Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2023 Edition

Fall/Winter 2023

Cecil County Life

Magazine M agazine

Blue Elk Vineyard: Beauty on the river’s edge Page 50

Inside: • Flying Plow Farm • Perryville's popularity • The rich and fascinating heritage of Cecil County

Complimentary Copy

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Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2023

Cecil County Life Table of Contents 8 18 24 36 48 50 56 60 6

Perryville’s popularity Q & A with Megan McRay, executive director, Cecil County Chamber of Commerce Flying Plow Farm Pickleball grows in popularity in Cecil County Cecil College appoints Alston as new women’s basketball coach Photo Essay: Blue Elk Vineyard Milburn Stone Gallery hosts Alumni Spotlight Exhibition The rich and fascinating heritage of Cecil County

Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2023 | www.cecilcountylife.com

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Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2023 Letter from the Editor: Cecil County is a community that is always evolving. In this issue of Cecil County Life, writer Ken Mammarella takes a look at the growth of Perryville, which is already the 2nd-largest town in Cecil County and might grow by 50 percent over the next 5 years, according to its mayor.

The new Great Wolf Lodge is the most dramatic example of the growth in Perryville, but there are numerous other proposals for housing and commercial construction.

The Q & A in this issue is with Megan McRay, the executive director of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce—an agency of connection for the goals, the ideas and the vision of nearly 500 members throughout the county. Megan met with Cecil County Life to talk about how the chamber helps businesses grow, the thriving economic landscape of the county and the very special people she would like to invite to her dinner party.

We also present a story about Flying Plow Farm, which was founded in 2010 by Sarah Rider and Tom Paduano. Flying Plow Farm is celebrating its tenth year in Rising Sun with the support of its members and a passion for providing sustainable and organic food.

Another story in this issue takes a look at the sport of pickleball, which is one of the fastestgrowing sports in the U.S. The sport is definitely increasing in popularity in Cecil County, and there are a number of places where local residents can enjoy this activity.

Writer and historian Gene Pisasale offers an in-depth look at the rich and fascinating heritage of Cecil County.

We also highlight an Alumni Spotlight Exhibition on display at Milburn Stone Gallery.

56 The subject of the photo essay in this issue is Blue Elk Vineyard.

We hope that you enjoy these stories that illustrate how Cecil County keeps evolving.

We always welcome your comments and suggestions for future stories, and we look forward to bringing you the next issue of Cecil County Life in the spring of 2024.

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Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, Ext. 13

Cover design: Tricia Hoadley Cover photo: Jim Coarse www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2023 | Cecil County Life

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|C Cecil County Spotlight|

Perryville’s County’s 2nd-largest town might grow by

Photo courtesy of Matt Roath

Perryville leaders are mapping out a course for the growth of the town.

By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer The new Great Wolf Lodge is merely the most dramatic example of the growth in Perryville, which involves multiple proposals for housing and commercial construction and improving the town itself.

In fact, the town has – and will – invest between $20-30 million in recent and upcoming infrastructure improvements. A lot involves necessary elements likes roadways and water and sewage lines, but it also involves fun things like dog parks, an upgraded waterfront park and more shops downtown.

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Plus, the new $85 million Interstate 95 interchange with Belvidere Road is expected to encourage economic development in the area and reduce commercial traffic that at times bedevils local roads.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Mayor Matt Roath said of infrastructure projects. “There are just so many.”

All told, Roath believes the town of 4,500 – the secondlargest in Cecil County – might have 50 percent more people in five years, as well as more jobs and commercial development and places to enjoy life.

“We are fielding unprecedented interest in both residential and commercial growth,” he wrote on his Mayor Matt

s popularity

w by 50 percent in 5 years, mayor predicts

Roath Facebook page.

One thing that’s not involved in the projected growth is warehouses that have been floated for the site of the demolished outlets on Heather Lane.

“I’m not amenable to that,” Roath said, echoing other town leaders. “We have higher expectations.”

In the planning stages Perryville has an unusual shape, with thin fingers of its 3 square miles extending east along the Pulaski Highway and north along Perrvyille Road. A big reason for that shape are

annexations that provide access to the town’s water and sewage systems, Roath said, because wells and septic systems are not feasible for large-scale development.

Applications are in to annex another 40 to 60 acres, he added, and there have been discussions to annex 120 acres beyond that. (A square mile is 640 acres.)

The water plant is being upgraded and expanded, but the “sewer is more an issue,” partly from hilly terrain that necessitates pumping stations.

“When I became mayor, I had no idea I would be talking about water and sewer like it’s gold,” Roath said.

Continued on Page 10

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Perryville’s popularity Continued from Page 9

Five housing developments are in various stages, Roath said. They include 82 homes in Cedar Meadows, off Cedar Corner Road; 60 to 65 homes off Mill Creek Avenue; 40 higher-density homes in Woodlands, off Coudon Boulevard; 22 homes at the end of Charles Street; and a project not yet defined near the police station, on Otsego Street.

Construction on the I-95 interchange, just south of the Chesapeake House rest area, began in October of 2022 and is expected to open in the fall of 2025. The new Exit 95 will include ramps in a partial cloverleaf pattern for access to and from Belvidere and northbound and southbound I-95, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The exit will shift local traffic patterns.

“That’ll be fantastic for our community, which – and I hate to use the word – is harassed by large trucks,” Roath said.

Quality of life All’s not rosy. The University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital, a four-mile drive from Perryville municipal offices, is expected to close by next spring, with services transferred to the new UM Upper Chesapeake Health and Wellness Center in Aberdeen 9 miles away, and its ambulatory surgery center under construction in Bel Air, 17 miles away. ChristianaCare Union Hospital in Elkton is 14 miles away.

