CHESTERTOWN, Md. (November 29, 2023) – University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is launching
an in-person one session course titled “Vitals 4 Life” from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, at UM Shore
Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown St.
Vital signs are essential parameters of human health that give clues to how your body is functioning. The
course is designed to teach participants the basics of vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate,
respiratory rate and body temperature, so attendees can learn to identify abnormalities that may require
medical attention.
There is no charge for the course, but registration is required. Classes are open to all. Family members and
caretakers are encouraged to participate as well. Register online at umshoreregional.org/health-education
and click on the date of the course in the calendar provided. You may also register by calling Wilson-Hypes
at 410-778-7668, ext. 5679.

CENTREVILLE — On Thursday, November 30th, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia Saelens orchestrated a memorable visit to Kennard Elementary to bestow the 3rd annual Art Greeting Card Contest Award upon 3rd grader Adelaine Gray. The competition, a personal favorite of Dr. Saelens, culminates in the winning artwork gracing the Superintendent’s official greeting card, distributed to dignitaries ranging from the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners to other local government entities and community organizations.

The heartwarming affair unfolded as Dr. Saelens engaged with Adelaine’s family, expressing the difficulty of choosing a winner amid the county’s abundance of artistic talent. Adelaine’s father, Mr. Gray was treated to a preview of his daughter’s framed masterpiece, featuring the painted scene of the historic Queen Anne’s County Courthouse adorned with Christmas lights on a snowy winter day. View video of the unveiling here: https://youtu.be/_bxY-Zka2pc

Dr. Saelens shared with Mr. Gray and Kennard Elementary Principal Michelle Carey, “This is one of my favorite days of the year, and it’s one of the hardest decisions I have to make as a Superintendent—because there are A LOT of great artists in our county!”

The festive occasion extended to Adelaine’s art teacher, Garnette Hines, who received acknowledgement and a framed picture for her role in nurturing students’ creativity. Michael Bell, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts for QACPS, highlighted the contest’s theme, ‘Winter in Queen Anne’s,’ which attracted forty-six stellar entries from seven elementary schools. Bell said, “The challenge for Dr. Saelens (who created this great contest) is to pick just one!”

Shedding light on the meticulous selection process, emphasizing the challenge of choosing a single winner from the top-notch submissions, involves the submissions being preloaded into a PowerPoint with no names, grades, or identifying school information. Small printed versions of each image are also laid out on the Superintendent’s desk for her to narrow them down from an initial ‘top 10’, to a ‘top 5’ then ‘top 3’ before finalizing her decision, which was Adelaine’s painting of the old Centreville Courthouse.

The Superintendent’s surprise visit to Kennard Elementary held extra significance for Adelaine, as her mother serves as Kennard’s School Library Media Specialist, so it was a ‘double surprise!’ The unveiling happened to coincide with Dr. Saelens’ pre-planned reading session to Adelaine’s 3rd grade class in the library, resulting in a delightful surprise for Adelaine and her family.

Mrs. Gray thanked everyone after the surprise visit, saying “Thank you for creating amazing programs that allow our kids to explore their passions and cultivate their talents.”

Mrs. Hines said, “Lainey has impressed me SO MUCH since she started at KES—her abilities at such a young age reflect the strong foundation of art education she has received, and a family that has supported her creativity. I look forward to seeing what she creates over the next few years at Kennard!”

Addressing her classmates, Dr. Saelens commended the young artist, declaring her artwork as the official Christmas card for the entire state of Maryland. Adelaine, in turn, shared the inspiration behind her painting, earning applause from her peers.

“It’s so impressive!” exclaimed Dr. Saelens. “This is going to be my new Christmas card this year for every single county in the state of Maryland. You are quite an artist. I can’t believe you’re only in 3rd grade.” The class gave Adelaine a round of applause.

This heartwarming tradition seamlessly blends holiday cheer with artistic celebration. As the Superintendent encouraged the Gray family to visit the festively adorned courthouse, captured in a shared photograph, the occasion underscored the enduring joy and community spirit fostered by this annual tradition.

