Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2020 Edition

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Fall/Winter 2020

Cecil County Life

Magazine

Kilby Cream:

Simply fresh, simply Cecil County Saving a space for the arts in downtown Elkton Cecil County Chamber helps businesses navigate through the unknown A virtual library system reaches the community Complimentary Copy

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Cecil County Life Fall/Winter 2020

Cecil County Life Table of Contents 8

The Palette & The Page

18 Cecil County Chamber of Commerce helps businesses

28 Cecil County author revisits the

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Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19

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34 Cecil County restaurants plot path forward

40 Photo essay: Kilby Cream 46 Spotlight on Chesapeake City 52 A virtual library system for a virtual community

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52

Cecil County Life fall/winter 2020 Letter from the Editor:

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Nestled on a peaceful farm just outside of Rising Sun, Kilby Cream has welcomed local families for visits to the ice cream store for the freshly made and hand-dipped ice cream, custom-blended shakes, sundaes, and waffle cones. This issue of Cecil County Life features a photo essay highlighting this essential—and quintessential—Cecil County business. This issue also explores how the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce is helping businesses navigate through the challenges that have arisen as a result of the health crisis. The Cecil County Chamber of Commerce pivoted quickly to help members, especially providing assistance to those businesses that needed information about various county, state, and federal programs. We also visit with the The Palette & The Page, which is entering its second decade with a renewed commitment. The Palette & The Page has been providing space for the arts in downtown Elkton since 2009, spotlighting painters and writers and sculptors and artisans. It has also played a role in helping to revitalize the downtown. The Cecil County Public Library system, like the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, responded quickly to the pandemic. The Cecil County Public Library system quickly developed a virtual library that reaches residents through innovation. The dedicated staff has remained committed to its core mission, and technology has allowed people to utilize many of the library’s offerings throughout the pandemic. Author David Healey, who lectures frequently on regional history, has done a lot of research—and has previously lectured about—the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19. History has a lot to teach us about the current pandemic, and Healey shares that, “We too can get through this.” Cecil County restaurants have had a wide range of experiences in navigating through the pandemic. We talked to the owners of several of Cecil County’s distinctive restaurants to find out how they have handled the health crisis. We’re very pleased to be sharing the stories in this issue of Cecil County Life with you. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions for future stories. We wish you all good health and good cheer until we deliver the next issue of the magazine in the spring of 2021. Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com., 610-869-5553, Ext. 13

Cover photo: Jim Coarse Cover Design: Tricia Hoadley www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2020 | Cecil County Life

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|Cecil County Arts|

A raku vase by Susan O’Hanlon.

A stained glass panel by Amy Valuck.

A fused glass vase by Patsy Keller.

‘Reflections’ by Judy Hotchkiss. The gallery has been a fixture of downtown Elkton for 10 years.

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Saving a space for the arts in downtown Elkton The Palette & The Page enters its second decade with a renewed commitment By John Chambless Correspondent

W

hen the world ground to a halt in March, the owners of The Palette & The Page in downtown Elkton realized that the gallery’s status as a home for the arts might not be back in effect for a little while. And then that little while became a few weeks. And then a few months. In mid-September, the three women who have steered the gallery through big changes sat together and discussed where the business began, where it is now, and where it will hopefully continue to be. Patti Paulus explained that when she took over the space at 120 E. Main St., it was a warren of cubicles and offices, and the furnace had exploded and died. The downtown, she added, “was pretty dead at the time.” But she had a vision, and in 2009, she opened the gallery with a roster of about eight artists and a dedication to operating a space where art and craft, writing and music could be shared by the whole community. On the first Friday of every month, the gallery spotlighted painters and sculptors and artisans, all of whom live within 60 miles of Elkton, Paulus said. Continued on Page 10

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The Palette & The Page Continued from Page 9

As the years went by, the partitions in the gallery came down, and today it’s a sleek, welcoming space that is larger than it looks from the street. Dozens of artists exhibit their work there throughout the year. Some of them have been with The Palette & The Page since the beginning. Lynn Strano Whitt has worked with Paulus to pivot the gallery’s business model to online sales since COVID-19 rewrote all the rules. “All of our artists lost every venue” when the Coronavirus locked down businesses, Whitt said. “This space is pretty much the only one left.” Whitt is an artist who makes jewelry, but she also has a legal and bookkeeping background. She labored for weeks to expand the gallery’s online sales capabilities, and now customers can browse every object in the store and buy from home. That means more than 2,000 items. The third partner in the business is Janet Youse, a devoted book collector who loves to share the printed word with the community in her tidy bookshop, tucked in the back of the gallery. She also has regularly prepared the food and beverages for First Friday events. Paulus and Whitt laughed and said she’s in charge of “hospitality management.” There’s a cozy cross-promotion of people who like to look at art and people who like to read, and they share a common space at The Palette & The Page. Continued on Page 12

Patti Paulus says The Palette & The Page is ready to be a hub for the arts in downtown Elkton again. 10

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The Palette & The Page Continued from Page 10

There’s a large selection of children’s books and several shelves of fiction and non-fiction, all in pristine condition. “The bookshop started because, between my sister and I, we had over 2,000 books,” Youse explained. “I started here with about four shelves, and it grew from there. I have always wanted to operate a bookshop.” The gallery owners bring a variety of tastes and backgrounds to the business. Whitt likes abstract art, “but I can certainly appreciate landscapes as well,” she said. Paulus said there has to be a general agreement between the three owners when a new artist is added to the roster, but “it’s all accessible art,” she said. “It’s nothing threatening. And all of our artists are genuinely nice people.” The shop is also a haven for local authors, and dozens of them have held readings and book signings in the gallery during past First Fridays. “We read all the books we sell here,” Paulus said. “And we jury all the artists. This is the biggest outlet for authors in the region. We have everything but dance in here, but that’s just because we don’t have quite enough space.” “We want a sense of community here,” Whitt added. “You can be shopping here and run into the artists, meet them and get to know them. Every First Friday, we would have two authors and two artists Continued on Page 14

Janet Youse operates a well-stocked bookshop in the gallery.

