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September 26, 2021

The Chestertown Spy

An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

News News Notes

National Voter Registration Day Is September 28

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The League of Women Voters of Kent County encourages citizens who are not yet registered to vote to do so. National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, September 28, created and promoted with a view to increasing citizen participation in local and state elections across the country.

“Off-year” elections are a chance for voters to elect men and women who will have immediate impacts on their daily lives. Chestertown town elections will be held on November 2, 2021, to choose a mayor and town council member for both the first and third wards. Residents must be registered on or before October 1. U.S. Senate and House of Representatives elections, the Maryland gubernatorial election, and other important races take place in 2022.

Register Now online at voterservices.elections.maryland.gov or in person at the Kent County Board of Elections, 135 Dixon Drive, Chestertown, Phone: 410-778-0038 or 800-222-8683. Hours are 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Monday through Friday.

In addition, residents will also be able to register at the Farmers Market on September 25th. The League of Women Voters will have a table with information and registration materials.

The League of Women Voters of Kent County Maryland (LWVKCMD) is a non-partisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of national, state, and local public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not support or endorse any candidates.

WC-ALL’s October “Learn at Lunch”

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If you are interested in the environment, equestrian activities and/or photography, the October 12th Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning presentation is a must. Jim Graham will speak to “The Equestrian Life and the Land – a Photographic Essay”.

Mr. Graham will provide a stunning visual presentation of the many facets of the equestrian world, particularly in Maryland and nearby Delaware and Pennsylvania. He will focus on equestrian activities and the symbiotic relationship between the participants and the land. Supporters of equestrian events have long been strong financial benefactors in the effort to preserve open spaces and the environment we all share.

Jim Graham, a graduate of Washington College, is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Centreville, DE. He works internationally as an editorial, commercial, wedding and fine art photographer. His first book, Bound to the Country; 30 Years of photographing Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire foxhounds, was recently published. He has been named Southern Photographer of the Year and been nominated for a Pulitzer prize. He has won Best New Photograph of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists as well as many other honors.

Mr. Graham has taught photojournalism and many other aspects of photography at Cecil College, The University of Delaware, Moore College of Art and Design, Widener University, and the Maine Media Workshop. His photographs have been shown in East Coast galleries as well as at Washington College.

A buffet lunch at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club will begin at noon, followed by the presentation. Contact the WC-ALL office at 410-778-7221 with any questions.  The cost to WC-ALL members is $20; $25 for non-members.  Please make checks payable to WC-ALL and send to: WC-ALL, 300 Washington Ave., Chestertown, MD 21620. Payment MUST accompany reservation. The deadline for reservations is Thursday, October 7.  As with all WC-ALL events, masking is required in indoor spaces.

ShoreRivers Hosts Chesapeake Bay Commission Meeting

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Town of Easton Project Manager Kody Cario addresses stream restoration projects and urban tree canopy during a field visit with the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

In early September, ShoreRivers hosted field visits for the Chesapeake Bay Commission’s quarterly meeting, showcasing recent projects implemented on the upper Eastern Shore that reduce pollution from urban and agricultural runoff.

The 21-member commission, comprised of state legislators from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as natural resource cabinet secretaries, acts as a catalyst for the coordination and leadership of state legislative and policy action to restore the Bay watershed. This was a vital opportunity to show elected officials and cabinet secretaries how ShoreRivers works with Eastern Shore communities for clean and healthy rivers, and how representatives from other states can implement these innovative and proven strategies in their regions.

Commission members met with Easton representatives to discuss how the rural town is meeting its municipal stormwater permit requirements and addressing flooding in the town through stream restoration projects. They discussed the town’s successful effort to increase urban tree canopy to improve water quality, mitigate flooding, provide cooling to counteract the urban “heat island effect,” and increase property values.

The Commission then visited Hutchison Brothers Farm to view conservation drainage practices that are helping build a resilient farming future by treating farm runoff and reducing flooding in their fields to mutually benefit the Choptank River and the farming operation.

And finally, Commission members toured Fair Hill Farm in Chestertown, a modern organic dairy farm owned and operated by the Fry family, that exemplifies high quality agricultural products, land and water stewardship, and civic engagement.

The projects chosen highlighted cost-effective strategies to reduce pollution—strategies with important additional benefits such as mitigating flooding, improving towns, engaging community members, and increasing agricultural productivity.

