It was quite a contrast. While jet engines were soaring over Pax River NAS for Air Expo 2011, just a few miles away a group of people quietly waded into St. Mary’s River. The wade-in led by legendary environmentalist Bernie Fowler was part of RiverFest 2011, this year held for the first time on Labor Day weekend Saturday. Hundreds attended the event on a picture-perfect day on the lawn adjacent to the statehouse and on the waterfront. It was co-sponsored by St. Mary’s River Watershed Association and Historic St. Mary’s City.
Fowler, a former Calvert County commissioner and state senator, started a wade-in on the Patuxent River to gauge water quality from year to year. Wade-ins have spread all around the Bay since that initial effort.
Before this year’s St. Mary’s River e wade-in, Fowler said he wouldn’t be around forever to lead the cause for preserving our waterways. He challenged the young people in attendance, including students from Chesapeake Charter School, to take up the environmental charge. And Joe Anderson, association president, told the children they couldn’t find a better hero than Bernie Fowler.
RiverFest featured a number of musical performers and entertainers including Ships’ Company Chanteymen, Joe and David Norris, Don Keneflick, Daughter’s of Veda Mid-East Dance Troupe and Super MagicMan Reggie Rice. There were a number of vendors and non-profit organizations on hand and plenty to eat and drink.
This is the third year the event has been held at Historic St. Mary’s City. It started on St. George’s Island. St. Mary’s College students helped out by volunteering at the event along with watershed association members.
