An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland
With the United States House of Representatives planning to vote on sending an article of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday, we thought it would be a good time to ask our Chestertown Spy readers what they thought.
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If joy is a whim in the air, as the poet Robinson Jeffers wrote, The Chestertown Spy wishes abiding whims upon our readers, our friends, and our Community this holiday season.
Despite a tempestuous year fraught with almost insurmountable challenges, our hope is that we recognize that the greatest gifts are given each day in our mutual effort to make our community shine even brighter.
With thanks to you all, we offer this collage of greetings.
At the Ortiz 2019 “Songs of the Sea” Concert at the Garfield Theatre, the Pam Ortiz Band performed Pam’s song, “The Fisher” accompanied with the paintings of our friend Marc Castelli.
In January, Marc usually gives a lecture at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum featuring his photographs and paintings but alas, that’s not happening this coming January. Instead, they have created this holiday “card” of photos by Marc and Pam’s song, “The Strongest Faith” and have asked the Spy to share this with the community with their wishes for a safe holiday season and winter.
The recording was made in 1992 with our old band, from our Baltimore/D.C. days, Terra Nova.
Covid be damned—respectfully— when creative friends get together to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of its own community treasures.
On Sunday afternoon, Leslie Prince Raimond, was feted with a drive-by caravan of well-wishers as she raised a glass of champagne in thanks for the honor.
The birthday caravan, orchestrated by artist Marilee Schumann and Kent Cultural Alliance CEO John Schratwieser, gathered on Philosophers Terrace and made their way down Horsey Lane where Raimond stood with her raised glass of champagne.
For more than four decades, Raimond and her husband Vince pioneered and promoted the Chestertown arts and culture scene. Look no farther than her 30-year Directorship of Kent County Arts Council and its mission to support local artists, a legacy of theatre-arts, the creation and stewardship of Sumner Hall to know that Raimond has been a shining light for our community.
Here are a few moments form the celebration. Check the Spy later this week for our interview with Leslie. It’s a beautiful journey.
This video is approximately two minutes in length.
A delegation of active and retired Navy chief petty officers will honor one of the nation’s oldest World War II chiefs at his 100th birthday celebration in Centreville this Saturday. Chief Petty Officer Jewel “Wayne” Clark, who served his country in war and peacetime, will be feted at 3 p.m. at his home in Centreville. The uniformed delegation will sing Happy Birthday, and present Chief Clark with a letter of appreciation.
Retired Senior Chief Guy Beckley, of Millington, Maryland, one of the organizers of Saturday’s event, says it is an honor to participate in the celebration.
Chief Petty Officer Jewel “Wayne” Clark
“Chief Petty Officer Clark might be the oldest living chief who served during World War II and it’s a high honor for us Chiefs—and for me personally—to not only honor his service, but also to mark his 100th birthday,” said Beckley. “There aren’t many of these guys around, so to have a chief with such a storied career right here on the Eastern Shore is truly something special.”
Clark’s service to his country began in the 1930s as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He joined the Navy in 1939 and served aboard the USS Herbert (DD-160) during World War II. The destroyer escorted merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean, launching depth charge attacks on marauding U-boats. After modifications, the Herbert saw duty in the Pacific, protecting and landing troops in the final days of the war. The ship earned six battle stars for its efforts.
During his distinguished career, Clark received numerous decorations, including the Bronze Star and was promoted to chief petty officer in 1950.
In 1960, Chief Clark was awarded the Commendation Medal by the Navy Secretary for “outstanding performance of duty” for his role in a daring humanitarian rescue mission of 285 missionaries, doctors and nurses from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Chief Clark later became a naval attache at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy.
Following more than two decades of distinguished service in a Navy uniform, Clark continued his career at the National Security Agency (NSA) for another 20 years.