These are just a few examples of the many ways ShoreRivers works to improve the health of local waterways by proactively addressing pressing issues such as climate change, agricultural productivity, and community health.

ShoreRivers’ restoration projects are possible because of state and federal funding entities, including Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, Chesapeake Bay Trust, United States Department of Agriculture, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund. ShoreRivers encourages constituents to ensure that representatives know to prioritize a clean Chesapeake Bay by supporting these funds in the future.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Musicians’ Union Agree on 3-Year Contract

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Reinforcing its status as one of the nation’s leading professional regional orchestras, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore have agreed to a new three-year contract.

“Musicians aspire to play with a union orchestra because of the high quality of performances and the opportunity to share the stage with other first-rate musicians,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Board President Jeffrey Parker. “This contract, the first in the MSO’s 24-year history, reflects the efforts of Music Director Julien Benichou to elevate the quality of our musicians and validates our status as the only professional orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

“The committee is extremely pleased that management believed that a collective bargaining agreement would further the artistic growth of the orchestra and that musicians unanimously supported the ratification,” said Luis Engelke, who serves as Vice President of the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543, American Federation of Musicians and was instrumental in organizing the musicians and negotiating the contract. “This was a collegial and collaborative venture.”

The contract agreement came just days before the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra opens its 2021-2022 season, with performances on September 23 at 7:30 PM at Easton High School in Easton, MD; on Saturday, September 25 at 7:30 PM at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, DE; and on Sunday, September 26 at 3 PM at the Performing Arts Center in Ocean City, MD.

The 2021-2022 opener includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (“Eroica”), as well as works by Ravel and Mussorgsky. The season’s concerts include works by Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi, among others; the premiere of a composition by Maestro Benichou; and critically-acclaimed guest soloists.

Subscriptions for the five regular season concerts are $195, with patrons free to choose from any of the three locations for each program. Individual tickets are$45 or $50, depending upon the program and venue. Tickets for the non-subscription New Year’s Eve program are $60 for general admission $85 for premium seating.

Subscriptions and individual concert tickets are available online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org or by calling 888-846-8600.

To ensure the safety of its audience members and musicians, the Orchestra will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for everyone entering venues.

The Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore was established over 100 years ago and represents musicians who work in Central Maryland, the state’s Upper Chesapeake counties, and its Eastern Shore. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Association’s musicians perform with orchestras in Baltimore and Annapolis, among others.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

Washington College Continues to be Recognized in Higher Education Rankings

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Washington College continues to be recognized in the annual higher education rankings by the nation’s most trusted and respected sources. This includes being once again named as one of the Best 387 Colleges according to The Princeton Review, remaining in the top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report (#98), and coming in at #204 overall in the Wall Street Journal/Time Higher Education’s 2022 College Rankings – the 2nd highest ranking for a private college in Maryland.

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings, based on 15 performance indicators, is designed to answer the questions that matter most to students and their families – topics such as graduation rates, employment after college, diversity on campus and access to faculty. Forty percent of each school’s overall score comes from student outcomes, including graduates’ salaries and debt; 30% comes from academic resources, including how much the college spends on teaching; 20% from student engagement, including whether students feel prepared to use their education in the real world, and 10% from the learning environment, including the diversity of the student body and academic staff.

The WSJ/THE College Rankings emphasize the return on investment students see after they graduate. Schools that fare the best on this list have graduates who generally are satisfied with their educational experience and land relatively high-paying jobs that can help them pay down student loans.

Washington College earned the second-highest WSJ/THE ranking among private colleges in Maryland, coming in behind Johns Hopkins University.

Since 1992, Princeton Review’s annual “Best Colleges” guide has showcased the schools they recommend to college applicants and their parents as the nation’s best for undergraduate academics. This annual publication features only about 14% of the country’s four-year colleges, and is one of The Princeton Review’s most popular. The company chooses the colleges for the book based on data it annually collects from administrators at hundreds of colleges about their institutions’ academic offerings. The Princeton Review also considers data it gathers from its surveys of college students at the colleges who rate and report on various aspects of their campus and community experiences.

U.S. News and World Report calculates its ranking based on six categories which are each weighted differently: student outcomes (40%), faculty resources (20%), expert opinion (20%), financial resources (10%), student excellence (7%) and alumni giving (3%). In total, U.S. News collected data on more than 1,850 institutions. While data for all schools appears on usnews.com, 1,466 schools were ranked. The data used is collected directly from the schools.