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The Palette & The Page Continued from Page 12

here to meet people and talk about their work.� Writers, especially, have been hurt by the initial COVID-19 shutdown and subsequent loss of marketing opportunities. Releasing a self-published book without a chance to network with the public can be a lonely business. The three women have worked out a way to reopen the gallery that complies with all safety guidelines, bringing at least a partial sense of normalcy to the downtown. Visitors ring the doorbell to be admitted, so that occupancy limits can be observed. Masks are mandatory. “We have traffic problems,� Paulus said of the small rooms in the gallery. “During a typical First Friday, we would get 75 to 100 people in here, so we can’t do that now. And there’s only one door.� In November and December – critical months for any business – the gallery will bring back First Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., with artwork for holiday gift-giving all priced under $100. The shop is also open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. “We’re fine if people just want to come in and look at art, just as an escape,� Paulus said. Private appointments can be scheduled. Whitt said that when the gallery shut down on March 18, no one thought the lights would be out for so long. “That April First Continued on Page 16

Lynn Strano Whitt says the gallery owners have missed their loyal customers, and she’s happy to welcome them back.

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The Palette & The Page Continued from Page 14

Friday, I just sat down and cried,” she said. “We had never canceled a First Friday before.” Now, there’s a renewed sense that, somehow, art will go on. “Our customers have given us a lot of grace,” Paulus said. “They’ve been so understanding. Our message is: The whole downtown needs their support. Small businesses are your community. Half of them may be gone if you don’t support them.” Whitt said that all small businesses have the same expenses, but are now juggling the bills with much less revenue. “We miss everybody,” she said. “We

A malachite necklace by Andrea Barrier.

‘Green Barn’ by Ann Gonzalez.

three miss each other, and we miss our customers.” Downtown Elkton is ready to welcome shoppers back, Paulus said. “People can come downtown, get a meal or a sandwich, do what they can to support us. We don’t want to lose a single business. We’ve worked hard to be better, to offer more, and now we’re ready.” For more information, visit www.paletteandpage.com.

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|Cecil County business|

Navigating through the unknown Cecil chamber helps businesses during pandemic by serving as a virtual information clearinghouse By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer

W

hen Gov. Larry Hogan declared a coronavirus state of emergency on March 5, the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce quickly pivoted to help members. The months-long emergency and all its permutations was a baptism by fire for Debbie Brown, promoted to executive director on March 23. The chamber’s most important move was pointing members to all sorts of places to get all sorts of financial assistance, she said, and its next-most important was offering virtual programs so that members “still felt part of society.” “The chamber kept up a very relevant presence as we tried to navigate through a complete unknown,” said Josh Huegel, vice president of finance of AUI Power in North East. “We got essential information on a frequent and timely basis. They connected with the state. They connected with the county. They became the source to find information and to get to the right people.” The chamber also became the source to connect with other businesses in Cecil County. Huegel, also a member of the chamber’s board, said that he had earlier been too busy to have time for in-person networking, but the chamber’s new meetings on Zoom were workable and productive. And on these virtual sessions, “the chamber was like a beacon of light, radiating a smile and positivity.” John Gonzalez, manager of the Landmark Science & Engineering branch in Havre de Grace, agreed on both points. “The chamber came up with a virtual networking program that was innovative,” he said. “And they provided updates to the [Maryland Strong:] Roadmap to Recovery efforts and loans.”

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In a way, the work foreshadows the chamber’s 2020-21 theme, “Community is our goal.” Money matters foremost The chamber functioned as a clearinghouse on measures to cope with the emergency. “There was so much information from so many different resources, on the county, state and national level on funding and grants,” Brown said. “We filtered it back to the community on a daily basis, not only to our members but to our past members and prospective members.” Continued on Page 20

Nick Cusmano photo courtesy of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce

From left: Katie Lewis, director of events and communications of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce, and Debbie Brown, executive director.

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Cecil County Chamber Continued from Page 19

The chamber returned to in-person networking – outdoors and socially distanced – at Woody’s Crab House in North East. Photos by Nick Cusmano Photo courtesy of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce

Here are Stacia Kline of Skylight Creative and JoAnn Dawson of Fairwinds Farm & Stables.

The Elkton-based chamber has 450 members, and adding the other two categories grew the mailing list to 2,000. It primarily serves businesses in Cecil County, but its membership also includes firms in Harford and Kent counties and Delaware and Pennsylvania who do business in Cecil or want to expand there. All told, its membership represents

Cheryl Conley and Kelly Fields of Cecil Dermatology.

the heart of the economic well-being of Cecil County. “There were almost daily emails,” recalled John Slater, coowner with his wife Wendy of Body Force Fitness in North East. “And the chamber also had someone review our grant applications.” “The big thing that the chamber did was making sure all

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Debbie Brown with Dan Cudone from TriState Commercial Realty Corp.

the information from the state Chamber of Commerce, the federal Small Business Administration was passed along,” he said. That effort paid off for him, with two county grants, paycheck protection and emergency and disaster loans. “The chamber kept us on top of what small businesses needed to know,” added Jeanne Parry, human resources administrator for North East Enterprises. Continued on Page 22

Kathy Glace of the Cecil County Community Mediation Center with husband, Tim.

