 Anthony Smith of Tilghman, Maryland has been named Community Engagement Coordinator at the St. Michaels Community Center. In this new role, Smith is responsible for fostering meaningful relationships between the Community Center and its stakeholders, including residents, donors, volunteers, and local businesses, and ensuring the services provided are relevant and effective in helping to improve the lives of those in the Bay Hundred and St. Michaels areas. “I’m very much looking forward to fortifying the connections between SMCC and the community in this role,” says Smith. “Serving as a liaison, I will be actively listening to the needs and concerns of community members to help align the center's programs and initiatives with our community needs.” The St. Michaels Community Center’s programs for children and adults have been recently put on pause due to the complete renovations now underway of its building at 103 Railroad Avenue, with a focus on outreach events until the renovations are completed in early 2024. Smith recently retired as St. Michaels Police Chief after more than 40 years serving in law enforcement and has served two terms on the St. Michaels Community Center’s Board of Directors. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University and his Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs in College Park. “Tony is a great asset to our community and has always been connected with the Community Center through our work with the S.M.Y.L.E program and more,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “He will keep the pulse on our community's evolving needs to ensure our work has the most impact on people's lives.” SMCC’s current renovations will provide state-of-the-art spaces for more children and adult programs, including a new culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The renovated Community Center will include several classrooms and a large common area for community gatherings, complete with audio-visual technology for presentations and screenings. The renovations also 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. “Our Community Café and Food Pantry are core to our mission, and we want to strengthen our relationships with the people we serve, in addition to those in our community at large,” said Rofe. “Tony is a known and respected leader and is already helping us achieve more outreach during his part-time work with us.” Rofe says initiatives that Smith is working on include partnering with S.M.Y.L.E. and the Perkins Family YMCA on a CPR and babysitting training program for middle schoolers. He says Smith has been instrumental in SMCC also joining forces with Union United Methodist Church to introduce a pumpkin painting contest and bring back the pie-making contest for the Fall into St. Michaels festival.
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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  October 19 is Chesapeake Landing Restaurant’s popular Lobster Nite, with donations made to St. Michaels Community Center during lunch and dinner when patrons mention the fundraiser at their table, or while making reservations. More is at www.chesapeakelandingrestaurant.com. Chesapeake Landing Restaurant at 23713 Tilghman Island Road in St. Michaels, Maryland is donating 10% of lunch and dinner sales on Thursday, October 19 to support the St. Michaels Community Center’s capital campaign to renovate its aged building on Railroad Avenue. The campaign has raised more than $4 Million to date and it’s in the final stage heading to a ribbon cutting at the building in March. October 19 is the restaurant’s popular Lobster Nite, with donations made to SMCC when patrons mention the fundraiser at their table, or while making reservations. The Community Center’s total building renovation will expand community food distribution and education services, including a modern commercial kitchen for a new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Workforce Development Program, and after-school programs for children. The new facility will include basic amenities lacking in the original World War II-era structure that was built to be a crude lumber warehouse. Included is a second-floor clerestory for offices, operating windows, proper insulation, a functional HVAC system, handicap accessibility, and more. The renovated Center also will include well-equipped classrooms and meeting spaces for children, summer camps, and adult education, along with a Technology Center to provide online classes offered by Chesapeake College and a home for a retail entrepreneurship training program. The flexible space will have a large atrium for lectures, performances, movies, and community gatherings. “We’re