Washington College continues to appears in the ranks of the nation’s best colleges and universities by providing a combination of academic quality and economic value, while embracing our vision of the transformative power of the liberal arts.

Washington College was also featured in the Fiske Guide to College 2022, which profiles about 300 of what they determine are the best and most interesting colleges in the country. Additionally, Intelligent.com named Washington College as one of the top colleges in Maryland, earning the Best Student-to-Faculty Ratio honor.

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu. 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

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All of us can play a role in suicide prevention

Starting a conversation about suicide may be one of the hardest things you have to do in your life. But knowing the gravity of the situation, our ability to reach out to someone who may be contemplating suicide is critical and may make all the difference in the outcome. Helping them understand they are not alone, that depression is normal and treatable, and that help is available are important parts of addressing this issue with a friend or family member.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death today in the U.S. for people ages 10 to 34. According to a recent article by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the only real way to know if someone is at risk is to ask. For All Seasons is promoting a community campaign to “ASK, LISTEN, and SHARE” as we recognize National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Risk factors for suicide

Although there is no single cause for suicide, depression that is undiagnosed or untreated is the most common condition associated with suicide. Suicide often occurs when life stressors and health issues converge, leaving some people experiencing hopelessness and despair.

Warning signs of suicide

A change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors may be warning signs of suicidal thoughts, especially if related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say, what they do, or sudden mood changes.

Suicide prevention tips

We all have a role to play in suicide prevention.  Some tips for dealing with someone who is considering suicide, are:

Be proactive: There are times when you notice that something is off for a friend or family member. Take note of changes in talk, behavior, and mood. Pay attention to your gut.

Talk about it. Start a conversation in a private safe space about how that person is doing. Listen to their story. Focus on showing your support and compassion. Tell them you care about them. Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems, or giving advice. You don’t have to have all the answers. Be direct. Research shows that asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts will not put the idea into their mind.

Reduce access to means of self-harm. A suicidal crisis is temporary and often lasts minutes. Consider what items are a danger to someone who could be suicidal. Remove and/or lock up these items.

Get Help. Encourage them to seek treatment or contact their doctor or therapist or a crisis line and/or mental health services right away. Build in choice. Stay with the person until they have received support.

Follow Up. Continue to check in regularly and be a source of understanding and support.

One of the most important pieces of advice is not to wait for the “perfect moment” to ask about suicide; that moment will never come. Ask anyway. Because suicide is too important to keep secret.

In the spring of 2017, Amy Haines and Richard Marks’ Dock Street Foundation invited 40 representatives from several Talbot County service agencies and educational institutions to board a bus bound for NYC to see Ben Platt and the cast of “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway. Both Haines and Marks had seen the play and felt it would be helpful if shared with our local providers of care to increase their knowledge about suicide.

“I realized after returning from the show that Richard and Amy’s gift could last much more than just one day.  I thought it offered an opportunity to reach students and those in the community in the same way that the show reached everyone on the trip that day.  That year, we decided to begin an annual campaign and start a conversation about suicide prevention in our community,” Beth Anne Langrell shares.

This year, as a nod to the “Dear Evan Hansen” movie that recently came out in theaters nationally, For All Season’s Suicide Prevention Campaign will feature the song, “You Will Be Found “on October 7 on Facebook, featuring local singers and community members. In addition, the agency will sponsor “Dear Evan Hansen” movie tickets for music and theater students at Easton High School so that they can attend the movie at Premier Cinemas in Easton. A website with a movie discussion guide for “Dear Evan Hansen,” and suicide prevention resources have been created by For All Seasons to help community members navigate difficult conversations about the topics in the film including anxiety, social isolation, and suicide. Postcards with instructions on how to access this website are available at the theater for movie-goers to pick up after the film. The website also offers valuable information to any community member regardless of whether they have seen the movie. Visit www.nomatterwhatyoumatter.org.

Additionally, handouts on suicide prevention will be distributed to Talbot County businesses so they can share this important information with clients and visitors.

Anyone needing help can contact For All Seasons 24/7 at 410-822-1018 or the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: Text: 410-829-6143 Toll-Free: 800-310-7273 | English:410-820-5600 | Spanish: 410-829-6143. Persons may also call Maryland Crisis Connect 24/7 – Dial 211 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For further information about For All Seasons activities related to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest level of mental health and victim services to children, adults and families across the Mid-Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy and 24-hour crisis hotlines.

