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November 4, 2025

ARCHIVE Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Shore United Bank Congratulates Gina Paul on 35 Years of Service!

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Gina A. Paul celebrates 35 years with Shore United Bank.

Shore United Bank is happy to congratulate Gina Paul on 35 years of service. Gina began her career with the Bank in September of 1986 as a Bookkeeping Clerk at the Commerce Street branch in Centreville, formerly Centreville National Bank.  Since that time, Gina has held other positions with the bank as Customer Service Representative, Assistant Manager, Branch Manager, and Internal Auditor. Currently, Ms. Paul is a Systems Administrator and Support Specialist, managing the workflow in the IT Department.

Gina is responsible for providing first-level problem determination and analysis with quick and efficient resolutions of all technical issues on the Help Desk’s supported platforms, serving as the primary administrator for various systems of Shore Bancshares and subsidiaries.

“Every support call is different, that’s what makes my job exciting. It also helps to create and retain good workplace relationships,” Gina responded when asked why she likes her job.

Extremely aware of her determination, friendliness and dependability, Gina’s supervisor, Fritz Kade, Chief Information Officer at Shore United Bank, had a lot to say about her contributions to their team:

“Gina is the backbone of the IT Department. If she can’t resolve an issue, she elicits support from other members of the team or learns how to resolve the issue independently. Her greatest strength is her completion orientation and customer service.”

With an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Chesapeake College, Gina is also a 2008 graduate of Maryland Bankers School.  In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as scuba diving, archery, hiking, and playing softball.

For more information about Shore United Bank, visit www.ShoreUnitedBank.com

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

F3 Tech Selects Companies in AgTech and Clean Energy Storage

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F3 Tech, an agriculture innovation accelerator program for early-stage companies supported by the nonprofit Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, has selected five companies from the fields of crop and soil health, as well as clean energy storage, to participate in its 2021 program.

The companies were selected from a pool of competitive applications and include:

  • Holganix, a manufacturer of proprietary plant probiotics that harness the power of microorganisms to optimize soils and grow healthier, more sustainable plants. This translates to improved yield on crops and a reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Lepidext, producer of a patented bioinsecticide that is safe, effective, and easy to use to control the corn earworm (aka cotton bollworm) in both the organic and conventional farming of crops affected by the pest.
  • Urban Electric Power is a clean energy company spun out of the CUNY Energy Institute. The company offers energy storage with safe and affordable rechargeable alkaline battery technology without any lead or flammable electrolytes. The battery cells are modular, scaling from residential to commercial to utility applications.
  • Growbox, a company that produces self-contained, fully automated shippable fodder systems that can match a year’s output of a 50-acre field of hay.
  • A newly established fifth company in the field of crop protection will be announced in Q4 2021 as they complete their initial funding round.

“This year’s candidates are more advanced than any we have previously admitted,” said F3 Tech Program Director Chris Hlubb. “Our team looks forward to working with them to expedite advances in their respective fields and realize their full commercial potential.”

Over the course of the three-month accelerator that starts in September, the companies will receive expert guidance from F3 Tech mentors in business development, marketing, legal and finance. The accelerator requires no equity from participants, a unique value proposition for many early-stage companies.

About F3 Tech

The F3 Tech Accelerator Program provides funding and support for early-stage companies to prepare them for potential investment from the future F3 Tech Seed Fund, industry partners, and investors. For more information, please visit: https://f3tech.org/.

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

Shore United Bank Goes Purple During September in Support of the Herren Project

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This September, Shore United Bank is ‘going Purple’ in support of the Herren Project’s initiative to provide communities with resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of Substance Use Disorder.

In an effort to create awareness to the dangers of substance use, encourage positive decision-making to navigate life’s challenges and break the stigma of addiction, each branch will be decorated with purple décor, wearing purple on Fridays, and sharing useful resources for those whose lives may be impacted by this epidemic.

The tellers at Shore United Bank will be placing Substance Use Disorder resource cards in all currency envelopes to be handed to bank customers. These cards contain trigger questions and a URL for access to an array of sources covering all parties affected, from people battling the disorder, to the families of these individuals.

“There’s no reason to feel shame in asking for help. This program is starting a conversation that may save a life,” says Shore United Bank, Market Executive, Heather Bacher. Heather is also involved in QAC Goes Purple, a substance use awareness project in Queen Anne’s County led by the QAC Office of the Sheriff and the QAC Drug-Free Coalition, based upon the ideas of the Herren Project.

