Kent Attainable Housing hosted a lunch and learn with District 46 Delegate Brooke Lierman at The Retriever Bar in Chestertown to discuss state housing policy and implications for local rural communities like Kent County.

Brooke was a lead sponsor for legislation that is designed to help confront the real estate appraisal gap in redlined communities; specifically, “the bill would provide funds to help developers cover the gap between renovation costs and appraisal values in certain distressed areas, a persistent thorn in neighborhood redevelopment efforts,” according to Baltimore Business Journal.

Kent Attainable Housing Executive Darius Johnson says that the ability to access funding to close the appraisal gap is critical to KAH’s mission.

“We’re currently providing those funds using private donations from the local community. Public funding (from this legislation) would enable us to stretch our dollar further and create a deeper impact for the families that we’re striving to help,” Johnson says.

Kent County has a strong wealth gap and public funding key to closing that gap and creating opportunities for families to build a better life.

“Rural communities tend to struggle to capitalize on these funding programs, so it was extremely beneficial to discuss Kent County’s unique challenges and opportunities with Delegate Lierman, who is a strong advocate for equitable housing.”

There is still data to be collected and studies to be conducted before the funding is deployed, but Johnson felt that the conversation was helpful for KAH’s positioning and understanding.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For more about Kent Attainable Housing please go here

Every year for the last five, Joe Gamble and a group of devoted volunteers, many from the Tidewater Rotary, sit around a conference table to plan the award-winning Talbot Goes Purple drug education campaign. It’s safe to say that everyone in that room was disappointed to be meeting.

That’s because the issue of drug overdose deaths in Talbot County, and the entire Mid-Shore, remain a horrifying reality for the community. In fact, as Sheriff Gamble noted in his interview with the Spy yesterday, the Eastern Shore experienced a 39% increase in overdoses in 2020.

While there is a small silver lining in that Talbot County had no increased deaths that year, that doesn’t take away the pain Gamble feels for the 13 cases that did take place that resulted in a young person’s death.

And that’s why Joe Gamble doesn’t hesitate to allocate a huge amount of his time in September talking at rallys, giving interviews, visiting schools, and implementing new creative ways to reach a new generation of students and their parents before it’s too late.

With a kick-off event scheduled for tonight at Idlewild Park in Easton, the sheriff and scores of volunteers begin this special month when the color purple is the most important one for the Eastern Shore.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Talbot Goes Purple please go here, for Kent Goes Purple please go here, and for Dorchester Goes Purple please click here.

An impromptu meeting of local basketball coaches, teen players, and two members of Chestertown Recreation Commission took place at Ajax basketball court to share ideas about upgrading the aging basketball area and what it means to the community.

Ajax basketball court is on Cross Street, adjacent to the old railroad station building and the Gilchrest Rail Trail.

The Town Council has tasked the Chestertown Recreation Commission to develop a proposal for renovating the pocket park. Currently, they are considering the restoration of the original two-hoop court layout. Over the years, the court has been reduced to a half-court.

Another concept slated to be offered to the Recreation Commission by Frank Rhodes is a three-hoop court, the center hoop ostensibly for practice.

Last May, Carla F. Johnson and a group of citizens submitted an alternative plan stating that an expansion of the court as proposed was not compatible with the neighborhood and that enhanced activity would elevate the noise level. Johnson and the concerned group, represented by attorney Charles MacLeod, said they would be okay with a half-court layout.

The Chestertown Town Council has requested that contending plans offered to the Recreational Commission find a satisfactory compromise and present it to the Council. Otherwise, the Council will make a determination from the plans submitted.

The recent meeting was attended by KCHS Head Coach Sobaye Scott, WC Head Coach Aaron Goodman, and long-time Kent County coaches Coach Melvin J. Freeman, Harold Sommerville, and Frank Rhodes. They met to discuss the importance of Ajax court to the community and to consider the possibility of the three-hoop court.  Their ideas will be submitted to the Recreational Commission on August 9.

