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The St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park Series is returning to the waterfront Muskrat Park on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. beginning June 8 and continuing through Aug. 31.
The sounds of summer begin with Rosewood performing on June 8. The Eastern Shore-based band features the dynamic and lush vocals of Sandy Ryder performing great standards from the ‘60s to today, including country, blues, and contemporary rock. All 13 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website, with earlier performances including JCT 33, Sarah Campbell, New & Used Bluegrass, Ampersand, Down the Road, and more. Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River, with limited picnic tables and a covered gazebo for performances. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or their own seating, along with friends, family, neighbors, your leashed dog, or just yourself to enjoy the concerts. Picnics are encouraged, with alcohol prohibited. Ice cream, popcorn, snow cones, bottled water, and other treats will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the children and adults served by the St. Michaels Community Center. Plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking are also nearby. The free concert series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses acknowledged at each concert. Concert series sponsors include Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, The Blue Crab, Blue Heron Coffee, Bridges Land Management, Built on Love and Dreams, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Eastern Shore Ship | Print | Connect, Foxy’s Harbor Grille, The Galley Restaurant, Gina’s Café, Guilford & Company, The Harmon Family, Higgins & Spencer, Higgins Yacht Yard, Justine’s Ice Cream, Log Canoe Inn, Marasun Roofing, Mid-Atlantic Waste System, Ophiuroidea "The O", Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts, The Preppy Redneck, Rebecca Thomas Events, Ruse, Shore Orthopedics, Shore United Bank, Simpatico, St. Michaels Running Company, Talbot Watermen Association, Tickler’s Crab Shack, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Total Home Performance, Wades Point Inn on the Bay, and The Wildset Hotel. The St. Michaels Community Center is currently campaigning for donations supporting the renovations now underway of its building at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded programs and services to include its new culinary arts and hospitality workforce training program. The renovations support SMCC’s mission to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb Bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.
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 SMCC’s Board of Directors include from left, SMCC Board Chair Langley Shook; Board members Lisa Sweetney-Swint, Shauna Beulah, and Christian Chute, Treasurer Parker Spurry, new Board member Susan Thomas, Secretary Karen Footner, Board member Joe Brummell, and SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. Not shown include Vice Chair Lori Morris, new Board members Pam Bernstein, Chris Moyer, CED, and Joan Wetmore, and Board members Cheri Bruce-Phipps, Travis Johnson, Hon. Edward Kasemeyer, Connie Pullen, Jeffrey L. Quartner, MD, and St. Michaels Police Chief Anthony Smith. The St. Michaels Community Center recently announced five new members have joined its Board of Directors, with this year’s officers also named. Board officers are Chair Langley Shook, Vice Chair Lori Morris, Secretary Karen Footner, and Treasurer Parker Spurry. Newly elected to a two-year Board term are Directors Pam Bernstein, Chris Moyer, Lisa Sweetney-Swint, Susan Thomas, and Joan Wetmore. Remaining on the Board are Shauna Beulah, Cheri Bruce-Phipps, Joe Brummell, Christian Chute, Travis Johnson, Hon. Edward Kasemeyer, Connie Pullen, Jeffrey L. Quartner, MD, and St. Michaels Chief of Police Anthony Smith. “We count our Board of Directors among the volunteers who serve at the core of everything we do,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “We’re grateful for our Board’s leadership, direction, and fundraising to help ensure local children and families have the resources they need.” “This is an exciting time for the St. Michaels Community Center,” said SMCC Board Chair Langley Shook. “Our total building renovation project is well underway, and we expect everything to be finished with a ribbon cutting ceremony next winter. Pam Bernstein of St. Michaels has earned Master’s Degrees in Finance from Georgetown University and Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport. She served for 40 years in executive finance and administrative positions with several prominent national and international law firms with offices in Washington, D.C. Now retired, Bernstein lives in the St. Michaels community of Martingham with her husband Dave. She brings financial expertise, rich board experience, and a deep commitment to the community to the position, with her volunteer experience including work with the SPCA of Annapolis, Talbot Humane, Pickering Creek Audubon Society, and more. Chris Moyer, CEC, CRC, of St. Michaels is the Corporate Executive Chef for Perdue Foods, LLC. He has 31 years of professional food service experience. Moyer graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and later joined the Ashley Hotel group at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels and Llangoed Hall, a four-star luxury hotel in Wales, United Kingdom. Moyer additionally held chef positions in Beaufort, N.C., and Key West, Fla. Moyer stepped into the food service equipment arena in 2000 and worked for equipment brands including Market Forge, Amana, Bakers Pride, and Imperial. Moyer also served as Regional Executive Chef for Alto Shaam covering the Mid-Atlantic Region – Maryland, D.C., Delaware, and Virginia. He continues his 18 years of service with Perdue Farms, working with some of the largest food brands in the world. Lisa Sweetney-Swint of St Michaels is a leader who is passionate about diversity, inclusion, and equity. She received a Women in Leadership certification from Cornell University and has participated and collaborated with various organizations as a champion for women’s rights. She has considerable experience on nonprofit boards and a background in project management and architecture. Sweetney-Swint is a resourceful and dedicated leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, devoting several years as a volunteer with the Lake Forest, Ill. and the Solon, Ohio school districts as a parent-teacher liaison. She also served on the Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Forest, Ill. Her volunteer experience includes serving as a hospice liaison and fundraiser coordinator. She is currently an active member of the National Organization of Professional Women, International Professional Women, and Women of Color. She is the recipient of various accolades and awards and is a graduate of the Academy of Art University and Carlow University. Susan Thomas of St. Michaels began her career as an elementary school teacher, but after earning an LCSW-C at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, she became an individual, marital, and family therapist in Baltimore, retiring after 35 years. She was also an adjunct at Goucher College teaching courses in self-esteem and family of origin. Thomas has extensive development experience as the Chair of the United Way of Central Maryland Women’s Leadership Council. She served as president of the Roland Park Garden Club and was a volunteer with the Adult Literacy Program in Baltimore City, St. Michaels Elementary School aftercare program, and Christmas in St. Michaels. Joan Wetmore of Neavitt has extensive nonprofit experience derived from her professional work at the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler Galleries, and in establishing the first development department and numerous programs at Washington D.C.’s Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens. Her past Board memberships include Talbot Preservation Alliance and Talbot County Historical Society. Wetmore is currently a realtor with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in primtmaking from American University and Howard University, graduating magna cum laude. She holds a Master of Arts degree in visual arts from Goddard College. The St. Michaels Community Center is currently campaigning for donations supporting the renovations of its building at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded programs and services to include its new culinary arts and hospitality workforce training program. The renovations support SMCC’s mission to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org. New Video: Progress on Renovations  The St. Michaels Community Center has recently partnered with Chesapeake College to offer culinary and hospitality classes this spring.
“Spark a Flame Making Crème Brûlée” takes place on Tuesday, April 25 from 6-9 p.m. at SMCC, with participants learning the art of the most perfect custard topped with a flamed, most decadent crackly sugar top. In this 3-hour course, SMCC Executive Chef Kerri Clear and Chef Jordan Lloyd from Hambleton House Events and Catering will lead you through the process of mastering the tricks of preparing Crème Brûlée as only trained chefs know. Topics include proper techniques, ingredients, and temperatures for preparing and finishing off this decadent dessert. Participants will leave this class with recipes and skills to impress your next dinner guests. “The Art of Gracious Hospitality” takes place on Tuesday, May 23 from 6-9 p.m. at SMCC with participants learning the art of exceptional guest and customer service from the legendary Inn at Perry Cabin luxury resort. Topics include the differences between service and gracious hospitality, what it takes to make it happen every day, how to master the finer points of “Presence & Presentation,” and how to turn your guest or customer into a passionate admirer of your brand. Course fees are $90 per participant, per class. Class sizes are limited, with links for advanced registration with Chesapeake College at www.stmichaelscc.org/culinary. The St. Michaels Community Center is currently campaigning for donations supporting the renovations of its building at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded programs and services to include a new culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The renovations support SMCC’s mission to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org. In 2023, the St. Michaels Community Garden celebrates its 11th year of providing community members with space to grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, and more for personal consumption or for donation, as chosen by the gardeners themselves. The garden includes 40, 4-foot by 14-foot beds rented on a yearly basis. Participants are limited to reserving one bed, with 7 beds available for new gardeners in 2023. Community garden beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be reserved by emailing admin@stmichaelscc.org or using our online reservation form here. Through regularly scheduled work parties, the garden community shares responsibility for maintaining paths, communal spaces, and equipment, while individual members are responsible for planting, harvesting and upkeep of their raised beds. Water, hoses, and some gardening tools are provided, and some funds are available to help with the purchase of seeds or garden