By placing resource cards into envelopes, customers will have discrete access to beneficial resources and information to create awareness, learn how and where to seek treatment, cope with the effects of addiction on their lives, and understand how to handle difficult situations related to Substance Abuse Disorder.

“Substance Use Disorder continues to destroy our communities and while this used to be a taboo subject, the initiatives of the Project Purple have made the topic more acceptable to discuss. The work we’re all doing to create awareness goes deep into our businesses, schools and our entire community,” explains Bacher.

In addition to their individual efforts, Shore United Bank has partnered with QAC Goes Purple and Talbot Goes Purple to further support the initiatives of the Herren Project and the fight to prevent Substance Use Disorder.

For more information on Shore United Bank’s commitment to their community and this initiative, please visit ShoreUnitedBank.com/project-purple.

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

Rural Maryland Council Announces Fiscal Year 2022 Grant Recipients

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The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) supports Rural Maryland Council’s activities including the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF), and the State’s five Regional Councils. RMPIF is designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. MAERDAF provides capacity building grants to rural serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges that promote statewide and regional planning, health care, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education.

Total Requested: 141 Applications $11,180,214
Total Awarded: 59 Grants $6,150,000

Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund: 29 Grants = $5,239,212

Rural Maryland Council: 1 Grant = Disbursement: $500,000

Awardee Total Award
Rural Maryland Council $500,000

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for Rural Maryland – advocating, educating, and helping rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish and to gain equity to its suburban and urban counterparts. The Council administers the RMPIF and MAERDAF grant programs. Additionally, the Council conducts research activities to understand rural challenges and outreach to engage rural residents in developing solutions to these challenges and convenes groups to identify solutions through consensus and coalition building.

RMC operates under the direction of a 40-member Executive Board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. The Council’s vision is a future where all of Rural Maryland is prosperous with thriving resources, vibrant economies, and healthy, connected communities. The organizational goals are to:

  • Encourage healthy, connected communities throughout Rural Maryland through convening stakeholders, education, public relations, and advocacy;
  • Support the development and growth of vibrant economies in Rural Maryland;
  • Foster stewardship of Maryland’s natural resources; and,
  • Maximize outreach, resources, and mission through financial and organizational

Regional Councils: 5 Grants = Disbursement: $2,000,000

One-third of RMPIF supports the State’s five regional councils:

Awardee Total Award
Tri-County Council for Western Maryland $400,000
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland $400,000
Upper Shore Regional Council $400,000
Mid-Shore Regional Council $400,000
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore $400,000

Regional Council activities funded through RMPIF, include:

  • Equity lending
  • Transportation software and systems
  • Regional agricultural development and education
  • Economic and small business development activities
  • Rural economic research

Examples of projects funded include the following:

  • The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland has developed a successful lending program for small businesses and entrepreneurs in their region, named Summit Financing Solutions. This program uses Federal, State, and local dollars to operate a number of loan funds that allow the Council to provide gap-financing and direct
  • The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland directs the Skillup® Southern Maryland, which is a program designed to help their region build a workforce ecosystem that supports positive economic development. Through this program and wraparound Federal supportive services, job seekers can explore career pathways, view local job postings, register for free online learning, and receive workforce services. Employers can search for qualified candidates, post jobs, and receive in-depth consulting to address hiring and training needs.
  • The Upper Shore Regional Council will continue to support the Upper Shore Career Technical Liaison position and program for Kent and Queen Anne’s As well as provide micro grants that allows teachers and mentors to assist high school seniors graduating from qualifying technical programs in their region to purchase the necessary tools and equipment to begin at their career.
  • The Mid-Shore Regional Council will fund the People for Change Coalition, Inc. to implement a summer career enrichment program for middle school students in partnership with the Dorchester Career and Technology The Youth Cyber Security Program is designed to lead to career paths in computer science, engineering, and project management.
  • The Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore will co-sponsor the Worcester County Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Technology and Tourism Internship Program (WSTATT-IP). This is a work-based learning experience that provides high school students and recent graduates from Worcester County paid internships that focus in the STATT sectors.

The RMPIF grant program has three focus areas-Health Care, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure. In FY2022, this program received 56 applications totaling $6,231,452 in requests. Of these requests, 23 grants totaling $2,739,212 were awarded.

