Good News

SMECO Sponsors Southern Maryland’s 31st Annual Math Competition

SMECO Sponsors Southern Maryland’s 31st Annual Math Competition

Southern Maryland’s annual MATHCOUNTS competition marked its 31st anniversary on Saturday, February 5, 2025. More than 150 students from 18 schools gathered at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick to test their math skills. A competitive technological world requires a proficiency in mathematics as a foundation for success in science, technology, and engineering. MATHCOUNTS...
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Calvert County Awarded $98,500 Grant to Support Local Communities

Calvert County Awarded $98,500 Grant to Support Local Communities

Calvert County has been awarded $98,500 from the Governor’s Office for Children’s Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) Local Management Board (LMB) Capacity Building Grant. The funding aims to leverage the local infrastructure of the LMB to support local communities in pursuit of their goals. In May 2024, Gov. Wes Moore signed...
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Love Is In The Air At The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter

Love Is In The Air At The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter

In the spirit of spreading love and joy this Valentine’s Day, the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter wants to make your Valentine’s Day extra special by offering $14 adoptions for all cats and dogs to qualified adopters, with their “Paw-sitively Purr-fect Love” adoption event from Tuesday, Feb. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Adoption...
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Charles County Woman Scores $50,000 Bonus Match 5 Prize

Charles County Woman Scores $50,000 Bonus Match 5 Prize

Birth dates helped Southern Maryland player score big win No matter how many times a Charles County woman wiped her glasses, she was still a $50,000 Bonus Match 5 winner. The loyal player, who had purchased a Bonus Match 5 ticket at Jimmies Wine & Spirit in Hughesville, scanned it later at the store...
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Cinderella Society: Giving New Life to Formalwear and Unforgettable Memories

Cinderella Society: Giving New Life to Formalwear and Unforgettable Memories

Cinderella Society originally started before COVID but faced challenges during the pandemic. Now, Brittany and Katrina are bringing the mission back to life, ensuring that students across Southern Maryland have access to stunning formalwear at no cost. “Prom and formal events are milestones, and we believe everyone should have the chance to dress up,...
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Calvert CTA Students Celebrate Huge Success at SkillsUSA Regionals and Take Home 29 Medals

Calvert CTA Students Celebrate Huge Success at SkillsUSA Regionals and Take Home 29 Medals

On February 1, 2025, the Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) Career and Technology Academy (CTA) proudly kicked off Career & Technical Education Month by hosting the SkillsUSA Southern Maryland Regional Competition. Competing against students from Charles and St. Mary’s counties, CCPS CTA students demonstrated their dedication and expertise across 20 contests, earning an impressive 29 medals:...
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SMECO Employees Raise $60,000 for Three Local Hospitals

SMECO Employees Raise $60,000 for Three Local Hospitals

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees recently held a fund-raising event and donated $60,000 to three hospitals in Southern Maryland: CalvertHealth Medical Center, University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. “Community hospitals provide care, comfort, and hope to those who need it most. These local organizations offer more than...
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Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Receives $5,000 Grant from Homes For Heroes

Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Receives $5,000 Grant from Homes For Heroes

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad has been awarded a generous $5,000 grant from Homes For Heroes, thanks to a nomination by Jimmy Hayden, a Homes For Heroes affiliate with RE/MAX Realty Group of Leonardtown, MD. This vital funding will support the squad’s operations and lifesaving services for the local community and contribute to their...
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Calvert County Sheriff’s Office K9 Stryker Retires After 7 Years of Service

Calvert County Sheriff’s Office K9 Stryker Retires After 7 Years of Service

The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office bids a heartfelt farewell to K9 Stryker, who has faithfully served our community with loyalty and dedication since 2017. Partnered with S/DFC Idol, Stryker has been an exceptional member of the team, excelling in Narcotics Detection, Criminal Apprehension, Tracking, and Article Search. Throughout his career, Stryker was deployed 64...
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Ray Bivens Appointed Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks

Ray Bivens Appointed Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County are pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Bivens as the new Director of the Department of Recreation & Parks. Mr. Bivens, a distinguished parks and recreation leader with more than 30 years of experience, assumed his new role on January 27, 2025. Mr. Bivens began his career...
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La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

Wrestling takes more than physical strength. “It’s a lot of mental stuff,” Oriana Boling, a La Plata High School senior, said. “I’d say it’s more mental than physical.” Boling is among the girls who are making high school wrestling one of — if not the No. 1 — fastest growing sport among their peers....
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St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks Invites Community Input on Proposed California Sports Complex at Public Meeting

St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks Invites Community Input on Proposed California Sports Complex at Public Meeting

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) will host a public meeting to gather resident input on a proposed Sports Complex, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the CSMC meeting room, located on the 1st floor of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. In February...
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CSM Celebrates Its 2025 Health Career Readiness Graduates

CSM Celebrates Its 2025 Health Career Readiness Graduates

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students who have chosen to pursue careers in health care were lauded and celebrated Jan. 16 during the college’s Health Career Readiness Recognition in La Plata. Ninety-six students were recognized for completing programs to become certified nursing assistants, geriatric nursing assistants, dental assistants, phlebotomy technicians, certified clinical medical assistants,...
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Charles County Duo Dance with Joy after $100,000 Scratch-off Win

