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September 15, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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Debate Resumes on Conowingo Dam Pollution Problems

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Conowingo was built in 1928 to generate electricity, and it inadvertently acted as a trap for nutrient and sediment pollution flowing downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. Over the years, sediment buildup behind the dam has reduced its pollution-trapping capacity. Photo by Dave Harp

The long-running and litigious debate over Conowingo Dam’s impact on the Chesapeake Bay has resumed, with all sides still entrenched, at least for now.

Six months after a federal appeals court vacated Constellation Energy Corp.’s license to generate hydropower at the dam on the lower Susquehanna River, the Maryland Department of the Environment has called a parley with representatives of the company and of the environmental groups that successfully challenged the license. The initial meeting of the parties was June 21.

At issue is what the state will require of Constellation to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution flowing downriver through the dam to the Bay. In a letter inviting lawyers for the other two parties to meet, MDE officials said they were going to resume reconsideration of a tough water quality certificate, or permit, for the dam that it had issued in 2018, triggering a legal donnybrook in which both the company and environmental groups filed lawsuits.

“We’re not sure how this is going to go for all of us,” said Betsy Nicholas, a consultant to Waterkeepers Chesapeake, a coalition of 17 riverkeepers around the Bay watershed which with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, had sued. MDE has never dealt with a situation like this before, she said.

Completed in 1928, the 94-foot-high dam straddles the Susquehanna about 10 miles upriver from the Bay. Until about a decade ago, it captured a portion of the nutrients and sediments washing down the river. But now its 14-mile reservoir is mostly filled, and those pollutants from farm runoff, municipal wastewater and stormwater flow through Conowingo and into the Chesapeake, where they contribute to algae blooms and other water quality woes.  Storms or heavy rains also flush a surge of pollution, trash and debris from behind the dam into the Bay.

Five years ago, after years of studies, MDE had ordered the company, as a condition to keep operating the dam, to either deal with that untrapped pollution or pay the state $172 million a year to have it done. The federal Clean Water Act effectively gives states veto power over federal licenses or permits for construction projects or facilities like the dam that may affect states’ waters.

But Constellation, then a part of Exelon Corp., sued MDE in response, contending that Maryland was placing an “unfair burden” on the company to address  pollution its dam did not generate.

In 2019, MDE and the company reached an out-of-court settlement, under which it agreed to provide more than $200 million to rebuild eel, mussel and migratory fish populations in the river. It also offered help with nutrient and sediment pollution flowing into the Bay, though much less than the state had initially required. In turn, the state waived its right to impose its previous conditions on the dam’s operating license.

Environmental groups and others objected to the deal. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates hydropower facilities, issued a new license for Conowingo with no other conditions. The waterkeepers groups then sued, and in December 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the commission should not have accepted the deal and vacated Constellation’s license to run the dam. The court said Maryland could either uphold its original certification or toss it and have the company apply for a new one.

After first engaging in private talks with Constellation, MDE wrote the company and environmental groups on June 1 inviting them to present any new or previously overlooked information they believe is relevant to assessing the dam’s impact on water quality downriver and in the Bay.  MDE also is inviting public feedback on the issue, with Aug. 1 set as the deadline for all comments and new information.

“Ensuring a revitalized Chesapeake Bay for the benefit of all Marylanders is a top priority,” MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement issued by the department. “As we move ahead with the reconsideration of the 2018 Water Quality Certification, we will be transparent, we will welcome input and we will work collegially with all parties for a healthier and more vibrant Bay.”

Environmentalists want MDE to stick to its original requirements.

“We’re hoping that they see at the end of the day that they made the correct choices in 2018,” said Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Ted Evgeniadis. MDE “provided a water quality certificate that was adequate to protect water quality,” Evgeniadis said, “and we hope they uphold that … without any changes.”

A Constellation spokesman indicated the company wants MDE to honor the deal they negotiated.

“While we believe another round of comments is an unnecessary step,” spokesman Bill Gibbons said in an email, “Constellation will participate in the re-opened reconsideration process to support the long-term future of the state’s largest source of renewable energy and to demonstrate that our settlement agreement with Maryland offers the best possible outcome for the state and the Bay.

