Spy Desk

Free Community Webinar – Coping with our New Normal

April 5, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Shore Neurocognitive Health is offering a community webinar on “Coping with our New Normal” on April 9, 2020 from 4 to 5 pm. Join your friends from Shore Neurocognitive Health via Zoom to talk about how to keep your spirits up despite the restrictions COVID-19 has put on our lives. None of us, ever, have lived through a time like this one. Beth Parker-O’Brien, LCSW-C, MPH, Yvonne Liswell, FNP, and Maggie Black, PsyD, will talk about how to maintain a sense of community and connection in these strange times. Resources and ideas will be discussed, and mindfulness exercises demonstrated to help our community members boost their resilience.

The talk is sponsored by the Eastern Shore Horizon Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. For more information, and to reserve your spot, please email programs@snhealth.net or call (443) 746-3698 to register. Participants will be given an access code to join via Zoom.

Shore Neurocognitive Health is a woman-owned practice in Easton, specializing in the issues adults faces as they age. The Eastern Shore Horizon fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation was developed as a direct response to the growing population of aging adults. Horizon’s goal is to provide community and professional programs on topics of relevance to our community. Join the clinicians from Shore Neurocognitive Health for this very important webinar in learning how to, as a community, we can better cope with these trying times.

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“The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See is One Maryland One Book Selection

April 5, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Maryland Humanities is pleased to announce the selection of The Island of Sea Women: A Novel by Lisa See for the 2020 One Maryland One Book program. The novel follows the decades-long friendship of two haenyeo (female divers) from Jeju Island in Korea. The book was chosen by a committee of librarians, educators, authors, and bibliophiles in February from more than 165 titles suggested last fall by readers across the state for the theme, “Friendship.” In 2019, The Island of Sea Women made the New York Times’ list of best sellers.

“For the past 12 years, One Maryland One Book has generated frank conversations about urgent issues explored through literature—including refugees and migrants, conflicts with police, and most recently the Flint water crisis,” says Aaron Heinsman, Acting Executive Director at Maryland Humanities. “I’m excited to see what new perspectives Lisa See’s novel surfaces for readers.“

See says: “I’m thrilled and honored that The Island of Sea Women has been chosen as the 2020 One Maryland One Book selection. This has been a trying year and some of us have sustained terrible losses. I’m proud of the way we’ve had to come together in our families, communities, and states. Books have always given me joy, solace, and courage. Now we have the opportunity to come together to have a shared reading experience. I hope the sea women that I wrote about—their physical and emotional bravery—are as inspiring to all of you as they have been to me. I’m so looking forward to our events and meeting all of you. We’re going to have fun!”

As our One Maryland One Book programming takes place in the fall, we do not as yet anticipate any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Book

The Island of Sea Women by New York Times bestselling author Lisa See chronicles the lives and friendship between Young-sook and Mi-ja, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju. They become the closest of friends. However, their differences are impossible to ignore: Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position of leading the divers; whereas Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator and will forever carry that mark. From the Japanese occupation of the 1930s and 1940s to World War II to the Korean War, events will push their seemingly unbreakable bond to its breaking point.This beautifully written and thoughtful novel shines a light on the remarkable haenyeo culture and two women who are a part of it. Readers won’t soon forget the journey of Young-sook and Mi-ja’s friendship.

Lisa See. Photo Credit: Patricia Williams

About the Author

In her beloved New York Times bestsellers, which include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy, China Dolls, and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Lisa See brilliantly illuminates the immigrant experience and the indissoluble bonds between women. Her newest novel is a story of family secrets and female friendship on a remote Korean Island. The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable women divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives. Her first book, the national bestseller and New York Times Notable Book, On Gold Mountain: The One Hundred Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family, traces the journey of her great-grandfather, Fong See, who overcame obstacles at every step to become the 100-year-old godfather of Los Angeles’s Chinatown and the patriarch of a sprawling family. See was the Publishers Weekly West Coast correspondent for thirteen years, and her articles have appeared in Vogue, Self, and More.

About One Maryland One Book

When we read a great book, we can’t wait to share the experience and talk about it with others. That’s one of the joys of reading.

In that spirit, through our Maryland Center for the Book program, Maryland Humanities created One Maryland One Book (OMOB) to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. We invite readers to participate in book-centered discussions and related programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers around the state.

OMOB programs, including an author tour, take place each year in the fall. A calendar of free public events—including the Author Tour—will be available online beginning this summer.

