EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2024
Cover Photo by Justin Jones, Construction Supervisor, PW
THE LEAVES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
As we transition into fall, I want to take a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication each of you has shown over the past few months. It’s been a busy time, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.
Easton Police Department recently completed a successful honor guard training session for various first response agencies, showcasing their commitment to service and professionalism. Additionally, our employee appreciation events — including the always popular breakfast, and the crab feast at Public Works — have been fantastic opportunities to connect and celebrate all that you do. And, for a bit of friendly competition, we even enjoyed a fun-filled pickleball event!
On a larger scale, I’m excited to share that we wrapped up a four-day community charrette, gathering valuable input to complete our small area plan. This was a meaningful step forward, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Planning and Zoning Department. I can’t wait to see the final report.
Thank you all for making this a great place to work. Let’s continue the momentum in the months ahead!
Click HERE to see Nick’s video interview!
Employee Spotlight
NICK EVERNGAM | DETECTIVE
Meet Nick Everngam! Nick is a Detective serving with the Easton Police Department. He has worked at the Easton Police Department for about 5 years now.
Nick is responsible for investigating cases involving seriouszz crimes (assault, fraud, sex crimes, etc.). Nick also serves as a drone pilot, SWAT operator, and as an instructor for firearms and defensve tactics.
In his free time, Nick enjoys many of the same things he enjoys at work! He flies drones recreationally, enjoys shooting, and also spends some of his time working out and hanging out with his family.
Megan
#PROUDTOWEARPINK
#PROUDTOWEARPINK
Town of Easton employees wore pink clothes and accessories on October 29 to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Back Row: John Tripp, Nancy Pinkney, Bev Williamson, Sam Smith, Joanne Drummer, Kathy Ruf, Kody Cario, Rick Farr. Middle Row: Dawn Hutchison, Lorraine Gould, Tracy Lednum, Mayor Megan COok, Aaron
Sadberry, Tony Nagle. Front Row: Carol Callahan, Lynn Thomas, Shelby Ruf, Carolinne Kahane, Greg Mueller, Cristy Spindler.
IN A PINCH
Public Works Dept. Enjoys Appreciation Crab Feast
On October 10, our Public Works Department hosted their annual Crab Feast at their headquarters on Mistletoe Drive!
Current Public Works employees, retirees, as well as members of our Engineering,z and Parks and Recreation departments all came out to enjoy crabs, fried chicken, cold drinks, and desserts while seated together in the winter storage building.
Lots of big smiles and fun conversation were had amongst the delicious crabs from Gay’s Seafood
We are so grateful for all these employees do (and have done) for our Town and organization. Our Public Works, Engineering, and Parks and Recreation teams work so well together to keep the Town beautiful, well-maintained, and safe every day. Keep up the great work!
A GOOD MORNING
HR Department hosts Employee Appreciation Breakfast
The morning of October 8 was all about appreciation — appreciation for the hard work our employees do and for all of their accomplishments made throughout the year.
The Town of Easton HR team put on an employee appreciation breakfast that was a great chance for employees to take a break, catch up with each other, and of course, enjoy a delicious balanced breakfast!
Chief Human Resource Officer Rick Farr said, “Taking care of our employees is first and foremost. We appreciate all that they do for our organization.”
Thank you to our HR team for putting on this delicious event, and thank you to The Omelette Guys for the tasty made-to-order omelettes, Belgian waffles, coffee, and sides. Most of our workforce was able to start their day with a full stomach and a smile on their face.
HONORABLE MENTION
Easton Police Department hosts their 22nd annual Honor Guard Training Conference
Easton Police Department held its 22nd Annual Honor Guard Training Conference from October 9-11 at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School campus.
The training conference teaches emergency services teams, first responders, and government agencies (local, state, and federal) how to perform traditional honor guard disciplines such as flag folding, casket carrying,
casket watch, marching, color guard, rifle handling, and rifle volleys.
This training prepares these agencies for events such as funerals, parades, and public ceremonies.
To kick off the event, speeches were given by Police Chief Alan Lowrey and Mayor Megan Cook. Mayor Megan
EPD HONOR GUARD HISTORY
The Easton Police Department’s Honor Guard Unit was formed in 1998 under the direction of the Chief of Police. The unit was formed with 6 members who volunteered their time to the Unit. At the present time the Unit consists of 10 dedicated officers who continue to volunteer their services.
