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Queen Anne’s County Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services wants you to know that we are still offering services during COVID-19.

We are still offering the following services:
 
  • Referrals to Inpatient / Outpatient Treatment
  • Resources
  • State Care Coordination
  • One on One Peer Support
  • Peer Led Recovery Support Groups
  • Medication – Assisted Treatment
  • Suboxone and Vivitrol

     

    Help is only a phone call away.

    Monday-Friday

    8:00 am – 4:30 pm

    410-758-1306

     

    Peer Recovery Specialist:

    Melanie Jones – Dalziel, CPRS, RPS, SCC

    Kate Dulin, CPRS

    Taylor VanHorn, PRS

    Edwin Gibbs, PRS

     

    Maggie Thomas, MS – Director, LAA

    Kate Ryan, M.S., LCADC – Clinical Supervisor

    Brenda J. Muir, M.Ed. CAC-AD – Substance Abuse Counselor

     

    More Resources:

    Sante Eastern Shore Crisis Response 1-888-407-8018

    Veterans Crisis Lines 1-800-273-8255 ext. 1

    Mid-Shore Family Violence 1-800-927-4673

    Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-784-2433

    I Wish I Knew: Text IWIK to 71441

    Maryland Crisis Hotline 1-800-422-0009

    Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-927-4673

     

    “Realize that you are not alone, that we are in this together and most importantly that there is HOPE.” Deepika Padukone

UMMS Leaders: Passover and Easter Holidays Pose Unique Challenges For Faith Traditions During COVID-19

BALTIMORE (April 7, 2020) – With the Passover and Easter holidays landing in the middle of a global pandemic, the need for individuals to balance medical advice around health and safety while still observing these religious holidays poses unique challenges.

“For many, this may be the first time they prepare Seder dinner for only those in their immediate household or don’t attend church service on Easter Sunday, but what we know about our faith traditions is that they are timeless and are infused with messages of hope,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of University of Maryland Medical System.

“While members of our communities are all celebrating religious traditions differently this year, the challenges of COVID-19 are driving all of us to be uniquely bonded across different faiths by this shared experience,” Dr. Suntha added.

Medical experts are reinforcing the need for social distancing, vigorous hand washing, wearing masks and avoiding in-person gatherings as the most effective ways to help limit the community spread of COVID-19.  Recognizing a need to focus on religious traditions and observances, doctors are encouraging individuals to take advantage of alternatives to mass gatherings, such as:

  • Virtual services offered by many houses of worship on their website, Facebook page, and other online platforms.
  • Video chat technology such as Zoom and FaceTime, which offer an opportunity to personally connect with family members and celebrate the holidays.
  • Enjoy a smaller celebration with immediate family now, and hold a larger celebration when the pandemic is over.
  • Cook traditional foods at home to enjoy the familiar tastes and smells of the holiday, and share photos and video via social media and direct communications with friends and family.

“Now, more than ever, maintaining a robust spiritual connection with others even as we maintain safe social distancing is crucial,” added Thomas B. Smyth, MD, President & CEO of UM St. Joseph Medical Center. “This connection fuels the purpose and the calling of every health care professional: To provide loving service and compassionate care.”

Dr. Smyth stressed the importance of health care workers focusing on the critical work they do each and every day. “Most importantly, we are asking staff to take these holidays to heart, and to remember how these celebrations affirm the power and purpose of life and celebrate God’s enduring protection. This is the very essence of what we do as health care workers. It’s my hope that, however our staff members are able to recognize the holidays during this time of uncertainty, they take strength and comfort in knowing that they are doing God’s work, which is the very best way to honor this sacred time.”

Adam Rosenblatt, MD, Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, suggested individuals who may be experiencing tension, loneliness, irritability, anxiety or despair use this time to connect with family and friends via the phone or technology to see personal faces.

“As we approach this holiday season, because of COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders, many people will not be able to spend Passover or Easter with their families and friends, which will be especially difficult because these are holidays where people are used to having lots of company,” Dr. Rosenblatt said.  “Or people may be forced to spend the holidays with housemates or family members with whom they are experiencing tension. My advice is for everyone to reach out to individuals who can be a source of support.”