equipment for those who need support to do so. The St. Michaels Community Garden, located between Fremont and Conner Streets, began in 2012 on land leased through the Town of St. Michaels and with support of an Eagle Scout project. The St. Michaels Community Center serves as fiscal agent for the community garden, with the $5 per year, per bed rental fee and other donations helping to maintain the property year-round. The St. Michaels Community Center promotes and provides quality activities and services contributing to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the community. SMCC is dedicated to filling the unmet needs of the Bay Hundred and St. Michaels communities by providing supervised program opportunities for the enrichment of children and teens; activities and services for adults and senior citizens; and affordable recreational, social, and educational activities to community residents of all ages, regardless of ethnicity, gender or economic status. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at www.stmichaelscc.org.  Kerri Clear of Easton, Md. has been named Executive Chef at the St. Michaels Community Center, where she is responsible for creating healthful, nutritious menus for SMCC’s Community Café. Clear also will be working with local chefs and food distribution programs to coordinate food donations, including fresh produce and cooked dishes. The St. Michaels Community Center’s Community Café serves eat-in and take-out meals during select hours each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, provided at no cost for individuals and families in need. The Café is made possible through support from the Maryland Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul of Easton, numerous local restaurants and businesses, and donors to SMCC. Clear grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where garden and dairy coops fed her family. “I developed an appreciation for fresh ingredients and flavors,” says Clear. “While in college I found my love of hospitality and never looked back. Since then, I've worked in all aspects of the business and have taken every opportunity to build a career doing what I love.” Clear’s culinary experience spans more than 20 years of working in the hospitality industry, including most recently serving as chef at Latitude 38 in Oxford, Md. “Being around food and people talking about food has always been and remains my happy place,” says Clear. “I believe food brings people together, and I love being part of it.” The St. Michaels Community Center’s Community Café serves eat-in and take-out meals during select hours each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, provided at no cost for individuals and families in need. The Café is made possible through support from the Maryland Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul of Easton, and donors to SMCC. SMCC’s programs are expanding into culinary and hospitality workforce training with the adaptive redesign of the nonprofit’s Railroad Ave. building currently underway. Clear will serve an important role in planning and executing the new program, with guidance from regional chefs and hospitality professionals serving on SMCC’s Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team. The renovated Community Center will include 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 and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. “Kerri joins our team at a critical juncture in the 30+-year history of the St. Michaels Community Center,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Her knowledge, relationships, and talents will help plan and lead our future culinary programming while bringing more fresh, nutritious meals to the people we serve.” 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.
The St. Michaels Community Center in partnership with the Talbot County Health Department is offering two classes promoting healthier living that are free and open to the public, with limited participation and preregistration needed. Both six-week classes take place in small group settings at the St. Michaels Community Center at 207 N. Talbot St. and include a cooking demonstration that will show how to prepare healthy meals utilizing ingredients available from the pantry. Dinner will be provided to all participants. The first class focuses on chronic disease self-management and takes place on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning March 2 and continuing through April 6. The workshop will provide tips and techniques for pain and fatigue management, dealing with depression, healthy eating and exercise, medication management, working with healthcare providers, goal setting, problem solving, and more. Diabetes self-management is the focus of the second class and takes place on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning March 22 and continuing through April 26. This workshop will help adults with Type 2 diabetes or who are pre diabetic with management tips including defining diabetes, dealing with stress, appropriate exercise, carb-counting, addressing high and low blood sugar, healthy eating, menu planning, and more. Registration for the workshops can be made here, or by calling SMCC at 410-745-6073 or emailing stephanie@stmichaelscc.org. The Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence serves residents throughout the state of Maryland with a variety of evidence-based programs to improve self-management of chronic conditions along with wellness programs promoting health and preventing disease. 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. The nonprofit is currently undergoing an adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings, new programming information, and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.
