Cecil County Life Spring/Summer 2021 Edition

Spring/Summer 2021

Cecil County Life

Magazine M agazine

Maryland 5 Star Coming to Fair Hill Page 8

Inside: • Fair Hill Stars in New Music Video • Profile of JoAnn Dawson • Photo Essay: Valhalla Brewing Company

Complimentary Copy

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Cecil County Life Spring/Summer 2021

Cecil County Life Table of Contents 8 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill coming in October

16 JoAnn Dawson and all her jobs 24 Friends of Cecil County Parks and

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Recreation

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32 ‘Live it Hard and Make it Personal’: Filmmaker and musician takes cameras to Cecil County 42 Photo essay: Valhala Brewing 48 Life, interrupted: Photographer Nick Cusmano returns to his passion 58 Q & A with Debra Stevens 6

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Cecil County Life Spring/Summer 2021 Letter from the Editor:

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Cecil County will play host to the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in October, and this new event promises to take the sport to its highest level. There is only one other 5 Star-ranked event in the United States, and only seven in the world. The Fair Hill Natural Resources Area has long been known as a premier venue for all types of equestrian sports. In this issue of Cecil County Life, we offer a preview of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, which will certainly be one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the county during the next few months.

We also profile JoAnn S. Dawson, who is certainly one of the most interesting—and busiest—people in the area. Dawson is the co-owner of Fairwinds Farm & Stable in North East, and she is also an author, actress, entrepreneur, speaker and screenwriter.

We talk to Chesapeake City’s Nick Cusmano, who is an award-winning photographer after enjoying a long career in the business world. Cusmano has long been fascinated by photos, but he is only now able to truly dedicate himself to photography. He was one of two featured photographers in the 2019 Cecil County Arts Council show.

Parks are an asset for any community. We talk to the Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation, a nonprofit organization that, as the name suggests, serves as a major supporter of the county’s parks.

For years, Fair Hill resident Chris Malinowski has combined the artistry of his music with his work as a filmmaker. This past January, Malinowski tapped into both with a stunning new music video called “Confetti.” Writer Richard L. Gaw spoke with Malinowski about the making of the video, that was filmed at several sites in Cecil County.

In our Cecil Life “Q & A”, Cecil College Adult Education teacher Debra Stevens shares the arc of her journey that began when she was a high school dropout, was followed by academic achievement and several degrees and now brings her to Cecil College, inspiring her students to pursue their dreams.

The subject of the photo essay is Valhalla Brewing Company, which has received glowing reviews from its customers, who rave about the microbrew pub’s ever-changing assortment of microbrews and an incredible menu – all served with a laid-back vibe.

We hope you enjoy these stories and we’re already hard at work planning the next issue of Cecil County Life that will arrive in the fall of 2021. If you have any suggestions for stories for that issue, please contact us.

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: Courtesy photo by Amy Dragoo www.cecilcountylife.com | Spring/Summer 2021 | Cecil County Life

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|Around Cecil County|

Courtesy photo

To accommodate the new event, an all new special event zone has been constructed at Fair Hill, bringing all phases of the competition to the parcel near the newly renovated turf race course and grandstands.

Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill coming in October K

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

nown as a premier venue for all types of equestrian sports, the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area continues to offer the very best in facilities and competitions.

Among the most popular and prestigious is the Fair Hill International three-day event.

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Courtesy photo by Amy Dragoo

Show jumping will be one of the attractions at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

For more than 30 years, the Fair Hill International has been host to the United States Equestrian Federation’s national championships with its three-star level event. That tradition continues in 2021 with the National Championship event as well as the Young Event Horse East Coast Championship running alongside the new Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

“We want people to think of it as a new event. The tradition that Fair Hill has brought here for 30 years has been

unbelievable, but when you take it to a five star it will be a new and different presentation. If you want to see something that is really unique, we have that to offer here in Cecil County,” said Jeff Newman, head of the production team of Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

The new five-star takes the sport to its highest level, above Olympic-level competition. Scheduled for Oct. 14 to 17, Continued on Page 10

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Maryland 5 Star Continued from Page 9

there is only one other 5 Star ranked event in the United States, and only seven in the world.

“It’s a really unique opportunity for Cecil County to host something that only happens in seven places in the world,” Newman said.

Newman works for the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, a non-profit organization tasked with bringing major events to the state. In this case, they are working in cooperation with Fair Hill International to run the new five-star event.

Originally planned to make its debut last year, the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enthusiasm for the event has been building, with entries from all over the world expected to take on the new challenge.

Three-day eventing, also known as combined training, is the ultimate test of horse and rider.

Originally developed as a test of cavalry skills, eventing is unusual in that men and women compete against one another on an equal basis even

Courtesy photo

A special event zone has been constructed in preparation for the event.

at the highest levels of the sport.

“If you don’t know eventing, it’s spectacular,” Newman said. “If you want to enjoy a great family event in the fall, seeing the best competition this is where you should be.”

The three phases of competition, take horses from the ballet-like agility and grace of dressage to demanding stamina and speed galloping and jumping cross country, and then finishing with heart-stopping Continued on Page 12

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Maryland 5 Star Continued from Page 10

competition against the clock in stadium jumping.

To accommodate the new event, an all new special event zone has been constructed at Fair Hill, bringing all phases of the competition to the parcel near the newly renovated turf race course and grandstands. New dressage arenas and a stadium jumping arena are located on the racetrack infield for easy viewing.

The new cross country course is also contained in the same segment of the property. Created by internationally recognized course designer Ian Stark, the course will include up to 45 jumping challenges over a distance of nearly four miles, including a water obstacle and jump complex.

“It will have the most difficult obstacles because it’s the highest level of competition,” Newman explained. “They will be extremely challenging, and all have different themes to them to tie into what Maryland has to offer. It will be a pretty unique course.”

Kaitlyn McNerney, the event director, added, “Every day will be packed full of competition. We expect 175 competitors at all three levels.”

Spectators will find something interesting every day, starting with dressage on Thursday and Friday for both the three and five star competitions. The East Coast Championships for Young Event Horses, which combines dressage and jumping tests for four-and five-year-old horses will be held those days as well.

Saturday brings the excitement of the cross-country phase. Visitors can opt for tailgating spots course side, or bring chairs to walk out to the jumps

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Courtesy photo by Amy Dragoo

Dressage will be featured at the new Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

for a close view. For those who want a great view of all the action from one centralized location, choose a seat at the main arena and watch live on the Jumbotron.

The main arena will be the focus on Sunday when the stadium-jumping finale decides the winners.

Throughout all four days there will be something for everyone with an extensive vendor village, expansive concession stands, interesting demonstrations and live entertainment that will be fun for all ages and interests.

