St. Michaels Community Center
| What's going on around here? click here for a copy of our latest newsletter August 2013 |
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| Trish Payne Executive Director also Proud to be a Rotarian |
| P. O. Box 354, 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels, MD 21663 Office: 410-745-6073 Youth Programs: 410-745-5102 Treasure Cove: 410-745-0669 |
| helps here! |
| Links to our Friends and Neighbors |
| Many of our programs are also partially funded by the Talbot Family Network and other donors as listed below |
| We always welcome VOLUNTEERS ! If you'd like to join our "family", give us a call at 410-745-6073 or stop in to see us ! |
REFRESH YOUR PAGE TO GET THE LATEST UPDATES !
| Donate by credit card by clicking the DONATE button at top left-hand corner of this page. |
| Email address: trish@stmichaelscc.org |
| Thank you EVERYONE for your friendship and your generous support ! |
| In loving memory Avery Monique Bechtel March 27, 1998 - August 15, 2011 |
| Artists, Sue Stockman and Bobby Malzone work with SMCC after school kids to create a mosaic memorial in depicting a friendship circle of love in honor of Avery Bechtel |
| The Junior Garden Club At SMCC on Thursdays after school, any child interested in learning about starting a garden, planting seeds, tending the garden beds, harvesting the bounty and recipes to make meals with what we've grown is welcome to join anytime for free! Call Trish at 410-745-6073 |
The Garden Committee of St. Michaels Community Cente, under the leadership of Laurie Pratt,r worked diligently for nearly two
years to achieve the goal of building a truly community garden in St. Michaels. With the help of so many, such as Jerry Leonard,
Jack Shannahan, Frank Hopkinson, Roger Clark, The Rotary Club of St. Michaels, Christmas in St. Michaels, Master Gardners,
Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Water Boys for Jesus, The Boy Scouts, The Town of St. Michaels and much more, a
wonderfully beautiful space has been created to grow food, friendships and community.
years to achieve the goal of building a truly community garden in St. Michaels. With the help of so many, such as Jerry Leonard,
Jack Shannahan, Frank Hopkinson, Roger Clark, The Rotary Club of St. Michaels, Christmas in St. Michaels, Master Gardners,
Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Water Boys for Jesus, The Boy Scouts, The Town of St. Michaels and much more, a
wonderfully beautiful space has been created to grow food, friendships and community.
| Reverand Johnson officially opening the SMCC Community Garden |
| Hours Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm Location at 933 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels This quaint resale shop is staffed by community volunteers. Newcomers are always welcome to join us. The Treasure Cove is always in need of clean, in season, clothing, gently used furniture and usable household goods. We generally do not accept large appliances but will take your name and number in case we have a family in need. Every penny we earn from your donations goes towards underwriting the programs and operating expenses of the St. Michaels Community Center. SMCC strives to meet the unfilled needs of our community by providing low-cost merchandise that goes back into our community. Please call 410-745-6073 if you'd like to volunteer your time or make a donation. Thanks for your support ! |
| Treasure Cove Thrift Shop |
| Chuck Shenk with kids |
The green tomatoes are piled by the big tree, the green beans have been stripped from all the gardens and there is not a gardener in sight. The mystery of the garden thief is
quickly solved by observant neighbors. It appears that the deer prefer the green beans and the squirrels have a preference for green tomatoes. The St. Michaels Community
Garden is apparently a community garden in every sense of the word.
What comes to mind first when you think of a Community Garden: produce or community? Well, you will find an ample supply of both at the St. Michaels Community Garden. This
grass roots project is a perfect example of folks building something from scratch with the help of the whole community. In June of 2010, the Garden Planning Committee began
meeting under the auspices of the St. Michaels Community Center. The committee grew to encompass volunteers who shared their goal of a community garden. Inspired by the
leadership of St. Michaels resident Laurie Pratt, the group worked diligently to bring this garden to fruition. When asked for his view of the garden Pratt replied, “By all accounts, we
are off to an enthusiastically successful first year. Surpassing the expectations of many, this year’s experience should make next year even better.”
Local groups such as the St. Michaels Rotary Club, Christmas in St. Michaels, Miller Electric, Bartlett Tree, Shanahan Wells, Jerry Leonard, Eagle Scout Lamont Brickhouse, Boy
Scout Troop 741, the Thursday crew of Habitat for Humanity, and the Easton Water Boys have all been generous with their time and labor. Horticulturist Roger Galvin created the
original garden design and resident Frank Hopkinson created a template for the beds and built ten of them himself. Karin Simmons at Bay Hundred Botanicals donated pepper
and lettuce seedlings and Carol Bean from Pot Pie Farm donated lettuce seedlings. The St. Michaels Commissioners and the St. Michaels Community Center provided
enthusiastic support for the project.
The 40 beds were made available to rent for $5.00 each per year. Interested gardeners could pick up an application at the St. Michaels Community Center and now those 40 beds
are bursting at the seams with a variety of fresh produce. There are tomatoes, lettuce, beets, peas, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, radishes, and more, with the corresponding
gardeners a perfect picture of the local community. There are children from Critchlow Atkins Day Care center who tend their beds regularly , which often requires on the spot
tasting, just to make sure things are ripe. There are Master Gardeners who are generous with advice for the beginning gardeners. Seniors, teens and all ages in between are
meeting new people and learning from each other while they water, weed and harvest their crops.
Aside from community involvement, educating new gardeners in Bay Wise gardening methods has been an important goal of the project. Along with learning sustainable,
environmentally friendly practices, people have enjoyed making their beds uniquely their own with a variety of garden art. There is a garden pig, flamingos, a bird cage, statues,
scare crows and more.
The garden is not only for individuals to enjoy, but also offers another source of nutritious food for those in need. Reverend Emanuel Johnson and members of Union United
Methodist Church share their crop with members of the community and excess produce is donated by the gardeners to the St. Michaels Food Bank and the St. Michaels
Community Center.
While bringing pleasure to many, the garden has become a very popular tourist spot in town; everyone brings visitors to witness the new and bustling sight. Locals pack a lunch
and sit on the benches enjoying the beauty of this lovely oasis. Gardener Mala Burt offered this observation when asked about her experience as a member of the Community
Garden: “I planted the first seeds in my garden on March 19th and we were eating French Breakfast radishes a month later. I planted sugar snap peas at one end of my bed
because I wanted the children from the daycare to be able to pick them and taste how sweet a raw pea can be. I love meeting people at the community garden as we water and
weed and compare notes about what is doing well and what was not successful.”
The garden provides a vital space where local residents can learn gardening practices and at the same time turn a vacant lot into a vibrant space where people gather to work
together and socialize.
The Community Garden is located beside the St. Michaels branch of Talbot County Free Library at 106 Fremont Street. For more information, contact Val Kenn Gray at 410 745-
2418, or Trish Payne at St. Michaels Community Center at 410 745-6073.
quickly solved by observant neighbors. It appears that the deer prefer the green beans and the squirrels have a preference for green tomatoes. The St. Michaels Community
Garden is apparently a community garden in every sense of the word.
What comes to mind first when you think of a Community Garden: produce or community? Well, you will find an ample supply of both at the St. Michaels Community Garden. This
grass roots project is a perfect example of folks building something from scratch with the help of the whole community. In June of 2010, the Garden Planning Committee began
meeting under the auspices of the St. Michaels Community Center. The committee grew to encompass volunteers who shared their goal of a community garden. Inspired by the
leadership of St. Michaels resident Laurie Pratt, the group worked diligently to bring this garden to fruition. When asked for his view of the garden Pratt replied, “By all accounts, we
are off to an enthusiastically successful first year. Surpassing the expectations of many, this year’s experience should make next year even better.”
