For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9^th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7^th through Sunday, March 10^th at the Oxford Community Center.  This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Join the cast for a great show filled with talent and entertainment at the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with tickets starting at $150 that includes cocktails and dinner.  Weekend performances are Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on March 10 at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at $25 for adults and $10 for students.

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore.  To learn more about their services or make a donation, visit www.forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7th through Sunday, March 10th at the Oxford Community Center. This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as special guests from Crashbox Theatre Troupe. Producers for the show are Beth Anne Langrell and Lisa Roth.

“Heart & Music, our annual fundraiser, once again brings together a talented cast to entertain and educate the community about the important mental health and rape crisis services that For All Seasons provides. This year, in particular, we celebrate the growth of our agency and the increasing role it is taking in the communities across the Mid Shore,” states Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director, For All Seasons.

This year’s Heart & Music cast includes Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Matt Folker, Marcia Gilliam, Bill Gross, Malley Hester, Beth Anne Langrell, Ed Langrell, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, Heather Scott, Mike Sousa, Shelby Swann, Joe Tyler, Becca Van Aken, and Richard Vitanovec. Crashbox Theatre Troupe members include Sarah Anthony, Sara Chapple, Logan Herron, Aiden Loeser, Sophie McGee, Jaylen Nixon, and Seth Wagner.

Music will include songs from a number of favorite Broadway shows, including “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Jersey Boys,” “Waitress,” “Next to Normal,” “Big Fish,” “Once on This Island,” “Man of No Importance,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” “tick, tick…Boom!” and “Taboo.”

Join the cast for a great show filled with talent and entertainment at the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with tickets starting at $150 that includes cocktails and dinner. Weekend performances are Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on March 10 at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at $25 for adults and $10 for students. Special thanks to sponsors Laurie and Michael Frame, Sally and Tim Kagan, Price Rentals and Events, and What’s Up? Media.

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore. For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

Talbot Hospice has recently launched a new, community home-based palliative care program for individuals with chronic, serious illnesses, and those that care for them. Operating out of Easton’s Talbot Hospice, Talbot Palliative Care is dedicated to improving the quality of life for both the patient and the family, whether the disease is curable, chronic, or life limiting. Talbot Palliative Care provides consultative services and clinical oversight of an individual’s care and works with community physicians to manage symptoms.

Palliative care’s patient-family centered care optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating symptoms. The program focuses on working with individuals who have a chronic, serious illness – and their community physicians – to manage pain, other symptoms, and the stress associated with a serious illness. Palliative care is appropriate throughout the continuum of illness and involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, while facilitating patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.

Talbot Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Michele Potter-Williams, DNP

Palliative Care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided together with curative treatment. The Talbot Palliative Care team will visit individuals in their own residence or home, wherever that may be, including long-term care and assisted living facilities.

“Talbot Hospice realizes that seriously ill patients often do better when they receive coordinated and personalized treatment,” said Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge. “Studies show that patients who receive palliative care have an improved quality of life. Our goal is to collaborate with our community physicians for improved symptom management, and reduce repeated visits to the hospital and emergency room. We are extremely excited to offer this service to our community.”

To schedule an appointment to learn more about Talbot Palliative Care, call 410-822-2040 or email Shantel Matthews, RN at smatthews@talbothospice.org

The UM Shore Regional Health neurosurgery team led by Khalid Kurtom, MD has taken on a new challenge – one that’s sending them to the gym once they leave the OR or the Neurosurgery practice office in Shore Medical Pavilion at Easton at the end of their day.

“As a team, we have taken on a fitness challenge,” says Dr. Kurtom, adding that all nine members of the Neurosurgery practice are in training to participate in the St. Michaels Running Festival, Saturday, May 18, 2019. “In line with the Mission ‘Creating Healthier Communities Together,’ we believe that the health of our UM Shore Regional Health employees is a great place to start.”

Neurosurgery team: front row, Kelsey Wilson, Candice Gardini, Erika Jordan and Wendy Towers; back row, Tom Bush, Cindy Yost, Robert Brault, Khalid Kurtom and Tyler Gogoll.

The Neurosurgery team is very diverse, including more than 30 years’ difference between the youngest and eldest members, and varying levels of athletic experience and fitness. Says Kurtom, “I am very proud that all of my staff members agreed to make this a team project. We hope to set an example that inspires fellow employees throughout the system — and just as important, our patients and their family members — to take their health and fitness seriously.”

In  training for the St. Michaels Running Festival are: Robert Brault, surgical technologist; Thomas Bush, staff nurse, Perioperative Services; Candice Gardini, front desk lead; Tyler Gogoll, surgical team lead; Erika Jordan, staff nurse; Khalid Kurtom, MD, medical director, System Operations, UM SRH; Wendy Towers, nurse practitioner; Kelsey Wilson, surgical coordinator; and Cindy Yost, director, Credentialing, UM SRH Medical Affairs.

