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WildeRidge ApartmentsWildeRidge ApartmentsOwned and Operated by the Apartments of Wildewood

Peaceful livingPeaceful living

Fourth of July in St. Mary’s County 2015

CELEBRATECELEBRATETHE 4TH OF JULYTHE 4TH OF JULY

BY BEING SAFE ON LAND AND WATERBY BEING SAFE ON LAND AND WATER

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2015 Fourth of July in St. Mary’s County

River Concert SeriesSt. Mary’s College of Maryland will

host the River Concert Series from 7-9p.m. July 3 on the

Townhouse Green, which is free andopen to the public. The ChesapeakeOrchestra, directed by Jeffrey Silber-schlag, will perform the contemporarymusic of JohnWilliams with fireworks

after dusk.Groundsopenat 5p.m.

for food and fun withthe concert beginning at7 p.m. Bring your ownpicnic or purchase foodfrom vendors. For moreinformation, visit www.chesapeakeorchestra.org/river-concert-series.html.

Fireworks, carnival atHollywood VFD

TheHollywoodVolunteerFire Department will

host their 7th annualIndependence DayCelebration on July 4at 24801 Three NotchRoad, Hollywood. Fire-works will be displayedat dusk. Livemusic from6-10 p.m. from ComeBack Iris and Robbie

Boothe. Carnival rides (ride all nightwith armbands for $5) and gamesfrom 5 p.m. until the fireworks. Park-ing fee is a $5 donation. No coolers orpets permitted. Formore information,visit www.hvfd7.com.

Local fun, fireworksin St. Mary’s County

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Summer is party season, and mostpeople prefer outdoor entertainingduring warm months. In fact, a 2014survey by entertaining website The-Salonniere found that 50 percent ofpeople prefer barbecues in summer,19 percent like al fresco dinner par-ties and 12 percent favor a pool party.Many party hosts will pull some lawnchairs and folding tables out of stor-age, put up an umbrella or two andserve traditional foods this summer.

If you want your summer event tobe truly memorable yet low-stress,why not mix it up by renting someitems that can elevate the level of yourget-togetherWhether you’ll be hostinga college graduation party, birthdaygathering, backyard wedding recep-tion or summer-holiday bash, here arefive ways to create a knockout event.

• Have it made in the shade —While we all crave summer sun, allthose UV rays can quickly make anoutdoorparty toohot tohandle. Shadeis a must for outdoor events duringwarmweather, but for a real impact, a

plain old lawn umbrella simply won’tdo. First of all, they’re rarely largeenough to accommodate a goodnum-ber of guests. Second, a little wind orrain can topple your umbrellas — andspell the end of your party.

Rental stores carry tents in a widerange of sizes and styles, so it’s easy tofind one that fits your yard, number ofguests and party theme.

• Cooler than a fan, man —Some-times even the shade isn’t enough tokeep guests from losing their cool inthe summer heat. When you knowparty day is going to be extra steamy,why not add enclosed sides to yourrental tent and bring in portable evap-

orative coolers and air-conditioningunits? Portable evaporative coolingsystems, also known as spot coolers,can lower the temperature in an areaby 20 degrees by emitting a light mistthat cools hot skin and lowers theambient temperature. To lower thetemperature even more — by 30 to 40degrees — try a thermostat-controlledportable air conditioner in your tent.Rental store professionals can helpyou determine which device and whatsize will be best for your needs.

• Sitting pretty —At your last sum-mer party, did guests have to sit onblankets on the grass Or occupy bothof their hands with food and beveragewhile having to stand up Rare indeedis thehostwhohasenough lawnchairsto accommodate everyone who wantsto sit down at their summer party.After all, who has that kind of storagespace Renting chairs can ensure yourguests have ample sturdy, comfort-able seating when they’re ready to putup their feet and relax. And you canrelax knowing you won’t have to be

dragging dining room chairs or yourgrandmother’s antique rocker ontothe lawn.