RMPIF Health Care: 12 Grants = $966,449

Awardee Total Award
Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission $60,000
Channel Marker, Inc $125,000
Corsica River Mental Health Services, Inc. $7,500
For All Seasons, Inc. $72,225
Fort Ritchie Community Center, Inc. $25,000
Garrett County Memorial Hospital DBA Garrett Regional Medical Center $143,000
Health Partners Inc. $129,300
Maintaining Active Citizens, Inc. $50,000
TidalHealth $125,000
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland $87,500
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health at Chestertown $125,000
Women Supporting Women, Inc. $16,924

RMPIF Entrepreneurship: 5 Grants = $647,763

Awardee Total Award
Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. $160,000
Maryland Small Business Development Center, Northern Region at Harford Community College $142,763
People for Change Coalition $70,000
The Greater Cumberland Committee $175,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore-Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences $100,000

RMPIF Infrastructure: 6 Grants = $1,125,000

Awardee Total Award
End Hunger in Calvert County $250,000
Fair Hill Foundation $50,000
It Takes a Village to Help Our Children, Inc. $200,000
Maryland Rural Development Corporation $25,000
Town of Rising Sun $300,000
United States Bomb Technician Association $300,000

Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund: 30 Grants = $910,788

The MAERDAF grant program has five focus areas-Agricultural and Forestry Education, Community and Economic Development, Rural Broadband, Energy, and Youth Engagement. In FY2022, this program received 79 applications totaling $2,448,763 in requests. Of these requests, 30 grants totaling $910,788 were awarded.

MAERDAF Agricultural and Forestry Education: 6 Grants = $133,140

Awardee Total Award
Allegany College of Maryland $40,000
Chesapeake Culinary Center $13,000
LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. $30,000
Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation $10,390
Steam Onward, Inc. $13,450
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council $26,300

MAERDAF Community and Economic Development: 19 Grants = $608,633

Awardee Total Award
Bay Community Support Services, Inc. $27,200
Beach to Bay Heritage Area $40,000
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc $40,000
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum $34,535
Chesapeake Housing Mission Inc. $30,000
Community Mediation Maryland $40,000
Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation $25,000
For All Seasons, Inc. $38,682
Forever Maryland Foundation $28,600
Garrett College $40,000
Habitat for Humanity Choptank, Inc. $29,202
Habitat For Humanity of Wicomico County, Inc. $40,000
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Inc. $20,000
Maryland Rural Development Corporation $40,000
Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory $15,414
Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Inc. $21,000
The Greater Cumberland Committee $40,000
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council $40,000
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council $19,000

MAERDAF Energy: 2 Grants = $62,000

Awardee Total Award
Adkins Arboretum $40,000
Forest Glen Commonwealth, Inc. $22,000

MAERDAF Youth Engagement: 3 Grants = $107,015

Awardee Total Award
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education $30,000
Preservation Maryland $37,015
The Parents’ Place of Maryland $40,000

For More Information, visit the RMC website: www.rural.maryland.gov

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Shore United Bank Congratulates Chad Cronshaw on 20 Years of Service

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Chad Cronshaw celebrates 20 years with Shore United Bank.

Shore United Bank is happy to congratulate Chad Cronshaw on 20 years of service. Chad began his career with the Bank in July of 2001 as a Floating Teller, based in Stevensville. Since that time, Chad has held other positions with the bank as Teller, Head Teller, CSR and Assistant Branch Manager.

Currently, Mr. Cronshaw is the Branch Manager of the Centreville Road Branch in Centreville, MD.  Chad is responsible for managing and overseeing branch operations, leading his team to achieve their deposit and loan goals, and contributing to community service initiatives.

”Chad’s branch management experience and knowledge is a significant asset to the Bank. He is dedicated to his customers,  community and team,” explains Jen Joseph, Chief Retail Banking Officer at Shore United Bank.

A 2017 graduate of Maryland Banking School, Chad loves his job. “Every day I get the opportunity to help someone. Whether it’s just a quick question about their account, helping someone get a mortgage, or working with the public is a great blessing,” says Chad.

Chad resides in Centreville with his wife Melissa and children Cole (9) and Maci (6). He enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.

