Real Estate Information Archive

Serving the myriad public educational demands of about 125,000 students, the Prince George's County Public Schools system (PGCPS) is large enough to hold a spot on the list of the nation's top 25 largest school districts.

Located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, PGCPS is administered via the coordinated efforts of Prince George's County's own local government and the Maryland State Department of Education.

There are a total of 204 schools that fall under the broad purview of the PGCPS system, as well as a few other special centers, which include:

Elementary Schools

• 122 elementary schools (PreK-5)
• 24 middle schools (6-8)
• 23 high schools (9-12)
• 12 academies (PreK-8)
• 9 special centers
• 2 vocational centers
• 5 alternative schools
• 7 public charter schools
• Howard B. Owens Science Center (Pre-K-12)

PGCPS provides daily transportation to more than 90,536 students via its 1,335 school buses, which are equipped with GPS, on 5,616 routes. It employs some 18,000 people, approximately 9,000 of which are teachers.

The public educational demands for residents of Calvert County, Maryland, are met primarily by Calvert County Public Schools, a school system composed of 4 high schools, 6 middle schools, 13 elementary schools, a center dedicated to vocational education, and myriad other facilities.

In addition to the comprehensive curriculum provided in the schools listed below, students have access to a variety of other exceptional student services. Professional staff members, school psychologists and nurses, program coordinators and a school police liaison officer work in harmony to guide students along their individual academic, social and personal pathways.

Here are the individual schools that collectively make up Calvert County Public Schools:

Elementary Schools

• Appeal - in Lusby
• Beach in Chesapeake Beach
• Barstow - in Barstow
• Calvert - in Prince Frederick
• Dowell - near Solomons
• Huntingtown - in Huntingtown
• Mt. Harmony - in Owings
• Mutual - in Port Republic
• Patuxent - in Lusby
• Plum Point - in Huntingtown
• St. Leonard - in St. Leonard
• Sunderland - in Sunderland
• Windy Hill - in Owings

Middle Schools

• Calvert - in Prince Frederick
• Mill Creek - in Lusby
• Northern - near Owings & Dunkirk
• Plum Point - in Huntingtown
• Southern - in Lusby
• Windy Hill - Owings

High Schools

• Calvert - in Prince Frederick
• Huntingtown - in Huntingtown
• Northern - near Owings & Dunkirk
• Patuxent - in Lusby

St. Mary's County Public Schools serves approximately 17,449 students from pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. One of the ways it accomplishes this tall task is through the support and specialized training of its compassionate teachers, principals and vice principals, and certified guidance counselors.

These skilled educators ply their trade in St. Mary's County's 17 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Some of the benefits of sending your child to any one of the following schools within the St. Mary's County Public Schools system include its recent successes trumpeted on its website, such as 2012's graduating class earning a total of $20.6 million in scholarships; 2011's graduating class surpassing state and national averages on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT); and implementing Full-Day Kindergarten one year in advance of the state's mandated 2007 start date.

Here are the individual schools that collectively make up St. Mary's County Public Schools:

Elementary Schools

• Benjamin Banneker
• Chesapeake Public Charter
• Dynard
• Evergreen
• George W. Carver
• Green Holly
• Greenview Knolls
• Hollywood
• Leonardtown
• Lettie Marshall Dent
• Lexington Park
• Mechanicsville
• Oakville
• Park Hall
• Piney Point
• Ridge
• Town Creek
• White Marsh

Middle Schools

• Chesapeake Public Charter
• Esperanza
• Leonardtown
• Margaret Brent
• Spring Ridge

High Schools

• Career and Tech Center
• Chopticon
• Fairlead
• Great Mills
• Leonardtown

On Nov. 6, 2012, the state of Maryland rolled the dice on the expansion of full-fledged gambling and, depending on your point of view, hit the jackpot or went bust.

