It’s hard to believe that April is here. Just a month ago we had over a foot of heavy snow on the ground. A week later the temperature was well into the 70s. March also brought us spring and last week’s Maryland Days. Both celebrations, first at St. Clement’s Island Museum on Wednesday, and then at Historic St. Mary’s City on Sunday, were great successes and served as a wonderful kick-off to our Maryland 375 campaign. The events also caused us to appreciate two of the County’s (and Maryland’s) incredible historical sites and treasures. And they’re both right here.

April also represents a major seasonal change that’s noticeable in the budding trees, growing grass, baseball, Easter, fishing season, plowing and planting of fields, and yes, taxes. People are working outside in their yards or walking, running, biking, and using our parks. Many will volunteer for Christmas in April and similar charitable activities.

Given changes in population growth, traffic patterns, and the tough economic times we are in, our office is focusing more attention on business communities in two particular parts of the County. They are St. Mary’s Square on Great Mills Rd. and in “South County” (the first district south of Hermanville Rd). Whether it’s the wide variety of merchants in the Square or the marinas, campgrounds, B&Bs, charter fisherman, farmers and many others that dot the landscape heading to Point Lookout, we’ve learned that both groups have much to offer but need assistance getting heard and visited. They don’t enjoy the locational advantage along the heavier travelled routes in the middle part of the County. What they do have to offer is something much more unique and distinctive.

While you’re out and about enjoying April take a ride down Great Mills Rd and stop by St. Mary’s Square where you’ll find more than 20 different businesses – and more coming – ready and eager to serve you. Continue south of the base down Rt. 235 or on Rt. 5 South to Park Hall, St. Mary’s City, St. Inigoes, Ridge, Dameron or Scotland and you’ll discover a real gem, a mini-St. Mary’s County, a peninsula where traditional County lifestyle carries on.

Enjoy April and discover something new in St. Mary’s County. It’s right here.