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November 26, 2022

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

News News Notes

Talbot County DSS Hosts Thanks for Giving Event in Recognition of National Adoption Month

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Last year, over 114,000 children and youth were waiting to be adopted and at risk of aging out of foster care without permanent family connections across the United States. This year, in recognition of National Adoption Month, the Talbot County Department of Social Services hosted a “Thanks for Giving” event in Easton in appreciation of the foster and adoptive parents in Talbot County who have stepped up and taken a role in the lives of youth who need permanent family connections.

According to the Children’s Bureau (childwelfare.gov), older children are at greater risk for aging out of foster care without permanent family connections. More than one in five children waiting to be adopted are teens. National Adoption Month is an initiative of the Children’s Bureau that seeks to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S. foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth engagement.

Pictured left to right are Linda Webb, Director of Talbot County Department of Social Services (TCDSS); Chrissy Montague. Coordinator, Option Respite & Parent Education for TCDSS; Debbe Fairbank, Director of Adult Services, TCDSS; and participants Emily Dutt, Dan Zollinhofer, Sue Zollinhofer, Jeanne Scharf, Daisy Scharf, and Leslie Scharf.

Twelve area families participated in the “Thanks for Giving” event which included a fall family craft, outdoor games, and cupcakes and cider. Each family also took home a Thanksgiving meal.

“Our foster and adoptive parents are amazing. They step up in so many ways when we need them and this was one of the ways of saying thank you for their dedication and service,” comments Paris Quillet, Special Projects Coordinator, TCDSS.

“We continue to need more foster and adoptive parents to help meet the needs of children of all ages, most recently including infants and school-aged children. We also get requests from time to time for sibling groups and older teens who are aging out of foster care soon and need guidance in transitioning into adulthood. Our goal is to find the right family for each situation.”

For further information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at 410-820-7371 or visit midshoreresourceparents.com.

Talbot Department of Social Services Provides Autism Presentation for Foster Parents

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Talbot Department of Social Services recently provided a presentation on autism for foster parents across the Mid-Shore as part of its ongoing educational training. Sean Logie, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Talbot Child Psychology, LLC, shared experiences of children diagnosed with autism and explained important considerations of children with autism, including comorbid disorders, social communication, sensory processing, sleep, and school. He also presented success stories and how important autism evaluations and applied behavioral analysis are to caring for children with autism.

“A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder tells you very little about a child. Children with this diagnosis vary widely in the gifts that they have and the challenges they face. It’s important for parents to know that there are many services and resources available to help with most challenges. This includes medical and mental health services, sleep, feeding, sensory integration, and navigating school,” Dr. Logie commented.

Seated, left to right are Sean Logi, Nancy Downes, Audrey Hansen, Norwood Caldwell, and Sandra Caldwell. Standing, left to right, are Michelle Laisure, Sarah Baynard, Brian Flaherty, and Jessica Flaherty

“It’s important for parents involved in a child’s life to be their strongest advocate. If you are facing a challenge that you think is unique, chances are that it’s not. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, rally for support, and challenge any system that is not able to provide what your child needs.”

Christine Montague, Coordinator, Option Respite & Parent Education for the Talbot County Department of Social Services, who organizes these foster parent training, states, “Programs like this one are so valuable to our foster parents, especially now as they have to meet a variety of needs in the children whom they foster. This program was enlightening to many of our parents and provided a great addition to their skill sets.”

For further information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at 410-820-7371 or visit midshoreresourceparents.com.

Earth Data Completes Trail Maintenance at Pickering Creek Audubon Center

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Earth Data recently completed trail maintenance at Pickering Creek Audubon Center as part of its Earth Data Gives program. The Center’s property features a variety of habitats including mature hardwood forest, fresh and brackish marsh, meadow, tidal and non-tidal wetlands, over a mile of shoreline on a tidal creek, and cropland.

The Earth Data Gives program was started by the company to give back to the community. Over the years, Earth Data employees have helped support the health of the Chesapeake Bay, Cub Scouts’ summer camps, ending the global vision epidemic, stocking fish with the Department of Natural Resources, building oyster cages, and providing CarePacks to local students.

Pictured front row, left to right, are Tina Wright and Shawn Stabile. Pictured back row, left to right, are Jeff Chipman, Scott Wolf, Jake Bram, Ron McDonald, Mark Williams, Kalya Warhola, Jennifer Marshall, and Ted Trumbull.

