Education Association of St. Mary’s County’s Anna Laughlin sends out a big “thank-you” to St. Mary’s County Commissioners Mike Hewitt and Tom Jarboe for their stance in expressing strong support of St. Mary’s County Superintendent of Schools Scott Smith’s position as he made it clear how important it is for SMCPS employees to recover “steps” next year.

Ms. Laughlin praised the commissioners for their respect and courtesy in addressing this issue at the county commissioners’ budget workshop held March 17.

Note: a public hearing is scheduled for April 14 at Great Mills High School at 6:30 p.m.

Help Senator Steve Waugh
You can help Senator Waugh advocate for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. The Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and the Education Association of St. Mary’s County (EASMC) asks you to visit dontshortchangemaryland.com/ to email our legislators by letting them know how a change in the education funding formula will impact our school system. You may send your letters to Sean P. Sayers, member-at-large for EASMC Board of Directors.

He will take these letters to Sen. Waugh when he meets with him in Annapolis this week. You may submit as a Microsoft Word Document, or scan and email your hand-written letter to him; Sean will then print them out. You may also contact lleskinen@mseanea.org.

News from Delegate Matt Morgan [District 29A]
Delegate Morgan supports HB 486, the Public Charter School Expansion and Improvement Act of 2015. For detailed information on Maryland’s Charter Schools you may contact mdcharternetwork.org.
HB687, Religious Exemptions from Immunization Requirements-Repeal, this Bill was withdrawn by its sponsor. Matt Morgan was happy that this Bill was withdrawn.
If you live in Matt’s district and are pursuing a degree, he invites you to apply for a legislative scholarship at Matt@VoteForMattMorgan.com. These scholarships are available for all legislative districts, as well. You may also contact Matt at Matt.Morgan@house.state.md.us and on Facebook at DelegateMattMorgan.

Minority Report 2015 Session Update, Week 9
The House Appropriations Committee completed its work on Gov. Hogan’s budget proposal; presenting to the full House of Delegates takes place this week. This is the first time in nearly a decade that the budget does not rely on tax increases, and it does not set up the need for tax increases in the future. To learn more, you may contact wwwhouserepublicancaucus.com.

News from RED Maryland
Results of the RED MD March Poll reveal that Dan Bongino was the winner in the Senate poll, and that Gov. Scott Walker was the winner in the Presidential Poll.  You may call or email RED MD anytime: (410)205-4875, or redmaryland@gmail.com.

GOP events
The St. Mary’s County Republican Club, Greg Sauter, president, will meet Thursday, March 19 at Stoney’s Clarke’s Landing Restaurant located at 24580 Clarke’s Landing Lane in Hollywood. The Social Hour begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Meeting at 7 p.m. Guest speaker is Charles Faddis, former CIA Operations Officer, leading a discussion on ISIS in Iraq – What’s Really Going On.
The first meeting of 2015 for the Republican Women of St. Mary’s Club, Jaymi Sterling Maryland’s First Daughter, president, will be held Monday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. at The Front Porch Restaurant in Leonardtown. Guest Speaker will be St. Mary’s County Commission President Randy Guy.

You are reminded to “save the date” for a Maryland Federation of Republican Women’s Luncheon to honor Maryland’s First Lady Yumi Hogan on May 7 at the Annapolis Westin Hotel on Thursday, May 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information you may contact smc54@atlanticbb.net.

The St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee, Julie Burk-Greer, President, will hold the Annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on Friday, May 29 at the Olde Breton Inn in Leonardtown at 6 p.m. Guest Speaker will be Sharon Day, Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee. For more information, you may contact Chair Greer at jbgreer@smcrep.org.

Events around town
Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance sponsors a HomeSpun Coffeehouse Concert featuring the GrooveSpan Trio at Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall located at 37497 Zach Fowler Road in Chaptico Friday, March 27. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. The admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Refreshments will be available (donations are requested.

For directions and for more information you may contact www.smtmd.org or groovespan.com.

Maryland Day in St. Mary’s County
The 381st anniversary of Maryland Day will be celebrated at Historic St. Mary’s City Saturday, March 21.  Come fly your kite from 10 a.m. to noon. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Free admission will be in effect for all exhibits all day. You may contact 240-895-4900 or info@hsmcdigshistory.org for more information.

Maryland Day will be celebrated on the actual anniversary date of March 25 at an indoor ceremony to be held at the St. Clement’s Island Museum at 2 p.m. that day. Listen for yours truly singing the National Anthem.

Book signing
Come to the White Rabbit Bookstore in Leonardtown Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon to meet author yours truly and illustrator Joyce Judd as their sign their brand-new children’s book, “The Chesapeake Cats and the Easter Surprise.”

(Ellynne is a former member and recording secretary of the St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee, 2010-2014)