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WC President Landgraf Responds to Cancellation of The Foreigner

November 12, 2019 by Letter to Editor 7 Comments

Dear Campus Community,

Last Friday, we announced a decision to cancel two scheduled public performances of “The Foreigner.” This play—written in the 1980s and frequently produced at educational and professional institutions across the country—centers on a group of people who feel “othered” by society in various ways, including premarital pregnancy, neurological differences, and age. Over the course of the play, these individuals build a community together through listening, learning and, humor, but their bond is threatened by the xenophobic anger and self-proclaimed entitlement of two other characters. In the climax of the play, the community of disenfranchised protagonists rises up to easily defeat the bigoted antagonists (who reveal themselves as members of the KKK). It is through the portrayal and defeat of these villainous characters that the play conveys its message about the evils of xenophobia, the dangers of “othering,” and the importance of empathy.

We made the decision to cancel the performances after listening to members of our campus community who told us that they were deeply hurt and affronted by the existence and portrayal of characters associated with the KKK—even though these characters are clearly portrayed as villains and are easily vanquished by the play’s protagonists. Our intent in cancelling the production was to prevent further harm to members of our community who already feel marginalized. However, the decision to cancel the play has been interpreted by some as a form of censorship on the part of the College. Censorship is anathema to the core values of Washington College, and this was never our intent.

It is our job, as a liberal arts institution, to create a space where difficult issues can be faced head-on and thoughtfully discussed. The production and subsequent cancellation of this play have raised important questions about how we, as an institution, choose, contextualize, and discuss potentially controversial material—on our stages, in our classrooms, and beyond. To that end, we are currently discussing how we can best present the story and message of this play in a way that enables the campus community to have a productive, thoughtful conversation. We will work with all of the relevant student groups, staff, faculty, alumni, and Board of Visitors and Governors to determine the best way to accomplish this and to find the most constructive path forward.

—Kurt

“Censorship and Abuse of Power” — WC Parent Decries Foreigner Cancellation

November 12, 2019 by Spy Desk 3 Comments

Provost DiQuinzio,
Dean Feyerherm;

Your outrageous decision to cancel the senior capstone production of the award-winning play ‘The Foreigner” at the very moment that the students were about to perform the dress rehearsal was rash, ill-justified and shameful, bringing dishonor to yourselves and to the academic institution that you represent. I am writing to you, and copying the President of the College and the Chair of the Board of Visitors & Governors, to demand a public apology to the theater students and faculty who have been traumatized and victimized by your actions.

Your November 8, 2019 email to parents and the all-campus email that preceded it only compounded your error and illustrate that your actions were made in ignorance and in haste. You were unfamiliar with the play and cannot have taken the time to read and discuss it with those in the theater department who have, or to understand the way that the issues it raises about bigotry and intolerance are addressed in this production. You have now joined a single institution – a high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota – in censoring and cancelling production of Larry Shue’s award-winning play, which continues to win acclaim for its numerous revivals since its Off-Broadway debut in November 1984.

Your glib statement that parents should understand your decision in the larger context of an ongoing and evolving effort “to be a community that prioritizes inclusiveness and the ability to articulate one’s perspective with an effort toward finding greater understanding, effecting positive change, and strengthening communication among all of our students, staff, and faculty” is belied by your cowardice and refusal to recognize this as precisely the kind of teaching moment that could have created the “brave space” that would advance those ideals. Instead, you gutted a segment of your community – my daughter among them – and made them targets of uninformed accusations of racism from those who objected to the play and who now associate them with racist ideas simply for being part of this manifestly not racist production. You privileged “Callout Culture” and denied members of your community the opportunity to constructively engage with difficult or uncomfortable ideas. Shame on you!

Your assertion that your act of censorship “does not diminish the months of hard work, collaboration, emotion, and thoughtfulness that students invested in the production—nor does it lessen all that they have learned through those efforts” is grossly disingenuous. What they have learned may indeed be valuable, but it is not the sort of lesson that a responsible institution of higher learning would seek to engender. They have learned that their voices do not matter, for they were not among the “members of the student community” with whom you claim to have consulted. They have learned that they may be subject to the whim of arbitrary and capricious authority. They have learned that their investment in a college-sanctioned theater production can be undone whenever a community voice objects to any of its content. They have learned that they will not be protected from the backlash that your decision has empowered.

