https://chestertownspy.org Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown Thu, 08 May 2025 17:33:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/08/bob-atieri/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/08/bob-atieri/#respond Thu, 08 May 2025 11:00:10 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=184069 As Chesapeake Bank and Trust approaches its 40th year, CEO Bob Altieri emphasizes the importance of community banks in a conversation about local economics, global uncertainties, and the evolving real estate market. “Community banks, like churches and small businesses, are part of the fabric of a town,” Altieri said. “We’re soon to be the only […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/08/bob-atieri/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/crafting-a-legacy-a-talk-with-bob-ortiz/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/crafting-a-legacy-a-talk-with-bob-ortiz/#comments Tue, 06 May 2025 12:00:35 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=184017 After three decades as one of Chestertown’s most beloved artisans, master wood craftsman Bob Ortiz is contemplating retirement and how to write his next chapter. Part of the equation is what to do with his downtown workshop, a place that has become more than a room filled with industrial machinery, lumber and his signature furniture. […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/crafting-a-legacy-a-talk-with-bob-ortiz/feed/ 2 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/drums-on-high-street/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/drums-on-high-street/#respond Tue, 06 May 2025 11:00:50 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=184048 Oh come on, who doesn’t love a marching band even if it’s practice? While most Sundays in Chestertown drift by with a quiet grace punctuated by church bells and conversations among dog walkers, the usual hush of he past two Sundays was replaced by the rattle of snares, drumbeats, and trumpet blasts as the Delmarva […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/05/06/drums-on-high-street/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/28/kent-county-public-schools-budget-town-hall-may-1/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/28/kent-county-public-schools-budget-town-hall-may-1/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:00:38 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183887 Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, is holding a town hall on the proposed budget for next year. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at the Kent County Public Schools Administrative Building in Rock Hall. Dr. McComas will give a presentation on the budget proposal currently being […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/28/kent-county-public-schools-budget-town-hall-may-1/feed/ 1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/23/chesapeake-histories-a-talk-with-sultana-education-foundation-vp-chris-cerino/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/23/chesapeake-histories-a-talk-with-sultana-education-foundation-vp-chris-cerino/#respond Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:19 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183761   In a innovative collaboration aimed at deepening students’ understanding of the Chesapeake region’s rich but often underrepresented history, the Sultana Education Foundation has launched a compelling educational program focused on the African American experience in the region. The presentation, piloted during Black History Month for local fifth-grade students, pairs digital storytelling with a real-world […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/23/chesapeake-histories-a-talk-with-sultana-education-foundation-vp-chris-cerino/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/community-invited-to-washington-college-politalks-with-hon-heather-mizeur/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/community-invited-to-washington-college-politalks-with-hon-heather-mizeur/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:00:38 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183501 Washington College’s own student-led organization, PoliTalks, invites the community to an engaging evening of dialogue and connection at their upcoming event, “Disagreement is Democratic: Inviting Everyone to the Table,” featuring the Honorable Heather Mizeur. This special lecture and discussion filled community dinner offers an opportunity for engagement on the importance of dialogue and political discourse in democracy. […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/community-invited-to-washington-college-politalks-with-hon-heather-mizeur/feed/ 2 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/post-arpa-chestertown-budget-embraces-caution/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/post-arpa-chestertown-budget-embraces-caution/#respond Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:00:33 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183500 Draft FY 2025–2026 plan avoids tax hikes, trims spending, and prioritizes equity across all wards. This summation is based on Town Manager Larry DiRe’s report to the town council, Monday, April 7, 2025. With the federal infusion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds now in the rearview, Chestertown’s draft budget for fiscal year 2025–2026 […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/post-arpa-chestertown-budget-embraces-caution/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/183502/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/183502/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:00:50 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183502 And I shook my head … German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller wrote the famous piece “First They Came for the Jews.” It is a powerful reminder of the dangers of indifference and the importance of speaking out and acting against injustice. Based on the actions of the current administration, Niemöller’s words have never been more […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/10/183502/feed/ 1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/08/health-for-all-seasons-with-beth-anne-dorman/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/08/health-for-all-seasons-with-beth-anne-dorman/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:00:43 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183442 http:// “For a long time, we were the best-kept secret in Kent County,” says Beth Anne Dorman, Executive Director of for All Seasons. Though they’ve been present in Kent County for 15 years and  in local schools for over 17 years, the organization recently launched a visible shift: expanded services, increased public access and “bringing […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/08/health-for-all-seasons-with-beth-anne-dorman/feed/ 1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/04/between-the-sky-and-sea-the-art-of-jacqui-crocetta-susan-hostetler/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/04/between-the-sky-and-sea-the-art-of-jacqui-crocetta-susan-hostetler/#respond Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:00:55 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183406 http:// MassoniArt presents Between the Sky and Sea, a collaborative installation by Jacqui Crocetta and Susan Hostetler that explores the profound connection between the ocean and migratory birds—a fragile, interdependent relationship at the heart of our planet’s ecosystems. The exhibition combines Hostetler’s delicately sculpted birds with Crocetta’s evocative ocean-inspired paintings to illuminate the beauty