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July 8, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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1A Arts Lead

It’s Springtime at Oxford Community Center: A Chat with Liza Ledford

March 24, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

One of the best parts of early spring is that the Mid-Shore Arts performing centers start announcing their 2025 schedules. Filled with first-rate community theatre, world-class musicians, and accomplished writers, these hubs of culture, like the Garfield in Chestertown, the Avalon in Easton, and the DCA in Cambridge, go out of their way to bring the best and brightest to entertain and enrich their communities.

No one does it better than the Oxford Community Center. For decades, the OCC has played a critical role in that small town by bringing an extraordinary variety of performers, writers, artists, car enthusiasts, foodies, and, just as importantly, a safe public square to share and argue different points of view on local government.

Heading all of that for the past eight years has been its director, Liza Ledford. And every year, the Spy sits down with her to hear what’s cooking in Oxford. It won’t surprise anyone to know she and her board of directors have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next few months.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Oxford Community Center please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1A Arts Lead

The Arc’s Chesapeake Community Development Walking the Walk in Easton with Ross Benincasa

March 5, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

While the phase “on probation” is too strong in describing the first few years of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s entry into the Mid-Shore, the 5o year old Western Shore nonprofit knew from experience that the best way to develop a trusting relationship with Mid-Shore communities was to produce tangible results. And it’s pretty clear from hearing from Ross Benincasa, the Arc’s senior vice president of community development, with their Chesapeake Community Development subsidiary, that the Arc’s first projects in Easton have started to create that track record,

In our conversation with Ross, he discussed the organization’s transformative real estate initiative, starting with the ongoing renovation of The Primrose on Aurora Street and ending with the recently completed Port Street Commons on Port Street. This has enabled town leaders and residents to understand how committed the Arc team is to the communities they serve in building high-quality, inclusive housing.

Ross also discusses the Arc’s third project in Easton, Easton Crossings, which will introduce 123 residential units and public green space, reinforcing a long-term investment in community engagement.

This video is approximately minutes in length. For more information about the Arc, please go here. 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider

YMCA Profiles: Wendy Palmer on Working in Tandem on Dementia

February 24, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

Many families are impacted by dementia and Alzheimer’s, a new program piloted at the YMCA, TANDEM, hopes to support the individuals with the diagnosis and the caregiver that is often struggling with stress, depression and anxiety.

Tandem is a loving community for individuals diagnosed with Dementia/Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. The Tandem program includes gentle and safe exercise therapy, music therapy and art therapy, all of which bring joy, provide social interaction and improve quality of life for all. This 16- week pilot program was the first of its kind in our area and is offered at no charge to the family. Tandem meets twice a week and offers several sessions for the caregivers to connect for support and respite. We do it all with encouragement and love.

“I look forward to serving families impacted by dementia and Alzheimer’s. As we know caregivers experience higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.  If we can support them through love, support and encouragement in Tandem, we can be a lifeline to families that are in survival mode.”

 The YMCA hopes to replicate this program in all of our communities. Please contact Wendy Palmer if you would like to hear more about becoming a TANDEM Coach, volunteer or if your family needs the support.  [email protected]

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the YMCA of the Chesapeake, please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider

Mid-Shore Real Estate with Chuck Mangold: Looking at 2025

February 10, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

For many on the Mid-Shore, particularly in Talbot Couty, Chuck Mangold is the go-to guy to turn to when real estate comes up. For over two decades. Chuck at Benson and Mangold, the multi-generational real estate giant on the Shore, has seen the local market in good and bad times, enjoying the remarkable highs and surviving the low moments. So, when the Spy was thinking of an ongoing series devoted to one of the region’s most important economic sectors, Mr. Mangold was our first choice. And we are particularly grateful Chuck has agreed to participate.

In the first of our quarterly conversations, Chuck shares his insights on the local commercial real estate market, the multi-million dollar sector, and the industry’s general health. Chuck also discusses the challenges of determining a reasonable growth rate for Easton and other communities on the Mid-Shore.

This video is approximately 12 minutes in length. For more information about Chuck Mangold please go to his website here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider

A new president and immigration policies changes: A chat with ChesMRC’s Matthew Peters

January 31, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

As the new Trump Administration begins to roll out its approach to border control and immigration policies, one group on the Mid-Shore is watching closely what those new initiatives might mean to the unique communities they serve is the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center based in Easton.

