The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2025 “Mission Possible – Celebrating TCPS Alumni and Supporting Teachers” will be held on Friday, November 7 from at 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center.  Mrs. Eleanor “Tot” O’Mara, Easton High Class of 1967 and Mr. James Redman, retired TCPS Educator will serve as Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. The purpose of the event is to recognize TCPS Distinguished Alumni, celebrate Talbot County Public Education, and raise funds, awareness, and support for the Education Foundation. 

The following individuals will be honored as TCPS Distinguished Alumni for 2025:

Easton High School – Mrs. Linda S. Brown, Class of 1971

St. Michaels High School – Mrs. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Class of 1995

Robert Russa Moton High School – Mr. Dale Webb, Sr., Class of 1965

The event will include a cocktail reception catered by Garden and Garnish, and a student performance.  Information will be presented about teacher grant proposals, so that guests see first-hand examples of the initiatives that the foundation raises funds to support.  Tickets to attend the event are $100 per person, and may be purchased on-line by visiting the Education Foundation website, https://www.tcpsef.org/ or by contacting Debbie Gardner at (410)822-0330, ext. 102 or by email at [email protected]. There are also a variety of sponsorship opportunities available. 

The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation was established in 2016 in partnership with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.  To date the foundation has awarded more than $375,000 in grants to TCPS teachers. To learn more about supporting the TCPS Education Foundation, visit https://www.tcpsef.org/.

Talbot County Public Schools is proud to announce that Easton High senior Jack Perry has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.  Jack received a Letter of Commendation for this achievement from National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC ®), which conducts the program.  

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.  They are placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT ®). 

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC.  “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

 

The Gunston School is proud to announce that four members of the Class of 2026 have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. This distinguished recognition is awarded to students who placed among the top 50,000 scorers out of more than 1.5 million high school students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October 2024. This recognition places these students among the top 3-4% of all test-takers nationwide.

The following students from the Class of 2026 were honored for their outstanding academic promise: Kate Andrews ’26, Soren (Arlo) Badger ’26, Eamon Schopfer ’26, and Lucas Watkins ’26.

“This is among the highest academic honors a student can achieve. We couldn’t be prouder of Kate, Arlo, Eamon, and Lucas. This recognition is a direct result of their remarkable intellectual curiosity and dedication to their studies,” said Head of School John Lewis. “The National Merit Commended Scholar achievement is a fantastic milestone in their college journey, and we look forward to continuing to work with them through our college guidance program as they explore their options and build on this success.”

---

Founded in 1911 and currently enrolling 256 students, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

Early Head Start (EHS) is offering a simple, sustainable, and entirely free solution for Talbot County families struggling to keep up with their children’s rapidly changing wardrobes: the EHS Fall Closet Swap. This community event is designed to help local families save money, promote sustainability, and support one another by exchanging gently-used clothing, shoes, and toys.

“Small children outgrow items so fast-it’s tough on the wallet and generates a lot of waste,” said Eren Levy – Front Desk Admin and Event Organizer. “Our Fall Closet Swap is about community-powered, sustainable shopping. People can refresh their fall and winter wardrobes without spending a dime, while also giving pre-loved items a second life.”

How the Closet Swap Works
The concept is simple: participants bring the gently-used, clean, and stain-free items their families have outgrown and swap them for “new-to-you” items others have contributed. There is no cost to Participate.

Key Benefits for Families:
Save Money: Acquire necessary clothing and supplies for free.
Be Sustainable: Reduce waste by keeping usable items out of landfills.
Support Community: Help local families find the essentials they need for their young children and themselves.
To ensure a positive and successful experience for all participants, organizers are asking that all donated items are in good, reusable condition.
The rule of thumb: “If you wouldn’t give it to a close friend, please don’t bring it to the swap!”

Event Details
Details for the drop-off and swap times are as follows: Items Drop Off
October 20th – 23rd from 9am to 4pm
305 Glenwood Ave. Easton, MD.

The Swap Event
October 24th
from 1 pm to 4pm
305 Glenwood Ave. Easton, MD.

All Talbot County is invited to participate. Early Head Start encourages all local residents to share this event with friends and community groups to maximize participation and benefit for local families.

