Community

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – October 21, 2025

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – October 21, 2025

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) began their business meeting with an invocation and the pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The CSMC then presented proclamations in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Economic Development Week, Red Ribbon Week, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Commissioners then presented annual...
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Maryland State Police Invite Families to Celebrate Halloween Safely Across The State

Maryland State Police Invite Families to Celebrate Halloween Safely Across The State

This October, Maryland State Police are inviting families across the state to join troopers for a series of Halloween-themed community events designed to provide safe, family-friendly fun. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, troopers will be hosting and participating in “Trunk or Treat” celebrations and other festive gatherings to help ensure children and...
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Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General Receive 76,000 Educators’ Support at Maryland State Education Association

Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General Receive 76,000 Educators’ Support at Maryland State Education Association

Delegates representing 76,000 members of the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) attending the MSEA fall Representative Assembly (RA) voted to support the re-election of Gov. Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Attorney General Anthony Brown. Every four years the RA delegation votes on the MSEA Endorsement Council’s recommendation for statewide office candidates. “More than...
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DEA National Drug Take Back Day This Saturday, October 25, 2025

DEA National Drug Take Back Day This Saturday, October 25, 2025

The Maryland State Police, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and allied law enforcement agencies across the country, are asking residents to dispose of unneeded prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The biannual program allows people...
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Calvert Marine Museum November 2025 Events

Calvert Marine Museum November 2025 Events

The Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons invites visitors to enjoy a variety of educational and family-friendly events this November—from fossil identification to honoring our veterans—and to take advantage of fabulous shopping opportunities at the Museum Store. For the full calendar of November events, visit our website www.calvertmarinemuseum.com Sundays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, and...
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St. Mary’s County Museums to Host Free Family Holiday Events & Exhibits 2025

St. Mary’s County Museums to Host Free Family Holiday Events & Exhibits 2025

St. Mary’s County Government’s Museum Division, which oversees Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, St. Clement’s Island Museum, and the Old Jail Museum is pleased to present special events and exhibits during the holiday season. Piney Point Lighthouse Museum Holiday Family Open House (Sunday, November 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Kick off the...
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Charles County Board of Education Honors Outstanding Students for Commitment to Academics, Personal Responsibility and Career Readiness

Charles County Board of Education Honors Outstanding Students for Commitment to Academics, Personal Responsibility and Career Readiness

The Board of Education of Charles County recognizes exemplary students each month for academic achievement, personal responsibility and career readiness. At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Board honored fifth graders: Ethan Kapombe of Indian Head, Tristan Parrish of Billingsley, and Zane Todd of Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy elementary schools. Along with eighth-grade student Tony Brazelton of...
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Charles County Art Alliance Annual Grant Season Closes on Friday, October 24!

Charles County Art Alliance Annual Grant Season Closes on Friday, October 24!

Reminder: Our Annual Grant Season Closes on Friday, October 24! – Grant Applications are Electronic this Year! Friendly reminder that the Charles County Arts Alliance (CCAA) Annual Grant Season will end on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 12:00 noon. This is a firm deadline – no exceptions will be granted. Since 1987, our Arts Grant...
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The Curtain Goes Up For The Charles County Public Schools Fall Play Season!

The Curtain Goes Up For The Charles County Public Schools Fall Play Season!

The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) fall play season roars into a high school auditorium Oct. 23 when a classic crime story opens a slate of shows. This season CCPS high schools will present mysteries, tales of fairies and friends, and new classics through Nov. 23, 2025. Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot is aboard for...
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SPARC Collaborates with MedStar Health on New, State-of-the-Art Athletic Performance Center in Beltsville Opening Monday, October 20, 2025

SPARC Collaborates with MedStar Health on New, State-of-the-Art Athletic Performance Center in Beltsville Opening Monday, October 20, 2025

SPARC, the DMV region’s newest and most advanced athletic performance center, and MedStar Health are proud to announce a new collaboration, bringing elite physical therapy services directly into its flagship facility located near the University of Maryland. SPARC’s newly constructed facility is designed to serve athletes from middle school through the professional ranks. The...
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Bowie Woman Arrested After Assaulting Three Employees and Damaging Property at Waldorf Supermarket

Bowie Woman Arrested After Assaulting Three Employees and Damaging Property at Waldorf Supermarket

Angelica Jannee West, 24, of Bowie, has been formally charged with eight criminal counts following an incident on October 3, 2025, at a supermarket in Waldorf. According to court documents filed in Charles County District Court, West faces multiple misdemeanor charges, including second-degree assault, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. According to a statement of...
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St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board Reviews Series of Underage Alcohol Sales Violations

St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board Reviews Series of Underage Alcohol Sales Violations

At the October 9, 2025 meeting, the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board reviewed and adjudicated five separate violations of underage alcohol sales involving four local establishments. In one case, both the employee and the licensee at the same business were cited and heard separately. All violations stemmed from compliance checks conducted by the...
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CSM Launches Thrive 60+ Lifelong Learning Program for Adults Age 60 and Up

CSM Launches Thrive 60+ Lifelong Learning Program for Adults Age 60 and Up

Free and low-cost continuing education opportunities expand access, foster community, and enrich the lives of Southern Maryland residents age 60 and up. For residents of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties age 60 and over, the opportunity to explore a variety of continuing education and personal enrichment courses for little-or-no cost is now available...
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Maryland Harvest Season Ramping Up – Share the Road With Our Farmers!

