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. 

At the County Commissioners meeting held on Tuesday night, the Department of Community Services provided a comprehensive update on the successful programs and initiatives undertaken in 2023. Looking ahead to the coming year, the department highlighted upcoming events and initiatives that aim to further enrich the lives of our community.

The meeting reflected on the success of several initiatives that made a significant impact throughout the year. The 18th Annual Senior Summit, which made its return on May 19, 2023, after the pandemic hiatus, witnessed an impressive turnout of over 400 visitors at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park. Attendees reveled in a vibrant Mardi Gras themed event featuring food, vendors, entertainment, and various activities. Building on this success, the department announced the Senior Summit will return on May 17, 2024, with the theme “Welcome to the 60’s”.

Moreover, the Commission on Aging Town Hall Meeting, held on September 21, 2023, at the Grasonville Senior Center, drew participation from 78 attendees, 8 panelists, and 10 staff members. This marked a rejuvenation of engagement after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

One of the significant milestones of 2023 was the grand opening of the Queen Anne’s County YMCA and Active Aging Center on October 9, 2023. Notably, the Active Aging Center welcomed 124 new members and recorded 1,418 new individual memberships at the YMCA. With a combined 14,560 visitors in the first month, the Active Aging Center introduced tailored programming catering to adults aged 55 plus, offering a diverse range of activities including fitness sessions, games, and social gatherings. Additionally, the Active Aging Center commenced congregate meals starting November 13, 2023.

The 9th Annual Make a Difference Day held on November 4, 2023, at Sudlersville Middle School, was a resounding success, attended by 127 participants and serviced 183 community members through various essential services such as healthcare, housing assistance, and more.

Furthermore, the “Ride for FREE in 2023” initiative, which waived fares for County Ride users, saw a staggering 93% increase in ridership compared to the previous year. This initiative’s success holds significant implications as ridership figures are pivotal for determining future funding from the Maryland Transit Authority. Fees will also be waived in 2024!

Two upcoming events for 2023 were also announced during the meeting. The Maryland Access Point 2023 Caregivers Conference, themed “Embracing the Caregiver,” will take place on November 17, 2023, at the Grasonville Senior Center. Additionally, the highly anticipated Queen Anne’s County Senior Centers Holiday Gala, sponsored by the County Commissioners, will be held on December 8, 2023, at the Kent Island Senior Center, promising a delightful evening for all attendees.

Looking toward the future, the Department of Community Services eagerly anticipates the completion of renovations at the Kramer Center in Centreville, slated for 2024.

To discover more about the Department of Community Services and its diverse range of programs and services, visit www.qac.org and search for “Department of Community Services.”

Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit as Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation invites you to the Jingle Jubilee, an event set to take place on December 16th at Matapeake Beach Club House. The festivities will run from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with the highlight being a special appearance by Santa Claus himself from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The Jingle Jubilee promises an array of festive activities for families and individuals alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to indulge in delicious treats from food trucks and sip on hot chocolate and cider, adding an extra layer of warmth to the holiday cheer.

One of the main attractions of the event is the chance to meet Santa Claus and share holiday wishes, alongside an opportunity to explore unique and handmade gifts from over 25 artisans and crafters. It’s the perfect occasion to find that special, one-of-a-kind gift for your loved ones.

Moreover, this celebration also serves a greater purpose. The event is free to the public; however, donations for Haven Ministries will be greatly appreciated. We will be collecting items that will support families relying on their emergency winter shelter. Items needed include canned coffee, sugar, disposable hot cups with lids, travel-size toiletries, disposable rain ponchos, unscented body lotion, as well as new clothing such as sweaters, hats, and gloves.

Join us at the Matapeake Beach Clubhouse, located at 2010 Sonny Schultz Blvd in Stevensville, for an unforgettable afternoon filled with joy, generosity, and community spirit.

For additional information about the Jingle Jubilee event, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 410-758-0835.

As November embraces the Character Counts! pillar of Citizenship, the spotlight shines on individuals and organizations dedicated to making their communities better. Citizenship embodies the essence of actively participating in improving one’s home, school, and community through responsible actions, advocacy, and support for the welfare of others.

In acknowledgment of this pillar, we are delighted to honor two entities for their outstanding contributions to Queen Anne’s County:

Queen Anne’s County Veteran and Military Support Alliance (VAMSA) – Upholding Service and Support

Launched in 2022, VAMSA has been instrumental in addressing the unique needs of servicemen and women, striving to provide comprehensive support services. Their initiatives encompass financial counseling, holistic therapies, guidance for accessing government and private sector assistance, and invaluable peer support to active military, veterans, and their families. VAMSA firmly believes in honoring the sacrifices made by our military and veteran families, advocating for communities that deeply value, invest in, and understand their unique experiences.

