Cover Photo by Matt Cordrey, Public Works Construction Crew
BEATING THE HEAT
This past month gave us many opportunities to celebrate and give recognition. First off, we had Father’s Day. We are proud of all of the great dads that we have working with us here at the Town of Easton, and we’re grateful for all of the time and hard work you put in, both on the job and at home.
It was nice to see our first responders receive some recognition at the 4th Annual Talbot County First Responders Celebration. Bluepoint Hospitality put on a great event, and it was inspiring to see U.S. Senator Ben Cardin speak so highly of our local agencies.
We also held our first ever Strategic Planning Session, bringing in leadership from all areas around the Town to discuss how we can improve as an organization and chart our steps forward in that direction. It was a successful event that brought in lots of insight and discourse on our operations.
Lastly, congratulations to Easton Utilities for hitting the milestone of 1,500 connections made for the Connect Talbot Program. This is an impressive feat and a major boon to both Easton Utilities and some of our nearby rural areas.
Here’s to a fantastic month ahead, stay cool!
Click HERE to see Tim’s video interview!
Employee Spotlight
TIM BELCHER | BUILDING INSPECTOR
Meet Tim Belcher! Tim is a Building Inspector with our Buildings Department. Tim started working with us just a little over 6 months ago.
Tim works by inspecting new construction and renovations going on around Town to make sure that they meet Town Code and other safety standards. Tim focuses primarily on commercial buildings, and utilizes a lifetime of experience in construction to help perform his duties.
Tim and his wife live in Cambridge, MD. He enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren. One thing you may not know about Tim is that he is a professional Billiards player, competing in the World Championships multiple times and ranking as high as 45th out of 700 competitors.
FATHER’S
FATHER’S DAY Happy
Thank you to all of the wonderful dads on our staff — we are grateful for all that you do!
Some of our Town of Easton fathers pictured (from left to right): Larry Wroten, Rick VanEmburgh, Mike Young, Rick Farr, Tim Tarrant, Don Richardson, Mike Dickerson, Tom Diem, Ryan Heckler, Charlie Connolly, Greg Mueller, Tim Streckfus, and Josh Maxwell.
FINEST KIND
Local first responders honored in 4th Annual Talbot County First Responders Celebration
Bluepoint Hospitality’s 4th Annual First Responders Celebration was held on Monday, June 3 at the Service Memorial on the corner of Dover and West streets. Law enforcement agencies from around the region, local dignitaries, and residents all came out to mark the occaision and show their support for the emergency response teams in Talbot County.
To kick off the event, John Coleman of the Talbot County Sheriff’s department sang a booming and beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
After the opening ceremony and presentation of the Honor Guard, speeches were given by EVFD member Ed Forte, State Senator Johnny Mautz, Paul Prager, and keynote speaker U. S. Senator Ben Cardin.
Speakers all gave their thanks and praise to the local agencies, expressing gratitude for the hard work and risk involved on a day-to-day basis in their jobs. Senator Cardin noted, “We’re here today to express, collectively, this community’s support for what you do every day.”
Cardin continued, “It’s not easy. We know what you have to go through today. Not only on getting the support you need through the budget process but the support you need through the community. And we tell you, we are with you every step of the way, doing everything we can to make sure you are kept safe so you can keep us safe.”
After the ceremony, attendees were invited to enjoy complimentary slices of authentic Roman-style pizza at nearby Bluepoint Hospitality eatery Roma Alla Pala, led by Chef Todd Lindeberg and the Bluepoint Executive
Attending agencies included: Easton Police Department, Easton Volunteer Fire Dept. MD, Oxford Police Department, Oxford VFD, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, Talbot County Emergency Services (DES), Trappe Volunteer Fire Company, St Michaels VFD, and Maryland State Police (Easton Barrack).
Thank you to all of the first responders who serve our Town and region, and put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe!
Chef Harley Peet, a 2024 James Beard Award Winner.
THE RIGHT STEPS
Town Leadership holds first ever Strategic Planning
On Wednesday, June 5, the Town of Easton management team all got together for their first annual Strategic Planning Session.
Orchestrated by Chief Human Resources Officer Rick Farr, this event brought Town leadership from all departments together for open and thoughtful discussions on how to implement new strategies that allow our organization to improve collectively.
