The Beach Bank, located at 5782 Tilghman Island Rd, Tilghman MD will be holding a ribbon cutting grand opening and open house event from 4-6 pm on Monday September 6.

The building is the original 1915 Tilghman Island Bank and formerly served as Crawford’s Nautical Book Bank.

The Book Bank is home to The Beachcombing Center, a non profit international beachcombing organization dedicated to shoreline finds and raising awareness about coastal erosion and marine debris, and When’s Low Tide, a beach treasure candle and ocean arts shop.

The Beachcombing Center includes the sea glass of former First Lady Barbara Bush, sea glass and sand from over 40 countries, a dress, glass slipper and crown made of sea glass, a boat where kids of all ages can “beachcomb” their own treasures, and much more.

Mary McCarthy is the Executive Director and President of The Beachcombing Center (which was founded in Maine as The Sea Glass Center in 2014), candlemaker and owner of When’s Low Tide. A former town council president of Centreville Maryland, she is a lifelong journalist, bestselling author and mother of four.

“I am so pleased to bring the international beachcombing community together by creating this venue,” said McCarthy. “It’s great to have a place where we can celebrate some of the many ocean artists from across the world.” She plans to add more artists over time. Her When’s Low Tide candles feature hidden beach finds in each candle and the proceeds benefit the museum.

Find more information at facebook.com/thebeachbank or Instagram.com/thebeachbank or Instagram.com/whenslowtide or contact marytmccarthy@gmail.com

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $500,267 in federal funds for the Easton/Newnam Field Airport in Talbot County, including more than $50,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. These funds will help support critical infrastructure improvements to the airport, which is an important economic driver for the region.

“As we build back better, investing in infrastructure improvements across our state will help create jobs and keep our economy moving. That’s why we’ve fought for federal dollars – including American Rescue Plan funding – for projects like this, to support essential transportation needs that benefit Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. “The Easton Airport is a key driver for our local Shore economy – we will keep working in Congress to provide federal funding for our local airports to spur economic growth in our region and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient service for Marylanders and visitors alike.”

“The American Rescue Plan has provided critical federal investment in our state to support our economy and everyday lives as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This new round of federal funding will support design and safety upgrades of Easton/Newnam Field Airport to better serve our state and region in the years ahead,” said Senator Cardin, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “The Maryland delegation will continue our efforts in bringing once-in-a-generation infrastructure legislation across the finish line to modernize and improve our transportation infrastructure across the state.”

Funding will be divided between two projects:

• $338,960 to construct, extend, and improve the Runway 4/22 safety area to meet standards and enhance the safety of operations at the airport
• $161,307 to remove non-hazard tree obstructions to meet Federal Aviation Administration design standards

These funds were provided through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the Talbot County Council. Funds that were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are available to help cover state and local funding obligations up to 100% of the cost of the project for any grants awarded in FY2020 or FY2021. Members of the Maryland delegation have fought for funding to support our local airports throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and have delivered Maryland airports over $98 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan, over $24 million in funding through the December Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, and over $107 million in funding through the CARES Act.

The Easton Airport Day event committee is excited to announce Bluepoint Hospitality as the presenting sponsor of the world-famous Rubber Chicken Drop Contest during Easton Airport Day on September 25, 2021.

The 12th annual Easton Airport Day, sponsored by Scott & Tracy Wagner, features rare and unique aircraft, military jets, and airport equipment on display and open to the public starting at 10 a.m. Over 50 “Warbirds” start their engines at noon and take-off from the airport to perform mass formation flying in the skies above.

As the aircraft participating in mass formation returns around 1 p.m., they break off to take part in the Rubber Chicken Drop Contest. The challenge is a fun way for them to hone their skills and dazzle the crowd one last time. Planes roar down the runway and toss out a rubber chicken in an attempt to hit their target – the back of a pickup truck.

“The Rubber Chicken Drop Contest is probably the most unique aspect of Easton Airport Day,” Easton Airport Manager Micah Risher said. “Folks always look forward to the competition and we couldn’t be happier to have Bluepoint Hospitality sponsoring the festivities and helping us bring our community together around aviation and good old-fashion fun.”

Pilots look forward to the challenge all year long. The closest chicken to the target truck wins. Some pilots even custom design their own “chicken launchers” for their aircraft in an attempt to gain an advantage. The task seems simple, but no pilot has ever been able to hit the bullseye.

“I was supposed to attend a family wedding, but I went to the chicken drop instead,” 2019 contest winning pilot Joe Czachorowski said.

A full schedule of activities for Easton Airport Day 2021 will be available online in early September. The event is free to attend and there is no fee for parking. Food vendors will be onsite selling lunch, sweets, drinks, and tasty treats.

For more information about Easton Airport Day, visit www.eastonairportday.com and follow Easton Airport on Facebook @EastonAirport for event updates.

