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Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2025
Letter from the Editor:
Welcome to the Fall/Winter issue of Cecil County Life
From the time she was appointed as the new executive director of the Cecil County Public Library earlier this year, Rachel Fox Wright focused her energy on advancing the definition, purpose and mission of the six library branches and two Bookmobiles in the county’s library system. Recently, she met with Cecil County Life to discuss the broadening role libraries play, the system’s outreach initiatives and her deep and abiding connection to inspiring children.
In this issue, we also highlight the BaySail School of Sailing in Havre de Grace, which serves as a floating classroom. Recently, a Cecil County Life writer took a seat in class, where she learned that it’s all about the boat.
Cecil County residents know that American Home and Hardware is the place to turn for a wide variety of quality products and services. Step inside the 30,000-square-foot store on West Main Street in Elkton and it’s obvious that the business is a one-stop-shop for homeowners, do-it-yourselfers or building contractors. We take a look at American Home and Hardware’s 101-year history and the new leadership team’s plans for the future of one of the Cecil County’s quintessential businesses.
What began as an idea between three friends in 2016 has turned Bayheads® Brewing Company into a cozy, comfortable and successful establishment right in the heart of Chesapeake City. We recently paid a visit to speak with owner and brewmaster Charlie Copeland, Jr.
We also take a look at the virtuous mission of the Paris Foundation, which is a Christian, non-profit organization located in Elkton. It is named in memory of Leslie Carl Paris, and honors his many years of service to the poor and the homeless in the community.
This issue of Cecil County Life also includes a calendar of events for the next few months, as well as a photo essay focusing on Grunge Muffin Designs.
We hope you enjoy the stories and photos in this issue of Cecil County Life and, as always, we welcome your comments and suggestions for stories to highlight in the future. We’re already hard at work on planning for the next issue of Cecil County Life, which will arrive in the spring of 2026.
Cover
Cover
design: Tricia Hoadley
photo: Jim Coarse
Photos by Jim Coarse Cecil County Life writer Gabbie Burton takes control of 33-foot Hunter sailboat, as part of her introductory lesson with BaySail School of Sailing in Havre de Grace.
|Cecil County Sports & Recreation|
BaySail School of Sailing in Havre de Grace serves as a floating classroom. Recently, a journalist took a seat in class, where she learned that it’s all
about the boat
Windward on the Chesapeake Windward on the Chesapeake
By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
On a recent assignment for Cecil County Life, I found myself in new waters – literally.
Earlier in the year, when I was told I would be taking a lesson with BaySail School of Sailing in Havre de Grace, my thought process never extended far beyond, “That sounds like fun.” I’ve been on a few small boats before, though
never a sailboat, and I figured my experience would largely be the same, but when I arrived at BaySail and met owner and instructor Jeff Stagnoli, I was more than a little concerned to hear the proceeding questions and talking points:
“Do you get seasick?”
“Have you been out on a sailboat before?”
I answered “No” to both when I realized that I may have been slightly unprepared to take on this assignment.
Continued on Page 10
BaySail School of Sailing
Stagnoli and I then moved into the classroom -- where all sailing lessons begin at BaySail – so that he could bring me up to speed on what to expect from my lesson on the Chesapeake Bay. I was told about conditions for the day, still dealing with remnants of a nor’easter, which meant a warning that the wind was on the higher side. This led to another warning about a sailing terminology called heeling. Heeling, I learned, is when the sailboat leans or tilts on one side in reaction to the wind pushing the sails. Apparently, a sailboat can heel so far as to have one side of the boat’s rails in the water.
“I just wanted to tell you that now so that when we’re out there you know what to expect,” Stagnoli said. “It’s going to feel like the boat is tipping over, but it’s not.”
Quickly, my sailing ignorance turned into anxiety, and I tried to put my worries at bay while Stagnoli taught some
of the other basic concepts.
“The wind pulls the sailboat, not pushes it…” he said. My leg is bouncing uncontrollably.
“The windex will tell you which direction the wind is hitting the boat…”
I’m biting the insides of my cheek.
“The jib sail is the front sail…”
I’m starting to sweat.
Nonetheless, my curiosity and Stagnoli’s assurances prevailed over my worries as we put on our life vests and prepared to board the 33-foot Hunter sailboat. Once on board, I took a look around below deck at the kitchen, beds, and bathroom before taking a seat up top, making sure to locate something sturdy to hold onto, should my heeling nightmare occur.
Continued on Page 12
Fresh just tastes better when it’s grown close to home. Cecil Grown connects you to the farmers and makers behind your food — people who harvest with care and take pride in every product. Look for the Cecil Grown logo and enjoy what’s truly local.
BaySail School of Sailing
Owner Jeff Stagnoli.
BaySail School of Sailing
Continued from Page 11
As we undocked and headed out on to the water, Stagnoli shared that sailing is not his primary career. After a successful career in HVAC, he took a break before becoming a business coach, which remains his current job. When he signed his son up for sailing lessons at BaySail three years ago, the previous owners said that they were selling the business, which prompted Stagnoli and his wife, Nicole to purchase the school.
Since then, Stagnoli has taken on sailing himself while also continuing his business coaching. His daughter, Kristina Witt manages BaySail, whose inventory and staff includes 13 sailboats and nine captains available for rentals and lessons, including classes for beginners.
“Business consulting is my real job,” Stagnoli said. “This is for fun; it’s not about the money.”
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Stagnoli provides sailing lessons to his student.