More information about the UMMS response to the global pandemic can be found on our dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, https://www.umms.org/coronavirus.

Avalon Farmers Market Reimagined, Relocated and CDC Compliant

Necessity is the mother of invention and when COVID-19 arrived on the Mid-Shore in March, many of the Shore’s businesses had to reinvent how they were delivering goods and services. The Talbot County Emergency Operations Center is helping businesses and organizations to understand CDC and Health Department requirements.  With the popular Easton Farmers Market scheduled to open on April 11th in downtown Easton, the Avalon Foundation, which coordinates the Farmers Market, was faced with how to provide this popular service to the community without causing a health threat to the general public.

With one of his Executive Orders, Governor Hogan declared farmers markets to be an essential service and encouraged them to remain open.  According to Al Bond, Executive Director of the Avalon Foundation, “Given the uneven availability of fresh produce in stores and the many farmers who have had their businesses interrupted, the Avalon Foundation wanted to find a way to continue its Farmers Market. In conjunction with the Talbot County Office of Economic Development and Tourism, we have developed a plan to reimagine the Easton Farmers Market as a 100% drive-through market that complies with CDC guidelines.”

“We applaud Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of the Talbot County Office of Economic Development and Tourism, with getting us through the hoops to do this. She and her staff took the lead and with County Council support, solved the problem,” adds Bond.

If all goes as planned, beginning this Saturday, April 11th, the Farmers Market will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the large parking lot behind the Talbot County Business Center (formally the Black & Decker plant) on Glebe Road. Participants will be able to drive up to the various vendors, make their selections, pay, and receive their orders through their vehicle windows or trunks with minimal contact with vendors.

“Booths will be at least 30 feet apart to allow for vehicular traffic and people will be able to queue up at the vendor of their choice. Each booth will exhibit the products available that day along with the price of items,” says Marie Nuthall, Coordinator of Outdoor Events for the Avalon Foundation.

She adds, “Vendors will take orders, ‘pick’ and bag products and place completed orders in people’s cars. Credit and debit cards and exact change will be accepted. In addition, hand sanitizer, provided by Lyon Distilling, will be at each vendor station for vendor use between transactions and no sampling of products will be allowed – all of which will contribute to a safe shopping environment. We are asking people not to come to the market if they are sick and to be patient, respectful and courteous. Masks are encouraged for the drivers of the vehicles to promote safe interactions when ordering and making payments.”

The Talbot County Sheriff’s Department will be on hand to monitor traffic and participants are encouraged to exercise caution when pulling away from each vendor stall.

A list of vendors and their websites, as well as their locations at the Farmers Market, is available on the Avalon Foundation’s website www.avalonfoundation.org. It is suggested that customers pre-order and/or prepay whenever possible through individual vendor sites. The vendors at the Farmers Market on April 11th include Priapi Gardens, Alaskawild Seafood, CD Produce, Honeybee Flower Farm, St. Helier Farm, The Federal Brewing, Harrington Nursery, Agave Arts & Juicing, T’s Divine Sweets, Triangle Farms, Lyon Rum, and Hoopers Island Oysters. Vendors that will have pre-orders available for pickup only are Chapel Farms, and Chesapeake Soaps and Apiary.

Vic Priapi of Priapi Gardens, an organic farmer in Cecilton, has been participating in the Easton Farmers Market for six years. He comments, “We are excited about the Drive-Through Farmers Market as it will keep us healthy, as well as the public healthy during this pandemic, while also providing bio-secure food.  It is a huge responsibility to provide safe products for area residents.”

Bond adds, “We are meeting the demand for a range of products in the county while helping the vendors get their products to market. This will help the economic impact caused by the closing of a number of our restaurants.”

For further information on the April 11th Farmers Market, visit www.avalonfoundation.org.