“There will be something for everyone. It’s definitely a family event,” McNerney said. “Our goal is to draw more than just equestrian fans to this event. We want to attract people who want to come out to a beautiful event on a beautiful fall weekend, to have something to do with their kids, have something to do with their significant other and spend a good time out in the country. We learned from the pandemic that there’s an eagerness to get out and enjoy the outdoors and do something fun. The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill has that to offer.”

October 2021 will be the first edition of this annual event that will continue to grow for years to come.

“As a whole. we think we’re bringing something really special to the county, where everyone can be a part of it,” Newman said. “Hopefully it Continued on Page 14

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Maryland 5 Star Continued from Page 13

will be a stimulus for small businesses and all businesses in the area.

There will be a great economic impact to the county with people coming here from all over.”

Additional details on all aspects surrounding Maryland 5 Star at Fail Hill will be released online and through social media as they are confirmed. Ticket sales begin early summer.

For more information, visit the website at Maryland5star.us.

Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill announces $300,000 prize money for inaugural event The Fair Hill Organizing Committee (FHOC), an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.), announced that athletes and horses in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (CCI5*-L) will be competing for $300,000 in prize money.

Additionally, the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing National Championship (CCI3*-L), running in conjunction with the 5 Star, will award $25,000 in prize money. Both events, as well as the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Young Event Horse East Coast Championships, will take place this October 14 to 17 at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Maryland.

Planning and developments for the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill continue to move forward.

The event will mark a new chapter for the State of Maryland’s rich horse and equestrian tradition. It will showcase four days of thrilling competition at the sport of Eventing’s highestlevel across its three discipline’s, Dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

“It is great feeling having sporting events coming back in Maryland this year and welcoming spectators,” commented Terry Hasseltine, president of The Sport Corp. “The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will be one of the highlights during the fall giving people something to look forward to, and something new to experience. We are excited to showcase the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone for the first time and produce an event that our state can be proud of.”

For additional information and news from the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, visit Maryland5Star.us or follow on social @maryland5star.

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|Cecil County People|

JoAnn Dawson a

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n and all her jobs The co-owner of Fairwinds Farm & Stable in North East is also an author, actress, entrepreneur, speaker and screenwriter

By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer

I

Photos courtesy of JoAnn S. Dawson

JoAnn S. Dawson, husband Ted and a horse named Dixie.

n Hollywood, a multihyphenate is a broadly talented person, like a writer-actor-director.

In Cecil County, a great example of a multihyphenate is JoAnn S. Dawson, an author-actress-entrepreneur-speaker-screenwriter.

That’s how she describes herself on www.joanndawson.com.

With husband Ted, she runs Fairwinds Farm & Stables. Its home page (www.fairwindsstables.com) adds some more: animal talent-bed & breakfast-hay rides-horse & carriage-parties & eventspony rides-riding lessons-summer camp-trail rides-weddings-youth programs.

A few more commitments are found deeper in those two sites: She teaches equine science and acting at Cecil College. She is a member of the Maryland Horse Council and the Farm Bureau; a board member of the North East Chamber of Commerce, the Cecil County Economic Development Commission and the Cecil County Tourism Committee; and a fellow in the LEAD Maryland program.

And in the past, she’s been a model and magician’s assistant.

“We’re both workaholics,” Dawson said of herself and Ted. “We don’t like sitting around. We’re very creative, and diversity is key, especially on a farm. We do a thousand things here.”

“You know that character Wonder Woman?” Ted asked. “She and JoAnn are the ultimate multitaskers.”

Filmmaker Douglas Maddox echoed the comparison. “JoAnn’s the multiverse.”

Continued on Page 18

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JoAnn Dawson Continued from Page 17

‘Cream of the Crop’ The Dawsons have some staff, but they often take separate vacations, so one of them is still around to handle all the nitty-gritty of running Fairwinds’ 52 acres in North East – the main house and its B&B guests, a bank barn, a horse barn with 18 stalls, various outbuildings and a partially enclosed 85- by 180-foot facility that functions as riding wing and socially distanced wedding venue.

When asked if she has time to sleep, she said, “We sleep very well.”

Dawson’s latest venture is as a screenwriter.

Cream of the Crop, a feature film inspired by a manure spreader and other aspects of their early life together. Her promotional logline: “A feisty young woman dedicated to saving her family farm falls in love with the driven real estate specialist assigned by his company to take all steps necessary to foreclose on the farm and develop the land.”

“He must ultimately decide between his love for her and his career,” she wrote on the first page of

Dawson at a signing for one of the five books in her Lucky Foot Stable series for young readers.

“I pray to the wrangler god,” Dawson said of the prep work in selecting the right horse for each job – and bringing a spare, just in case. This setup was for a John Deere ad.

the 117-page script. “His decision comes as a shock to everyone.”

The manure spreader was involved in a freak accident when they were dating, and it hurled a piece of concrete into Ted’s face.

Another incident involves yew branches, which are poisonous to cows, being tossed over a fence.

Jodi Stafford and Mike Jared are the main characters, and Dawson will play Jodi’s mother, one of ten or so secondary characters.

Continued on Page 20

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JoAnn Dawson Continued from Page 18

A funny, dramatic, personal story “I wrote the screenplay Cream of the Crop with a subject in mind that is dear to my heart – the preservation of family farmland for future generations,” she wrote on her personal site. “The relationship that develops between the principal characters personifies the struggle that faces so many farm families today – the desire to keep the farm that they love against all odds.

“The screenplay is dramatic, action-packed, humorous and uplifting.

Through a partnership with Douglas Maddox of DBM Films and his amazing team, I plan to produce and develop it as an independent film,” she concludes. “In short, the production of this screenplay is the realization of a lifelong dream for me!” It’s also partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign.

Dawson wrote the script in 1998, and “life got in the way” from development. In 2019, when a film called Hope’s Legacy was filmed at Fairwinds and other Maryland locations (it was first recipient of the new Maryland Small Films Tax Credit program), she connected with Maddox, its director. Hope’s Legacy also included former Baltimore Oriole Ken Arnold and Hollywood veteran Dyan Cannon.

Dawson asked Maddox for insight on her screenplay. He delegated it to an analyst, who graded it A.

One of Dawson’s more unusual jobs is wrangling animals for movies, television shows and ads.

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Dawson delivered a horse on the subway for Not Waving but Drowning, a 2012 movie that starred Adam Driver.

Dawson in makeup for The Sixth Sense, the hit 1999 psychological thriller.

“Good story. good arc. Good drama,” Maddox said of Cream of the Crop. “It’s not your typical romcom. The interplay between the farmgirl and the yuppie will provide plenty of comedy and action.”

The screenplay has been refreshed and updated, with things like cellphones. The film is scheduled to be shot in July at Fairwinds and several other Cecil locations, such as Wesley’s Restaurant in Elkton, The Wellwood

in Charlestown and the government building in Elkton, Dawson said. Updates about the film production will be posted on Fairwinds’ Facebook page.

