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December 7, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

Senior Nation Senior Highlights Senior Nation Senior Notes

Senior Nation: Embrace Your Age, Live Your Best Life by Susan Covey

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According to Leading Age, “Active Aging is a worldwide initiative that honors the spirit and contributions of older adults while encouraging active lifestyles and changing perceptions of aging.” The theme for 2025, as stated in the title of this article, aims to celebrate the positive aspects of aging, encourage healthy habits and promote the idea that aging can be an active and fulfilling experience. This year, Active Aging Week will be celebrated from October 6th through the 10th.

So, as Autumn closes in, I’d like to especially encourage everyone to reap the benefits of nature every chance you get. Scientific studies have proven that not only walking, but just being in nature has a profound positive impact on our health. Of course, we know that if we walk at least 15 minutes a day, we will have fewer diseases and are less likely to get cancer, have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke and have better bone density.  But recent researchers are now demonstrating a reduction in stress, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as an upswing in mood and general outlook on life just because of being outside.  They have also shown a link to longevity and decreased risk of mental illness and depression. (Kuo and Taylor 2004, DeVries et al. 2003) The health benefits of nature may also be relevant to injury prevention and control, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and other maladies, including cancer (Li, 2009).

Drawing attention to these benefits of outdoor leisure and recreation for improved health helps shift attention from the downstream costs of health care to the upstream efforts to prevent ill health from occurring.  An upstream focus is always empowering and enables individuals to take a more prominent role in their own wellness.

Ok folks, time to get out there! We are so very fortunate to have such lovely, well-maintained nature trails in our area: Tuckahoe State Park, Adkins Arboretum, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Martinak State Park, Pickering Creek, and more!

Enjoy everything around you and take the time to PLAY. After all, you’re never too old to jump in the leaves!

Susan S. Covey is Director of Fitness at Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton. 

 

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Roots of Classic Rock Coffee House Performance by Kathy Jones July 31

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Back by popular demand, Church Hill Theatre’s own Kathy Jones will take us on a journey through rock’s transition from Folk music and early Rock ‘n Roll to the Classic Rock era. Kathy performs with her guitar on a riser in the middle of the theatre, creating a cozy, warm vibe that’s interactive with the audience, even taking on a few requests. Her coffeehouses are pop-up, one-night only, and short notice events. This one is free to the public but donations to CHT will be accepted.

Kathy’s last coffeehouse sold out, so please make a reservation quickly. Table seating is available for small groups, but these go fast. Refreshments, including coffee, will be available for purchase. The show begins at 7:00 pm and will last approximately two hours. Ticket reservations for Thursday, July 31 are available at the CHT website: churchhilltheatre.org.  The theatre is located at 103 Walnut Street in Church Hill, MD.  Call the office at 410-556-6003 if you have questions.

Kathy has serious singing chops, from years with Sweet Adelines groups, gigs in Key West and St. Augustine and lead roles in musicals such as Matilda, the Musical, Fiddler on The Roof, and The Little Shop of Horrors. You can catch her with other CHT favorites singing for CHT’s supper at a Ram’s Head Give Back Night in Stevensville on July 16 from 4 to 6 pm. Kathy is the Chairperson of the Church Hill Theatre. She resides on Kent Island with her husband, Bruce.

For more about Church Hill Theatre go here.

 

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Senior Nation: Gardening a Great Boost for Body and Soul by Susan Covey

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The calming benefits of being in the natural world are endless and include fresh air, improved mood and concentration, mental clarity, lower blood pressure, improved flexibility of your joints and muscles.  The list goes on, but the simple satisfaction and delight derived from watching things grow and bloom is both unmatched and undeniable.

Gardening sharpens your mind.  There is evidence that growing plants enhances your brain.  For example, one NIH study found that the act of gardening may lower your risk of dementia by as much as 36 percent!

Gardening strengthens your body.  The actual act of maintaining a garden keeps you moving for one thing. Considering many of us sit for way too much of the day, this is important.  An active lifestyle in turn lowers your likelihood of obesity, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, and more.  In addition, if you garden outside, you’ll also passively reap the benefits of sun exposure.  Sunshine, of course, is a key source of vitamin D, which fortifies your bones and immune system.