Charles County Duo Dance with Joy after $100,000 Scratch-off Win

Earlier this week, Lottery officials met a husband and wife team who turned $10 into $100,000. They spent $10 to play Mega Bucks, a scratch-off game that debuted in November, and three days later discovered that they had a top-prize winner. The Charles County pair, one an office worker and the other a delivery...
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50 CSM Students Receive Nursing Pins for Completing Degrees  ‘With Hands to Care and Hearts to Serve’

50 CSM Students Receive Nursing Pins for Completing Degrees  ‘With Hands to Care and Hearts to Serve’

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 50 nursing graduates at the La Plata Campus last week with a time-honored pinning ceremony that allows CSM faculty to welcome their students as peers and colleagues in the field of nuring. “Success in nursing school is not an accident or gift, it’s hard work, perseverance, hours upon...
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Governor Moore Signs Proclamation to Enshrine Reproductive Freedom in Maryland’s Constitution

Governor Moore Signs Proclamation to Enshrine Reproductive Freedom in Maryland’s Constitution

Governor Wes Moore signed a proclamation officially enshrining into Maryland’s constitution “an individual’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” The constitutional amendment—sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson—passed by over three-quarters of Maryland voters on Election Day 2024, provides the highest level of protection of abortion rights. The Governor was...
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Bubby’s Christmas Farewell Brings in Over $320,000, Knott Family Donates All to Our Schools, Organizations and Volunteer Fire Departments

Bubby’s Christmas Farewell Brings in Over $320,000, Knott Family Donates All to Our Schools, Organizations and Volunteer Fire Departments

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Knott family hosted a check presentation for our local nonprofits, organizations and three of our communities completely volunteer Fire/EMS departments. “Thanks to your generosity and the Knott Family’s incredible donation, we’re proud to announce the distribution of funds to these amazing local nonprofits! Each organization plays a vital...
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A Wonderful Addition to Leonardtown Square: Meow Dyer Cat Cafe!

A Wonderful Addition to Leonardtown Square: Meow Dyer Cat Cafe!

Join them for their grand opening celebration from January 10th to 12th, with doors open daily from 12 PM to 7 PM. Owner Shannon Myles Obedoza has partnered with Feral Cat Rescue to create a cozy, welcoming space where rescue cats can thrive while waiting for their forever homes. The cafe offers a calm...
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Calvert County Man Claims Top Price in Bonus Match 5 Drawing

Calvert County Man Claims Top Price in Bonus Match 5 Drawing

A Southern Maryland resident who plays Lottery games every Friday for fun arrived at Lottery headquarters last week only days away from losing a $50,400 prize. The loyal player said he routinely allocates a small amount each week toward his favorite games and saves any winning tickets. That has been his routine for so...
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St. Mary’s Ryken High School Sophomore Skyler Graham Selected for Prestigious HOBY Leadership Seminar

St. Mary’s Ryken High School Sophomore Skyler Graham Selected for Prestigious HOBY Leadership Seminar

St. Mary’s Ryken High School (SMR) is proud to announce that sophomore Skyler Graham has been selected as this year’s representative for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar. Skyler expressed gratitude to the SMR School Counseling Team for the nomination, saying, “I am thrilled about this opportunity to obtain more leadership skills and...
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From the Yellow Farm House to the White House: A Journey of Conservation and Connection

From the Yellow Farm House to the White House: A Journey of Conservation and Connection

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, By Ranger Sarah Milbourne – Ranger Sarah Milbourne and “Mo,” one of Maryland’s bald eagles from the Scales & Tales program, visit the White House in 2023. Photo courtesy the White House. I can vividly remember the first time I saw a bald eagle in the wild. I was...
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Suttler Post Farms 6th Annual Holiday Open House Is A Record-Breaking Year!

Suttler Post Farms 6th Annual Holiday Open House Is A Record-Breaking Year!

The Suttler Post Farm held their 6th Annual Holiday Open House on December 14th and 15th, 2024. They are pleased to announce they welcomed over 2,700 visitors which brought in over $80,000 for the Hospice House of St. Mary’s, located in Callaway. All proceeds from the event go toward enhancing the hospice house in...
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“You Are My SON-Shine” 2025 Mother Son Dance Registration Now Open!

“You Are My SON-Shine” 2025 Mother Son Dance Registration Now Open!

Mark your calendars and polish your dancing shoes! St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is thrilled to announce that registration for the 2025 Mother Son Dance is now open. Open to boys ages 4 and up, this semi-formal dance is set for Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 7 p.m. –...
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CSM Freshman Sara Allwine Earns Spot on NJCAA D2 Third All-American Soccer Team

CSM Freshman Sara Allwine Earns Spot on NJCAA D2 Third All-American Soccer Team

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Freshman Sara Allwine, of St. Leonard, follows her debut season with CSM’s women’s soccer team by earning a spot on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D2 Third Team All-American list this December. In playing for CSM, Allwine scored 27 goals, made eight assists, was responsible for 62...
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Good Advice Leads Charles County Caregiver to Big Win!

Good Advice Leads Charles County Caregiver to Big Win!

A Southern Maryland caregiver gathered information from two important people in her life, using it to visit the specific Lottery retailer and pick the specific numbers that would produce a Keno windfall. Hats off to her for recognizing good advice when it was given to her, and despite rarely buying tickets, immediately following it...
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