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November 15, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

5 News Notes

Martin’s House & Barn Welcomes Four New Members to Board of Directors

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Martin’s House & Barn is proud to announce the appointment of four new members to its  Board of Directors, each bringing valuable expertise and a deep commitment to strengthening our community. 

Joining the board are: 

  • Dr. Tia Bell, MSW – Youth Services Director, Channel Marker (Dorchester and Denton). Dr. Bell brings  extensive experience in youth services and mental health advocacy, ensuring that the voices and needs of  young people remain central to community solutions. 
  • Mr. Kevin Callahan – Director of Advancement, Wye River Upper School. Mr. Callahan has deep  experience in nonprofit operations and fundraising, with a proven record of strengthening organizational  sustainability. His expertise will support Martin’s House & Barn as it continues to grow its capacity to serve  families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. 
  • Mr. Andrew Carroll – Owner, Bayside Market, Rock Hall. Mr. Carroll has extensive experience in grocery  store management. His perspective on food distribution and commitment to addressing food insecurity  will help the organization continue to meet the growing needs of families across the Mid-Shore. 
  • Ms. Michelle Hall – Director of Constituent Engagement and Event Management, Chesapeake College.  Ms. Hall brings broad experience in engagement, outreach, and event management, strengthening the  organization’s ability to connect with supporters and build awareness of its mission. 

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Bell, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Carroll, and Ms. Hall to our Board of Directors,”  said Deborah Hudson Vornbrock, Executive Director of Martin’s House & Barn. “Their expertise and  community leadership will be invaluable as we continue our work to provide shelter, food, and hope to  families in need across the Mid-Shore.” 

Martin’s House & Barn continues to serve as a vital resource for families experiencing homelessness and  hunger, providing emergency shelter, food pantry services, and a range of supportive programs grounded in  compassion and dignity. The addition of these four outstanding leaders strengthens the organization’s vision  for a community where every family has the opportunity to thrive. 

For more information about Martin’s House & Barn or ways to support its mission, please visit www. MartinsHouseandBarn.org. 

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Shore Legal Access Adds Three New Members to Board of Directors

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Shore Legal Access (SLA) recently welcomed Tom Deliberto, Esq.; Candace Henry; and Kathleen Smith, Esq. to its Board of Directors. Each brings professional expertise and a shared commitment to SLA’s mission of providing free civil legal assistance and connecting clients to essential community services on the Eastern Shore.
“We are honored and delighted to have these talented leaders joining our Board of Directors,” said Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq. “Each brings vital perspectives, insights, and skills to our organization.”
Deliberto, a practicing attorney and certified public accountant, lives in Kent County. He has served on many nonprofit, for-profit, and foundation boards, including, currently, the Shelter Alliance in Chestertown. Deliberto started his own law firm in 1992 and continues to practice tax, corporate, estate, and gift law in the Baltimore region and on the Eastern Shore. He has also taught at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Loyola University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University Business School.
“I feel very fortunate and see my participation on the Board of Shore Legal Access as another way of giving back to the community, combining my legal expertise with my desire to make a contribution to the lives of others,” Deliberto said.
Henry, of Talbot County, is Director of Salisbury University’s Disability Resource Center, where she has realized innovative programs to support neurodivergent students and enhance student retention. She has extensive experience creating inclusive programs for students with disabilities and improving access for diverse populations. She has also served as Managing Director of the Water’s Edge Museum, Talbot County’s first fully accessible Black history and culture museum.
“I am honored to join the Shore Legal Access Board and support its mission of ensuring equal access to justice for all,” Henry said.
Smith, who lives in Worcester County, is an experienced litigator and mediator with deep roots on the Eastern Shore. After growing up on the Mid-Shore and completing her law degree at University of Maryland School of Law, Smith has practiced on the Lower Shore for almost forty years. She has provided legal services in both public and private sectors and spent many years running her own solo practice in Worcester County. She currently works for the Office of the Public Defender in Wicomico County.
“SLA fills a tremendous void in legal services in the Shore’s underrepresented communities,” Smith said.
SLA Board president Tanisha Armstrong said of the new board members, “Shore Legal Access is pleased and excited to welcome our new Board members. The experience and commitment they bring to this organization will be crucial to our next steps, as we continue providing civil legal services in such a dynamic environment. We are so happy to have them join us.”
Shore Legal Access connects individuals and families with volunteer attorneys to ensure justice is for all. Focus areas include criminal record expungement, economic stability, family law, housing, and life planning. For more information or to support Shore Legal Access, call 410-690-8128 or visit shorelegal.org.