One Maryland One Book is presented in partnership with Enoch Pratt Free Library and is sponsored by The Institute of Museum and Library Services via the Maryland State Library as well as PNC Foundation and BGE, with additional support from M&T Bank,an anonymous donor, and the Citizens of Baltimore County.

About Maryland Center for the Book

The Maryland Center for the Book (MCFB)—an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress—develops and supports literary programs and outreach activities that engage citizens across Maryland in literature and reading. As a program of Maryland Humanities, MCFB highlights our region’s literary heritage and calls attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy, and libraries.

Want to discuss the book now or get updates on upcoming events? Join the conversation on the Maryland Center for the Book page.

About Maryland Humanities

Maryland Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities. For more information, visit www.mdhumanities.org. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities; the State of Maryland;the Citizens of Baltimore County; private foundations such as The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, creator of the Baker Artist Portfolios, www.BakerArtist.org; corporations; small businesses; and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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ShoreRivers Announces Teacher Training “Academy”

April 4, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

ShoreRivers is now accepting teacher applications for its Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Academy. The yearlong MWEE Academy supports teachers of all disciplines to integrate Chesapeake Bay–focused investigations into existing curricula. These studies will follow the MWEE framework: outdoor learning that empowers students to ask questions, discover answers, and create solutions to local environmental issues.

ShoreRivers is an environmental nonprofit that restores and protects Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education, including providing programming to public and private schools.

ShoreRivers and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory co-host the MWEE Academy, which will begin in summer 2020 and continue through the 2020-2021 school year. Teachers will receive paid professional development, a free-of-cost field trip to Horn Point Laboratory for their students, and funds to support student-led action projects at their school.

Students investigate current Bay–related issues through a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) at UMCES Horn Point Laboratory.

Public and private school teachers of grades 3 through 12 in any discipline are encouraged to apply. “Environmental literacy intersects with almost every aspect of school,” explains ShoreRivers Director of Education Suzanne Sulivan. “Students can be learning about the properties of water in chemistry class, graphing water quality data in math class, reading Rachel Carson’s essays in English class, or learning about the Clean Water Act in government class. Opening the MWEE Academy to all disciplines strengthens environmental literacy and interdisciplinary learning across the educational spectrum and better prepares the next generation of environmental stewards.”

Successful completion of the MWEE Academy helps students meet Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards (a graduation requirement)and supports schools in obtaining Maryland Green School Certification.

Additional information and applications are available at shorerivers.org/newsfeed. Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 1 to Suzanne Sullivan at ssullivan@shorerivers.org or mailed to ShoreRivers at 114 S. Washington St., Suite 301, Easton, MD 21601.

PLEASE NOTE:

ShoreRivers and UMCES Horn Point Laboratory acknowledge the uncertainty in planning for the future amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We are announcing this unique opportunity because we are eager to continue our support of Eastern Shore school systems when it is safe to do so. ShoreRivers and UMCES Horn Point Laboratory are exploring all options for adapting the program to future federal, state, and local health guidelines, including hosting an in-person summer workshop, converting to an online webinar series, or adjusting the timeline. We will communicate and update applications with changes as they arise. In the meantime, we gratefully reflect on the enormous efforts made by schools at this time to keep their communities safe and enriched. We look forward to the time when we can see you on water, in your classrooms, and visiting our labs again.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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Compass Regional Hospice Celebrates National Volunteer Month

April 3, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Throughout the month of April, Compass Regional Hospice will be celebrating National Volunteer Month. This month was designated as a time to honor and acknowledge the individuals who volunteer their time and talents to give back to their community.

Compass Regional Hospice was started in 1985 as a solely volunteer-based operation, with the intention of providing care and comfort to those facing a life-limiting illness. Over the last 35 years it has grown into a community-based nonprofit, serving patients and families in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. The organization has also grown to encompass a wide range of services from medical care, to grief counseling, to caregiver support.

As Compass has continued to change and grow, their volunteers have remained a constant. Their team of nearly 300 volunteers provides integral support, and these individuals volunteer their time in a variety of ways. In addition to patient care and companionship, there are opportunities to work at their resale shop, Estate Treasures, sew Memory Bears for grieving families, assist in day-to-day operations, or participate in fundraisers and events. In a single year, volunteers dedicate over 21,000 hours to the Compass mission.

