Join Friendship Montessori School and Crow Vineyard & Winery for a day of games, hayrides and live music at Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 14th. This fun-filled event takes place from 12pm – 3pm at Crow Vineyard, located at 12441 Vansants Corner Road in Kennedyville.

Get your face painted, take a hay ride through the vineyard, play games, make crafts and enjoy live music! Food and drinks will be available for purchase. There will be plenty of fun for adults, too, including free tastings of select wines. Wine by the glass and bottle will be available for sale, and a portion of proceeds will be donated to Friendship Montessori School in Worton, Maryland.

About Friendship Montessori

With exceptional teaching, individualized lessons, self-directed learning, and a culture of acceptance and support, Friendship Montessori School has offered first-rate Montessori education to children age 2-6 since 1992. For more information on the school, please visit FriendshipMontessori.org.

As the flowers begin to bloom and the weather turns noticeably warmer the thought of strolling through outdoor markets becomes much more attractive. For local Centreville residents that can only mean one thing – it’s time to open the Centreville Farmers’ Market.

This year the market is on the move to the Centreville Plaza at 611 to 631 Railroad Avenue. The market is hosted by Centreville Plaza LLC in partnership with Acme Markets. The new location is made possible by Edward Scott, owner of Centreville Plaza, LLC. The Centreville Farmers Market is open Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“With the infrastructure project in full swing it became important to find a new location to accommodate both our farmers and vendors as well as our shoppers,” says Carol D’Agostino, Centreville Main Street project. “We are grateful for the support that Centreville Plaza has provided by giving the market its home for the season. Acme Markets and Centreville store manager Donna Benton have been incredibly welcoming as well. We couldn’t be more pleasure by the reception we have received,” she adds.

Photo: Farmers and vendors got together at the Commerce Street Creamery Bistro in February to start planning this year’s market. From left, are: Arlene Warner; Holly Gorham; Lew Dodd; Charlene Dilworth; and Steve Knopp.

Special promotion to honor educators and school staff       

One of this year’s new market promotions will be a free raffle for teachers, educators as well as administrators and staff from all Queen Anne’s County schools. In recognition of National Teachers Appreciation Week, May 7 to 11, school staff from any Queen Anne’s County school visiting the Centreville Farmers’ Market can enter to win a basket of bounty from the market’s vendors. The winning raffle will be drawn on May 12.

Centreville Farmers’ Market is co-managed by Arlene Warner of Arlene’s Creations and Lew Dodd of Cedar Run Farm. As of press time this season’s new vendors include:

• Arlene’s Creations of Greensboro, baked goods and sewn items;
• Cedar Run Farm of Sudlersville, meat, chicken and eggs;
• Agape Gardens LLC of Queenstown, greens and produce;
• Dotti DK at the Bay Jewelry of Grasonville;
• Darling Rondeau Designs of Centreville, decorative wreaths;
• Knopp’s Farm on the Shore of Federalsburg, produce;
• Kristy’s Backyard Blooms of Centreville, flowers and plants;
• La Dolce Vita Farm of Chestertown, produce;
• Nature Pamperz Soaps of Upper Marlboro, soaps, lotions and bath products;
• Rainbow of Handicrafts of Centreville, handcrafted sewn items;
• Sand Hill Farm of Greensboro, produce, honey and cut flowers;
• Sand and Silk Soaps of Centreville, soaps;
• Southside Artworks of Henderson, watercolor and acrylic original paintings;

Vendor information

Centreville Farmers’ Market is still accepting farmer and vendor applications. The market is seeking vendors for gluten-free baked goods, artisan breads, locally made value-added food items (honey, sauces, etc), and locally roasted coffee vendors. The market is also interested in being a CSA (community supported agriculture) pick up point. Applications are available online at http://www.townofcentreville.org/departments/main-street.asp or at Town Hall.

For more information, contact market co-managers Arlene Warner at (410) 482-4959 or Lew Dodd at (410) 708-0554 or sales@cedarruncattle.com or Main Street Manager Carol D’Agostino at (410) 758-1180, ext. 17, mainstreet@townofcentreville.org. Market applications can be downloaded at www.townofcentreville.org/event/farmers-market-begins/. To stay connected throughout the market season, “like” facebook.com/centrevillemarket and facebook.com/centrevillemainstreet.

Crow Vineyard and Winery, an authentic farm winery, vineyard and farmstay B&B, will hold its Winter Wine Seminar Series from 2pm to 4pm on January 21st, February 4th, March 25th and April 22nd. Each session will offer participants a chance to learn all about the world of wine from Winemaker, Michael Zollo, Vineyard Manager, Brandon Hoy, and Owners, Roy and Judy Crow. To register for one or all of the seminars, visit crowvineyardandwinery.com/events.

The Wine Seminar Series is a unique opportunity for the local community to join in one of the Crow’s’ many efforts to promote education in an unforgettable atmosphere. Since opening the farm to the public, the Crow’s continue their vision to share with visitors the opportunity to experience the farm, vineyard, winery and B&B firsthand. Throughout the year Crow Vineyard and Winery offers a number of events to take part in, as well as opportunities to volunteer during harvest season.

This winter, join Crow Vineyard and Winery at one or all of their Wine Seminar Series sessions to learn more about the different aspects of the wine world. Sessions offered include:

Session 1: The Basics of Wine Tasting and Palate Tasting will help you train your palate into identifying and articulating flavors like a pro. You will learn tools and techniques to practice every time you enjoy a glass of wine.

Session 2: Pairing Food & Wine, learn the art of pairing food and wine through guided tastings and presentation.

Session 3: Grapes to Glass, great wine begins in the vineyard and ends in the winery. During this session you will spend time in the vineyard to learn techniques for premium grape growing on the Eastern Shore. Then you will spend time in the winery to explore winemaking techniques and be guided through a tasting.

Session 4: The Art and Science of Blending Wines, in this session you will work side-by-side with the winemaker to see the process of blending wines. You will also sample some of Crow’s future wines.

Each seminar is designed to help participants learn a little more about wine, their taste preferences and the process from vine to wine. Wine tastings and light appetizers will also be a part of each session.

All sessions will be held at Crow Vineyard & Winery, 12441 Vansants Corner Road, Kennedyville, Maryland

Cost: $25 per person for session 1-3, $20 for Wine Club Members

Session 4 will be $30 per person, $25 for Wine Club Members

Located in the rural heart of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Crow Vineyard & Winery is Kent County’s first winery. Family owned and operated, they embrace the heritage and traditions of Crow Farm and their wines embody the simple elegance of a working pastoral landscape. The Tasting Room is open 7 days a week from 12-5pm.  The family also runs a farmstay B&B and sells all-natural grass-fed beef. For more information visit crowvineyardandwinery.com or call 302-304-0551.