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Learn, Play, Jam!: Old-Time Music Workshop at Allegro Academy

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Join the talented string trio Vandalia for an immersive Old-Time music workshop on Saturday, November 8th at Allegro Academy. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned player, this hands-on session will help you deepen your understanding of the singular groove unique to Old-Time music. With Dakota Karper on fiddle, Ellen Gira on cello and Gabriel Furtado on guitar, Vandalia will guide you through essentials of Old-Time tunes. The workshop begins with small breakout groups, working with one of Vandalia’s musicians on melody and backing. As the workshop progresses, we’ll come together to play as an ensemble and experience the magic of group music-making! This is also a rare opportunity for cellists to learn authentic trad backing and bowing from one of the best in the business. Whether you’re playing fiddle, banjo, guitar, or another instrument, everyone is welcome!

Vandalia is dedicated to exploring the depth and breadth of American String-band music. Informed by tradition, but not chained to it, the group has found a niche inside of the old-time community as well as in the wider arts world that offers audiences a forward-looking take on traditional acoustic music. Formed from a chance encounter at the 2024 Baltimore Old-Time Festival, fiddler Dakota Karper, cellist Ellen Gira and guitarist Gabriel Furtado met in a late-night afterparty jam session. Together the trio creates a version of string-band music you can tap your foot to, or get lost in the details of the melodies. Weaving intricate fiddle and cello lines, gorgeous vocal harmonies, subtle guitar textures and exhilarating rhythmic drive, the pleasure these three musicians have creating and playing together is palpable, both in the studio and on the concert stage. More about this band at can be found at www.vandaliaband.com. 

The Old-Time music workshop will take place at Allegro Academy, 114 North Washington Street, Easton, on November 8, 1-3pm.  A donation of $20-$50 per person is suggested.  To register, please email [email protected] or call 410-603-8361. 

Allegro Academy, a non-profit music conservatory located in downtown Easton, connects musicians through workshops, lessons, ensembles, and performances, and aspires to enrich the lives of music enthusiasts of all ages and incomes in our community. Academy Programs are supported in part by generous contributions from individuals, Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

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The Botanical Art League of the Eastern Shore Presents ‘Garden Companions’ at the Talbot County Library through October

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The Botanical Art League of the Eastern Shore  is exhibiting paintings and drawings in an exhibit ‘Garden Companions’ at the Talbot County Library. The exhibit opened on October 1 and runs until October 30 during regular library  hours. Using mediums of watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and ink, members have paired vegetables and flowers in our gardens that are beneficial to each other’s growth and health.The exhibit will move to the Queen Anne Center for the Arts in Centreville for the month  of November.

Companion planting is a gardening technique where different plants are grown together to benefit one another, whether through improved growth, pest control, enhanced flavor or all of these.  For example, planting marigolds alongside vegetables like tomatoes can help deter harmful insects, while basil, when planted near tomatoes, is believed to improve the flavor of the fruit and repel pests like aphids.

The benefits and modern relevance of companion gardening undoubtedly continue to exist:

Pollination – Companion plants can attract pollinators, improving crop yields.

Pest Control – Some companion plants deter pests; others attract beneficial insects that control other pests.

Weed Suppression – Companion plants help suppress weeds by creating shade.

Nutrient Enhancement – Some plants, like beans and clover, are nitrogen fixers, enriching the soil for other plants.

Soil Health – By reducing erosion, conserving moisture, and adding nutrients, companion plants can improve the soil.

Space Optimization – No matter how large or how small your garden, companion planting allows for better use of garden space.

Sustainable Agriculture – By reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other external inputs, companion planting can help protect the ecosystem of your garden.