Maddox said he enjoyed filming Hope’s Legacy, at Fairwinds, because the wide varieties of features on the property made it all-inclusive. “We used every ounce,” he said.

Continued on Page 22

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JoAnn Dawson Continued from Page 21

More life experiences in her books Dawson has successfully mined her life before, with a memoir called “Bed, Breakfast & Beyond – Twenty Years of Kooky Guests, Gentle Ghosts, and Horses in Between.”

Next on her bucket list is to mine another part of her life: all the animal wrangling. “I have a lot of crazy stories,” she said, noting that she’s worked with horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks and dogs.

One anecdote inovlved the political satire “Veep,” with a turkey to be pardoned by the president (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), rather than being eaten for Thanksgiving.

First, Dawson was asked to match a bird with black feathers and white accents that was used earlier, and a lot of reaching out to farmers in multiple states led to a surprisingly convenient success at Gifford’s Farm in Rising Sun. She devoted three days to acclimating her two turkeys to people and filming, and everything seemed to be going smoothly until Louis-Dreyfus asked for the turkey to “do something funny.” So Dawson told Louis-Dreyfus to pat the bird’s back, and on that signal, Dawson would pull a string attached to a leg, which sent the bird flapping and trying to fly – and that feathery fracas was used in the final cut.

Although there’s a lot of attention to her media work, there will always be work down on the farm. “We don’t plan to retire,” Dawson said, and they have a lot of future to plan. Her mother is 100; her grandmother passed on at age 104; and Ted has longevity in his genes as well.

And farming in his genes. “Ted is more of a farmer than I am,” she said.

“I just enjoy my work so much that it doesn’t feel like work,” Ted said, acknowledging that they don’t plan to retire, although they cut back a few years ago and sold a lot of farm equipment.

So they’ll continue as is. “The key word is ‘synergy,” Ted said. “We work well together as a team.”

Dawson (in an aqua shirt) with some of the cast from Hope’s Legacy, a 2020 drama about a young woman, her horse and her hopes. It was partly shot at Fairwinds Farm & Stables.

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|Cecil County Recreation|

Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation: Persistence through the pandemic

The Friends of Cecil County Parks & Recreation board at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2020.

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All photos courtesy

By Drewe Phinny Contributing Writer

T

hese days, when someone says “Parks and Rec,” chances are you think of the popular TV comedy about Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson and a cast of characters who provide lots of laughs as they pursue various projects in a small Indiana town.

Although Thomas McFadden has a good sense of humor, his prime concerns are focused on several important aspects of the resources of leisure, entertainment and recreational pursuits for the citizens of Cecil County.

Born and raised in Cecil County, McFadden moved to Baltimore for college at Loyola University, then relocated to Thailand to teach English as a post-graduate service program.

He worked for American Express in Arizona, and then spent time in India, assisting a center for Global Credit Fraud Operations.

His eclectic background also includes behavioral management and residential counseling for adults with disabilities and severe mental illnesses. His current responsibilities include teaching in the social sciences department as a faculty member at Cecil College.

McFadden is also a founding Board Director of the Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation, and has served in that position since the inception of the board in 2018. He explained the mission this way: “We are the non-profit arm of

The Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation members advocate and support efforts to promote recreational activities and parks.

Continued on Page 26

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Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation Continued from Page 25

the agency,” he said. “We largely do advocacy work and some fundraising at the county level. We also create sponsorship and scholarship programs.

“We promote a thriving, active community with open spaces, so it’s not just our physical health, but our mental health as well, especially over the last year with the pandemic.”

In fact, McFadden said, Cecil County Parks and Rec (CCPR) was one of the only Maryland programs that actually stayed open during the pandemic, continuing to run events.

“We’re one of the few that actually stayed open during the pandemic. All of our parks, Calvert Regional, Brantwood, Conowingo really saw a huge spike in activity. Everybody’s stuck at home, the kids still need to get out and play, people need to get out for a walk,” he explained.

Since Cecil County Public Schools had to shut down its sports programs, CCPR became a welcome substitute. They partnered with each other and were

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There are lots of fun activities that can be enjoyed in Cecil County’s parks.

able to keep a minimal amount of activity going through the health crisis.

Through all the different types of athletic participation, one sport ranked as the primary energy driver in the last year.

“Our main accomplishment during the pandemic was

our ability to fundraise and install a professional level disc golf course at Brantwood Park with a cost over $20,000,” he said.

Brantwood is the old golf course on the way to Chesapeake City on Route 213. The course is 18 holes, two different tee pads (blue for amateurs, gold for more experienced players). The higher-skilled pros have a different distance to the basket.

“This has all been done by fundraising and local business, as well as the disc golf community,” McFadden explained. “Once the budget changed because of the pandemic, we knew we wouldn’t have that capital improvement funded. That’s when Kyle Van Dyke and I went to Clyde and said, ‘can we run with this idea?’ He said go for it. Within six months, we had raised enough money to put in a course. There was a lot of enthusiasm and community engagement, and it really is taking off. We have a huge disc golf group out of Delaware, and we’re bringing in people from the tri-state area. It’s great for revenue.”

The tournament held at Brantwood this past April was sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association.

“From the transition of frisbee golf to actual disc golf, where they started designing the actual tiers of disc, that really started in the 1980s,” McFadden said. “They’re special discs, so just like in regular golf, you have your distance driver, your mid-range, your putter, they have actually designed discs that will fly in different ratios or stability. It used to be the big old, ultimate frisbee disc, then they started playing with the design of the disc, like the rims and the weight of the plastic, the firmness and all of that created discs that fly in this kind of format. Now you purchase a driver and your putters are sort of fat, nubby little discs.”

Unlike the PGA, which adheres to conservative fashion etiquette, the PDGA would seem to value comfort over formal style.

“There are definitely no rules about what you Continued on Page 28

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Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation Continued from Page 27

wear,” McFadden said.

On the other hand, some rules are more strictly enforced. “Definitely rules on outof-bounds on the fairway …if they go too far left or right,” he said.

And there are judges who make official calls to make sure everything is legitimate. “For tournaments, they run doubles on Mondays as a little bit of a side game up at Calvert Regional Park, and we do doubles at Brantwood on Thursdays,” McFadden explained.

The support for disc golf has been building and the folks are willing to do more than a little traveling to take part in this recreational sport.

At one point, McFadden said, Brantwood suffered a little blight, and “they didn’t know what to do with it. So through an open spaces grant in the state of Maryland, the county was actually gifted with all of that space. We also do some habitat restoration.

Conowingo Park already has some good pollinators but not a lot of diversity, so for the Monarch Butterfly, we installed a bunch of milkweed, their host plant.

