Quality of Life

Despite enduring a severe recession that significantly impacted Calvert County's tax revenues, Calvert continues to experience a high quality of life.

Volunteer Fire & Rescue

A 100% volunteer Fire and Rescue Service that achieves better response times than most paid departments including:

• A dedicated and renovated Calvert Advanced Life Support Facility
• Addition of a dedicated Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) Team including specialized equipment and storage
• Planned future improvements to Solomons and Prince Frederick Firehouses as funding permits.

Low Crime Rate

A low crime rate with increasing support of public safety through:

• Additional deputies
• Renovated Work Release Facility with additional beds
• Planned future addition and renovation to the Calvert Detention Center
• Additional assistant State's Attorney staff.
• An active and effective local affiliate of the MD Traffic Safety Council, on which Susan is the BOCC representative.
• Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse on which Susan is the BOCC representative.

Calvert Library

In 2009, the new Prince Frederick main branch of the Calvert library circulated more than one million items to an average of more than 1000 patrons per week. Plans for future branch library expansion as funding permits.

• Availability of computers and computer instruction and assistance
• A wide variety of programs for all ages and interests

Education

An excellent education system ranked as one of the best in the nation with further improvements including:

• The new replacement Calvert Middle School is nearing completion and will be open in July of 2010.
• The phased renovation/replacement/expansion of Calvert High School has begun.
• Planned future renovation/replacement/expansion of Northern High School as funding permits.
• Continued full funding of the Board of Education through the school funding formula

Educational Opportunities

There are a variety of education opportunities including the state-of-the-art College of Southern Maryland campus in Prince Frederick.

• Funding for the second building at CSM has been secured with design to occur in the near-term.
• Expansion of study areas at CSM, including the new Energy Trades Center in Prince Frederick.
• Access to undergraduate degree programs at CSM and to graduate programs at the Higher Education Center in Lexington Park.
• The Chesapeake Estuarine Research Lab of the University of Maryland in Solomons and the Morgan State Biological Lab in St. Leonard
• The University of Maryland Extension Service provides leadership and training in gardening, 4-H, nutrition, and consumer sciences.

Parks & Recreation Facilities

A wide range of well-used Parks and Recreation Facilities that are in high demand including:

• Construction has begun at the new Solomons Park including ball fields and playground.
• Renovations/Improvements to King Memorial Park in Prince Frederick including an ampitheater and a gazebo built with community contributions.
• Added amenities at each of the three Regional Parks.
• Partnership with Chesapeake Beach to improve Kellam's Field.
• Restrooms at BGE field.
• Completion of the Edward T. Hall Indoor Aquatic Center in Prince Frederick including an Olympic-sized competition pool, a leisure pool, a therapy pool, and a spa. Check it out - Click here!
• New electric service at Breezy Point Beach and Campground
• Aggressive on-going attempts to locate more parks in Huntingtown and St. Leonard.

Beauty of Calvert

We have a wide range of natural resource areas, museums and other cultural centers including:

• Kings Landing Park, Flag Ponds Park, the Cypress Swamp Nature Center, and Calvert Cliffs State Park (state owned), the Biscoe Gray Farm
• The Calvert Marine Museum, the Cove Point Lighthouse, the Lore Oyster House, the Chesapeake Railway Museum, and the North Beach Museum
• Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Ann Marie Sculpture Garden and Studio School, and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Visitor's Center

Infrastructure Improvements

• Road Construction and a close partnership with the State Highway Administration (SHA) and Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) is on-going to reduce traffic congestion including:
• Completion of the Southern Connector Road linking Route 4 to Patuxent High School.
• On-going construction of the Prince Frederick Loop Road with several sections opened on the West Side of Route 4.
• Near-term improvements to Armory Road in Prince Frederick (east side of Route 4 Prince Frederick Loop Road)
• Completion of Prince Frederick Loop Road segment to the new Calvert Middle School.
• County road improvements to enhance safety including near-term improvements to Boyd's Turn Road and Wilson Road.
• Planned improvements to Dowell Road and to the intersection of Dowell Road/Route 765/Route 4 southbound.
• Signalization and Intersection improvements including planned improvements to the stoplight at the College of Southern MD on Route 231.
• Near-term construction of the Prince Frederick Park and Ride Lot into a modern commuter lot.
• On-going efforts in partnership with MTA to locate an expanded modern commuter lot in Dunkirk.
• Planning (only) is underway for the expansion and/or replacement of the Thomas Johnson Bridge through 2011.
• On-going commitment to continue to address traffic and congestion issues as funding permits.

Senior Citizen Programs

A variety of programs and activities for Senior Citizens including:

• Three senior centers (North Beach, Prince Frederick, and Lusby) with meals, programs, classes, and social services available
• A new assistant state's attorney with expertise in crimes against seniors and senior needs
• Senior housing for all incomes

Community Resources

A variety of programs and services that provide community resources for target populations including

• The ARC has re-constructed a new Center in Prince Frederick.
• Project ECHO has constructed a new homeless shelter
• Safe Harbor House for abused women and families
• Low-income and workforce housing provided through the Housing Authority with planning for a new workforce community in Prince Frederick.

Job Placement & Training

A variety of job placement and job training programs are available through the local Workforce Investment Board including:

• A summer job skills internship for teens and young adults
• Job coaching, mentoring, and resume-writing seminars

Non-Profits & Churches

A plethora of non-profits and churches provide a wide range of services, programs, and benefits including, but not limited to:

• The Southern MD Food Pantry and approximately 7 other food pantries
• Sweat equity housing through Habitat for Humanity and the Tri-County Southern MD Community Action Agency along with Christmas in April housing rehabilitation.
• Sports of many types from organized teams to horseback riding for all ages and abilities
• Mentoring including the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Scouting, Headstart; Civil Air Patrol, ROTC programs in the high schools
• Southern MD Community Network provides services for the mentally ill
• Special Olympics is active and therapeutic recreation is provided through Parks and Recreation
• United Way supports approximately 30 member agencies
• The Calvert Arts Council, the CalVART Gallery, the Gallery at 7^th Street in North Beach, the Calvert Artist's Guild, the Color and Light Society, and Ann Marie Sculpture Garden provide support for the arts
• The Light Opera Society, the Twin Beach Players, the Patuxent Players, the Calvert Community Band, COSMIC, and a variety of other musical, choral, and dance groups provide community theater, music, and dance

Medical Facilities

We have Acute Care Medical Facilities including Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick with access to Tertiary and Specialty Care, by helicopter, if necessary.

• Calvert Hospice provides a Hospice House, terminal care and support, bereavement services
• Several nursing homes, assisted living homes, and Asbury Continuing Care Community along with two adult day care programs provide additional medical support