VegSpringFest ~ April 26, 2026
Building Healthy Communities
Maryam J. Tabrizi PhD is passionate about the intersection of public health, animal welfare, and planetary health. Based in North Bethesda, Maryland, with a home in Dewey Beach, Delaware, she has been part of the Dewey/Rehoboth Beach community for over 25 years. Maryam holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an M.S. in Health Promotion Management from American University, and is currently completing a certificate in Food Systems, Public Health, and the Environment at Johns Hopkins.
She has worked in research and evaluation of health promotion programs and policies, focusing on workplace wellness and community well-being. Maryam serves as a Humane Policy Volunteer with Humane World for Animals and as a Building Healthy Communities Leader with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, empowering communities to adopt plant-based lifestyles and foster health, compassion, and sustainability.
VEgan Tea Party with Kahiau Bakery and Bella Grove Teas 10 AM - 12 PM
Kahiau’s Bakery is joining forces with Belle Grove Tea Co to bring you the most charming spring experience 💐☕
Come spend the day indulging in a beautiful Spring Veg Fest Tea Party filled with:
✨ Savory tea sandwiches
✨ Delicate pastries
✨ Fresh baked scones with clotted cream & lemon curd
✨ A curated selection of hot & iced teas
It’s the perfect way to slow down, sip something lovely, and celebrate the season with friends 🌿
Think spring blooms, cozy vibes, and all the delicious vegan treats you love along with some other great activities and speakers.
✨ Grab your besties, bring your tea-loving heart, and come treat yourself!
(Includes presentation on Pollinators at Risk: Butterflies and Bees Matter)
Pollinators at Risk: Why Butterflies and Bees Matter 11 AM - 12 PM
After retiring from years of service in Virginia, “Tweety“
Dong moved to Milton, Delaware for retirement. She found a lovely home on three acres of wooded land and spent the first winter reading about what to expect from the existing garden, at the same time she started planning a pollinator garden. She began planting native plants and removing invasive non-native plants. She planted milkweed in the spring of 2019 and experienced the pleasure and excitement of raising Monarch butterflies.
In the spring of 2020 she began taking a class offered by the Delaware Nature Society in Habitat Stewardship. Her summers have been spent shepherding Monarch butterflies through the growth process and her garden became a certified Monarch garden by the North American Butterfly Association. Raising Monarchs has been a rich and rewarding time for her. She started planting her pollinator garden keeping Delaware native plants in mind, as well as a food source for all butterflies and other insects. Last year in 2025 she released 768 monarch butterflies!
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