You compelled your faculty colleagues to cancel the play while the students and director were on stage for the dress rehearsal, and stood silently watching their grief and distress. You did nothing to comfort them. You did nothing to address their pain. Your only concession was to allow a closed performance of the dress rehearsal, and neither of you congratulated them on their performance. You did not even offer to come and help them strike the set. You did nothing to anticipate or ameliorate the trauma that you have caused. Your belated meeting with the director and cast on Saturday only elicited an apology from you when they told you they needed one.

I call it cowardice. I call it cruel. I call it censorship and abuse of power. I call it intellectually dishonest and a mockery of the educational and community values you cite and that Washington College purports to espouse. This is your mess to clean up. Do not sweep it under the rug. Own what you have done and apologize publicly for the unintended but undeniable harm you have caused.

Timothy B. Abbott

CC: Chair Stephen T. Golding
President Kurt Landgraf

Maryland Leaders at Odds Over Fees for Livestock Operations

November 12, 2019 by Bay Journal 1 Comment

When Maryland vastly expanded the number of farms with large numbers of animals that would require stormwater permits, it offered a grace period on fees to encourage farmers to enroll.

That was in 2009. After 10 years and two governors — one Democrat, one Republican — the Maryland Department of the Environment has continued to waive the annual charge, allowing farmers to avoid at least $4 million in payments over the span.

A state law passed last spring bars MDE from waiving the fees any longer. How much farmers will pay, though, depends on the outcome of a fight that is pitting a key state lawmaker and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office against the MDE.

Lawmakers left it up to MDE to decide how much to charge. The agency has proposed requiring farms to pay a fee once every five years, which is the length of the permit.

Fees can range from $60 to $800 depending on the size of the operation.

Those proposed fees are half the amount currently on the books and would be assessed just once, instead of each year of the permit’s five-year life. They would still bring in revenue — just not as much as advocates had hoped. It works out to about $425,000 less per year going to MDE compared with the totals called for — but not collected — under the existing law.

State Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George’s County), one of the new law’s main sponsors, accuses MDE of intentionally undermining the measure’s intent: to ensure the agency has the resources it needs to enforce environmental protections.

“The fees define the ability to provide oversight and enforcement,” Pinsky said.

The Attorney General’s Office has sided with Pinsky. In an Oct. 22 letter, Assistant Attorney General Sandra Benson Brantley criticized MDE’s plan to fill the program’s funding gap with other revenue sources. She pointed to a separate statute that requires the agency to calculate fees so that they “cover the cost of the permit procedure.”

The permits relate to the largest type of animal farms, known as concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.

Following a change in federal CAFO regulations in 2008, Maryland updated its regulatory program to cover more smaller operations than previously had been affected by the rules, including poultry operations with as few as 37,500 chickens.

As a result, the number of regulated animal feeding operations grew from approximately a dozen to more than 500.

The change had a particularly large impact on the Eastern Shore, where hundreds of broiler chicken farms began receiving higher scrutiny for the way they handle polluted runoff.

For several years, environmental groups have criticized MDE, which oversees the CAFO program, for waiving the permit fees. “We all must pay our fair share in order to fund the agencies responsible for oversight and enforcement of the laws that protect us,” said Kathy Phillips, executive director of the Assateague Coastal Trust, which lobbied extensively for this year’s changes.

Starting to collect fees offers “an opportunity to increase the funds to ramp up effective oversight,” said Pinsky, chair of the Senate’s Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. During the 2018 fiscal year, the number of inspections, spot checks and audits conducted by the CAFO program dropped 35% while enforcement actions were down 67%, according to MDE records.

Agency officials blamed the decrease in enforcement partly on an “increased emphasis on inspecting new [CAFO] construction.”

Meanwhile, Holly Porter, head of a group representing the region’s poultry producers, said she interprets the decline in enforcement actions as a sign that farmers are meeting their environmental obligations.

She added that her group, the Delmarva Poultry Industry, supports the fee structure changes despite reservations that it may put Maryland chicken growers at a competitive disadvantage with their peers in Delaware and Virginia.

MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles said the proposed fees conform with the law while providing the resources to continue what he called “one of the best programs of its type in the Chesapeake Bay region.”

He noted that the program receives funding from several sources, including the Maryland Clean Water Fund and a federal grant directed at permitting and monitoring CAFOs.

Grumbles said that Maryland was the first state in the region to win federal approval for an expanded regulatory program covering for animal operations. “It has been highly successful for 10 years now, operating under a budget approved every year by Maryland’s General Assembly,” Grumbles said. ”We look forward to working with all citizens, stakeholders and policymakers to ensure effective implementation of a renewed permit and continued environmental progress.”

Pinsky’s law, which went into effect Oct. 1, dealt with more than CAFO fees. Among other things, it imposes new reporting requirements for animal manure transported as fertilizer to other farms and reinstates regular water-quality monitoring by the Department of Natural Resources at nine sites on the Lower Shore.

MDE is taking public comment on the newly proposed stormwater permit until Dec. 27. The new regulations could go into effect early next year.

By Jeremy Cox

Garnet Students Help Plant “Good Seeds” Garden

November 12, 2019 by Peter Heck 1 Comment

Last week, students at Henry Highland Garnet Elementary School joined volunteers from the Chestertown Garden Club to

Garnet students plant blueberry bushes in the Good Seeds garden.

plant the Garnet Good Seeds garden. It was at the same time a break from classroom routine and a chance for hands-on experience in an exciting outdoor activity. And it gives the students a sense of ownership in a project that simultaneously beautifies the school grounds and benefits the natural environment.
The garden will be dedicated on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. at the front of the school. The short ceremony will recognize community donors, sponsors, and volunteers who helped bring the project to fruition. The public is invited to attend.
The project, launched in January by the Garden Club along with Garnet parents and teachers, is designed to enhance the school’s curb appeal, visually connect the school to nearby downtown Chestertown, and foster pride of place among students, teachers, and residents. The name of the project comes from a quote by Henry Highland Garnet, the Kent County-born abolitionist and preacher for whom the school is named: “In every man’s mind, the good seeds of liberty are planted.”

Among the native plant species now growing on the Calvert Street side of the school are persimmon, oak and magnolia trees, shrubs such chokeberry and blueberries, native grasses, and culinary and medicinal herbs. A pollinator garden will provide nourishment for bees and other helpful insects. The garden will be coordinated with the schools’ environmental literacy curriculum, offering living examples of the ideas being taught. Landscaping by Miles Barnard of South Fork Studio includes winding paths and boulders and tree stumps for seating. Two elegant wooden benches by Vico Von Voss flank the school’s main entrance, which has been enhanced by the installation of a ceramic compass rose bearing the school’s name on the sidewalk. See the photo below.

Jayla and Camari with Carolyne Grotsky, chair of Good Seeds Garden committee

Charlotte and Samiyah, kindergarten students, help with the planting. — Photo by Jane Jewell

Local businesses have donated parts of the project, as well. Dixon Valve and Coupling donated the irrigation system, Shore Rivers sponsored a rain garden on one side of the school, and the town of Chestertown donated bricks for the sidewalk at the main entrance. The trees, which were donated by Judge Anthony of Bartlett Trees, were planted on Saturday. The Garden Club donated $5,000 to jump-start the project, and club members will maintain the plantings. All in all, it’s a real community project – exactly the kind of thing Garnet himself would have been proud of.

Students and volunteers at work in the Good Seeds garden at Garnet Elementary School

Students & volunteers help plant the Good Seeds Garden at Garnet.

Chair of the Good Seed Garden committee Carolyne Grotsky (left) leads second-grade students on a tour of the Good Seeds garden. — Photo by Peter Heck

Ceramic compass rose in front of the main entrance to the school will help students learn their directions.

Garden Club volunteers and Garnet parents pose for a group picture during a break from planting

Garden path along the Calvert Street side of Garnet Elementary School.

Pathways along the garden.

Becky Taylor with 2nd-grade students Calib and Grayson who planted high-bush blueberries. — Photo by Jane Jewell

Ethan LaLumia of Shore Rivers; Carolyne Grotsky, chair of the Good Seed Garden committee; Darran Tilghman, volunteer & parent of Garnet student.

