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October 25, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

7 Ed Notes

Wow! Benedictine Raises Over $100,000 On Giving Tuesday

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The Benedictine Foundation raised over $100,000.00 on Giving Tuesday. The gifts included a generous match from a grandparent. Giving Tuesday, which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

“Benedictine is overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of its donors,” stated Claudia Cunningham, Benedictine Chief Advancement Officer. “One example is Bob Reinhardt who has been a dedicated supporter of Benedictine for many years.”

“Each year I make a trip to Benedictine to drop off my Giving Tuesday gift,” stated Bob Reinhardt. “I always knew about Benedictine but it wasn’t until I began to hear the wonderful stories of the students that visited the local library, where my late wife worked, that I made a promise to give to Benedictine.”

Reinhardt further commented, “I believe in keeping my donations close to home where I can see the impact that it makes. During my annual visit I am able to witness the incredible work that is being done for the children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism that Benedictine supports.”

Benedictine employs over 350 staff that are dedicated to serving children and adults with moderate to severe developmental disabilities and autism. For more information on Benedictine’s events, services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham at [email protected] or call 410 634 2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

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Take a First Day Hike at Bolingbroke Park with the Izaak Walton League

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The Mid-Shore Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America invites the community to start the New Year on the right foot with a rejuvenating first day hike at the scenic Bolingbroke Park. This family-friendly event offers an opportunity for individuals and families to celebrate the New Year outdoors, exploring the natural beauty of the area.

Participants are encouraged to gather at Bolingbroke Park at 9:00 AM for a guided hike that showcases the park’s unique landscapes and wildlife. The hike is suitable for all ages and offers various paths to accommodate different fitness levels.

This event is part of a nationwide initiative by the Izaak Walton League of America to promote outdoor recreation and appreciation of nature. It’s a chance to connect with the community, enjoy the outdoors, and make a positive start to the year.

Attendees are advised to dress appropriately for winter weather and to wear sturdy hiking shoes. Light refreshments will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their water bottles and snacks.

For more information about the event and other activities by the Mid-Shore Chapter, please visit iwla.org/mid-shore.

Join us at Bolingbroke Park for a memorable start to the New Year!

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Queenstown Bank Employees Raise Thanksgiving Dinner Money For Neighbors

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Queenstown Bank Employees Raise Thanksgiving Dinner Money For Neighbors United To Serve; Bank Matches Donation

Queenstown Bank employees recently had an internal fundraiser, “Denim Fridays for Dinners” where employees would donate each week for four weeks to wear denim on those Fridays.  Donations collected were to be used to fund an area organization that feeds people in need over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The employees raised $1,400 and Queenstown Bank generously matched that donation, dollar-for-dollar, bringing the donation total to $2,800.

Queenstown Bank’s “3Cs Committee”, comprised of employees from a variety of departments within the bank, had decided to make Neighbors United to Serve (N.U.T.S.) in Denton, the recipient of the collected donations.  The 3Cs Committee stands for, “Colleagues, Customers and the Community”; the three core groups of people that Queenstown Bank strives to enhance the lives of every day.

N.U.T.S. consists of a group of volunteers who, for 32 years, have banded together to feed those in need over Thanksgiving.  They operate out of St. Luke’s Church in Denton, because of the space needed to produce, package and transport around 1,000 meals each Thanksgiving.

“Our folks really embraced the effort to help provide meals on Thanksgiving for people who need assistance, and we’re proud to have helped contribute.  Thanks to Queenstown Bank for matching employee donations to help bring the total up to a very meaningful number.  The total donated was more than all of us expected, and full credit goes to everyone who contributed,” said Queenstown Bank Marketing Manager/AVP Brandon Silverstein

Queenstown Bank of Maryland was established in 1899 and currently has nine branch locations within Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester Counties, offering convenient, community banking with award-winning customer service.  Visit www.QueenstownBank.com for our history and how community banking makes a positive impact on our communities.  Member FDIC; An Equal Housing Lender.

 

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Jay Fleming and Fresh Oysters at The Trippe December 1

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Photographer and author Jay Fleming will be at the Trippe Gallery during First Friday Gallery Walk December 1 to sign copies of his two well known books, “Working the Water” and “Island Life”. These books are must haves for every Eastern Shore library! On exhibit will be select photographs of Jay’s as well as a gallery artist group show. Out front will be served freshly shucked oysters from local waters. Stop by and meet Jay, have an oyster(or two), a glass of wine and share in the spirit of Moonlight Madness in downtown Easton! Give the unique gift of original art for Christmas! For every $25 spent, you get a ticket for the fabulous gift basket drawing at 9pm!
The Trippe Gallery is located at 23 N Harrison St. in Historic downtown Easton. For more information or reserve a  personalized copy of either book please call 410-310-8727 or email [email protected]. Hours: Monday12-4, Wednesday/Thursday 11-4, Friday/Saturday 11-5, Sunday 11-3.

