Towne Spotlight Local

 Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital at Easton Supports Healthcare Workers Members of the Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital at Easton have donated “Health Care Heroes” banners for display outside University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton, and the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center and Diagnostic & Imaging Center. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Auxiliary volunteers have been on hiatus since mid-March, said Liz Hannegan, president of the Auxiliary, and members were looking for a way to continue to support the hospital in a time of stay-at-home orders and social distancing. “We are deeply grateful to the Auxiliary for this generous gift that will bring encouragement and cheer to our health care team. I look forward to the day that we can welcome back our volunteers, as they are an integral part of our care team,” said Ken Kozel, president and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health.

EASTON RESIDENT CELEBRATES 101ST BIRTHDAY Helen Crow of Easton recently celebrated her 101st birthday at The Dixon House in the midst of social distancing due to COVID-19. Staff at The Dixon House decorated the screened-in porch so that she could stand and see her family members at a distance who delivered candy and flowers for the celebration.

 TCPS ANNOUNCES

2020–2021 TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR

Talbot County Public Schools announced the 2020–2021 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year with a surprise drive-by celebration at the home of each winner. The Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Program recognizes outstanding educators who have innovative ideas, focus positive attention on education, and demonstrate superior commitment to students. The Teacher of the Year is David Cherry, who currently teaches Algebra II and Precalculus at Easton High School. And Tasha Aikens has been chosen as the Support Staff of the Year. Aikens has been a Special Education Instructional Assistant for Talbot County Public Schools since 2002, with the past five years being at Easton High School. A passionate and dedicated educator, she provides support to both the classroom teacher and case manager in classrooms and self-contained settings. Congratulations!

MSAC Awards $1 Million to Arts Or- ganizations and In- dependent Artists The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Maryland Department of Commerce, announced awards totaling $1 million dollars to support arts organizations and independent artists across the state during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The funding will help adjust to losses sustained because of modified or cancelled programming and/or operations. MSAC received 155 eligible requests totaling $2.6 million by the May 1 deadline. Based on staff evaluation of applications against a rubric that considered the needs of the artist or organization relative to the available funding, the Council approved grants for 64 arts organizations totaling $869,318 and 61 independent artists totaling $128,682. For a full list of grantees, visit msac.org/grants-awarded.

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