We installed some nest boxes for the birds. And we’re doing follow-up monitoring. We also plan to do the same thing out at Brantwood. There’s a lot of opportunity to re-meadow that open space and bring back in the native pollinator plants.”

To complete the golf ball, golf disc comparison, McFadden redefines the objective: “There’s a chain link basket that is the target. So you want to get it into that basket in as few throws as possible.”

Although you might not expect any kind of golf to be played between November and March, Cecil County disc courses are heavily populated during cold weather months too. McFadden explained, “The courses are always busy. Even in the dead of winter, these guys are out there. When it’s freezing cold outside, you drive by these courses and they’re out there. They’re throwing In the rain, in the wind…they don’t care. These guys are fanatics. And I think it’s great because the park is getting used.”

There’s also a “leave no trace” mentality that treats the land with dignity and respect. “If there’s trash that blows

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in, people are always picking it up,” he said.

The week-to-week activities are monitored by the disc golf community, McFadden added. “Meanwhile, we’ll throw together bigger tournaments every once in a while and partner with them.”

The Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation has a board of about 12 members, along with a Facebook page and, McFadden mentioned, has been working on having a website available soon at www.friendsccpr.org.

McFadden enthusiastically cited some recent developments that amplify the growing momentum of this recreational sport that motivates the Friends of CCPR. This past May 4, the tournament at Brantwood was a big success and the Cecil County Council presented a proclamation to Kyle Van Dyke, who runs the Cecil County Disc Golf Club and is responsible for the Facebook page. That was the first time in 15 years for that kind of recognition.

“The presentation that Director Clyde Van Dyke did that day for his budget hearing was an an amazing testament to our Parks and Recreation members,” he said.

Clyde Van Dyke praised the efforts as “monumental to our success. They work hand in hand with public organizations in the community to help us not just raise money for scholarships for those not able to afford some of our programs are also very helpful to the disc golf community as they implement the course Continued on Page 30

New bird houses and native pollinators were installed at the Conowingo Park for Cecil Cares Day in October of 2020.

BBirthday irthday PParties arties • CCorporate orporate EEvents vents SSchool chool TTrips rips • ZZoo oo CCamps amps EEducational ducational PPrograms rograms

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Friends of Cecil County Parks and Recreation Continued from Page 29

at Brantwood. So we are very grateful for their time and commitment to our mission and our goals.”

Operations crews take care of everything from the flats of 222 in Conowingo all the way to Earleville and everything in between.

Phase three of Calvert should be winding up pretty soon.

They added 1154 additional parking spots, walking trails and the path from the high school, which allows for travel off of Route 272 in through the high school entrance all the way through phase three behind the arena without going back on the main highway. The new configuration clearly enhances the commitment to safety.

Despite the COVID-19 challenges, projected revenues have been exceeded.

“We’re very proud of that as well,” Van Dyke said. “A lot of that has to do with our facilities being open when other jurisdictions were not, so our rentals were very heavily utilized. We’re very proud to represent Cecil County for not just the neighboring jurisdictions but from all across the nation. We have players from California, Maine, Florida, Ohio. So we’re proud to showcase Cecil County at Calvert.”

As Cecil County and the world continues to approach normalcy again, the future looks bright for Parks & Recreation in general and disc golf in particular.

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|Cecil County People|

‘Live it hard and make it personal’ Fair Hill musician and f ilmmaker Chris Malinowski used his gifts – in collaboration with others – to create a stunning visual accompaniment to a very personal song

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

O

His life had taken on the linear shape of a flatline.

So on that late September afternoon, Malinowski took his acoustic guitar to his backyard patio, fired up his propane-fueled fire pit, stared into the manufactured flames, and began pleading to the gods and goddesses for sympathetic magic like a bone-dry receptacle waiting to be filled again.

Malinowski began fingering the C-Major 7/9 chord. Looking up from his guitar, he saw the way Autumn had begun leaving its imprint in the way of falling petals and leaves from trees.

n the day that Chris Malinowski wrote the song “Confetti” last September, everything, it seemed to him, was in tatters.

His beloved mother-in-law had recently died, and the Fair Hill home he shared with his wife Chrissy had Photo by Chris Malinowski taken on the contemplative and grievThis past January, Malinowski directed a music ing air of both a sanctuary and a long video for one of his current songs that was partially and painful funeral. filmed in Delaware and in Cecil County.

Leo, the 16-year-old dog he and Chrissy saw as the third component of the family had recently passed away, and the dog’s absence Nature’s confetti. was a palpable gut punch that still lingered.

Then a lyric came into his head: Live it hard and make it And all of it – all of the flagrant violations of normalcy personal. and familiarity – had already vanished into the mouth of It became the first line of “Confetti.” a hurricane known as COVID-19, that took Malinowski “I was in a place where I did not desire anything,” he said. away from his long-time bandmates Jim Pennington, James “’Live it hard and make it personal’ was about my desire to Boruch and Greg Lundmark in The Collinwood just as a find the nuance and the color of life again, and do as much new studio recording was about to begin. in life as I wanted to do, and make it personal to me.

It ripped apart the chord that connected him and Chrissy “I felt that I wanted something with a childhood newness to their friends, to the local music scene, and to nearly of being freshly born again, and I began with a communion everything that gave Malinowski’s life joy and meaning.

Continued on Page 36

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Photo by Richard L. Gaw Fair Hill musician and filmmaker Chris Malinowski. www.cecilcountylife.com | Spring/Summer 2021 | Cecil County Life

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Chris Malinowski Continued from Page 32

with nature, because everything I had normally been engrossed in – social media, politics – had exhausted my senses. I needed something that felt more like my childhood.”

Soon, “Confetti” began to take shape, and after Malinowski recorded it with then 16-year-old Jules Corridori at Rich Degnar’s DaSa Studios in Pike Creek in October, he began to conceive of the song as a video, one that he envisioned as a moody and visual nod to his exploration of the supernatural and the occult.

He had done this before; in 2014, he turned his song “White Deer” into a four-minute video as an accompaniment to Yes, Your Tide is Cold and Dark, Sir, an independent film he wrote, directed and starred in. On the video, he had worked with Philadelphiabased cinematographer Ian Mosley-Duffy and editor Colby Bartine from Brooklyn, and as Malinowski’s ideas to reinterpret “Confetti” as a short film began to take shape, it was time to get the guys back together again and make a second music video – one that would end up using Fair Hill as its ethereal backdrop.

Photo by Chris Malinowski

Jules Corridori, who was the lead singer on “Confetti” and performed in the accompanying video, is a 17-year-old student at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington.

Photo by Chris Malinowski

Cinematographer Ian Mosely-Duffy photographs Jules Corridori on location at the McCloskey Ruins along the Blue Diamond Trail near Fair Hill.

