Flagship Premium Cinemas announced today that they will be opening their newest theater in Chestertown, Maryland. Located in the Washington Square Shopping Center, Flagship Premium Cinema Chestertown will feature deluxe amenities including luxurious powered reclining seats, online reserved seating, in-lobby ticketing kiosks, self-serve beverages with free refills and, coming soon, a bar with beer and wine selections.

“Flagship Premium Cinemas is excited to expand our Eastern Shore presence into the Chestertown market. Flagship understands that Chestertown is a community that has specific needs and is committed to offering exclusive film choices and special programming.  Our goal is to ensure the highest quality movie experience.” stated Paul Wenger, President of Flagship Cinemas.

“The town and the county are thrilled that Flagship Premium Cinemas will be operating the Chestertown movie theatre, their experience in the movie industry and commitment to serving the needs of the community are very apparent.” stated Jamie Williams, Kent County Director of Economic & Tourism Development.

Flagship Premium Cinemas appreciates the opportunity to introduce a new, upscale movie-going experience in Chestertown to fulfill the specific needs of this exclusive community. In addition to Chestertown, Flagship currently operates locations in Easton, Cambridge and West Ocean City.

Further details can be found on the company’s website:  www.flagshipcinemas.com

The Historical Society of Kent County marked the occasion of its 85th annual meeting on Sunday by presenting Jonathan Conner, of Rock Hall, with the first Roger D. Brown History Scholarship.

Gibson Anthony, outgoing Society president, presented Conner with a $500 check.  Conner, who just graduated from Kent County High School, was selected as the outstanding history graduate of his 2021 class.  Conner is joining the U.S. Navy and plans to attend college when he completes his service.

The Roger D. Brown Scholarship was established by the Society in 2020 in recognition of the 30+ years of service by Roger D. Brown as he retired as Society treasurer.  

At its meeting, the Society also elected four directors, two for the first time and two who have previously served as directors.  The new directors are Gordon Wallace and Darius Johnson.  The returning directors are former Society president Steve Frohock and director Jennifer Moore, a local preservationist who has been on the Society board for three years. 

Johnson is a Kent County native and a 2015 Washington College graduate. After working in the greater Baltimore area, Mr. Johnson returned to the Eastern Shore when he joined the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy as Communications Manager.  He has recently relocated professionally to Kent County as the Executive Director of the non-profit Kent Housing Alliance.  He is a member of the board of directors for the Stories of Chesapeake Heritage Area and a member of the Washington College Alumni Board.

Wallace is a Kent County native and a 2019 graduate of Stevenson University with a degree in digital marketing.  A talented artist and videographer, Mr. Wallace was co-curator of the “Amazing People” oral history series produced by RiverArts.  He is also the curator for the two guest exhibits at the Bordley Building by Sumner Hall, including the current exhibit featuring the James Taylor Justice Coalition.  He is a member of the Chestertown Public Arts Committee and the Arts & Entertainment District Advisory Board, as well as being communications and media coordinator for Sumner Hall.  He is the founder of Pick6Digital.

The Society also elected officers:  Barbara Jorgenson of Chestertown as president; Gibson Anthony of Still Pond as vice president, Bridget Mahoney of Chestertown as treasurer, and Erik Gulbrandsen of Fairlee as secretary. 

“We are particularly proud of our new board,” said incoming president Barbara Jorgenson.  “For the past several years, we have tried to expand the reach of our board into every corner of the county, as well as across generations. This year’s board members hail from the Bay to the Sassafras to the Chester—and range in age from 80 to 20’s.  It is our goal to ensure that our local history is accessible and relevant to all ages.  I believe this board will help achieve that goal.”  

The 85th annual meeting was held at the home of members Susan and Bronson Percival.  It was well attended with more than 40 members and guests present, including board member Robert Bryan of Kennedyville, whose grandfather was among the founders of the Society 85 years ago. 

The Historical Society of Kent County is a non-profit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, interpretation, and sharing of all aspects of Kent County’s history.  Its headquarters is at The Bordley History Center, in the heart of downtown Chestertown at the corners of High and Cross Streets.  Its museum and gift shop are open every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but its window exhibits on High Street are always open.  Its research library is open by appointment only.  Please contact director@kentcountyhistory.org.  

