For many veterans, coming home means facing a different kind of battle, one that unfolds quietly, within families and communities.  And on the Mid-Shore, one in five veterans experiences post-traumatic stress or related challenges, and acknowledging that truth has become the first step toward real support.

That support now looks broader and more coordinated than ever. Mental health teams are partnering with the Veterans Administration, VAMSA in Stevensville, and state agencies to ensure access to care without long waits. They’re focusing not just on veterans themselves, but on spouses, children, and caregivers—everyone affected by the transition from service to civilian life.

This conversation for The Spy features Beth Anne Dorman, the CEO of For All Seasons, discussing how that network is being built, the progress made in understanding post-traumatic stress, and what it takes to help veterans feel seen again.

remedy and an essential building block in bringing joy back into our lives.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. 

Every autumn, we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange, and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the trees as the seasons change from summer to winter, painting the landscape with nature’s autumn palette.  How does this happen you ask?

In the fall, because of the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.  At the same time, other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange.

The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.

The weather also affects color intensity. Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation, producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color, yet rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. 

Enjoy nature’s last fling before settling down for a winter’s sleep!  

Susan Covey is the Fitness Director of Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton

 

Talking about death rarely makes it onto anyone’s to-do list. However, for Dot Mayorga and Jo Merrill, it’s the kind of conversation that can lead to peace, clarity, and a sense of control during life’s most challenging moments. Both women are experienced professionals in hospice and social work, having spent decades supporting individuals and families through the end-of-life journey.

Their upcoming workshop, “Let’s Talk… About the Hard Stuff,” encourages a small group to tackle the conversations most people avoid: discussing dying while there’s still time to prepare for what comes next.

Mayorga and Merrill are well-acquainted with the emotional landscape of grief, caregiving, and loss, having guided both clients and loved ones through these experiences. They offer not therapy or theology, but practical guidance rooted in their lived experiences—approaches that are gentle, accessible, and surprisingly hopeful.

On Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (lunch included), they will facilitate discussions that can often feel impossible to have around the dinner table, but can ultimately be one of the greatest gifts families can share.

Dot and Jo sat down with the Spy last week to talk about the workshop.

Sign up: email Jo Merrill [email protected]
Date, Saturday, October 25, from 10:00-4:00 (lunch included,) Small group limited to 12 participants

In our latest Spy conversation with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman, we turn to the challenges of having a child or adult loved one dealing with this complex condition that robs its victims of endless time and learning experiences. Beth Anne explains that ADHD often shows up through restlessness, disorganization, or difficulty focusing, but that these symptoms can vary widely.  Our discussion also highlights how increased awareness and evolving treatment options have made it easier for individuals and families to recognize and address ADHD in ways that fit their unique needs.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. 

Mobile Integrated Health is a term that doesn’t fully capture the mission it serves in a community. It’s called MIH for short and is so vital to the country’s aging population that it now has its own awareness month in October. But what does it actually mean?

We asked Rachael Cox, a member of the Talbot County Commission on Aging and a long-time veteran of the County’s Emergency Services Management, to explain the fundamental role this important outreach service plays for some of the county’s low-income elderly residents.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Talbot County Commission on Aging, please go here.

As the country begins to recover from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, it is hard for many, even those who have never experienced issues with mental health before, not to feel a sense of doom these days. Political and cultural polarization has reached a high point in American society these days, and the consequences are evident as people feel a growing sense of hopelessness about the world’s problems.

That was the latest topic of discussion in the Spy’s ongoing series on mental health with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman.  In our conversation, Beth Anne reminds us that our community has found ways to bounce back from other tragic events in our nation’s history. And while there are several effective strategies for recovering from nationwide trauma, she makes a compelling case for the use of kindness, particularly locally, as an unbeatable remedy and an essential building block in bringing joy back into our lives.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here.