The Honor Guard Unit has attended funeral services for fallen officers in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. Members of the Unit have participated in both the Candlelight Vigil and Peace Officers Memorial Services held annually in Washington D.C., as well as Maryland Fallen Hero’s services held annually in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Unit also participates in local parades, Veteran Services, and various civic and department events. In addition, the Unit has participated in funeral services of dignitaries and retired officers. The Unit conducts ceremonial training on a monthly basis and its members have attended training conducted by other ceremonial guard units as a way to hone and increase their skills.
Cook said “The knowledge and techniques that you learn here today will be valuable to your respective agencies in ways you may not immediately realize. Whether it’s inspiring future first responders, or providing great comfort to the family of a fallen colleague, the impact of this week’s work will be felt.”
Following the speeches, an honor guard presentation of the colors was given by the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard. Following the presentation, the DAFB honor guard stuck around and answered questions and described their experiences for the attendees.
Over the next two days they trained various disciplines: Color Guard, Rifles, Casket Watch, Casket Carry, and Flag Folding.
Following training on the second day, the groups all got together to enjoy some camaraderie as well as some of our local food with a crab feast/cookout.
On Friday, the third and final day, all agencies came together in full dress for a mock funeral complete with casket, hearse, and ceremony to put all of their learned skills together in an impressive display.
EPD
HONOR GUARD UNIT
Lt. Tim Larrimore - Commander
Sgt. Megan Coxon - Team Leader
Cpl. Joseph Schinault
Cpl. Ashley Bayne
Cpl. Chris Westerfield
Cpl. Cody Bland
Pfc. Norm Sova
Pfc. Nicholas Everngam
Pfc. Blair Barstar
Pfc. Kyle Hardy
Pfc. Mark Schinault
Pfc. Cory Schuch
Ptl. Cordero Proctor
Click to see video of last year’s honor guard program
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Baltimore Police Department
Calvert County Sheriff’s Office
Carroll County (MD) Sheriff’s Office
Cecil County Sheriff’s Office
Easton Police Department
Frederick Co. Fire and Rescue
La Plata Police Department, MD
Laurel Police Department
Maryland National Capital Park Police
Montgomery Co. Division
Maryland National Capital Park Police
Prince George’s Co. Division
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Montgomery College Office of Public Safety
Salisbury Fire Department
“The knowledge and techniques that you learn here today will be valuable to your respective agencies in ways you may not immediately realize... The impact of this week’s work will be felt .
Mayor Megan Cook
HAVING A BALL
Town of Easton hosts first ever Pickleball event
Our first ever Stay and Play Pickleball (and Potluck!) event was a smashing success! On Friday, October 11, employees came out to the Town Hall parking lot and learned some new pickleball skills while competing in some friendly matches.
In addition to putting on the event and striping the courts, Mayor Cook secured the services of USTA Certified Instructor and Pickleball expert Aaron Hutt to give training lessons for participants of all skill levels.
Mr. Hutt provided paddles and balls for all to practice with, and walked participants through
several warm-up excercises and technique drills before launching into full fledged matches between players.
If that wasn’t enough to be excited for, Tom Diem brought out his famous Diemon’s BBQ and cooked up sausages and cowboy beans to accompany the various potluck dishes that were brought.
All in all it was a fun event, with a tasty treat at the end for everyone who came out. Given that it was well-received by those in attendance, Mayor Cook has hinted that there may be more pickleball in our future...stay tuned!
Planning & Zoning
LET’S CHARETTE
Easton Planning and Zoning Dept. hosts interactive charette for East End Plan
The East End Consultant Team, working closely with Town Staff and other volunteers, held a 5-day Charrette that included an interactive Design Workshop, an Open House, and a closing presentation. This process explored various design and planning concepts to proactively address and respond to the community input
we received from the Charrette and over the past year.
The interactive Design Workshop generated a series of “citizen’s plans” around which a beginning consensus framework was established. In between these events, design responses were “pinned up” for community com-
ment and we held a Roundtable with representatives from the arts community here in Easton. The closing presentation provided opportunities for final questions and comments from the public.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Charrette. The closing presentation has been posted on our East End Small Area Plan Project Website. We also posted aerial plans showing the design concepts included in the presentation as well as an animated flyover showing “East End Reimagined” centered on the proposed central civic space and park along Rails to Trails.