Fair Hill on film “Confetti” was partially filmed this January on an estate near the White Clay Creek Preserve in Newark, at a private home in Hockessin, and at Malinowski’s home in Fair Hill, but its most stunning scenes were reserved for the McCloskey Ruins along the Blue Diamond Trail near Fair Continued on Page 38

Chris Malinowski Continued from Page 36

Hill, which were filmed in bitter cold conditions and just days after a snowstorm had pelted Cecil County with nine inches of snow. Often times during the video shoots, it was so cold that the extras – largely friends of his, who were outfitted in animal masks and danced beside an evening bonfire – retreated to their cars to warm up between takes.

Bartine said that during his editing of the video, he was amazed by the number of scenes that were captured by Malinowski and Mosley-Duffy in the spur-of-the-moment of the shooting.

“Sometimes I will go through the coverage and see what Chris wants and what he has storyboarded out, and I then I will find other moments that just come out during the shoot, when something new happens,” Bartine said.

“In the bonfire scene, for instance, I saw a lot of little facial movements behind those masks that worked so well with the song. Being able to work with Ian and Chris on these projects assures me that I will end up with a lot of these unplanned moments.”

“Chris and I had scouted a few places a few days before the shoot, but when we got on set, we made it up on the fly,” Mosley-Duffy said. “It was setting ourselves up in these

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different scenarios and pre-planning, but when it came time to shoot, Chris and I just riffed off one another. It became an organic experience, and then Colby found the best bits to pull together the somewhat weird narrative of the video and make it all work.

“Having the snow on the ground served to be a happy accident, and I feel that is how Chris generally works. We get to a place and things may not be going right according to the script, and he finds a way to potentially change the original idea of the video. We thought, ‘Let whatever happens happen, so let’s make do and just go for it.’”

If Mosley-Duffy’s cinematography serves to wrap the narrative of the “Confetti” video in blankets of snow, light, shadows, fire and the divine presence of the female, they only serve as the co-stars of the four-and-a-half-minute video.

Simply put, Jules Corridori, now 17 and a student at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, is its star, lending a clear, soaring and haunting voice that grabs every lyric and personalizes them as if they were the story of her own life.

“I started teaching Jules the guitar when she was about 12 or 13 years old, and the first time I heard her sing, I remember crying in my lesson room, and telling her, ‘I don’t know how anyone has what you have,’” said Malinowski. “I Continued on Page 40

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Chris Malinowski Continued from Page 38

asked her if her mother sang. She said ‘No.’ Then I asked her if her father sang, and she said, ‘No.’ Then I asked her, ‘Then where does your incredible voice come from?’ She told me that she doesn’t know.

“I’ve never experienced a more visceral response to a voice before,” he added. “It is simply this amazing organic gift she infuses in her singing that is all hers. For instance, I had written a melody line for ‘Confetti,’ but Jules embellished it with her own melody and harmonies, and it was better than anything I could ever imagine on my own.”

Pleas to the gods and the goddesses For Malinowski, rejoining his fellow members has signaled the end of a long retreat from studio work and live performances, and said that producing the “Confetti” video has become the added fuel to the fire that is reigniting the band that originally formed in 1999.

The Collingwood is currently working with Degnars on what will be their fifth full-length album – “You Lust or You Rust” – that will include “Confetti” as its first single. On June 12-13, a video of Malinowski’s songs from the album, “Jouissance,” will be shot by Mosley-Duffy in Fair Hill and

Newark, and will bring back Corridori, who also performs on the track.

“Everything about where The Collingwood is now reverts back to my pleading to the gods and goddesses for sympathetic magic during the writing of ‘Confetti,’” Malinowski said. “It began with asking them for help and surrendering to that power, and that led to working with Colby and Ian and Chrissy and my friends again. It led to the magic that is Jules Corridori.

“It all led to something beautiful, to a fluidity that I trusted, and the gods and the goddesses all returned the favor.”

See more. Learn more.

To watch the video “Confetti,” visit: https://vimeo. com/503505329, or on YouTube at: The Collingwood – “CONFETTI” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (featuring Jules Corridori) To learn more about Chris Malinowski’s work as a filmmaker, visit: https://www.myatinfilmworks.com/ To see and hear more about The Collingwood, visit: https://thecollingwood.bandcamp.com or https://linktr.ee/thecollingwood To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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410-885-5012 800-398-1382 Fax: 410-885-3130 Cell: 443-553-3148

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|Cecil County Life Photo Essay| Since it opened in 2018, Valhalla Brewing Company has received glowing reviews from its customers, who rave about the microbrew pub’s ever-changing assortment of microbrews and its incredible menu – all served with a laid-back vibe

In praise of Valhalla Photos by Moonloop Photography

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Text by Richard L. Gaw Don’t take this magazine’s word for it.

We could spend paragraphs waxing poetic about the success of Valhalla Brewing Company in Elkton, and how they have been able to combine the “sent-from-heaven-above” marriage of great food, brews and a convivial atmosphere together under one roof.

We could devote reams of words to thanking owners Kevin and Sammi Taylor for their vision to begin Cecil County’s first microbrewery in September of 2018, as well as the dedicated staff whose friendly vibes give off that cozy feeling of being welcomed into a home away from home.

We could carve out several chunks of copy merely to the brew pub’s menu alone, the one with killer names like Bama Basket, Drunken Piggy and Hulkadilla, but there would be little space left over to express our devotion to what’s on tap – Siggs Amber Ale, Coconut Porter, Apple Cran Cider and did we say mead?

Continued on Page 44

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Valhalla Brewing Company Continued from Page 43

So we won’t do that.

Instead, we will turn the accolades over to those whose reflections on Elkton’s popular brewpub count the most – the lengthening trail of commentary from customers who have dotted social media and online advisory reviews with praise for what’s been happening on Cherry Hill Road:

“One of the best breweries I’ve been to! Not only do they have a great selection of beer, mead, and cider, the food is amazing! It’s worth the Uber ride out there without a doubt! The staff is very friendly to top it all off! It’s a great atmosphere with plenty of space to hang out both at the bar or at the tables.”

“Their mead was phenomenal, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and the food was amazing. The giant pretzel was the best, and all three dipping sauces were delicious. I will make sure to hit this place up if I’m ever in town again.”

“We had every one of their beers and the mead, and all were excellent. We had both flatbreads and four flavors of wings, as well as the big -- and boy is it -- pretzel. All were excellent. Theirs were some of the best wings I’ve ever had.”

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Continued on Page 46

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Valhalla Brewing Company Continued from Page 44

“We live about an hour away and I can’t wait to go back down there. If I lived closer to this place I would probably be reported missing by my wife until she thought to look at Valhalla. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.”

“This place has become one of our regular places to go.’

