MENU

Sections

  • Home
  • About
    • The Chestertown Spy
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising & Underwriting
      • Advertising Terms & Conditions
    • Editors & Writers
    • Dedication & Acknowledgements
    • Code of Ethics
    • Chestertown Spy Terms of Service
    • Technical FAQ
    • Privacy
  • The Arts and Design
  • Local Life and Culture
  • Public Affairs
    • Ecosystem
    • Education
    • Health
  • Community Opinion
  • Donate to the Chestertown Spy
  • Free Subscription
  • Talbot Spy
  • Cambridge Spy

More

  • Support the Spy
  • About Spy Community Media
  • Advertising with the Spy
  • Subscribe
May 29, 2023

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

  • Home
  • About
    • The Chestertown Spy
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising & Underwriting
      • Advertising Terms & Conditions
    • Editors & Writers
    • Dedication & Acknowledgements
    • Code of Ethics
    • Chestertown Spy Terms of Service
    • Technical FAQ
    • Privacy
  • The Arts and Design
  • Local Life and Culture
  • Public Affairs
    • Ecosystem
    • Education
    • Health
  • Community Opinion
  • Donate to the Chestertown Spy
  • Free Subscription
  • Talbot Spy
  • Cambridge Spy
News News Homepage

Easton Historic District Commission Unanimously OKs Removal of Confederate Monument from Talbot Courthouse Grounds

October 12, 2021 by John Griep

Share

Easton’s historic district commission voted unanimously Monday night to allow the removal of the Confederate monument from the county courthouse square.

The Easton Historic District Commission voted 7-0 in favor of a certificate of appropriateness that will allow Talbot County to remove and relocate the monument.

Commission members noted the town’s historic district guidelines have little guidance on statues, but a national historical preservation organization supports removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces.

The monument outside the entrance to the Talbot County Court House is believed to be the last Confederate monument on public property in Maryland.

Attorney Dan Saunders, representing Talbot County, said a majority of the Talbot County Council had determined it was in the best interest for public health, safety, and welfare to move the monument from the courthouse grounds

“The statue is on county land. It is controversial. It is divisive sadly,” Saunders said. “And it is hurtful to certain citizens of the county. So the county council has made this determination…. They are the elected officials charged with making that kind of public policy decision. And it would not be inappropriate for this body to give some deference to their thought process….”

“Because it’s controversial, it needs to be someplace where people can choose to go see it or choose not to go see it, not in a place where they have to go see it in order to conduct the business that is conducted at the courthouse,” he said.

Three residents spoke against removing the statue.

Lynn Mielke said statues for Talbot County’s Confederate and U.S. troops were erected in 1884 and 1888, respectively, at Culp’s Hill at the Gettysburg battlefield.

After the county’s Civil War veterans visited Gettysburg in 1913 for the 50th anniversary of the battle — and no doubt saw the two statues, Mielke said — efforts began to raise funds for Confederate and Union monuments at the courthouse.

The Confederate monument was funded and built; the Union one was not but a new fundraising effort is underway for such a monument, she said.

A rendering of a proposed monument to Talbot County residents who fought for the United States during the Civil War. The proposal also would include informational plaques about Talbot County’s role in the Civil War.

“108 years later a group, Build the Union Talbot Boys, has investigated, designed, and begun to raise money for a Union Talbot Boys companion monument to complement the Talbot Boys in gray monument, with informational plaques, to make a complete statement on the courthouse lawn about Talbot County’s unique role in the Civil War, (including) the Talbot Boys, the Union Talbot Boys, the USCT (United States Colored Troops), including the Unionville 18, and Frederick Douglass,” Mielke said.

“The Talbot Boys memorial is is not a memorial to traitors,” Mielke said. “And it is not a memorial to non-veterans.”

Clive Ewing noted that the town’s historic district booklet includes two photos of the Confederate monument.

He said the county council’s resolution removing the monument only refers to the statue and argued that language doesn’t include the monument’s base.

David Montgomery, president of Preserve Talbot History, said moving the monument 200 miles away “to a battlefield in the Shenandoah Valley” does not help tell the story of Talbot County’s divided loyalties during the Civil War.

Commissioner Grant Mayhew said the historic district commission should look at guidance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The National Trust issued a statement about Confederate monuments after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer sparked protests “in support of racial justice and equity.”

In its June 18, 2020, statement, the National Trust said:

“This nationwide call for racial justice and equity has brought renewed attention to the Confederate monuments in many of our communities. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has previously issued statements about the history and treatment of Confederate monuments, emphasizing that, although some were erected — like other monuments to war dead — for reasons of memorialization, most Confederate monuments were intended to serve as a celebration of Lost Cause mythology and to advance the ideas of white supremacy. Many of them still stand as symbols of those ideologies and sometimes serve as rallying points for bigotry and hate today. To many African Americans, they continue to serve as constant and painful reminders that racism is embedded in American society.