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Qlarant Foundation Hosts Annual Awards, Celebrates $450,000 Granted to Charitable Organizations

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 Qlarant Foundation, the mission arm of Qlarant, hosted its annual Grantee Celebration on September 24, 2025, at its headquarters in Easton, MD. The event honored 16 nonprofit organizations selected to receive funding this year. Qlarant Foundation recognized these organizations for their efforts to improve health and human services in their communities in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and the District of Columbia. Since 2008, Qlarant Foundation has awarded $8.15 Million to more than 150 organizations.

Leanne Posko, a respected advocate for nonprofit excellence, served as the event’s keynote speaker, inspiring attendees with a message about resilience, community collaboration, and the transformative power of local organizations.

The program also featured remarks from Danielle Valle Gilchrist of Catchafire, highlighting the successful partnership between Qlarant and Catchafire to provide critical capacity-building support for nonprofit organizations.

“Every one of these organizations is on the front lines of making lives better,” said Amanda Neal, Executive Director of Qlarant Foundation. “Our grantees are addressing health disparities, housing insecurity, food access, and so much more. Their work is not only vital—it is life-changing. Qlarant Foundation is honored to support their missions and amplify their impact.”

Board Chair Dr. Lamont Thompson added: “When we gather each year to celebrate our grantees, it reaffirms why we do this work. These 16 organizations remind us that meaningful change happens at the community level. Their innovation and compassion drive healthier, stronger communities for all of us.”

Each grantee, and their respective program, is profiled on Qlarant’s website with photos videos, and descriptions of the work the Foundation supports:

Brem Foundation – Calvary Women’s Services – Chesapeake College Foundation – Child Resource Connect – Community Free Clinic – Georgia Lions Lighthouse – Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett – Key Point Health Services – Light of the World Clinic – Maryland Foundation of Dentistry – Mission of Mercy, Texas – NAMI Collier County – Partners in Care, Maryland – Pathway Homes – Shepherd’s Hope – Talbot County Empty Bowls

The Grantee Celebration concluded with a reception and networking session, offering an opportunity for nonprofit leaders, community members, and Qlarant staff to connect and share best practices.

Left to right: Qlarant Foundation Executive Director Amanda Neal, Catchafire Sr. Director of Customer Success, Leanne Posko, Community Relations Leader, and Qlarant CEO Dr. Ronald Forsythe, Jr. at the 2025 Qlarant Foundation Awards Celebration.
About Qlarant Foundation
The Qlarant Foundation— the mission arm of Qlarant—has provided over $8 million in grants to charities around the country. Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Qlarant provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation.

Qlarant has a 50-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nation’s most important programs. Headquartered in Easton, MD, Qlarant has offices throughout the country and employs over 600 people. Qlarant is a five-time winner of the Top Workplaces award. For more information, visit www.qlarant.com or contact [email protected]

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The Daily Record Announces 2025 Most Admired CEOs

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The Daily Record has named David Fike, President & CEO of Leadership Maryland, one of Maryland’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs.

Most Admired CEOs honors talented business CEOs, higher education leaders and nonprofit executive directors throughout Maryland whose leadership and vision are admired by those around them. A panel of judges selects these honorees based on professional accomplishments, community service and letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community leaders showing the CEO’s leadership and vision. 

Three-time winners are inducted into the Circle of Leadership, which honors sustained achievement over a period of at least six-years. This year’s inductees are Greg Abel, Abel Communications; Marco V. Ávila, P.E., Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Franklyn Baker, United Way of Central Maryland; Br. John Kane, FSC, Ed.D., Calvert Hall College High School; and Susan Malone, Wide Angle Youth Media. A listing of all the winners is below.

“The 2025 Most Admired CEOs are extraordinary leaders. They have impressive resumes, work to lead their companies to success and are truly admired by their peers, teams and in the community,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “They help to grow the next generation of leaders in Maryland by empowering those who work for them, those they work with on community boards and through mentoring. The Daily Record is pleased to recognize these outstanding CEOs.”

