Kent County

COVID-19 Outbreak Reported at Angelica Nurseries in Kennedyville

March 22, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

A large increase in COVID-19 cases in Kent County, and the county’s high positivity rate, has been attributed to an outbreak among workers at a Kennedyville wholesale nursery.

On Wednesday, March 17, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) was informed by Choptank Community Health System that 53 employees had tested positive for COVID-19 at Angelica Nurseries in Kennedyville, according to a KCHD statement posted Friday to Facebook.

Another 25 have been exposed but had tested negative, according to the statement. Five individuals had been hospitalized; two had been released.

“Angelica Nurseries has been working closely with KCHD and a multi agency team of healthcare providers to respond to the situation,” William Webb, Kent County’s health officer, said in the statement. “Management has been fully cooperative and engaged in addressing the healthcare needs of their employees and the risk this poses to the community.

“Their leadership has been receptive to the guidance offered by the Kent County Health Department, the Maryland Department of Health, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, and Choptank Community Health.”

The Kent County Health Department has delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfection supplies, and is assisting the business with implementing enhanced safety protocols.

At this time, contact tracing indicates that the outbreak is contained to those residing on the grounds of Angelica Nurseries or its affiliated properties.

“I implore our community to continue to take this virus seriously and be vigilant to prevent its spread,” Webb said. “Continue to wear your mask, maintain at least six feet of distance, wash your hands frequently, and get the vaccine when it is your turn.

“We have been at this for a year and I know we are all tired of this message, but now is not the time to let down our guard.”

For more information, visit:

• Maryland Department of Health: covidlink.maryland.gov

• Kent County Health Department (kenthd.org): Testing offered Tuesdays by appointment, call 410-778-1350.

Kent County Departments of Tourism, Economic Development Announce Merger

January 27, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Kent County, Maryland now has one command center for economic growth and tourism—the new Department of Economic and Tourism Development. Established to provide a comprehensive support strategy to the Kent County business community, this new department is a one-stop shop for everything the public needs to start a business, grow a business, build a brand, network, and continue attracting visitors, residents, workers, and new businesses to Kent County.

Guided by Director Jamie Williams, the Department of Economic and Tourism Development aims to attract new businesses to Kent County, help them get off the ground, and then promote them to a regional audience. “For Kent County, it made sense to have one department. We have synergies we can and should be taking advantage of,” says Williams. “This new structure allows us to combine and capitalize on our skill sets. We can serve our business community better through this alliance.”

Jamie Williams and Jana Carter

The new department will be dedicated to delivering a clear message: Kent County is a great place to visit, live, work, and start or expand a business. Jana Carter, Tourism Manager shared “As a native, it’s beneficial being able to build collaborative relationships and on-the-ground opportunities for new businesses; sharing a vision for what makes this place special”. “People say it’s good to be a big fish in a small pond. In Kent County, the fish are all the same size—and swimming in the same direction.” Once fully staffed, the new department will be additionally supported by an economic development manager, an administrative assistant, and local interns.

Williams shares Carter’s commitment to the county and to helping local businesses grow and thrive. “Having lived and worked here since I was 18 years old, the most rewarding part of my job is the relationships I’ve built with local businesses and community leaders,” Williams said. “It means I can help people solve problems, help them work through issues, and in a bigger picture way, I can be a part of working to pass local and state legislation to support the business community. I love what I do.”

About Kent County, Maryland

Founded in 1642, Kent County is located on the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland. With boundaries formed by the Chesapeake Bay and the Chester and Sassafras Rivers, it is a water-oriented region of small, vibrant towns, close-knit communities and miles of arable farmland. Kent County is located just east across the Bay from Baltimore, and is less than a two-hour drive from Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Annapolis and Northern Virginia. For more information, to learn how Kent County supports local businesses, or to plan a visit: www.kentcounty.com

Mail-in Ballot Counts Put Biden Up in Kent County, Narrows Trump’s Lead in Talbot

November 8, 2020 by John Griep Leave a Comment

As the nation has seen with the presidential vote count in several battleground swing states, election results may change after Election Day as mail-in ballots are counted by poll workers.

And the final certified results in most states are yet to come.

In Maryland, the first round of counting mail-in ballots was Thursday, Nov. 5. The unofficial results after that count show Kent County flipped from voting Donald Trump in 2016 to Joe Biden in 2020.

That result could change again as provisional ballots are counted Thursday, Nov. 12, and the last batch of mail-in ballots are counted Nov. 13. Mail-in ballots may be received by 10 a.m. that day postmarked by Nov. 3 or dated Nov. 3 with a voter’s oath.