Gibbons urged MDE to “come to a speedy conclusion” so the company could carry out the cleanup measures it agreed to in the deal, which it values at $700 million. Meanwhile, Constellation continues to generate power under a temporary extension of its expired license.

But MDE’s review may just be the opening round in another legal bout that could take several more years to conclude. Betsy Nicholas, a consultant to Waterkeepers Chesapeake, said if MDE sticks by its earlier requirements or substantially reduces them, one side or the other is sure to demand a “contested case hearing.” That is a trial-like process at which all sides can present evidence and testimony and cross-examine witnesses. And if anyone disagrees with the outcome of that hearing, they can then file a lawsuit in state court, with appeals possible all the way to Maryland’s Supreme Court.

Evgeniadis and Nicholas say that while they want to see MDE stand by the water quality requirements  it originally set, they hope an acceptable compromise can be negotiated among all parties, one that deals with the pollution while perhaps adjusting Constellation’s financial burden.

One possible framework for a new deal is a plan Bay watershed states developed in 2021 for dealing with the pollution impacts of the dam.  It calls for reducing the annual flow downriver of nitrogen by 6 million pounds and of phosphorus by 260,000 pounds. The estimated price tag: $53 million, only part of which the states have pledged so far to cover.

Alison Prost, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s vice president for environmental protection and restoration, said she believes Constellation has a role to play in reducing that pollution.

“I don’t believe they should take up the entire burden, Prost said. But, she added, “this is an opportunity to bring them into the fold.”

By Tim Wheeler

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

Oxford Results: Katrina Greer Wins

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Last night’s elections results indicated that Katrina Greer will win the commissioner seat recently vacated by Jimmy Jaramillo. Unofficial votes to be 237 votes for Greer and 170 for Susan Delean-Botkin. Katrina will be sworn into office on July 11.

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

The Essential Need to Brand Upper Shore Aging with Bill Shrieves and Andy Hollis

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Perhaps one of the most endearing qualities about Upper Shore Aging over the years has been its modesty about its work serving the senior community in Caroline, Kent and Talbot Counties. Unassuming and devoted to the region’s aging population for close to a half a century, the nonprofit organization has improved tens of  thousands of elders with the basic necessities of life; as simple as food and as life affirming as the social contact senior citizens benefit from at Upper Shore’s five centers.

But perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Upper Shore Aging is that many if not most of the Mid-Shore doesn’t have a clue what it does. Even with some 15 programs and housing programs going full speed, all of whom earn the daily praise of participants and partner organizations, Upper Shore Aging remains an unrecognized hero.

That’s a big problem for Upper Shore Aging board president Bill Shrieves and recently appointed executive director Andy Hollis. Upper Shore’s low profile has made it all the more difficult to raise both operational and capital funding as the Mid-Shore shows a ever growing senior age community.

The Spy sat down with Shrivers and Hollis to learn more about this unique challenge and the organization’s plans for a branding campaign to address it head on in the years ahead.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Upper Shore Aging please go here.

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

Poplar Hill Developer Requests More Time to Evaluate Community Input

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The Town of Easton Planning Commission convened on Wednesday afternoon to discuss ongoing development projects and address concerns raised by community members. And the first part of the meeting focused on the Poplar Hill Farm development application.The Poplar Hill development has been a subject of considerable public debate and scrutiny among various stakeholders recently.

Ryan Showalter, representing the Poplar Hill developer’s LLC, appeared before the commission to request a continuance to allow his client further evaluation and incorporate feedback received from the planning commission, the parks board, and the general public over the last few month.

During the meeting, commission members expressed the importance of addressing key issues raised by the community, such as water quality, critical area regulations, and the potential impact on the Tred Avon watershed.

In response, Showalter clarified that the regulations did not necessarily preclude all development in an impaired watershed. He emphasized the need to carefully evaluate the project’s potential impact and make modifications to address public concerns and suggestions effectively.

The commission acknowledged the importance of considering recommendations from respected environmental groups, such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, regarding development in the area. The need for coordination between the state’s regulations, the critical area commission, and local environmental groups was also emphasized.