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Cecil County Chamber Continued from Page 21

Meetings and other connections The chamber hosts 70 events a year, mostly on networking and education, and those events moved to Zoom to “still give members the opportunity to share resources and see each other,� Brown said. The chamber’s virtual meetings began weekly and became less frequent as members became more comfortable with coronavirus restrictions, Slowly, restrictions eased and businesses perked up. “We had many comments about people feeling alone,� Brown said, and the virtual meetings made them “still feel part of society and not isolated.� “We were all stuck at home, and the chamber was one of the first with Zoom meetings to give us access to the community,� said Johannah Bowman, clinical liaison for Amedisys Hospice in Elkton. “It was wonderful.� “It was so easy to click here, click there and join a meeting,� she said, noting that through the chamber’s Zoom meetings she learned tips to improve social marketing and morale building. She also praised the chamber’s Long-Term Care Roundtable. “This meeting was established for health-related partners in our community to have a place to come together, to better help each other through this difficult Continued on Page 24

Nick Cusmano Photo courtesy of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce

Debbie Brown is executive director of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce.

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Cecil County Chamber Continued from Page 22

time,” she said. “Everyone was so grateful to have a platform to be able to come together and help one another, since there are no other resources like this in our community.”

“We were all stuck at home, and the chamber was one of the first with Zoom meetings to give us access to the community. It was wonderful.” – Johannah Bowman

The status of signature events The March 26 Business Spotlight Luncheon became a mailing that was sent to all members. The fourth annual Cecil County Manufacturers Appreciation Luncheon went virtual. The 33rd annual Cecil County Chamber Golf Classic drew more participants this year – almost 100 golfers and almost 15 volunteers – to the Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun on Aug. 27. “People were so excited to get out,” Brown said. Two foursomes chose to participate on another day so that they could comply with their corporate restrictions on gatherings. The state went to Stage 3 of of the Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery on Sept. 4, and by Sept. 17, the chamber returned to in-person networking – outdoors and socially distanced – under a tent at Woody’s Crab House in North East. It’s planning to continue virtual and in-person events. The fate of some other signature chamber events was not yet decided, including the third Annual Wonderland of Wreaths, an exhibit and silent auction; and Continued on Page 26

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Courtesy of Johannah Bowman

Johannah Bowman

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Cecil County Chamber Continued from Page 24

Cecil Night in Annapolis, an annual gathering that usually draws 200 to 250 people to the capital in January. “We are in talks with the Cecil County Arts Council to see how we will be able to proceed for the December event, Wonderland of Wreaths,” Brown said. “We are also investigating what our January event Cecil Night in Annapolis will look like. All is still to be decided.” The chamber also allowed business to defer membership payments by up to five months or pay in parts. A one-person business pays $280, with larger businesses paying more.

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“There were almost daily emails. And the chamber also had someone review our grant applications.” – John Slater

Nick Cusmano photo courtesy of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce

Stephanie DelGrippo of Crothers Insurance Agencies with her homemade cookies – and her message.

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Courtesy of John Slater

John Slater

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|Cecil County History|

All photos courtesy

In less than one year, the pandemic killed 157 Cecil County residents.

An archival photograph of nurses at Union Hospital.

Two years removed from his 2018 lecture on the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19, Cecil County author David Healey sees the parallels to our current pandemic, through the clues that history provides

Worldwide, the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19 was estimated to have resulted in the deaths of between 25 million to as many as 50 million people.

‘We too can get through this’ By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

O

n Oct. 1, 2018, author and Chesapeake City resident David Healey gave a presentation at the Elkton Central Library, as part of the library’s lecture series commemorating the centennial of World War I. Unlike the content contained within Healey’s “Sniper” series of novels, which depict the use of military weaponry, there was no mention of bayonets, rifles or firearms in his lecture, and yet, Healey spoke about a war against an invisible enemy and the devastating impact it had not only on the world, but on Cecil County. For nearly one hour, Healey brought his audience into the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19, whose worldwide death count over its 15-month existence ranged from a conservative estimate of 25 million to what some researchers have placed at 50 million.

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It also led to the death of 157 Cecil County residents. Healey began his lecture by tracing a generally accepted theory back to Haskell County, an area of Kansas known then for its large production of poultry. He speculated that a young teenage farmer in the county contracted the flu from swine, then entered the military soon after. “The theory is that from this one person, the flu spread and led to the deaths of millions of people around the world,” Healey told his audience. “It’s a bit scary for us to believe now, because the world we live in is a lot more mobile than the world then.” Healey said that as the flu swept through both the Allied and Axis forces, the countries involved in the war kept the news of the influenza from reaching their homelands. “They didn’t want bad news getting back home that all of these young men are dying of the flu in the trenches on the front,” he said. “As a result, it does a disservice to the prevention of the flu, and it really starts to snowball and

spread to the civilian populations.” The absolute irony of Healey’s presentation -- delivered less than two years before the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic that has led to the death of more than 200,000 Americans and over five million across the globe, so far -- is one not lost on the author. “When I began to read about the events of 1918 and saw how many people died, I was grateful not to have to have lived through that,” Healey said. “I read about all of these horror stories and thought, ‘How would I handle that situation?’ “Although the Pandemic of 1918 was a dark chapter in our history, it does connect us to the past because it puts us into the lives of those who lived through it and asks us to wonder what we would have done had we lived then. Unfortunately, we are now experiencing it for ourselves in 2020.” In preparing for the presentation, Healey’s research took him to local newspapers, such as archival editions of the Cecil Whig, the Cecil Democrat and the Baltimore Sun from 1918-19. He found the annual report of the State Board of Health for the State of Maryland in 1918, and used the Center for Disease Control’s website to gain a larger