BaySail School of Sailing
Continued from Page 12
‘It’s
all about the boat’
Once we were out on the open water, Stagnoli started opening the sails while directing me to steer the boat. By looking up at the windex - a wind vane blowing above my head showing me where to guide the boat - I turned the wheel to keep us on course while ignoring my private thoughts that told me that I was definitely going to screw up. While steering was definitely a necessary part of the experience, I found the most pleasure in sailing while sitting on the sidelines, letting Stagnoli and his relaxed presence be at the helm.
After Stagnoli and our photographer Jim Coarse got the sails situated, I asked Stagnoli what his favorite part about sailing was. He cut the engine to let the wind do the work, while he shared a story about the previous owner, Rick, who taught him how to sail.
BaySail School of Sailing
Continued from Page 14
“There was this moment when we were out on one of the smaller boats and the sails were out and it was quiet,” Stagnoli began. “Rick said, ‘Do you get it yet? Just stop and listen. It’s all behind you, and none of it matters right now.’ I still get that feeling almost every time I go out on the boat. Just the simplicity and taking the beauty of the scenery in.”
I could relate immediately to what Stagnoli was saying. On the sailboat, I felt a calmness wash over me and it felt like a pause on reality to just be there, still for a moment, riding on the water. My previous worries were far from my mind as I relaxed into the scenery and embraced the sailing experience.
Eventually on the hour-long sail, I caught myself being so relaxed that I began wishing for more heeling, just to get my premature adrenaline pumping again - something I least expected.
As our sailing experience came to a close, I was both proud of myself and surprised by just how much I enjoyed the experience. I found myself looking
forward to the day I could go again, perhaps more adventurously, and hopefully in favorable summer weather.
That day, and seemingly every day, Stagnoli and the entire staff at BaySail School of Sailing succeed in sharing the school’s mission.
“I just I want people to get out there, on the water,” he said.
BaySail School of Sailing has repeatedly been honored by the American Sailing Association (ASA) as a “School of the Year” for its wide range of ASA-certified courses from Beginner to Bareboat Charter Certification and is recognized worldwide by sailing professionals and yacht charter companies. It is located at 100 Bourbon Street, Suite D, Havre de Grace, Md. 21078. To learn more and register for a course, visit www.baysail.net. or call (410) 939-2869.
To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email gburton@chestercounty.com.
In addition to Stagnoli, BaySail’s staff includes nine captains.
What began as an idea between three friends in 2016 has turned Bayheads® Brewing Company into a cozy, comfortable and successful establishment right in the heart of Chesapeake City
‘It is like being in your living room with your friends’ ‘It is like being in your living room with your friends’
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
It is a late fall afternoon at the corner of Second and George streets in Chesapeake City – that small sliver of time between the end of the workday and the start of dinner – and the autumn sun beams into the windows of Bayheads® Brewing Company, reflecting on the beer glasses and the mugs and the faces of nearly every patron there.
Nearly every seat in the intimate space is occupied. They are a jovial assemblage of locals, and every snippet of conversation heard at the bar and at the tables suggests that everyone here is at the very least acquaintances if not
long-time friends. It is a shared camaraderie, a rich language of connection that lingers above the Canal Town and Baybilly and the Galaxy Hopped Experimental. At the center of it is Ashley Butterworth, the tavern’s head bartender and ambassador of hospitality, who floats seamlessly from one patron to the next, seating and pouring and clearing and conversing.
Accompanied by their owners, two large poodles lounge on the floor, and Butterworth brings the dogs a large bowl of water, and all of this – the sweet brine of this single moment - is the living embodiment of Charlie Copeland, Jr.’s dream, one that began more than ten years ago.
Continued on Page 20
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Charlie Copeland, Jr., the owner of chief brewmaster for Bayheads® Brewing Company in Chesapeake City, pours a glass along with Ashley Butterworth, the tavern’s head bartender.
Bayheads Brewing Company
Continued from Page 19
Three
guys from Chesapeake City have an idea
It is only fitting that the culmination of what has become one of Chesapeake City’s most popular destinations came from Copeland, who grew up just ten minutes from Bayheads® Brewing Company. As a child, he went fishing with his father Chuck along the Elk and Bohemia rivers.
“Growing up, my father always owned businesses, so I grew up beside someone who lived the life of an entrepreneur, and I began to see how hard it could be to live that life,” he said. “I decided at a young age that I wanted to follow my father as a business owner, and while I didn’t exactly know what that business would be, I knew that I wanted to pursue something on my own.”
Several years after his graduation from Wilmington University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science - and later a masters degree - Copeland and two of his longtime friends Bill Dix and Jason Zang began to talk about potentially collaborating on a business venture. Eventually, one of those ideas began to take center stage – owning and operating their own craft brewing company, where handcrafted beers would be made on premise on one side of the establishment, and on the other, a small tap room where customers could enjoy the fruits – and hops – of their labor.
The machine churn of their ideas – launched in 2016 - was coinciding with what had become an explosion of
the craft brewing industry throughout the U.S., when it seemed that every guy in America who owned a closetful of flannel shirts, a beard and a love of craft beer was spearheading the start of a small batch brewery. It was a brand-new culture, and one that was sweeping the nation.
“I had considered the idea of beginning a distillery, only because the craft beer scene was exploding and I was concerned about oversaturation in the marketplace,” Copeland said. “We were all having discussions about what we wanted to do, and we agreed to circle back to the idea of starting our own brewery. We realized that our hometown of Chesapeake did not have its own brewery. We thought, ‘while this industry may be saturated in some areas, but not everywhere, and the idea of having a hometown brewery in our hometown became a feasible opportunity.”
