Around Town
Amusement park discounts
St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks offers discounted amusement park tickets for locations in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Tickets are on sale through October 26 at the Recreation & Parks Office, Patuxent Building, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, in Leonardtown, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, on a first come, first served basis. Cash and credit cards can be used to purchase the tickets. Personal checks will not be accepted for ticket sales. For information, including prices, please visit www.stmarysmd.com/docs/AmParkTicketSales.pdf or call 301-475-4200 ext. 1842 or 1800.
Recycle for art
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center seeks clean, reusable waste for use in their new artLAB in quantities of 15 or more. Office supplies, paper goods, packaging materials, textiles, appliances, wooden materials, plastics, and more are welcome. For a list of items to donate visit www.annmariegarden.org
Screenwriting workshop
Writers by the Bay meets monthly at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Several published authors attend the sessions and more that hope to be published soon. Will Joy, a graduate of the New York Film Institute, will host a workshop April 12 at 7 p.m. covering the fundamentals of the screenplay. He will cover structure, stylistic elements including plot, character, action, description and dialogue as well as technical format. Register online or by calling 410-535-0291.
Our Town
The story follows the small town of Grover's Corners through three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Follow the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry and eventually in one of the most famous scenes in American theater die. Performances are April 12-14 and April 19-21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, military members with ID and youth in high school or younger.Reserve early for best seating selection. For information contact bxoffccsmd.edu, 301-934-7828, or www.csmd.edu/arts.
USNA Alumni Breakfast
The US Naval Academy Alumni Association, Greater Southern Maryland Chapter will hold a Spring Leadership Breakfast April 12 at the River's Edge Catering and Conference Center, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The featured speaker is Rear Adm. Joseph W. Rixey, USN, Director, Navy International Programs Office and a USNA graduate with the Class of 1983. Rixey will speak regarding leadership challenges for NAVAIR International Programs in an expected climate of shrinking and austere defense acquisition budgets. The cost for the breakfast is $15. Reservations may be prepaid, online at www. navyalumni.org/, or by contacting Program Chairman Rick Snyder at 301-862-6434 or Richard.L.Snydersaic.com.
Jane Harman to speak
The Patuxent Partnership and St. Mary's College of Maryland announce that the Honorable Jane Harman, who served in Congress representing California's 36th District and is now the Director, President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, will speak to a joint TPP-Center program for the Study of Democracy program at St. Mary's College of Maryland on April 13 at 4:30 p.m. in Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary's Hall. The public is invited to attend, and there is no cost. Advance registration to ensure seating is recommended at www.paxpartnership.org.
Maryland Poet Kendra Kopelke
As part of the College of Southern Maryland's Spring Connections Series, poet Kendra Kopelke will read from her latest book “Hopper's Women,” at 7:30 p.m., April 13, at the La Plata Campus, Learning Resource Center, Room LR-102. For information, study guides and author links visit www.csmd.edu/connections. Books featured are available at any CSM College Store or online at www.csmd.edu/CollegeStore.
Historical Myths and Archaeology
Historic St. Mary's City staff will offer illustrated lectures to the public on April 13. Both talks will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the HSMC Visitor Center auditorium (18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary's City). History is made up of facts, or so we think. Examine the truth behind some of our beloved historical myths. For information about the lecture and other events, visiting, or booking a tour, visit www.stmaryscity.org, e-mail infostmaryscity.org, or call 240-895-4990 or 1-800-SMC-1634.
Musical Showcase
April 14, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Rd, Leonardtown. Enjoy a family concert featuring a youth orchestra, solos, ensembles, and more performed by the students of Bella Music School. Free. 301-475-2846, www.stmalib.org.
Bead Making workshop
Annmarie Garden will present a Glass Bead-Making Workshop April 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Using a Hot Head torch, students will learn the various uses of the dot in bead surface decorations. They can be raised, stacked, distorted, poked and more. Some experience required. Cost is $120 for members; $135 for non-members. Visit www.annmariegarden.org or call 410-326-4640 to register.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Attend one of Washington's most exciting springtime traditions the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 14, rain or shine! Following the parade enjoy the beauty of the city in its finest bloom while exploring the national museums or enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere of the largest Japanese cultural festival featuring food, arts, merchandise and live traditional performances on four stages including martial arts demonstrations. The cost of the Street Festival is $5 per person, ages 13 & up, paid upon entering the festival.
