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February 4, 2023

The Chestertown Spy

An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

News News Notes

Automated Speed Enforcement on US 301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) Bridge Project Begins Monday

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In an ongoing effort to improve work zone safety, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will deploy the Maryland SafeZones Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) system along the US 301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) bridge replacement project over the Chester River next week.

On Monday, October 24, ASE equipment will be set up at the work site, which is along both directions of US 301 at the Chester River in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. After a 21-day warning period, Maryland State Police (MSP) will authorize citations beginning Monday, November 14.

After that time, by law, if ASE equipment records a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit, a $40 fine will be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. Motorists are reminded that the speed limit through this work zone has been reduced to 45 mph. Maryland SafeZones supports MDOT SHA, MSP and Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MDTA) in the statewide effort to improve work zone safety.

Maryland SafeZones’ goal is to encourage a change in driver behavior and to increase driver awareness of the impacts of speed-related crashes in work zones. For more information on the program, visit https://safezones.maryland.gov. More information on the US 301 Chester River bridge replacement project is available at MDOT SHA US301 Brg over Chester Riv (QA1845180) (arcgis.com).

For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, go to Project Portal. Visit our homepage at roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov .

From intersection improvements to widening and new interchange construction, MDOT SHA is investing in projects to enhance the commute and daily travel for millions of Marylanders.  MDOT SHA maintains more than 2,500 bridges and 17,000 miles of non-toll state roads – the interstate, US and state numbered routes in Maryland’s 23 counties. 

Dell Foxx Company to Headline Adkins Arboretum Beer Garden October 22

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Dell Foxx Company

Local beer, food trucks and music by local favorites Dell Foxx Company are all on tap when Adkins Arboretum hosts its annual Beer Garden on Sat., Oct. 22.

Dell Foxx Company is an active and must-see Eastern Shore cover band. Since their first performance at a small open mic night in 2014, they have developed a diverse repertoire that ranges from Alabama Shakes and Grand Funk Railroad to John Mayer, Florence and the Machine and more. They have taken their fun, high-energy sound to venues and events across the state.

Food and drink will be available for purchase, with Bull & Goat Brewery and Ten Eyck Brewing Company pulling premium craft beer and food trucks from Blue Monkey Street Tacos and So Coast Street Eats serving delicious savory fare.

The Beer Garden runs from 2 to 4 p.m., but food trucks will begin serving at 1:30 p.m. Seating is limited; bringing chairs or a blanket is highly advised. Advance registration is required. Only 400 tickets will be sold. Admission is $25 for adults, $5 for children ages 3–18 and free for children ages 2 and under. Register online at adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Bay Country Chorus Seeks New Director

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The Bay Country Chorus is the Easton Maryland Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. We sing four-part harmony in the Barbershop style. We have been entertaining citizens in the four mid-shore counties of Talbot, Dorchester, Caroline and Queen Anne since 1995. We are interested in finding an energetic individual to advance our singing skills and lead us in song. This is a paying position.

Much of our sing outs are at senior living facilities and venues dealing with folks who are in rehab or dealing with dementia. Many cannot get out to enjoy live music, so we bring it to them. Our reward is seeing the joy on the faces of the many special citizens we entertain.

We currently meet at the Talbot County Senior Center (Brooklets Place) on Monday evenings at 6:15 pm. We are amenable to changing the meeting night. Interested parties should contact John Crovo, Chapter President at jcrovo@goeaston.net. Help us to “Keep the Whole World Singing.’

Website Workshops for Small Businesses, Artists and Nonprofits

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Have you ever wanted to learn about the website development platform, Squarespace? Steve Lingeman of Easton, founder of the Photo Easton website and the “Photos for Food Banks Project,” will be offering workshops this fall at the Oxford Community Center to introduce small businesses and nonprofits a basic five-week introduction to Squarespace to create their own websites.

Steve Lingeman

“The Squarespace website platform offers it all – from a simple portfolio capability to a full-blown shopping cart system, email marketing, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) such as Google, Yahoo and MS Bing.  This will be an easy-to-follow course.  All students enrolled should have at least a basic website of their own at the end of 5 weeks and be able to maintain it,” states Lingeman. 

