Sunflowers for Ukraine
Annual Planting for Wildlife Takes on Special Meaning
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners designated the week of May 15-21, 2022 as Emergency Medical Services Week and thanked all Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders and Calvert Rescue Dive Team providers who go beyond the call of duty every day to create positive change in our community with a direct, long-lasting impact.
The EMS system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, emergency nurses and emergency physicians. Calvert County Fire and Rescue-EMS first responders have provided volunteer services to the county for over 90 years.
The EMS team members, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills. Residents of Calvert County benefit daily from the knowledge and skills of these highly trained individuals.
EMS: Rising to the Challenge is the theme for EMS week 2022. This theme is particularly meaningful as it reminds citizens that our EMS first responders are faced with many new challenges every day, yet they still rise above to respond, support and care for the needs of our community in intense situations that carry on far past the end of their shift. at McKee Beshers” by Bob Julia, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that it will dedicate its sunflower plantings to the people of Ukraine this spring. Each year, the department plants about 130 acres of sunflowers on 15 wildlife management areas across 18 Maryland counties. Sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine, which remains besieged by the Russian military.
The primary purpose of DNR’s plantings is to provide a source of food for mourning doves, cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, finches and other wildlife species, after the plants mature and dry. Pollinating insects like bees and butterflies also benefit from the abundant nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce. This year the plantings will serve a dual purpose by expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Displaying the large yellow flower has become an important way for many people around the world to express unity and support for Ukrainians who have suffered the war’s destruction and bravely resisted Vladimir Putiin’s aggression against them.