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Issue #64 
July 2014
 
Heritage Grant Awarded for Kings Landing Park Project
Funds to Support Renovation of Former YMCA Cabins
  

Calvert County was recently awarded $15,000 in grant funds to support the renovation of seven cabins at Kings Landing Park that once housed a summer camp for African-American youth run by the Baltimore YMCA.


The funding comes through the African American Heritage Preservation Program, a partnership of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust. The grant program supports the preservation of buildings, communities and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.

 

Seven cabins will be renovated
as part of the grant project.

The YMCA ran summer camps at the Kings Landing site from approximately 1950 to 1980. Rustic wood-frame cabins were built to accommodate overnight campers and their counselors. Seven of the original cabins remain. The grant funding will support their renovation as overnight camping cabins, classrooms for interpretive programs and day-use shelters. Picnic amenities and campfire rings will also be installed.


The project will showcase the role Calvert County played in providing summer and outdoor recreation to inner-city youth and the African American community.

 

In August 1984, the YMCA sold the property to the State of Maryland and that November Calvert County leased the property to provide residents swimming and other recreational opportunities. This site is now managed by the Calvert County Division of Natural Resources.


The Board of County Commissioners approved $15,000 as matching funds for the African American Heritage Preservation Program grant. The Battle Creek Nature Education Society is also working to provide additional funding. To learn more about Kings Landing, visit online.
 

Department of Public Safety
Has Multifaceted Mission

  
Why is the Department of Public Safety important to Calvert County's citizens? Because the department is the county's primary resource for the coordination of emergency services that help keep our community safe. The department also 
The Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team, shown during a drill.
serves as the liaison between county, state and federal Homeland Security teams and works in conjunction with the Calvert County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police in the enforcement of federal, state and local laws.
  
"Our team of dedicated professionals works diligently every day to manage emergency response; mitigate man-made, technological and/or natural disasters; respond to fire, rescue and emergency medical service needs; and reduce the number of false alarm dispatches," said Director of Public Safety Jackie Vaughan. "Helping save lives, protect property and assist the public is what we are about."
  
The department also works closely with the county's energy and utility partners to ensure local preparedness. This outstanding working relationship includes regular safety and readiness drills with Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and the Dominion Cove Point LNG facility. During severe weather events each of these partners is represented in the department's Emergency Operations Center to ensure rapid response and recovery.
  
The department's day-to-day duties include management of:
Control Center (911)
The Control Center dispatches police, fire and EMS services to county citizens and visitors. The Control Center works with fire, police and emergency medical personnel to provide quality service through the efficient handling of calls for service via phone or radio. Significant emphasis is placed on public awareness, education and community involvement.

Emergency Management
The safety and well-being of county residents, visitors and workers is Emergency Management's primary mission. The coordination of response agencies during disasters and public education and awareness for disaster preparedness are vital to these efforts. Emergency Management helps ensure the county's state of readiness and minimizes the effects of future disasters through mitigation, planning, training and response efforts. The division also develops and maintains the county's emergency operations plan and provides assistance when public safety is at risk, when there is a potential for loss of public property or when infrastructure is at risk of failure.
  

False Alarm Reduction
Calvert County police, fire and emergency medical personnel respond to more than 5,000 false alarms annually, or approximately 13 per day. However, less than 2 percent of all activated alarms are for actual emergencies. The False Alarm Reduction Unit works with  alarm users, alarm industry representatives and county emergency responders to help reduce the number of false alarms.

  
Hazardous Materials Response
The Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team is a strategically located, specially trained and equipped team using the combined resources of Calvert County's Department of Public Safety, the Calvert County Sheriff's Special Operations Team and volunteers from the Calvert County fire/rescue/EMS departments. The team's mission is to protect citizens, the environment, natural resources and property from the effect of hazardous material releases or the threat of release of hazardous materials.
  
For more information about the Calvert County Department of Public Safety please visit www.co.cal.md.us or call 410-535-1600.
  
Local Projects to Improve Area Roads
  
Mt. Harmony Road, Owings

This two-week project involves the resurfacing of nearly 700 feet of the roadway between Valley View Court and Rue Court. The section of roadway will be closed to through traffic beginning on or about Monday, July 28.


Access to residences on Mt. Harmony Road will not be affected during the closure though delays can be expected. Detour routes will be established for motorists traveling along the east/west axis in the Owings area. To learn more, email Frank Schlotter with the Calvert County Department of Public Works or call 410-535-2204, ext. 2568. A Web page features details and a map of the project area.

 

Church Street/Main Street, Prince Frederick

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is planning road improvements for the Church Street/Main Street corridor including safety improvements at the intersection of Rt. 231 (Church Street) and Main Street.

 

SHA will raise the elevation of the intersection approximately three feet to enhance visibility from all approaches. The project will also include construction of new sidewalks, road resurfacing, bicycle lanes and drainage improvements.

 

The $7.5 million projected is estimated to be completed in 2017. Visit the projects page online for further details from SHA.

 

In This Issue
Heritage Grant Awarded for Kings Landing Park Project
Department of Public Safety Has Multifaceted Mission
Local Projects to Improve Area Roads
Bulk Plastic Now Accepted for Recycling
Buy Local Week is July 19-27
Local Businesses Invited to Participate in Annual Job Fair
Quick Links
Bulk Plastic Now Accepted for Recycling
at Two Convenience Centers

 

   

Appeal and Barstow customer convenience centers now accept bulk plastic for recycling.

 

Items accepted include old plastic swimming pools, play and toy sets, kiddie vehicles (please remove the battery for recycling), sand boxes, outdoor chairs and other plastic furniture, vinyl siding, vinyl blinds, hose reels, baby car seats (please remove the fabric for textile recycling), buckets, tubs, trays and other large plastic items.

 

Note that only the Appeal and Barstow centers accept bulk plastic.

  
Visit the recycling section online for details on all recyclable materials. 

 

Buy Local Week is
July 19-27

 

buy local logo  

Join us as we celebrate local agricultural products July 19-27 during Buy Local Week. The event highlights the benefits of buying local products from area farms, farmers markets and farm stands.

 

As part of the celebrations, residents can shop at a temporary produce stand on the lawn of the Circuit Court on Main Street in Prince Frederick, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays throughout July.

 

The Calvert County Agriculture Commission offers a wealth of information about the county's farms, including when and where to buy local produce and meats and the location of local farm stands.

 

Maryland's Buy Local Challenge is also online. 

 
Businesses and Job Seekers Invited to Annual Job Fair

 

 

 

The annual Calvert County Job Fair will be held Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the College of Southern Maryland, Building B, in Prince Frederick.
 
Registration for businesses is free and limited to the Calvert County business community. To participate, businesses should be actively seeking employees for full- or part-time work. Registration includes a six-foot table and two chairs, company listing in the event brochure and two tickets for light refreshments.

 

Registration deadline is Aug. 6.
To register, please contact the Calvert County Department of Economic Development at 410-535-4583, via email or visit online.

 

 For job seekers, there is no better way to meet directly with local employers who are hiring. Mark your calendars now. Call 410-535-4583 or 301-855-1880 to learn more.


The Job Fair is cosponsored by the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Southern Maryland Job Source and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

 

 

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Thanks for reading Calvert Currents. We want to hear from you. Click the feedback link to send us your questions or story ideas.

Sincerely,
Pat Nutter, President
Steven R. Weems, Vice President
Gerald W. "Jerry" Clark
Susan Shaw
Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr.
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners