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June 15, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

6 Arts Notes

St. Michaels Community Center to Welcome Jeff Mcguiness, Author, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass

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The St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) invites the community to a discussion of the Bear Me Into Freedom Project, led by Jeff McGuiness, on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Center, 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels, MD. Admission is free, and seats may be reserved by emailing Boardsecretary@stmichaelscc.org.

The Bear Me Into Freedom Project is a collaboration of more than 100 Talbot County residents to promote the legacy of the county’s most famous citizen and one of the most influential figures in American history, Frederick Douglass. Harriette Lowery and other Project team members will join the program with McGuiness.

The project’s first venture, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass, is a stunning 264-page photobook that presents Douglass’ transformation from bondage to freedom by illustrating passages from the three autobiographies he wrote that detail his experiences in Talbot County. Bear Me Into Freedom is the first attempt to marry imagery with Douglass’s words to picture what Talbot County may have looked like when Frederick Douglass lived there two centuries ago.

McGuiness wrote, “Talbot County is where [Douglass] shook off … bondage to create a philosophy and narrative that became a transformative force in nineteenth-century America, a call for freedom and justice.”  He continued, “The written word cannot fully capture Talbot County’s unique geographic and social characteristics that played a pivotal role in Douglass’ transformation.”

Douglass’ experiences in Talbot County were central to his rise as one of the most celebrated leaders, writers, and orators in the English-speaking world during the nineteenth century. He was a crusader in the fight to abolish enslavement, establish emancipation, and promote social justice, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Amendments to the Constitution after the Civil War.

McGuiness will also share a new project that is still in development, an exhibition using the book’s photographs to showcase Douglass’ legacy as part of Maryland’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Entitled Bear Me Into Freedom: The Chesapeake Odyssey of Frederick Douglass, the installation uses cutting-edge technology to create an immersive effect that envelops viewers with sound, imagery, and Douglass’s words. The narration brings his timeless messages into the present, linking them to the objectives outlined in the nation’s founding document. The exhibition will open in museums and other venues in Talbot County and Baltimore City in July 2026 as part of Maryland’s Semi quincentennial Celebration.

About Jeff McGuiness

Jeff McGuiness is a photographer and writer who has lived in St. Michaels for 25 years. Art, boating, and history have been Jeff’s lifelong fascinations. He served as an U.S. Air Force photographer during the Vietnam War, practiced law for more than four decades in Washington, DC (concentrating on public policy and managing nonprofit organizations) and, in 2016, founded Bay Photographic Works in 2016 to house his creative projects.

About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC)
The St. Michaels Community Center serves, empowers, and connects the residents of St. Michaels, the Bay Hundred area, and Talbot County. 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.

The center’s newly renovated building is located at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels; information about the Center’s work can be found online at http://www.stmichaelscc.org.

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

ESLC’s Steve Kline to Address St. Michaels Community Center on April 28th

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The St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) invites the community to a presentation and discussion led by Steve Kline, President & CEO, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, about efforts to preserve and sustain the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. This event will occur on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the St. Michaels Community Center at 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels. Admission is free, and seats may be reserved via email at Boardsecretary@stmichaelscc.org.
“The Community Center is delighted to host an important discussion on the conservation strategies that protect our landscape,” said SMCC Board Chair Lori Morris.

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

A community of gardeners grows in St. Michaels

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Now starting its 13th year, the St. Michaels Community Garden will once again provide spaces for members to grow the vegetables, herbs, and flowers of their choosing in 2025. Designed to create opportunities for people to work together while nurturing beautiful, productive spaces, gardeners report benefits from being outdoors, making new friends, and supporting their mental and physical health.

The garden beds, each 4’ x 14’, are rented on a yearly basis. Products grown in the garden are enjoyed or donated at the discretion of each allotment owner. Participants are limited to one bed, with at least eight beds available for new gardeners this season. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be reserved by emailing [email protected].

Through regularly scheduled work parties, the garden community shares the need for  maintaining communal spaces and equipment, while individual members are responsible for planting, harvesting, upkeep of their raised beds and nearby paths. Water, hoses, and a selection of 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 garden, with the annual $20 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. More information is at www.stmichaelscc.org. 