“Earth Data believes that giving makes our communities thrive, our employees passionate about more than work, and Earth Data an encouragement to those around us. Pickering Creek is an important environmental nonprofit that is teaching about the importance of environmental stewardship – something my employees care a lot about,” said Mark Williams, CEO, of Earth Data, Inc.

Samantha Pitts, Community Partnerships Coordinator, at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, said that Earth Data brought an energetic crew of 10 volunteers to do trail maintenance at the Center’s site in Easton.

“The Earth Data employees worked together well as individual volunteers and great as a team. They brought cheer and joy to the job and I feel like they enjoyed it too.  The trail looked fantastic when they were done,” she stated.

Pitts shared that Pickering Creek Audubon Center is committed to maintaining its trails for visitor use. The organization’s mission is to conserve natural habitats on Maryland’s Eastern Shore by engaging and empowering the community through exploration, education, and stewardship. Volunteers donate thousands of hours each year maintaining trails, monitoring the 60 nest box Eastern Bluebird trail, implementing habitat restoration projects, and tending the gardens, buildings, and grounds.

“We enjoy having organizations like Earth Data volunteer with us. It was especially nice that they reached out to us and share our environmental values. That’s important to us,” she added.

Pictured left to right are Jennifer Marshall, Tina Wright, and Kayla Warhola.

In addition to giving back through its environmental work, the Earth Data Giving Program encourages all Earth Data Incorporated employees to help others. It provides employees with paid public-service hours for volunteer work done to support local charities and others, such as helping feed school kids on the weekends, cleaning hiking trails, supporting elementary school reading programs, and teaching kids about the world around them by using maps and GIS.

For 47 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Bayside Quilters Hosts Quilts and Handcrafted Holiday Sale

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To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is hosting a Quilts and Handcrafted Gifts Holiday Sale on November 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. and November 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Trappe Firehall at 4001 Powell Avenue in Trappe. The sale will feature upward of 80 quilts, wall hangings, and other handmade items, perfect for the holiday gift-giving season. The quilt sale will help fund the guild’s community outreach efforts.

Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is a nonprofit quilt guild of nearly 100 members from the Delmarva and Mid-Shore area who for 30 years have been sharing an interest in all aspects of the art of quilting. Education and community outreach are the organization’s main focus. Over their 30 years, they have distributed thousands of quilts to the hospital, hospices, Early Head Start, shelters, and other organizations in need. The guild meets on the second Wednesday of the month in the Trappe Firehall at 9:30 a.m. Anyone with an interest in quilting is welcome to join. For more information, email baysidequilters@gmail.com.

The Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore Quilt Sale will feature upward of 80 quilts, wall hangings, and other handmade items, perfect for the holiday gift-giving season.

Jack Gottschalk Appointed Haven Ministries Board of Directors President

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Pictured is Jack Gottschalk of Wye Mills, the new Board President of Haven Ministries.

Jack Gottschalk of Wye Mills has been appointed President of the Haven Ministries Board of Directors. Gottschalk served as a business consultant and has also held several executive-level positions in Fortune 500 corporations that included plastics, rubber, military products, electronics, railroad, education, food, and health care. He worked with the Hershey Foods Corporation and retired from Children’s National Medical Center as Vice President of Human Resources. He holds a Ph.D. in Organization Behavior and a master’s degree in Human Resources. He has served on the Haven Ministries Board of Directors for three years.

“While serving on the Board of Directors, I quickly discovered how sincerely and completely committed our leadership, staff, volunteers, and member churches are to fulfilling God’s work by helping others. It is so very rewarding for our entire team to know we are directly making a difference in the lives of others,” Gottschalk comments.

Gottschalk is working with Haven Ministries Executive Director to improve efficiencies in its programs to meet the growing needs for assisting men, women, and children in Queen Anne’s County caught in the cycle of poverty.

“Peter and I would like to continue the great work and tradition of our founder Krista Pettit and we will look for growth opportunities that will enhance the services that Haven Ministries provides to our community,” Gottschalk adds.

“We are thrilled to have Jack as our Board President. He brings tremendous experience from a wide range of business environments and can lead us to creative solutions as we continue to grow our organization,” states Peter Grim, Executive Director of Haven Ministries.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries.  Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center, and Food Pantry in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Store in Chester, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Food Pantry Truck in Sudlersville.

