The Dr.Samuel Mudd Museum is looking for volunteer Tour Guides, Gift Shop Workers and Admissions staff for our 2020 Season. Training starts March 7. A few hours a month to step into history is really exciting. Contact Donna Peterson  at 301-452-2158, or drmuddtours@gmail.com.

The Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary will be holding a Queen of Hearts LVRSA Fundraiser every thursday at 21540 Joe Hazel Road in Leonardtown.  Please join us to take a chance to pick a card and find the Queen of Hearts to win.  Each Thursday there will be a chance to win until she’s found. Thank you for your support to the LVRSA. Time: 4pm-6:45pm, drawing is at 7pm

Weekly Bingo every MONDAY night at The American Legion Post #274 in Lusby. Doors open at 6PM and bingo games start around 7:00 PM. THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME! The kitchen will be open and great food will be available for purchase courtesy of the Legion Auxiliary.  

Apply ASAP for home repair help for the 2020 Christmas in April. April 25, 2020 will be the 30th year for our one day restoration and renovation blitz. The volunteer organization rehabilitates the houses of low  income, elderly, disabled and veteran homeowners. Applications may be picked up local libraries and senior centers. Also, on our web site www.christmasinaprilsmc.org. For more information call 301-884-2905.

Attention Chopticon High School Class of 1970, planning is underway for the fifty (50) year class reunion to be held 06 June 2020 at the Old Breton Inn, Leonardtown, MD.   Request you provide your email and home address information to the Communication Committee at  princesshouse4u@bellsouth.net, jacobmike1@verizon.net, and roychesley@aol.com.  View the Chopticon High School Class of 1970 Facebook Page for further details.

Every day, children across Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties are removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect. Although Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) continue to serve more of these children each year, the need for CASA volunteers continues to grow as more children enter the child welfare and court systems. CASA volunteers work one-on-one with an abused or neglected child, advocating for his or her best interests. CASA volunteers don’t require any specific education. All they need is compassion, objectivity, and a commitment to children. Anyone interested in becoming a CASA Volunteer should visit https://center-for-children.org/programs/court-appointed-special-advocate-casa/ for more information, or reach out to the CASA of Southern Maryland casa@center-for-children.org or call NaQuita Coates, Training and Recruitment Specialist, at 410-535-3047.

If drinking is no longer fun for you and separates you from other people. Go to an A.A. meeting – become part of the universe again. A.A. They’ve been there. Visit www.aa.org

The American Legion Post 255 in Ridge is having a Queen of Hearts raffle on Friday nites. Drawings are every Friday at 7pm. Ticket sales start at 4pm for QofH and 50/50 raffles. Dinner is available for purchase also. All profits are used to help veterans and our local community.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the Nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated t building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental Illness.  NAMI SoMd provides free education and support groups for those suffering with a mental illness as well as their family members.  Family support groups meet the 3rd Tuesday in Charles County at Body of Christ Church, Waldorf; 3rd Thursday in St. Mary's at the Wildewood Community Center, and the 4th Thursday in Calvert at St. John Vianney Church.  Please contact 301.399.4148 for more information.

First Wednesday of every month at the Circuit Court for Charles County - Law Library from 10 AM - 1 PM the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service provides FREE brief legal consultations for homeowners facing foreclosure. Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Attorneys will: Answer questions about foreclosure mediation Give legal advice regarding your foreclosure Help you understand court papers and documents you received regarding your foreclosure Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Attorneys will NOT attend mediation with you, but there are other options for obtaining legal representation for your mediation. Reservations requested – please call 301-932-3322

The Charles County (Maryland) Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Crime Solvers work together to solve crimes and hold criminals accountable for their offenses. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person involved in criminal activity. For more information about Crime Solvers, contact Detective Sergeant Tim Miner, Crime Solvers Coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office, at 240-216-2173. PHONE**Call 1-866-411-TIPS to report a tip** * An operator takes information about your tip. * You will receive an identification number. * Your tip is provided to the investigating officer. * You must call back later to check the status of your information, using your identification number. Or call  https://www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com/