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Original banner artwork show at St. Michaels Community Center

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Original banner artwork show at St. Michaels Community Center

If you drive down Talbot Street in St. Michaels, you can’t help but notice the “Celebrate St. Michaels” banners that grace the utility poles every year from April through November. The artwork for these banners is created by members of the St. Michaels Art League (SMAL). In addition, SMAL sponsors the cost to create banners for up to four AP Art Students from St. Michaels Middle High School.     

SMAL is pleased to announce an exhibition of the original artwork that was used to create the 2025 banners at the St. Michaels Community Center during the month of April. 

The judge this year is Curtis Short, Regional Operations Manager for Choptank Electric. Choptank Electric is one of SMAL’s many partners in the annual Banner program and is responsible for hanging the banners on the utility poles.  First, Second and Third place awards are given as well as two Honorable Mentions. In addition, Kevin Snelling, fellow artist and owner of “Creative XPressions” in St. Michaels gives a separate award in the category of “Best Representation of St. Michaels.”  

The St. Michaels Community Center is located at 103 Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels. Visitors are welcome during their regular hours Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Original 18 x 18 framed banner artwork is for sale. For more information and to view all the banner artwork online visit smartleague.org.    

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council with revenue provided by the Maryland State Arts Council. 

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Photographer John Rock to discuss log canoe photos at SMCC: 2/17

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John Rock, whose photographs capture the drama of the fast and famously unstable log canoe races, will share his work on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC), 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels. The program is free to the public, but seats must be reserved by emailing [email protected].

The elegant log canoes the Chesapeake Bay produced are a boat all its own. They are believed to have evolved from Native American and African dugouts. Later, European settlers on the Eastern Shore adapted the dugout design, and the canoes became the first workboats on the Chesapeake Bay.

The Miles River hosted the first organized log canoe races in 1859. Within two decades, log canoes were built solely for racing. They may be the oldest class of racing sailboats in the world.  When St. Michaels’ Miles River Yacht Club formed more than 100 years ago, it became the home of Chesapeake Bay log canoe racing.

As long canoe design evolved, the tall masks were rigged for speed, making them highly unstable. Skippers countered the wind pressure with springboards, and daring crew members climbed out on the ends to act as mobile ballast. There was the ever-present danger of capsizing.

“It’s difficult to find a more quintessential symbol of our Bay culture than log canoe racing.  The photographs bring the races to audiences unable to be out on the water to see firsthand the skill it takes to compete,” said Lori Morris, SMCC’s Board Chair.

A Maryland native, Rock has had a camera in his right hand since high school.  He recently began Tidewater Images with photos of the Eastern Shore landscapes, sailing regattas, log canoe races, and on-the-water boating photos. Johns’s work is regularly seen in SpinSheet magazine, The Talbot Spy, and his work is featured on the Town of St Michaels as well as the St Michaels Tourism website.

About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC)

The only social services organization in the Bay Hundred region, the St. Michaels Community Center offers residents education, food, and social programs in a safe and nurturing environment. The center’s newly renovated building is located at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels and is online at http://www.stmichaelscc.org.

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

St. Michaels Community Center announces new Executive Director

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Horne: I’m excited about the limitless possibilities we have with the new facilities to sustain  and create new programming that will enrich the lives of everyone in the community,  regardless of age, race, gender, religion, and socio-economic status.  

 The St. Michael’s Community (SMCC) today  announced the appointment of Amy Horne as its new Executive Director. Horne, who has  been serving as Director of CASA of Caroline County, will join the SMCC on January 1,  2025. 

In making the announcement, SMCC Board Chair Lori F. Morris highlighted Horne’s  extensive background in both the non-profit and business communities, and her deep ties  to the Eastern Shore and to St. Michaels. “Amy knows our work, knows our community, and  knows how to get things done,” Morris said, adding “we were pleased to have over 100  applicants for the position, but Amy stood out immediately.” “Horne,” Morris noted, “was  the unanimous and enthusiastic choice of the Search Committee and of the Board of  Directors.” “We are confident that Amy is exactly the right leader for SMCC at this pivotal moment in our history, Morris said, concluding “we look forward to her vision, her energy,  her creativity, and her leadership.” 

