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September 26, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

Ecosystem Eco Notes

ShoreRivers Seeks Volunteers for Project Clean Stream

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Join us on select dates in April to clear trash from our roads, parks, and rivers! ShoreRivers and volunteers are once again hosting community trash clean-ups as part of Project Clean Stream, a Bay-wide trash clean-up effort organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and coordinated by local groups like ShoreRivers. Project Clean Stream is an opportunity for citizens across the entire watershed to work together to clean our shared water resource.

This year, we are also excited to be partnering with a variety of community organizations for Clean Anne’s County Day—a day of environmental service throughout Queen Anne’s County. A variety of trash pick-ups are scheduled for Sunday, April 7, to help keep the county and its waterways clean.

Join a Project Clean Stream cleanup near you:

  • Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Romancoke Pier with Kent Island Rotary Club
  • Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Matapeake Park with Plastic Free Queen Anne’s County and Four Seasons
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Millstream Park in Centreville with Centreville Rotary Club
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Centreville Wharf with Corsica River Conservancy
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Gibson’s Grant (meet at clubhouse)
  • Tuesday, April 9, at 10am: Oyster Shell Pile Clean-up at Grasonville Disposal Area with Oyster Recovery Partnership (rain date: Thursday, April 11)
  • Saturday, April 13, at 8:30am: Fox Hole Landing in Kent Island
  • Saturday, April 13, at 9am: Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area

To volunteer for any of these clean-ups, please contact Maegan White at [email protected] or visit shorerivers.org/events for individual event details. Trash bags and gloves will be provided; volunteers are encouraged to bring water and wear appropriate attire.

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Mid-Shore Commerce: A Chat With Chesapeake Bank and Trust President Bob Altieri

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As some community banks appear more and more on the endangered species list nationally, Bob Altieri points to his staff and Chesapeake Bank and Trust’s personal relationship with the community as the key to its successful role in local banking.

“It’s amazing to me to think that you can have so much impact on the community by gathering deposits and lending the money back out. When eighty to ninety percent of your loans are in Kent County, that’s a pretty exciting thing,” Altieri says.

Altieri, entering his fourth year as President of the bank, strives to make CB and T more about community relations than banking algorithms while offering a nimbler approach to lending and providing other bank services. This local focus can lead to quicker decision-making and more flexibility in lending, benefiting small businesses and individuals who may not qualify for loans from larger institutions.

Altieri sees the current economic climate, resulting from a dozen interest rate increases, as a driving force for increasing their loan portfolio investments in areas not previously engaged.

Still, the industry has unique challenges, with cybersecurity being one of the foremost. While Chesapeake Bank and Trust can work with citizens who have been compromised, Altieri warns that people have to learn and pay attention to the email and phone solicitations they receive.

The Spy recently interviewed Bob Altieri, who discussed the significance of community banking and its positive impact on everyone.

This video is approximately eight minutes in length. For more information about Chesapeake Bank please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners Announce Spring Plant Clinics

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The delightful hum of lawnmowers is right around the corner. Soon we’ll be tackling all of those outdoor tasks that have been calling our names during the cold winter months. As we transition into warmer days, our 2024 summer “Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinics” will be traveling around the county to various events and open houses. This is a great opportunity to have Master Gardeners help with all your questions about gardening, from garden pests, to plant problems, to selecting the perfect native plants, and beneficial insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations, and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space. These events are free and open to the public.

Dates/Topics:
Saturday, May 4, 2024 Topic: “Bay-Wise” Gardening

Place: Greenwood Creek Nursery (201 Bennett Point Road Queenstown, MD 21658)

Time: From 10 am to 2 pm

Saturday, June 1, 2024 Topic: “Pollinators”

Place: A Little Farm & Nursery (100 Davidson Drive Stevensville, MD 21666)

Time: From 9 am to noon

Saturday, June 22, 2024 Topic: National Pollinator Week

Place: Lowe’s Bayshore Nursery (703 Love Point Road Stevensville, MD 21666)

Time: From 9 am to noon

For further information please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or [email protected] at least two weeks before the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class

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Chesapeake Film Festival Recognized for Promoting Environmental Awareness

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Festival Open for Submissions through June 5 – Accepting shorts and features, documentary, narrative and animated films

 The Chesapeake Film Festival is proud to announce a significant milestone in its mission to promote environmental awareness and advocacy through the power of film.  The Shared Earth Foundation, has awarded a prestigious environmental grant to bolster programming for the upcoming September 27 – 29 Chesapeake Film Festival, which includes many inspiring films with environmental topics.  The grant represents not only a vital investment in the festival’s continued growth, but also is a testament to its unwavering commitment to fostering dialogue and action on pressing environmental issues.