Gardening soothes your soul.  Working in the garden can lower your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone and restore your energy.  It generally lifts your spirits and if that’s not enough growing a community garden with others can also combat feelings of loneliness.  

I’ll end with an anonymous quote that you may have heard before, and someone gave to me on a kitchen towel that reads:

“Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes” …or flowers, or fruit!

Susan Covey is the Director of Fitness at Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Leaders of Londonderry on the Tred Avon named “Women to Watch” by Baltimore Magazine

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The female leaders at Londonderry on the Tred Avon were named “Women to Watch” by Baltimore Magazine in its February issue. Pictured from left are Chelsea Harris, Erica Hardeo, Rachel Smith, Christine Harrington, Jennifer Hughes and Lacree Brown.

The female leaders at Londonderry on the Tred Avon were named “Women to Watch” by Baltimore Magazine in its February issue.

Baltimore Magazine recognized the female members of Londonderry’sleadership team for their visionary leadership and commitment to creating a vibrant, hospitality-focused culture on campus where residents and team members thrive. Recognized leaders include: Christine Harrington, Chief Executive Officer; Chelsea Harris, Director of Dining Services; Jennifer Hughes, Controller; Rachel Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing; Lacree Brown, Director of Housekeeping Services and Erica Hardeo, Director of Community Engagement.

 “These are a few of the amazing women who I have the pleasure of working with every day,” said Christine Harrington, Londonderry on the Tred Avon CEO. “With the continued support of Londonderry’s Board of Directors and team, these women have positioned the community as a trusted leader in resort-style retirement living. This recognition from Baltimore Magazine is so well deserved of their inspiring hard work.”

Londonderry is always innovating and tailors its personalized services to meet the evolving needs of today’s retirees, setting the gold standard for senior living. Residents enjoy a dynamic, collaborative lifestyle where wellness is prioritized, independence is celebrated, and every day offers something new. From curating engaging social calendars and organizing fitness classes to coordinating outings, book clubs, winemaking, and card games, the community fosters meaningful connections and lifelong enrichment.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is a vibrant, independent living cooperative community for adults, ages 62+, that promotes wellness of mind and body. Londonderry offers a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Bob Huntington to direct the 2025 All American Community Chorus in Normandy, France

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Bob Huntington Copyright (c) 2018 Karena Dixon www.karenadixon.com

We are thrilled to announce that Bob Huntington will be directing the 2025 All American Community Chorus in Normandy, France this June. This prestigious event will also include members of Queen Anne’s Chorale, including Marla Mooney, our talented accompanist, who will be joining the Chorus for this special occasion. The Chorus will be performing at The American Cemeteries as well as on stage in Sainte-Mère-Église as part of the Concert De Liberation. Sainte-Mère-Église commemorates D-Day every year as one of the first towns to be liberated in France.

You can see Bob, Marla, and the entire Queen Anne’s Chorale perform “Spring Fling!” on April 27th at 3:00pm at Chesapeake College. Tickets are available now on the Queen Anne’s Chorale and TPAC websites:

https://qachorale.org

TPAC tickets

Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement!

Queen Anne’s Chorale is supported in part through grants from the United Way of Queen Anne’s County, the Queen Anne’s County Centre for the Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

There are also always opportunities to support to QAC with donations, program ads or sponsorships. For more information visit www.qachorale.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Nature’s Many Benefits by Susan S. Covey

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Scientific studies have proven that not only walking, but just being in nature has a profound positive impact on our health. Of course, we know that if we walk at least 15 minutes a day, we will have fewer diseases and are less likely to get cancer, have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke and have better bone density. But recent researchers are now demonstrating a reduction in stress, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as an upswing in mood and general outlook on life just because of being outside.  They have also shown a link to longevity and decreased risk of mental illness and depression. (Kuo and Taylor 2004, DeVries et al. 2003) Health benefits of nature may also have relevance to injury prevention and control, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and other maladies, including cancer (Li 2009).