perspective of the pandemic. He tapped into the Library of Congress to obtain archived photographs that he used in his presentation. His findings uncovered the following information: • Schools around the county, including Cecil County author David Healey’s 2018 West Nottingham presentation on the Influenza Pandemic Academy, were of 1918-19 drew upon the research he did to explore the pandemic’s impact on Cecil closed. Nearby County. Delaware College (now the University of Delaware) was turned into a hospital, according to Birney, with 135 cases of flu among the college’s 425 students. • In 1918, the epidemic had spread so rampantly in the county that the Cecil County Board of Health ordered all public gatherings suspended. Continued on Page 30

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David Healey Continued from Page 29

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

• The World War I draft was canceled in Cecil County rather than send its local sons to be among the 24,000 young men who died of Spanish flu in military camps nationwide. • All through October 1918, the front page of the Cecil Democrat newspaper was filled with the obituaries of local people claimed by the epidemic. • The Cecil County Board of Health reported: “… a number of patients critically ill, with our list of physicians greatly reduced by war service, and several of those left in the county themselves suffering from influenza, the situation is exceedingly grave …” • The disease did not just attack the old and frail. Most of the death notices were for Cecil County residents who were teenagers, in the twenties and in their thirties. On Oct. 5, 1918, the Cecil Democrat published the obituary for William P. Rowan, 36, of Elkton, a former farmer and lately employed “at the new Government plant at Perryville.” • Local newspapers also reported the death of several Cecil County residents who contracted the flu and died while serving in the military. The Cecil Democrat reported the fate of one soldier from Elkton, Sgt. Frank C. Groetzinger, age 25, who died of influenza at Camp Greenleaf in Georgia. • By February 1919, the epidemic had practically vanished in Cecil County, disappearing as mysteriously as it had arrived. The work Healey did to prepare for his presentation had at its core an aspiration to tell the story through the historical accounts of those who lived through the pandemic. In fact, the continuing narrative contained in many of his historical books and novels flow through personal tales and experiences. “I’ve always been curious about how A monument in Chesapeake City is dedicated people lived their to the memory of local residents who perished lives against larger in World War I.

A frequent lecturer on Cecil County history, some of Healey’s research on local lore can be found in his book, Delmarva Legends.

Healey is the author of the popular “Sniper” series of novels.

events,” Healey said. ‘What did these events mean to people? Who were they and how did they manage to survive, or not?’ “In researching the pandemic, I was asking the same question, but didn’t find too many individual accounts of what people experienced. The newspapers of that time mostly contained just the facts, and it wasn’t their style to do individual interviews with people.” Healey said that the lack of data and personal stories “could speak to the fact that maybe we did try to sweep the flu epidemic under the rug and move on. Part of what made this pandemic so mysterious was that it came out of nowhere in 1918, and disappeared just as quickly. By February of 1919, it was declared over and done with, at least in Cecil County.” Healey’s reason for learning more about the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 was also a personal one. In 1918, his great uncle James Mullins died at the age of 14 in Waterbury, CT. “Obviously, no one in my immediate family ever had the chance to meet him, but my grandmother – James’ sister -would mention him from time to time,” he said. “Her stories about him gave me an appreciation for how devastating the flu was at the time, especially on young people. In my great uncle’s case, he was a vibrant teenager who died of the flu two days after being diagnosed.” Whether it is through his curiosity or familial ties, history is a frequent companion to Healey. The author of historical thrillers, mysteries, and regional histories about the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva Peninsula, Healey has lectured frequently on the topic of regional history at Cecil Continued on Page 32 www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2020 | Cecil County Life

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David Healey Continued from Page 31

County libraries, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Fort McHenry National Military Park, the Historical Society of Cecil County, Cecil College and the Elk River Yacht Club. The stories of history, Healey said, often leave behind nothing but smallish crumbs of hints and teasers, leaving those gifted with the knack of curiosity to keep opening doors, keep searching through libraries and the internet and keep combing through the catacombs of the past. While he does not intend to dust off his 2018 presentation for new audiences, he is continually reminded of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 – not only by comparing its parallels to COVID-19 – but by the hints and teasers that history leaves behind, and continues to reveal. Healey recalled the words of the author and historian Anne Applebaum, whose latest book, “Twilight of Democracy: The Failure of Politics and the Parting of Friends” documents the influence of authoritarianism on modern politics. “She wrote, ‘Sometimes history intrudes into our personal lives,’ and that certainly applies to many other things besides politics,” he said. “It can be wildfires. It can be the pandemic, but it is a reminder that we are always going to experience events like these.

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“If nothing else, when we look back at history, we can see what the people before us went through and how they coped. From history, we can take a lesson from their experiences and tell ourselves that we too can get through this.” To learn more about Cecil County author David Healey, visit www.davidhealeyauthor.com. To view Healey’s Oct. 1, 2018 presentation “The Influenza Pandemic of 1918” online, visit the Cecil County Public Library’s website at www.cecil.ebranch. info/events-and-classes/capturing-cecil-county-history. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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|Cecil County Dining|

Cecil County restaurants get to plot their paths through the

All photos courtesy

Supply chains, entertainment, party bookings, staffing, cleaning and attitudes have all changed at the Chesapeake Inn.

