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June 12, 2025

Chestertown Spy

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Health Health Notes

New $2.4 Million Investment in Medical Training Program Promises to Put More Doctors on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Help Prevent High Rate of Premature Deaths in Region

June 12, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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New $2.4 million investment in medical training program promises to put more doctors on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, help prevent high rate of premature deaths in region

Those who live in the Eastern Shore of Maryland can expect to live shorter lives: as much as seven years in some rural counties. That’s largely because residents of counties like Caroline and Kent County don’t have easy access to health care to help diagnose and manage chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. In an effort to increase physician density in these rural areas, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) last year launched its Rural-MD Scholars program, to train and place up to 10 students a year in Eastern Shore healthcare practices.

As the first class of three students completed their first year of medical school, the program received a large influx in funding from state ($1.4 million) and an anonymous donor ($1 million) that will provide full scholarships to 9 new students next year. These students all commit to practicing for four years on the Eastern shore after finishing their residency training.

“One in four residents on the Eastern Shore live at least 10 miles from a hospital, which increases the risk of delayed treatment,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean of UMSOM. “Caroline County, for example, has only one physician for every 2,500 residents, which is six times lower than the physician density in other parts of the state. We need to do what we can to fix this problem.”

View full update on the program here: bit.ly/43IvAcU

Take a look at the graphic below to see how efforts to increase physician density on the Eastern shore can lower the rate of preventable deaths from heart disease.

More Doctors, Longer Lives: Preventing Heart Disease Deaths in Rural Maryland

Rates of preventable heart disease deaths were found to be significantly higher in rural areas compared to large central suburban areas throughout Maryland. A major reason cited by federal health researchers for this disparity was lack of access to health care. Increasing physician density in rural areas could reduce the rate of preventable deaths.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

Choptank Health Welcomes Carmen Grant to Easton Health Center

June 11, 2025 by Choptank Community Health Leave a Comment

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Choptank Community Health System’s Easton Health Center recently welcomed Behavioral Health Clinician Carmen Grant, LCSW-C, to its behavioral health care team.

Grant’s experience includes conducting individual therapy, psychosocial assessments, supervision, and behavioral consultation, working with patients in school-based environments, and those with serious mental illnesses.

She earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California. She holds certifications in USC’s military social work specialization and EMDR therapy and speaks fluently in English and Spanish.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, including school-based health in all five counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health patients can schedule an appointment by calling the Easton Health Center at 410-770-8910, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

Choptank Health Promotes Bill Baxendale to Facilities Director

June 5, 2025 by Choptank Community Health Leave a Comment

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Choptank Community Health System’s leadership team recently welcomed Bill Baxendale as Facilities Director. In this role, Baxendale will lead the maintenance, safety, and operational integrity of Choptank Health’s owned and leased facilities across the region, while overseeing construction and renovation projects, managing vendor contracts, and ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulatory requirements.

He also serves as the organization’s Safety Officer, working closely with senior leadership to support a safe, efficient, and high-quality healthcare environment for patients and staff.

“We’re pleased to have Bill on our leadership team,” said Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “His extensive experience in facilities management and commitment to safety and quality will play a key role in supporting our health centers and ensuring we continue to provide the best possible environment for our patients and staff.”

Baxendale brings more than a decade of facilities management and project leadership experience to his new role. He joined Choptank Health in 2021 as Assistant Director of Facilities and Project Manager, leading multi-million-dollar capital improvements across the organization’s campuses and overseeing projects from design through completion with a focus on safety, quality, and cost-efficiency.

He previously served as Facilities Manager at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, where he managed major construction and renovation efforts while ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. His earlier work with the Center for Creative Works and Talbot County Public Schools further strengthened his expertise in facilities oversight and maintenance. Baxendale holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and school-based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic condition support, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed in all Mid-Shore locations. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

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Filed Under: Health Notes

For All Seasons Event Debuts Heart to Heart: Coloring Together

June 3, 2025 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

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Heart to Heart: Coloring Together, a unique new coloring book produced by For All Seasons and created by the agency’s art therapist Jane P. Gordon, LCPAT, ATR-BC, recently debuted at a special tea party for girls and their adult female caregivers. The event held at Brookletts Place in Easton featured a tea party-themed lunch for girls and their parents, mentors, or caregivers.

“For All Seasons wants to share the therapeutic expertise of our staff with the broader community. This book provides a therapy-based activity for parents and caregivers to engage in during their leisure time. The book is universal – whether a family has experienced trauma or just wants to connect – it offers a wonderful exercise for everyone,” states Katie Theeke, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at For All Seasons.