Source: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2019/How-to-Ask-Someone-About-Suicide

Enel Green Power to Present Environmental Screenings at Chesapeake Film Festival

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Photo Credit: Dave Harp

Enel Green Power, a developer, long-term owner and operator of renewable energy projects in North America, is presenting a selection of environmental films at the 14th annual Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF), beginning Friday, October 1, at the historic Avalon Theatre in Easton. The hybrid festival will continue online with free virtual film offerings from Oct 3-10 available on the festival’s website.

Enel Green Power operates 60 renewable power plants in the US and Canada powered by wind, solar and geothermal energy and is exploring the development of new utility-scale solar projects in the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

“Enel Green Power is proud to support the Chesapeake Film Festival and the dedicated storytellers who are turning their lenses to environmental issues in the Eastern Shore and beyond,” said Gerald Juliani, development manager at Enel Green Power, “Renewable energy is the key to a decarbonized future that reduces pollution and mitigates the effects of climate change, both of which are serious threats to the natural world around us. As we pursue new solar development in Maryland, we’re thrilled to sponsor this important cultural institution and look forward to a long-term partnership with communities around the Chesapeake Bay.”

Environmental film screenings for this year’s festival include the world premiere of Water’s Way, an environmental feature film produced by local filmmakers Sandy Cannon-Brown, Dave Harp and Tom Horton. The film will debut at the Avalon Theatre on Friday, October 1, and be followed with a Q&A session with the filmmakers.

Other environmental film offerings presented by Enel will include The Heat Is On: Driving Climate Action for People and Nature, a short film produced by the World Wildlife Fund, and Farmscape Ecology, a short film focused on the evolution of farming that explores the essential question of “How do we produce food and still maintain a livelihood for farmers, while respecting the needs of other organisms with which we share the land?”

Made in Maryland films are also a major focus of the CFF, and include Power of the Paddle, the story of Chris Hopkinson’s quest to draw attention to the effects of decades of pollution and overfishing on the Chesapeake Bay, and Crisis on the Half Shell, a tale of hope about the efforts of marine biologists and advocates to restore the oyster populations of the Bay.

More information about the Chesapeake Film Festival is available at www.ChesapeakeFilmFestival.com.

Enel Green Power North America is a leading developer, long-term owner and operator of renewable energy plants in North America, with a presence in 14 US states and one Canadian province. The company operates 60 plants with a managed capacity of over 6.7 GW powered by renewable wind, geothermal and solar energy. https://www.enelgreenpower.com/countries/north-america/united-states

VIP Reception October 1 Launches 2021 Live Chesapeake Film Festival

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The Chesapeake Film Festival opens its 2021 Live Festival with a VIP reception in the courtyard of the Eastern Shore Conservation Center on Friday, Oct. 1. The reception, hosted by the CFF Board of Directors, honors filmmakers, sponsors and major donors.

Tickets, which cover the reception and the three environmental films premiering at the Avalon Theatre that evening, may be purchased for $125 per person.  To purchase tickets, go to chesapeakefilmfestival.com and scroll down to “Click Here to Purchase Tickets for the Live Festival.”

CFF relies on its VIP sponsors and donors to fulfill its mission to entertain, empower, educate and inspire diverse audiences of all ages by presenting independent films and events throughout the year.  The reception honoring them, catered by Blue Heron Catering, begins at 5 p.m.  The ESCC, at 114 S. Washington Street in Easton, is just two blocks from the Avalon Theatre.

Because of CoVid concerns, the reception will be outdoors and attendees must be fully vaccinated. In the event of rain or new CoVid restrictions, the reception will be rescheduled for a future date.

Friday evening offers the world premieres of three environmental films, ranging from 5- to 45-minutes, and a panel discussion with the filmmakers.  Tickets for Friday’s evening of environmental films, without the VIP reception, are $25.

Water’s Way: Thinking Like a Watershed

The Live Festival opens with Water’s Way: Thinking Like a Watershed. This new film by Tom Horton, Dave Harp and Sandy Cannon-Brown suggests that learning to appreciate and emulate beavers may be a key to understanding how we might once again experience a watershed resilient to flood and drought and Chesapeake clean and clear.