A five-week workshop on the basics will be held on Wednesdays, September 8, 15, 22, 29, and October 6th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and on Wednesdays, October 13, 20, 27, November 3rd and 10th, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Basics include understanding the Squarespace platform and using it to reach your audience, selecting a template, preparing written content and photographs, editing content, launching your website, and interfacing with Facebook and Instagram.

A six-session advanced workshop will be held on January 12, 19, 26, and February 2, 9, and 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The advanced class will cover how to set up your shopping cart system, product pages, more SEO – Search Engine Optimization, and some Facebook and Instagram marketing and advertising. Also, time permitting, the workshop will cover setting up email marketing and contact management. The first session in the advanced class will be a review of the previous course.

Lingeman will also offer “Support Packs” – various levels of support – all of which will be conducted using the screen sharing capability of ZOOM which allows him to teach by screen sharing.  The advanced course in January 2022 will teach the shopping cart side of Squarespace for those who want to sell their wares or offer services and be paid using credit cards.  Squarespace is a seamless platform from end to end.

All workshops will be held at the Oxford Community Center in Oxford with an option for virtual participation through ZOOM. Parking is in the rear; enter through the rear entrance near the center of the building or the front door on the street side. Participants should have a laptop with WiFi and either Apple or MS Windows 10 with the latest updates. All reasonable social distancing guidelines and Covid-19 prevention will be followed for participants safety.

“The value of these workshops is to create an interactive online presence. Learning how to build your site will give you the skillset to easily maintain it – a skill that can save you a lot of money. Once you master the basics, you can move onto building a web store shopping cart system with the advanced workshop,” Lingeman comments.

Steve Lingeman was the owner-operator of two graphics-related companies, as well as printed professionally (large format) for over 30 photographers in Southern Connecticut and Westchester County, New York.

For information about costs and to register, visit www.stevelingeman.com/workshop-descriptions.

Mid-Atlantic Symphony Launches 2020-2021 Season

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The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra opened its 23rd season on September 24, performing works by Beethoven and Grieg for an enthusiastic live audience in Easton, MD, and for virtual viewers around the nation.

Under the direction of Maestro Julien Benichou, the Orchestra welcomed a live, socially-distanced audience at the Church of God in Easton. They were joined by livestream viewers from across Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware, as well as from Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“We are so fortunate to be able to present live performances at a time when so many orchestras are silent and so many musicians are out of work,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Board Chair Jeffrey Parker. “We are grateful to Maestro Benichou, our board and staff for their tireless efforts to make this season possible.”

Maestro Benichou added: “I am so proud of our musicians and how resilient and artfully creative they are during these times of challenge, playing each and every note with heartfelt meaning.”

The 2020-2021 season opened on the originally scheduled date, but with reimagined programs featuring compositions and arrangements for string orchestras to avoid the risk of aerosol sprays from woodwind and brass instruments.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony is livestreaming this season’s concerts in addition to performing before a limited-capacity, socially-distanced live audience.

The September 24 concert began with Erotik from Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces. It was followed by guest soloist Kurt Nikkanen, the New York City Ballet Orchestra’s concertmaster, who delivered a virtuosic performance of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major and received a standing ovation. The concert concluded with Grieg’s Holberg Suite, delighting the audience with classical dances and other contemporary musical forms.

Upcoming programs in the Orchestra’s five-concert subscription series include a November 3 performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto & Double Concerto for Two Mandolins, Anton Arensky’s Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky and Bela Bartok’s Divertimento. The popular Holiday Joy program on December 3 features a festive selection of seasonal music, with guest soloists including soprano Alexandra Raszkazoff and tenor Michael Butler.

Subscription concerts and a special New Year’s Eve program will be performed at the Church of God in Easton, MD, with Orchestra and audience members screened and socially distanced, consistent with guidance from federal and state officials.

Individual tickets to attend single performances are $45, while supplies last. Tickets for the livestreamed performance are $15 per person. Both in-person and livestream tickets include pre- and post-concert events hosted by Maestro Benichou and featuring guest artists and Mid-Atlantic Symphony musicians.

Purchasers of full-season subscriptions, at $155, have the option to attend performances in person. Full-season subscribers also will have the opportunity for a private virtual chat with Maestro Benichou or a Mid-Atlantic Symphony musician of their choice.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org. For additional information, email info@midatlanticsymphony.org or call 888-846-8600.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, 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.

