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November 26, 2022

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Ecosystem Eco Notes

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center Honors Volunteers

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With over 50 volunteers in attendance, the Board and Staff of CBEC hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet.  This festive evening celebrated the many contributions of CBEC’s hard-working volunteers. “We couldn’t enjoy the success we’ve had this year without these dedicated folks,” commented Volunteer Coordinators Anne and Dave Brunson.

A highlight of the evening was recognizing CBEC’s 2022 Volunteers of the Year, Patricia Ahlquist and Larry Maloney, and CBEC’s corporate partner of the year, Shore Sign Company. Patty and Larry represent the best of CBEC’s newest and most long-term volunteers.

Patty Ahlquist just became a CBEC volunteer in 2021, but has pitched in whole-heartedly, from helping with education programs, to helping with our birds of prey, wood duck box monitoring, osprey monitoring, and staffing CBEC’s Visitor Center.  Larry Maloney, on the other hand, has been a CBEC volunteer since 2009, logging in more than 20,000 volunteer hours!  Hardly a day goes by when Larry isn’t at CBEC keeping our buildings and grounds in top shape.

CBEC is especially happy to honor corporate partner Shore Sign Company in Chester.  “Shore Signs has helped CBEC with signage in so many ways,” states CBEC Executive Director, Vicki Paulas. “We are grateful that this wonderful local business has been so supportive of CBEC over the years.”

Exchanging volunteering stories and acknowledging the diversity of volunteer experiences filled the evening.  Among the highlights were acknowledging Gary and Justine Reinoehl  and their efforts to secure grant funding for the reopening of CBEC’s North Point Trail. There was a great story about “Ranger Rudy”Lukacovic, who inspires visitors—young and old—with his knowledge of all the aquatic creatures that call CBEC home.

CBEC announced that it is also honoring the passing of CBEC volunteer Ray Cullom, who was dedicated to sharing his love of nature through education programs, Summer Camp, and staffing the Visitor Center. CBEC is naming future summer camp scholarships in Ray’s honor.

“With miles of nature trails, boardwalks, and picnic areas to maintain, kayaks and paddleboards to rent, and environmental education camps and courses to teach, the value and importance of CBEC’s volunteers cannot be overstated,” stated Executive Director Vicki Paulas. “CBEC will open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to the wildlife and historic landscapes that characterize Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

To learn more about CBEC, visit www.bayrestoration.org, or come visit the Center at 600 Discovery Lane, Grasonville, MD.

Chester Valley Ministers Association Celebrates Thanksgiving Gathering in Chestertown

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All are invited to this special community service celebrating the season of gratitude. The gathering is sponsored by the Chester Valley Ministers Association (CVMA) and will be held on Sunday, November 20 at 4 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 237 N College Ave, Chestertown, MD (adjacent to Washington College).  

The service will include music, stories, readings and messages drawn from our many traditions.

After a few years of virtual services, we’re returning this year to an in person gathering. Light refreshments will follow the service. All are welcome! 

Calling all Singers – This year they will have a ‘pop up’ choir as a part of the service. All who would like to be a part of this choir-for-a-day please come to Bethel AME at 3:15 p.m. to learn one song that will be a part of the service. 

CYMA is grateful to Rev. Robert Brown and the congregation of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for opening their beautiful sanctuary to the community for this CVMA gathering.  

Our Unique State Flag: More than Just Eye-catching by William Barron

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Have you ever taken notice of the flags of our other forty nine states? No? Little wonder, since more than half are dull as dirt, consisting of a state seal or symbol amidst a plain blue background and are indistinguishable from one another at a distance. Among the rest, none are so instantly recognizable as the one which has flown over our State House in Annapolis for the last 118 years and which has become both an official and cultural icon for just about all that is Maryland. It adorns every form of clothing from neckties, baseball caps and bathing suits to T-shirts, socks and flip-flops. Its bold, eye-catching colors are ubiquitous on beer cozies, hand towels and welcome mats. It frames our license plates, tops off the helmets of U. Maryland football players, appears as shoulder patches on Ravens jerseys and appears on the front page of the League of Women Voters guide.

