[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6152644,"mediaKeyId","5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26","parentId",5497396,"title","Public forum tonight; town hall scheduled Aug. 9 at Bay District Volunteer Fire","audioSeconds",129,"startMs",331000,"endMs",460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26&start=331&end=460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26/thumbnail_331000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6152644/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Public-forum-tonight-town-hall-scheduled-Aug-9-at-Bay-District-Volunteer-Fire","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152644-7eaba29a1bea880bf1b9340f98ffe108/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169854&Signature=OyyGZ25vhpaAEK5pBKCoOx5FHQRcfYAoUTiclleFjphM-LJdYGNWQgG9gi23pUtPn-NDndNAdDQn4BfZRzlsqKeykZqo9pldWhVBq9jFSE7gHBn3n4YnTaE4w9kz4QHGWVeG7HOBn9iYDc7i2spdcw--iNMQFiSUyL6tSR7KCZBgrO8AEkfP3DWcfPT~gGM-IfhJl1u0gqRzOn7UrLMFcSJwST0Xjp-Rzto2cCBMwDOqq3lVLCHxxQ47zcv5gR0AF4NG4gSzmTGWrSjW3j0pZDmXEogqzEw9tGa5vMBYeNuG8EToHwrsNpGJ9xoVcS7fC1HQtVt0jOrWu5-~nZHzEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-07-29T16:19:50Z","article","A speaker at a public meeting reminded residents that a public forum was scheduled for the evening at 6:30 p.m. and announced a town hall on Aug. 9 at Bay District Volunteer Fire from 1 to 3 p.m.

The speaker encouraged residents to use the forum to raise concerns: “Tonight's public forum is an opportunity to come and and speak to the commissioners and tell us what's on your mind.” The speaker added that meeting time constraints usually prevent lengthy responses during public forums and invited residents to the Aug. 9 town hall for more direct answers about county decisions.

The speaker also mentioned attending the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) conferences and described them as opportunities for elected officials from rural counties to share information; those remarks were framed as background on official business rather than a formal action. No motions or votes concerning the public forum or town hall were recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Time 7/29/25 - Ostrow","oneSentenceSummary","A meeting speaker reminded residents of a public forum scheduled for the evening and said they will host a town hall on Aug. 9 at Bay District Volunteer Fire from 1 to 3 p.m.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6152648,"Speaker urges donations to back-to-school drives at Walmart and other county locations",0,294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26&start=294&end=294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26/thumbnail_294000.jpg","/articles/6152648/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Speaker-urges-donations-to-back-to-school-drives-at-Walmart-and-other-county-locations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152648-68ef3ad464db041cc7df0c94df412f6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169854&Signature=o5yE8GmUmrPCqEe74~fDqtLX1IIz3NluYoXh-aHzy1-MiG5xIeQYt9DljUWdWwytieWxbjDZFzuHJK2jYOe7rMVBzO8oactDQiQe-0FplMDExF54fWVcQNgJ1U8O3vbdZhtISH0raS-eXgjK5gFua23dErLT3xVMq18975-KXQekLLGLGmywEFK8fbiDvoTP71jYLVX6Vj4iNDXpAK294pnANeJe82Pmjva9uhbqos4KqHxg1LRAumyrOi4JQqc-4ZhkYV5YvUoQR2N1J7dhwtvZceBtL7ThhCYzm5efUr8SkpCopu~rXnPnPtV3aTmRt4MZ-CNhUI-n3OarI07gQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A speaker at a local meeting urged residents to donate back-to-school supplies at Walmart and other county donation bins to help families who may not be able to afford school materials.

The speaker described common donation points, saying “if it fits your budget, if you can do it when you're out at, you know, Walmart or or wherever you're doing some shopping... buy a couple of boxes of crayons and some, you know, number 2 pencils and just go through the back to school supplies.” The speaker added that paper is “always in high demand.”

The remarks encouraged residents to use store drop-off bins to leave supplies that local groups then distribute to families in need. The transcript includes the speaker’s personal reference to a granddaughter entering kindergarten at Town Creek Elementary School but does not record any county program changes or funding decisions tied to the donation drives.","A meeting speaker encouraged residents to donate school supplies at Walmart and other drop-off points to help families in Saint Mary’s County ahead of the school year.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6152654,"Home Depot to join Saint Mary’s County development; speaker cites jobs and competition",373,2000,375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26&start=2&end=375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5497396-a265b5e88b367f49ae4f3c1424650e26/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6152654/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Home-Depot-to-join-Saint-Marys-County-development-speaker-cites-jobs-and-competition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152654-661c614f0900ac7122d3fa45721c4d5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169854&Signature=nGqsFNbwnCVFwkIhd4o~p1b9TDHXpQVh-I4FLWR07d~0Gs4PgVD-8qXZKT1dG9Bi65DYv-3GFnAtAUk5h5WTYGG~rxs7KOQz38dV4ou-vsrI3TxawS8N8xOhZea5v3m8~9guVmslujMszyPCDTPyLJzLYXw73WPbJUlQZiw5O6BBhdsiaHdDvVnIcAsqOeD8UObrFTmhJbQxUbUm3v62PZ4FXHV0RhaxARxEcDtrRUJEPXQuFz5Zw1UtfV699oTvO0T2AVK4nD3AHhm35qLmotkFTqmwCyiuEYo3gZcEyhrvrqfNgdLcAGwCP6YFa7iRdpVfgF6tBGDn2wi2YqXiAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An unidentified speaker at a local meeting said a Home Depot store will join a commercial development near the movie theater and the new Bridal Farms in Saint Mary’s County, and that the store will bring jobs and competitive retail options to the area.

The speaker said other businesses have recently opened in the development, including a pain management center and contractor offices, and described recent ribbon cuttings that demonstrated “how much progress that they’ve made.” “It is great news, about the, the Home Depot coming in,” the speaker said.

The speaker argued the store would be “very much needed and utilized within this community” and said competition can lower prices for residents. The remarks described the arrival of Home Depot as part of broader private development already underway; the transcript does not record any formal county approval or vote on the project.

No motion or formal action related to the Home Depot location was recorded in the transcript. The comments were presented as an update and personal reaction rather than as a policy decision.","A meeting speaker said a Home Depot will locate in a commercial development near the movie theater and Bridal Farms in Saint Mary’s County, describing new businesses and jobs already opening in the area.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public forum tonight; town hall scheduled Aug. 9 at Bay District Volunteer Fire

Speaker urges donations to back-to-school drives at Walmart and other county locations

Home Depot to join Saint Mary’s County development; speaker cites jobs and competition