The 23rd annual Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race will be held on the Choptank River in Cambridge at 9:00am Saturday, September 21.

This event, which is hosted by the Dorchester Skipjack Committee, will include a parade of boats and the race.  It features skipjacks that were originally built in 1886 to the Nathan of Dorchester which was built in 1994.  The race is a skipjack tradition on the Chesapeake Bay to reflect the start to oyster season.  Generally, oysters are harvested starting November 1.  Skipjacks would “race for pride” among themselves prior to the official start of the season.

The Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race is one of only two remaining races.  The purpose is to celebrate 130 years of tradition of skipjacks. At one time, over one thousand of these magnificent work boats graced the Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries harvesting oysters.  Of the remaining twenty-five skipjacks, only a small number actively harvest due to the historically declined oyster population.

Funds raised annually to host this event are given to the skipjacks, as well as trophies for the winning boat and captain.  Over the past 15 years, more than $125,000 has been raised and distributed through the race to the skipjack fleet.  The funds help preserve these aging wooden vessels.

This year, in addition to 8-12 skipjacks, several buyboats will be in attendance.  This includes the Thomas J from Chestertown. Buyboats were modified skipjacks that bought from the skipjacks and transported harvested oysters to oyster processing houses all along the Chesapeake Bay.  Each has its own unique history and they are currently maintained privately as cruising boats.

Also attending this year is the Edna Lockwood.  She is a Chesapeake Bay bugeye which was built in 1889 and recently fully restored by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  She is a 54 foot, nine log bugeye and will be available for dockside tours with her crew.

Spectators are able to view the majority of the race from Long Wharf Park, per Race Chairperson, Lou Hyman.  “It is a great event that shares the history of skipjacks and maritime community of the Eastern Shore.  Before and after the race, the skipjacks and buyboats can be viewed at Long Wharf and the boat basin on Cambridge Creek.”  The race starts at 10:00am after the parade and generally takes 1 ½ – 2 hours to complete.  The event is FREE.

During the race, several exhibitors will be set up at Long Wharf Park displaying items related to Dorchester’s maritime heritage.  Food will also be available at the event.  This is a great opportunity for photographers to get up close to the historic boats under full sail.  Please join us for this unique event on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

The #1 reason to volunteer?

• IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

No, we aren’t making this up. Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to decrease, your immune system is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases.

Helping someone else interrupts tension-producing patterns and replaces it with a sense of purpose, positive emotions and high confidence levels.

• Here’s your opportunity to “get healthy” without a treadmill!

Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit organization with the mission of repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives.

The Rebuilding Together affiliate here in Kent County needs volunteers for its [Re]Launch event on September 21st (starting at 10:00 am) to help perform Home Safety Checkups for our neighbors here in Kent County.

During the checkups, volunteers will assess homes for 25 Health and Safety Priorities such as:

– Home is free of live infestation of pests
– The numerals in the property’s street address are clearly visible from the street
– Working smoke detector is on each floor and in or near bedrooms
– A working CO detector protects home with gas appliances or attached garage

No building or construction skills are needed for this Home Safety Checkup event. Just a desire to perform a vital service for your neighbors. Get to know your community and get a cool Rebuilding Together t-shirt, too!

Training will take place on September 17th or September 19th at the Presbyterian Church (905 Gateway Drive, Chestertown) starting at 6:30 pm.

Sign up to volunteer with this vital community organization. Call or text your name and email address to 410-708-9936 or visit our website (www.rebuildingtogetherkcmd.org) to sign up.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve customer service, the Maryland State Police is proud to announce that the application process for a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit will be transitioned from a hand-written paper application to the online Licensing Portal.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, those applying for a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit will complete and submit the application online. Individuals will be able to apply online using a computer, tablet or mobile phone, regardless of the operating system.  All current web browsers are also supported by the Licensing Portal.

Paper Wear and Carry Permit applications postmarked or hand delivered on or before Sept. 30, 2019, will be accepted and will be processed as per current procedures.  Paper Wear and Carry applications submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2019 will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant with instructions to submit the Wear and Carry Permit application via the Licensing Portal.

Little has changed in the questions and documentation requirements to complete the application process.  Applicants will continue to provide the same information currently required on the paper Wear and Carry Permit application. All required documentation, including the passport-sized photograph and Livescan fingerprint receipt, can easily be uploaded by the applicant prior to submission of the application.

Applicants will be required to have a valid email account.  This will give the applicant the ability to see the most current status of their application and allow the Maryland State Police Licensing Division to send notifications, follow-up and reminder correspondence.  Applicants who already have a Licensing Portal account will not be required to create a new account.  These applicants will use their current 77R Portal account login credentials to continue logging into the Licensing Portal.

In addition to designing, documenting and testing the online application process, Maryland State Police Licensing Division personnel have been busy conducting training in the new process. Seminars for firearm dealers and instructors have been conducted throughout the state.

The goal of the automated Wear and Carry Permit application process is to increase the ease and efficiency of applying for a Wear and Carry Permit in Maryland.  The online system will offer a new level of transparency and keep the applicant informed at every step of the process.  The Maryland State Police Licensing Division staff is continuing their efforts to promptly investigate and approve those eligible for a wear and carry permit, while ensuring those prohibited by law are not approved.

Further information is available by clicking on “Licensing Division,” on the Maryland State Police website at mdsp.maryland.gov.