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

et resourceful F the pandemic

By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer

ood services was one of America’s industries hit worst by COVID-19, with almost two-thirds of workers “experiencing closures, layoffs or reduced hours,” the Motley Fool reported in September. Cecil County establishments have had a wide range experiences in navigating the pandemic. Of course, they followed all those changing government guidelines on capacity, social distancing, training, masks, sanitizing and everything else. They also ramped up takeout; renovated; moved; and altered entertainment and the menu.

Steak & Main The biggest change at Steak & Main, the North East steakhouse, sushi bar and oyster bar, was in handling massive amounts of takeout, said Tony Covatta, owner and executive chef. The restaurant reallocated tables for all the bags and takeout containers, and he expects Tony Covatta said he hasn’t had to the takeout business to prosper alter the menu due to the pandemic. even after the state allows full capacity. “Customers are crying for it,” he said. “It’s also important to let people know that business is up!” he said. “The pandemic has not hurt us at all. Here we are up 30 percent over last year, which was also a record year.” His catering business, though, has fallen, with just a handful of full-fledged staffed events this summer but lots of drop-offs and pickups of trays of food. Continued on Page 36

“Business is up!” said Tony Covatta, owner of Steak & Main. “We are up 30 percent over last year, which was also a record year.”

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Cecil County restaurants Continued from Page 35

He polled customers this spring on the takeout and found that they were “totally amazed by it, with 100 percent saying it was the same quality� as dine-in food. He acknowledged that some items, like calamari, don’t hold up as well, but putting sauces on the side and other touches help Staffed catering is down at Steak & Main, but drop-offs and pickups of trays of food are up. maintain quality. “It was all packaged to perfection so that it was fresh and hot when we went to eat it,� Jill Simpson wrote on Facebook after Steak & Main catered her mother’s 80th birthday party. Covatta said he hasn’t had to alter the menu due to the pandemic, which is part of his 17-year commitment to quality and consistency. “We don’t pull any punches,� he said. “Ever.�

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

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Wesley’s Restaurant Coronavirus restrictions hit in March, and the Wesley family was hit in April by the death of patriarch John Wesley, who had worked at Wesley’s Restaurant since his parents bought it in 1951. As family members began to adjust to John’s passing, they decided the restrictions gave them time to execute a renovation that they had been discussing, said Jennifer Wesley, his daughter-in-law. “Our newly-renovated tavern offers a more spacious atmosphere that’s perfect for a relaxed get-together with friends and family alike,” according to the website. There’s less seating in the formal dining room and more near the bar. “Don’t worry: the shuffleboard table is still there,” Wesley said. They modified their menu to cut out highly perishable ingredients. Two additions “took off like wildfire,” she said. They’re the White Fish Dinner (the fish broiled, blackened or fried, with french fries and coleslaw) for $12 and the Taste of Wesley’s (a 4-ounce crab cake, broiled or fried, with ¼ pound of steamed shrimp, baked potato and vegetable) for $19.

They brought back karaoke on Thursdays in August but stopped it when they were concerned about the crowds. It’s back again. In addition to the restaurant and bar, their Fair Hill complex includes a package store with a booming business and a vape shop. “We came through, thanks to our loyal customers, some ordering takeout two or three times a week,” Wesley said. “I can’t even express how we feel.”

Old South Smokehouse The staff of Old South Smokehouse took advantage of the lull forced by coronavirus restrictions to move 350 feet down the street, from 1205 to 1195 Jacob Tome Memorial Highway, near Port Deposit. The new space, which opened in early June, is much bigger and has more potential, said manager Holly Hild. The old space had 14 tables and 10 seats at the bar; the new one, at half-capacity, has 20 tables. They’re also looking at a deck down the road for private events. The staff worked together to make the move, marking the end of their exertion with takeout. “We wanted to save the Continued on Page 38

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Cecil County restaurants Continued from Page 37

first use of the new kitchen for our guests,” she said. They’ve progressed with the reliability of smoking gear, so they no longer need to pop in overnight. A beef shortage was temporary, but they’re still facing issues with canned and bottled beer and beer on tap, which has led to putting a hold on themed takeovers of their 14 taps. “A lot of people are Covid-scared,” Hild said, pointing out times when people point out staffers’ masks slip in the rush of work or when people take off their masks when ordering. “It’s just been a learning experience, taken one day at a time as the rules change.”

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“It’s been quite the adventure,” said Gianmarco Martuscelli, president of the Martuscelli Restaurant Group, on how the pandemic affected his family’s Chesapeake Inn Restaurant & Marina in Chesapeake City. Supply chains, entertainment, party bookings, staffing, cleaning and attitudes have all changed. They’ve had problems getting a variety of items, including to-go containers, citrus and liquor. To cut costs and avoid frustrations, they’ve consolidated the menu and cut their inventory. They’ve switched from large bands to smaller groups, since customers can’t dance and follow social distancing. Brides and grooms have been postponing their wedding receptions, some two or three times. “90 percent with deposits have moved their receptions to the future, and that was a positive,” he said, rather than having to turn the deposits into gift cards, adjust to smaller guest lists or negotiate refunds. “We’re hoping things will get better,” he said, “and numbers are trending that way.”

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

The deck at the Chesapeake Inn has been an attractive choice for outdoor dining.