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2023 | www.cecilcountylife.com

Photo courtesy of Matt Roath

“We are fielding unprecedented interest in both residential and commercial growth,” Perryville Mayor Matt Roath wrote on his Facebook page.

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Perryville’s popularity Continued from Page 10

Photo courtesy of Matt Roath

Perryville is enhancing the offerings at Ice House Park. “The design will aim for a more sustainable shoreline and rehabilitated streambeds, while integrating more traditional community park attractions (ex. playground equipment, dog park, amphitheater, kayak launch, fishing pier, etc),” Roath wrote on his mayoral Facebook page.

“We’re in a precarious situation,” Roath said. “We’ve had conversations with medical providers to find out how we can better serve our community as we grow.

“For generations, our community has depended on the resources of Havre de Grace and those types for our basic shopping needs, but we’re doing our best to change that dynamic,” he added. “That’s really what my administration is focused on – not providing a more lucrative tourist economy but making our community livable for the people who live here and will be in the future.”

For instance, the town is looking to improve Ice House Park from a few picnic tables on the Susquehanna to “a community staple”; turn part of Lower Ferry Park, near 5th Company Brewing, into a retail center akin to downtown Havre de Grace and add a train-themed design for the play area; turn an acre of Perryville Community Park into a dog park and add electricity service to the park; and find room for another dog park downtown.

“I’d like to see more options for people,” Roath said. “I hate the feeling that we are a community where people work elsewhere, entertain themselves elsewhere and spend their money elsewhere. That’s not an equation for community 12

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pride. I’d love to have more sit-down restaurants and there’s a proposal for one at Captain Lee’s Marina.”

In 2022, Perryville created a part-time job of a community events coordinator, and Roath wants to add responsibilities to make the job full time.

“Our community’s momentum cannot wane,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I’m willing to invest to make sure it does not.”

Jobs, jobs, jobs Large employers in the area include the Perry Point VA Medical Center (1,200 employees), Great Wolf (1,000 employees), the IKEA distribution center (484 employees), Hollywood Casino Perryville (336 employees) and Amtrak’s Perryville maintenance area (311 employees).

The Principio Business Park, five miles northeast of Perryville, offers huge potential for jobs as well. Buildings cover 7 million square feet, and it’s only partly developed.

The Bainbridge Logistics Center located in Port Deposit is an 1,185acre tract that is being developed in phases, according to Toni Sprenkle, executive director of the Bainbridge Development Corp.

Continued on Page 14

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Perryville’s popularity Continued from Page 13

The first phase, on 444 acres, is projected for up to 1,500 jobs. Phase 1 features buildings that cover 3.8 million square feet. Phase 1A (the northeastern portion of site) and Phase 2 (the southern portion) offers the capability for up to another 3.8 million square feet.

“Those plans are very fluid and high-level conceptual to allow for maximum flexibility depending on market demands,” Sprenkle said.

“Our challenge when it comes down to Great Wolf Lodge and all the other things that are coming is how do we get that money to travel downtown?” Roath asked, also speculating about how a growing town is run.

The town’s budget runs $5 million to $5.5 million a year, with 45 to 50 employees, and 40 percent of the budget goes to police, he said.

During the interview, Roath also wondered out loud about how the town is led. “Can we really rely on volunteers to plan our future?” he asked.

Continued on Page 16

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Photo courtesy of Bainbridge Development Corp.

The multi-phase development of the Bainbridge Logistics Center in Port Deposit is projected to bring 1,500 jobs to the area.

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Perryville’s popularity Continued from Page 14

Perryville’s 2021-23 strategic plan • Attract and retain business.

• Increase residential development within town boundaries.

• Continue to invest in town infrastructure.

• Increase citizen involvement.

• Maintain a strong human and financial infrastructure.

• Encourage and support growth that benefits all residents.

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A careful vision for Principio Business Park Stewart Properties is going for long-range planning for the Principio Business Park and its adjacent landholdings east of Perryville and north of Charlestown. The very long range.

“We’re in no rush,” said Gary Stewart Jr., president of the family firm.

“We want to do it right.”

The York, Pennsylvania, company began work on Principio in the mid-1990s. “It’s a career-long project for me,” he said. “We’re looking for what the market would want to see 30, 40, 50 years out.”

Phase 1 encompasses 1,200 acres with 7 million square feet of distribution, manufacturing and light industrial space. Major companies include Restoration Hardware, using 1.8 million square feet; Amazon and GE with 1 million each; and Lidl with 850,000.

The attractiveness of the location will grow in 2025 when a new interchange with Interstate 95 opens at Belvidere Road.

Part of the park lies on an area mined decades ago for sand and gravel,

and Stewart is committed to properly reclaiming the land, he said.

A Maryland Transportation Authority map shows the park in navy blue, north of Pulaski Highway. Stewart also owns land south of the highway (in light blue) and right up to I-95 (also light blue).

A graphic of “fun facts” for the project notes 8,300 to 10,600 jobs are generated by the Principio Business Park.

Stewart land at the new interchange might have typical highway businesses, like gas stations, but the company is also looking at all of its acreage as part of master plan that might include green space, potential residential and potential schools “and all the supporting institutions a community needs … for people to work, live and have fun.”

Stewart created a water system, which has been sold to Artesian Water, and the land is connected to the county sewer system.

He noted that plans are evolving for its holdings south of the Pulaski Highway, following community outreach.

