Bayside Gazette

‘Great moms’ sometimes are volunteers who simply care

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

WORCESTER COUNTY —With the annual commemoration of gratitude for the caring and selflessness of biological mothers and grandmothers in recognition of Mother’s Day on May 12, a canvassing of local child service and faith organizations uncovered a small sampling of some pretty “great mom” surrogates in the area as well. Here we highlight three.

Great foster parent: Robin Cook of Bishopville
Terry Edwards, resource home worker for the Worcester County Department of Social Services, who said the term “foster parent” has been updated to “resource parent” to reflect the expanded roles they play in the lives of the young people they help, said all of the 19 resource parents in the program “Do such an outstanding job.”
She commended Robin Cook for her ability to maintain biological connections between the children placed in the foster care system and their biological family members. “She is very good at helping the children maintain their cultural identity,” Edwards said of Cook.
According to Edwards, even when parental rights to their children have been terminated, Cook stays in contact with the birth parents if possible. Cook and her husband have fostered three children, and have adopted one child privately and one child through the Worcester County G.O.L.D. (Giving Other Lives Dignity) program.

Great child advocate: Pat Schumaker of Ocean Pines
Brigitte Saulsbury, program director for the Lower Shore CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) organization described Pat Schumaker as, “Extremely dedicated to the program and her role of advocate.”
The CASA program, which operates within Worcester Youth and Family Counseling services, helped 77 children in the area last year, according to Saulsbury.
She said the program has 45 advocates, who have each undergone hours of intensive training, background checks, and taken oaths of office. Their roles are to get to know the abused or neglected children in their care, along with the family members, therapists and teachers who also touch the lives of those children, in order to submit reports on behalf of the children in court. “I’m pretty amazed at the work they do,” which Saulsbury said can be heart wrenching.
She said Schumaker goes beyond what is normally expected and has been extremely involved with the two teenagers, one young girl and baby boy she has been assigned in the program. Schumaker helps the children build life experiences and basic social skills with activities like dining out and tea parties, according to Saulsbury.
“She also helps train new volunteers,” she said.
Schumaker, a retired business owner, said her objective was to help the children she advocates for establish permanence in their lives, in addition to assuring their safety and well-being. She has two daughters and four grandchildren, although, she pointed out she is legally barred from allowing interactions between her court appointed children and her own children.
She said of the children she represents, “I call them my CASA children. They call me Miss Pat.” She said she sees the program as a sacred relationship, one where she has been entrusted to be in their lives at a time when the children are in their most vulnerable situations.
Schumaker said her saddest moments are when she sees the levels of abuse and neglect some children are forced to suffer when the need for drugs or alcohol blinds parents from seeing the negative impacts their behavior has on their children.
She said her happiest moments are when a child is reunited with family members they previously thought were lost to them.
“That is a profound moment,” she said.
She also celebrates when a child who was previously convinced he or she were incapable of achievement gets that first job and takes that initial step toward becoming a productive member of society, or when a baby goes to a permanent loving family.
Most of all, Schumaker said, a memorable moment for her is when she sees that a child has developed enough trust in her to know that he or she can call on her when needed.

Great philanthropist: Betty Tustin of Berlin
Pastor Bryan Pugner, of the Worship Center in Berlin, was quick to name Betty Tustin as “A great lady in our church,” whom he called a “Super Great Mom!”
Pugner described Tustin as a tremendously sweet and kind-hearted woman, whose entire family was absolutely amazing. He said she has a daughter with special needs and still finds the time for philanthropic projects.
At Christmas, according to Pugner, Tustin heads the church’s Christmas Outreach program, which reaches out to single mothers to find out what toys, clothes and shoes they need to help their families enjoy the holiday.
Her program coordinates with the Toys for Tots organization, as part of the effort to request the items and organize the gifts, he said. In all, Tustin’s Christmas program helps children from 30 to 35 area families have a happy Christmas each year.
Tustin also hosts the Kid’s Port program, a boat-themed Sunday school at the church, and a book club for seniors at the Gull Creek Senior Living Community, along with a monthly hymn sing, all of which is sponsored by the Worship Center, which is an Assemblies of God church.
But Tustin was noticeably uncomfortable with the thought of an article focusing on her because, she said, she was only doing God’s work and that was where the praise should be directed. “It is only through prayer and the Holy Spirit that these things can be done,” she said.