The consensus for expanding Ajax court was positive. Each coach cited the need for a renovated or redesigned court to send a positive message to local community youth and invite downtown activities.

In a phone call interview, long-time Kent County coach Melvin Freeman said that a renovated court would be a significant step in engaging local youth and adults in healthy activities.

“This court has been around for a long time. My father played on it and I played on it. My mother used to tell stories about kids that would come in from out of town to compete against local teams,” he says. “That’s the kind of thing we like to see happen again,”

While many observe that there are other basketball courts available to youth, Freeman points out that the crosswalk to Gateway Park at Rt. 20 and Flatland Rd remains a dangerous pedestrian intersection, and that Ajax court would offer an additional, safer alternative with access via the Walking Trail.

Washington College basketball coach Aaron Goodman agrees that the park’s renovation would be an asset for the community. “I’m all for it. They’re doing this for the right reason,” he said.

Another long-time regional coach and member of the Recreation Commission Harold Sommerville, sees an Ajax upgrade as a convenient location for an active youth basketball court, especially for those living in walking distance. He says that courts like these offer healthy alternatives for kids. “I used to play on this court. If I could put a basketball court on every corner to help keep kids out of trouble, I would,” he said.

Washington College basketball coach Aaron Goodman agrees that the renovation of the park would be an asset for the community. “I’m all for it. They’re doing this for the right reason,” he said.

Another long-time regional coach and member of the Recreation Commission Harold Sommerville sees an Ajax upgrade as a convenient location for an active youth basketball court, especially for those living within walking distance. He says that courts like these offer healthy alternatives for kids. “I used to play on this court. If I could put a basketball court on every corner to help keep kids out of trouble, I would,” he said.

Recreation Commission member Frank Rhodes sees the Ajax restoration—both the two-hoop and three-hoop ideas—as a real start to bringing the basketball community together.

“We used the neighborhood’s group plan and folded it in with ours with the hope that we can arrive at a design satisfying all of us,” he said. “As far as the playground part of Ajax, we feel that since Wilmer Park will be offering a new play area, we can reduce that availability at Ajax. We hope to move these ideas along at the next Recreation Commission meeting.”

Much of the costs for any court restoration would be underwritten by private donations and fund-drives, according to the Recreational Commission.

Ajax Court’s three-hoop concept to be submitted to Recreation Commission for consideration.

Original Ajax court design considered by the Recreation Commission

Neighborhood design proposal.

Citing case law and weighing land use issues over 60 years, Monday’s Zoning Appeals Board determined that the nonconforming zoning status of the Frank M Jarman American Legion Post 36 property will remain legally nonconforming.

The determination will allow Minary’s Dream Alliance to continue the purchase of the property and continue their mission “to transform the lives of youth, families, and communities through education, resource development, and community engagement. 

A zoning appeal was entered by Thomas Voshell and Chesmar Community Association, citing that the American Legion property, zoned as “nonconforming use” in 1962, is no longer in compliance with that zoning regulation in an area primarily zoned as residential. 

Daniel Saunders, Attorney at MacCleod Law Group, represented Chesmar Community Association. Attorneys Stephen Meehan and Mitchell Mowell represented the American Legion. Saunders was not present at Monday’s proceedings.

Citing several examples of the difference between “intensifying” or “extending” a nonconforming zoning status, Zoning Appeals attorney Christopher F. Drummond described a legal framework for the Board to consider as they weighed the appeal to terminate the zoning status of the American Legion Post property.

Specifically, Drummond mentioned the 1948 Green vs. Garrett challenge to the nonconforming zoning status afforded the Baltimore Stadium. Originally used for amateur athletes, the status was challenged when professional paid baseball players started using the stadium, arguing that the original intent as a “recreation” area had been “extended,” nullifying its status. However, the Baltimore Zoning Appeals Board found that “recreation” was in the original described intent of the land use at the stadium and that players, paid or not, were still recreation for attendees. The Board shot down the appellant’s argument that the property was “extending” beyond its original land use parameters.