Photos by Jane Jewell & Peter Heck

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House of the Week: “Highfield”

November 12, 2019 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

I always enjoy featuring one of Chestertown / Kent County’s many exceptional historic houses but finding a contemporary design like this week’s feature is an unexpected pleasure. A meandering drive through the woods past two stone piers that mark the entrance to “Highfield” begins your journey to this very special place. Floating stone steps lead to the entrance reached through a covered portion of the deck suspended above the ground. The three and a half level house is sited on a promontory above twenty-five acres with private pastoral views in every direction. Woods, seasonal flowering plants, bushes and trees and the dramatic focal point of the pond with a “mile high” fountain quickly lulls one into a relaxed state of mind. I could readily imagine gazing at the fountain and lingering over my morning coffee or my early evening aperitivo on the cozy terrace with rattan cushioned seating.

I was struck by how the house blends seamlessly into the woods since its wood vertical board and batten siding is the same color as the bark of the tall trees in the foreground of the rear elevation. Wide expanses of glass offer panoramic views of the scenic landscape and multiple decks on many levels provide quick access to the outdoors for a closer look.

The vertical plan is zoned very well with level one containing guest bedrooms, bath, spa with whirlpool, sauna, work out area, mini-kitchen and laundry. There is also a detached pavilion with a lap pool and a hot tub on the level one deck.

Level two contains the entrance hall with its artisan front door and hardware, the main kitchen and open plan living and dining area. The stairs leading to level three are partially open at the bottom to maintain the feeling of open space. The living room area has an “L” shaped sofa arranged around the fireplace and the grand piano in front of the corner windows is opposite the dining area.

In back of the seating grouping is a marvelous shed roofed space with wrap-around floor to ceiling windows and side wall transoms that project over the exquisite landscape. The contemporary furnishings include what appear to be an Eames chair and ottoman and a Corbusier lounge chair for contemplating nature. The kitchen has a high ceiling with a row of windows above one run of the upper cabinets, a center island with a large pot rack for easy access to the cooktop behind it and plenty of cabinets and countertops for entertaining family and friends.

Level three contains the master suite with the bedroom walls in light sage green and above the bed with its white linens is a round mirror with vertical and horizontal “muntins” to mimic a window. Off the master bedroom is another deck for a bird’s eye view of the landscape below. In contrast to the serene bedroom, the master bath has light gray walls, white cabinets and plumbing fixtures. I especially liked the free-standing slipper soaking tub next to the glass-walled shower.

Other guest rooms and baths are located on this level. If I were a guest, I would claim the fantastic sitting room with red walls and wrap-around wide ganged windows on level four where I could watch the birds in flight as they pass by at my eye level.

An incredible wooded site with panoramic views of nature that feels like a forest preserve, water features including a stream and the fountain pond, a compact vertical house that is carefully inserted into this pristine pastoral setting, multiple decks for quick access to the outdoors, an indoor pool pavilion-an amazing property!

For more information about this property, contact Nancy McGuire with Maryland Heritage Properties at 443-480-7342 or nmcguire@MDHeritage.properties.

Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.

Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.

Editorial: Sultana Downrigging Upgrades Deliver Smashing Success

November 7, 2019 by The Chestertown Spy 1 Comment

Photo by Jamie Kirkpatrick

It would be safe to say that the Chestertown Spy staff were not the only ones worried about the dramatic changes the Sultana Education Foundation was making for its beloved Downrigging festival this year.

Over 18 years, the Downrigging has become the one event, for many, that successfully captured the true essence of Chestertown’s ethos with its unique blend of history, culture, scholarship, and sense of fun. And while The Spy understood the Sultana’s thinking that Downrigging had to evolve, there was an unspoken fear that this effort to upgrade and expand its programming, including the formal addition of dozens of bluegrass performances, would radically and permanently change the tone and climate of this town’s beloved fall weekend.

There was good reason for that anxiety. Sultana has been the pride and joy of Chestertown since 1997. Beyond pursuing its mission of connecting “people to the Chesapeake Bay’s history, ecology, and culture,” it has also evolved into being intertwined with the best elements of Chestertown itself; a subtle, sophisticated community proud of its heritage and intellectual curiosity.

