A crowd of community members gathered at the newly renovated St. Michaels Community Center on Monday, May 20 to celebrate the completion of the project and the return of SMCC’s programs to their 103 Railroad Avenue building for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin were instrumental in securing $500,000 in direct federal financial support for the renovations, among other grantors and donors to the fundraising campaign. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.

Board Chair Lori Morris: This new facility can and will support not only the enhancement of our existing programs but their expansion as well as the development of a wide array of new programs and activities.

Proclaiming that “this new facility can and will support not only the enhancement of our existing programs but their expansion as well as the development of a wide array of new programs and activities,” St. Michaels Community Center Board Chair Lori Morris led a dramatic, emotional ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of SMCC’s newly renovated building.

The highlight of the event was the remarks of SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, who provided a preview of the expanded programming that will be possible in the new building:

• SMCC will soon launch a new Culinary and Hospitality Workforce Development program. That program, developed in careful consultation with local restaurateurs, will be in addition to the existing Community Café and Community Pantry, which serve more than 2,500 meals each week to those in need.
• Over and above an extensive schedule of Youth Programs, SMCC will soon roll out a new, focused, Program for Youth Entrepreneurship.
• An expanded Healthy Living program, run in conjunction with the Talbot County Health Department, will address chronic health issues such as diabetes.

Rofe also emphasized that the new facility will support “far more interaction with the community,” noting that he “looks forward to many other organizations using our building for their programs and projects.”

Current and former SMCC Board Members and staff joined local officials, SMCC program participants, and dozens of others in celebrating the conclusion of a three-year-long effort. Immediate Past Board Chair, and SMCC Campaign Committee Chair, Langley Shook recognized and thanked some of the many people and organizations whose contributions made the renovation possible, including the Town of St. Michaels, which Town Administrator Rob Straebel represented; key donors such as Tracy and Scott Wagner; Project Architect Mark McInturff, FAIA; the Reverend Steve Mosher and Christ Church, which generously provided working space to SMCC during the renovation; Landscape Designer Jan Kirsh; and the project’s General Contractor Harper & Sons, Inc., which Vice President Benson Harper represented.

Introducing Shook, Morris noted that the project was “too large for any one person to have carried on their own,” but “at the same time, it is profoundly clear that the renovation would never have been completed without Langley Shook.

“Generations of SMCC clients and program participants will have Langley Shook to thank for his efforts to strengthen this vital Center,” Morris said, adding “Every person trained in this Center, educated in this Center, entertained in this Center, and supported by the programs of the Center is in Langley’s debt.”

After being introduced by Morris, as “a true champion of this project, and an indispensable trouble-shooter when, well, trouble needed to be shot,” Maryland State Senator Johnny Mautz focused his remarks on the importance of SMCC to the town of St. Michaels. He invited all those in attendance who had gone to St. Michaels Middle or High School to join him, as he presented a formal Senate Proclamation to the SMCC Board. “This is not just an official event, it’s a party,” Senator Mautz said, adding his thanks to all who “made this vision a reality.”

Both Morris and Shook expressed special gratitude to U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, who were instrumental in securing $500,000 in direct federal financial support.

On the occasion of the ribbon cutting, Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted “For more than three decades, St. Michaels Community Center has supported the Bay Hundred community – providing food, job training, after-school programs, and other resources for thousands of local families in need. To help them continue and expand upon this critical work, we fought to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to modernize their World War II-era warehouse into a more welcoming, accessible space. In this newly transformed location, SMCC can better serve the Talbot County community and empower its residents to succeed.”

Senator Cardin also stated support: “The St. Michaels Community Center is at the heart of the effort to advance economic opportunity and support residents from St. Michaels to Tilghman Island. Revitalizing SMCC will expand its already far-reaching impact for Talbot County residents.” Senator Cardin added, “Funding this renovation is just another example of how Team Maryland remains a strong partner in securing federal investments for community-led projects throughout Talbot County and across the state.”

