|
Board Chair Lori Morris: This new facility can and will support not only the enhancement of our existing programs but their expansion as well as the development of a wide array of new programs and activities. Proclaiming that “this new facility can and will support not only the enhancement of our existing programs, but their expansion as well as the development of a wide array of new programs and activities,” St. Michaels Community Center Board Chair Lori Morris led a dramatic, emotional ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of SMCC’s newly renovated building.
The highlight of the May 20 event was the remarks of SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, who provided a preview of the expanded programming that will be possible in the new building:
Rofe also emphasized that the new facility will support “far more interaction with the community,” noting that he “looks forward to many other organizations using our building for their programs and projects.” Current and former SMCC Board Members and staff joined local officials, SMCC program participants, and dozens of others in celebrating the conclusion of a three-year-long effort. Immediate Past Board Chair, and SMCC Campaign Committee Chair, Langley Shook recognized and thanked some of the many people and organizations whose contributions made the renovation possible, including the Town of St. Michaels, which was represented by Town Administrator Rob Straebel; key donors such as Tracy and Scott Wagner; Project Architect Mark McInturff, FAIA; the Reverend Steve Mosher and Christ Church, which generously provided working space to SMCC during the renovation; Landscape Designer Jan Kirsh; and the project’s General Contractor Harper & Sons, Inc., which was represented by Vice President Benson Harper. Introducing Shook, Morris noted that the project was “too large for any one person to have carried on their own,” but “at the same time, it is profoundly clear that the renovation would never have been completed without Langley Shook. “Generations of SMCC clients and program participants will have Langley Shook to thank for his efforts to strengthen this vital Center,” Morris said, adding “Every person trained in this Center, educated in this Center, entertained in this Center, and supported by the programs of the Center is in Langley’s debt.” After being introduced by Morris, as “a true champion of this project, and an indispensable trouble-shooter when, well, trouble needed to be shot,” Maryland State Senator Johnny Mautz focused his remarks on the importance of SMCC to the town of St. Michaels. He invited all those in attendance who had gone to St. Michaels Middle or High School to join him, as he presented a formal Senate Proclamation to the SMCC Board. “This is not just an official event, it’s a party,” Senator Mautz said, adding his personal thanks to all who “made this vision a reality.” Both Morris and Shook expressed special gratitude to U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, who were instrumental in securing $500,000 in direct federal financial support. On the occasion of the ribbon cutting, Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted “For more than three decades, St. Michaels Community Center has supported the Bay Hundred community – providing food, job training, after-school programs, and other resources for thousands of local families in need. To help them continue and expand upon this critical work, we fought to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to modernize their World War II-era warehouse into a more welcoming, accessible space. In this newly transformed location, SMCC can better serve the Talbot County community and empower its residents to succeed.” Senator Cardin also issued a statement of support, saying that “The St. Michaels Community Center is at the heart of the effort to advance economic opportunity and support residents from St. Michaels to Tilghman Island. Revitalizing SMCC will expand its already far-reaching impact for Talbot County residents.” Senator Cardin added, “Funding this renovation is just another example of how Team Maryland remains a strong partner in securing federal investments for community-led projects throughout Talbot County and across the state.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, Langley and Karen Shook—a past chair of the SMCC Board who played a critical role in the Capital Campaign—cut a red ribbon formally opening the newly renovated building. About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) The St. Michaels Community Center's mission is to serve, empower and connect our community. SMCC enhances the quality of life and serves the needs of our community through programs that enrich the lives of children, teens, seniors, and families; and recreational, social, and educational activities for residents of all ages regardless of ethnicity, gender, or economic status.
0 Comments
The St. Michaels Community Center hosted a ribbon cutting on Monday, May 20, 2024 to celebrate the completion of the renovations of our 103 Railroad Avenue location. The program began at 11 a.m. with the crowd gathering out front spilling into the street. Remarks were made before the ribbon-cutting by SMCC Chair Lori Morris, Executive Director Patrick Rofe, Vice-Chair Langley Shook, and Senator Johnny Mautz, followed by a tour of the building with refreshments inside. The St. Michaels Community Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.. to 5 p.m., with the community welcome to take a look inside, and consider volunteering in our bright, new, airy spaces to help more of our neighbors in need. Our Community Café and Pantry have also returned to 103 Railroad Avenue and are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., and serve nearly 2,500 weekly meals. Our Café provides freshly-made meals prepared in our new commercial kitchen and pantry bags for our neighbors in need from the Royal Oak Bridge to Tilghman Island. Eat-in, take-out, and delivery are available, Don't forget to stop by our Treasure Cove Thrift Shop while you are in historic St. Michaels, Maryland. We're located on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Fremont Street, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Video: Tour with Project Architect Mark McInturff, FAIAVideos: May 20, 2024 Remarks & Ribbon CuttingClick on any video to hear remarks from SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, Vice-Chair Langley Shook, Senator Johnny Mautz, and Chair Lori Morris. (You can enlarge any video by starting the video first, and then clicking on the arrows in the lower right hand corner of the video.)
Photos: Ribbon Cutting and Tours The St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park Series is returning to the waterfront Muskrat Park on Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning May 30 and continuing through Aug. 29. The sounds of summer begin with Junction 33 (JCT33) performing on May 30. The Eastern Shore-based band JCT 33 plays music from artists as diverse as Little Big Town, Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams, to Hall and Oats and Michael Jackson, from the Allman Brothers to Roseanne Cash, from the Grateful Dead to the Beatles to Norah Jones, and more. All 13 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website, with performances including Ampersand, The Comfort Zone Band, Black Dog Alley, Home Brew, and more. Local favorite Three Penny Opera will perform on July 18 followed by a special performance by international jazz saxophonist Anthony ‘Turk’ Cannon, who is from St. Michaels and will be returning to perform on July 24. 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 chairs, along with friends, family, neighbors, your leashed dog, or just yourself to enjoy the concerts. Picnics are encouraged, with alcohol prohibited. Popcorn, ice pops, bottled water, and other treats will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the neighbors in need 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. The St. Michaels Community Center’s newly renovated building at 103 Railroad Ave. is opening by late May, with expanded programs and services to include a 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. 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.  |