So when we heard over the summer that the Sultana’s leadership had decided to shake things up for the 2019 Downrigging, it was sometimes hard to suppress the thought that while the board and staff motives were understandable, a Downrigging 2.0 concept was messing with success.

It is human nature to protect the things we love, and the idea of Downrigging morphing into a music festival was seen as a perilous proposition. While there was considerable sympathy with the fact that Sultana has lost money on this fantastic and expensive weekend of nautical programming since 2001, there were countless examples of town festivals losing their identity and purpose in their attempt to become more “hip” to expand attendance.

Undoubtedly, Sultana leaders also knew there was an inherent risk in offering a new Downrigging experience. Drew McMullen, president of the organization, along with its board members, had built this successful organization by being known for a “steady Eddie” culture, and a mature approach to change. The shift for Downrigging 2019 was seen as a bit out of character.

But like almost everything the Sultana has done since its inception, the new and improved Downrigging was a smashing success. Not only did it keep its cultural foundation in tack, but the addition of bluegrass also led to record-breaking attendance last weekend. Over 3,000 flocked to the new performance village, downtown retailers saw unprecedented traffic in their shops, restaurants and bars were full, and visitors were left amazed by the beauty of the new Cerino Center at the Chestertown Marina.

The take-home message after this remarkable weekend is two-fold. One is that taking this kind of risk pays off. The second is the reminder that never second guess the Sultana Education Foundation.

The Spy

“The Importance of Being Earnest” – Classic Comedy on Stage at CHT

November 7, 2019 by Peter Heck Leave a Comment

Lady Bracknell (Debra Ebersole) lectures the lovers, Cecily and “Ernest” on left and “Ernest” and Gwendolyn on right with Rev. Chasuble looking on.– Photo by Jane Jewell

Oscar Wilde’s irreverent comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest, now playing at Church Hill Theatre, offers a tongue-in-cheek look at Victorian England. Directed by Sylvia Maloney, the play reminds us that the Victorians, who have the reputation of taking themselves far too seriously, also had an irrepressibly silly side – one that Wilde brings into delicious focus. Even the play’s subtitle, “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” takes a sly poke at the disconnect between the Victorians’ self-image and their tendency to elevate the minutiae of life into major social and moral crises.

Oscar Wilde in 1889 at age 35 — photo from Wikipedia

Wilde (1854-1900) was born in Dublin, the son of two Anglo-Irish intellectuals. He spoke fluent French and German at an early age and studied Classics first at Trinity College, Dublin, then at Oxford. Two of his Oxford tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin, introduced him to aestheticism, a movement often characterized as “art for art’s sake.” Wilde became one of the major proponents of the movement, writing poetry, essays, and journalism distinguished by their biting wit and stylistic elegance. His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was written in 1890.

Wilde turned to the theater in the 1890s, producing a string of popular comedies that combined witty dialogue, polished structure and satire of the leisure classes. Earnest, written in 1895, seemed at first to be a major triumph for Wilde. However, a quarrel with the Marquess of Queensbury, whose son was Wilde’s lover, ended with Wilde’s being arrested and imprisoned for homosexuality – still a criminal offense in those days. The scandal led to the play’s original London run being closed after only 86 performances; a New York run closed after 16 nights.

However, the play survived the scandal, and over the years, it has become one of the best-known of Wilde’s writings. It has received numerous revivals since its debut, including three film versions. In 1995, one critic called it “the second most known and quoted play in English after Hamlet.”

The plot follows two young men, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrief, each of whom leads a sort of double life. Worthing has invented an imaginary brother, Earnest, who gives him an excuse to visit London when he grows tired of life in the country – and whose name he assumes during his city visits. Moncrief, for his part, has invented an invalid friend, Bunbury, whom he pretends to visit in the country when city life bores him. The audience learns this in the opening act, set in Moncrief’s London apartment. We also learn that Worthing is in love with Moncrief’s cousin, Gwendolyn Fairfax, who comes to visit with her mother, Lady Bracknell. And Moncrief learns that Worthing has a young ward, Cecily Cardew, living at his country estate.