 2/17/23 Update: This program is now starting on March 7, and not February 28. The St. Michaels Community Center is helping dads and men learn or brush up on their fathering skills with a program beginning on Tuesday, March 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The course consists of 12 weekly sessions ending on May 23 and taking place at SMCC’s location during renovations at 207 N. Talbot Street in St. Michaels, Md. The free program includes dinner for participants, with limited participation and pre-registration recommended. The program is facilitated by the Responsible Fathers Initiative and follows the National Fatherhood Initiative’s evidence-based 24/7 Dad® curriculum to help build stronger family connections for dads. “We’re grateful to be able to provide meaningful programs like this to help strengthen local families while empowering dads to be the best fathers they can be,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “The program will help dads with the parenting, relationship, and communication skills needed to be more involved, responsible, and committed fathers.” Developed by fathering and parenting experts, the community-based program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills they need to get—and stay—involved with their children. The program focuses on key fathering characteristics—like fathering styles, discipline, and work/family balance—and helps men evaluate their own parenting skills, as well as their fathering role models. “The commitments of a nurturing and responsible father strengthen the entire family,” said Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack. “I am excited to work with the St. Michaels Community Center to reach fathers in St. Michaels and throughout the Bay Hundred area.”  From left: SMCC Executive Director with Responsible Father Initiative Founder & Facilitator Corey Pack Pack founded the Responsible Fathers Initiative in 2021 after a career working with the State of Maryland and while serving as Talbot County Councilman. The Initiative provides communication and engagement skills and provides fathers with an understanding of the importance of their roles in the family while providing the skills and tools needed to empower fathers to be the best they can be. More is at www.responsiblefathersintiative.org. For more information or to enroll in the program, contact SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe at 410-745-6073 or at patrick@stmichaelscc.org. 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. The nonprofit is currently undergoing an adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings, new programming information, and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center's current renovations are about more than just a building because the new Community Center will be home to new programs, including culinary arts and hospitality workforce training. A new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Advisory Team is helping the St. Michaels Community Center plan and execute these new workforce training programs, with advisory members including Chesapeake College Workforce Programs Dean Jason Mullen, Maryland 2022 Chef of the Year and The Inn at Perry Cabin Executive Chef Gregory James, Ava's Pizzeria & Theo's Steakhouse Executive Chef Derek Dilley, Gina's Café Owner and Executive Chef Gina Werner, Perdue Farms Culinary Team Corporate Executive Chef Chris Moyer, CEC, CRC, and Hambleton House Events & Catering Owners Executive Chef Jordan Lloyd and Alice Lloyd.  From left: The Inn at Perry Cabin Chef Skylar Pasaante, Executive Chef Gregory James, and Food and Beverage Director Katt Bradley bring and serve salad for a recent holiday meal at the St. Michaels Community Center, serving more than 150 people. James is a member of SMCC’s Culinary Arts Advisory Team and is helping the St. Michaels Community Center plan and execute new culinary and hospitality workforce training programs “The St. Michaels Community Center has a three-point mission that includes connecting people to resources,” says SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “And now we have connected an incredibly talented group of culinary professionals to help build our future programs. We are extremely grateful for the insights and guidance from these advisory team members."  SMCC Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team Member Chef Jordan Lloyd of Hambleton House Events & Catering, left, with SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, right, in SMCC's temporary kitchen space during renovations. The Community Center’s renovated building will be an adaptive redesign of its current structure, meaning some parts of the World War II-era building will remain. The project team includes general contractor Harper & Sons, Inc. and engineering by Lane Engineers, both of Easton, Md. The project’s architect is McInturff Architects of Bethesda and Neavitt, Md.
The new building will include 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 and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. The new Community Center also will include a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for after-school programs and community gatherings. SMCC is working with Chesapeake College and other partners to provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including updates and information about how to support the campaign are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Tax-deductible donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi11/22/2022  Dear Friend, Addressing hunger among individuals and families—from the Royal Oak Bridge down to Tilghman Island—is made possible through the generous support of our donors, whose small and large acts of kindness help to transform the lives of the children and adults many of our programs serve. Through the continued support of our donors, the St. Michaels Community Center provides year-round community programs and activities, including providing up to 250 meals and pantry bags to individuals and families in need, three times a week. At the core of our work lightening the burden of hardship and hunger is the dedication of volunteers and drivers to help prepare and deliver meals and pantry items, especially for homebound individuals in need. Oftentimes, the connections our volunteers make are a lifeline to the individuals we serve. One of our volunteers regularly delivers meals to a 90-year-old woman that is blind and cannot cook for herself. Our client has no local