So, how did this mash-up of alternating, intriguing patterns, the only heraldic banner among all 50 states and one of only four to omit the color blue, come to be accepted as our standard? As you’ll see, it was not just some committee-driven, creative artistic choice but, rather, the consequence of a long historical path carved by the influence of the English Crown, by old colonial families, and by civil war and reconstruction. Today’s flag is the result of a slow and thorny, nearly 400-year process spanning both England and the Americas. And it preserves a message of reconciliation that should serve as a lesson and guide in these prickly, polarized times. Here’s how it happened.

George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore

Having been disappointed by the miserable Canadian maritime weather conditions in his first attempt at establishing a refuge for English and Irish Catholics in the Newfoundland colony of Avalon, George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, a native of Kiplin, North Yorkshire, England and a converted Catholic, in 1625 petitioned King Charles I for land in the American colonies to the south. Several options were explored before settling on Maryland’s approximate current boundaries.

However, George died in 1632 before completing the job which then fell to his son, Cecilius, 2nd Baron Baltimore. In addition to assuming the charter for the new colony, Celsius also inherited his father’s coat of arms, the center of which was similar to today’s flag pattern. It juxtaposed the black and gold field of the Calvert family arms with those of Alicia Crossland, George’s mother. Crossland family arms were the red and white “cross-bottony”, a mild pun on the family name.

Use of the four-quadrant flag diminished during Maryland’s colonial period, supplanted by flags bearing just the Calvert black and gold. By independence, those too were abandoned and, for many years, the state was represented by a series of banners, the most popular being the state seal on a blue background. That changed in 1854 when the state officially reintroduced the Calvert coat of arms as the state seal, prompting the reappearance of the popular but unsanctioned black and gold “Maryland Colors” at public events.

Baron Baltimore Coat of Arms

Here’s where the story takes a nasty little turn. Probably because the gold and black colors were so strongly identified with Maryland at the outset of the civil war, confederate sympathizers in the state adopted the red and white of the Crosslands as their battle standard; it was known as the Crossland flag, was worn as patches on military uniforms and was ubiquitous on civilian clothing as a way of showing resistance to Mr. Lincoln, though not without risk of federal prosecution. By war’s end, bearers of both symbols, representing opposing sides in the tragic conflict were returning to peacetime occupations where reunification depended on reintegration of confederate soldiers into a state that had remained with the Union.

Reconciliation in post-war Maryland was slow and tortuous but from the process arose a new symbol. A banner with alternating Calvert and Crossland colors, similar to the state seal, began to appear at civic functions, signaling the dawning of a new peace and the end of ruinous, divisive passions. Just as opposing “fighting colors” were united in one symbol, so too could Marylanders of both sides now work together for the same purpose and values.

The first “official” appearance of the new flag was in October, 1880 at the celebration of Baltimore’s sesquicentennial. Eight years later it was carried by National Guard troops at the dedication of the Maryland monument at Gettysburg. Just a year later, in October, 1889, Maryland’s elite Fifth Regiment , once branded the “Rebel Brigade”, but now manned by both Union and Confederate veterans, adopted the flag in its current form as their battle standard, greatly popularizing its use throughout the state and leading eventually to its official acceptance by the General Assembly in 1904.

From this four-century saga, it’s apparent that our flag is much more than simply a hallmark of state sovereignty or just a symbol to hang limply in dusty court houses and in municipal offices. And it’s much more than a flashy tote bag or football helmet. It is not the winner’s victory banner. Rather, it’s a powerful reminder of peace and reconciliation, proof that conflict-honed passions can be tamed and that folks of very different persuasions can work side-by-side. We would all be well advised in these very sharply polarized times to reflect on the lessons symbolized by this flag.

William Barron is a retired aircraft propulsion systems engineer now living in Worton. 

Embellished Crabs are Back During Waterfowl

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Crabs will be available again this year at the Chesapeake Marketplace.  No, not steamed to eat, but a delicious feast for the eyes. Mosaic artist Lisa Scarbath returns with her steampunk and embellished crabs and other creatures. These unique works of art are created with watch parts, jewelry, charms and other found objects. Carefully composed and hand assembled, each provides the viewer something new to see every time they look; a unique conversation starter.

Lisa, a Resident Artist at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City, is active in the arts community throughout the Eastern Shore. Using a variety of materials including stained glass, smalti, slate, broken dishes and found objects, she creates mosaic wall art, décor, furniture and custom pet portraits. One piece at a time, her mosaics build a colorful, complete story.  