One Mission Cambridge Impacts Hunger and Homelessness

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When you stop by One Mission Cambridge at 614 Race Street in Cambridge on any given day, you will meet a variety of people seeking food, resource referral, or just a listening ear. The range of services the organization offers is diverse and includes food items, counseling, and connection to resources such as health care, financial assistance, and jobs.

“Our goal is to show everyone who comes through the door love – just as Jesus loved us,” states Krista Pettit, leader of One Mission Cambridge’s efforts. Pettit credits volunteers, financial supporters, and churches for helping to meet the needs of an average of 227 people a month and keeping food on the pantry shelves.

The organization, which opened in June, has proved ideal to serve some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. By consolidating some of the area’s food pantries, One Mission Cambridge offers a food pantry store where people can shop for what they need in a dignified manner. In addition, the center offers community navigation with computers onsite for people to research jobs and complete job applications, and look up resources to help them connect to community services.

Pictured is a stocked food pantry at One Mission Cambridge. The organization is working hard to keep food on the pantry shelves to keep up with current demand.

Talking with clients served by One Mission Cambridge, it is evidenced that love abounds in the welcoming storefront.

Client Christopher, who is legally blind, visited the food pantry at One Mission Cambridge for the second time stating, “I have never wanted to burden anyone. I never had a full-time job. I have just pieced things together over the years and have been able to do it.”

“It is nice to be able to choose food items here myself because I get what I want and what I need. I feel loved.”

Client Carolyn of Cambridge came to One Mission Cambridge when she couldn’t afford to purchase much-needed eyeglasses.  She knows people who volunteer at One Mission Cambridge. The organization connected her to affordable eyeglasses

“A lot of us need help. If I don’t need help, I am not going to ask for it. I used to go to food banks, but they gave me too much food and I wasted it. Here, I can pick food items that I need,” she comments.

“It shows that people care about us. Everybody is treated just the same here.”

The building includes a storefront on Race Street and a large communal space in the rear of the building which offers monthly Community Dinners.

Client Darin of Cambridge ended up homeless in another county but was unable to find resources there.

“The Community Dinner by One Mission Cambridge offers great fellowship and great people. They have blessed me.”

“I was on the street for a few weeks when I got to Cambridge before I found One Mission Cambridge. They gave me all kinds of resources and information about everything from shelters to food pantries to clothing. They’ve been such a blessing. God’s got them on a heck of a mission.”

One Mission Cambridge is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, from 1 to 6 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The next Community Dinner will be held on December 5 at its location at 614 Race Street in Cambridge. Visit One Mission Cambridge on Facebook at OneMissionCam or Instagram or their website at onemissioncambridge.org or call 410-901-3959. Donations can be made to One Mission Cambridge, P.O. Box 815, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Talbot County Women’s Club Will Host its Outdoor Life-Sized Candy Land Adventure Fundraiser

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Candyland life size Mr. Mint.

The Talbot County Women’s Club (TCWC) is pleased to announce its Second Annual Outdoor Life-Sized Candy Land Adventure fundraiser including carnival games, holiday crafts for kids, raffles, and historic tours on Saturday November 26 and Sunday November 27 at the Talbot County Women’s Club at 18 Talbot Lane in Easton. 

The classic board game, Candy Land, will be brought to life in downtown Easton offering all ages a chance to navigate thru a life-size, fun-filled journey playing games in magical areas such as the Lollypop Woods, Peppermint Forest, and Gumdrop Mountain.  Participants gather winning tickets to turn in for special prizes.  The fun continues inside the Women’s Club with holiday crafts for kids, raffle items including gift baskets, restaurant gift cards, free cookies, historic tours, and more.

“Since our Candy Land event was such a success last year, we decided to make it an annual event.  All ages, young and old, had a wonderful time.  Something for everyone,” said Wendy Turnbell, Club Vice President. Proceeds from this fun event will help support the charitable missions of the TCWC as well as help in the preservation of the club’s historical house.

The event will be held on Saturday, November 26th from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 27th from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.   Rain dates are Saturday, December 3rd from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 4th from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  Tickets available at the event for $5 per person.  Children under 2 are free.  Parking is behind the Easton Post Office in the public parking lot directly across from the Club. For more information, call 410-253-5997.  Email info@talbotcountywomensclub.org or visit the website at talbotcountywomensclub.org. 

The Talbot County Women’s Club was established in 1930 by a small group of Easton women joining together to serve the community through charitable initiatives.  A registered 501(c) 3 non-profit, the club continues to expand its tradition of giving with charitable work.

