Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher accused of murdering five of his family members for insurance money in the 1970s. With the help of a savvy lawyer, he escaped justice for years until a relative shot him dead at the funeral of his last victim. Despite hundreds of witnesses, Maxwell’s murderer was acquitted–thanks to the same attorney who had previously defended the Reverend.

Author Harper Lee was fascinated by this true-crime tale unfolding in her native Alabama and spent years working on writing her own version of the case, but that book was never finished.

Now debut author Casey Cep has brought the story to life, from the shocking murders to the courtroom drama to the racial politics of the Deep South. Her newly published book, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, also offers a deeply moving portrait of one of the country’s most beloved writers and her struggle with fame, success, and the mystery of artistic creativity.

On Saturday, June 1, Casey Cep will speak about the “beautiful, sobering, and sometimes chilling” story at Kent County Public Library’s Chestertown Branch.

The talk will be followed by a catered reception and book signing. A limited number of copies of Ms. Cep’s book, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, will be available for purchase.

This event is made possible due to the generosity of the Friends of Kent County Public Library. For more information about the Friends, visit friendsofthekcpl.org

Space is limited. To reserve your virtual ticket for this FREE event, visit kentcountylibrary.org or call 410.778.3636.

Edna Lockwood, the last historic sailing bugeye in the world, will be visiting Chestertown for the Tea Party Festival, May 24- 27.on as part of a National Park Service-funded heritage tour around the Chesapeake Bay.

Owned and operated by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Edna Lockwood recently underwent a two-year restoration of her nine-log hull. She was re-launched into the Miles River in St. Michaels, Md., in fall of 2018. This summer and fall, Edna is traveling to ports around the Bay, bringing free experiential programming and interpretation of traditional Chesapeake Bay boatbuilding techniques and the oystering industry past and present.

During her stay at Chestertown CBMM staff members will offer free deck tours form 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, giving guests a chance to explore the bugeye while she’s docked next to the Schooner SULTANA.

Built in 1889 by John B. Harrison on Tilghman Island for Daniel W. Haddaway, Edna Lockwood dredged for oysters on the Chesapeake Bay through winter, and carried freight—such as lumber, grain, and produce—after the dredging season ended. She worked faithfully for many owners, mainly out of Cambridge, Md., until she stopped “drudging” in 1967. In 1973, Edna was donated to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum by John R. Kimberly. Recognized as the last working oyster boat of her kind, Edna Lockwood was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994.

To learn more about Edna Lockwood and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, including a full list of stops on Edna’s heritage tour, visit
cbmmshipyard.org/ednalockwood. For more info on the Chestertown Tea Party, visit http://www.chestertownteaparty.org/

On Sunday, April 28^th, Mid-Shore Pro Bono welcomed more than 150 guests to its “Global Embrace” event hosted by Ms. Leslie Raimond at the historic Toad Hall on Still Pond Creek in Worton, Md. The event raised $9,000 in support of the organization’s Vulnerable Populations Assistance Project that provides critical legal services to the Eastern Shore’s immigrant community.

“It is a pleasure to be part of a community that is willing to enthusiastically participate in efforts to show compassion for those in need and support social justice,” said event host, Leslie Raimond. “This event brought funds and awareness to the issues faced by the Eastern Shore’s immigrant population. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to such a successful event.”

The event theme, a “Global Embrace,” reflected the warm welcome and compassionate care Mid-Shore Pro Bono gives to all of its clients, especially those served by the Vulnerable Populations Assistance Project. The event featured international sparkling wines from France, Italy, Spain and California paired with oysters and hors d’oeuvres. International music by several local performers created a festive atmosphere as attendees sampled the food and wine and learned more about the clients Mid-Shore Pro Bono serves.

“Mid-Shore Pro Bono serves clients from all parts of the Eastern Shore, and this event allowed us to connect with the Kent County community,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director, Sandy Brown. “We are raising awareness across the Shore about the civil legal needs and challenges in our region by sharing our clients’ stories and the services we provide to help them. Thank you to the Kent County Community who came together to make this event an amazing success.”

