The Chestertown Lions Club has sponsored a shotgun raffle for the last 7 years with proceeds funding numerous Kent County events and projects.

Raffle sales began in early September and ran through December. Ticket sale locations this year in addition to the Blue Bird were JBK Hardware, Farmer’s Market in Chestertown, Molly’s Place, and The Mill in Kingstown. The drawing for raffle winners took place at the Blue Bird Tavern on January 8^th, 2020 at 6:00 pm. There were two raffle winners- 1^st place a new $1,500 Browning A-5 shotgun or cash and 2^nd place $300 in merchandise from Molly’s Place.

L-R: Lion Fred Sherriff, Shotgun Raffle Committee Chair and Chelsy Smith, Blue Bird Manager.

An Appreciation Plaque for their support of the Club’s raffle sales was presented by the Lions Clubs Lion Fred Sherriff, Shotgun Raffle Committee Chair, to Chelsy Smith, Blue Bird Tavern Manager at the Shotgun Raffle drawing. The award was presented for the substantial support the Blue Bird Tavern provides each year. The Club sold approximately 5,000 tickets this year with a large percentage of tickets sold at the Blue Bird.

If you would like to know more about the Chestertown Lions Club and the projects we support, call Membership Committee Chair Lion Larry Lyons at 410-708-3599.

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MDP Chair Yvette Lewis and Prince George’s County Democratic activist David Sloan.

On Wednesday, January 22, the Kent County Democratic Central Committee will host a meet-and-greet fundraiser with newly elected (and returning) Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis. Beginning at 5:00 pm at Barbara’s on the Bay, Betterton, the event will feature hors d’ oeuvres and a cash bar. Individual tickets may be purchased or reserved at www.KentDems.org.

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The public is invited to the January 16 meeting of the Democratic Club of Kent County, where Dr. Karen Couch, KCPS Superintendent, will speak on the topic of “Maryland Educational Reform Recommendations,” resulting from the work of the “Kirwan Commission.”  Dr. Couch served as a member of the the Commission; formally known as the “Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education,” the body recently completed its work, and the recommendations (and their costs) will be considered by the Maryland General Assembly during the current session.

Dr. Karen Couch

The Commission studied educational policy for two years, including looking at what’s worked in other states and countries. Highlights of their recommendations include:

• Expanding prekindergarten to all 4-year-olds, as well as 3-year-olds from poor families;
• Increasing the standards to become a teacher, and raising teacher salaries;
• Revamping high schools to offer students training for well-paying jobs right after graduation;
• Establishing more “community schools” with additional services for students and their families;
• Providing more support to special education students and schools with concentrations of poor families; and
• Creating an accountability program to make sure money for education goes where it’s supposed to.

The Commission report envisions phasing in these new and expanded programs over 10 years. By that time, the state and the local school systems would reportedly need to add a total of about $4 billion per year more than they would have if spending stayed on its current course. The state’s share of the increase would be $2.8 billion when fully phased in, while local governments would collectively be paying $1.2 billion more. It is not clear what Kent County’s additional costs would be, nor how they would be funded.

Join us on Thursday, January 16 at Sumner Hall, 206 S. Queen St., Chestertown, for this informative meeting.  Doors open at 5:30 for light refreshments (please note, dinner will not be available for this meeting).  Dr. Couch will begin her presentation at approximately 6:30 pm.  See you there!

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The AARP Tax-Aide Program, which prepared federal and State income tax returns at no charge for more than 450 Chestertown-area residents in 2019, announced today that it is moving one of its locations for the upcoming tax year.

Instead of working in the Kent County Public Library on Thursdays, Tax-Aide volunteers will prepare taxpayers’ returns at the Kent County Community Center, 11041 Worton Road in Worton.

This free service will be offered every Thursday between 9 am and 3 pm, beginning on February 6, through April 9.

There will be no change to free tax preparation at the Amy Lynn Ferris Senior Center, 200 Schauber Road, Chestertown, on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. Service there will begin on February 1 and run through April 11.

To reserve a date and time to have your taxes prepared at either the Community Center or the Senior Center, call the Senior Center on (410) 778-2564 on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, beginning on January 15, 2020.

Tax-Aide offers free in-person tax preparation and assistance to low- and moderate-income individuals nationwide. AARP’s IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers and their families find all of the tax credits and deductions they’ve earned and file their returns electronically.

In 2019 taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.4 billion in income tax refunds and more than $200 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. Taxpayers do not need to be members of AARP or retirees to use Tax-Aide.

Questions can be directed to John Vail on (410) 778-1470 or at vailjohn48@gmail.com.

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The Kent County Commission on Aging and Upper Shore Aging, Inc., are encouraging those interested to participate in the 43rd annual United Seniors of Maryland Forum in Annapolis on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

United Seniors of Maryland (USM) is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition, representing civic organizations, associations, labor unions, and businesses extending to over three million Maryland seniors. USM advocates in support of vulnerable seniors with physical and/or cognitive impairments related to age. USM helps prioritize significant seniors’ issues and advocates for legislation related to seniors.

The Maryland Department of Planning estimated that 34.53% of Maryland’s population is over 50. Those over 60 exceed the number of children enrolled in Maryland public schools.  We are witnessing a demographic revolution.

The event will take place in the Miller Senate Office Building. Registration includes transportation from Chestertown, a continental breakfast, and lunch. Program activities begin at 9am and end by 2pm.

The event presents the opportunity to meet with State Senators and Delegates to learn, discuss priorities, and convey the need for services at the local level. Preceding regional caucuses, prominent state officials will address the attendees.

United Seniors of Maryland is concerned over the burgeoning deficit in State funding for senior services. “Over the past five years, there have been many cuts. The State should be paying more attention to this growing sector of our population. Instead, we have to fight just to restore prior levels of service,” according to Elizabeth Weiglin, the group’s President.  “The State needs to protect those with fixed incomes, said Weiglin. “Legislators need to realize that budgets reflect our values in society,” she added.

The Forum is an opportunity to focus on the need for protection for those among us who have lived the longest and often are at highest risk. Of seniors 85+, over 80% have more than one chronic condition, which accounts for nearly 95% of health care expenditures.  These seniors and caregivers need enhanced in-home supportive services, case management, transportation, home-delivered meals, and congregate meals programs. Essential basic programs must be strengthened to fill the gap in especially in meeting the needs of lower income frail seniors, who are often low-income minorities, ones with limited English proficiency, and those residing in rural areas.

For information or registration, call Upper Shore Aging at 410-778-6000 or email usainc@uppershoreaging.org.

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On January 2 at 7pm, the topic will be Our Trans and Gender-Expansive Loved Ones. We have many trans and gender-expansive members, family and friends in our Mid-Shore PFLAG family. Unfortunately, they don’t all show up on the same month! Our hope is that you all are able to attend, meet one another, and share resources, experiences and support.

These meetings are open to all, so please invite your friends and family. We will begin and end with a social time to allow everyone to get to know each other.

As always, we meet at UUFE, 7401 Ocean Gateway, Easton, MD 21601.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Easton is a Welcoming congregation and a supportive partner of PFLAG. They provide us with a safe and welcoming place to meet.

PFLAG Mid-Shore Chapter (also known as Chestertown Chapter)

Parents, families, friends, and allies united with LGBTQ Communities

Serving the Mid Eastern Shore of Maryland
with Education, Support and Advocacy Services

Monthly meetings with various locations and dates so check out:

https://www.facebook.com/pflagmues and https://www.pflagchestertown.com

email: pflagchestertown@gmail.com or

Call: 301 938 0868 Please feel free to leave a message

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