PLUMBING QUARANTINE 101: Think Before You Flush

 Jason Palmer, owner of Palmer’s Plumbing, LLC and local Master
Plumber & Gas Fitter, is on a quest to increase awareness of an all too often disregarded
warning. Flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet is a bad idea. With the most
recent stay-at-home order, household plumbing systems are working overtime. Families must
pay close attention to what they and their children are tossing into the toilet or risk a messy and
inconvenient situation.
With many people having a harder time finding toilet paper, some are using baby wipes, tissues,
napkins and even paper towels instead. “These things don’t necessarily damage the toilet, but
because they don’t break down as easily as toilet paper, it increases the chances of clogging or
backing up the waste pipes” says Palmer.
He also warned that compromised or older plumbing systems are at an even greater risk for
backing up. “Old cast iron or galvanized piping could have scale build up on the inside which
causes the cloth fibers of the flushed material to get hung up on its way out to the septic or
sanitary sewer. Long term, this could turn into a much larger and costly repair.”
As essential services, many plumbers and septic companies are still operating and available to
help if you need them. Palmer says he has implemented several precautionary safety measures to
protect his customers and his team. In addition to disinfecting tools and works spaces on a
regular basis, his employees are wearing gloves and boot covers as well as frequently using hand
sanitizer when hand washing is not available. In return, he is asking his customers to maintain a
minimum of six feet distance during their service call, reschedule if anyone in the house is
feeling unwell, and be understanding that instead of the traditional handshake, you will now get a
“thumbs up” or a “wave.”

Mid-Shore Community Foundation Establishes COVID-19 Response Fund for Mid-Shore Nonprofits

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mid-Shore Community Foundation has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontline of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Foundation made a leadership gift of $100,000. Avon-Dixon Insurance Agency, Choptank Transport, Preston Automotive Group and Shore Bancshares quickly joined the response effort with generous donations.
Businesses, individuals and fund advisors are encouraged to join the initiative by making a charitable contribution. The Foundation is waiving all administrative fees; one hundred percent of all donations will be used for this effort.  Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and qualify for maximum tax advantages.
Immediate grant funding is available for nonprofit organizations serving community members who have been impacted by the Coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. In order to move resources quickly, qualifying entities must be previous grantees of the Foundation.
Qualifying nonprofits are eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000. The grant awards will be administered through a simplified online grant application.  Information about grant funding is available on the Foundation’s website at MSCF.org/covid19.
Donations can be made online at MSCF.org/donate-online or checks can be mailed to Mid-Shore Community Foundation, 102 East Dover Street, Easton, Maryland 21601.  Please indicate that your gift should be directed to the COVID-19 Response Fund.
For additional information, contact Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, wduncan@mscf.org or (410) 820-8175, Ext. 100.

COVID-19 INCIDENT COMMAND CENTER

In Queen Anne’s County, did you know that we have an Incident Command Center that is working tirelessly to minimize the impact of COVID-19. We have been up and running for several weeks now. This team is composed of members with medical backgrounds, public health backgrounds, strategic planning backgrounds, along with representatives from every County Department and Agency.  You are in good hands.

 

The Command Center has the expertise of your county’s health officer, Dr. Joseph Ciotola, who is a medical doctor and is proactive and aggressive in his efforts to lead. The group has skilled and dedicated members from the health department, the department of emergency services, and county and state agency officials.

 

We work with the support of the Department of Health, CDC, and other national and state level experts. The Command Center is responsible to plan, develop, organize and protect you to the best of our ability.

 

Our team does rely heavily on one critical team member and that person is YOU. All of our efforts will fail if each of us does not take individual responsibility to fight the enemy – COVID-19. Please help us to slow this spread by adhering to social distancing at all times.  Practice all prevention techniques and be understanding of the importance of your footprints in the community at this time.

 

Right now, we are in the midst of this war and need all hands on deck.  We IMPLORE you to help us win this fight.
 

COVID-19 Alternate Testing Site will be closed Friday, April 10

The Alternate Testing Site at Chesapeake College will be closed on Friday, April 10, 2020 and reopen again Monday, April 13, 2020.
 
