The Spy Desk - Centreville Spy

Eastern Shore Witch Paddle to Benefit Clark Comprehensive Breast Center- 2025

September 7, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Some on the Eastern Shore have heard of “Witch Paddles”. They are trending across the country in October. See this Cool video of Colorado Witch Paddle . But so far no one has done one for breast cancer causes and it seems a natural fit. After all, what were witches but early American female healers? And where better to have a Witch Paddle than on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Talbot County? There were even a couple of witches tried right here on Plain Dealing Creek! And of course October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Eastern Shore has tons of warm, flat water here, so clearly it was meant to be!

On October 15th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, the first ever Witch Paddle supporting breast cancer patients through diagnosis, treatment and beyond, will be held at the Oaks Waterfront Hotel in Easton. Proceeds will benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center in the effort to procure their own Faxitron machine (which will greatly speed up diagnosis and allow more procedures to be scheduled in the Center as opposed to the hospital) and Breastcancer.org which provides free up to the minute information to over 20 million patients and providers around the world to help them make the best decisions possible.

The event aims to host 40+ paddlers dressed in witch costumes and 100+ enthusiastic viewing participants to cheer them on! Individual paddlers can register and create their own team and local businesses are encouraged to sponsor their own paddlers or sponsor various stations at the event. The web link for paddler registration and/or donations): Eastern Shore Witch Paddle at the Oaks .

The community is invited to view the event at no cost (but contributions are appreciated) along with complimentary popcorn and s’mores by the firepit and free witch hats to kids and the young at heart who go for face-painting or pumpkin painting. There will also be

a fancy VIP pier with an open bar and spooky hors d’ ouvres for paddlers who reach a total team goal of $250 (or donors who contribute the same). A cash bar and a cauldron of waters will also be available for general viewers on the lawn.

Mark your calendars for this fun and fund-raising community event. Children must be accompanied by an adult and pets are not allowed. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Stephanie Johnston at [email protected] or Sara Biden at [email protected].

Click here for Eastern Shore Witch Paddle Sponsorship Details or see attached packet. Also attached is event flyer with clickable link and QR code for registration and donations. (In both Word and PDF formats)

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Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Launches 36th Season on September 8

September 3, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) begins its 36th season on Monday, September 8, 2025, welcoming musicians from across the region to one of the largest youth orchestra programs in Maryland. With eight ensembles ranging from the Preparatory Strings for beginners to the flagship Symphony Orchestra, plus flute ensembles and a jazz combo, the CYSO provides opportunities for instrumentalists of all ages and levels.

Each ensemble rehearses weekly under the guidance of distinguished music educators and professional conductors. Students gain performance experience through annual Holiday Concerts in December at Live Arts Maryland, Spring concerts in March, and the Season Finale in May, along with special community appearances such as the Bowie Baysox National Anthem performance and the First Sunday Arts Festival.

CYSO also provides unique artistic opportunities: collaborations with the Washington Opera Society and Accord Symphony Orchestra, multi-disciplinary concerts like Symphony of the Senses, and projects with choirs, ballet companies, and community partners. These experiences push students beyond traditional repertoire and foster creativity.

Beyond the season concerts, CYSO musicians can take part in international tours (to Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Portugal, and France), the new annual Summer Camp, and chamber music programs. These activities help young musicians grow not only as performers but also as leaders, collaborators, and confident individuals.

“For over three decades, CYSO has been igniting a passion for music,” said Dane Krich, Executive Director. “Whether in rehearsals, on stage, or abroad, our students gain experiences that shape their musicianship and their lives.”

For more information, to register or to schedule an audition, visit www.cysomusic.org.

About Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra

For over three decades, the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) has fostered a passion for music among the youth of Annapolis and surrounding communities—creating the next generation of performers and music lovers. With distinguished conductors and pedagogues, a musically diverse offering of ensembles, and some of the best young instrumentalists that Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas have to offer, CYSO not only empowers its students to become lifelong lovers and performers of music, but also provides them with opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.

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Invitational Corvette Class Adds Spark to Sept. 28 Concours Event on Kent Island

September 3, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

A rare collection of Corvettes will grace the waterfront lawn of the Kent Island Yacht Club as an invitational class of the 18th annual St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance on Chesapeake Bay. The public event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, as a ticketed event, with entrant‑only dates set for Sept. 26–28.

