Annapolis, June 11^th, 2018: Annapolis Pediatrics announced today that Dr. Dwight Fortier will be retiring from the pediatric practice on August 25^th, 2018 after 46 years of service.

Dr. Fortier was born in Washington, DC. He attended the University of Maryland for his undergraduate degree and went on to the University of Maryland- Baltimore School of Medicine for his doctorate. He completed his internship at Mercy Hospital. He then spent three years as a General Medical Officer at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Japan working mostly as a surgeon for wounded marines and sailors. After the Navy, with three small children of his own, he decided to focus on pediatrics. He then completed his residency at University Hospital in Baltimore.

“I was always interested in pediatrics; however, having had enough of combat surgery, it became clear that working with kids was the path for me,” said Dr. Fortier.

Dr. Fortier moved to Annapolis, MD in 1972 where he joined Annapolis Pediatrics as their third pediatrician. He joined Dr. Philip Briscoe, the founding father of the practice, and Dr. Jonathan Sutton, who joined in the 1960’s. They occupied a small office on Forbes Street for many years. From this core of three doctors, the practice has grown steadily to the point of having now 21 Pediatricians and 15 pediatric Nurse Practitioners working out of five sites – Annapolis, Crofton, Edgewater, Kent Island and Severna Park. Among the group, there are certified specialists in Behavioral Pediatrics, Lactation Counseling and Pediatric Endocrinology.

“I have had the good fortune of being Dr. Fortier’s associate for 35 years. None of this expansion would have been possible without his vision and leadership,” says Dr. Samuel Libber. “I recall him saying in 1989 that he refused to work another winter in the tiny office at 201 Forbes Street. Aside from a lack of windows, this subterranean space lacked a laboratory, lunch room and fresh air. There was something submarine-like working in that space where we all got to know one another and learn each other’s habits very quickly. We wound up staying there for two more winters, much to Dr. Fortier’s chagrin, but finally moved our main office across the street to 200 Forbes Street in 1991.”

Dr. Fortier has been an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics over the years, standing for better patient quality of care, with a special interest in infectious diseases. He was the Chief of Pediatrics at Anne Arundel Medical Center from 1985 to 1990, and also one of the founders and a provider at Nighttime Pediatrics for many years. Dr. Fortier was a Managing Partner at Annapolis Pediatrics from 1994 to 2014.

Throughout his career, Dr. Fortier has paved the way for many practice accolades including Bridges to Excellence: Physician Office Systems Recognition Program and NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home which identifies practices aiming to improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs.

Dr. Fortier has been a fixture in the lives of his patients, offering top-notch pediatric care, sensitivity and humor to the practice of medicine. In his final years of practicing medicine, it was not uncommon for Dr. Fortier to see third generations of patients. These families continue to bring back their children and grandchildren to see their beloved pediatrician.

“It has been a great ride,” declares Dr. Fortier. “I have learned as much from the parents of the kids that I have taken care of as I have from my colleagues and medical partners.”

With the expansion of Annapolis Pediatrics locations and services, Dr. Fortier has become a mentor to incoming providers, showing them the way and offering wisdom over “Dining with Dwight” meetings.

“While it is bittersweet to see Dr. Fortier hang up his stethoscope after such an illustrious, influential career caring for three generations of families in the Annapolis area, we are so grateful for the countless lives that are better for his presence in them,” stated Dr. Margaret Turner, Annapolis Pediatrics’ CEO. “We wish him nothing but the best in his retirement but cannot imagine the halls of our five offices without him occasionally stopping by for a visit and a dose of his hard-earned wisdom.”

Dr. Fortier is married with four children, and five grandchildren with whom he plans to spend more time with during his less busy days of seeing patients.

As Dr. Fortier takes his well-deserved retirement, we would like to thank him for his service and loving care for our neighborhood children. He leaves behind a legacy and will forever remain a long-standing part of the fabric of the Annapolis community.