They have a really good rotating beer selection -- their own and others – as well as meads and some creative cocktails. It does not stop there; their selection of food is great, from the buffalo chicken nachos to the smoked wings, you can’t go wrong. Definitely worth a visit!”

Valhalla Brewing Company is located on 41 Cherry Hill Road in Elkton.

To learn more, visit www.valhallabrewco.com.

Tel.: 443-207-8059.

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|Cecil County People|

Life, interrupted “As I age, I’ve learned that it’s less about money – although money is nice – it’s about making people smile,” said Cusmano, 65, a Chesapeake City resident.

Since 1999, he has been working in benefits, lately as agency development manager at Colonial Life.

He’s been encouraged by the feedback from people who have purchased his photos and the Cecil County Arts Council designating him as one of two featured photographers for a 2019 show.

“I went into overdrive” to prepare for it, he said, figuring that in nine months he shot 8,000 to 9,000 images on the show’s theme, “Naturally Speaking.” “Butterflies, birds, junkyards, an abandoned dairy farm, living things, decaying things, Nature retaking what was hers. A lot of fun.”

A very early love

Nick Cusmano stands beside one of his photographs, that earned honorable mention in the 2018 Cecil County Arts Council Photography Show.

By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer

C

hesapeake City’s Nick Cusmano was four when he became fascinated by photos. Now, at 65, he hopes photography is a post-retirement path to joy.

A wartime picture of his father, a high school photo class and three decades of enjoying Cecil County’s unappreciated beauty imbue Nick Cusmano’s photography.

And after life interfered for almost three decades with his photography, he hopes his interest becomes financially rewarding in post-retirement. He already knows it is emotionally rewarding.

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Cusmano grew up in Summit, New Jersey. “My first memory of fascination with photos was at about four,” he said. The memory involves photos of his father, sitting on his PT boat in Borneo.

He took his first photos when he was seven, sharing them in show-and-tell at school. He was soon taking photos of family events, trying to be creative within the limits of 2½-inch-square black-and-white images from an Imperial Mark VII. “I was holding the camera at a 45-degree angle,” he said. “They’re pretty goofy.” Through these images, “I trace my passion to before I could walk to the curb by myself.”

Cusmano was about 16 when he bought his first camera, a Kodak 110 Instamatic.

As a high school sophomore, he took his first photography course, and again he experienced fascination. By the control in his brother’s Voigtlander 35mm camera, by the extra control he had in the darkroom, and by the Continued on Page 50

Nick Cusmano titled this image “Annabelle,” for his “cute as button, little imp of a granddaughter.” For about a week in July of 2019, he sat for hours in the flower garden at the end of his driveway watching butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, some landing on the bright orange, yellow or bluish shirts that he wore.

He credits his introspection while recovering from his 2016 accident for making the time for this encounter of the closeup kind. “Reliving the experience of capturing this image really has my gears spinning” about the possibility of a series of photoillustrated short stories. I can especially see a children’s book about the vitality of butterflies and all the other pollinators to our very existence,” he said.

Much to his disappointment, the pollinators did not return last year. “It’s actually the most compelling piece of the last fourplus years of my life.”

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Nick Cusmano Continued from Page 48

satisfaction of people who wanted his photos. Cusmano had become completely hooked.

Or maybe he was insane or fanatical for never putting the camera down.

That’s how he was dubbed by a classmate at Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey, and it’s there his intense interest in photography matured while he earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance and economics.

Other demands took over “I paid for most of my senior year with my cameras and always had the dream of pursuing photography as a profession,” he said. “I was making money with my cameras in several ways, including documenting poor construction performance by contractors for a law firm; taking portraits and

A long night out in the cold, followed by a lot of time tuning the image at the monitor led to this shot of the moon below wind-blown white pampas grass, almost 7 feet tall.

Continued on Page 52

Minihane’s 1853 Land & Sea You may recognize the name from the original Minihane’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, but Ingrid Minihane took time during the pandemic to reinvent the concept of her business. She has worked in the food industry for over 20 years and decided to open her own restaurant in 2013 in downtown Elkton. Originally, Minihane’s Irish Pub & Restaurant opened as an Irish pub in honor of Denis Minihane, Ingrid’s husband, who was born and raised in Cunnamore, Ireland. After a heartbreaking closing of the restaurant during the pandemic, Ingrid and Denis decided to reopen in April of this year with a new name and concept — Minihane’s 1853 Land & Sea. Incorporating the year the building was established was important to them in acknowledging the rich history behind the brick and stone walls and the terrazzo floor.

Having grown up in Chile, Ingrid is no stranger to seafood and steak and is excited to share a little bit of her culture through her dishes. As the head chef and co-owner of the restaurant, Ingrid is determined to provide clean food and simple, yet sophisticated dishes to her guests.

Much of the new concept derives from Ingrid’s love for steak and seafood found in her country, but Minihane’s 1853 Land & Sea offers much more than that. The new eclectic menu offers items such as Portugese Mussels, Irish Shepherd’s Pie, Chilean ‘lomo a lo pobre’, and the classic American Perfect Burger. She’s proud of using fresh ingredients to cook and local suppliers. The new restaurant features local fresh oysters as well as crab cakes. The diverse menu also extends to the bar which now features classic cocktails such as the Perfect Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Cosmopolitan, Martinis, Champagne, and even fresh Margaritas. Not just that, but they also offer imported beers such as Guinness from Ireland, Peroni from Italy, and Rodenbach Grand Cru from Belgium.

This diverse cuisine and cocktails adds a different ambiance with a refined decor, lounge background music, and candle light to the historic building, making it a sophisticated place for customers to enjoy an elegant meal. Ingrid would like to invite anyone with a sense of adventure looking to travel the world through each dish to come join her for dinner at Minihane’s 1853 Land & Sea.

101 West Main Street Elkton, MD reservations@1853landandsea.com | 410-620-1853 Thurs - Sat • 5pm – 10pm, Sun • 10am – 2pm, Mon - Wed • Closed

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M I N I H A N E ' S

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Thursday to Saturday 5-10PM Sunday Brunch 10-2PM

101 West Main St., Elkton MD 21921 reservations@1853landandsea.com (410) 620 1853 www.1853landandsea.com www.cecilcountylife.com | Spring/Summer 2021 | Cecil County Life

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Nick Cusmano Continued from Page 50

promo shots for a local theater group; restoring old family photos; and having several shots published in local newspapers.”

But “life came.” A 1980 transfer took him from New Jersey to Virginia, and he boxed up his stuff.

Cusmano got married in 1984 and moved to Illinois, back to New Jersey and then in 1989 to Port Deposit as a halfway point between his and his wife’s parents. They took in four siblings in foster care in 1991 and finalized their adoption a few years later. “The darkroom boxes got buried deeper and deeper,” he said.