Horne has been serving as Director of CASA of Caroline County – which advocates for the best interest of all abused and neglected children who are in the Caroline County court  system through no fault of their own – since 2022. Prior to  that she was their Director of Outreach and Partnerships.  She has received numerous awards for her community  service, including Caroline County Chamber of Commerce  Ambassador of the Year, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital  Volunteer of the Year, as well as being recognized as a “Mid Shore Woman to Watch” just last year. She graduated from Bates College (Lewiston, ME) and earned a Master of Social  Work from Salisbury University. 

Accepting the position, Horne said “I’m excited about the limitless possibilities we have  with the new facilities to sustain and create new programming that will enrich the lives of  everyone in the community, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, and socio-economic  status.” She added, “As a native of Talbot County, I am honored to be the SMCC’s new  director, connecting the St Michaels and Bay Hundred communities with much needed  resources and enriching programs. My goal has never been to change the entire world, but  rather to leave my little piece of it a little better. Well, this is my piece, where I was born and  raised. It truly is a privilege to serve in this position, working to improve the lives of people  in Talbot County, and specifically St. Michaels and Bay Hundred.” 

State Senator Johhny Mautz (R-37) welcomed the appointment of Horne, who, he said “has  been a friend since we were in first grade together.” “I have worked closely with Amy  throughout her career,” Mautz noted, “including most recently as she has provided such powerful leadership to CASA of Caroline County.” “Amy is an inspired choice,” Mautz said,  adding “I cannot imagine anyone better positioned to lead SMCC as it advances its critical  work.”  

About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) 

SMCC offers residents of Bay Hundred and St. Michaels education, food, and social  programs in a safe and nurturing environment. It 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.  

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

David Breimhurst to speak about his crime novel at the St. Michaels Community Center

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David Henry Breimhurst, an Emmy-winning investigative reporter and former TV news anchor on 6ABC in Philadelphia, will speak about his gripping new crime novel, Dead-Line, on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC), 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels. The program is free to the public.  Seats may be reserved by emailing BoardSecretary@stmichaelscc.org.

Dead-Line is a spellbinding tale of a TV newscaster, Ben Spencer, who inadvertently slides into the lethal intersection of organized crime, political corruption, big law, and media manipulation.  “It’s difficult to imagine a more qualified storyteller for such a tale than David Henry Breimhurst,” said SMCC’s Board Chair Lori Morris.

Breimhurst is a former reporter and news anchor known to his Philadelphia TV audiences as David Henry.   Breimhurst’s novel draws upon his career uncovering public corruption, medical malpractice, and consumer fraud.  He uncovered the trails of organized crime figures and the federal agents who pursued them.   Henry also reported from two Middle East war zones and national disasters, including Ground Zero at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC)

The only social services organization in the Bay Hundred region, the St. Michaels Community Center offers residents education, food, and social programs in a safe and nurturing environment. The center’s newly renovated building is located at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels and is online at http://www.stmichaelscc.org.

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

Expert on human-dog connection to kick off new speakers’ series at the St. Michaels Community Center

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Meg Daley Olmert, a world-renowned expert on the neurobiology of the human-animal bond and its therapeutic effects, will kick off a new speakers’ series at the St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) on Monday, November 11, 2024.  The program will begin at 6:00 pm and is free to the public.  Seats may be reserved by emailing BoardSecretary@stmichaelscc.org.

Olmert’s ground-breaking book, Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond, was the first to trace the evolution of this ancient bond to the emerging neuroscience that underlies this most powerful interspecies phenomenon.  A powerful and engaging presenter, tens of thousands have viewed Daley Olmert’s two TEDx talks.   She is also co-creator of the Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission-Based Trauma Recovery Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, a testament to the profound impact of the human-animal bond.

Meg Daley Olmert has produced documentaries for National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, and PBS. In 1992, while developing a series on the evolution of the human-animal bond, she joined a research team studying the neurobiology of social bonding. This partnership inspired Made For Each Other, The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond, showing how caring for animals quiets our hearts and minds and fills us with a real, essential sense of well-being.    As Daley Olmer explained on a recent podcast, “One of the huge added health benefits of owning a dog is that it is community building… it goes far beyond the leash.”

“We are excited to present Meg Daley Olmert to the St. Michaels’ community, and to launch this Speakers Series,” said SMCC Board Chair Lori Morris.  She continued, “The series is one facet of SMCC’s diversified public programming for adults that will grow to include literary discussions, art exhibitions, film, music, performance arts, and more.”  Morris concluded by thanking “the generous supporters of SMCC who make our programs possible as well as SMCC Board Member Karen Footner, who is curating the speaker’s series.