Drawing attention to these benefits of outdoor leisure and recreation for improved health helps shift attention from the downstream costs of health care to the upstream efforts to prevent ill health from occurring.  An upstream focus is always empowering and enables individuals to take a more prominent role in our own wellness.

So, take control and get out there!  Enjoy everything around you and take the time to PLAY. After all, you’re never too old to jump in the leaves!

Susan S. Covey is the Director of Fitness at Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

USE IT OR LOSE IT! (An old adage with lots of truth)by Susan Covey

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The National Institute of Aging-supported researchers have been studying the effects of strength training for over 40 years and identified multiple ways it benefits older adults, such as maintaining muscle mass, improving metabolism, and increasing healthy years of life.

“Age related mobility limitations are an unpleasant fact for many older adults. Studies have shown that about 30% of adults over age 70 have trouble with walking, getting up out of a chair, or climbing stairs.” (NIA) In addition to making everyday tasks difficult, mobility limitations are also linked to higher rates of falls, chronic disease, nursing home admission and mortality.

Though we know the culprit for losing physical abilities is a phenomenon called sarcopenia, there are ways to slow this process down by maintaining an active lifestyle. While there is no way to fully stop the clock it is possible for many older adults to increase muscle strength with exercise, thus helping to maintain mobility and independence. (NIA)

Strength training or resistance training is different from other exercises because it requires our muscles to contract to lift a heavy object against the pull of gravity. The more weight we contract against the faster our bodies burn through reserves of ATP, a molecule that carries energy to cells. (NIA) So, yes, we know that muscle loss is reversible and there are other benefits as well:

  • Recharging metabolism
  • Reducing fat
  • Reducing blood pressure
  • Improving lipid levels
  • Resisting diabetes
  • Increasing bone density

Whatever you do, KEEP MOVING whatever parts you can!

Susan Covey is the Acts Bayleigh Chase Fitness Director in Easton.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Senior Nation: Counting Blessings by Susan Covey

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Here are a few quotes that may help us to count our blessings now and throughout the year:

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.”—Johannes A. Gaertner

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”—Melody Beattie

“None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.”—Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”—John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”—William Faulkner

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”—Winston Churchill

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”—JFK

It is not happy people who are thoughtful, it is thoughtful people who are happy.

“There is nothing more honorable than a grateful heart.”—Seneca

“Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all others.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero

Remember, we can always find something or someone to be thankful for, so, today let that someone know how grateful you are to have them in your life!

Susan Covey is the Fitness Program Manager at ACTS Bayleigh Chase

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Buildings & Grounds Team Creates Safe & Superior Lifestyle at Londonderry on the Tred Avon

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Londonderry on the Tred Avon’s values include a commitment to excellence, which can be seen in every aspect of the community, with each department playing a role in helping residents feel comfortable and safe. The Buildings and Grounds team plays a vital role in this, providing the community with accessible and superior living that meets the team’s renowned high-quality standards.

James Brooks, Londonderry’s Director of Buildings and Grounds, describes his Buildings & Grounds team as “always looking for ways to improve the community. With team members that are on call 7 days a week, 365 days a year, who have special backgrounds in electrical, HVAC, appliance repair, painting, etc., there is always someone available who knows how to fix it!”

The team takes pride in the work they put into the community and are always looking for ways to improve the campus’s attractiveness as well as its safety. For example, the salt the team uses in the wintertime is pet, concrete and interior floor-friendly, instead of using a less expensive and harsher variety.

Residents appreciate the lengths that the Buildings & Grounds team goes to, with their goal of fulfilling work orders within 24 hours and performing preventative maintenance to make sure everything is in the best condition it can be.

The Londonderry on the Tred Avon Buildings and Grounds Team is committed to making the Londonderry campus accessible, safe and beautiful for all residents and visitors. Pictured from left are John Riccio, Dane Brinsfield, Tory Sherwood, James Brooks and Chris Andrews.

“From sidewalks to speed bumps to patios to siding, my team is consistently staying on top of the preventative work that needs to be done,” says Brooks. “We want to make sure everything is taken care of for our Londonderry residents. We like to tell our residents we are just a phone call away.”

