Spy Desk

St. Michaels Middle High School Spring Play – All Shook Up

February 18, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Do you miss the early days of the Golden Age of Rock and Roll. Transport yourself back to the 1950’s at the St. Michaels’ Middle High School Drama Club production of All Shook Up.

For two weekends, the King is back as Chad, a very cool, swivel hipped motorcycle guy riding in to town to get his cycle fixed. And awing the town with his moves and songs.

Is the town ready for his moves? Can the guys get their cool on?

Romance ensues all over the town with lots of swooning and confusion about whom is whom and whom is falling for whom.

It is all set to classic Elvis Presley songs that you loved: Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes, Heartbreak Hotel and a dozen more Elvis favorites.

So get out those blue suede shoes and that swing skirt, and put an egg in your shoes and beat it down to the SMMHS for an evening of classic early rock and roll. You dig?

If you loved the King, and his songs, don’t miss this.The word from the bird is that it is great!

Get cool, man!

The show runs at 7:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights, February 22^nd and 23^rd and again the following weekend, March 1^st and 2^nd. There will also be a Sunday matinee on March 3^rd at 2:00pm.

Tickets are available at the door and at showtix4u.com, or by calling 1-866-967-8167.

Filed Under: Homepage Notes, Portal Notes

March 2019 Sky-Watch

February 16, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20th at 5:58 pm EDT, as we will have shifted to Daylight Savings Time on March 10th, at 2:00 am. Astronomically, spring arrives with the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. This is when the Sun moving along it’s “apparent” path in the sky, known as the Ecliptic, crosses the Celestial Equator. Of course, this perceived motion of the Sun is really caused by the Earth orbiting the Sun. We cannot “feel” this motion, but we can see the result of it by watching the Sun appear to move annually.

The Ecliptic gets its name because only when the Moon, orbiting Earth, lines up right on the orbital plane of the Earth and Sun, can eclipses occur. We can track the path of the Ecliptic in the sky because it is marked by the 12 Zodiac constellations.

From now until June 21st the Sun will appear to be higher in the sky each day at noon and the weather in the northern hemisphere will warm gradually. Summer arrives in June with the Sun at its highest point in the southern sky for the year. So we can start looking forward to warm weather.

Meanwhile, the spring equinox is ushered in with a Full Moon occurring just 4 hours (9:43 pm) on March 20th EDT.

March continues the early morning planet show that start to impress us in February. Looking southeast, Jupiter rises by 2:30 am on March 1st and by 1:30 pm on the 31st. The waning gibbous Moon will appear just a few degrees away from Jupiter on the morning of March 27th, and will be Jupiter’s only real competition for brightness, as the giant planet brightens from –2.0 to –2.2 during the month. When twilight begins to show in the eastern sky, Jupiter will be 25 degrees above the horizon and will give telescope viewers a clear shot.

Saturn rises around 5:30 am EDT among the stars of Sagittarius and is brighter than all of its stars. On March 29th the waning crescent Moon will be seen just to the lower left of the ringed planet. Venus rises right around the same time as Saturn but easily outshines it and Jupiter. At magnitude –4.1, Venus will fade only to –3.9 by the end of the month. On the morning of March 13th look for all three planets in the southeastern sky, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus about evenly spaced between themselves, about 45 minutes before sunrise. (Venus lowest and brightest; Saturn above and right; and Jupiter above and right of Saturn.

We can still catch a glimpse of Mercury in the first week of March (March 1 to 6) looking to the western horizon some 8 degrees up and 45 minutes after sunset. Binoculars will help pick it out in the twilight. Mars orbital motion now, relative to ours, keeps it moving eastward against the starry background, but from our vantage point on Earth, it will remain mostly as a fixed sight in our evening skies (in the southwest), not setting until around 11:30. Bright enough to be easily seen with the unaided eye, and even better in binoculars, Mars does not reveal surface details even through telescopes now. It is just too far away.

