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April 1, 2023

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Education Ed Notes

You Too Can Practice Conservation Landscaping!

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Let’s face it, the birds and bees can use all the help they can get these days.  Fortunately, there’s plenty that gardeners can do to provide much needed habitat and still have an attractive garden.

Join Chesapeake Forum for a three-course program on conservation gardening beginning April 18th and learn how  to provide habitat for local and migratory birds, butterflies and other beneficials.   Field trips will trigger your imagination as you learn how to find suitable native plants to add to your landscape to support your favorite pollinators, and perhaps replace plants from foreign habitats.

The course will focus on the habitat of the Eastern Shore region and the unique solutions that native plant options can provide when puzzling over how to “perk up” your landscape with care-free selections that will survive from year to year while providing a positive habitat for pollinators.

You Too Can Practice Conservation Landscaping is three (3) classroom sessions on Tuesday, April 18, 25th and May 2nd from 1-2:30 PM.  Plus, two (2) field trips on Friday April 21st and 28th from 10-11:30 AM and an optional field trip to Mt. Cuba on May 5th, which requires a separate registration.  To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your email and mailing address to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Gunston’s Fairuz Manion Earns “Outstanding PIPSN School Nurse Award”

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Fairuz Manion, PhDc, MSN, RN

The Gunston School is pleased to announce their School Nurse/Health Coordinator Fairuz Manion, PhDc, MSN, RN has been awarded the 2023 Outstanding Private, Independent, and Parochial School Nurse (PIPSN) Award by the the PIPSN Special Interest Group of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).

This award recognizes school nurses who demonstrate excellence through clinical expertise, research and education, management, mentoring, advocacy and leadership with a scholarship to both the NASN Conference and the Maryland Association of School Health Nurses (MASHN) annual conference.

Manion leads the school’s overall approach to health, wellness, and health education, working with the school’s leadership to deliver a best practices health and wellness education program. She oversees student care management, employee care management, employee wellness program coordination, mental health support, and instructing the ninth grade wellness course.

Additionally, Manion secured grant funding to equip the campus with all new automated external defibrillator (AED) devices and leads the school’s annual trainings on First Aid, CPR, AED, epipens, Narcan administration, bloodborne pathogens, and “Stop the Bleed” programs. She organizes and administers vaccination clinics for employees and coordinates the school’s feminine hygiene program.

“Ms. Manion’s impressive resume details her many educational accomplishments,” said Christine Ratych, President of MASHN Executive Board. “She has served as a faculty member at several universities and also several years in clinical practice. She is also very involved in her community as well as her school.”

Before Manion joined The Gunston School in 2020, she worked for BayHealth Medical Center in Dover for more than 15 years, specializing in patient care, discharge planning, and overseeing outreach programs aimed to prevent communicable diseases and comorbidities within the state of Delaware. She also routinely volunteered as a substitute school nurse for Holy Cross Elementary for a number of years. She has a Masters degree in Community Health, and an extensive background in nursing education, serving recently as a Professor at Wesley College, Wilmington University, and Ana G. Mendez University.

Head of School John Lewis reflected, “Since she started at Gunston during the pandemic, Nurse Manion has improved and sustained a culture of health and safety at Gunston. In addition to being a caring and skilled nurse for students who are ill or injured, she’s integrated a series of innovative, best-practices measures for the entire community.”

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located on 75 waterfront acres in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

Washington College to Host Marine Archaeologist Mensun Bound

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Mensun Bound

Marine Archaeologist Mensun Bound will speak at Washington College about his role as the director of exploration on the expedition that discovered Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance, near Antarctica in 2022. He will share his firsthand account of the historic discovery during the talk, his first appearance on the East Coast since the discovery and the release of his new book, The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance.

Bound’s talk will occur April 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Decker Theatre at Washington College’s Daniel Z. Gibson Center for the Arts. Guests are invited to a book signing and reception with the speaker following his talk. Copies of Bound’s new book will be available for purchase.