The drive through testing site was set up at Chesapeake College to relieve the local emergency rooms with testing of COVID-19 on March 20, 2020. The site is open Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am till 2 pm.
 
This site is not a drop-in site and you must be referred to be tested by your primary care physician.
 
This is a rapidly changing event so follow us on social media @QACGOV and qac.org online for the latest updates to county government. For the latest information on COVID-19 follow Queen Anne’s County Department of Health @QADOH and qahealth.org

COVID-19 Heroes: Local Quilters Bring Area Residents Together on Common Cause

As the demand for surgical masks grows, one Mid Shore resident saw that quilters in the Boston area were making masks of colorful fabric for residents. She decided to share the pattern with some of her quilting friends in the local quilt guild, Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore, Inc., specifically, the guild’s Outreach and Modern Quilt Bees.

To date, 10 quilters have made over 240 masks which will be used primarily for patients being transported in ambulances to help prevent their germs from traveling in the air before they are diagnosed, as well as for law enforcement and nursing homes. According to Jan Willis, Coordinator of the Local Care Team for Talbot County, the masks are not intended to be protective gear. Instead, they are a practical aid that may help prevent the spread of germs from patients, as well as make them smile while they are going through a difficult time.

Willis comments, “This is a moment of a lifetime for quilters and anyone who sews – to use the fabric in their closets for good!”

A local quilter with Bayside Quilters Modern Quilt Bee adapted a pattern she found on the Internet and added wire in the top to form fit the masks over patients’ noses. She is coordinating the mask-making effort locally and distributing the masks to those who have requested them.  The masks are made in a variety of fabric patterns, from flowers to camouflage, which makes the project fun for quilters and recipients of the masks. Masks are laundered before being packaged for distribution.

Completed masks are picked up from people’s porches to keep social distancing. One anecdote from a local quilter was that a Queen Anne’s County quilter brought 30 masks by plane to the Easton airport to be distributed. This project is bringing the Mid Shore residents together and giving people things they can do to help.

County Health Officer Dr. Fredia Wadley comments, “This effort is just one example of how the residents in this community are reaching out to help meet unmet needs related to this virus. We salute the volunteerism of our community and thank all those who are stepping up.”

Bayside Quilters Outreach Quilt Bee supports Talbot Early Head Start, Caroline Family Service Center (with 3 Early Head Start locations), Talbot Hospice House and University of MD Shore Regional Health, 2 East/Pain Palliative Care unit and the Clark Breast Center with a variety of quilted items from bibs to quilts to soup bowl cozies for Empty Bowls. To participate in the mask-making project sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e4daaa82faafb6-sewing. For further information about the project, contact Jan Willis at talbotlct@talbotcountymd.gov.

Queen Anne’s County Local Care Team Offering Virtual Meetings

The Queen Anne’s County Local Care Team (LCT) is here to help. We remain here for you during the COVID-19 health emergency. We are now offering Virtual Face-to-Face meeting.
The LCT strives to ensure that children and their families receive the necessary supports and resources to live in the community successfully.
 
The LCT works with parents, guardians and other adults on children’s behalf. The purpose is to open doors, brainstorm and share knowledge, advocate, and develop strategies to help your child thrive.
 
Are you or do you know a youth who is experiencing on-going challenging behaviors?
Our Local Care Team Will:
Help children with intensive needs receive assistance with the identification of individual needs and potential resources to meet identified needs.
Hold discussions with you to problem solve needs and systemic needs.
Refer children and families to care management entities when appropriate.
Open doors to make connections to available local and community resources
Connect to Advocates and Family Navigator
Utilize the information gathered to improve the entire system
Discuss a request for a Voluntary Placement Agreement for a child with a development disability or a mental illness under 5-525 of the Family Law Article
Listen to your concerns or worries
 
The Queen Anne’s County Local Care Team can help you find resources. For more information about the LCT go tohttps://www.communitypartnerships.info/resources/local-care-team/. For a referral call 410-758-6677 or lmichaels@qac.org.

Oxford Fine Arts Show Goes Virtual!

