Spy Desk

Actor Brings Frederick Douglass to Life During Dickens Weekend

November 16, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

As part of Main Street Chestertown’s “Dickens of a Christmas” weekend, actor and playwright Phil Darius Wallace will present his one-man show Self-Made Man: the Frederick Douglass Story in two seatings Saturday, Dec. 7.

The shows will take place at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. at Sumner Hall, 206 S. Queen Street. Tickets to Saturday’s shows are FREE, but reservations are required and can be made online at mainstreetchestertown.org.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, the actor will be available for “Meet Mr. Douglas” sessions in the Dickens Welcome Center in The Bank, 211 High Street, where he will chat with visitors while in character. The day before, Friday, Dec. 6, Wallace will visit classes at Garnet Elementary and Kent County Middle School to perform parts of his show and talk to students.

Phil Wallace on Stage

Wallace premiered Self Made Man: The Frederick Douglass Story in 2014 at the ArcLight Theatre in New York. In the play, he portrays not only Douglass, the former slave from Talbot County who became the Victorian era’s most famous orator and abolitionist, but also some dozen other characters from his life, including his grandmother and a childhood mentor from his Eastern Shore beginnings, fellow abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, and President Lincoln.

Wallace says his goal is to take the audience on a journey with Douglass, reconstructing the complexity and radiance of his spirit as he becomes the leader who captivated and inspired so many audiences around the country and in Great Britain. Relying on Douglass’ autobiographies, letters, speeches and other writings, Wallace’s script and performance capture the great abolitionist’s humor, outrage and charisma. (See Wallace on stage as Douglass here and here.)

About the actor: Phil Darius Wallace is a native of Flint Michigan and began his acting career with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. He has studied theater at the Interlochen Arts Academy and at SUNY Purchase in New York. He has been a company member with Playhouse on the Square and Voices of the South and is currently a company member with Play Back Memphis and Tennessee Shakespeare. His film and TV credits include Brian Banks, The World We Make, Nothing but the Truth, ABC’s Nashville, the Hallmark Channel’s Wedding at Graceland, and NBC’s Bluff City Law. He also directed his own movie, 100 Lives, which is available on Amazon.

Mr. Wallace has traveled across the United States performing as Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, and Frederick Douglass. Mr. Wallace lives in Memphis with his wife and three children.

Compass Regional Hospice Announces 2nd Annual Festival of Trees

November 15, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Compass Regional Hospice is excited to announce that it will host the Festival of Trees for the 2^nd year on December 6-8 at the Towers Family Historical Museum in Denton. This year’s Festival, a long-standing tradition of the Caroline Hospice Foundation, promises to be bigger and better that ever.

The Preview Party, a ticketed event, kicks off the weekend on December 6^th from 6-9 p.m. with beer, wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Joann Redden, formerly of “The Lily Pad Cafe”. Early bidding on the trees and a very special announcement about future Compass services in Caroline County will take place Friday evening. On December 7^th and 8^th bring the whole family for the viewing of the trees and share a visit with Santa, along with performances by the Sonshine Band of Ames United Methodist Church and continued bidding on the trees.

This year’s event is being co-chaired by Melanie McMahan and Dave Whaley. “There is a long-standing tradition of holding a Festival of Trees to support hospice and grief services in Caroline County, and we’re thrilled to be able to carry on this mission.” said Whaley. McMahan looks forward to the benefits that the success of this event could bring to Caroline County, “The proceeds from the Festival of Trees can make a huge impact on the residents of this county that are living with a serious illness or struggling after the loss of loved one. These are services that should be available to all members of our community, and we want to ensure that that continues.”

Photo: L-R: Joann Redden, formerly of The Lily Pad Café; Melanie McMahan, Co-Chair of Festival of Trees; Heather Guerieri, CEO of Compass Regional Hospice; Dave Whaley, Co-Chair of Festival of Trees; Melissa Quirk, President & CEO of Provident State Bank

Compass Regional Hospice is currently seeking event sponsors and decorated tree donations to help make the Festival a success. Provident State Bank has generously partnered with CRH at their highest sponsorship level of $5000. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to make a significant contribution to such a great cause, and be a part of this wonderful event. It’s a great way for the businesses in our community to come together.” said PSB President & Chief Executive Officer, Melissa Quirk.It is thanks to sponsors like PSB that these community events can effectively benefit hospice care, serious illness care and grief support services for the residents of Caroline County.

Compass Regional Hospice has provided nearly 39,000 days of care to 783 residents of Caroline County since 2014. Additionally, grief support following the loss of a loved one is available to all members of the community, regardless of their connection to hospice. The need for services is increasing and with a growing 60+ population, the projected change from 2015-2030 is 48%.

Tickets for the Preview Party are $40 per person and must be purchased in advance. For more information about purchasing tickets, becoming an event sponsor, or donating a tree, contact Kenda Leager at 443-262-4106 or email kleager@compassregionalhospice.org.