“We believe it is past time for us, as a nation, to acknowledge that these symbols do not reflect, and are in fact abhorrent to, our values and to our foundational obligation to continue building a more perfect union that embodies equality and justice for all. We believe that removal may be necessary to achieve the greater good of ensuring racial justice and equality.

“And their history needs not end with their removal: we support relocation of these monuments to museums or other places where they may be preserved so that their history as elements of Jim Crow and racial injustice can be recognized and interpreted.

“We recognize that not all monuments are the same, and a number of communities have carefully and methodically determined that some monuments should be removed and others retained but contextualized with educational markers or other monuments designed to counter the false narrative and racist ideology that they represent, providing a deeper understanding of their message and their purpose.

“Our view, however, is that unless these monuments can in fact be used to foster recognition of the reality of our painful past and invite reconciliation for the present and the future, they should be removed from our public spaces.”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: News Homepage Tagged With: civil war, confederate, county council, Easton, historic district commission, monument, removal, slavery, statue, Talbot County

FEMA Will Host COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic with Moderna Vaccine at Easton Elks

April 16, 2021 by Spy Desk

Share

The Talbot County Health Department in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic with Moderna vaccine April 20-22 and April 24-25 at the Easton Elks Lodge #1622 for individuals aged 18 and older.

 Appointments for the 1,000 Moderna vaccine can be made at marylandvax.org, the below links, or with assistance by calling the Health Department’s vaccination helpline at 410-819-5641. The helpline is operated Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information regarding second dose appointments will be given when they arrive for their first dose.

Gov. Larry Hogan and FEMA announced March 29 that these mobile clinics are part of the nation’s first federal mobile COVID-19 vaccination units launching in the State of Maryland.

“We are appreciative that FEMA offered us this opportunity with Moderna vaccine to help bring much needed vaccine availability to our communities,” says Liz Whitby R.N., infectious disease control program supervisor for the Talbot County Health Department.

Though everyone 16 years and older is now eligible to be vaccinated, these specific clinics are open to people age 18 years and above because that is the minimum age the Moderna vaccine can be given per its FDA authorization. 16- and 17-year-olds interested in getting vaccinated require the Pfizer vaccine, which is available through the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health and the state-run mass vaccine clinic in Salisbury.

“These federal units complement the vaccine clinics that are currently operating in Talbot County, including those organized by community organizations, our local health care providers, and retail pharmacies,” Dr. Maguire, Talbot County health officer, said.

Easton Elks Lodge #1622 is located at 502 Dutchmans Lane in Easton, Md., with appointments required, and vaccinations available on a first-come, first-served basis. The mobile units are designed to provide a minimum of 200 doses per day and include cold storage for vaccine doses, staff office space, and generators.

The site also includes parking and a mobile shelter for vaccinations. Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 20, 24, and 25, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21 and 22.

Registration links for FEMA Vaccine Clinics at the Easton Elks Lodge are as follows:

  • Tuesday, April 20, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3dkyjik
  • Wednesday, April 21, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3djRSal
  • Thursday, April 22, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3g9Sstj
  • Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3wXQ8vg
  • Sunday, April 25, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3g9Swt3

More information and resources about Talbot County’s response to COVID-19 is at talbotcovid19.org and talbothealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: COVID-19, News Homepage Tagged With: clinic, coronavirus, Covid-19, Easton, elks lodge, FEMA, moderna, vaccination, vaccine

Update: All FEMA Vaccine Clinics at Easton Elks Lodge Cancelled This Week

April 14, 2021 by Spy Desk

Share

All FEMA vaccine clinics at the Easton Elks Lodge will be cancelled this week. Those scheduled will receive an email stating their appointment has been cancelled.

Original story:

https://ts.spycommunitymedia.org/fema-clinic-at-eastons-elks-lodge-cancelled-amid-caution-about-johnson-johnson-vaccine/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: COVID-19, News Homepage Tagged With: clinic, coronavirus, Covid-19, Easton, FEMA, vaccinations, vaccine

Fire Marshal: About $500K Damage in Easton Newspaper Plant Fire

July 23, 2020 by John Griep

Share

A Wednesday evening fire in the loading dock of The Star Democrat caused about $500,000 damage, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The fire delayed the delivery of the July 23 edition of the newspaper, which will be printed and distributed throughout the day, the paper reported on its website.

The fire was reported about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, by multiple employees and the building’s monitored fire alarm system, according to the fire marshal’s office. The fire was contained to the exterior loading dock area.

