Join the Historical Society this fall to explore local history, meet neighbors, and enjoy a season full of conversation, discovery, and community. Visit kentcountyhistory.org or follow the Historical Society of Kent County on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest updates.

Lunch & Lore Series Begins Thursday at the Historical Society

A Full Fall Schedule of Programs

The Historical Society of Kent County will host a series of brown-bag Lunch & Lore sessions this fall. These drop-in gatherings will feature experts in local history and culture, leading conversations on topics ranging from river lore to African American history and more.

The series kicks off on Thursday, September 4, when Research Librarian Joan Andersen will present Spy Stories from Kent County, including the little-known tale of a daring female spy. All are welcome to attend at the Historical Society’s Bordley History Center, 301 High Street in Chestertown from noon to 1 p.m. on alternate Thursdays, from September 4 through December 18.

Lunch & Lore Schedule

• September 4: Spy Stories with Joan Andersen
• September 18: Tidbits from Museums of Kent with Stephanie Gosman
• October 2: 5 Amazing Things About Kent County History From Two Locals with Darius Johnson & Kate Livie
• October 16: Karen Somerville (topic to be announced)
• October 30: Secrets of Olivet Hill with Amber Englebach
• November 6: River Lore with Darren Tilghman
• November 20: Airlee Johnson (topic to be announced)
• December 4: African American History with Bill Leary
• December 18: Captain Andy McKown (topic to be announced)

Film Screening: Chestertown 1940–1995

Back by popular demand, the public is invited to a screening of Chestertown 1940–1995 at 2 p.m. on September 14 at Emmanuel Church, 101 Cross Street in Chestertown.

The film pairs scenes from a silent black-and-white film from 1940 with a companion piece from 1995, which includes reflections from a host of notable locals, many of whom are still around today. Together, the films capture a vivid portrait of small-town Eastern Shore life across the 20th century.

Bustling streets, storefronts, fashion, and even a children’s pet parade from the pre-WWII era contrast with the last moments before the dot-com boom in the late 90s, as Chestertown evolved into a tourist destination and retirement haven.

The screening is free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly encouraged and may be made online at this link or by emailing [email protected].

New Exhibit

On New Shores: A History of Jewish Lives in Kent County

Opening October 3, this exhibit explores the largely untold stories of Jewish families who built their lives in Maryland’s smallest county.

A full weekend of related events will begin with an opening reception on October 3. On October 4, pianist Susan Hollins, who grew up in Millington and whose family is featured in the exhibit, will present a concert titled Jewish Composers of the Immigration Era.

To close out the weekend on October 5, a panel discussion will delve into Jewish history in Kent County with  Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland Sol Davis, former Chestertonian and one of the founders of the Chestertown Havurah group Margie Elsberg, and others.

Ghost Walks

Spooky Ghost Walks will offer historical thrills and chills throughout the Chestertown Historic District beginning in October.

Library Catalog Project Talk

On November 20, museums professional Alana Cole-Faber will give a talk about the Library Catalog Project currently underway at the Historical Society. She will also offer helpful guidance on simple ways to store paper artifacts at home using basic office supplies. More details, including ticket information, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Join the Historical Society this fall to explore local history, meet neighbors, and enjoy a season full of conversation, discovery, and community.

Visit kentcountyhistory.org or follow the Historical Society of Kent County on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest updates.

Compass proudly celebrated another successful year of Camp New Dawn, marking the 31st year of this unique program that helps children, teens, and families navigate grief in a safe, supportive environment.

Held each summer, Camp New Dawn brings together children and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one, offering them a place to share their stories, build resilience, and find comfort among peers who understand. With the guidance of trained counselors and compassionate volunteers, campers participate in traditional camp activities— arts and crafts, swimming, games, and team challenges—blended with grief support sessions designed to promote healing and hope.

“Grief can feel isolating for children, but Camp New Dawn reminds them they are not alone,” said Rhonda Knotts, Director of Grief Support Services. “For more than three decades, this camp has provided a safe haven where young people can honor their loved ones, express their emotions, and begin to rediscover joy.”

Volunteers, too, experience the power of Camp. Longtime volunteer, Jane Anthony, shared: “The only thing I can say is that it was a supercalifragilisticexpealidocious camp! I saw healing. I saw connections being made, both campers and volunteers. I saw one big family just loving each other through the tough moments. I saw things that just make me want to come back year after year!”

 This year’s camp welcomed 53 campers, whose strength and openness inspired the entire Compass team. Many campers return year after year, forming lasting friendships and connections that extend well beyond camp.

Many campers and volunteers spoke about their experiences at Camp New Dawn and the profound impact it had on them, their children, and their families. One family shared, “By the end of family camp, we are all just a little bit lighter. The loss is still there, the heartache is still present, but now we have a number of tools to help us cope with our grief on our own terms and in our own time.”

Another supporter reflected, “At Camp New Dawn, I met some of the bravest little souls who showed up to heal their hearts from the pain of grief. I witnessed courage in teens and young adults continuing their own healing while walking alongside the younger campers. I saw bravery in the adults who pour their time and love into making this camp a meaningful, successful healing process.”

