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 and placemaking projects.
Paul Heckles, who has helped lead the initiative, explained that the process began nearly three years ago when Main Street Chestertown first began conceptualizing a master plan. “That led to a couple of years of planning,” Heckels said. “Eventually, we posted a request for proposals from consulting firms, and we hired Design Collective out of Baltimore.”
The project formally launched in February 2024, following a competitive RFQ process that drew interest from 12 firms. Design Collective was selected for its expertise in urban design and community-focused planning. What followed was a year-long effort that included workshops, creative brainstorming sessions, focus groups, and feedback loops with residents and stakeholders.
The result, now available here as a digital flipbook and downloadable PDF, outlines 40 conceptual projects that aim to reshape the downtown experience—ranging from burying utility wires and improving the tree canopy to reimagining sidewalks and restructuring the parking system for greater efficiency and accessibility.
“These 40 projects are pretty significant infrastructure projects,” said Sonni Huntzinger, Executive Duerctor of Main Street Chestertown. “Each one will require its own engineering and design throughout the course of what we’re calling Phase Two.”
The plan is structured into three phases. Phase One, now complete, centers on visioning and conceptual project recommendations. Phase Two will focus on prioritizing and sequencing those concepts, moving selected projects into detailed schematic design and engineering, ready to be bid out for construction. Phase Three will be the implementation phase—moving projects from paper to pavement, complete with groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
Throughout the planning process, Main Street Chestertown worked closely with the town’s leadership and an advisory board. The town contributed funding and input, and community engagement remained central. “The community really put a lot of effort into this,” Huntzinger noted, pointing to the various charrettes and workshops that shaped the final report. “It’s the community we want to say thank you to for this product.”
Heckles emphasized that the geographic scope of the report is centered on the historic district, but the ambitions of the plan go beyond physical improvements. “We hope it elevates the health and well-being of residents and visitors—anyone who spends time in downtown Chestertown,” he said. “We hope it addresses the need for a more diverse environment downtown, one where people of all walks of life are going to feel welcome and invited to participate.”
In addition to infrastructure, the plan also considers programming and communication strategies that will enhance the cultural and economic vitality of the area. As Huntzinger explained, “There’s a whole other layer that Main Street brings to it… It’s the impact these projects will have on quality of life and the downtown experience for visitors, residents, and businesses.”
The Phase One report is now publicly accessible, offering a transparent and detailed look into Chestertown’s aspirations for the next 5, 10, or even 15 years. As the town moves into Phase Two, the focus will shift to making those aspirations actionable.
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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. White oak does not tolerate wet conditions and is best planted in well-drained sites with rich, moist, acidic loam in full sun.
White oaks are in the beech family, and can reach heights of 135′ with an 80′ spread. These massive and stately shade trees grow in an artistic, wide-spreading habit. The bark of the white oak is light gray, with shallow grooves and flat, loose ridges.
White oak is one of the hardest woods on the planet with beautiful grain. It is very resistant to decay and is one of the best woods for steam bending. A unique feature of the white oak is a honeycomb-shaped film in its cells called “tyloses.” Tyloses swell to fill the vessels of the wood so that they can no longer conduct water, which is why white oak is used to make containers for liquids, like whiskey and wine barrels.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
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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, resources, and connections to grow and sustain their ventures.
The 2025 cohort represents a diverse range of businesses, each bringing unique products and services to Kent County and beyond:
Jayne Barrett-Freeman, Jab Cab, LLC – A transportation service focused on accessibility and convenience.
Taccorra Rena Graves, Crafteebabe Kreationz – A creative brand specializing in handcrafted goods.
Danielle Latricia Barrett, Bee Well Apothecary – A holistic wellness business offering natural remedies and self-care products.
Rashawn Donté Bennett, Food Truck – A mobile eatery bringing flavorful, on-the-go dining experiences.
Vanessa Holloway-Truxon, Agribusiness – A venture dedicated to sustainable farming and agricultural innovation.
Carlene Louise Wilson, C and M Décor and Design, LLC – A home décor and design company crafting beautiful living spaces.
Kay L Brown, K’s Hot Dogs– A mobile food service offering quick and delicious bites.