Election results will be verified and certified Nov. 13 and sent to the state elections board.

The statewide certification of results will be Tuesday, Dec. 8, with presidential electors casting votes for president on Monday, Dec. 14.

After Thursday’s initial count of mail-in ballots, Biden is leading in Kent County by 49.4% to 48.2% for Trump. Trump was leading 53% to 45% after ballots were counted on Election Day.

In 2016, Trump won 48.7% of Kent County’s vote to 45.7% for Hillary Clinton.

Biden won about 70% of the mail-in ballot vote in Kent County this year, mirroring trends seen nationwide.

Trump urged his voters to go to the polls on Election Day and has falsely claimed mail-in ballots are fraudulent. The Biden campaign encouraged mail-in ballots so voters could avoid lines on Election Day during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump’s numbers also slipped in Talbot County during Thursday’s count, but he still maintains a narrow lead over Biden.

The Republican president was leading Biden 50.5% to 47.3% on Election Day, but, as of Thursday, is only up 49.1% to 48.5%.

Trump’s vote margin dropped from 616 to 116 after the count of mail-in ballots.

In 2016, Trump won Talbot County 52.2% to 42.1% for Clinton.

In Dorchester County, Trump is faring better in 2020 than he did in 2016. He beat Clinton 55.3% to 41% four years ago and leads Biden 58.2% to 39.5%.

Dorchester Voters Pick School Board Members; Kent, Talbot Races Unopposed

November 6, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Voters in Dorchester, Talbot, and Kent counties elected candidates to 4-year terms on their county school boards.

Dorchester was the only county that had contested school board races.

In District 1, Mike D. Diaz defeated Phil Bramble to win a seat on the Dorchester County Board of Education. Diaz won 62% to 37%.

Susan Morgan ousted incumbent Philip W. Rice, the current school board president, in District 3, winning 68% to 31% for Rice.

Laura Hill Layton kept her District 5 seat, defeating Voncia L. Molock in a rematch of the 2016 election. Layton had 66% to 34% for Molock. In 2016, Layton won 73% to 27%.

In Talbot County, candidates for the three seats up for election ran unopposed.

Candace Henry won District 2, Susan Delean-Botkin was re-elected in District 5, and Mary Wheeler was re-elected in District 6.

In Kent County, Joe Goetz and Francoise Sullivan were unopposed in their bids for the two seats up for election.

Mid-Shore Counties Favor Trump, But Margins Differ From 2016

November 4, 2020 by John Griep 4 Comments

Voters in Talbot, Dorchester, and Kent counties again favored Republican Donald Trump for president.

Democratic challenger Joe Biden outperformed Hillary Clinton in one county, while the incumbent had a higher percentage of the vote in 2020 in the other two.

In Talbot County, Trump’s margin of victory slipped from 2016.

Unofficial 2020 results show Republican incumbent Trump with 50.5% of the vote in Talbot County. Democrat Joe Biden garnered 47.3% and Libertarian Jo Jorgensen had 1.1%.

Vice President Joe Biden (Photo by Gage Skidmore)

Biden is faring better in Talbot County than Hillary Clinton did in 2016. Trump took 53.06% of the county’s vote four years ago, Clinton had 42.81%, Libertarian Gary Johnson had 3.13%, and Green Jill Stein had 1 percent.

The 2020 numbers likely will shift as election officials count remaining ballots on Nov. 5 and Nov. 13.

Republican incumbent Rep. Andy Harris also saw his Talbot County support dip in the 2020 race for First District.

Harris sits at 54.9% in Talbot and Democratic challenger Mia Mason has 45%.

In 2016, Harris had 60.8% of the vote in Talbot County, with 35.79% for Democrat Joe Werner and 3.41% for Libertarian Matt Beers.

In Dorchester County, Biden underperforms Clinton; Harris maintains margin of victory

Trump leads Biden 58.2% to 39.5% in the county. In 2016, Trump had 55.7% to 41.35% for Clinton.

Harris currently has 62.1% of Dorchester’s vote, with 37.7% for Mason. In 2016, Harris had 61.27%, Werner had 35.82%, and Beers had 2.9%.

Biden polls lower in Kent County: Harris essentially unchanged

Trump has 52.5% of Kent’s vote this year; he had 49.36% in 2016.

Biden has 44.9% compared to 46.31% for Clinton four years ago.

Harris essentially maintained his margin of victory from 2016.

