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Leisa Tobler, a resident of Huntingtown did not win the lottery but she did win a beach house in Florida . Leisa participated and won a contest sponsored by MyHomeIdeas.com. The beach house is located in the Florida panhandle’s town of Port St. Joe .
Although, Leisa and her family are the lucky winners of a new home, on the beach, a paradise to some, they have chosen to remain in Huntingtown to raise their family. The Toblers appreciate the great school system Calvert County offers their children.
I think their decision to stay right here at home, is a real testimony for the quality of our Calvert County school system, our wonderful community in Huntingtown, and the benefits of living in Southern Maryland.
Congratulations! Leisa
Wine growing is the new agricultural industry in Maryland . In reality, wine has a long history in the State of Maryland dating back to 1647.
Maryland wines may have always been a part of our history, but it is only recently that wine production is emerging as a full fledged industry with vineyards replacing the old tobacco fields.
Calvert County is already home to three wineries. St. Mary’s County will be home to Maryland’s newest winery, The Port of Leonardtown Winery, opening this summer in Leonardtown.
The Leonardtown winery is unique because it is owned and operated by a co-op of wine growers in the Southern Maryland region. The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative will grow the grapes, oversee production and the operation of the winery.
Although the winery is scheduled to open this summer in time for the vineyards to bring their grapes to the winery for processing, the sale of these wines will not be available until next year (2010). Production is expected to output about six thousand gallons of wine.
The Port of Leonardtown winery is offering a unique experience and opportunity for sixty-two fortunate people. Sixty-two barrels, each containing a gallon of wine will be sold to donors. The cost of the barrels will be around the $1000 mark. The donor’s name will be placed on the barrel. During the fermenting process the donors will be allowed to come inside the winery at various intervals and taste their wine thoughout the process.
The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative plans to open their winery in an old renovated State Highway Administration garage, located on the bank of the McIntosh Run. The new winery is supported by both the town of Leonardtown , who donated the land for the project and county government. They have budgeted $496,500 for the adventure.
The southern plain of Maryland is well suited for certain types of grape varieties. The counties of Calvert , St. Mary’s, Prince George ’s and Anne Arundel experience hot and dry summers similar to the grape growing regions of Southern Italy and the Mediterranean .
The old tobacco farms will soon be a thing of the past. Maryland ’s 10-year buyout will end in 2010. It is hoped that the farms will not all become future subdivisions, but that vineyards will replace the tobacco fields. The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative plans to implement a recruitment program to help make this a reality.
Here is a toast to Maryland and to the new Maryland wine industry.
Bonnie
Calvert County Wineries:
Cove Point Winery
Friday’s Creek Winery
Solomons Island Winery
Port of Leonardtown
Here is an excellent site to learn all about Maryland wines, wineries, wine festivals and more: Wine is Growing in Maryland
State of Maryland ’s Wine Growers Association: Maryland Grape Growers and Wineries Association (SMGGWA)
The Annemarie Garden is currently running the exhibit Sailor Made: The Art of Woolies in the New Arts Building.
A woolie is a hand stitched needlepoint created by British sailors in the 19th Century portrait of a sailing ship made from wool thread.
In the days of tall ships, sailors were required to know more than just seamanship. They were also expert with a sewing needle. Sailors needed to know how to “wheedle a needle” in order to repair sails and their own clothing.
During the long months at sea many sailors used their talent with the needle
Don Berezoski poses with Woolie - photo somdnews.com
to create what would become treasured works of art. The woolies, for the most part, depict pictures of the ships they sailed and sometimes the ports they visited.
When the needle work was completed, the sailors gave these crafted works to their mothers, wives, other family members or friends.
The sailor folk art currently on display at the Annemarie Garden is on loan from Donald Berezoski, a Huntingtown resident. The display also includes three American-made woolies, which are much more rare, as most woolies were made by British seamen.
These works of art currently on display are certainly worth a visit. The exhibit runs until February 1 in the Mezzanine Gallery at the Annemarie Garden.
