St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety Animal Control Division reminds pet owners that the summer months can bring many hazards for our furry friends. This summer, temperatures have been reaching all time highs. Please keep your pet safe and help save an animal’s life if you see neglect.

The most common danger for animals is overheating, which can be extremely dangerous and even deadly to animals that are exposed to the elements.  A clean coat can help prevent overheating and summer skin problems, so keep animals well groomed.  Always provide plenty of shade for animals staying outside and when possible, bring your pets inside during the heat of the day and let them rest in the cool part of your house or a shaded structure.  Always provide plenty of cool, clean water for your animals. St. Mary’s County Animal Control Regulations require pet owners to provide adequate shade, housing and water for animals that are left outside.

Remember never to leave an animal alone in a parked vehicle, even with the windows open.  A parked car, truck or van can become a furnace within minutes. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day. When traveling, carry fresh, cold water and continue to hydrate pets.   Never take pets to the beach unless shaded spots and plenty of fresh water can be provided.

In extremely hot weather, don’t leave dogs standing on the street, and keep walks to a minimum. Asphalt is extremely hot during the day when the sun is directly shining down. Avoid walking dogs in areas that have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals, as poisonings increase during the summer when gardens, lawns and trees are sprayed. These chemicals can sicken or kill an animal.  Be alert for coolant leaking from vehicles. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant and ingesting just a small amount can cause an animal’s death.

If you see pets that are being exposed to the summer elements and are not provided adequate housing, shade and water, please contact the Department of Public Safety Animal Control Division at 301-475-8018.  For more information on how to care for pets during the summer months, please visit http://www.aspca.org/about-us or call Animal Control.  Animals are extremely vulnerable to severe weather year round and simple steps can help prevent illness and death, especially during the summer months!

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Charles County
Free CSM Summer Fitness Boot Camp. 7-8 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, July 12-August 4, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSM’s summer boot camp is a four-week, calorie-burning, fitness program that focuses on muscular and cardiovascular training drills for all levels of expertise. The program is open to the public, and will take place outdoors on the CSM campus starting at the PE center. Free. To register contact ajonsson@csmd.edu, 301-934-7551 or visit http://www.csmd.edu/PersonalEnrichment/WFR/Fitness/index.html

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Cooling Shelters Available for At-Risk Residents

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – July 6, 2010 – As temperatures continue to climb this week – with heat indices by Wednesday, July 7, expected to reach up to 105 degrees – Calvert County residents are urged to take the following precautions to protect themselves and their families:

- Drink plenty of fluids; water is best.
- Avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar as they can dehydrate the body.
- Stay in an air-conditioned room or building during the hottest part of the day.
- Stay out of the sun.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Check on elderly relatives and neighbors.
- Never leave children or pets in parked cars since temperatures can rise to 130 degrees inside vehicles in only a few minutes even with the windows rolled down.

Heat can affect anyone, but most at risk are the very young, very old and people with underlying health problems. Symptoms of heat illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse and headaches. People with these symptoms should find shade, drink water slowly and make sure there is good ventilation.

Those residents who need a safe, cool place to spend the day on July 7 may go to one of the following locations during the hours listed:

Mount Hope Community Center (8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
100 Pushaw Station Road
Sunderland, MD

North Beach Community Center (8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
4025 Fourth Street
North Beach, MD

Northeast Community Center (8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
4075 Gordon Stinnett Avenue
Chesapeake Beach, MD

Southern Community Center (8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
20 Appeal Lane
Lusby, MD

Calvert Pines Senior Center (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
420 West Dares Beach Road
Prince Frederick, MD

Residents seeking refuge at one of the cooling centers listed above should be aware that only water will be provided; residents should bring food and any medicines they may need while at the center. Transportation will only be provided to those individuals who have no form of transportation.

To learn more about emergency preparedness, contact the Calvert County Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, at 410-535-1600 ext. 2638 or visit on the Web at www.co.cal.md.us.