Friends, Current/ Former Patients and Colleagues of Dr. Dwight Fortier –

We are putting together a scrapbook of pictures, mementos, and testimonials to commemorate his extraordinary career as a pediatrician. If you have an anecdote to share, would like to write a letter thanking him for his specific influence in your or your child’s life, or would just like to reminisce about the “good old days”, please either handwrite and mail or email to:

Katie Dragos

200 Forbes Street, Ste 200

Annapolis, MD 21401

kdragos@annapeds.com

About Annapolis Pediatrics:

For 70 years, Annapolis Pediatrics has provided superior healthcare to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults in Annapolis and the surrounding communities. In some cases, we have cared for three generations of families. We strive to provide high quality medical care, from excellent clinical care to a positive customer experience for our patients and their parents.

We have over 30 physicians and nurse practitioners in 5 locations: Annapolis, Crofton, Edgewater, Severna Park, and Kent Island. We also offer Monday through Friday walk-in hours at our Annapolis office for short sick visits.

For more information, visit us at:

Website: https://annapolispediatrics.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnapolisPediatrics/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnapPeds

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AnnapolisPediatrics/

CENTREVILLE – Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation is partnering with Maryland Department of Natural Resources to host the First Annual Fishing Derby at White Marsh Park, Saturday, August 18, from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The first 50 registered participants will receive a free tee-shirt. Fishing rods are available on a first come first serve basis and prizes will be awarded. The cost is $5 per child. To register call QAC Recreation Department at 410-758-0835 x2531 or register on-line at www.parksnrec.org and sign up for program #180011.

(Easton, MD) To further their efforts to provide legal services to low-income members of the Eastern Shore community, Mid-Shore Pro Bono is pleased to announce that it has recently been authorized by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide legal services through its Recognition and Accreditation Program. This rigorous program requires significant training and once accredited, legal services organizations, like Mid-Shore Pro Bono, may handle more complex cases that involve federal government agencies. Both Mid-Shore Pro-Bono and their Vulnerable Populations Assistance Project Director, Ivette Salarich, JD, received accreditation from the DOJ.

“The accreditation from the Department of Justice is a huge step forward for our Vulnerable Populations Assistance Project,” said Sandy Brown, Executive Director. “We are now able to provide an even higher quality of legal services to members of our community who often fall victim to fraudulent scams preying on their low-income status, language barriers and unfamiliarity with the civil justice system.”

To further the efforts of the VPAP, Mid-Shore Pro Bono recently received grants from the Maryland Bar Foundation and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. These funds will be used to support the VPAP’s work with immigrants living and working on the Eastern Shore, many of whom have fled natural disasters and political unrest to reunite their families and start a new life as American citizens.

“There is an enormous need to address the inequality of access to adequate legal assistance and representation on the Eastern Shore,” said Brown. “The poverty level on the Shore ranges from 8-18% depending on location, but our work reaches and affects everyone in our community regardless of socioeconomic status. By connecting low income residents with legal services and community resources we are able to keep families together, working, in their homes and financially stable.”

About Mid-Shore Pro Bono
Mid-Shore Pro Bono connects low-income individuals and families who need civil legal services with volunteer attorneys and community resources. The organization serves citizens of the Eastern Shore. For more information or to make a donation, call Mid-Shore Pro Bono at 410-690-8128 or visit www.midshoreprobono.org.

Pastor Missy Rekitzke of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church has left a legacy at every church she has served since joining the ministry 10 years ago. She was the first female lead pastor at each of the five churches for which she has served. Prior to serving as pastor at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Easton for the past five years, she served at Hope United Methodist Church in Dover, DE, and then for the Three Point Sudlersville Charge in Queen Anne’s County, MD, which included Calvary-Asbury United Methodist Church, Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. In July, Pastor Rekitzke will carry on this legacy as she joins her new appointment at Salem United Methodist Church in Selbyville, DE, as its first female lead pastor.

“I have learned so much with this range of churches – from their styles of leadership to the different ways churches do ministry,” Pastor Rekitzke comments. She adds, “As a pastor, you need to adapt your gifts to those needs.”

When she talks about her time at St. Mark’s, she points to several things which have stood out to her. She states, “There is strong leadership in the church with people who take ministry and the roles they serve seriously. It has also been a very welcoming congregation.”