Discussion also turned to the concept of an adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO). Commissioners discussed the possibility of adopting an APFO to ensure that development projects meet specific criteria related to traffic, school capacity, water, and sewer infrastructure. While the town currently operates under similar policies, the adoption of an APFO would provide a formal framework for assessing development projects and their impact on public facilities.

Ultimately, the commission approved a continuance for the Poplar Hill Farm application. The next planning commission meeting in August will  provide time to revisit those revised plans and potential modifications.

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

Spy Report: A Kinda of, Sort of, Oxford Commissioner Election Forum

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There might be some debate over why over 100 people gathered at St. Paul’s Church on a Wednesday evening for a town commissioner special election forum. One reason for sure was the ice cream, thanks to the local Scottish Highland Creamery. But the second, and no doubt the more significant one, was a genuine concern about Oxford’s future and protecting its unique way of life.

Regardless of the motive, it was darn near standing room only last night but with one essential element missing. One of the two candidates, Katrina Greer, respectfully declined to participate, as she has done previously with a similar invitation from the Oxford Community Center.
This rather significant gap posed an interesting dilemma for the audience and the Spy when Ms. Greer’s regret was made known.

But interestingly enough, no one, including this correspondent, left their seats as the only candidate present,Susan Delean-Botkin, took the stage with non-Oxford resident Ferry Captain Judy Bixler acting as moderator.

The following are the highlights of Ms. Delean-Botkin’s response to questions from the audience.

The Spy offers an open invitation to Ms. Greer to present her perspective on similar questions at her convenience  before the Oxford’s election is set for Tuesday, June 20. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In-person voting will be held at the Community Services Building at 101 Market Street.

This video is approximately 18 minutes in length.

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

Poll: About 60% of Marylanders Oppose Plan to Mandate Electric Car Sales by 2035

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Six in 10 Maryland voters oppose a plan to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the state in 12 years.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced this year that the state would recommit to aggressive climate goals involving the sales of electric vehicles. A poll released by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media Service found a majority of voters oppose the plan even if it meant significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The opposition increases when those surveyed were asked to factor in the higher cost of purchasing an electric vehicle.

“People will say well, which is it? It’s both. It’s life. That’s how life works,” said pollster Patrick Gonzales, adding that Moore’s policy “is a question that is going to be debated for years.”

The messaging of an environmental benefit lands well with Democrats, especially those who identify themselves as progressives. Even so, the poll shows Democrats are not immune to pocketbook pressures and will factor those concerns into their decisions.

The poll of 841 voters registered in Maryland who said they were likely to vote in the 2024 general election was conducted between May 30 and June 6. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points.

The firm released the results of one question in the two-part poll to Maryland Matters ahead of the release of all results later this week. The other parts of the poll will measure voters’ approval of President Joe Biden and Moore, the direction of Maryland and the country, and several other state issues.

In March, Moore announced the state would require all new car sales be electric vehicles by 2035.

The decision is expected to result in nearly 1.7 million fewer gas-powered cars and trucks sold in Maryland by that year. The projected decrease in greenhouse emissions could result in health benefits. An analysis by the Maryland Department of the Environment estimates the potential value of decreases in respiratory and cardiovascular illness and associated lost workdays at nearly $40 million annually.

Moore’s announcement followed a similar decision made by California regulators in August.

Voters surveyed by Gonzales were first asked if they supported Moore’s announcement.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they supported the decision. Of those 14% were in strong support and another 23% said they somewhat support it.

Sixty-one percent said they opposed the plan, including 50% who were strongly opposed.

About two-thirds of independents joined 95% of Republicans in opposition to the ban. Roughly 55% of Democrats said they favored the change.

“It really shows to me that distinction between Democrats and Republicans and, as is so often the case in Maryland, the independents kind of come in and it’s decided based on which way they’re leaning,” said Gonzales.

All those surveyed were asked two additional questions gauging support based on environmental and economic factors. The order of the questions was rotated for each person surveyed, according to Gonzales.

