Month: July 2013

Several area women are among the more than 100 volunteers participating in the Maryland Historical Society’s “Stitching History” project. Their goal is to recreate the 30-foot by 42-foot flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Using period materials and stitching techniques, the flag will be an authentic reproduction of the original and is expected to take six weeks to be completed. Work began on July 4 with fanfare in Baltimore at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Shrine. The first stitch was sewn by Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Since then, the volunteers have been working up to eight hours a day at the society’s France Hall. Above, local residents Nadine Brinhendler (left) and Nadine Baughman (right) look on as “Mary Pickersgill,” the original seamstress of the Star-Spangled Banner, explains the stitching techniques they will use for the replica. Pickersgill, a flag maker, worked with her daughter Caroline, nieces Eliza and Margaret Young, and African American indenture servant Grace Wisher to complete the original flag in six weeks during the summer of 1813. Some of Pickersgill’s descendants are participating in Stitching History. The finished flag will be flown at the Fort McHenry National Monument on Defender’s Day in September. In 2014, it will be transported to the Smithsonian’s American History Museum, where the original banner is on display. In addition, the original “Star-Spangled Banner” manuscript, penned in Francis Scott Key’s hand, will temporarily travel from the Maryland Historical Society to be reunited with the banner for the first time.

More here.

Safe Drilling Initiative Developments

The spring Deep Creek Lake Dispatch article focused on legislative actions and outcomes. This update is designed to report on recent developments related to the ongoing, Governor-tasked “Safe Drilling Initiative”. The task of identifying “safe drilling” regulations and mechanisms—along with exploring other factors such as broader community and economic impacts—is squarely in the hands of the “Safe Drilling Initiative”. This ongoing process provides a unique opportunity to provide input to state-level decision-making and to potentially influence regulatory outcomes. Your committee is committed to following and engaging in the process in whatever ways are appropriate and hopefully productive.

“Safe Drilling Initiative” Developments

The “Best Practices” Study Report—As you may know, MDE recently announced the release, for public comment, of the so-called  “Best Practices” report. This particularly critical study report is the second of three which were tasked by the Governor’s 2011 Executive Order, each to be developed jointly by MDE and DNR in consultation with the Governor-appointed Independent Advisory Commission. Public comments are to be provided by 9 August, roughly 30 days after the 9 July public presentation discussed briefly below. The report is available here  at MDE website, along with instructions on how to submit comments. A final report reflecting consideration of public comments is currently targeted for August 2013. The substantive content is based substantially on a “feeder” best practices study conducted by the Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, an element of the UMD Center for Environmental Sciences. This latter study is also available on the website.

More here.