Located at The Tidewater Inn, the planning session was led by an outside administrator, Joe Thomas, who serves as Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the United States Naval Academy.
Thomas sparked conversation and debate throughout the day, covering topics such as team building, leadership, self reflec-
Session
tion, work culture, and departmental communication. We are proud of our leadership team here at the Town of Easton, and we were pleased to see strong engagement with lively and interactive discussion throughout the day.
Farr was pleased with the event, and looks forward to how it helps shape both our leadership and the direction of the Town in years to come.
Farr said, “All department heads fostered a very robust open and honest discussion and felt comfortable sharing ideas, asking difficult questions, and proposed meaningful solutions.
Joe Thomas demonstrated a deep understanding of strategic leadership concepts and was able to effectively communicate complex ideas in a clear and engaging manner to all our department heads”.
HIGH SPEED SUCCESS
Easton Velocity Connects 1,500th Customer with Broadband
Easton Velocity, a service of Easton Utilities announces a significant milestone, connecting its 1,500th customer in Talbot County through the Connect Talbot rural broadband project. “Our ongoing partnership continues to flourish, and I am proud to say that our residents and businesses are reaping the benefits from the unlimited possibilities that broadband provides,” says Talbot County Council President Chuck Callahan.
The project’s impact can be seen and felt across Talbot County. Just ask Dr. Jeffrey Etherton, Medical Director of the Cardiac
Catheterization Laboratory, University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center, who received access to his residence several months ago.
“Providing reliable internet access to our home has directly impacted my ability to respond more quickly and more effectively to emergency cardiovascular issues of patients while I am on call for the Medical Center,” says Dr. Etherton. “All night long and on weekends, my team is responsible for emergency cardiac issues such as heart attacks, heart failure and
life-threatening arrhythmias. Prior to having internet access [at my home], I had no reliable ability to access information from the Health Systems electronic medical site or provide orders in a timely manner.”
Easton Velocity has constructed 320 miles of fiber and increased their subscriber base by 15%. To date, access to broadband has been made available to more than 2,500 locations throughout Talbot County. The total project is expected to cost approximately $40 million and will be completed before the end of 2026. While the project continues to adjust its scope and timeline with additional funding and locations, more than 4,400 locations will have access to high-speed internet when the project is complete.
Leaders at Easton Velocity and Talbot County have secured $30 million in grant funding to date from a variety of sources including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), State of Maryland, and the Talbot County Council, along with a significant investment from Easton Utilities. Most recently, an application submitted by Talbot County for $1.1 million was just awarded from the Office of Statewide Broadband. “We continue to look for funding opportunities to help further the work we are doing to minimize the burden for our residents,” adds Callahan.
The successful execution of this project is dependent on a variety of factors because of the rural landscape and topography of Talbot County. The sprawl makes for a more time intensive and challenging construction process than a suburban region and requires obtaining easements, locating underground infrastructure, and utilizing a mix of installation methods including aerial lashing which require pole access, trenching, and plowing.
“We are proud of our remarkable progress and attribute it to the dedication of our team and contractors in executing this momentous project,” says Ted L. Book, Vice President of Easton Velocity.
Easton Velocity offers a wide range of speeds so customers can select the best option based on their needs and budget. “We are thrilled to now have reliable service without breaking the bank, and the tech support by Easton Velocity is stellar,” says
Cindy Allen, a Cordova resident who signed up for service last year after learning there was not a customer contribution required for the construction portion of the install.
“Another great thing about having Easton Velocity is that we can connect multiple devices without any interruption or slowing down the service,” Allen continues “With other providers, we could not stream channels while another person in
“
The Connect Talbot project is a transformational initiative to ensure access to broadband for all the unserved residents in Talbot County,”
Hugh E. Grunden, President and CEO of Easton Utilities.
our household was on their laptop or in another room streaming channels.”
Early on, Easton Utilities understood that providing broadband access to residents and businesses with insufficient service in Talbot County would positively impact numerous quality of life issues including employment, healthcare, education, and social connections, all of which help drive economic prosperity. Providing a network to improve the quality and availability of high-speed data services to as many businesses and residents as possible became critical for virtual learning and remote working.
“The Connect Talbot project is a transformational initiative to ensure access to broadband for all the unserved residents in Talbot County,” stated Hugh E. Grunden, President and CEO of Easton Utilities.
