Wayne Bell, Ph.D.

Now that the holiday bustle is over and winter looms ahead, Chesapeake Forum is ready with a series of interesting, mind-expanding (but not diet-busting!) short courses that will brighten any gray day.  Registration opens January 12, 2024 at 7 a.m .  You can find the current list of courses on the website at https://chesapeakeforum.org

If you are an early bird (pun intended!), don’t waste a minute grabbing a spot for the very popular Birds & Birding on the Eastern Shore, Part 1 with Wayne Bell, Ph.D., starting January 18th from 2:30 – 4 PM. There will be two (2) classroom sessions and five (5) weekly field trips (two all-day excursions and three 3-hour outings to local destinations). The first class will introduce birding skills and resources pertinent to waterfowl identification. The last class will consider waterfowl conservation and provide an opportunity to review any challenging identifications of the species seen in the field.

This is the first of a two-part series offered in the 2024 winter and spring semesters.  The parts are independent and one can be taken without the other.  Part 1 (this winter) focuses on water birds, geese, ducks, shorebirds, and other “aquatic” species that are winter residents in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastal bays region.  Part 2 (this spring) will emphasize the amazing phenomena of songbird and shorebird migration.

Birds & Birding on the Eastern Shore, Part 1 is seven sessions (two classroom sessions and five field trips) from Thursday, January 18th – February 22nd.  Classroom sessions are HYBRID (in person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM or recording), Field Trips are in-person. $70.  To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your contact information and mailing address to info@ chesapeakeforum.org.

Give yourself a post-holiday gift and join Chesapeake Forum on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at 3:30 PM at the Academy Art Museum in Easton to see what ahead for winter.  Enjoy light refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and a series of short course introductions that will provide a flavor of both the subject and the teacher.  There are always some surprise favorites.  The event is free, but registration is required.  Sign up at https://chesapeakeforum.org.

When the holiday bustle is over and winter looms ahead Chesapeake Forum will be there with a series of interesting, mind-expanding (but not diet-busting!) short courses that will brighten any gray day.  Registration opens January 12, 2024 at 7 a.m.  If you are an early bird (pun intended!), don’t waste a minute grabbing a spot for the very popular Birds & Birding series with Wayne Bell.  Also, in January – take a Journey to the Arctic without leaving home; discuss the Maryland’s constitutional crisis with author Paul Callahan;  shine a light on electric vehicles; explore Life in the Dead Zone and learn how to age gracefully.

Details on these classes and others will be posted at https://chesapeakeforum.org as they become available.  Most Chesapeake Forum classes are offered in a HYBRID format – in person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM or recording. 

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your contact information and mailing address to info@ chesapeakeforum.org.

Would you like to learn about typical and atypical changes to the anatomy of the brain as we age? If you are interested in science and the environment, you can learn about Artificial Intelligence, hear about discoveries of the James Webb telescope or discover the state of our Eastern Shore waterways.

You can participate in discussions about current events, Great Decisions, join the book club or learn the history of the Vice Presidents. Perhaps you would like to join a line dance or low impact fitness class, pickleball lesson, culinary or craft class, or the Let’s Walk group.

The Institute for Adult Learning, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide learning experiences and social events which enrich lives of the age 50+ community in the Mid-Shore area, will hold a Showcase of Classes for the Spring semester on Saturday, January 6, 2024. Doors will open at 1:30 pm and the program will begin at 2:00 pm. The event will be held at the Kennard Cultural Center, located at 410 Little Kidwell Avenue in Centreville MD. In the event of snow, the Showcase will be held on Saturday, January 13.

The Showcase will provide an overview of over 40 courses to be offered during the Spring semester, which runs from February 5 through May 17, including history and current events, brain, body, and soul, environment and science, literature, arts and crafts, and culinary arts. All classes are held during the day, Monday through Friday, and range from one to eight sessions. On December 15 the IAL website will be updated with class descriptions for the Spring 2024 semester.

The membership fee of $90 per person per semester entitles participants to sign up for an unlimited number of courses. Members are also invited to participate in monthly happy hours and various field trips throughout the semester.

Attendees may join the IAL at any time and enroll in classes either at the Showcase or on the organization’s website after the event. You can fill out the registration form to enroll in classes at the Showcase. However, all registrations, paper or online, open at 4:00 pm the day of the Showcase. Registration to attend the event is not required but is recommended by sending an email to [email protected]. For more information about the IAL, visit the IAL website at www.instituteforadultlearning.org.

Sue Elter, a new member this past semester from Church Hill MD, summed it up perfectly, “IAL classes are just perfect for learning new things and keeping your brain sharp. The trips are very worthwhile and the Happy Hours help you meet new friends. Do yourself a favor and join IAL.” 

Phyllis Young Recognized for 55 years with Benedictine

Benedictine celebrated milestones in service for 50 of its dedicated staff members in early December. The awards were presented to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30, 45, and 55 years of service.

Phyllis Young celebrated 55 years with Benedictine. During her tenure, Young filled many roles in the School residential program, as a Nursing Assistant, Vocational Teacher, Home Economics Teacher, and Summer Camp Teacher’s Aide. She was previously honored by the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) as a recipient of the “Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives” Award.