The Gaming Expansion Question, or simply “Question 7,” allowed voters to determine whether or not to essentially turn Maryland into a sort of East Coast Las Vegas, along the lines of  Atlantic City, New Jersey. It passed, but just barely (51.9 percent for and 48.1 percent against), and not without heated controversy.

Now that Question 7 has been answered by the voters, existing casinos in Maryland, like Maryland Live! in Hanover, can remain open 24 hours a day and, by early 2014, expand their slots-only gambling options to include a variety of traditional casino games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and other dice and card games.

According to the Washington Post, the clear winner in this game of legislative roulette is MGM Resorts. Las Vegas' largest casino operator appears to hold all of the trump cards over Penn National Gaming in the deal to develop a proposed resort and casino at National Harbor. Carrying an estimated $800 million price tag, this new casino has the potential to surpass all other East Coast casinos in terms of profits, the Post reported, and will likely siphon a considerable amount of revenue off of Penn National's Charles Town casino in West Virginia.

How it all turns out remains to be seen, but in any event some big changes are taking place.

It's no secret that Charles County is proud of its rich and storied history. So, why not shine the spotlight on it in class and style every year? Highlighting the county’s past is one of the primary reasons that the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission exists, and the Commission's Preservation Awards and Reception Ceremony serves this purpose perfectly.

This year the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission's Reception and Awards Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Old Waldorf School, located at 3074 Crain Highway, Waldorf.

The Historic Preservation Award is bestowed upon eligible businesses, organizations, projects and individuals annually, at a gala awards ceremony. The county's Preservation Commission created two categories for its awards, which are Preservation Service and Preservation Projects.

In the Preservation Service category, recipients are awarded some well-deserved recognition for their superior support for and exceptional achievement in furthering the preservation of Charles County's unique and special history. Some of the specific areas of consideration include the following:

• Community leadership
• Education
• Advocacy
• Research
• Planning
• Development

Under the umbrella of the Preservation Project category, you will find award recipients who have displayed outstanding leadership and initiative in preserving and restoring historic buildings, in interpreting the county's architectural features into new construction, and in the creative reuse and adaptability of the county's historic structures. Considering the number and outstanding quality of Charles County’s historic buildings, we all benefit from the efforts made to preserve and understand them.

Event details for the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission's Reception and Awards Ceremony:

• Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Old Waldorf School, located at 3074 Crain Highway, Waldorf
• Each attendee is encouraged to donate $5, which will help further to goals of the Charles County Historical Trust; light refreshments will be served
• For more information or to RSVP for the event, please contact Beth Groth at 301-645-0684 or [email protected].

According to the Sperling's Best Places.net, as of 2011 there were only 18 souls occupying the quiet and quaint rural community of Port Tobacco Village, Maryland, making it the tiniest officially incorporated town in the state. The village is small, there is no question about that, but what it lacks in population, it more than makes up for in stature, lore and legend, and historical significance.

Located in the heart of Charles County, Maryland, the community that would become the Port Tobacco Village of 2012 was initially settled by English colonists way back in the year 1727, which makes it one of the oldest in Maryland. At one time during that era of American history, when it carried the moniker of “Port Tobacco River,” the village was the second biggest river port community in the state of Maryland.

Port Tobacco Village served as the county seat city for Charles County. Its close proximity and easy access to the Port Tobacco River, Chesapeake Bay and subsequently out to the Atlantic Ocean proved a very advantageous one, turning it into a relatively calm water, weather-protected seaport. The village's seemingly charmed existence would not last long, however, as Mother Nature and advances in transportation conspired together to bleed Port Tobacco Village nearly dry of its commerce and consequently its inhabitants.

At some seemingly arbitrary point in the late 1800s or early 1900s, nature essentially cut Port Tobacco Village's umbilical chord by slowly sifting more and more silt from the ocean into the Port Tobacco River. Over time, this and other tidal changes served to eliminate the community's easy access to the Chesapeake Bay and therefore the Atlantic Ocean, making the “Port” in Port Tobacco Village superfluous.

