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May 12, 2025

Talbot Spy

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News COVID-19

Last Chance to Apply as Talbot County Allocates More Funds for CARES Grants

December 5, 2020 by Spy Desk

Those businesses and nonprofit organizations that have not already received a grant of up to $10,000 from the Talbot CARES Emergency Relief Small Business Grant program have one last chance to apply.

“Talbot County has reinvested more than $1.1 million of its CARES funding into the business community,” Cassandra Vanhooser, director of the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said in a statement. “With the files we currently have under review, we are on track to distribute the entire $1.2 million allocated for small businesses by the first week of December.”

By law, funds from the CARES Act must be distributed by Dec. 31. Unused funds must be returned to the State of Maryland.

When county officials recently tallied receipts, they realized that not all of the money would be spent by the deadline. Vanhooser advocated for some of the money to be transferred into the grant program for small businesses.

Additional Grant Funding Available

“I get calls almost every day from business owners asking for assistance, and I was having to tell people that our money had been distributed,” Vanhooser said. “Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to receive an additional $250,000 of the money the county received from the CARES Act.”

Any business or nonprofit with less than 50 employees that hasn’t yet received a grant and can show a 25% loss of revenue caused by COVID-19 is eligible to apply. But the clock is ticking.

If you are planning to apply, you must act quickly. The department began accepting new submissions online Nov. 30. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. Dec. 11. Every file is dated and time stamped and will be considered in the order received.

The requirements are fairly straightforward, Vanhooser said. But it is absolutely essential that anyone who plans to apply have complete financial documents ready before they apply.

Application Requirements

Businesses must be in good standing with the State of Maryland, and they must not owe any taxes. In addition, businesses must submit the following:

• a completed application;

• comparative monthly profit and loss statement for 2019 and 2020;

• most recent business tax returns; and

• a signed W-9 IRS Form

Grant recipients may use the money to offset business losses caused by the pandemic. Qualifying expenditures include rent or mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning protocols, and upgrades designed to limit person-to-person contact. Each business that receives a grant must also submit a final report detailing how it spent the funds.

“This money has an expiration date,” County Council President Corey Pack said in a statement. “Talbot County has until Dec. 30 to disperse the remainder of the CARES funding. We encourage any business that still needs assistance and has not yet applied to get their application in as soon as possible.”

The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Talbot County Finance Office together are administering the program. An online application form can be found at TalbotWorks.org, along with information about other business resources. For more information, call 410-770-8000.

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

Filed Under: COVID-19 Tagged With: businesses, CARES Act, coronavirus, Covid-19, grants, small business, Talbot County

Talbot Outlines Phase 3 Recovery

September 4, 2020 by Spy Desk

Gov. Larry Hogan announced at his press conference on Sept. 1, 2020, that the state would be entering
the third phase of Maryland’s Recovery Plan for COVID-19 beginning 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.

Phase three allows theaters to open at 50% occupancy or up to 100 people. Retail businesses and religious
facilities can move from 50% to 75% occupancy. Restaurants, personal services establishments, indoor
recreation venues, fitness centers, and gaming facilities remain at 50% occupancy.

Venues in Maryland at which live performances occur or where motion pictures are shown outdoors and at
which entry is limited to ticketed customers, may open with 50% of 0utdoor maximum cccupancy of the
venue or 250 persons, whichever is less. Senior Centers remain closed.

Masks On Maryland

The mandate on face covering did not change. The previous executive order requires anyone over the age of
five years to wear a face covering when indoors where the public is permitted, outdoors when six foot
distance can’t be maintained, on public transportation, in healthcare offices and facilities, and when engaged
in work in any area where interaction with others is likely or food is prepared or packaged. The same
exceptions are listed for mask wearing.

“As reopening continues, the risk of infection with COVID-19 will increase and an increase in cases will almost certainly occur,” said Health Officer Dr. Fredia Wadley. “Masks and social distancing will be even more critical to keep infection rates low.”

Adult Sports Reopen Sans Fans

A new directive and order was issued by Secretary Neall of Maryland Department of Health to
supersede the Directive and Order Regarding Community, Recreational, Leisure, Cultural and Sporting
Gatherings and Events, dated June 12, and June 10, 2020.

All adult sports gatherings may open without spectators. High school and college athletics may resume sports gatherings and events without spectators and with contact sports modified following CDC guidance.

All people within an indoor sports facility are to maintain six feet social distancing whenever possible, and wear a face covering when social distancing is not feasible.

CDC guidance provides a range of sports conditions that equate to four risk levels with contact sports
competition games being the highest risk. However, the CDC guidelines are vague about what level should be
allowed according to the level of transmission of the virus in the area. Health officers have posed many
questions to the Maryland Department of Health for guidance relative to the new executive order and the
secretary’s directive.

