Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) has created a free Community Wi-Fi Center at Home Run Baker Park in Trappe, MD, providing access to high-speed internet for Talbot County students and residents.

The project was made possible thanks to TCFL’s partnership with the Talbot Parks and Recreation, and the Maryland State Library.

“We want to thank Preston Peper, Director of Talbot Parks and Recreation and Brian Moore, Superintendent of Roads and County Facilities for Talbot County Government, and the Town of Trappe for helping to make this project possible,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman. “The Trappe Community Wi-Fi Center meets our library’s strategic direction to develop and expand library services to build strong connections in our community.”

There are two access points for Wi-Fi at the Home Run Baker Park, one at the Concession Stand and one in the parking lot. There are two ways to access internet:

Home Run Baker            Open. No password required.

Home Run Baker Secure     Encrypted. Password: hrb-wpa2

This project was funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Maryland State Library. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org.

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at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents.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.

Preparations are underway for Talbot County Free Library to celebrate the upcoming 42^nd anniversary of the St. Michaels Branch.

The major celebration will take place on Monday, June 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the St. Michaels Branch, 106 Fremont St. Snacks and coffee will be provided in the morning.

“Celebrating our 42^nd anniversary is a major milestone of how far we have come in the past and present in the community around us,” said St. Michaels Branch Manager Shauna Beulah. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us, especially our upcoming expansion that will allow our branch to support the needs of our visitors and patrons.”

The St. Michaels expansion capital campaign started in 2022. This year, the library is developing the design for the new library, which included holding a community input meeting in May, and another presentation of the design being held later this summer.

Construction is expected to begin next year. The grand opening for the newly renovated and expanded St. Michaels branch will take place in 2025 during TCFL’s 100^th anniversary.

“The expansion will be an asset to our community,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman. “Providing a more modern approach to access is highly crucial to the community and its various needs.”

To donate to the St. Michaels Branch campaign, go to www.tcfl.org and click on the donate button. All Talbot County Free Library events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org  or call 410-745-5877.

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, digital devices, 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.

Talbot County Free Library announced recently that Darlene Goehringer, of Pops Old Place, will be the guest speaker of June’s Lunch & Learn taking place on Monday, June 5 at noon at the St. Michaels Branch.

Pop’s Old Place is a Century Family Farm, located in Dorchester County Maryland. This Midshore family farm has been around since 1909.

Darlene and her husband Arthur Wilson have been the owners since 1989. Their stated goal is to produce nutritious and delicious food for their family, and the community. They also focus on soil health, animal welfare and environmental stewardship.

They raise grass fed & finished beef, lamb, woodland pork, and free-range laying hens. They sell their products directly from their farm market. Darlene and Arthur have a different approach to farming in that they raise heritage breeds, not hybridized.

Darlene wanted animals that were actively farmed in the early 1900s when her ancestors were farming. Many of the breeds they raise are endangered, including Randall Cattle and Mulefoot Pigs.

The duo started out small with horses and added as they went, including a sheep and sheep dog.

Pop’s Old Place is a purpose driven farm. Darlene will share a documentary about Pops Old Place about the farm that was done with David Harp, Tom Horton and Richard Anderson.

For more information about the farm visit the website https://popsoldplace.com/. The Lunch & Learn Speakers series is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Coffee and dessert will be provided. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org  or call 410-745-5877.

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, digital devices, 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.

Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) and the Talbot County Hunger Coalition will be presenting “The Hunger Crisis in Talbot County” program on Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Easton Library.

This program will be a panel discussion with speakers representing the various pantries and meal providers in Talbot County and how they are handling the increasing challenge of hunger in our own backyard. Panelists include:

· Emily Moody and newly-elected Easton Mayor, Megan Cook, will represent CarePacks that makes sure over 300 children in the public schools have backpacks of food to take home over the weekend, supplementing the schools’ free and reduced meals.

· Kate Mansfield will represent St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, one of the biggest, if not the biggest, and probably the oldest of food pantries in Talbot.