Featured cars include the 1957 Corvette “Sebring Racer” No. 3; 1960 Corvette “Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Racer” No. 1; 1962 Corvette “Sebring Racer” No. 5; 1968 Corvette factory L‑88 “Band‑Aid Racer” No. 12; 1968 L‑88 Corvette Sunray Oil DX‑2 Racer; and the 1969 Greenwood factory L‑88 Corvette Racer No. 49.

The Concours will also spotlight Rolls-Royce as the Grand Marque in honor of the Phantom’s centennial. A special class of De Tomaso supercars and an invitational lineup of racing Corvettes enhance the excitement. Rounding out the automotive showcase is the Winners’ Circle, featuring past best-of-show winners from other prestigious events such as Cincinnati, Greenwich, Radnor Hunt, Amelia Island, and more.

The weekend will also shine a light on Chesapeake Bay yachting, with classic motor yachts and wooden speedboats on display. Entries for the Concours d’Elegance are available online through a brief application process.

This year’s St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance on Chesapeake Bay is presented by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Washington, with major sponsors including Bentley Motors, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and McLaren Washington. Additional sponsors include the Schaubach Collection; Red Horse Motoring Club; Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Easton; Prestige Auto Vault; Preston Automotive Group; Treasured Motorcar Services; and others.

Concours Chair Luke L. Phipps says the Kent Island Yacht Club offers the ideal setting for the event, bringing together fine motoring, local flavors, scenic waterfront views, and the unique charm of the Eastern Shore.

“These cars represent not just engineering excellence but living history,” Phipps said. “Their presence elevates our entire showcase.”

“Each weekend is a celebration of craftsmanship and community,” Phipps said. “With locally sourced food, craft beverages, live music, vendors, and a festive atmosphere, it’s a complete experience for both car enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.”

For entrant applications, sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more, visit www.smcde.org.

About St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance on Chesapeake Bay

The St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance on Chesapeake Bay is a prestigious automotive event taking place at the Kent Island Yacht Club. Now in its 18th year, the Concours showcases a curated collection of classic boats and elegant motorcars, providing a memorable experience for both participants and spectators. More is at www.smcde.org.

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Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage to Hold Magnificent Monarchs Workshop Sept. 27

September 2, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage (CWH) will host its annual Magnificent Monarchs workshop on Sat., Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at Barnstable Hill Farm in Chester. The public is invited to join CWH staff to tag and learn about the migrating habits of Monarch butterflies. Participants will also learn about the Monarch’s life cycle and will help scientists from around the continent track its astounding generational migration.

The workshop is free to the public, but space is limited. To register, email [email protected] or call 410-822-5100. Directions will be provided.

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage is dedicated to designing, restoring and managing wildlife habitat and establishing a more sustainable agriculture. In addition to stewarding 1,150 acres in Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties that it owns and manages as wildlife sanctuary, CWH works daily with private and public landowners to help ensure the future of the region’s wildlife and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Since the organization’s founding in 1980, CWH staff has restored nearly 2,000 acres of wetlands, planted more than 1,000 acres of woodlands and created 5,000 acres of warm season grass meadows. For more information, visit cheswildlife.org.

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Compass’ Camp New Dawn Celebrates 31 Years of Hope and Healing

September 1, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Compass proudly celebrated another successful year of Camp New Dawn, marking the 31st year of this unique program that helps children, teens, and families navigate grief in a safe, supportive environment.

Held each summer, Camp New Dawn brings together children and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one, offering them a place to share their stories, build resilience, and find comfort among peers who understand. With the guidance of trained counselors and compassionate volunteers, campers participate in traditional camp activities— arts and crafts, swimming, games, and team challenges—blended with grief support sessions designed to promote healing and hope.

“Grief can feel isolating for children, but Camp New Dawn reminds them they are not alone,” said Rhonda Knotts, Director of Grief Support Services.“For more than three decades, this camp has provided a safe haven where young people can honor their loved ones, express their emotions, and begin to rediscover joy.”

