Maryland Insights

Governor to name Plumly, educator and author, as Poet Laureate

Gov. Martin O'Malley will appoint Stanley Plumly, a University of Maryland Distinguished University Professor of English, as the state's ninth Poet Laureate, Oct. 1.

"We are fortunate to have Stanley Plumly, one of our nation's most critically acclaimed poets, as Maryland's new Poet Laureate," said Gov. O'Malley. "Poetry has the ability to give voice to those experiences, feelings and ideas that are most meaningful and most important to our Maryland citizens and I look forward to working with him as he travels around our state to share his gift."

Plumly is the founder of the graduate-level creative writing program at the University of Maryland. He is the author of ten books of poetry, including Old Heart, which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2007. He has also received eight Pushcart Prizes, among other awards.

Gov. O'Malley selected Plumbly from a list of recommendations made by the Poet Laureate Selection Committee, chaired by Alice McDermott, a well-known author and Maryland resident. "Poetry reminds us that our language, so often abused and misused, is also a great gift that can inspire, sustain and unite," McDermott said.

Maryland has had eight Poet Laureates since the position was established by the General Assembly in 1959. Michael Glaser was the most recent one. In 2004, the Maryland State Arts Council developed a selection process that allowed state citizens to submit nominations.

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Tomorrow is deadline for OTD tourism-award nominations

Submit your nominations for the 2009 Maryland Tourism Awards. The Tourism Office has created these awards to recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations and businesses that help to develop and promote tourism on a regional and statewide basis.

Gov. Martin O'Malley is scheduled to present the awards on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the 2009 Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit in Ocean City.

Award categories reflect the Tourism Office's mission to boost jobs and economic impact in the tourism industry while enhancing Maryland's image as a travel destination. The categories are: green/sustainable tourism; economic impact; cultural heritage tourism; promotion of the state as a travel destination; and volunteer efforts.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. Individuals, private businesses, government organizations and nonprofit groups are eligible to receive awards. Check online for more information and a nomination form.

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Film Office helps AFI to take Latin films 'on the road'

Four films from the American Film Institute (AFI)'s 20th-annual Latin American Film Festival, which runs through Oct. 12 at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, will be screened in Baltimore, Frederick and Easton during October.

"We want to expand our presence and role in the state, beyond our Montgomery County location," says Ray Barry, director of the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. "Presenting these outstanding films at other venues in Maryland is a great way to engage in that process."

Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland Film Office, adds: "During a discussion with AFI, we all recognized an opportunity to bring foreign and diverse films to parts of Maryland where such films would not be readily available. We're thrilled to help take these Latin-American films on the road.”

In Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture hosts two films on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick and the Avalon Theatre in Easton will each present two films on Sunday, Oct. 11.

AFI is a national organization dedicated to preserving the nation's film heritage, educating future filmmakers and honoring film-industry artists. In 2003, AFI moved its Washington, D.C.-based exhibition center to downtown Silver Spring, where it became an anchor of the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District, established in 2002.

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FAM tours showcase Frederick, Crisfield, Smith Island

The Tourism Office helped to arrange two FAM tours last week – one in Frederick with support from the Tourism Council of Frederick County, and the other in Crisfield and Smith Island with support from the Somerset County Tourism and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

British writer Roly Smith visited Frederick as part of a Capital Region USA tour, in which he has been gathering research for a story on John Brown's 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry and the American Civil War. Several publications in the United Kingdom are interested in the story, including the Manchester Evening News. He planned to stop at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Monocacy National Battlefield.

Members of the New York Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association – representing newspapers, magazines and outdoors-related web sites – came from Delaware, New York and New Jersey to the Eastern Shore. They stayed at the Janes Island State Park Conference Center in Crisfield.

Their three-day itinerary included fishing expeditions with two local charter-boat companies, a visit to the J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum and a stop at the Smith Island Crabmeat Co-op. Dinner on Smith Island featured Maryland's official state dessert, Smith Island cake.

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Trails advocate works for more trail connections

When Sylvia Ramsey talks about the state's transportation infrastructure, she is usually referring to Maryland's network of trails – routes designed for bicyclists, hikers and pedestrians.

