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.

All Saints Oakley Parish in Avenue celebrates its 370th birthday this year. That’s a lot of candles on a cake, but it also means that this small country Episcopal parish, established in 1642, has stood the test of time and more.

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.