Volunteers, too, experience the power of Camp. Longtime volunteer, Jane Anthony, shared: “The only thing I can say is that it was a supercalifragilisticexpealidocious camp! I saw healing. I saw connections being made, both campers and volunteers. I saw one big family

just loving each other through the tough moments. I saw things that just make me want to come back year after year!”

This year’s camp welcomed 53 campers, whose strength and openness inspired the entire Compass team. Many campers return year after year, forming lasting friendships and connections that extend well beyond camp.

Many campers and volunteers spoke about their experiences at Camp New Dawn and the profound impact it had on them, their children, and their families. One family shared,“By the end of family camp, we are all just a little bit lighter. The loss is still there, the heartache is still present, but now we have a number of tools to help us cope with our grief on our own terms and in our own time.”

Another supporter reflected,“At Camp New Dawn, I met some of the bravest little souls who showed up to heal their hearts from the pain of grief. I witnessed courage in teens and young adults continuing their own healing while walking alongside the younger campers. I saw bravery in the adults who pour their time and love into making this camp a meaningful, successful healing process.”

Group leader Hayden Rhodes expressed,“Year after year, I have the privilege of witnessing something truly remarkable over three unforgettable days. This is not just a camp—it’s a place where children who have experienced deep loss come together, surrounded by compassion, understanding, and hope. The most beautiful part is watching transformation unfold—by the last day, the same faces that carried such visible grief are glowing with the light of new friendships, deeper understanding, and a renewed sense of hope. Camp New Dawn is a sacred space where healing begins, where hearts mend little by little, and where God’s presence feels close and real.”

Camp New Dawn is made possible through the generosity of community supporters, donors, and dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to ensure each child feels seen and supported.

As Compass reflects on 31 years of Camp New Dawn, one thing remains constant: the power of community to bring light into even the darkest seasons of grief. With the support of volunteers, donors, and families, Camp New Dawn will continue to provide a safe, compassionate space where children and families can find healing, hope, and connection.

Compass

Since 1985, Compass has empowered patients to spend their final months as they choose, guiding loved ones through life-limiting diagnoses and teaching healthy ways to manage grief.

Today, Compass is a regional provider of hospice care, supportive care, and grief services in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential center in Centreville, our staff and volunteers are dedicated to ensuring that individuals facing the end of life can live their days fully and meaningfully.

Media Contact:

Hayley Greenwood, Media and Communications Coordinator

443-262-4100, ext. 177

[email protected]

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New Classes for a New Year at Allegro Academy

August 20, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Allegro Academy, located at 114 N. Washington Street, Easton, is delighted to welcome students joining private lessons and ensembles this coming school year.

Allegro Academy offers PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS to students of all ages in piano, voice, guitar, violin, viola, cello, brass, and woodwind instruments. Lessons are tailored to the interests and abilites of the student, and skillfully taught by the Academy’s talented and thoughtful instructors. Allegro Academy instructors have a combined teaching experience of more than 100 years and with an assortment of advanced degrees from Indiana University, Ithaca College, Luther College, Messiah University, Penn State, Salisbury University, Southern Illinois University, SUNY Potsdam, and the University of Maryland. Teachers are active members of the musical community through professional organizations such as the Music Teachers National Association and the American Choral Directors Association, their careers in higher education, church and musical theatre direction, and other areas of performance.

New this year is the ALLEGRO WINDS chamber ensemble. Brass and woodwind players ages 13 and up are invited to join for six-week of rehearsals and performance. Ensemble classes will take place on Tuesday evenings at 5:30pm, beginning September 9. The group will rehearse easy to medium chamber ensemble works while exploring tone production, ensemble balance, tone color, and intonation. Allegro strives to provide a positive space for passionate musicians of all ages to meet other like-minded musicians and experience the unique joy of playing chamber music. The cost per student is $60 for the six-week session, need based scholarships are available for all participants.

Also new in the coming academic year, the Academy with be expanding its ALLEGRO YOUTH CHOIRS program to now include two ensembles. The Junior Choir, for singers grades 4-7, will meet on Thursday evenings, 5:00-5:45pm and the Senior Choir, grades 8-12, will also meet on Thursday evenings, 5:45-6:30pm. Over the course of each six-week session, singers will explore vocal production, rhythm skills, and musicianship through songs and activities. Choristers will also participate in community events and performances with local artists. The fall session will begin on September 11 with a cost of $60 per six weeks. Need based-scholarships are offered to all participants and no auditions are required. All voices are welcome.

