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Mid-Shore Scholars: Andrey Perez and Washington College’s Scholar Program

February 23, 2021 by The Spy 1 Comment

It might tell you something about Andrey Perez that he’s a hard interview to get. With a full school schedule, sports, and a part-time job at the new Chick-fil-A in Cambridge, the only time he could fit in a Zoom call was during his lunch break at work.

It is one of many hints of how motivated Andrey is to move ahead in this world. The son of first-generation Americans, the Sts. Peter and Paul High School student started to lay out a plan for his future after taking a personal finance course and discovering his interest in the medical field down the road. And included in that plan was, of course, higher education.

And that’s when Andrey turned to the Mid-Shore Scholars program.

With the help of this unique organization’s support and mentoring, the Andrey Perez’s of the world can navigate the complex elements of college admissions, including the college selection process, filling out forms, or even finding the money needed to even apply to a school.

In Andrey’s case, he will be the second Mid-Shore Scholar since the program started a few years ago. While almost twenty-five students are now in the pipeline to follow him in the years to come, the volunteers and staff are collectively holding their breath as he awaits hearing from the school of his choice; Washington College.

Not only has Andrey applied, but he recently was nominated to apply to the school’s prestigious Washington Scholars program, which provides its award-winners a free ride for four years on both tuition and housing.

The Spy checked with Andrey and Mid-Shore Scholars director Vivian Landau a few days ago to hear more about his aspirations and the great benefits that come with participating in such a successful preparatory support program.

With fingers crossed, Andrey will hear soon from WC while his Mid-Shore community awaits the news with double-crosses theirs.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Mid-Shore Scholars please go here.

Spy Moment: “We Can’t Breathe” Mural Comes to College Avenue

September 21, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

The second Chestertown Unites Against Racism mural went up on College Avenue on Saturday, September 19.

The community effort, led by the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice and attended by community leadership and clergy, marks the final town-approved mural.

“We Can’t Breathe-Chestertown Unites Against Racism,” along with the High Street “Black Lives Matter” mural are symbols marking a 16-month action plan to address racial inequity in Chestertown. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Chestertown Town Council during their September 8 meeting.

Painted in shifts by community volunteers, the mural was completed by late afternoon and stands as bold community acknowledgment of the town’s history of racism, and a promise to unite the community through legislative reform, education, and unification events.

This video is approximately one minute in length. For more information about the town resolutions go here. A special thanks to Pat Trams for images, video by Rebecca Heriz-Smith, and aerial image by Sam Shoge.

Spy Moment: A New Look at Black Lives Matter on High Street

September 18, 2020 by The Spy 6 Comments

With many thanks to drone photographer Bryan Paul, the Spy is eager to share a different perspective on the Black Lives Matters mural on High Street in downtown Chestertown.

Nothing can be more dramatic or moving than to see art from 500 feet above. With the help of Bryan’s excellent equipment, not only can Kent County residents know the power of words in a setting like High Street, but these images broadcast to the world a town in harmony with the conviction that, yes, Black Lives Matter in Chestertown, Maryland.

This video is approximately two minutes in length.

Remembering Margo Bailey

September 2, 2020 by The Spy 9 Comments

The Spy received the sad news this morning that Chestertown’s former long-serving mayor, Margo Bailey, died yesterday. We’ll be sharing with our readers soon about how the community plans to celebrate all of her contributions to the town.

But in the meantime, we wanted to share an interview the Chestertown Spy did with Margo in 2012. Very few words can capture more of Mayor Bailey’s spirit, directness, and vision than her own as she describes her hopes and aspirations for Chestertown’s future.

With more than a half a century of volunteerism and leadership, it is striking to hear her voice and realize that so much for what she wished for Chestertown as come to be a reality. From a revitalized downtown with the help of Washington College, the completion of the Chestertown Marina, and countless other ways, Margo Bailey led the way for so much that makes this town so unique.

This video is approximately eight minutes in length.

