Tipping Points

So far, this is what I’ve learned.
Lexington Park is at a tipping point.
To grasp what that means, last April I took a planner on a tour of Great Mills Road including the carefully landscaped and tended Lore Laundromat and adjacent apartments. A tipping point is how the bankrupt and closed Lore Laundromat looks today, when it can easily be imagined boarded shut, crumbling and dragging everything in sight down with it.
Patuxent River Naval Air Station is at a tipping point too.
Its bread and butter programs are in an odd way like those tidy apartments, a bit too gentlemanly for the style of world conflict in the 21st century. This tipping point arrives when time runs out, the time needed to rethink, retool and remain ahead of the curve of contemporary warfare solutions. According to industry experts we missed the curve recently for terrorist program funding.
The U.S. Navy itself is at a tipping point simply because newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was hired to carve the entire military complex into a leaner, meaner machine.
I have also learned it doesn’t matter all that much to a military station where it is located. It isn’t all that imperative to large government contracting firms either. What matters are what missions remain integral to federally funded programs.
Conversely, it matters tremendously to thousands of us that Pax River fit prominently into the leaner, meaner complex.
It could matter even more than that if the health, safety and property value of Lexington Park is not soon redeemed.
The good news is that redeeming Lexington Park helps Pax River stay ahead of the curve, albeit indirectly. The bad news is, success for Pax River does not necessarily work the same way for Lexington Park.
That challenge, I have learned, belongs to us all.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys3rymiItkk]
Stories:
- Fri, 24 Jun 2022 - Archaeologists to Share Discoveries at Newtowne
- Thu, 23 Jun 2022 - Wheeler Seeks Clerk of Circuit Court
- Thu, 23 Jun 2022 - Hoyer Tours New Emergency Shelter
- Thu, 23 Jun 2022 - Inflation Bonus Proposed for Troops
- Wed, 22 Jun 2022 - Lex Park Library Site for Summer Meals Program
- Wed, 22 Jun 2022 - Chronic Disease Prevention Team to Meet
- Wed, 22 Jun 2022 - Big Boost Proposed for DIU Budget
- Tue, 21 Jun 2022 - License-Free Fishing Day Set July 4
- Tue, 21 Jun 2022 - Shoreline Restoration in Piney Point Awarded Federal Funds
- Tue, 21 Jun 2022 - Kingsley New CO at NAS Patuxent River
- Mon, 20 Jun 2022 - Lex Park Business Assoc. to Meet June 23
- Mon, 20 Jun 2022 - Two Primary Candidate Forums Set
- Mon, 20 Jun 2022 - Morning Coffee Is Off the Burner
- Sat, 18 Jun 2022 - County Schedule for Juneteenth Holiday
- Fri, 17 Jun 2022 - Navy Museum Releases Aviation Artist’s 3-D Photo Book
- Thu, 16 Jun 2022 - Marines, Civilians Honored for Aviation Contributions
- Thu, 16 Jun 2022 - Violence, Injury, & Trauma Action Team Meets
- Thu, 16 Jun 2022 - House Dems: No Inflation Add-On to $762B Defense Budget
- Wed, 15 Jun 2022 - There’s ‘Something Rotten’ at Three Notch
- Wed, 15 Jun 2022 - Loan Program Expanded for Small Businesses
- Wed, 15 Jun 2022 - A Mixed Week for Women
- Tue, 14 Jun 2022 - Save the Date for Feed St. Mary’s Event
- Tue, 14 Jun 2022 - Museums Part of Blue Star Program for Military Members
- Tue, 14 Jun 2022 - Aircraft ‘Safety Pause’ Ordered by Navy
- Mon, 13 Jun 2022 - Support NAACP Freedom Fund Brunch
- Mon, 13 Jun 2022 - Delegation Secures Vets Clinic Funding
- Mon, 13 Jun 2022 - New Helicopters Headed to Andrews
- Sun, 12 Jun 2022 - Behavioral Health Action Team to Meet
- Sat, 11 Jun 2022 - Join County’s Flag Day Festivities
- Fri, 10 Jun 2022 - Catch a Tagged Snakehead, Maybe Win a Prize
- Thu, 9 Jun 2022 - Deadline to Register to Vote: June 28
- Thu, 9 Jun 2022 - Homelessness Prevention Board Meets June 15
- Thu, 9 Jun 2022 - Autonomous Tanker Crosses Pacific
- Wed, 8 Jun 2022 - TPP to Present AeroPark District Update
- Wed, 8 Jun 2022 - Hoyer: Jobs Are Being Created, Wages Are Rising
- Wed, 8 Jun 2022 - US to Review Wind Project Off Ocean City
- Tue, 7 Jun 2022 - Next Farmers Market @ Airport June 12
- Tue, 7 Jun 2022 - Environmental Health Team to Meet
- Tue, 7 Jun 2022 - Milley: Respecting Legacy of D-Day Soldiers
- Mon, 6 Jun 2022 - SMECO Awards Four Scholarships
- Mon, 6 Jun 2022 - Congressional Art Contest Winners Announced
- Mon, 6 Jun 2022 - Navy Setting Stage for RIMPAC 2022
- Sun, 5 Jun 2022 - Still Time to Enter DNR Photo Contest
- Fri, 3 Jun 2022 - Hoyer Announces Funds for Rapid Transit
- Fri, 3 Jun 2022 - Sirens on June 6. This Is Only a Test
- Thu, 2 Jun 2022 - Men’s Health Day Event Set June 4
- Thu, 2 Jun 2022 - Kitty Hawk Arrives at Final Port
- Wed, 1 Jun 2022 - Meet the ’22 Primary Election Candidates
- Wed, 1 Jun 2022 - NAACP 5K Run/Walk Accepting Registrations
- Wed, 1 Jun 2022 - Memorial Day Video ’22
- Tue, 31 May 2022 - Hoyer Earns ‘A’ Rating From Action Fund
- Tue, 31 May 2022 - Bad Crab Vibes for Upcoming Season
- Tue, 31 May 2022 - Lights, Camera, Action at NAS Pax
- Mon, 30 May 2022 - History Lecture Series Continues June 2
- Mon, 30 May 2022 - Water Monitoring at Public Beaches Continues
- Mon, 30 May 2022 - Morning Coffee Is Off the Burner
- Sun, 29 May 2022 - First Friday June 3 in Leonardtown
- Sat, 28 May 2022 - Memorial Day Schedule for St. Mary’s Govt.