Four years ago, Harris had 56.36%, Werner had 40.44%, and Beers had 3.2%.

Harris currently has 55.4% of Kent’s vote this year and Mason has 44.4%.

This post has been updated to correct the election year in which Joe Werner challenged Andy Harris.

Spy COVID-19 Daily Update Nov. 2

November 2, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Key points for today

• Kent County COVID-19 cases remain at 348.

• The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 2.08%.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 146,995, an increase of 850 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, 3 people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 4,007.

The Spy obtains information for this chart between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day; counties may update data throughout the day until 5 p.m. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

* Maryland and Cecil County report the total released from isolation.

** For Kent County deaths, The Spy reports its own tally based on the number of state-reported deaths within Kent County facilities and the number of non-facility deaths. For Queen Anne’s County deaths, The Spy reports the total deaths listed on the county’s website. There are discrepancies among state and county statistics concerning total deaths and facility deaths.

Key metrics

• The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased by 6 over the last 24 hours.

• There currently are 529 people hospitalized — 396 in acute care and 133 in intensive care.

• Of the 26,814 test results received Nov. 1, the positivity rate was 3.76%; the 7-day positivity rate was 3.94%.

For additional COVID-19 graphics and links to resources, click here.

Additional information

• A total of 3,479,230 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Maryland; this number does not represent the total number of patients tested as some patients have been tested multiple times. The state reports 1,813,450 people have tested negative.

• Of the state’s 146,995 cases, 17,252 patients have ever been hospitalized for treatment; 8,201 have been released from isolation.

The graph below shows the total cases, total ever hospitalized, and total deaths statewide.

Spy COVID-19 Daily Update Oct. 31

October 31, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Key points for today

• Kent County COVID-19 cases increased by 3 to 346, according to the county health department.

• The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 1.97%.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 145,281, an increase of 967 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, 10 people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 4,000.

* Maryland and Cecil County report the total released from isolation.

Key metrics

• The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased by 7 over the last 24 hours.

• There currently are 520 people hospitalized — 394 in acute care and 126 in intensive care.

• Of the 32,984 test results received Oct. 30, the positivity rate was 3.44%; the 7-day positivity rate was 3.77%.

For additional COVID-19 graphics and links to resources, click here.

Additional information

• A total of 3,422,662 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Maryland; this number does not represent the total number of patients tested as some patients have been tested multiple times. The state reports 1,793,391 people have tested negative.

• Of the state’s 145,281 cases, 17,093 patients have ever been hospitalized for treatment; 8,181 have been released from isolation.

The graph below shows the total cases, total ever hospitalized, and total deaths statewide.

Spy COVID-19 Daily Update Oct. 30

October 30, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Key points for today

• Kent County COVID-19 cases remain at 343.

• The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 1.61%.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 144,314, an increase of 927 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, 10 people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 3,990.

* Maryland and Cecil County report the total released from isolation.

Key metrics

• The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased by 11 over the last 24 hours.

• There currently are 513 people hospitalized — 387 in acute care and 126 in intensive care.

• Of the 28,516 test results received Oct. 29, the positivity rate was 4.01%; the 7-day positivity rate was 3.71%.

For additional COVID-19 graphics and links to resources, click here.

Additional information

• A total of 3,389,678 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Maryland; this number does not represent the total number of patients tested as some patients have been tested multiple times. The state reports 1,782,204 people have tested negative.

• Of the state’s 144,314 cases, 17,023 patients have ever been hospitalized for treatment; 8,164 have been released from isolation.

The graph below shows the total cases, total ever hospitalized, and total deaths statewide.

New Bay Crossing Site Narrowed to Three Options

September 2, 2020 by Spy Desk 3 Comments

The best location for a third Bay Bridge would be adjacent to the current spans, according to a state agency report. Two other options — one north of the existing bridges and one south — out of the five remaining alternatives also will undergo additional study.

The Maryland Transportation Authority selected the three alternatives based on traffic congestion, safety, dependable and reliable travel times, flexibility for maintenance and incident management, and financial viability.

The ongoing study also will include a no-build alternative.

Phase 1 of the Chesapeake Bay Crossing Study outlined 14 possible alternatives. Corridors 1-4 and 10-14 were eliminated from further consideration because those locations would not provide adequate traffic capacity to reduce congestion at the current crossing.

A study of potential sites for a new crossing of the Chesapeake Bay initially included 14 options. Corridors 6-8, highlighted in yellow, remain under consideration.

Phase 2 looked in more detail at corridors 5-9 and further reduced the alternatives to Corridors 6, 7, and 8.