Pastor Rekitzke, who originally was born in Chicago, relocated to Delaware when her husband Phil got a promotion with Preston Trucking Company. She got interested in ministry by serving in youth ministry and worship at Gethsemane United Methodist Church in Seaford, DE where they lived. She then completed her Master’s in Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in 2010.

She credits Pastor Gary Moore, who was District Superintendent at the time, with her decision to take the position at St. Mark’s. She comments, “He knew me well enough to know I would be a good fit. The church has loved our whole family, including our daughter Claire who moved to Easton with us.”

The Rekitzkes have two children, daughter Claire, and son Philip and his wife Erin, and two grandchildren who will be moving to Idaho in the next month. Pastor Rekitzke’s daughter Claire went on The World Race, an 11-country, 11-month mission trip to share the love of Jesus and serve others around the world. Members of St. Mark’s took an interest in her trip, supporting her and praying for her safety and return.

She credits St. Mark’s strategic planning commitment for creating a clear vision for the church and developing its pillars of ministry which have helped guide the church’s actions during her tenure. She states, “It gave us good direction, including our slogan, ‘Big Steeple, Friendly People.’ As a big church, it can look intimidating, but we are anything but that. We are continuing to be a beacon in this community.”

She points to St. Mark’s active Missions Committee, which connects with so many nonprofit agencies in the community, as working to help its mission partners meet the community’s needs. She adds, “A church can’t be everything to everyone. St. Mark’s has come to be a place of knowing its identity but wanting to grow its ministries. People need to be clothed, fed, and comforted. We work together to bring healing and wholeness to people. The church as always opened its doors to such groups as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, alongside groups like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4H.”

Another active committee during her time at St. Mark’s has been the Outreach and Connection Committee, which recently purchased a bus for the church to transport shut in members and expand its ministries.  Her husband, Phil, was instrumental in this effort. She adds, “I could never do as much as I do without his support. He finds his niche in a church where we won’t overlap and then he works really hard. He gets to know people in the church and connects people to various ministries– that is his gift.”

Pastor Rekitzke reflects on her time at St. Mark’s, pointing to the church’s support of the Department of Social Services “Open Table” program; growing its Confirmation classes and Vacation Bible Camp; expanding the congregation’s involvement in the Emmaus Community; creating new community outreach events around the holidays; and hiring new Christian Education and Worship and Music Directors. She states, “We have a good team which is ready for the church’s next steps.”

On July 1, Reverend Ed Kuhling from Grace United Methodist Church in Millsboro, DE will replace Pastor Rekitzke at St. Mark’s.

She concludes, “St. Mark’s will hold a very special place in my heart for the rest of my life. I want to thank the community for loving me for who I am and for allowing me to love them.”

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum has partnered with the St. Michaels Art League to sponsor a contest that will name the official painting of the 1889 bugeye Edna E. Lockwood, currently under restoration through her October 27, 2018 re-launch at CBMM’s OysterFest.

The project began in early spring, with eight artists creating paintings of Edna Lockwood. Artists were provided photographs of the log-bottom bugeye as a basis for their 18” x 8” paintings of Edna Lockwood under sail.  

“St. Michaels is fortunate to attract incredibly talented and passionate artists who also care about CBMM,” commented Guest Relations Manager Sara McCafferty, who spearheaded the project. “All of the paintings are spectacular, and we’re really pleased with all the artists’ work.”

In May, CBMM staff performed a preliminary evaluation of the paintings to select the four finalists for the contest, with all finalists receiving awards from CBMM. Next, a public vote will determine the contest’s winner, with images of the paintings online and voting taking place on Facebook through July 15 at bit.ly/ednapainting.  

The winning painting will be featured on Edna Lockwood memorabilia and keepsakes sold in the Museum Store beginning this August, with proceeds from each sale benefiting the children and adults served by CBMM’s education and exhibition programs. CBMM will additionally include the winning artist in publicity leading up to the October 27 re-launch of Edna Lockwood.  