The plot develops as Moncrief decides to visit Worthing’s country home to meet Cecily, pretending to be the imaginary brother Ernest. This leads to hilarious consequences as Worthing returns home to discover his friend’s surprise visit – but we won’t give away the plot. Go see it and find out!

Maloney has put together a talented cast that includes both Church Hill regulars and several newer faces.

Gwendolyn played by Christine Kinlock and Mr. Worthing played by Howard Mesick — Photo by Jane Jewell

Howard Messick, a familiar figure on both the Church Hill and Garfield stages, takes the role of Worthing. One of the best comic actors on the local scene, Messick is a good choice for the character, drawing on his unparalleled ability to mug. He rolls his eyes or waves a hand in exactly the right way at exactly the right moment.

John Beck, previously seen in a number of supporting roles at CHT, takes the major role of Moncrief – and does an outstanding job. He presents a veneer of sophistication that highlights Wilde’s witty dialogue, which he delivers crisply and clearly. One hopes he builds on this appearance to take on more leading roles in the future.

Christine Kinlock, another regular in local theaters and in Shore Shakespeare productions, is convincingly aristocratic as Gwendolyn, who declaims that she can only marry a man named Ernest. Fortunately, her lover is named Ernest. Or so she thinks. But Gwendolyn is always sure of what she thinks. Except when she isn’t. And she isn’t bothered by any apparent self-contradictions. She pretends to be a dutiful daughter while all the time scheming to be alone with her Ernest. Kinlock does a great job of conveying the faux sophistication of the character.

Cavin Moore, who has been the choreographer for several CHT musicals (and who played the role of the fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof), is cast as Cecily, the young ward of Mr. Worthing. In contrast to Gwendolyn, Cecily is a country girl, who has led a sheltered life far from London. But now she is bored with her school-room studies and dreams of adventure and love. She wants an “Ernest” of her own. She shows that she can be conniving, too, in order to win at love. Moore is captivating as the naive yet clever Cecily.

The plum role of Lady Bracknell is played by CHT veteran Debra Ebersole, who truly looks the part, especially in the preposterous hat she herself designed for the character. Ebersole sails onto the stage as the pompous and self-important arbiter of society, Lady Bracknell, mother of Gwendolyn. Lady Bracknell knows everything, she’ll tell you – what everyone should wear, what they should say, and most importantly, who they should marry. Ebersole carries all this off in grand style.

Mr. Moncrieff and his aunt, Lady Bracknell; Merriman the butler in the background — Photo by Jane Jewell

Sheila Austrian is very good as Miss Prism, the stern schoolmistress with a secret in her past. Miss Prism tries to make Cecily take her studies seriously but she also has a soft heart toward her bored pupil and a soft spot for the local vicar.

The part of Rev. Canon Chasuble is played by Brian McGunigle, who took the part on short notice after the actor originally cast had to drop out of the production. McGunigle does such a convincing job that it’s hard to believe he wasn’t there from the beginning.

Sheila Austrian as Miss Prism and Brian McGunigle as Rev. Canon Chasuble — Photo by Jane Jewell

Frank St. Amour, Ronald Speedy Christopher Jr., and James Johnson do solid jobs as the servants, who, by the way, are probably the most sensible characters in the play. And you can tell that they see the silliness of their supposed “social betters.” Nicely done.

The play’s period flavor is greatly enhanced by the gorgeous Victorian costumes, created by Tina Johnson. The set – designed by Tom Rhodes and built by Rhodes, Jim Johnson, and Carmen Grasso, provides the perfect background for this comedy of manners. The scene moves from an elegant apartment in London to the beautiful, rose-covered garden of a country house.

Gwendolyn and Cecily spy on their would-be fiances — Photo by Jane Jewell

The play also shows its period in that the pace is noticeably slower than many more modern offerings. Wilde reportedly asked his actors to deliver their lines, no matter how absurd, in a completely serious tone. Modern plays might go for a little more overt clowning. Still, the wit most definitely comes through. The action is in the dialog, the witty phrasing, and the parody of a pampered upper class.