• Suh-weet — Favorite foods area big part of the fun for any summerparty, and you’ll want to be sure toserve some reliable standbys like burg-ersandsalads.Buttoreallysweetenthefare and create some excitement forguests of every age, consider renting asnow-cone or cotton-candy machine.Serving snow cones or cotton candywill evokememories of summer carni-vals for adults, and kids love watchingthe machines make their treat almostasmuch as they do eating it! Rentalhq.com can also help you find amachine,plus give you some tips for operating asnow cone machine and how to use arented cotton-candymachine.

• Fun in the sun — Food and con-versation are key elements of a sum-mer gathering, but so is some good-old-fashioned fun in the sun. Don’thave a huge supply of lawn games orinflatables stored in your garage Fromavariety of bouncehouses and rides toinflatable movie screens, rental storeshave you’re looking for. Hosting anevent for a more sophisticated crowdYou can also rent a dance floor and setit up right in your backyard so guestscanwaltz (or twist) the night away.

Brandpoint

Five sure-fire, stress-free ways to makeyour next summer gathering awesome

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Every grilling seasonpresents anewopportunity to add recipes and tricksto your routine. This year, kick up yourcooking skills with advice from theultimate grill master, Chef MichaelSymon, co-host of ABC’s “The Chew,”and author of three best-selling cook-books and owner of several restau-rants.

“With the right techniques andingredients, any home chef can grillfoods that are seasoned to perfectionand overflowing with melt-in-your-mouth goodness,” said Chef Symon.“With some simple techniques, greatmeat or veggies, and my favorite top-per — Castello cheese — every dishwill burst with flavor.”

The following tips fromChefSymonwill help you make the most of everygrilling occasion.

• Judge proteins by their appear-ance. Redmeat should appear red, notgray, with plenty of marbling; the fatmelts to add flavor and create a won-derfulmouth feel.

•Payattentiontotemperature.Heatup your grill, with the lid down, for 20to 30 minutes prior to grilling. Thisis a good time to take out your meator poultry, which should be at roomtemperature before it is cooked. Begingrilling your protein on high heat togive it some char and then finish onlow heat so it’s juicy and doesn’t burn.After grilling, let your protein rest toensure it retains these flavorful juices.

• Don’t over-season. Season sim-ply to showcase the meat or veggies:kosher salt, ground black pepper, plusa drizzle of olive oil to help it sear.

• Resist the temptation to flip.Whether you’re cooking protein orveggies, you should only turn yourfood over once when grilling. Allowyour food to develop a wonderful charon one side before moving or flippingit.

• Be adventurous with ingredients.Instead of a traditional cheeseburg-er, make Chef Symon’s Bison Burgerusing Castello Burger Blue cheese,which comes pre-sliced and ready forgrilling. Shape ground bisonmeat intopatties, grill threeminutes onone side,then flip and top with sliced red onionand Burger Blue.

• Cut protein against the grain. Thegrain represents the direction of mus-cle fibers. Cutting slim strips, againstthe grain, shortens muscle fibers andmakes the protein more tender andenjoyable.

• Use vegetables for flavor andtexture. Vegetarians and meat loversalike appreciate properly grilled veg-etables,whichaddahealthy touchandcontrasting textures to your grillingmenus. Chef Symon’sGrilled Eggplantis topped with melted Castello BurgerBluecheese, aswell as anarugula saladwith vinaigrette, capers, red onion andtoasted sliced almonds.

Brandpoint

Fire up your grillinggame with expert tipsand specialty cheese

www.curtistire.net [email protected] GREAT MILLS ROAD • LEXINGTON PARK, MARYLAND 20653