- Thu, 26 May 2022 - Navy Signs Final EIS for Testing, Training Activities at Pax River Complex
- Thu, 26 May 2022 - Ostrow Seeks Commissioner Dist. 4
- Thu, 26 May 2022 - MD’s Bridges Get $400M for Repairs
- Wed, 25 May 2022 - Townsend Is Outstanding Young Scientist Award Winner
- Wed, 25 May 2022 - ’22 Lighthouse Award: Askey, Askey & Associates
- Wed, 25 May 2022 - Nat’l Cemeteries Open Memorial Weekend
- Tue, 24 May 2022 - Sponsors Sought for Summerstock 2022
- Tue, 24 May 2022 - Free Document Shredding on May 28
- Tue, 24 May 2022 - MedStar Unveils SMHC Behavioral Health Unit
- Tue, 24 May 2022 - Report: DoD Making Progress on Cybersecurity
- Mon, 23 May 2022 - SMECO Urges Safety Around Power Lines
- Mon, 23 May 2022 - Gowen Seeks Delegate Seat 29C
- Mon, 23 May 2022 - Blue Angels Fly Into Annapolis This Week
- Sun, 22 May 2022 - Violence, Injury, & Trauma Action Team Meets
- Sat, 21 May 2022 - Event in Lex Park to Celebrate Expecting Parents
- Fri, 20 May 2022 - Kindergarten Registration Opens in St. Mary’s
- Thu, 19 May 2022 - Head Start Program Awarded Federal Funds
- Thu, 19 May 2022 - CPA Hood to Lead Record-Keeping Workshop for Nonprofits
- Thu, 19 May 2022 - Local UAS Sets Continuous Flight Record
- Wed, 18 May 2022 - Airport to Host May 24 Open House
- Wed, 18 May 2022 - NAVAIR Building on Unfunded Priority List
- Tue, 17 May 2022 - Battle of the Bay Set Memorial Day Weekend
- Tue, 17 May 2022 - St. Mary’s Voting Districts Have Changed
- Tue, 17 May 2022 - Hogan: Maryland Is Cyber Capital of US
- Mon, 16 May 2022 - Homelessness Prevention Board to Meet
- Mon, 16 May 2022 - SMR Celebrates Flight Academy Opening
- Mon, 16 May 2022 - US Space Force Needs a National Guard
- Sun, 15 May 2022 - They’re Going Retro in Piney Point
- Fri, 13 May 2022 - Volunteers Sought for Lex Park Cleanup
- Thu, 12 May 2022 - DoD Seeks Hand in EU Arms Development
- Wed, 11 May 2022 - Navy Int’l Programs Topic of TPP Panel
- Wed, 11 May 2022 - Calling All Primary Candidates
- Wed, 11 May 2022 - Register to Vote: Republican
- Wed, 11 May 2022 - Parris Is. Marine Band Is Emmy Nominee
- Tue, 10 May 2022 - Live Boxing Returns to St. Mary’s County
- Tue, 10 May 2022 - Hoyer: Economic Recovery ‘Within Our Grasp’
- Tue, 10 May 2022 - Maryland Guard Deploys A-10s to Europe
- Mon, 9 May 2022 - Math, Science & STEM Educators Honored
- Mon, 9 May 2022 - Airport, UAS Test Site New Venue for AUVSI Competition
- Mon, 9 May 2022 - US Ups Its Investment in Cyber Technology
- Sun, 8 May 2022 - Assistance Available for Water, Sewer Bills
- Sat, 7 May 2022 - MD Dedicates Sunflower Planting for Ukraine
Many years ago (in the 70s, I think), the late Kay Daugherty video-taped somewhat similar scenes of Lexington Park in an effort to draw attention to the challenges then faced by LP. This video still exists — it was shown at the Flat Tops reunion at the LP Library in 2007 and may be found there. Mrs. Daugherty’s purpose was to use visual stuff, including the video and also art (i.e., Creative Arts Forum), to attract an interest in Lexington Park. Some of the art was shown at the late great MB&T and I think is still up at the branch on Willows / Shangri-La. These investments were not just dollars — although I think the county commissioners supported the Creative Arts Forum with $$$ — but individual investments of time, space, art, story, etc. and a sense that underneath the Navy boom town exterior was a place that spoke volumes about “who we are” at that time. Artist Sue Jones created the most amazing image of the old Savon Station on Great Mills Road — she made it beautiful and beloved — and Lynn Erwin wrote an amazing essay about it in the most recent issue of SlackWater.
The Lexington Park Leader offers that opportunity again. “Past ain’t dead, it ain’t even past” with apologies to Faulkner.
Awesome article & insight
Have you sent the video to the bank that owns the property. Maybe if they actually see what the citizens have been complaining about, instead of just hearing the complaints, they will be moved to do something.