The Charles County Advocacy Council for Children, Youth, and Families is partnering with counties throughout the state of Maryland to host the Southern Maryland Listening Session on Statewide Juvenile Justice Reform on Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Harriet E. Brown Community Center (901 Dares Beach Road, Prince Fredrick). Two sessions are being held:  1:30 p.m. -- 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. -- 8:30 p.m.  Registration is required at https://bit.ly/36yue4i.  Sign-up to speak begins 30 minutes prior to each session.

The Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center will host its twentieth annual Forrest Center Tech Expo on Thursday, January 16th 5:30-8:00 p.m., at the school site located at 24005 Point Lookout Road, directly across from the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, Maryland. The purpose of the Forrest Center Tech Expo is to familiarize students and parents with Career and Technology Education (CTE) career options offered by the St. Mary’s County Public Schools. This is an opportunity to meet the staff at the Forrest Center and to learn about the 23 completer programs (including the MIFRI Fire and Rescue/EMS program at an off campus location) and the five elective classes that are offered. Middle school and high school counselors will be available to answer questions about career clusters and to assist students in planning their academic program. For more details, contact the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center at 301-475-0242. In the event of inclement weather, the alternate date for the Forrest Center Tech Expo will be Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 5:30-8:00. The event may be recorded and presented on SMCPS Channel 96, the school system’s educational cable channel, and the Internet.

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, in Solomons, Maryland, celebrates the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with MLK Days, Monday, January 18th through the 20th, 11am to 4pm, with creative and uplifting art activities, including a community art project, titled “Faces of a Dream,” inspried by the work of Baltimore artist Gary Webb; gathering in the “Tent of Many Colors;” and, a hands-on art project in the artLAB. Activities are appropriate for all ages. A special exhibit featuring the work of Mr. Webb will also be on disaply. Admission is free! For additional information please call 410-326-4640 or visit www.annmariegarden.org.

Join Calvert Hospice for A Night in Margaritaville on January 24, 2020 from 6 - 10 pm at the Calvert County Fairgrounds in Prince Frederick! Enjoy a fun evening of dance music with NightLife and tasty fare with a Key West flair from Maryland Country Caterers, and a cash bar featuring margaritas, wine, and beer. We will have a selection of items for raffle and a 50/50! It's time to pull out that summer party outfit and buy your tickets! Tickets and sponsorships available at calverthospice.org/margaritaville. Tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance.

Acoustic musicians of all skill levels are warmly welcomed to the SMTMD Open Mic on Friday, January 24th, at Christ Church Parish Hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Rd in Chaptico.  Come out for some great music and friendship, to hone your performance skills, to meet new friends and possibly learn a few new licks. The doors open at 7:00 PM, and the music starts at 7:30. The admission is $7, and performers are admitted free.  To sign up to perform, please contact Mike Smith at smtmdmike@gmail.com. Visit www.smtmd.org for more information. Light refreshments will be available. 

There will be an Appraiser Fair at the St. Clement's Island Museum on January 25th from 10 am - 3 pm. You may have a hidden treasure in your attic or garage and not even know it! Visit with expert appraisers as they determine the value of your prized possessions at St. Clement’s Island Museum. Appraisers for various types of items will be available at the museum. Only items that can be hand-carried will be appraised. Space is limited and items will be viewed on a first come, first serve basis. The Appraiser’s Fair provides an opportunity for the public to learn the value of their heirlooms and how to properly care for them.

In conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of St. Mary’s County Regional Airport, the Civil Air Patrol will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, January 29th, at the Walter Francis Duke Terminal Building, at St. Mary's County Regional Airport, from 7 to 9 PM. Civil Air Patrol cadets can pursue flight training, learn survival skills, explore careers in aviation, gain knowledge of cyber security, and build leadership experience. Students must be in the sixth grade or higher to join the cadet program, but all are welcome to attend the Open House. You can find out more about the St. Mary's County Civil Air Patrol at their website, https://stmarys.cap.gov/.