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July is UV Safety Month.July is UV Safety Month. When you arWhen you are cooking out or just hae cooking out or just having funving funJuly is UV Safety Month. When you are cooking out or just having funoutside,outside, please rplease remember to use sunscremember to use sunscreen. UV reen. UV rays arays are the strongeste the strongestoutside, please remember to use sunscreen. UV rays are the strongestbetween the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Seeking shade during those timesbetween the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Seeking shade during those timesbetween the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Seeking shade during those timeswill ensurwill ensure the least amount of hare the least amount of harmful UV rmful UV radiation eadiation exposure.xposure. SunscrSunscreeneenwill ensure the least amount of harmful UV radiation exposure. Sunscreenshould be applied at least 20 minutes beforshould be applied at least 20 minutes before outside activity and should bee outside activity and should beshould be applied at least 20 minutes before outside activity and should berreapplied evereapplied every twy two hours,o hours, even on cloudeven on cloudy days and after swimming ory days and after swimming orreapplied every two hours, even on cloudy days and after swimming orsweating! Hasweating! Have a safe and happve a safe and happy 4th of July!y 4th of July!sweating! Have a safe and happy 4th of July! 1958319

The Staff and Residents ofChesapeake Shores would like

to wish everyone aHappy Independence Day!

Changing the Tides of Healthcare!

21412 GREAT MILLS RD • LEXINGTON PARK, MD • 301-863-7244

19343 Three Notch RoadLexington Park, Maryland 20653

301-862-2512

Gas • ATM • Soda • Coffee • SnacksSubs and Sandwiches

Beer, Wine, Liquor and Wings

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Americans celebrate their inde-pendence from British rule every JulyFourth. Celebrations typically includefireworks, parades and parties. Whilethe signing of the Declaration ofIndependence in 1776 was a seminalmoment in both American and worldhistory, the following are some nota-ble events that took place in the yearspreceding 1776 and helped to shapethe country now known as the UnitedStates of America.

• 1765: ThePassageof the StampAct

marked the firstmajor formof taxationon British colonists living in what isnow America. The act imposed taxeson printed materials to help offset thecosts of British troops in the coloniesand replenish British debts. Colonistswere upset they had no say in howtaxes were levied or how the moneywould be spent.

• 1767: After repealing the StampAct, Britain imposed the TownshendActs, a series of taxes on various Britishgoods, including tea. Again, colonistswere outraged, spurring a boycott onBritish goods.

• 1770: The Boston Massacreinvolved a crowd of colonists and acollection of British soldiers. The sol-diers opened fire on the crowd, kill-ing five and wounding six others. Thisincident helped increase anti-Britishsentiments in the colonies.

• 1773: A few years after the BostonMassacre, colonists boarded Britishships in the Boston harbor and threwthe tea into the sea as protest againstthe Tea Act. Known as The Boston TeaParty, this event proved a catalyst forrevolution.

• 1774: After the Intolerable Actsaimed to punish colonists for The Bos-

ton Tea party, delegates from 12 ofthe original 13 colonies met illegally toform the First Continental Congress.They convened to discuss plans fordealing with various British offenses.Congress also developed politicalstatements against the British andurged people to boycott British goods.The first president of this congress wasPayton Randolph. John Hancock wasappointed president the following yearafter the monarchy ignored the firstCongress’ petition.

• 1775: The British governor ofMas-sachusetts sent several hundredBritishtroops to seize military supplies fromthe colonists at Concord. When thecolonists discovered theplan, they senttheir ownmilitia to intercept the forcesat Lexington. The British would win atLexington but were defeated at Con-cord. Throughout 1775, many otherclashes between colonists and Britishtroops took place, eventually culmi-nating in an event that would foreverchange American history.

• 1776: On July 4, 1776, the Sec-ond Continental Congress adopted theDeclaration of Independence, which

Key moments in American Revolutionary history

See History, Page 13

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Office: 301.862.2169Toll Free: 800.638.7734

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Mary Ada CandelaREALTOR®


Office: 301.862.2169Cell: 301.481.8081

Email: [email protected]

Jan BarnesREALTOR®


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Robin Poe ErringtonREALTOR®


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Anne CarterREALTOR®


Office: 301.862.2169Cell: 410.474.5219

Email: [email protected]: www.annecarterhomes.com

CENTURY 21 New Millennium23063 Three Notch Road

California, MD 20619

THE CHRIS HILL TEAM

Chris HillREALTOR®

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Beverly GuyREALTOR®

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Celebrate Independence Day!Celebrate Independence Day!