Similarly, the Board considered the use of the American Legion property, much of it based on the first-hand knowledge and testimony of Mr. John Diller, a member of the American Legion since 1964. Diller described the many functions of the Legion, from social events, hosting professional organizations, blood banks to outreach support of other community efforts.

The Board of Appeals, noting that no complaint against the American Legion has been noted during the last 60 years, found that Minary’s Dream Alliance has been acting within the same scope of community service. They also determined that even with a slowdown of activity at the Legion property during the pandemic, that did not warrant a determination of “abandonment,” as challenged by the Chesmar Community Association.

One MDA activity appeared to be controversial—the Club Fear proposal, an adolescent youth clubhouse geared to support youth ages 12-17 impacted by, affected by, or diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder and their families. 

The concern arose with what appeared to be contradictory information provided to the Board due to Mid-Shore Behavioral Health’s partnership with MDA and that the Club could be construed as a drug treatment center or expanded into one at a future date.

However, with clarification of original testimony and a Board discussion, it was determined that the property was not proposing to be a clinical site, but a place for mentoring and education, aligned with Mid Shore Behavioral Health’s mission to “provide substance use education, intervention, peer support, and resources for care.” The ‘resourced for care’ signify MDA capacity as a resource for referrals.

From left to right in this video: Zoning Appeals Attorney Christopher Drummond, Board members John Massey, Dr. Al Townshend (Chairman), and David Hill.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length.

With a decision on the appeal to challenge the nonconforming zoning status of the Frank M Jarman American Legion Post 36 slated for August 2, the Zoning Appeals Board continued the hearing Tuesday, July 27.

The almost four-hour session heard from the public supporting of the activities both at the American Legion property and Minary’s Dream Alliance, Incorporated, the pending buyer of the property.

Daniel Saunders, attorney at MacLeod Law Group, represented Thomas Voshell and Chesmer Community Association. Attorneys Stephen Meehan and Mitchell Mowell represented the American Legion.

The crux of Monday’s hearing was to decide whether or not the “use” of the American Legion property and Minary’s Dream Alliance fell within the nonconforming land use allowances.

In November, 2020, Planning and Zoning Director Bill Mackey wrote that the Land Use Ordinance had already determined the nonconforming property and that the property had not been abandoned or changed, since it was built in 1960, it was a validated nonconforming use.

Thomas Voshell cited the reasons for his application to have the Zoning Appeals Board reconsider the current designation. The original appeal request cited:

“Applicants seek a determination by the Board of Appeals, pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1.7, of the County Zoning Ordinance, that the subject property is NOT a nonconforming property and that any uses on the property must conform to those permitted uses in the Critical Area Residential zone… Applicants allege that, to the extent the American Legion was ever a nonconforming property, its nonconforming status has been abandoned.”

Mr. Voshell appended the original complaint on Monday night with additional complaints ranging from: misuse of Minary Dream’s Alliance, Incorporated’s use of its non-profit status; to the point of being a for-profit “developer”; to implying that the organization’s non-clinical Adolescent Clubhouse F.E.A.R. program masked an opioid treatment program.

Attorney Daniel Saunders presented the challenge to the current zoning status regarding zoning laws and allowances, saying that nonconforming zoned areas are pressed to be “sunsetted” into zoning designations relative to the zoning surrounding the, adding that this determination should be made by case law precedents.

Again, this is a brief clip of the proceedings, and the entire session will be made available on the county website.

The Zoning Appeals Board will announce their determination at the August 2 meeting.

This video is approximately four minutes in length

Members and supporters of the grassroots “Save Our Hospital” (SOH) committee gathered on the Chester River Packet boat Wednesday for a sunset cruise to celebrate Chestertown’s Maryland Shore Medical Center designation as Maryland’s first Rural Hospital and to welcome Dennis Welsh, the new Vice President for Rural Health Transformation and Executive Director of Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.