For information and registration for these programs, please visit www.allegroacademyeaston.com. Interested students may also contact the Allegro Academy Education Coordinator at [email protected] or call 410-603-8361. Programs of Allegro Academy are funded by generous contributions from the community, Talbot Arts, Women and Girls Fund, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

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Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Hosts First-Ever Summer Camp

August 13, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Sixteen students participated in the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever Summer Camp, spending the week engaged in music-making, collaboration, and learning. Led by CYSO faculty and guest artists, the camp offered a mix of full ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, chamber music coaching, and master classes.

Throughout the week, students worked closely with guest instructor Ms. Preet Saund, Principal Cellist of the Capital City Symphony and Director of Instrumental and Choral Music at Silver Creek Middle School. Ms. Saund has worked with the National Philharmonic, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Kennedy Center, bringing her wealth of performance and teaching experience to camp.

Campers also received coaching in sectionals from CYSO String Orchestra Director Rob Stojakovich, Concert Orchestra Director Carlos Castrillón, Lily Hensler (band and orchestra teacher at Central Middle School and CYSO board member), and Vivienne Newberger (Assistant Camp Director). Under their guidance, students explored a variety of repertoire, strengthened their technical skills, and developed essential ensemble-playing and musical expression techniques.

The camp also provided opportunities for creativity, teamwork, and personal growth beyond rehearsals. Students participated in music theory sessions led by CYSO Executive Director Dane Krich, engaged in peer performances with constructive feedback, and enjoyed informal moments together over meals and games.

“The goal of this camp was not just to prepare for a concert, but to build community and inspire our young musicians,” said Krich. “We were thrilled to see the students supporting one another, taking musical risks, and having fun while working hard.”

The week culminated in a free public performance at St. Anne’s Parish House, showcasing the students’ progress after only a few days of intensive preparation.

The CYSO looks forward to making the Summer Camp an annual tradition and welcoming even more young musicians in the years to come.

About Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra

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People with Developmental Disabilities Seeing Medicaid Coverage Lapse More Often

August 10, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Recent challenges with Medicaid waivers for people with developmental disabilities are among the problems that have been building up at state health agencies over the last year. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

An increasing number of people with developmental disabilities are falling through the cracks of Medicaid, going months without health care coverage because the state can’t keep pace with new applications and wrongful termination appeals.

Concrete numbers are hard to come by, but providers and developmental disability advocates attest to several dozen cases where recipients are left waiting to hear back from Medicaid officials about their coverage after submitting a new application or challenging what they believe are erroneous Medicaid terminations.

“Some participants, because of the backlog of scheduling cases to be heard, are waiting six months, eight months, an entire year to get resolved,” said Randi Ames, managing attorney for Disability Rights Maryland, which has been helping frustrated families and Medicaid recipients through various administrative hurdles.

Between limited staffing within the Maryland Department of Health and inadequate communication between branches of the agency, people with developmental disabilities are falling through the cracks and losing Medicaid coverage for crucial services.

“I know they’re aware of this,” Ames said of state officials. “They’re trying to work toward certain solutions, but we’re at that impasse where it’s just not happening quickly enough and people are being harmed.”

Ames and other advocates suspect that there are probably many more cases across Maryland, and her organization is considering legal action if those administrative delays continue.

The Department of Health did not respond to several requests for an interview, though it said in a written statement that agency is “working in partnership with stakeholders and providers to enhance and improve the process for these complex Medicaid eligibility reviews.”

“People with developmental disabilities and the families and providers that care for them deserve accessible services and supports,” the department statement said. “It is a top priority of the Maryland Department of Health to continually improve the systems and processes for Medicaid waiver programs that provide services and supports to applicants, participants, and community providers.”

At issue are Medicaid waivers that allow people with developmental disabilities to get a wide variety of services, from live-in caregiver support to transportation, respite care, employment services and more.

Those waivers are jointly funded by state and federal governments, with each responsible for roughly 50% of the funding. The state is responsible for administering the program.

Each year, waiver recipients must prove to state health officials they are still financially eligible and still need coverage for their disability, in a process known as “redetermination.”

