St. Michaels Community Center launches capital campaign

Renovation will allow Center to double number of people served

 

The St. Michaels Community Center is kicking off the first capital campaign in its 32-year history to renew, rebuild, and revitalize its aged building in the Town’s Historic District.

 

The St. Michaels Community Center purchased its Railroad Avenue headquarters in 2015. The structure was constructed before World War II as a lumber storage warehouse. It’s had only minimal changes and upgrades since then. The nonprofit has made do with its crudely constructed interior, no windows, no heat or air conditioning in most of the building, and without handicapped accessibility, among other issues.  

“Our building’s primary asset is its location in the commercial district near the people we serve,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “This long-awaited adaptive renovation will make the St. Michaels Community Center the only fully-equipped resource center for social services on the Bay Hundred peninsula.”

 

The planned renovations will include a fully equipped modern commercial kitchen to expand food distribution and meal service to those in need, and training for jobs in restaurants and hotels. Bright, well-equipped classrooms and a multipurpose room for community gatherings are included in the plans, with the Community Center anticipating double the number of people making use of the Center compared to today’s participation levels, once the new building is fully operational.

 

“This will give us a place to do our best work and have the greatest impact on the lives of the children and adults we serve,” said SMCC Advisory Board President Langley Shook.

 

Shook says more than half of the necessary funding already has been raised, including $1.225 million from the State of Maryland.

 

“The State’s support is a great vote of confidence for our first-ever capital campaign and an investment in securing a sustainable future for the Community Center’s essential work,” said Shook. “We serve at the heart of this community, and these improvements will give us a much better platform from which to serve our community.”

 

“This funding will help us to have the improved facilities needed to support our food distribution program and a new culinary arts workforce training program, for example,” said Rofe. “This will benefit our participants and local restaurants in need of well-trained employees.

 

“We’d like to start a Farm-to-Table program that will explore every topic related to nutrition and health, and for growing vegetables and fruits in our 40 community garden plots.”

 

Rofe says the Town’s Historic District Commission praised and unanimously approved the design of the renovated building, and an application for a building permit has been submitted to the Town.

The nonprofit is now inviting the public to participate in fundraising for the new building, with naming opportunities and more in the works before an anticipated 2022 groundbreaking.

 

“SMCC’s priority commitment is to the needs of the region’s population who lack the resources to lift themselves from poverty,” said Shook. “We will continue our long-time commitment to the food insecure and will add to that workforce development programming to enable adults’ transition to self-sufficiency.”

 

Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements, including information about how to support the campaign, can be found at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  

 

The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for residents of St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area.

Concerts in the Park series kicks off June 16 in St. Michaels, Md.

The St. Michaels Community Center’s free, waterfront Summer Concert Series is returning on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. to Muskrat Park in St. Michaels beginning June 16 and continuing through Sept. 1.

 

The concert series starts with the sounds and melodies of local favorite JCT33 playing their ‘little bit country, little bit rock 'n roll.’ All 12 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website.

 

Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River and includes a covered gazebo for performances, with plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking nearby.

 

Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or their own seating, along with friends, family, neighbors, your leashed dog, or just yourself to enjoy the concerts. Picnics are encouraged, with alcohol prohibited.

 

The free concert series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses acknowledged at each concert. Early, gold sponsors include Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Bridges Land Management, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Hammy's Burgers & Shakes, Lyon Rum // Windon Distilling, The Orthopedic Center at Easton, Rebecca Thomas Events, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Tilghman Island Inn, Total Home Performance, Town & Country Wine, Liquor, Etc, and The Wildset Hotel.

 

Treats including popcorn, water, and snow cones will be available for cash sale at the concerts, with proceeds benefiting the people served by SMCC.

 

The nonprofit continues to provide groceries and meals to those in need during select hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays along with youth, senior, and adult programs throughout the year.  

 

Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. More information is at www.stmichaelscc.org.

 

 

Maryland Dove launched into the Miles River

 (ST MICHAELS, MD – Thursday, March 31, 2022) 

Nearly three years after beginning the largest construction project they had ever taken on, shipwrights at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum have their eyes set on the finish line, with the construction of Maryland Dove scheduled to finish this spring.  

“I am incredibly proud of my team and what they’ve accomplished,” said CBMM’s lead shipwright, Joe Connor, who has served as the construction manager on the project since its inception. “We have assembled some of the most talented shipwrights I’ve ever worked with, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the ship sail away.”

A major milestone in the project happened in CBMM’s working Shipyard on March 28, 2022, when the roughly 94,000-pound ship was hoisted by crane and placed in the Miles River—touching water for the first time in its new life. It was the largest vessel launched in St. Michaels since 1904, and a spectacle to behold.

In 2018, it was announced that CBMM had been selected to build a brand-new Maryland Dove for Historic St. Mary’s City. The ship, a representation of the late 17th-century trading ship that accompanied the first European settlers to what is now Maryland, is owned by the state of Maryland, and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission. An earlier version of the ship, built in the 1970s by Cambridge’s Jim Richardson, was nearing the end of its useful life and decades of new research meant that a new ship could be designed to be a more historically accurate representation of the original Maryland Dove.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SASS

Since that first announcement, construction of the iconic state ship has been the central focus of CBMM’s working Shipyard. After tapping naval architect Iver Franzen to design the new ship, the lofting process began, with shipwrights turning the Boatshop floor into a lofting board on which full-size patterns and lines were drawn. Those patterns then came to life as they were shaped in a variety of woods—Live and White Oak, Osage Orange, Ash, and Cortez, just to name a few—and fixed to a lead backbone to give Maryland Dove its shape. Work over the past few years, all done in public view, has seen the new ship move from concept to reality, and Maryland Dove will now remain dockside for the final steps in its construction, which include finish work and the installation of masts, rigging, and sails.