With help from the Chesapeake City Mayor’s office, Copeland, Dix and Zang found property at 2525 Augustine Herman Highway just a short drive from the heart of Chesapeake City, and after working on a shoestring budget to repurpose the facility that included the installation of brew systems, fermenters, tanks and a U-shaped bar, they opened the 1,500-square-foot Bayheads® on Saint Patrick’s Day weekend in 2018.
To date, that opening weekend recorded the second-highest single-day sales in the brewing company’s eight-year history.
“It was an exciting time when we were getting ready to open,” Copeland said.
“There was a lot support from the local community, and Cecil County, the State of Maryland and the Maryland Liquor Board –which oversees the regulation of licensing and sales in the state - were supportive as well in helping us to make this happen.
Courtesy photo
Bayheads® Brewing Company occupies a historical building in Chesapeake City. The brewery’s renovation took 18 months to complete and opened in August of 2023.
Currently, Bayheads®’ Mug Club has 80 members, a number that is expected to reach 100 next year.
“On the day we opened, we were surprised and caught off guard and didn’t expect to be that busy. We had lines out the door and we were beyond capacity.”
Good friends in bad times
There are, behind the bar that Butterworth and the other servers at Bayheads® Brewing Company patrol, a long line of personalized mugs that are placed side by side on a shelf. To date, there are 80 members of the tap room’s Mug Club, a special group of patrons who receive discounts throughout the year for their membership. Copeland said he plans to increase that number to 100 in the next year.
As the world began to close in on itself in the beginning of what would become the nearly two-year COVID-19 pandemic, it was the formation of the Mug Club combined with sales of growlers and cans and pandemic-era grants that helped navigate Bayheads® through its toughest stretch.
Since the Chesapeake City brewery first opened at another location in 2018, it has become a favorite of both visitors and locals.
“During COVID-19, the Mug Club and our other customers kept us in business,” said Copeland, who is now the establishment’s sole owner and head brewmaster and shares brewing responsibilities with Jake Timchula. “I cannot say enough positive things about our community and our customer base. A lot of people receive a portion of their customers from those who are traveling through their town or city – and we certainly get them – but from the day we first opened and all through the pandemic, our customers were helpful to us and never asked for anything in return.”
Continued on Page 22
Bayheads Brewing Company
Continued from Page 21
On December 23, 2021, after more than five years at its original location on Herman Highway - and as the pandemic began to subside - Bayheads® Brewing Company closed its doors and moved its new home to a historic building on the corner of Second and George Streets in Chesapeake City. Following an extensive renovation process that took 18 months, the taproom reopened at their new location on August 20, 2023.
“There was a lot of excitement around our purchase of this building and that it would be saved, given its historical significance to Chesapeake City,” Copeland said. “It was originally built in 1850 and was owned originally by the Bayard family and then it came under the ownership of other families. In the 1940s, a general store began here, and there are some people who are still alive who remember coming here. Eventually it was owned by the Pyle family, who operated a store there for several years.
Continued on Page 24
Bayheads®’ Mug Club members Craig Zicafoose and Amanda Macauley.
Bayheads® beer is produced on premises at the brewery’s 2nd Street location.
Bayheads Brewing Company
Continued from Page 22
“The building was sitting here and really rotting when we bought it, so the town was very happy when we moved here, because it’s among the first things that people see when they come into town. The fact that we’re here now extends the legacy of this building.”
On the corner of Second and George
While the building’s main floor is now home to a nicely appointed tap room and brewery, Copeland said that further renovations will include the installation of a small kitchen space on the second floor that will eventually lead to a unique menu for the brewery’s patrons, as well as additional dining space that can be used for private parties and events. Meanwhile, Bayheads® enjoys its collaboration with the nearby Chesapeake Inn Restaurant and Marina, who provides hand delivered food orders to patrons that is a QR code click away from arriving at their table.
The late afternoon sun is slightly less glaring than it was an hour ago, but the smiles on the faces of those who are here at
Bayheads® Brewing Company have not diminished. Butterworth conducts the business of this meeting place with the same generosity as one does when entertaining guests in one’s living room.
The sound of simultaneous conversations rings like a chorus of words.
Carly Lufaro and Laura McManus recently enjoyed a late afternoon visit to Bayheads®.
The twin poodles are now curled around their owner’s feet.
The Saint Augie’s Pilsner and the Buzzweisen are enjoyed at the corner table, and as yet another patron or two breezes through the front door, there is the recognition that the outside world seems one galaxy removed from this small moment in time, there on the corner of Second and George.
“This is our neighborhood bar, our local spot,” Butterworth said. “If you live in Chesapeake City or visit it often, you come to Bayheads®. This is your home away from home. It is like being in your living room with your friends. You can have good days and bad days, but either way, you’re guaranteed to see your friends here.”
“When I see this place packed, it makes me feel that we are doing something right, and it confirms to me that everyone who is a part of this brewery is on a successful path,” Copeland said. “To be able to walk in and see people I know is very special, and I know that’s the same feeling for everyone who comes here.”
Bayheads® Brewing Company is located at 401 Second Street in Chesapeake City. To learn more, visit www.bayheadsbrewing.com.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Jess Cornell, with her two doodles.
The Paris Foundation continues a mission those in
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
“We don’t ask why or how. We just feed them,” Kyle Charlton explained.