View the video of the award unveiling, along with images of all QACPS student entries at the end, celebrating all students who created artwork for this annual contest here: https://youtu.be/_bxY-Zka2pc

The County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County announce their annual Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

Vincit Building

100 Vincit Street

Centreville, MD 21617

The County Commissioners host this event for employees to stop in at their convenience and meet with County Commissioners and fellow employees. This event is open to the public. 

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Economic Development Commission are now accepting online nominations for the 2023 Community Impact Awards.

These awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding businesses, nonprofits, community projects, and individuals who have made a significant impact in Talbot County. Winners will be announced at the annual Talbot County Business Appreciation Summit to be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. at the Tidewater Inn in Easton.

The Summit is hosted each year by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the Talbot County Economic Development Commission.

“Your nominations help us recognize those who are doing extraordinary things to make Talbot County a prosperous, forward-thinking place to live and work,” says Cassandra Vanhooser, director of economic development and tourism for Talbot County. “Our businesses and the people who make them work are award-worthy, and we’re grateful to recognize so many of them through this event and in the nomination process.”

Last year’s winners included Channel Marker, Inc. Residential Crisis Services, Chesapeake Landing Seafood Restaurant, Choptank Community Health System, Ferry Cove Oyster Hatchery, and McDaniel resident and volunteer Bill Shrieves.

“This is an exciting event for the business community,” says Vanhooser. “We want to recognize the businesses and individuals in Talbot County who have made a significant impact on the community in 2023.  I’m looking forward to seeing the impressive list of winners from this year’s event.”

Nominations for the 2023 awards are being accepted until Monday, January 15, 2024. The form can be found online at TalbotWorks.org.

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.

Business owners and managers are encouraged to receive the department’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking business news by subscribing at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 215 Bay Street, Easton, Md.

EASTON, Md. (November 29, 2023) – The Interventional Radiology (IR) suite at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton recently underwent major renovations to accommodate new X-ray equipment. Due to the size of the new equipment, the room has been completely revamped, including new cabinetry and flooring, an updated control room and a new area for team members to scrub-in. The cost of the project was $2.3 million.
“Our prior equipment was more than 20 years old,” said Penny Olivi, Director, Radiology Services, UM Shore Regional Health. “With this completely upgraded room and the state-of-the-art digital X-ray equipment, we are now able to offer new, more complex procedures that will help patients with minimally invasive interventions.”
The Interventional Radiology suite typically sees about 100 patients each month and the IR team provides clinical support for all areas within UM SRH; however, the key areas where the team provides the most support are cancer care and dialysis access.
The new suite was designed so that it could be completely disassembled, down to the cabinetry, and then reassembled and integrated into UM Shore Regional Health’s new regional hospital, set to open in 2028.
“This is groundbreaking technology and a huge advantage for our Shore communities,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM Shore Regional Health. “Knowing we could safely transfer the equipment to the new regional medical center, we wanted to offer this state-of-the-art advanced care to our patients now. And now patients don’t have to travel across the Bay Bridge for this type of expert care and minimally invasive procedures. They’re available right here, close to home.”
Interventional radiologists diagnose and treat disease and a wide range of conditions in the body by utilizing various small tools, such as catheters or wires. X-ray and imaging techniques, such as CT and ultrasound help guide the radiologist. Interventional radiology can be used instead of surgery for many conditions, and in some cases, it can eliminate the need for hospitalization. Interventional radiologists work closely with a patient’s care team and play an important role in a patient’s treatment plan.
UM SRH Radiology Services also partners with the Radiologic Sciences Degree Program at Chesapeake College. The partnership allows X-ray students to attend clinical rotations in all UM Shore Regional Health facilities. Many current members of the Shore Radiology team attended Chesapeake College’s program and this ongoing partnership enables UM SRH staff to share their knowledge and expertise with the next generation of Radiologic Technologist (RT) graduates.
Interventional Radiology (IR) training is also provided onsite by UM SRH Radiology Services. General X-ray technologists with an interest in this intense, minimally invasive surgical approach to diagnosis and treatment are trained by experienced and skilled techs and the IR Radiologist team, Dale Johnson, MD, and Brian Callahan, MD. There is also an advanced certification in IR available to UM SRH team members.
CUTLINE: UM Shore Regional Health Radiology Services team members held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Interventional Radiology Suite at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton on October 17, 2023.

