Talisman Therapeutic Riding, which was recently recognized by Governor Larry Hogan for its “dedicated efforts and extraordinary commitment on behalf of Maryland veterans,” celebrated its annual open house on December 12, featuring Santa arriving by carriage, opportunities to meet the herd, and rides for the children. Joining Santa are Talisman Board members (L-R): Denise Yarbough Smith, Taalib Smith, Peter Behringer and granddaughter Isabel, Michael Powell, Chairman Tom Saquella, Santa, President and CEO Anne Joyner, Carol Gray, Liz Joyner and daughter Eleanor, Wayne Zussman, Wendy Panor, Mary Sjoquist and vice-chairman Tom Pasta.

The Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore is accepting nominations for its annual Women & Girls Fund Award.  Established in 2004, the award honors a community member from Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, or Talbot counties who has made outstanding professional or personal contributions towards addressing the needs of local women and girls.

Candidates for this award should have demonstrated leadership, vision, integrity, compassion, cooperation and generosity of time and talent in their efforts to improve the lives and opportunities of women and girls.

The 2020 Women & Girls Fund Award went to Carlene Wilson of Kent County for her initiative and leadership in providing meals to more than 20 food-insecure children in a low-income apartment complex in Fairlee, seven miles from the nearest town, convenience story or food pantry.

Kathy Deoudes, Women & Girls Fund board president, said of Carlene, “She is a ‘mother hen’ to these children.  She knows their food likes and dislikes and engages them in setting up and cleaning up after meals. Due to her efforts, there are 20-plus children in our community each day that are not going hungry.”

The late Lois Duffy of Centreville and Chestertown was the first recipient.  In succeeding years, the Women & Girls Fund has honored: the late Harriet Critchlow; Sandra King; Dr. Maria Boria; Sister Patricia Gamgort, OSB; Tracy Davenport; Sandra Redd; Sara Jane Davidson; The Hon. Karen Murphy Jensen; the 5 founders of For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center; Mary Lou McAllister; Diana Mautz; Kathy Weaver; Susan Stockman; and Krista Pettit.

Application deadline is January 31st.  Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.womenandgirlsfund.org.  For further information, call 410-770-8347.

The Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area recently awarded 8 matching grants totaling $25000 to local heritage projects.  These FY21 small grants support heritage projects and activities that attract visitors and expand economic development and tourism-related job creation in the 4 counties of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot are in the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area.

Projects receiving grant awards include:

African American Schoolhouse Project – Washington College

Washington College received funding to extend the reach and impact of a collaboration between Washington College and the African American Schoolhouse Museum in Worton Point, Maryland, by funding a second phase of Museum improvements and educational outreach materials.  This phase of collaboration will yield three tangible outcomes: a conservation-quality archive for photos and documents in the Museum’s collection; a set of exhibit panels for inside the Museum; and a set of interpretive window panels for the Museum’s exterior, linked to a virtual tour of the interior of the Museum.

African American Communities Exhibit – Talbot Historical Society

The Talbot Historical Society will develop an interpretive exhibit on the history of African American communities in Talbot County.  This exhibit will tell the stories of the remarkable leaders who emerged as trailblazers, pacesetters, and achievers of historical significance.  It will raise residents and visitor’s awareness of the important contributions made by African Americans to the history of Talbot county and the Eastern Shore.

Frederick Douglass Driving Tour Map and Guide – Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism

Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism proposes to create a printed version of the self-guided of the Frederick Douglass Driving tour.  The brochure will reflect the information provided on the FrederickDouglassBirthplace.org website and a map.  This project expands upon the Frederick Douglass Driving Tours project partially funded with a previous small grant.

Lawrence Wetland Preserve Interpretive Plan – Sultana Education Foundation

The Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) received funds to create a Comprehensive Interpretive Plan for its Lawrence Wetlands Preserve (LWP), a new urban wetland and nature preserve in Chestertown that will serve as an adjunct facility to SEF’s Holt Education Center.  The LWP consists of 8.5 acres of property featuring a combination of forest, wetlands, meadows, swamp, and a one-acre pond, making it ideal for SEF’s nature and heritage-based programs.  Over the next three years, SEF will improve the property by enlarging and restoring various natural habitats on the site and providing environmentally sensitive public access in the form of trails, boardwalks, and low-impact structures.  To support quality public visitation that is consistent with our mission, SEF is working to develop and design concepts for interpretive elements at the LWP including fixed signage, brochures, online audiovisual presentations, and other products to provide information to individuals visiting the Preserve outside of the context of an organized programs

Museum on Main Street Local Exhibit – “Voices and Votes” Democracy in America – Queen Anne’sHistorical Society

In 2020, the Queen Anne’s County Historical Society was selected to be a host site by Maryland Humanities for the Museum on Main Street program.   The Historical Society received funding to develop interpretive materials for the local exhibit that is part of Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program exhibit – “Voices and Votes, Democracy in America”.

Small Town Big Artist – Sumner Hall

1. A. R. Post #25, Inc. (Sumner Hall) is pleased to present a unique children’s program designed, produced, and directed by Teverly Swinson, a member of SmalltownsBIGARTISTS (STBA).

STBA is a local music collective made up of musicians, poets, technicians, producers, and deejays.  Since its founding, STBA has received non-monetary resources and support – including research about Chestertown’s Historical African American Business Culture, advertising, and production advice – by a number of community leaders.  SmalltownsBIGARTISTS (STBA) Littles will be producing a local kids’ performance, to debut in the Summer, 2021.  Sumner Hall was the venue for STBA Littles practice sessions and meetings in the past year.

The Old Shrewsbury Cemetery Project – Shrewsbury Church and Cemetery

The Old Shrewsbury Cemetery Project will develop a new heritage tourism product which communicates cultural, historical, and natural resources.  The Project will be an interdisciplinary collaboration of genealogy, history, geographic information systems, natural and cultural resource protection, and conservation.  It will also connect the interpretation of white and black cultural resources in the Heritage Area and enhance the visitor experience.  It will provide foundational works leading to the creation of a new visitor interpretation center in the northern part of Kent County directly off 213, the principal north south vehicular spine of Kent County.

Voices on the Water – Echo Hill Outdoor School

Since 1972, Echo Hill Outdoor School has owned, maintained, and operated a diverse collection of historic Chesapeake Bay work boats that serve as classrooms and cultural experiences.  Four of the vessels are docked at the Chestertown Marina.   Echo Hill has begun a program to turn a portion of the pier into an artistic and fun interactive experience for visitors to the Chestertown waterfront.  The Stories of the Chesapeake grant will provide interpretive signage on the voices of the water telling stories of Bays people and place.

The Stories of the Chesapeake works with community partners to tell the story of Maryland’s Eastern Shore through preservation and enriching experiences to promote the cultural and natural heritage of the region while enhancing its economic vitality.  Earlier this year, the Stories of the Chesapeake enable MHAA grants of $548, 912 for 13 projects and $57,500 in COVID-19 Emergency Grants to 4 local organizations.  To learn more about The Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area www.storiesofthechesapeake.org or info@storiesofthechesapeake.org