Oxford, MD –The show will go on – online!  With the coronavirus pandemic, the Oxford Community Center faced the decision of either cancelling the show or adapting to create community online, and OCC chose the latter. In an effort to bring artists and their incredible original work into the lives and homes of art enthusiasts and supporters, OCC built a Virtual exhibit and sales show.

 

In its 36th year, Oxford Fine Arts celebrates artists from around the Mid-Atlantic.  This year the juror was Alan Brock. Alan is an artist, an architect, fine art collector, and art dealer. Alan selected forty-four artists with 36% new to the festival. From this juried, accepted list, the following artists will be featured in the Virtual Art Show. Visit the “meet the artists” page on the oxfordcc.org website to learn more about each of them.

 

Norman Bell, Paula S. Bell, Christopher Best, Joel Boches, Carole Boggemann-Peirson, Mary Ellen Daly, Ned Ewell, Marilyn Feldman, Rhonda Ford, Mary Ford, Lesley Giles, Jill Glassman, Betty Hafner, Rae Hamilton, Angela Herbert-Hodges, Carla Huber, Tamara Hutchinson, Kim Klabe, Sara Koch, Laura Kapolchok, Diane Lapp, Howard Lapp, Mary Ellen Mabe, Maire McArdle, Laura McGowan, Karen Merkin, Julia Purinton, Steve Rogers, Ken Sadler, John Schisler, Sharon Stockley, Linda Taffe, Mary Veiga, Stephen Walker, Nancy West, C. Keith Whitelock, Barbara Zuehlke.  The featured artist this year is C. Keith Whitelock winning this honor with the painting “Heading Out”, which evokes a memory of a scene that is dear to many of us on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

The Oxford Community Center’s Virtual Show opens on Friday, May 15th with the Exclusive Preview.  All preview ticket holders will receive a private code to enjoy a first look at the full exhibit and entrance into the online marketplace. The marketplace will be open to those private code holders from noon to midnight Friday. They get the first opportunity to buy the art!  The Exclusive Preview Ticket is available now on oxfordcc.org. This ticket also includes passage to a cocktail party when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We will celebrate together in person and share stories of the wonderful art bought from the comfort of your homes.

 

The exhibit opens to the public via the oxcfordcc.org website Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th.  On Sunday the raffle winners will be announced at 5:00 pm and the show is closed. The raffle items will be added to the website as soon as we receive them from the artists, so keep checking the site!  The raffle art is visible on the “meet the artists” page on the OCC website and in the digital program book. Just find the raffle item you want and buy raffle tickets shown on the participating artists page. All raffle proceeds from Oxford Fine Arts support the Community Center’s programs, geared for all ages.

 

Oxford Fine Arts 2020 VIRTUAL exhibit and sales hours:

Friday, May 15th, 12:00 noon – Midnight – PRIVATE PASSWORD EVENT, $80

All $80 ticket holders, sponsors, advertisers and patrons are included in a future physical party with open bar and wonderful food, date to be determined after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

 

Online Exhibit and Sales Show continues:

Saturday, May 16th, 12:00 am – 11:59pm

Sunday, May 17th, 12:00 am – 5:00pm

 

The Oxford Fine Arts Show is a tradition born of love for art and artists.  During this time of social distancing, participating in a virtual community is more important than ever. These efforts will help support the artist during a period where many art shows have been canceled and their work needs a platform.  Hopefully, art supporters from far and near will participate in the Virtual Show and remain meaningful supporters of the arts.  It is OCC’s mission to find ways to connect people and utilize our tools to affect social integration. This has been a challenging time for the Center as well with months of cancelled events, so we appreciate your participation in this Show. Stay Healthy – Stay Home – and enjoy beauty in the world – Virtually.

 

For more information, please visit oxfordcc.org or contact the Oxford Community Center at 410-226-5904, email oxfordcc@verizon.net.  Sign up for OCC’s weekly e-newsletter for additional announcements and updates or like OCC’s Facebook page at Oxford Community Center, Inc. The Community Center is a non-profit 501(c)3. The OCC is always open online at www.oxfordcc.org

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