grateful for Chesapeake Landing’s support of our mission,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Proceeds from this fundraiser will help complete the building renovations to support our new culinary arts workforce training program that someday may prepare well-trained employees to work at Chesapeake Landing and other local restaurants.” SMCC anticipates doubling the number of people served after programming in the new building is operational. “SMCC’s priority commitment is to the needs of the region’s population who lack the resources to lift themselves from poverty,” said Rofe. “We will continue our long-time commitment to the food insecure and will add to that workforce development programming to enable individuals to transition to self-sufficiency.” The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community with year-round 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 residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. Architectural renderings of the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovated building and planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  The St. Michaels Community Center’s total building renovation will expand community food distribution and education services, including a modern commercial kitchen for a new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Workforce Development Program, shown here, and after-school programs for children. Photo Courtesy Harper & Sons, Inc.  Chesapeake Landing Restaurant is donating 10% of lunch and dinner sales on Thursday, October 19 to support the St. Michaels Community Center’s capital campaign to renovate its aged building on Railroad Avenue. The campaign has raised more than $4 Million to date and it’s in the final stage heading to a ribbon cutting at the building in March. Photo Courtesy Harper & Sons, Inc.  The St. Michaels Community Center, SMYLE - St. Michaels Youth & Law Enforcement & Union United Methodist Church of St. Michaels, Maryland are hosting the 2023 Fall into St. Michaels Baking Contest, with Bakers needed in our three categories:
Reserve your spot in the competition by October 19 by emailing Patrick at [email protected]. You can also find all the Fall into St. Michaels details here.  Learn techniques and tips from trained chefs that are sure to have your holiday guests’ palates dancing with joy with two courses beginning this fall and offered by the St. Michaels Community Center and Chesapeake College. Led by SMCC Executive Chef Kerri Clear, the St. Michaels community of star chefs will be sharing and showing the techniques they use during the holidays to excite you and your guests and families during this special time of year. “Our participants raved about our inaugural culinary classes this past spring, so we’re really excited to be offering these holiday cooking courses this fall,” said Clear. “Our class sizes are kept small so that participants can work alongside trained chefs in an atmosphere that builds confidence in the kitchen and camaraderie among our participants.” “Preparing the Perfect Holiday Meal: Turkey & the Fixins” is class CET 272 9A and takes place on Wednesday, November 1 from 6-9 p.m. In this class, participants will work alongside experienced chefs to focus on exciting holiday meals including salt brining, turkey roasting and carving techniques, preparing butternut squash & Yukon gold "mille feuille," 1000 roasted layers, Farmer's Market vegetable hash, seasonal vinaigrettes, and pecan pie.
“Preparing the Perfect Holiday Meal: Roasting a Leg of Lamb” is class CET 273 9A and takes place on Wednesday, December 6 from 6-9 p.m. In this class, participants will work alongside experienced chefs to focus on roasting a leg of lamb and preparing vegetable ratatouille, the perfect potato puree, and exquisite holiday meringues. Each class takes place at the St. Michaels Community Center and includes two hours of cooking lessons and one hour for a family-style dinner with students and instructors sharing the prepared meal together. Course fees are $95 per participant, per class. Class sizes are limited, with advanced registration with Chesapeake College made at www.chesapeake.edu/ce-search and entering the class number. 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. With the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, you can save on your bill and may be able to get high-speed internet for free. Qualification for the program can be based on income, or if you, or your child or dependent are enrolled in government programs like Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, or others. Learn more and apply online here. Need help with the application? Reach out to SMCC here. 
