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.”

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.

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.

On a chilly afternoon, Sue Hu walks down to a pier that juts out from a wintry beige stretch of Patuxent River shoreline. As she nears the water’s edge, Hu points proudly to a protruding breakwater that carries great significance. Beyond its power to reduce the eroding impact of waves, it is home to about 40,000 oysters.

Story by Janet Dunphy and Photograph by August Selckmann

Southern Maryland is getting greener, and it isn’t just the onset of spring. Residents are recycling more, offering their everyday goods for reuse, and reducing their household waste.

There is perhaps nothing more fulfilling than helping others by doing what you love. This is what happens when Southern Maryland GiveCamp (SMGC) volunteers assemble once a year to provide free information technology solutions to local charitable organizations that don’t otherwise have the budget to support the technology resources they need.

During most weeks, an army of people fans into shelters, veterans’ homes, schools and community centers in Southern Maryland to do good deeds, fill desperate needs or bring joy to a stranger. From helping teens and collecting eyeglasses for the sight-impaired to feeding the elderly, funding local fire and rescue departments, and reading to kindergartners, our fraternal organizations take their missions and their charitable work seriously.

Marguerite Morris is having a rough day. She spent most of the night at the emergency room with one of her residents who couldn’t afford to pay for the surgery she needed. Eventually one of the doctors donated his services.

St. Mary’s City, the first settlement in Maryland, is now a historical tourist attraction, and Southern Maryland’s economy is no longer based on tobacco farming and fishing. Although much of our early history is just that, one flourishing remnant of colonial Southern Maryland remains – foxhunting.

Story by Debra Zimmerman Murphey

There’s something iconic about an American flag proudly displayed on an old, weathered barn.

American flags are painted or hung on several barns (and a few other buildings) here in Southern Maryland. To commemorate Veterans Day, we wanted to share their stories with you. Enjoy the pictures, or take a drive and see them for yourself. You might just be inspired.

A craft fair is truly a feast for the senses. It’s a veritable cornucopia of aromas, colors and textures. Within the stalls, booths and tables of Southern Maryland’s plentiful fairs and festivals you can find a one-of-a-kind paper creation alongside a home-baked tart or a handcrafted bath lotion. Or a craft – a painting, piece of pottery, wood carving, piece of jewelry, hand-sewn baby gift or hand-woven basket – as unique as the artisan who created it. Local craft fairs provide a special space for local artisans to display their talents and interested buyers to discover them.

Here in Southern Maryland, the equine industry is diverse and colorful, offering something for every horse enthusiast. Horse farms, stables and riding trails speckle the local landscape, preserving the agricultural charm of our area and providing a source of recreation and enjoyment for its residents.