This is one of the English theater’s great comedies– and is social satire at its best. It’s to Church Hill’s credit that it has brought this classic play to the local stage. In fact, this entire Church Hill season has been unusually adventurous, ranging from period pieces like Earnest and its French contemporary A Flea in Her Ear to striking but less-familiar modern plays like the striking 33 Variations – not to forget the brilliantly-staged Jesus Christ Superstar. A season any theater company could be proud of.

The Importance of Being Earnest runs through Nov. 17, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m Sundays. Tickets are $20 general admission; CHT members get a $5 discount, and student tickets are $10. Call the theater at 410-556-6003 or visit the CHT website http://www.churchhilltheatre.org/ for more information or to make reservations.

Photos by Jane Jewell

Cecily Cardew, Mr. Moncrief, Lady Bracknell, & Mr. Worthing — Photo by Jane Jewell

Mr. Worthing (Howard Mesick) and Mr. Moncrief (John Beck) — Photo by Jane Jewell

Mr. Worthing is not sure he approves of Mr. Moncrieff kissing his ward Cecily — Photo by Jane Jewell

Cecily and Gwendolyn — Photo by Jane Jewell

Cecily and Gwendolyn check their diaries — Photo by Jane Jewell

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Remembering Clara V. Reed

November 7, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Clara V. Reed

Clara V. Reed of Chestertown, Md. died on November 5, 2019 surrounded by her four devoted daughters. She was 77.

She was born to Gloria Hill Reed and Wilmer Reed in Queen Anne’s County, Md. on October 3, 1942 and was raised in Rock Hall by her maternal grandparents, Herman and Rebecca (Berg) Hill on their Kent County farm. Ms. Reed graduated from Rock Hall High School with the class of 1960. She was married to Barry Jones for fourteen years.

Mrs. Reed had four daughters, whom she raised and adored and who remained her world until her final breath. She worked as an administrative assistant in the legal, marina, and real estate professions until her retirement in her early 60’s. She attended Raum Chapel as a child where she came to learn of, know and love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and she later attended Rock Hall United Methodist Church where she was involved in Sunday school.

Mrs. Reed’s greatest love was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed sewing, singing, music (especially Elvis), and reading.

She is survived by her children: Angela Lins (Maurice) of Chestertown; Robin Newnam (Larry Piggot) of Lakeland, Fl.; Laurie Jones Haas (David) of Rock Hall; and Bari-Lynne Kersey (Russell) of Lynch; her grandchildren: Tyler Pratt, Taylor Walker, Sarah Newnam, Chelsea Pratt, Audra Dressler, Heather Newnam, and Trenton Kersey, and her great-grandchildren: Kylee Walker, Magdalene (Maggie) Pratt, Kaleb Walker, and Aubrey Hines. She was predeceased by her siblings Dudley Reed and Linda (Reed) Joiner.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home 130 Speer Road Chestertown where relatives and friends may call two hours prior (11am – 1pm). A reception will be in Dogwood Reception Center at the funeral home, following the service. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Raum Chapel, 5272 Skinners Neck Road, Rock Hall, MD in her memory.

Herz Looks to Future After Election to Chestertown Council

November 6, 2019 by Peter Heck 4 Comments

New Chestertown town council members Tom Herz (Ward 2) and Meghan Efland (Ward 4) at The Retriever after the polls closed, Tues. eve, Nov 5– Photo by Jane Jewell

Chestertown Council candidate Tom Herz was with a group of supporters at the Retriever tavern on High Street when he learned that he had been elected to the Ward 2 council seat. The crowd of supporters erupted in applause when Town Clerk Jen Mulligan, after a brief tease – “Are you sure you want to hear this?” – announced the results. The crowd erupted in applause at the news that Herz had defeated two-term incumbent Councilwoman Linda Kuiper by a margin of 164 to 56, a surprisingly strong result in a race many considered a toss-up going into election day.

After learning the results, Herz thanked his opponent for “a nice clean race.” He said, “We had a conversation about ideas. It just so happened that the future prevailed and the current state lost the day.”

“It’s just amazing,” Herz said of the 35% turnout in the council-only election. He thanked his family, his campaign treasurer Liz Gross, the sign-wavers, donors, and other supporters including the Washington College Young Democratic Club and all of the voters. He ended with a thank-you to his wife Sharon for her unstinting support.