However, on the night of March 23rd a binocular view of Mars will show it in the same field of view with the Pleiades star cluster (M 45). Mars will remain in that vicinity of the sky until about April 4th. It is worth taking a look!

Filed Under: Brevities

Easton Utilities Welcomes High School Interns

February 16, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Through a partnership with Talbot County Public Schools, Easton Utilities welcomed three students to participate in the internship program for the spring semester. “TCPS is thrilled Easton Utilities has expanded their internship program to accommodate our high school students by offering a unique and meaningful opportunity that will significantly help these students meet their college and career goals,” stated Jodie Colombo, TCPS School-to-Career Transition Facilitator.

L to R: Easton High School students Michael Clark, Maddie Book and Ethan Elms

The high school internship program at Easton Utilities is a formal, comprehensive experience designed for selected candidates to gain valuable experience in their field of interest. “Our program provides a foundation for learning professional etiquette in a structured workplace environment with realistic business situations,” said Melissa Book, Human Resources Generalist for Easton Utilities.

All three students are currently enrolled in the TCPS Career and Technology Education (CTE) program, a curriculum aimed to guide, educate and prepare students for today’s workforce. During the semester, interns will work with various team members of Easton Utilities to acquire the skills necessary to perform daily departmental tasks related to their CTE program. To culminate the internship, each participant will present their final project to their department and supervising staff.

For more information about the internship program at Easton Utilities, please visit eastonutilities.com or call 410-822-6110.

Filed Under: Homepage Notes

Talbot County Has a Heart for Cardiac Care

February 16, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Jeff Dawson, age 56 from Frederick, MD, a manager with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was trying to relax and de-stress from work by hunting with some friends in Talbot County on December 27, 2018. He had been coming to the area for four years to hunt with Rennie Gay of Tidewater Guide Service. The hunting party had broken for lunch at the Amish Market in Easton, when Dawson fell out of his seat, suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Fortunately, Easton Police Sergeant Pat Sally was nearby and started CPR within a minute. An AED from Sally’s police car was then used to provide an electrical shock to Dawson’s heart. Talbot Paramedics and the Easton Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Dr. Thomas Chiccone, Medical Director for Talbot County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), just happened to be on a ride-along on the ambulance to assist with Dawson’s care.

Dawson was taken to University of MD Shore Regional Health (UMSRH) in Easton where he underwent immediate heart catheterization and PCI or angioplasty by Dr. Jeffrey Etherton, who placed a stent in the artery of Dawson’s heart where earlier, plaque had broken off, causing a blockage to the artery and cardiac arrest. He was discharged from UMSRH on January 1 and started cardiac rehabilitation in Frederick in mid-January.

Dawson, who is now recuperating at home in Frederick, comments, “I was luckier being at that location than at my own home, where it would have taken more time to get the help I needed. My friends in Frederick tell me they want to take me to Vegas because of my luck.”

According to Clay Stamp, Director of Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and Assistant County Manager, the number of cardiac calls is increasing in Talbot County. He comments, “Talbot County has a rich history in staying current with staffing and technology as it relates to our increasingly aging population with cardiac issues. We have been able to provide a continuum of care through the partnership between the Talbot County government, UMSRH, and the Talbot Paramedic Foundation. Together, we have been able to put the pieces in place to effectively save lives.”

Gary Jones, Regional Director Cardiovascular Services, UMSRH, was one of a group of five firefighters, Basic Life Support providers, and cardiac rescue technicians in Talbot County who recognized the need for Advanced Life Support services in Talbot County while working in the field in the early 1980s. In 1983, this group of five took training and worked as volunteer ALS providers out of the Easton Fire Department. As the need in Talbot County grew for ALS providers, the number of people trained grew and eventually the ALS Service changed from a volunteer to a paid service provided through Talbot County Emergency Services. UMSRH committed to providing a place for the training to occur, utilizing the Emergency Department for training, providing medical oversight, as well as ongoing continuing education for paramedics. Currently, paramedics across the Shore are trained at Chesapeake College with clinical rotations at UMSRH.