The META program provides participants with expert-led training, mentorship, and access to essential business resources. META is thrilled to welcome Deayna Ewell, an experienced entrepreneur, the owner of Onyx Beauty Supply, and member of the inaugural META cohort in Queen Anne’s county, as a co-facilitator, to share her experiences and provide insights to the cohort.
“We are excited to support this talented group of business owners,” said Rebecca Murphy, Lead Consultant at USCDP. “META is designed to provide a solid foundation for entrepreneurs to thrive, and we are grateful to the Town of Chestertown and Washington College’s Starr Center and Innovation Plant for generously supporting this impactful program.”
“The Starr Center and Innovation Plant are incredibly proud to support this important initiative and to have partnered with USCDP and the Town of Chestertown,” said Patrick Nugent, the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Director of Civic Engagement at Washington College. “We seek to catalyze economic and educational opportunities in our region, and this is a perfect example of how we partner with others to make that happen.”
META is a key initiative in strengthening economic development and fostering business success in Kent County. Through strategic partnerships and community support, this program continues to be a catalyst for minority-owned businesses in the region.
For more information about the META program or to learn how to support local entrepreneurs, contact [email protected].
About Upper Shore Community Development Partners (USCDP)
Upper Shore Community Development Partners (USCDP) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to advance equity in housing, entrepreneurship, and job placement for the underrepresented on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
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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 here.
We are excited to announce that we have secured a generous grant to fund a paid Executive Director for The Alliance who will be responsible for overseeing both short term and long term goals. The primary responsibilities of this position are Program Management, Resource Allocation, Community Outreach, Policy Development, and Personnel Management. In carrying out these responsibilities, efforts should be made to reach out to other local organizations and churches to coordinate services to those in need.
In the short term several grants have allowed us to provide emergency shelter. To date we have provided 62 bed nights at two local motels for men, women, and families.
The Shelter Closet opened in January 2025 in the Kent Plaza Shopping Center as a clothing distribution center for those in need during the winter months. Clothing is free to the needy while the public may also shop for a monetary donation. Our original months of operation were to be January, February and March, but these have been extended through the end of June. The hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00-2:00 with donations of clothes accepted during hours of operation.
The Shelter Alliance is a component fund of The Mid-shore Community Foundation. For further information about the Executive Director’s responsibilities and qualifications go to www.mscf.org/shelter. For consideration, prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their credentials by April 18.
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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 struggles, and social reintegration.
Now, two years into his tenure, Woods embraces care for veterans as a moral duty for those who sacrificed for their country and has been focusing on healthcare, employment opportunities, and mental health support to address severe conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and physical disabilities that, without proper care, could lead to unemployment, homelessness, or even suicide.
“First and foremost, we run a service program where we’ve got accredited claims officers who work at 15 different locations across the state and work virtually to help veterans file their claims to gain access to disability compensation or VA health care. That program is so successful, it’s got a 94% claims acceptance rate. So that means, when you sit down with one of our folks and they submit it to the VA on your behalf, 94% of the time the VA says, yes, this is a good claim.” Woods says.
The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs has been renamed the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. Secretary Woods highlights that this name change reflects an expanded mission: the department now formally acknowledges and provides services not only to veterans but also to their families. This shift recognizes the vital role military families play and aims to address their unique needs alongside those of veterans.
“When we say military families, we mean veteran families, of course, active duty military dependents, but also caregivers and survivors. Because we were we have this fundamental belief that if the family thrives, the veteran or the service member thrives too” pointing out that the DoD moves service members and their families all around the country and all around the world, but it’s up to the state to welcome them into the state and community or the job market.
Recognizing that government alone can’t address every issue, Secretary Woods says that the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families launched Maryland Joins Forces, a partnership initiative with veteran service organizations and military-focused nonprofits. Instead of duplicating efforts at high cost, the program collaborates to tackle key challenges in the veteran community, including employment, education access, housing and food insecurity, and healthcare.
The Spy recently interviewed Secretary Woods about the mission of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families and addressed other significant issues including the impact of punitive DEI and DoD policies on gays and transgenders in the military.
