The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum has a full slate of youth programs on tap this fall, with a wide variety of offerings designed to spark learning through exploration of the Bay and beyond.

This fall, CBMM’s after-school programs include the return of Rising Tide and Free Fishing Fridays, while Homeschool Days and Science Saturdays offer engaging examinations of important topics through the lens of CBMM’s campus and collection.

Open to sixth through ninth graders, the free Rising Tide after-school program offers the opportunity to learn new skills, work with hand and power tools, and explore the environment and history of the Chesapeake region. Projects this year will include the completion of the program’s second stand-up paddleboard, a skin-on-frame boat, and a possible replica build of a soft shell crab float in CBMM’s collection.

Rising Tide resumes next Monday, Sept. 25, and is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm for a majority of the school year. After-school transportation is offered from the Easton YMCA and St. Michaels Middle/High School and back to the Easton YMCA.

All necessary tools and materials are provided, and no prior woodworking experience is necessary. Register at bit.ly/RisingTide2023 or email [email protected] for more information.

CBMM’s Free Fishing Fridays program invites community members of all ages for catch-and-release fishing on Fridays from 3:30-5:30pm. There are six dates on the fall calendar (Sept. 29-Oct. 20, plus Nov. 10 and 17) for this weather-permitting, drop-in program that teaches the basics of fishing, including casting techniques and fish identification.

No fishing license or equipment is required to participate. Fishing rods and bait are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own fishing pole. Children under 10 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Anyone interested in participating should contact Youth Programs Coordinator Sophie Stuart at 410-745-4974 or [email protected].

A new addition to the lineup, CBMM’s Science Saturdays will be held monthly from 1-3pm rotating between Little Explorers (ages 4-7) and Curiosity Club (8-11). Under the direction of an experienced educator, participants will learn through hands-on activities that incorporate science, art, and museum exploration.

The Curiosity Club will meet Oct. 14 and Dec. 9 as well as Feb. 10 and April 13 in 2024, while the Little Explorers are scheduled for Nov. 11, plus Jan. 13 and March 9 in the new year.

Registration for all sessions is open now at bit.ly/ScienceSaturdays2023. The cost is $15 per class, with a 20% discount for CBMM Members. Need-based scholarships are available by emailing [email protected].

CBMM is hosting upcoming Homeschool Days on Sept. 26 and 28 and special homeschool workshops on Oct. 23 and Nov. 29. On all four days, there is a morning session from 10:30am-12pm followed by an afternoon class from 1-2:30pm. To register, visit bit.ly/CBMMHomeschool.

During next week’s program, participants will participate in the Oystering Legacy immersive tour, which offers an up-close look at an oyster nursery’s crabs, fish, and baby mollusks while exploring how the oyster has shaped the Bay and its people. The cost is $5 per participating student or accompanying adult.

The Oct. 23 workshop, designed for students ages 8-15, goes inside the life of a Bay lighthouse keeper in 1879 utilizing the Hooper Strait Lighthouse on CBMM’s campus, while the Nov. 29 workshop, titled “Feather Weather,” is geared toward children ages 5-8, who will explore how birds fly and their migration patterns and design their own bird-inspired paper airplanes.

The cost for each of these programs is $15 per participant. Students may be dropped off by a chaperoning adult and picked up at the end of the program. If accompanying adults and additional non-participant children would like to explore CBMM during the program, they may purchase a $5 ticket with children 5 years and younger free.

Beyond all that public programming, now is a great time to schedule a group visit for the 2023-24 school year.

Student groups, including school, Scout, and other youth programs, are encouraged to contact [email protected] for more information about scheduling a CBMM field trip. Group offerings include the popular Lighthouse Overnight Adventure program, which is available this fall for groups to spend a night on campus in the Hooper Strait Lighthouse.

 

The Talbot County Young Professionals are bringing Paddle-Jam to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Oct. 8, with the fundraiser supporting CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program.

Designed to be enjoyed via kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard, Paddle-Jam is back for the first time since 2019 with a new location and community partner.

Paddlers of all levels are invited to join this 4.5-mile paddle poker “fun run” along the Miles River, beginning at 10am. The cost is $50 for participants who pre-register at bit.ly/PaddleJam2023 and $60 for day-of, in-person registration.

“We are so pleased to bring this exciting paddling event back, and what better location than the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels and the Miles River!” said Amy Kreiner, President of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce. “Rising Tide is such a valuable program, teaching our kids about the rich history and skills of our watermen, boatbuilders and the surrounding waterways.”

This year, the Paddle-Jam course begins at CBMM’s Fogg’s Landing launch and takes participants past the iconic Hooper Strait Lighthouse, Inn at Perry Cabin, Miles River Yacht Club, and more while following the St. Michaels shoreline. Along the way, participants will receive random jumbo playing cards at various stops to create a poker hand with the best ones winning prizes.