According to Gordon, coloring is a universally loved activity that can be very fun and relaxing for participants.

“Adding the special element of coloring with someone on the same page can promote a beautiful connection. Creating together inspires and reinforces a closer relationship,” states Gordon.

“I originally came up with this concept while working with elementary school clients who, at times, were hesitant to engage in therapy, and had difficulty expressing their concerns and feelings. This activity almost immediately set their minds and hearts at ease. Sharing this positive experience with me sparked communication and began the development of rapport and trust,” she adds.

Heart to Heart: Coloring Together was created for children and families to enjoy a shared activity while building strong connections and relationships, developing healthy attachments, and promoting conversation. It serves as an effective therapeutic process for children and families who have experienced trauma. It provides a fun, relaxing activity that reduces stress and fosters a joint feeling of joy and comfort.

The book can be shared at home to wind down after a long day or reconnect after a conflict; for hospital visits and doctors’ offices to reduce stress and fear; for school celebrations, indoor rainy day activities, and “buddy” programs; in areas affected by natural disaster, helping children feel a sense of normalcy and hope; and anytime, anywhere you want to enjoy coloring with a partner.

Gordon’s first book, Color Me Closer, has been used in multiple settings, including schools, offices, homes, assisted living settings, hospital visits, and in areas of trauma (most recently the California wildfires).

“My granddaughter Winnie says that Color Me Closer is her favorite book, and we color every time we are together. This inspired me to create another separate book, Heart to Heart: Coloring Together, with her character as the hostess,” Gordon shares.

“It truly warms my heart to see and hear about coloring partners in action. We’re excited about launching this book. It is a unique therapeutic tool, an opportunity to develop positive attachment and to simply enjoy the experience with a special person,” she adds.

Gordon is a board-certified, licensed art therapist with a career spanning 40 years. She has been a licensed clinician for For All Seasons for many years, sharing the mission of serving the community by providing mental health services.

Heart to Heart: Coloring Together will be released for sale to the public in the coming weeks. Reach out to Carly Palmer at [email protected] to preorder a copy.


For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

Choptank Health Hosts New Patient Welcome Sessions in Chestertown June 10-12

June 3, 2025 by Choptank Community Health Leave a Comment

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Mid-Shore families and individuals in need of a primary care provider are invited to attend a New Patient Welcome Session at Choptank Community Health’s Chestertown Health Center this June.

The events are designed to help individuals and families learn more about available health services, meet providers, and to complete new patient registration information with ease.

The free sessions will be held at the Chestertown Health Center, located at 126 Philosophers Terrace, on Tuesday, June 10 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11 from 12 to 1 p.m., and Thursday, June 12 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Translation services will be available, with walk-ins welcome, or reserved times available by calling 443-215-5353.

Attendees can receive assistance with completing new patient paperwork, explore insurance options and Choptank Health’s sliding fee scale program, and have an opportunity to meet many of Choptank Health’s medical providers and team members.

Guests will also be invited to tour the facilities to gain further familiarity with Choptank Health’s approach to providing access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all.

“These New Patient Welcome Sessions help people connect with our team and learn how we can support their care,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “It’s a meaningful first step that builds trust and makes registration easier.”

To learn more, go to www.choptankhealth.org or call the Chestertown Health Center at 443-215-5353.


Choptank Community Health System is a private, non-profit Community Health Center providing primary healthcare services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Choptank Health provides comprehensive care for the whole family, including medical, dental, pediatric, school-based, behavioral health, women’s health, chronic condition support, lab services, and care coordination. Choptank Health is a participating provider in Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance plans. A sliding fee scale is also available for any patient without insurance.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

Swimmable ShoreRivers Program bacteria testing program returns!

May 24, 2025 by ShoreRivers Leave a Comment

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ShoreRivers is pleased to announce its Swimmable ShoreRivers bacteria testing program has returned for the season, and that weekly results from this annual program will once again be available this year in both English and Spanish.

Every summer, ShoreRivers deploys a team of community scientists to monitor bacteria levels at popular swimming and boating sites to provide important human health risk information to the public. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers in-house labs. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and makes public the results of that testing to let people know about current bacteria levels as they make their plans for recreating in our waterways. Results are posted every Friday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at shorerivers.org/swim and on both the organization’s and its individual Riverkeepers’ social media pages.

