Our town leadership, the mayor and council members, are apparently following the same narrow “search process” for our future Town Manager that was utilized two years ago, the process that gave us our recently and hastily departed Town Manager.  Chestertown HR is dutifully managing the ongoing search; the department advertised and posted in same Maryland Town Managers Association publication and same limited Maryland Eastern Shore media outlets as before. The internal HR efforts are apparently far along with remaining finalists now being interviewed.  The acting Town Manager is not a candidate and is serving effectively on a temporary basis. With the advertised salary range of 130K, generous benefits, and by utilizing a professional search firm, I believe we can now cast a wider net and attract a much stronger pool of candidates than we did two years ago. With all due respect and appreciation for those working hard for us on this search, I fear by following the same approach as before we risk ending up with a similar pool of undistinguished and lackluster candidates and perhaps a weary finalist looking for a cozy and comfortable landing. (No doubt some of the finalists from two years ago may already be on the short list again!)

Chestertown is a historic and unique river town and has much to offer those who live and work here, especially to energetic and creative and professional Town Managers with impressive credentials who are eager for an exciting opportunity to join, contribute, and lead us forward, along with our volunteer and generous elected officials.

I fail to understand the rush to fill this position, especially since we have a seasoned acting Town Manager who has agreed to serve during a thoughtful search. Let’s be fully transparent here and together undertake a professional search to fill the most important staff position in Chestertown.  Yes, a professional search can be time consuming and expensive for our small community with limited resources, but a professional search is likely to be a very smart investment and reap tremendous long-term rewards.

We have a wonderful opportunity to get it right this time. Hopefully, it isn’t too late to seize the moment.

Aubrey Sarvis

Army veteran, retired lawyer and corporate officer.

Editor:

As one who’s often visited D.C. since the early 1960s, I have never felt unsafe.

While serving in the 82^nd Airborne Division, I spent a three-day pass in 1961 in D.C. while bunking at the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airman’s Club, and had no feelings of being unsafe.

In August 1965, the Capitol police arrested 250 of us as we tried to deliver our “Declaration of Peace with the People of Vietnam” to our congressional representatives. I did not feel unsafe. (For my civil disobedience on the Capitol grounds, I spent three days in the D.C. jail along with pacifist Dave Dellinger, civil rights leader Bob Moses, and teacher Staughton Lynd.)

In May 1971, the D.C. police were a bit rougher as they arrested 13,000 of us during the May Day demonstrations against the war, but again, I did not feel unsafe. (When tried for obstructing a sidewalk, I was found not guilty and 10 years later, received a $10,000 check from the City of Washington to acknowledge my false arrest.)

I picketed LBJ’s White House with Students for a Democratic Society in April 1965 and protested both of Richard Nixon’s inaugurations in 1969 and 1973; at no time did I feel unsafe.

Protests and arrests aside, I’ve safely traveled on D.C. Metro and city buses and visited in utter safety the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean war memorials, memorials to MLK Jr., FDR, T. Jefferson, and Mohandas Gandhi, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Air and Space Museum, Kennedy Center, Roosevelt Island, the Japanese cherry trees in bloom, the Supreme Court, the National Arboretum, the C&O Canal towpath through Georgetown, Washington monument, Lafayette Park, Dupont and Logan circles, the D.C. Zoo, many restaurants, bars, and eateries, and a spring-time kite-flying extravaganza on the Mall as well as walking, bicycling, and jogging there.

Not once, not for one single moment, in fact not ever—not even while arrested, tried, and incarcerated—did I ever feel unsafe in D.C. Not once was I mugged or robbed. Not once was I threatened in any fashion. I sincerely hope that the various National Guard units feel as safe as I have always felt during their present visit in D.C.

However, I must say that having convicted felon Donald J. Trump as our president along with his MAGA cronies makes me feel unsafe; very, very unsafe.

Yours,

/S/ GRENVILLE B. WHITMAN

Dear Editor:

Thanks to those who attended or expressed interest in the first Citizens Connect event on Monday, August 18. The discussion—led by Bill Burton & Bonnie Ford, leaders of Friends of Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge—focused on the future of the island amid concerns about federal budget cuts threatening its survival. We had a great turnout: over 75 people filled the room and overflowed into the lobby.