This year’s Most Admired CEOs will be honored at a celebration on Nov. 3 at the Hilton BWI, 1739 West Nursery Road in Linthicum Heights. Food stations, drinks and networking begin at 4:30 p.m., with the awards celebration at 5:30 p.m. followed at 6:30 p.m. with dessert, drinks and networking. The event hashtag is #TDRevents.

Attendance is limited. This event will sell out. Winners and sponsors receive priority. Sponsorship includes a table for guests, logo usage, multimedia marketing opportunities and more. Only sponsors will be guaranteed a table for their guests. If space is available after the sponsorship deadline, a limited number of individual tickets will go on sale. To secure a sponsorship, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at [email protected]. 

Winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the Nov. 4 issue of The Daily Record and will be available online at TheDailyRecord.com.

The Supporting Sponsor is Towson University. For more information and updated sponsorship information about The Daily Record’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs, visit thedailyrecord.com/event/most_admired_ceos/.

About The Daily Record 

The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government and business at TheDailyRecord.com. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year in a variety of industries including Power Lists. The Daily Record hosts 11 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. These events include Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders, Health Care Heroes, Icon Honors and more. The Daily Record’s Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting and email marketing, among other services. The Daily Record, with 137 years of editorial excellence, is part of BridgeTower Media, the authoritative voice for insights and marketing solutions across 40+ brands in five key sectors across the United States.

2025 Most Admired CEOs
***Indicates Circle of Leadership Inductee

Government
Karen Holt, Harford County Office of Economic Development
Brandi Stocksdale, Baltimore City Department of Social Services

Higher Education
Dr. Courtney Overton, University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Falecia D. Williams, Prince George’s Community College

Nonprofit with less than $10 million in annual revenue
***Marco V. Ávila, P.E., Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Kim Callari, The Baltimore Station
Erika Strauss Chavarria, Columbia Community Care
David Fike, Leadership Maryland
Danista E. Hunte, Maryland Philanthropy Network
Mary D. Kane, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Hye Yeong Kwon, Center for Watershed Protection, Inc.
***Susan Malone, Wide Angle Youth Media
Dr. Diandra Poe, Glass Soldier
Eddie Resende, World Trade Center Institute
Robin Rickard, Chrysalis House, Inc.
Michael Sakata, Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association
Nico Sanders, Community Housing Associates

Nonprofit with more than $10 million in annual revenue
***Franklyn Baker, United Way of Central Maryland
Tracy Broccolino, Community Action Council of Howard County Inc.
Bob Cohn, The Baltimore Banner
Johnathan Davis, Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc.
John Dumas, Service Coordination, Inc.
Bernard Gyebi-Foster, MBA, LCPC, Tuerk House, Inc.
***Br. John Kane, FSC, Ed.D., Calvert Hall College High School
Gregory T. Miller, Penn-Mar Human Services
Kristen Pironis, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County

Private company with 50 or fewer employees
***Greg Abel, Abel Communications
Patrick Collins, Greenspring Advisors
Dr. Nkem Okeke, Medicalincs
Stanford Oliver, Camelot Secure
Karen Pecora-Barbour, The Barbour Group, LLC
Kimberly Prescott, Prescott HR, Inc.
Dr. Jennifer Rios, Pinnacle Software Consulting Inc, DBA PSCI-LIA
John J. Scott, Jr., Westminster American Insurance Company

Private company with 51-149 employees
Kristen Valdes, b.well Connected Health

Private company with 150 or more employees
Steven Attman, Acme Paper & Supply Co. Inc.
Jack Dwyer, Capital Funding Group & CFG Bank
Kim Wireman, LCSW-C, LCADC, Powell Recovery Center, Inc.

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Fello Communities Opens Leasing Office at Easton Crossing

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On Thursday, Fello Communities hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of 407 Brookletts Avenue, the first completed building of the highly anticipated Easton Crossing community.

Easton Crossing is an ongoing community development project that will transform the 6.5-acre site of the former Perdue AgriBusiness operation into a vibrant, and walkable neighborhood. The development will include 117 new residential units, 30% of which are designated as affordable, and is designed to create an inclusive community where people of all abilities can thrive. Additionally, Easton Crossing will also feature ground-level commercial space and community amenities, such as walking paths and a fishing pond, to enhance the neighborhood’s livability for everyone.

