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November 26, 2020

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

News News Notes

No Case For Keeping Confederate Monument, Lawyers  Tell Rally-Goers

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Recounting history and the Constitution, prominent lawyers argued their case against the Confederate monument to about 100 people gathered to protest the statue on the lawn of the Talbot County Courthouse Tuesday evening.  

JoAnn Asparagus, magistrate of the Circuit Court for Caroline County for nearly 20 years, described Mississippi’s embrace of slavery, role in the Civil War and Jim Crow-era laws. But, she said,  during this recent Nov. 3 election, citizens voted to get rid of their Confederate-themed state flag. 

“If they can do it in Mississippi, surely we can do it in Talbot County,” she said, referring to the monument dedicated in 1916 during the Jim Crow era to intimidate Blacks. And she added: “If we do not come to the point that we agree that all men are created equal, it will be our demise.” 

Asparagus was one of four speakers at the rally, the sixth held by the nonpartisan Coalition to Move the Monument. It was part of an ongoing commitment to gather the nights the Talbot County Council meets to send the message that their 3-to-2 vote to leave the monument in place does not represent the sentiments of the majority of Talbot County’s citizens, who will continue to push for its removal.  

Michael Pullen, who served as Talbot County attorney for 24 years, contrasted the founding principles in the Declaration of Independence that maintained that “All men are created equal,” with those of the Confederacy, which explicitly stated Blacks were not.

“Those who claim that removing the statue would change history—well, I wish we could erase 400 years of history that included slavery…Believe me, I would if I could,” he said. “But three members do have the power to remove that monument.” Council members Laura Price, Chuck Callahan and Frank Divilio voted on Aug. 11 to keep the monument. Members Corey Pack and Pete Lescher voted for its removal.

“I am asking them to reject the principles of White supremacy and to adopt principles of equality under the law,” Pullen said.  

Retired labor lawyer Keith Watts reminded the audience that the courthouse lawn was the site of a former slave market. “Imagine waking up each day as a slave and knowing what the drill is,” he said. 

“We have to convince the County Council what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes,” he said. “We are not advocating erasing history. We are advocating its relocation. The time has come for it to go.” 

Ryan Ewing, a public defender and a descendant of one of the Confederate soldiers whose name is on the monument, said it violates the presumption of fairness and justice for all. 

“Does the appearance of this statue on the lawn give anyone the sense they are going to get a fair trial?” he asked. 

“If slavery is our original sin,” he said,  “then the Confederate monument is our mark of Cain.”  

Other Ewings are named on monuments in Talbot to wars they fought to defend freedom, he said. “I won’t miss this statue one bit.”

The next rally will be 6 p.m., Nov. 24.  For more information, contact Ridgely Ochs at ridgely.ochs@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

Spy Profile: Scott’s United Methodist Church

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Scott’s Church in Trappe has the unique history of starting as a Friends Meeting House before the building, and the land was donated to its founders in 1869. The Friends moved on to Easton while the church itself morphed into the United Methodist denomination. Even rarer was that Scott’s was to place an extraordinary emphasis on having services based on gospel music as its spiritual foundation, bringing to the forefront the vital role that music played in the nearly African-American community.

Those are just of a few tidbits that Rev. Dartanyon L. Hines, the pastor of Scott’s, shared with the Spy last weekend during a chat with Zoom. Joining him in the discussion was loyal church member and leader Daphan Smith, whose thirty years with the Trappe church has given her a special appreciation for its historical role as well as the profound impact it currently has in the community with its food pantry and after school program.

And like all churches of this age and heritage, Scott’s faces ongoing challenges in keeping the building maintained at a time when the COVID crisis has seriously curtailed personal donations and fundraising events. At the moment, their greatest need to about $30,000 to fix the church’s roof before the storms of winter arrive.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about Scott’s Church, or to make a donation to their roof project, please go here.

Spy Arts Moment: Hegland Glass Wins in Philadelphia

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Mid-Shore Glass Artists Patti and Dave Hegland are participating in the 44th Annual Philadelphia Museum Of Art Craft Show And were just selected to receive the The Cohn Family Trust Prize for Excellence in Glass.

The show this year is virtual and continues:

Saturday, Nov 7, 2020 — 10am – 6pm EST
Sunday, Nov 8, 2020 — 10am – 6pm EST

Show details and information: www.pmacraftshow.org Hegland Glass: www.heglandglass.com

 

Mid-Shore Arts: Mainstay Keeps the Mojo Going with John Thomas

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While some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis has been some of the Shore’s most popular music venues, the Mainstay in Rock Hall is not sitting it out. Using creative ways to keep bringing music to their loyal patrons, including streaming and outside performances, the beloved Kent County concert producer is keeping live music alive and well until things return to normal in 2021.

The Spy had a quick check it with programming manager John Thomas about Mainstay’s remaining concerts for 2020 and its plans to formally celebrate its 25th year of operations next year rather than have a scaled-down anniversary during the pandemic.