A second page, shorerivers.org/swimmable-shorerivers-espanol, was set up last year to share this program with the Spanish-speaking community, and 14 signs can be found at public sites around the Eastern Shore that explain the goals of the Swimmable ShoreRivers program and show users where to find weekly results in both English and Spanish. These signs (and the program at large) are made possible thanks to funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation, and ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers will continue working with local county officials to install more.

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Archives, Health Notes

Rock Hall PorchFest May 25

May 17, 2025 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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The BFD Band will be one of five acts at Rock Hall PorchFest 2025 on Sunday, May 25 beginning at 12 noon. Admission is free.

Rock Hall’s historic Main Street will come alive with sights and sounds on Sunday, May 25 as the town presents PorchFest 2025.

Five “porch” stages, all within easy walking distance along Main Street, will host consecutive live music shows, starting at 12 noon, and with the last show beginning at 4 p.m.

PorchFest is free to the public, with lots of free parking near Main Street, and visitors will enjoy a leisurely block-long stroll as the festivities travel from one stage to the next. Along the way, there will be time to explore the town’s intriguing shops, and there will be lots to eat and drink from our local merchants. All you really need to enjoy PorchFest are comfortable shoes, a lawn chair perhaps, and an appetite for good music.

The musical lineup:

12 noon – Java Rock (Main and Sharp Sts.), Ashley Chapa, contemporary and classic country;

1 p.m. – Village Quilting (5701 Main St. , John Rutkowski, popular tunes on the accordion;

2 p.m. – The Mainstay (5753 Main St., back bar will be open), The Singing Captains, songs you know and love;

3 p.m. – Rock Hall Village Gazebo (Main St. & Rock Hall Ave.), The BFD Band, Ben Bennington, Ford Schumann, and Deb Campbell with acoustic traditional and contemporary folk;

4 p.m. – The “Brick House” (5778 Main St.), Barbara Parker, local popular and folk chanteuse.

It all adds up to a festive Memorial Day weekend get-together on the friendliest Main Street on the Eastern Shore.

PorchFest is made possible with help from the Kent Cultural Alliance, Main Street Rock Hall, and the visitors and locals who patronize our businesses and support our town. For more information, check out Rock Hall PorchFest on Facebook.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes, Food-Garden Homepage, Health Notes, Health Portal Highlights

Celebrating 13 Years of Leadership, Theresa Snyder Retires as KART Executive Director

May 17, 2025 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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Theresa Snyder

After 13 years of dedicated leadership, Theresa Snyder, the Executive Director of the Kent Association of Riding Therapy (KART) is retiring.

Under her guidance, the organization has grown in magnitude, reputation, and community impact. With Theresa’s commitment, vision, and guidance, KART expanded from serving just the local public schools, to serving Christian Academy, Camp Fairlee, Kent Center, Horizons, and Heron Point communities.

In addition to handling the day-to-day responsibilities of coordinating volunteers, schools, other organizations, therapy horses, PATH instructors, and additional tasks for the horseback riding therapy sessions at Worthmore, Theresa was also instrumental in finding funding sources for KART, as all of these services for the community with disabilities are provided for free.

Theresa came to KART as a volunteer, and it turns out that she happened to be a grant writer, so fortunate for KART. Theresa has raised over $1,000,000 over the 13 years, writing grants and coordinating fundraising events such as golf tournaments, half marathon/5K runs, River Packet cruises, Kitty Knight House outings, fundraising dinners and more. She was always looking for more ways to fundraise. She played an important role each year, putting together the spring and fall appeal letters and the annual newsletters. Her personal connection with family foundations resulted in more funding for KART.

As Executive Director, she was responsible for KART’s budgets and reporting to the Board of Directors on all activities. Theresa was crucial to a very important KART accreditation: PATH Premier Certification.

PATH is the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Int. and KART is certified as a Premier Accredited Center, thanks to Theresa’s hard work, organizational skills, and attention to detail. The accreditation process is a peer review system in which trained volunteers visit and review centers, in accordance with PATH Intl. standards. A center that meets the strict accreditation requirements based on the administrative, facility, program and applicable activity, and service standards becomes a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center for a period of five years. Theresa has done this 3 times for KART. Not an easy task.

Even though Theresa was paid for her ED position, her dedication, commitment, and love for KART was evident when she listed her hours at the barn with the riding sessions as volunteer hours.  She had a wonderful way about her relating to the students, volunteers, instructors, board members, and others. She always had a positive attitude and was willing to go above and beyond normal expectations.