Lara Wilson, the new Director of Rural Health Care Transformation was also introduced.

Spearheaded by local physicians Dr. Gerard O’Connor and Dr. Wayne Benjamin in 2016, the “Save the Hospital” campaign ignited community awareness and formed a coalition of thousands of Kent and Queen Anne’s County residents. Over the years they would petition local and state officials to save the Chestertown Hospital from a reduction in primary services. 

It was a hard-fought battle with countless listening meetings, focus groups, mail drives, and legislative proposals as SOH kept the topic trending throughout each year, seeking feedback from county communities about their healthcare needs in a rural environment.

On Wednesday, Dr. Michael Peimer introduced the evening with praise for the years of work done by many community volunteers and healthcare workers, a sentiment echoed by Dr. Gerard O’Connor. 

“It took almost six years to do this, but we allowed our community to fight for, preserve, and maintain inpatient beds as well as surgical and other services,” O’Connor said.

Dr. Peimer also announced that the SOH campaign would transition into a “Support Our Hospital” alliance and continue to work with the new administration and promote its efforts to make the newly designated Rural Hospital succeed.

This short video clip shows Dr. Michael Peimer announcing the committee’s name change and introducing Dennis Welsh, Vice President for Rural Health Transformation and Executive Director of Shore Medical Center at Chestertown

Core members of the “Save the Hospital” initiative are: Gerard O’Connor, MD; Wayne Benjamin, MD; Michael Peimer, MD; Susan Ross, MD; Ona Kareiva, MD; Deborah Mizeur, Muriel Cole, Nancy Carter, Garrett Falcone, Zane Carter, Charles Lerner, Kay MacIntosh, and Margie Elsberg who coordinated communications for the group.

In the months to come, The Spy will interview Dr. Welsh and Lara Wilson and find out about the new services long sought by SOH committee

This video is approximately three minutes in length.

A Chestertown neighborhood group, The Chesmar Community Association, has filed an appeal with the Kent County Planning and Zoning Board, challenging the zoning status of the American Legion property on American Legion Road.

This challenge could prevent the final purchase of the property by the widely supported Minary’s Dream Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to “meeting the many needs of youth and families in Kent County, MINARY’S DREAM ALLIANCE exists to provide opportunities for mentoring, tutoring, vocational training, and college readiness. MDA offers families and youth a safe, welcoming environment where they feel comfortable, not intimidated, and accepted for who they are.”

During the pandemic, the property was one of the main facilitators of the county-wide food outreach program and has recently been a staging area for a Washington College Starr Center educational program.

See the current article in the Spy on the project.

Kent County Planning and Zoning hearing will be held on Monday, July 19, 7 p.m. at 400 High
Street. It is open to the public.

As the Mid-Shore community begins a weekend of celebration of Juneteenth, the national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, it seemed like the appropriate time to focus on the controversial “Talbot Boys” Confederate memorial that sits on the Talbot County Courthouse lawn. While the arguments for maintaining or moving the statue are now increasingly well-known to Spy readers, for the first time, we have reached out to the two organizations who have either taken the lead in preserving it where it stands now (Preserve Talbot History) or moving it (Move the Monument Coalition) to a less controversial location to provide short summaries of each group’s position.

We conclude today with Preserve Talbot History’s President David Montgomery. In his interview with the Spy, David talks about the misinterpretations those seeking to move the Talbot Boys have on the statue and a false reading of Eastern Shore history. He also talks about his organization’s proposal to build a memorial to commemorate soldiers from the Union side of the Civil War. David also responses to the recent lawsuit by the NAACP/ACLU against the Talbot County Council and how the community should embrace its full history as part of its tourism industry. Finally, he speaks about his group’s desire to see a county-wide referendum on the future of the Talbot Boys.

On Wednesday, the Spy published our interview with Move the Monument Coalition leaders Ridgely Ochs and Jess Taylor. You can view that video here.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about the Preserve Talbot History organization please go here.