Flags and PolesCanningSuppliesRelaxation Accessories


Independence Day celebrations aremarked by many spectacles. But fewcan garner the “oohs and aahs” ofa good fireworks display. Summer isa time of year when the resonatingbooms and bright spills of color thatdot the night sky are quite common.

Fireworks,whichcanbetracedbackthousands of years, have an interestinghistory. Many historians believe fire-works originated in ancient China asearly as 200 B.C. It is thought that earlyfireworks were not the gunpowder-filled explosives of today, but some-thing made from bamboo, a mate-rial native to China. Chunks of bam-boo, a thick, fast-growing grass, mayhave been tossed onto a fire as fuel.The rods would blacken, but eventu-ally explode in the fire, causing a loud,frightening noise. This noise was aresult of trapped air and sap inside ofthe bamboo rods heating and expand-ing until the bamboo exploded underthe pressure. The exploding bamboowas used to ward off animals, otherpeople and evil spirits.

Chinese alchemists eventuallystumbled on a recipe for basic gun-powder, mixing together saltpeter(potassium nitrate, then a commonkitchen seasoning), charcoal, sulfurand other ingredients. This powderwas packed inside of hollow bamboorods to produce an even bigger bang.Soon paper tubes replaced the bam-boo, and fireworks were used for morethan just scaring away spirits, as theywere routinely included in special cel-ebrations and even deployed duringmilitary engagements.

Fireworks may have begun inChina, but they were soon being used

around the world. Italians had beenfascinated with fireworks ever sincethe explorer Marco Polo brought backfirecrackers from Asia in 1292. Duringthe Renaissance in Europe, the Ital-ians began to develop fireworks into atrue art form. Since this was a periodof artistic creativity and expression,many new fireworks were created.

“Firemasters” were fireworksexperts in medieval England. Theyworked with “green men,” who worecaps of leaves to protect themselvesfromrainingsparks fromthefireworks.

In 1758, the Jesuit missionary PierreNicolas le Cheron d’Incarville, livingin Beijing, wrote to the Paris Academyof Sciences about the methods andcomposition of fireworks, includinghow to make many types of Chinesefireworks.

The world remains fascinated byfireworks even now. Fireworks dis-plays have grown more elaborate overthe years, requiring the skills of pyro-technic experts, carpenters and digitalsound masters. Various powders andchemicals mixed together produce arainbow display of colors and aerialtricks that would likely have shockedthe earliest firework creators.

Not forgetting its origins, Chinacontinues to produce and export morefireworks thananyothercountry in theworld. Safety experts recommend thepublic leave fireworks to the profes-sionals and sit back and relax duringawe-inspiring pyrotechnic displays. Asthe United States and Canada preparefor their respective Independence Daycelebrations, flashy fireworks displaysare bound to be part of the festivities.

Fireworkshave a

colorfulhistory

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Expressions of patrioticenthusiasm are as bright andthrilling as fireworks, but theydissipate as quickly, Wash-ington Post blogger AlyssaRosenberg wrote in a July2014 examination of patrio-tism among American youth.Yet most Americans considerthemselves patriotic, even iftheir definitions of the termvary slightly or even greatly,multiple surveys show.

While politicians and polit-ical parties may be satisfiedwith fireworks and rheto-ric, average Americans seekmeaningful ways to showtheir love for their country,such as supporting veteransand active-duty service mem-bers.

With the patriotic celebra-tions of summer underway,here are four ways you canshow your patriotism andmake a difference at the sametime:

Support veterans andactive-duty military

Taking care of the peoplewho serve our country is animportantway to showpatrio-

tism. You can show your sup-port in many ways, from hir-ing veterans if you’re a small-business owner to participat-ing in business initiatives andorganizations that help active-

duty service people and vet-erans. Plenty of organizationscan help you show your sup-port.

“As a veteran, I’ve seenfirsthand the value of com-

munity support for membersof the military,” said PrestonFunkhouser, facility servicesproject manager for CrackerBarrel Old Country Store.Funkhouser served in SaudiArabia, in Iraq in support ofoperations Iraqi Freedom andNewDawn, and in Kosovo.

