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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.
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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. ##### (ST. MICHAELS, MD – December 20, 2021) The St. Michaels Community Center recently received a No Kid Hungry grant in support of its ongoing food distribution program for children and families experiencing food insecurity in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred communities. Maryland’s Bay Hundred area is a rural and mostly agricultural area that extends from St. Michaels to Tilghman Island. SMCC’s food distribution program includes a food bank and community food pantry; a weekend backpack program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children nutrition outreach and services; after school and childcare meals and snacks; summer program participant meals; and more. No Kid Hungry is a national child hunger organization working to end childhood hunger. The national campaign is run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world, with more at www.nokidhungry.org. “The St. Michaels Community Center is the only nonprofit in the Bay Hundred area whose primary mission is to provide services to economically disadvantaged residents,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “We also serve people in crisis and emergency situations, including those suffering from the effects of fire, flood, eviction, job loss, or other special circumstances.” Rofe says 1 in 5 children nationwide are food insecure – that means hungry—with 43% of Talbot public school kids receiving free or reduced-price school meals. “The $10K No Kid Hungry grant will be used to serve more than 1,000 of our local youth facing food insecurity,” says Rofe. “We still need to count on donor support each year to help meet our community’s needs, but this grant helps to offset the costs of making sure no one goes hungry throughout the entire year, and especially during the holidays.” The Community Center also participates in the Talbot County Hunger Coalition to help eliminate food insecurity for low-income individuals and families in Talbot County. The Center’s Community Café and pantry are open three days a week to provide meals and groceries for anyone in need, with limited local delivery provided by a group of dedicated volunteers. The St. Michaels Community Center also hosts food drives and holiday meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, along with year-round engaging programs and activities for children and adults. Tax-deductible donations to the St. Michaels Community Center are being 100% matched through December, and can be made online at www.stmichaelscc.org. Proceeds from the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop in St. Michaels, Md. also help the nonprofit provide year-round community programs and services that serve, empower, and connect people from throughout the Bay Hundred area.  The St. Michaels Community Center is surveying the local community to help shape its future programs and services. St. Michaels and Bay Hundred area residents are encouraged to participate, with the 3-minute survey available online at bit.ly/smccsurvey20.
A paper version of the survey will also be also available at the St. Michaels Post Office, Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, Graul’s Market, local churches, and more. “Our current programming is emergency focused and already has a very strong purpose that will continue well into the near future,” said SMCC Advisory Board Member Karen Footner. “The information received in this very short survey will help inform the case for supporting the long term future of SMCC.” SMCC announced in April that the Maryland General Assembly has appropriated funds that must be matched for an engineering study and architectural design to renovate SMCC’s building at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels. Built for use as a lumber warehouse in 1940, SMCC’s building has received minimal upgrades since then. State Senator Adelaide Eckardt and State Delegate John Mautz sponsored the bill, with SMCC Advisory Board member Langley Shook testifying at a joint hearing to support the bill. “Our community and the SMCC team thank the generous donors who already have matched these State funds as required by the legislation,” said Shook. “The people of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area need and deserve a sounder, safer facility to better serve the community– something we all can be proud of. This is made more evident during the current COVID-19 crisis, where SMCC has been designated as the Bay Hundred’s Food Distribution Hub.” 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. Charitable donations to SMCC and sales proceeds from its Treasure Cove thrift shop in St. Michaels support the nonprofit’s year-round programs and services for people from throughout the Bay Hundred area. A link to the needs assessment survey and more information is at stmichaelscc.org.  (ST. MICHAELS, MD – April 1, 2020) The St. Michaels Community Center recently announced the Maryland General Assembly appropriated $25,000 in bond bill financing toward the cost of an engineering study and architectural design to renovate its building at 103 Railroad Ave., St. Michaels.
Built for use as a lumber warehouse in 1940, SMCC’s building has received minimal upgrades since then. State Senator Adelaide Eckardt and State Delegate John Mautz sponsored the bill, with SMCC Advisory Board member Langley Shook testifying at a joint hearing to support the bill. “This legislation requires us to match these funds through private donations,” said Shook. “The people of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area need and deserve a sounder, safer facility to better serve the community– something we all can be proud of. This is made more evident during the current COVID-19 crisis, where SMCC has been designated as the Bay Hundred’s Food Distribution Hub.” 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 stmichaelscc.org. |
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