With the approach of the country’s 250th anniversary of its founding, a group of veterans in Queen Anne’s County is committed to rectifying a critical gap in the understanding of our nation’s history by recognizing those free and formerly enslaved African Americans whose military service during the Civil War helped preserve the Union and put an end to slavery. In fighting for their personal freedom and that of their families, these soldiers helped to pave the way for future advancements in civil rights and integrated military service. Black veterans, who proved their mettle in combat, returned home empowered to become leaders in their communities.

In their honor, the Queen Anne’s County Veterans Committee (a subcommittee of CVIC, the Centreville Veterans Information Center) has partnered with local artist Tilghman Hemsley, and with Chesapeake Charities as its fiscal sponsor, to create a bronze statue that will stand atop a stone monument engraved with the names of each of the 480 soldiers from Queen Anne’s County identified thus far. The statue will be erected at the Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center, which is housed in the renovated African American High School in Centreville.

Chris Pupke, a local historian who has conducted extensive research into the United States Colored Troops, believes there may have been as many as 600 Black men from the county who enlisted. But their military service has been largely overlooked. His presentations to the Kennard Alumni Association, the CVIC, the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners, and various community groups have sparked great interest in a project intended to provide tangible, long-overdue recognition for the valor and service of these brave men. CVIC established the Queen Anne’s County Veterans Committee (QACVC) to create a public monument honoring their fellow veterans.

The majority of USCT soldiers from Queen Anne’s County served in the 19^th, 7^th, and 39^th  regiments. More than 125 men from Queen Anne’s County were enlisted in the 7^th Regiment of the USCT, trained at Camp Stanton in Charles County, and fought on the barrier islands from Hilton Head to Jacksonville, and at the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm in Virginia. There, when two regiments of white troops, numbering 1,400 men, failed to capture Fort Gilmer, four companies of the 7^th USCT, numbering 250 men, were ordered to storm the fort. According to Colonel James Shaw Jr.’s report:  “Not a man faltered, but all who did not fall reached the work, charged boldly, and did all in their power to take it. They are all missing.” Of the 31 men from Queen Anne’s County who charged the fort, only three returned unscathed.

Artist Tilghman Hemsley’s vision for the commemorative bronze sculpture is a figure of a soldier standing six and a half feet tall, atop a flared granite base that will be engraved with the names of the USCT soldiers identified thus far. The soldier is dressed in a Union Army uniform, posed in an active stand that communicates strength and compassion. One hand holds a Springfield Model 1861 rifle; with the other hand, the soldier offers a canteen of water to a fallen comrade. Depicted as a battle draws to a close, the soldier is resolute, his gaze fixed on the future. His bare feet illustrate the Union’s supply shortages and the personal suffering borne by Black Union soldiers.

The QACVC has raised nearly $100,000 toward a $300,000 goal, which they expect to meet by July 2026. To make a gift, checks should be written to the United States Colored Troops Memorial Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 42, Centreville, MD 21617. Online gifts through Chesapeake Charities donor portal https://chesapeakecharities.org/fund/u-s-colored-troops-memorial-fund/ are subject to a small processing fee.

To learn more about the project, please reach out to John Wright, chairman of the QACVC, at 410-443-7686, or visit the artist’s website, https://www.tilghmanhemsleyfinearts.com/usct-memorial

The YMCA of the Chesapeake (YOC) is pleased to welcome James P. “Jim” Harris and Andy Cheezum as new members of its Corporate Board of Directors. Both Harris and Cheezum have been engaged with the YMCA for many years and bring a shared commitment to service, leadership, and community impact across the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, as well as St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Founded in 1857, the YMCA of the Chesapeake is governed by dedicated volunteers who guide its mission and ensure its continued service to communities throughout the region.

“Jim and Andy have each led lives that clearly reflect the values of the YMCA,” said Robbie Gill, CEO of the YMCA of the Chesapeake. “Their integrity and deep commitment to community will serve the Y well. We are truly grateful they have agreed to serve on our Corporate Board, and we are confident their leadership, perspective, and long-standing connection to the Y will greatly benefit the communities we serve.”