Nearly 100% of the ticket sales will go directly to the program thanks to the support of many donors and volunteers. The appetizers were graciously donated by Magnolia Caterers, oysters were provided by Orchard Point Oysters, and music was offered by Pam and Bob Ortiz with Fred Schumann, Fredy Granillo and Tia Raimond Jones with Chad Jones.  Guest Bartenders were local bar stars, Paul Sonberg with Judge Gale Rasin, Neyah White, Jeff Maguire and Jesse Hammock. The beautiful floral displays were courtesy of Marilee Schumann. Other volunteers important to the success of the event were Kim Kohl, who assisted with promotion, parking attendants, Ian Mulligan and Brendan Cooper, Alosa Communications, that created the event logo, and Price Rentals and Events. The event was spearheaded by Ivette Salarich, Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Vulnerable Populations Assistance Project Manager, Arlene Lee, Mid-Shore Pro Bono Board Member and Volunteer, and Clarice Gardner, Mid-Shore Pro Bono Intern.

About Mid-Shore Pro Bono
Mid-Shore Pro Bono connects low-income individuals and families who need civil legal services with volunteer attorneys and community resources. The organization serves citizens of the Eastern Shore. For more information or to make a donation, call Mid-Shore Pro Bono at 410-690-8128 or visit www.midshoreprobono.org.

The High and Wides

Embrace the spring season and jumpstart your weekend by joining the Sultana Education Foundation this Friday, May 3rd, for their Spring Fling Event from 5-8pm. The event will feature the beloved hometown string quartet, “The High and Wides”, and a craft beer truck in the parking lot of the Holt Education Center Building. Praised by both the Washington Post and Baltimore Magazine, the High and Wides are “apostles of hillbilly boogie”, and “a breath of fresh country air”. The band flawlessly blends traditional mountain music with bluegrass, country, boogie, rockabilly and western swing through vocals, guitar, bass, fiddle, banjo and mandolin.

Admission is free and completely open to the public. Beer is $4 per and available to attendees 21 and older. So, bring a friend, or several, kick back, and enjoy a cold one with Sultana as we celebrate another amazing opening season of educational programming and warm weather!

On Friday, May 17, 2019, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation is hosting a leadership program featuring John (Johnny) O’Brien, former Princeton footballer, leadership coach and author.

Johnny O’Brien had a remarkably tragic beginning and as a small child he was sent to the Milton Hershey School – the legendary school for orphans, founded by Milton Hershey of Hershey candy.  Despite all odds, Johnny thrived at the Hershey School and went on to attend Princeton University, where he currently serves as Trustee Emeritus. Following Princeton, Johnny founded Renaissance Leadership – one of the first firms devoted to leadership development, with clients such as American Express, Pfizer, AT&T and Smith Barney.  After years of coaching Fortune 500 Executives on enlightened leadership and high-performance teamwork, Johnny was called to serve his former alma mater.  In 2002, Johnny was named Milton Hershey School’s eighth president and was tasked with restoring the school’s mission and character-building culture.  He has captured his journey in an extraordinary memoir titled, Semisweet: An Orphan’s Journey Through the School the Hersheys Built and on May 17th he will share his lessons and insight with us!

The program will begin at 9:00 AM and will be held in the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679.  The program will end around noon and lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required. The $20 registration fee is a donation (tax-deductible) to the MSCF Founders Fund which provides discretionary grants targeting the needs of the Mid-Shore.

Register online at https://www.mscf.org/events.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Kent & Queen Anne’s Counties invites the public to attend a Behavioral Health Town Meeting and Resource Fair on Saturday, May 11 from 9 am to noon, at the United Methodist Church, 608 Church Hill Rd., Centreville.  The event will provide information about community resources for addressing mental illness and substance abuse disorder, with exhibitors from local agencies and service providers in attendance.

The keynote speaker will be Janel Cubbage, Director of Suicide Prevention for the State of Maryland, who will speak on “Shattering the Silence:  Let’s Talk about Suicide and Stigma.”  She will describe how the state is supporting efforts for suicide prevention, including recognizing warning signs and what you can do if a loved one or someone you know is thinking about suicide.Suicide, a growing concern nationally for all age groups, is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 in the state of Maryland.  The keynote address will be followed by a panel of local experts speaking on the topic of suicide and on related mental and behavioral health problems, and on resources for dealing with them.