For over 12 years, the organization has been helping immigrants and multicultural communities on the Delmarva by providing legal assistance, education programs, job support, health services, language classes, and community integration resources.

Given that background, the Spy asked its director, Matthew Peters, to come by our Zoom studio for a conversation about what this might mean for the Mid-Shore’s increasingly diverse communities and share some of the organization’s highlights in 2024.

This video is approximately ten minutes in length. For more information about ChesMRC please go here .

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage

Profiles in Spirtuality: A Chat with The Easton Group’s Stephanie Saunders

January 27, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

If somone had to guess where one of the Mid-Shore’s top financial services executives goes on vacation, there is a good chance they would be wrong regarding Stephanie Saunders. While her peers might head off to trips in the Bahamas and tours of Europe, Stephanie has chosen the likes of Pakistan and the Philippine Islands when she takes a break from being a senior vice president at The Easton Group, a local affiliate with Morgan Stanley in Easton.

From her early days as a teller at St. Michaels Bank to now managing one of the largest investment portfolios on the Shore, Stephanie sees this remarkable professional growth as just another example of her lifelong relationship with her God. Part of that relationship is using her faith to use her vacation time to work with community organizations in some of the most economically challenging countries in the world.

The Spy asked Stephanie to come by the Spy Studio a few weeks ago to talk about her faith and how those “holidays” have become some of her life’s most spiritually rewarding experiences.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider

Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Time to get to work

January 24, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

Such a special snowy winter scene from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection! The date and location are unidentified but it looks like the Pier Street docks in Oxford, Maryland overlooking the Tred Avon River. So many things to observe! The oyster tonging watermen must have just come in and are unloading their oyster haul into the basket hanging from the boom on the dock to the right.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 9 Brevities

Mid-Shore Profiles: A chat with Andy Hollis on future of Delmarva Community Services

January 20, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

One of the most notable nonprofit leadership appointments made on the Mid-Shore in 2024 was the Delmarva Community Center’s (DCC) board of directors announcement that Talbot County’s Andy Hollis would be their next president and CEO.

DCC is one of those organizations that might not have the greatest name recognition in the region, even after 50 years of its founding, but most residents, no matter where they live, are instantly aware of their importance when told that the organization provides the Mid-Shore with the vitally important public transportation system in Kent, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester County.

And in Cambridge and Dorchester County, the impact of the DCC is even more significant. They offer housing support, senior and adult day care, meal delivery, and regular social activities designed to enhance the quality of life for older adults.  DCC also provides comprehensive programs to support children with After-school programs, tutoring, and much-needed recreational activities and nutrition programs.

In short, this is a $20 million business with nearly 300 employees, which might be one reason the DCC recruited Andy Hollis as their leader. After decades of running large organizations and being the county manager of Talbot County, Hollis has a unique skill of management and strategy that has consistently made these large organizations work and work well.

Given the scope of the DCC’s mission on the Mid-Shore, we asked Andy to stop by the Spy studio to talk about his new assignment and some of the goals that he and his board hope to have success with over the next five years.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about Delmarva Community Services please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider

Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Heading off to Easton

January 17, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

Another Talbot Historical Society William B. Shannahan Collection photo taken after a snow storm sometime between 1896-1898! The horse and sleigh coachman in this picture is William B. Shannahan who must have had the gentleman whose shadow is visible take the picture that day. This was taken somewhere on Goldsborough Street. There appears to be a seed business behind the sleigh to the left? Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Archives

Qlarant Foundation takes a big step forward with first executive director Amanda Neal

January 13, 2025 by Dave Wheelan

To state that philanthropy is in the DNA of Qlarant is a matter of fact. From the day the company began operations to combat fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, it was charted as a nonprofit organization with a mission to help society and protect its health system.
For the last twenty years, it has also made it a point to make direct grants in the health and human services sector. That commitment has grown to $8 million to community organizations in supporting communities in D.C. and Maryland.
But as Qlarant continues to grow with over 500 employees working in seven states, there was total agreement with its board of directors and senior management that as part of the business growth, it would mean moving its funding arm, the Qlarant Foundation, to a higher orbit as well.
As part of this doubling down, Qlarant hired its first full-time executive director to expand the foundation’s grants to Texas, Florida, and Georgia in addition to the Mid-Atlantic.
The Spy sat down with the new executive director (and former Qlarant director), Amanda Neal, to learn more.
This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Qlarant Foundation please go here.

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider, Health Lead

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