As the children got older – the siblings were seven, five, four and two when they entered his life – they started biking together a lot. Cusmano was enjoying the scenery in person and wanted to capture it on film, but he felt frustrated because he had lost his “intuitive skills” in photography.

Those rides led him to the old railroad trestles along the Conowingo Creek, “where the creative dreams moved beyond their constant nibbling and started gnawing at me again,” he said. “I think shots of those trestles were the first images published since college.

“I’d shoot every so often but not with anything near the commitment I’d had way back. It was more a matter of teasing myself with what could have been. As is so often the case these days, divorce reared its ugly head, and I found myself a single dad to a handicapped adult.”

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Cusmano calls this image “Out of Mirkwood” for how a Cecil County landscape evokes a fantasy forest.

Sideswiped, useless, fuzzy, coping The 25 years in Port Deposit ended. The home that he had devoted so much effort to rehabilitate (the old Valley Hotel on Rock Run Road) had been ravaged by termites, and he “couldn’t sell it, couldn’t auction it, and just walked away.” He moved to Elkton before landing in Chesapeake City.

And then, on Sept. 20, 2016, during a bicycle ride on Biggs Highway near Rising Sun, Cusmano was sideswiped by a Chevy Suburban, making him “useless for four months, fuzzy between the ears for over two years” and still coping with issues today.

Continued on Page 54

This Eastern Shore building served for a long time as a hub of commerce for an extended farming community, along with a church that once stood across the street. A graveyard is all that remains of that church. A gas pump remains in front of the building, with the dial stopped at 24 cents per gallon.

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Nick Cusmano Continued from Page 53

“My mother passed in the middle of all that, and I used a small inheritance to take another shot at pursuing photography as my way of life,” he said. “I bought a scanner, a quality photo printer, a couple of pop-up canopies, tables and a bunch of frames, then started scanning, printing and framing, mostly older work.” But he didn’t sell any prints, “so once more, the dream took another beating.”

One more “but,” and this time a good one: recognition in contests and competitions and positive feedback from pics he posted on his alumni Facebook page. “I began regaining the confidence I had.”

He’s devoting at least 10 hours a week studying the field (often via “YouTube University”) and being out in the field, shooting images outside and practicing portraiture on figurines in his house.

Cusmano is ready to capture all sorts of images, from babies to seniors (but not weddings – they’re too stressful), on-location personal portraits.

Pursuing the dream Linda Katz, a friend for almost 20 years, and her husband, Paul, have purchased more than 10 of Cusmano’s photos for their business, the Chesapeake Wellness Center in Cecilton, and their home. “His photos are always taking you Continued on Page 56 “A Dandy Sunset” won first place in photography in the 2018 Cecil County Arts Council Juried Show.

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His description: “Family portrait with a couple of tough characters!”

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Nick Cusmano Continued from Page 54

somewhere,” she said. “Even his closeup photos. It’s a leaf, but I see a horse’s head in it.”

Cusmano was a faithful participant in Cecil County Arts Council shows for more than a decade, said Annmarie Hamilton, its executive director, but his works at first did not generate prizes and sales. “That all changed about three years ago. Nick has won multiple prizes and awards in each of our annual photography exhibitions, and I expect that to continue as his talents grow as a skilled photographer.

Cusmano’s featured status at the arts council convinced him that he had a future in photography.

“That led me to start seriously looking into the next step so here I am, nearing retirement from the real world and finally pursuing the dream,” he said. “If I can wind this life down bringing people smiles long after their loved ones are gone and lightening rooms with images that make no contribution other than reminding folks of the beauty all around us, I’ll have achieved that dream.”

It looks simple, but Cusmano said “that cup of coffee got nuked at least 20 times and the sun rose five inches against the window frame from the moment I noticed the shot until I finally captured it.”

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“Community is our Strength”

For organizations doing business in Cecil County who need a network of services and resources,

The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce

is a membership organization that supports, connects and advocates.

We Are Your County-wide Connection.

COMMUNITY IS OUR GOAL Event and meeting dates can be found at cecilchamber.com PEER GROUPS/COMMITTEES MEMBER ORIENTATIONS Join us for Chamber Orientation to become familiar with all aspects of the Chamber and meet new members. Whether you’re a new or existing member, Member Orientation is a great way to connect with your Chamber.

BUSINESS BY THE BONFIRE

A fun night of networking - Fall 2021

ROUNDTABLES Long-term Care – Bi-monthly meeting to bring like-minded professionals together to share best practices, information, and resources to the benefit of all.

Network Marketing – The Network Marketing roundtable exists to facilitate the support of our members in the areas of Social Media, Marketing, Advertising and Peer to Peer Networking. Our mission is to educate and collaborate with our members via a monthly meeting, as well as, other opportunities both within and external to the Cecil Commerce.

Nonprofit – Quarterly meeting open to all Cecil County nonprofit organizations and affiliated agencies.

Government Relations Meetings – Provides a forum for chamber members to track, research, and discuss important public policy or legislative issues at the national, state and local levels. The committee serves as an advisory group for the Chamber Board of Directors.

Recommendations representing the position of Chamber members to the Board of Directors will range from philosophical points of view to formal policy/legislative position. All recommendations will be consistent with the Chamber’s vision, mission and stated values.

216 E. Pulaski Hwy, Suite 120, Elkton, MD 21921 410-392-3833 • www.cecilchamber.com • info@cecilchamber.com www.cecilcountylife.com | Spring/Summer 2021 | Cecil County Life

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|Cecil County Life Q&A| The educational journey of Debra Stevens – from high school dropout to a Ph.D. candidate – went through Cecil College. She’s now giving back to the College by inspiring others to achieve their own personal dreams

Debra Stevens

Instructional Specialist Department of Adult Education, Cecil College Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Debra Stevens

Cecil County Life: Your path forward, to say the least, has been an extraordinary one – an arc that began when you dropped out of high school to the pursuit of your Doctorate in Business Administration from Wilmington University. What have been the predominant factors that have enabled you to keep your eyes on the prize, and those that you wish to share with others?

Debra Stevens: I want to start by saying that during the journey to finish my Doctorate, there were times when I would wonder why I was working on this degree. Then the thoughts come to me of why someone sets out on their journey.

For those on any kind of personal journey, it is important to reflect on the reason for the journey in the first place. Think of what you wanted to accomplish and why. That constant reflection is a chance to think about your goals and how you are taking action to align the work you are doing with the achievement you want to accomplish.

Let’s start at the beginning of that arc. What was happening in your life that contributed to your choosing to drop out of high school?

I always had good grades in school and made the honor roll. When I got to high school, it was more anxiety of over the non-academic parts of school and I felt out of 58

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place. In hindsight, I realize I was not the only one who felt that way and began to see that most push through to find their path.

Instead of choosing to return to high school, you earned your GED from Cecil College in April of 1986.