Jim Harris brings decades of global leadership and nonprofit experience to the board. He retired from ExxonMobil after a 38-year career, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company, with senior leadership roles in both the United States and Europe. Jim has held long-standing board and officer positions with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the Academy of Art Museum in Easton, and has served on numerous nonprofit and industry boards nationally and internationally. A Georgia Tech Engineering Hall of Fame inductee, Jim and his wife, Pam, are active philanthropists with a strong commitment to education and health, and are long-time supporters and members of the Perkins Family YMCA.

Andy Cheezum brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in commercial, municipal, and institutional construction, with expertise spanning competitive bid, design-build, and construction manager delivery models. An Eastern Shore native, Andy has spent over two decades as a business owner and executive, with additional experience in real estate acquisition and residential property management. He is a graduate of Easton High School, Chesapeake College, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude in Construction Management Technology. A Certified Healthcare Constructor, Andy has held extensive leadership roles with the Associated Builders & Contractors and has served on numerous regional boards focused on education, workforce development, banking, environmental stewardship, faith-based organizations, and youth programs.

The YMCA of the Chesapeake is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits and one of the largest human service organizations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Virginia, and Southern Maryland. The Y strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, serving more than 50,000 members and their families each year, regardless of age, income, or background. The YMCA of the Chesapeake operates facilities in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Wicomico, and Worcester counties in Maryland, as well as on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, and is working with local volunteers to bring a new YMCA to Lexington Park in St. Mary’s County in the near future.

In 2026, the YMCA of the Chesapeake will provide more than $1.8 million in financial assistance to over 16,000 community members, ensuring no one is turned away due to inability to pay. In addition, the Y will invest $1.1 million in youth outreach and health intervention programs. These free programs support youth development across the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Virginia, and Southern Maryland, while the Y’s health intervention initiatives provide tools, resources, and support to individuals managing conditions ranging from Parkinson’s disease to dementia.

The Caroline Foundation celebrated its 10th year of community grantmaking by awarding $1 million to 26 nonprofit organizations during the annual Caroline Foundation Awards Breakfast held Nov. 6 at the Chesapeake Culinary Center.

This year’s cycle was the most competitive in the foundation’s history. According to Caroline Foundation Board President Terry Mead, the foundation received 33 grant requests totaling $1,658,627 and was able to fund 26 of them.

“Every year we have more need than money to give,” Mead told attendees. “But the good news is that each dollar we invest touches hundreds of lives across Caroline County.”

The Caroline Foundation was established in 2015, following the sale of the Caroline Nursing Home and The Gables, which was originally incorporated in 1967. The $14 million proceeds from the sale were invested to create a sustainable fund to benefit the health-related needs of Caroline County residents.

The foundation has no physical office and no paid staff. The 13-member volunteer board of directors is composed of Caroline County residents and manages the foundation, partnering with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for administrative services.

To date, the foundation has awarded 194 grants totaling about $6.8 million, while increasing its assets to about $18.6 million through investment income and donations.

Mead emphasized that the foundation’s model is designed for permanence. “If we continue following the 5-percent-per-year rule and keep costs below one percent,” he said, “the fund will serve the citizens of Caroline County forever.”

The foundation awarded Compass Regional Hospice — Caroline County Hospice Care a grant to support its hospice care, supportive care, and grief support services. Caroline Hospice and YMCA of the Chesapeake were the foundation’s first two grant recipients and have received funding each year since.

During the breakfast, representatives from each grantee had two minutes to describe their work. Highlights included:

• Upper Shore Aging – expanding Meals on Wheels and home-care support for seniors.
• Choptank Community Health System – introducing new technology to assist rural medical providers.
• Caroline County Department of Emergency Services – creating a whole-blood transfusion program for trauma patients.
• Aaron’s Place – feeding more than 4,000 people in a single day before Thanksgiving last year.
• Critical Repairs Caroline County – installing ramps and safety equipment so seniors can remain in their homes.
• For All Seasons – expanding same-day mental-health access through its Open Access program.
• Adkins Arboretum – offering free admission for Caroline County residents and new wellness programs.
• Martin’s House & Barn – providing shelter and food for families in crisis.

