2027 Winter Luncheon Series

Create a Pollinator Haven for Butterflies, Bees, Insects and Wildlife

Jean Brinton Jaecks artist, educator and author of Paint Like a Butterfly, will share her two acre native plant garden and her perspective on gardening for biodiversity and maintaining a chemical-free sustainable environment for pollinators, insects and wildlife to thrive.

  Blacks of the Chesapeake

Greg Gwaltney from Blacks of the Chesapeake for a presentation on the lives and legacies of African Americans working on the Chesapeake Bay

 

 Women Who Work the Waters of the Chesapeake

Mick Blackistone and Mitzi Bernard will give a special presentation and book signing celebrating the women who make their living on the Chesapeake Bay. Following the presentation, Mick and Mitzi will be available to sign copies of the book and artwork. 

  Chesapeake Oysters: History on the Half Shell.

Kate Livie Chesapeake historian and author explores the Bay’s history through one of its most iconic resources: the oyster. From the explosive growth of the 19th-century oyster industry to the traditions of harvesting, boatbuilding, and working-waterfront culture it created, this presentation traces the eras that transformed the Chesapeake and its communities. With a special focus on small working waterfront towns, Livie shares how the oyster boom reshaped local economies, landscapes, and ways of life—and left a legacy that still defines the Bay today.

 Chesapeake Mermaid Presentation

 Angela Mitchell Chesapeake Mermaid, Inc. founder will give an inspiring presentation exploring seventeen years of environmental education, wildlife rescue, and conservation advocacy throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Through personal stories, experiences, and behind-the-scenes insights, Angela will share how a simple idea grew into a nonprofit organization that has connected thousands of people to the Chesapeake Bay and the wildlife that depend upon it.

Guests will learn about the challenges facing native wildlife, the importance of habitat conservation, lessons learned from years of public outreach, and how everyday citizens can make a meaningful difference in protecting the watershed. The lecture will also explore the role of storytelling, accessibility, and community engagement in inspiring environmental stewardship for future generations.

  Landscaping for a Changing Environment

Kathleen Lithfield will discuss practical ways homeowners can reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, support wildlife, lower maintenance demands, and decrease their landscape's carbon footprint. This presentation will explore how thoughtful landscape planning can work in harmony with the natural environment through sustainable material selection, effective stormwater management and water-dispersal techniques, native plantings, and environmentally responsible maintenance practices.

 Building the Captain Avery Digital Collection

Tracy Thompson of the Enoch Pratt Library will discuss materials from the Captain Avery Museum through the work of Digital Maryland. We’ll look at how items are selected for digitization, why details such as names, dates, and places are essential to making them discoverable, and what happens during scanning, description, and publication. We’ll also discuss how access and rights are considered before materials go online. Along the way, we’ll see how this work helps preserve and share stories of Shady Side and life along the Chesapeake Bay.

  Connecting with the Past: Genealogy Resources at Your Library

Mallory Connaughton, of the Deale Library, shares the many genealogy tools available through the library, from online databases and historical newspapers to local history collections. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced researcher, you'll gain valuable tips for uncovering your family's history.