Lisa enjoys being active in community art projects, such as recently being involved in the celebration of Ellicott City, Maryland’s 250th celebration by inviting the community to send her materials to be included in a mosaic to celebrate this historic anniversary.  More than 80 trinkets and treasures are included in her 6-part mosaic of iconic images from the historic town that tells the story of its residents, businesses, and visitors.  The project, “Pieces of History: EC250 mosaic” is on display on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City. 

In addition, Lisa offers commissioned art, to include mosaic pet portraits, kitchen backsplashes, and other creative mosaic décor.

Her artworks are sold at several Maryland gift shops, and can be viewed on social media @PiecefulDesignsMosaics, as well as her website www.PiecefulDesignsMosaics.com .

Bushels of steampunk and embellished crabs will be available for customers to pick through at t Lisa Scarbath’s booth, Pieceful Designs Mosaics, at the Waterfowl Festival’s Chesapeake Marketplace located at Easton Elementary School 307 Glenwood Avenue, Easton.  The Marketplace will be on the Waterfowl Festival bus route. There is NO admission and will be open from 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday.  

Washington College Poll: Cox, Harris, and Cannabis Support High on the Eastern Shore

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An early November opinion poll of the Eastern Shore’s 1st Congressional District finds voters trending to Republican candidates and sheds light on political divides. In contrast with statewide polling, likely Eastern Shore voters prefer Dan Cox (R) for Maryland governor over his opponent Wes Moore (D) by ten percentage points, 46% to 36%, in the race to succeed Republican Larry Hogan. The contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by Chris van Hollen (D) shows the incumbent trailing his opponent Chris Chaffe (R) by five percentage points 48% to 43%.  

Andy Harris (R) holds a lead of seven percentage points, 45% to 38%, over his opponent Heather Mizeur (D) in the race to represent the district in the House of Representatives. The Ballot Initiative on a Maryland Constitutional Amendment to legalize the use of Cannabis has overwhelming support, with 74% of likely 1st district voters in favor, 21% in opposition, and only 4% undecided.  

The poll, which has a +/-4% margin of error, also found that likely voters have the most trust in the Maryland State government with less trust local government and the least in the Federal government. Despite candidate Harris’s skepticism about the 2020 election, 79% of likely voters indicate they are confident in the Maryland electoral system.  

The poll illustrates a partisan divide over what voters consider to be the most important issues facing the district. While more than 93% of Republicans view the economy, taxes and inflation as an important issue, only 59% of Democrats share that view. In contrast, over two-thirds of Democrats view racial and ethnic inequality, abortion access and restrictions and climate change and the environment to be important issues while less than a third of Republicans share this view. 

The Eastern Shore Public Opinion Poll was conducted by Washington College Assistant Professor of Political Science Flavio Rogerio Hickel Jr. between October 28 and November 1. Hickel, who was recently named a 2022-23 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) Public Fellow, is also an expert on voting trends within the Latinx community. He earned his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2016 and studies American political institutions, identity politics and public opinion. 

 In addition to understanding political attitudes among Eastern Shore voters, the survey polled residents to better understand how they engage civically through volunteer work, voter engagement, activism or philanthropy in an effort will provide reliable information regarding a range of citizen preferences to elected representatives, community leaders and the public. 

Deputy State’s Attorney to Oversee Gun Violence Program in Talbot County

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This summer the United State’s Supreme Court issued an opinion which among other points reaffirmed a citizen’s right to bear arms under the constitution’s second amendment. In reviewing the issue, Scott Patterson, Talbot County State’s Attorney stated “I fully support the second amendment as the law of the country for lawful firearm possession. However, persons who are convicted of violent crimes or certain other offenses such as drug distribution forfeit that right under Maryland law. They become ‘disqualified’ to possess any type of firearm.

“I have become increasingly concerned about what seems to be a rising number of disqualified persons in possession of loaded weapons, particularly during stops for routine motor vehicle violations.” To address this public safety issue, Patterson has reached an agreement with the Talbot County Sheriff and other police department chiefs. “One way to address this problem from a public safety aspect is to speed up bringing these offenders in front of a judge” Patterson states. “The chiefs have agreed to immediately inform us of arrests for those weapons crimes after their daily review of the previous day’s operations by their officers. That way we do not have to wait weeks for these cases to work through the district court.”

Deputy State’s Attorney Joe Coale has been tapped to oversee this program. Patterson commented that “based on Joe Coale’s vast experience and position in the State’s Attorney’s office,  he is the best member of this office to address this problem. Mr. Coale heads the circuit court side of the office where the serious crimes are prosecuted. Additionally, as the attorney assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, he is keenly aware of how guns and drugs often go hand in hand.”