Photo: L-R with Life Pack 15 are Paramedic Brian Micheliche, Paramedic Jason Leaman, Dr. Thomas Chiccone, Medical Director for Talbot County Emergency Medical Services; Brian LeCates, Deputy Director of Talbot County Department of Emergency Services; Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UMSRH; Clay Stamp, Director of Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and Assistant County Manager; and Paramedic Keith Dulin. Absent from the photo are Gary Jones, Regional Director of Cardiovascular Services, UMSRH; Wayne Dyott, President of the Talbot Paramedic Foundation; and UMSRH interventional cardiologists, Dr. Jeffrey Etherton, and Dr. Gabriel Sardi.

In 2009, the program became part of the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, which encompasses the 911 Center, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management. “The county’s focus on mitigating and assisting with the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest has focused on community training, paramedic training, 911 Dispatch, and keeping abreast of new technology and techniques,” adds Brian LeCates, Deputy Director of Talbot County Department of Emergency Services.

LeCates adds, “Talbot County pays to train its paramedics and to date has 29 paid paramedics and 15 paid EMTs. This enables the county to have one paramedic and one EMT, at a minimum, on each ambulance at each location in the county, as well as a supervisor on duty 24/7. The five stations in Talbot County include Easton Volunteer Fire Department, Easton Airport, St. Michaels Volunteer Fire Department, Tilghman Volunteer Fire Department, and Trappe Volunteer Fire Department.”

Each February, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services provides its Annual CPR Marathon, providing free CPR and AED training to the public. The event usually draws 200 to 300 people. This year the event is on February 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Talbot County Community Center in Easton. LeCates states, “The goal of the marathon is to train bystanders so that they can start CPR before trained professionals arrive. It can mean the difference between life and death in the field.”

AED training is also provided that day for any site which has a public access AED. There are approximately 230 AEDs throughout Talbot County in such locations as schools, police cars, businesses, churches, and public spaces. Over the years, AEDs have saved lives at Lowes, the YMCA, the Tidewater Inn, and recently at the Amish Market in Easton. These devices were funded by The Talbot Paramedic Foundation, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The Talbot Paramedic Foundation funded the purchase of AEDs 18 years ago to be used for public access. The AEDs are maintained by Talbot County Department of Emergency Services. Because many of the AEDs are no longer serviceable by the manufacturer, the organization needs to raise $100,000 to replace a portion of them. The plan is to phase the new AEDs in over a period of time. The Foundation’s purchase of the AEDs reduces the cost for users to less than half the actual cost of $1000 each. With underwriting from the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services also trains individuals at sites which have AEDs. Sites pay $200 annually for maintenance of their units and a portion of their annual training.

Wayne Dyott, President of the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, explains, “Our organization was originally founded by the same staff who provided ALS in the county. Once the Talbot County government started funding salaries and some of the equipment needed for paramedics, the Talbot Paramedic Foundation supplemented the funds to support the purchase of additional equipment, such as AEDs, Life Packs, and video laryngoscopy, and to provide training for paramedics. Our mission as a nonprofit organization is to help maintain paramedic services at the highest level needed in Talbot County.”

Talbot County received national recognition for their AED Program, “Operation Save Heart,” at the International Fire Chiefs’ Association meeting in Las Vegas, NV as one of the largest rural AED communities in the nation. About six years ago, the Foundation provided upgraded equipment for paramedics, purchasing Life Pack 15. This equipment provides a monitor, a defibrillator, a pulse oximeter, and end-tidal capnography – all industry standard equipment used to handle cardiac events in the field. The units cost $36,000 each and Talbot County needs six of them for its paramedic units. Talbot County government purchased half of the Life Packs and the Talbot Paramedic Foundation purchased the other half. Talbot Paramedic Foundation works with local civic and philanthropic organizations to raise the necessary funds.