Talbot County Commission on Aging Sponsors Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion

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The Commission on Aging recently held a Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion at Brookletts Place in Easton on October 12 and 13 for the Democrat and Republican candidates running for Talbot County Council. The purpose of the discussion was for the County Council candidates to meet the Commission on Aging and learn more about the programs that the Talbot County Council supports for seniors in the county. Council candidates Pete Lesher, Scott Kane, Keasha Haythe, Phil Jackson, Michele Dappert, Wade Strictland, Dave Stepp, and Lynn Mielke attended.

Talbot County Council Candidates with members of the Talbot County Commission on Aging, who held a Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion around senior issues in Talbot County.

The Talbot Commission on Aging was established in 2003 to advise the Talbot County Council on issues affecting seniors and to advocate for change. A member of the Talbot County Council sits on the Commission on Aging. Other members include Current members of the Commission are Jenna Marchi, Ellen Taggert, Lee Newcomb, Jennifer Pierson, Marion Donahue, Veda Gibson, Grace Lyons, Megan Murray, Rachel Smith, Kate Stinton, and Ex-Officios Frank Divilio, Andrew Hollis, and Childlene Brooks,

According to Jenna Marchi, Chairperson of the Commission on Aging, Talbot County’s population is aging. The county’s median age is 49.4 years of age while the state of Maryland’s median age is 38.3 years of age. The average age of the populations in Talbot, Kent, and Worcester counties are the oldest in the state of Maryland. She also reported that seven percent of seniors in Talbot County live below the poverty level.

“Talbot County has nearly twice as many seniors as it does children, but those seniors receive only a fraction of our resources. When it comes to ensuring that our seniors have adequate access to information and services, we want to make sure our elected officials understand their important needs and take them into account as they go about the business of government. All too often, our seniors get overlooked and we’re so glad that so many of those folks seeking seats on the County Council chose to participate and discuss these important issues,” Marchi adds.

The Commission shared recent data from a recent University of Maryland Shore Regional Health needs assessment, stating that area seniors identify availability and access to doctors’ offices, transportation, and housing/homelessness as the three most important socioeconomic issues currently facing seniors in Talbot County.

Talbot County Council Candidates with members of the Talbot County Commission on Aging, who held a Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion around senior issues in Talbot County.

To address some of these needs, the Talbot County Council currently supports Upper Shore Aging, Inc., Talbot Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, the Senior Care Program of the Talbot County Department of Health, and the Talbot County Department of Social Services. Information on these programs was shared with candidates.

Among other issues facing seniors today that were discussed with the candidates were COVID, increased isolation, less physical activity, reduced life expectancy (excess deaths due to COVID-19 and other causes in 2020 and 2021 led to an overall decline in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021 of 2.7 years for the total population, 3.1 years for males and 2.3 years for females), healthcare access, the increasing county population, closures, lack of providers accepting Medicare, and behavioral health resources (long waits and lack of providers).

Candidate suggestions included providing listening sessions on these issues, further utilizing Delmarva Community Transport with merchants to address the transportation issues, improving the delivery of healthcare in the county, and managing growth with the comprehensive plan.

For further information on the Talbot County Commission on Aging, visit talbotsenior.com.

Haven Ministries Recognizes National Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Month

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As we enter the season of giving, Haven Ministries is asking the public to support its efforts in sheltering and feeding Queen Anne’s County residents in need the year-end giving program.

Through its new Homes of Hope in Stevensville, which opened in June, Haven Ministries is providing clients with affordable housing while leading them to a permanent housing solution. While participating in the Haven Ministries Housing Assistance Program, participants work closely with a Haven Ministries case manager to ensure that they are positioned for success to secure safe and stable long-term housing once their respective program period is over, usually within two years.

Pictured are Melanie and Cameron Lednum who are residents in one of the Haven Ministries’ Homes of Hope.

“To date, both homes are filled and staff is working with clients toward long-term housing solutions. We are thrilled with being able to implement our Housing Assistance Program. The need for affordable housing on the Mid-Shore has never been greater and we rely upon our donors to help us bridge the gap,” comments Peter Grim, Executive Director of Haven Ministries.

Individuals and families who live in Queen Anne’s County can apply for the program, must pass the background checks, pay a program fee, and voluntarily agree to work with a case manager. Haven Ministries will connect participants to area resources such as education, jobs, and job training, allowing individuals and families to stabilize, build up their resources, and successfully move on toward safe and affordable housing.

