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October 27, 2025

ARCHIVE Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

7 Ed Notes

Galena Elementary School One School One Book Funded by Chestertown Rotary Club

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The Chestertown Rotary Club chose GES and the One School One Book program to benefit from their annual Soup & Sip fundraiser. Rotary Clubs are part of a diverse group of professional leaders working to address various community service needs. The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

Rachel Hopkins, Title 1 Specialist at GES, carefully considered many titles before making the 2022-2023 school year’s selection. The title chosen had to be accessible to all families which means they needed to choose something that was also available in Spanish. They also wanted a novel that had a picture book companion for their youngest readers (PreK-1st grade).

One of the novels that met all the criteria was WONDER by R.J. Palacio. This book has captivated its readers with a mixture of humor and sadness. The main character, Auggie, is a ten-year-old boy who has been homeschooled until the 5th grade. Auggie was born with facial abnormalities and desires to fit in and make friends at his new school. Along with kindness, the book has many other themes such as anti-bullying and having compassion and empathy for others. The author tells the story through different characters’ points of view. Each point of view is beautifully woven together to inspire the reader to be a better person. At the end of the book, readers are amazed at how one kid can positively affect an entire school.

It was very important to GES school that families with low literacy levels could also access the text and have this valuable shared reading experience with their children. GES created videos so they could listen to the text being read aloud. Teachers took sections and recorded themselves reading the text. GES partnered with Kent County High School to record the text being read in Spanish. These videos can be found on the school’s Facebook page and website.

Each day there was a trivia question about the assigned sections from the day before. Students submitted their answers for a chance to receive a prize. All the names of students who answered the question are read during the morning announcements. A winner was chosen live, in the video announcement studio, while the classrooms watched on the smart boards in the classrooms!  This was such a fun experience that GES created “grand prizes” for the students who correctly answered the most questions in each grade level.

Chestertown Rotary Club was proud to sponsor the Galena Elementary School One School One Book program by funding the books and the Magic Shows to cultivate a culture of literacy!

To learn more about how you can join the Chestertown Rotary Club, contact, Les Moorhouse at [email protected].

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Kent Chamber to Host Lunch & Learn Seminar

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The Kent County Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch & Learn Seminar focused on Estate Planning, starting at 11:30 am on Wednesday, June 28th. The Seminar will be held at the Dixon Training Center located at 101 Warner Drive in Chestertown, MD and will offer networking opportunities, free lunch, and an informative seminar on this important topic. Lunch is generously provided by Envision Wealth Planning, LLC and Mid-Shore Community Foundation and offers three options from Happy Chicken Bakery.

The Estate Planning Seminar will feature Kathleen Hurd, attorney with Rasin, Wootton & Hurd, who will review the essentials of estate planning from wills and trust to the probate process. Buck Duncan, President of Mid-Shore Community Foundation will discuss tools for giving today as well as building an enduring legacy. To register to attend this event, click here.

“We are thrilled to bring this Lunch & Learn opportunity to Kent County this month,” says Sarah King, Kent County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “Estate Planning is an important topic to our Non-Profit Members, as well as business leaders in our community, and is the first in a series of seminars and conferences that the Chamber will offer its members.”

As a leading advocate for business, the Kent County Chamber of Commerce offers numerous opportunities to get involved. To provide the greatest value to the membership, and to facilitate increased outreach in the business community, the Kent County Chamber of Commerce has two special interest committees open to our members – Voice of Business (VoB) Committee and Business Development Events Committee. This seminar and future conferences fall under the blanket of the VoB Committee and the Chamber welcomes community input on subject areas that are important to their businesses. Submit your ideas by sending an email to [email protected].

About the Kent County Chamber of Commerce

With more than 300 member businesses, nonprofits, and individuals, the Chamber is Kent County’s premier business-to-business facilitator. Through our many unique programs, events, and advocacy, we provide a platform for leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors to engage with each other to grow their respective organizations for the ultimate benefit of Kent County and its residents.