Talbot County Emergency Medical Services is always looking for ways to improve the outcomes for cardiac arrest victims. Talbot County’s 911 dispatchers give pre-arrival CPR and AED instructions to callers who call in cardiac arrests, encouraging them to administer CPR and look for an AED if they are in a public building. Talbot County DES Command Staff attended the Maryland Resuscitation Academy in May of 2013 to learn High-Performance CPR, now the industry and State of Maryland standard for resuscitation. In September 2013, paramedics began using the Lucas CPR devices, which allow them to administer High-Performance CPR through a device, enabling them to start other interventions such as IVs, medication administration, and airway management. According to LeCates, “We have seen a spike in survival rates by using this more effective CPR.”

Information is also transmitted differently today. Over the past six years, paramedics have been able to transmit EKGs to hospital Emergency Departments. These general technology improvements help determine next steps for the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. In 1991, Dr. Scott Friedman and Gary Jones established diagnostic heart catheterization services and pacemaker defibrillator implant services at UMSRH. At this point in time, patients requiring acute coronary interventions were transferred to the University of Maryland in Baltimore or Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury for treatment. For a select number of a subset of heart attacks delays in transferring patients were impacting the outcomes for heart attack victims and paramedics were getting tied up with transporting patients to these centers, UMSRH decided to seek Cardiac Interventional Center designation in order to do primary and elective angioplasty in Easton. Jones comments, “Time is muscle, meaning the longer the delay, the greater the possibility of heart muscle damage.”

UMSRH applied to become a Cardiac Interventional Center (CIC) through MIEMSS and recruited two interventional cardiologists, Dr. Jeffrey Etherton, and Dr. Gabriel Sardi, and hired additional cardiac catheterization lab staff, doing elective angioplasties in 2017. In 2018, UMSRH was designated as a CIC and today, paramedics take patients to Easton for interventional services. This past year, in addition to over 300 elective angioplasties, the CIC treated over 70 primary angioplasty patients – a significant increase over the 50 patients they projected – and the demand is increasing every day. UMSRH now has three cardiac catheterization teams and this past year, there were 163 activations of the call team.

Jones comments, “We are very proud of these results. The “door to balloon” target time nationally is 90 minutes. At UMSRH, the CIC can do it 60 minutes or less over 95 percent of the time. There have been numerous examples where people have had a cardiac arrest in the field, received bystander CPR, received ALS by Emergency Medical Services, and then been transported to UMSRH CIC and patients have walked out of the hospital just like Jeff Dawson. And, like Dawson, patients in our area can receive Cardiac Rehab at our Centers in Easton, Dorchester, and Chestertown following their intervention.”

He adds, “From very humble beginnings, we have developed a sophisticated model of care for the continuum of care here for cardiac patients in Talbot County. It’s a real partnership between government, private funders and the hospital. When all the pieces come together as they have and it works effectively, it’s pretty gratifying.”

Dawson reflects on his experience, “I am super grateful to everyone who cared for me in Talbot County. It’s a debt I can never fully repay. I will try and live a life that’s worth living. It’s a second chance to keep working on things that improve people’s lives.”

Filed Under: Homepage Highlights, Portal Highlights

UM CMG – Urology Announces Addition of Donna Stubbs, CRNP

February 15, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG), announces the addition of Easton-based nurse practitioner Donna Stubbs, CRNP, to its Urology practice.

Donna specializes in prostate health checkups, difficulties with urination, sexual dysfunction, testosterone male hormone health and women’s pelvic floor relaxation and voiding problems.

She is seeing patients at 490 Cadmus Lane, Suite 104 in Easton. Patients may make an appointment with her by calling 410-820-0560.

UM CMG is a University of Maryland Medical System-owned network of more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists- and advanced practice clinicians. As part of UM CMG, Donna is affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health.

Donna is a graduate of Salisbury State College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her then her Master’s Degree. She went on to complete the Nurse Practitioner Program at Wilmington College.

“We are very happy Donna has chosen to join the team at University of Maryland Community Medical Group – Urology,” comments Dr. William Huffner, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at UM Shore Regional Health. “Donna’s previous experience and long-time commitment to helping the residents of the Eastern Shore is a valuable asset to our practice and patients.”