Lastly, Patterson stated that “I feel confident that with Joe Coale running this program, the safety of our citizens and law enforcement officers will be greatly enhanced.”

Kaya C. Abukassis Joins MacLeod Law Group

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MacLeod Law Group is pleased to announce that Kaya C. Abukassis, Esquire, has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney, resident in the Chestertown office. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Ms. Abukassis moved to the United States at a young age, and grew up between Baltimore City and Annapolis, Maryland. Ms. Abukassis will focus her practice on transactional real estate matters, business and contract law, trusts and estates, civil litigation, and local government law. “We are very pleased to welcome a young attorney of Kaya’s caliber to the firm,” said Chip MacLeod, principal at MacLeod Law Group (MLG). “We look forward to her contributions assisting clients and her role in our continued growth,”

Prior to coming on board at MLG, Ms. Abukassis attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate, spent several years as a Legal Assistant with the Fitzgerald Law Group in Easton, Maryland, and was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Stephen H. Kehoe at the Circuit Court for Talbot County.

Ms. Abukassis is excited to join MacLeod Law Group, which she describes as, “an excellent place to grow my legal practice and become an integral part of the community.”

Ms. Abukassis graduated from Southern Senior High School in Harwood, Maryland, and went on to graduate cum laude from the University of a Baltimore with a bachelor’s degree in History. Ms. Abukassis received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Ms. Abukassis is a member of the Kent County Bar Association, Caroline County Bar Association, Talbot County Bar Association, and the Maryland State Bar Association. Kaya currently resides in Cordova (Talbot County), Maryland.

 

Paquin Design/Build’s Brent Paquin Receives “Favorite Business Owner” Award

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Award-winning home builder Paquin Design/Build added another piece of hardware to its collection recently, earning the title of “Favorite Business Owner” from local publisher Shore Update at their September 29th Golden Anchor Awards.

“This is a great honor and I am extremely humbled and proud of this recognition,” Brent Paquin said. “Our entire team is to thank for this award–it’s easy to be an effective leader when your staff shows up every single day motivated and ready to get the job done.”

This achievement follows other honors Paquin Design/Build has recently been awarded. In 2020, Paquin Design/Build was voted Best Home Builder in APG Chesapeake’s Best of the Best Community Choice Awards and is again a nominee in 2022. Furthermore, Paquin Interiors, a subsidiary of Paquin Design/Build, was voted Best Home Remodeling Company in 2020 and again in 2022 by Shore Update.

In addition to these honors, Paquin Design/Build’s homes have been featured for their quality and craftsmanship in regional publications such as Home and Design, Chesapeake Views Magazine, and What’s Up Eastern Shore.

“These awards and recognitions are possible because every team member at Paquin Design/Build and Paquin Interiors share the same pursuit of high-quality craftsmanship, professionalism, and customer service,” Paquin said. “We are a company comprised of people that live, work, and play here on the Mid-Shore. This is our home and we make sure everything we do helps lay a stronger foundation for the next generation of leaders to invest their efforts and talents here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

This shared ethos continues to propel Brent and his companies from an award-winning homebuilding company to an award-winning community development company. Paquin Design/Build built the community of San Domingo Cove outside of St. Michaels and is set to deliver 12 homes in Easton Village when the community is fully developed. The company’s most ambitious project to date–Bellevue on the Tred Avon–recently broke ground in the spring of 2022 along the waterfront in Talbot County.

“We are excited to be delivering homes to Bellevue on the Tred Avon and the historic village of Bellevue,” Paquin said. “This will be the culmination of many skills my team has honed over the years and we hope to build many more communities like Bellevue on the Tred Avon in the future.”

For more information on Paquin Design/Build and Bellevue on the Tred Avon, visit www.paquindesignbuild.com or visit their offices at 500-A Saddler Road in Grasonville or their downtown Easton office at 110 N Washington Street.

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Not a Good Report Card for Maryland Schools as Pandemic Impact Documented

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Maryland student scores followed a national declining trend on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), continuing a downward trajectory that began in 2013 and worsened during the pandemic.