In addition to Homes of Hope, Haven Ministries is continuing to operate its seasonal shelter at Kent Island Methodist Church in Stevensville to offer emergency overnight safe and warm accommodations for individuals and families who do not have a dedicated location in which to sleep. The shelter operates from October through April each year.

In addition to shelter needs, Haven Ministries is seeing a growing need for food pantry items at its Food Pantry/Resource Center location at 206 Del Rhodes Avenue in Queenstown. Haven Ministries also operates a Mobile Food Pantry Truck where residents in northern Queen Anne’s County can go and “shop” for needed food items. The “store on wheels” is parked at Faith Bible Church at 407 Dudley Corner Road in Sudlersville every week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., offering a selection of non-cooked food items for area residents.  Haven Ministries partners with The Judy Center/Queen Anne’s County Public Schools to supply food to this part of the county.

Pictured is Tina Trice in Haven Ministries’ Queenstown Food Pantry.

“The demand for food items at both these locations has increased by 40 percent since the pandemic began. We are now serving an average of 500 people per month through our food pantry program. The need is great and we rely upon the public’s support to keep up with this growing demand,” adds Grim.

Financial donations between now and December 2, 2023, will be matched up to $15,000.  To support the Housing Assistance and Food Pantry Programs, call 410-827-7194 or make an online donation at Haven-Ministries.org before December 2, 2022, making your dollars go even further.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries.  Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center, and Food Pantry in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Thrift Store in Chester, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Food Pantry Truck in Sudlersville.

Easton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast to Be Held October 27

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On Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 7 to 9 a.m., Easton’s 39th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Tidewater Inn in Easton.  This year’s breakfast will feature John Hill of Trappe a retired geologist and mining engineer, currently serving as a pastor of 300CHURCH (Harrington Baptist Church in DE), and Samantha Martinez of Cordova who is a co-founder of Polaris Village Academy in Easton. Music will be provided by Walter Thomas of St. Luke’s UMC.

Although a retired geologist and mining engineer, John Hill is first and foremost a follower of Christ, who is currently serving as a pastor of 300CHURCH (Harrington Baptist Church in DE). During his career, Hill focused on conducting research and development for Defense and other government agencies. He was a recognized expert in the design, construction, and stability of underground space, serving as President and owner of UTD, Inc. as well as Raytheon UTD in Northern Virginia, and ATSI, Inc. in New York. He has served on NASA committees to plan the geophysical exploration of Mars, published professional articles on mine and tunnel design and drilling technology, and was the principal inventor of six patents on various electro-mechanical devices and systems. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science degree in Mining Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Having completed several theological and ministry courses in support of ministry work, John has been active in serving Christ since he was 17, including serving in itinerant preaching, jail ministry, youth, and adult Bible studies, and as pastor in various churches in Northern Virginia. Upon retirement, John and Anne moved to St. John, USVI, in 2015 where he served as Pastor of Freshwater Church. In 2021, John and Anne moved to the Easton area to be closer to their five children and four grandchildren. Hill says, “All of this, is through the grace of Christ alone!”

John Hill and Samantha Martinez

Samantha Martinez of Cordova started her career as a founder of a high-achieving charter school, Brilla College Prep, in the South Bronx, NY. Having begun her teaching career in the poorest school district in the country, it became clear to her that while a child’s zip code should never be a determinant of success in a child’s life, it unfortunately is. Samantha relocated to the Eastern Shore with her husband and daughter where she taught for two years in Talbot County Public Schools.  She quickly realized that the disparities in educational outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) children in a rural setting were similar to those she had seen in New York City. Samantha then founded Mid-Shore Scholars—a college success program for first-generation college-aspiring students. In 2019, she returned to her first love, elementary education, and became the co-founder of Polaris Village Academy in Easton, which she believes will be a model of excellence in education in pursuit of social justice.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and her master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. She is a School Leaders of Color Fellow at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Martinez states, “I believe I am called to serve others, just as Jesus lived his life as a servant leader. I strive to instill in my daughters the importance of loving God and loving people, above all. My Christian calling to justice demands radical love and service for my community as 1 John 3:18 says: ‘My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.’”

Tickets to the 2022 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast may be purchased at the Easton Town Office and the Dairy Queen beginning October 1.  The cost is $20 a person and seating is limited. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time. For further information, contact Kathy Ruf at 410-822-2525.