St. Michaels Community Center receives record private foundation grant to support capital campaign8/30/2023 Rofe: We are grateful to the Weinberg Foundation for its generosity and for its commitment to our shared goal of meeting the essential needs of every member of our community, especially the neediest and most vulnerable among us. With a grant of $500,000 from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the largest it has ever received from a private foundation, the St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) is poised to finish the total renovation of its aged building and provide enhanced services to the most vulnerable in the Bay Hundred area of Talbot County and throughout the Mid-Shore. “This grant is truly a difference maker for us,” SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe noted. “We are grateful to the Weinberg Foundation for its generosity,” he continued, “and for its commitment to our shared goal of meeting the essential needs of every member of the community, especially the neediest and most vulnerable among us. Adequate nutrition, a safe environment in which to learn and play, access to training, and appropriate educational offerings are the basic building blocks of human dignity. This crucial grant will make a profound difference in SMCC’s ability to serve our community. When SMCC reopens early next year the new facilities – well-equipped classrooms, a technology center, and a modern commercial kitchen – will allow for expanded programming in four broad categories:
“St. Michaels Community Center plays a critical role in serving the Eastern Shore,” said Earl Millett, Managing Director at the Weinberg Foundation. “We are pleased to support its efforts to meet people where they are and expand services to provide the space and support the community needs.” SMCC is close to completing its $4.5 million Capital Campaign. SMCC Board Chair Langley Shook notes that “At the outset of the campaign, we knew we would need to succeed on three levels – government support, private donations, and foundation grants. I am gratified that thanks to the hard work of our entire team and the generosity of our scores of supporters, we have done just that: We have received $1.75 million from the State of Maryland, the Federal government, and the town of St. Michaels; more than $1.5 million in donations from individuals; and $750,000in major foundation grants. “I am moved and impressed, but not surprised, by the generous support of our donors. St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area are special places,” Shook added. “We know how much the need for SMCC’s services has grown; now we will be able to provide what our community needs and deserves.” About the St. Michaels Community Center The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community with year-round 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 residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. Architectural renderings of the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovated building and planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/homestretch.  Performing artist EmiSunshine is traveling from Tennessee to perform at the waterfront Muskrat Park in St. Michaels, Maryland on August 24 as part of the St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park series. The performance begins at 6:00 p.m. and marks EmiSunshine’s debut performance in Talbot County. EmiSunshine is a 19-year-old superstar of Americana music & plays ukulele. She has performed at the Grand Ole Opry a dozen times, has written more than 200 songs, and achieved top 20 status on American Idol. Emi has been attracting national attention since the age of nine, with appearances on “The Today Show,” NBC’s “Little Big Shots,” “Pickler & Ben,” the Grand Ole Opry, and elsewhere. In 2018, she was featured in the Grammy-nominated Elvis Presley documentary film “The King,” alongside Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Ashton Kutcher, Alec Baldwin, and other stars. 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. Treats and drinks will be available for cash purchase, with proceeds benefiting the children and adults served by the St. Michaels Community Center. Plenty of locally-owned restaurants, places to shop, and parking are also nearby. The free concert series is made possible through generous sponsorship support and ends on August 31, when Maryland’s hottest 80s new wave party band, Saved by Zero takes the gazebo stage with an irresistible force of high-energy entertainment sure to rock the park. 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.  Helping neighbors in need throughout St. Michaels and surrounding communities just became less challenging for the St. Michaels Community Center through the financial support of several granting organizations and partners. Supporting the St. Michaels Community Center’s food distribution services include recent grants from the Maryland Food Bank and the Easton Village Homeowners Association. Qlarant Foundation of Easton, Maryland provided its second grant to SMCC, this time in support of the Healthy Living Program. The Mid-Shore Community Foundation additionally provided a grant in support of the Community Center’s expanding programs.  From left: Qlarant Foundation Board Vice Chair Amanda Neal, St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, and Qlarant CEO Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr. with a check for $10,000 supporting SMCC's Healthy Living program. “Hunger remains a reality for many of our neighbors,” says SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “So, this support from the Maryland Food Bank and Easton Village’s HOA will help to lift our neighbors in need from a place of despair to a place of hope.” Rofe says SMCC’s Community Café & Pantry provides the equivalent of more than 2,200 nutritious meals to local individuals and families each week, with those served including many of the area’s aging and disabled, along with families in the workforce. The program receives limited support from St. Vincent de Paul of Easton and the Maryland Food Bank and is supplemented to meet the community’s needs through grants and private, tax-deductible donations. Qlarant Foundation's award supports SMCC’S Healthy Living Program—a series of evidence-based, health education self-management classes covering chronic disease, diabetes, tobacco cessation, and healthy cooking. These classes strengthen underserved populations and improve health resiliency and outcomes. “The St. Michaels Community Center conducted surveys in 2020 and 2022 to understand more about our community’s needs,” says Rofe. “Our programs are evolving in response to this feedback and give us more opportunities to build community partnerships like that with the Talbot County Health Department and the Healthy Living Program. The Mid-Shore Community Foundation’s donation supports SMCC’s activities and programs for children and adults, which include upcoming community block parties, a fatherhood program, and two fall culinary classes with Chesapeake College. Children’s programs will recommence when SMCC’s building renovations are completed in 2024. Other MSCF funders to SMCC’s programs include the Ferree Donor-Advised Fund, The Arthur H. Kudner, Jr. Fund, The Katra Donor Advised Fund, and The Reynolds/Cristiano Fund.