“We have deep roots in the county,” he said, noting

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Transportation Authority

The new Exit 95 is expected to divert truck traffic from Perryville.

that his great-grandfather is buried here and his grandfather was born here. “We want to be good stewards and stakeholders.”

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|Cecil County Q & A|

Megan McRay

Executive Director, Cecil County Chamber of Commerce In January of 2023, Megan McRay became the new executive director for the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce -- an agency of connection for the goals, the ideas and the vision of nearly 500 members throughout the county.

Recently, Megan met with Cecil County Life to talk about how the Chamber helps businesses grow, the thriving economic landscape of the county and the very special people she would like to invite to her dinner party.

Cecil County Life: You began your new role as the executive director for the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce this past January. What were your first personal initiatives at the Chamber, and nine months later, how have those initiatives been addressed and achieved?

Megan: The Chamber was well-established when I started my role here. So, my first initiative was to look at the internal processes already in place for how we connect with our members, how we market for our members, how we promote our members, and how we advocate for our members. I wanted to see if there were gaps and where those gaps were. I was coming in with a new eye for our events and our internal processes, and I knew that looking at it from within would be my first step in understanding how the Chamber functions.

Nine months later, I feel like I have grasped the foundation previously laid and have begun to build upon those foundational pieces.

The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce operates as a connector to opportunities for businesses and agencies,

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and throughout its existence, it has helped thousands of entrepreneurs through advocacy, networking and referrals. Can you share a recent story about how one Cecil County business has benefitted from the work you and your staff do?

Helping our members succeed is our primary goal. To help them do that, I do my best to meet with all our new members to hear what their initiatives and goals are with the Chamber. Recently, I met with a new member business and after talking with them, I was able to connect them with an investment group, who has helped them move forward with their business goals. We have also helped new businesses gain some traction, get in front of our members, and share what they do and through that, we’ve seen strategic partnerships being built.

At this point, we have heard many stories of members that have come to our networking events, created relationships, and started working with businesses they met specifically at our events.

To sort through the list of the Chamber’s events – networking opportunities, roundtable discussions and meet and greets – is to understand the power of what effective communication between businesses can create. Yet not everyone is a natural-born salesperson – particularly when it comes to promoting their business. In what ways does the Chamber help those entrepreneurs who are reluctant to mix and mingle at a large event?

We have members from all over the county and all types of businesses. I completely understand not being that

Courtesy photo

Megan McRay, executive director of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce.

salesperson or not even being in that role in a business.

You may have grown a love for your business but aren’t quite sure how to network and market yourself and your business, so we introduce very low-key icebreaker games at our larger events. If you don’t want to engage with it you don’t have to, but if you want to it’s a really great opportunity to break the ice. Especially for the person who is a little bit more uncomfortable, it helps them be more comfortable with approaching people they don’t know.

We also make sure that our members know the point of our events is to meet new people and get to know each other in order to build business connections. My team and I are there to direct them to the right contact during large events, especially if they have voiced to us that branching out is difficult for them.

The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in the promotion of Cecil County as a great economic opportunity for new businesses to start here, or established ones to move here. So, quite simply, what have become the proven advantages of starting a business in the county?

An obvious advantage is our location. Cecil County is right off I-95 in between two major cities with major airports. There are international harbors near us. We are also located in certain zones that are beneficial for our businesses. For example, for international work the different tax zones that Cecil County falls in are beneficial. As a county, we are working hard to effectively communicate and be unified to efficiently work together for our businesses. I have worked closely with Cecil College, Cecil County Public Schools, Cecil County Library and Office of Economic Development, and plan to continue to do so.

Continued on Page 20

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Megan McRay Continued from Page 19

I am working to continue to develop p a relationship p with each town and focus on their specific cific needs and goals. It’s important that we have strong ng communication and work as one for the benefit nefit of all. Another advantage to doing business ess here in Cecil County is the relationall aspect. I have seen so many businesses willing to help build up their community. Cecil County is a family and we take care of each other, and I’m blessed enough to see this at work every day.

In recent editions of Cecil County Life, there have been articles aboutt the Bainbridge Logistics Center in Port Deposit, the opening of The Great at Wolf Lodge in Perryville, the continuing ng revitalization of downtown Elkton and the plans to open the

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Southfields Sports Park in Elkton. Through these developp County is establishing itself as a major ments, Cecil C center for fo business and entertainment in the Mid-Atlantic Region. How do you gauge Mid-A the long-term business and commerce th fforecast for Cecil County, and in what ways will it have to attract growth but also keep it in line?

Cecil County has a lot of wonderful new business opportunities and economic growth. This is why it’s so important that we keep our finger on the heartbeat of our members, their goals and their initiatives. There’s a lline that we walk that aspires to growth while wanting to preserve our hometown whi community, so this is why I do everything I can commun strong communication with our members to keep stron Continued on Page 22

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Megan McRay Continued from Page 20

by meeting with them, taking surveys, talking to them over the phone, or communicating by email.

The work we do and the commitment we have to growth and preservation all come out of our members’ initiatives.

This is just one of the reasons why being a part of the Chamber of Commerce as a business in Cecil County is so important. There are so many different opinions, and each business has its own focused initiatives, but we try to come together and find the balance. Part of my job is helping find that balance and knowing what our members’ needs, initiatives, and goals are for their business and in the county. I get to come to the table on behalf of our members and so it’s important to really understand what it is that our members want.

What is your favorite spot in Cecil County?