Looking Back with Former West & Rhode Riverkeeper Jeff Holland

August 19, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

In the field of conservation, rarely is there a feeling of “mission accomplished.” Even after decades of advocacy, reform, and new policies, the state of the environment remains in constant threat as climate change and rising sea levels continue to impact delicate ecosystems like our own Chesapeake Bay.

Nonetheless, progress is still being made in both small and large ways to protect the region’s natural assets, and one example has been the efforts made on the Rhode and West Rivers on the outskirts of Annapolis.

For almost a decade, Jeff Holland led many of those strategies in his role as Riverkeeper to both rivers. With the encouragement of Bob Gallagher, the founder of West/Rhode Riverkeeper, which has recently transitioned into the Arundel Rivers Federation, Holland took on this new role of river protection and advocacy after years serving as executive director the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

In his Zoom interview with the Annapolis Spy, Holland reflects on his work and the future of Maryland’s natural resources as it continues to face new challenges.

Kent County CARES Enough to Get Outside Help

August 4, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

It might seem to be a logical strategy for county governments to bring in a professional to help small businesses and nonprofits with the variety of grants and loans available to them to survive through the COVID-19 crisis.

While these programs are remarkably generous, they require meticulous paperwork for these small enterprises to complete, sometimes complex applications. So it makes perfect sense to bring in a professional to help guide prospective grantees through this process.

But surprisingly, Kent County might be one of the few Maryland counties to offer that kind of personal help in this form. Last month, the county signed a contract with Caines CPA, a consulting firm specializing in helping small businesses, in being an essential resource for these struggling businesses. Until the end of December, David Caines, and his wife, Erin, will be working closely with owners and nonprofit leaders to secure the funding they need to keep their doors open.

The Spy sat down with David Caines on Monday to hear about how this all works.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. To contact David Caines, please go here.

You Can’t Keep a good Tomato Down: Chestertown Farmers’ Market is Back

July 5, 2020 by The Spy 2 Comments

Chestertown’s Saturday Market has returned to downtown with a new format that seemed to please everyone. Rather than using Fountain Park, vendors set up along High St. to respect social distancing and invited shoppers to easy, open access. This strategy to remain open during COVID-19 was happily embraced by the community.

You can’t keep a good tomato down.

Chestertown Silently Honors the Memory of George Floyd and Confirms Black Lives Matter

June 6, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Some 200 residents of greater Chestertown gathered on Friday night at Fountain Park in a display of unity and respect for Black Lives Matter and to honor the life of George Floyd. From the downtown park, the demonstrators walked peacefully to College Avenue and circled back to Wilmer Park in silence.

Organized with the help of Leon Frison, bishop of Greater Highway of Church of Christ in Kent County and local clergy, the crowd listened to the words of Rev. Robert Brown Jr. of Bethel A.M. E. Church.

The Spy was there to document this historic event.

This video is approximately two minutes in length

Chestertown Spy Survey #9 Results – Spy Readers Resist Lifting Restrictions

May 20, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

There was one clear theme in this week’s Sunday Survey….a total lifting of restrictions is not supported. Outdoor activities rate more favorably. But, event there, the community seems cautious.

View the results below for those who participated. And, join in the next Spy Survey this Sunday.

When asked what other activities should see a lifting of restrictions, these were the most frequent responses:

When asked what other activities should restrictions remain in place, the following were the most frequent responses:

Then, when asked where restrictions should be left in place, the following were the most often mentioned:

COVID-19: Biking Spikes with ECS’s Ryan Hickey and Zach Gill

May 13, 2020 by The Spy Leave a Comment

While the word “spiking” as a relatively negative connotation these days as COVID-19 works its way through the Mid-Shore, it still is a perfect term for the quantum leap that recreational biking has taken over the last six weeks.

With record sales of new bikes and the doubling of other bikes being repaired, dealers are facing an unfathomable level of demand since the coronavirus hit. Nowadays, owners and staff putting longer hours and increased schedules to meet the needs of customers.

The Spy interviewed Ryan Hickey, owner of Easton Cycle and Sport, and team member Zach Gill about this phenomenon.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For more information about Easton Cycle and Sport please go here.

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