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Harry Potter at The Bookplate This Friday

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All are welcome this Friday, June 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm to participate in the worldwide Harry Potter Book Night to be celebrated here in Kent County. This free event is supported by Bloomsbury Publishing and will be held at Bookplate, 112 S. Cross St., Chestertown, MD 21620.

Young wizards, witches and Muggles can be sorted into their houses, participate in a Mandrake potting class with Professor Sprout, pose for fan-created photo opportunities, and participate in a store-wide scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Harry Potter gift basket. Come in costume to take an extra 20% off all book sales that night, and don’t forget your wand! 

Craving some Butterbeer or Chocolate Frogs while you shop? Miriam Hassanali Satchell is transforming The Spicerie into a magical snack booth with a fun variety of sweet and savory treats. Located at the entrance to The Bookplate for the duration of the event. 

For more event details contact The Bookplate at 410-778-4167 or [email protected]. This event is organized by a volunteer committee of loyal Potter fans to celebrate the spirit of Harry Potter. To learn more about the global phenomenon of Harry Potter Book Night, visit www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/harry-potter/

**The Bookplate also wants to extend an invitation to our LGBT+ community, many of whom may have felt a loss of connection to the stories as a result of J.K. Rowling’s hurtful comments about transgender men and women. The staff at the shop and the community of volunteers acknowledge that these were harmful and inappropriate comments that in no way reflect the atmosphere of inclusion that is fostered at The Bookplate. All are welcome.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recognizes Volunteers at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

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The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently recognized volunteers of Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for their service to the refuge during 2022. Volunteers at Eastern Neck NWR do everything from maintaining the butterfly garden, staffing the Visitor Contact Station, and maintaining trails, facilities, and equipment, to leading bird walks, monitoring nest boxes, and surveying waterfowl. During 2022, 55 volunteers contributed 2,820 hours of their time to the refuge!

Eastern Neck NWR volunteers that surpassed the 50-hour milestone in 2022 include Donna Wadsley, Cece Trainor, and Karen Biddle. Pictured with them are Marcia Pradines Long, Refuge Manager, and Michele Whitbeck, Volunteer Coordinator. Not pictured is Bill Burton.

Special recognition was given to volunteers reaching key milestones in the number of hours they have contributed to the refuge.  Award pins and certificates were presented to the following volunteers:  Karen Biddle, Bill Burton, Cece Trainor, and Donna Wadsley (50 hours); Mary Lou Troy and Marilyn Wilwol (100 hours); John Wilwol (500 hours); and Jerry Lawrey and Stan Rempuszewski (750 hours).  Each volunteer received a special recognition gift for their volunteer efforts.

Volunteers at Eastern Neck NWR play a critical role in helping the refuge fulfill its mission. If you would like to learn more about volunteering at Eastern Neck NWR, please call 410-221-8157.

Refuge volunteer Jerry Lawrey received recognition for contributing over 750 hours of volunteer service to Eastern Neck NWR. Not pictured is Stan Rempuszewski, who also received recognition for 750 hours of volunteer service.

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, is a 2,285-acre island which supports a wide variety of habitats including brackish marsh, natural ponds, upland forest, and grasslands for a diversity of wildlife. The refuge holds the designation of Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.  To learn more, visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Eastern-Neckor @EasternNeckNWR.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws/gov. 

Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsnortheast/, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsnortheast, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/usfwsnortheast. 

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New Sculpture by African Artist Installed at Sumner Hall in Chestertown

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The Chestertown Public Art Committee is pleased to announce a new installation from the Peter and Hanna Woicke Sculpture collection at Sumner Hall in Chestertown. The sculpture, entitled “The Dance,” joins nine other sculptures from the Woicke Collection already installed at sites such as Henry Highland Garnet Elementary, the Kent County Public Library, and the Kent Cultural Alliance, with more to arrive in the coming months.