UM CMG consists of community-based provider practices affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, UM Charles Regional Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. A list of UM CMG providers is available at http://docfind.umms.org/cmg.

About the University of Maryland Community Medical Group

The University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG) is a multi-hospital, multi-specialty, community-based physician-led group, and part of the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians in more than 75 locations across the state, UM CMG offers patients a vast network of highly experienced providers, delivering care right in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.umcmg.org.

Filed Under: Homepage Notes, Portal Notes

Maryland Relay Announces New MAT Program Evaluation Centers

February 14, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Maryland Relay, the free public service that allows people who are unable to use a standard telephone to make and receive calls, announces that it has entered into new agreements with five organizations to provide evaluations for the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program.

The following organizations are now providing MAT program evaluations in 10 locations across the state:

– Telecommunications Access of Maryland (TAM) oversees the MAT program and is serving applicants from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil and Harford Counties at its Baltimore City location.

– Independent Marylanders Achieving Growth through Empowerment (IMAGE) Center of Maryland, located in Towson, with Accessible Resources for Independence, located in Glen Burnie, is serving applicants from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard Counties.

– Easter Seals is serving applicants in Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington Counties at its Hagerstown and Silver Spring locations.

– MAC, Inc. is serving applicants on Maryland’s Eastern Shore at its Salisbury and Easton locations.

– Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP) is serving applicants in Baltimore City and Alleghany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, and St. Mary’s Counties at its Baltimore City, Cumberland and Mechanicsville locations.

“Our main goal is always to make telecommunication easy and accessible for all Marylanders,” said Asia Johnson, Maryland Relay public relations officer. “It is vital to the MAT program that we have evaluation centers throughout the state to help us serve as many people as possible, and we are thrilled to have established new partnerships with these community organizations.”

Established in 1997, the MAT program was one of the first of its kind in the United States to offer no-cost assistive telecommunications equipment to qualified residents who cannot use a standard telephone. Equipment available through the MAT program includes amplified phones, captioned telephones, ring signalers, tablets, large-button telephones, hands-free phones, and more.

Qualified MAT applicants are those who do not use a standard telephone due to their hearing status, speech difficulty, low vision, low mobility, or cognitive factors. They must also meet specific financial requirements. Once approved, applicants will receive notification via their preferred method of communication (standard mail or email) and must then schedule an evaluation at a MAT center to ensure they receive the equipment best suited to meet their needs.

People wishing to apply for the MAT program, or who would like more information, may visit www.mdrelay.org or contact Maryland Relay at 800-552-7724 (Voice/TTY),410-767-6960 (Voice/TTY), or 443-453-5970 (Video Phone).

About Maryland Relay
Maryland Relay provides a free public service that allows people, unable to use a standard telephone, to both make and receive calls. The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program distributes State-provided assistive telecommunication devices to qualified applicants. Maryland Relay is easily accessed by dialing 7-1-1 and is overseen by Telecommunications Access of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Information Technology. For more information about Maryland Relay and its services, please visit mdrelay.org or call 800-552-7724 or 410-767-6960 (Voice/TTY) or 443-453-5970 (Video Phone).

Filed Under: Homepage Notes

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot Hosted Innovations in Aging Presentation

February 14, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

By 2030, nearly 40 percent of Talbot County residents will be over the age of 60. To help address the growing concerns for services for this age group, Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot hosted a presentation, “Innovations in Aging” by Rona E. Kramer, Secretary for the Maryland Department of Aging to a full house at the Brookletts Place – Talbot Senior Center.

Kramer spoke of the Department of Aging’s role to “keep Maryland residents living at home or in the community – wherever they want to age.”

She commented, “Within two years of entering an assisted living or nursing home, the average citizen spends down all of their resources. With this huge population aging, we can’t afford not to find better ways to serve everyone.”