Known as the “Indiana Jones of the Deep,” Bound has conducted wreck surveys and excavations all over the world in a career that has spanned more than 40 years. Twelve museums around the globe hold permanent displays of artifacts raised by Bound. His work has been the focus of numerous documentaries including a four-part series by the Discovery Channel entitled Lost Ships.

In 2019, Bound stunned the world with his discovery of Admiral von Spee’s flagship, Scharnhorst, which was lost in battle during World War I. That same year, Bound was director of exploration for the first expedition to find Shackleton’s Endurance, which ended in disaster when a remote operated vehicle imploded from pressure, and the principal search vehicle, an autonomous underwater vehicle, disappeared without a trace. In 2022, the search for Shackleton’s lost ship resumed under the auspices of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust with Bound in the same role. On March 5, 2022, the Endurance was found, and as predicted by Bound, it was upright, largely intact, not embedded in the seafloor and in an excellent state of preservation.

This event is the last in the Center for Environment and Society’s winter speaker series, “A Polar Expedition with Washington College,” which spotlights experts who have made recent discoveries in the polar regions. It is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required, as seating is limited. Please visit washcoll.edu/mensun-bound for more information and to register.

This event is co-sponsored by the Rose O’Neill Literary House, the Washington College Department of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Archaeology Club of Washington College with generous support from the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter of Washington College.

Free Screening of Related Special April 5

Before Bound’s visit, the public is invited to Washington College on April 5 for a free showing of The History Channel special, “Endurance: The Hunt for Shackleton’s Ice Ship” at 2:00 p.m. in the Norman James Theatre in William Smith Hall. The show features Boundand chronicles the extraordinary conditions and efforts required of the expedition team to find the Endurance shipwreck. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

Gunston to Host Maryland State High School Rowing Championship on April 22

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The Gunston School is pleased to announce that the Maryland State High School Rowing Championship will be hosted on their 75-acre waterfront campus in Centreville, Md. on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The first race will begin at 8:30 a.m. with rowers competing in a 1,500-meter sprint style race on the Corsica River. Categories include 4’s and 8’s in Men & Women’s Varsity, JV, and Novice levels. An awards ceremony will follow at the conclusion of the race.

“We are very excited to host this event for the first time,” said Assistant Athletic Director for Gunston’s Waterfront & Head Rowing Coach Natalie Reading ’16.

Spectators are welcome to bring chairs and/or blankets. Gunston’s campus is a smoke/vape, alcohol and drug-free campus. Leashed dogs are welcome as long as owners clean up after their pets. Restroom facilities and ample parking are available. A detailed schedule of events will be posted on Gunston’s website by Wednesday, April 19 at https://www.gunston.org/athletic/mdhsrc.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located on 75 waterfront acres in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

Senior Director of Adults Services Joins Benedictine

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Adedapo Laditan

Adedapo Laditan has joined Benedictine, a service provider for developmentally disabled and autistic children and adults, as the Senior Director of Adults Services. In this role, Laditan provides leadership to all aspects of the Adult Services program including management and fiscal sustainability. Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves over 90 adults that live in Benedictine owned and managed group homes or as participants in a day-only program.

“I am honored to have joined Benedictine. I see this as a great opportunity to carry on the work that is being done here in support of Benedictine’s mission of hospitality, dignity of work and compassionate caring,” stated Laditan. “My passion for supported individuals, their families, and the staff that work in this field has grown over the years. I have served in roles as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), house manager, program manager, and most recently as the Director of Quality Enhancement at the Regional Office of the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Eastern Shore.”

​​Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves adults 21 years of age and older and includes residential living accommodations in 18 group homes located on the Eastern Shore and Anne Arundel county. Adult Services manages the Meaningful Day program which is responsible for providing opportunities for participants to develop skills and seek employment, along with a personal enrichment program, and community engagement opportunities. These services are managed through Benedictine’s Easton Office employment resource center and are also open to individuals living with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the surrounding community.