· Gary Yeatman will represent St. Mark’s Food Pantry that sprang up during the pandemic as a temporary pantry and then morphed into a full-time food pantry now serving 65 families or 163 people a week, mainly seniors.

· Patrick Rofe will represent St. Michaels Community Center, which has an active food pantry, but he will speaking about the meals they serve the community and their plans to expand that operation.

· Catherine Poe will represent the Hunger Coalition.

“According to the Talbot County Hunger Coalition, 11% of our neighbors are food insecure (hungry) and 15% children are food insecure. There are 17% of our children living below the poverty line; 61% of our children participating in free or reduced school meals; 6% of our seniors living below the poverty line; and 12% of our resident relying on SNAP”

“Hunger doesn’t discriminate. It afflicts the young and the old, black and white, the employed and the unemployed. It is the refrigerator standing empty at the end of the month except for last night’s rice and beans. It is the child who fills up on potato chips because it is a cheap meal. It is the senior citizen whose Social Security checks don’t stretch to pay for one more grocery trip that month,” said Poe.

During the program, the panelists will address the major issue of hunger confronting Talbot County and what more can be done. All Talbot County Free Library Programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org.

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.

The Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) invites the community to stop by the Easton library to save a life on Friday, June 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All one has to do is register online at https://tinyurl.com/5973rmxn and find the right time that suits their schedule. The first 30 people who register will receive a free tote and a book buck they can use at the library.

“Donating blood during this crucial time is a good way to not only kickoff the summer season, but to also save lives to those in need,” said Christina Acosta, Talbot County Free Library Communications Manager. “We are very thrilled to host it at the library because we offer more than just books. We offer resources, events, and now our second blood drive.”

Last year, TCFL hosted a STEM Blood Drive at the Easton Library where over 59 units of blood were collected, which helped up to 177 people. It was all made possible with the help of The Blood Bank of Delmarva, who successfully facilitated the event for four hours.

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.

The board of trustees of the Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) has recently welcomed three new members this month to enhance the future of the library.

“Our newest members are committed to and share the values of our library and understand the important role TCFL plays in our community. This includes offering programs, services, resources, and education to every resident,” said TCFL Board President Susan Sherman. “We are fortunate to have them join our Board and look forward to working with them.”

Sue Regier moved to Easton in July 2020. She completed a bachelor’s degree in literature and creative writing from Vermont College.

Regier has worked for a small non-profit, Quechua Benefit, and traveled to Peru to help establish a small private boarding school for Quechua children living in the Altiplano who were too far from public school to receive education. As education director, she developed a new curriculum based on project learning, to learn how to use STEM for actual. She also implemented a reading program to bring the children to the national skill level and stocked the small campus library with reading and learning materials.

Mary Pellicano holds a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Pellicano retired as school library media specialist in Loudoun County, VA public schools.

Her position also involved collaboration with teachers in curriculum planning and delivery, advocating for library programs, coordinating special events such as book fairs, grant writing, and assisting students in selection of materials and resources. Pellicano has also served as a church librarian and trustee for the nine branches of the Loudoun County Public Library.

Becky Amaral currently works as school librarian for the Country School and teaches 2nd to 4^th grade library classes. She is also a middle school English teacher, curriculum coordinator and technology instructor.  Amaral earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College in Santa Fe and her master’s degree in English from Smith College in Massachusetts. She has volunteered with Talbot Optimists, served as a liaison with the Avalon Foundation, and worked with various aspects of AIMS (the Association of Independent Schools of Maryland) that included reviewing schools for accreditation and planning annual and single-day workshops for teachers.

L-R: Sue Regier, Mary Pellicano, and Becky Amaral.

Our newest members are committed to and share the values of our library, an integral part of our community that provides education, information and recreation for all of our residents.

Additional information about the Talbot County Free Library and a full list of current trustees is available by visiting tcfl.org, emailing [email protected], or by calling 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.