Londonderry on the Tred Avon residents, Larraine “Lari” Caldwell, and James and Patricia Bradley were three of fifty honorees inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 26th in Glen Burnie, Md.

Londonderry on the Tred Avon residents, Larraine “Lari” Caldwell, and James and Patricia Bradley were three of fifty honorees inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (MSCH) this year. They were recognized at an induction ceremony on Thursday, October 26^th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, Md. Founded in 1987, the MSCHF is a private, all-volunteer organization that publicly recognizes and honors Maryland senior citizens for outstanding service in their communities.

“We are proud to count these wonderful individuals as our neighbors at Londonderry,” said Irma Toce, Londonderry CEO. “Our residents pride themselves on community engagement and Lari, James and Patricia exemplify the great impact seniors can make by sharing their talents and experiences with the causes and organizations they care about.”

Lari Caldwell is a retired Licensed Certified Social Worker and is currently Vice-President of Care and Share, an organization that raises money for vulnerable adults and children who do not qualify for other forms of assistance. She serves on the Londonderry on the Tred Avon Board of Directors as well as on the board of the Friends of the Dorchester County Library. She is also active with the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester and the Dorchester County Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.

James and Patricia Bradley are retired educators and founders of the Caroline County affiliate of Rebuilding Together, an organization that provides free homeowner services to the elderly, disabled, veterans and families with children facing necessary, but unaffordable, repairs to their homes. They also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Voice of the Homeless – Winter Haven Cold Weather Shelter, St. Martin’s Ministries and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62 and over, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, click here.

Londonderry on the Tred Avon celebrated its 25th Anniversary at a gala event on October 4th on the grounds of the Londonderry Manor House. More than 200 residents and community members attended to commemorate this important milestone in the life of the cooperative. Maryland State Senator Addie Eckardt and Delegate Johnny Mautz presented citations in honor of the event.

Established in 1992 as Londonderry Retirement Community on some of Talbot County’s most historic land, Londonderry on the Tred Avon has grown from its initial 15 individual cottages and 17 residents to a vibrant community of over 97 cottages, 26 apartments and more than 150 residents. The cooperative independent living retirement community is resident owned and operated and was the first of its kind on the Eastern Shore.

“Londonderry serves an important need in our community. The location, beautiful facility and grounds, and quality of staff really make it an ideal place to call home. It’s wonderful that they are celebrating their 25th anniversary,” said Al Silverstein, Talbot County Councilman and President of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce.

“This event celebrated our past and future,” said Irma Toce, Londonderry CEO. “It was a special opportunity to reflect on our history as we move into an exciting time with the construction of our new Clubhouse slated to open next year. Big things are happening and it was important for us to celebrate where we began.”

The celebration, planned and designed by Kari Rider Events, featured food from Blue Heron Catering, live music from Guy and Dolls from Rockville, and dancing with Schafers Swing Dancers from Baltimore, Md.

“It was a very enjoyable party and we were thrilled to be invited,” said Judy Geoghegan, event guest. “The people (at Londonderry) are always friendly and so interesting to talk to and, we loved celebrating with them.”

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62 and over, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, click here.

Londonderry on the Tred Avon celebrated its 25th Anniversary at a gala event on Wednesday, October 4th on the Londonderry Manor grounds. More than 200 residents and community members attended the event including Senator Addie Eckardt, Delegate Johnny Mautz, Mayor Robert Willey and representatives from the Talbot County Council. Pictured is Senator Addie Eckardt presenting a Maryland Senate Resolution to Londonderry. Left to Right: Londonderry CEO, Irma Toce, Easton Mayor, Robert Willey, Londonderry President, Pat Lewers, Talbot County Council Member, Al Silverstein, Senator Addie Eckardt, Talbot County Council Member, Chuck Callahan, Delegate Johnny Mautz and Talbot County Council Member, Jennifer Williams.

Londonderry on the Tred Avon employees Shavonte Green and Duval Mills (below) are each pictured with Londonderry resident Lari Caldwell and a representative of Habitat for Humanity Choptank. Both Green and Mills recently signed up and were approved to go through the process of becoming homebuyers through Habitat for Humanity with the encouragement of Caldwell, a long-time volunteer for the organization.

Two employees of Londonderry on the Tred Avon are on the path to realizing their dream of owning a home thanks to Habitat for Humanity Choptank and the assistance of one of Londonderry’s residents.