Laditan shared his excitement about the vast program opportunities Benedictine offers the adults it supports especially in the area of job development. “The adults we serve bring a great spirit of enthusiasm to the workplace and they look forward to going to work and engaging with their community. We provide our job seekers skills in interviewing and problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and are trained in specific job related responsibilities. Benedictine currently collaborates with organizations in Talbot, Caroline, Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties and is always looking to partner with more.” Laditan encourages businesses to reach out to Benedictine to learn more about its trained workforce and how they can bring value to their organization.

For more information on Benedictine, please go to www.benschool.org. You can reach Adedapo Laditan at Adedapo.laditan@benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization supporting close to 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential and highest level of independence. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the collaborates with the Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester County public schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. Benedictine is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest employers with over 350 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Mature Woman’s Grant by American Association of University Women

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The Easton Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is pleased to announce the opportunity for a Mature Woman’s Grant to females age 25 and over who are residents of one of the following Maryland counties: Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot or Dorchester.

The intention of this grant is to assist women who are returning to complete their college education, who are pursuing further graduate studies, or who are applying for a certificate program to enter a new career path and would benefit from some extra financial assistance in accomplishing their goal.  The amount of the grant is still to be determined.

Applications for this AAUW 2023 Mature Woman’s Grant can be found at local libraries in the five-county region, at Chesapeake College, Salisbury University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Wicomico Community College, Washington College or electronically by request at aauwgrant@goeaston.net.

The deadline for submission, postmarked or e-mailed, is June 5, 2023. Applicants will be notified during July and August.  The grants will be awarded officially at the September Easton Branch meeting of the AAUW.

A New Crop of Courses Springing Up at Chesapeake Forum

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Get outside with the Chesapeake Forum this spring!  There are classes on birding, conservation landscaping, field trips to Winterthur , Mt. Cuba and Poplar Island.  There are also plenty of classes that don’t require going anywhere but will take you on a journey none the less: Hear the story of Unionville from a descendent of one of the 18 black soldiers who founded the town after surviving the civil war; learn about growth issues facing Talbot County, get help downsizing your home, wow your friends with homemade Italian bread and much, much more.  To see the full listing of courses, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org

Create healthy gardens with Conservation Gardening from Chesapeake Forum, just one of the many classes sprouting up in April.

Registration for Spring 2023 courses opens on Monday March 27th.  To see the full list of courses and descriptions, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.  Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your email to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Eminent Douglass Scholar Returns to the Shore in April

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One of the world’s top Frederick Douglass scholars, Professor Celeste-Marie Bernier of the University of Edinburgh, will return to the United States and the Eastern Shore in April for a series of talks on her most recent findings, as described in her forthcoming books: “Douglass Family Lives: The Anna Murray and Frederick Douglass Family Collected Works and Biography: Book 1 – 6,” “The Anna Murray and Frederick Douglass Family Selected Writings: A Reader,” and “Battleground: African American Art (1985-2015).”

“I always look forward to hearing one of Professor Bernier’s talks,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman. “Her enthusiasm for her subject is always infectious and I am looking forward to learning more about the family of Anna Murray and Frederick Douglass.”

An excellent public speaker, Bernier is Chair of United States and Atlantic Studies at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh.

The author of over 85 books, exhibitions, essays, and digital educational resources, Bernier is the recipient of a UK Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship Award for her ongoing project, “Sacrifice is Survival: Black Families Fighting for Freedom in the USA and Canada (1732-1936).”  She is currently a Sheila Biddle Ford Foundation Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, Harvard University.

On Tuesday, April 4, Professor Bernier will speak from 11 a.m. to noon at Chesapeake College’s Todd Performing Arts Center, and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library’s Easton branch.

On Thursday, April 6, she will speak to the Tidewater Rotary (invitation only) from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., from noon to 1 p.m. at the Brookletts Place – Talbot Senior Center (400 Brookletts Avenue), and from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Museum of Rural Life in Denton (16 N. 2nd Street).