Charlton is the director of operations of the Paris Foundation, which is a Christian, non-profit organization located in Elkton. It is named in memory of Leslie Carl Paris, and honors his many years of service to the poor and the homeless in the community.
“Paris had a vision to see an organized effort formed to alleviate the conditions contributing to homelessness in the Elkton area. The Foundation was founded in 2012 to make that vision a reality,” Charlton said. “They provide an evening meal seven days a week, plus Sunday lunch.
and provided meals,” Charlton said. “I was a volunteer every Tuesday for three years. Other groups would do other nights. Pastor Mike Brandon from the New London Baptist Church and Bob Imperatice worked with a number of different groups. Eventually, many of the groups were brought together and the Paris Organization was formed. Once organized, we moved into a building on Bridge Street. The homeless were invited in to sit down and get a hot meal.”
The Mary Randall Center, also in Elkton, provides showers, breakfast and an address for the homeless, Charlton explained.
“We don’t ask why or how. We just serve them.”
~ Kyle Charlton, director of operations of the Paris Foundation
The organization was formed because the founder, Les Paris, thought Elkton, Maryland was too affluent of a community for people to go hungry.”
Fifteen years ago, the homeless population in Elkton was an encampment that was set up in Marina Park. It was hard to miss - tents were everywhere.
“Our foundation went into the park and set up a table
The Paris Foundation has volunteers who help with the organization’s mission on a regular basis, but they could always use more volunteers and more assistance. Many of the groups that help out volunteer to do the same day each month.
“We currently have three days a month open,” Charlton said. “Sometimes I have to make a lot of hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
The Paris Foundation operates seven days a week. Charlton does Monday through Friday, Pastor Brandon does Saturday and Imperatrice does Sunday.
Continued on Page 28
Foundation mission to help in need
The gold trailer is what the Paris Foundation currently uses to serve to-go-meals to those who need them in the community. The building in the back is what the organization will use to provide sit-down meals once the new building is completed. The foundation is currently accepting donations for the cost of the building.
Courtesy photo
The Paris Foundation
Continued from Page 26
Charlton said that he has a heart for those who are less fortunate. Charlton readily admits he had an addiction problem.
“I was a sinner saved by grace,” he said. “My life has given me a unique qualifications to help others. The homeless have a lot of stories, some have mental health problems, addictions, or just bad luck. We don’t ask why. We just serve them. If they are homeless, we find them shelter. We went into the park. You have to meet them where they are and show them that you care.
“You care for people with prayer and by sharing. I tell people that we are the church. I have been doing this for 15 years. I started as a volunteer and I’ve been of the staff for eight years. It is also important to know the difference between empathy and sympathy.”
Charlton added, “This is a very important part of my life. It absolutely is rewarding, but sometimes it is frustrating. The frustrating part is when some folks we have seen for seven or eight years are still stuck in the same rut. We continue to tell them that we care because we do. We continue to try
to help. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for them. It is rewarding when you see those that have made a change in their life and are married and have a home of their own.”
The Paris Foundation was on Bridge Street a number of years but they were flooded out of that building a number of times. It didn’t make sense to pay rent on a building they couldn’t use.
“We are housed in Hollingsworth Manor,” Charlton said. “A lot of our guests come from there, so we thought it was an appropriate site.”
Charlton explained that they are currently located in a trailer, but they are raising funds through their ongoing building project.
“We are 50 percent through the project,” he said. “The building we are in now functions as a community center. The community has a lot of issues and needs a lot of help. Being in the middle of that is where we should be. We go where the Lord tells us to go.”
Most of the homes in Hollingsworth Manor were built in World War II. The homes were built for people who
MOUNT HARMON PLANTATION
“Les Paris had a vision to see an organized effort formed to alleviate the conditions contributing to homelessness in the Elkton area.”
~
Kyle Charlton, director of operations of the Paris Foundation
worked in the nearby munitions factories that helped with the United States’ war operations.
“We serve meals seven nights a week. We can always use donations for our guests,” Charlton said. “We offer toiletries like shampoo, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, and also clothing. We need men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. We always need socks and shoes for everyone. Because people are out in the elements, they go through clothing quickly.”
Charlton also said the Mary Randall Center, located on North Street in Elkton, also helps the homeless.
He explained, “We network with other private and governmental organizations. We try hard not to duplicate what we do. If someone asks for something, we know where to refer them too, like Voices of Hope will deal with addictions. We are there for support.”
The Paris Foundation is led by Mike Brandon, the executive director, Kyle Charlton, the director of operations, and Bob Imperatrice, the board president. You can write to them at P.O. Box 812, Elkton, MD 21922 or, for more information, visit theparisfoundation.org.
At Cecil Bank, we’ve been part of this community for generations. We’re your neighbors and friends. We were born here, raised here and are able to make loan decisions quickly. Let us know how we can help.
Cecil Bank is a state-chartered community bank established in October 1959 in Elkton, Maryland. The Bank serves Cecil County from its headquarters location in Fair Hill and three additional branches located in North East, Rising Sun and Elkton.
Cecil Bank is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing lender. For more information or to view financials, visit www.cecilbank.com
|Cecil County Life Q & A|
Rachel Fox Wright
Executive Director
Cecil County Public Library
From the time she was appointed as the new Executive Director of the Cecil County Public Library (CCPL) earlier this year, Rachel Fox Wright focused her energy on advancing the definition, purpose and mission of the six library branches and two Bookmobiles within the county’s library system. Recently, she met with Cecil County Life to discuss the broadening role libraries play, the system’s outreach initiatives and her deep and abiding connection to inspiring children.