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Preliminary Testing Confirms High Cases of Avian Influenza in Caroline County

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State laboratory testing has detected a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) in Caroline County. Following increased mortality of a broiler operation and investigation by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, it has been preliminarily confirmed that poultry from the affected farm has tested positive for HPAI.

State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the properties are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from affected flocks will not enter the food system.

Confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending with final results anticipated in the coming days.

“High Pathogenic Avian influenza or HPAI does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain healthy and safe to eat and handle. Poultry growers, operators, and backyard flock owners should be on high alert of the threat of HPAI,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “The Maryland Department of Agriculture, local health department, USDA and partner organizations are working diligently to address the situation, including quarantining and testing nearby flocks.”

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

According to the Maryland Department of Health, the risk of transmission between birds and the general public is low.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture recommends the following common-sense biosecurity steps if  HPAI is suspected on personal property , wild birds, or in a commercial operation.

  • Look for signs of illness. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases.

  • Report suspected sick birds:

    • To report a possible case of HPAI call the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5810.

    • Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions about the outbreak to [email protected].

Key biosecurity practices:  

  • Clean and disinfect transportation. Don’t walk through or drive trucks, tractors, or equipment in areas where waterfowl or other wildlife feces may be. If you can’t avoid this, clean your shoes, vehicle, and equipment thoroughly to prevent bringing disease agents back to your flock.  This is especially important when visiting with farmers or those who hunt wild fowl such as when gathering at a local coffee shop, restaurant, or gas station.

  • Remove loose feed. Don’t give wild birds, rodents, and insects a free lunch. Remove spilled or uneaten feed right away, and make sure feed storage units are secure and free of holes. Wild birds can carry HPAI.

  • Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those people who take care of your poultry to come in contact with your birds,  including family and friends. Make sure everyone who has contact with your flock follows biosecurity principles.

  • Wash your hands before and after coming in contact with live poultry.  Wash with soap and water. If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands because disinfectants will not penetrate organic matter or caked-on dirt.

  • Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock. If using a footbath, be sure to remove all droppings, mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled scrub brush BEFORE stepping into the disinfectant footbath, and always keep it clean.

  • Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.
    Visitors should wear protective outer garments or disposable coveralls, boots, and headgear when handling birds, and shower and/or change clothes when leaving the facility.

  • Clean and disinfect tools or equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility. Before allowing vehicles, trucks, tractors, or tools and equipment—including egg flats and cases that have come in contact with birds or their droppings—to exit the property, make sure they are cleaned and disinfected to prevent contaminated equipment from transporting disease. Do not move or reuse items that cannot be cleaned and disinfected—such as cardboard egg flats.

For more information on avian influenza, visit: https://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/AvianFlu.aspx

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Descendants Host 206th Birthday Celebration for Frederick Douglass February 17

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February is not only Black History Month. It’s also the birthday of famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and his Eastern Shore descendants are planning a celebration in his honor.

Records in the Maryland State Archives show that Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in the northeast corner of Talbot County near the town of Queen Anne in February 1818. Douglass self-liberated from Baltimore in 1838, changing his name to avoid capture when he arrived in Massachusetts. He went on to become a renowned orator, author, abolitionist, and statesman.

To honor Douglass’s life and legacy, the Bailey-Grocè Family Foundation will host a 206th birthday celebration on February 17, 2024, in Easton, Maryland, featuring theatrical performances, music, and art. “Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for the cause of freedom, and his influence is still felt today,” says Tarence Bailey, Sr., the five-times great nephew of Douglass and founder of The Bailey-Groce Family Foundation. “We are celebrating Black History Month by celebrating Frederick Douglass. This is our second year for this event, and we plan to make it a yearly celebration.”

Festivities will begin at the Historic Avalon Theatre at 3 p.m. when actor Phil Darius Wallace performs his original one-man play, Frederick Douglass: Lion of Thunder. Wallace will be joined by Millicent Sparks who will present The Harriet Tubman Living History Experience. Theo Wilson, host of The History Channel’s I Was There, will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening, and Push Play D.C. featuring Donnell Floyd will provide music.

After the performances, Frederick Douglass family members will host a VIP dinner at the Waterfowl Building, also in Easton. Saxophone player Azu, a.k.a. The Prince of Ghana, will provide music, and the work of Maryland sculptor Richard Blake will be on display. Attendees are encouraged to wear African-style clothing to honor Douglass’s heritage.2

All proceeds from the evening support Operation Frederick Douglass on The Hill and the work of The Bailey-Grocè Family Foundation, Inc., with the ultimate goal of building an African- American Cultural Center.