The leisurely paddle finishes back at CBMM where the fun will continue with an After-Paddle Party featuring music, food, games, and local brews.

Registration and check-in begins at 9am that morning, with light refreshments offered. The paddle is expected to last two to three hours, and prizes will be awarded at 1pm during the after-paddle party.

The registration fee includes CBMM general admission to enjoy all the exhibitions and historic structures across the 18-acre waterfront campus. CBMM is also hosting the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival that weekend.

All Paddle-Jam participants are required to wear USCG-approved PFDs, and SUP participants are required to wear a leash.

Registration fees are non-refundable. The event will take place weather permitting with no rain date. Participants should come prepared in case of wet weather.

If the Coast Guard issues a small-craft-advisory during the scheduled event time, event organizers reserve the right to cancel the event for the safety of all.

The Talbot County Young Professionals are a committee of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, with a goal of developing the next generation of leaders, while encouraging networking among the brightest minds in our community.

Rising Tide is CBMM’s free after-school program open to sixth through ninth graders. Since 2015, the program has taught area students the basics of boatbuilding and woodworking in a welcoming, relaxed environment, offering the opportunity to learn new skills, work with hand and power tools, and explore the environment and history of the Chesapeake region.

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 7 to 9 a.m., Easton’s 40 Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Tidewater Inn in Easton.  This year’s breakfast will feature Claudia Reyes, Occupational Therapist COTA, ACTS Bayleigh Chase, and Linda Brown, Culinary Arts Lead Teacher l, Talbot County Public Schools. Music will be provided by Katherine Tooley, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Easton.

Claudia Reyes was born in Guatemala City in Central America and immigrated to the United States at age seven. Having always walked the path of life by faith, she has trusted in God’s provision and faithfulness since personally knowing Christ as her personal Savior at the age of 15.  She devoted herself to a Christian youth ministry as a teenager and attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, California. Married for 29 years with four children, she and her husband Eliud Reyes have had a passion for serving Hispanic youth ministries. The family moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Claudia has currently been serving as a pastor’s wife at the First Hispanic Baptist Church in Easton. Since 2003, she and her husband have continued to help youth navigate through the most challenging times of their life by presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping youth grow in their walk with Christ. She currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for extended young adult ministry at the Talbot County Detention Center and is involved in many outreach/community events across Talbot County to help bring cultures together.

Claudia shares, “God has called me to service HIM to the unprivileged and poor, through local and global mission trips, including New York, Mexico, El Salvador, and Indonesia. Through this spiritual work, I am reaching out to those in desperate spiritual need and making God known as the only Savior, healer, and waymaker in transforming lives.”

Linda Saathoff Brown, a lifetime active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, serves the Lord in the church, family, and community.  Faithfully attending worship, studying the Word in Sunday School, confirmation and Bible classes, singing in the church choirs, engaging in church and community service outreach missions, and building fellowship are among the ways the family helped to build and support the church over these many years.  Throughout her career of 47 years of leading students on their educational journey with the Talbot County Public Schools, Linda impacts the lives of hundreds of students, living her faith in the everyday school setting. She also serves as a volunteer leader in the 4-H program and in many community and state organizations. Last fall, her active life was suddenly altered after a major life-threatening fall that left her likely paralyzed. Through the tragic injury, she received glimmers of hope, medical talent, and amazing grace, filled with the power of Prayer, the power of Faith,  the love of friends, and the relentless dedication and love of her family.

She shares, “From the waters of baptism as an infant, Jesus has been walking with me and I with Him. My statement of faith is as large and old as the Apostles and Nicene Creeds and as personal as Christ Jesus died for me. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Indeed, He is the author and finisher of my saving faith, a gift given to me by the Holy Spirit who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Tickets to the 2023 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast may be purchased at the Easton Town Office and the Dairy Queen beginning October 1.  The cost is $20 a person and seating is limited. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time. For further information, contact Kathy Ruf at 410-822-2525.

The first female Chief of the Nause-Waiwash Tribe, Chief Donna Wolf Mother Abbott, will be speaking at the Talbot County Free Library-Easton Library on Eastern Shore Native American history and culture on Tuesday, October 10th, at 6:00 p.m.

“We are delighted to have Chief Abbott come to the library to discuss both her tribe’s past and present, and the preservation of its history, culture, and traditions,” said Talbot County Free Library Assistant Director Scotti Oliver.

Topics will include the history of the resources that came from the land & waterways of the Eastern Shore, European Contact and Post-European Contact, current projects, and future plans.

Chief Abbott also wishes to invite those interested to attend the 31st Annual Native American Festival in Vienna, MD on September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This event is part of One Maryland One Book, a statewide program from the Maryland Humanities and the Maryland Center for the Book. Maryland Humanities partners with public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, bookstores, and others to bring book-centered events to communities across our state. This year’s selection is “There There” by Tommy Orange.