Kramer explained that this means backing up services earlier in life and offering them at a reasonable cost to everyone who can afford them. Her recent trip to Israel to learn how they handle services for their aging population was enlightening. She said that in Israel there are no nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The country brings non-medical services to people in their homes as they age.

Photo: From L-R – Rona E. Kramer, Secretary for the Maryland Department of Aging; Frank Divilio, Talbot County Council; Delegate Johnny Mautz, Senator Addie Eckardt, Gary Gunther, Executive Director, Upper Shore Aging; Mayor Robert Willey; Chuck Callahan, Talbot County Council; Ron Engle, Easton Town Council; Pete Lesher, Talbot County Council; and Michael Bibb, St. Michaels Commissioner.

Maryland’s Department of Aging researched the “Community for Life” concept and helped communities implement this model locally. To date, there are five “Community for Life” communities in Maryland, including Broadmead in Cockeysville, Keswick in Baltimore, Ocean Pines, Allegany, and Talbot County. This creative and unique program provides a package of services for homeowners and renters. Developed for older adults living independently in their own homes, the Maryland Community for Life program delivers key services in a cost-effective and supportive manner. Specifically, for a monthly fee, members receive basic home repair and maintenance by a community “Handyman,” a list of vetted contractors and contract review, transportation trips, as well as regular contact with a “Service Navigator” to help coordinate access to services and to assist with any needs that may arise.

Before introducing Lee Newcomb, President of the Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot Board, to present how the program works in Talbot County, Kramer highlighted a few other innovations being rolled out by the Maryland Department of Aging. These include a statewide Durable Medical Re-Use Program and a Senior Call Check Pilot Program.

Newcomb introduced Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot program, explaining that currently there are 21 members of the community, with 24 vetted volunteers serving them. She stated, “A Service Navigator, Stacey Woodworth, is now on board to serve members. She works with members to create a program that fits needs now and can be adapted as needs and circumstances change.”

Membership in Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot is open to individuals or households up to three people aged 65 and older who live in Talbot County. Core services are personalized to individual needs. Membership to the program costs $80 a month. While the program does not provide medical services, the Service Navigator can connect members to medical services.

Newcomb clarified that members can receive eight round trips per household per month for their transportation benefits and up to four hours of “handyman” services a month. Social and educational programs are also being offered to members and the public to address social isolation. The first program on preventing fraud will be offered on January 18 from 1 to 2:30 at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton.

She added, “We also hope to offer supportive memberships for people who can’t afford the membership fee.”

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating as a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. MD Community for Life℠—Talbot is located at 10 S. Hanson Street, Ste 18, in Easton, Maryland. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To become a member or volunteer, email communityforlifetalbot@gmail.com or call 410-443-0760. For further information, visit mdcommunityforlifetalbot.org. Contributions are tax deductible.

Filed Under: Homepage Notes, Portal Notes

Delmarva Power Energizes Two Major Projects on Eastern Shore

February 13, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Delmarva Power has energized two major substations in Hebron and Centreville, part of the company’s ongoing efforts to deliver safe and reliable service for customers across the Eastern Shore. The new Hebron and Carville substations, totaling more than $24 million, will enhance electric service for more than 15,400 customers across Wicomico and Queen Anne’s counties.

“Maintaining the safe and reliable service our customers expect requires ongoing efforts to modernize the local energy grid,” said Tyler Anthony, senior vice president & COO, Pepco Holdings, which includes Delmarva Power. “Energizing these new substations helps us continue to meet this commitment and deliver record electric service reliability for our customers.”

Substations, like Hebron and Carville, reduce the voltage of electricity as it is delivered across the region to homes and businesses. Built by Delmarva Power and local contract crews, the new substations will help deliver energy more efficiently and create new configurations on the local energy grid that allow Delmarva Power to automatically restore service more quickly or isolate damage. By automating certain functions on the electric system, the new substations create a smarter energy grid and reduce the number of potential outages in the neighborhoods they serve.

Photo: Delmarva Power employees completing the final stages of preparation before energizing the new Carville substation in Centreville, Md.