A majority of those surveyed, 54%, said they oppose the decision even if it meant a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions; 44% said they would support it.

Among those who said they would support it based on reduced emissions, 31% said they were in strong favor of it — an increase of 17 points.

“That dramatic increase in the strong support, most of that is coming from those who said they ‘somewhat support’ right out of the gate,” said Gonzales. You’re not taking diehard opponents and turning them into supporters.”

When asked to factor in the cost of Moore’s decision, 68% said they would oppose its implementation by 2035.

Gas-powered vehicles remain cheaper to buy than the electric alternative.

Consumers on average paid $49.507 for a new vehicle at the end of 2022. The upfront cost of an electric vehicle is decreasing. The average cost of a new electric vehicle was more than $61,400 during the same period, according to Kelley Blue Book.

When asked to factor in an increased cost, 29% of those surveyed said they support Moore’s announcement. The number of those in strong support fell to 10%.

Meanwhile, 68% said they would oppose it when costs are factored in. That includes 55% of Democrats and 72% of independents — increases of 12 and 7 points respectively among those voters who said they would oppose the plan before being asked about greenhouse gas emissions or costs.

Gonzales said Maryland voters tend to be more progressive-leaning until it affects their personal finances.

“I think that’s part of it,” said Gonzales, adding that electric vehicles still have not matched their gas-powered counterparts in many ways.

Gonzales said he believes concerns about range and cost will lessen as technologies improve.

“It’s such a big leap to suggest we’re going to ban gas cars at this point, because we don’t have any viable alternatives,” said Gonzales. “If electric cars could get increased range without needing a charge and the price came down, then you know, all of a sudden you’re in.”

By Bryan P. Sears

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

The Chesapeake Bay Loses Best Friend Scientist Beth McGee

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Beth McGee, senior scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, walks along a Maryland shoreline in August 2020. Photo by Dave Harp

Beth McGee, a longtime senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation whose work is reflected in some of the most widely used reports detailing the Bay’s health and value, died June 4 after a long battle with cancer.

“The Chesapeake Bay lost a giant,” said Alison Prost, CBF vice president for Environmental Protection and Restoration.

“Few have contributed as much to the science and policy of Bay restoration as Dr. Beth McGee,” Prost said. “Her love and connection to the watershed and the Bay drove her. And her intellect never let her settle for the status quo. When Beth talked, the Bay restoration community listened and acted on her advice.”

Many people in the general public are familiar with her two decades of work at CBF, even if they do not recognize her name. She oversaw production of the organization’s State of the Bay reports, one of the most widely cited assessments of the Chesapeake’s well-being.

McGee was also a lead author of a 2014 study that established a value on the natural benefits of the Bay ($107 billion a year) and how those would grow (by another $22.5 billion annually) if cleanup goals were met — figures still widely used today.

The breadth of McGee’s work over the years encompassed everything from agriculture, fish health and nutrient trading to the Conowingo Dam, toxic contaminants and much more.

“Beth was able to become an expert on this or that aspect of science, whether it was economics or agricultural restoration tools,” said Roy Hoagland, a retired CBF vice president who worked with McGee for years. “She had a mind that was able to understand, grasp and articulate practically any subject matter.”

Prior to 2010, when the region was developing its latest cleanup plan — the Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load, which limits the amount of nutrients states can send to the Bay — McGee was instrumental in developing new approaches that would provide more accountability than previous plans.

“She wanted to make it actually mean something,” Hoagland said. “That was consistent with her being a really smart, thoughtful, creative, passionate advocate.”

McGee was a fixture at meetings of the state-federal Chesapeake Bay Program, and colleagues there cited her ability to synthesize complex scientific issues and recommend how that could inform the many policies related to restoration efforts.

“She did not lead with that advocacy side. She was an advocate, absolutely. But she was advocate that had a strong, strong scientific foundation,” said Rich Batiuk, the retired associate director for science with the EPA’s Bay Program Office. “I found myself, probably 99% of the time, ending up agreeing with her, even when I started that conversation thinking, ‘Let me see if I can turn about her around.’ It was usually Beth who ended up turning me around and having me understand the science implications.”