For more information about the St Michaels Running Festival, visit the website, http://runstm.com/or the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelsRunningFestival/

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties are invited to help build a healthier community by completing the UM Shore Regional Health Survey Community Health Needs Survey.Wide participation in this online survey will help UM SRH provide much-needed outreach and wellness programs to help keep individuals and families in the region as healthy as possible.

The online survey can be accessed at this link:  https://umshoreregional.org/survey and is open until February 28, 2019.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG), announces the addition of Easton-based nurse practitioner Donna Stubbs, CRNP, to its Urology practice.

Donna specializes in prostate health checkups, difficulties with urination, sexual dysfunction, testosterone male hormone health and women’s pelvic floor relaxation and voiding problems.

She is seeing patients at 490 Cadmus Lane, Suite 104 in Easton. Patients may make an appointment with her by calling 410-820-0560.

UM CMG is a University of Maryland Medical System-owned network of more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists- and advanced practice clinicians. As part of UM CMG, Donna is affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health.

Donna is a graduate of Salisbury State College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her then her Master’s Degree. She went on to complete the Nurse Practitioner Program at Wilmington College.

“We are very happy Donna has chosen to join the team at University of Maryland Community Medical Group – Urology,” comments Dr. William Huffner, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at UM Shore Regional Health. “Donna’s previous experience and long-time commitment to helping the residents of the Eastern Shore is a valuable asset to our practice and patients.”

UM CMG consists of community-based provider practices affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, UM Charles Regional Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.  A list of UM CMG providers is available at http://docfind.umms.org/cmg.

About the University of Maryland Community Medical Group  

The University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG) is a multi-hospital, multi-specialty, community-based physician-led group, and part of the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians in more than 75 locations across the state, UM CMG offers patients a vast network of highly experienced providers, delivering care right in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.umcmg.org.

The Meoli Companies/McDonald’s® and local owner/operator Mike Meoli recently pledged $100,000 to UM Memorial Hospital Foundation to provide assistance to cancer patients receiving treatment at the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center at UM Shore Regional Health. Providing support to patients during their cancer journey is personal for Mr. Meoli as his wife of 24 years, Kelli, is a 15-year breast cancer survivor and registered nurse.

“We are very fortunate to operate restaurants in communities all across the Eastern Shore, and part of that means recognizing ways we can make the biggest impact in every one of them,” Mike Meoli said. “When we discovered the opportunity to fund a second 3-D tomosynthesis mammography machine for the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, it was a no brainer for us. The dedicated medical staff, exceptional facilities and the level of care patients receive at the Breast Center is unmatched. We are proud to support a health care system that gives back to so many during their most difficult times.”

Photo: L-R: Ken Kozel, president & CEO, UM SRH; Brittany Krautheim, CRNP, breast care nurse practitioner; Mike Meoli, owner/operator, The Meoli Companies/McDonald’s®; Roberta Lilly, MD, medical director, Clark Comprehensive Breast Center; Graham Lee, vice president, Philanthropy, UM SRH; and Brian Leutner, vice president, Clinical and Ambulatory Services.

“I want to thank Mike Meoli, the Meoli companies and McDonald’s Restaurants for stepping forward and making an important difference in breast care through this very generous pledge,” commented Graham Lee, vice president, Philanthropy, for UM Shore Regional Health. “Their support goes a long way toward our goal of acquiring the additional equipment the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center needs to provide our patients the most timely and state-of-the-art testing and evaluation.”

Mike Meoli is a second-generation McDonald’s owner/operator who has spent much of his career within the McDonald’s system. The Meoli Companies own 18 McDonald’s restaurants across Delmarva, including those in the Maryland counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.  His restaurants are consistently recognized for their outstanding achievements in customer satisfaction, superb operations, and great staff development. In 2012, Mr. Meoli was honored with McDonald’s Corporations most prestigious owner/operator award, the Golden Arch® Award, which recognizes the achievements of the top one percent of owner/operators worldwide.

Meoli is very active in his community, serving on the board of directors for the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce and Beebe Medical Center. He is a past president of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce as well as a former Chairman of the Board for the Sussex Family YMCA.  He also serves as vice president of The Dresher Foundation, a Maryland-based charitable foundation established by his grandfather in 1988. Within his business field, Mr. Meoli has served his fellow McDonald’s owner/operators in numerous local, regional and national positions.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Talbot Hospice will host a one-hour information session Wednesday, February 20, 12 p.m. for anyone interested in learning what it takes to be a companion volunteer. Some of the ways Talbot Hospice volunteers help patients and their families include check-in calls, assisting with errands or shopping, social visits, transporting patients to appointments, and engaging patients in activities such as reading, games, and music.If you are you a people person, like helping others, and want to make a difference in your community, you could be a perfect companion volunteer.