“We’ve hired thousands ofveterans in various positionsthroughoutour company, andwe have supported organiza-tions like theUSO, theNation-al Military Families Associa-tion and Wounded Warriorsthat lift up our servicemen,servicewomen and veterans.”

Showing support can be assimple as visiting with a vet-eran in your neighborhood,putting together a care pack-age for someone serving over-seas, or making a purchasefromamerchantwhodonatesa portion of the proceeds to amilitary support organization.You canfinda comprehensive

Meaningful ways to show your patriotism

See Patriotism, Page 14

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formally proclaimed American colo-nies independent from Britain. How-ever, Britain was not willing to bend tocolonists’ wishes.

• 1776-1783: Several battles tookplace during this time period, includ-ing Moore’s Creek Bridge, Sullivan’sIsland and Fort Washington. Francewas brought into the war in 1777. A

successful sea-and-land campaign ofAmerican and French armies led tothe surrender of British troops at Yor-ktown.

• 1783: Nearly two decades aftercolonists began voicing their displea-sure with British laws, the AmericanRevolution formally ended on Sep-tember 3, 1783 with the Treaty of Paris.The British Empire accepted defeatand recognized the independence ofthe United States of America.

HistoryContinued from Page 6

Fireworks tend to be most preva-lent during the summertime. Elabo-rate pyrotechnic displays may be partof Independence Day celebrations orother special events. Individuals alsomay set off fireworks to light up thenight skies for private parties.

Althoughparentswillwarnchildrenagainst going too close to fireworks,many do not share the same appre-hension about sparklers. Sparklers arethin metal rods that have been dippedin a special, flammable pyrotechnicsubstance and allowed to dry. Whenlit, a sparkler will throw off, as thename implies, sparks of twinkling lightuntil the sparkler is extinguished.Spar-klers may seem safe for little hands,but like other fireworks, sparklers canbe dangerous.

A sparkler can reach 3,662 F (2,000C) when lit. That is 20 times the boil-ing point of water, a level of heat thatis enough to melt steel. In fact, threesparklers burning together can gener-ate the same amount of heat as a blowtorch. The Consumer Product SafetyCommission says roughly 240 peoplevisit the emergency room every dayin the month of July with fireworks-related injuries.

Common sense should prevailwhenever anyone is handling spar-klers. If children are allowed to hold

sparklers, it shouldonlybeunder closeadult supervision.Other safety tips canhelp ensure events where sparklers arebeing used remain injury-free.

• Sparklers should be stored in cool,dry places until they are used.

• Leather gloves can protect handswhile sparklers are being lit and held.

• Do not light and hold more thanone sparkler at a time.

• Sparklers can stay hot for a whileafter they have been extinguished. Putthe hot end down into a bucket ofwater when finished.

• Sparklers may not be legal whereyou live. Know the laws before pur-chasing sparklers or other fireworks.

• Children under the age of fiveshould never be given sparklers tohold, nor should adults hold a lit spar-kler while holding a baby. Glow sticksare safer alternatives for young kids.

• Hold sparklers at arms’ length toavoid burns.

• Do not bring sparklers to publicevents, as sparklers amid large crowdscan pose a safety risk.

• Do not wave or run with lit spar-klers.

Sparklers may seem like safe alter-natives to more traditional fireworks.But it’s important to exercise cautionwith sparklers, especially when youngchildren are nearby.

Sparklers pose asafety risk, too


This Independence Day, revelersacross the nation are preparing totoast their independence with fam-ily and friends. For many Americans,backyard barbecues are synonymouswith the Fourth of July, a day that, inthe United States of America, com-memorates the adoption of the Decla-ration of Independence by the SecondContinental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Precious few Americans can saythey have not been present at a 4thof July barbecue or witnessed a fire-works display honoring America’sofficial declaration of independencefrom Great Britain. Hosting a July 4thbarbecue for the first time may havesome hosts anxious about throwing asummer soirée to remember, but funis sure to be had if hosts remember toinclude the following backyard barbe-cue essentials this IndependenceDay.