Bill Burton explained the importance of the refuge as a sanctuary for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife and as the main tourist attraction for Kent County. Over 400 acres of the island are planted by local farmers in a barter agreement ensuring that 25% of the crop is left on the ground to support wildlife. The refuge also offers a place for people to fish, hunt, kayak, and simply enjoy nature, drawing over 70,000 visitors a year. Burton cited economic analysis that shows Eastern Neck generates over $1 million in revenue for Kent County annually.

Bonnie Ford shifted the focus to the impact of dramatic declines in staffing and funding that threaten Eastern Neck. Also under the auspices of US Fish & Wildlife, Blackwater Refuge staff plummeted from 23 in 2007 to 11 now, and at Eastern Neck from 5 to none. So, the non-profit Friends of Eastern Neck stepped in to fill the breach and assumed increased responsibilities—shoreline conservation, visitors center staffing, planting and tending the butterfly garden, conducting student environmental education, and maintaining the historic lodge.

But volunteers cannot replace skilled wildlife biologists, park rangers, and maintenance professionals, who use science-based techniques like controlled burns, biological and bird surveys, shoreline protection and much more. Without adequate staff, Eastern Neck could be shuttered, public access curtailed, waterfowl put at risk, hunting halted, and invasive plants could grow unchecked.

The speakers invited the public to participate in efforts to maintain Eastern Neck and encourage lawmakers to restore and sustain funding. Here are immediate action items:

Eastern Neck:  Take Action Now

· Write to your representatives in Congress. Tell them why the refuge is important to you. Reps’ addresses, phone numbers and a sample letter can be found here.

· Become a member and donate:  You can support the Friends of Eastern Neck by becoming a member and contributing. Members receive newsletters and special invites to events. Details here.

· Volunteer:  With recent federal staff and budget cuts, Eastern Neck needs volunteers more than ever. The Friends of Eastern Neck will find a project to match your interests. Contact for more info.

· Learn more about what the Friends of Eastern Neck do to make the refuge a safe, fun, and beautiful place to visit. Stay informed here.

With appreciation,

Joan Caivano & Eileen Kessler

Citizens Connect

Please follow us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CitizensConnectKC

Dear Chestertown Spy

I was devastated when I went for my walk at Wilmer Park and found the beautiful shoreline was mowed down and destroyed. The beautiful marsh grasses, the hibiscus, morning glory and wild flowers. Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and a lot of wildlife made this shoreline their home. The town I understand did this. I am not sure if they had approval from DNR. I am hoping you could look into this. So many of us are shocked and deeply saddened. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Cecilia Brown

I am responding to the recent editorial regarding the need for a new middle school. I am responding as an individual Kent County Board of Education (BOE) member, and this does not represent the BOE as a whole.

It’s been asserted that we can’t afford to invest in our public schools in Kent County; specifically, that we can’t afford a new middle school. Given that our aging population is steadily increasing and we are in desperate need for working age adults who rely on public schools to educate their children, I say we can’t afford not to.

Consider these statistics: In Kent County, the fastest growing age group from 2010-2022, increasing by 22.8% was with individuals 65+. At the same time, the age group that experienced the largest decline, individuals aged 35-49, decreased by 18.6%. The county has a high and growing need for healthcare services due to its older population. The average age of healthcare workers varies by profession, but physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners and other health professionals typically fall within the 25-54 age range.

Families who do the kind of work that our county needs, that our aging population especially needs, typically rely on public education. When some wealthy citizens are determined to focus only on the financial impact of investing in our public schools, they are tragically missing the forest for the trees. The almighty dollar can’t jump in an ambulance and come to your aid with specialized medical equipment and training. None of us can predict when illness or injury may strike and all of us would be grateful to the strong and able-bodied responder who meets us in our time of need. But if help is in short supply, then what?

If Kent County refuses to sow into our most valuable resource which is our children; we will continue to reap what we sow; and currently we are reaping a declining population. The demand for healthcare workers, and workers in general, already exceeds the supply and it’s only going to get worse if the strongest advocates in our county are primarily focused on self-preservation.

All the money in the world can’t instantly produce a qualified workforce. A locally based qualified workforce must be grown, and the bulk of that growth starts in our public schools. Why wouldn’t we do everything we can to attract working families so that the essential work needed in our county can be done?