Employees safely evacuated the building without injury and the fire was contained in about an hour by 42 firefighters from the Easton, St. Michaels, and Cordova volunteer fire companies.

Also responding were Talbot County EMS, Easton Police Department, and Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, with Queen Anne-Hillsboro VFC on standby, according to The Star Democrat.

The building at 29088 Airpark Drive is owned and occupied by APG Media of Chesapeake LLC, the owner/publisher of several area newspapers. The facility includes the printing plant for those newspapers.

The fire marshal’s office estimated damage at $50,000 to the structure and $450,000 to contents.

Smoke and fire alarms and a sprinkler system were present and activated.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Anyone with information about the blaze is encouraged to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Upper Eastern Region Office at 410-822-7609.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: News Homepage Tagged With: Easton, fire, Star-Democrat

Easton Halts Plan to Close Block of Washington Street

July 9, 2020 by Spy Desk

Share

The Easton town council has nixed the Washington Street Promenade, the planned closure of Washington between Dover and Federal streets in front of the courthouse.

The decision came during a special Wednesday afternoon meeting, a day before the planned July 9 launch.

The idea had been to close the block of Washington Street to create a pedestrian mall and to allow for concerts and other events.

In a June 16 Facebook Post, Discover Easton wrote: “A space for people. The Washington Street Promenade will be Easton’s first real test of a car-free zone, featuring outdoor dining, performances, open-air markets, and more. Look for more details coming soon.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Discover Easton posted: “Unfortunately, the Washington Street Promenade was canceled today by the Easton Town Council. Washington Street will be reopened tomorrow (Thursday) morning without the project ever being able to start.”

To listen to the Wednesday afternoon meeting, go to www.eastonmd.gov. For the MP3 recording, go to  www.eastonmd.gov/TempMedia/WashingtonStreetPromenadeWorkshop070820.mp3.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: News Homepage Tagged With: council, Discover Easton, Easton, promenade, washington street

UM Shore Regional Health Granted $24,000 from Nora Roberts Foundation To Aid In COVID-19 Response

May 15, 2020 by Spy Desk

Share

The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has received $24,000 from the Nora Roberts Foundation to aid in COVID-19 response. This grant is part of an overall $168,000 gift from the Nora Roberts Foundation to the University of Maryland Medical System for its acute-care hospitals and freestanding medical facilities.

The funds will be used by individual hospital foundations to support a variety of projects and initiatives related to COVID-19 including employee and patient assistance, meals for the community, personal protective equipment (PPE) and mental health care resources.

“This gift from the Nora Roberts Foundation will be felt across our entire University of Maryland Medical System and the communities we serve and will support our efforts as we continue to respond to the unprecedented COVID-19 challenge. We are incredibly grateful for their support and generosity,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, president and chief executive officer of University of Maryland Medical System.

The funding will be given to UM Chester River Health Foundation, UM Memorial Hospital Foundation and UM Dorchester General Hospital Foundation and distributed as follows: UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, $5,000; UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester, $5,000; UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, $9,000; UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown, $5,000.

“Philanthropy is a powerful resource, especially during this crisis,” said Ken Kozel, CEO and president of UM Shore Regional Health. “We are so very grateful to the Nora Roberts Foundation for shifting their focus and prioritizing the immense needs brought on by COVID-19. Their support will undoubtedly benefit our patients, our workforce, and our communities throughout Maryland.”

The Nora Roberts Foundation Board issued the following statement:

“Our sincere thanks to all essential workers, to everyone keeping us safe and fed. We’re so grateful to everyone who’s staying home, for putting responsibility to your community over your own wants and needs.

“And we’re grateful beyond words to the hospital workers, the doctors, nurses, specialists, cooks, cleaners, maintenance workers, and all those who show up every day, despite the risks.

“We’re humbled by your willingness to put yourselves in harm’s way to care for the sick, to save lives, and to be witness to the final moments of those who can’t be saved.

“You’re more than heroes, more than the frontline. You’re children, siblings, parents, and friends. You’re human, and you, individually, matter.”

The Nora Roberts Foundation was created in 2001 by Roberts, a successful businesswoman as well as a best-selling author, as an avenue of support for organizations promoting and encouraging literacy, children, the arts and humanitarian efforts. These areas, particularly important to her and her family, serve as the focus of the foundation.

More information about the UMMS response to the global pandemic can be found on our dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, https://www.umms.org/coronavirus.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Homepage Tagged With: Cambridge, Chestertown, Covid-19, Easton, Nora Roberts Foundation, Queenstown, UM Shore Regional Health

Gordman’s Parent Co. Files for Bankruptcy

May 12, 2020 by John Griep

Share

Stage Stores Inc., which operates brands including Gordmans and Peebles, has filed for bankruptcy, citing the effects of closing all its stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The firm operated Peebles stores that had been rebranded as Gordmans in recent months in Easton and Chestertown.