family, so our volunteer stays a little while longer at each delivery to spend time and talk with her. “I asked God to send someone to see me,” commented our client about our volunteer, before continuing with a wry smile. “When I ‘saw’ you, I knew we would get along!” Our volunteer is very humble and wishes to remain anonymous from our readers. Our clients, however, know her from her work in our culinary program, where she also serves clients from the steam table, helps to prepare meals for deliveries, and even helps clean up to prepare for our next Community Café. She also helps at our community block parties and holiday meals. “Volunteering is simply good for the soul,” she says. “Our Community Center really contributes to enriching people’s lives, whether you give or receive—I think it is a win-win situation.” She said she decided to become a volunteer after hearing about SMCC’s dedication to assisting people in need. “So now that I’m retired and have the time, I decided to become a volunteer and see what was needed. When you donate to the St. Michaels Community Center, you are helping to improve lives, while sustaining the Community Center’s financial stability for a bright future. We simply can’t do this meaningful work without your help. You can support the strength of our community by making a charitable donation to the St. Michaels Community Center. You can mail your check or donate online at paypal.me/smccmd. Your donation will ensure Bay Hundred individuals and families have the resources and connections needed to address hunger and provide hope, especially to those who need our help the most. You can make that difference. With deepest gratitude,  Patrick Rofe
Executive Director P.S. Please consider making a gift of stocks or bonds and including the St. Michaels Community Center in your legacy planning. Your financial advisor can be of help. St. Michaels Community Center is a 501(c)(3) organization – donations to which are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting SMCC, PO Box 354, St. Michaels, MD 21663, or by calling 410-745-6073. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Contributions Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage. St. Michaels Community Center Renovations Begin: SMCC taps Harper & Sons as General Contractor11/21/2022 After a highly-competitive process, the St. Michaels Community Center has selected Harper & Sons, of Easton, Md. as the general contractor for the renovation of the nonprofit’s WWII-era building at 103 Railroad Ave., with the project kicking off Mon., Nov. 21. “We are extremely pleased with how Harper & Sons has approached this project so far, and we can’t wait to get started on construction,” said SMCC Board of Directors President Langley Shook. “They have an impressive track record with successful commercial projects in St. Michaels and throughout the Eastern Shore,” adding “we have been very impressed with their work and what we have heard from their other clients.”  From left: Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper and St. Michaels Community Center Board of Directors President Langley Shook Harper & Sons, Inc. was founded in 1968 by Howard G. Harper in Easton, Md. after his work as a general manager for the ES Adkins Company Lumberyard in Easton. He started the business as a way for him and his sons to meet the construction needs of the rapidly developing Eastern Shore. Today, Harper & Sons is managed by the third generation of family members, with project experience that includes working with the Town of St. Michaels, Caroline County, Easton Utilities Commission, Choptank Community Health System, University of Maryland Medical System, Salisbury University, Compass Hospice, and more. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this meaningful project for St. Michaels and the entire Bay Hundred region,” says Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper. “We look forward to overseeing the project—as our top management does on all of our projects—to ensure a high level of responsibility and personal attention to critical details throughout the renovation process.”  The Community Center’s renovated building will be an adaptive redesign of its current structure, meaning some parts of the World War II-era building will remain. The architect for the project is McInturff Architects of Bethesda and Neavitt, Md. Founded in 1990, SMCC purchased its current building in 2015 and has since made do with the converted lumber storage warehouse’s crudely constructed interior that lacks windows, heat or air conditioning in most of the building. Disability access also has been a major issue. “Our building’s primary asset is its location in the commercial district, near the people we serve,” says St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This long-awaited renovation will make the St. Michaels Community Center the only fully-equipped resource center for social services on the Bay Hundred peninsula,” he added.  The new building will include 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 and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. The new Community Center also will include a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for after-school programs and community gatherings. Rofe says the Center is working with Chesapeake College and other partners to provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Support for the renovation is both broad and deep, reflecting the urgency of the need. Charitable contributions from individuals have been the largest source of funding, with more than $1M from the State of Maryland, and other government and foundation support. Shook says most of the necessary funding already has been raised, and there is a 100% donor match for additional tax-deductible gifts to the capital campaign before year-end, 2022. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including updates and information about how to support the campaign are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. “The excitement is really growing,” says Rofe, adding that “We’ve packed up our programs and administrative operations to prepare for the renovations, thanks in part to a number of volunteers who assisted with the efforts.” Christ Church, St. Michaels generously has donated office space in its Parish Hall, located at the intersection of Church Street and Willow Street. The Center’s food services and other programs will be moved throughout the renovation to 207 N. Talbot St., next door to The Wildset Hotel.