---

About Early Head Start
Early Head Start (EHS) provides comprehensive child development programs for low­income pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers up to age three. EHS promotes school readiness and healthy family development by providing services in education, health, nutrition, and social services.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host OysterFest on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10am-4pm, inviting the community to celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve with a day of fun for the whole family.

The OysterFest menu, of course, features fresh oysters served a variety of ways, plus other local fare, craft beer, and spirits. There’s also live music on two stages, an oyster stew competition, boat rides, a full schedule of demonstrations and presentations, children’s activities, and more.

Tickets for this rain-or-shine event, including a new VIP offering and CBMM Fall Festival Passes, are on sale now at cbmm.org/OysterFest, with discounted pricing for CBMM members.

Whether you prefer to sip, savor, or slurp Chesapeake Bay oysters, you’ll appreciate this beloved fall festival with oyster offerings from the Talbot Watermen Association and several local oyster farms, including raw and cooked options.

Guests can also purchase a variety of Chesapeake delicacies and other food offerings via local vendors on campus, plus a beverage selection that includes specialty cocktails and an array of local craft beer options. All food and drinks are an additional charge.

The always-popular oyster stew competition gives guests the chance to sample offerings from area restaurants in an OysterFest mug and then vote for their favorites to help decide which chefs claim the coveted title and local bragging rights.

The friendly competition continues with our annual oyster slurp-off contest. Interested participants can sign up on the day of the event.

All the oyster-themed fun will come with an upbeat soundtrack thanks to live music on both sides of campus all day long. An OysterFet staple, Electric Newgrass band Swamp Donkey will once again share their unique blend of originals and covers at the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. There will also be a stage on Fogg’s Landing, including a performance by local sibling trio The Folk Villains, to add to the festive atmosphere.

Throughout the day, the Van Lennep Auditorium will host a variety of guest speakers, including representatives from the Pocomoke Indian Nation, whose ancestral lands span much of lower Delmarva. In addition to their auditorium presentation, the Pocomokes will offer demonstrations throughout the day to share their history and traditions with guests near CBMM’s Shipyard.

Representatives from the American Chesapeake Club and their pups will be on hand to highlight Maryland’s official dog, the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

CBMM will also debut a new theater space on Navy Point, showcasing a selection from its library of historic and documentary films that includes the works of the celebrated environmental filmmakers Tom Horton, Dave Harp, and Sandy Cannon-Brown.

OysterFest programming, including presentations, demos, and performances from the Pocomoke Indian Nation, The Folk Villains, and the American Chesapeake Club, is supported by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center through the Maryland Traditions Program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

Children can explore life on the Bay through a range of themed, hands-on activities, including lawn games, model boat building, and more. The Phillips Wharf Fishmobile traveling aquarium will be on site, too.

Guests have a variety of ways to get out on the water at OysterFest, including free, drop-in cruises aboard CBMM’s floating fleet vessels. Patriot Cruises will offer a Narrated Historical Cruise on the Miles River at 12:30pm with combo tickets that include OysterFest admission and the cruise available.

CBMM is thrilled to welcome a pair of visiting tall ships to join in the fun. AJ Meerwald, a restored oyster dredging schooner that is New Jersey’s official tall ship, is offering free dockside tours from 10am-3pm and a ticketed public sail at 4pm, while Lady Maryland, a full-scale reproduction of a traditional 19th century Chesapeake Bay cargo schooner called a pungy, will be available for free deck tours during the festival before offering a ticketed sunset sail at 5pm.

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase commemorative OysterFest gear in the Museum Store, showcasing this year’s featured historic oyster tin from CBMM’s collection. The one-gallon tin, featuring a silhouetted sailboat underway, was packed by Harrison & Jarboe Seafood Company in the 1950s on CBMM’s Navy Point and marketed as Miles River Brand Oysters. The design will be emblazoned on shirts and hats for purchase, as well as the mugs used for the oyster stew competition and the VIP tote bags.

This year, OysterFest is generously sponsored by PNC Bank and What’s Up Media.

OysterFest tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Admission is set at $22 for adults, $19 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $10 for active and retired military members, and $9 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing to OysterFest and other annual festivals celebrating the best of the Bay throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive the $10 discounted admission for two additional adult guests.