I am a sucker for the outdoors. I love the trails at Fair Hill, the trails and lighthouse at Turkey Point, and Bohemia State Park. Cecil County has so many outdoor adventures and so many places to offer people in a variety of landscapes. We all love things close to our home, so I have my favorites that are close to our home, but overall, I really do explore all of Cecil County and have my favorites in each town. I also love the fresh Cecil Grown produce. It’s a staple in my house.

You throw a dinner party and can invite anyone you wish – living or not, famous or not. Who would you like to see around that table?

Maybe this is not an exciting answer, but I would like to invite my grandparents. I don’t know my grandparents on either side of my family. I would love to know more about my family history. I’d love to just see if I have any resemblance to them or if we have similar personality traits. I would also love to hear about what my parents were like as kids.

What items can always be found in your refrigerator?

I am a mom of three boys, so we always have milk. We also home cook almost every meal so there’s probably fixings for whatever we’re making like chicken and veggies, and one of our favorites - homemade pizza.

To learn more about the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, visit www.cecilchamber.com, or call (410) 392-3833.

- Richard L. Gaw

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Courtesy photo

The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce hosts several events throughout the year that included a recent bonfire networking event at Milburn Orchards.

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Visit us online for all the details: www.mountharmon.org • 410-275-8819 • info@mountharmon.org www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2023 | Cecil County Life

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|Cecil County Spotlight|

From arugula to zucchini: It’s all growing at Flying Plow Farm

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Founded in 2010 by Sarah Rider and Tom Paduano, Flying Plow Farm is celebrating its tenth year in Rising Sun with the support of its members and a passion for providing sustainable and organic food

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer It was June of 2020 – when the panic of a worldwide pandemic began to change the dynamics of normalcy – and Rebecca Northrop had just begun her new job at Flying Plow Farm, a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm in Rising Sun. COVID-19 had reached Maryland, and seemingly overnight, food stores throughout Cecil County were transformed into aisle after aisle of masked-up customers and limited supplies of fresh produce. At Flying Plow, however, business tripled and the number of memberships in the CSA soared. Rather than muddle through the

confusing directional markers at commercial markets and peck over diminished food supply, customers drove up farm’s the dusty driveway and patiently waited on line at the farm’s food stand to purchase fresh vegetables, eggs, meat and other essentials.

In most years, the farm filled about 30 home delivery orders a week during the early spring months of March and April, but in 2020, the number spiked to more than 300, but no one at the farm panicked; owners Tom Paduano and Sarah Rider had already kicked off their home delivery service system, converted its website to online purchasing and transitioned their staff to a professional crew.

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Flying Plow Farm Continued from Page 25

Working together in cooperation with their members, their staff, supplying vendors and Mother Nature, Flying Plow Farm continued to grow, cultivate and provide sustainable, organic products to thousands of individuals and families in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania at a time when the world had practically shut itself down.

From Harford County to Rising Sun While Flying Plow Farm is celebrating its tenth year in Rising Sun, owning a farm was not on the early radar

Flying Plow Farm supplies its produce to close to 500 members and provides weekly home delivery of fresh produce to nearly 400 locations from Wilmington to Annapolis, as well as deliveries to 15 pick-up locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

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of Tom and Sarah. When she first entered college in Washington, D.C., Sarah’s original intention was to pursue a major in international relations.

“Then I began to read about the science of growing food, and everything began to shift for me,” she said.

Sarah was so intrigued that she changed her career focus and transferred to Penn State, where she became an agricultural major and began what would be a life in community supported farming. After college, she was a manager for a CSA in Chester County and met Tom, who was also a manager at a neighboring CSA. Together, they established the first Flying Plow Farm in Harford County in 2010, with a little more than 100 members and moved their farm to Rising Sun in 2014.

Continued on Page 28

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

The 56-acre Flying Plow Farm is a testament to the vitality of community supported agriculture and the recognition of year-round growing and harvesting.

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Flying Farm Life| |CecilPlow County Continued from Page 27

Situated along Charles Johnson Farm Lane, the 56-acre Flying Plow Farm is a living, breathing testament to the vitality of CSA-based agriculture and the recognition of year-round growing and harvesting -from multi-colored rows of vegetables that stretch for acres to the curved ceilings of incubator farms.

While Flying Plow is by simple definition a working organic farm, it is also the perfect cohesion of a sustainable ecosystem at work. The farm’s organic pastured laying hens and organic meat chickens provide fertility for growing grasses and clovers, which are used to feed the farm’s cattle and draft horses, who provide manure for composting that provides fertility for growing crops.

Thirteen of the farm’s acres are devoted entirely to growing a wide variety of seasonal food, from salad greens like arugula and lettuce to root vegetables like carrots, squash and turnips, and from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower to herbs, cooking

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greens, watermelons and strawberries.

The animals used on the farm are butchered to provide by-the-cut beef, chicken, pork and lamb, and the eggs from the farm’s hens are available all year long.

Today, Flying Plow Farm has close to 500 members and provides weekly home delivery of fresh produce to nearly 400 locations from Wilmington to Annapolis, as well as deliveries to over one dozen pick-up locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Operating the farm is an intricate system that every week involves determining what produce will be grown, what percentage of it will be harvested, packing, finalizing home delivery packages as well as gathering bundles of produce that will be sold at markets.

“We started Flying Plow Farm in Harford County as a classic CSA model, meaning that we were ‘farmercentric,’ and operated from the philosophy of ‘We grow what we grow and our customers will eat what

we grow,’ but the model really only works for about a maximum of about 100 members,” Sarah said. “In order to really grow to about 200 members, we needed to transition to online sales in order to make it more convenient through payment plans and it allows them to specify what they prefer, as well as have infinite ways of being able to tinker with the frequency and options of deliveries and content of their packages.”