In a May 10 letter to customers, President and CEO Michael Glazer said Stage had “been unable to obtain necessary financing to continue operating as an independent business.

“We have therefore filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11, as we simultaneously run a sale process for our business or any of our assets and initiate an orderly wind-down of our operations,” Glazer wrote. “We hope our actions over the last several months to reposition the business will attract the right partner who is interested in our off-price concept.

“If we receive a viable bid for the business, we will terminate our winddown of operations at certain locations,” he wrote. “This is incredibly difficult news to deliver and it is a decision that we came to after exhausting all other options.”

Stage is the third large retailer to file for bankruptcy in recent days, following J. Crew and Neiman Marcus.

In its bankruptcy filing, Houston-based Stage said it had between 10,001 to 25,000 creditors and listed total assets at about $1.7 billion and total debts at about $1 billion. Stage reported about $1.6 billion in revenue in 2018.

The firm has about 28.9 million shares of common stock. Axar Capital Management LP holds nearly 15% of the firm’s equity; Glazer holds 6.41%.

The firm’s 50 largest creditors include Nike, which is owed $3.6 million; Adobe, $2.64 million; Skechers, $2.31 million; Ralph Lauren, $2.138 million; Levi, $2.079 million; and Adidas, $1.879 million. One Maryland firm, FILA USA Inc., is owed more than $940,000.

Stage operated stores under a variety of brands, including Stage Stores, Bealls, Palais Royal, Peebles, Gordmans and Goody’s.

In 2017, Stage bought the Gordmans name, along with 48 stores and one distribution center, and later announced plans to convert all its stores to the off-price Gordmans brand to compete with discount retailers such as TJ Maxx and Burlington.

The rebrand had included the former Peebles department stores in Easton and Chestertown.

Although those changes had seen some success, the pandemic halted any progress in improving the company’s finances.

The firm, in a list of frequently asked questions on its website, wrote:

“Over the last several months, we had been taking significant steps to attempt to strengthen our financial position and find an independent path forward.

“However, the increasingly challenging market environment was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required us to temporarily close all of our stores and furlough the vast majority of our associates.”

Stage will reopen its 738 stores in a phased approach to liquidate inventory as it seeks a buyer.

About 557 stores will open on May 15, 67 stores are expected to open on May 28, and the remaining stores are expected to open on June 4.

Glazer said the store closing sales would include brand name apparel and home decor merchandise.

The company “will continue to follow health authorities’ recommendations and industry best practices as we reopen to ensure our guests and associates feel comfortable in our stores and facilities,” he wrote. “We will provide additional information about the steps we are taking, which include ensuring appropriate social distancing, the use of face covers, enhanced cleaning and sanitation, modified purchasing and returns processes, and good hygiene and health awareness.

Stage expects “to honor existing customer programs, including gift cards and returns, for the first 30 days after a store reopens,” Glazer wrote. “We will not be issuing gift cards at this time and we encourage you to use them while you can.”

Gift cards, rewards or coupons that expired while the store was closed because of COVID-19 will not be honored.

For questions about products, warranties or rewards, customers in the U.S. should continue to contact the customer service team via phone at 800.743.8730, email or text.

If customers have questions regarding the restructuring process, or for information about which stores will be affected, visit www.gordmans.com.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Commerce Homepage Tagged With: bankruptcy, Chestertown, Covid-19, Easton, gordman's, peebles, stage stores

Keeping Fit During COVID-19

April 23, 2020 by Val Cavalheri

Share

There is no argument that we are living in challenging times. Nothing is like it was. We’re missing family gatherings, hugging grandkids, school days, going out to restaurants, sports, and concerts. We stay in touch, virtually, through apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, or Houseparty. We’ve learned the meaning of social distancing and how to make masks out of socks. Our stress levels during these difficult times are higher than ever, and we are reminded of the benefits of exercise to help both physical and mental well-being. Yet, at a time we need it the most, gyms are one of the places closed to us.

So, the question we wanted to know was: What’s changed in the way you are trying to stay fit? In a survey of the almost 100 respondents, we were surprised to learn that 63%, are working out now more than before.

Elyse Camozzo, who was a frequent gym user, says, “I now am working daily in the yard or garden, walking the dog twice as frequently, and sometimes kayaking. I’m not doing a prescribed fitness workout, but I’m exhausted from the physical stuff I’m doing nearly every day. So, I think that while I’m not “working out” per se, at a prescribed time, I’m certainly doing enough activity to stay healthy.”

