For three hours, in searing heat, I happily strolled around the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM), which hosted Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 12. For full disclosure, I am a CBMM board member.
Why did I enjoy this event despite the enervating weather? Like the museum’s annual OysterFest in the fall, Watermen’s Appreciation Day celebrates a much-heralded industry not only in Talbot County but throughout the Eastern Shore. More importantly, it enables the community to come together in a venue that offers food, fun, beverages and camaraderie. It provides an occasion when commercial watermen and their families can mingle with all the rest of us who appreciate the fruit of their labors.
As I’ve learned over the years at special events and festivals at CBMM, the prime byproduct is pride. Members of the community gather in one place and revel in the specialness of their home.
Social and economic barriers fall by the waterside.
Towns and cities throughout the country celebrate their local satisfaction in festivals devoted to apples, wine, music, art, daffodils and so many other centerpieces.
Community bonds require constant nurturing.
In a much cooler environment in the Tidewater Inn’s Gold Room last Thursday night, I joined roughly 140 others as the Del-Mar-Va Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), presented its Distinguished Citizen Award to Bill Lane, a friend and well-respected community leader. It was a worthwhile evening for a couple of reasons.
Founded in Great Britain in 1908 and in America in 1910, the Scouting movement has always seemed to me to represent a superb training ground for young leaders in our nation. As I looked around the room, as men who attained the highest rank and honor of Eagle Scout rose to receive recognition, I knew that every one of them had achieved success, not only in their careers but also in their civic activities.
I never progressed beyond the Cub Scouts. I have no regrets. However, I deeply admire the BSA tradition in our country and the leaders who have benefitted from their Scouting experience. All of them have been men. The inclusion of women will expand the pool of leaders.
Bill Lane follows in a long line of exceptional award winners, including 24 past recipients. He epitomizes commitment to his nation as a former US Army officer, to his community through extensive non-profit participation, to the insurance agency for which he worked more than 35 years and to his family.
As I noted regarding the Watermen’s Appreciation Day, I found it uplifting to join a large group of people sharing good feelings about Scouting and Bill Lane as a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award.
While pleased to participate in two significant community events, I feel sad at the closing the past Sunday of the News Center in Talbottown Shopping Center in Easton. It was a convenient, friendly place to buy greeting cards, assorted gifts and real, honest-to-goodness books.
But it was more than that to my wife and Sandy, our Yellow Labrador. Nearly every morning Liz and Sandy have walked to The News Center, where Sandy became a favorite to the women who worked there. They would compete with each other to feed treats to our wonderful dog.
When a business closes, one to which you have become attached, it’s sad. Employees become friends; you learn about their families and they yours.
While it might be easy to ascribe the demise of the News Center to electronic means of reading books and periodicals, I think that management lost interest for some reason. Maybe because profits were down, maybe due to personal reasons.
I sensed a distinct lack of marketing. Book-signings, which typically draw people to a store, suffered from an absence of publicity and signage.
As I end this multi-subject column, I must pay homage to the Tred Avon Players, which presented a superbly well-performed “Little Shop of Horrors” last Saturday
night at the Oxford Community Center. Perhaps because I’ve watched few performances in recent years, I was just amazed at the quality of the acting and singing in this sometimes-dark comedy.
Before my comment strikes the TAP as unintended faint praise, I’m merely remarking that my scant attendance over the years accounted for my ignorance of the quality of the plays at the Oxford Community Center.
I feel thankful to friends who suggested we accompany them. It was a most enjoyable experience.
Our community continues to provide opportunities for pride and artistic enjoyment. A smidgeon of sadness intrudes.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
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