During the year-long renovation, SMCC is operating temporarily from office space generously donated by Christ Church, St. Michaels, and leased space at 207 N. Talbot St. where the Community Café & Pantry are open three days a week. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community with year-round programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Tax deductible donations to SMCC and sales proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop across the street on Railroad Ave. help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. Architectural renderings of the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovated building and planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/homestretch. The St. Michaels Community Center is helping dads and men learn or brush up on their fathering skills with a program beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 7:00 p.m. The course consists of 12 weekly sessions ending on Dec. 19 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. “The dads who have come through our program say they really value the skills and insight the course provided, but more importantly they’re appreciative of the friendships they’ve made with other fathers by participating in the course,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Now they have a community of dads as their own sort of support group, which further helps them 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 once again in reaching fathers in St. Michaels and throughout the Bay Hundred area.” 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 [email protected]. 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.  From left: Foxy’s Harbor Grille’s Terye Knopp, St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, Eastern Shore Brewing’s Ace Moritz, and The Crab Claw Restaurant’s Tracey Jones-Wass. St. Michaels Brewfest recently donated $1,500 to SMCC, with the funds supporting the people served by SMCC’s activities and programs, including its Community Café and Pantry. St. Michaels and its neighboring communities just received a boost of support through a recent $1,500 donation from St. Michaels Brewfest to the St. Michaels Community Center. The funding supports the programs and activities of SMCC, including its Community Café and Pantry. “While many of us are enjoying summer breaks and vacations with our families, one thing that remains constant with our Community Café & Pantry is that hunger doesn’t take a summer break,” says SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “So, this type of support can go a long way in helping to lift our neighbors in need.” Rofe says this summer brings more hunger for SMCC’s Community Café & Pantry to address, as many families face limited school meals or reduced SNAP benefits. This was the 9th year for St. Michaels Brewfest, with the event including 40 breweries and welcoming more than 1,000 guests to St. Michaels. Brewfest also donated $1,500 to the St. Michaels Police Department’s S.M.Y.L.E. program. “We love putting on this annual event and supporting our community in this meaningful way,” says Foxy’s Harbor Grille owner and Brewfest organizer Terye Knopp. “It’s a great way to see returning and new faces to our annual festival while doing a great deal of good in our community.” 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 surrounding communities. More about the programs and activities of SMCC is at www.stmichaelscc.org, with more about St. Michaels Brewfest at www.stmichaelsbrewfest.com. July 12, 2023, Easton, MD — Qlarant Foundation held their annual award event and provided grants to 23 non-profit organizations during the 2023 Grant Awards Celebration held at the company’s corporate offices in Easton, Maryland. The recipients were selected from over 100 applications from across Maryland and the District of Columbia. In total, $440,500 in grants and gifts ranging from $3,500 to $35,000 were awarded. Since 2008, the Foundation has awarded over $6.6 Million to 122 organizations, including the St. Michaels Community Center.  