Another responder, Heather Hall, had been taking a formal exercise class twice a week before the shutdown and intending to walk on the days when not in class. Hall admitted she didn’t always live up to the goal. Now, however, “I’m averaging five days per week, and my walks are longer & further than previously. I’m exercising more than usual because this whole situation has promoted me to be more intentional about it.”

Comments, such as these are consistent with the survey results showing that people have taken up new ways to stay active through either walking or biking (22%), or working out on their own (22%). However, 29% have joined virtual classes, usually with an instructor or through a place familiar to them.

Helping that effort is the area’s largest recreational facility, the YMCA. They continue to train their members (and anyone else who is interested) through various sources such as Facebook, Zoom, and the YMCA website. Wendy Palmer, Easton Y’s Associate Executive Director, said: “We want our whole community to be healthy at home, not just Y members.” Their 30-45-minute live stream (and recorded) classes offer a variety of exercises from senior fitness, to yoga, to cardio fusion. And most require no equipment.

Of course, not all of the area gyms have the type of resources that the Y does. The strain of the closures is acutely felt by the local owners who are surviving by extending current contracts while continuing to collect on them. “Without it, we wouldn’t have any funding,” says Kiersten Mueller, owner of Another Level Fitness in Easton. “We wouldn’t be able to pay rent; we wouldn’t be able to pay any of the bills. There’s quite a lot of overhead with a fitness facility.”

With two gyms to sustain, Mark Cuviello, owner of Fitness Rx in Easton and Stevensville, understands. Both Cuviello and Mueller applied for SBA, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and grants. But before they got any funding, they watched these programs run out of money. “I don’t really have a way to survive other than through these loans,” says Cuviello. “If the loans and grants come through, I’ll have to decide: Do I want to bring employees back? Because there’s really nothing to bring employees back for. We’re closed.” At this time, he has no choice but to freeze all memberships.

Amanda Parks, owner of Fit Flock in Chestertown, did not go after loans or grants, hoping instead that she could collect unemployment. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened and she’s trying to ‘just hang in there.’ Her gym sells class pass bundles instead of memberships and she too, has had to freeze them. “Whatever they had when things got shut down, they’ll have it just as if nothing happened.”

Unlike the rest of the fitness center we spoke to, Physically FITch owners, Eric Fitch and Jen Koch of Chestertown were able to secure a loan through PPP. For assistance with the loan, they credit their bank, but for being able to stay afloat they are grateful to some of their clients. When given the option to pause their account some of the members chose not to. “They said they want us to still be here when we resume, probably the new normal. They want to make sure that they can continue their routine with us on the other side of this,” said Koch. The community’s been very good so far,” says Fitch. “A lot of that is the aspect of our small business. I think a lot of our clients view us as family members.”

Of course, being closed means that, as with the Y, the gyms have had to get creative with how to keep the customers with whom they have built a relationship.

Says Mueller, “What we have done is switch over to online, doing all virtual classes. We have our regular class schedule. Our members can log into our meeting link, and continue to do regular training in their garages or their living rooms. And in that way, we’re seeing each other face to face. We’re interacting; we’re just not getting the fist pumps and high fives. Whatever they’re doing, it seems to be working. When they offered a free six-week program for anyone interested, they saw an increase of approximately 50 to 75 new members.

Using Zoom to continue with personal training her clients, Parks feels that it’s working well considering they’re not together physically. “I create their workout based on what they have in their home setting. Thankfully they all have at least a couple sets of dumbbells, a couple of them have steps, a couple of them have kettlebells even. I just have to be mindful every time I write up a workout of who has what.”

Cuviello is also doing online training now, although he doesn’t feel it’s sustainable for the future, for everyone. “The 40-year olds and up are not going to watch someone on TV do a workout. Millennials, on the other hand, like the concept of ‘I can take your class anytime I want and do it and move on.’ He thinks that this thinking will hurt the gym environment. “So, the way the industry is going to change is two-fold. You still have to provide the standard types of training, where I train you and make you laugh, and you have a good time. That’s because that generation grew up developing relationships. The younger generation doesn’t develop relationships, they’ve developed applications. So, you’re going to have to have a hybrid model, and that’s what I have to go to, and that’s really hard for me. I’m going to have to do everything I did before and provide online classes as well.” Right now, Cuviello is offering a four-week workout and nutrition program or a weekly workout program.

All of the fitness trainers are, however, aware of the limits of online training. “How I coach them has to be different,” says Mueller. “I can’t give them tactile cues. I have my personal training clients that I’m still training. They haven’t changed, but I have to set the camera up just right. We have to get a full-body view, and I have to change how I verbalize what I want. I have to give demos with my body. It’s very different.”

Cuviello also believes that besides proper training, his role is to motivate his clients, and he’s not sure that’s possible online. “Unless I’m there physically with somebody to help them work out, they’re going to get hurt, or they’re going to get tired of it and bored.”