For more information about Shore United Bank, visit www.ShoreUnitedBank.com

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Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center Donates 3D Printer to Salisbury University

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Robotic students at Salisbury University have a lot to look forward to when they had back to campus this fall. The Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) has donated a professional, 3D printer that will allow students to turn 3D CAD files into functional, durable 3Dobjects such as Arduino driven 3D printed Robots, small four- wheeled robots, even electronic tools.

“Training students to use next-generation technology like this reductive 3D printer is absolutely critical to develop the STEM workforce of the 21st century,” said Michael Scott, Dean of the Henson School of Science and Technology at Salisbury University. “This donation will immediately allow us to meet that demand.”

Dr. Giulia Franchi and students with 3D pinter.

The printer will be housed in the university’s Robotics Lab and will be free to students enrolled in robotics courses and all Computer Science students working on a research project. It will also be available to other Salisbury students who only need to pay for materials. Dr. Giulia Franchi, who teaches robotics and supervises the VexU Robotics Club, will also be using the printer for the Vex Competition, the Agriculture Robotics project and research on drones.

“Our mission is to support and advance entrepreneurship in Eastern Maryland, and it starts right here with these university students and their faculty,” said Mike Thielke, executive director of ESEC. “We are excited to see what they are able to produce with this highly sophisticated piece of equipment.”

About ESEC:

Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2004 to help advance an entrepreneurship ecosystem on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. ESEC’s initiatives include the Chesapeake Agricultural Innovation Center (CAIC), CyberAg Symposium, F3 Tech, and hot Desks co-working. The programs encourage the organic development of high-growth, innovative, and scalable businesses and the jobs they create, with an emphasis on the region’s traditional industries of agriculture and seafood.

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Shore United Bank Helps Support Operation Frederick Douglass

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Shore United Bank is pleased to announce their $10,000 sponsorship to help support the Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill project which is planned to be unveiled Saturday, September 4th. The project, a 24×8 foot mural of Frederick Douglass painted by world-renowned artist Michael Rosato, costs around $50,000 which was the initial fundraising goal.

President and CEO of Shore United Bank, Scott Beatty, Jr. and Tarence Bailey, Sr., the Founder of Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill met earlier last week regarding the sponsorship.

Photo: President and CEO of Shore United Bank delivers $10,000 check to Founder of Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill. L-R: Scott Beatty, Jr. – President & CEO of Shore United Bank, Tarence Bailey, Sr. – Founder of Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill.

“Shore United Bank is pleased to take part in such an impactful project that celebrates African Americans and our local history. This mural is a reminder of the importance of unity and diversity, all values this community can feel proud to uphold. We are excited to see this piece of art in its permanent home in the Hill Community and share the passionate ideas of equality that this piece of art displays,” says Mr. Beatty when asked why this project is important to Shore United Bank.

Tarence Bailey, Sr. chose the location for the mural in one of the oldest African American neighborhoods and in the same area Frederick Douglass once stood. Solid Tops, which is a business located on South Street in Easton just off of the Rails to Trails, will be home to the giant mural.

For more information on Shore United Bank’s commitment to their community, please visit ShoreUnitedBank.com.

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Lemuel Peters of Shore United Bank Graduates from Maryland Banking School Program

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Lemuel Peters

Shore United Bank is proud to recognize Lemuel Peters, Elkridge Branch Manager, for graduating from the Maryland Banking School Program. The Maryland Banking School Program is a three- year program that enhances the individual and corporate performance through peer networking and leadership development under the guidance of industry leaders.

The program requires three consumer education presentations over the course of three years.  Mr. Peters was also awarded excellence for the ‘Most Financial Education Presentation’ with a total of 22 presentations.

For more information about Shore United Bank, visit ShoreUnitedBank.com.

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

F3 Tech Expands its Advisory Resources

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F3 Tech, an agriculture innovation accelerator program for early-stage companies supported by the nonprofit Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is pleased to announce the addition of three industry experts to join its advisory team: Flor Andres, BillMcComas and Andrew Rose.

From left: Andrew Rose, Flor Andres and Bill McComas

Andres and McComas will join Chris Hlubb and SamZappas to advise five companies from the agriculture and energy storage sectors participating in the F3 Tech 2021 Accelerator Program and Rose will help expand the CyberAg initiative which F3 launched in May 2020.