Tom Herz at The Retriever on Tues eve, Nov 5. (Jen Mulliganon right, town clerk; and Mayor Chris Cerino in background.) — Photo by Jane Jewell

Herz then turned to one of the main themes of his campaign, using the fiber-optic network to launch Chestertown and Kent County as high-tech centers, bringing in economic expansion. “Now I’d like to give you a little bit of the good news,” he said. “We’ve been working very hard at communicating a message and vision for the future. Last weekend I brought in the Ambassador-at Large for a small West African country called The Gambia. They came here and fell in love with Chestertown, Herz said. Now, there are lots of miles to go between here and there, but they want to put data centers in Chestertown. They want to come here and buy property, and host a command post – they want to do great things. Now, we don’t know if it’s all going to happen yet…. But the future is bright. And it all begins today, and it all begins because of you.” He ended with a toast to the future of Chestertown.

In a brief interview afterward, Herz credited Kuiper with running “a great campaign, filled with ideas,” but characterized her approach as “rooted in the past. I’m ready to move the town forward.” He said he would use the time between the election and his officially joining the council at the first meeting in January to work with Mayor Chris Cerino, the other council members, and the Kent County Commissioners to explore the possibilities for his vision. He specifically promised to work with Kuiper “to make sure there’s a positive handover of all her good work,” and to make sure the needs of Ward 2 residents are met. Herz also said he would focus on bringing business to town, which he said would bring young people with families, allowing the town to grow.

New council member Tom Herz with his wife Sharon Herz at The Retriever Tuesday after the polls closed. — Photo by Jane Jewell

He said he is currently working a 9-to-5 job in Washington, but it’s on a short-term contract. “But sometime in early January, I’ll be working remotely here in Chestertown, back to what I’ve always done for the last 20 years.” He said the job involves modernizing software for the Pension Guarantee corporation, which would help ensure that retirees get their pensions and benefits in a timely manner.

“We are hard after the future, we are hard after making our town great without changing its character – without changing the very nature of what makes it special,” he said. He identified that character as “community, and family values, and love for one’s neighbor. But we have to bring ingenuity here, we have to bring new people. And so we’re all going to have to work together to be accepting of different mindsets, to be accommodating to different lifestyles. At the same time, the people who come here will have to take a moment to breathe, to relax and understand who we are.”

On other major issues facing Chestertown, Herz in previous interviews has indicated that he is open-minded about the budget problems in the police department and the possibility of either eliminating the town police and/or merging with the county police. He has said that he can see advantages in combining at least partially with the county sheriff’s department especially on equipment and other resources but also worries about losing local control or being able to roll back things in the future if it doesn’t work out. He wants to study the situation and talk with all the involved parties before deciding on the issue. Last month the council voted to delay making a final decision on the police budget until March, thus giving both returning and any new members a longer time to study the situation.

Former Kent County Commissioner William Pickrum with Democratic Club members Sandy Bjork, Margie Conlin — Photo by Jane Jewell

Meghan Efland, who was elected unopposed to the Ward 4 council seat, was also present at the gathering. In a brief speech, she thanked the voters and Herz. “It’s a change in Chestertown,” she said. “I look forward for things to be growing, but in a way that we’re accepting of, that keeps the town the way we want to be. But we do need growth, and we do need to keep moving forward.” She concluded by saying she was looking forward to representing her ward on the council and to working with Herz and the current council members.

Retiring Ward 4 council representative Marty Stetson and Chestertown mayor Chris Cerino — Photo by Jane Jewell

The large crowd at The Retriever included a number of current and former elected officials, including Mayor Cerino and retiring Ward 4 Councilman Marty Stetson; Galena Mayor John Carroll; former Kent County Commissioner William Pickrum; and former Chestertown Council members Liz Gross and Sam Shoge. The Kent County Democratic Club, which endorsed both winning candidates, was also represented by several club officers as well as members of the Central Committee. In between talking about politics, many of them praised the newly reopened and refurbished bar, in the same location as the former Andy’s Tavern. And it seems a good bet that those at the election party went home happy.

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