Says Palmer, “Even though this is one-sided and we can’t see them, we’re still giving them safety tips and repeating the modifications and encouraging them to keep moving at their comfort level.

At the request of some of her ‘hardcore regular class participants,’ Program Director and HITT instructor for the Kent YMCA, Erica Osterhout, is hosting Zoom classes where she and her workout group can see each other. “I started with Facebook live and the group voted to go to Zoom so they can see the same faces they’re used to seeing in the regular classes. One of my participants, who has been with me for three to four years, said ‘I’m accustomed to your energy and that’s what I want.’ Sure, they can see the other workouts online, but they don’t have a connection to that instructor or even to that music. It’s important.’

Owner of Bay Pilates, Lorri Wilson-Clarke, has had to rely on a less digital footprint in her business. Wilson-Clarke uses Pilates equipment, which is not typically found in the home. Her training is also limited to small classes or one-on-one. Currently, she’s calling emailing, texting, or using FaceTime to stay in touch. Not something she will continue doing when her business is allowed to open again.

So, what happens when gyms do re-open? Our survey found the majority of responders, 41%, plan on returning to the gym and continuing as before, although an additional 24% would consider a combination of gym and virtual home workouts.

This doesn’t surprise Palmer. “I don’t care how many virtual classes people put out there. I think they’re always going to come back to friends that they can engage with. They also miss those instructors that they know personally, not somebody that is on a computer screen that they’ve never met.”

Mueller agrees, “I like to say we don’t sell memberships. We sell coaching, so we sell relationships.”

Fitch and Koch are trying to be realistic, but are worried about their immediate future. “We have two big concerns.” says Fitch. “The first is about the first month that we’re allowed to open. Who’s going to actually feel safe? I don’t think that just being open means that we’re going to be profitable. I mean, honestly, I’m hoping that my January of 2021 that we’re going to be back where we should be. But you know, the problem with fitness and exercise is once you fall out of your routine, it’s very hard to get back. Koch added that their second concern was over the stock market behavior and how that will affect their business in general. “Since we are more of a luxury service, being primarily personal training, I think that that will greatly affect our revenue. So, we worry: can we pick up new clients and how many of our current clients will stick with us.”

Cuviello had an additional perspective. “Over the bridge, they’re going to be banging the door down to get into the gym. They’re going to be frantic lunatics to get back into the gym. On the Eastern Shore, the older population is who I’m worried about. They’re going to say. ‘Well, I went three, four months without it. I don’t think I need it.’ Until they go to the doctor, and the doctor tells them they are pre-diabetic or have cholesterol issues. Then they’ll hit the gym again.”

Palmer hopes to prevent that possibly unnecessary trip to the doctor, stressing that the Y’s reach extends beyond fitness. Via Zoom meetings and regular phone check-ins, instructors have continued their work with the Chronic Disease Prevention group, the Rock Steady Boxing for those with Parkinson, the LiveSTRONG cancer survivor groups, and the Enhance Fitness fall prevention program.

Until the world learns how to navigate through life after COVID, we can only speculate on how the shutdown will change the fundamental way we live, from attending meetings to working out. Still, the one consistent message being passed on from both the larger organizations and the smaller fitness businesses was this: Move more. Sit less.

Wilson-Clarke says she calls her clients and tells them, “You can walk, you can breathe, you can lift your arms up and down while you’re walking and get your circulation going. Don’t worry about missing your workout. Just get out and move. Get out in the sunshine for a little bit when you can, if for no other reason than to boost your mood.”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Spy Top Story, Top Story Tagged With: coronavirus, Covid-19, Easton, excercise, Health, Talbot County, The Talbot Spy, virtual training, workingout

Enjoying the Arts–Virtually by Steve Parks

March 20, 2020 by Steve Parks

Share

Maybe the least of our problems in the middle of a pandemic is boredom. Call it cabin fever, self-confined to your home as a good citizen who’s also acting out of self-preservation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go out, virtually, and catch a show like way back when—last week or so—to a movie at the multiplex, a concert at the Avalon, your kid’s play or art show at school.

Forget sitting around watching alarming TV news or “Law & Order” reruns. Transport yourself to even the world’s coronavirus hot spots, such as Italy and New York City, without the slightest health risk. All you need is an Internet-connected laptop or a streaming port on the tube.

The Metropolitan Opera shut down early in March at its Lincoln Center home. You can’t even catch its “Live in HD” simulcast series at the Avalon or other venues across the country. But you can see and hear encore Met performances nightly at 7:30, and for 20 hours after the original stream, for the duration of the shutdown. Enjoy performances for free on the website from the company’s “Live in HD” catalog, including Verdi’s “La Traviata” March 19 and Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” March 22, starring Renee Fleming.