Stop by the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum on January 30th at 5 pm and Learn about the mindset of innovation and how physics and quantum mechanics support creative approaches in science as well as music. SIFPAX presents a panel discussion on the "ins and outs" of innovation and forward thinking by Anthony Malatesta & Dominic Fragman followed by a completely improvised concert performance from the groundbreaking Spirit of Innovation & Freedom Ensemble with Paul F. Murphy, Jere Carroll, and Fragman. The SIF Ensemble’s totally improvised concert will display concepts presented by Fragman and Malatesta. Doors open at 5pm - The Pax Museum will offer light fare and a cash bar. *In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for February 6. **Tickets purchased in advance: $20 general admission, $15 museum members. Online ticket sales end one hour prior to the event. Tickets may be purchased at the door the evening of the event for $25 general admission, and $20 for museum members. Presenters: Dominic Fragman: Multi-instrumentalist and Co-Founder of the Spirit of Innovation & Freedom (SIF). Fragman has gained international recognition as a “musical genius” whose “musical talents are unlike any others of his generation.” Anthony Malatesta: Founder and Team Lead of NAVAIR’s Power and Energy Division Thermal and Electrical and Modeling Lab. Malatesta is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park. The SIF Ensemble: Dominic Fragman, master drummer Paul F. Murphy, and poet Jere Carroll. Murphy’s work has been recognized by Oxford’s Grove Dictionary of American Music as a new direction in jazz and art. Carroll was poet laureate for the grand opening of the Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress. SIFPAX is supported by the generosity of community businesses. 100% of proceeds go to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

The Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco will have a "Chili" Winter's Night with Local Authors will take place at the Historic Port Tobacco Courthouse on Friday February 7th starting at 6 pm. Have a bowl of chili and get together with local authors. 5 local authors highlighting their books while you enjoy a bowl or two of chili. Join us for good food and good literature, Friday, February 7th at Historic Port Tobacco Courthouse. 6:00p.m. Books may be purchase directly from authors. Donations greatly appreciated. Contact Nancy Bowling at 301.481.7542 for further info

The 28th Annual La Plata High School Antique Show and Sale will take place on Saturday Feb 8th from 9-5 and Sunday February 9th from 11 - 4 at La Plata High School. All proceeds from the Antique sale go to support the La Plata High School Instrumental Music Department to buy equipment, uniforms, sheet music, musical instruments, etc.

There will be a Designer Purse Bingo hosted by the Southern Maryland Boot Scooters at the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge on Sunday February 9th doors open at 11:30 a.m. This event will support our Walk to End AlZheimer's and support the 12U Southern Maryland Senators Baseball team. Design purse prizes, cash games, Chinese auction, food/drink for purchase and much more. Come support these two wonderful causes for southern Maryland.

The 28th Annual La Plata High School Antique Show and Sale will take place on Saturday Feb 8th from 9-5 and Sunday February 9th from 11 - 4 at La Plata High School. All proceeds from the Antique sale go to support the La Plata High School Instrumental Music Department to buy equipment, uniforms, sheet music, musical instruments, etc.

The Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation will host a free seminar on Wednesday, February 12 from 5-7pm in the Medical Center’s Nagula Conference Room.  Presented by Teri White RN and Progya Aakash, MSc, MS, RD, LDN, this seminar focuses on tips for stress management, hypertension and healthy eating for your heart.  Please register online charlesregional.org/seminars or by calling 301-609-4132.  Refreshments will be served.

The Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be sponsoring a “Pancake Supper” on Tuesday, February 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the firehouse located at 21660 Colton Point Road in Avenue, MD.  The menu will include pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, scrambled eggs, baked apple dessert, coffee, tea and milk.  The cost will be $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for senior citizens, $3.00 for children 4-12 years, and free for children 3 years and under.  We invite everyone to come and enjoy our pancake supper with your family and friends.  Carry outs will be available.  

Join us at Hard Bargain Farm's 1st Annual "Green Wedding Expo", Saturday, February, 29th, 2020 as we highlight local vendors who provide eco-friendly products and services. This inaugural event features tours of potential rental areas-our newly refurbished barn, ceremony field, and reception space in our living building, as well as a workshop on how to plan a "green or "eco" wedding. All proceeds benefit Alice Ferguson Foundation's agricultural and environmental education programs. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite! Admission is $5/person in advance. Note that online registration ends at noon on Friday, February 28. Tickets will be available at the door for $10. https://hbfgreenweddingexpo.eventbrite.com

The Charles Regional Medical Center will have a Celebration Gala To Honor Nurses Saturday February 29th 8 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club. The World Health Organization has designated the year 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse” in honor of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.  To help celebrate this milestone and salute an integral part of our workforce, the CRMC Foundation is pleased to host Celebration Gala: the Power of Caring on February 29, 2020 at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club. This annual fundraiser is enjoyed by hundreds who raise funds for the Medical Center while enjoying gourmet cuisine stations, open bar, and high-end live entertainment.  The Gala includes three levels of reservations and Gala VIP Dinner guests will enjoy an exclusive dinner featuring a chef inspired menu. Guests preferring a reservation for the Gala only are offered two ticket levels with entrances at 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm.  They will enjoy an array of delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, open bar and a unique interactive dessert station.  Again this year the band Free Spirit will be entertaining the crowd and keeping guests on the dance floor.  Tickets and sponsorship details are on our website www.charlesregional.org/gala.

14th March 2020, Saturday, Spring Craft & Vendor Fair at St. Mary’s County Fair Grounds; Time: 9:00am-2:00pm; Cost:  $25.00 Per Space, STUFFED HAM SANDWICHES, PULLED PORK, CHILI AND OTHER GREAT FOOD FOR SALE!  50/50 Raffle, Reserve a space for $25.00 / For more information:  Call Darlene at 240-434-1095 after 4:00p.m. 

Calvert County Minority Business Alliance will have a Spring Business Marketing Event on Sunday March 28th at the Yardley Hills Community Center starting at 9am. Workshop Goals will include methods and skills to Craft, Personify, Implement and Express Your Brand Voice. For more information write to info@ccmba.org or visit www.ccmba.org

The St. Mary’s Rod & Classic Car Club will host the Spring Fling XXXV Car Show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26 on the Square in Leonardtown. Rain date is May 3. All cars, trucks and motorcycles (any year) are welcome with registration until 12 noon. Trophies will be awarded to the top 65 with 10 specialty awards. Proceeds will benefit Hospice of St. Mary’s and other non-profits. Registration fee is $20 at the gate or pre-registration is $15 by April 22. For more information, call Bill Higgs (301-994-9666) or John Vannatta (301-502-7694) or www.stmarysrodandclassic.com

Join the Mattawoman Creek Art Center's Inaugural 'Art In The Park 5K Fun Run at Smallwood State Park on Saturday May 16th. The walk/run course will traverse the beautiful natural surroundings of Smallwood State Park, situated on the Mattawoman Creek. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. Strollers are allowed but must follow the runners. No pets are allowed. Awards and refreshments will follow at the conclusion of the race. Participants are welcome to visit the art gallery and gift shop. Proceeds from the 5 K registration and any gift shop purchases benefit the Mattawoman Creek Art Center. Entry Fee is $25 on or before April 18th. Late Registration $30 after April 18th. Entry fee includes: Entry to the park and art center, souvenir T-shirt (if registered on or before April 18th) water stations and snacks. No refunds. Register at mattawomanart.org or call 301-743-5159.