Local groups such as the St. Michaels Rotary Club, Christmas in St. Michaels, Miller Electric, Bartlett Tree, Shanahan Wells, Jerry Leonard, Eagle Scout Lamont Brickhouse, Boy
Scout Troop 741, the Thursday crew of Habitat for Humanity, and the Easton Water Boys have all been generous with their time and labor. Horticulturist Roger Galvin created the
original garden design and resident Frank Hopkinson created a template for the beds and built ten of them himself. Karin Simmons at Bay Hundred Botanicals donated pepper
and lettuce seedlings and Carol Bean from Pot Pie Farm donated lettuce seedlings. The St. Michaels Commissioners and the St. Michaels Community Center provided
enthusiastic support for the project.
The 40 beds were made available to rent for $5.00 each per year. Interested gardeners could pick up an application at the St. Michaels Community Center and now those 40 beds
are bursting at the seams with a variety of fresh produce. There are tomatoes, lettuce, beets, peas, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, radishes, and more, with the corresponding
gardeners a perfect picture of the local community. There are children from Critchlow Atkins Day Care center who tend their beds regularly , which often requires on the spot
tasting, just to make sure things are ripe. There are Master Gardeners who are generous with advice for the beginning gardeners. Seniors, teens and all ages in between are
meeting new people and learning from each other while they water, weed and harvest their crops.
Aside from community involvement, educating new gardeners in Bay Wise gardening methods has been an important goal of the project. Along with learning sustainable,
environmentally friendly practices, people have enjoyed making their beds uniquely their own with a variety of garden art. There is a garden pig, flamingos, a bird cage, statues,
scare crows and more.
The garden is not only for individuals to enjoy, but also offers another source of nutritious food for those in need. Reverend Emanuel Johnson and members of Union United
Methodist Church share their crop with members of the community and excess produce is donated by the gardeners to the St. Michaels Food Bank and the St. Michaels
Community Center.
While bringing pleasure to many, the garden has become a very popular tourist spot in town; everyone brings visitors to witness the new and bustling sight. Locals pack a lunch
and sit on the benches enjoying the beauty of this lovely oasis. Gardener Mala Burt offered this observation when asked about her experience as a member of the Community
Garden: “I planted the first seeds in my garden on March 19th and we were eating French Breakfast radishes a month later. I planted sugar snap peas at one end of my bed
because I wanted the children from the daycare to be able to pick them and taste how sweet a raw pea can be. I love meeting people at the community garden as we water and
weed and compare notes about what is doing well and what was not successful.”
The garden provides a vital space where local residents can learn gardening practices and at the same time turn a vacant lot into a vibrant space where people gather to work
together and socialize.
The Community Garden is located beside the St. Michaels branch of Talbot County Free Library at 106 Fremont Street. For more information, contact Val Kenn Gray at 410 745-
2418, or Trish Payne at St. Michaels Community Center at 410 745-6073.
| had this to say....on Thursday, August 16, 2012 |
| Senior Activities Every Wednesday - Chair Yoga 9:30 - 10:30 at SMCC Wednesdays - Luncheon and Program 10:30 - 12:30 1st Wednesday of each month - Bingo 2nd Wednesday of each month - Super Noggins 3rd Wednesday - Art Class 4th and 5th Wednesdays - Speakers or Games NEW PROGRAMS Every Mon., Weds. & Fri. from 3:30 - 4;30 ZUMBA at the St. Michaels Housing Authority Community Room on Dodson Ave., St. Michaels FREE Every Wednesday at SMCC FUN WII BOWLING for Seniors from 1 - 2:30 pm All welcome, no fee |
CarePacks and SMCC team up to help our kids!
Maggie Gowe, PTA president at SMES along with
Emily Moody and Megan Cook from the Easton
Elementary PTA presented the CarePack project to
the Advisory Board and Trish Payne, Executive
Director of St. Michaels Community Center on
December 11, 2012.
They reported that this very successful program is
already making a significant impact in Easton for
approximately 90 children, addressing the issue of
“food insecurity” (limited food availability at home)
among needy families. CarePack accepts monetary
donations and specific food donations and
volunteers prepare take home packages for needy
children and the siblings of elementary school age
to take home on weekends and days when school is
not in session.