The deadly virus first struck the U.S. hardest in Washington state where concerts by the Seattle Symphony, like most other orchestras everywhere, have been canceled until further notice. But the Seattle Symphony began streaming smaller ensemble performances by its musicians and rebroadcasting past full-orchestral concerts through its social media links on YouTube and Facebook. See what’s coming up by going here and signing up for email alerts on upcoming online concerts.

Other orchestras offer audio-only streamed recordings of past concerts, such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, while the New York Philharmonic presents audio rebroadcasts of past concerts and video clips. Both are free.

For restless kids unaccustomed to being homebound in the spring, Easton’s Academy Art Museum, while closed for its usual programs, is presenting a series of art-at-home activities, starting with a free download of “Australian Aboriginal Dot Art” available on its site.

Access to the visual arts through virtual tours of the greatest museums in the world have been available for years. But technology has greatly enhanced the experience. Right now, you can be admitted to the Uffizi Gallery while the streets outside are deserted as Florence is in lockdown. Inside, you’ll encounter Michelangelo’s David and one of the world’s top collections of Renaissance art. While touring Europe, don’t miss the Louvre in Paris, where you can skip the crowds around “Mona Lisa” for a private audience with her. Then stop by the Musee d’Orsay, a former railroad terminal on the Seine now home to arguably the most captivating array of Impressionist paintings anywhere. Next, skip over to Amsterdam for a feverish tour of the Van Gogh Museum followed by a Rembrandt-highlighted visit to the Rijksmuseum. In London, antiquity, by American standards, is the focus of the British Museum. And then you’re free to return closer to home with a seat-of-the-pants tour of the voluminous Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and a whirlwind look at the National Gallery of Art and its Smithsonian neighbors in Washington, D.C. But don’t neglect the West Coast. The J. Paul Getty Museum survived the most recent California inferno, and its treasure was rescued—at least until the next disaster.

Go to individual museum sites for virtual tours or window shop among 2,500 available sites. For shortcuts, try this. But don’t kid yourself (snob alert!). Assuming there are future opportunities, seeing the art for real is digitally non-replicable. Meanwhile, you can’t get a better view.

Broadway is shut down, probably past Tony Awards season. With no live streaming of shows now, Broadway World is posting “Living Room concerts” featuring currently out-of-work actors doing solo or duo concerts from their apartments, hotel suites—whatever… Writers, actors, singers, and dancers are sharing glimpses of their talents nightly at 7:30 on Instagram, while the Actors Fund is planning to raise money for performers-in-need with daily videos on its site featuring theater stars singing from home.

Even high school and college students are getting in on the act. Broadway Tony winner Laura Benanti went on Twitter to invite kids to post video clips on #SunshineSongs of rehearsals and performances of canceled shows. College theater seniors are posting showcases of their canceled work on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in hopes they’ll be noticed by agents and industry professionals.

To see full-length musical classics, go to Broadway HD, a subscription service that invites you to pluck any play or musical from its library. Among its “must-see” shows are Cats (I’m waiting for the Dogs sequel), Carousel, my favorite Rodgers-and-Hammerstein, the 2013-14 Tony-winning best musical Kinky Boots, among its most recent offerings, and the original Sweeney Todd (superb Sondheim) and The King and I. Shows taped for PBS and other outlets can be found on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube, including a Sondheim troika—Company, Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods—plus Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate and Disney’s Newsies. Most are by subscription or at roughly $6.99 a pop.

If you’re out and about in a few months, itching to see a show live on Broadway or in Baltimore, D.C., or Philly, just cancel the above subscriptions and apply your savings toward those expensive ticket prices.

Look for more suggestions this month, including TV and streaming recommendations, and where you can see Best Picture Oscar nominees you might have missed as movie theaters closed.

Steve Parks is a former New York arts critic, writer, and editor now living in Easton. 

 

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Arts Portal Lead, Arts Top Story Tagged With: Academy Art Museum, Arts, Concerts, coronavirus, Covid-19, Easton, The Talbot Spy

Spy Review: Judy Collins at the Avalon

March 10, 2020 by Val Cavalheri

Share

Going on tour, for a singer or a band, is a grueling task. There is traveling from city to city, and different countries, perhaps. There are the interviews with the media, the sound checks, the show, the packing up to do it all again at the next venue. It’s exhausting. But don’t tell that to Judy Collins, the prolific folk and rock and roll singer/songwriter icon from the sixties. Collins loves touring and has no intention of stopping. “I think retirement is the key to death,” she said.