Delmarva Chorus will sing to your valentine

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

OCEAN PINES — The Delmarva Chorus of Sweet Adelines International will kick off its “Singing Messages” serenading services with Valentine’s Day performances in Berlin, Ocean City and Ocean Pines.
The Sweet Adelines are a feminine take on the traditional male barbershop harmony, and are dedicated to teaching women how to sing a cappella (without musical accompaniment). It is an independent, nonprofit music education association for women singers that was founded by the wives and friends of male barbershop singers in Tulsa, Okla., and has 500 chapters worldwide, primarily in the U.S.
Carol Ludwig, director of the 10-year-old Delmarva Chorus, said the Ocean Pines-based group has 28 members and will send members out in quartets to the location of the sender’s choice including homes, offices, restaurants or nursing homes.
The $25 performance fee includes two personalized serenades and a picture of the recipient that can be e-mailed to the sender. She said organizers are also trying to arrange a way to include a chocolate flower gift for recipients with the Valentine’s Day performances.
The singing messengers are available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The performances are a fundraiser to help the chorus pay royalty fees for copyrighted music, vocal education and costumes, used in competitions held by the international organization. The regional competition for this area is scheduled for Apr. 23 and includes chapters from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Ludwig said.
The chorus performs regularly in the area, according to Ludwig. She said its annual schedule includes two performances at the Berlin Nursing Home, a Halloween show at the Gull Creek Senior Living Community, Memorial Day and Veterans Day appearances at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial, and a music and comedy show in Ocean Pines.
Even with all those shows Ludwig still called the chorus “a pretty well-kept secret.” The Singing Messages will continue year-round, she said, and the performers will also be available for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.
“We try to personalize the songs as much as we can,” Ludwig said. “Most of the people are very surprised when we show up.”
One of the benefits of the serenades for Ludwig, she said, is that they are as fun for the singers as it hopefully is for the recipients. “I like to bring joy,” she said.
Information on Delmarva Chorus performances is available at 410-641-5091.

'Victorian Christmas' events in town

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

BERLIN – Victorian Christmas, a month-long series of downtown events sponsored by the town and businesses, begins this Friday, Nov. 23.

Town of Berlin Christmas Tree Lighting

Friday, Nov. 23

The Atlantic Hotel

5 p.m.

Free

The annual Christmas tree lighting will kick things off at the Atlantic Hotel on North Main Street. Mayor Gee Williams and other guests will conduct the ceremony. The tree will remain lit throughout the season. Local musician Carol Ludwig and her Delmarva Chorus will provide musical entertainment.

Festival of Trees

Friday, Nov. 23 through Friday, Dec. 14

Downtown Berlin

Holiday trees decorated by the owners of nearly every downtown shop will be displayed in their storefront for almost an entire month. All trees can be bid on through a silent auction. Anyone interested can go in while the tree is displayed and place his or her bid. Bidding will end at 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 and winners will be contacted the next day.

Santa Claus Visits Berlin

Every Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-22

Berlin Chamber of Commerce

Noon-2 p.m.

Free (no camera provided)

Residents have weeks to prepare their Christmas cards, as Santa Claus, himself, will be at the Berlin Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center on South Main Street to take pictures with children and their families. Although there is no admission fee, those who wish to take a picture with Santa must bring their own cameras.

Annual Christmas Parade

Thursday, Dec. 6

Downtown Berlin

7 p.m.

Free

Now under guidance of the Main Street Berlin program, the 42^nd Annual Berlin Christmas Parade is being sponsored by the town for the first time since the Berlin Lions Club took over about 25 years ago. Still, not much has changed: the parade will still feature floats, marching bands and other entries proceeding down Main Street, with a special appearance from Santa Claus at the end. Main Street will be closed during the event and spectators will have a long length of sidewalk on both sides of the street to view the parade.

Reindeer Run

Saturday, Dec. 8

Downtown Berlin

9 a.m.

Both a 5K and 1 mile run will take place, starting at the Atlantic Hotel on North Main Street. Sponsored by Live Long Fitness, runners will wind through the streets of downtown Berlin. They are encouraged to run while wearing holiday clothing. In its fourth year, the event has grown significantly, as more than 250 people participated in last year’s run.

Afternoon Tea & Fashion Show

Sunday, Dec. 9

The Atlantic Hotel

3-5 p.m.

$30 for each adult, $20 for each child

Renovations can be made for an elegant tea and fashion show, the proceeds of which will go to the Victorian Christmas fund. To reserve a spot, call the Atlantic Hotel at 410-641-3589.

New Year’s Eve Celebration

Monday, Dec. 31

Downtown Berlin

Free

It went so well last year, the town will do it again. Musical entertainment from a soon-to-be announced disk jockey will keep the energy going while refreshments are served on the streets for both adults and children. The night culminates with the ball drop across from the Atlantic Hotel.

While these are the town’s biggest Victorian Christmas events, several downtown shops have planned numerous events throughout the holiday season. For more information about everything that’s going on in town for Victorian Christmas, brochures can be found around the downtown area, and an electronic version can be found at www.berlinmainstreet.com.