A quiet movement based in simplicity Over the last two decades – against the decline of family-owned farms Continued on Page 30

Founded in 2010, Flying Plow Farm is celebrating its tenth year in Rising Sun.

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Flying Plow Farm Continued from Page 29

-- CSAs have continued to take root in the United States and have gradually grown to include as many as 2,500 farms spread over every region of the country that provide direct access to clean local food for thousands of families. Its grass-roots groundswell combines transformative potential with a quiet movement based in simplicity, bringing communities together in a unified pledge of mutual support and benefits.

Over the past several years, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has been encouraging Marylanders to join one of the more than 100 CSAs in the state. By purchasing local food from local farmers, CSA members keep dollars in Maryland and strengthen its economy.

The advantages are many: • Consumers save money by eliminating shipping and processing costs from the price of the produce • Consumers eat healthy, sustainably produced food that is at peak flavor and ripeness • Consumers learn about farming practices and techniques and enrich their cultural heritage and • Consumers have opportunities for community engagement, social and educational activities, and environmental stewardship “CSAs present a great opportunity to get fresh, local food — direct from a farmer,” Maryland Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Kevin Atticks said to celebrate National Community Supported Agriculture Farms Week this past February. “This is the perfect time to sign up with a CSA farm so you don’t miss out on any of the season’s fruits and vegetables.”

Sarah said that what Flying Plow Farm lacks in overall size and growing capacity, it makes up for in consistently being able to get fresh food into the hands of their members.

“I am not sure the name ‘CSA’ is going to be around for that much longer, but the concept behind them will certainly be here for decades to come,” she said. “It’s becoming harder for individual farms to be able to serve more people, but we’re starting to see farms working collectively as organizations to reach that growing clientele.

“Flying Plow Farm has this direct access to our consumers – a place at the table -- because we 30

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have developed and honor lur connection to thousands of people.”

“I think people having a connection to their food can serve as a silver bullet to a lot of other issues,” said Northrop, Flying Plow Farm’s sales and harvest director. “It can remind us of our relationship with the land and water and inspire us to make better decisions about the way we use our resources and it can inspire us to nourish ourselves and our families better, which can have broader public health effects.

Continued on Page 32

Thirteen of the farm’s acres are devoted entirely to growing a wide variety of seasonal food.

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Flying Plow Farm Continued from Page 31

Quality, in quantity.

“That’s the biggest thrill for me – to see people engage in these broader topics by getting inspired when they’re a new customer and starting with something we hear a lot: ‘These carrots taste so much better than the carrots I purchase from the grocery store.’”

Flying Plow Farm is located at 96 Charles Johnson Farm Lane, Rising Sun. Md. 21911. To learn more about becoming a member or see a list of its produce and meats, visit www.flyingplow.com, or contact (443) 686-9786 or send an email to: info@flyingplowfarm.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Flying Plow Farm members can pick up their goods at the following locations: The Lotus Center, Elkton Fresh Source Market, Elkton Plum Creek Market, North East Coffee Coffee, Bel Air Baron’s K9, Bel Air Private Residence - Franklinville Rd, Joppa Moore Brothers Wine, Wilmington, Del. Swigg, Wilmington, Del. Newark Natural Foods Co-op Farmers Market, Newark, Del. Little Goat Coffee, Newark, Del. Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg, Pa. Farmer & Co., Unionville, Pa. Whole Chiropractic, Odenton, Md. Abundant Life Chiropractic, Nottingham, Md.

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Fall off the Bone Baby Back Ribs, Signature Crab Cakes, and Original and Creative Burgers

Courtesy of the Maryland Department of Agriculture

www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2023 | Cecil County Life

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|Cecil County Recreation|

Pickleball: The fast-growing sport finds popularity in Cecil County

By Drewe Phinny Contributing Writer Is there a connection between pickles, the game of Pickleball and Cecil County?

Yes, but read on first.

As Pickleheads co-founder Brandon Mackie explained, it’s not the edible food, but rather the name of a dog called Pickles that led to the naming of the sport. Or, possibly, the name is derived from a rowing term. Confused? We do have some established facts.

Three vacationers on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, invented the sport in 1965, then things get a little less undisputed. Here’s how Mackie sees it.

“There are two stories,” he said. “There’s the dog, Pickles, and then there’s the story that one of the founders’ wives was involved in rowing. There’s a term in rowing called a pickle boat, which is a mish-mash of different rowers and different teams, and that’s kind of what Pickleball is—different sports. But I read an account of one of the most influential women in Spain. She gave many interviews and wrote a book on it. She is pretty adamant that the founders think the rowing story is false and the dog story is correct.”

Just to finish the canine angle, one of the founder’s dogs enjoyed chasing the ball as the game took place. That dog’s name was Pickles, and thus, Pickleball was born. Actually, Mackie sees some of these colorful details as part of the unique nature of Pickleball.

Continued on Page 38

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All photos courtesy of picklehead.com

Pickleball has been described as a ‘social activity as much as a sport.’

Pickleball |Cecil County Life| Continued from Page 36

‘Anyone can play’ “That’s kind of some of the magic—that anyone can play,” he explained. “Culturally, people are a lot more open to playing with folks they don’t know, compared to golf or tennis, which almost never happens. So they’ll put up a game, ‘hey, we’re going out around 3:30, lookin’ for two more’ and you’ll find your other players and you meet other people, and that’s one of the cooler aspects you don’t see in the established sports.”