Both temporary locations are close to SMCC’s building, and there will be only minimal disruptions to client services during the building renovation. The Center anticipates operating from its two temporary locations until the end of next year when the renovation project is expected to be completed. The renovation will not impact SMCC’s Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Avenue, which will be open throughout the project. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Tax-deductible donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities. #####
New, unwrapped toys are being sought to benefit Bay Hundred area children this holiday season, with drop-off locations including the St. Michaels Community Center, The LumberYard in St. Michaels, Perkins Family YMCA, and Fairbank Tackle. The toy drive is organized by St. Michaels Granite Lodge #177, with donated toys being accepted through Dec. 21. SMCC additionally is seeking donations of non-perishables, toiletries, and household goods, which can also be dropped off or shipped directly to SMCC at its temporary program location of 207 N. Talbot St., next to The Wildset Hotel, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donated toys and household goods with “for the holiday drive” noted can also be dropped off at Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 200 Railroad Ave. Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Suggested Donations Suggested donations include toys suited for children of all ages; personal hygiene items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, and shampoo; family homecare items like detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, and sponges; and food items like canned chicken, tuna, roast beef, ravioli, pasta, stew, peanut butter, rice, soup, crackers, pudding, and fruit cups. SMCC also provides emergency clothing and household goods through its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, which is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations to the Thrift Store of gently used clothing, toys, household goods, and furniture are gratefully accepted Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. #####  The St. Michaels Community Center received news that SMCC Senior Programs and Office Aide Ange Oteri sadly passed away on November 1, 2022. Ange joined the St. Michaels Community Center in 2005 and most recently coordinated our senior program and luncheons every Wednesday. She also helped in our office when not taking care of our seniors.  She started at SMCC as an office volunteer for Treasure Cove Thrift Shop. At that time, the office and Thrift Shop were in one location across from Sam’s Restaurant. She later went on to coordinate the Community Center’s seniors’ program and volunteer program for the Thrift Shop. Prior to her time at SMCC, Ange worked as an administrative assistant for real estate and insurance companies while her children were growing up. Locals and visitors may also recall seeing Ange while working at Simpatico-Italy’s Finest for more than five years. Her grandchildren lovingly referred to her as “Ya Ya” or “Mom- Mom.” In a 2021 interview, Ange commented that her favorite activity was to connect with people, mostly through sitting, talking, and sharing a meal together at SMCC.  “Working with the seniors is rewarding because I feel like they enjoy coming here,” Ange said of her work at SMCC. “Some people live alone like I do, and for some, it’s the only place to have a conversation and be with other people. Ange said one of the most challenging aspects of her work at SMCC included helping seniors navigate through broader problems. “Some welcome the help, some don’t want help,” said Ange. “The key is to help seniors without them feeling like they are losing their independence. Maybe they’re like me and don’t always ask for help when help is needed.” When asked why she thought the St. Michaels Community Center's work is important, Ange replied, “The Community Center is for the community. It’s here for the kids to come after school as a safe place. The meals offer a place for our seniors to connect and have a place to feel a warm welcome and love. They enjoy our activities because it’s a place for everybody and a safety net for our community.” Ange lived in St. Michaels at the time of her passing and was born in Manhattan, New York before moving to Brooklyn and Long Island. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., living with her grandmother after her mother passed when Ange was 10 years old. She went straight to work right after graduating high school, and later became a wife and mother of three children. For hobbies, Ange said that knitting was her calming tool whenever she became upset. Ange’s volunteer service focused during her time living on Tilghman Island and includes Tilghman United Methodist Church, Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company, and the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum. “Ange was one of the longest-serving volunteers and employees at SMCC,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe in a memo to staff and supporters. “Most recently she led the Senior Program and was actively involved in all SMCC events. She will be deeply missed at SMCC and in St. Michaels.” Ange Oteri is dearly missed.Please Note: You can find Ange's obituary and service arrangements at Frampton Funeral Home.
 The St. Michaels Community Center recently received grant funding in support of the nonprofit’s food distribution program, with Executive Chef Sean Raspberry shown here in SMCC’s current facilities. SMCC offers freshly cooked, nutritious meals and pantry bags each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, providing for up to 250 people for each meal. The St. Michaels Community Center recently received grant funding in support of feeding people in need through the nonprofit’s food distribution program. The St. Michaels Community Center offers freshly cooked, nutritious meals and pantry bags each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, providing for up to 250 people for each meal. A $2,945 matching grant has been awarded by the Maryland Department of Human Services Statewide Nutrition Assistance Equipment Program (SNAEP) for the purchase of pantry and kitchen equipment for the St. Michaels Community Center. A $10,700 American Rescue Plan Act grant has also been awarded by Talbot County for the purchase of food and equipment supporting the St. Michaels Community Center’s food distribution program. The program provides meals and pantry items for people in need from throughout Talbot County’s Bay Hundred area, which spans from the Royal Oak bridge to Tilghman Island. Other recent grants and gifts in support of SMCC’s general operations and food distribution program have come from The Qlarant Foundation, the Maryland Food Bank, and the local Hell’s Crossing neighborhood group, among others. “This support comes at a critical time in our history as we move forward with plans to renovate our Community Center," says St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “These funds will help SMCC strengthen its food distribution program with the purchase of new kitchen and pantry equipment and will provide nutrition education to our neighbors. These funds will help SMCC provide assistance to our neighbors who need our support the most.”  Recent grant funding for SMCC’s food distribution program comes at a critical time in the nonprofit’s history as they move forward with plans for a renovated Community Center, with first floor plans shown here. The renovated Community Center includes a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, and a workforce training program, among other features. The Community Center announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building earlier this year and is currently seeking donations to finish out the campaign. Groundbreaking plans are anticipated to be announced later this year.