The inn employs about 70 full-timers and another 180 part-timers. “It was really difficult to get people to come back to work� when u n e m p l o y m e n t To cut costs and frustrations, the Chesapeake got that $600 fed- Inn has consolidated its menu. eral boost, and now that that boost ended, staffing is back to normal, but staffers aren’t getting as many shifts. They’ve invested in Aerus filers and monthly disinfecting by Canal Town Solutions. “It’s all about keeping it safe,� he said. The Chesapeake Inn is following all coronavirus protocols, but he and people he’s spoken to are frustrated that other places aren’t. “People are fed up. Over it. They’re tired of all the restrictions and the mask wearing. It’s divided the country, and we’re like a referee. It’s a headache.�

Cecil College athletics hosts virtual Seahawk Turkey 5K Trot Cecil College Athletics is sponsoring its inaugural Seahawk Turkey 5K Trot (walk and run) this fall to allow participants to get outdoors to stretch their legs. This virtual race will be from Saturday, Nov. 14, through Thursday, Nov. 26. A virtual run is a race where participants can run (or walk) from any location of their choice, promoting social distancing. They can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill at the gym or the track—or even at another race. Participants get to move at their own pace, at a time of their convenience. The registration fee is $25, with proceeds going to fund student-athlete scholarships at Cecil College. Participants will receive a t-shirt (which can be picked up on the North East Campus or mailed for an additional $5). The race will feature awards and Social Media shout outs. Please register by Friday, Nov. 13, to allow for the ordering of the t-shirts for this 5K. Registration can be done online, along with further information at www. cecil.edu/turkeytrot.

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|Cecil County Life Photo Essay|

Kilby Cream: Simply fresh, simply Cecil Coun

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unty

Photos by Jim Coarse Text by Richard L. Gaw Perhaps it is the permanent imprint of the evening sun setting over its three silos, or maybe it could be the 16 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream or the custom blended shakes that dot your children’s smiling faces. It could be the inhale of the fresh farm air that renews your spirit, or the chorus of livestock in the distance, or the annual trickery of the corn maze, or the petting zoo or the faces at the general store whom you’ve known for years. Continued on Page 42 www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2020 | Cecil County Life

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Photo Essay Continued from Page 40

For many Cecil County residents, Kilby Cream has served as the equivalent of a trusted heirloom in our transient and expeditious world, growing and supplying fresh farm produce to thousands of families, simply. Nestled on a peaceful farm just outside of Rising Sun, Kilby Cream has welcomed our families on weekend ritual visits to its ice cream store for its freshly-made, hand-dipped ice cream, custom blended shakes, sundaes, freshly made waffle cones or a giant ice cream cookie instead. Kilby Cream not only nourishes our soul but our bodies, by partnering with other local farms to offer a wide selection of fresh meats, cheeses, milk, and eggs. Continued on Page 44

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Photo Essay Continued from Page 42

In a world that has become increasingly unsure of its footing, Kilby Cream is our reassurance that we are still bound to traditions and by our nature, predisposed to seeking safe spaces four ourselves and out family. Along Strohmaier Lane in Rising Sun, Kilby Cream is our constant reminder that the other side of our lives is much quieter, far more welcoming, and so very precious. To learn more about Kilby Cream or to shop online, visit www.kilbycream.com. Kilby Cream is located at 129 Strohmaier Lane, Rising Sun, Md. 21911. To reach the home store, call 410-658-8874. Hours of operation: Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.

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|Around Cecil County|

Spotlight on Chesapeake City Restaurants, shopping, recreation, a rich history —and even a Jimmy Buffett sighting By Drewe Phinny Contributing Writer

He mentioned that he’s been studying tourism locally and in the state of Maryland, and the numbers show a significant increase in visitors who stay close instead of traveling to other spots, such as When people talk in glowing terms about a town or city, it’s the Outer Banks, etc. “They come to the Eastern Shore and stay usually because there are more than just a few good restaurants here. We’ve gotten a lot of feedback on that. They now know in town for people to enjoy. There’s a variety of recreational they don’t have to travel hours and they can spend the money activities, a rich history and a general spirit that permeates the right here. They get their seafood from the Crab Shack and places area and leads to visitors coming back again and again for more. close by, which will have a lasting impact on our community.” That’s the kind of word-of-mouth excitement that dominates It figures that if anybody would know about a celebrity sightconversations about Chesapeake City, which was originally ing, it would be D.J. “We had a special visitor recently on the called the Village of Bohemia or Bohemia water—Jimmy Buffett. We were docked Manor. The name was changed in 1839— at the Chesapeake Inn to leave for a cider after the C & D Canal was built in 1829. and doughnut cruise, and there’s Jimmy Conversations with local merchants, busicruising along in a fishing boat. He waved nesspeople and visitors invariably show a at us and we cranked up “Margaritaville.” common enthusiasm for all aspects of life in Cecil County is on the map. We’re becomand around this vibrant water community. ing a place to be, a destination.” It’s hard to find a more eager cheerleader Fasick started the business when the than D.J. Fasick, who runs Chesapeake couple that owned Miss Claire Cruises City Water Tours. Literally everybody retired after more than 25 years. “I had knows “D.J.” by just those two letters. been working on a tugboat after graduat“It’s a cool place and there are a lot of ing from SUNY Maritime College,” he business owners in the community who explained. “I had a bachelor’s degree and come together and create a really charm- Jimmy Buffett was a recent visitor to a captain’s license or an officer’s license ing, cool town,” said Fasick. “It’s amazing. Chesapeake City—Cecil County is, indeed, in the Merchant Marines.” There’s so much history, and it’s crucial to becoming a place to be. He wanted to pick up where Miss Claire the U.S. as well. Years ago, that channel was huge.” left off and also expand on the business. “I wanted to cater to He went on to explain the importance of the C & D Canal. a broader spectrum of people,” Fasick explained, “by adding “Number one, it was dug out by hand and number two, it was a new flavor to the tour boat industry. We still do Tuesday a modern marvel at that time. The original pump house is in Evening History Tours with a local author; and we also do Chesapeake City. The canal was a system of locks…connecting craft beer and wine cruises with local vineyards and brewtwo bodies of water at different elevations. They’ve turned the eries, rum and reggae cruises with live music, daily sunset pump house into a museum, preserving the stone structure.” cruises as well as birthday and anniversary celebrations.” Fasick added that the C & D Canal is the best kind of hisThey will also do weddings. tory—living history. Continued on Page 48 46

Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

Courtesy photos

Chesapeake City’s scenic beauty offers a wonderful backdrop for visitors.