Executive Assistant, Carolyn Ebling, celebrated 45 years with Benedictine. “Carolyn, is the person behind the scenes who has positively affected so many people during her time at Benedictine,” commented Executive Director Scott Evans. “She works tirelessly, never seeking recognition and her dedication, support, and guidance is invaluable.”

Benedictine commends all its staff milestone awardees for their compassion, dedication, dependability, and caring devotion for the children and adults they serve and for their commitment to Benedictine. These traits are demonstrated in their interactions with the people they support and their families, as well as their co-workers and community partners.

Benedictine employs over 350 staff that are dedicated to serving children and adults with moderate to severe developmental disabilities and autism. For more information on Benedictine’s events, services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham at [email protected] or call 410 634 2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

The Gunston School is pleased to announce that Senior Colin Hallmark (Annapolis) was selected as a 2023 Heisman High School Scholarship recipient this past November. Hallmark and other award winners were selected from thousands of applicants from more than 4,000 schools. This scholarship honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes.

During his four years at Gunston, Hallmark has participated in cross country, triathlon, crew, sailing, basketball and swimming. He is a three-time Maryland State Champion in triathlon, a seven-time national champion in Taekwondo and third degree blackbelt, and two-time Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference’s (ESIAC) Runner of the Year. Gunston’s boys’ cross country team has won the ESIAC championship three years in a row, as well as the inaugural swimming championship in 2022.

“I apply the same discipline to academics that I do to athletics. I would like to get into medical school and I hope athletics can help me do so,” says Hallmark.

Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis shared, “Colin is the definition of an ‘elite’ student-athlete. While he is perhaps the most accomplished athlete to ever step foot on Gunston’s campus, he’s equally talented in the classroom, and his future is extremely bright.”

To apply for the Heisman Scholarship, students must be a graduating senior, have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of a B (3.0) or better, participate in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Games and/or the National Federation of State High School Association and be a leader in his/her school and community. Over the past 29 years, the program has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to students and more than a million dollars to high school academic and athletic programs across the country.

The Benedictine Foundation raised over $100,000.00 on Giving Tuesday. The gifts included a generous match from a grandparent. Giving Tuesday, which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

“Benedictine is overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of its donors,” stated Claudia Cunningham, Benedictine Chief Advancement Officer. “One example is Bob Reinhardt who has been a dedicated supporter of Benedictine for many years.”

“Each year I make a trip to Benedictine to drop off my Giving Tuesday gift,” stated Bob Reinhardt. “I always knew about Benedictine but it wasn’t until I began to hear the wonderful stories of the students that visited the local library, where my late wife worked, that I made a promise to give to Benedictine.”

Reinhardt further commented, “I believe in keeping my donations close to home where I can see the impact that it makes. During my annual visit I am able to witness the incredible work that is being done for the children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism that Benedictine supports.”

Benedictine employs over 350 staff that are dedicated to serving children and adults with moderate to severe developmental disabilities and autism. For more information on Benedictine’s events, services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham at [email protected] or call 410 634 2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

 Queen Anne’s County Public Schools is excited to announce a dynamic partnership with the Washington Capitals Hockey Team, ushering in a new level of sports education within our district. The Washington Capitals Hockey School Program has generously provided each school in our county with a complete set of street hockey equipment (40 sticks, 40 pucks, and 40 hockey balls), age-appropriate lessons, and county-wide professional development. This collaborative initiative aims to empower our Health and Physical Education teachers by offering them a unique opportunity to integrate a comprehensive floor hockey unit into their yearly lesson structures.

The Washington Capitals Hockey School Program represents more than just a donation of equipment; it is a commitment to fostering a passion for physical activity and teamwork among our students. By providing resources and expertise, the program ensures that our teachers are equipped to deliver engaging and developmentally appropriate lessons in line with the latest educational standards. The impact extends beyond the classroom, fostering a love for the sport and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle among our students.

This collaboration exemplifies the shared commitment of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools and the Washington Capitals Hockey Team to invest in the well-rounded development of our students. We look forward to the positive impact this program will have on our school community, promoting fitness, teamwork, and the joy of learning through sports.

The Gunston School is pleased to announce they’ll be joining the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. MIAA is the state’s premier boys’ athletic conference and includes 29 private high schools across eight Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Divided into three tiers based on school size (A, B, & C), MIAA schools have a combined enrollment of 17,000, and it is recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious, competitive, and well-run independent school athletic conferences.

“Gunston first applied to the MIAA nearly 25 years ago,” explained Gunston Athletic Director Josh Breto, “and while our initial attempts to join were not fruitful, the recent combination of Gunston’s enrollment growth, expanded offerings, improved athletic performance, and facilities upgrades made our most recent application successful.”

Beginning in fall of 2024, Gunston’s boys’ teams which include soccer, cross country, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, tennis and golf will begin full-time MIAA competition in the “C” conference.

“Let me acknowledge the efforts of our current Athletic Director, Mr. Josh Breto, who coordinated this process, and I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the impact of former athletic directors Jon Mellinger and Anita Gruss, both of whom helped to nurture the steady enhancement of Heron Athletics over the years. I also want to thank our Board of Trustees, whose continued support of our school’s athletic program and leadership, helped make this possible,” said Head of School John Lewis.