Here’s a whirlwind tour of some of Saturday’s events in Chestertown. 

One bittersweet moment was at Create gallery, planned for closure at the end of June. But on Saturday, discounted sales were brisk, and many stopped by for wine and cake to express their gratitude for the gallery and the members of the cooperative artists’ venture who kept it going.

 As one of it’s founders Bob Ortiz said, “You have to celebrate a closing as well as an opening” to honor the accomplishment of any endeavor.  For five years the gallery showcased local and international artists. 

“We will continue exhibiting some members of the group at Hegland Glass and Bob Ortiz will offer space to others, so we’ll still be around,” says Patti Hegland, another founding member of the gallery.

With artists and easels on every corner participating in the RiverArts Plein-Air “Paint the Town Plus” celebration and a RiverArts tent of art for sale in Fountain Park, the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for Kent County Food Pantry, and a busy Saturday Market—the day was just beginning.

The Town was truly open for business and celebration again, complete with a ribbon cutting for the Town’s new mobile stage and special recognition of A & E District Coordinator Kay MacIntosh followed by a block party fronting the Best Kept Soul band with their Motown and Soul.

Not to forget that al fresco dining is back for Saturdays, and judging from the crowd in front of the Kitchen at the Imperial Restaurant, the summer looks promising for people yearning to get back into life after the pandemic. 

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Artist Fredy Granillo discusses the outdoor mural he is currently painting inside of Robert Ortiz Studios at 207 S. Cross Street in Chestertown, MD.  The public is invited to see the painting process during next few weeks.  When completed the mural will be 10 ft tall by 9 ft wide and be mounted outdoors at Bob’s Studio.

Thanks to ShoreRivers, the new house on College Avenue in Chestertown, built by Kent Attainable Housing (KAH), is now surrounded by a yard full of greenery native to Maryland.  Shore Rivers, a regional non-profit organization, has partnered with KAH as part of its mission to promote protection and restoration of Eastern Shore waterways.

Native plants tend to be stronger, are resistant to bad weather, and require less watering. The new home’s yard minimizes the need for mowing, which decreases air and noise pollution.

We’ve put in an attractive, varied, and sustainable landscape with low maintenance plants, a really transformative project,” said Darran Tilghman, ShoreRivers Director of Community Engagement. “It was an honor to work with the family to choose native plants that will improve water quality in our Chester River. Native plant species do an incredible job of soaking up and cleaning stormwater before it carries pollution to our storm drains and waterways. This beautiful River-Friendly Yard will benefit pollinators, songbirds, and people for years to come.”

On Earth Day six experienced gardeners from the Chestertown Garden club dug in, under the leadership of Connie Schroth, Chair of the KAH Landscape Committee. “Garden Club members love to get involved where we can help!” according to Schroth. Inside a natural fence screening created by evergreens at the rear of the property, there are colorful flowering perennials and shrubs and several native berries, including blueberries. The family chose reds and purples as the main color palette.

ShoreRivers funded the planting project through a grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation that supports our River-Friendly Yards program. Unity Landscape, Inc., who managed the implementation of the landscaping project, discounted their plant materials and labor. Unity, under the leadership of Michael Jensen, strives to be environmentally friendly and puts a priority on bioretention, according to Dan Edwards, Landscape Foreman. A second generous donor of native shrubs was Wye Gardens.

ShoreRivers’ staff has already walked the newest Kent Attainable Housing property to design another river-friendly yard for the second home in Worton.

Kent Attainable Housing (KAH), creates homeownership opportunities for local families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing. KAH has embarked on a multi-year program to build affordable homes and now is planning its second home, being built on property purchased in Worton. The high demand, accompanied by increasing numbers of low-income families, has resulted in housing insecurity for many in Kent County. Kent Attainable Housing believes that when homes are built for families in need, foundations are laid for healthier, happier, and more productive families and a stronger community.

The further success of KAH depends on the resources provided by the community. For information about Kent Attainable Housing, go to https://kentattainablehousing.org  or email kentattainablehousing@gmail.com.