Many thanks to the East End Consultant Team who put in long hours during the course of the Charette. The team included Seth Harry, Keith Covington, Dylan Zingg, and Sam Mincarelli of Seth Harry and Associates; and Dave Ager from Townscape Design. They are a talented group of people!
Special thanks and gratitude to our citizen volunteers who provided their valuable time, talents, and knowledge, to the process:
Virginia Richardson, AIA
Eric Catellier, AIA
Andrew Bernish, AICP, GISP
We also want to thank Easton Church of God for providing a wonderful space to hold the public events and design studio. They were helpful, accommodating, and oh so awesome!
Last, but certainly not least, thanks to our Planning and Zoning team of Samantha Smith, Nick Johnson, Joe Mayer, and Lynn Thomas. They worked hard to make sure the operations ran smoothly not only during the Charrette but in preparation for the event. We have an amazing team of people working with us.
As for next steps, the Consultant Team (Seth Harry and Associates and Townscape Design) will produce a final document combining the Charrette Study Area Design Concepts into a Final Plan, to include: an Existing Conditions Report; summary of the Plan process and the outcomes from community engagement activities; overall vision statement; and a set of guiding principles and objectives, including policy, regulatory, and programmatic strategies and incentives.
Click to see video of the artists rendering.
EAST END CHARETTE EVENT SCHEDULE
OPENING PRESENTATION, COMMUNITY KICKOFF & WORKSHOP
Thursday, October 24th, 7:00 pm
PUBLIC PIN-UP
Friday, October 25th, 7:00 p.m.
OPEN STUDIO
Saturday, October 26th, 1:30 p.m.
PUBLIC PIN-UP
Sunday, October 27th, 7:00 p.m.
FINAL PRESENTATION
Monday, October 28th, 7:30 p.m.
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Congratulations to Chief Alan Lowrey, Interim Town Manager and Police Chief, for winning the Employee Newsletter Cover Photo Contest!
Chief Lowrey now has a $25 gift card to Storm & Daughters Ice Cream Shop for his spooky submission that landed on the October 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
NOVEMBER
Joanne Drummer
Laura Diem
Dorothy Stichberry
Elizabeth Mueller
Harry Murphy
Ashley Bayne
Cory Schuch
Christopher Doyle
Gregory Wright
Ronald Dixon
Anniversaries
NOVEMBER
Colton Insley - 1 Year
John Horner III - 1 Year
Juan Henry Sanchez Bartolon - 1 Year
Christy Spindler - 1 Year
John Tripp - 2 Years
Christopher Doyle - 4 Years
Shelby Ruf - 4 Years
Nicholas Everngam - 5 Years
Justin Conaway - 6 Years
Colin Jones - 7 Years
Norman Sova - 8 Years
Larry Wroten - 12 Years
Jacqueline Garvey - 24 Years
Mark Hrobar - 33 Years
LOIN TAMER
A showstopping premium pork meal perfect for the holidays
(Family Features) If you’re wondering what to serve for a delightful holiday meal, look no further than pork — a perfect match for festive menus as it’s easy to prepare, versatile, budget-friendly and pairs well with seasonal ingredients.
With flavorful, mouthwatering recipes like this, your are sure to maximize your pork cut and its tenderness, superior marbling, juiciness, and flavor.
This elevated, seasonal pork recipe offers a delicious and unexpected twist your friends and family will love at your next holiday gathering.
For more recipe inspiration, visit ColemanNatural.com.
APPLE CIDER
BALSAMIC GLAZED PORK LOIN
Prep time: 10-15 minutes | Cook time: 45-60 minutes | Servings: 6
1 Coleman Pork Loin (4 pounds) salt, to taste pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
GLAZE:
1 cup apple cider vinegar glaze
6 tablespoons whole grain mustard
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon minced rosemary
1 teaspoon minced sage
1 teaspoon minced thyme
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 sliced apples
Preheat oven to 350 F and line sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Remove pork from packaging and
pat dry with paper towel. Season all sides with salt and pepper, to taste.
To make glaze: In bowl, whisk apple cider vinegar glaze, mustard, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, sage, thyme and garlic. Add salt and pepper, to taste. In steady stream, slowly add olive oil to emulsify while whisking.
In large skillet, heat oil over mediumhigh heat. Sear pork loin 2-3 minutes on each side.
Move pork to lined baking sheet and brush on about half the glaze. Roast 30 minutes.
Remove pork from oven and spread sliced apples around pork loin. Brush remaining glaze over pork and apples. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 150 F.
Let pork loin rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.
