Spy Desk

You Too Can Practice Conservation Landscaping!

April 1, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Let’s face it, the birds and bees can use all the help they can get these days. Fortunately, there’s plenty that gardeners can do to provide much needed habitat and still have an attractive garden.

Join Chesapeake Forum for a three-course program on conservation gardening beginning April 18th and learn how to provide habitat for local and migratory birds, butterflies and other beneficials. Field trips will trigger your imagination as you learn how to find suitable native plants to add to your landscape to support your favorite pollinators, and perhaps replace plants from foreign habitats.

The course will focus on the habitat of the Eastern Shore region and the unique solutions that native plant options can provide when puzzling over how to “perk up” your landscape with care-free selections that will survive from year to year while providing a positive habitat for pollinators.

You Too Can Practice Conservation Landscaping is three (3) classroom sessions on Tuesday, April 18, 25th and May 2nd from 1-2:30 PM. Plus, two (2) field trips on Friday April 21st and 28th from 10-11:30 AM and an optional field trip to Mt. Cuba on May 5th, which requires a separate registration. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore. To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your email and mailing address to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Bay Country Chorus Welcomes New Members

April 1, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

L to R: Joey Frankos (Baritone), Laverne Crabson (Tenor), Olivia Fleischfresser (Lead) and Sandy Ryder (Tenor). Back row Lesley Aaron (Director) and Bob Worsthorn (Lead).

The Bay Country Chorus is the Easton Maryland chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Founded in 1995 the chorus has performed in the four mid-shore counties at senior living communities, and venues where folks are in rehab or dealing with dementia. Many of these special citizens cannot get out to enjoy live music. Quite simply we bring the music to them.

Starting in 1995 the chorus has been an all-male group. Recently the Barbershop Harmony Society invited ladies to become full-time members. The chorus grasped that opportunity, and we now have four new female singers and one new male singer as well. On the male side we could use a bass or two.

Ladies or men who would like to take a look at the chorus are invited to attend one of our rehearsals. We meet at the Talbot County Senior Center at 400 Brooklets Ave. in Easton beginning at 6 pm on Monday evenings For further information on the chorus or to book a performance please call John Crovo 410-820-4761.

April is National Safe Digging Month

April 1, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

April is National Safe Digging Month and Easton Utilities reminds contractors and homeowners to call 811, which begins the process of marking underground utility lines. “This free resource is a proactive measure which helps eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line,” stated Andrew Ober, Safety Specialist for Easton Utilities. To prevent injuries, property damage and outages, residents must call 811 approximately 48 – 72 hours prior to work beginning.

The is a free service that notifies affected utilities of a person’s intent to dig. Within a few days, Easton Utilities will mark the locations of the utility-owned lines with paint or flags. The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. Call before you dig. It’s the law.

To learn more about Easton Utilities, call the Customer Service Center at 410-822-6110 or visit www.eastonutilities.com.

Perdue Executive to Discuss Agribusiness Market Trends at April 3 Event in Easton

March 31, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Tim Frump

Tim Frump, vice president of risk management and soy merchandising at Perdue AgriBusiness, will speak at the Let’s Talk Business Speaker Series at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 3, at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton. He will present an overview of current market conditions in agriculture, including a look at how the war in the Ukraine is affecting commodity prices.

Frump’s presentation wraps up the spring speaker series presented by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library.

“The media has reported extensively on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and its impact on the global grain market,” says Cassandra Vanhooser, director of economic development and tourism for Talbot County. “We are excited to have Tim join us to discuss the market trends impacting local farmers and agribusinesses, including current grain production the Ukraine.”

Frump is responsible for managing the hedging and physical coverage for Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness, one of the largest family-owned grain companies in the United States. A native of Ohio, he has enjoyed a multi-decade career that includes managing the export trading of corn, soybeans, wheat, and specialty grains.

Before joining Perdue, Frump managed the trade activity for corn, sugar, soy oil, soy meal, natural gas, and other hedgeable commodities at Tate and Lyle. He also has traded many U.S. domestic markets with Cargill, ADM, and CGB Enterprises. Frump is a summa cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University.

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.

Business owners and managers are encouraged to attend all sessions of the speaker series and to subscribe to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking news at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 11. S. Harrison Street, Easton, Md.

New Local Piano Trio to Play in Easton and Chestertown

March 30, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Oltre Ponte Piano Trio will offer concerts in Easton on May 6 and in Chestertown on May 7.

The concerts will feature selections spanning several centuries from Bach, Chopin, Elgar, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Vaughan Williams. The program will close with Dvorak’s Dumky trio, based on the Ukrainian dumka tradition that punctuates a lament of captive people with cheerful upbeat melodies.

Nevin Dawson (violin/viola) formed the group in 2022 with Wonhee Kim (cello) and Amy Morgan (piano) to fulfill a long-time dream to play chamber music on the Eastern Shore. “I’ve been playing around with chamber music since grade school and it’s always been one of my favorite ways to make music,” said Dawson. “It’s about telling a musical story with dialogue between three characters, each with their own personality: the bright and shiny violin, the rich and brooding cello, and the powerfully orchestral piano.”