Corridor 7 is where the existing Bay Bridge spans are located.

Corridor 6 would be north of the current bridges, with the western end located east of Pasadena in Anne Arundel County and the eastern side connecting near Rock Hall in Kent County before crossing the Chester River into Queen Anne’s County and connecting with Route 213 south of Centreville.

Corridor 8 would be south of the current bridges, with the western end located south of Annapolis. The bridge would pass south of Kent Island, connecting with Talbot County and ultimately to U.S. Route 50 north of Easton.

The detailed traffic analysis for the five remaining corridors showed “Corridor 5 would not provide an acceptable level of flexibility for incident diversion and would cause potentially major indirect effects on the Eastern Shore. Corridor 9 would also require substantial additional travel time for incident diversion and would result in unreasonably long duration of queues on summer weekends at the existing crossing (six hours with queues of one mile or greater on non-summer weekdays),” according to the report. And both Corridors 5 and 9 would do little to improve congestion at the current crossing based on traffic projections for 2040.

Cost and environmental impacts also are factors and Corridor 7, with the shortest overall crossing, would likely cost the least and “would likely result in fewer overall direct impacts.”

“While Corridors 6, 7, and 8 are all recommended to be carried forward for further evaluation, the screening results show that Corridor 7 has advantages over Corridors 6 and 8,” according to the report. “The advantages of Corridor 7 include better congestion relief at the existing Bay Bridge, more effective reduction of duration of unacceptable LOS (level of service), more effective backup reduction at the Bay Bridge, the best diversion route, and better compatibility with existing land-use patterns likely resulting in fewer indirect effects.”

Read the full report here:

BCS Alternatives Report

Building Trust with Neighbors in Kent County

July 23, 2020 by Spy Desk

Miss Mildred and her son, Marty, a hospice worker.

When Rebuilding Together Kent County’s Executive Director, Wayne Rickert, joined the organization in April of 2019, he had a vision that seemed all out-of-proportion to its historical budget. Since that time, he has worked tirelessly to make reality conform to his dream and it’s benefiting our neighbors here in Kent County. Although Rebuilding Together Kent County had applied for and received funds from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT) in previous years, the amount had not exceeded $10,000 per year.Last summer, the organization applied for the maximum grant, $75,000…and got it!

Since receiving the official paperwork from MAHT last December, Wayne and his team have worked diligently to identify home repair and modification projects that match the terms set out in the grant application. In addition to augmenting the USDA roof initiative as reported last month, these funds have been used to replace six additional roofs, install new gutters and downspouts on two homes, and repair extensive damage for a woman whose pipes burst two years ago. In all, 15 area homeowners and their families are safer at home!

Miss Mildred is a perfect example of exactly why this organization exists. Nearly 80 years old and living alone, she worked hard her whole life, both at the Campbell’s Soup poultry processing plant and as a mother to her son Marty. She now relies on her limited social security benefit and small pension to pay bills each month. Although she was able to have the broken pipes repaired, Miss Mildred had no financial cushion to address the costly water damage which created a gaping hole in her kitchen floor and rendered a bathroom unusable. With funds from MAHT, Rebuilding Together Kent County was able to hire local contractor, Doug Marker of Jack of All Trades, to replace floors and cabinets, as well as install appliances donated from Heron Point of Chestertown. While he was there, he also rebuilt her aging front porch, ensuring she can get in and out of her home safely.

The organization also contracted M.L. Hood Trucking of Centreville to grade and gravel a new driveway. Now vehicles can drive right up to the house, saving precious minutes should a medical emergency arise in the future. The team at Rebuilding Together Kent County hopes these efforts will allow Miss Mildred to enjoy her well-deserved retirement, relieving stress and reducing the risk of injury.

Grateful that area neighbors trust them in their homes, Rebuilding Together Kent County is currently identifying the next round of home repair projects from applications received by last week’s deadline. To become involved with Rebuilding Together Kent County, visit their website, RebuildingTogetherKCMD.org, or call 410.708.9936.

Rebuilding Together Kent County is a nonprofit dedicated to repairing homes, revitalizing communities, and rebuilding lives. They put together donated building materials, gifts of money, contract labor, and countless hours of skilled and unskilled volunteer time to repair and rehabilitate the houses of low-income homeowners who are elderly, disabled and/or have families with children. All work is done at no cost to the homeowner. Learn more at RebuildingTogetherKCMD.org.

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For additional COVID-19 graphics and links to resources, click here.

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