Brunswick Crossing:

Brunswick Crossing students are off to school this week with new backpacks and books! Did you know that all students in Brunswick have access to the fabulous new Brunswick library for everything from questions, homework help, research aids and even quite study space? Read on!

Going Green

When the doors opened at the new Brunswick Public Library on April 16, a crowd poured inside to experience the latest chapter of Frederick County Public Libraries. Hundreds were on-hand to welcome the new library on the same spot where its predecessor stood. Click here to view photos from the Grand Opening! The library was designed by Morris & Ritchie Architects. The building’s attractive interior benefits from an abundance of natural lighting, thanks to its generous windows and skylights. The natural lighting is just one of the many features that contribute to the environmentally friendly designation the project has received.

Frederick County’s Brunswick Public Library is the first county-owned facility to be registered in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system. Darrell Baston, Director of Frederick County Public Libraries, voiced  enthusiasm about the project . “Before the building was designed, we held several meetings with the Brunswick community to get their impressions about the future. The residents made it clear that they wanted a building that was built in an environmentally sensitive way. We were pleased to be able to make the LEED certification a reality.”

The building has been certified with a LEED Silver rating. The LEED credit for diverting construction wast from landfills requires builders to keep 50-75 percent of their wast out of landfills. The contractors were able to divert 97 percent of their waste. The facility also exceeds the water use reduction standard for the LEED checklist, which requires a 20-30 percent reduction. The Brunswick Library uses 43 percent less water than a conventional facility.

New Space and New Resources

The new 15,000-square-foot building at 915 N. Maple Avenue replaces the branch’s former 2,500-square-foot home. An expanded collection of books and media, more public access computers, two quiet study rooms, and a public meeting room are among the library’s many features. The facility also features a children’s room, teen zone, adult reading room, and wireless internet access throughout the facility.

Just for Students

Need help with homework? The Brunswick library offers a host of online and in person resources for students. Looking for virtual help? Check out the Student Resources Page of the library’s website. They even have an area designated just for homework help entitled “KidSpace” that is organized by homework help topic. In person, helpful librarians are on hand to help with homework topics, assist in research projects and help students secure quite study rooms.

Need more information?

For further information about Brunswick Public Library, visit www.fcpl.org.

To learn more about Frederick County’s efforts in green building and sustainability, visit www.SustainableFrederickCounty.org.

Excerpts By: Elizabeth Cromwell, Frederick County Public Libraries

Shopping lovers get your carts ready and clear out those trunks because you’re going to need the cargo space! Prepare yourself for retail heaven with just a quick drive from Brunswick Crossing to Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets. Boasting over 110 outlet shops, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets are sure to have something for everyone. Featuring men’s, women’s and children’s designer fashions, shoes, accessories and home furnishings, just to name a few, as well as outlet-mall pricing sure to fit your budget.

The Leesburg Outlets offer many specialty discounted events throughout the year in addition to their already reduced outlet pricing. Take a peek onto their user-friendly website to get a full listing of all 110 stores, print out the map and start plotting your shopping trip! You can also browse upcoming sales and events, book group tours, get driving directions and more.

For the serious bargain-hunter, consider becoming a VIP member to get exclusive online coupons, free VIP coupon book and keep up to date on upcoming sales and promotions! They also offer special discounts and amenities for groups of 15 or more.

The Leesburg Outlets have all the conveniences to keep the whole family and your bellies happy. Offering services such as stroller rentals, wheelchairs and lockers, you won’t have to worry with the hassle of packing your own or toting around valuables. And when you get those hunger pangs, rest assured the food court will satisfy your cravings. As for keeping the kids happy and to give your legs a break, there are playgrounds available for them to burn that energy!

As an added convenience, you can purchase tickets to a variety of entertainment options including sporting events, museums, theaters, performing arts and family shows via their very own Ticketmaster kiosk located right at the Information Center.

The Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets is located at the intersection of Route 7 and US 15 bypass in Leesburg, VA at 241 Fort Evans Road NE, about 20 miles from Brunswick Crossing. Regular hours are Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-7pm.

For more information, contact the outlets directly at (703)737-3071.

Hot, hazy summer days may be remind you of beach vacations, poolside reading and air conditioned movies – not for the builders and developer at Brunswick Crossing! We been humming along all summer building new homes, welcoming new families, building new tennis courts, starting our community center and watching the new Brunswick Volunteer Firehouse take shape. Its been an exciting season and we are looking forward to more as we sharpen our school pencils this fall. Always want to be in the know? Follow us on Facebook for daily updates and access to our fan exclusive Trail Tracks newsletter!

