While the phase “on probation” is too strong in describing the first few years of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s entry into the Mid-Shore, the 5o year old Western Shore nonprofit knew from experience that the best way to develop a trusting relationship with Mid-Shore communities was to produce tangible results. And it’s pretty clear from hearing from Ross Benincasa, the Arc’s senior vice president of community development, with their Chesapeake Community Development subsidiary, that the Arc’s first projects in Easton have started to create that track record,

In our conversation with Ross, he discussed the organization’s transformative real estate initiative, starting with the ongoing renovation of The Primrose on Aurora Street and ending with the recently completed Port Street Commons on Port Street. This has enabled town leaders and residents to understand how committed the Arc team is to the communities they serve in building high-quality, inclusive housing.

Ross also discusses the Arc’s third project in Easton, Easton Crossings, which will introduce 123 residential units and public green space, reinforcing a long-term investment in community engagement.

This video is approximately minutes in length. For more information about the Arc, please go here. 

Many families are impacted by dementia and Alzheimer’s, a new program piloted at the YMCA, TANDEM, hopes to support the individuals with the diagnosis and the caregiver that is often struggling with stress, depression and anxiety.

Tandem is a loving community for individuals diagnosed with Dementia/Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. The Tandem program includes gentle and safe exercise therapy, music therapy and art therapy, all of which bring joy, provide social interaction and improve quality of life for all. This 16- week pilot program was the first of its kind in our area and is offered at no charge to the family. Tandem meets twice a week and offers several sessions for the caregivers to connect for support and respite. We do it all with encouragement and love.

“I look forward to serving families impacted by dementia and Alzheimer’s. As we know caregivers experience higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.  If we can support them through love, support and encouragement in Tandem, we can be a lifeline to families that are in survival mode.”

 The YMCA hopes to replicate this program in all of our communities. Please contact Wendy Palmer if you would like to hear more about becoming a TANDEM Coach, volunteer or if your family needs the support.  [email protected]

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the YMCA of the Chesapeake, please go here. 

For many on the Mid-Shore, particularly in Talbot Couty, Chuck Mangold is the go-to guy to turn to when real estate comes up. For over two decades. Chuck at Benson and Mangold, the multi-generational real estate giant on the Shore, has seen the local market in good and bad times, enjoying the remarkable highs and surviving the low moments. So, when the Spy was thinking of an ongoing series devoted to one of the region’s most important economic sectors, Mr. Mangold was our first choice. And we are particularly grateful Chuck has agreed to participate.

In the first of our quarterly conversations, Chuck shares his insights on the local commercial real estate market, the multi-million dollar sector, and the industry’s general health. Chuck also discusses the challenges of determining a reasonable growth rate for Easton and other communities on the Mid-Shore.

This video is approximately 12 minutes in length. For more information about Chuck Mangold please go to his website here. 

If somone had to guess where one of the Mid-Shore’s top financial services executives goes on vacation, there is a good chance they would be wrong regarding Stephanie Saunders. While her peers might head off to trips in the Bahamas and tours of Europe, Stephanie has chosen the likes of Pakistan and the Philippine Islands when she takes a break from being a senior vice president at The Easton Group, a local affiliate with Morgan Stanley in Easton.

From her early days as a teller at St. Michaels Bank to now managing one of the largest investment portfolios on the Shore, Stephanie sees this remarkable professional growth as just another example of her lifelong relationship with her God. Part of that relationship is using her faith to use her vacation time to work with community organizations in some of the most economically challenging countries in the world.

The Spy asked Stephanie to come by the Spy Studio a few weeks ago to talk about her faith and how those “holidays” have become some of her life’s most spiritually rewarding experiences.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length.

One of the most notable nonprofit leadership appointments made on the Mid-Shore in 2024 was the Delmarva Community Center’s (DCC) board of directors announcement that Talbot County’s Andy Hollis would be their next president and CEO.

DCC is one of those organizations that might not have the greatest name recognition in the region, even after 50 years of its founding, but most residents, no matter where they live, are instantly aware of their importance when told that the organization provides the Mid-Shore with the vitally important public transportation system in Kent, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester County.

And in Cambridge and Dorchester County, the impact of the DCC is even more significant. They offer housing support, senior and adult day care, meal delivery, and regular social activities designed to enhance the quality of life for older adults.  DCC also provides comprehensive programs to support children with After-school programs, tutoring, and much-needed recreational activities and nutrition programs.

In short, this is a $20 million business with nearly 300 employees, which might be one reason the DCC recruited Andy Hollis as their leader. After decades of running large organizations and being the county manager of Talbot County, Hollis has a unique skill of management and strategy that has consistently made these large organizations work and work well.

Given the scope of the DCC’s mission on the Mid-Shore, we asked Andy to stop by the Spy studio to talk about his new assignment and some of the goals that he and his board hope to have success with over the next five years.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about Delmarva Community Services please go here. 

Over the coming months, community leaders from across the Mid-Shore will gather in various festive ways to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of YMCA of the Chesapeake CEO Robbie Gill.

When Robbie arrived in Talbot County in 2005, the YMCA at the Easton Peachbossom site was already a success story. Through the generosity of the W. Alton Jones Foundation and the dedication of visionary board members, the Y’s presence has since then significantly improved the lives of countless families in and around Talbot County. However, that transformative impact was primarily limited to the county, leaving many nearby counties – particularly further north – without access to similar opportunities.

While others had recognized this gap in mission delivery, it was Robbie’s leadership skills and strategic vision that made these much-needed changes. His ability to unite teams and mobilize resources has brought the YMCA to life in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. Today, with two new campuses in Chestertown and Centreville, representing nearly $50 million in funding, the Y has expanded its reach and delivered life-changing programs and services to even more communities.

The Spy recently invited Robbie to our studio to reflect on these remarkable achievements and to share his thoughts on the future. During our conversation, we asked him to explore the question that never seems fully answered: “What’s next for YMCA?”

This video is approximately eight minutes in length. For more information about the YMCA of the Chesapeake please go here.