The renovated facility will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC plans to train people for jobs in restaurants and hotels, and from which the Center can continue to serve and deliver prepared meals and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need. Included in the plans are a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for community gatherings, along with classrooms where Chesapeake College and others can provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town. Architectural renderings of the building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including updates and information about how to support the campaign are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – Sept. 9, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is hosting a Rock the Block Party on Sat., Sept. 17 from 3 to 6:00 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, music, games, children’s activities, community resources, and more. The St. Michaels Community Center hosts block parties throughout the year to build a stronger relationship between neighbors and the community center. “We are grateful for the work we do in partnership with our donors and community supporters,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “These events bring people together to become more engaged in and connected to the community as a whole.” Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org. ##### Photos/Cutlines: “SMCC_BlockParty1.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty2.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty3.jpg”, “SMCC_BlockParty4.jpg”, The St. Michaels Community Center hosting a Rock the Block Party on Sat., Sept. 17 from 3 to 6:00 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, music, games, children’s activities, community resources, and more. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.  The St. Michaels Community Center is raffling off a Playseum basket that includes six (6) admission passes ($72 value) and $28 in Playseum Dollars for special crafts and other activities to use at the Playseum in Easton. The tickets can be used in any increments, with the basket also containing a small stuffed animal, candy, and an art item. The raffle winner's name will be drawn on Sept. 15, with the winner not needing to be present to win. Tickets can be purchased online for $5 each or 5 for $20 at www.stmichaelscc.org/raffle. All proceeds benefit the people served by the programs and activities of the St. Michaels Community Center. Be With Me: The Children’s Playseum in Easton opened in early 2022 and provides an experiential venue for parents, grandparents, and caretakers to enjoy quality time with their child or children. The location is a large, multi-roomed building on Ocean Gateway with plenty of parking for families and party guests. Entry to the toy store is free, with the rest of the Playseum’s 29-themed areas representing the city of Easton accessible with a $12 per person admission. Themed areas are limited to one family at a time, with sprawling spaces for plenty of room to meander while role-playing or engaging in places like the local grocery store, a taco hut, a doctor’s office, barbershop, farm room, and much more. Included in admission is a story time taking place every Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m., which is followed by a sensory engaging activity. The Playseum is open every day, with hours and more information at www.playseum.com/eastonplayseum. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community activities and events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit recently announced its first capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  The St. Michaels Community Center is joining the St. Michaels Police Department and numerous community partners to host a National Night Out Big Block Party on Tues., Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event includes food and drinks, Nannie’s water ice, music, games, community resources, and a police display. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. The program provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances, with more at www.natw.org. “We are grateful for the work we do in partnership with the St. Michaels Police Department,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Together we keep the pulse of the community so that we can help people find the resources they need and to strengthen our community as a whole.” “National Night Out hits at the core of our community policing approach,” said St. Michaels Police Chief Anthony Smith, who also serves on SMCC’s Advisory Board. “Partnering with the Community Center in this way helps bring people together, and the opportunity to meet the police officers who serve to protect our community.” Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org.  (ST. MICHAELS, MD – July 19, 2022) The waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille in St. Michaels is going local for the beneficiary of this year’s “Halfway to Rincon” party, with proceeds benefiting the people served by the St. Michaels Community Center for the event being held on Mon., July 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. UPDATE: This is now an indoor event. Enjoy the beautiful harbor views in Foxy's cool A/C while we all beat the heat! The event features live music by Uncle Ward & Friends, Puerto Rican-themed food and libations, and specials on Presidente Cerveza, known as the Caribbean’s beer of choice. Guests are asked to bring a backpack or school supplies to benefit local children, with cash donations accepted and a 50/50 raffle as part of the fundraising fun. Foxy’s “Halfway to Rincon” party is an annual celebration started by a group of St. Michaels locals—including Foxy’s owner Terye Knopp—who spend their winters in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community activities and events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit recently announced its first capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  National Fatherhood Initiative 24/7 Dad® program being used to connect fathers to their children  SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, left, with Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack *A new, winter 22/spring 23 