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The Board of County Commissioners, through the Commission for People with Disabilities,   once again presents the annual Awards program. This program was instituted to celebrate contributions made by individuals and businesses in our community, and to raise awareness     in the general public regarding persons with disabilities.

Award categories include, volunteer, notable employer, facility accessibility, innovative  program, outstanding person with disability award, and outstanding individual achievements  awards. Descriptions and applications can be found on the Commission for People with Disabilities website at http://www.stmarysmd.com/voluntr/page12-awards.asp

Applications will be accepted until September 15, 2010 and should be submitted to Cynthia Brown, Department of Human Services, 23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

For additional information, please contact Christina Bishop at (301) 475-4200 extension 1802.

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The College of Southern Maryland will hold a grant training seminar, “Maintaining Your Organization’s Mission in Tough Times,” at the La Plata Campus on Aug. 27 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Owner of consulting firm KSC Solutions, Kendall Sorenson-Clark, will lead a seminar on how organizations can remain successful in today’s challenging financial climate. Topics discussed will include choosing grants and funding strategies to match organizational strategic plans, types of grants and funders, and key concepts for implementing grant-funded programs.
The seminar is sponsored by Charles County Public Library, Maryland Governor‘s Grants Office, Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Charles County Public Schools, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, College of Southern Maryland and Charles County Government. The seminar is free, but space is limited and participants should pre-register by contacting Becky Cockerham at 301-934-7648 or beckyc@csmd.edu.

A regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community, the College of Southern Maryland is a two-time silver level recipient of the Maryland Performance Excellence Award. CSM, founded in 1958, is the fifth largest community college in Maryland with campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.

CSM’s campuses are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Audio description for the visually impaired and sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired are available with a minimum two week advanced notice. If you are interested in these services, please contact the academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614.

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The College of Southern Maryland received its second National Security Administration (NSA) accreditation certification through the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) for cyber security education at the National Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education reception June 8 in Baltimore.

“This certification is crucial for our students who want to take advantage of the expansion of information technology and cyber security jobs,” said CSM Chair of Business and Technology Jeff Tjiputra, who along with Technology Professor Renee Jenkins, attended the reception. “We will be building on this certification and applying for the Center for Academic Excellence certification which used to be available only to four-year colleges but is now open to community colleges,” said Tjiputra.

Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced that CyberMaryland, an economic development initiative with guidance from more than 50 public and private sector information technology and security experts, highlights Maryland’s key role in supporting national cyber goals, according to a State media release, adding that companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin recently announced adding up to 100 new jobs for information technology and cyber security fields.

CSM joins 13 Maryland colleges in offering NSA-accredited cyber security courses. “CSM is ahead of community colleges nationwide,” said Tjiputra.
Managed by NSA, CNSS was established in 1953, reaffirmed in 2003 and is responsible for assuring a technical base within the U.S. government and support from the private sector to enhance that technical base. CNSS works with academia to accredit college programs on cyber security, and in 2010 opened the accreditation process to community colleges to achieve Center for Academic Excellence accreditation. The College of Southern Maryland received the 4011 accreditation in 2009 and the 4013 accreditation this year. The college is applying for the Center for Academic Excellence designation in 2011.

“Maryland is pushing to be a leader in cyber security innovation and we want our students to be a part of that,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “These are high-paying jobs that are in high demand right now—and far into the future.”

CSM is a member of the National Science Foundation-funded CyberWatch, a consortium of higher education institutions, businesses and government agencies focused on building and maintaining information assurance and cyber security workforce.

Security is among the fastest growing professional career areas worldwide with career opportunities in government, business and industry. Security positions are available in network, internet, database, application and wireless security with job titles including security technician, security analyst, security associate, security administrator, security specialist, security consultant and security engineer.
For information on CSM’s information technology programs, visit http://www.csmd.edu/academics/program/AAS.ISS/2010-2012.html.

A regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community, the College of Southern Maryland is a two-time silver level recipient of the Maryland Performance Excellence Award. CSM, founded in 1958, is the fifth largest community college in Maryland with campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.

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