QACTV – Informing, Engaging, and Elevating the Community

QACTV stands as a model of civic engagement, providing information to the citizens of our county. Their dedicated staff ensures residents are well-informed about local events, including broadcasts of county Board of Education and Commissioners meetings. More than a media outlet, QACTV actively promotes local non-profits, small businesses, and fundraising events, truly embodying the pillars of character upon which our community thrives.

For further information about our November Spotlights, please visit www.peopleofcharacter.org.

Additionally, we encourage community members to nominate deserving businesses, non-profits, or individuals in Queen Anne’s County who are making a positive impact.

 
KENT ISLAND —Scott Fuller is Kent Island High’s (KIHS) Visual Arts “Teen of the Week”. His Visual Arts teacher, Laquel Nenno, nominated Scott for this honor and says he is “by far the best potter at KIHS right now.”

Scott’s high school art career started off virtual in a Fundamentals of Art class, and he found his niche when back to in-person learning in Ms. Nenno’s 3-D Studio Art II class. He has progressed all the way up into her Advanced Placement® (AP) 3-D Art and Design class and has been creating some amazing work this year.

“Scott has a very technical/engineering brain,” shared Nenno, “so he immediately fell in love with the perfection you gain from using the pottery wheel. He said that he loves the control you have over the clay while it’s spinning.”

Scott said that his favorite pottery technique is ‘trimming’, because “it creates a flow state of mind where he can just forget about the rest of the world.” Even though Scott loves the precision and control of the wheel, he says his favorite glazes are the unpredictable Jungle Gem series, “featuring tiny crystals in the glaze that create wild and random effects on the final pieces.”

“He is always striving to create larger and more difficult pieces. He became so obsessed that he was actually allowed to take a pottery wheel home with him over the summer to practice and is asking for pottery supplies for Christmas. Scott spends almost as much time in the 3-D Art Studio as I do,” said Nenno. She also said

Scott has achieved ‘celebrity status’ among the 3-D students, who are always amazed by what he creates, urging him to open up his own art studio called “Scott’s Pots” so he can share his talents with the rest of the world. 

Scott is a member of the Unified Baseball team and Tech Crew for the KIHS Theatre Department, in addition to the National Art Honor Society and National Math Honor Society. His other hobbies include tinkering with electronics at home and rollerblading. He plans to major in engineering in college, he has decided that he will only attend a university that has a ceramics program he can minor in as well. 

“Scott has always seen the world a little differently than others and he has a beautiful ability to analyze what he observes. I love that he has found this creative outlet. It allows him to challenge himself and grow one of the many talents that God has given him,” shared Scott’s mom, Catherine Beaton-Fuller.

His art teacher said, “It has been really great seeing Scott grow over these last couple of years—personally, and in his artwork. His entire AP Sustained Investigation (which is the production of a series of sequential visual artworks that explore a particular visual concern) is based on his anxious need to make everything perfect and the acceptance of finding beauty in the imperfect by purposefully destroying otherwise ‘perfect’ works of art.”

“Seeing his willingness to take risks and experiment is exciting for me as his teacher, because he wasn’t comfortable doing this when he first entered my class,” said Nenno. “Going from a student that used to stress and obsess about mistakes to actually saying ‘That’s ok, let’s see what happens’ was a huge step for him. That is the type of thinking and experimenting that will help take his art to the next level.”

Centreville, MD – The Gunston School is pleased to announce they’ll be joining the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. MIAA is the state’s premier boys’ athletic conference and includes 29 private high schools across eight Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Divided into three tiers based on school size (A, B, & C), MIAA schools have a combined enrollment of 17,000, and it is recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious, competitive, and well-run independent school athletic conferences. 

“Gunston first applied to the MIAA nearly 25 years ago,” explained Gunston Athletic Director Josh Breto, “and while our initial attempts to join were not fruitful, the recent combination of Gunston’s enrollment growth, expanded offerings, improved athletic performance, and facilities upgrades made our most recent application successful.”

Beginning in fall of 2024, Gunston’s boys’ teams which include soccer, cross country, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, tennis and golf will begin full-time MIAA competition in the “C” conference. 

“Let me acknowledge the efforts of our current Athletic Director, Mr. Josh Breto, who coordinated this process, and I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the impact of former athletic directors Jon Mellinger and Anita Gruss, both of whom helped to nurture the steady enhancement of Heron Athletics over the years. I also want to thank our Board of Trustees, whose continued support of our school’s athletic program and leadership, helped make this possible,” said Head of School John Lewis.