Discovering Archaeology
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is holding an Archaeology-focused event April 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free. For information, call 410-586-8501.
Fairy Tea Party
Do you believe in Fairies? Join us for the magic of a fairy tea party featuring crafts, stories, refreshments and tea lemonade. Costumes are optional. All Calvert Library locations will be holding this event April 14. The Twin Beaches and Southern Branch teas will be held from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. The Prince Frederick and Fairview Branch teas will be held from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. The Twin Beaches Branch event will be held at the Northeast Community Center. This event is for children ages 7-1, accompanied by an adult chaperone. Registration is required at 410-535-0291 or online at www.calvert.lib.md.us.
Music for the Spring
The Chesapeake Community Chorus presents a concert April 15, 5 p.m. at Waters Memorial United Methodist Church, 5400 Mackall Road, St. Leonard. The concert will feature contemporary, gospel, classical Christian and secular music by John Rutter, Mary McDonald, Samuel Ward, Phillip Bliss, Peter Choplin, and others. The concert will include for the young in heart, five nursery rhymes as well as the famous story of 'The Tortoise and the Hare.' Other songs will include: 'America the Beautiful, and 'Down to the River to Pray.' A freewill offering will be taken to support Calvert Hospice House. In its 9th season, the chorus has raised over $51,000 for Calvert County charities.
All-You-Can-Eat-Breakfast
There will be a breakfast fundraiser at 45245 Drayden Rd. on April 15, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. For more information call 301-994-9924.
“Fight the Bite” Poster Contest
The St. Mary's County Health Department invites 5th and 6th graders to participate in the “Fight the Bite” national poster contest. The contest, sponsored by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a great way to raise awareness about prevention of mosquito and tick-borne diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease. The contest is open to all public, private, and home schooled 5th and 6th grade students. Students create posters showing how to keep people safe from mosquito and tick bites. Two winning artists from each state will win $50. Their schools will also win $50. Two national winners receive $1,000; their schools will win $250. Entries must be submitted by April 18. Visit http://www.fightthebitecontest.org/ for complete details and an entry form. The web site also features helpful hints and examples of winning posters from previous years.
From the Ground Up
Sotterley Plantation's specialty tours will run April 14 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. From the basement to the attic of Sotterley's 1703 Plantation House there are numerous nooks and crannies rarely seen by most people. Presented by Sotterley's Restoration Manager, this exclusive tour will reveal how the structure was built and what the various spaces tell us about more than 300 years of history. Advance reservations only. $15 per person. Limited to 12 people per session, ages 13 and up. Walking required. Purchase tickets online: www.sotterley.org.
Contra Dance
A Contra Dance sponsored by Southern MD Traditional Music and Dance, featuring caller Elgin Perry, will be held April 14 at Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Rd, Chaptico. Doors open at 7 p.m. and dancing begins at 7:30 p.m. Contra is a traditional American style of social dance and is a huge amount of fun (and exercise). Beginners are encouraged to arrive at 7 p.m. for instruction in the various dances. Admission is $8 for non SMTMD members, $6 for members (band members are free). Dress for comfort. There will be an ice cream social following the dance. For information and directions go to www.smtmd.org.
Relay For Life Relay Festival
Relay For Life of St. Mary's County will sponsor a Spring Relay Festival April 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the RE/MAX parking lot (across from Lowe's along Rt. 235). Teams from Relay For Life will gather to conduct a variety of fundraisers benefitting the American Cancer Society. Some of the fundraising activities will include: yard sales, arts and crafts, face painting, games, kids' activities, dunk tank, vendor sales, food and beverages and more. For information call Ken at 301-481-8536.
Naval Academy Band Brass Quintet in Washington, DC The Naval Academy Band Brass Quintet will perform at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage April 18 at 6 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public with no tickets required. The Kennedy Center is located at 2700 F Street NW in Washington, DC.