The festival’s environmental programming this year will begin on Friday, September 27 at the beautiful Ebenezer Theater in downtown Easton, Maryland at 7PM.  Films will include a new short film directed by local filmmaker Dave Harp and written by Tom Horton called Chesapeake Rhythms.  The film is a magnificent celebration of the native trumpet swans who migrate to the marshes of the Eastern Shore.  Following this short documentary, we will present the inspiring feature-length Diary of an Orphan Elephant. This evocative film follows the rescue and rehabilitation of an orphaned albino baby elephant and introduces us to the history and vital operations of a unique elephant orphanage in Southern Africa that was created in response to a wildlife crisis caused by habitat encroachment and poaching.

In addition to our environmental films in the evening, our September 27 Opening Day will feature the documentary film Call Me Dancer directed by Leslie Shampaine.  The film tells the story of Manish, a young and talented street dancer from the City of Dreams, Mumbai. He struggles against his parents’ insistence that he follow a more traditional career path to support the family.  Ambitious and passionate, Manish is determined to succeed as a professional dancer, but the odds are stacked against him.  The director will be on hand for a live Q & A following the screening.

SAVE THE DATE FOR FREE FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENT – AUGUST 15

On Thursday, Aug 15 join us for a special screening at the Academy Art Museum  This free preview event  features the film WYETH — about the life and work of artist Andrew Wyeth — and includes Q & A with the director Glenn Holsten following the screening.  WYETH is a documentary film telling the story of one of America’s most popular, but least understood artists.  While Andrew Wyeth’s exhibitions routinely broke attendance records, art world critics continually assaulted his work. Through unprecedented access to Wyeth family members, archival materials, and his work, WYETH presents the most complete portrait of the artist ever – bearing witness to a legacy just at the moment it is evolving. This event is free to the public. Join us to learn more about what will be happening during the three-day festival in September. Light refreshments will be served.

FESTIVAL KEY DATES

  • June 5 – deadline for submissions.  Submit at filmfreeway.com/chesapeakefilmfestival
  • August 15, 6 to 7:30PM  — Free Preview Event, WYETH documentary screening – August 15, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
  • September 27, 5:30 pm – VIP Reception, Ebenezer Theater, Easton, catered by Bluepoint Hospitality
  • September 27-29 — Chesapeake Film Festival –Ebenezer Theater, Easton, MD

Early Bird Tickets for all events available soon. For more information about the Chesapeake Film Festival – attendance, donation and sponsorship — please visit chesapeakefilmfestival.com.

Founded in 2008, it is the mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival to entertain, empower, educate and inspire diverse audiences of all ages by presenting exceptional independent films and events. We offer outstanding filmmakers, experienced and emerging, a forum to showcase and discuss stories of compelling interest to our local and global community.  Because of our location on the Chesapeake Bay and our diverse population, we prioritize films that focus on the environment, women’s achievement, student initiatives and social justice issues.

 The Chesapeake Film Festival is generously supported by the Mr. and Mrs. Paul Prager on behalf of Bluepoint Hospitality, The Nature Conservancy, Shared Earth Foundation, Maryland Humanities, Maryland State Arts Council, Mid-Shore Community Foundation & Artistic Insight’s Fund, Talbot Arts, the Maryland Film Office, Choptank Electric Trust, Shore United Bank, Talbot County Department of Tourism, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, U.S. Small Business Administration and Easton Utilities.

The MD Humanities Grant has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland Historical Trust, an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning which is part of the State of Maryland.

For more information, please contact Cid Collins Walker, Executive Director, Chesapeake Film Festival [email protected] , (410) 822-3500 or visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com

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National Vietnam War Veterans Day Comes to Chestertown: A Chat With Peter Sweetser

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Chestertown resident Pete Sweetser is on a mission to heal some old wounds: the unfortunate and often harsh treatment that men and women in uniform received during the Vietnam War.

Sweetser has been instrumental in bringing the National Vietnam War Veterans Day to Chestertown and is now gearing up for another event honoring the nation’s Vietnam War veterans. On March 29, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the town will host its third annual ceremony at Memorial Park. The event, which has drawn nearly 600 attendees in past years, aims to recognize and thank the men and women who served during the Vietnam War era.

