13