Established in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a world-class maritime museum dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment and people of the entire Chesapeake Bay, with the values of relevancy, authenticity, and stewardship guiding its mission. Serving nearly 80,000 guests each year, CBMM’s campus includes a floating fleet of historic boats and 12 exhibition buildings, situated along the Miles River in historic St. Michaels. For more information, visit cbmm.org.

Stevensville, MD- Miltec UV, 146 Log Canoe Circle (www.miltec.com) is pleased to announce Oliver Hamann as its new Director of Operations. Oliver joined Miltec on June 11, 2018 and brings over 20 years of extensive knowledge in Systems Engineering, Opto-Mechanical Design and Manufacturing, Fiber Optics, Lasers, Microscopy, Computer Vision, Particle Characterization, and Spectroscopy. Oliver has his Master of Science in Physics from the Universitat Hamburg in Germany, his country of origin.

Miltec UV’s President Bob Blandford is pleased with the new addition and stated: “Oliver’s strong background in physics, optical engineering and leadership will help our organization advance to the next level in delivering high performance, high quality products to our customers and to the market place.”

Outside of work Oliver enjoys his family, home design, remodeling, and gardening. 

About Miltec UV:  Miltec UV has been servicing the UV industry for 28 Years and is a global leader and manufacturer of both arc and microwave ultraviolet curing systems.  Miltec offers a wide range of quality UV parts, standard equipment, and custom UV systems designed to interface with existing or new manufacturing production lines. These systems serve a broad diversity of industry-specific applications and market segments. Among the many applications supported are: optical fiber, metal decorating, hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, automotive products, as well as many other industries. 

For the fourteenth year, local non-profit organization, Women Supporting Women will host their Ride for Awareness & Poker Run on Saturday, July 14 with a new location and special guest.

“We are very excited to announce that RJ Gibson with the ‘world’s fastest darkroom’ will join us for the Ride for Awareness” Event Coordinator, Kerrie Bunting said. Gibson created this out of his 1938 Harley-Davidson sidecar on his 1950 Panhead. “This new addition and inclusion of a different route will bring excitement to this year’s event.”

Tickets for the Ride are $25 per rider, and $15 per passenger. This ticket price includes a t-shirt, 70-mile bike route, games, prizes and more. BBQ chicken platters and cash bar will be provided by the American Legion.  

The start and end location for the ride this year will be at the American Legion Post 64. Registration begins at 8:30 AM with the last bike out at 10:00 AM and a return time of 2:00 PM. There will be three stops along the way where participants are asked to pick a card at each stop by completing a fun task. These cards will then be used to determine who has the best or worst poker-hand.

More information and sponsorship’s for the event are available by contacting the WSW office at 410-548-7880.

The Friends of the Library are committed to promoting literacy throughout our community. To support that principle, the Friends, working in collaboration with the Queen Anne’s County Public Schools established the Reading Pro award. This award acknowledges one 4^th or 5^th grade student at each of the six county elementary schools who has demonstrated significant achievement in reading and language arts. 2018 is the third year of the Reading Pro program, and this year’s awards were presented to each student at his or her school by a Friends member at the end of the school year.

The six recipients of the Friends of Queen Anne’s County Library Reading Pro awards for 2018 are:

Bayside Elementary, Jonah Anderson

Church Hill Elementary, Aiden McKelvey

Grasonville Elementary, Nathan Green

Kennard Elementary, Kaisa Hickson

Matapeake Elementary, Hanna Kerbe

Sudlersville Elementary, Jaiden Rochester

“The Reading Pro program honors kids who have made reading a priority and who have worked hard to continue to develop their reading skills,” said Kathie Smarick, president of the Friends of Queen Anne’s County Library. “These Reading Pros reflect the belief of the Friends of the Library that literacy skills are key to both individual and community success.”

Each recipient received a certificate and a Barnes & Noble gift card, compliments of the Friends of the Library.

Centreville – University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG), announces the addition of Centreville-based internal medicine specialist Gurpreet Kaur Saini, MD. Her clinical interests include disease prevention, health maintenance and counseling and diagnosis of acute and chronic illnesses. She is seeing patients at 2540 Centreville Road in Centreville. Patients may make an appointment with Dr. Saini by calling 410-758-4432.