“There is tremendous excitement around our accelerator program this year,” said F3 Tech Program Director Chris Hlubb. “We received a record number of applications from highly innovative companies. We believe that this year’s portfolio could be our most successful thus far with the help of our new advisors.”

Flor Andresis a global finance and accounting executive with extensive experience in accounting at public and private companies. Andres, who previously worked as CFO at KIK Custom Products and VP of Finance and Global Integration at Stanley Black & Decker, will be an asset for energy storage companies and those preparing for contract negotiations and strategic fundraising.

Bill McComas is a partner at Bowie & Jensen and a member of the transactional and technology law departments. A former software engineer and leading technology attorney, he will lend his expertise to help companies develop commercial technology contracting strategies.

Andrew Rose brings almost two decades of experience in the professional services, banking, agriculture/food and finance sectors. He has spoken on a wide variety of topics ranging from the Future of Food and Agriculture to Business Development Mastery for CPAs.He is deeply involved in the non-profit community and was an organizer for the TEDx-Baltimore events. Rose also helped found the GIVE Program, a leadership program in Maryland for rising professionals.

To learn more about the F3 Tech, please visit:https://f3tech.org/

About F3 Tech

The F3 Tech Accelerator Program provides funding and support for early-stage companies to prepare them for potential investment from the future F3 Tech Seed Fund, industry partners, and investors. For more information, please visit: https://f3tech.org/.

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USRC Grants Kent County Local Management Board Funding for Transportation Marketing

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The Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) continues to support solutions to impact areas of need in Kent County. In February of 2018, The United Way of Kent County (UWKC) released a comprehensive needs assessment of the county, uncovering the need for reliable and affordable transportation throughout Kent County. On the heels of the UWKC needs assessment, the USRC commissioned an in-depth Upper Shore Target Industry Analysis Report to evaluate the strengths and opportunities in the region, identifying transportation as a critical industry cluster for the Upper Shore region. In January of 2020, the Kent County Transportation Task Force released its key findings.

The top two recommendations from the task force were to hire a transit coordinator to advocate for and manage public transportation efforts, and to implement a comprehensive marketing plan to increase awareness and usage of the existing Delmarva Community Transit (DCT) services. As a result of these key findings, USRC granted the Kent County Local Management Board (LMB) $40,000 to fund a comprehensive marketing plan for transportation services in Kent County. This plan includes developing and executing a marketing plan, increasing awareness of existing public transportation and developing a plan to install additional bus stop signage as needed.

“As clearly demonstrated in multiple reports, bettering public transportation in Kent County is an opportunity to further connect the region and grow our workforce,” said Susan O’Neill, Executive Director of the USRC. “The USRC strives to make the Upper Shore Region more accessible for all, and through working with the Kent County Local Management Board, we believe transportation can be improved.”

“We learned a lot from Kent County people when executing surveys through the primary employers and direct to residents’ homes. The key takeaway is that Kent County people would use public transportation if it was affordable, reliable, and frequent,” said Bill Harr, board member of the United Way of Kent County.

“The Kent County Local Management Board is using the Upper Shore Regional Grant opportunity to advertise and raise awareness of the bus system that operates within Kent County and on the Eastern Shore,” said Dawson Hunter, Housing and Transportation Coordinator for the LMB. “The impact is to raise the awareness of the bus system, so [residents] know how to access and how to use the bus system. Our first step in this effort is the launch of www.KentCountyRides.com.”

USRC’s collaboration with the UWKC and the Kent County LMB will help increase the effectiveness of current transportation options; therefore, improving the quality of life for residents in the Upper Shore Region by enabling access to work, medical appointments, and food for all residents. Marketing materials are available, the new bus stop signs were installed last fall, and further information is expected to be added. Kent County LMB has been working hand-in-hand with Maryland Upper Shore Transit (MUST) and DCT throughout the marketing campaign to ensure their efforts align and community feedback is addressed.

For more information about the USRC, visit www.USRCMD.org. To learn more about the Kent County LMB, visit www.KentCounty.com. Learn more about the United Way of Kent County, visit www.UnitedWayofKentCounty.org. Visit www.KentCountyRides.com for more information.

About the Upper Shore Regional Council

Since 2003, the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) has fostered planning and development in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. USRC affords federal, state, county, and local governments a regional forum to identify issues and opportunities. USRC plans and implements programs to improve the quality of life in the Upper Shore Region of Maryland.

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