MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Heritage League were all critical to the success of the legislation.

That's the good news.  The challenge is that HB 1183 did not include appropriations for the new battlefield nor does the DNR budget for FY 2001 (July 2000-Jume 2001) include any funding for this purpose.  While the law provides for charging entrance fees, this is not feasible until much more historical interpretation is available on the mountain.  However, we anticipate that there are other short term sources of funding, including Transportation and Civil War Trail funds, that could get SMSB on the map.  Private funding sources should also be considered.

We expect DNR to create an advisory or oversight panel for SMSB in the near future to help guide the development of SMSB.  FOG hopes and expects to continue active participation in these planning efforts.  Any FOG member interested in working on SMSB efforts should contact a Board member.  FOG will continue to promote the legacy of  George Alfred Townsend and the Civil War heritage of South Mountain.

These are exciting times on South Mountain and at Gathland. 

If you would like to be involved and have some influence on many of the decisions to be made in the next few years, please consider participating on the FOG Board.  Board positions and the office of President and Secretary will become vacant and open for election at the  September 16 membership meeting.  Please contact Joe Motter or Marge Magruder if you are interested in being nominated for one of the these positions. 

signed into law by Governor Parris Glendening   , Senate Majority Leader Mikesigned into law by Governor Parris Glendening Miller and Speaker of the House Casper Taylor.  FOG Treasurer Marge Magruder and DNR Assistant Park Manager Al Preston attended the signing ceremony at the State House.  The law, designating the boundaries of the battlefield, includes existing state property on South Mountain stretching from Brownsville Pass north to Washington Monument State Park, and encompasses  Crampton's, Turner's and Fox's Gaps.

Kudos are due to the local Frederick/Washington County Delegation, especially Senator Munson and Delegates Snodgrass and Shank.  They sponsored, submitted and successfully promoted HB 1183.  The active support of FOG, the Friends of Washington Monument and the Central Maryland

Summer Museum Hours The museum is now open Friday through Monday from 10am to 5pm A summer interpreter, Tammy Wetzel, will be at the park on those days to be with the scheduled docents on the weekends and add an additional two days a week to the museum summer schedule.  Tammy has undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Secondary Education from Shippensberg University and is a welcome addition to the park staff and will be here until October.

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