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) welcomes a new Superintendent along with new students, families, and community members. We’ve had lots of practice helping folks feel at home here. Since 1970, our enrollment has more than doubled to over 40,000 students, bringing us close to the country’s top 100 largest school systems.

The Basics and the Best

While national reports rand Maryland schools number one in America (Education Week’s 2009, 2010, and 2011 nationwide Quality Counts reports and the College Board’s Annual Advanced Placement Report to the nation), FCPS student achievement exceeds Maryland averages. On measures such as the College Board SAT, our scores consistently surpass state and national averages.

Each of our nine eligible high schools made Newsweek’s 2010 Challenge Index, ranking in the nation’s top six percent for encouraging participation in rigorous Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. Even with such challenging courses, our dropout rate is Maryland’s second lowest (after Carroll County).

FCPS has sixty-four schools and more than 5,000 employees working to meet the needs of every child, grades pre-kindergarden through twelve. We are a diverse school community, with more than a decade-long Character Counts! Tradition of respect for all people. This tradition won us the Maryland Center for Character Education’s first School System of the Year Award in 2009.

On the Forefront with Technology

On the technology front, the Center for Digital Education ranked FCPS fourth in the US in 2009 for exceptional use of digital technology in school systems with more than 15,000 students. Each of our schools is Internet connected, and all teachers have voice- and e-mail for easy home-to-school communication. We average about one computer for every three students and make website updates a high priority at www.fcps.org. We even post FCPS-Television programming online for those unable to view Comcast Cable 18. From the website, more than 32,000 family and community members subscribe to school news via our FCPS FindOutFirst e-mail service. These tools-and technology that provide parents online access to grades, including e-mail alerts and more-improve communication while they conserve resources and printing expenses.

Accountable for Every Penny

Cost efficiencies are essential at FCPS. We are Frederick County’s largest emloyer and good stewards of taxpayer funding. We recycle, are diligent about saving energy, maintain a very low ratio of central-office staffing to total employees, and rank in the top tier among Maryland’s public schools for “Return on Investment according to the 2011 Center for American progress report.

FCPS was designated a family-friendly employer in 2004. Our most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report earned us the Association of School Business Officials’ Certificate of Excellence for integrity in financial reporting (for the third year in a row), the highest recognition conferred upon school systems that have met or exceeded the program standards. For purposes of fiscal transparency and public accountability, we post budget details and answers to frequently asked questions online at www.fcps.org/buget.

At FCPS, taxpayers get their money’s worth. Ninety-nine percent of nearly 900 local employees rated FCPS students well prepared for the work expected of them at their place of business. Our 3,000+ graduates in the Class of 2010 received more than $40 million in scholarship offers.

Improving for Every Child

Despite all this remarkable good news, continuous improvement remains our constant focus. There are always areas in which FCPS must accomplish more for students. What we strive to achieve and the achievements we have made are solid evidence of FCPS employees’ first-class work to reach, challenge, and prepare every child for success. Our involved families and supportive community partner to equip students for the expertise and services that our 21st-century global and local communities require.

Attend an event at or schedule a visit to your neighborhood school. Browse the FCPS website at www.FCPS.org, and sign up for FindOutFirst e-mail news to learn more about the excellent value that public education provides Frederick County Taxpayers and students.

If your child is new to Frederick County Public Schools, welcome! Please enroll at your neighborhood school as soon as possible before school starts August 29.

Want to learn more about Brunswick schools? Check out our blog An Apple A Day: Going to School in Brunswick

By: Marita Stup Loose, Frederick County Public Schools

Loins and Tigers and Bears…. Oh My! Take an adventure from your backdoor at Brunswick Crossing to the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo!

Since 1933 animals have been exhibited to the public in a small facility near Thurmont, Maryland. It’s estimated that well over 2,000,000 visitors have been here and yet it truly is one of the best kept secrets in Frederick County. Started as a specialized exhibit, its owner, the son of Frederick doctor Gordon Gaver, showcased reptiles and promoted education. Every visitor got a personalized tour and many of the tours were conducted by teachers on summer break.

When Gaver died suddently in 1964, there were more reptiles kept there than at the Baltimore and National Zoos combined. The then eight-acre snake farm was bought with his widow’s help by a couple of twenty-something biologists with the intention of teaching in the winter and conducting tours in the summer. Within two years, the animals at the Serpentarium, as it was called then, became too much work and overwhelmed their winter calling.