and […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/04/between-the-sky-and-sea-the-art-of-jacqui-crocetta-susan-hostetler/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/01/chestertown-main-street-releases-visionary-phase-one-master-plan/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/01/chestertown-main-street-releases-visionary-phase-one-master-plan/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:00:47 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183317 http:// After more than a year of community engagement, design work, and collaboration with the town of Chestertown, Main Street Chestertown has officially released its Downtown Master Plan: Phase One Report. The comprehensive 179-page document outlines a long-term vision for revitalizing and improving the town’s historic downtown district through a set of 40 proposed infrastructure […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/01/chestertown-main-street-releases-visionary-phase-one-master-plan/feed/ 2 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/31/adkins-arboretum-mystery-monday-guess-the-photo-18/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/31/adkins-arboretum-mystery-monday-guess-the-photo-18/#respond Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:00:43 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183293 Happy Mystery Monday!  Can you guess what is pictured below? The answer to last week’s mystery is white oak, Quercus alba, pictured below: White oak trees are native to the eastern United States and are usually found in forested areas of dry slopes, valleys, and ravines. It is a large, slow growing, deciduous hardwood tree. […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/31/adkins-arboretum-mystery-monday-guess-the-photo-18/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/27/homeports-2/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/27/homeports-2/#respond Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:47:48 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183228 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/27/homeports-2/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/kent-countys-meta-program-welcomes-new-cohort-of-entrepreneurs/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/kent-countys-meta-program-welcomes-new-cohort-of-entrepreneurs/#respond Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:46 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183168 The Upper Shore Community Development Partners (USCDP), in partnership with the Town of Chestertown, proudly welcomes the newest cohort of entrepreneurs to the Minority Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator (META) program. This transformative initiative, hosted at Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and Innovation Plant, empowers local business owners with the skills, […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/kent-countys-meta-program-welcomes-new-cohort-of-entrepreneurs/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/national-vietnam-war-veterans-day-march-29/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/national-vietnam-war-veterans-day-march-29/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:00:20 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183188 National Vietnam War Veterans Day will be commemorated on Saturday, March 29 from 2-3pm in Memorial Park. Veterans who served on active duty anywhere in the world from 1955 to 1975 are invited to be recognized for their service and sacrifice.  ]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/national-vietnam-war-veterans-day-march-29/feed/ 5 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/the-shelter-alliance-seeks-an-executive-director/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/the-shelter-alliance-seeks-an-executive-director/#respond Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:08 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183192 The mission of the Shelter Alliance is to provide a year-round shelter for community members experiencing homelessness. As we work toward our long-range goal, we continue to provide short-term solutions to those currently in need who seek our help.  We bear in mind, too, the needs and interests of our greater community and the people who live […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/25/the-shelter-alliance-seeks-an-executive-director/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/20/on-point-with-md-secretary-of-veterans-and-military-families-anthony-woods/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/20/on-point-with-md-secretary-of-veterans-and-military-families-anthony-woods/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:30:34 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183089 http:// Anthony Woods speaks from experience when he talks about his path to becoming Governor Wes Moore’s choice for Maryland Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. Secretary Woods, a West Point graduate who served for two tours in Iraq, understands the significant challenges of transitioning to civilian life, including physical and mental health concerns, financial […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/20/on-point-with-md-secretary-of-veterans-and-military-families-anthony-woods/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-solar-land-rush-a-farmers-perspective-with-judy-gifford/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-solar-land-rush-a-farmers-perspective-with-judy-gifford/#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:08:57 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183056   http:// Over the past 50 years, the pursuit of renewable energy has been driven by advocates who see large solar arrays as a crucial step toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels.. Critics, however, argue that the land available for solar arrays is limited, and the large-scale expansion of solar farms could compete with agricultural […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-solar-land-rush-a-farmers-perspective-with-judy-gifford/feed/ 2 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-garfield-center-calls-for-directors-and-title-submissions-for-2026-season/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-garfield-center-calls-for-directors-and-title-submissions-for-2026-season/#respond Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:00:32 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183067 The Garfield Center for the Arts has opened its annual call for play and musical titles for production consideration. Suggestions and proposals can be made by Directors who would like to present a play or musical in the 2025 season as well as by interested community members, patrons of the Garfield Center and arts participants. […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/18/the-garfield-center-calls-for-directors-and-title-submissions-for-2026-season/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/17/chestertown-resident-detained-by-ice-for-7-days/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/17/chestertown-resident-detained-by-ice-for-7-days/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:00:04 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183045 According to a WYPR report on March 15, Chestertown resident April Amaya-Luis was recently detained by ICE and sent to US Immigration’s and Customs Enforcement Field Office in Baltimore. The article reports that Amaya-Luis, an undocumented immigrant, had applied for legal status in December 2024. Read the NPR article here]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/17/chestertown-resident-detained-by-ice-for-7-days/feed/ 4