October 2020 Sky-Watch

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Mars comes into OPPOSITION on October 13th opening up wonderful opportunities for sky-watchers to see Mars at its best since 2018. Mars oppositions, unlike those of Saturn and Jupiter, which occur each year, happen only every other year. At opposition, a planet is opposite the Sun in the sky. Mars will rise in the East as the Sun sets in the West on October 13th.

Mars was actually a little closer to Earth at its 2018 opposition, but this year’s opposition puts Mars higher in the sky. The greater altitude means the light from Mars passes through our atmosphere along a shorter path, providing a better image. Best views of Mars will be in the couple of hours before and after midnight when the planet will be at its peak altitude. Among the stars of the zodiac constellation, Pisces, Mars will be brighter than Jupiter has been all summer. Mars will remain a commanding object in the southern sky until Thanksgiving, when it will still be brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in our sky as seen from Earth.

Telescope views of Mars will reveal its South Polar Cap (mostly frozen carbon dioxide and some water ice). Various plains and highlands will be revealed too as dark and light areas. Mars rotates in 24 hours and 37 minutes, so watching it over several nights around the same time each night would allow one to notice the shift of these features to the west (left).

The Full Moon of October 1st rises just a few degrees in front of Mars, while the nearly Full Moon of October 29th will be seen just below it.

Do not overlook Saturn and Jupiter now over in the southwestern sky. Saturn appears even closer to Jupiter this month, and though both have faded a bit as our distance between them grows, they remain very bright. Both planets do not set until after 11 pm.

Venus rises on the morning of October 1st in the eastern sky around 4 am local time, alongside Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Regulus ranks as the 20th brightest star we see, yet Venus is 145 times brighter! The pair will appear even closer together on October 2nd and 3rd. On October 13th and 14th, look for a crescent Moon just above Venus before dawn.

October 2020 has two Full Moons; October 1st and October 31st. We call the 2nd Full Moon in the same calendar month a “Blue” Moon; as in something happening “once in a blue Moon.” Actually 2 Full Moons in the same month is not all that rare. It happens about every 3 or 4 years.

University of Maryland Medical System CEO Visits UM Shore Regional Health

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Dr. Mohan Suntha, president and CEO University of Maryland Medical System, visited UM Shore Regional Health locations on Monday, September 14. His first stop was the drive-up Covid-19 testing site at Chesapeake College, where UM SRH team members walked Dr. Suntha through the testing process.

Photo: Dr. Mohan Suntha, UMMS CEO (fifth from left), visited the Covid-19 testing site at Chesapeake College on Monday. He was welcomed by (l-r) Ken Kozel, UM SRH CEO; Rhonda Thomas, director of public safety, Chesapeake College; Dr. Joseph Ciotola, Queen Anne’s County health officer; William Greskovich, VP Operations, Executive Office, UMMS; Pam Addy, vice president, Ambulatory and Clinical Services; Dr. Clifford P. Coppersmith, president, Chesapeake College, and Keith McMahan, UM SRH board chairman.

Dr. Suntha next traveled to Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, where he met outside with hospital team members and community residents interested in the future of health care in Kent County. This visit was followed by a lunch time meeting at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Easton that included members of Shore Regional Health’s Medical Executive Committee.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Explore CBMM’s Cabinet of Curiosities on Oct. 29

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Get in the Halloween spirit this year by joining the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for a new virtual program, Wunderkammer: Exploring CBMM’s Cabinets of Curiosities.

Cabinets of Curiosities, fondly known in German as Wunderkammers, have been historically used to showcase oddities, unique objects of material culture, gems of natural history, and mystical stories. From 6–7:30pm on Thursday, Oct. 29, CBMM Registrar Katelyn Kean will host an exploration of CBMM’s collection for the weird and wonderful as it relates to the Chesapeake Bay.

Old Bay Line Onboard souvenirs from the Baltimore Steam Packet Company.

Hosted via Zoom, participants will learn about the history of Cabinets of Curiosities, how that history connects to the modern museum world, and what hidden treasures can be found within CBMM’s collection. Hosted by the CBMM Crew, a group established to present engaging events and activities targeted to the young adult community of CBMM guests, the cost to participate is $10, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($8). To register, visit cbmm.org/wunderkammer.