The critically acclaimed novel follows the experiences of twelve Native people as they gather for the Big Oakland Powwow.  It is a depiction of the modern Urban Indian experience and the challenges facing many Native communities in the United States today.

Talbot County Free Library’s book discussions of “There There” will be facilitated by a Talbot County Free Library volunteer and will be held:

Monday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Easton Library with the Easton Library Book Group
Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Easton Library
Thursday, October 5, 2:00 p.m. at the Easton Library
Thursday, October 26, 2:00 p.m. at the St. Michaels Library

No registration is required for any of these programs. All library programs are free and open to the public. www.tcfl.org.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XL on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8, welcoming one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft back to its waterfront campus.

Hundreds of amateur and professional boatbuilders and enthusiasts will come from all over the region to display their one-of-a-kind kayaks, canoes, and other traditional small craft at the 40^th edition of the annual festival, which runs 10am–5pm all three days.

Public entrance to the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival is included with CBMM’s general admission, which is good for two consecutive days and free for CBMM members.

Head to cbmm.org/MASCF to learn more about the three-day event. Anyone looking to register as a participant and gain access to the full slate of events can get more info at cbmm.org/MASCFparticipants.

A family-friendly fall staple, MASCF invites guests to marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation used in traditional and contemporary small craft, showcased both on land and in the water, while enjoying all that CBMM has to offer across its 18-acre campus. Throughout the weekend, boat owners are encouraged to share their knowledge and boating experiences with guests.

Saturday offers a full slate of MASCF activities. CBMM Shipyard staff and Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School instructors will offer boatbuilding and maritime demonstrations that day, and Chesapeake Light Craft will be on site with a selection of vessels from its fleet for guests to demo.

That afternoon, there will be a spirited small craft race on the Miles River. Guests are encouraged to watch all the action from CBMM’s waterfront and docks.

Also on Saturday, guests are invited to a special presentation in CBMM’s Shipyard. A weeklong workshop on traditional Japanese boatbuilding, led by author, boatbuilder, and educator Douglas Brooks, concludes with a traditional Shinto launching ceremony to celebrate the completion of a 21-foot Japanese river boat. That evening, Brooks will be the keynote speaker at the dinner for MASCF participants.

Everyone on campus for MASCF will be able to vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. Limited offerings will be available for the public to see on Sunday.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival.

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on September 12, 2023, at 5 p.m.; all Council members were present.

Proclamation: National Senior Center Month

Childlene Brooks, Manager for Brookletts Place, Talbot Senior Center, Ann DeMart, Manager for Bay Hundred Senior Center, and Andy Hollis, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging, accepted a proclamation declaring September 2023 National Senior Center Month.

The proclamation celebrates the two senior centers in Talbot County and recognizes the impact that senior centers make toward the betterment of our communities. “Senior centers act as a catalyst for mobilizing the creativity, energy, vitality, and commitment of older residents of our communities through a wide array of services, programs, and activities.”

Amendments for the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan

During the meeting, the Council introduced four (4) resolutions amending the County’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan (CWSP). Amendments to the County’s CWSP can only be made four times a year, in the months of March, June, September, and December.

Amendment applications are reviewed by the Planning Commission for consistency with the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan, Public Works Advisory Board, Health Department, and ultimately the Maryland Department of the Environment for compatibility with use and planning policies and facility permit restrictions in effect.

• Resolution 345 – Amends CWSP to add a $12 million capital project to replace or rehabilitate the Town of Easton’s sewer collection system. All Council members introduced the resolution.
• Resolution 346 – Amends CWSP to add an $8 million capital project to replace or rehabilitate the Region V (Tilghman) sewer collection system to mitigate inflow and infiltration. All Council members introduced the resolution.
• Resolution 347 – Amends CWSP to provide the Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) for all phases of the Lakeside Development. The resolution was introduced by Council Members Haythe and Stepp.
• Resolution 348 – Amends CWSP to clarify and confirm the water and sewer classifications of certain parcels incorrectly shown in Exhibits A and B to Resolution No. 281, as amended. While the water and sewer classifications from Resolution No. 281 do not change with this resolution, it will adjust the visual maps (Exhibit A and B) that were included in Resolution No. 281, as amended. The resolution was introduced by Council Members Haythe and Stepp.

Public hearings for the 4 proposed amendments are scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. The amendments will also be referred to the Planning Commission and Public Works Advisory Board for review and recommendation to Council prior to the public hearings.