To level up the fun, VIP tickets include festival admission, entry into the oyster stew competition with commemorative mug, access to the VIP Hospitality Lounge with a complimentary beer and wine bar, an exclusive OysterFest tote bag with a list of vendor specials, and discounts at the festival bars. The cost is $50 for CBMM members and $80 for non-members.

The CBMM Fall Festival Pass offers entry to three upcoming signature festivals, including OysterFest, the Holiday Edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival (Saturday, Nov. 22), and Winter on the Chesapeake (Saturday, Dec. 13). The cost is $20 for CBMM members and $44 for non-members.

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story, joining CBMM’s mission as stewards of the region’s rich cultural heritage. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

During the festival, additional free parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service running to and from CBMM.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept home during CBMM festivals, including OysterFest. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is also prohibited.

Bikers and classic car enthusiasts gather in support of the students and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Benedictine 

(Ridgely, MD – September 23, 2025) – Benedictine hosted its’ Chrome City Fundraiser for the 23rd year, drawing hundreds of visitors, motorcycles, hot rods, classic, custom, and vintage cars to the campus in Ridgely, Maryland on September 20th. The day included a car and motorcycle competition, live music by the Stoneflies – a Paul Reed Smith employee band, door prizes, food trucks, and fun for the whole family. The Benedictine Foundation’s Chrome City Fundraiser supports students and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential.  

Two of Benedictine’s supported adults were able to be vendors this year, selling their own creations. Dom sold holiday décor, while Chas sold his fishing lures. Both enjoyed attending the event as vendors for the first time. “I had a great time at Chrome City. I met a lot of people,” said Dom. Chas stated, “I was very successful selling my lures at Chrome City. I almost reached my sales goal (and) met some nice people.”

The first 100 cars that registered received a dash plaque and everyone that registered received a commemorative Chrome City t-shirt. First place car was awarded to Richard Dascenzo for his 1965 Chevy and First place motorcycle to Joseph Wachter for his 2012 Kawasaki Vaqmaro. Sister’s Choice was awarded to David and Ellen Coleman for their 1962 Chevy Corvette. Thank you to Del Mar Va Judging Group for selecting the top 20 cars and to New Castle County Troopers for selecting the top 10 motorcycles. Thank you to Sister Mary Agnes for selecting Sister’s Choice. 

Numerous food trucks were on site to purchase breakfast and lunch from including Uncle Bernie’s Steak Shack, Smokin’ on the Shore BBQ, Jimmy’s Fat Rolls, So Coast Street Eats, Walker Family Seafood, Shore Good Coffee, T&D Fusions, Breezy Treats, Isaiah’s Ice Cream, and SnoAngels Shaved Ice.

Sponsors of this year’s Chrome City included A.H. Hatcher, Willow Construction, Fresh Air Concepts, The Jetty, Queenstown Bank, Southern Corrosion, Torchio Architects, Preston Automotive Group, Acrisure, Central Sod, Chesapeake Urology, Uncle Bernie’s Steak Shack, Bullock’s Deli, Callahan’s Gas, What’s Up? Media, So Coast Street Eats, Jimmy’s Fat Rolls, Conner. Inc, and Paul Reed Smith. Chrome City was also supported by numerous families, friends and staff.

“We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate Benedictine’s 23rd Annual Chrome City Fundraiser. We all love to see the amazing motorcycles and cars come up Benedictine Lane. Thank you to all our sponsors and everyone who attended,” said Executive Director, Scott Evans. “Your support makes it possible for us to fulfill our mission to make sure all the children and adults we support living with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and autism achieve their greatest potential. “

If you would like more information on how you can support Benedictine, please contact Caroline Bauerle at [email protected] or 410. 634.2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org. 

 

---

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit service provider whose mission is to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine currently supports close to 200 children and adults.

The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties.  

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. 

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community. 

Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with close to 400 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

 

The Gunston School is pleased to announce the Mid-Shore College Fair and Financial Planning Evening on Tuesday, October 28 from 6-8 p.m. at Chesapeake College’s Health Professions and Athletics Center in Wye Mills, Md. This event is free and open to the public, however advanced registration is highly encouraged. Students will receive a barcode after registering, and colleges will scan it during the fair to receive the student’s contact information. Participants are encouraged to browse the college fair at their own pace and have the option to attend one of two sessions on the Financial Aid Process at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. This event typically draws around 60-75 colleges and universities from across the country.