The new substations are part of a broader reliability improvement plan Delmarva Power is implementing on the Eastern Shore to reduce outages and enhance the resiliency of the local energy grid. This effort includes modernizing infrastructure, such as transmission and distribution lines, and adding greater automation on the local energy grid with new substations and equipment.

Over the last five years, Delmarva Power has invested hundreds of millions of dollars across its service area to modernize the local energy grid. Delmarva Power customers continue to benefit from the enhancements being made and have seen the frequency of outages decrease 34 percent.

Energy delivery charges on customer bills pay for important projects, like these new substations, that help deliver energy to customers in Delmarva Power’s service area. In 2018, Delmarva Power spent more than $425 million to enhance the local energy grid and provide safe and reliable service for customers. Delivery charges for Maryland customers are reviewed and set by the Maryland Public Service Commission through a transparent regulatory rate review process.

To learn more about Delmarva Power, visit The Source, Delmarva Power’s online news room. Find additional information by visiting delmarva.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/delmarvapower and on Twitter at twitter.com/delmarvaconnect. Delmarva Power’s mobile app is available at delmarva.com/mobileapp.

About Delmarva Power: Delmarva Power, a public utility owned by Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), provides safe and reliable energy to more than 520,000 electric delivery customers in Delaware and Maryland and approximately 132,000 natural gas delivery customers in northern Delaware.

Filed Under: Homepage Notes

Mid-Shore Board of Realtors Welcomed Seven New and Returning Agents

February 12, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Photo: From L-R: Meghan Todd with Powell Realtors, Jim DiPietro with Long & Foster in Denton; Nataliya Moskalyuk with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake in Easton; Sharon Shaw with Keller Williams Select out of Annapolis; returning agent, Tammy Brewer with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake in Easton; and returning agent, Mark Greene with Meredith Fine Properties in Easton.

Different from licensees, Realtors, are held to a higher standard, compared to those who just have a state license. This training helps prepare theses new agents to be better qualified and knowledgeable. Through their association membership, Realtors have access to member discounts, business resources, and professional development opportunities. One of the Realtor organizations most effective resources is advocacy, and this applies to the agent’s business interests as well as to protecting the interests and rights of the local property owners. By attending the Ethics class and participating in an orientation, these agents learned about personal and homeowner safety, multi-list, electronic lockboxes, advocacy, education, professionalism and the numerous benefits available to them as Realtors. Fred Spence, along with other Loan Officers with Provident State Bank spoke on the unique lending aspects that Provident provides and sponsored lunch for the agents.

The Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS® has over 500 REALTORS® and Affiliates from Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties. The mission of the Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS® (MSBR) is to advocate for its members and the public to preserve the right to own, transfer and utilize real property. MSBR provides its members with resources to conduct business professionally in accordance with the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

Filed Under: Habitat Portal Real Estate

Chesapeake Conservancy Welcomes New Board Members

February 12, 2019 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Today, Chesapeake Conservancy announced that Chief G. Anne Richardson Thad Bench, and John J. Reynolds have been elected to the organization’s Board of Directors. Additionally, five members recently finished their terms—Jane Danowitz, Holly A. Evans, Stephen F. Harper, Turney McKnight, and outgoing Board Chair Douglas. P Wheeler. The Board has elected Anne W. Scott to serve as the new Chair. She previously served as Vice Chair. Treasurer Robert Gensler and Secretary Robert G. Stanton were elected to second terms.

“The Board is pleased to welcome three new members, each of whom brings tremendous experience, as well as deeply rooted connections to the Chesapeake Bay watershed that will strengthen the Chesapeake Conservancy in the pursuit our mission,” said Chair Scott. “On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank outgoing Chair Douglas Wheeler for his excellent leadership. During his time as Chair, Chesapeake Conservancy grew to become a leader in innovation for the Chesapeake watershed and a strong partner for the National Park Service. Our sincere gratitude is also extended to our outgoing members Jane Danowitz, Holly A. Evans, Stephen Harper, and Turney McKnight, for sharing their time and energy to help lead Chesapeake Conservancy through so many achievements,” Scott continued.