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

A Merger to Better Serve Talbot County Seniors Aging in Place

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For many years now, the Spy has been covering the growing trend in Talbot County to support seniors aging in place. As its elderly population grows, and as more individuals decide to stay in their existing homes, several organizations were created to help serve their needs.

Locally, Talbot Village Connections, which transitioned into the Maryland Community for Life program a few years ago, established a unique resource of seniors needing transportation, handyman jobs, and other special needs, and provided those services for a modest monthly fee. At the same time, Partners in Care, another state organization, provided a volunteer-driven program will similar services for Talbot and Caroline Counties.

Both organizations have had notable successes in the region, but they were frequently asked by participants, and more importantly, grant-makers, what the differences were between the two.

The answer was minimal, and the good news is that these two organizations are now merging. This month, both groups’ leaders will be combining resources, members, and volunteer leadership to become one central program.

The Spy talked to both Lee Lynch Newcomb, at the Talbot County Department of Social Services, and a board member of Community for Life MD – Talbot and Mandy Arnold, the president of the state’s Partners In Care, to learn more.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about the newly formed Partners in Care – Community for Life program, please call 410-443-0760 or go here.

The Talbot Spy Survey #33 Results – The Transition

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We were curious last Sunday about what readers of the The Spy were thinking about the Presidential transition. Today, we’re hoping we actually get to a transition one way or another sooner rather than later.
However, what was clear from the responses is that there are two important tasks whether President Trump is reelected or his challenger Joe Biden is elected. More than anything else we posed, readers want to see strong people selected for top positions in the administration. And, readers want to see new initiatives to deal with the very persistent COVID-19 virus.
Let’s hope in the weeks and months ahead, we see both!

Profiles in Spirituality: The Reality and the Promise of Interfaith Families with Susan Katz Miller

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It may seem like interfaith families is a rarity in American culture, but the truth is that about 25% of American homes fit that definition, and their numbers are growing.

From the early unions of Catholics and Protestants to more contemporary examples of Hindus marrying Muslims, the 21st-century household is becoming more and more a reflection of the dramatic changes in our society.

According to author Susan Katz Miller, who has written extensively on the subject, that reality can only be seen as a good thing. Still, it should be handled with care by parents and the entire extended family.

Susan plans to highlight some of the ways that families can prepare for, and adjust to, interfaith homes as part of Temple B’nai Israel’s Lifelong Learning series this Sunday from 4:00-5:30 p.m via the Zoom platform. But the Spy was able to get a preview of some of her major points in our chat with her yesterday.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. To make a reservation to participate on Sunday, please go here.

Senior Nation: After the Fall with Janet Pfeffer

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Unlike many who reach retirement age, former nonprofit executive Janet Pfeffer knew precisely what she wanted to do when she stepped down. Motivated in keeping herself in good physical shape, Janet thought the best way to achieve that goal was to become an exercise instructor herself. And in no time at all, she was hired by the YMCA of the Chesapeake to teach her fellow seniors the best way to keep an active lifestyle.

That was ten years ago, and since then, Janet reached such popularity that she added classes at the Londonderry retirement community and the Oxford Community Center. In addition, she hosted a series on the Spy entitled “A Fit Retirement,” where she interviewed her fellow exercise enthusiasts about their daily routines. With all these activities, Janet not only was maintaining her own health, but she was “self-actualizing” in a way unimaginable to her when she started this second life of hers.

But last year, something happened that changed all that. While walking with a friend, she took a misstep on the trail and fell. Unable to get back up, Janet immediately realized that a serious event had happened and soon afterward learned she had seriously broken her hip.

In her Spy interview, Janet talks about that experience and the gained perspective that resulted from the painful and, to her mind, humbling incident. She recounts those early days of shame stemming from the thought of a teacher of so many finding herself a victim of an accidental fall, but also remarkable resilience she saw in herself and the importance of her friends and support network that made it possible to come back stronger and more confident.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. Janet Pfeffer is back at work at the YMCA. For more information about her classes please go here.

Has COVID Impacted Your Home Budget? Talbot County Can Help with Family Grants

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One of the most severe impacts of the COVID-19 crisis is not found in local hospitals or doctor offices, but in the homes of those families whose wage earners have lost their jobs or faced other financial hardships directly tied to the coronavirus. And now with a second round of financial aid stalled in the United State Congress, many in Talbot County are faced with rent payments that can’t be paid of even keeping the lights on.

Linda Webb, the director of Talbot County Department of Social Services, wants those families to know that local help is available for those in need. As part of the original CARES act, Talbot County still has funds available to both individuals and families with direct cash grants to help with these expenses. But one needs to apply before the end of 2020.

We caught up with Linda a few days ago about the program and what steps are needed to apply for assistance.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about CARES grants please call at 410-770-4848 or go here.