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a serious illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of palliative care, hospice care, and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Caroline counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to children and adults in the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.

Winter Sanctuary Area Walks Scheduled at Eastern Neck NWR

November 15, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Tubby Point boardwalk at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. (Richard Pos, US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Four Winter Walks at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge – all in sanctuary areas – are again being sponsored this year by Friends of Eastern Neck, Inc. The walks provide a great opportunity to experience areas of the Refuge not usually open to the public, with a good chance of spotting waterfowl and wildlife.

Depending on the month and location, participants can expect to observe Canada geese, tundra swans, scaup, ruddy ducks, mallards, buffleheads, black ducks and canvasbacks, as well as bald eagles and other wildlife, such as fox, deer, groundhogs, and wild turkeys.

Guided walks start promptly at 8:00 a.m. on four Saturdays:

December 7th, 2019
January 4th, 2020
February 1st, 2020
March 7th, 2020

These two-mile walks take place on flat terrain and typically last for about two hours. A local birding expert or naturalist will guide each walk. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and a camera, and remember to wear boots and dress warmly. There are no rain dates.

Registration for each walk is limited to 20 participants, first-come, first-served. Children over 12 are permitted, but no dogs. Walks are free, but tax-deductible donations payable to Friends of Eastern Neck are greatly appreciated to keep the program self-sustaining. To register at Eventbrite, go to: http://bit.ly/ENwinterwalks19-20. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Baile at 410-639-7160.

Top Local Talent To Be Featured at NAACP “Bridging the Gap” Community Music Festival

November 14, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

A diverse array of top local soloists and ensembles will be featured at “Bridging the Gap,” a community music festival sponsored by the Kent County NAACP at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, 905 Gateway Drive, this Friday, November 15 at 7:00 pm. The program includes performers who have headlined at the National Music Festival and the Mainstay Rock Hall. A freewill offering will be taken to benefit the Annual Freedom Fund Scholarship Banquet.

“We are very excited with the lineup of performers who are offering their talents for this first-ever event,” said NAACP Kent Branch president Bishop Charles Tilghman. “Having the home choir of the Presbyterian Church doing the opening number underscores the community spirit of the Bridging the Gap festival.”

The Gospel music tradition will be represented by the Praise Team of the Mount Olive AME Church of Worton and solo vocalist Sylvia Frazier. A selection of arrangements of Spirituals will be presented by the River Voices ensemble of the Chester River Choral. The vocal and acoustic guitar duo of Pam and Bob Ortiz, well known to coffee-house aficionados in the Baltimore and DC area for their interpretations of folk, blues and jazz, will also be featured.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. The Kent County Maryland Branch of the NAACP holds monthly meetings at the Potter’s House Ministries, 8814 Fairlee Rd, Chestertown, MD 21620.

Tidewater Singers to Present “An A Cappella Christmas 2019”

November 13, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Tidewater Singers will present an a cappella concert spanning early music by Giovanni Gabrieli and Jan Sweelink through contemporary favorite, Ola Gjeilo plus perennial chestnuts (and surprises) on December 13 at 7:30 pm at Trinity Cathedral in Easton; on Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm at Christ Church in St. Michaels; and on Sunday, December 15 at 4:00 pm at Christ Episcopal Church in Cambridge.

Under the direction of William Thomas, the Tidewater Singers is a choral ensemble based in Talbot County that is renowned for its a cappella performances. The group was founded in 2001 with the goal of bringing varied and exciting quality music to the Eastern Shore.

Tidewater Singers

Commenting on the concert, Thomas said, “the salve of a cappella music is always medicinal to the soul, but at Christmas time it seems to have an even greater effect on us. Audiences continuously tell us how much they enjoy and value our a cappella singing.”

Now in his twelfth season as artistic director of the Tidewater Singers, Thomas is organist/choir director at Christ Church in St. Michaels and is associate professor of music at Chesapeake College. In April 2020, Tidewater Singers and Chesapeake College are collaborating on a performance of Craig Johnson’s, “Considering Matthew Shepard.”

Advance tickets for the Easton and St. Michaels performances may be purchased online at www.tidewatersingers.org and at Cracker Jacks in Easton, or leave a message for Tidewater Singers at 1-888-752-0023 or tidewatersingers@gmail.com. Information and tickets for the Cambridge performance are available at 410-228-3161.

The Tidewater Singers gratefully acknowledges the funding it has received from the Talbot County Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

Holiday in the Home

November 12, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Join the Kent Island Garden Club at the Kent Island Fire House, 1610 Main Street in Chester, on December 7 th from 1:00 until 3:30 for a demonstration of holiday designs by Murdoch’s Florist. Learn from the best, Elese Murdoch. Get some new ideas for decorating your house both inside and out this holiday season.