The public is invited to a waterfront dinner and a presentation about the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovations and programs at the Miles River Yacht Club in St. Michaels, Maryland on Thursday, January 11 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The MRYC’s Sail Committee sponsors the speaker series, with January 11 speakers including St. Michaels Community Center Board Chair Langley Shook, Executive Director Patrick Rofe, and renovation project architect Mark McInturff, FAIA.

The panelists will provide updates as they discuss and take questions from the audience about SMCC’s current building renovations and what the future holds for community food distribution, a new culinary and hospitality workforce development program, education, technology, and more.

The ticket price for the event is $30 per person, which includes dinner and a cash bar. Reservations are required by Monday, January 8 by calling the MRYC at 410-745-9511, extension 6.

The renovations on SMCC’s building at 103 Railroad Avenue are expected to be completed in early 2024 and will provide state-of-the-art spaces for more children and adult programs, including a new culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The renovated Community Center will also provide several classrooms and a large common area for community gatherings, complete with audio-visual technology for presentations and screenings.

The renovations also will house a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC will train people for jobs in restaurants and hotels, and from which the Center can continue to serve and deliver prepared meals as well as tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need.

“We’re grateful to the Miles River Yacht Club and its Sailing Committee for opening this event to the public,” said Rofe. “It will be a great evening out with a delicious dinner, and an informative talk about how we will serve our neighbors from the Oak Creek Bridge in Royal Oak all the way down to Tilghman Island through expanded programs and our renovated building.”

Rofe says the Community Center serves the community at large with programs and activities for all ages, and that its food distribution services help provide for the area’s low-income workers, homebound and other senior citizens, those facing disabilities, and families in emergencies.

Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center’s annual fund and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. More about SMCC’s building renovations and new programming is at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

(Neavitt, Md. – November 21, 2023) Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer, representing
only 3 percent of estimated new cancer diagnoses each year. However, it is especially lethal –
presently the 3rd leading cause of cancer death, pancreatic cancer kills more than 50,000
Americans every year.
For the Mid-Shore Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Inc., supporting efforts to advance the
diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, and educating the public about risk factors and
symptoms of the disease are key strategies for saving lives. On this year’s World Pancreatic
Cancer Awareness Day (November 16), the Foundation sponsored a seminar, “New Trends in
Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment,” in the Cadby Theatre at Chesapeake College in
Wye Mills, Md.
Designed for clinicians involved in patient care, the evening program featured presentations by
three leading University of Maryland Medical System oncology specialists: Nader Hanna, MD,
Professor of Surgery, UM School of Medicine (UM SOM) and Director of Clinical Operations,
Division of General & Oncologic Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC); Yixing
Jiang, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, UM SOM and Director of GI Medical Oncology, Marlene
and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, UMMC; and Jason K. Molitoris, MD, PhD, Associate
Professor of Radiation Oncology, UM SOM, Associate Medical Director, Department of Radiation
Oncology, UMMC, and Director, Clinical Hyperthermia Program.
Dr. Hanna provided an overview of various risk factors for pancreatic cancer, including heredity
(indicating a family history of certain genetic mutations) and smoking, and noted that symptoms
of the disease, such as weight loss, back pain, jaundice and adult-onset (over age 65) diabetes
most often don’t present until the disease is relatively advanced. He also reviewed various
diagnostic strategies and surgical approaches, stressing the importance of surgical resection as
the most significant factor for survival.
Dr. Jiang discussed the genetic aspects of pancreatic cancer and how chemotherapy drugs are
tailored to address the specific mutations identified in individual patients. She noted that
systemic chemotherapy provides curative results for less than 30 percent of patients, and that
side effects can be very severe; however, in many cases it does improve survival time and also
palliates cancer-related symptoms.
Dr. Molitoris described the role of radiation in treating pancreatic cancer, including challenges
caused by the location of the pancreas near other tissues that can be damaged by radiation. He

