Take Care of These Weeds Now!

by Jessica Milstead

Spring is starting to show signs of arriving!

It’s still February, but it’s been an unusually warm winter.  The early crocuses that are supposed to show up in March are already flowering in many spots, and I’ve seen a daffodil in bloom here and there, even though they’re not supposed to start blooming until well into April. 

Usually the daffodils poke their leaves up a couple of inches in December and then sit there, making people worry about whether the bitter cold of January and February will kill them, until they finally get the word and start exploding into yellow glory in April.  This is what’s typical, and it doesn’t hurt the daffs at all.  This year’s early flowering won’t hurt them either.  Daffodils are tough!  And deer don’t eat them.

Time To Get In Shape for the St. Charles Running Festival

by Craig Barrett

Change.

Something is eating at you, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. You don’t have the energy you used to; you’re not sleeping as well; you’re just not feeling the way you did ten years ago. You know it’s time for a change, but you don’t know if you can. But you can. You know exactly what needs to change and the effort it’s going to take, but you’re a bit apprehensive about undertaking a whole bunch of new work (don’t we already have plenty of that in our lives?).

Hearts and Yoga

by Debbie Stanley

With Valentine’s Day upon us, hearts are on our minds.   While it may not be likely that you can die of a broken heart, heart disease kills.  Heart defects and disease do not respect age, gender, religion, or economic status.   Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women.  The St. Charles community has even been touched by the sudden deaths of teens related to heart disease. So what can we do about it?

Arts and Culture in February Around Southern Maryland

by Therese Thiedeman

It’s mid-February in St. Charles already:  Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Black History Month, Leap Year!  The ARTS community of Southern Maryland has many diverse offerings to enjoy. Reminder:  The calendar of events is continually being updated, so be sure to check out www.somdarts.com for up-to-date listings of arts and culture events.  Submit your arts and cultural events there, too!

Chesapeake Choral Arts Society Sponsors Concert by Purdue University’s Varsity Glee Club

The Purdue University Varsity Glee Club (PVGC) will present a 90-minute concert on Tuesday, March 13, at New Life Church in La Plata. Acclaimed as the school's “finest ambassadors” because of their integrity, passion, unparalleled showmanship and attention to every detail, the men of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club have proudly served with honor and dignity for more than 115 years.

Founded in 1893, this select ensemble has entertained on behalf of Purdue University for campus, community, state, national and international events, averaging between 50-60 appearances each year. Embodying the spirit of service above self, the men of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club (PVGC) represent different backgrounds and hometowns across the country, consistently maintaining a high level of academic excellence with majors ranging from engineering to education to management to biological sciences.

One of its members, William “Billy” Thiedeman, hails from Waldorf.  Billy is a senior at Purdue University studying Mass Communications and Film & Media Studies.  He has been an active member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and its specialty groups since his arrival at Purdue University in 2008.

Putting a Little Light on Groundhog Day

It's Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we’re in for six more weeks of winter. But before you watch the Bill Murray movie again and wait for spring to officially begin, here's a little history about how Groundhog Day got started.
According to the Old Farmers Almanac, the custom starts in the ancient Celtic calendar, which was divided into quarter days and cross-quarter days. Quarter days--March 25, June 24, September 29, and December 25--marked the four seasons, major divisions in the year. Cross quarter days marked the halfway point of a season.