Dawson studied viola at Penn State University and has played with Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. He currently teaches violin, viola, and cello at Music Life in Chestertown, MD. As a versatile player in many genres including classical, folk, and jazz, he also plays with Shore Strings, the Dover Symphony, Harp & Soul, Front Porch Orchestra, and is featured on eight studio albums. He also performs solo shows featuring original music for electric violin and looper pedal, including introductory programs for the National Music Festival’s Fiddlesticks grade school education program. He was a member of the Red Devil Moon ensemble, a new musical selected to participate in the 2017 NYC Fringe Festival. He also sings professionally with several local groups.

Kim, a native from Seoul, South Korea, made her debut at the age of 10, performing in a piano trio with her two sisters extending to 50 concert stages throughout major cities in Asia, Africa, and the United States. At thirteen, she performed with the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra. During her attendance at Seoul Art Middle & High School, she was the top-prize winner of the Ewha & Kyunghyang Competition and the Joongang Music Competition. As a freshman at the Seoul National University, Ms. Kim moved to Amsterdam, Holland to study with Dmitri Ferschtman at the Sweelinck Conservatory. Wonhee then moved to the United States and completed her B.A and M.A. at the New England Conservatory with Mr. Lawrence Lesser.

Ms. Kim served as a faculty member at the Peabody Preparatory Division of the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University until 2021. During that time, Wonhee was also a member of the Concert Artists of Baltimore, a chamber orchestra located in Baltimore, MD. Currently, Kim is a Co-Principal Cellist for the Washington Chamber Orchestra and a Chair member for the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Young Musicians Competition. She currently resides in Oxford, MD, where she continues to be a private instructor and an active performer in chamber orchestras in both the DC and Eastern Shore areas.

Morgan is an accomplished musician whose education includes a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Salisbury University and a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Messiah University. Amy is the founder and Artistic Director at Allegro Academy in Easton, MD where she is the conductor of the Allegra Women’s Chorus, Children’s Chorus, as well as piano and voice instructor. She served as the Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral from 2014 to 2022 and has also served as music director of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Heart and Music Theatre Review, and accompanied many stage productions and concerts. Amy is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and is an active musician the Talbot County Area.

Dawson added, “We will serve up a variety of samples from different eras and composition styles, so there’s something that will please every palate.”

The trio will perform on May 6 at 7:30 pm at Trinity Cathedral (315 Goldsborough St, Easton, MD 21601) and on May 7 at 2:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown (905 Gateway Dr, Chestertown, MD 21620). A donation of $20 is suggested for both concerts. Visit here for more information: https://bit.ly/OltrePonte0523

Allegro Academy: Music for All Ages

March 29, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Allegro Academy, now in its new location in the heart of downtown Easton at 114 N. Washington Street, is pleased to offer expanded opportunities for music education.

The Allegro Children’s Chorus, for ages eight and up, will begin its second session of the year on April 5. During the seven-week session, students will learn melody, harmony, and musicianship through songs and activities. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, 5:15-6:30 pm. In addition to the weekly rehearsals, choristers will participate in exciting community performances and sing with local artists during April and May. The program costs $50; need-based scholarships are available.

The Academy is excited to announce Dr. Robert Tennyson as brass instructor. Dr. Tennyson is a professional trombone and baritone player and conductor with over 40 years of private teaching experience. His teaching career has included positions at Montgomery College, American University, Columbia Union College, Tirolian State School of Music and the University of Innsbruck (Austria). Dr Tennyson has degrees from Indiana University and the University of Maryland with concentrations in performance, brass pedagogy, and conducting.

Allegro Academy also welcomes Gerry Devine as guitar instructor. Gerry is a graduate of Penn State and The Guitar Study Center in New York. Once a career musician in New York and Nashville, Gerry now performs locally and works at PRS Guitars. Gerry has expertise in multiple styles of popular guitar and tailors lessons to the specific interests and ability of the student.

Dr. Tennyson and Mr. Devine join a roster of private instructors that includes specialists in voice, piano, and violin. Allegro Academy instructors have a combined teaching experience of more than 100 years, with an assortment of advanced degrees from Indiana University, Ithaca College, Luther College, Messiah University, Penn State, Salisbury University, SUNY Potsdam, and the University of Maryland.

For more information about the Allegro Children’s Chorus and private lessons for all ages, please visit allegroacademyeaston.com or call 410-603-8361. The mission of Allegro Academy is to offer exceptional music education and performance experiences to the greater Talbot County Area and to make these offerings affordable to all. Its programs are partially funded by generous contributions from the community, Talbot Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

Welcome Spring with Guided Birding at Blackwater NWR

March 28, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Get outside and enjoy the changing of the seasons at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) by participating in one of our Guided Birding tours in the spring of 2023. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy identifying and learning about the many species of birds that inhabit the refuge! You will not want to miss the opportunity to observe and identify our diverse array of feathered friends, from warblers and wading birds to numerous species of waterfowl and raptors, including the bald eagle. Spring tours are scheduled for Sunday, April 2, Sunday, April 30, and Sunday, May 14, led by veteran birder Terry Allen.