A day after the interview, The Spy reached out to the Secretary to ask if he had a statement about the recent Department of Defense scrubbing of the Arlington National Cemetery website, which removed links to the histories and lives of veterans of color—both men and women—including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the WWII Navajo codebreakers, Colin Powell, and others.
Secretary Woods replied:
“Erasing the stories and experiences of veterans, regardless of their background, dishonors their sacrifices and distorts the history of our military. It not only overlooks vital contributions but also weakens our ability to recruit and support future service members, who must see themselves reflected in the legacy of those who served. By diminishing the role of any veteran, we diminish the service and sacrifices of all.”
For more about the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, go here.
Secretary Woods, a Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, served two deployments to Iraq and continues as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon as an Intelligence Analyst. In the private sector, he has held key roles at Cisco Systems, The Boston Consulting Group, and Capital One. His public service includes leadership in mission-driven nonprofits, philanthropy, and a White House Fellowship under President Obama. He holds degrees from West Point, Harvard, and the University of Maryland.
This video is approximately 11 minutes in length.
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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 use, potentially reducing the amount of land available for crops and livestock. This concern is especially pressing for small farms, which may struggle to retain their land amid increasing demand for solar installations.
Judy Gifford, a small farm owner near Kennedyville has been watching the proliferation of solar on the Eastern Shore for a decade.
“Several years ago, the American Farmland Trust estimated that we were losing about 2,000 acres of farmland a day nationwide. I’m sure that number is even higher now. The problem is, people just assume we have endless land—it’s this attitude of, “Oh, we can build here, we can build there.” But the cumulative effect is reaching a tipping point,” she says.
Gifford and other small farmers on the Eastern Shore feel the pressure of allowing solar fields on farmland. The State’s renewable portfolio standard requires that 14% of its energy —whether consumed or purchased—must come from solar.
“14% is an arbitrary number, not based on science, and the consultants they’ve relied on have had some questionable figures. But regardless, the state is pushing ahead, even though our energy policy is a mess and this won’t solve it.”
Gifford sees a broader impact on the Easter Shore with the proliferation of solar fields: Less farmland means less grain production, and the Shore already imports grain for the $5 billion poultry industry. If rising costs drive chicken farms out of Maryland, it could devastate the Eastern Shore economy.
“Here in Kent County, we’ve worked hard to preserve our farmland. We respect and protect it. But now, developers are circling because they see open space as an opportunity to make money. Solar companies are offering outrageous sums for leases, which makes it harder for local farmers to compete,” Gifford says.
The Spy recently interviewed Judy Gifford to talk about how solar arrays imapct rural land use on the Eastern Shore.
Judy Gifford owns and operates St. Brigid’s Farm in Kennedyville and is a board member of Kent Conservation and Preservation alliance, treasurer and board member Colchester Farm CSA, and former member Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Administrative Council.
This video is approximately nine minutes in length.
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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. All proposals must be received by the Garfield Center by midnight on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Directors are encouraged to submit a list containing multiple titles (no more than 7). The more plays or musicals that each Director proposes, the better the chances are that a director may be selected to direct a production for the season.
Director proposals should give, for each title given, the full and accurate title of the play or musical, its playwright or author(s), casting requirements, and a synopsis. In addition, if the royalty company that owns the rights for the title is known, Directors should include that information. Directors are asked to provide an estimated number of rehearsal weeks that the title would require prior to opening (from the week of auditions up to and including dress rehearsal week). Last, if the Director intends to take some sort of conceptual approach to the production title, a brief description of the concept is required.
Accompanying their list of title submissions, directors must submit a small bio and resume of recent past theatrical experience along with their 2026 calendar year availability.
The GCA Programming Committee is also developing an institutional list of titles that do not have current directorial interest but would be considered good titles for future production. Any community members, patrons and participants who would like to suggest titles for the institutional list are encouraged to do so. For institutional list submissions, multiple title suggestions are welcome, but there is no requirement to give more than a single suggestion. Also, addressing why a title would be a good fit for the GCA and how it would engage the Eastern Shore community is helpful.
Detailed information on submitting a proposal is also available on the GCA web site at
Title proposals should be submitted by email to [email protected]. Once received, submissions will be acknowledged with a response email. Directors will be informed of the final selections once the Programming Committee has chosen the season.
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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.
