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Virtual Tool-Sharpening Demo Scheduled for July 11

July 3, 2020 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., is hosting a virtual tool-sharpening workshop on Saturday, July 11, from 10–11:30am.

If taken care of properly, your edge tools can last generations. By keeping them well-honed, you will find they can cut like new every time. The workshop will cover the proper preparation, sharpening, and honing of hand plane irons and chisels. Participants will also learn the basic techniques to put a mirror finish on an aging tool collection.

The cost for the workshop is $10, with registration needed at cbmm.org/toolsharpening. A 20% discount (of $2) is available for CBMM members, who play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibitions, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

Harris Opens 2020 Academy Nomination Process Online

July 3, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Military Service Academies nomination application is now available for students wishing to join the class of 2025. Congressman Harris will nominate some of the finest students from Maryland’s First Congressional District for appointments to the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination, though Congressman Harris will recommend interested applicants on a case-by-case basis.

Admission to the service academies is based on SAT/ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude scores, extracurricular activities, athletic abilities, medical examinations, and a panel interview. Academies accept applications on a rolling basis beginning in September. Final acceptance is also contingent upon receiving a nomination from an authorized source such as one’s Congressman or Senator.

The deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is October 23, 2020. All qualified residents of Maryland’s First District are encouraged to apply. Interviews will be conducted in the fall by Congressman Harris’ Military Academy Review Board, which is made up of veterans and reservists of the United States military. The Service Academies will be notified of Congressman Harris’ nominations by December 31, 2020.

Congressman Harris made the following statement:

“As a veteran, year after year I remain awed at the dozens of talented young students seeking to attend our service academies, and it is my privilege to nominate the best candidates to these historic institutions. My staff ad I stand ready to assist them, and I eagerly look forward to evaluating each candidate’s qualifications and commitment in detail.”

Students can complete the nomination application at https://harris.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. For questions, please contact the Military Academy Nomination Coordinator, Rachel Rosebrock, at MD01academy@mail.house.gov.

For media inquiries, please contact Congressman Harris’ Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311, or contact John Dutton at John.Dutton@mail.house.gov or Walter Smoloski at Walter.Smoloski@mail.house.gov.

Main Street Gallery Welcomes Three New Members

July 3, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Main Street Gallery, Cambridge’s only cooperative art gallery, recently increased its membership by three when it welcomed new members, Sherry Dever, Lisa Krentel and Ellie Ludvigsen.

Artwork by Sherry Dever

Sherry, who was born and raised in Baltimore and currently lives in Fairfax, VA. brings her considerable talents as a painter and mixed media artist to the group. She joins her sister, well-known local painter Lori Dever who has been a member of the gallery for about a year. Sherry was trained in traditional methods of art and she feels that foundation gave her the discipline and focus to make her current art. At present her focus is on creating abstract expressionist works in both acrylic and oil paints. Sherry, who says she paints strokes of emotion on her colorful canvases, finds abstract painting freeing and exhilarating.

Artwork by Lisa Krentel

Mixed media artist, Lisa Krentel, spent her early years overseas with a family of artists who exposed her to sensory and artistic experiences and encouraged her to “make things”. She earned a BFA in painting and fine art photography from Moore College of Art and she says she weaves “tools and materials in new ways to create visuals that delight and surprise”. Inspiration can come from the news or big life changes, she claims, and her need to process these events gives rise to personal and emotionally charged artworks. She also has a respect and nostalgia for the past which evidences itself in many of her photographs, collages and drawings.

“Liquid Echoes” by Ellie Ludvigsen

Ellie Ludvigsen, a resident of Cambridge also recently joined the artist owned and operated group. Ellie is a photographer whose favorite type of photography is street photography.

She loves taking raw and unposed glimpses of people being people, she says. She also loves using black and white to show pattern and form, when, as she puts it “color might distract.” Ellie has a master’s degree in public administration and forensic photography and worked in New York City in criminal justice for 20 years. She describes using her talents in visual arts to help gang kids, hardcore offenders, victims, and CEO’s and staff, to help change behavior.