“It has been absolutely amazing to watch Maryland Dove come together, piece by piece, over the past few years,” said CBMM President & CEO Kristen Greenaway. “We are very grateful for everyone who has followed along with the ship’s progress, and we invite you to stay tuned as it nears completion.”

Details for a celebration of the completion of Maryland Dove will be announced later via CBMM’s social media channels and at marylanddove.org.

20th Annual Midnight Madness to be held December 3rd-4th in St. Michaels

Celebrating the holidays in St. Michaels is a tradition for many, and this year is no different. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is home to many picturesque towns, but none embody an old-fashioned holiday feel quite like St. Michaels. With our quaint shops, world-class dining and jolly spirit, St. Michaels is transformed during the holidays into a Christmas wonderland.

Visiting St. Michaels during the holiday season is a special experience and provides a wonderful backdrop to shop for the holidays in our coastal harbor town as we celebrate Christmas in St. Michaels.   

The Town of St. Michaels is filled with the holiday spirit and the festivities will begin on the first weekend in December for the 20th Annual Midnight(ish) Madness on Saturday, December 4th

The holiday spirit is felt throughout town, which makes coming to St Michaels during the holiday season a special experience, year after year, and provides a wonderful backdrop to shop for the holidays.   

Join us Friday, December 3rd at 6pm in front of St. Luke's Church for our Small Business Holiday Tree lighting.  

The Midnight Madness elves have worked hard to keep the tradition alive while keeping in mind the welfare of businesses and visitors to make your experience safe and enjoyable.     The hybrid virtual/in person drawing will be held at The Galley, the Midnight Madness headquarters, located in the heart of town on Talbot Street.   

As in previous years, Midnight Madness will have amazing gift baskets donated from participating businesses.    Participating businesses will distribute raffle tickets with qualifying purchases on Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th.  Limited distribution and less tickets offers more opportunities to win amazing baskets filled with gift certificates and goodies!   

The Midnight(ish) Madness Gift Basket Drawing will be held at The Galley Restaurant and on our Midnight Madness St. Michaels Facebook Page starting at 10pm!!  Winners will be notified via phone call starting at 10 pm so be sure to watch and wait for the call!  You must answer to win!  

Thanks to the many participating Midnight Madness sponsors and donations from businesses, Midnight Madness would not happen without them! 

Visit www.stmichaelsmd.org for details.

Santa comes to Christmas in St. Michaels this December

Santa comes to Christmas in St. Michaels this December

Santa will be helping Christmas in St. Michaels celebrate its 35^th year of weekend festivities with several appearances in St. Michaels during the December 10 -12 slate of events.

The highlight for children and families is Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa, which takes place from 8-10:00 a.m. on Dec. 11 at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille. Limited $10 tickets are available in advance, with online purchasing available.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be participating in the Talbot Street Parade, which follows the breakfast and begins at 10:30 on Saturday. The event was suspended last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spectators will also see plenty of people dressed as Santa for the Santa Dash as they run in the fun-filled, rain or shine Saturday event.

Christmas in St. Michaels also brings holiday music to the historic town, including a special Mid-Shore Community Band performance of seasonal music from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon on Sat., Dec. 11 at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Talbot Street. The Jackson Jubilee Singers are set to perform at 1:30 p.m. with soul-stirring gospel music.

This year’s events also include the return of the new Lighted Boat Parade; a Tour of Homes; Holiday Meals; a Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and a Light up the Night drive-by house and harbor tour.

The 2021 Christmas in St. Michaels collectible ornament features Maggie the Fire Truck—a local legend with an interesting history—and was rendered by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan.

The goal for this year’s events is to raise funds to distribute grants to local beneficiaries. More than 25 family services, education and child development, and community enhancement organizations depend on Christmas in St. Michaels funds to support their programs and activities.

Christmas in St. Michaels began in 1987 when a group of energetic volunteers recognized the need for daycare services in the community. Funds were raised through community support, and a daycare center was established, now known as Critchlow Adkins Children Centers. Sponsors and patrons of Christmas in St. Michaels since that time have helped raise more than $1.4M in support of numerous local non-profit organizations.

Proceeds from Christmas in St. Michaels help the people served by local non-profit organizations, with event updates, online purchases, and more about Christmas in St. Michaels at christmasinstmichaels.org.

Santa is joined by Christmas in St. Michaels Treasurer Linda Seemans, left, and President Pat Martin, right, to help plan his and Mrs. Claus’s appearances in this year’s Dec. 10 – 12 events. The highlight for children and families is Breakfast with Santa, which takes place Dec. 11 from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, and is followed by the Talbot Street Parade. The weekend is packed with a full slate of events for everyone, including a Homes Tour and Marketplace & Sweet Shoppe, with more at christmasinstmichaels.org.