“Our college guidance program is all about finding the right fit for each student, and we take a lot of pride in that personalized approach,” explains Co-Director of College Guidance Emily Coffey. “By bringing the Mid-Shore College Fair to our community, we’re able to share that commitment and offer a valuable resource to all students and families in the area, helping them navigate a process that can feel pretty overwhelming.”

The Mid-Shore College Fair was made possible with support from the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. Students may register at https://app.strivescan.com/registration. Contact Gunston’s Directors of College Guidance with questions: Emily Coffey, [email protected] or 410-758-0620 ext 3101 and Tony D’Antonio, [email protected] or 410-758-0620 ext 3100.

To date, the following colleges and universities will be attending (with about 20 more expected to be added to the list before the October event:

* Alfred University
* Alvernia University
* Bucknell University
* Cairn University
* Cedar Crest College
* Chesapeake College
* Christopher Newport University
* Clarkson University
* Drexel University
* Eastern Shore Higher Education Center
* Elizabethtown College
* Franklin & Marshall College
* Goldey-Beacom College
* Goucher College
* Hampden-Sydney College
* Hobart and William Smith
* Hood College
* Juniata College
* Loyola University Maryland
* Lycoming College
* Maine Maritime Academy
* McDaniel College
* Momnouth University
* Mount St. Mary’s University
* Neumann University
* Notre Dame of Maryland University
* Old Dominion University
* Palm Beach Atlantic University
* Randolph-Macon College
* Saint Joseph’s University
* Salisbury University
* Salve Regina University
* Savannah College of Art and Design
* St. John’s College (Annapolis/Santa Fe)
* St. Mary’s College of Maryland
* Stetson University
* Stevenson University
* Susquehanna University
* The Catholic University of America
* Towson University
* University of Alabama
* University of Delaware
* University of Maryland, Baltimore County
* University of New Haven
* University of Rhode Island
* University of Tennessee, Knoxville
* Ursinus College
* Washington College
* West Virginia University
* Wilson College

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information. 

Monday, September 15, 2025, 6 p.m.

The St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) welcomes author Kimberly Heckler to discuss her new fascinating biography of her mother-in-law, Margaret Heckler, whose Irish immigrant spirit overcame remarkable personal struggles to become a pioneering Washington, DC, political leader, first elected to Congress in 1967, as one of only eleven women.

The event will be held on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Center, located at 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels, MD. Admission is free, and seats can be reserved by emailing Boardsecretary@stmichaelscc.org.

“SMCC is proud to share this history of Margaret Heckler, a forward-looking thinker, whose accomplishments made her one of the most powerful women in the country in the 1970s and 1980s, who brought women’s accomplishments to the forefront,” said Lori Morris, SMCC President.

Heckler was one of the first women to graduate from Boston College Law School. She went on to serve eight terms in Congress, where her 1974 landmark legislation, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, granted women the right to credit and credit cards in their own name — arguably the most important legal protection for women since the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave them the right to vote in 1920.

She left Congress to serve as President Reagan’s Secretary of Health and Human Services during the AIDS crisis and later returned to her homeland as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Her career spanned five presidencies: Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan, whom she encouraged to appoint Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court.

A Woman of Firsts isn’t just a biography – it’s a front-row seat to the life of a woman who consistently defied expectations, challenged the status quo, and shaped American history….Her legacy is too important, and … too impactful to be forgotten,” wrote one reviewer.

---

 

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 improves the quality of life and meets the needs of our community through programs that enrich the lives of children, teens, seniors, and families, along with 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. The center’s newly renovated building is at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels. Information about the Center’s work is available online at http://www.stmichaelscc.org.http://www.stmichaelscc.org.

The Talbot County Free Library and its community partners are pleased to announce that Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Weatherford – the author and illustrator of this year’s One Maryland One Book selection, KIN: Rooted in Hope – will appear at Chesapeake College’s Todd Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 7th, at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature an author/illustrator talk, followed by a reception and book signing. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view an exhibit of Jeffery Weatherford’s artwork from the book. 

