Londonderry on the Tred Avon has two rare homeownership opportunities at its campus in Easton. Two Dogwood model cottages are currently available.

“This is a rare and exciting opportunity for active seniors on the Eastern Shore,” said Rachel Smith, Sales and Marketing Director. “Cottages are not often available and it’s a fantastic time to join the Londonderry community and get settled before the winter months.”

The Dogwood model has a starting square footage of 1,313 and features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and outdoor living space. Both available cottages have gas fireplaces and built-in bookshelves. The new owner of one of the cottages will also have the opportunity to choose new kitchen cabinets, countertops and appliances.

Londonderry is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62 and over located among 29 acres and 1,500 feet of waterfront shoreline on the Tred Avon River. Londonderry residents own their homes and receive all of the benefits of homeownership without the stress of maintenance and housekeeping. The community offers an engaging activities and events calendar, wellness and fitness classes, meal delivery, transportation off-campus and more.

For the past four years, Londonderry has been voted the best Retirement Living Community on the Eastern Shore and continues to make investments and improvements to its facilities and programs. Just last year, Londonderry completed construction on its new Clubhouse offering additional gathering and programming space for the entire community.

For more information about this opportunity and life at Londonderry, please contact Rachel Smith, Sales and Marketing Director at [email protected] or 410-820-8732.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is a vibrant, independent living cooperative community for adults ages 62+ that promotes wellness of mind and body. Londonderry offers a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information,visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.

Edna Parks of Trappe, MD, recently celebrated her 105^th birthday at Dixon House, where she is now a resident. Parks, who lived her life in Talbot County, entered Dixon House in May 2019. Prior to that she lived independently until age 102, when she went to live with her son Roger Parks and his wife for two years.

Enda, who was married to Guy Parks for 50 years, was a farm wife for most of her life. She worked in her later years in the cafeteria of St. Michaels Elementary School. After her husband died in 1981, she married Norris Coulby.

Pictured is Mayor Robert Willey presenting Edna Parks with a proclamation for her 105th birthday at a celebration held at The Dixon House.

At Dixon House, Edna enjoys being active and involved. She knits, does puzzles and enjoys watching “The Price is Right” and “Jeopardy” on television. According to her son, she never misses a Dixon House outing on the bus.

For her birthday celebration, Dixon House had the Free and Easy Band play Edna’s favorite songs, while Mayor Robert Willey read a proclamation from the Town of Easton and guests enjoyed birthday cake.

Edna Parks has three children: Roger Parks, Kenny Parks and Eunice Roe. She also has seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and eight great-great- grandchildren.

The mission of The Dixon House is to provide high quality and affordable residential care to seniors in an enriching home-like environment. For further information, contact Linda Elben, Executive Director at 410-822-6661 or visit dixonhouse.org.

The Talbot County Commission on Aging is hosting a free Legislative Forum/Town Hall Meeting, “How to make Talbot County a Livable Community for Seniors,” on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Talbot County Senior Center—Brookletts Place at 400 Brookletts Avenue in Easton. The Forum/Town Hall will be moderated by Talbot County Council President Corey W. Pack. Senator Addie Eckardt and Delegates Johnny Mautz and Chris Adams will also be on hand to discuss issues and concerns about aging well in Talbot County.

According to Lee Newcomb, member of Talbot Commission on Aging, “The Commission on Aging is trying to find out what Talbot County residents feel are the real needs around aging in the County so that we can advocate for these needs.”

Participants are encouraged to visit the Talbot County Commission on Aging website, talbotsenior.com, to submit aging concerns that they feel affect seniors, as well as to submit topics on aging that Maryland legislators need to address in the 2019-2020 legislative session.

The Talbot Commission on Aging was established in 2003 to advise the Talbot County Council on issues affecting seniors and to advocate for change. The vision of the Commission is to enhance the quality of life for all seniors in Talbot County.  Current members of the Commission are Lauren Harding, Jenna Marchi, Julie Crocker, Amie Denayer, Lee Newcomb, Marion Donahue, Lee Yerkes, Kate Stinton, Vivian Dodge, Cindy Bach, Johanna Norris, Jennifer Pierson, Irma Toce, and Wynne Aroom.

For further information, visit Talbot County Commission on Aging website, talbotsenior.com.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will present an information session at the Talbot County Free Library, 100 W. Dover St., Easton on Friday, September 20 from 2-3:30 pm for persons interested in serving in its Mid-Shore tax preparation program for the coming tax season. No reservations required. This nationwide all-volunteer program, now in its 50^th year, offers free in-person federal and state tax preparation and assistance to anyone in the community, but especially those 50 and older who cannot afford a tax preparation service.