Ramsey, who has worked in the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the past 20 years, is a longtime advocate for establishing inter-connected trails in the state. She is presently manager of community enhancement programs in MDOT's Office of Planning and Capital Programming. Read More

The latest issue of the Maryland Tourism Monitor – the Tourism Office's monthly report that measures visitor activity, advertising response and trends in state travel – is now available online.

In July, the Tourism Office's investment in online media drove 107 percent more unique visitors to the VisitMaryland.org web site compared to last July. Online requests for the Maryland travel kit grew by 4 percent. The kit includes the state's official travel guide, Destination Maryland, the Maryland Calendar of Events and a state highway map. Also, the Tourism Office responded to 34 percent more inquiries that were generated from print advertising.

The Monitor details sales-and-use-tax revenue, as reported by the Maryland Comptroller's Office. Tourism-related codes declined 3.2 percent but outperformed overall sales-tax collections, which declined 8.2 percent compared to last July.

Terry Hasseltine, director of the Maryland Office of Sports Marketing, and Kathi Ash, project manager for the Maryland Film Office, were honored at Howard County Tourism and Promotion’s 28th annual meeting and luncheon, Sept. 25 at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.

The two Tourism, Film and the Arts associates shared one of Howard County Tourism's top-dozen "WOW" (What Outstanding Work) awards. Hasseltine, who lives in Howard County, was recognized for his efforts at making sports marketing a priority in Maryland and keeping his home county in play. Ash earned her award for bringing location scouts to Howard County, where filming was done for Home and Garden TV’s My First Place and MTV's Jams.

Members of Howard County's legislative delegation in Annapolis received the number one "WOW." Sen James Robey was cited for his work in securing bond money for a new Howard County Welcome Center in Ellicott City. More than 200 business and community leaders attended the event.

The Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission hosted the second of a series of conferences for stakeholders in the upcoming bicentennial celebrations across the state. Approximately 50 people attended the Prince George's County Star-Spangled 200 Conference, Sept. 24.

Dr. Ralph Eshelman, a prominent Maryland War of 1812 historian, and Vince Vaise, chief of interpretation at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, led a tour that began at the Riversdale House Museum in Riverdale. Participants visited other War of 1812 sites in Prince George's County.

Additional conferences are planned for: the "Head of the Bay" (Cecil and Harford counties); Eastern Shore; North Point (Baltimore County); and Baltimore City.

Sponsors and partners for the Prince George's event were: Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Bladensburg Archaeology Project, Friends of the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Conference and Visitors Bureau, Port Towns Community Development Corporation, University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and the City of Bladensburg.

BOPA presents month-long schedule of free arts events
This year's Free Fall Baltimore – a collection of 300 free arts events hosted by more than 70 organizations – runs Oct. 1-31. The annual event, presented by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, was developed to increase accessibility and interest in Baltimore's cultural landscape. It is funded through the Creative Baltimore Fund.

State group celebrates milestone in conservation easements
Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) will host a celebration, Saturday, Oct. 3, marking the attainment of easements that protect 1,000 properties forever. The event will be held at Holly Hill Farm in Anne Arundel County. Holly Hill, built in three stages between 1698 and 1733, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the house and garden at Holly Hill will be available. Event also features locally grown food, wine, Maryland seafood and live music. Ticket proceeds go to MET's Land Preservation programs. Call MET, 410-514-7901, for reservations. Call or e-mail Elizabeth Buxton at the same number for sponsorship information.

1812 symposium at Flag House set for Saturday
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore hosts the day-long 13th National War of 1812 Symposium, Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. War of 1812 experts will discuss a variety of topics, including the privateer Saucy Jack, the defense of the White House in 1814, war-related art, poetry and cartoons, and why the British attack on Baltimore failed. Catered lunch features roundtable discussions. Schedule may include tour of Pride of Baltimore II. E-mail Chuck Ives for details.

Maryland Historical Society features talk by War of 1812 expert
Donald Shomette, author of Flotilla: The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812, will be a guest lecturer at the Maryland Historical Society on Thursday evening, Oct. 22. He will discuss how Captain Joshua Barney led his Chesapeake flotilla of small gunboats and barges against a British invading force during the late stages of the War of 1812. The Historical Society is located at 201 W. Monument St. in Baltimore's Mount Vernon district. Call 410- 685-3750 for details.