For more information, visit fdhill.org. Tickets are $85 for the performance only and $135 including dinner and can be purchased online at avalonfoundation.org/events. Donations can be made to The Bailey-Grocè Family Foundation, Inc. at Shore United Bank or can be mailed to P.O. Box 266, Newcomb, MD 21653.

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Shore Legal Access announces Sandy Brown Public Interest Interns for Fall 2023

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Shore Legal Access (formerly Mid-Shore Pro Bono) has named the Fall 2023 recipients of its Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship. Cody Pfieffer, of Centreville, Maryland, will work with Shore Legal Access staff at the organization’s Easton office, assisting residents of the Mid-Shore with their civil legal issues. Amirah Rice, of Baltimore, Maryland, will work at the Salisbury office, which serves the Lower Shore. 

Amirah Rice

The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship, created in honor of former long-time Shore Legal Access executive director Sandy Brown, offers a stipend to undergraduate and law students as they gain invaluable experience in the field of public interest law at a respected non-profit organization. The program is supported by the Campbell Foundation, with the goal of expanding the pool of diverse, qualified, and committed candidates for career positions in public interest work on the Eastern Shore. As Shore Legal Access continues to grow to meet the civil legal needs of the region, it has added several former recipients of the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to its staff.  

 “We are thrilled to have these outstanding young people learning about public interest careers and supporting our community,” says Meredith Lathbury Girard, executive director of Shore Legal Access. “Our interns play an integral role assisting people with limited financial means to access legal representation while gaining real-world experience with the justice system and nonprofits.”

Cody Pfeiffer recently graduated from Bates College in Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in history and Spanish. Pfeiffer describes himself as passionate about community service. In the past, he volunteered for several years at the Maryland Food Bank, tutored students online, and helped prepare taxes for those needing assistance. Pfeiffer soon plans to enter law school, where he will focus on public interest law.

“The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship,” Pfeiffer says, “is an invaluable opportunity to be able to contribute to local communities through Shore Legal Access’s mission of assisting under-resourced members of these communities in a variety of civil legal matters.” 

Amirah Rice is currently studying for her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Rice, too, is highly motivated to serve her community, having volunteered as a Youth Mentor at Bmore Empowered, a Baltimore-based organization that empowers women and girls of color, and at Chase A Legacy, which teaches Baltimore youth important life skills. Rice applied for the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to see up close the positive impact civil legal representation can have on individuals, families, and communities. 

Rice says she is, “looking forward to gaining hands-on experience and the knowledge I need to strengthen my skills in my future endeavors as a criminal justice professional.” After graduation, Rice intends to pursue a PhD in psychology and hopes to work for Child Protective Services.

For more information about the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship and to donate to the fund, visit shorelegal.org/internships.

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Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative Makes Oyster Delivery

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A gathering in Easton, Maryland of 70 Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative volunteers was led by the staff of founding sponsor, Eglseder Wealth Management Group, Inc. on Thursday, October 5 to deliver an estimated 337,000 oyster spat-on-shell to 300-plus volunteer oyster growers.

After coffee, doughnuts, and lunches were handed out, volunteers loaded buckets and cages of oyster spat-on-shell in their trucks and trailers and delivered them to the docks of the Initiative’s volunteer oyster growers.

The spat-on-shell are housed in protective cages that are suspended from the grower’s docks throughout the fall and winter. In late spring, volunteers meet again to collect each grower’s oysters and plant them in a protected oyster sanctuary on the Tred Avon River.

The Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative was founded in 2011 by Eglseder Wealth Management Group, Inc., and was established as part of the state’s Marylanders Grow Oysters program to encourage people to become involved in Maryland’s oyster restoration efforts and clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay.

To learn how to become an oyster grower, please visit www.oystersforthebay.com or contact Program Manager Suzanne Anderson at 410-822-9143.

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Eastern Shore Democratic Summit Held

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Ten Kent County Democratic leaders participated in a two-day Summit in Cambridge November 3-4. Working with the theme “How We Win”, participants attended a variety of workshops and heard a number of speakers, including the three Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate- Angela Alsobrooks, Juan Dominguez, and David Trone, and the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, David Zuckerman. A straw poll conducted of Senate candidates was won by Alsobrooks.

Of particular interest was the “Urban-Rural Divide” discussion, focused on an initiative to understand and overcome that divide, led by farmer and author Anthony Flaccavento. Much of this division is caused or exacerbated by the increased concentration of wealth in urban areas, a feeling of exclusion among rural citizens, and an “us vs. them” perspective.

Other issues addressed were Volunteer Recruitment and Training, Candidate Recruitment, and Issue Education. Leaders of these topics emphasized the importance of building messages that convey core values, engaging citizens year-round, and using existing research.