From left: Qlarant Foundation Board Vice Chair Amanda Neal, St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe, and Qlarant CEO Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr. with a check for $10,000 supporting SMCC's Healthy Living program. Qlarant Foundation's 2023 award to SMCC supports the Healthy Living Program--a series of evidence-based, health education self-management classes covering chronic disease, diabetes, tobacco cessation, and healthy cooking. These classes strengthen underserved populations and improve health resiliency and outcomes. By providing these classes to the underserved population in the Bay Hundred and throughout Talbot County, St. Michaels Community Center hopes to ultimately improve health outcomes such as obesity and diabetes. Learn more about Qlarant Foundation's 2023 Awardees here. Shore United Bank is helping to serve local children and adults with an investment of $10,000 supporting the St. Michaels Community Center’s capital campaign to renovate its aged building at 103 Railroad Ave. The renovations began in late 2022 and are on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023. “At Shore United Bank, we’re more than just bankers, we’re bankers who care,” said Shore United Bank Vice President, Branch Manager Parker Spurry. “Investing in the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovations and giving back in this way can make a lasting impression on someone’s life and throughout our entire community. That’s very meaningful to us as a company and as individual bankers.”  From left: SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, Shore United Bank Asst. Branch Manager, Morgan Danenmann, Shore United Bank Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Banking Officer, Jennifer Joseph, Shore United Bank St. Michaels Vice President, Branch Manager Parker Spurry, and SMCC Board of Directors Chair Langley Shook stand at the St. Michaels Branch of Shore United Bank. The funding supports the Community Center’s total renovation of its World War II-era building that originally was a lumber warehouse. The renovated structure will include modern, well-equipped classrooms for after-school programs, summer camps, and adult education, along with a Technology Center to provide online classes offered by Chesapeake College and a home for a retail entrepreneurship training program. “Shore United Bank’s support of our first-ever capital campaign is a gift that will keep on giving,” said SMCC Board Chair Langley Shook. “Their investment in these major renovations will serve generations of children and adults well beyond our lifetimes.  An interior rendering of the renovated St. Michaels Community Center at 103 Railroad Ave. includes new spaces for classrooms, community gatherings, and a new commercial kitchen. More about the renovations is at www.stmichaelscc.org/homestretch. Image courtesy McInturff Architects. Shook says additional charitable donations and grants are needed to reach the project’s fundraising goal of $4.5M, which includes establishing an endowment fund to support the nonprofit’s growing operations. “We anticipate doubling the number of people we serve after our programming in the new building is operational,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “So, this investment will go a long way in impacting the lives of the children and adults we serve from Oak Creek Bridge down to Tilghman Island.”  A new covered front porch takes shape at the St. Michaels Community Center now under major renovations. Shore United Bank recently invested $10,000 in support of the St. Michaels Community Center’s capital campaign to renovate its aged building at 103 Railroad Ave. The renovations began in late 2022 and are on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023. Rofe says the renovated center also will help to meet the expanding needs for the Community Center’s food distribution services, which now provide more than 2,200 weekly meals through the nonprofit’s Community Café and pantry. A modern commercial kitchen will be used for a new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Workforce Development Program.