Pickleball is also a game of inclusion.

Mackie explained, “There’s an interesting gender equality to it. Men are just not automatically better at Pickleball than women.

And a pro woman can beat a pro man, which you wouldn’t necessarily see in other sports.”

Continued on Page 40

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The popularity of pickleball is growing, and there are more places to enjoy the sport.

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Pickleball Continued from Page 38

Mackie describes Pickleball as a “social activity as much as a sport. It’s commonly played in an open-play format where 50 or even more players show up and rotate games and partners. You also almost always play as doubles, which leaves many opportunities to socialize and meet players.”

Popularity rises during Pandemic Pickleball’s popularity in the U.S. exploded during the pandemic, when many Americans were looking for responsible ways to socialize and stay active. But that was only the beginning. The sport’s growth has continued even as lockdowns have ended and normal life has resumed. It is a sport for all ages. Anyone from age 5 to 95 can play and have fun. This makes Pickleball the perfect activity for families, especially around the holidays.

Continued on Page 42

Part of the appeal of pickleball is that it can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels and all ages.

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Pickleball Continued from Page 40

Blogger Christina Duron has written a pretty succinct description of just what Pickleball is: “A pickleball is a mad scientist-like combination of a Wiffle, ping-pong and tennis ball in one. The ball is larger than other racket sports and its large holes affect its aerodynamics, causing it to lose steam when it’s coming at you.”

In addition, Mackie has also included badminton in his

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description of the sport.

In comparison to tennis, Pickleball courts are 44-foot by 20-foot, including the lines, while a tennis court is 78-foot by 27-foot. A pickleball net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the middle, compared to 42 inches high at the sidelines and 36 inches in the middle for a tennis net.

Continued on Page 44

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.

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Pickleball Continued from Page 42

Mackie estimates the average length of a Pickleball game to be around fifteen minutes.

He said, “It could be ten minutes, could be thirty minutes. I’ll go out for three hours, four hours. You rotate.”

He explained that the more people who want to play, there will be a need to have people rotate in and out so maybe not everyone will be playing all the time.

On a scale of 1-10, Mackie’s enthusiasm about Pickleball is an 11.

Continued on Page 46

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“The magic of Pickleball is it’s easy to learn, but hard to master.”

Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2023 | www.cecilcountylife.com

Pickleball Continued from Page 44

“The magic of Pickleball is it’s easy to learn, but hard to master,” Mackie said. Beginners can go out there the first time, learn the game, have fun and even win a few games. But advanced players stay challenged and keep coming back for more. This dynamic is a big reason why Pickleball continues to grow.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. A new report by the Professional Pickleball Association estimates 36.5 million people played last year. That makes Pickleball one of the most popular sports in the country by participation, nearly twice the size of tennis, and just shy of popular activities like running and cycling.

Pickleball players can pursue their passion at plenty of places right here in Cecil County, including Marina Park (on Plum Point Road), the YMCA of Cecil County (25 YMCA Boulevard off Route 40 in Elkton) Thomson Estates Elementary (203 East Thomson Drive in Elkton) and Elkton Indoor Tennis (360 Maloney Road). Those four locations have a total of 23 courts. And by the time you are reading this, there will most likely be more additions, including several in nearby Newark.

Ellen Poe, executive director of the Cecil County YMCA, a Branch of the YMCA of the Chesapeake, is more than happy to provide more details about the overall benefits of Pickleball.

“It continues to grow in popularity and we are excited to have Pickleball here within our community and the Y,” she said. “The great aspects of the sport are wellness for mind, body and spirit, which aligns directly with the Y’s mission. The greatest of these benefits, we are seeing, is the social community that is involved. Individuals are getting to meet and connect with others, and this allows for wellbeing for their spirit. I believe that the last few years have demonstrated significantly the need for connection and I feel this is one reason for Pickleball’s growth.”

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A new report by the Professional Pickleball Association estimates 36.5 million people played last year.

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Cecil College appoin as new women’s basket Archie Alston III has been named as the new head coach for the Cecil College Seahawks women’s basketball team.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the Cecil women’s basketball program,” said Alston upon his acceptance of the new position. “I look forward to building up a tradition of success over the years.”

Since 2020, Alston has coached the junior varsity women’s basketball and lacrosse teams at Mount St.

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Joseph Academy. He also assisted with both varsity programs at The Mount.

Alston is a head coach managing the fifth-grade boys’ basketball AAU program for South Jersey Buckets.

His AAU basketball coaching experience extends to the Lower Merion School District, where he coached several teams, including seventh-grade girls and high school boys.

ints Alston ketball coach A former college basketball player, Alston played at NCAA Division III Penn State University - Berks Campus. As a freshman, he started in nine games and played eight more. He averaged 5.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Courtesy photo

Archie Alston III has been named as the new head coach for the Cecil College Seahawks women’s basketball team.

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| Cecil County Life Photo Essay |

BLUE ELK VINEYARD

Beauty on the river’s edge

Photos by Jim Coarse Text by Richard L. Gaw For any visitor who drives down River’s Edge Road in North East – be they a bride or groom, a wedding congregation or merely a small group VM MYPLUKZ ^PZOPUN [V LUQV` H ÅPNO[ or two of wine – the site of Blue Elk Vineyard and the sweeping bend of the Elk River before them is as gentle as a welcome made with open arms, inviting them to experience happiness.