For more information, stop by the Kent County Democratic Headquarters, 357 High St., Chestertown, Saturdays, 10-noon, or First Fridays, 5-7 pm.

 

Pictured left to right: Jan Plotczyk, John Carroll, Bill Flook, Mel Rapelyea, Bill Herb, Kurt Douglass, Ted Gallo, Barbara Brown, and Muriel Cole. Not shown: Sandra Bjork

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Bookplate Poetry Reading Featuring Grace Cavalieri, Maryland’s Poet Laureate

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The Bookplate is holding a multi-poet event in partnership with the Kent Cultural Alliance. On Wednesday, November 15th at 6pm, all are invited to The Kent Cultural Alliance’s Raimond Cultural Center as The Bookplate welcomes 15 poets from The Antioch Poetry Retreat, featuring Grace Cavalieri, the Poet Laureate of Maryland. 

Their new anthology, A Gathering of Poets, is published by Forest Woods Media, features all 15 writers and will be for sale during the event. 

Gail Bartlett’s poems have appeared in anthologies The Road Beneath Our Feet by Dan Murano, and Baltimorology. A student of Grace Cavalieri’s at Antioch, she helped publish Hard Crabs for Maryland Writer’s Council. She lives in Baltimore City and Renick, WV.

Paul Bartlett is a practicing poet, living and working in Baltimore City and Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Years ago, he attended Antioch College and studied poetry with Grace Cavalieri. Today, he still reads and writes with Grace and the poets in this anthology. 

Janice F. Booth (MA British Literature) is a poet and journalist and writes a long-running monthly gardens column for a regional publication. Her poems have appeared in periodicals and anthologies. She has taught in public and private upper schools and colleges.

Alan Britt is the author of more than 25 books of poetry. His latest books of poetry are Garden of Earthly Delights and The Tavern of Lost Souls. A graduate of the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University, he currently teaches English/Creative Writing at Towson University.

Grace Cavalieri, Maryland’s 10th Poet Laureate (2018- 2023), author of several poetry books and chapbooks and short-form and full-length plays, founded and hosts “The Poet and the Poem,” 47 years on-air from The Library of Congress. Her latest book is The Long Game (WordWorks).

Beth Dulin’s writing has appeared in The American Journal of Poetry, Atlanta Review, Gargoyle, Little Patuxent Review, New York Quarterly, and Wigleaf. Her limited edition artists’ book, Truce, is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. 

Tara A. Elliott’s poems have been published in Cimarron Review, Wildness, and Ninth Letter. She served as Executive Director of Eastern Shore Writers Association and Chair of BTO Writers Conference. A student of

Grace Cavalieri

 Lucille Clifton, she received MSAC’s Independent Artist Award.

Geoffrey Himes’ poetry has been published by Best American Poetry, December, Gianthology, the Loch Raven Review, Innisfree, and Salt Lick among others. His articles on music and theater have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Smithsonian Magazine.

Beth Joselow has published her work in six books, several chapbooks and many magazines and anthologies. She taught writing for many years to students at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C., and currently works as a mental health counselor in Lewes, DE.

Jennifer Keith is a web content writer for Johns Hopkins Medicine and plays bass for the rock band Batworth Stone. Her poems have appeared in Sewanee Review, Free State Review, Un- splendid, Best American Poetry 2015, and Smartish Pace. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Diane Wilbon Parks, poet, author, and literary leader, has written two poetry collections. She served as Expert Consultant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation on a National Endowment for the Arts Grant. A USAF Veteran and IT Program Manager, she lives in MD.

Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas, an author, performer, and safe space facilitator who created her first poem at age of three, has been writing and sharing her passion for poetry ever since. Her work was published Who’s Who in Poetry, Paris Lit, It’s My Journey and elsewhere.

Bernard Welt (MA Writing, PhD Literary Studies) has written and published poetry since the 1970s. His work includes essays on film, television, the arts, and dream studies. He is Professor Emeritus of Arts and Humanities at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at GW University.

Ellen Wise’s work has appeared in many small journals and poetry anthologies. Her awards include MSAC’s Individual Artist Award and Bread Loaf’s scholarship in poetry. Noted classical composer Adolphus Hailstork set five of her poems as the song-cycle, Ventriloquist Acts of God.

Ellen Carter Woodbridge graduated from Antioch College in 1974 with a degree in Documentary Arts. She studied with Grace Cavalieri who continues to be a generous and inspiring mentor. She is grateful for the community of poets at the Antioch Poets Retreat.

For more event details contact The Bookplate at 410-778-4167 or [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public and reservations are not required. The next author events are scheduled for 12/2 during the Chestertown Dickens Festival. The Raimond Cultural Center is located at 101 Spring Street Street in Chestertown, Maryland.

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