 The St. Michaels Community Center is thrilled to announce the addition of Vicki Newman to its team as the youth programs coordinator. In her role, Newman plays a key role in developing and overseeing youth programs that enrich the lives of local children. A seasoned educator with a wealth of experience, Newman has a strong background in teaching and school administration. She served as an after-school principal in her hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, and later transitioned to the Eastern Shore, where she became a principal at the VQ Morningstar Youth Academy in Dorchester County. Newman expressed her passion for working with young people and her desire to make a positive impact on their lives. “I needed to find a new purpose in my retirement from full-time work because I can't just sit still,'” she shared. Newman's dedication to education and community engagement aligns seamlessly with the mission of St. Michaels Community Center. SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe expressed enthusiasm about Newman joining the team, stating, “Vicki brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for helping kids succeed. We are confident that her energy and commitment will contribute significantly to the success of our youth programs.” Newman—who has a Bachelor of Science degree in history and political science from Ohio University and a master's in educational administration from the same institution—is excited about her new role at SMCC. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, "The team are wonderful people and I admire Patrick’s leadership. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
One of Newman's key initiatives will be the development of a culinary program for middle school children. Drawing inspiration from her own family's background in culinary arts, Newman aims to provide valuable skills and experiences for local youth. St. Michaels Community Center, known for its inclusive and welcoming environment, is confident that Vicki Newman's expertise and passion will enhance its youth programs and contribute to the continued success of the organization. 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.
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 Christmas in St. Michaels, in its 37th year successfully raised $65,500 to donate to the needs of 19 beneficiaries in the Bay Hundred area. The event takes place annually on the second full weekend in December, with this year's dates set for December 13-15, 2024.
The event includes a House Tour, Breakfast with Santa, a Marketplace, a Saturday morning street parade, a Saturday night boat parade, an Old Fashioned Christmas dinner at Union United Church and to close the weekend gospel music at one of our local churches. This year’s beneficiaries include the St. Michaels Community Center, Bay Hundred Community Volunteers, Classic Motor Museum, Critchlow Adkins Children’s Center, St. Michaels Site, Jr. Achievement, Phillip Wharf Environmental, Pickering Creek, Royal Oak Methodist Church, St. Michaels in Bloom, St. Michaels YMCA, St. Michaels Fire Department, St. Michaels School After Prom Party, St. Michaels High School Athletics, St. Michaels Museum, St. Michaels Parent Teachers, SOS, TAYA, Talbot Community Connections, and the Tilghman Fire Department. Christmas in St. Michaels is grateful for the many volunteers who help pull this annual event together. Planning is underway for 2024 and like all organizations, they welcome volunteers! Please feel free to contact Linda Seemans at 410-829-0163 or Pat Martin at 302-750-7386. You can also find more information at christmasinstmichaels.org  From left: Preston Ford Sales Consultant Earl Wilson, St. Michaels Community Center Vice-Chair Langley Shook, St. Michaels resident Marsha Kacher, Preston Ford Sales Consultant Steven Sensibaugh, Jr., and Preston Ford Sales Consultant Tara Shuler stand in front of the Mazda Miata convertible Ms. Kacher donated in memory of her late husband, Russel. Preston Automotive is facilitating the sale and has written a generous check in support of SMCC’s building renovation project. In a heartwarming gesture of community support, Marsha Kacher, a resident of St. Michaels, Maryland, has ignited a wave of transformation by generously donating her late husband Russel's Mazda Miata convertible to the St. Michaels Community Center. The impactful donation, facilitated in collaboration with Preston Automotive Group, will help to complete the Community Center's ongoing building renovation project. Dr. Russel Kacher, a college professor and admired Commissioner of St. Michaels during the early 2000s, is fondly remembered for his dedication to the community. His legacy lives on through Marsha's thoughtful donation. “Russel would have loved this as SMCC does so much for our community,” she says. “Especially for the kids.” SMCC Vice-Chair Langley Shook, a personal friend of Dr. Kacher, expressed gratitude, stating, “Legacy gifts, including bequests and donations like Marsha’s, go a long way in furthering our mission. And we’re especially grateful for Preston Automotive Group’s partnership in facilitating this donation, which we hope can be the start of more opportunities like this in our future.” The renovations of SMCC's building at 103 Railroad Avenue, slated for completion and reopening in late spring, promise state-of-the-art spaces for children and adult programs, including a groundbreaking culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The revamped Community Center will boast classrooms, a spacious common area with cutting-edge audio-visual technology, and a modern commercial kitchen. This kitchen not only will train individuals for jobs in the hospitality industry but also serve as a hub for providing prepared meals and groceries to those in need. Preston Automotive Group President and CEO David Wilson, Jr., highlighted the significance of community values in their collaboration. “Community is a core value at the Preston Automotive Group, and we are grateful for this opportunity to partner with the St. Michaels Community Center and other organizations that do so much for our local community members in need.” Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area.