Continued on Page 53

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|Blue Elk Vineyard|

Continued from Page 51

Spread graciously across 140 acres of the LZ[H[L )S\L ,SR =PUL`HYK PZ KLÄULK I` THU` sights, sounds and emotions. It is a scenery’s KYLHT 0[ PZ [OL IPSSV^` ÅV^ VM H IYPKHS NV^U against the river wind just before nuptials. It is the precious moments of a wedding reception.

It is the sweet and delicious pour of wines with the names Bugle and Lakota and Patriot, and it is the quiet comfort of friends gathered in the rustic tasting room enjoying conversation and a bottle on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

“Several years ago, I came to a wedding here with my husband, Mike, and I found the property to be completely stunning, then four years later, Mike tells me, ‘Do you remember the wedding we went to in North East, at that vineyard? It’s for sale!’” said Blue Elk Vineyard owner Denise Novak, who has owned the vineyard since 2017. “I told him, ‘Mike, we don’t need anything else.’ A week later, he asked me to hear him out.

Continued on Page 55 www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2023 | Cecil County Life 53

|Blue Elk Vineyard|

Continued from Page 53

“The next thing I knew, I was here at )S\L ,SR =PUL`HYK VYNHUPaPUN T` ÄYZ[ wedding. In short time, I was giving tours to prospective brides and grooms, maintaining our venues, running the weddings, cleaning up and creating contracts.”

Several years later, Blue Elk Vineyard has become one of the most beautiful wedding destinations in the Chesapeake Bay Region, averaging 75 ceremonies K\YPUN H Ä]L TVU[O WLYPVK L]LY` `LHY :PUJL P[ ÄYZ[ VWLULK PU )S\L ,SR OHZ continued to produce 17 varietals of wine made by a private vintner that include Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Pinot Grigio and its signature Chardonnay. To Novak, however, there is one component of Blue Elk Vineyard that has become to those who drive down River’s Edge Road its most precious and sustainable force.

“I have felt the occasional stuffy atmosphere at other wineries – I call it ‘pinky up’ pretentiousness – and so I will continue to make Blue Elk a friendly and comfortable place to come to that is easy and welcoming – for everybody,” she said.

Blue Elk Vineyard is located at 88 River’s Edge Road, North East, Md. 21901. To learn more about events and weddings, visit www.blueelk vineyard. com or contact (443) 674-8800. Hours of Operation: Thursday & Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday & Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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|Cecil County Arts|

Milburn Sto hosts Alumni Spo

Courtesy photo

The work of Callie Dowe is part of the exhibition.

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tone Gallery potlight Exhibition With the feel of fall in the air, Cecil College highlights the skillful artwork of three Art and Design alums in the 2023 Alumni Spotlight Exhibition hosted in the Milburn Stone Gallery. Featured artists are Jessica Cooke, Callie Dowe, and Samantha Braun.

This exhibition will be on display through January 26, 2024. This show explores the combination of paint and clay as they combine to create a visual experience of texture, color, and imagination.

Cooke discovered her passion when she first placed her hands in wet clay in the ceramic studio at Cecil College’s Elkton Station. The feel of the raw materials squeezing between her fingers, followed by the provocation of being able to form her thoughts and imagination into a threedimensional object, is inspirational.

“Painting has been a passion my whole life. But if I hadn’t decided to attend Cecil College, I would never have discovered Continued on Page 58

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Art Exhibit Continued from Page 57

my love for working with clay and the empowerment it instills,” said Cooke, a 2018 North East High School graduate. “I now know the direction I wish for my life.”

The culmination of these two passions was displayed this summer in her first-ever public exhibition, Memory Garden. In her work, she uses sentimentality as a love letter for old childhood memories and to seek closure from inevitable realities. Cooke explores nostalgia, grief, forgiveness, and layered identity through detailed paintings and playful ceramics. Cooke earned an Associate of Fine Arts degree from Cecil College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Salisbury University.

Braun was born in Rising Sun and was introduced to ceramics in high school. Braun graduated from Cecil College with an Associate of Fine Arts and from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Drawing inspiration from the human form and nature, Braun incorporates motifs, textures, and reflections of colors into her figures, creating individualized, functional, and interactive wheel-thrown works of art.

Courtesy photos

An example of the ceramics work by Samantha Braun.

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2023 | www.cecilcountylife.com

Dowe is a Maryland ceramicist focusing on the aesthetics and comfort of ceramic forms. Experienced in functional and sculptural ceramics, Dowe primarily works with colored clay bodies, adorning them with texture through carving and slip decoration.

Her work ranges from functional cups and bowls to intricately decorated figurative sculptures. Surfaces include slip and glaze decoration and natural variations in color from atmospheric firings and the clay bodies she explores.

Callie studied ceramics at Cecil College and is currently the Ceramics Studio Assistant, where she maintains the College’s ceramics studio while helping students, faculty, and staff.

The Milburn Stone Gallery is open for visitors Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, noon to 4 p.m.; and three hours before Milburn Stone Theatre showtimes.

For more information on all the exciting art events at Cecil College, visit https://www.cecil.edu/campus-life/galleriestheaters. Or check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/ CecilCollegeArtandDesignProgram/.

Jessica Cooke, a 2018 North East High School graduate, will showcase her work as part of the Alumni Spotlight Exhibition hosted in the Milburn Stone Gallery.

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|Cecil County History|

The rich and fascinating heritage of Cecil County

By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer

Roman Catholics. George had converted to Catholicism seven years before. British kings, beginning in the 1600s, granted land in North America to those seeking to flee George Calvert was a British lawyer and assistant to religious persecution—people who, by definition, did not Lord Cecil, and when George’s son was born, he had agree with England’s “official” religion and policies. Each him christened “Cecilius” in honor of his employer. After colony granted was, in effect, sowing the seeds of revoluhis father—the original Baron Baltimore—-passed away, tion against the very kings who had bestowed them.