The Town of Easton, Maryland, has launched a COVID-19 relief grant program for small businesses, non-profit organizations, and Town of Easton infrastructure. The program, known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021.

Through this grant program, the Town of Easton will award a total of $16.4 million in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds across two years through 12/31/2024. Half of this funding, $8.2 million, was received on August 12, 2021, with the remaining funds expected in August of 2022.

Town of Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey said, “We intend to honor as many requests as possible and fund the many necessary infrastructure repairs and upgrades. In many cases, we will be adding amenities to the Town that will benefit everyone, such as park improvements, environmental upgrades, streetscapes, etc. The process of application reviews will take a significant amount of time, so as always, your patience will be appreciated.”

Tracy Ward, Executive Director for Easton Economic Development Corporation, said, “The Town of Easton is to be commended for its prompt action on this relief program that will result in critical one-time investments strengthening the Town’s economic base equitably.”

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Interim Final Rule1, the ARPA funding is intended to be used for four primary purposes:

a) To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;

b) To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health
emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers;

c) For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency; and

d) To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

Town of Easton business owners and nonprofit organizations can submit an online application on the Town website, https://eastonmd.gov/562/American-Rescue-Plan-Application. “ARPA has created a unique, generational opportunity for the Town,” said Charlie Connolly, Assistant Finance Officer for the Town of Easton. “We need to ensure that this one-time infusion of funds has lasting impacts on the families and businesses of Easton.”

For additional information, contact the Town of Easton at 410-822-2525.

There is always a feel-good component when we talk about a hometown kid who made good, particularly when they’re from your town. The same goes for a simple idea that well… works.

We first heard about City Bonfires from Joe Opalski, Easton resident and dad to Michael Opalski. He wanted us to know that his son and a neighbor started the company, an idea that Joe said was ‘genius.’ We followed up.

Born and bred in Easton, the younger Opalski graduated from Easton High, went to college, got married, started a job, had kids, and moved to Rockville, MD, not too far from his roots. In Rockville, he discovered that his across-the-street neighbor, Chris McCasland, and he had a connection to the restaurant industry. Opalski worked with a manufacturing company that sold equipment to restaurants. McCasland owned Quincy’s South Bar & Grille in Rockville and Quincy’s Potomac Bar & Grill in Potomac. McCasland also had a business selling tickets to concerts, sports, and theater events throughout the country.

A proud dad would not have contacted us, and this story might not have turned out to be a story at all was it not for the pandemic. Because suddenly, these two neighbors found themselves without their day-to-day jobs, quarantined in their homes. Like with many other communities, small neighbor pods formed. Their kids began to play together, and the two men, who had never really had more than a two- or three-minute conversation, became friends. With life on pause, as they hung around the house, McCasland shared some ideas he’d been thinking about that would be ‘cool to do’ during the pandemic. Opalski was interested.

What they came up with was simple: Their families had enjoyed gathering around a bonfire; why not, they thought, a personal and portable fire pit? A product that would give people in all living situations–whether in a city or rural setting–the chance to sit around an outside fire without needing lots of space and firewood and with no extra clean-up.

With a solid idea, the two entrepreneurs created various prototypes, finally settling on a 4×2 inch round metal tin can using non-toxic soy wax that becomes the flame and creates a reusable (with 3-4 hours of burn time) mini bonfire.

Their next decision was easy. Knowing that pursuing the big box stores or the old brick and mortars to sell their products would be a slow process (particularly during the pandemic), they decided to use e-commerce instead, creating ad content for social media platforms.

For that, they turned to Opalski’s hometown—Easton. It was the most obvious choice, he said, “there’s such beauty there–the landscape is just incredible. And we could get pictures of the can with the water behind it. We envisioned people using it, took pictures of that, and didn’t need to rely on stock photos.”

And so it began. Now, for many innovators, the possibility of selling some inventory would be a great side or temporary thing—until they could return to their ‘real jobs.’ What McCasland and Opalski did not anticipate was the response. And here is where this becomes a story–because this simple yet solid idea caught on. Again, partially because of COVID.

“It was the experience,” said Opalski. “If you’re a grandparent and couldn’t be with your grandkids, you could send them this and FaceTime with them and be part of the good time they were having. Making this process a little bit more convenient, hit a vein.”

“It also helped that people were stuck at home and were looking for different ideas of what to do outside with their family,” said McCasland. “It was an easy, inexpensive, quick decision kind of thing.”

Also unanticipated was that their buyers started coming up with ideas of their own, and the two responded. The can bonfire expanded from not just a ‘sit around and enjoy a fire’ to a kit that also came with all the components necessary to create s’mores.