Maryland participates in the NAEP, a biennial assessment of fourth and eighth graders in reading and math. The assessment measures achievement at four levels: below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced. The NAEP assessment measures four levels of achievement on NAEP based on cut scores set for basic, proficient, and advanced. The fourth level, below basic, is by default and denotes performance that falls below the lowest achievement level. Testing results indicate that a majority of Maryland fourth and eighth grade students were not proficient in mathematics or reading. The largest decline in proficiency in Maryland and nationally was experienced in mathematics; 75 percent of Maryland eighth grade students and 69 percent of fourth grade students are at or below basic achievement in mathematics.

“The fourth and eighth grade 2022 NAEP reading and math assessment results confirm that the learning of all students suffered during the pandemic and also underscore the unacceptable opportunity and achievement gaps that continue to persist for Maryland’s Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students,” said State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury. “As we continue to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and transform education, we must be innovative, collaborative and bold in our approaches to enhance and accelerate student achievement. There is no sugar coating these results. Maryland has been experiencing a downward trend since 2013, and a return to normal is not good enough. The current struggles of our students cannot be solely attributed to the pandemic. Our goal is to ensure that every Maryland student has access to excellent educational opportunities to realize their full potential, especially those who have been historically underserved.”

“The work that is currently underway will provide the foundation to implement best in class and evidence-based strategies across every classroom to ensure that Maryland students are performing competitively across the nation, achieving at the highest levels and prepared to thrive in college, careers and life,” continued Superintendent Choudhury.

The decline in Maryland’s 2022 NAEP scores in all four grade – subject areas tested is consistent with the testing results of most States. Specifically, average scores for Maryland students eligible for the National School Lunch Program declined for both fourth and eighth grade students in reading and math compared to 2019 results. The scores of Black and Hispanic students also declined significantly from 2019 in three of the four grade – subject categories. Black students experienced decreases in eighth grade reading and math, as well as fourth grade math. Hispanic students experienced decreases in fourth grade reading and math, and eighth grade math. Students with disabilities remained relatively unchanged from 2019 in all grades and subjects.The scores of white students remained unchanged in all grades and subjects except eighth grade math and the scores of Asian students also remained unchanged.

Maryland’s NAEP scores have generally been in decline since 2013 in each tested grade – subject.

Fourth Grade Reading

Maryland’s fourth grade reading average scale score is 212, down from 220 in 2019. In comparison, the national average scale score is 216. Fourth grade reading scores also demonstrate that the percentage of Maryland students scoring at or above the proficient level is at 31 percentage points, which is a decrease of four percentage points since 2019. This means that 69 percent of Maryland students performed at or below the basic level.

Eighth Grade Reading

Maryland’s eighth grade reading average scale score is 259, the same as the national average scale score. The 2022 Maryland scale score is down from 264 in 2019. Eighth grade reading scores also demonstrate the percentage of Maryland students scoring at or above the proficient level is at 32 percentage points, which is a decrease of three percentage points since 2019. This means that 67 percent of Maryland students performed at or below the basic level.

Fourth Grade Mathematics

Maryland’s fourth grade mathematics average scale score is 229, down from 239 in 2019. In comparison, the national average scale score is 235. Fourth grade mathematics scores also demonstrate the percentage of Maryland students scoring at or above the proficient level is at 31 percentage points, which is a decrease of eight percentage points since 2019. This means that 69 percent of Maryland students performed at or below the basic level.

Eighth Grade Mathematics

Maryland’s eight grade mathematics average scale score is 269, down from 280 in 2019. In comparison, the national average scale score is 273. Eighth grade mathematics scores also demonstrate the percentage of Maryland students scoring at or above the proficient level is at 25 percentage points, which is a decrease of eight percentage points since 2019. This means that 75 percent of Maryland students performed at or below the basic level.

Also known as The Nation’s Report Card, NAEP has provided meaningful results to improve education policy and practice since 1969. Results are available for the nation, states, and 27 urban districts. NAEP is a congressionally mandated program that is overseen and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences.

For additional information about NAEP scores, please visit: https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/.

RiverArts Studio Tour Preview: Ceramics Artist Paul Aspell and Printmaking Artist Irene Aspell

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Ceramics Artist Paul Aspell and Printmaking Artist Irene Aspell talk about their work that can be seen on the upcoming Chestertown RiverArts Studio Tour. The Studio Tour will be held October 22-23 & 29-30 10AM-5PM

For more information visit: https://studiotour.chestertownriverarts.org/