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www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2020 | Cecil County Life

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Waving at a passing boat.

Courtesy photos

Chesapeake City offers a lot of different recreation and entertainment opportunities for local residents and visitors alike.

Chesapeake City Continued from Page 46

“Yep, we’ve had quite a few weddings on board. We do it all,” Fasick said. There are great restaurants in Chesapeake City, but that’s just the beginning. For instance, you can treat yourself to a delicious meal at Schaefer’s Canal House while you watch all the big ships pass by, then walk off the calories on the Ben Cardin C&D Canal Recreational Trail, named after U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. The paved pathway runs along the waterfront for 1.8 miles to the Delaware border. Activities include biking, inline skating and fishing. There is a link to Delaware’s Michael Castle Trail. Both run along the north bank of the C&D and meet at the state line. The total distance is 14 miles. Then there’s the Inn at the Canal and the Rummur Bar,

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

The C&D Canal at sunset.

owned by Ed and Sarah O’Hara. So what’s the deal with the spelling of Rummur? Well, if you spell it backward and forward, you’ll come up with rum both ways and rum is a big deal. “When we bought our liquor license,” Ed explained, “we bought it from some friends who had started a rum-only bar. In Australia, they ran a rum import company. They were an invaluable resource to us.” From there, they expanded the concept to a variety of rum cocktails as well as wine and beer and scotch and vodka Then there’s the apple-butter old-fashioned and the espresso martini with rum, and the traditional Virgin Island painkiller. Yes, rum rules. The menu changes from summer to fall to winter. And there’s a full bed and breakfast, too. Continued on Page 48

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Chesapeake City Continued from Page 48

In praising other businesses, O’Hara exemplified the signature spirit of support shown by Chesapeake City merchants. “The Taproom has been here for ages and they’re still kickin’. They’re the only place where you can get whole crabs and eat them on site.” The Bayard House is famous for, among other things, its “Hole in the Wall.” Jenn Marin, who owns the place along with her family, furnished some details: “ It was in the oldest building in the city. It’s been many things {through the years}. Where it is right now was actually horse stalls with rooms to rent upstairs. Then, it was converted to the Hole In the Wall Bar and still had the rooms.” Around the time of Prohibition, the Duponts took over and restored the whole restaurant with the Bayard House upstairs featuring more fine dining. Downstairs, it’s always been the Hole in the Wall. As she spoke about the history, Marin added an interesting tidbit: “Many of the houses in town were built from the barges that came up the canal. They would take the barges apart and use the wood to rebuild the houses.” She added, “Our property is actually three buildings, so we have the Bayard House with the Hole in the Wall, and a

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

cottage that’s a B & B, and next to that is a creamery we rent out for ice cream products. We are actually planning some major renovations to the building, including the kitchen, and we’re adding a smoking lounge, which is going to be a cigar private club kind of thing.” The Bayard House, similar to some other businesses, has seen an increase in business, despite the challenges of COVID-19. Believe it or not, the aforementioned attractions in Chesapeake City are only the start of what the town has to offer. There ‘s Prime 225, the upscale steakhouse, the Chesapeake Inn, which was opened by Giuseppe Martuscelli and his son, Gianmarco, in 1996, Café on the Bay, with breakfast sandwiches and specialty coffees and the Real McCoy Dairy Crème and BBQ, with delicious ice cream treats and more. And then there are the shops: Chick’s, My Jewelry Place, Old Gray Mare Gift Shoppe, Back Creek General Store, Belle on Bohemia, and many more. The water, the restaurants, the shopping, the people and the history make Chesapeake City one of the great jewels of Cecil County.

www.cecilcountylife.com | Fall/Winter 2020 | Cecil County Life

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|Cecil County Community|

A virtual library system for a virtual community Despite having to close its doors due to the pandemic, the Cecil County Public Library system has continued to reach the residents of Cecil County through innovation, a dedicated staff and a commitment to its core mission By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

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All photos and images courtesy of Cecil County Public Library

To better provide students and families with internet access during the pandemic and during library closures, the Cecil County Public Library extended strong WiFi signals into the parking lots of all branch locations.

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

s Cecil County rolled into March this year and everyone’s world from Rising Sun to Perryville to Earleville to Georgetown dramatically changed nearly overnight, the value statement for the Cecil County Public Library system did not budge. In fact, over the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic, the values listed in the statement -- Champion Reading, Build Knowledge and Inspire Curiosity -- have gotten broader and stronger. Despite the fact that the system’s seven branches in Cecilton, Chesapeake City, Elkton, North East, Perryville, Port Deposit and Rising Sun have yet to reopen, the more than 64,000 county residents who hold a library card can still read an ebook or a magazine, download a

movie, track down material and resources for school, study for an upcoming exam, take an online course, learn a new language, attend a lecture and continue to rely on their local library for access to the information they need. All day and every day. So the question is this: How has a multilayered, county-wide agency that serves the 100,000 residents of Cecil County managed to not only continue to reach the public, but thrive in the process, without so much as opening one door of its seven branches? The answer, said Cecil County Public Library Director Morgan Miller, has been through innovative strategies, the commitment of a dedicated staff and by clinging to the principles of its mission statement. It all began on March 12, when the library system closed it seven branches. “At the time, none of us had any eye toward what the future held, but as a result of having to reframe and re-shift our strategy, we have learned to navigate through dramatic changes, and yet keep these strategies intact with the library’s core values, one of which is responsiveness to our community,” Miller said. “In the first few months of the pandemic, while our buildings were closed, our shift was how we were going to continue to provide information and develop new platforms of communication.” Through their efforts, the CCPL has preserved – and even strengthened – the pipeline of resources and information to Cecil County:

The library’s Bookmobile traveled around the county this summer to offer all rising sixthgraders the opportunity to select and keep three books.