Other Business

• Through adoption of an Administrative Resolution, Council changed the starting time of legislative meetings to 6 p.m. The change will go into effect in October 2023.
• Resolution No. 349, introduced by Council, requests to change the name of “Lincoln Road” and “Shellmill Avenue” in Bellevue (both “paper streets”), to “Bellevue School Road” and “Turner Avenue”, respectively. The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
• A bill to authorize a loan agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development was introduced by Council as Bill No. 1548. The bill authorizes Talbot County to borrow not more than $880,000 to fund improvements to wastewater facilities in the county through the consolidation, refinancing, and sales of general bonds. The Finance Department has been working with the County’s bond counsel and USDA on all steps of the loan process. This bill serves as the final step to move forward in the loan process.
• A public hearing, and subsequent vote, was held for Bill No. 1547. The bill proposed amendments of Chapter 11, Alcoholic Beverages for Class I Alcohol Dispensary Bistros liquor license holders, that includes extending hours of service and seating options. The bill was approved unanimously.
• The County Manager presented the following board and committee nominations for Council’s consideration:
  • Adult Public Guardianship Review Board – Council unanimously approved the appointment of Rachel Smith (Commission on the Aging); Carrie Ottey, RN (Talbot County Health Department); Kate Stinton (lay representative); Dr. Michael Flaherty (physician representative); Sam VanNest (representative of disabled community); and the reappointment of Suzanne Ludwig (Talbot County Health Department Disabilities Coordinator); and Michael Crowley, MD (physician representative)
  • Animal Control Board – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Joan Trudy Lee and Steven Harris, DVM
  • Commission on the Aging – A majority of the Council approved the appointment of William Boos, Amy Keller, Anne Shannahan, Brenda Stone, and Sandy Wieland
  • Mid-Shore Behavioral Health Regional Advisory Committee – The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Crystal Miller and Shawn Hart
  • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Jay Kilbourne as the Cordova District representative
  • Historic Preservation Commission – The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Earl Asche and John Renda.
• Talbot County Health Officer, Dr. Maria Maguire, requested Council consideration to officially certify the FY24 local matching funds from Talbot County in the increased appropriation amount of $123,658 above the $2,693,924 approved by Council in Bill No.  1529, as amended, the FY24 Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance. The Maryland Department of Health provides each county health department with a funding allocation (referred to as “core” funding) derived from the State general funds.  As a condition of distributing these funds to the local health departments, the State requires a certain amount of local “matching” funds. The increase would allow the Health Department to comply with COMAR 10.04.01.04 regarding required funding levels. The request, which usually would be considered during normal budget season, was received late (after the County’s FY24 budget was already adopted) due to changes in the matching fund percentages at the State level, resulting in a new higher requirement from the local Health Department and subsequently the Talbot County FY24 budget. A motion to approve the request was made by Council Vice President Pete Lesher; as there was no second, the motion failed.
• Ray Clarke, County Engineer, requested approval to negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Willow Construction, LLC, for Bid No. 23-07, Talbot County Public Safety Complex Phase I – Building Renovations. The project includes renovations and updates to the building located at 28640 Marys Court in Easton. The original quote was $4.269M. By working with Willow Construction on value engineering, the County hopes to find some cost savings in the project. The request was approved unanimously.
• Department of Public Works requested to award Change Order No. 23 for Bid No. 17-09, St. Michaels Sewer Collection System Improvements, to Schummer, Inc. in the sum of $321,673.80; said improvements are contingent upon receipt of grant funding from USDA Rural Development. The request was unanimously approved, contingent upon receipt of the grant funding.
• Department of Parks and Recreation requested to award a contract for the Perry Cabin Ball Field Fencing Project to Long Fence Company by piggybacking on a University of Maryland contract, in a sum not to exceed $100,000. The fencing project will be paid for through a Community Parks and Playground grant in the sum of $100,000, which the Town of St. Michaels has received, and which was previously approved by Council. The request was unanimously approved.
• Roads Department requested approval to piggyback on a Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) contract with David A. Bramble for paving and resurfacing of Almshouse Road from U.S. Rt. 50 to MD Rt. 565 and White Marsh Road to MD Rt. 333 in the amount of $182,000. The request was unanimously approved.
• The Maryland Department of Transportation requested a Letter of Support for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program. If approved, grant funds would be used to add new sidewalks, raise landscape mediums, remove crossovers, and install new pedestrian signals at MD Rt. 328, MD Rt. 331, and U.S. Rt. 50; No County funds are required, as this is a State-run project. The request for a Letter of Support was unanimously supported.
• Clay Stamp, County Manager, stated that Talbot County residents will have an opportunity to dispose of old and unwanted tires at the Citizen Scrap Tire Drop-off Event scheduled for Saturday, September 30, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Midshore Transfer Station located at 7341 Barkers Landing Road in Easton. For more information about the event: Drop Off Old Tires at Residential Scrap Tire Event – Talbot County, Maryland (talbotcountymd.gov)

The Talbot County Council will meet with the Board of Education on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. in the Talbot County Free Library Easton Branch Meeting Room. The meeting is open to the public.

The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on September 26, 2023, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.  The meeting is open to the public.