Cecil County Life: In January of this year, you were appointed as the new Executive Director of the Cecil County Public Library and began what has become nearly a year of prioritizing community, innovations, outreach and partnerships. Talk about the developments that you, your staff and the CCPL Board of Trustees have made thus far in 2025.
Rachel Fox Wright: As an organization, we are in the middle of our strategic plan, which prioritizes community innovation, outreach, and partnerships. So, while these are important to me, they are also important to the library. I was fortunate enough to help develop the plan and to have worked on many initiatives over the last few years to move that plan forward. Our strategic plan serves as our playbook, and it lights the way for the things that we’re going to do as a system and what we will prioritize. Some of those initiatives are already underway. Our mission is to not only champion reading,
build knowledge and inspire curiosity, but to also connect the community. One way that we’ve achieved that over the last eight months is to host community events. One of our largest events over the past couple of years has been our children’s book festival, which is held on the second Saturday of every June. This year, we invited 15 authors and illustrators who spent time meeting with the more than 1,300 people who attended the festival. Every child who attended selected a free book they could then have signed by the author.
We have also offered several programs that celebrate culture. In recent years, we have developed community events, such as A Taste of India, A Taste of Mexico and A Taste of Japan – bringing to light the stories of the people who live in our community and giving everyone the opportunity to come experience the culture, the history, the music and the food of these cultures, which is a wonderful way to connect our community.
It is said that at the center of every successful town, municipality or county is an effective system of libraries that connect families, schools, non-profit agencies and arts and culture. No library grows if it does not open its doors to other positive entities. Where have we seen clear evidence of that relationship building between CCPL and the communities it serves?
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Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Rachel Fox Wright was named the executive director of the Cecil County Public Library in January of 2025.
|Cecil County Life|
|Cecil County Life| Rachel Fox Wright
One of the things I have always talked about is that in Cecil County, there is so much power in partnerships. All of the agencies in this county are working together in partnership to advance and better serve the lives of those in the communities that we serve. The vision of our Library is that it is the heart of a thriving Cecil County. That is our vision, and we live it every day.
One of our many partners is Cecil County Public Schools. We have long had this relationship with our schools, but over the past several years, we have developed a number of innovative programs including our student virtual library card. Through that program, students enrolled in Cecil County Public Schools have the opportunity to have access to the library’s digital resources and collections to assist them in completing assignments, preparing for standardized tests, like the SAT, or getting help with homework. This initiative also gives our teachers access to those resources, for use in the classroom.
We also partner with the schools for our My Special Book program, which is designed to get books into
the hands and homes of children ages birth – five. Research tells us that if children have access to books in their homes, they will be more successful in school. With funding provided by a grant from PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great Foundation, we purchase new picture books for the program and visit preschool and pre-K classrooms with our Bookmobile. Children can then select a book to add to their home library giving them access to reading materials at home.
How is the Cecil County Library reaching students at the middle school level?
We know that reading drops off significantly for children between the ages of 9 and 12. With our SPARK literacy initiative, 6th graders have the opportunity to select books from a collection that they themselves design. After telling us about their interests and the authors they like, we build a collection where they can select 3 books to keep and read over the summer. In this way, they are connected to the library, are engaged in reading and learning throughout the
summer, and are better prepared to go back to school in the fall ready to learn.
In order for the Cecil County Public Library to adapt to the changing world, it must take part in digital transformation and integration of technology. In other words, it must evolve in order to remain relevant. On a day-to-day basis, where do we see that happening at Cecil County libraries?
One way is to ensure access to technology at all of our locations – and in some cases, we are able to create spaces with access to specialized technology. Here at the North East Branch Library, we have our Digital Media Lab. While we use this space to teach technology classes, we also provide access to specialized software, including the Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, for example), so that people can create and design materials for the purpose of marketing a product or promoting a business or event.
Within the past year, we have also developed our Creator Studio Kits. In partnership with the Office of Economic Development and Upper Shore Regional Council, the kits give
tech-enthusiasts, business owners, or entrepreneurs access to technology needed to take high-quality photos or videos or to host a podcast. We have also recently added a second bookmobile that is tech-enhanced, allowing us to take technology out into the community, to help people gain access to Wi-Fi and the internet, to assist them with resumé writing or job searching. We designed the tech-enhanced bookmobile with input from our community partners and it allows us to reach into the neighborhoods and the places people are and get them access to resources and help they need.
Photo courtesy of Cecil County Public Library
The County Library’s two Bookmobiles provide children with free books throughout the year.
|Cecil County Life| Rachel Fox Wright
Since you first joined CCPL in 2009, you have enjoyed many leadership positions, and I wish to talk about one of those roles, when you were the library’s first Youth Services and Outreach Manager. Describe what duties you performed, and the satisfaction you received from that part of your career here.
My undergraduate background is in elementary education, so when I joined the library, I was coming from that lens. I started in youth services, and working in these positions allowed me to take a lot of those skills I developed in a classroom into the library. As the Youth Services and Outreach Manager, I worked with our youth services staff across the library system to develop programs and services to respond to and meet the needs of children, families, caregivers, and the educators in these communities.
I enjoy connecting people to the library and to the services and resources that they need. Having a background in education, it was natural that I performed that role in our youth services program first and then ultimately with all ages and the entire community.
We are absorbed in an age when nearly all of the data in the entire world is available and immediate at the push of a few buttons on a phone, and that ease of access has not only affected how adults obtain information, but increasingly, how children do. How is the CCPL working with parents and schools to address this new reality - perhaps not with the intention of keeping phones away from children - but to introduce them to other ways of gathering information?