Ask anyone who was at her sold-out performances on Friday night March 6th at the Avalon, and they’ll agree that Collins hasn’t lost any of the magic and relevancy that even today, at the age of 80, sells out concerts. Yes, her vocal range isn’t what it used to be, but she is still capable of hitting those incredible high notes and singing a song with as much conviction and accuracy as any singer today.

On this particular tour, the Grammy-winning artist is touting a brand-new album, Winter Stories, which was released last November. The 10-song set was recorded with Norwegian singer Jonas Fjeld and the American bluegrass musical group, Chatham County Line. But, pulling up a setlist (songs played during a concert) from the current tour proved useless. With a repertoire as varied as her discography, she could (and does) change it often. That’s why people keep coming back to see her perform, she says. “They’re never going to hear it the same way twice.”

What the Avalon audience did hear and experience on Friday was a throwback to a different era, a time-machine of sorts, said a NY Times article. Guitar in hand with just a piano player behind her, Collins took to the stage and never let go. The old songs were not only revived, but they were also reshaped and recreated by the artist who had once represented a different generation. The new songs she introduced were infused by the unmistakably Judy Collins’ sound and interpretation.

In between the ballads, Collins entertained the audience with her anecdotes, recollections and some behind the scene conversations and experiences with other song legends: Joni Mitchell, Ari Hest, Leonard Cohen, and Willie Nelson.

The concert started with “Both Sides Now.” Although written by Joni Mitchell, it was first recorded by Collins. She reminisced about how in the sixties, musician and record producer, Al Kooper (also known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears) called Collins, insisting that her voice would be a perfect fit for the new songwriter he had just heard–Joni Mitchell. He was right, and it became one of her top ten hits from the sixties. This was also the start of her putting a stamp on other people’s songs and making them famous.

Other familiar songs included the evocative Joan Baez song about her love affair with Bob Dylan, “Diamonds and Rust,” and “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, which charted for Collins both in 1975 and 1977. From the 2015 release of the album of duets Strangers Again, she sang “When I Go,” a ballad, she ‘couldn’t get out of her mind’ and one she recorded with Willie Nelson.

Highlights from the new album, Winter Stories, included “Northwest Passage,” “Mountain Girl,” “The Blizzard” (from a 1990 album), “River” (another Mitchell cover), and “Highwayman.”

Lest you think she’s lost her social conscience and activist edge, Collins at one point during the show, put down her guitar and sang, a cappella, “Dreamers,” a poem turned to music which she began performing with Stephen Stills last year. It was a delicate, ethereal rendition with a clear message about DACA, a message not lost on the silent crowd which wiped away tears and jumped to their feet, giving her a standing ovation.

For an encore, Collins sang her unmatched rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which, as a side note, was selected to be in the National Recording Registry for preservation by the Library of Congress for its artistic significance.

Friday’s appearance represents Collins’ fifth time at the Avalon and the first since 2015. Suzy Moore, Avalon’s Artistic Director, said, “In my honest opinion, Judy Collins is the epitome of grace and talent. She has a feisty spirit and delivers a great show.” Collins returned the compliment praising the Avalon, comparing it with the Oslo Opera House, a place where she recently played and also sold out.

Before looking into what’s coming up for this inexhaustible artist, it is worth mentioning the act that opened for Collins, folksinger/songwriter Kirsten Maxwell. Maxwell surprised the audience. She was personable, talented as hell, and well-deserving of the approval. Maxwell informed the crowd before leaving the stage that Judy Collins would be producing her next album.

So, besides producing, will we finally see Collins slow up? Not a chance.

She will be performing through the end of March, and then head overseas for a series of concerts in Norway where she has been nominated for a Spellemann Award (often referred to as the Norwegian Grammy), before returning to the U.S. and continuing her tour.

Also upcoming is another new album, Resistance and Beauty, which will be out this year and will feature the haunting song, “Dreamers.”

But that’s not all.

In the summer, she will launch a new tour with Arlo Guthrie.

Collins is also a fertile writer. Although she’s published fiction, most of her books have been memoirs and dealt with food and alcohol addictions, her life in the music industry, her suicide attempt, and even her son’s suicide. Is there another book on the horizon? Perhaps.

In her spare time, Collins continues to be a social activist, representing UNICEF and numerous other causes.

With no retirement in sight, Judy Collins might just prove that eighty is the new thirty.

 

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Arts Portal Lead, Arts Top Story Tagged With: Avalon Theatre, Easton, local news, The Talbot Spy

Next Page »

Copyright © 2023

Affiliated News

  • The Cambridge Spy
  • The Talbot Spy

Sections

  • Arts
  • Culture
  • Ecosystem
  • Education
  • Health
  • Local Life and Culture
  • Spy Senior Nation

Spy Community Media

  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising & Underwriting

Copyright © 2023 · Spy Community Media Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in