described the criteria for cases in which radiation is employed prior to surgery to shrink tumor
size, or after surgery to palliate complications from the disease and improve quality of life.
“We were really pleased to have a good turnout for this event, and the presenters provided very
clear and detailed updates from the standpoint of their practice,” said Bill Shrieves, president of
the Mid-Shore Pancreatic Foundation, Inc. “The Foundation does a lot to support pancreatic
cancer patients and to raise funds for research on the disease, but as one of our volunteers
commented, this event might be the most important thing we’ve done as an organization. If just
one of the clinicians who attended does something different based on the information that was
shared and it improves the outcome for a pancreatic cancer patient, that is the best kind of
success.”
Shrieves also credited support from Tidewater Rotary in making the event possible. “A generous
grant of $5,000 from Rotary’s Flags for Cancer Program made it possible for us to offer this
event free of charge, and we are very grateful for that support,” he said.
Established in 2013 The Mid-Shore Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Inc., sponsors and
participates in events that raise awareness about pancreatic cancer in the community, and also
helps patients and their families in the Mid-Shore region find assistance, financial support, and
transportation to and from treatments. The group also funds research through direct grants or
support for other organizations, such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
For more information about The Mid-Shore Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Inc., visit
https://www.midshorepancan.org/ or call 410-745-9243.

Shore Legal Access (formerly Mid-Shore Pro Bono) has named the Fall 2023 recipients of its Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship. Cody Pfieffer, of Centreville, Maryland, will work with Shore Legal Access staff at the organization’s Easton office, assisting residents of the Mid-Shore with their civil legal issues. Amirah Rice, of Baltimore, Maryland, will work at the Salisbury office, which serves the Lower Shore.  

The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship, created in honor of former long-time Shore Legal Access executive director Sandy Brown, offers a stipend to undergraduate and law students as they gain invaluable experience in the field of public interest law at a respected non-profit organization. The program is supported by the Campbell Foundation, with the goal of expanding the pool of diverse, qualified, and committed candidates for career positions in public interest work on the Eastern Shore. As Shore Legal Access continues to grow to meet the civil legal needs of the region, it has added several former recipients of the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to its staff.   

 “We are thrilled to have these outstanding young people learning about public interest careers and supporting our community,” says Meredith Lathbury Girard, executive director of Shore Legal Access. “Our interns play an integral role assisting people with limited financial means to access legal representation while gaining real-world experience with the justice system and nonprofits.” 

Cody Pfeiffer recently graduated from Bates College in Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in history and Spanish. Pfeiffer describes himself as passionate about community service. In the past, he volunteered for several years at the Maryland Food Bank, tutored students online, and helped prepare taxes for those needing assistance. Pfeiffer soon plans to enter law school, where he will focus on public interest law. 

“The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship,” Pfeiffer says, “is an invaluable opportunity to be able to contribute to local communities through Shore Legal Access’s mission of assisting under-resourced members of these communities in a variety of civil legal matters.”  

Amirah Rice is currently studying for her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Rice, too, is highly motivated to serve her community, having volunteered as a Youth Mentor at Bmore United, a Baltimore-based organization that empowers women and girls of color, and at Chase A Legacy, which teaches Baltimore youth important life skills. Rice applied for the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to see up close the positive impact civil legal representation can have on individuals, families, and communities.  

Rice says she is, “looking forward to gaining hands-on experience and the knowledge I need to strengthen my skills in my future endeavors as a criminal justice professional.” After graduation, Rice intends to pursue a PhD in psychology and hopes to work for Child Protective Services. 

For more information about the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship and to donate to the fund, visit shorelegal.org/internships. 