Fast forward to today. The Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo is operated by the Global Wildlife Trust, Inc. a non-profit 501©3 corporation. Its exhibits occupy over fifty acres and it displays over 500 rare or unusual farm and exotic animals including birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.

In addition to the zoological inhabitants, it has a botanical complement growing in conjunction with the animal collection. A Butterfly Garden, a Wetlands Garden partially funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and a Japanese Garden that surrounds a beautiful pond filled with Japanese Koi, Chinese goldfish, European Orf and North American Albino Channel Catfish (almost three feet long) are among the many plantings.

About half of the fifty acres contain exhibits that are zoogeographically clustered. Australia, Madagascar, Latin America, and North America are well laid out and populated with animals indigenous to those places. Emu, dingo, and kangaroo types, as well as black swans with cygnets live in Australia. In Madagascar, lemurs, rare Black Vasa parrots, and fossa come later. Latin America, with its jaguar, marmosets, Amazon parrots, sloth, and fruit bats is fascinating. North America has cougars, wolves, owls and so many alligators in its boardwalked cypress-surrounded pond, you will think you’re at Everglades National Park.

The North American Small Animal Pavilion opened this year and houses more than twenty-five species of southeastern and western naturalized exhibits. The intent of the designers was to have fun exploring the denizens of these fascinating parts of our nation. A special temporary exhibit called “1001 Chelonians: Turtles Forever” occupies half of the nearly 3000 square-foot exhibit.

The second half of the Wildlife Preserve offers a safari ride in a US troop carrier called “a duce and a half” into four six acre paddock with hoofed animals and rarities from around the world. Bison, water buffalo, yak, Scottish Highland cattle, zebra, eland, Nilgai antelope, camels, rhea, llamas, and alpacas greet the truck and reach for some feed from your hand.

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo’s mission is to bring people and animals together. Come visit them soon at www.cwpzoo.com

By: Brandi Owens, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

The Potomac River is located between Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. This river is known as a fishing hotspot on the eastern side of the United States and is well-known for  shallow waters and close shoreline. This is the type of environment that is perfect for bottom feeders making it a great place to go bass fishing. It contains both freshwater species – large and small mouth bass. In fact, you will find an abundance of bass along with many other species in the 50,000 acres of excellent fishing waters that make up of the Potomac River. Many anglers consider the Potomac to be the best place to go bass fishing in the eastern part of America – just ask Craig Wright, local fly fishing expert – view a video of Craig fishing the Potomac from his favorite spots Brunswick MD.

Basic Information about Fishing the Potomac River

The Potomac River is a popular area for bass fishing. One of the great things about the Potomac River is that it can be a little unpredictable and you can find an abundance of bass located throughout the river just about any time of the year. However, not every area is productive every year. Some areas may have a lot of bass one year and you will not find any in that spot the next year. Just starting out and looking for places to try? Check out the Anglerweb fish app!

The main river is not the only place where you can find bass on the Potomac. You will also find a number of different creeks that are filled with fish. Like the Potomac, the creeks that feed from it are full of many types of structures that create the perfect environment for the bass to thrive. You will find an abundance of rockpiles, laydowns, piers, wharves and sunken barges. With the added vegetation expanding throughout this river it is even more appealing to the bass. If you are casting from a boat and not the shore it is recommended that you use a fishfinder to help you locate the bass when fishing on the Potomac River.  It will certainly help to narrow down your search and help you find the locations of the bass much faster.

Techniques for Bass Fishing the Potomac River
The best time to go bass fishing on the Potomac River is between the months of July and December. As the water begins to cool the bass will start moving out to deeper water, “scattering out” beginning the month of September. This is when you need to start searching the deeper waters for the bass -  but they are still there and still biting!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your fishing gear and a friend, and experience life in the Potomac River Valley!

Helpful Hints and tips:

• Remember if you are on the shore or in a boat, don’t dip your lure into the water without first getting a fishing license.
• Never tied a lure to your fishing pole? Learn how – we promise it is easier than tying a tie!
• Buzz baits, Super Spots, Spinner-baits – oh my! Need some help as to what lure to choose when? This article by Bass Resource will set you in the right direction.
• Need a good place to get started and some fish stories too? Check out Brunswick’s Smoketown Bait and Tackle