During the year-long renovation, SMCC is operating temporarily from office space generously donated by Christ Church, St. Michaels, and leased space at 207 N. Talbot St. where the Community Café and pantry are open three days a week. The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community with year-round programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Tax deductible donations to SMCC and sales proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop across the street on Railroad Ave. help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. Architectural renderings of the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovated building and planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/homestretch.  The roof extension over a new front porch takes shape at the St. Michaels Community Center now under complete renovation at 103 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, Md. Harper & Sons, Inc. of Easton, Md. is the contractor for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Fundraising continues in support of the renovations, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. Photo Credit: Harper & Sons, Inc. Carpenter & Photographer Bryan Paul. The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is helping to support the people served by the St. Michaels Community Center with an investment of $250,000 for the nonprofit’s building renovation capital campaign. The funding supports the Community Center’s total renovation of its aged building to expand community food distribution and education services, including a modern commercial kitchen for a new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Workforce Development Program. The building renovation is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023. Additional charitable donations and grants are needed to close a $900,000 fundraising gap to reach the project’s $4.5 Million goal. “The Clark Foundation supports the work of organizations with strong leadership and values that reflect those of our founder and my father, A. James Clark,” said Foundation Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick. “This investment is aligned with our mission of ensuring organizations like the St. Michaels Community Center have the resources they need to grow and support their communities today and in the future.”   A June 15, 2023 street-view photo (top photo) and rendering of the renovated St. Michaels Community Center, anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023. The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is helping to support the people served by the St. Michaels Community Center with a $250,000 investment for the nonprofit’s building renovation capital campaign, with other donors invited to participate.  A recent look inside, with new second-story office spaces now being constructed. Credit: Harper & Sons, Inc. Carpenter & Photographer Bryan Paul. During the year-long renovation, the St. Michaels Community Center is operating from temporary office space generously donated by Christ Church, St. Michaels, and leased space where the former Key Lime Café and Crab ‘N’ Que restaurants used to be on Talbot Street. The new facility will include amenities once lacking in the original World War II-era structure that was built to be a crude lumber warehouse. There will be a second-floor clerestory for offices, operating windows, proper insulation, a functional HVAC system, handicap accessibility, and more. Future programming and functionality of the renovated community center followed opinions and suggestions by residents of St. Michaels and the surrounding areas. “We conducted a community needs assessment survey in 2020 of people from Royal Oak to Tilghman Island,” said Langley Shook, the Community Center’s Board Chair. “Respondents were clear in detailing the community’s needs for a technology center, workforce development programs, arts and culture, and much more.” The renovated Center also will include equipped classrooms for after-school programs, summer camps, and adult education, along with a Technology Center to provide online classes offered by Chesapeake College and a home for a retail entrepreneurship training program. “This investment will help us have the improved facilities needed to support our food distribution program and a new culinary arts workforce training program, for example, which will benefit the participants and local restaurants in need of well-trained employees,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “We’d like to start a Farm-to-Table program related to nutrition and health and growing fruits and vegetables in our 40 community garden plots.”  The renovations now underway at the St. Michaels Community Center include a fully equipped modern commercial kitchen to expand food distribution and meal service to those in need and training for jobs in restaurants and hotels. Bright, well-equipped classrooms and a multipurpose room for community gatherings are included in the plans, with the Community Center anticipating double the number of people making use of the Center compared to today’s participation levels, once the new building is fully operational. SMCC anticipates doubling the number of people served after programming in the new building is operational. “SMCC’s priority commitment is to the needs of the region’s population who lack the resources to lift themselves from poverty,” said Rofe. “We will continue our long-time commitment to the food insecure and will add to that workforce development programming to enable individuals to transition to self-sufficiency.” About the St. Michaels Community Center The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community with year-round 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 residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. Architectural renderings of the St. Michaels Community Center’s renovated building and planned capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future. About the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation partners with organizations to strengthen their ability to meet the needs of the individuals, families, and communities they serve. In keeping with Mr. Clark’s desire to spend down within a decade and maximize the impact of this funding, the Clark Foundation established its current philanthropic model in 2016. The Foundation focuses its philanthropy in three strategic areas: educating future engineering leaders, improving the lives of veterans and their families, and providing members of the DC community the best opportunity to thrive. To learn more, visit: www.clarkfoundationdc.org.   