Tax-Aide volunteers come from all walks of life and prior tax experience, while helpful, is not required. After completing a series of local training sessions, each new volunteer will be paired with an experienced tax counselor and serve at one of the eight Mid-Shore sites: Easton, St. Michaels, Chestertown, Grasonville, Centreville, Denton, Federalsburg and Greensboro.

Volunteers have the opportunity to learn a new skill while helping neighbors address their tax obligations.

Questions about the Tax-Aide program can be directed to: [email protected].

Many children who are providing care for aging parents can find the task daunting. This is particularly the case if they are still working or recently retired and maintaining active schedules themselves.  Helping with transportation needs and home repairs can at times be overwhelming to the caregiver.

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot Volunteer Marion Donahue with member Monica McCarthy.

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot offers options to aging adults and their family caregivers which can be lifesaving and provide the needed conveniences necessary in today’s busy society.  In particular, the transportation services can help aging adults stay active – offering trips to regular appointments like the hairdresser or barber, doctor’s offices, the grocery store, and the post office, as well as to important social engagements.

One local caregiver whose mother has taken advantage of  Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot remarks, “My mother would call and say, ‘I hate to bother you, but . . . ‘ I wanted to support her healthy engagement, but I couldn’t get my schedule and her schedule to mesh for her needs.”

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot delivers key services in a cost-effective and supportive manner. Specifically, for a monthly fee, members receive basic home repair and maintenance by a community “Handyman,” a list of vetted contractors and contract review, transportation trips, as well as regular contact with a “Service Navigator” to help coordinate access to services and to assist with any needs that may arise.

Another caregiver adds, “Now my parents call me last, instead of first when something comes up and most of the time they can handle the arrangements by themselves  by calling the Service Navigator.”

Stacey Woodworth, Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot’s Service Navigator, helps members with transportation, home maintenance, and referrals to community services. Membership is open to individuals or households up to two people aged 65 and older who live in Talbot County. Core services are personalized to individual needs. Membership levels start as low as $48 a month, depending on the volume and frequency of services used. Members can switch to the next level of membership as the need arises. Volunteers are a key component of the organization’s success and help with home maintenance, transportation, and friendly visits. The organization’s volunteers are vetted by  Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot.

For members, the benefits are liberating. One member comments, “MD Community for Life-Talbot℠ has allowed us to remain independent and able to do things without having to bother our children who are busy with work and their own families.”

A family member adds about the benefits, “This program has given peace of mind to our family. Our mom never wants to bother anyone, and rarely asks for help. This program has given the help needed for repairs, transportation and more.”

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating as a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. MD Community for Life℠—Talbot is located at 10 S. Hanson Street, Ste 18, in Easton, Maryland. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To become a member or volunteer, email [email protected] or call 410-443-0760.  For further information, visit mdcommunityforlifetalbot.org

Erica Hardeo is Londonderry’s new Activities Coordinator.

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is proud to welcome Erica Hardeo as its new full-time Activities Coordinator.

Hardeo is responsible for planning both on-and off-campus activities and events for Londonderry residents, and has more than twenty years of experience working with active seniors.For the past seven years, she served as the Events Planner for an active 55+ community in central New Jersey before relocating to the Eastern Shore last August.

The Activities Coordinator role at Londonderry was previously held by a resident volunteer, Ms. Elaine Utley, who retired in the spring and is a past Londonderry board member and board president. To celebrate Utley’s retirement and eleven years of service as the Activities Coordinator, the community hosted “Elaine Utley” week that included a community BBQ in her honor and a trip for Utley and her family to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to see a production of “Hello Dolly!”

“While only at Londonderry for a short time, I love the strong sense of community I feel every day at work among the residents and the staff,” said Hardeo. “It is an honor to step into the very big shoes of Ms. Utley and I know the sense of community we all enjoy is thanks in part to her efforts to bring everyone together. She has made the Activities Department the heart of this community, and I look forward to building on her success and honoring her legacy.”

“Londonderry is proud to have Erica on our team and serving in this very important role in our community,” said Irma Toce, Londonderry CEO. “Erica’s professionalism and energy have made this a graceful, smooth and fun transition and I look forward to what she will bring to this role.”

Hardeo shares Londonderry’s holistic approach to wellness and believes that being engaged and participating in a variety of activities contributes to a person’s sense of belonging within their community. She is dedicated to supporting a high quality of life for all residents and helping them maintain an active lifestyle and spiritual wellbeing.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62+, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information,visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.