Additional recipients included Channel Marker, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, Federalsburg Activity Center, Restoring Hope for Women, and other community organizations serving the health-related needs of children, families and seniors.

The Caroline Foundation works through the Mid-Shore Community Foundation to ensure that every dollar donated benefits local residents. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to:

The Caroline Foundation, P.O. Box 607, Denton, MD 21629. For more information about the Caroline Foundation or other funds managed by the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, visit www.midshorecommunityfoundation.org

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will celebrate the magic of the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 13, inviting the community to experience Winter on the Chesapeake on its waterfront campus from noon-7pm.

Held in conjunction with Christmas in St. Michaels, the festival will feature live music, visiting food vendors, a bar serving holiday cocktails, free horse-drawn carriage rides, a special presentation of the “One-Man Christmas Carol,” a Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop, discounted shopping in the Museum Store, and more winter-themed fun for the whole family.

Back for its second year, Winter on the Chesapeake accentuates the spirit of the season with a hands-on holiday crafts station, roaming carolers, and hot cocoa and s’mores shared around cozy fire cauldrons. To close out the day, CBMM’s campus offers one of the best vantage points for the St. Michaels Lighted Boat Parade, which begins at 6pm.

Tickets to join the fun are on sale now at cbmm.org/WinterOnTheChesapeake, with discounted pricing for CBMM members.

The Winter on the Chesapeake festivities showcase the best of the Bay during the most wonderful time of the year, with the music, food, drinks, and fireside fun starting at noon.

Expert florist Amy Wilkins of Monteray Farms will lead a ticketed Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop from 1-2pm in the Van Lennep Auditorium. Participants can choose a nautical or traditional theme for their one-of-a-kind holiday creation.

Festival admission, complimentary wine during the workshop, and all the materials and instruction needed to make the wreath are included in the $75 registration fee, with a 20% discount for CBMM members. Learn more at cbmm.org/HolidayWreathWorkshop.

From 2-6pm, guests can enjoy a carriage ride through CBMM’s festively decorated, 18-acre campus. Registration for these rides, which are included in festival admission, will be handled the day of the festival.

At 3pm, don’t miss actor Jimi Kinstle’s unforgettable one-man rendition of “A Christmas Carol” that sees him take on 18 characters over the course of an hour performing the Charles Dickens classic.

After 5pm, there will be free admission to view the St. Michaels Lighted Boat Parade, which passes CBMM’s campus in St. Michaels Harbor along the Miles River. The exhibitions will close, but CBMM’s Museum Store, plus the restrooms and cocktail bar, will be open until 7pm.

Stop by the Museum Store, located in the Welcome Center, before or after the parade to enjoy great deals on holiday shopping. CBMM members receive 20% off storewide, and everyone else receives 10% off their purchases.

Winter on the Chesapeake tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Admission is set at $22 for adults, $19 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $10 for active and retired military members, and $9 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing for this and other annual festivals celebrating the best of the Bay throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive the $10 discounted admission for two additional adult guests.

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story, joining CBMM’s mission as stewards of the region’s rich cultural heritage. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

Winter on the Chesapeake guests are encouraged to enter campus through the Welcome Center throughout the day. Please note the wreath-making workshop and all food and drinks are an additional fee.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept home during CBMM festivals, including Winter on the Chesapeake. Carry-on alcohol, from dock or land, is prohibited.

Learn more about Winter on the Chesapeake, this Saturday’s Holiday Edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, and more CBMM events and programming ahead this winter at cbmm.org.

Not surprisingly, Deena Kilman, executive director of the Waterfowl Festival, wants to break all records when this time-honored weekend of Eastern Shore culture begins its 54th celebration on Friday in Easton. That would match Deena and her board’s innovative new ways that are making Waterfowl the “It” place to be for families and, yes, their dogs in the Mid-Atlantic. We asked Deena to walk over to the Spy studio yesterday and share with us the top five things to get excited about the festival. It wasn’t hard for her to list them off in rapid fire.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about this year’s Waterfowl Festival, please go here.

November 14 –16, 2025
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.