Selected by Maryland Humanities, KIN: Rooted in Hope is a powerful blend of art, poetry, and personal family history. Released in 2024, the book chronicles Weatherford’s search into her family tree, uncovering ancestors who were among the founding families of Maryland and those who helped shape the Eastern Shore. 

In speaking about her own search and experience, Weatherford will encourage attendees to go beyond genealogical records and bring family members to life in stories, emphasizing that this is a process and project for everyone. Weatherford writes of KIN, “Names and dates form the roots and branches of a family tree, stories are the foliage that brings the past to life. KIN: Rooted in Hope is an affirmation that for everyone, knowing your history is generational wealth.”

Carole Boston Weatherford, an acclaimed author of over 80 books, has received numerous awards, including two NAACP Image Awards and 18 American Library Association Youth Media Awards, among them a Newbury Honor, the Coretta Scott King Award, and four Caldecott Honors.

Jeffery Boston Weatherford, an award-winning illustrator, has collaborated with Carole on three books. He was a Romare Bearden Scholar at Howard University, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree. In addition to his work as a fine artist and performance poet, Jeffery has exhibited and performed across the United States, West Africa, and the Middle East. He currently resides in North Carolina. 

One Maryland One Book is a statewide initiative organized by Maryland Humanities in which residents across the state read the same book at the same time. Copies of KIN are available for checkout at public libraries across the Eastern Shore and Maryland. It is also available as a free downloadable eBook and audiobook via Libby. Book discussions are planned at libraries across the state. 

This author event is made possible by Maryland Humanities, Chesapeake College, the Talbot County Free Library, the Caroline County Public Library, Eastern Shore Regional Library and Queen Anne’s County Library. Other partners include Washington College, Talbot County Public Schools, Kent County Public Library, the Dorchester County Public Library, ShoreLit, and The Needle’s Eye Academy. 

This program is free and open to the public, with no reservations required. For more information, please call the Talbot County Free Library at (410) 822-1626, or visit www.tcfl.org. Bus transportation from Easton will be provided at no cost; details are forthcoming.

---

About the Talbot County Free Library

The Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) provides free access to information, technology, and educational resources to all residents of Talbot County, MD. The library strives to empower, inspire, and enrich the community by fostering lifelong learning and literacy. With branches in Easton and St. Michaels, TCFL offers a range of programs and services for all ages. Learn more at www.tcfl.org.

 

After a thoughtful and comprehensive search process, the Board of Trustees of Wye River Upper School is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Sophocles as the permanent Head of School for Wye River Upper School, effective immediately. 

Over the past year, Mrs. Sophocles has served with distinction as Interim Head of School, providing strong and steady leadership during a time of transition at our school. As a founding teacher at Wye River, Nicole has been a cornerstone of our school community since our founding twenty-three years ago. With Nicole’s intimate understanding of our school’s values, combined with her long service and history of innovative thinking, she will continue to guide Wye River Upper School as we build upon our strong foundation and pursue new areas of opportunity for our School. 

Nikki Williams, Wye River Upper School Board Chair, states, “Mrs. Sophocles has helped to shape Wye River with deep dedication, vision, and a steadfast faithfulness to our mission. Her leadership has been characterized by transparency, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of our students. The overwhelming support expressed by faculty, staff, students, families, and alumni made it clear to the Board of Trustees and the Search Committee that Nicole is the right person to lead our School into the future.” 

Mrs.Sophocles holds a Bachelor of Science from The University of Miami, a Master of Education from The University of Maryland, a Certificate in Independent School Leadership from Johns Hopkins University, and teaching certification in Biology. She has nearly twenty-five years of experience in classroom instruction, outdoor education, and school leadership. Mrs. Sophocles resides in Annapolis, MD, with her three children and husband. 

About Wye River Upper School: 

At Wye River Upper School in Centreville, Maryland, we reimagine the high school experience for bright students who learn differently. Serving grades 8–12, we deliver a challenging college preparatory program within a small, supportive setting. Our approach empowers students to discover their strengths, build confidence, and prepare for success beyond high school. Our supportive environment is designed for students with learning differences, ADHD, and unique learning profiles.