For more information and to register, please contact NAMI K&QA; go to https://goo.gl/z1bL45, or call 410-884-8691.

Have you observed hope amidst the bad news being broadcast in your community? Haven Ministries believes there are acts of hope around us every day if we just pay attention. The organization is running a social media campaign starting the week of April 29 until June 1, 2019 that will challenge people to take photos of hope in their communities – groups of people helping others, individuals with objects of hope (like spring flowers or baby animals), or even a sunrise or sunset. The only rule is that the sign “HOPE is found here” should appear in the photo. Haven Ministries is asking people to then post the photo on social media – Facebook and Instagram:  #foundhope and tag @havenministriesshelter.  Participants are asked to then give their signs to others to find hope in their communities, post/ share it, and pass it on to someone else to do the same.

#foundhope in signs of spring – warm weather is here!

Haven Ministries is distributing signs through its Thrift Store and the Warehouse.  People can also download the sign from Haven Ministries website haven-ministries.org beginning April 29.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries.  Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter located at the Kent Island United Methodist Church in Stevensville, a Resource Center at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, the Haven Ministries Food Pantries at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville and Centreville United Methodist Church in Centreville, Our Daily Thread Thrift Store in Stevensville and Hope Warehouse in Queenstown.

For further information about Haven Ministries, visit haven-ministries.org or call 410-739-4363.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono will commemorate Law Day on May 1^st with a series of free Elder Law clinics to help seniors across the Eastern Shore prepare an Advance Medical Directive. These clinics complement a larger initiative by the Elder Law section of the Maryland Bar Association to highlight legal matters affecting our senior citizens as part of Law Day.

Established in 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower, Law Day, held annually on May 1st, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day, and every president since then has issued a Law Day proclamation on May 1st to celebrate the nation’s commitment to the rule of law.

Across the country on May 1^st, local bar associations, law firms and legal service organizations choose to commemorate Law Day in a variety of ways. The Elder Law section of the Maryland Bar Association and the Elder Law Project at Mid-Shore Pro Bono are raising awareness of the importance of Advance Medical Directives and providing seniors with free services to prepare one of their own.

Megan Ryan and Kim Corley lead Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Elder Law project that is hosting free clinics on May 1st to commemorate Law Day.

“At Mid-Shore Pro Bono, we use Law Day as a way to highlight the civil legal issues that are most critical in our community,” said Megan Ryan, Elder Law Project Manager.  “Given the Eastern Shore’s large senior population, we all too often witness the heartache and frustration that comes when a senior is no longer able to make decisions regarding their care, and they do not have an Advance Medical Directive in place to provide their loved ones with much-needed guidance regarding their final wishes.”

Advance Medical Directives are how an individual names their health care agents, states their desires concerning the withholding of life sustaining procedures if they are unable to give instructions for care in the event of an end of life condition, and state their wishes concerning organ donation or the donation of their body. Advance Medical Directives are recommended for all adults but are especially critical for seniors.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono will be hosting free clinics for seniors on May 1^st where an attorney will assist them with the preparation of their Advance Medical Directive.

The clinics will be held at the following locations and times:

Chestertown – Amy Lynn Ferris Senior Center, 200 Schauber Road, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Centreville – Kramer Center, 104 Powell Street, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Easton – Mid-Shore Pro Bono, 8 S. West Street, 10:00am – 2:00pm

The clinics on May 1^st are in addition to the regular monthly Elder Law clinics hosted by Mid-Shore Pro-Bono that serve seniors across the Eastern Shore. For dates, times and locations, please visit, www.midshoreprobono.org.

About Mid-Shore Pro Bono
Mid-Shore Pro Bono Mid-Shore Pro Bono connects low-income individuals and families who need civil legal services with volunteer attorneys and community resources. The organization serves citizens across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. For more information or to make a donation, call Mid-Shore Pro Bono at 410-690-8128 or visit www.midshoreprobono.org.