As part of its efforts to protect and restore Eastern Shore waterways, ShoreRivers regularly works to identify and address all pollution sources, including nutrient pollution and harmful bacteria that can be introduced from recreational boaters’ waste. Boat discharge, especially in marinas, high boat traffic areas, and sheltered coves, can lead to pollution hotspots that pose serious health risks to humans and animals.

ShoreRivers’ pumpout boat—a convenient way to properly dispose of marine waste—recently wrapped another season on the Miles and Wye rivers assisting local boaters committed to more river-friendly boating practices. The 2023 season saw 16,245 gallons of waste pumped out of 291 tanks, bringing the boat’s total to 129,962 gallons kept out of our rivers since the program began in 2016.

“It’s important that we all work together to make our waterways cleaner and safer for swimming, fishing, and recreation,” says Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper. “Using the free pumpout service is a great way for boaters to enjoy the beautiful Miles and Wye rivers and Eastern Bay while doing their part to keep harmful nutrients and bacteria out of our rivers.”

The pumpout boat program operates with funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and in partnership with Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. CBMM donates free dockage, storage, and use of their land-based pumpout station to offload the waste from the boat. The sewage then goes directly to the St. Michaels wastewater treatment plant. For more details on this free service, which is offered between May and November, visit shorerivers.org/programs/pumpout-boat.

Upper Shore Aging recently announced its new Board of Directors Executive Committee members. These members include Kay Brodie of Chestertown (President), Corey Pack of Easton (Vice President), Mary Celeste Alexander of Chestertown (Treasurer), and Judy Musch of Easton (Secretary). 

“We are thrilled to have these members join our Executive Board at such an exciting time for our agency. Upper Shore Aging is going through a transformation. These individuals bring backgrounds that will help us achieve our strategic goals of operational excellence, a strong infrastructure, financial stability, and advocating for the needs of seniors in the counties we serve,” comments Andy Hollis, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging. 

Upper Shore Aging, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Talbot, Caroline, and Kent counties, Maryland, serving a potential market of nearly 31,000 persons over the age of sixty years. The organization develops and manages a coordinated program of services that work together to help elders to remain, and live well, in the community as long as possible. Upper Shore Aging, Inc. works closely with the Maryland Department of Aging to serve the needs of its clients. 

Kay Brodie most recently worked at Chesapeake College, serving as the Director of the Learning Resources Center. Before that, she was Dean of Academic Support Services and Technical Services Librarian. She has also worked as an AARP tax aide. She completed a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College, a master’s degree in French from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Maryland. Kay currently is a Meals on Wheels driver for Upper Shore Aging. 

Corey Pack retired from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, most recently managing several offices on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He then worked as a facilitator of the Talbot County Department of Social Services fatherhood classes before founding the Responsible Fathers Initiative. Corey served on the Talbot County Council for 15 years and served on many local and state boards and commissions. He completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Delaware and is a Fellow of the Academy of Excellence in Local Governance from the Maryland Association of Counties. Corey is the current chairperson of the Justice Reinvestment Act Local Government Commission. 

Mary Celeste Alexander retired from Chesapeake College. She completed a bachelor’s degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Her volunteer work has included being a board member of the Friends of the Kent County Public Library, a docent with the Historical Society of Kent County Maryland, and a volunteer with the Bordley Center Shop at the Historical Society of Kent County Maryland. 

Judy Musch retired having worked in administrative jobs at Black & Decker, Memorial Hospital at Easton, and Bayleigh Chase. She has volunteered with the Hospice Pathways Program, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Talbot Chapter of AARP, and on the Advisory Committee for Brookletts Place. Currently, she is a driver for Partners in Care and Financial Secretary for the Easton Church of the Brethren. 

“I also want to thank the members of our previous Executive Committee for their years of dedicated service. In particular, I would like to thank Bill Shrieves, outgoing President for his years of leadership with our board and for his dedication to the seniors living on the Mid Shore,” adds Hollis. 

For information about Upper Shore Aging, Inc. or to donate, visit uppershoreaging.org or call 410-778-6000.