“Each day the nature of our work drives home the sentiment that time is invaluable. We recognize what a privilege it is to have so many volunteers willing to spend their time with Compass to help us serve and support our community with compassion”, said Chief Executive Officer, Heather Guerieri. For more information about becoming a volunteer for Compass Regional Hospice, contact Robyn Affron at 443-262-4112 or raffron@compassregionalhospice.org. Whatever your motivation to volunteer, there is a place for you at Compass Regional Hospice.

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a life-limiting illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care, supportive care, and grief services in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to all children and adults in the community through grief groups, one-on-one counseling, and in-school support. As a Level 4 partner of the We Honor Veterans program, they also offer veteran-centric care that meets the unique needs of men and women who have served our country. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.

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Feed the Children and Elderly Initiative

April 1, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Social Action Committee for Racial Justice and Sumner Hall wish to express deep appreciation to all the volunteers and donors who have made this project a reality. In its first two weeks, we:

• served 2500 breakfast bags;
• delivered 120 bags of groceries to seniors;
• raised nearly $15,000 through several sources, including: (1) donations to Sumner Hall for the Farmers’ Market Fund to purchase fresh food; (2) donations to Sumner Hall for a General Food Fund (including $1,000 from Kent County United Way) to buy food and other supplies needed to package and safely deliver the food; (3) cash donations to the Maryland Food Bank to purchase non-perishables;
• received a pledge of 15 tons of frozen food from Sysco Systems to be stored locally and distributed in the seniors’ grocery bags;
• collected food from a growing number of individuals, organizations and businesses;
• mobilized 100 volunteers who work at the food distribution sites and 58 additional volunteers who help pick up and deliver the food to the distribution sites and the food donations to seniors across the community.

Starting April 3^rd, Sumner Hall’s website (www.sumnerhall.org) will feature periodic reports on this important initiative. In addition, all checks received by Sumner Hall after April 3^rdwhich are designated to support the work of SACRJ will be applied to the SACRJ General Food Fund.

Please note that we need more volunteers! If you are able to help,complete this form https://forms.gle/K6vmwKVqkmjVtURk8 or email sacracialjustice@gmail.com. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this important initiative.

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Face Mask Challenge – Kent County

April 1, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Twenty-four participants in the Face Mask Challenge have made and distributed nearly 600 homemade face masks to medical workers in our community! Thanks to the Kent County Health Department and the Chester River Health Foundation, these masks are now in use. Every mask made makes a real difference and a round of applause is due to the Face Mask Challenge Team.

To learn more about this project, send an email to admin@sumnerhall.org or call Cheryl Hoopes at 410-708-3321. Finished masks may be placed in sealed plastic bags and placed in the large collection box that is on the back porch of Sumner Hall.

Check Sumner Hall’s Website (www.sumnerhall.org) for updates on this important project!

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Leadership Maryland Class of 2020 Postponed Until 2021 Due to COVID-19

March 31, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Leadership Maryland officially announced today that the Class of 2020 will become the Class of 2021, as it has postponed its eight-month professional development program one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All 52 members of the Class of 2020, announced in February, will have the opportunity to join the Class of 2021. Anyone who is not able to participate will be replaced by alternates selected from this year’s applicant pool. There will not be an application or selection process in 2021.

The Class of 2020 was scheduled to host its annual new class reception this week in Annapolis and had monthly educational sessions scheduled throughout the state from April through November. This will be the first time in the organization’s 27-year history that Leadership Maryland has not hosted its annual program.

“This has been a heartbreaking decision for us to make, but our Board of Directors agrees that we want everyone to be able to experience the full impact of the Leadership Maryland program, from orientation to closing retreat, and the regional programs in between,” said Renée M. Winsky ‘05, president and Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Maryland. “We feel this is the best decision when we consider our class members’ health, financial positions and professional concerns. We want to thank our membership for their generosity over the years in supporting our legacy fund, which is allowing us to preserve this experience for what is now the Class of 2021.”

Leadership Maryland is currently exploring options to provide virtual programming to its members in 2020. For more information, please call 410-841-2101 or email Info@LeadershipMD.org.

About Leadership Maryland

Leadership Maryland is a professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Each year, as many as 52 diverse and accomplished executives from Maryland’s public and private sectors are selected to come together as a class for an eight-month hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. The first Leadership Maryland class graduated in 1993, and the organization’s alumni network now consists of more than 1,100 leaders from all industries and regions of the state. To learn more, please call Leadership Maryland at 410-841-2101 or visit www.LeadershipMD.org.