UM CMG is a University of Maryland Medical System-owned network of more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists- and advanced practice clinicians. As part of UM CMG, Dr. Saini is affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health.

Dr. Saini graduated summa cum laude from the Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia. She completed her residency at Georgetown University and Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center. In addition to English, she is fluent in Armenian, Russian, Hindi and Punjabi.

“We are very eager to have Dr. Saini join our team at the University of Maryland Community Medical Group – Primary Care in Centreville,” comments Dr. William Huffner, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at UM Shore Regional Health. “Dr. Saini brings with her a vast amount of compassion and knowledge that will benefit our primary care patients on the Shore.”

UM CMG consists of community-based provider practices affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, UM Charles Regional Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.  A list of UM CMG providers is available at http://docfind.umms.org/cmg.

About the University of Maryland Community Medical Group    

The University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG) is a multi-hospital, multi-specialty, community-based physician-led group, and part of the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians in more than 75 locations across the state, UM CMG offers patients a vast network of highly experienced providers, delivering care right in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.umcmg.org.

Get ready to sip, slurp, and savor at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s OysterFest, taking place on Saturday, Oct. 27, in St. Michaels, Md.

Special to this year’s festival will be the re-launch of the 1889 bugeye Edna E. Lockwood, whose nine-log hull has been restored by CBMM shipwrights and apprentices over the past two years. Edna Lockwood is the queen of CBMM’s floating fleet of historic boats and a National Historic Landmark. She will return to the Chesapeake Bay following a brief ceremony at 3pm, making her way back on the Miles River down CBMM’s marine railway.

CBMM’s OysterFest features oysters served a variety of ways, along with other local fare, craft beer, and spirits; live music on two stages, including a return performance by Swamp Donkey Newgrass; scenic river cruises aboard Winnie Estelle; an oyster stew competition; cooking presentations; Chesapeake Bay retriever and oystering demonstrations; children’s activities, and more.

Festival-goers can savor Chesapeake Bay wild and aquaculture oysters served steamed or raw, plus oyster fritters, crab cakes, fried shrimp, clam strips, pit beef, pit turkey, and pulled pork, among other offerings. Lyon Distilling Company will serve a specialty rum cocktail, with other drink options including oyster shooters and Chesapeake-style Bloody Marys, featuring George’s Bloody Mary mix. Sweets and treats include ice cream, funnel cakes, kettle corn, and more.

Local chefs will offer cooking demonstrations of signature oyster dishes throughout the day. Beginning at 11am, attendees can vote for their favorite oyster stew in a competition among local restaurants and chefs. Participation is limited to 500 people on a first-come, first-served basis, with a commemorative OysterFest mug and the tastings offered for $10.

This blind taste test awards bragging rights to the chef with the most votes, with the People’s Choice winner announced at the festival and later to the public. Last year’s People’s Choice award went to Sunflowers & Greens of Easton, Md., who will be returning for this year’s stew competition.

Family activities include Chesapeake-themed games, activities, and demonstrations; a scavenger hunt; face painting; and a chance to build a take-home model boat for $3. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue club will also present retriever demonstrations on CBMM’s Navy Point. 

Guests will also be able to explore CBMM’s exhibitions, including Oystering on the Chesapeake and Waterman’s Wharf, where they can try tonging or nippering for oysters. A spirited oyster slurping contest has competitions taking place on the hour from 1–3pm.

OysterFest sponsors include Patriot Cruises of St. Michaels, Md.; Choptank Electric Cooperative; Ewing, Dietz, Fountain & Kaludis; Hummingbird Inn of Easton; and the Maryland State Arts Council. 

OysterFest admission is $5 for CBMM adult members, or $18 for non-member adults; $15 for seniors and students with ID; and $6 for children ages 6 to 17. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above also receive the $5 discounted admission for two adult guests. Food, drinks, and boat rides are an additional cost, with carry-on alcohol prohibited. For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, with leashed dogs permitted during regular operating hours.

Proceeds from the event support CBMM’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs, with advanced tickets and more information at cbmm.org/oysterfest.