The author of the recent editorial wrongly suggested that I’m locked into one solution for how investment in our public schools can happen. I have 10 years of experience advocating for funding at the state level for individuals for development disabilities. Funding decisions that involve local or state government rarely happen in isolation, and they certainly don’t happen overnight. My goal as a school board member is to continue to advocate for the best possible outcome for our most valuable resource (our children), to keep an open mind and work collaboratively with our funding partners until a solution is found.

It is my hope that others who care about the future of Kent County and the future of the services available to us, will see the long-term value of encouraging thoughtful economic growth which will naturally give us more resources to invest in our public schools. Again, concerned citizens of Kent County, please understand that we will continue to reap what we sow, one way or another. We are uniquely positioned to change the course of our county’s future for the better. Will we continue sowing into what ultimately results in the crippling of our workforce in Kent County driven by fear and self-preservation or will we sow into the needs that attract working families so that the needs of both the young and old are better met? The choice is ours.

In faithful commitment to seeing all our children achieve their greatest potential for their future and ours,

Laura McKenzie

At first I was terrified at the thought of replacing any original body part! Certainly not something as important as a knee! I had after all made it this far with the nearly complete ‘original set’ my Mom gave me short of only some minor dental adjustments. Little did I know, I would soon be joining the New Parts Club.

Increasingly sharp pain in my left knee all day and night made future surgery a rapidly approaching no-brainer. On the pain scale of 0 to 10, there were already way too many 10’s. So the date was set: November 30, 2023 for full left knee replacement.

Prior to surgery in his Chestertown, Maryland office Dr. Lohr handed me a sample of the latest model—the “Zimmer Biomet Cruciate Retaining” implant. He and his Elkton, Maryland Surgery team would skillfully install one of these beauties in an out-patient surgery operation. As I held the actual knee part in my hands, it felt like a well-machined titanium toy with one moving part and no obvious purpose. Prior to the big go-ahead decision we had exhausted a regimen of cortisone injections, arthroscopic surgery, and some squishy injectable liquid that brought only fleeting relief. So that’s all there was to it: a new left knee was now a necessity.

Before we arrived here in Chestertown, we were happily ensconced on a beautifully stark Laramie River Ranch (1,472 acres) in the dramatically wide-open river valley of the same name in north central Colorado. Susan and I had made the decision to leave these rural ranchlands of the great western U.S. that we loved and head to the beautifully rural eastern shore of Kent County, Maryland for one more chapter. Here, we signed on to help a dynamic family with the transformation of their newly acquired Chesapeake Bay estate, Great Oak Manor, from wedding venue to country house hotel.

We closed our post office box in nearby Jelm, Wyoming and dropped the key at the Laramie Post Office. On a snowy -6⁰F day we began our drive to Chestertown, Maryland in a 26’ U-Haul truck and trailer before heading south and east through Colorado’s eastern rangelands and then driving on through Kansas.

The whole buildup to the new left knee project was filled with lots of unnecessary anxiety. What if this goes wrong? What if this the end of a career? What if I can’t walk anymore? What if??? I was a basket case as I faced my very first surgical treatment, and in the end I had no reason to be.

The new left knee project was a great experience thanks to Dr. Lohr, his talented team, the Upper Bay Surgery Center in Elkton, and the Centers for Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team back in Chestertown. I (and likely legions of other folks) are especially grateful to the dedicated, caring, and skilled team of physical therapists at the Center here in town. Thanks to them for quickly making my new left knee my strongest knee.

Fast forward to 2025, Susan and I were finishing a project in Warren, Vermont and although we loved the Mad River Valley and even had thoughts of retiring in that area we made the decision to return to the Chestertown area. I was now beginning to feel the familiar ramp-up of pain now in my right knee.

There were other compelling reasons we chose to return to Chestertown. Among these I include (in no particular order) horse care, healthcare, housing availability, and affordability of housing. This meant that Susan’s beautiful saddle rescue horse, Roxy, would return to Kent Equestrian Center and our three spirited puppies: Mr. Fluffy, Joey, and Gypsy would make yet another new home here in Kent, County this time in Worton, Maryland.

In reaching out to his office, we learned that Dr. Lohr decided to retire from surgery and was now recommending his colleague Dr. Andrew Cumiskey here in town for my right knee replacement. He would be installing the Microport Orthopedic Medial Pivot implant. It is a different “knee” but so far I am unable to perceive any difference between the two. Suffice it to say this has been an equally smooth transition, an uneventful day surgical procedure and a successful physical therapy regimen just as the previous one. I am grateful to everyone involved.