• Through applications like OverDrive, Libby, Android, hoopla and Kindle Fire, CCPL users can borrow as many as ten books, movies and other library materials at a time – all online. • Lynda.com provides users with unlimited access to thousands of video courses led by industry leaders. • Gale Courses open the door to users who wish to attend six-week online courses taught by expert instructors. Continued on Page 54

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In partnership with Cecil County Parks and Recreation, the Cecil County Public Library installed a Story Trail at Calvert Regional Park.

• Mango Languages bring the world to a home computer • The Learning Express Library includes tutorials and pracby providing users with self-paced language courses tice tests which will help students prepare for a wide that introduce the learner to cultural insights and gramvariety of tests. mar specific to their language of choice, delivered • Through the library’s HelpNow, students from kindergarthrough native speaker dialogue. ten through college, as well as adult learners, job seekers • The library system’s Testing & Education Reference and veterans can connect with tutors who can provide Center helps students in high school and college preassistance with homework, skill-building and writing. Continued on Page 56 pare for higher education.

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Cecil County Life | Fall/Winter 2020 | www.cecilcountylife.com

• The library now offers the opportunity for new users to receive an Online Card, giving them instant access to library resources, classes and digital streaming and downloads. • The CCPL now offers contactless pickup and printing services at its locations in Cecilton, Chesapeake City, Elkton, Perryville and Rising Sun. • In a county where reliable internet access is not always available, the library extended strong WiFi signals into the parking lots of all branch locations. • In partnership with Cecil County Public Schools, students and educators can use their school ID to access CCPL resources and materials. • Through regular Zoom meetings with businesses and non-profit organizations, the CCPL’s Business Information Center has been able to help these agencies create online models that have effectively enabled them to continue to function and succeed during COVID-19. Continued on Page 58

Although all branches in the Cecil County Public Library system have been closed during the pandemic, library staff has continued to develop strong connections with the local community, students and businesses throughout the county.

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• In conjunction with summer reading programs like Students Progress and Read with reading Kits (SPARK), the CCPL’s Bookmobile traveled around the county this summer to offer all rising sixth-graders the opportunity to select and keep three books. • In partnership with Cecil County Parks and Recreation, CCPL installed the county’s first Story Trail at Calvert Regional Park. Families can read a story as they hop, skip, jump, or run to find the next page and enjoy fun learning activities along the way. • In September, the CCPL began to offer “Activities to Go,â€? take-home learning kits for children, teens and families. ‘In the emergency of the situation’ “We have attempted to pull our users into our digital spaces at warp speed,â€? Miller said. “Over the past decade, libraries have begun to re-imagine their physical and virtual spaces, and the pandemic has accelerated that direction. In the emergency of the situation, we developed and initiatives that we had been discussing for quite some time. “In the past, we would have taken months to create these new platforms, and now we’re doing it practically overnight,

The North East Branch of the Cecil County Public Library system is scheduled to open in 2021.

and that has allowed us to trust ourselves more as an organization.� The work that Miller and the CCPL staff have been doing during the pandemic has been woven into a five-phase punch list of progression that ultimately will lead to the last phase – the projected reopening of its seven branches in 2021. “We’re currently and actively pursuing Phase Four, which is probably our most significant hurdle to cross, from the standpoint of determining our internal preparedness,� Miller said. “In order to reopen our Continued on Page 60

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branches, there is a significant amount of building reconfiguration that needs to happen. We need to reconfigure the interiors of all of our branches, in order to make them as safe as possible, as well as make sure that other safety protocols are in place.” Every Friday afternoon at about 2 p.m., Miller conducts what she refers to as “Friday Forum,” an informal exchange of ideas and status reports among CCPL branches. From her home office computer, she sees several reflections of herself peering back at her – a large team of dedicated professionals working from their homes in an effort to push the message of the Cecil County Public Library forward during the worst pandemic the world has seen in 100 years. “I am very realistic about where we are right now, and I don’t have all of the answers, but through the guidance and the information we are working with, we are making the decisions in the best interests of the community and the organization,” she said. A few years ago, during the ceremony to announce the construction of the $22 million North East Library – which will become the CCPL’s newest branch and is scheduled to open in 2021 – Miller was quoted in an interview.

“Think of a library as less of a noun and more as a verb.” Morgan Miller, Director, Cecil County Public Library

“I said, ‘Think of a library as less of a noun and more as a verb,’” she said. “At the time I first said it, I wasn’t aware of just how precious its meaning would become. Libraries have always had the need to meet the people where they are, and in this pandemic, we have been shifting our model to do that more. People are starting to look at libraries as community gathering spaces, as opposed to buildings that just house books. While there is a natural bereavement about leaving parts of that old life behind, this new model isn’t just about 2020. “The world is being redrawn before us, and we are a part of that history.” To learn more about the Cecil Public Library system and access many virtual and online resources, visit www.cecil. ebranch.info. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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