Over the last few years, the Department of Health and the Developmental Disabilities Administration have been struggling to pull out of several controversies while undergoing leadership changes and attempting to fill vacancies within those departments.

The Department of Health was also stung during the 2025 legislative session, as lawmakers made budget cuts to help close a $3 billion deficit. Those cuts included $164 million in fiscal 2026 from the Developmental Disabilities Administration, an agency that was experiencing unsustainable growth in enrollment and spending.

Despite the agency’s financial challenges, Ames believes that the backlog of application determinations is not “budget motivated.”

“Unfortunately, I think prior to the pandemic, the system was not great — but it was kind of functioning,” she said. Ames believes that the problems were exacerbated after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the state had to determine whether 1.8 million Maryland Medicaid recipients, many added to the rolls during the pandemic, were still eligible in 2023, in a process known as the “Medicaid unwinding.”

She noted that during this time, the department lost experienced staff and added newer employees who had to learn the complex Medicaid determination process.

“When you don’t have the appropriate staff, if you have staff that is not knowledgeable or trained, it all starts to build up and cause this backlog,” Ames said.

Meanwhile, the health department’s top Medicaid and health care financing officer Ryan Moran is leaving the position this month for a top health care job in Washington state.

Providers taking on ‘uncompensated care’

The sudden loss of coverage is also taking a toll on providers of developmental disability services, many of whom have clients who have been receiving Medicaid care for years. Many providers have been pulling from reserves to continue that critical care for clients while they wait for coverage issues to be resolved.

The providers, many of them nonprofits, have been dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars into what may end up as “uncompensated care” while they work to get clients reinstated.

“The deficits, the uncompensated care, ranges from, maybe the lowest being $100,000 to the highest being around $7 million,” said Ande Kolp, executive director of The Arc Maryland. She noted that most, if not all, of the nine Arc facilities across the state have struggled with clients falling off Medicaid.

“It just kind of speaks to the continued chaos,” Kolp said.

David Erving, CEO of Makom, a nonprofit that provides residential options for people with disabilities, said that he’s noticed “a different level of responsiveness” from the state over the last two years when trying to resolve eligibility issues with his clients.

“Resolving these issues has historically always been very, very expeditious and very, very collaborative with our partners at the state, and we’ve seen some changes to that dynamic,” Erving said.

Erving said that some of his clients over the past year and a half were disenrolled from Medicaid due to a variety of “procedural terminations,” meaning that for one reason or another, the application for coverage renewal did not get processed — or people whose “Medicaid redeterminations did not go smoothly,” in Erving’s words.

Erving said his agency has provided more than $1 million in services for a handful of clients who lost Medicaid waivers over the past 16 months.

His most significant case was that of a 65-year-old man with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s who lost his waiver status in February 2024. Makom continued providing care for the man as the facility worked to reinstate his Medicaid eligibility, until he died last month.

Erving said that, because of the man’s age, disability and significant health needs, Makom provided more than $650,000 in unreimbursed services during the man’s gap in coverage. He believes the department owes Makom for the services provided that would have been covered if the man was still on the Medicaid waiver.

The reasons people “fall off” of Medicaid vary.

Some providers reported issues with the health department’s mail notifications for annual renewals, meaning that families of the Medicaid recipient don’t know when to send over the application for redetermination.

Another common problem is when a recipient’s income appears “above the asset limit,” meaning they have a higher balance in their accounts than is allowed, even if it’s just by a couple dollars at the end of the month. They have to spend those extra dollars down to maintain coverage.

For these reasons and more, waiver recipients can be disenrolled from Medicaid, even if their financial situation and their needs have not changed. Those who would otherwise still qualify are supposed to have 120 days to appeal the termination and get reinstated.

It’s not unusual for there to be a lapse in coverage while these issues are worked out. Providers continue services and expect to be reimbursed when the client’s Medicaid is restored. But as Erving and other providers note, it’s taking longer to correct those issues.

Daria Cervantes, CEO for The Arc Montgomery County, says that about 50 out of 100 Medicaid waiver recipients in their community living program are in similar situations.

“The number continues to grow as people continue to go through the process and fall out of the waiver for our community living or residential program,” Cervantes said. “The fact that half the people in our community living program are out of the waiver, that’s extremely significant for us.”