Participants should meet at the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. for each tour, which usually lasts 2 to 3 hours. The birding party usually carpools, stopping at various points around the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. Binoculars and field guides are highly recommended for an enjoyable experience and be sure to dress for the weather! There is no fee or advanced registration for these activities. For further information, please call the Blackwater Visitor Center at 410-228-2677 or visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Blackwater.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, protects over 32,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and pine forest, managed freshwater wetlands and cropland for a diversity of wildlife. To learn more, visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater or @BlackwaterNWR.

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

Local Students Attend 2023 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit

March 28, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

More than 50 students attended the second annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit, held Saturday, March 18, at Washington College in Chestertown. Attendees included students from Talbot, Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties, and from as far away as Annapolis and Pennsylvania.

The Summit is co-hosted by ShoreRivers as part of its work to protect and restore Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education, and Washington College’s Center for the Environment and Society. It is a free event created to inspire and empower middle and high school students in taking local environmental action.

The Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is supported by The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, The Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, IKEA, La Motte, and The Gunston School’s Chesapeake Watershed Semester.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

More than 50 students from across the Eastern Shore attended the second annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit on March 18.

High school student leaders were vital to ensuring that the Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit was presented by students, for students. From left are Van Tran, Easton High School; Addie Nicholson, Kent Island High School; Carissa Shue, Kent Island High School; Finnegan Merrick, Easton High School; Linda Gayle, Annapolis High School; and David Daniels, Jr., Kent County High School.

Blackwater NWR Announces Summer Youth Jobs

March 25, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is offering Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) positions for young people ages 15 to 18 during the summer months in 2023. This year’s YCC program will last 8 weeks, starting on Tuesday, June 20 and continuing until Friday, August 11. YCC recruits work 40 hours a week, 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day, and are paid minimum wage, currently $13.25 per hour. They must be a permanent resident of the United States, its territories or possessions, and be able to provide their own transportation to work. The refuge plans to hire up to four (4) young people for this program.

The Youth Conservation Corps offers students the chance to learn a variety of skills in the great outdoors, get plenty of exercise, engage in teamwork, make new friends, accomplish goals, and learn about the natural world. YCC recruits will spend several paid hours each week participating in environmental education programs, getting to know the many different aspects of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Field trips to other refuges are also a possibility for Blackwater’s YCC team. Recruits will be provided with all necessary safety and work equipment, and will be under constant supervision of an adult YCC Leader or other refuge staff.

Youths interested in the YCC program can obtain an application from Ranger Tom Miller by calling 410-221-8156, or email Thomas_J_Miller@fws.gov. Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the Blackwater Visitor Center on Key Wallace Drive, and are also available on the refuge’s website. Applications must be returned by Monday, May 1, 2023. YCC recruits will be randomly selected from applicants in early May. If more applications are received than positions available, students who did not get selected will become “alternates” in the event a selected applicant cannot work. After selections are made, recruits are required to meet with refuge staff to complete employment paperwork prior to the first day of work.

Senior Director of Adults Services Joins Benedictine

March 25, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Adedapo Laditan

Adedapo Laditan has joined Benedictine, a service provider for developmentally disabled and autistic children and adults, as the Senior Director of Adults Services. In this role, Laditan provides leadership to all aspects of the Adult Services program including management and fiscal sustainability. Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves over 90 adults that live in Benedictine owned and managed group homes or as participants in a day-only program.

“I am honored to have joined Benedictine. I see this as a great opportunity to carry on the work that is being done here in support of Benedictine’s mission of hospitality, dignity of work and compassionate caring,” stated Laditan. “My passion for supported individuals, their families, and the staff that work in this field has grown over the years. I have served in roles as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), house manager, program manager, and most recently as the Director of Quality Enhancement at the Regional Office of the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Eastern Shore.”

Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves adults 21 years of age and older and includes residential living accommodations in 18 group homes located on the Eastern Shore and Anne Arundel county. Adult Services manages the Meaningful Day program which is responsible for providing opportunities for participants to develop skills and seek employment, along with a personal enrichment program, and community engagement opportunities. These services are managed through Benedictine’s Easton Office employment resource center and are also open to individuals living with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the surrounding community.

Laditan shared his excitement about the vast program opportunities Benedictine offers the adults it supports especially in the area of job development. “The adults we serve bring a great spirit of enthusiasm to the workplace and they look forward to going to work and engaging with their community. We provide our job seekers skills in interviewing and problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and are trained in specific job related responsibilities. Benedictine currently collaborates with organizations in Talbot, Caroline, Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties and is always looking to partner with more.” Laditan encourages businesses to reach out to Benedictine to learn more about its trained workforce and how they can bring value to their organization.

For more information on Benedictine, please go to www.benschool.org. You can reach Adedapo Laditan at Adedapo.laditan@benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization supporting close to 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential and highest level of independence. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the collaborates with the Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester County public schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. Benedictine is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest employers with over 350 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

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