The senior Opalski—Joe—was enlisted to help: “I’d go to all the local grocery/big box stores and buy their entire inventory of marshmallows and graham crackers. I’d get strange looks and stares as I came through the check-out lines.”

As the demand grew, so did Joe’s role. “It was fun and exciting watching and being part of his growth. At first, along with Chris’ family members, I was gluing wicks. Finally, I graduated to hauling wholesale supplies. I’d travel to the can manufacturer and bring 10-15,000 cans or 14,000 candy bars to their new warehouse.”

That’s right–they had to move to a warehouse because neither their garages nor their families could support or keep up with the expansion. It helped that the press was supportive. It’s only been a year, yet the product has been featured in People Magazine, Self, Reader’s Digest, E-Online, Today Show, CNBC, to name only a handful.

With all the national publicity, they also learned other ways their product was being used. “Neither Michael or I are big campers,” said McCasland, “but we learned a lot of people were bringing it when they went camping or were putting it in their survival bag or bug out bag.” There was also the very unexpected–you might even say– life-saving use. “Remember,” said McCasland, that crazy snow and sleet storm in Houston last winter that caused the power outages? We received videos from people showing us how they were boiling water to make ramen noodles.”

They soon received another surprise, but this one was international: “We began to sell quite a bit in Canada,” said McCasland. “We do a lot of corporate orders there, mostly retail corporate gifts. But we’re soon to be expanding into Europe and Australia, and Mexico.

Of course, what won’t be surprising is that both Opalski and McCasland now run City Bonfires full time (although McCasland still owns the restaurants, which, he said, are run by ‘really good general managers’).

As for the future, expect more accessories and more ways to enjoy the experience of their product. But don’t discount the possibility of new ideas coming to fruition because if there is one thing they learned, you sometimes need to go back to the basics. “It was kind of like a Business 101 course. Right? Start in your garage, put a little bit of money into it, don’t take too much risk, and everything will just start happening. And in our case, it did.”

Opalski credits this elementary success partially to his roots. “I think there’s some small-town sensibility that you grow up when you grow up in an area like Talbot County. And it doesn’t leave you as you age. Your adolescence are pretty impressionable years.”

Whatever the reason, this small-town sensibility is carried over into City Bonfire’s branding. From their advertising to their website and packaging, you get the same consistent message: “Made with ❤️ in Maryland.” What’s not to love about that?

For more information please go here.

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

 

Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) is pleased to announce the appointment of their new Marketing and Development Director, Maureen Curry. As a longtime supporter of TIS’ mission to provide Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success for local families and individuals in need, Curry is very excited to take on this pivotal role within the organization.

She explains, “Talbot Interfaith Shelter provides such a vital service to our community. I look forward to growing the donor base, and setting a course for a bright and strong future for TIS.”

Curry has lived in Talbot County for 33 years, and has deep ties to the community.  She has a wealth of experience that made her a standout candidate for the position, including many years in tourism and economic development for the town of Easton, and as the Executive Director of the Baywater Animal Rescue in Dorchester County.

Curry is taking over for outgoing Marketing and Development Director Jayme Dingler, who joined TIS’ Board of Directors in 2013, and transitioned to her role on staff in 2017.  Dingler says that it has been “the greatest honor of my life to have been a part of helping this incredible organization to grow over the past several years.  I am thrilled that Maureen will be bringing her vast experience to this position as TIS moves into the next phase of its history.“

For her part, Curry is “honored to have been selected to take the reins from Jayme,” and plans to hit the ground running.  Talbot Interfaith Shelter has recently purchased its second shelter facility and is in the process of making preparations to open its doors to new guests.  Renovations need to be made to the Victorian home to meet codes.  Once complete, the new shelter will serve single individuals, while its current facility will serve families.  The shelters are the first step for guests on their journey through TIS’ S4 Program.  There, they receive case management, are connected with necessary resources, and participate in educational programming.  Once they have reached certain financial milestones, they are invited to move into one of TIS’ subsidized transitional apartments, where they are able to work gradually towards self-sufficiency.

This necessary expansion, spurred by an uptick in calls for shelter resulting from the COVID crisis, means significantly increased operating costs for the organization.  She looks forward to working with TIS’ leadership to develop strategies aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the organization into the foreseeable future.

TIS Executive Director Julie Lowe is excited to welcome Curry to what the organization affectionately calls “Team TIS” when she arrives for work on June 21^st.  She says, “We were so lucky that Jayme was able to take on this important role several years ago as we were entering a period of rapid growth.  Now, as she moves on to her next adventure, we have once again had the incredible good fortune to find Maureen, whose talent, experience, and passion for our mission made her a perfect fit at this crucial time.  I look forward to working with her to continue moving TIS forward in the fight against homelessness in our community!”

To learn more about Talbot Interfaith Shelter and their S4 Program, visit talbotinterfaithshelter.org.