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The Artists’ Gallery Features Marc Rubin in April

March 31, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, The Artists’ Gallery in Chestertown will be remain closed until good health is once again restored to our region and country. However, knowing that all of us could use a bit of humor and enlightenment these days, Marc Rubin’s exciting new work, “Little Smiles,” will be featured in The Artists’ Gallery throughout the month of April. All of Marc Rubin’s paintings will be set up in the front window and on adjacent easels and panels so it may be viewed in full by the public from outside of the gallery.

Marc’s classical, representational oil paintings continue to evolve and exude a timeless quality, as clearly evidenced in “Little Smiles.” Similar to traditional Dutch painters like Vermeer and Rembrandt, Rubin finds inspiration everywhere he looks and his paintings relay relationships between everyday objects. Through his skillful use of technique and brush manipulation, Rubin pushes and nudges paint into sensual and emotionally charged renderings. An accomplished artist, he is best known for his soulful and still life renderings that pique viewers’ imaginations, invoking curiosity about the stories behind the objects represented in layers of paint – as magical pools of light.

“I Must be a Flower,” (9×12) oil by Marc Rubin

For those of you who are familiar with Marc’s work, he is a visual storyteller. He gives us a unique perspective of the very things we often take for granted, giving them a voice through his paintings and drawings. Marc listens closely to the whispered stories that we sometimes tend to ignore. He is able to capture the essence, the beauty in the discarded or forgotten, and give it life and light. “I am compelled to paint and draw, I always have been. Hold your breath, then breathe…that is what painting is to me. It is as vital as a renewed breath of air.”

Marc owns and operates Marc Rubin Associates (a graphic design firm) and Gallery 421, located in Elmira, NY. He also teaches oil painting at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY, as well as private lessons in the art of representational painting. He is represented nationally by a variety of galleries, and has served on the executive board of directors for the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira and the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning, NY, and is a past board member of the Upstate New York chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

While the doors to the gallery will remain closed at this time to the public, please note that contact information will be made available in the window to those interested in purchasing a work of art. The Artists’ Gallery is located at 239 High Street in Chestertown. For more information about The Artists’ Gallery, please visit www.theartistsgalleryctown.com and www.facebook.com/6goodpainters.

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Qlarant Foundation Awards Additional Grants to Maryland Nonprofits

March 30, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Qlarant Foundation, the mission arm of Qlarant, has given $4,000 and twelve refurbished laptops to five local organizations.

Breast Care for Washington, DC received $2,000 to provide uninsured women with screening mammograms and diagnostic follow-up. In addition to serving approximately 180 clients per month at a fixed site mammography center, the organization utilizes a mobile mammography program that serves approximately 100 additional clients per week. The mission of Breast Care for Washington, DC is to provide mammograms and diagnostic services to reduce breast cancer mortality in the Washington, DC. This is done by promoting access to breast cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment to all women regardless of their ability to pay.

Miriam’s Kitchen received $1,000 for supplies to enable them to distribute prepackaged meals in the church courtyard to ensure that the homeless continue to have access to nutritious meals during the corona crisis. Their goal is to improve access to medical and behavioral health care for District of Columbia residents who are experiencing prolonged homelessness and related complex health issues. The organization’s flagship programs are its breakfast and dinner meals, designed to treat people with dignity and encourage a sense of belonging.

University Legal Services’ Advocacy Project received $1,000 to purchase gift cards for food and clothing for clients leaving correctional facilities to help them with the transition to life in the community. The organization promotes access to community-based health care and behavioral health care for DC residents with psychiatric disabilities who have been incarcerated in DC.

Qlarant Foundation donated refurbished laptop computers two grantees. Camp Attaway received two laptops, one for the Clinical Director and one for training purposes. HASA (Hearing and Speech Agency) received ten laptops for their telemedicine program so that they can continue to treat patients during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The work these organizations do is outstanding and often goes unnoticed,” said Dr. Molly Burgoyne-Brian, Qlarant Foundation Board chair. “We are proud to provide laptops, funding, and encouragement to the many volunteers and staff members who serve the community so well.”

About Qlarant

Qlarant is a not-for-profit nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste & abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Solutions are customized for health and human services organizations, government agencies, and financial and insurance companies. Qlarant employs nearly 500 people and has a 45-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nation’s most important programs. In addition, the Qlarant Foundation has provided over $5.2 million in grants.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Pat Boos at 410.819.3553 or email at boosp@qlarant.com. For more information and to view the video go to www.qlarant.com.

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