session is now in the planning. Click here for more. (ST. MICHAELS, MD – July 7, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center is helping fathers get the skills they need to be involved in their children’s lives by sponsoring the National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad® program beginning this August. The free program is being facilitated by the Responsible Fathers Initiative, with limited participation and pre-registration needed. *A 13-session workshop begins at SMCC on August 16 and continues Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. through December 13, with a light meal provided for participants. The program will give dads the parenting, relationship, and communication skills they need to be involved, responsible, and committed fathers. “This program will help strengthen our local families and our entire community by helping our fathers be the best dads they can be,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This also serves at the core of the Community Center’s mission in serving, empowering, and connecting people in our community.” Developed by fathering and parenting experts, 24/7 Dad® focuses on the characteristics that men need to be involved fathers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This community-based program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills they need to get—and stay—involved with their children. 24/7 Dad® focuses on key fathering characteristics—like masculinity, discipline, and work/family balance—and helps men evaluate their own parenting skills, as well as their fathering role models. “Now more than ever the America family needs to be pulled back together and that cohesive and binding force is found in no other place but the commitments of a nurturing and responsible father,” said Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack. “I am excited to work with SMCC in their efforts to strengthen families in the Bay Hundred area. “While no one program can solve all the shortfalls a family may be facing, combining the stabilizing and regenerating curriculum of NFI with the economic and social programs offered by SMCC, these families are off to a promising start to being restored and complete.” Pack founded the Responsible Fathers Initiative in 2020 after a career working with the State of Maryland and while serving as Talbot County Councilman. The Initiative provides communication and engagement skills and provides fathers with an understanding of the importance of their roles in the family while providing the skills and tools needed to empower fathers to be the best they can be. More is at www.responsiblefathersintiative.org. “NFI is excited about the St. Michaels Community Center’s efforts to help fathers build their skills through the 24/7 Dad® program,” said President of National Fatherhood Initiative President Christopher Brown. “Research shows that a major barrier to father involvement is a lack of skills in dads, many of whom grew up without fathers in their lives. At a time when 1 in 4 children live in father-absent homes, the Community Center should be applauded for its efforts to help dads get involved.” The National Fatherhood Initiative was founded in 1994 as a premier provider of fatherhood resources in the nation. The Initiative has trained more than 25,000 practitioners from more than 6,300 organizations through its national resource center FatherSOURCE™, in delivering meaningful programming to dads, with more at www.fatherhood.org. For more information or to enroll in the program, contact SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe at 410-745-6073 or at patrick@stmichaelscc.org.    (ST. MICHAELS, MD – June 20, 2022) The St. Michaels Community Center’s summer programs have returned with a free Community Block Party at SMCC on Saturday, June 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The free event includes food, drinks, music, and children’s and family activities. Summer camps for children begin on June 27 and provide age-appropriate activities for children entering K-5th grades. Camp themes include farm-to-food connections, letting your inner artist shine, get out and explore, and dance the night away, with more information and limited registration at www.stmichaelscc.org. SMCC’s senior programs are also taking place on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and feature activities including bingo, painting, lunch, and fellowship. All are invited. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. More information is at stmichaelscc.org. The St. Michaels Community Center is seeking input from residents from Royal Oak to Tilghman Island to help shape the future of the nonprofit’s programs and services, with the survey available online through July at www.stmichaelscc.org. “This feedback can go a long way in helping the St. Michaels Community Center expand our programs in the direction that best serves our community’s needs,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe.  The St. Michaels Community Center is surveying the local community through July to help shape its future programs and services, with St. Michaels and Bay Hundred area residents encouraged to take the online survey at www.stmichaelscc.org. The nonprofit recently announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, shown here, with architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future A paper version of the survey is also available at SMCC and the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop.
The Community Center announced in May its first-ever capital campaign to renew, rebuild, and revitalize its aged building in the Town’s Historic District. The renovation will allow the Community Center to double the number of children and adults served by the nonprofit’s programs and services. The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays along with youth, senior, and adult programs throughout the year. 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 the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit also recently announced its first-ever capital campaign supporting the adaptive redesign of its building, with more architectural renderings and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. |
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