The library system provides Cecil County residents, regardless of age, access to information and resources that are reliable, accurate, and current.
The library’s goal is to make sure we give our community, regardless of age, access to information and resources that are reliable, accurate, and current. Our digital resources are updated in real time and are relevant to the information that students need. By making sure that we have a vetted collection of databases, we’re teaching them to search for and interpret information without relying on Google to do that for them.
Not only has the philosophy and mission of the public library changed dramatically over the last two decades but so has its emphasis on infrastructure. More and more, libraries are creating inspiring spaces. You’ve been responsible for creating a community space at the North East Library, the inclusive Music and Play Garden at the Perryville Branch Library and the Our Town Literacy Center at the North East Branch Library. Talk about how these spaces are enhancing libraries.
Part of our strategic plan is focused on spaces and ensuring that all of our branches are accessible and meet the
needs of the community we serve. In recent years, libraries have become destinations, where the community can go to find comfortable seating, specialized meeting or study rooms, and, of course, access to technology. Our libraries provide dedicated spaces for teens, especially in the afterschool hours to socialize and connect with their peers, and also for families where engaging in early learning activities
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These youngsters are receiving early classes in nutrition and healthy eating.
|Cecil County Life| Rachel Fox Wright
is one of the best ways to spend the day. And, now, with the addition of outdoor spaces, like the Music and Play Garden in Perryville, the learning and exploration can continue beyond the walls of the library.
Talk about the libraries you went to as a child, and how they had an influence on you.
My parents are readers and have always valued libraries, so I have been connected to libraries my entire life. In fact, I always say my first library job was in elementary school when I served as the Library Helper. I grew up in Harford County, and the Bel Air branch was my home library. I remember participating in summer reading and attending lots of programs. As a teen, there weren’t a lot of libraries with a teen section, but at the Bel Air library, they had that. And, now, having a space for teens is definitely a priority.
As I consider my own fond memories of being connected to my library, it reminds me of the conversations we are having here in Cecil County around the renovation and expansion of the Elkton Branch Library. Built in the 80’s,
the branch needs a new HVAC, roof, and reconfiguration of spaces to better serve the community, especially the students who are within walking distance from the elementary, middle, and high school.
As we engage the community in the planning for these spaces, we are hearing from people who grew up using the library and are now bringing their children and grandchildren there, so they are invested in making sure we hold on to some of what they remember. We engage and listen to the community because what we want at the end is a product that the community loves just as much as we do.
What is your favorite spot in Cecil County?
There are so many wonderful spaces in Cecil County. Other than our libraries, though, I love being by the water, so if I can be on a bench near the water and looking out at our beautiful waterways, that is where I would most love to be.
You organize a dinner party and can invite anyone –
famous or not, living or not. Who would you want to see gathered around that table?
My first reaction to this question is around family. When I was growing up, I was very close to my grandparents. They have since passed, so when I think about this idea of a dinner party, I would love to see my children at the table with my parents, and my grandparents. So, if you are giving me this really fantastical opportunity – to be able to see again someone you love so much who has passed – why would I not take advantage of the opportunity?
What item can always be found in your refrigerator?
Half-and-Half. I am a coffee drinker, and I enjoy a splash of it in my coffee in the morning, so it had better be there.
To learn more about the Cecil County Library and its branches, programs and initiatives, visit www.cecilcountylibrary.org.
~ Richard L. Gaw
Adult makers’ spaces available through the library system provide opportunities to explore one’s creativity.
|Cecil
County Life Photo Essay|
Accompanied by talent, vision and a peculiar company name, Meredith and Brandon Boas of Grunge Muffin Designs in Elkton are telling their clients’ stories in bursts of color and narrative
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Photos by Jim Coarse | Text by Richard L. Gaw
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There is an incredible metamorphosis happening every week on Main Street in Elkton – an ever-changing multimedia kaleidoscope of ideas layered with fonts and colors and photographs and images and designs – that pour from the creative flow of Grunge Muffin Designs.
For the past decade, those ideas have been coming from the husband and wife team of Meredith and Brandon Boas who, according to their website, “are a team of happy designers who live and work by a policy of do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and the diversity of their client list is a testament to that mission: Businesses. Schools. Arts, culture and entertainment. Restaurants. Towns and municipalities. Book covers for authors. Police departments. Cecil County government. And the list goes on.
“During our initial conversations with our clients, Brandon and I determine the parameters of the project, because you can very easily in this line of work move from one thing to the next thing,” Meredith said. “We determine a clearly defined budget and a chosen chunk of time. People will call us for a logo and want to move directly to business cards and print materials and a web design. Each of those items needs to be its own project, so that we are able to give our clients exactly what they themselves have imagined.”
Grunge Muffin Designs offers a variety of services that can often solidify the look, the personality and the “story” that a client wishes to achieve, through graphic design, photography, social media, video production and web design. Their inspiration to mold a branding message comes from everywhere.
“Meredith and I see the world as a walking canvas,” Brandon said. “We are constantly taking in information from all of the places we go to and if we like something, we take mental notes and photographs. We look at the whole world, so to speak.”
* * * *
Their company name comes from the Boas’ love of the grunge musical movement that reached its zenith in the 1990s on the backs of bands like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots. By the time they met at Cecil College – and transferred together to the University of Baltimore in the early 2000s - the music formed the soundtrack to their creative journeys.