Because of her ability to translate science into potential policy solutions, she was frequently asked to make presentations to the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a panel of Bay state legislators who work to turn such advice into laws.

“Beth was, for many of us, our ‘go-to’ person,” said Ann Swanson, who recently retired as the commission’s executive director. “She was a gifted conservation policymaker with a strong science background. She was most interested in getting it right, with little need for fanfare or credit. Her wit provided well-timed humor, and all of us will remember her laugh. So many of us relied on her. So many of us will now miss her.”

Kim Coble, who hired McGee at CBF in 2003, recognized early that the scientist had a gift for communicating and tapped her to help persuade lawmakers on key legislation.

“It was fun to see somebody with her scientific skills, intellect and personality, lobby,” recalled Coble, who is now executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. “As you can imagine, she was very effective at it. I don’t think she really enjoyed it, but she was very good at it.”

McGee often took the lead in creating forums to advance knowledge of Bay issues that were not always front-and-center in the public eye.

When fish diseases were turning up everywhere, from the open waters of the Bay to headwater streams in its watershed, she led efforts to organize a workshop that for the first time brought together biologists from across the region, many of whom had never met.

She was particularly proud of the development of a nitrogen footprint calculator on CBF’s website, which helps individuals estimate their contributions to the Bay’s nutrient problems and learn how they could be reduced. A link to the calculator was always in the signature line of her emails.

In more recent years, her title expanded to encompass “agricultural policy” as she took a greater role in addressing the largest source of nutrient pollution to the Bay.

The work included addressing state and federal policies, identifying ways to better target funding and programs, trying to accurately assess nutrient contributions from the growing number of chickens in the watershed and, most recently, crafting approaches to address both climate change and nutrient runoff on the region’s farms.

That’s an evolution even McGee didn’t envision when she started working on the Bay. “If you had asked me 10 years ago whether I would have agricultural policy in my title, I would have said you were crazy,” she told an interviewer from the Peal Center for Baltimore History and Architecture in 2020. “I’m actually an aquatic toxicologist by training.”

Indeed, prior to joining CBF in 2003, she worked on chemical contaminant issues with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Annapolis. Previously, she worked with the Maryland Department of the Environment.

McGee had a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in ecology from the University of Delaware, and a Ph.D. in environmental science from the University of Maryland.

She was an outdoor enthusiast, kayaking the Bay, hiking the region’s trails and taking long bicycling trips both here and abroad, often organizing trips for friends and colleagues.

In 2011, she and another CBF staffer made a 1,200-mile bike trip that roughly followed the perimeter of the Bay watershed to raise funds and awareness for the Chesapeake, conducting media interviews in areas far from the estuary.

She once said, “Find your passion, make it your job, and you’ll never work another day in your life!” In her Chesapeake work, McGee found her passion, continuing to push for solutions to complex problems years after her cancer diagnosis. Indeed, no matter how difficult the issue, McGee always described herself as an “eternal optimist.”

“Not only was Beth incredibly smart, thoughtful and passionate in her work for clean water, she was also known for her kindness, affability and warmth,” said Mariah Davis, acting director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, which represents more than 200 organizations in the watershed. “We will miss Beth and hope to honor her legacy by leaving clean rivers and streams for future generations.”

By Karl Blankenship

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

The Mid-Shore Faces Code Red

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Photo by Spy Agent 7

As of Wednesday, a majority of Maryland is under an air quality advisory due to smoke wafting in from raging wildfires in Eastern Canada, and state environment officials are warning that Marylanders should limit their exposure outside.

“Fires over Quebec continue to produce prodigious smoke which is being continuously funneled on northerly flow towards the Mid-Atlantic. Presently a concentrated plume of smoke is working south through Pennsylvania and New York towards the eastern half of Maryland,” according to the state’s Department of the Environment’s most recent air quality forecast discussion.

The smoky air began rolling in Tuesday evening, bringing in fine particles that are lung irritants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

High concentrations fine particles brought in through wildfire smoke can lead to a variety of symptoms, ranging from “relatively minor (e.g., eye and respiratory tract irritation) to more serious health effects (e.g., exacerbation of asthma and heart failure, and premature death),” according to the EPA.