After the ceremony, Langley and Karen Shook—a past chair of the SMCC Board who played a critical role in the Capital Campaign—cut a red ribbon formally opening the newly renovated building.

About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC)

The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower and connect our community. SMCC enhances the quality of life and serves the needs of our community through programs that enrich the lives of children, teens, seniors, and families; and recreational, social, and educational activities for residents of all ages regardless of ethnicity, gender, or economic status.

Explore the culinary arts with a tour of all things Italian as the St. Michaels Community Center teams up with Chesapeake College to present an Italian Eats Extravaganza cooking program and dinner on Wednesday, April 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The course takes place at the St. Michaels Community Center at 207 N. Talbot Street, with instructors Chef Dawn McLaughlin and Bobbi Parlett, owner of Simpatico Italy’s Finest in St. Michaels, Maryland.

This 3-hour program will include an interactive cooking demonstration on homemade pasta, sauces, and delectable Italian desserts, all paired with fine Italian wines. To cap off this culinary experience, the participants will be served the prepared dishes by the instructors while discussing all things Italian.

The program size is very limited, with only a few spots left, with registration made by emailing [email protected], calling 410-745-6073, ext. 101, or going online with Chesapeake College at bit.ly/italianeatsapril17.

The St. Michaels Community Center is entering the final stages of its capital campaign, supporting the comprehensive renovation of the nonprofit’s facility at 103 Railroad Ave. This transformation will enable expanded programs and services, including new children’s and adult programs and an innovative culinary arts and hospitality workforce training program. More information about the capital improvements can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

Donations to SMCC, as well as proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in supporting the nonprofit’s initiatives to combat hunger through its weekly Community Café and Pantry and empower community members through innovative programming. Additional details can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org.

In a heartwarming gesture of community support, Marsha Kacher, a resident of St. Michaels, Maryland, has ignited a wave of transformation by generously donating her late husband Russel’s Mazda Miata convertible to the St. Michaels Community Center. The impactful donation, facilitated in collaboration with Preston Automotive Group, will help to complete the Community Center’s ongoing building renovation project.

Dr. Russel Kacher, a college professor and admired Commissioner of St. Michaels during the early 2000s, is fondly remembered for his dedication to the community. His legacy lives on through Marsha’s thoughtful donation. “Russel would have loved this as SMCC does so much for our community,” she says. “Especially for the kids.” 

SMCC Vice-Chair Langley Shook, a personal friend of Dr. Kacher, expressed gratitude, stating, “Legacy gifts, including bequests and donations like Marsha’s, go a long way in furthering our mission. And we’re especially grateful for Preston Automotive Group’s partnership in facilitating this donation, which we hope can be the start of more opportunities like this in our future.”

The renovations of SMCC’s building at 103 Railroad Avenue, slated for completion and reopening in late spring, promise state-of-the-art spaces for children and adult programs, including a groundbreaking culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The revamped Community Center will boast classrooms, a spacious common area with cutting-edge audio-visual technology, and a modern commercial kitchen. This kitchen not only will train individuals for jobs in the hospitality industry but also serve as a hub for providing prepared meals and groceries to those in need.

Preston Automotive Group President and CEO David Wilson, Jr., highlighted the significance of community values in their collaboration. “Community is a core value at the Preston Automotive Group, and we are grateful for this opportunity to partner with the St. Michaels Community Center and other organizations that do so much for our local community members in need.”

Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area. Learn more about SMCC’s initiatives and building renovations at www.stmichaelscc.org and www.stmichaelscc.org/future. 

In a heartwarming gesture of community support, Marsha Kacher, a resident of St. Michaels, Maryland, has ignited a wave of transformation by generously donating her late husband Russel’s Mazda Miata convertible to the St. Michaels Community Center. The impactful donation, facilitated in collaboration with Preston Automotive Group, will help to complete the Community Center’s ongoing building renovation project.