Congress authorized the creation of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration under the Department of Defense. Its primary objective was to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families on behalf of the nation for their service and sacrifice, with distinct recognition of former prisoners of war, families of those still listed as missing in action, and those who were killed in action (Gold Star Families).

The ceremony is part of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, established by Congress to honor Vietnam veterans and their families. The commemoration recognizes all individuals who served in the U.S. military between 1955 and 1975, totaling nearly 9 million people, of whom about 6 million are still alive today.

During the ceremony, veterans will be individually thanked for their service and sacrifice. They will also receive a specially designed lapel pin as a token of appreciation. Additionally, widows of veterans who have passed away since the war and family members of those missing or killed in action will be honored with special pins.

The event will feature several significant elements, including the singing of the National Anthem, a presentation of the National Flag by a Color Guard from the U.S. Marine Barracks in Washington, DC, and a Missing Man Table ceremony performed by members of Washington College’s Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Five Gold Star families from Kent County will also be recognized.

The keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony is Colonel Larry Wilkerson, U.S. Army (ret), a veteran who flew helicopters in Vietnam. Col. Wilkerson has had a distinguished military career, serving in various roles, including as an assistant to Colin Powell and later as Secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration.

All residents of Kent County and surrounding areas are invited to attend the ceremony, regardless of military service. Veterans from all eras are encouraged to participate, with a special invitation extended to Vietnam War veterans. Those who have already received a pin are urged to attend and bring another veteran who has not yet been recognized.

The ceremony is made possible through the collaboration of several local organizations, including the American Legion Posts from Chestertown, Rock Hall, Betterton, and Centreville; G.A.R. Post 5 – Sumner Hall; Old Kent Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Washington College Kappa Sigma Fraternity; and the Town of Chestertown, Kent County, represented by its Commissioners; and local law enforcement and Rescue Squads.

It promises to be a meaningful and respectful tribute to those who served during the Vietnam War.

All residents of Kent County and the surrounding areas are invited to attend, whether they have ever served in the military or not. All veterans, whenever they served, are invited. Veterans from the Vietnam War period are particularly invited to attend and be recognized if they choose to do so. All Vietnam veterans who have previously been presented with a pin are urged to attend and to bring another veteran who has not.

The Spy recently talked with Mr. Sweetser about the significance of the March 29 event. For more about the National Vietnam War Veterans Day, go here.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length.

 

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Scholarships for Green Room Gang Summer Camp at Church Hill Theatre

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June is right around the corner and it’s time to nail down plans for summer activities. Church Hill Theatre’s Green Room Gang (GRG) offers the perfect opportunity for developing artistic skills, making friends, building confidence and teamwork—and just plain FUN.

Because Church Hill Theatre wants to share this program with as many students as possible, generous scholarship funds are available to prospective students who need financial assistance. No previous theater experience is needed to join Green Room Gang, just the desire to participate. Students entering grades 1 through 12 are eligible, and all are welcome. Camp begins on June 17 and culminates in two musical theater productions, open to the public, on July 18, 19, and 20.

Students entering grades 6 – 12 attend GRG, Sr., which starts on Monday, June 17 at 9:00 am. The camp day ends at 3:00 pm. This group produces a junior version of a Broadway show.  The scheduled 2024 production is Anastasia, Youth Edition. The cost for GRG, Sr. is $600.

Students entering grades 1 – 5 start on June 18, with a shorter 9:00 am – 12:00 pm camp day. They put together a Broadway Junior Kids musical and then join the senior students for the finale. The cost is $370. The show scheduled for GRG, Jr. this year is Seussical Kids.

The scholarship application process is easy. The student writes a short essay (with adult help as necessary), and the parent or guardian includes a statement. The summer camp fills up quickly, so contact CHT immediately if you think a full or partial scholarship would benefit your child. Full information can be found at www.churchhilltheatre.org, or by calling the CHT office at 410-556-6003. The office is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 to 4:30.

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A Talbot County Star at the Starr Center: A Chat with Jaelon Moaney

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Jaelon Moaney’s appointment as Deputy Director of the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College is a full–circle return to his roots on the Eastern Shore.

A tenth-generation son of Talbot and Kent County, his ancestors helped found Copperville, the only American village founded by once-enslaved soldiers. They also helped establish the earliest free Black community known as “The Hill” in Easton.