Dear Community Friend, I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. As the Executive Director of St. Michaels Community Center, I want to share with you a heartwarming story about a family in our community and how our food distribution program has made a significant difference in their lives. Sandra*, a young girl from the family, has shared her story with us about how our food pantry and community café have impacted her family. Sandra's family consists of three generations living under the same roof, and with six mouths to feed, it is challenging for them to make ends meet. They have been struggling to put food on the table, and it has been challenging for them to make nutritious meals. Sandra told us that before they discovered our food distribution program, they often had to skip meals, and sometimes her parents had to go without food so that the children could eat. She says, "It was really tough sometimes. My mom and dad worked hard, but they still couldn't pay for everything we needed. I've been hungry a lot. Sometimes we've had to go to bed without dinner. School was harder when I was hungry all the time."   However, since they started receiving food from our food pantry and community café, things have improved significantly. Sandra said, "Now we have food in the house all the time. Mom gets fruits and vegetables, and we even get meat and eggs. Plus, the food is really good." Sandra also mentioned that the program has helped her grandparents, who live with her family. They are on a fixed income, and it is often hard for them to make ends meet. Sandra says, "My grandparents need the food program too. It's helped them save money on groceries, and they don't have to worry about buying enough food for all of us." It is stories like Sandra's that remind us of the importance of our food distribution program. No one should have to go hungry, especially not families with children and seniors who are already struggling to make ends meet. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of our community to continue providing essential programs like our food distribution program. We are asking for your support to ensure that families like Sandra's continue to have access to healthy food. Your donation can make a significant impact on the lives of families in our community. Just $50 can provide a week's worth of food for a family of four. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference in the lives of those we serve. With your support, we can continue to provide healthy food options and create a more equitable community for everyone. Thank you for your time and consideration. In gratitude,  Patrick Rofe Executive Director PS Your support makes a big difference in someone’s life. Please make a donation by clicking here or using the button below. Thank you! *Individual’s name has been changed to protect privacy. The St. Michaels Community Center is a 501(C)(3) registered non-profit, with your donations deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please consider helping our neighbors in need as part of your legacy by including the St. Michaels Community Center in your estate plans.   Southbound returns to Concerts in the Park on July 27 beginning at 6 p.m. at the waterfront Muskrat Park in historic St. Michaels. The sponsor-supported series is presented by the St. Michaels Community Center, with proceeds from the cash sale of treats and drinks helping our neighbors in need. The St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park Series will now begin at 6 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 8 and continuing through Aug. 31 at the waterfront Muskrat Park. “We’re grateful to the Commissioners of St. Michaels for supporting this later start time in their permit approval,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. Rofe says the concerts were originally set to start at 5:30 p.m., with the start time change made in response to community feedback. Eastern Shore-based Rosewood kicks off the series on June 8, with 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. Concerts in the Park | Muskrat Park | Historic St. Michaels 2023 Music Line-Up: June 8 - Rosewood June 15 - JCT 33 June 22 - Sarah Campbell June 29 - New & Used Bluegrass July 6 - Blues Deville July 13 - Ampersand July 20 - Down the Road July 27 - Southbound August 3 - Three Penny Opera August 10 - Chris Noyes August 17 - Spark in Da Pan August 24 - EmiSunshine August 31 - Saved by Zero 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. Treats and drinks 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, Carpenter Street Saloon, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Diana’s Tilton Hilton, Eastern Shore Ship | Print | Connect, Foxy’s Harbor Grille, The Galley St. Michaels Gina’s Café, Guilford & Company, The Harmon Family, Higgins & Spencer, Higgins Yacht Yard, Hopkins Sales Company, Justine’s Ice Cream, Kevertin Pet Resorts, Log Canoe Inn, Love & Dreams Bay Cruises, Marasun Roofing, Mid-Atlantic Waste System, Olde Town Candy Company, Ophiuroidea "The O", Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts, The Preppy Redneck, Rebecca Thomas Events, Ruse Restaurant, Shore Orthopedics, Shore United Bank, Simpatico Italy’s Finest, St. Michaels Running Company, Talbot Watermen Association, Tickler’s Crab Shack, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Total Home Performance, Town & Country Wine, Liquor, Etc., Wades Point Inn on the Bay, The Wildset Hotel, and Wylder Hotels. Links for more about our sponsors can be found here. 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.  June 1, 2023 Update: Concerts will now being at 6p.m. This story has been updated.
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 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. Treats and drinks 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. Early 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.  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 [email protected] 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.
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