Governor Martin O’Malley (D), joined by Commissioners from Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties, will lead a ceremonial groundbreaking event for the new Regency Furniture Stadium this Thursday, at 2 p.m., on Piney Church Road.
A crowd of more than 300 is expected to be on hand to witness the official ceremony, which will kickoff construction of the 4,500-seat, state-of-the-art baseball stadium.
During its construction phase, Regency Furniture Stadium will create more than 230 job opportunities in Charles County and generate an estimated $27 million in spending, according to the Maryland Department of Budget and Economic Development. Once completed, the stadium will be home to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, an independent league baseball team and the first professional sports franchise in the Tri-County region. The team is slated to begin play at the start of the 2008
baseball season.
Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, Gov. O’Malley will meet with the regional County Commissioners in La Plata and tour selected sites in Charles County.
He will be making a stop at the Walter’s Farm in Hughesville, on Thursday, to meet with regional farm owners.
The visit includes a “Buy Local” luncheon featuring a presentation menu which incorporates items all grown and produced locally, prepared by Blue Wind Gourmet. This event is in support of the week long initiative – the “Buy Local Challenge”.
During the Buy Local Challenge Week, July 21- 28, consumers throughout Maryland are challenged to eat at least one item from a local farm every day for a week. Residents are encouraged to buy from local farms, farm stands, farmers’ markets, wineries, groceries and markets that offer genuine local products, or dine at restaurants that serve local farm food and wine.
Counties across Maryland have joined in to declare the last week in July “Annual Buy Local Week”, and to issue the challenge to consumers throughout the state.
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