Learn more about SMCC's initiatives and building renovations at www.stmichaelscc.org and www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  The late Turk Cannon is seen dipping crabs as the sun breaks through a misty summer morning on the Miles River. Troubled Waters: Black Watermen is a program taking place on Saturday, February 17 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium. The free program is co-hosted by St. Michaels Community Conversations on Race, the St. Michaels Community Center, and the American Association of American Women in celebration of Black History Month, with limited seating and light lunches provided. Photo by Tracey F. Johns. Troubled Waters: Black Watermen is a program taking place on Saturday, February 17 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Van Lennep Auditorium of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The free program is in celebration of Black History Month, with limited seating and light lunches provided. The community conversation features four panelists discussing life on the Chesapeake Bay for black watermen, including Edzel Turner, James "Captain Buck" Lynch, Rev. Dr. William Wallace, and Captain Lamont Wright. The program is co-hosted by St. Michaels Community Conversations on Race, the St. Michaels Community Center, and the American Association of American Women, with inquiries taken by Deborah Colborn at 410-310-3125 or Anthony Smith at 410-350-5853. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area. Learn more about SMCC's initiatives and the program's panelists at www.stmichaelscc.org/adultprograms.  Community Center tackles hunger and empowers youth with help from United Fund of Talbot County grant2/7/2024  From left: MSCF Chief Program Officer Robbin Hill, SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, and MSCF President W.W. “Buck” Duncan. The St. Michaels Community Center recently announced the receipt of a generous grant from the United Fund of Talbot County, a philanthropic organization that provides economic support to local nonprofits serving the health and human services needs of Talbot County residents. Mid-Shore Community Foundation manages the grantmaking process for the United Fund, with the collaboration aiming to amplify community partnerships and donations, expanding impactful programs targeting youth development and addressing food insecurity. “Supporting SMCC’s food support and youth programs is an investment in building strength and resilience in our communities,” stated Robbin Hill, Chief Program Officer of Mid-Shore Community Foundation. SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe expressed gratitude for the Mid-Shore Community Foundation grant, emphasizing its significance in advancing the organization's commitment to empowering futures and nourishing lives. “This partnership exemplifies how private resources, when connected with public needs, can significantly enhance the quality of life for people in the Mid-Shore region,” he said.  Mid-Shore Community Foundation President W.W. “Buck” Duncan, left, and St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe take a tour of the Community Center’s renovations at the entrance of the building, SMCC's flagship initiative, "Empowering Futures," is a transformative youth program designed to empower at-risk and underserved youth. The program provides access to entrepreneurial education and STEM learning opportunities, equipping young individuals with essential skills for future success. This initiative disrupts cycles of disadvantage by fostering self-reliance, problem-solving abilities, and a sense of community. “The introduction of STEM concepts prepares participants for careers in high-demand fields, fostering innovation and reducing vulnerability to negative influences,” said Rofe. “Our program will also help open pathways to higher education and employment.” Complementing this initiative is "Nourishing Lives," he says, as part of SMCC’s response to the pressing issue of food insecurity within the community. This comprehensive program provides access to nutritious food and empowers vulnerable populations with essential knowledge and skills for healthy living. Addressing hunger and offering classes on chronic disease and diabetes self-management, smoking cessation, and nutrition, "Nourishing Lives" can directly improve the well-being of community members. The program reduces health disparities by targeting education on self-management and empowers individuals to make informed choices about their health and nutrition. “This program also fosters a sense of community and has the potential to reduce long-term healthcare burdens,” says Rofe.  Mid-Shore Community Foundation President W.W. “Buck” Duncan, left, and St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe step inside the commercial kitchen in the under-renovation Community Center. SMCC’s "Nourishing Lives," program is a response to the pressing issue of food insecurity within the community. This comprehensive program provides access to nutritious food and empowers vulnerable populations with essential knowledge and skills for healthy living. Rofe highlighted that these programs represent an expansion of existing initiatives and that SMCC is broadening its food distribution program to reach more people throughout the Bay Hundred area, including offering healthy living classes. The youth program expansion, launching in the renovated building, will now include middle through high school students. “Together, these initiatives create a brighter, more equitable future for all members of our community,” said Rofe. Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area.
Learn more about SMCC's initiatives and current building renovations at www.stmichaelscc.org and www.stmichaelscc.org/future. |
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