Today, almost a week after my right knee replacement I wistfully tried reaching from my walker to my smart purple “HurryCane” gathering dust in the corner. Susan bought it for me last time. It was obviously way too early to move from walker to cane. I quickly retreated to the comfort of my sturdy made-in-China “Guardian” brand aluminum walker. It’s a decidedly less-flashy tubular aluminum deal with the two rubber wheels in front and the two rubber feet in the back. It will be another week or so before I can reach for the cane. All things in time.

Now as a two time frequent-flyer of knee replacement surgery here is the wisdom I can impart to another whose knees may be fading: 1. You will be in pain for two weeks after the surgery. 2. Then you will make some progress but you will be in some pain and discomfort for another four weeks. 3. Physical therapy is a painful necessity: do it their way! 4. You will likely need pain meds but try to wean yourself from them as soon as possible. 5. I have nothing but gratitude for everyone who helped me—including the Nursing team in Elkton and even our neighbor, Kay, who was pressed into service to help Susan and me surmount the three steps up when we arrived home that day.

If you are blessed by the tremendous support from your family such that I have received by my wife Susan, and so many other then you are very well-loved indeed. Susan has really carried the heavy load for me during my recovery (two times now!) so I can lie around in bed and try to stave off the pain. These days, I am counting all of our blessings, looking forward to taking walks again in our new neighborhood, with and without my purple HurryCane, and to enjoying our beautifully rural eastern shore.

Brooks Bradbury

Worton

There is an expression that has been used since the time of the Greeks, “Tell me what company you keep and I will tell you what you are.” In the case of President Trump, consider the pardons he has granted since this is the company he keeps.

The Constitution states: “The President … shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” The president’s power can only be used to pardon someone for a federal crime.

A request for a pardon goes to the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney which assists the president in exercising his pardon power. The office looks at such factors as how the person has acted following their conviction, the seriousness of the offense, and the extent to which the person has accepted responsibility for their crime. Trump did not follow this process. All of those pardoned were found guilty by their peers and none have shown remorse.

January 6 Insurrectionists: This sweeping action included both nonviolent participants and those convicted of violent crimes against law enforcement. Trump also commuted the sentences of 14 prominent figures from far-right groups relating to the Capitol attack including Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy and Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, sentenced to 18 years.

Ross Ulbricht:  This founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, an anonymous platform that facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods using crypto-currency, was given a life sentence for multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering.

Rod Blagojevich: Trump granted a full pardon to this former Illinois Governor who had been sentenced to 14 years for multiple corruption charges including attempting to sell Barack Obama‘s vacant Senate seat.

Brian Kelsey: Trump pardoned this Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate who had pleaded guilty over attempting to illegally funnel money to his failed campaign for Congress in 2016.

Devon Archer: Trump granted a full pardon to this former business associate of Hunter Biden, convicted of defrauding a Native American tribe in a $60 million bond scheme.

Trevor Milton: Trump pardoned the founder of an electric vehicle start-up convicted of engaging in a scheme to defraud investors including wire fraud and securities fraud. Milton and his wife had donated more than $1.8 million to Trump’s re-election campaign.

BitMEX co-founders: Trump pardoned three co-founders of this crypto-currency exchange who had pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to implement a compliant anti-money laundering program.

Michele Fiore: Trump pardoned this woman convicted of seven counts relating to wire fraud for stealing $70,000 she had collected for a memorial to fallen police officers, and instead used for personal expenses.

Paul Walczak: This former nursing home executive was convicted of misappropriating over $10 million in employment taxes for personal luxury spending. Trump’s decision was announced less than three weeks after Walczak’s mother attended a $1 million-per-person fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

Scott Jenkins: This former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia had been convicted of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing individuals as auxiliary deputies.

Todd and Julie Chrisley: These reality stars had been convicted of several counts of fraud and tax evasion involving over $30 million. Their daughter, a vocal Trump supporter, had lobbied for their release and received the news of their pardon in a phone call from the president.

Michael Grimm: This former Congressman stepped down from office following a conviction for tax fraud.

All of these pardons have been given since January. This list is incomplete.   What does it say about Trump’s character that these are the individuals that deserve a second chance? This is unfortunately the company he keeps. So much for draining the swamp!

Barbara Vann

Chestertown