 

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Treasure Cove Thrift Shop volunteers Millie Talbott and Joanne Cooper recognized by DAR External

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Members of the General Perry Benson Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized longtime Treasure Cove Thrift Shop volunteer Millie Talbott of St. Michaels, Maryland, and Joanne Cooper of Easton, Maryland, at their recent 59th-anniversary luncheon at the Miles River Yacht Club.

The chapter honored both women for their community service to the broader community through their volunteering with the St. Michaels Community Center’s Treasure Cove Thrift Shop. Talbott was recognized for 30 years of service, and Cooper was recognized for 20 years of service.

“These delightful women greet customers at the shop, help with their selections and purchases, and enjoy what they do,’” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “They are friendly and helpful and serve at the heart of our Treasure Cove Thrift Shop. And on a broader scale, everything they do helps raise vital funds to ensure we can help more of our needy neighbors.”

Rofe says Cooper, Talbott, and SMCC were awarded certificates of appreciation at the Maryland State Society of the DAR Conference held in Ellicott City, Maryland.

“Millie and Joanne exhibit the spirit of volunteerism,” said General Perry Benson, DAR Chapter Regent Jerry Seiler. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to help recognize their work and that of the St. Michaels Community Center.”

Treasure Cove Thrift Shop is conveniently located in the heart of St. Michaels on the corner of Railroad Ave. and Fremont St., with ample parking and an outdoor area for shopping. The shop includes gently used clothing, shoes, jewelry, household items, furniture, and more, with proceeds from every sale helping to feed neighbors in need through the food distribution and Community Café programs of the nonprofit St. Michaels Community Center.

Treasure Cove is run in part by volunteers and partners with other local non-profits and Talbot County’s Department of Social Services to provide emergency assistance to people in need, including those suffering from the effects of fire, flood, eviction, job loss, or other exceptional circumstances.

The St. Michaels Community Center recently returned operations to its newly renovated building across from Treasure Cove Thrift Shop at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded youth and adult programs and services. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb Bridge to Tilghman Island have the necessary resources. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.

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

St. Michaels Community Center welcomes Randei Collins as communications specialist

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The St. Michaels Community Center is pleased to announce the recent addition of Randei Collins as a communications specialist. Collins brings her extensive marketing and communications expertise to SMCC before attending Loyola University Maryland this Fall in pursuit of a Master of Arts degree in Emerging Media.

Collins is a graduate of St. Michaels High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies from Washington College. She has a robust background in marketing, creative writing, and organizational communication, including serving as a publishing office intern at the Library of Congress, where she honed her skills in social media analysis and content creation. Her experience also includes roles such as a fiction literary screener for Washington College’s literary magazine, Cherry Tree at the Rose O’Neil Literary House, and an integrated analytics & communications intern at the college’s Center for Career Development.

“Randei brings a unique blend of creativity and analytical skills to our team, and she deeply understands our local community because she grew up here,” said SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “By increasing our social media profiles, she is helping to support our outreach and fundraising efforts as well. We’re really glad to have her with us before she returns to school this fall.”

In this role, Collins is leveraging her expertise in various digital communication tools, including Meta Business, Google Business, and Canva to enhance the visibility and outreach of SMCC’s programs and initiatives. Her leadership and active participation in community service projects, such as becoming a group leader for Rotary’s Youth Leadership Awards directed towards high schoolers and meal packing for Meals of Hope, further demonstrate her commitment to fostering a supportive community environment.

While at Washington College, Collins served as a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Black Student Union, and Cleopatra Sisters. She also took the role of Panhellenic delegate as a sister of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority: Beta Pi Chapter and social media manager/vice president of its Rotaract Club.

“I am happy to be able to use my creativity and marketing skills at a place where I can give back to the community for those in need,” said Collins. “Helping others has always been a part of my career goals and using the skills that I have learned to dispense various, informative resources to hundreds of people in a matter of seconds leaves me fulfilled.”

The St. Michaels Community Center is dedicated to enriching the lives of the residents of St. Michaels and surrounding areas through educational, recreational, and cultural programs while fostering community spirit and supporting the well-being of neighbors in need through various services and activities.

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/now.

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