Non-School Related Youth Sports Allowed

On Aug. 3, 2020, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), in consultation
with the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), and the
Public School Superintendent Association of Maryland (PSSAM), decided to postpone the 2020 high school fall and winter competition season during the first semester.

Youth sports gatherings and events outside of public schools have been allowed to open since the Governor’s
Executive Order in June 2020 and these events can have parents and family as spectators with appropriate
social distancing.

The secretary’s directive reads, “For contact sports (wrestling, basketball and football) play should be modified to safely increase the distance between players following CDC guidance.”

Some parents want these youth leagues to require masks and other restrictions so there will be less risk for
COVID-19 infection for their youth, but not all parents hold this view. The vagueness around contact sports
guidelines will not likely be resolved with further guidance from the state.

“Needless to say, no one has found a way to maintain distance between youth in a wrestling match or during
tackle football,” Dr. Wadley said. “My recommendation now is that parents carefully consider the risk for
their child and make their own decisions about whether they are willing for their child to play contact sports
when masks and social distancing will be almost impossible to maintain.”

Open With Caution

“Most of our businesses in Talbot County have stepped up and are working hard to keep their customers
safe,” said Director of Emergency Services Clay Stamp. “But it’s more important than ever that we try to
achieve a balance between reopening and curtailing the spread of the virus.”

Once again, personal responsibility seems to be the key to getting more businesses and activities safely
opened.

“While our individual decisions and behavior to protect ourselves seem trivial in the big picture of a pandemic, they can be very effective, and they are all we have,” said Dr. Wadley. “Just because big gatherings are allowed doesn’t mean we should go. When businesses are not safe, don’t spend your money there. Further, since wearing masks and social distancing decreases the spread of COVID-19, let’s at least do that so our businesses can reopen and our children may get back to their classrooms again.”

Where to Find More Information

  • CDC COVID-2019 Website: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
  • Talbot County COVID-19 Information: www.talbotcovid19.org
  • Shore Regional Health COVID Information: www.umms.org/shore/patients-visitors/coronavirus
  • Maryland Department of Health Website: health.maryland.gov/pages/home.aspx
  • Talbot County Health Department Website: health.maryland.gov/talbotcounty/Pages/home.aspx
  • Maryland COVID-19 Website: governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus

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

Filed Under: COVID-19 Tagged With: businesses, Covid-19, gov. hogan, masks, phase 3, Recovery, restaurants, retail, sports, theaters

Washington Street Closure Rejected by Downtown Business Owners

August 7, 2020 by John Griep

This video is about seven minutes long.

Downtown business owners overwhelmingly rejected the closure of Washington Street for a pedestrian promenade.

Easton Mayor Robert Willey gave the town council a brief report Monday night about a meeting hosted July 23 by the Easton Economic Development Corporation.

About 70 people attended the meeting — half in person and half through videoconferencing, he said.

“The closure of Washington Street surprised many people because it was thoroughly rejected by most of the people there,” Willey said. “They didn’t want to have that street completely closed.”

Attendees supported the idea of “parklets” — blocking off parking spaces to provide for outdoor dining or other uses — but the closure of Washington Street was thoroughly rejected by most, he said.

Business owners also agreed that any plan that is developed should help all downtown businesses and not just restaurants, according to the mayor.

A formal report from the EEDC is expected before the next town council meeting, he said.

The town council voted Monday night to extend the weekend closures of parking spaces along Washington Street in front of the Washington Street Pub, Doc’s Downtown Grille, and Scossa Restaurant and Lounge, through Monday, Sept. 7, when the board next meets.

Inner Courtyard

As business groups and the town consider options to increase activity downtown, a plan proposed decades ago by then town engineer has gained new life.

In a recent column in the Talbot Spy, Bob Greenlee suggested the time is right to develop the “Inner Courtyard,” the interior of the block surrounded by Washington, Goldsborough, Harrison, and Dover streets.

Bob Greenlee is the managing director and senior advisor in the Chesapeake office of SVN-Miller Commercial Real Estate and president of the Greenlee Group, specializing in asset management, valuation, and economic consulting.

“Bill Corkran was the first to promote this vision in the 1940’s and coined the phrase,” Greenlee wrote.

William H. Corkran Jr. was the town engineer of Easton from 1946 to 1976 and was instrumental in maintaining the town’s historic look.

“Mayor Willey has recently spearheaded a public/private partnership to dust off Mr. Corkran’s old plan, one that will hopefully include a strong retail partner and a commitment to high quality. If so, this is a concept that will define Easton’s Town Center for years to come….,” Greenlee wrote.

“Others have also stepped up recently, importantly including Matt and Peg Fitzgerald who bought the old Shannahan-Wrightson building (the birdcages), which has frontage on both Washington and Harrison Streets, and who are willing to cut through and open up the courtyard to Dover Street. Paul Prager is on board for Goldsborough Street.