SMCC has pledged to become a collection point for
the specific food items used to make up these
packages and to help prepare these bundles for
delivery to the school on packing day. For more
information, please visit www.eescarepacks.org.
Maggie Gowe, PTA president at SMES along with
Emily Moody and Megan Cook from the Easton
Elementary PTA presented the CarePack project to
the Advisory Board and Trish Payne, Executive
Director of St. Michaels Community Center on
December 11, 2012.
They reported that this very successful program is
already making a significant impact in Easton for
approximately 90 children, addressing the issue of
“food insecurity” (limited food availability at home)
among needy families. CarePack accepts monetary
donations and specific food donations and
volunteers prepare take home packages for needy
children and the siblings of elementary school age
to take home on weekends and days when school is
not in session.
SMCC has pledged to become a collection point for
the specific food items used to make up these
packages and to help prepare these bundles for
delivery to the school on packing day. For more
information, please visit www.eescarepacks.org.
| To take a little tour of the St. MIchaels Community Center and to find out more about what we do....Click Here What is SMCC all about??? |
| Chief Tony Smith of the SMPD teamed up with Trish Payne of SMCC and through the S.M.Y.L.E. (St. Michaels Youth and Law Enforcement) took eight children and their parents to the Wilderness Presidential Resort in Spotsylvania, VA over a the long Easter holiday weekend. A reward program was intiated that allowed children to earn the opportunity to go with their families to the resort by completing community service projects or participating in drug and alcohol prevention classes. Chief Smith and Trish Payne intend to offer 3 - 4 trips per year to alternating groups of local children and their families. To see all the fun click on the link below SMPD & SMCC, our 1st trip to Wilderness Resort, Spotsylvania, VA |
| First Camp Wilderness Resort Trip with Chief Tony Smith |
2nd Camp Wilderness Trip
"almost all girls" weekend!
"almost all girls" weekend!
Click here to see our adventure: Wilderness Resort June 2013
| Frequently throughout the year, SMCC and S.M.Y.L.E. provide community service opportunities and/or drug/alcohol abuse prevention programs to the youth and families of our community. The community service activities often help our neighbor non-profits or the Town of St. MIchaels and instill a sense of accomplishment and pride. Young participants earn eligibility to join SMCC and S.M.Y.L.E. on a weekend camp trip to the Wilderness Presidential Resort in Spotsyvania (wpresort.com). Call Trish at 410-745-6073 or Chief Tony Smith at 410-745-9500 to learn how to join us! |
| SMCC and S.M.Y.L.E. join forces to inspire youth to "Give Back to the Community" click here to find out more: "Community Give Back" |
| The Annual Fall Neighborhood Block Party, Sat. October 5 from 11 - 2 on Fremont St. hosted by SMCC was a fun-filled afternoon of great food, family fun, kids games and community togetherness. UUMC supplied their "famous" chicken, Hot dogs, hamburgers & fries came from Sam's, Ice Cream and all the fixin's came from Justine's and volunteers, side dishes and other desserts came from wonderful volunteers!!! The Moon Bounce and DJ Randy were supplied by S.M.Y.L.E. Thanks to everyone for making this day so much fun!!! |
| St. Michaels celebrated the season with Children's activities at UUMC sponsored by the SMBA as well as the Pumpkin Carving Competiton and SMCC hosted the annual Pumpkin Pie Festival. A great time was had by all!!! THANK YOU volunteers and guests for making it a wonderful event! |
The Green Team at
Pickering Creek
Pickering Creek
| On October 10, the Jr. Gardeners used vegetables and herbs from our Community Garden beds and learned to make spaghetti sauce from scratch. It was SOOOOO good! |
BEFORE
AFTER
| Thank you Chief Tony and the S.M.Y.L.E. program for the incredible support you give to the youth and families of the Bay Hundred Area by supporting the SMCC and other non- profit groups! |
| see more pics on our facebook page StMichaels CommunityCenter |
| Holiday Dinners Open to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 27 Thanksgiving buffet dinner, 10:30 - 2:00 Thursday, December 26, 10:30 - 2:00 Christmas buffet dinner All are welcome! |