Shavonte Green and Duval Mills both learned about Habitat for Humanity when representatives from the organization visited Londonderry to talk employees and fill them in on the process of becoming a homeowner.

“It felt like a good option for me,” Mills, head waiter at Londonderry, said. “I’m very excited.”

Green and Mills were both able to learn a little more about Habitat from Londonderry resident Lari Caldwell, who’s volunteered with the program for about a decade. A former social worker, she serves on Habitat for Humanity Choptank Homebuyer Selection Committee, helping to look into applicants’ backgrounds and choose good candidates for the program.

Though she recused herself from the committee in this case, she’s done what she can to encourage them both along.

“I did promote them as responsible young people who would do well as candidates for Habitat,” Caldwell said. “They’re both very pleasant and personable, and I think this will be wonderful for both of them.”

According to Habitat for Humanity Choptank, applicants must be free of outstanding collectible debt before closing, save for closing costs, pay an affordable mortgage for the cost of the home, and assume responsibility for maintaining the home, and for paying home owners insurance and property taxes. The biggest piece of the process is the completion of 300-400 “sweat equity” hours — essentially volunteer service to the program.

“Our philosophy is about building neighborhoods and helping people to live their best life in their communities,” Caldwell said. “We really want to assure that the people that come into our program really want to be there.”

Green and Mills are still early in the process, but are very much looking forward to going through it. In fact, Caldwell says Mills has already done many of many of his sweat equity hours despite just being approved by Habitat.

“He’s really, very motivated,” Caldwell said. “I’m very proud of both of them for doing what they have to take this step in life.”

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62 and up, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, click here.  

When Beatrice Conrad met Richard Robertson, finding a husband was the last thing she expected.

An Easton native and resident of Londonderry on the Tred Avon since 2006, Bea spent her life as a nurse, serving with the United States Air Force for 12 years and in the Veterans Administration Hospital for 22. Dick, a pilot by trade and native of New Jersey, came to Londonderry six or seven years after her.

For a time, Bea and Dick never crossed paths — she attended dinners in Londonderry’s Tred Avon Tavern, while he favored lunch. But one evening, when a mutual friend brought Dick to dinner with him and the three shared a table, things changed.

“He started coming every night (after that),” Bea said.

Shortly after they met, Dick asked Bea on a lunch date to Ocean City.

“I about fell out of the chair,” Bea said. “It took me by surprise, it really did.”

Not long after the first date, Bea and Dick were officially a couple — spending every day together enjoying each other’s company and doing quite a bit of traveling during their five years together. The couple visited Syracuse, New York; Williamsburg, Va.; and Hershey, Pa. — “and then the cruises started,” Bea said. They also bought a condo in Sarasota, Fla., splitting their months between Florida and Londonderry for about two years.

The next big step for Bea and Dick came on March 7 of this year, when Bea finally agree to marry Dick.

“He asked me over and over early on, but I’d been single all my life and I just couldn’t see any reason for it,” Bea said. “Finally, when we got back this past February from Florida, he said, ‘It’s time to get married,’ and I said, ‘Oh, what the hell; why not?’”

Ultimately, their marriage was to be short lived — Dick passed away on May 12 of this year. But Bea has no regrets.

“Even now that it’s more or less all over, I still feel that when he came to the table that first time … I was plucked up and taken out of my routine life,” Bea said. “I was in a different world — a very enjoyable world, I might say.

“It was a very unexpected love story on my part. You just never expect that.”

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62 and up, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, click here. 

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On Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Londonderry held the Second Annual Election Convention under the able leadership of Pat Lewers. Pat acknowledged the assistance of Patricia Bradley and Dorothy Vanderpool in the preparation of this well-run and very informative meeting. A total of 92 residents and staff attended.

Each of the three candidates vying for the two open seats on the Board of Directors was given the opportunity to relate his background, current interests and reasons for running for the office. Candidates Phil Dinkel, Ken Sadler and Dan Tanner were then open for questions from the floor.

Many of the questions came from comparative newcomers to Londonderry and covered a wide range of subjects. With the answers from the candidates, and in some instances from present board members and staff, residents received much valuable information.

Questions from twelve residents ranged from the place of politics on the campus, the makeup of the board (five residents and five non-residents), Easton Point annexation and our representation in the process, possible expansion of Londonderry, the actual voting process and more.

The Second Annual election convention was a great success in advance of the election of two new members of the Board of Directors.