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PTRC Non-Endorsement Policy

Julie Simpson

With the campaign season heating up, candidates’ materials are coming to our mailboxes every day. We want to make it clear that the Port Tobacco River Conservancy is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization that has not and does not endorse candidates for office. However, PTRC does not hesitate to take positions on issues that affect the health of the Port Tobacco River and its watershed, such as our support for the Watershed Conservation District. The eastern end of the WCD includes 1,160 acres that is within the Port Tobacco Watershed and includes headwater streams that are important to maintaining the health of the river and the plants and animals it supports, as well as protecting the economic and recreational value of the river. We encourage all Charles County voters to become informed about the issues and the candidates for office and to exercise their right to vote.

Next Shoreline Cleanup Is Sunday, July 8

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Volunteer at shoreline cleanup

Join us Sunday, July 8, at Chapel Point State Park, 8160 Pisces Rd., Port Tobacco MD 20677, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for our next shoreline cleanup. Meet us at the parking lot for the boat launch area, where we will provide bags, gloves, water, and snacks. Come out to enjoy the park and help make our river more beautiful.

Join Us Thursday, May 17, for Two Exciting Speakers

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Ryan Abrahamson of Terrain360 will tell us how he is creating a 360 degree visual guide of the Port Tobacco River using surface-level image mapping. The project is funded through the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism.

John Snow, Charles County’s Chief of Parks and Grounds, will update us on how the County is working to improve access roads, parking areas, and waterfront recreation areas at Chapel Point State Park through the Chapel Point State Park Strategic Management Partnership Plan with Maryland DNR.

The program is free and open to the public and will take place at the Historic Port Tobacco Courthouse, 8430 Commerce Street, Port Tobacco, MD 20677, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, and light refreshments will be served.

Don’t Miss Painter and Local Historian Don Zimmer on Thursday, January 18

Julie Simpson

Local historian and painter Don Zimmer returns to present his latest research, “Three Stories from the Port Tobacco River in the Mid-18th Century: Trade, the quest for religious freedom, and the slave trade.” Don will display four new paintings inspired by his research. Don’s presentation last year was standing room only! Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and light refreshments will be served. The program is free and open to the public.
Thursday, January 18, 6:30  to 9:00 p.m.
Historic Port Tobacco Courthouse
8430 Commerce St
Port Tobacco MD 20677

August Shoreline Cleanup at Chapel Point State Park

Julie Simpson

Pictures from Saturday’s shoreline cleanup of the Port Tobacco River at Chapel Point State Park. It was a beautiful day on the river and our volunteers made a big difference. A park visitor who would not give his name pitched in by loading all the trash we collected into his truck for disposal. We also saw some interesting native plants — rose mallow, prickly pear, and the dreaded poison ivy.

Tired of Trash? So Are We.

Julie Simpson

PTRC’s next public meeting on Thursday, March 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Port Tobacco Courthouse, 8430 Commerce Street, Port Tobacco MD 20677, will feature an all-star line-up of trash busters:

  • Julie Lawson, Executive Director, Trash Free Maryland, will update us on the status of legislation to ban polystyrene food containers statewide, as well as the Trash Trawl project to gauge the prevalence of micro-plastics in the Bay;
  • Hannah Seligmann, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Alice Ferguson Foundation, will tell us about the Trash Free Potomac campaign, including this year’s Potomac River Cleanup;
  • Frances Sherman, Recycling & Litter Control Superintendent, Charles County, will let us know about the County’s litter control programs;
  • Mike Bellis, Executive Director, United Way of Charles County, will tell us about the UW’s new Watershed Discovery and Exploration grant. The grant will fund kayak outings for low-income families that increase public awareness of the value of our watersheds and how we can all protect them, with a focus on litter control.

Light refreshments will definitely not be trashy. We will offer complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks served by Kaley, our professional bartender, as well as delicious snacks. For more information, contact us at 301 934-2025 or ptrc@porttobaccoriver.org.

The event is free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!