 

 

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage Tagged With: businesses, closure, downtown, Easton, inner courtyard, parklets, washington street

Easton to Continue Weekend Parking Closures for Washington Street Restaurants

July 21, 2020 by John Griep

Parking spaces in front of three Washington Street restaurants will be closed the next two weekends as Easton awaits other proposals to help downtown businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The town council voted unanimously Monday night to continue the “experiment” of closing off 10 parallel parking spaces along Washington Street. With the spaces closed this past weekend, the Washington Street Pub, Doc’s Downtown Grille and Scossa Restaurant & Lounge offered additional outside dining and saw increased business.

Easton officials would like to see one change — if handicapped accessibility allows: Use the blocked off parking spaces for pedestrian traffic with the extra outside tables on the sidewalk, not the parking spaces.

As the town continues with the weekend closures, downtown business and property owners will meet Thursday morning to discuss strategies for increasing business during the pandemic.

The closures have already given a bump to the three restaurants, Ross Benincasa, executive director of Discover Easton, said Monday.

Compared to the prior weekend, the Pub reported a 130% increase on Friday, 115% on Saturday, and 75% on Sunday, he said.

The numbers were smaller for Scossa and Doc’s, Benincasa said, noting the Pub normally does not have any outside dining.

Scossa saw a 35% increase in table “turns” on Friday compared to the prior weekend and a 20% increase on Saturday, but had a small decrease on Sunday, he said. However, the restaurant did not use the additional outside dining space on Sunday.

Doc’s reported about 40% more business between Friday and Sunday compared to the previous weekend, Benincasa said. Business there also had increased when Washington Street was entirely closed to traffic between Monday, July 6, and Wednesday, July 8.

That closure stemmed from the town’s earlier plan to shut down the street to create a pedestrian promenade on Washington Street beginning Thursday, July 9. During a special July 8 meeting to address concerns about the street closure, town council members voted to halt the promenade idea.

The council later approved the closure of the parking spaces during a Tuesday, July 14, special meeting.

Benincasa, during Monday night’s meeting, said Discover Easton acknowledged communications issues related to the promenade plan.

Asked by newly appointed Councilman Rev. Elmer Neal Davis Jr. to explain, Benincasa cited three issues:

• the organization focused on speaking with restaurateurs and retailers about the plan and should have included service businesses as well;

• not all businesses were made aware of changes in the plan before the public meeting and initial approval; and

• businesses within a larger geographic zone, particularly Harrison Street, should have been included in the initial discussions.

“There was certainly a haste to this plan” in an effort to aid downtown businesses affected by pandemic closures and restrictions, Benincasa said.

Officials heard concerns from two people about safety, he said. One was from a downtown business owner who thought the initial full street closure was safer; the other was from an outside diner who felt the dining tables in the parking spaces put people “very close” to traffic.

Benincasa suggested the town modify last weekend’s setup to direct pedestrians into the parking spaces, which is the method Rehoboth has adopted for its expanded outside dining.

During Monday night’s meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Don Abbatiello initially proposed that the town continue the closure of the parking spaces from this Friday through Monday, Aug. 3, when the council next meets.

That suggestion drew opposition from Ward 1 Councilman Alan Silverstein and Davis.

Silverstein noted that the parking spaces were in use during the day Monday, while Davis said he needed to hear additional information.

“I’m more concerned about safety,” Davis said. “It’s only going to take one incident and all that will be shut down.”

Abbatiello withdrew his motion and Silverstein proposed closing the parking spaces the next two weekends, with pedestrians using the parking spaces as long as there is no accessibility issue.

His motion was approved 5-0.

During public comments, Paul Prager — who owns significant sections of downtown Easton and operates several restaurants — said his businesses and building tenants have about 150 employees working downtown and he currently has about 52 contractors working on many projects in his buildings.

He said he also had tried to get other businesses to move downtown, but parking was a major concern for those owners.

Closing the street for the promenade concept eliminated more than 20 parking spaces on Washington Street, which would have been detrimental to downtown businesses, Prager said, largely reading from a prepared statement.

“The Promenade makes no sense,” he wrote. “It should have been dead on arrival, given our town’s construct, architecture, traffic, parking and this horrible pandemic.”

Prager also took aim at Council President Megan Cook and others who he felt had targeted his businesses after he opposed the promenade.

Read his complete written statement below:

Bluepoint LTR to Easton Town Council 7-20-20

Four other people also spoke on the issue, including two with no business interests downtown.

Scott Eglseder said numerous cities had adopted concepts similar to the initial promenade.

He suggested an expanded closure beyond just the one block of Washington Street, with streets closed after 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and completely closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Noah Matten said the coronavirus threat will not be abated within the next 12 months and suggested more permanent barricades for any street closures.