Theresa guarantees that she will still be involved with KART, volunteering and serving in an advisory role.

Please join the Board, staff, volunteers, and the community wishing Theresa well and thanking her for all she has done for KART and the community with disabilities. Her passion and foresight will never be forgotten, and her tireless commitment and visionary leadership leave behind a lasting legacy that will guide us for years to come.

Theresa’s successor is a well-qualified horse enthusiast, Daphne Young. We look forward to our next chapters with Daphne, KART’s new ED.

For more information: Daphne Young, Executive Director for KART; [email protected]; 410.870.5536

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes, Archives, Food-Garden Homepage, Health Notes, Health Portal Highlights

Memorial Day Event to Feature Parade, Entertainment and a Remembrance of Vets Who Died in Combat

May 13, 2025 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

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Long after the Tea Party tourists have left town, the Memorial Day parade and remembrance on May 26 – long a locals’ favorite – will honor veterans who died serving their country.

The Memorial Day Committee is inviting members of the community to participate in the parade by creating a float or showcasing vehicles of interest. Walking groups with patriotic themes are also welcome. No pre-registration is required.

Participants will gather at 9 a.m. at Dixon Drive. The parade will start at 10 a.m. and proceed down High Street to Memorial Park. In advance of the parade, from 9-10 a.m., entertainment will be provided by Chester River Voices and the Ukelele Club.

Chestertown River Arts will be on hand to distribute “thank you cards” that will be sent to veterans – or you can make your own. The community arts organization will also be selling tissue paper poppies.

Following the parade, keynote speaker Aubrey Sarvis, an Army veteran, will give a short presentation on the Korean War, which took the lives of over 50,000 Americans.

“It’s often called ‘The Forgotten War’ because most people alive in the U.S. today could not tell you what it is or was,” says Sarvis, a member of Sumner Hall’s board of directors. “It was never even officially declared a war.”

Vanessa Ringgold, Sumner Hall’s president, will talk about Memorial Day’s origins and local veterans will read the names of Kent County service members killed in action in Korea.

To close things out, local veterans will be acknowledged with a moment of silence as trumpeter Brad Holloman plays “Taps.”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes, Commerce Homepage, Commerce Notes, Food-Garden Homepage, Health Notes, Health Portal Highlights

For All Seasons Offers Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training

May 13, 2025 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

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For All Seasons is partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Maryland to offer Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator training on June 6 and 7, 2025 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Anchor Church, located at 620 Goldsborough Street in Easton.

This training, which offers CEUs, is for mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who want to start a support group and current group facilitators who want to strengthen their skills, stay up to date on the latest practices, and explore issues they have encountered while facilitating. It is recommended for participation that survivors of suicide loss have waited at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss, and non-clinicians have at least one year of experience participating in a support group.

By the end of this training, participants will understand: the unique needs of suicide loss survivors; develop skills to facilitate a safe and supportive group environment; apply effective communication and active listening techniques; recognize and respond to crisis situations within a support group setting; and utilize AFSP resources and best practices for group facilitation.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Center for Learning at For All Seasons to help create a community-based support network around suicide bereavement. We have seen this issue impact our community in significant ways over the last several years. This is an effort to help address those needs,” comments Lauren Weber, Vice President of Strategy & Development at For All Seasons.

Two professional trainers will lead the training. Joan Schweizer Hoff has worked for over 25 years at The Dougy Center, National Center for Grieving Children and Families, in Portland, Oregon. She has over 40 years of experience working with children and families and has served on local and national boards. She is a member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s National Loss and Healing Council. She is a trainer for AFSP Facilitator Training, organizes Survivor of Suicide Loss Day, coordinates Healing Conversations, and supports the Out of the Darkness Walks. She conducts training nationally and internationally on issues related to program development, the impact of suicide, trauma, and violent death on children, teens, and their families, crisis response, and children and teen grief.

Wendy M. Resnick, R.N., M.S., C.S., works as a Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse in inpatient psychiatry and chemical dependency centers. She co-founded The Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association (DRADA), a non-profit organization in collaboration with The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She developed a network of mutual-help support groups across the Mid-Atlantic area and a one-to-one peer support program serving individuals nationwide.

This two-day training includes lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing, and participating clinicians will receive 14 Category I CEUs, issued by For All Seasons, Inc., an approved continuing education provider for Maryland Social Workers and Professional Counselors. The cost for the two-day training is $175 and includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all needed materials for both days. For more information or to register, visit the training website at bit.ly/SupportGroupFacilitatorTraining.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

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