The nearly fatal blow to Port Tobacco Village was delivered by the proliferation of railroad tracks and trains, which at the time served primarily larger communities. The county seat was moved closer to the railroad traffic in La Plata in 1895, thereby causing many of the village's remaining occupants to move away in turn.

One of the village's oldest residents, so to speak, is the Legend of the Blue Dog. Since about 1897, every year at Halloween the tale is told of the ill-fated Charles Thomas Sims, his Blue Dog, Rose Hill and greedy old Henry Hanos. Local myth says that the ghost of the Blue Dog stands guard over the spot on Rose Hill Road at which it and its master, Sims, were murdered by Hanos for Sim's alleged deed to an estate and fortune in gold. So, while Port Tobacco Village is no longer the force it once was, some of its legend still lives on.

Oh sure, Chesapeake Beach Water Park is not the only way to stay cool this summer. There are a lot of different methods you can employ to battle the and tropical rain forest-like humidity that can come along with summertime in Maryland.

Depending on where you live, you could perhaps head to the beaches and relatively cool breezes offered by the Atlantic Ocean, but this option might mean long drives through heavy traffic and may not be that much cooler than your back yard. You could spend all your time indoors, blasting the air conditioning in your face, but you probably don't need to incur the costs associated with turning you house into an igloo.

Here’s another option: Let Chesapeake Beach Water Park cool off you and yours!

Located in the lovely town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Chesapeake Beach Water Park is owned and operated by the good citizens of this fair city. The park's typical hours are (weather permitting) 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. The features and amenities offered by the park include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Free parking
• Water slides
• Fountains
• Waterfalls
• A lagoon
• Kids activity pool
• Locker rental
• Certified and EMT trained lifeguards
• Changing facilities and showers

When you pack up your bunch and head on over to Chesapeake Beach Water Park, you will also want to keep these rules in mind:

• No outside food or drink
• No alcohol
• No diving permitted anywhere in the park
• Traditional swimwear required
• All slides require feet-first position
• Kids in diapers required to wear swim diapers

For more information on the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, visit the its official website or call (410) 257-1404.

Annapolis has long been associated with the love of the arts and creative expression. In fact, AmericanStyle Magazine recently ranked Annapolis among its top 25 arts destinations—a distinction given to U.S. cities exhibiting the highest quality of art galleries, art institutions and art-centered events. In keeping with this art-loving tradition, the third annual Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival is certain to be a big hit this summer. So, clear your calendar for June 9^th and 10^th and head to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a festival you’d be crazy to miss! 

This weekend-long celebration of fine arts and handmade crafts brings artists and art lovers together, while promoting creativity and community pride. Live music will get you dancing as you peruse the juried paintings, photographs, sculptures, furniture, jewelry, wearable art, glass and wood art, mixed media, clay, fabric, metal, leather and much, much more.

Of course, artistic expression isn’t limited to clay and canvas. Indeed, culinary artists from all over the region will be offering up artfully crafted treats—from specialty sauces and dips to gourmet candies and more. This year’s vendors will include Big Kahuna Kettlecorn, The Herb Works Oil and Vinegar, Pretzelphoria and inFused Spreads. Wine tasting is also a huge part of the festival, which features some of the area’s most notable vintners. This year’s festival will include selections from such establishments as Far Eastern Shore Winery, Slack, Friday’s Creek Winery and Gygnus.

The Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival has something for all ages, and children should definitely stop by the KidsArt tent to make some art of their own and get their faces painted by local professional artists. While all ages are encouraged to attend, please note that valid identification will be required for those wanting to taste wine.

Bypass the lines and purchase your tickets online today! The cost of attendance is as follows:

Adults: $8

Youth (ages 12 to 18): $5

Seniors (65 and up) $5

Children (12 and under): FREE

The Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is located just outside historic downtown Annapolis at 550 Taylor Avenue. For detailed directions from outside of town, click here.

The appealing planned community of St. Charles, Md., lies approximately 23 miles southeast of downtown Washington, D.C. near the attractive small city of Waldorf, Md.