“The Dance” depicts a young woman dancing as part of an initiation rite in the artist Shakiru-Ola Erogbogbo’s homeland of Nigeria. Assembled from found metal objects welded together, the sculpture can be seen as representing the vibrancy of traditional beliefs and rituals within a modern Africa. The piece also draws on the rich history of west African art, which is valued the world over for its visual complexity and innovative use of materials.

The Board of Directors of Sumner Hall and members of the Public Art Committee discussed several different works for possible installation in front of the historic building, finally choosing “The Dance” as a meaningful tribute to the historic institution. Larry Wilson, president of the Sumner Hall Board, has observed, “Looking at the young girl dancing through to womanhood makes me feel the struggles that we as African Americans are still going through today to obtain equality, freedom and peace. I believe that one day we will be dancing too! One day I pray that we can sing, ‘Free At Last! Free At Last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at Last!’ ”

The Chestertown Public Art Committee was established in 2019 with the goal of helping to promote and implement the installation of artwork in public places for the enrichment of the community. The committee also seeks to foster educational programming and activities that engage the community and increase the understanding and enjoyment of public art by residents and visitors. Since 2021, it has been coordinating the installation of the Woicke Sculpture Collection, an extraordinary gift of twenty-four outdoor sculptures donated to the town by Peter and Hanna Woicke of St. Michael’s. More information about public art in Chestertown can be found at https://chestertownpublicarts.com/.

Built circa 1908, Sumner Hall honors the service of African American members of the U.S. uniformed services from Revolutionary War days to the present time.  The building was a community center and hub of Kent County African American life for sixty years.  When it fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition, a coalition of preservationists, foundations and philanthropic citizens engaged in a thirteen-year campaign to save the building.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is just one of two African American Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) veterans’ halls still standing in the United States.

Sumner Hall’s mission is powered by core values and illustrated by the wide range of exhibitions, cultural events, educational programs, community socials, performances and social justice initiatives. It stands as a place of remembrance of the contributions of African Americans who served in the U. S. Civil War by (1) honoring all African American veterans of the U. S. armed services; (2) promoting an understanding of the African American experience within the overall context of American history and culture; and (3) advocating for social justice and racial equity in all aspects of civic life.

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Community Input Sought on Middle School Project

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Kent County Public Schools is holding a pair of community meetings this month on plans for a new middle school.

The school system has begun the process of planning for replacement or renovation of Kent County Middle School.

Community input has been an integral part of the planning process and Kent County Public Schools is continuing that with this month’s meetings.

The community meetings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

  • Tuesday, June 20 at 6 p.m. in the Kent County Middle School media center, 402 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown
  • Wednesday, June 28 at 6 p.m. in the Kent County High School auditorium, 25301 Lambs Meadow Road, Worton.

For more information on the Kent County Middle School project, visit www.kent.k12.md.us/KCMSProject.aspx.

Questions and comments on the Kent County Middle School project may be sent to [email protected].

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Summer Food Service Meals Program, Open Site

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Kent County Public Schools is offering free summer meals for all children under 18 years of age.

As part of KCPS’ efforts to ensure that children have access to healthy food during the summer months, meals will be available at no charge for children. No application is required.

The meal distribution site will be located at H.H. Garnet Elementary School, 320 Calvert St., Chestertown.

Meals will be distributed at the front doors of the building.

Breakfast and lunch will be available Monday to Thursday starting Tuesday, June 20 and running through Thursday, Aug. 10.

Breakfast can be picked up on those days between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Lunch will be available for pickup between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Contact Food Service Support Supervisor Angie Knoll at [email protected] with any questions.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Notification to the Community

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form. The form can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.

The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

or
2. fax:
833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442

or
3. email:
[email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Figg’s Ordinary’s Evolution

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Figg’s Ordinary café will close permanently on July 8th to enable Figg’s Ordinary packaged good business, Ingrid’s Crackers™, to begin production. We have loved serving the Chestertown community through our café operations, appreciate your support and business over the past six years, and look forward to continuing to serve you though Ingrid’s Crackers packaged goods offerings.