Director of Volunteer Services Lori Miller, Pathways Program Coordinator Ginni Bowen, and a panel of Talbot Hospice volunteers will talk about the role of companion volunteers and will be available to answer questions. The information session will be held at 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton. A light lunch is included. Please RSVP to Lori Miller at 410-822-6681 or lmiller@talbothospice.org.

Talbot Hospice has been providing hospice care and grief support services to Talbot County residents since 1981. For more information, visit TalbotHospice.org.

February …

Lunch Grief Support Group— Compass Regional Hospice, Hope and Healing Center, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. Noon to 1:30 p.m. This eight-week grief support group runs every Wednesday from Feb. 6 through March 27. Guests are encouraged to attend the entire series to benefit the most from the group. Open to anyone 18 and older who is suffering the loss of a loved one. Please bring a lunch. Cost: $25, but no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. Info: 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compassregionalhospice.org.

Estate Treasures Warehouse Sale — Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 106 Log Canoe Circle, Chesapeake Business Park, Stevensville. Come find deeply discounted furniture, tools, sporting goods, small kitchen appliances, home décor, housewares, area rugs, Hunter Douglas blinds, furniture for small businesses, and more. Proceeds will benefit Compass Regional Hospice. For more information, call Estate Treasures, an operating unit of Compass Regional Hospice, at 410-643-7360.

Understanding Your Grief Workshop— Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Compass Regional Hospice’s Hope and Healing Center, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. Are you struggling with grief or helping someone else through their grief journey? Let our trained grief support staff stand with you and help you through this time. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: $25, but no one will be turned away based on an inability to pay. For more information, call Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compassregionalhospice.org.(This event was rescheduled from Feb. 2 due to dangerous weather conditions.)

March …

Caroline County Grief Support Group— St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 S. 5^th Ave., Denton. 4 to 6 p.m. This eight-week grief support group runs every Tuesday, from March 12 through April 30. Guests are encouraged to attend the entire series to benefit the most from the group. Open to anyone 18 and older who is suffering the loss of a loved one. Cost: $25, but no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. Info: 443-262-4108 or wlarrimore@compassregionalhospice.org.

Estate Treasures Warehouse Sale — Saturday, March 16, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 106 Log Canoe Circle, Chesapeake Business Park, Stevensville. Come find deeply discounted furniture, tools, sporting goods, small kitchen appliances, home décor, housewares, area rugs, Hunter Douglas blinds, furniture for small businesses, and more. Proceeds will benefit Compass Regional Hospice. For more information, call Estate Treasures, an operating unit of Compass Regional Hospice, at 410-643-7360.

Compass Regional Hospice’s Annual Gala — Friday, March 22, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Annie’s Paramount Steak and Seafood House, 500 Kent Narrow Way N., Grasonville. This is the premier fundraising event for Compass Regional Hospice. Proceeds benefit hospice care, palliative care and grief support services provided by Compass Regional Hospice. The event will include a seated dinner, a live band, dancing,live and silent auctions, and a jewelry raffle. The jewelry raffle will feature a pair of 2-carat diamond earrings, valued at $14,000. Gala tickets: $200 per person, purchased in advance only. Raffle tickets are $100 per ticket and only 100 chances will be sold. For more information or to purchase tickets to the event or for the raffle (you do not have to attend the Gala to purchase raffle tickets), contact Kenda Leager at 443-262-4106 or kleager@compassregionalhospice.org.

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day —Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Easton High School cafeteria, 723 Mecklenburg Ave., Easton, MD. Join Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care, Compass Regional Hospice and Talbot Hospice during this free event as we commemorate the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families. This event will include local, state and national resources for veterans, a pinning ceremony, guest speakers, light refreshments and more. This is a free event and is open to all. Register at www.bit.ly/WHVV2019. For more information, contact Katie Willis at 443-262-4100, ext. 177, or info@compassregionalhospice.org.

Ongoing …

Bereaved Parent Grief Support Group — First Monday of each month; Feb. 4 and March 4. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a child. For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compassregionalhospice.org.

HALOS-Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide Grief Support Group — Second Wednesday of each month;Feb. 13 and March 13. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a loved one from suicide. For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 orrknotts@compassregionalhospice.org, or Wayne Larrimore at 443-262-4108 or wlarrimore@compassregionalhospice.org.

Drug Overdose Grief Support Group — Third Thursday of each month; Feb. 21 and March 21. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville.  A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a loved one from drug overdose. Please join us for dinner and conversation/discussion. There also may be special guests or presenters to the group from time to time.For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compssregionalhospice.org.

All Losses Grief Support Group — Fourth Tuesday of each month; Feb. 26 and March 26. From noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Caroline County Public Library, Federalsburg branch, 123 Morris Ave., Federalsburg. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, who have experienced any type of loss. Please bring a lunch. For more information, contact Wayne Larrimore at 443-262-4108 or wlarrimore@compassregionalhospice.org.