The afternoon will include door prizes, raffles of the Murdoch designs, vendors, a garden club gift table, and a 50/50 drawing.

Murdoch’s Florist is a family owned business in Centreville and has been a member of the community for over 40 years. Their table and door designs are truly unique and have a broad appeal to their customers from Denton to Kent Island.
Tickets are $15 per person. Space is limited, so please purchase your ticket in advance by contacting Diana Bonner at dbonner@verizon.net.

ShoreRivers Pumpout Boat Has Best Season Yet

November 9, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

ShoreRivers’ pumpout boat works on the Miles and Wye rivers to reduce nutrient pollution and harmful bacteria that can be introduced from recreational boaters’ waste. In an effort to assist local boaters committed to more river-friendly boating practices, the pumpout boat is a convenient way to properly dispose of waste rather than discharging it into our waterways. The 2019 season saw a record amount of waste pumped – 17,800 gallons. Since its first year of operation in 2016, the boat has pumped 53,300 gallons total, preventing that pollution from entering our rivers.

“Our rivers are impaired from excess nutrients,”said ShoreRivers’ Miles-Wye Riverkeeper Elle Bassett. “We all want swimmable and fishable rivers. This pumpout boat offers a simple and easy way for recreational boaters to join in the effort to improve local water quality.”

Pumpout boat captain Jim Freeman provides free pumpout services to boaters on the Miles and Wye Rivers. Photo courtesy of CBMM.

The boat pumped over 8,500 gallons in 2016, over 12,000 gallons in 2017, and over 15,000 gallons in 2018. It operates in partnership with Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels. CBMM donates free dockage, storage, and use of their land-based pump-out station to offload the waste from the boat. The sewage then goes directly to the St. Michael’s wastewater treatment plant.

“We’re thrilled that the amount of waste kept out of the Bay by this vessel continues to grow each year,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is fully invested in environmental stewardship, and this partnership with ShoreRivers is a wonderful extension of those efforts. We can’t wait to see how much of an impact we can make together next season.”

The pumpout boat operates from May through October on the Miles and Wye rivers, offering free service to boaters. The vessel was acquired in 2016 and continues to operate with funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in conjunction with the Clean Vessel Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. For more details and contact information for the pumpout boat captain, visit shorerivers.org/pumpout-boat.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

The ShoreRivers pumpout boat pumps more waste each year from recreational boaters on the Miles and Wye rivers, preventing that nutrient and bacteria pollution from entering our waterways.

Conservatory Classic Jazz Band at Sumner Hall November 16

November 9, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Dave Robinson’s Conservatory Classic Jazz Band

Everyone is invited for a concert at Sumner Hall, 206 S. Queen St., Chestertown, on November 16, 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Dave Robinson’s Conservatory Classic Jazz Band will perform songs tribute to Louis Armstrong.

Tickets are $20. For more information, visit garpost25.org/aalegacyconcerts/ or call (443)282-0023.

Santa to Arrive in Chestertown Nov. 29, with Holiday Parade Nov. 30

November 8, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Chestertown’s holiday season officially kicks off on Friday evening, Nov. 29 as the Mayor turns on the holiday lights in Fountain Park and members of the Kent County Community Marching Band herald Santa’s arrival by fire truck. The lighting ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m.

Santa is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 p.m. and will visit with children in his house until 8:00 p.m. Hot beverages including hot chocolate, cider and mulled wine will be available for purchase.

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 30, Santa presides over the Annual Kent County Christmas Parade, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and filling High Street with marching bands, classic automobiles, various floats, and familiar characters such as Rudolph, Olaf, and the Grinch. Parade judges will award cash prizes to entrants in each category.

Participation in the parade is open to everyone. If you are interested in entering a float or marching as a group, please call Kristen at 410-778-1600 or email kowen@chesapeaketrust.com.

The parade assembles in the Chestertown Business Park, on Lynchburg Street and Dixon Drive, and proceeds down High Street to Queen Street. Because Farmers Market artisans have been relocated into the 300 block of High Street while the grass reseeding in Fountain Park is underway, the public is encouraged to view the parade from above and below that area. The reviewing stand will be in the 200 block of High Street.

Santa will be in his Fountain Park house seeing children after the parade, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. He will keep the same hours on the following Saturday, Dec. 7 during the Dickens of a Christmas weekend, then will be receiving children from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 14, and Dec. 21. Children will receive gift bags from Santa courtesy of Twigs and Teacups.

Also on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the community celebrates Small Business Saturday by shopping in Downtown Chestertown. This nationwide event spotlighting independently owned shops and businesses provides an opportunity to reinvest holiday shopping dollars in the local economy and find some unique gifts, too.

For more information about holiday activities, visit the Main Street Chestertown Facebook page, email office@mainstreetchestertown.org, or call 410-778-2991.

Follow Us