What led you to making that decision, and describe what earning that diploma did for your self-confidence.

After withdrawing from high school, I started looking for a job, but without a high school diploma, my options were limited. I soon realized I needed to finish my diploma to have more options available.

Instead of returning to high school, I decided to go ahead and try to pass the GED Test. I had several family members that got a GED and they were supportive of me taking the GED Test. When I received the envelope in the mail that had my GED, I was so excited I had passed the test and made that first step. At the time, I knew I wanted to do more, but it took me a couple of months to figure it out.

You then received an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Goldey Beacom College, a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Goldey Beacom in 1996, and in 2008, you earned a Masters in Business Administration from Wilmington University.

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Debra Stevens Continued from Page 58

This period of your arc certainly had its challenges, but yet you remained true to your goal. Talk about the support that you received from others during this period of your education.

My parents and my husband supported me as I worked through obtaining my degrees. Along the way, there were times I stopped taking classes, which was usually between degrees. I found once I finished a degree, I needed to take a break and reassess where I was personally, with my job, and with my family. I wanted to make sure that continuing was the right goal and that I was continuing on the right path. I had discussions with my family, advisor, and instructors who helped me find my way.

Your arc may bend forward but it also bends toward a part of your past. As you pursue your Doctorate in Business Administration, you are also applying your life experience and education as a teacher for Cecil College’s adult education program. What inspired you to dedicate your time to helping others achieve their goals at Cecil College?

I feel that at this point in my life, I have come full circle. It is rewarding to put my energy and passion of education to work to help others achieve their goal.

We all have different goals and different ways of getting there. I know from experience that it can be a long and winding path, and most students need some help along the way to see where the work finally helps them achieve their ultimate goal.

In a recent online article published by Cecil College, you said, “I tell my students, ‘You must search for what is right for you and remember nothing worth having comes easy.’” It is safe to say that each one of your students is engaged in a giant self-balancing act of dreams and responsibilities, hopes and obligations.

Do you ever look at the journey your students are on and reflect that your own journey greatly overlaps theirs?

I see the students I work with juggling some of the same situations I did during my educational journey. They have jobs, other obligations, children, and school. I feel there are some situations I can share with them to give them just a little bit of motivation to continue and to not feel alone or as if they are the only ones that have these struggles. Our other staff, faculty, and I are there to help them anyway we can to help them achieve their goals.

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Debra Stevens Continued from Page 60

For those who may be reading this article and are struggling to make their way in the world, what can you take from your own experience and give to them as a gift to use on their journey?

Even though everyone’s goals and dreams are different, many face similar struggles along the way. Facing and overcoming those struggles to reach a goal makes achieving that goal ever better. Also, try not to focus on all the work needed for the final outcome, but break it down in smaller pieces and just focus on this one class, or that one homework assignment. Literally, take it one step at a time. You may have to stop and take a breath but keep climbing.

To learn more about Adult Education programs at Cecil College, contact 443-907-1391, email adulted@cecil.edu or visit www.cecil.edu.

-- Richard L. Gaw

|In the Spotlight|

Dr. Mary W Leadership

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Leadership Maryland announced that Dr. Mary Way Bolt, President at Cecil College, has been chosen to participate in the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders.

Cecil College President and Colora resident one of 50 selected for professional development program

We encourage local organizations, schools, civic and fraternal groups and churches to submit news releases.

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ary Way Bolt chosen for ship Maryland Class of 2021 Leadership Maryland announced that Dr. Mary Way Bolt, President at Cecil College, has been chosen to participate in the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders.

Dr. Bolt is one of 50 individuals chosen for Leadership Maryland’s 28th class – the Class of 2021, who will complete the eight-month hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. The class was originally selected as the Class of 2020 but was postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of all participants, this year’s program will include a hybrid of virtual programming and in-person sessions, if and when possible.

The program is running from April to December, and includes five, two-day sessions focused on Maryland’s

five main geographic regions and the most vital issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. More than 100 experts representing business, government, education, and the non-profit community will serve as panelists and guest speakers.

Leadership Maryland is open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in either their careers and/ or their communities. Ideal Leadership Maryland members have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and a personal commitment to be a force for positive change in their organizations, their communities, and their state. For more information about Leadership Maryland, please visit www.LeadershipMD.org, call 410-841-2101 or email Info@LeadershipMD.org.

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|Around Cecil County|

Memorial scholarship honors Elkton dentist’s charitable work The Cecil College Foundation recently announced the Dr. Paul B. Lavine Memorial Scholarship’s creation to provide a need-based scholarship to support students enrolled at Cecil College.

When it came to helping those less fortunate, Paul Barry Lavine, DDS, let his action speak for his devotion and dedication to the residents of Elkton and the surrounding communities. Dr. Lavine operated family dentistry in Elkton for decades, but he would offer his services pro bono to the poor and cancer patients during his spare time. He believed in giving back to the community, and his family establishes this scholarship to continue his

legacy of helping people achieve their dreams.

“This scholarship encompasses “Doc’s” strong beliefs in education. He felt that all young adults needed to have the opportunity to further themselves through education and opportunities,” said Dr. Geoffery Shultz, who shared the practice with Dr. Lavine in Elkton. “He demanded a lot of you, almost like a father figure, but would step in to help a student overcome education and, most importantly, a financial hurdle. I’ve known “Doc” for almost 16 years when he allowed me as an incoming college freshman at Cecil College (2015-2017) to work for him as a dental assistant. This allowed me to immerse myself

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in dentistry and reach my career goals.”

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Dr. Lavine grew up in Lawrenceville, N.J. He studied pre-med and dentistry at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Dental School, respectively. After becoming a dentist, he enlisted with the U.S. Army as a captain and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

Upon opening his dentistry practice in Elkton, Dr. Lavine was unrelenting, devoted to his practice, and enjoyed being called “Doc” by his patients, co-workers, and friends. Those who knew him best remember him as a person who loved to entertain people with his magic tricks, silly jokes, and crazy costumes. He loved to talk sports, watch and play basketball and go on an annual fishing trip with his Army buddies.

“I was blessed to have had the opportunity to return after dental school, seven years ago, to work with and continue to learn from Paul. This scholarship will help him continue to push, guide, and encourage so many young adults to further their education and reach their career goals. We will keep his legacy and office open to provide dental care to the community and patients he so dearly loved,” said Dr. Shultz.

Dr. Lavine passed away on November 13, 2020, at age 68, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Courtesy photo

The Dr. Paul B. Lavine Memorial Scholarship’s creation will provide a need-based scholarship to support students enrolled at Cecil College.

To apply for this and other Cecil College scholarships, visit cecil.edu/scholarships. If you are interested in supporting a student through a tax-deductible gift, please contact the Cecil College Foundation at foundation@cecil. edu or visit cecil.edu/foundation.

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