This scenic region, home to more than 67,000 people, gets even more attractive, lovely and charming every year during the Sunset Concert Festival and Farmers’ Market. These tasty and harmonious events take place on Fridays from May through August.

The Farmers’ Market is held at O’Donnell Lake and opens for business on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at 8 a.m. Saturdays. Concerts take place in the O’Donnell Lake Restaurant Park (located adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn in St. Charles). In anticipation of the setting sun and all of its attendant kaleidoscopic natural beauty, the performers typically take the stage at about 7 p.m.

According to the community of St. Charles’ city website, the Farmers’ Market is expanding to include Wednesday afternoons. Additionally, the Farmers’ Market that used to take place at the Festival in Waldorf site is relocating to a spot near St. Patrick’s and Smallwood Drive.

Friday, May 11, 2012, kicked off the outdoor music festival’s fourth consecutive year, serving up live performances from a wide variety of regional bands, playing an equally wide variety of musical genres.  

This summer’s roster of performers pops up when you click here and surf over to the St. Charles community’s website, or you can just peruse the list right here (excluding the May 11^th show):

• May 18 – U.S. Navy Band
• May 25 – BI Richardson & the Black Coffee Experience
• June 1 – Jennifer Cooper & GrooveSpan
• June 8 – USAF Rock Band – Max Impact
• June 15 – Lynn Hollyfield Band
• June 22 – Steve Cavanaugh Band
• June 29 – US Navy – Cruisers
• July 6 – John OLoughlin and the Blarney Stones Band
• July 13 – Jennifer Cutting and OCEAN Celtic Band
• July 20 – Higher Hands
• July 27 – Kajun Kelley Band
• Aug. 3 – Singer-Songwriter Showcase with Matt Silkworth
• Aug. 10 – Deanna Dove
• Aug. 17 – Anthony Swampdog Clark
• Aug. 24 – Karen Collins and the Backroads Band
• Aug. 31 – Eric Scott Band

The state of Maryland has entered into a landmark legal settlement with the nation’s largest mortgage lenders to provide relief to homeowners who were victims of mortgage fraud.  In what is being billed as the largest-ever deal, the settlement could help over a million struggling homeowners in the United States and expects to bring in $1 billion in aid to Maryland.

The mortgage deal settles state and federal findings that the nation’s largest mortgage providers routinely signed Foreclosure documents or “robo-signed” without the presence of a notary or knowing if the facts of the documents were correct.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler told the Baltimore Sun the settlement was the “biggest thing to happen” since Maryland and other states settled with tobacco companies in 1998 over questionable marketing tactics. He also praised the mortgage settlement and said it is the right move for struggling Maryland homeowners. In exchange for the settlement, Gansler and other state attorneys general will relinquish civil liability claims.

The $25 billion settlement with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial was reached with 49 states and will bring much needed assistance to over 40,000 Maryland homeowners who lost their homes to Foreclosure or are still at risk of foreclosure. The deal will mainly focus on partial loan forgiveness but offers up to $2,000 to homeowners who were foreclosed upon during the mortgage crisis. The mortgage settlement sets up four areas of assistance for Maryland homeowners with the exact amounts still being worked out:

• Around $800 million to reduce the principal for homeowners at risk of Foreclosure
• $60 million to reduce interest rates for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth
• $60 million for the Maryland Attorney General’s office for housing related projects including 10% of that total for paying housing counselors and offering legal assistance to homeowners
• An estimated $25 million to write checks for $1,800 to $2,000 to Maryland homeowners who lost their homes to Foreclosure

As mentioned above, in exchange for the settlement, Gansler and other states attorneys general will give up civil liability claims against banks; however, homeowners who receive a payout from the settlement will still retain the right to sue banks for engaging in inappropriate Foreclosure processes. Federal officials have noted the settlement will not prevent them from investigating the housing bust further.

For more information on the mortgage settlement, contact Contact Maryland HOPE at 877-462-7555 or click on http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/