“Spike” had severely deformed front legs, “Clark Kent” was having trouble breathing due to a bone deformity, and “Wonder Kitty” was blind when each cat was taken in by members of Last Chance Animal Rescue (LCAR) in Waldorf, given the medical treatment it needed, and ultimately given a chance to live a happy, healthy life.

As the weather turns ever more pleasant, the great outdoors beckon. Why not enjoy a little fresh air and sunshine while taking in Southern Maryland’s beautiful vistas from the saddle of a bicycle?

When the air turns nippy, one product appears on the shelves of groceries, big box stores, hardware stores, garden centers and even dollar stores. No, not snow shovels: amaryllis bulbs. Although the term amaryllis includes many varieties of lilies, most people use it to refer to the one people grow indoors around the holidays. These bulbs, prized for their large showy blooms, have solid or striped petals in shades ranging from dark red to white.

Christmas is all about giving, and a group of volunteers at South Potomac Church in White Plains understands the importance of that. Each December, the worship center of South Potomac Church in White Plains is transformed into a mini-mall, with departments ranging from men’s and women’s clothing to toys, household items, books and even pet supplies. At this Christmas Shop, the community’s needy can use “angel dollars” to shop for gifts.

Richard Slavik, 60, of California, Md., comes across as a pretty average guy. He likes sports and fishing, and takes pride in his Navy career. What is very “un”-average about Richard, however, is how he spends much of his time – helping others. Since retiring from the Navy, he has dedicated his life to making things better for St. Mary’s County residents in need, both as a professional and as a volunteer.

Story by Debra Zimmerman Murphey and Photography by Edward S. Potskowski

To Bernie Fowler Jr., Serenity Farm in Benedict isn’t just a picturesque, 267-acre farm with a breathtaking view of the Patuxent River, or merely cherished pastoral land where you can appreciate Southern Maryland’s rural history and agricultural roots. Serenity Farm is also Fowler’s “field of dreams.”

This year’s holiday menu comes to us from Hardesty Haven Catering in Prince Frederick. For the past six years, Dee and Richard Hardesty have brought their 30-foot-long mobile kitchen to sites around the area for weddings, banquets, and events ranging from Rolling Thunder to the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department Concert Series (they catered for the bands and their staff throughout the concert season).

The below recipes are perfect for a family-oriented holiday dinner. With lots of easy, comforting recipes, this menu is sure to make your holidays a little happier.

In an era when Christmas often brings more anxiety than joy – as we string lights, send greeting cards, ready the house for guests, shop and check any number of items off our collective to-do list – there is something appealing about those symbols of Christmas that hark to earlier times. Wreaths and other natural décor remind us of a simpler way of celebrating. For hundreds of years, the color and scent of fresh evergreens have lifted spirits, freshened the air and offered a sense of connection with the natural world.

The holidays are approaching and if you are looking for something truly unique for that special person on your list, then check out the options available to you at our locally owned jewelry stores. There’s nothing more meaningful and lasting than the gift of jewelry; it’s used to celebrate life’s special moments and memories and can be passed on from generation to generation. Even more personalized and precious are customized jewelry pieces.

We are fortunate to live in a region with an abundance of talented custom jewelry designers and locally owned jewelry stores. Some of them have been designing jewelry for our community for many generations. There is no limit to the creative choices available to us in Southern Maryland. Whether you want to design a piece and have it made, or have a jeweler design it for you, you will be happy with the original opportunities available in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties.

After one of Kristy Wilhite’s students battled cancer and survived eight incidences, she knew she had to get involved. That’s what prompted the St. Mary’s County middle school teacher to become a major organizer of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.

The number of deaths from all types of cancer combined in the U.S. is continuing a decline that began in the early 1990s, according to the “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer” published by the American Cancer Society earlier this year. This 1.6 percent decrease in cancer deaths on average was calculated by four coordinating agencies and the American Cancer Society (ACS) using the most recent cancer data gathered between the years of 2004 and 2008. Although it is slight, a decrease in the number of cancer deaths provides a positive glimmer of hope for all who are fighting the battle against cancer.

Southern Maryland is seeing a shift in agriculture as more and more farms leave behind traditional methods of farming and cash crops for a fresh new approach. Hobby farms and farmettes are also on the rise in the area, giving people the chance to reconnect with their roots and supplement their income doing something they love. Many local farmers are finding out that alpacas are the perfect fit.

Some birds are fair-weather feathered friends, taking flight for points south as the days grow shorter and cooler. But many others tough it out, including Maryland’s state bird, the Baltimore oriole, and a rich variety of doves, juncos, cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, wrens and woodpeckers. If you want these year-round residents to brighten your fall and winter, you just have to feed them. But you need to know some basics.

Southern Maryland is for dog lovers, and the counties of St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles are making sure pets have a place to play.

The pursuit of happiness may have been promised by our country’s founders, but now more than ever it seems Americans are in pursuit of health and wellness. From those who seek help to quit smoking or lose a few pounds to others who want an exercise program to de-stress, get stronger or feel better there are any number of workshops, programs, classes and activities to fit the bill right here in Southern Maryland.

There’s no doubt an outdoor wedding on the banks of one of Southern Maryland’s many rivers or the Chesapeake Bay makes for a beautiful event.  Outdoor weddings take a little extra planning but can be incredible. There is nothing more magical than walking down the aisle with Mother Nature. 

Planning a wedding is a big job, with hundreds of decisions to make. We’ve tried to take some of the stress out of these exciting times by gathering expert advice from industry professionals across Southern Maryland.

If you are looking for a unique place to spend your next vacation or weekend getaway, then check out the great selection of local bed and breakfasts.  You won’t find the standard cookie cutter rooms found in most hotels, and you will be treated to a very personalized stay. Fortunately, independently owned and operated bed and breakfast establishments and their kin (farm and breakfasts, bed and fix-your-own breakfasts, cottages) shine like lighthouse beacons in the night, providing individual décor and down-home hospitality. Most of the places were built long enough ago that they don’t have to try to create a link to local history and industry. Yet most are totally modern and allow you to connect to the electronic world, or not, as you wish.