Two shorts follow Water’s Way and a panel discussion.  Olympic Sleepers of the Arctic, by CFF board members Irene Magafan and Jamie Currie, explores the arctic ground squirrels and how they have adapted to hibernate up to eight months to survive. This 5-minute film touches on the unique biology of these animals in the greater context of the environmental threats facing the arctic region.

The Heat is On: Driving Climate Action for People and Nature is a 20-minute film by Irene Magafan and Kelly Ashford about World Wildlife Fund’s response to dire reports on the threats of climate change.

To learn more about the reception, the Live Festival Oct. 1 and 2, and the Virtual Festival Oct. 3-10, go to chesapeakefilmfestival.com

The Chesapeake Film Festival is generously supported by the Shared Earth Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Prager on behalf of Bluepoint Hospitality, Enel Green Powers, Doug Powers, The Nature Conservancy, Maryland Film Office, Choptank Electric, Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot Arts, Talbot County Department of Tourism, Artistic Insights Fund, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, U.S. Small Business Administration, and The Ravenal Foundation. Funding has also been provided to the Chesapeake Film Festival from Maryland Humanities and The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program.

Easton Choral Arts Announces Auditions for Gifted Students

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Easton Choral Arts announces auditions for its Choral Scholars program for the 2021-2022 concert season.   The program is open to gifted student vocalists in 9th grade through college.  This season, Easton Choral Arts will present a Christmas concert featuring the music of John Rutter (December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and December 5 at 4 p.m.) and a spring concert featuring music from a range of music styles and periods (April 28, 7:30 p.m. and May 1, 4 p.m.).  Students who successfully audition receive $1,000 for the season ($500 per semester).  Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. at Christ Church in Easton.  To learn more or to schedule an audition, contact weslockfaw@christchurcheaston.org.  You may also visit the website at www.eastonchoralarts.org.

The Easton Choral Arts Society is an auditioned choral ensemble that believes in the power of music to enrich the cultural life of the Eastern Shore. Under the direction of the pre-eminent Artistic Director, Wes Lockfaw, ECAS brings a commitment to deliver excellence to our singers, audiences, and supporters. While the group is based in Easton, its singers come from all areas of the Eastern Shore.

American Society of Marine Artists Exhibition to Open at CBMM

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The 18th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) is coming to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with the exhibition to be hosted in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Steamboat Building in St. Michaels, Md., from Oct. 22, 2021, through Feb. 22, 2022.

On the heels of the American Society of Marine Artists’ 40th anniversary, the ASMA biennial exhibition is a juried selection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, scrimshaw, and hand-pulled prints submitted by members. The ASMA 18th National Exhibition will include work by many of the most prominent contemporary marine artists working in the nation today.

Greg LaRock’s work Restoration Conversation, painted en plein air at CBMM, is just one of several pieces of contemporary maritime art that will be on display in CBMM’s Steamboat Building when the 18th National Exhibition of ASMA travels to St. Michaels, Md., this fall.

“We are thrilled to once again bring the nation’s best contemporary marine art to CBMM for our members and guests to take in and enjoy,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “We identify with the mission of ASMA, as we both raise appreciation for maritime culture and the marine environment to inspire stewardship.”

The American Society of Marine Artists is a non-profit educational organization whose purpose is to recognize and promote marine art and maritime history and to encourage cooperation among artists, historians, academics, enthusiasts, and others engaged in activities relating to marine art. Its nearly 500 members include painters, sculptors, scrimshanders, and printmakers, all drawing inspiration from a relationship with the water. That inspiration comes from a wide range of locations and experiences that include waters both navigable and discreet and activities both carefully researched from history and observed directly from life.

“The founders of American Society of Marine Artists were mostly painters of tall ships and other vessels that ply the high seas. While maritime history is still at the core of our mission, today’s members also capture life under the sea, along the shorelines, and even in ponds, streams, and boathouses. The work contained in this exhibition truly does represent the finest in contemporary marine art,” said ASMA President Lisa Egeli. “Our gratitude goes to the artists, the museums, the collectors, and the volunteers who support us, and the viewing public who will turn out to experience this wonderful presentation.”

Entry to the exhibition is free for CBMM members or with general admission. At CBMM, the ASMA 18th National Exhibition is supported in part byIrmhild&Philip Webster.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all.

Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.