Toddville Tidewaters: August 2007

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Aug 07 Around Dorchester County

In case you have an itching to come visit Toddville and Dorchester County, here are some happenings around the area (taken, in part, from the monthly, What’s Happening…In Dorchester County)

Throughout the month of Aug:

Birds to See Around Toddville and Blackwater: Wading bird numbers are on the increase. Blue-winged teal arrive from the north on their southward migration. Bald eagle numbers are down as they disperse after the breeding season. Be forewarned! Expect large concentrations of mosquitoes and flies. Wear light clothing and bring the Deet.

One Hour Walking Tour of High Street Every Saturday, 10:00 AM through Oct 27 (weather permitting). Cambridge. West End Citizens Association. Meet your colonial costumed guide in front of the Wallace Office Building, 301 Gay Street. Adults: $8.00 Children under 12 free if accompanied by an adult. Reservations are appreciated, but not necessary. Contact 410-901-1000 or weca@cambridgemd.org.

Farmers Market Every Thursday, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM until Oct 25. Academy Street parking lot across from Cambridge Fire Department. Questions, call John Steward, 410-310-6093.

Nathan of Dorchester Public Sailing Every Saturday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM through 18 Aug and on Sunday, 19 Aug from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Departs from Long Wharf, Cambridge. Call for information, reservations, or private charter 410-228-7141 or visit http://www.skipjack-nathan.org/.

01 Aug, Wednesday

South Dorchester Folk Museum Program 7:00 PM at the Blackwater Refuge Visitors Center. Claude Goatee will present “Trade Bills – Revealing Dorchester’s History”.

05 Aug, Sun

Church Creek Vol. Fire Co. Breakfast Buffet 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM at the Church Creek Fire Hall, 1902 Church Creek Road, Church Creek, MD (About 7 miles west of Cambridge). All you can eat breakfast. Adults: $6.00, Ages 4-10 yrs.: $3.50, Ages 3 and under: free. For information, contact Tom Coghlan 410-228-0091.

10 Aug, Friday & 11 Aug, Saturday & 31 Aug, Saturday

Linkwood-Salem Vol. Fire Co. Hot & Tangy BBQ Chicken 10:00 AM until sold out at the Linkwood-Salem Volunteer Fire Company in Linkwood (9 miles east of Cambridge on Rte 50). ½ chicken: $6.50, platter: $8.00. Feel free to call ahead and place order 410-221-0169.

11 Aug, Saturday

Church Creek Vol. Fire Co. Ladies Auxilliary Family Bingo 5:00 PM at the fire hall, Cambridge. For information, contact Helen Rizzo 410-228-1710.

Rescue Fire Company Seafood Feat-I-Val 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Sailwinds Park, Cambridge. All-you-can-eat seafood, live entertainment, crafts, and exhibits. Car Show hosted by Mid Shore Cruisers. Dash plaques will be issued to the first 50 entrants. Top three winners will also receive cash prizes. For information on the Car Show, contact Les Reazor, 410-943-0581 or Tom Coghlan, 410-228-0091. Tours of the historic town will available hourly, sponsored by West End Citizens Association for a small fee. Advanced ticket prices: Adult, $25.00 Children (6-11), $10.00 Children under 6, free. Price at the gate will be $30.00 for adults. Soft drinks included in the price. For more information, call 410-228-1211 or email seafoodfeatival@yahoo.com or visit http://www.seafoodfeatival.com/

19 Aug, Sunday

Ducks Unlimited Midshore Shoot 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM at Woodlands Sporting Clays, Rte 50, Vienna (about half hour past Cambridge). 75 targets. More info: 410-376-0200. Must be registered by 1:00 PM and on course by 1:30 PM. Lunch served between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Cost: $75.00 per shooter (includes lunch). $10.00 for lunch only.

25 Aug, Saturday

Annual Crab Feast 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Sailwinds park, Governor’s Hall, Cambridge. Sponsored by Fraternal Order of Police Cambridge Lodge #27. Door prizes, crabs, fried chicken, sweet corn, beer, and sodas. Band – Golden Touch. Cost: $25.00 per person. Advance ticket sales only. For tickets, please mail check or money order no later than 15 Aug to: FOP Lodge #27, PO Box 401, Cambridge, MD 21613 or call 410-330-8968. All food to be consumed on premises. No containers, etc. Please bring your own crab knife and mallet.

Harvest Festival 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. The Dorchester County Historical Society presents this old-fashioned celebration of the county’s traditions both past and present. Music, food, contests, wildlife exhibits,, and games are planned at La Grange Plantation, which includes the Meridity House historic home and Neild Farm Museum. For more information, call 410-228-7953.