“The name became a term of endearment, and my friends and I wanted to turn something that may have a negative connotation into a positive,” Meredith said.
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|Cecil County Life Photo Essay|
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“When we were opening the business, we wanted to have our name be memorable but also mean something personal, so we went with ‘Grunge Muffin Designs.’
“Brandon also identifies as being a grunge muffin as well, and now that we have our son Ollie, whom we call our ‘mini muffin,’ the joke keeps getting better.”
Every successful partnership is emboldened from the realization that each individual brings certain talents to the collective whole – a paradigm that forms a through line to Grunge Muffin Designs. While Meredith - a graphic designer, web developer and illustrator - trains her creative eye on the visual component of a project, Brandon’s expertise is in the areas of technology, specifically programming, coding, video editing and production.
“We are a multimedia design studio, but everything we do starts with the logo, because that is the cornerstone of our clients’ branding,” Meredith said. “We are focused on the storytelling aspect of what our clients wish to tell. Everything from the font to the colors to the narrative plays a part in weeding out the personalities of the people we work with.
“Essentially, what Brandon and I do is to help tell their stories.”
Grunge Muffin Designs is located at 215 West Main Street in Elkton. To learn more, visit www.grungemuffindesigns.com. Available by appointment only.
Courtesy photo
American Home and Hardware in Elkton has been serving the community for 101 years.
made easy:
American Home and Hardware is a one-stopshop for homeowners, do-it-yourselfers and building contractors to find quality hardware and home goods at affordable prices
Cecil County residents know that American Home and Hardware is the place to turn for a wide variety of quality products and services. Step inside the 30,000-square-foot store on West Main Street in Elkton and it’s obvious that the business is a one-stop-shop for homeowners, do-it-yourselfers or building contractors. The aisles are filled with everything from hardware and hand tools to gardening equipment and paint supplies. The store is well known for its lumber and building supplies, propane refills and equipment rentals. It’s also the place to go for advice and things you need done right the first time—like key cutting and duplicating services.
“We’re trying to have whatever the customer needs for their home or for a project they are working on,” explained Joshua Brown, the chief executive officer of American Home and Hardware. “People trust us to offer knowl-
edgeable advice and reliable service. We have a strong connection to the community.”
That connection has been built over many years—101 of them, in fact.
The business traces its roots to 1924, when an ice and coal business started operating under the name Diamond Ice and Coal Company. Ice was still frequently used for refrigeration at that time, and it was very much in demand. Over time, the products and services offered by the business changed—and so did the name. When the store was named the Elkton Supply Company, it supplied coal, oil, and ice to residents in Elkton and the surrounding areas. Then, at other times, the business sold feed, lumber, construction materials, and even furniture. Continued on Page 46
From grills in the summer to Christmas items during the holidays, American Home and Hardware is a store for all seasons.
There’s always a selection at American Home and Hardware.
Courtesy photos High-quality products from Stihl are available at American Home and Hardware.
American Home & Hardware
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When Joshua Brown’s father, Harry Brown, took over the Elkton Supply Company in 1979 with his business partner Harry Hammond, the focus of the store shifted a bit and the core offerings became hardware and general goods and supplies for the home.
Joshua Brown joined American Home and Hardware more than 30 years ago, and he has seen firsthand how the business has needed to evolve—to continually change to meet the needs of customers in the community. He wants the business to continue to evolve now that he is the CEO following his father’s retirement in July of this year.
“My father and his former partner, Harry Hammond, grew this business on a foundation of community support. It’s our intention to carry that legacy forward,” Brown said.
Also leading the business now are two longtime employees who are taking on new, larger roles with the company— Dominick Lane is now the president of the business and Corey Hauser is the new vice president. Lane and Hauser both
started working at American Home and Hardware when they were still in high school, and they have spent years learning the business and building relationships with customers.
“I have two great partners. Both of those guys have been here for decades,” Brown explained. “Currently, the three of us are dividing up the workload. We’re taking on different tasks and roles and keeping things running as efficiently as possible.”
With a new leadership team now in place, the business is reinvesting and retooling, but it is stopping well short of a rebrand because that isn’t needed. When a business has served the same community for more than 100 years, the staff is obviously doing a lot of things right. Brown said that they are going to find ways to build on the unmatched selection and quality customer service.
“We’re like an old-time hardware store,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve adapted to whatever the customers had a need for.”
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Courtesy photo
Joshua Brown (at left) was named the new CEO of American Home and Hardware earlier this year, with Corey Hauser (center) and Dominick Lane being promoted to vice president and president, respectively.
American Home & Hardware
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As longtime employees at American Home and Hardware, Brown, Lane, and Hauser have all heard from homeowners and contractors about how they knew the store would have exactly what they need for the project they are working on.
“I love that we’ve been in the community this long,” Hauser said. “It’s nice dealing with hometown people and we have good relationships with a lot of people.”
Hauser started working in the paint department 14 years ago, and then took on an important role in the lumber department.
Lane and Hauser both work closely with contractors and customers who are working on large projects. If someone is building a house, for example, American Home can go to a job site and develop a list of all the products, tools, and equipment that will be needed. Contractors can turn to American Home and Hardware to quickly and easily get everything they need for a job.
“It can save them a lot of time,” Lane said, explaining that they also try not to “sell” to customers, rather they help people buy exactly what they need to get the job done right the first time.
Courtesy photos
There are many options for kitchen or bathroom improvements at American Home and Hardware.
Lane started at the business when he was just 16, and he now has 22 years of experience. He pointed out that some of the store’s longtime customers have watched him grow up.