Londonderry’s campus displays scenic views, with river birches lining the front of the Community Center and multiple ponds that contain fountains and local wildlife, with benches and walking paths surrounding the space. The Buildings & Grounds team strives to nurture these areas so that residents can enjoy the outdoors as much as the indoors.

Keeping the cottages and apartments in the best possible shape is also a top priority. The team aims to create unique and beautiful homes for their residents. “My favorite part of my job is when I get the opportunity to refurbish a cottage. I get to see the residents’ faces when they view their personalized selections for the first time,” shared Chris Andrews, Buildings & Grounds team member.

“Excellence means providing the best of myself to my team and the Londonderry residents every day,” said Brooks. “It means stopping to ask how someone’s day is going or to say hello and tell or listen to a joke. Excellence means contributing to enriching the lives of everyone around me.”

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62+, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Maryland Secretary of Aging Pays Visit to Upper Shore Aging Facilities

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Maryland Secretary of the Department of Aging Carmel Roques took a tour of Upper Shore Aging’s facilities while also providing a public forum for a discussion on aging issues facing seniors across the state and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Secretary Roques reminded participants at the gathering at Talbot County Senior Center at Brooklett’s Place in Easton that she wasn’t a politician, but rather had worked a long career in the private sector. She stated, “I was absolutely honored to be asked to serve in this role. I have many years centering my life around caring for older people, their families, and their care providers. And so, you know, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a licensed clinical social worker, doing direct therapy and care management of older people.”

“Maryland is a long-lived society. Half of the five-year-olds alive today will expect to live to 100. We need to begin to shape our policies and services around that. They will sit under the trees that we plant but that will never see.”

Photo: Left to right – Chuck Callahan, President of the Talbot County Council; Childlene Brooks, Manager of Brooklett’s Place; Maryland Secretary of the Department of Aging Carmel Roques; and Andy Hollis, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging.

According to Secretary Roques, the Maryland Department of Aging is a $90 million agency comprised of federal and state funding. When she arrived, the agency had 40 full-time employees but was operating at a 30 percent vacancy rate. The agency oversees 19 area agencies on aging and Upper Shore Aging is one of them.

Andy Hollis, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging hosted the Secretary’s visit, which included seeing the Caroline Senior Center in Denton and Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center in Chestertown. He added, “Secretary Roques’ visit underscored the critical importance of Upper Shore Aging’s partnership with the Maryland Department of Aging.  Upper Shore provides senior services on behalf of three counties, and the Secretary’s remarks about her vision for the department, and her focus on bettering the lives of our state’s seniors, will serve the citizens of Caroline, Kent, and Talbot Counties well.  She has worked in the field for decades and knows the challenges that lie ahead.  Her comments expressing her commitment to meeting those challenges and overcoming them was inspirational.”

Among the issues raised by participants at the discussion at Brooklett’s Place were affordable housing and long-term care, food insecurity among seniors, the need for gap-filling services like adult day care, and transportation.

Secretary Roques added that nationally, the United States hasn’t made a commitment to long-term care and that moving forward recommendations for improving nursing homes are needed as they are closing around the country due to not being as profitable as they used to be.

“Older Americans are healthier than previous generations and living long enough to outlive their resources and require complex supportive care, but more people are choosing assisted living or staying at home because they can’t afford private pay at these facilities,” she explained.

“Under 3% of the housing in this country is assessable for older adults with disabilities.”

In looking toward the future, Secretary Roques explained that the new Governor is setting in motion a couple of initiatives – the biggest one being a multi-sector planning process, which involves cabinet-level leaders working together to better use state or federal funds to solve some of these problems and issues, as well as working with each other to influence policy across these issues.

Upper Shore Aging, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Talbot, Caroline, and Kent counties, Maryland, serving a potential market of nearly 31,000 persons over the age of sixty years. Our organization develops and manages a coordinated program of services that work together to help elders to remain, and live well, in the community as long as possible. Upper Shore Aging, Inc. works closely with the Maryland Department of Aging to serve the needs of its clients.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.