“This ribbon cutting is the start of something bigger,” said Ross Benincasa, Senior Vice President of Community Development for Fello Communities. “Easton Crossing will bring new homes, new opportunities, and new energy to Easton. This is the first step in that journey—and there’s much more to come.”

The opening of 407 Brookletts Avenue marks an important step toward the construction and launch of the Easton Crossing community. This building will serve not only as the leasing hub for both Easton Crossing’s future residents and commercial tenants, but also will support Fello Communities properties across the Mid-Shore.

“At Fello Communities, we believe people deserve more than housing. People deserve homes,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of Fello. “Housing is the foundation of everything in a person’s life. It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our communities have safe and accessible places to call home.”

Looking ahead, there will be additional progress throughout 2026 as sitework for the entire footprint of Easton Crossing is completed including stormwater management, fiber installation, underground infrastructure, and surface parking, all laying the groundwork for Building 509, a multifamily building and the next milestone in Easton Crossing’s journey.

About Fello:

Fello champions the rights of people with disabilities and invests in what matters most: real opportunities, strong relationships, and inclusive, equitable communities. Fello partners with people with disabilities to provide support services, develop inclusive housing, and create spaces where people feel genuinely connected—not just accommodated. Founded in 1961, Fello continues to lead with heart and purpose, building inclusive communities where everyone belongs. Learn more at www.fello.org.

About Fello Communities:

At Fello Communities, we develop and manage housing that’s built for belonging. Through community development and rental housing, we create inclusive, affordable, and accessible homes where people of all backgrounds and abilities can choose how and where they live. Founded in 2007, Fello Communities was created to offer people more options and better opportunities when it comes to housing. Our work bridges community development and long-term property management to create homes and communities that last. Learn more at fellocommunities.org.

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Qlarant Selected as Agile4Vets Team Member

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Qlarant has been selected, as part of TEAM Agile4Vets (A4V), to participate in the Veterans Health Administration’s Integrated Healthcare Transformation (IHT) 2.0 IDIQ contract.

Through this vehicle, VA Program Offices now have access to a proven, highly qualified pool, and Fully Mission Capable Veteran Integrated Contractor Teams (VITs) ready to deliver best value health system services across 4 Functional Categories (Health System Transformation and Innovation; Implementation and Operations Support; Healthcare Business Enabling Services; and Health Informatics).

This is a gamechanger that offers us all a major step forward in supporting the health and well-being of our nation’s Veterans

Through this contract, Qlarant as a VIT Member will:

✅ Support Veterans by delivering comprehensive, Veteran-centric healthcare solutions that improve quality of care.
✅ Enhance services with expanded capabilities designed specifically for healthcare transformation – enabling VHA to deliver the Best Care Anywhere across every healthcare market in the United States.
✅ Advance the VA mission by contributing directly to positive Veteran experiences while receiving the high-quality health and benefits they have earned.
✅ Partner on significant subcontracting opportunities that drive innovation and ensure highly reliable execution of critical VA initiatives.

This award represents more than a contract – it is a commitment from our Team of Teams to Our Veterans, to taxpayers, and to the core missions of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

We look forward to working with our partners and the VA to ensure the best possible outcomes for those who have served, and those who serve them.

About Qlarant

Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. It has a 50-year record of accomplishment of improving the performance of some of the Nation’s most important health programs. Qlarant uses subject matter experts plus innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. The company provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation. Headquartered in Easton, MD., Qlarant has offices throughout the country and employs over 600 people. Qlarant is a five-time winner of the Best Places to Work award.

The Qlarant Foundation— the mission arm of the organization, has provided over $7 million in grants to charities throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida and Texas. For more information, visit www.qlarant.com or contact [email protected]

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Allegro Academy Choral Music Theory Course

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Are you a choral singer or enthusiast who would like to enhance your musical knowledge? Consider joining Music Theory for Choral Singers this fall at Allegro Academy.  In four sessions participants will study basic music theory as it pertains to the choral world including rhythm, terminology, sight-reading, and various forms of choral music.  Teaching the course will be Amy Morgan, Director of the Allegro Women’s Chorus and Summer Sing Choir Festival, and Assistant Director and Accompanist of Easton Choral Arts Society.