“Thanks to Doug’s leadership, our small but mighty nonprofit is changing how conservation and restoration are approached in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We have created groundbreaking technology, conserved thousands of acres of land, enhanced public access, and cultivated the epic collaboration necessary to address the challenges the Chesapeake faces,” said Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn.

Welcoming New Members

Chief G. Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Tribe was elected the first woman Chief to lead a tribe in Virginia since the 18th century in 1998. She is a fourth generation chief in her family. Under her tenure as Chief, in 1998, the Tribe purchased 140 acres to establish a land trust, cultural center, and housing development. In 2017, Chief Anne accepted a donation of a 1-acre parcel facilitated by Chesapeake Conservancy to return her tribe to their ancestral lands along Fones Cliffs.

Under her leadership, the Rappahannocks are currently engaged in a number of projects ranging from cultural and educational to social and economic development programs including their Return to the River Project which is a youth leadership program. She has been an engaged partner in Chesapeake Conservancy’s campaign to protect our natural resources from unsustainable development.

In 1989, Chief Anne helped to organize the United Indians of Virginia, which was established as an intertribal organization represented by all Virginia Chiefs. In 1991, Richardson became executive director of Mattaponi-Pamunkey-Monacan, Inc., which provides training and employment services for Virginia Indians. In her work with the Department of Labor, she was appointed by the Secretary to serve on the Native American Advisory Council. She was also elected as Chairman of that Council while working with the Secretary to further the goals of Indian Country through Labor Programs.

Thad Bench serves as the chief executive officer of Benchworks, Inc., a family of companies that specializes in the health care and pharmaceutical industry. Headquartered in Chestertown and Cambridge, MD, it also has offices in Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami. Under his leadership, Benchworks has been named to Inc.’s. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for the last four years and has grown sixfold since 2014.

Thad has extensive experience in marketing, brand positioning, and product launch management. He was named one of the 2016 ELITE 100 in the entrepreneur category by PM360 magazine, an honor given to the 100 most influential people in the health care industry. He has managed hundreds of large-scale marketing initiatives for Fortune 500 companies with a particular emphasis in the pharmaceutical industry, including 9 product launches.

Thad owns a number of businesses, including manufacturing and distribution operations and commercial real estate holdings. Formerly, he held senior corporate marketing positions with St. Louis-based Huttig Building Products and with Jeld-Wen Inc, one of the country’s largest forest product companies.

John J. Reynolds is also a returning Board member. During his nearly 40-year-career with the National Park Service he served as park planner for Cape Cod, Yosemite and Alaska; park manager at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, CA and North Cascades National Park, WA; manager Denver Service Center, regional director of Mid-Atlantic and Pacific West Regions and deputy director.

He championed international conservation at NPS, advised on park issues in 12 countries, and was U.S. Delegate to the World Heritage Committee.

He has worked for the National Park Foundation as senior fellow and as executive vice president, and at the Student Conservation Association as government relations manager. He served on the boards of nonprofits including the Student Conservation Association, Landscape Architecture Foundation, George Wright Society, Partners for Public Lands, Shenandoah National Park Trust and as a founding member of the Friends of the John Smith Trail/Chesapeake Conservancy, Global Parks and the Friends of Flight 93.

He represented the Secretary of the Interior on the board of the Presidio Trust. He chaired federal advisory groups for Flight 93 National Memorial, John Smith Trail and Fort Hancock 21st Century. He was Virginia Citizens Representative to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and a member of the California State Parks Commission. He currently serves on the board of the Fort Monroe Authority and the steering committee for the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. We empower the conservation community with access to the latest data and technology. As principal partner for the National Park Service on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, we helped create 153 new public access sites and permanently protect some of the Bay’s special places like Werowocomoco, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and Fort Monroe National Monument.

www.chesapeakeconservancy.org

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