FoodNo Fourth of July barbecue is com-

plete without food, so hosts shouldbe sure to stock up on popular barbe-cue fare like hot dogs and hamburg-ers. Though such foods likely won’tbe mistaken for gourmet fare anytime

soon, Fourth of July revelers oftenembrace the tradition of grilling upsomehotdogs andhamburgers even ifthey tend to avoid such foods through-out the rest of the year. Hosts shouldnot feel pressured to provide gourmetfare on July 4th, but it is a thought-ful gesture to ask guests in advance ifthey have any food allergies or need toavoid certain foods for other reasons.

BeveragesIt goes without saying that guests

will need refreshing beverages at par-ties held in early July, but be sure tostock up on a variety of beveragesso guests are not forced to consumedrinks theydon’twant. Be sure tohaveplenty ofwater available to guests, andprovide sodas, iced tea and lemonadeas well. Offer alcoholic beverages toadult guests, but don’t go overboardstocking up on alcohol, as that mightencourage guests to overindulge.

GamesBackyard barbecues are most fun

when guests are entertained, so planto have some games available for

guests of all ages. Encourage guests tobring a change of clothes or swimsuitsif games will involve water or some-thing that might soil their clothing. Ifyou have a pool, purchase some poolgames so swimmers can domore thanjust wade in the water or take a fewlaps. Plan a Wiffle ball game for kidsand dig some horseshoe pits or buy aring toss set so adults can engage insome friendly competition as well.

SafetyThough no one wants to think of

a 4th of July celebration taking a turnfor the worst, hosts must prepare foremergencies. Restock the first-aid kit ifnecessary and keep a constant eye onguests, especially children, to ensureeveryone is having a safe and happytime. Program a list of local taxi com-panies intoyourphonesoyoucaneas-ily call for transportation should anyguests have too much to drink duringthe festivities. Hosts should abstainfrom alcohol so they can serve as des-ignated driver should the need arise atthe end of the night.

Fourth of Julybarbecue essentials

list of support organizationsonline at www.military.com.

VoteDespite the concept of a

participatory governmentbeing a fundamental tenet ofAmerica, recent voter turn-out in this country has beenhistorically low. In 2014, itwas the lowest since WorldWar II; about 36 percent ofAmericans eligible to vote didso, according to the UnitedStates Election Project. Yetin a Fox News poll, 93 per-cent of respondents said theybelieved votingwas a patrioticthing to do.

Turnout is usually higher inyears with a presidential race,

but don’t just wait for a bigelection. Vote in your munici-pal, school district, countyand state elections, too. Takeyour childrenwith you so theylearn about the process andthe importance of voting. It’sthe American thing to do.

Fly the flagThree patriotic holidays

occur in the summer: Memo-rial Day, Flag Day and Inde-pendence Day. It’s a perfecttime to begin displaying theflag — and turn it into a year-round habit.

“Displaying the flag isa wonderful way to showrespect for our country andfor everyone who has defend-ed it throughout our history,”Funkhouser said.

There are rightways—andwrong ways — to display theflag. For example, illuminate

the flag at night if you’ll bedisplaying it ‘round-the-clock,but never hang it with theunion — the blue and whitestars field—downward; that’sa signal of distress. Read thefederal Flag Code for more

information on the properway to display the flag.

Visit and supporta national park

The National Parks Service

protects many of the coun-try’s greatest natural and his-toric treasures — and they’reavailable for the enjoyment ofeveryone. Many national parkand historic sites are free, butsome do charge admission.When you pay your admis-sion fee or make a voluntarydonation, you’re helping theNational Park service contin-ue to preserve America’s cul-tural and natural history.

The wide variety of sitesand locations means virtu-ally every American is with-in a reasonable drive of aNational Park site. Whetheryou’re looking for a day trip ora week-long family vacation,you can find a National Parklocation that will provide afun, educational and patrioticexperience.

Brandpoint

PatriotismContinued from Page 12

Staff photo by MEGAN JOHNSON

Thomas Stone National Historic Site in Port Tobacco

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