Chief petty officers, who are senior noncommissioned officers, are a unique fraternity in the Navy. The grade was established in 1893 to act as a bridge between officers and enlisted personnel. Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey, a World War II hero, lauded their contributions, saying that no one taught him more about ships than a chief petty officer. “People think ships float on water, but they’re wrong…ships are carried on the backs of those Chief Petty Officers,” Halsey said.
The Naval Academy will be represented by Command Master Chief Karim Cole and Senior Chief Cassandra Towsen. They’ll be accompanied by a delegation of eight selectees, First Class Petty Officers who have been selected to advance to Chief Petty Officers, and their CPO sponsors.
“We’re very much looking forward to meeting Chief Petty Officer Clark’s, celebrating his birthday and honoring his distinguished service in the United States Navy,” said Senior Chief Towsen
[Observers are asked to wear protective masks and to stay socially distant.]
Contact: Senior Chief (Ret.), Guy Beckley at 410-708-9585 for additional information
One November day 47 years ago a Chestertown middle-schooler sealed a note in a Coke bottle and cast it into the Chester River hoping for contact with someone in the future. That day came last weekend when Kyle Gerson, his brother Matthias and father Eric were out kayaking along Still Pond Creek.
Gerson has a keen eye for spotting glass bottles. He collects them, along with coins and other found objects during his river outings and while scouring the landscape with a metal detector.
Over the past few years he’s retrieved a depression era soda bottle manufactured in Chestertown, a turn of the century condiment jar, a pre-civil war Maryland militia belt buckle.
But this weekend’s find was a little different. When the family returned home from their afternoon expedition, Kyle carefully slipped the note from its vessel.
Nov 6, 1973
Dear Finder,
This drift bottle is part of an experiment being done at Chestertown Middle School. Would you please send us a postcard to:
Chestertown Middle School
Campas (sic) Avenue
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
giving the location where the bottle was found.
Thank You,
7-2-B
This video is approximately five minutes long. The photograph is of Kyle and his brother Matthias.
In anticipation of daylight saving time ending on Nov. 1, State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci is urging Marylanders to “Change Your Clock – Change Your Battery” in both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in their homes.
Recognizing that working smoke alarms and CO detectors double a family’s chance of surviving a home fire and unsafe carbon monoxide levels, the state fire marshal says the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time is an excellent opportunity for families to change the batteries.
“Please take the little time required to help ensure the safety of your family and friends by maintaining these early warning life-saving devices.”
A Maryland law became effective on July 1, 2013, involving “battery only” smoke alarms used in residential properties. When these “battery only” smoke alarms have reached their 10-year life span, they need to be replaced with new long-life sealed lithium battery smoke alarms with silence/hush button features.
The silence/hush button feature temporarily disables the alarm so the occupant can ventilate the space from mild smoke conditions typically created during some cooking operations. The use of these alarms eliminates the need to replace the batteries during the alarm’s 10-year life.
The law also requires homeowners to ensure they have a smoke alarm installed on each floor and outside sleeping areas, per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations. It is recommended to place them in each bedroom as well.
If your property is protected with 120-volt electric smoke alarms, they should be replaced every 10 years with new 120-volt smoke alarms with battery back-up to ensure proper and timely operation in the event of a fire.
Along with working smoke alarms and CO detectors, home escape plans are another way Marylanders can avoid injury or death in their homes. By identifying at least two different escape routes, families can practice the plan together — before an emergency strikes.
Practicing the plan helps educate younger children about the danger of hazardous situations and the importance of recognizing that a smoke alarm or CO detector’s sound signals a potential hazard in the home.
“Changing the battery in your smoke alarms and CO detectors, along with developing and practicing a home escape plan, are two of the best ways to protect your loved ones and yourself from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning,” Geraci said.
Also, please remember to keep doors closed while sleeping in case a fire occurs inside your home. A closed door will allow more time to escape or be rescued by blocking smoke, toxic gases, heat, and flames from entering your room. If making your escape from a burning building, close doors as you leave to stop additional oxygen from entering and enhancing the fire’s growth.