“The idea of changing traffic patterns consistently increases risk for a pedestrian strike,” he said. Traffic studies show the greatest risk for pedestrian strikes occurs in the first few days after a change in traffic patterns.

Matten suggested the town close the northbound lane of Washington Street and urged Easton to ensure appropriate traffic barriers are used.

He said the rented barricades met town standards, but fencing borrowed from the Easton Police Department to complete the blocking off of the 10 parking spaces did not.

Steven Mangasarian, who owns restaurants downtown, said he had been dismayed by the tone of rhetoric surrounding the issue and suggested the animus against Prager was more personal and not related to his opposition to the Washington Street Promenade.

“I’m opening myself up to it also because unless it’s absolutely personal against Mr. Prager I too am opposing the Washington Street closure,” he said. “I own restaurants downtown, if somebody wants to boycott me, so be it. So we’ll do an experiment, it is just personal or is it just because I oppose that?”

He also noted that this past weekend had been a modified Plein Air weekend, which drew additional customers.

“There were a lot of extra people in town,” Mangasarian said. “Banning’s felt it, Breakfast in Easton felt it, so we all were lifted a little bit.”

He said he had not heard any good argument for how the street closure would help businesses, particularly restaurants, noting he had owned and operated restaurants in downtown Easton longer than all but one other restaurateur.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business 45 years,” Mangasarian said. “I’ve owned 10 restaurants, all of them successful — nobody really asked me what I thought about all this.”

“Do I think seating is a problem? I really don’t. Do we need more tables? No, not really. Granted people are seating outside, but is that at the expense of seating inside?

“We feel at Banning’s people just don’t want to seat inside, they’d rather sit outside,” Mangasarian said. “Whether it’s fear of the virus or whatever, they do want to seat outside. Is outside seating a good idea? Sure. But is closing Washington Street the solution?”

He said there are 27 parking spaces in the block of Washington Street in front of the courthouse and closing those spaces would make it difficult for customers to find parking.

Promenades “have been undeniably successful” in some places, Mangasarian said. “It’s been tried elsewhere and it’s failed.”

He said the successful ones had vibrant downtowns, nearby customers, well-planned parking and traffic, an anchor, and retail stores and restaurants.

Mangasarian also said there were longtime issues in downtown Easton, including parking and a reluctance among retailers to open on Sundays and later into the evening.

Those issues have been discussed for decades and nothing has happened, he said.

“Let’s take the time to plan it right and not just come up with semi-permanent solutions,” Mangasarian said.

The ugly reality of restaurants is that the businesses live and die on cash flow, he said. The best way to help restaurants as a result of the pandemic would be financially, whether through tax breaks or other measures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage Tagged With: businesses, Discover Easton, downtown, Easton, parking, promenade, restaurants

Easton Mayor Issues Statement on Promenade Reversal

July 10, 2020 by Spy Desk

Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey issued the following statement July 9 concerning the town council’s July 8 decision to halt plans to close Washington Street in front of the courthouse to vehicular traffic:

The decision of the Town Council at our July 8 work session regarding the closure of Washington Street for expanded outdoor dining for the vicinity restaurants was made based on several concerns. 

Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey

The plans to block the street were made expeditiously in an effort to provide additional income to the businesses.

In making the decision, we were unable to conduct a necessary traffic survey although concerns regarding the traffic and parking were vetted.

Those concerns came to fruition and we realized that additional studies need to be conducted.

The Town of Easton also did not have the opportunity to realize the impact the change of traffic flow would have on the businesses that were not located on Washington Street. 

Major points for the decision: 

1) Request for the closure of Washington Street was not given sufficient time and/or analysis.

2) We understand several of the surrounding businesses and retailers were not included in commenting or were not in favor of the decision–making  process of this closure.

3) Due to the plan being instituted without a traffic study, traffic patterns weren‘t able to be analyzed and some of the concerns that we anticipated, due to increased traffic on the side streets, became problematic and very dangerous which is a concern for our entire community.

4) Parking became challenging between the afternoon of July 6 and the morning of July 9 and for these reasons the town council decided to open Washington Street and to consider future opportunities. In turn, the Town intends to analyze ways that might benefit all the businesses and not negatively impact some.

5) The Town staff, Engineering Department and Easton Police Department were given the opportunity to comment and were not in favor of the closing of Washington Street and the new traffic pattern. 

This decision is a pause. Due to numerous concerns — mostly safety — the council made the decision to open the streets and delay the project until the appropriate studies and interviews can be conducted. The Town of Easton looks forward to working towards a resolution that is best for everyone. 

Robert C. Willey
Mayor of Easton

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage Tagged With: businesses, closure, council, downtown, Easton, mayor willey, promenade, safety, traffic, washington street

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