CBMM members play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibitions, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

Compass Regional Hospice to Host Annual Golf Tournament

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Compass Regional Hospice invites golfers to join them on the greens for the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, October 19 at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville. Proceeds from the golf tournament enable Compass Regional Hospice to continue to provide professional and compassionate end-of-life care and grief support to the residents of Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties.

Josh Bullock of Bullock Construction is Chair of this year’s tournament. Golfers will play the 18-hole, par 72 course. The entry fee is $125 per golfer. Foursomes and individual golfers are welcome. Tournament participants will also enjoy a variety of competitions and games in addition to the 18-holes of play.

On the day of the tournament registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. Refreshments will be available on the course. After play, the golfers are invited back to the club house for lunch and an awards ceremony.

This year, a generous donor has agreed to match up to $15,000 in donations. Members of the community who are not golfers and golfers who want to do more to support Compass Regional Hospice can sign on as tournament sponsors or make a direct donation. “Sponsorship opportunities come with a variety of benefits, and we have sponsorship opportunities ranging from $300 to $5,000,” explains Kenda Leager, Development Officer for Compass Regional Hospice.

L-R: Shelby Brown, Banquet and Sales Manager of Prospect Bay Country Club; Kenda Leager, Development Officer of Compass Regional Hospice; Heather Guerieri, CEO of Compass Regional Hospice; Josh Bullock of Bullock Construction, Golf Tournament Chair.

“We are so thankful for the continued support of our golfers and sponsors who make this annual event successful! Because of these community members, we are able to continue to offer programs that are not reimbursed from other sources,” says Heather Guerieri, Chief Executive Officer for Compass Regional Hospice.

For more information about registering for or sponsoring the Compass Regional Hospice Golf Tournament, contact Kenda Leager, 443-262- 4106, kleager@compassregionalhospice.org.

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a life-limiting illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care, supportive care, and grief services in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to all children and adults in the community through grief groups, one-on-one counseling, and in-school support. As a Level 4 partner of the We Honor Veterans program, they also offer veteran-centric care that meets the unique needs of men and women who have served our country. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.

Maryland State Board of Elections Posts Ballot Drop Box Locations

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The Maryland State Board of Elections today posted online a list of statewide ballot drop box locations for the 2020 general election as well as the dates each ballot drop box location will be available to voters. Once open, the ballot drop boxes will remain open until Election Day, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m.

Each Maryland jurisdiction will have at least two ballot drop box locations available to voters. The state’s most populous counties and the City of Baltimore will have additional ballot drop boxes to accommodate the greater number of eligible voters residing in those jurisdictions. Voters can submit their completed mail-in ballots in any drop box located in their jurisdiction of residence.

In all, 283 ballot drop boxes will be available at 282 locations around the state. Two ballot drop boxes will be available at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The 283 boxes include 277 secured by the Maryland State Board of Elections and six boxes that counties already had in their possession. Individual ballot box locations were proposed by the local boards of election across the state.

The complete list of ballot drop box locations is available at:

https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/PG20_Drop%20Box%20Locations.xlsx

Eligible voters in Maryland have been mailed applications for mail-in ballots. Applications must be received by October 20. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters via first-class U.S. Mail beginning in late September and continuing in October.

In order to be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3 and the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that arrives with the ballot must be signed. Those who choose to cast their votes using ballot drop boxes must submit their completed ballots by the final collection time – 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 – in order for their ballot to count. Just as with ballots submitted by mail, in order for ballots submitted at drop boxes to count they must be sealed in the return envelopes that accompany the ballots and the voter oath on the envelope must be signed.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland State Board of Elections encourages voters to cast their ballots by mail and use ballot drop boxes. To make in-person voting safe, voters must remain six feet apart and wear a mask. To maintain proper distancing, the number of voters permitted inside a voting center at one time may be limited, which could result in lines and wait times.

Voters who choose to vote in person may do so from Monday, Oct. 26 to Monday, Nov. 2, including Saturday and Sunday, or on Election Day, Nov. 3. Early voting and Election Day vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any authorized voting location within their jurisdiction of residence.

A complete list of early voting locations can be found here:

https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/2020%20Early%20Voting%20Centers.pdf

A complete list of Election Day voting locations can be found here:

https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/PG20_List%20of%20Election%20Day%20Vote%20Centers.xlsx