© 2007
Mark Darien
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Our locally owned and operated businesses help define who we are as a community. Just browse any "Best of" lists and it's the locally owned businesses that dominate. Shop Local Delmarva aims to provide an easy reference to and for our locally owned businesses. Be sure to visit and support your locally owned merchant!

The Shanty Shoppe

Catapulting Toddville into the digital age,

The Shanty Shoppe
offers old store charm to the world.

Yes, this is Mark and Keith's store. Some day, we may actually have a real building for it down here. In the mean time, feel free to browse around the Internet version. Read about our grand opening and what prompted us to open the store.

Please note, The Shanty Shoppe closed due to unreasonable price increases on eBay. We couldn't afford the high-priced rent. We haven't made a final decision as to whether or not close the store for good. We do continue to ocassionally list auctions on eBay under seller ID markdarien. Please feel free to look us up.

Notable Characters in Toddville Tidewaters

Mark - That's me! For the most part, you'll experience Toddville through my eyes. If you like, you may email me (or Keith)
Keith - He's my partner. Loving the mountains of Pennsylvania, he has no idea how he ended up in the tidal marshlands on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Occasionally, you may experience Toddville through his eyes.
Kiwi - At 6 months, Kiwi, our chihuahua-basenji-or-something-or-other mix, joined our family and became Thistle's second stepdaughter. I think Thistle will forgive us for this, some day, too.
Daphne - Since last summer, Daphne, a green tree frog, has faithfully hung out under our light by the door. There's more bugs there than she can eat, but she certainly tries to get them all. It's such a hard job for her, she often goes to sleep, ocassionally waking up to snatch a tender morsel that dared to disturb her rest.

Key Places In / Around Toddville

Jr's Stone House - The only bar for 30 miles around. Location: As you're heading down on MD 336, which is either Crapo, Crapo-Bishop's Head or Bishop's Head Road, she's on your left next to the radio tower. If you get to the two 90 degree turns in the road (not the first set you already passed a ways back), you went too far. Hours: We don't know yet
Dickie's Famous Subs - In addition to being a sandwich shop, he carries a small supply of groceries and lunch meats. Also doubles as a social gathering hall while waiting for an order. If you're in a hurry, don't stop in. The locals in Toddville don't know what hurry means. Location: about a mile or so down the road from Carolyn's Stone House on your left, across from the crab house. You might mistake it for an abnadoned house, but look closely and you'll see the "famous subs" motto faded on the side. Hours: M-Sat Around 6:00 AM until around 3:30 PM. (You might notice the locals don't stick to strict times.)
Mr. Pritchett's Store - In business since 1946, it's the only place for thirty miles to get gas. A soda machine and a shelf or two of basic groceries included inside. Location: Tedious Creek Road on the arc of the strong 90 degree turn. The Pritchett family graveyard is across the street. (Go past Dickie's Famous Subs about a mile or so and make a left on Tedious Creek Road.) Hours: M-Sat 5:00 AM - 7:30 PM Closed Sunday for Church. He sounded firm on those hours, but he always looks closed. Just walk on in and you'll find him sitting there waiting for you.
Our Birdfeeder - It only took a couple of weeks, but finally our feeder is attracting some of our feathered neighbors. At Our Birdfeeder, you can get caught up on all the news in the bird community, assuming our feathered friends come around and share their stories.
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge - While the visitor's center is located off of Key Wallace Highway (a country road a good 17 miles from Toddville), the refuge is in and all around Toddville. It encompasses 27,000 acres of woods and marshland with all sorts of hiking and canoing trails. A bird watcher's paradise!

In Memoriam

Gilligan - He's our rescued sea gull. With only one wing, he can't be returned to the wild so he may as well as join our family. Gilligan joined us Feb 18, 2007 and quietly departed on Feb 26, 2007.

Minnow - At 2-1/2 months, Minnow, our redbone coonhound-daschund mix, joined our family and became Thistle's stepdaughter. I think Thistle will forgive us some day. Minnow was with us a very short time. A stray cat and a rambunctious puppy that hadn't learned to listen led to a disaster on the road. Her spinal injuries were too severe and we let her go to sleep in my arms.

Carolyn's Stone House - Carolyn was a wonderful, caring woman who passed away from lung problems. For a year after her passing, Carolyn's Stone House stood, but new owners have taken over. No matter what they call the new bar, it will always be Carolyn's Stone House to us. Carolyn was a special woman and we'll never forget her.

Thistle

quietly passed on after battling lymphatic cancer for the last few months. Fortunately she left us on a Saturday so Keith and I were with her as she took her last breath. She's resting peacefully in the part of our woods we call the Sanctuary. There's plenty of deer for her to chase.

Toddville Tidewaters

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Aug 07 Around Dorchester County

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