Cecil was made Lord Baltimore and Cecil County—named in honor received a charter from King Charles of Cecil Calvert—was part of a I for a colony named after the King’s colony which had nebulous boundwife, Henrietta Maria. In 1632, that aries. Maryland was originally laid colony came to life as Maryland. out to include the western shore of Charles never dreamed that the colthe Chesapeake Bay down to the ony he named after his wife would Potomac River and the entire eastern be one of 13 which 144 years later shore, which today is recognized would fight a long and bitter war as the Delmarva Peninsula. Settlers against his country. in Virginia got to America years The king did know that Cecil’s before and protested the overlapping father George had long sought a colboundaries, so they were redrawn. ony to serve as a refuge for English Coat of Arms of Cecil Calvert, Baron Baltimore.

In June 1632, the final charter for

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Maryland included land on the eastern shore only as far south as a line drawn directly east from the mouth of the Potomac River.

After all the excitement with getting his colony, Cecil never made it to America.

He was busy back in England defending the extent of his property, so he sent his younger brother Leonard who became the first “on-site” Governor of Maryland. Cecil County wasn’t officially organized until 1674—a year before Cecil passed away. The county

Engraving of Cecil Calvert 2nd Baron Baltimore by Abraham Blooteling.

was previously part of the much larger Baltimore County and included parts of Howard, Anne Arundel, Harford, Carroll and eastern Frederick counties.

Cecil County’s heritage includes more than 50 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of them—Principio Furnace, near Perryville—was among the earliest iron furnaces in the colonies. Begun around 1719 by Joseph Farmer and ironmaster John England, Principio by Continued on Page 62

Principio Furnace, near Perryville.

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Cecil County’s heritage |Cecil County Life| Continued from Page 61

the 1740s was one of the most successful in the region. Mr. England’s successor, Thomas Russell, Jr., made cannonballs for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Holdings of the Principio Company included the Potomac Ironworks near Fredericksburg, Virginia—on the land of Augustine Washington, George Washington’s father.

British forces attempted to destroy the furnace during the War of 1812, but in 1836, the site was purchased and rebuilt by Joseph Whitaker, his brothers and Thomas Garrett, a prominent abolitionist who helped thousands of slaves find freedom on the Underground Railroad. Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register in 1972.

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St. Francis Xavier Church, Warwick.

Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2023 | www.cecilcountylife.com

Missionary activities in Cecil County date back to the turn of the 18th century. St. Francis Xavier Church in Warwick, on the estate known as Bohemia Manor, has roots beginning in 1704 when a farm was purchased at the location. A school there educated several people who would become distinguished, including future Archbishop John Carroll and his cousin, Founding Father Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

The graveyard there holds some well-known persons, including Catherine “Kitty” Knight, who is credited with saving Georgetown from the British during the War of 1812. The Kitty Knight House Continued on Page 64

The East Nottingham Friends Meetinghouse, in Rising Sun.

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Cecil County’s heritage ritage Continued from Page 63

stands today and welcomes visitors tors with great food, indoor and outdoor dining ng and live entertainment. The church was listed isted on the National Register in 1975.

The East Nottingham Friends ends Meetinghouse in Rising Sun dates ates to 1724 and consists of three different units: a Flemish bond brick section, a stone addition and a one-story gable-roofed building. The Meetinghouse eetinghouse is significant because William Penn granted 18,000 acres of land there to bee used for “… a Meeting House and Burial Yard rd Forever…” The property was named the Nottingham gham Lots, which lie along the border with Pennsylvania. vania. At one point, this structure was the largest Friends d Meetinghouse h south h off Philadelphia. It was added to the National Register in 1977.

Elk Landing is an historic home in Elkton dating to around 1780. The land was part of an early settlement made by Swedish and Finnish immigrants. Swede John Hansson Steelman used the home as a trading post beginning around 1693, trading with Indian tribes of south-central Pennsylvania and Maryland until 1739. Archeological excavations have uncovered remains of the original log structure. The site was added to the National Register in 1984.

The Elkton Armory in Elkton was built in 1915. The two-story brick and stone structure resembles a rustic Medieval castle, with corner towers, parapets and strip buttresses. Elkton Armory was linked to the reorganization and expansion of the National Guard system in the early-mid 20th century. The state seal of Maryland lies above the entry door. It was listed on the National Register in 1985.

Gilpin’s Falls Covered Bridge is a beautifully preserved structure in Bay View, near the town of North East, Maryland. Joseph George Johnson built the bridge across North East Creek in 1860- 1861.

It received its name due to proximity to Samuel Gilpin’s mill. The bridge has a span of 100 feet; shelter overhangs give it a width of 13.5 feet. Although the bridge has been reinforced over the years, it has been closed to vehicular traffic, but remains a lovely example of mid-19th century architecture. The bridge was added to the National Register in 2008.

For those wishing to explore the rich history of Cecil County, these sites offer a rich heritage to connect with.

Preservation groups around Maryland are actively involved in their maintenance. Hopefully these historic places will be part of the landscape for decades to come.

Historic Elk Landing House.

The Elkton Armory.

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Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. His 11 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/ mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Heritage of the Brandywine Valley, a beautifully illustrated hardcover book with over 250 images showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.

GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

West side of Gilpin’s Falls Covered Bridge along North East Creek in Bay View.

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