Maryland Harvest Season Ramping Up – Share the Road With Our Farmers!

As many commuters may have noticed, our harvest season is ramping up and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Farm Bureau, is reminding motorists to share the road safely with large farm equipment as the fall harvest is underway in the state....
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Former National Security Advisor John Bolton Indicted for Mishandling Classified Information

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton Indicted for Mishandling Classified Information

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, 76, of Bethesda, Maryland, with serious crimes related to the mishandling of classified information. The indictment charges Bolton with eight counts of transmission of national defense information (NDI) and 10 counts of unlawful retention of NDI. “There is one...
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Chesapeake Supportive Care and Southern Maryland House Calls Partner to Expand Access to In-Home Palliative Care in Calvert County

Chesapeake Supportive Care and Southern Maryland House Calls Partner to Expand Access to In-Home Palliative Care in Calvert County

Chesapeake Supportive Care (CSC), the palliative care arm of Hospice of the Chesapeake, is excited to announce a new partnership with Southern Maryland House Calls (SMHC), a trusted leader in home-based geriatric care, to enhance access to palliative care services for residents of Calvert County. This collaboration will ensure that seniors in the community...
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Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory October 16-17, 2025 for Webster Outlying Field

Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory October 16-17, 2025 for Webster Outlying Field

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD – Communities surrounding Webster Outlying Field are advised that that low-altitude aircraft flight test events involving fixed wing aircraft are scheduled to take place Oct. 16-17, 2025 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. As with all operations, NAS Patuxent River takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing activities...
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St. Mary’s County Installs Publicly Accessible AED Cabinets at County Facilities to Improve Emergency Response & Survival Rates

St. Mary’s County Installs Publicly Accessible AED Cabinets at County Facilities to Improve Emergency Response & Survival Rates

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County are pleased to announce a new public safety initiative to improve access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) parks and facilities. The St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services has partnered with Recreation & Parks, Aging & Human Services, and Public Works &...
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Little Flower School Presents: Beer, Brats, and Bingo – A Night of Fun, Food, and Fabulous Prizes!

Little Flower School Presents: Beer, Brats, and Bingo – A Night of Fun, Food, and Fabulous Prizes!

As the autumn air rolls in and the leaves begin to turn, Little Flower School invites you to raise a stein and celebrate the season at its first annual Beer, Brats, and Bingo event on Saturday, October 18, 2025. This adults-only evening blends the cozy charm of fall with the lively spirit of Oktoberfest—complete...
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St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Board of Trustees Approves Immigration Enforcement Policy

St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Board of Trustees Approves Immigration Enforcement Policy

During their regular October meeting, the St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees approved a new state-mandated Immigration Enforcement Policy. The Board also heard a report from President Rhonda Phillips on her first 100 days at the College, during which she engaged in a “listening tour” that saw her meet with hundreds of students, faculty,...
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Documents Show Szechuan Garden’s Long History of Violations Before Health Department Shutdown

Documents Show Szechuan Garden’s Long History of Violations Before Health Department Shutdown

SMNEWSNET.COM filed a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request with the Maryland Department of Health seeking all food inspection reports from the past 12 months for Szechuan Garden, located at 11149 Mall Circle in Waldorf. Those records reveal a long pattern of violations and state enforcement actions culminating in an emergency suspension of the...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Limits Access to Public Information, Favoring Facebook Over the Public

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Limits Access to Public Information, Favoring Facebook Over the Public

UPDATE: Prior to publishing our recent article on transparency, SMNEWSNET.COM filed two formal complaints with the Maryland Office of the Public Access Ombudsman against the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for withholding public information. The Ombudsman reviewed our complaints and found them valid for mediation — a process designed to resolve disputes through open...
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PHOTOS: Police Investigating Hit and Run in Mechanicsville That Sends Two to Hospital

PHOTOS: Police Investigating Hit and Run in Mechanicsville That Sends Two to Hospital

On October 10, 2025, at approximately 9:23 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of the Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a two vehicle rear-end style collision with the striking vehicle having fled the scene....
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Calvert County to Host Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

Calvert County to Host Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

Calvert County will participate in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern Community Center, located at 20 Appeal Lane in Lusby, and the Northeast Community Center, located at 4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave. in Chesapeake Beach. Residents are encouraged to safely dispose of unused...
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Two Charles County Nonprofit Groups Awarded Unrestricted Grants from 2025 NBCUniversal

Two Charles County Nonprofit Groups Awarded Unrestricted Grants from 2025 NBCUniversal

NBC4 Washington/WRC-TV, Telemundo 44 Washington/WZDC, and Comcast NBCUniversal announced $227,272 in unrestricted funds were awarded to six local nonprofit organizations through the 2025 NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants. Among this year’s recipients is New Hope Community Outreach Services, a Waldorf-based Non-profit, which received $25,000, and Upward Thrive Academy, Inc, a Charles County non-profit which received...
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