Dr. Russel Kacher, a college professor and admired Commissioner of St. Michaels during the early 2000s, is fondly remembered for his dedication to the community. His legacy lives on through Marsha’s thoughtful donation. “Russel would have loved this as SMCC does so much for our community,” she says. “Especially for the kids.”

SMCC Vice-Chair Langley Shook, a personal friend of Dr. Kacher, expressed gratitude, stating, “Legacy gifts, including bequests and donations like Marsha’s, go a long way in furthering our mission. And we’re especially grateful for Preston Automotive Group’s partnership in facilitating this donation, which we hope can be the start of more opportunities like this in our future.”

The renovations of SMCC’s building at 103 Railroad Avenue, slated for completion and reopening in late spring, promise state-of-the-art spaces for children and adult programs, including a groundbreaking culinary and hospitality workforce training program. The revamped Community Center will boast classrooms, a spacious common area with cutting-edge audio-visual technology, and a modern commercial kitchen. This kitchen not only will train individuals for jobs in the hospitality industry but also serve as a hub for providing prepared meals and groceries to those in need.

Preston Automotive Group President and CEO David Wilson, Jr., highlighted the significance of community values in their collaboration. “Community is a core value at the Preston Automotive Group, and we are grateful for this opportunity to partner with the St. Michaels Community Center and other organizations that do so much for our local community members in need.”

Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area. Learn more about SMCC’s initiatives and building renovations at www.stmichaelscc.org and www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

Mid-Shore Community Foundation President W.W. “Buck” Duncan, left, and St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe

The St. Michaels Community Center recently announced the receipt of a generous grant from the United Fund of Talbot County, a philanthropic organization that provides economic support to local nonprofits serving the health and human services needs of Talbot County residents.

Mid-Shore Community Foundation manages the grantmaking process for the United Fund, with the collaboration aiming to amplify community partnerships and donations, expanding impactful programs targeting youth development and addressing food insecurity.

“Supporting SMCC’s food support and youth programs is an investment in building strength and resilience in our communities,” stated Robbin Hill, Chief Program Officer of Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe expressed gratitude for the Mid-Shore Community Foundation grant, emphasizing its significance in advancing the organization’s commitment to empowering futures and nourishing lives.

“This partnership exemplifies how private resources, when connected with public needs, can significantly enhance the quality of life for people in the Mid-Shore region,” he said.

SMCC’s flagship initiative, “Empowering Futures,” is a transformative youth program designed to empower at-risk and underserved youth. The program provides access to entrepreneurial education and STEM learning opportunities, equipping young individuals with essential skills for future success. This initiative disrupts cycles of disadvantage by fostering self-reliance, problem-solving abilities, and a sense of community.

“The introduction of STEM concepts prepares participants for careers in high-demand fields, fostering innovation and reducing vulnerability to negative influences,” said Rofe. “Our program will also help open pathways to higher education and employment.”

Complementing this initiative is “Nourishing Lives,” he says, as part of SMCC’s response to the pressing issue of food insecurity within the community. This comprehensive program provides access to nutritious food and empowers vulnerable populations with essential knowledge and skills for healthy living.

Addressing hunger and offering classes on chronic disease and diabetes self-management, smoking cessation, and nutrition, “Nourishing Lives” can directly improve the well-being of community members. The program reduces health disparities by targeting education on self-management and empowers individuals to make informed choices about their health and nutrition.

“This program also fosters a sense of community and has the potential to reduce long-term healthcare burdens,” says Rofe.

Rofe highlighted that these programs represent an expansion of existing initiatives and that SMCC is broadening its food distribution program to reach more people throughout the Bay Hundred area, including offering healthy living classes. The youth program expansion, launching in the renovated building, will now include middle through high school students.

“Together, these initiatives create a brighter, more equitable future for all members of our community,” said Rofe.

Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center, along with the proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, situated at 200 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, play a pivotal role in providing essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the broader Maryland Bay Hundred area.

Learn more about SMCC’s initiatives and current building renovations at www.stmichaelscc.org and www.stmichaelscc.org/future.