You can see Sherry, Lisa and Ellie’s works in Main Street Gallery’s current show, “Summer Show with Mary Konchar” which runs through August 29. Main Street Gallery is located at 518 Poplar St. in Cambridge, directly across from Jimmie and Sooks Restaurant. Current hours are Friday and Saturday from 11-8pm and by appointment (410-330-4659). Visitors can also see the show and purchase works online at the gallery’s new website (mainstgallery.net). Check their website or Facebook page for updates on hours and receptions as the pandemic improves.

Clark Comprehensive Breast Center Welcomes New Surgeon

July 3, 2020 by UM Shore Regional Health Leave a Comment

Karen Barbosa, DO

UM Shore Medical Group – Oncology recently welcomed Karen Barbosa, DO to its provider team at the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.

Dr. Barbosa joins Breast Center providers Roberta Lilly, MD, and Brittany Krautheim, CRNP, after five years as in private practice with Alaska Breast Care Specialists, PC, in Anchorage, Alaska. As Alaska’s first Fellowship-trained breast surgeon, Dr. Barbosa had served with the Alaska Institute of Surgical and Medical Specialties, and previously with NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York and Top Tier Breast Specialists, PC and St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, both in Smithtown, New York. She completed a breast oncology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and was chief surgical resident at Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, New York.

Dr. Barbosa also has taught oncoplastic reconstruction surgery, which is the fusion of cancer surgery with attention to optimizing cosmetic outcomes, for the TME Foundation, the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Board-certified in General Surgery, Dr. Barbosa holds multiple specialized certifications and has published widely in the field of breast oncology. She earned her undergraduate degree from Fordham University and her medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Easton Utilities Begins Annual Flushing Program

July 3, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The water main flushing program, conducted by Easton Utilities on an annual basis, is scheduled to begin in mid-July throughout the service territory. “This successful program allows us to focus on any areas of concerns within the infrastructure to ensure Easton Utilities can continue delivering high quality water,” stated Doug Abbott, Water and Wastewater Department Manager for Easton Utilities

The annual flushing program consists of opening certain hydrants in brief intervals to flush out sediment that may have collected in water mains over the past year. This enhances the long-term water quality, confirm adequate fire flows, and identifies possible malfunctions in the hydrants and system valves.

Customers in the immediate areas affected will be notified via a robocall several days in advance. To reduce the possibility of any inconvenience to customers, crews will work each night, Sunday through Thursday (excluding holidays), from 11 pm until 5 am. During the flushing of the water mains, there may be a temporary reduction of water pressure or some discoloration in the tap water. This discoloration condition is not harmful and can be addressed quickly by running cold water until it is clear after the flushing in the immediate area is complete. We also suggest not washing clothes during these operations.

For further information or if you have questions, please call 410-822-6110. We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain our water distribution system.

Easton Utilities is a community-owned, not-for-profit utility and telecommunications company operating the Electric, Natural Gas, Water, Wastewater, Cable Television, and Internet services for the Town of Easton and portions of the surrounding area. Please visit www.eastonutilities.com or call 410-822-6110 to learn more.

Chesapeake Film Festival Comes to You Virtually This Year! October 1-4, 2020

July 3, 2020 by Chesapeake Film Festival Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Film Festival’s commitment to bringing outstanding independent films to the people of the Chesapeake Bay area remains a priority despite the challenges of 2020. Because of the pandemic, CFF has had to figure out an alternate means of delivering those films to you. Our answer is a virtual festival, which extends our potential audience beyond the physical boundaries of the Eastern Shore.

We’re here this year to reach our community during these times of isolation. Inclusivity is our hallmark by uniting our audience in a celebration of cinematic achievement. During times of chaos and uncertainty unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. Mark your calendars for October 1- October 4 for the 13^th Chesapeake Film Festival coming to you at your home.

The mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival is to entertain, inspire and educate by bringing the finest in narrative, documentary, short film, environmental film and animation to the greater community. The films we showcase illuminate both the diversity and universality of humankind and the environment. We believe films can affect positive change, and through this medium, individuals and communities can gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world.

Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of our offerings for the 2020 festival!

John T. Moon, MD Named Medical Director of UM Shore Surgery

July 2, 2020 by UM Shore Regional Health Leave a Comment

John T. Moon, M.D.