Music Theory for Choral Singers will take place October 10, 17, 24, and 31.  Participants will meet 10:00-11:15am at Allegro Academy, 114 N. Washington St.  The cost for the four weeks is $100.  To register please email [email protected] or call 410-603-8361. 

Allegro Academy, a non-profit music conservatory located in downtown Easton, connects musicians through workshops, lessons, ensembles, and performances, and aspires to enrich the lives of music enthusiasts of all ages and incomes in our community. Academy Programs are supported in part by generous contributions from individuals, Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

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Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative Celebrates 10 Years: Over 100 Organizations Contribute 1 Million Data Points To Support Restoration

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Today, the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC)  kicks off its 10 year anniversary celebrations. Over the past 10 years, the CMC has partnered with over  100 organizations who are collecting water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate samples at 2,490  monitoring stations throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. 

“The Alliance is honored to lead the CMC project and work with so many of our community volunteers  and partners over the years,” said Liz Chudoba, Water Quality Monitoring Initiative Director, Alliance  for the Chesapeake Bay. “The collective impact of our efforts informs decision-making policies and  supports communities across the watershed.”  

Formed in 2015, the CMC began as a six-year cooperative agreement through the US Environmental  Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program, to integrate community and volunteer monitoring data  into the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. The CMC team was awarded a second cooperative  agreement in 2021, continuing the partnership for an additional six years. 

The CMC is supported by five partner organizations: the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Izaak  Walton League of America, the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring at Dickinson College, the  University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine  Research Reserve in Virginia at Virginia Institute of Marine Science. These organizations provide  technical services to monitoring groups in the Chesapeake Bay region in order to ensure data are of  known quality. 

“The CMC has allowed the Chesapeake Bay Program to expand its knowledge base and better  understand conditions throughout the watershed through broader engagement with the public,” said  Dr. Peter Tango, Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Coordinator, USGS at the Chesapeake Bay Program  Office. “This supports management of our ecosystems by working across local to regional scales to meet  state and federal goals for water quality improvements.”

Historically, there were many sources of data, including data collected by volunteers, local governments,  and NGO’s, that were not being used to track Chesapeake Bay and Watershed health at a broader scale.  To address this issue, the CMC team established a quality assurance structure that aligns with state and  federal regulatory decision-making processes and enables all data of known quality to be used together  across the region. This structure not only helps existing groups, but also breaks down the barriers and  enables more monitoring groups to become established in the watershed. To date, over 1.1 million data  points have been uploaded to and are publicly accessible on the CMC Data Explorer. 

“The CMC Data Explorer has been a game changer for sharing data,” said Mary Claire King, Citizen  Science Coordinator at Buttonwood Nature Center, who organizes a volunteer water monitoring  program in partnership with the Antietam Watershed Association. “Our monitoring program includes  28 testing sites, many of which are located on private property. The data explorer allows the landowners  a chance to connect with the data collected from their property in real time. It also provides incredible  graphs and visuals that we at Buttonwood and AWA use when working with the public to educate on the  importance of keeping our local waterways clean. It is such a useful resource for our organizations and is  very easy to use!” 

Community volunteers and partners are the backbone of the CMC. With the support of generous  individuals donating their days, evenings, and weekends, the CMC has increased temporal and spatial  data collection throughout the watershed. These data support significant insights on watershed health  from tidal estuaries in Virginia, to farms in Pennsylvania, to West Virginia trout streams, to Baltimore  Harbor, to communities in Anacostia, to wetlands in Delaware, and forests in New York. No matter the  reason individuals are collecting data, it is vital information being used to create positive change for  local ecosystems and communities. 

For more information about the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative, visit: https://www.chesapeakemonitoringcoop.org/. 

For data in the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative, visit: https://cmc.vims.edu/data-explorer

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