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NEWS IN BRIEF
Maryland Emancipation Day Commemorations Begin
November 1 marks the 150th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day when, with the abolition of slavery, the Free State becoming truly free. Celebrations of freedom, activities recognizing the struggles and triumphs of African-American experience in Maryland and events honoring the work of great Marylanders like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and countless others who fought for the emancipation of enslaved people will be held throughout the state.
Events will be held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture, the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, the Banneker-Douglas Museum, the Prince George’s African American Museum & Cultural Center and many of Maryland’s 74 sites on the National Park Services’ Network to Freedom which marks important places along The Underground Railroad. A new rack card with a list of commemorations is available for download and a more complete listing can be found at visitmaryland.org.
Destination Training Takes Maryland Office of Tourism Staffers to Kent County
This year, The Maryland Office of Tourism’s Fall Destination Training took staffers to beautiful Kent County. Rock Hall Mayor Robert Willis took time from his busy schedule to welcome the team before Bernadette Bowman, Director, Kent County office of Tourism and Economic Development and Doug Francis, Chairman of the Rock Hall Museum, took over as tour guides. The team stopped at Caulk’s Field, one of the best preserved War of 1812 battlefields still in existence, visited the historic bayside town of Rock Hall and toured the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. With history, charm, and stunning natural treasures, the beauty of Kent County speaks for itself, but it was the kindness of the people that truly opened the eyes and hearts of DBED staff.
At Waterman’s Crab House, staff was greeted with warm smiles and mouthwatering crab cakes so good we’re still talking about them. At the Rock Hall Museum, Francis regaled staffers with stories of Kent County’s maritime roots. At The Java Rock coffee shop, owner Jim Rich provided piping hot coffee along with stories of Rock Hall. The day ended with a tour of Blackwater Distilling, home of Sloop Betty Vodka, and a taste of Kent County’s entrepreneurial spirit. The team left Kent County with a deeper understanding of what brings people to this magical place on the shore of the Chesapeake. “People are drawn to the water,” says Director Bowman, “and the people of Kent County want to share what we have.”
Maryland State Arts Council Announces 2014 Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts Awards Winners
Each year, the Maryland Arts Council presents three Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts (ALTA) awards to people, places and traditions that have become pillars of Maryland culture and, on October 8, this year’s winners were announced. Bernard “Lefty” Kreh of Cockeysville, who won the “People” award, was honored for his contributions to fishing. Lefty was the subject of a 1991 U.S. postage stamp and is widely considered the inventor of saltwater fly fishing. Somerset County’s Bending Water Park and Indian Water Trails won the ALTA for "Place", recognizing its importance as a cultural foundation for the Accohannock people. The final winner was The Painted Screens of Baltimore in the "Traditions" category. The tradition which brings beauty and color to the quest for privacy in the big city, has been a Baltimore institution for 101 years.
The 2014 ALTA Awards ceremony and concert will be held December 6 the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center on the Montgomery College Takoma Park – Silver Spring campus. This year’s ALTA Awards includes a headlining performance by R&B/Soul legends The Holmes Brothers, recipients of the 2014 National Heritage Fellowship. The ceremony will also feature a performance by Danny Paisley, Dave Reed, and Hugh Campbell to highlight their participation in the forthcoming Dust-to-Digital multimedia publication, Ola Belle Reed & Southern Mountain Music on the Mason-Dixon Line. For tickets to the ALTA Awards Ceremony, call the box office at (240) 567-5775. The event is free of charge, but tickets must be reserved.
More than the Shamrock’s Are Green at Anne Arundel County's solar powered Pub
Already one of the Maryland Office of Tourism’s Green Travel Partners and winner of our 2013 Green/Sustainable Travel Award, Anne Arundel County’s Irish Restaurant Group was recently recognized by The Capital Gazette for its commitment to solar energy. The group recently installed a comprehensive solar array to generate both electricity and hot water on the roof of their Killarney House restaurant and pub in Davidsonville. The Irish Restaurant Group is committed to their eco ideals, but, according to co-owner Anthony Clarke, trees weren’t the only green that affected the decision making. “Margins have tightened for every line in our business — power, food cost and the like,” says Clarke. “We need to find savings wherever we can to be able to keep prices down for our customers,” and the plummeting cost of solar in Maryland was a big part of that decision. Costs have dropped from $10 per watt just a few years ago, to around $4 now. At those prices, Clarke estimates the investment will pay for itself in just a few years.
While Killarney House may be at the forefront of Maryland’s green revolution, it is hardly alone. Commitments from businesses and consumers made Maryland one of the top 12 states leading the way for solar power and pro-consumer state policies make Maryland one of the top five places to economically add solar. The move towards solar hasn’t just been good for consumers, however, a thriving network of local contractors and businesses like Kenergy Solar, which installed Killarney House's system, are springing up to fill Maryland’s solar needs. With more and more businesses and individuals following The Irish Restaurant Group’s lead, Maryland’s green power outlook is sunny.
Preservation Maryland’s Annual Awards Presentation a Star-Spangled Affair
On October 14, at the historic Zion Lutheran Church, Preservation Maryland held their 39th annual Preservation Awards. Presiding over the event was Nicholas Redding who became the organization’s new executive director on September 1. Redding, an author, historian, former park ranger and avid preservationist took over the helm of the nation’s second oldest state preservation organization in September and presided over the awards.
The 2014 winners included Senator Thomas V. (Mike) Miller, Jr. who was given The President’s Award, Main Street Maryland which was given the Stewardship Award, Dr. George E. Lewis, Jr. who was given the Volunteer Service Award for his work on the restoration of the Catoctin Aqueduct and The Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater which was given the Phoenix Award.
- Maryland Minute
On CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. plus WBAL-AM, Margot Amelia is featured in the weekly Maryland Minute. This week’s version highlights events for this upcoming weekend.
Ghosts of Sotterly: St. Mary’s MD, 1814 themed haunted event October 17-24
Twilight Tails The Escape: National Colonial Farm in Accokeek October 23,24
Annual Amazing Corn-Maze: October 24, Queenstown
Fells Point Haunted Pub Crawl: October 24-25
Cambridge Tall Ship Schooner Rendezvous: October 25,26
Ocean City Restaurant Week: Now through October 26
Six-Flags Fright Fest: Through October 31
Montgomery Parks Maryland Emancipation Day Celebrations: November 1
Uncle Nace’s Day, Trappe MD: Parade and events November 1
Maryland Emancipation Day at Reginald F. Lewis Museum: November 1, Celebrate Maryland Emancipation Day (November 1, 1864) with the dynamic group Culture Kingdom Kids. This fun troupe provides an afternoon of creative drama, music, and movement. Enjoy craft activities.
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34th Annual Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit
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Date: Nov. 12-14, 2014
Venue: Roland E. Powell Convention Center in partnership with Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites
Address: 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
VIEW SUMMIT SCHEDULE and REGISTER |
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