On Friday, April 7, Bernier will do a book-signing from 5 to 6 p.m. at Easton’s Vintage Book Store (4 N. Washington Street).

With the exception of her April 6 engagement at Tidewater Rotary, which is by invitation only, all of Professor Bernier’s presentations will be free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.tcfl.org or call (410) 822-1626.

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St.; and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, and digital devices, as well as free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community.  For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Chesapeake Author Series: Fierce Joy: A Medical Mystery, Spiritual Adventure and Love Story

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Joy is not a word most would associate with pain but for Eastern Shore author Ellen Schecter living with two autoimmune disorders required retooling her mindset to begin to understand that it is possible to be sick without suffering.

Schecter’s memoir Fierce Joy, a Medical Mystery, Spiritual Adventure and Love Story, is Chesapeake Forum’s choice for its second Local Author series on Wednesday, March 22nd at the Peachblossom YMCA.  In it, Schecter recounts how she had to learn to live with her conditions as a mature woman, revisiting childhood trauma around her father’s multiple illnesses and her misunderstandings about disease and death. She found that her childhood experiences impacted how she was able to manage her illness, including a fear of needles which affected her ability to self-administer daily shots needed to keep her conditions in check.  How she eventually learned to do that is one of the many stories in this book that illustrate Schecter’s incredible drive and determination to have as much of a normal life as possible.

In Schecter’s telling, fierce joy is not an easy, saccharine happiness but the joy that flames up out of harsh circumstances.  Her message is that you don’t need to feel helpless when you get sick.  It may not be possible to control your body but you can control your responses to it and to what disease does to your body.  Schecter shares how she educated herself, found appropriate medication, created cooperative relationships with her doctors and generally, refused to be “squelched”.  As she says,  “we can decide how to live now – differently.”

Fierce Joy, Chesapeake Forum’s Author Series, is one (1) session from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 22nd, in-person at the Peachblossom YMCA, ZOOM or recording.  $15.00.  To register, please visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send an email with your name and contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

TCPS Educator Nominated for National LifeChanger of the Year Award

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Charlene Caldwell DeShields

Easton Elementary School first-grade teacher Charlene Caldwell DeShields has been nominated for the 2022-23 National LifeChanger of the Year award. Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Ms. DeShields was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

“It is evident that DeShields resonates a love for her students, families, and community that reaffirms how fortunate the educational profession is to have someone as committed as her. DeShields’ former students and their family members always are eager to share a kind word or a heartwarming story on how DeShields impacted their lives. Her level of commitment has never wavered. She has remained a stalwart supporter of public education by serving on various committees and organizations within the community.” said the anonymous colleague. “Ask yourselves: have you ever had a teacher that just the mere thought of them made you smile? Ms. D has set herself apart as a LifeChanger. Her positive influence is a lasting testimony to the lives she has touched and made all the better by dedicating her life to education.”

About LifeChanger of the Year

Each school year, LifeChanger of the Year receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Eighteen individual LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given during the 2022-2023 school year.

(1) Grand Prize Winner – will receive $10,000 to be shared with their school/district.

  • (4) Grand Prize Finalists – will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
  • (10) LifeChanger Award Winners – will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.
  • (1) Spirit Award Winner – This award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
  • (1) Capstone Award Winner – This award is given to a nominee retiring at the end of the 2022-23 school year. The winner will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school or district.
  • (1) Spotlight Award Winner – This award is given to a nominee in a specific discipline each year. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school or district.

Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of former winners and education professionals, and will be announced in early 2023. Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must

  • Make a positive impact in the lives of students
  • Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride
  • Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level
  • Possess a proven record of professional excellence
  • Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning
  • Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards

To support Charlene Caldwell DeShields’ LifeChanger of the Year nomination and help her win one of the awards, visit her profile using this link Ms. Charlene DeShields and leave a comment about how she has changed your life. To nominate someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.