As we shared with you a year or so ago, Figg’s Ordinary has partnered with Union Kitchen in Washington, D.C. Union Kitchen is a food incubator and commercial kitchen. Figg’s Ordinary will soon be launching three flavors of Ingrid’s Crackers for commercial distribution for sale at retail facilities. True to our traditions, Ingrid’s Crackers are made using organic nutrient dense ingredients including almond flour, flax meal, dried cranberries, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds. In addition to the original version of the crackers, an extraordinarily popular item at Figg’s Ordinary, we also offer two additional flavors: Cacao and Hazelnut, and Salted Almond (Paleo and Keto). We are excited to be able to bring our nourishing and unique artisan crackers to more customers.

Please watch for our products in retail stores near you soon! Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you as Figg’s Ordinary takes this next, exciting step.

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Democratic Club of Kent County Celebrates Pride Month

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The public is invited to the June 15 meeting of the Democratic Club of Kent County, for an interesting and informative presentation, “The Personal is (Still) Political: Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities and Challenges”.  Our presenter will be Cassandra Miller, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Baltimore County Public Library; she will be speaking as a private citizen rather than as a representative of library.

The term “gender-diverse” is used to refer to persons whose gender identity, including their gender expression, is at odds with what is perceived as being the gender norm in a particular context at a particular point in time, including those who do not place themselves in the male/female binary; the more specific term “trans” is used to describe persons who identify with a different sex than the one assigned to them at birth. Many states, including Maryland, are moving forward with legislation and policies to protect the rights of trans persons, but many other states have seen a blitz of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation since 2020, particularly anti-transgender bills.  Areas of contention include public education, books in public libraries, athletic competitions, health care coverage, workplace discrimination, and basic human rights.  Additional information is available online:https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/transgender-people-gender-identity-gender-expression; https://www.law.georgetown.edu/gender-journal/in-print/volume-xxii-issue-2-annual-review-2021/transgender-rights-and-issues/.

Ms. Miller will speak about the experience of being trans, explain some of the vocabulary and concepts, give an overview of contemporary trans rights challenges, and offer some advice on what can be done to advocate for LGBTQ+ people.  The meeting will take place at Sumner Hall, 206 S. Queen St., Chestertown, on Thursday, June 15; doors will open at 6:00 pm for refreshments, social time and a brief business meeting.  Ms. Miller will begin her presentation at approximately 7:00 pm.  Please consider attending the meeting on this vitally important topic.

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Psychic Medium at Church Hill Theatre June 28th

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For one night only, on June 28, 2023, acclaimed medium Debbie Wojciechowsk will return to Church Hill Theatre to help connect patrons with their loved ones who have passed. As an Evidential Medium with extensive training in the U.S. and England, she is an expert in both near-death experiences and grief counseling.

Debbie does not perform on a stage, but works more intimately, connecting members of her audience with loved ones who have moved beyond their physical lives. As she channels each message, she hopes to bring comfort and awareness to people that there is a life after this one: our loved ones are always with us. Her clients have described her as empathetic and down-to-earth, with a real gift for sensitive readings.

A native of Baltimore, Ms. Wojciechowski holds a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University.  She has enjoyed a 25-year career in federal law enforcement and is a nationally acclaimed and certified Evidential Medium. An Evidential Medium is an individual who can communicate with Spirt.  This information can be unequivocally verified and is evidence of the human’s soul survival beyond physical life.

Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, this could be the perfect outing on a warm summer night.  Many find Medium Debbie particularly insightful.  Tickets to her June 28 appearance may be purchased at churchhilltheatre.org for $50.  Reservations can also be made by calling the Church Hill Theatre office at (410) 556-6003

For more information about Debbie Wojciechowski and her work, please visit mediumdebbie.com or follow her on social media at facebook.com/mediumdebbie and instagram at @mediumdebbie.

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