Group leader Hayden Rhodes expressed, “Year after year, I have the privilege of witnessing something truly remarkable over three unforgettable days. This is not just a camp—it’s a place where children who have experienced deep loss come together, surrounded by compassion, understanding, and hope. The most beautiful part is watching transformation unfold—by the last day, the same faces that carried such visible grief are glowing with the light of new friendships, deeper understanding, and a renewed sense of hope. Camp New Dawn is a sacred space where healing begins, where hearts mend little by little, and where God’s presence feels close and real.”

Camp New Dawn is made possible through the generosity of community supporters, donors, and dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to ensure each child feels seen and supported.

As Compass reflects on 31 years of Camp New Dawn, one thing remains constant: the power of community to bring light into even the darkest seasons of grief. With the support of volunteers, donors, and families, Camp New Dawn will continue to provide a safe, compassionate space where children and families can find healing, hope, and connection.

To find out more about Compass Regional Hospice, go here.

J. Taylor Buckley Jr., one of the founding editors of USA TODAY, died Aug. 10, 2025, in Centreville, Md. after a bruising two-year brawl with a rare soft-tissue cancer. He was 85.

Buckley’s career in print journalism spanned more than 40 years, beginning at The Cavalier Daily, the student newspaper of the University of Virginia, and ending at USA TODAY just as it broke through as the daily with the largest circulation in the country and when ink-on-paper journalism in general reached its zenith as an information medium.

After graduating from UVA in 1961 with a BA in economics, he covered high school sports at The Daily Local News in West Chester, Pa. He left as its city editor in 1969 to run The Chester River Press, a struggling weekly in Chestertown, Md. The struggle ended six months later when the paper folded.

He found a copy-editing job at The Morning News in Wilmington, Del., where 12 years later he was named the first managing editor of both the News and the Evening Journal. In 1982 he was tapped by the Gannett Co., which owned the Wilmington papers, to be the start-up managing editor for the “Money” section of its soon-to-launch national daily, USA TODAY. He also played a key role in conceiving and laying down USA TODAY’s staccato writing style, which emphasized short, fact-packed sentences. He preached “verbs” and waged war on blather and unquantifiable modifiers, loudly admonishing reporters and editors to “beat empty adjectives to death like baby seals.”

Along the way, he wrote an op-ed column (titled “From The Hip,” presumably to exploit his sarcasm and unusual capacity to offend a significant percentage of readers), consulted for “USA TODAY on TV,” and for a time wrote a sports column and did broadcast sports commentary for USA TODAY Sky Radio.

In 1991, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was dispatched to Moscow by USA TODAY to open its first foreign bureau, an assignment cut short when he was assaulted by a gang of thugs. He was beaten nearly to death after being thrown down a stairwell on the Borodino Bridge. At the time he was working on a piece about the Russian mafia’s role in divvying up state assets.

In what he would refer to as the “declining years of a mediocre career,” he got the dream job of senior writer for USA TODAY, mostly picking his own topics. These ranged from the perils of study abroad and campus crime to duct tape, vanity tags and the five-gallon bucket. He did a 1,500-word cover story on dirt.

He retired in 1999 and spent a year under contract working on a book with USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth. It bombed.

He was a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, a frequent also-ran for a prize of his own, though once deemed a “legitimate contender” in the commentary category.

As a high school student in Pennsylvania, he was bow “man” in the Haverford School four-oared boat that won the national championship in 1957 and went on to become the second American schoolboy crew ever to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta in England. In 2021 he was elected to the school’s Sports Hall of Fame.

In his community, Buckley served on the vestry at Old St. Paul’s, Kent, on the board of the Sultana Education Foundation in Chestertown, Md. and on the board of the Mariner Pointe Condominium Association in Sanibel, Fla. Military service consisted of six years with the New Jersey National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve.

He was a frequent contributor to the “letters” department of The Kent County (Md.) News, leveling his caustic, tongue-in-cheek “pen” at everything from third-Bay-Bridge paranoia to the fine entertainments available while waiting in line at the Walgreen’s drive-in window.

Though he never regarded himself as much of a father, he made the obligatory attempts to teach his kids how to paddle, shoot, cast, start a fire and pluck fowl. He was ahead of his time as a fervent proponent and practitioner in the realm of renewable energy, constantly impressing upon his children this maxim: “There is no substitute for effective firewood management.” He also loved to drive boats and grow large tomatoes. He had a peculiar fondness for motorcycles, Vanna White and Zelko vodka. “Straight up, no fruit.” He was proudly anti-woke.

Buckley lived in Sanibel, but kept a summer home outside Chestertown. He was born in Philadelphia, the son of Kathryn Barry and J. Taylor Buckley.

He is survived by his widow, Graciela Muhana; three children (from his first marriage): Jamie, of Chestertown; John (Tara), of Malvern, Pa., and Kathryn Kaiser (Cris), of Alexandria, Va., and two Argentinean stepchildren: Lucas (Natasha) and Matias Crivilone. Also, two grandchildren, Stephanie and Edward J. Kaiser.

Graveside service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests perhaps a donation to Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Sultana Education Foundation, Compass Regional Hospice, or any good cause of your choosing.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Taylor Buckley Jr please visit our Sympathy Store.