A graduate of Easton High School and a B.A. with honors from Williams College as a political science major, Moaney’s journey back to the Cambridge area has been replete with education, preservation, and state-level engagements to not only foster an understanding of Black history but to promote and advocate learning projects honoring the “legacies and landscapes” of Delmarva.

Co-founder of the Needles Eye Academy in Talbot County, a project to promote the “literary empowerment for the Black & Brown youth of MD’s Eastern Shore”—covered in the Spy here—Moaney was recently appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to be on the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.

Moaney has emerged as a prominent figure in the national preservation movement in the United States, championing causes on Capitol Hill and state capitols nationwide. His deep policy knowledge and advocacy efforts played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, encompassing Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties. President Joe Biden signed this designation into law in January 2023. Additionally, his achievements include securing the confirmation of the Hon. Sara C. Bronin, the first person of color to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the expansion and redesignation of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to include four locations outside of the original site in Kansas. He also played a key role in establishing the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area in Chicago, Illinois, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Texas.

Director of the Starr Center Adam Goodheart writes, “All of us at the Starr Center are thrilled to have Jaelon as the newest member of our leadership team. He comes to us with vision, passion, and an impressive record of community engagement and public service, as well as strong professional connections throughout Maryland and beyond. What’s more, he’s a proud native son of the Eastern Shore who draws inspiration from that legacy and is eager to share it with others. We can expect to see him at the helm of some exciting initiatives ahead.”

Jaelon Moaney recently shared his vision of working with the Starr Center with the Spy last week.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Starr Center at Washington College please go here.

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Adkins Arboretum’s Happy Mystery Tuesday!  Guess who’s pictured below

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The answer to last week’s mystery is switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, pictured in photo below.
Switchgrass is a versatile and adaptable plant with beautiful colored, upright foliage. It can be used as a contrast plant, filler, or for added character in a garden bed. Once established, switchgrass is drought tolerant and grows well in high temperatures. It thrives in many weather conditions, soil types, and land conditions.
Switchgrass has a deep, fibrous root system – nearly as deep as the plant is tall! It makes a good habitat for upland game bird species, such as pheasant, quail, grouse, wild turkey, and song birds, thanks to its plentiful small seeds and tall cover.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Genrich Named Director of Women and Children’s Services at UM Shore Regional Health

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Jessica Genrich

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, recently named Jessica Genrich, MBA, RNC, as Director of Women and Children’s Services.

“Jess has dedicated her clinical career to the care of women and children, and her present and focused leadership in this specialty will support UM Shore Regional Health in caring for this population throughout their lifetime,” said Jenny Bowie, MBA, BSN, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at UM SRH.

Genrich has been with UM SRH since 2021, most recently as the interim nurse manager for UM SRH’s Women and Children’s Services, where she has also worked as a senior clinical nurse coordinator. Genrich began her nursing career as a labor and delivery nurse in 2004 at Luminis Health in Annapolis and has also worked in labor and delivery at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.

Genrich obtained her Master of Business Administration from Longwood University in Farmville, Va., her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore and her Bachelor of Science in Management Science and Information Technology with a concentration in Business Support Systems from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

 

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Musical Witches Brew: A Chat with Bette Midler Tribute Artist Jennica McCleary

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Be careful on March 9. Cauldrons will be bubbling, and spells will be cast at the 2024 Garfield Center for the Arts’ Gala as acclaimed tribute artist Jennica McCleary brings her musical witches brew of Hocus Pocus-themed “Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret” to Chestertown.

For fifteen years, McCleary has showcased her impersonation of Bette Midler’s Hocus Pocus with Winifred Sanderson for audiences. She has performed from Las Vegas’s Legends in Concert to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando and has been featured on major platforms such as MTV, VH1, and Entertainment Tonight. Disney’s Magic Kingdom handpicked her to debut as Winifred Sanderson in Disney’s ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ in 2015.

Her appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Freeform’s Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Bash, and Halloween Road have solidified her place among multi-talented artists.

Beyond her uncanny resemblance to Bette Midler, McCleary is a versatile performer, showcasing her talents as an actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Her impressive resume includes choreographing productions of “The Rocky Horror Show Live” and “Once on this Island” on the Eastern Shore.

The Spy recently talked with the engaging Jennica McCleary about how she discovered her path to an entertainment career and came to embody Bette Midler’s famous Winefred character from the 1993 film “Hocus Pocus” to bewitch her audiences.

This video is approximately eight minutes in length. For more about the Garfield Center for the Arts Gala, go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.