John T. Moon, MD joined University of Maryland Shore Medical Group – Surgery as medical director for the practice in April, 2020. He joins William Bair, MD, Dabanjan Bandyopadhyay, DO, Edward DiNapoli, Jr., MD, and Amanda Hahn, MD, in providing surgical consultations, procedures and post-operative care.

Dr. Moon came to UM SMG – Surgery after serving three years as a robotic and advanced laparoscopic minimally invasive general surgeon at Advent Health Medical Group in Merriam, Kansas.

He previously performed general and advanced laparoscopic surgery at Southern California Permanente Medical Group and Mission Surgical Clinic, Inc., and was a clinical associate professor at the University of California at Irvine. He also held general surgeon and trauma attending positions at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Moon completed his General Surgery Residency at State University of New York/Suny in Brooklyn, New York and his Bariatric/Advanced Laparoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. Moon’s academic credentials include MD and PhD degrees from Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Louisiana; and MS and DDS degrees from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Board certified in General Surgery, Dr. Moon holds multiple specialized certifications, including da Vinci® Surgical System Console Surgeon Certification. He has published widely on the topic of robotic surgeries, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

“We are grateful to have Dr. Moon leading our surgical team. His skill and talent, particularly with regard to laparascopic and robotic surgery is a great asset to our community,” said Timothy Shanahan, DO, medical director, UM Shore Medical Group.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Education Foundation Launches “Digital Divide Campaign”

July 1, 2020 by Talbot County Public Schools Leave a Comment

The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation is seeking financial contributions to help close the “Digital Divide” that has impacted student access to learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their goal is to raise $60,000 through the “Digital Divide Campaign.”

Established in 2016, the Education Foundation’s mission is “to engage the community in supporting excellence in public education and provide resources to enhance the teaching and learning experience for ALL.” When schools closed due to COVID-19, school districts were directed to provide “Continuity of Learning” using digital devices and communications. While virtual learning is not new to TCPS, the need to quickly transition ALL students and staff exclusively to this model presented significant challenges, and put some students at greater risk of being unable to succeed.

“As an educator in the district, I have experienced this technological divide impacting my partnership with families for some time,” explains Lindsey Higginbottom, Assistant Principal, Easton Elementary School and member of the Education Foundation Board. “Having internet access is something many of us take for granted. Not having the internet obviously makes learning from home during this time a challenge, but it has also been a challenge for our families to simply connect.”

“Families connected have been fortunate to access additional online resources for their child to practice at home,” Mrs. Higginbottom added.“A student in my class who was absent due to illness could easily hop on one of our frequently used platforms to keep up with their schooling before returning. Families have had direct access through web pages and email to connect with teachers beyond the school day and even monitor their child’s grades long before the quarterly report card was sent home.”

TCPS provides devices for every student in grades K-12. All students in grades 6-12 took their district-issued laptops home with them when schools closed on March 13, and iPads were distributed to students in grades K-5 the following week. Students who did not have reliable internet access received packets of school work to complete each week through the end of the school year. The “Digital Divide” describes the lack of educational equity for students who could not access on-line teaching platforms or engage with their teachers virtually. As a result, the educational experience of these students suffered.

Curtis Hulliger, Technician and Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent were part of the team distributing iPads to TCPS students in grades K-5 the week after schools closed on March 13.

The challenge is two-fold:

• With 49% of TCPS students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals, many families are unable to afford internet service.
• Also, internet service is either unreliable or unavailable in some parts of Talbot County where students and staff live.

Talbot Family Network facilitated a grant that enabled TCPS to purchase 100 “hot spots” to distribute to students and staff and provide internet access for three months. However funding is not readily available in the approved FY2020-2021 budget to cover the ongoing cost for connection, and the need exceeds the number of hot spots available.

TCPS has determined that there are at least 300 households in which students’ families are unable to afford or obtain reliable internet service. The school district is collaborating with Easton Utilities to develop discounted programs for families in their service territory, and hopes to form similar partnerships with internet providers who service the outlying areas in the county. As the estimated cost for the discounted programs is $200 per family per year, the Education Foundation set a $60,000 goal for the campaign ($200 x 300 families).

