(l to r) Commissioner Todd Morgan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Linda Palchinsky and former commissioner president Jackie Russell gather at Linda’s Cafe for award ceremony.
St. Mary’s County, MD — Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot spent Wednesday, April 8 in St. Mary’s County. He makes annual visits to each county to present awards to businesses, individuals and organizations that have contributed to their communities.
This year Comptroller Franchot’s local visits were to Triton Metals in Hollywood, Linda’s Café in Lexington Park, Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department and to the school board administrative offices.
Franchot toured Triton Metals, one of the largest metal manufacturing operations on the East Coast, and presented proclamations to Melanie and Kevin Poole for their 20 years in business.
At Linda’s Café, the comptroller presented a proclamation to owner Linda Palchinsky for her dedication to the business community. Palchinsky in turn thanked her customers for making the popular restaurant such a success. Commissioner Todd Morgan and former commissioner president Jackie Russell joined the comptroller for the ceremony.
A contingent of volunteer firefighters, auxiliary members and community leaders greeted Franchot at the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Southern Maryland’s oldest fire company. Franchot presented a proclamation to Fire Chief Jonathan Scully. Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris, Register of Wills Lois Duke, former mayor Chip Norris and former delegate Ernie Bell were on hand for the ceremony.
At the event Franchot praised Gov. Larry Hogan. He described their relationship (Hogan a Republican, Franchot a Democrat) as like “long-lost brothers.” He said they both want to get the state’s fiscal house in order. He noted press reports predicting who would win victory in Annapolis this year – the legislature or the governor. Franchot said, “I would rather win the victory for more jobs, higher wages and for small businesses who feel like they want to be in Maryland.”
The final stop of the day was at the St. Mary’s County Board of Education offices in Leonardtown to present the Maryland Masters Award to three students: Jay-me Meadows, a fourth grader at Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary school for her creative depiction of the State of Maryland; Kaylen Leitch, an 8th grader at Leonardtown Middle Schools for her detailed drawing of a zebra; and Karol Carlsen, a senior at Great Mills High School, for her interpretive painting of the word ethereal.
The artwork from the three St. Mary’s County students along with those from around the state will hang in the Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis for two months.
Drema Ballengee-Grunst, legislative aide to Senator Steve Waugh [R – District 29], represented the senator at the ceremonies.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com