Other administrative hurdles occur with new applicants. Ames described a client of hers who received disability services from the state school system, but had to apply for a Medicaid waiver as he aged out of school. His family had submitted an application, she said, but it’s “taking months and months to get that transition over.”

She said another client applied for a Medicaid waiver but never heard whether it was accepted. After Ames reached out to the department, she learned that the agency had not started the approval process at all until she called for an update.

Laura Howell, CEO for the Maryland Association of Community Services, says it’s hard to judge the scale of how many waiver recipients are stuck in this administrative limbo.

That said, Howell believes that officials within the health department seem interested addressing some of the concerns identified in the “complex” Medicaid redetermination process, though it is not clear what the path to fixing it will look like.

“We appreciate that the department is engaging in discussions with us,” Howell said. “But we continue to have a lot of questions about how this will be addressed and how we’ll make sure that people don’t have gaps in services and that community providers are paid as appropriate for these lifeline services that they provide.”

By: Danielle J. Brown – August 8, 2025 11:00 pm

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

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Frederick Douglass Society of African American History Culture and Affairs Launch 2026

August 7, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

On Saturday, February 14th, 2026, the Bailey-Groce Family Foundation Inc and Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill will host a momentous event at the historic Waterfowl Building, located at 40 S Hanson Street. This Formal Gala marks the 208th Birthday of Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, known to the world as Frederick Douglass—and serves as the official launch of the Frederick Douglass Society of African American History, Culture, and Affairs.

This nationally historic gala celebrates not only the birth of a great American icon, but also the formation of an institution devoted to preserving and promoting the legacies of Black families who have shaped the nation.

The Executive Board of the Society is composed of descendants and legacy family members from some of the most impactful figures in American history, including:

Frederick Douglass

Reverend Nat Turner

Harriet Tubman

Alex Haley

Dr. James Still

Malcolm X

Bishop Alexander Wayman

The Advisory Board will be chaired by Bishop Marvin Jenkins, with Kentavious Jones serving as Vice Chairman.

The General Board will include representatives from each county across the Eastern Shore, acknowledging that the history of Black excellence on the Shore transcends county lines. This region, per square mile, has produced more Black heroes who have helped shape America than any other in the nation.

This gala is more than a celebration—it is a call for unity, legacy, and cultural pride.

Black Tie Attire: In keeping with tradition, members of the African diaspora are asked (not required) to wear formal West African attire, reflecting the celebration of our heritage.

Place: Waterfowl Building 40 S. Hanson St Easton Maryland

Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM

Catering: Provided by Helen and Rae’s

Live Music: Push Play DC featuring Donnell Floyd

Annual Award Ceremony honoring outstanding contributions to African American history and culture.

Tickets on Sale Soon at Fdhill.org

Historian: Dr. Clara Smalls

Vendor Opportunities: Limited culturally relevant vendor spaces are available.

Board Inquiries: Individuals interested in serving on the General or Advisory Boards may email [email protected].

Join us in celebrating love, history, and cultural unity on this powerful night.

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Adult CPR, Other Health Education Classes Offered in Chestertown

August 5, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

“Saving Lives Together: Adult CPR Basics for Community Heroes” is set for August 11,1 to 3 p.m. One of many classes offered by University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Rural Health Education program, this non-certification class will be offered in-person at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown St. There is no charge for the course, but registration is required.

Led by Sandra Wilson-Hypes, Health Educator for University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, this course provides training in the life-saving technique of CPR, which can be used to revive someone who has suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. It will be offered again in December.

Other upcoming classes offered through the UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown’s Rural Health Education program include “Organize Your Health” (Thursday, September 18) and “Safeguarding Seniors: Recognizing and Reporting Elder Abuse and Neglect” (October 14). Classes offered each month are “Breathe Again: A Journey to a Smoke Free and Healthier You” (1st Thursday of the month), “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy” (2nd Wednesday of the Month), and “Caring with Compassion and Purpose: Essential Lessons for Adult Caregivers” (4th Tuesday of the month).

Advance registration is required for all rural health education classes. To find out more about course content, locations and times, and to register, visit umshoreregional.org/health-education and click on the date(s) of the course you wish to attend in the calendar provided.

UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 400 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

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