Additional health effects attributed to short-term wildfire smoke exposure includes coughing, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

While more Northern cities are experiencing the brunt of the smoke and suffering from reduced air quality due to the wildfires in Canada, Maryland is catching a fair amount of smoky air.

Air quality is indicated through the air quality index (AQI), a metric that ranges from 0 to 500 AQI, with lower numbers meaning better air quality, according to AirNow, a partnership between federal environmental and health agencies. “Good” air quality index ranges from 0 to 50.Maryland Department of the Environment reports that most of Maryland is experiencing “unhealthy” air quality due to wildfires in Canada. Credit: Maryland Department of the Environment

In Maryland, Garrett and Allegany counties are under a “moderate” air quality advisory, at 89 AQI, the Maryland Department of the Environment reports. In this area, people who are uniquely sensitive to air quality are recommended to reduce outdoor excursion.

At 112 AQI, Washington County’s air quality is considered “unhealthy” for sensitive groups, which includes children, older adults and people with respiratory disease or heart disease. These groups are recommended to take precautions and limit prolonged outdoor exertion, according to AirNow

All of Maryland’s remaining counties and Baltimore City are under a Code Red at 151 AQI, meaning that all residents should limit prolonged outdoor exertion and sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activities, according to AirNow.

The governor’s office released a list of tips to keep healthy during poor air quality:

• If you have lung or heart disease, stay indoors.
• Air conditioning can improve the air quality indoors.
• Masks (like N95s, KN95s) will reduce the particles that you breathe, but they can also make it harder to breathe.
• Be alert for breathing problems in children, especially children with lung problems like asthma.
• Check on neighbors and relatives with chronic health problems.

“The health and safety of Marylanders is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information is available,” Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a statement.

Current projections from the state environmental department indicate that some reprieve from smoky air is likely to arrive between Thursday and Friday, when a majority of the state is expected to move from an “unhealthy” air advisory to “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

By Danielle J. Brown

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

Mid-Shore Monthly: Counties looking for Blueprint Answers with MACo’s Michael Sanderson

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Editor’s Note: Every month, the Spy Newspapers teams up with our public affairs partner, WHCP Community Radio in Cambridge, to produce a monthly podcast on the some of the real public policy challenges facing the Mid-Shore counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen’s Anne’s and Talbot.

In the wake of recent elections and the ongoing implementation of Maryland’s Education Blueprint, concerns and anxieties have emerged regarding the financial implications for county governments.

The ambitious 10-year program, with an estimated cost of around $8-9 billion, aims to provide substantial funding for education in the state. However, the burden of financing the blueprint has raised questions about the ability of counties to meet the financial requirements.

In light of the impact the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future will have on Mid-Shore county governments, we invited Michael Sanderson, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties, to participate in a interview to discuss the sometimes confusing and potentially destabilizing budgetary requirements they must meet to fulfill the Blueprint’s aspirations.

The Spy’s Jim Dissette, Dave Wheelan, and WHCP’s Kevin Diaz, talked to Michael by Zoom last Friday.

This podcast video is approximately 19 minutes in length.

 

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

Building African-American Minds by Building an Academic Center: A Chat with Dina Daly and Bill Ryan

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Since Building African American Minds (BAAM) opened its doors to the Easton community, the organization’s founders, Derek and Dina Daly, and its board directors have taken on several significant projects that would test any new organization. From establishing a campus on Jowite Street, adding classroom space, and, more recently, completely funding the gymnasium, BAAM has proven its tenacity in getting things done.

The latest case is BAAM’s project to build a state-of-the-art academic center to fulfill organizations tion’s long-term vision of providing learning opportunities to the entire community. From pre-k to seniors, the idea for the new building is to offer life-altering education programs for all ages.

The Spy asked Dina, BAAM”s executive director, and its board president, Bill Ryan, to chat about the almost $10 million facility and the powerful arguments of why this is so important to Easton in the decades ahead.

This video is approximately fiver minutes in length. For more information about BAAM or make a donation to the project please go here. 

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