Unlike most organizational change, the passing of the torch from one retirement community director to a new one is more akin to a college president or a rector of a large church. While the first responsibility is to keep budgets aligned, expenses paid, and a steady revenue flow, these transfers of responsibility also include the less tangible  but equally important sense of culture and community.

In fact, for Irma Toce, the retiring CEO of Londonderry on the Tred Avon, if one keeps a special culture of a place right, most, if not all, of the financial management challenges work themselves out. And for the last decade, Irma’s instincts have proven correct; Londonderry is at total capacity, including a healthy waiting list. Undoubtedly, the retirement community’s location is one of many other factors for its success. Still, with Irma’s encouragement and support during her time, it is its genuine sense of community that is the most compelling selling point.

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that when Londonderry’s board was tasked to find Irma’s successor, Christine Harrington was the first choice. Growing up in Easton in a neighborhood of families, some of whom are now residents of Londonderry, Christine comes to her new role with a long career in the senior living field.

That included being the former executive director of The Arbor Company, an administrator of The Homestead Manor and Heritage Community, a specialist for The Arc of Maryland, a supervisor for Genesis Healthcare, a director of Community Health for St. Agnes Hospital, and a residential director for eMerge.

The Spy sat down with Christine and Irma for a recent chat about this important transition.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Londonderry please go here.

As Easton’s Port Street continues to see a rebirth with several new or renovated buildings added to this important thoroughfare, including The Arc’s Port Street Commons and Daly Gardens, drivers and pedidatians alike look at the new home of the Mid-Shore Early Learning Center and wonder what that organization does.

That’s understandable since MSELC, from 1990 until just a few years ago, was a program of the old Easton Memorial Hospital. And for some 30 years, it was a bit under the radar as a highly successful child care and enrichment program starting with those as young as six weeks old.

With the old hospital merging into UM Shore Regional Health​ and facing unprecedented rising healthcare costs, the regional hospital system was considering closing the program when a group of parents and education leaders offered to take over the Center.

On March 1, 2014, the Child Development Center was transferred to the Mid-Shore Early Learning Center, a new non-profit organization created by the parents and staff of the learning center.

With a new home on Port Street and some essential projects needing attention, including a sunshaded playground, the MSELC has started a new gala tradition to help with those priorities.

The Spy sat down with board of directors member Elizabeth North and MSELC president James Bell, Jr. to talk about the Center’s mission, history, and, of course, the upcoming gala.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about the Mid-Shore Early Learning Center and information about its gala, please go here.

For tickets please go here