Summer is winding down, but the events and programs at the Oxford Community Center are still heating up. From show and tells with classic boats, to blues bands, to military intelligence talks and a gardening workshop, there are activities for diverse interests.
On Thursday, Aug. 18 at 4pm, it’s a classic boat show and tell with Ebby DuPont. Take a look at his 1928 Chris-Craft “Dear Friend,” and see DuPont’s handiwork up close.”Dear Friend” was awarded best in show at last year’s Antique and Classic Boat Show, held Father’s Day weekend every year at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. The boat will be at OCC and DuPont will give a presentation about how he found her and the process of restoring a true classic boat.The program is free and open to the public. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
OCC’s Free Movie Night continues on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m., with “Winchester ’73.” This 1950 drama/western shares the journey of a prized rifle from one ill-fated owner to another, paralleling a cowboy’s search for a murderous fugitive. The film stars Jimmy Stewart and directed by Anthony Mann and was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2015. Beer and wine will be available to buy. Movie Nights are funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council.
On Saturday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m., the Back Porch Blues bring their signature style of easy blues to Oxford. Back Porch Blues is an all-star down-home acoustic trio consisting of the incredible guitar and vocal work of Eleanor Ellis, the blues harmonica virtuosity of Jay Summerour, and the percussion talents of Eric Selby. Together, they deliver real deal acoustic blues, from the Piedmont to the Hills to the Swamp, blues without compromise in a relaxed, fun musical atmosphere, just like sittin’ with friends having a jam session on the back porch. Back Porch Blues has performed at various venues throughout the country including the Greenwood Blues Cruise in South Carolina, The Music Center at Strathmore, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Tickets are $15 and beer and wine will be available to purchase.
Come learn about “Information Dominance – Military Intelligence in the Information Age,” on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m., as Earl Sheck and Marcia Loverdi give a talk on a topic that has more and more bearing on daily life around the world. Their presentation is free and open to the public and will provide an overview of the of U.S. foreign intelligence community with an emphasis on the evolution of military intelligence and the opportunities and challenges facing military intelligence in the information age. It will cover all aspects of military intelligence including: setting of intelligence requirements; the sources of intelligence data and the means by which it may be collected; the challenges facing intelligence analysis; and the various ways intelligence data are disseminated to, and used by, the military and its leadership.
Sheck spent over forty years in military intelligence – six years on active duty with the Navy, thirty years as a government civilian with Navy and Defense Intelligence, and another six years as a consultant. A member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service, Earl held positions as: the Executive Director, Navy Maritime Intelligence Center; Executive Director/Deputy Command of the Office of Naval Intelligence; Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence; and Deputy Director for Intelligence of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
LoVerdi spent 34 years in government service working for the defense department and national intelligence agencies in a variety of senior positions. She spent 8 years on active duty in Army intelligence, and commanded a technical intelligence unit. Her civilian life included policy, crisis management, and a variety of managerial roles for WMD, cyber warfare, and threat finance. She also served with the first Director for National Intelligence as his first liaison to defense intelligence, and worked with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency on nuclear weapons monitoring with Russia. She spent five years in overseas assignments as part of her career. She is a graduate of the National War College and holds two Masters degrees.
On Sept. 14 at 12 noon, there will be a “Town Talk” by Oxford Town Administrator Cheryl Lewis and Oxford Commissioner Carole Abruzzese highlighting the state of the town for Oxford. OCC’s “Town Talks” are free and designed to highlight different organizations, businesses, people, and topics that are a part of and of interest to the community.
On Sept. 21, at 10 a.m., come learn about, “Preparing Your Garden for Fall and Beyond,” with Master Gardener and Oxford Garden Club member Phyllis Rambo. Fall is an amazing season filled with colorful leaves, crisp air, and the anticipation of the winter to come. Then as winter ends, you long for the beauty and color of spring.But wait! What has happened to your beautiful gardens? They’re full of weeds, your dahlias are dead, and your evergreen shrubs are brown and shriveled. You go to the toolshed to find that your tools are rusty and your pruners are too dull to cut tissue paper. You ask yourself, “How did this happen?” The answer is simple; you forgot to winterize your garden and care for your tools. As fall beings and the weather cools and the daylightdwindles, there’s still gardening to be done. Rambo will lead a a discussion on fall garden tasks and tricks to maintain and enhanceyour gardens with minimal effort and prepare for a beautiful spring.
For more information on OCC or upcoming programs or events, please call 410-226-5904, like them on Facebook as “Oxford Community Center Inc.,” or visit their website at www.oxfordcc.org.
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