Brown echoed Lane’s remarks, saying that the experienced staff can help people make sure they are getting exactly what they need for their home or project. It’s important for customers to know that they can trust the staff to help them get the job done correctly. This includes suggesting, for instance, renting a tool or a piece of equipment rather than buying it, if that is a better option for the customer. Brown said that
available.
they will continue to emphasize training the staff to provide excellent customer service.
Affordability is also very important to American Home
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Key cutting and duplicating services are
American Home & Hardware
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and Hardware’s longevity and success. The store has a large lumber and building materials business, and they work closely with vendors in the lumber industry to get the best prices possible for customers. This can be tricky because the lumber markets fluctuate based on a variety of factors. Brown also said that they make every effort to buy American and they also try to buy local as much as possible. They do this while also keeping affordability in mind for customers.
They also take very seriously the loyalty of customers, who are considered to be a part of the extended American Home and Hardware family.
“Family is important to us, and I think that shows in our business,” Brown said. “We’re local and we know our customers. Moving forward, we’ll be looking for new opportunities to serve more customers and to better serve the existing ones.”
American Home and Hardware is located at 202 West Main Street in Elkton. For more information about American Home and Hardware, visit the website at elktonsupply.com or call 410-398-1900.
Courtesy photos
Homeowners and contractors can find what they are looking for at the store.
Paints and paint supplies are available.
Tools for any job are available at American Home and Hardware.
CECIL COUNTY, MD CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER 8
Upper Bay Outdoors Festival
Get ready for the ULTIMATE outdoor adventure. It’s time to unleash your inner outdoorsman, and dive into an epic outdoor vendor extravaganza with 30-plus vendors slinging the coolest gear, tackle, and treasures you’ll need for your next big hunt or hike.
Get ready to shop local and celebrate the season with handcrafted goods from local vendors, as well as food trucks, live music, and seasonal sips. This is the perfect opportunity to spend the day with family and get some last-minute Christmas shopping in. This event will feature 20-plus local vendors, food trucks, beer and wine, and free photos with Santa.
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Blue Elk Vineyard, 88 Rivers Edge Rd., North East, Md.
NOVEMBER 15-16
2nd Annual Fair Hill Arts Festival
A juried art show to benefit environmental education at the Fair Hill Nature Center.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fair Hill NRMA, Walls Hall, 4640 Telegraph Rd, Elkton, Md.
NOVEMBER 17
Murder Mystery Dinner
Whodunnit for Hire and the Donaldson Brown Riverfront Mansion have teamed up to bring you CLUE murder mystery dinner parties. Costumes are highly encouraged. Come dressed as Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, or Mrs. Peacock.
Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center, 200 Mt. Ararat Farm Rd., Port Deposit, Md.
For more information, visit www.donaldsonbrown.com/ events
NOVEMBER 26
Turkey Trot Bar Crawl
Come to downtown Elkton the night before Thanksgiving for drink and food specials. The streets are open for alcohol carry so grab your friends and family and trot downtown. Downtown Elkton, Md.
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NOVEMBER 29
Jingle & Mingle Artisan Fair
(Small Business Saturday)
Here is your opportunity to take home unique gifts from artisan vendors while supporting local small businesses.
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
110 E. Main St., Elkton, Md.
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DECEMBER 5 – JANUARY 6, 2026 (Fridays only)
First Friday: Art and Design Student Exhibit & Pottery Sale
The exhibition features drawings, paintings, designs, sculptures, and ceramics selected by the art faculty, representing the breadth of work created in the program. Proceeds from pottery and gallery sales directly benefit art students.
Opening reception: December 5, 5-8 pm & Pottery Sale Elkton Station, 107 Railroad Ave., Elkton, Md.
DECEMBER 5
Christmas Tree Lighting
Celebrate the start of the season with our annual tree lighting ceremony. Bring the kids to visit with Santa, grab a bag with treats and enjoy our carolers.
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Downtown Elkton
DECEMBER 6 & 7
Yuletide Festival & Holiday Marketplace
This festive holiday event features a yuletide decorations and greens sale, yuletide Manor House tours, a holiday artisan marketplace in the Carriage House Visitor Center, hearth cooking demonstrations, colonial reenactors, and a live tree and plant sale.
Mount Harmon Plantation, 600 Mount Harmon Rd., Earleville, Md.
DECEMBER 7
Cookie, Cocoa, Crafts, & Claus Holiday Market
The Elizabeth K. Andrews Charity Fund invites you to its Cookies, Cocoa, Crafts & Claus Holiday Market. Kick off the holiday season with cookie decorating, a festive hot cocoa bar (hosted by Sweet Tuscany Coffee), holiday crafts by Claudia’s Traveling Palette, a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus and an opportunity to shop for unique holiday gifts.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5th Company Brewing, 348 Front St., Perryville, Md.
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DECEMBER 13
Christmas in the Park 2025
This event will begin with Christmas shopping in the village, which will include vendors, food, music, activities and a holiday parade. 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lower Ferry Park, 104 Roundhouse Drive, Perryville, Md.
DECEMBER 19
Deck The Halls with The First State Symphonic Band Holiday Concert
The First State Symphonic Band will perform a delightful mix of classic and contemporary holiday favorites, filling the air with cheer and nostalgia. For tickets, visit https://www.milburnstone.com/deckthehalls
7 p.m.
Milburn Stone Theatre, 1 Seahawk Drive, North East, Md.
We encourage local organizations, schools, civic and fraternal groups and churches to submit news releases.