Details about the Connect Talbot project, including a real-time interactive map with construction status, can be found at www. EastonVelocity.com/ConnectTalbot.
Easton Police
DODGE THIS!
EPD HOSTS “Cops vs. Kids” dodgeball matches at YMCA
On Tuesday, June 11, Easton Police Department partnered with Grace Street to put on “Cops vs. Kids” dodgeball at the YMCA in Easton.
The event saw several officers from EPD face off against local youths who came out to participate in a friendly, but spirited game of dodgeball.
The event featured time slots for 2 age groups, ages 11-13, and ages 7-10 for fairness of play. Despite the age split, by the end of the day everyone was on the court for one big game (including some nearby parents) that saw a final showdown between kids and adults.
While the adults were severely outnumbered, they eventually prevailed in taking out the children one by one with well-thrown targeted take-downs, acrobatic catches, and solid strategy.
Chief Alan Lowrey said, “These kinds of events are great for community engagement...I mean the kids just love it, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun for us.”
After the games, the children were treated to free shaved ice from Sno Angels.
ARE YOU CONNECTED?
Follow us on social media: @townofeastonmd
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Congratulations to Chief Human Resources Officer Rick Farr for winning the Employee Newsletter Cover Photo Contest!
Rick now has a $25 gift card to Doc’s Riverside Grille for his submission that landed on the June cover of the Town of Easton Employee Newsletter.
You could be the next winner by submitting your potential cover photos to gmueller@ eastonmd.gov. If your submission is chosen, you too will win a $25 gift card!
Birthdays
JULY
Bill Willis
Timothy Streckfus
Colin Woodard
Colton Insley
Juan Sanchez Bartolon
Elmer Davis
Tyrone Pinder
Frank Gunsallus
Tracy Lednum
Anniversaries
JULY
Rev. Elmer Neal Davis Jr. - 4 years
Patrick Sally - 23 years
Carol Callahan - 20 years
Trevor Newcomb - 17 years
Robert Haase - 9 years
Sierra Clem - 7 years
Ryan Heckler - 7 years
MUST-TRI BEETS
Fire Up the Grill for Our Favorite Summer Fare
(Family Features) Among the many staples of a summer gathering, lighting the grill and enjoying fresh-cooked fare is what makes those moments so special. Bring together your nearest and dearest with favorites straight off the grates to make this summer one to remember.
Pickled Beet Chimichurri Tri-Tip is sure to leave a lasting impression with the succulence of perfectly cooked steak elevated by beet chimichurri. Made with Aunt Nellie’s Diced Pickled Beets that are picked and packed at peak ripeness, they provide
a balance of sweetness and vinegar for that familiar homemade flavor.
For a quick-and-easy option that makes dinnertime a cinch, turn to a beloved summer solution: bratwurst. Whether the outer layer is slightly charred or crispy, bratwurst makes it easy on the grill master while giving guests the opportunity to customize with their favorite toppings.
Find more ways to make summer grilling “grate” at AuntNellies.com and READSalads.com.
PICKLED BEET CHIMICHURRI TRI-TIP
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 60-90 minutes, 10-15 minutes rest
Servings: 6-8
TRI-TIP:
1 tri-tip roast (2-3 pounds) salt, to taste pepper, to taste
CHIMICHURRI BEET SAUCE:
1 jar Aunt Nellie’s Diced Pickled Beets, drained
1 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, roughly chopped 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste salt, to taste pepper, to taste
To prepare tri-tip: Season tri-tip generously with salt and pepper, to taste, on all sides. Rest at room temperature about 30 minutes.
To prepare chimichurri beet sauce: In food processor, combine pickled beets, parsley, cilantro, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, fresh oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Pulse until mixture is well combined and forms chunky sauce. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
Heat grill to 350 F and prepare for two-zone grilling. Place tri-tip over indirect heat. Close lid and grill 30-40 minutes, flipping every 5-7 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 125 F for medium-rare.
Move tri-tip to direct heat and grill 2-3 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches desired doneness (135 F for medium-rare).
Transfer tri-tip to cutting board and rest 1015 minutes. Slice tri-tip against grain into thin slices. Arrange slices on serving platter and drizzle with chimichurri beet sauce. Serve extra sauce on side for dipping.