“As we develop various scenarios for the start of school for the 2020-2021 school year, students will continue to need technology and internet access. We cannot allow the digital divide to widen the achievement gap for our students,” explained Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent of Schools. “The Digital Divide Campaign will help provide internet access for families in need and help us level the playing field with equitable access to a quality education.”

“As one of the teacher representatives on the advisory board, I have seen how the technology inequities like access to the internet have truly impeded student learning and progress particularly during the school closure,” said Jeremy Hillyard, Easton High Spanish Teacher and Foundation Board member. “While some students were receiving paper copies of work during the closure, this was extremely expensive and was a weekly recurring cost for the school system.”

“Optimistically, the school closure this spring has made us aware of technology inequities such as these,” Mr. Hillyard added.“If we continue this way in the new school year the problem will only exacerbate itself. Let us use this time, our power, and our financial resources to make this change for the TCPS students. They, their education, and their futures deserve it.”

Connection will provide students equitable access to learning in these unforeseen times. It will also provide opportunities to enrich, explore, research, connect, and monitor, all of which are important contributions to a partnership in building a child’s success. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the TCPS Education Foundation Digital Divide Campaign, go to the Education Foundation website: tcpsedfoundation.org or contact Debbie Gardner, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs at 410-822-0330, ext. 102.

Research Team Receives $10M to Transform Shellfish Farming with Smart Technology

July 1, 2020 by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Leave a Comment

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) researcher Matt Gray and a group of University of Maryland researchers and institutions throughout the U.S. received a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to bring advanced technology to the domestic shellfish aquaculture industry, with a specific focus on improving bottom-culture of oysters. The five-year project seeks to develop an autonomous underwater vehicle that can help with management of crops, improve understanding of lease conditions, and do all of this will having a low environmental impact.

Matt Gray

“We believe oyster crops could be better managed and tracked with underwater vehicles equipped with sensors that also have environmental sensing capabilities,” said Matt Gray, an ecophysiologist working on sustainable fisheries at UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland. “This might sound far-fetched until one learns about how terrestrial farmers can track crop growth and harvest crops while they are far from the field using satellites and computer-controlled tractors.”

Oysters have a long and treasured history in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland. Gray’s role in this project is to help understand how technology can improve production, as well as explore how technology makes production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment. At the Horn Point Laboratory, his work is to broaden the base of knowledge and provide relevant information to help inform stakeholder, management, and policy in Maryland and elsewhere.

“While the wild fisheries are at historic lows, the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland and there is a lot of excitement and interest in seeing it grow. Oysters, including those being grown in farms, improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Bay’s health,” said Gray.

The team, led by Professor Miao Yu of UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, will develop novel technologies and a sustainable management framework to help farmers tap the economic potential and environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture, which until now has been bottlenecked by outdated tools and methods.

“Aquaculture of shellfish such as oysters, mussels, and scallops provides a sustainable, environmentally beneficial source of high-protein food, as well a way to grow the economy in rural coastal areas,” said Yu, who will lead the multi-institutional team of engineers, biologists, computer scientists, economists, and educators. “Up to this point, we haven’t really explored this industry’s potential because it still relies on antiquated technologies—in some cases, tools that go back hundreds of years.

“By developing and incorporating advanced technologies into shellfish farming, including the use of underwater drone monitoring and smart harvesting, we can bring about a major boost in production,” Yu said.

Aquaculture of shellfish is perhaps the most ecologically sustainable form of aquaculture, as well as an important driver of coastal economy. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has ranked the U.S. high for potential industry growth of this high-quality and nutritious protein source, but the industry lacks the basic technological advancement found in today’s digital, automated world.

Along with improving the efficiency of aquaculture industries, increasing technological advancements can be beneficial to wild fish populations and the continuing effort to increase the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“Oysters—including those being grown in farms—improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Chesapeake Bay’s health,” said Gray. “We’re excited to see how technology can improve production while at the same time making that production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment.”

“Drone-based technologies for crop surveying and early disease detection. Vision-guided crop cultivation. GPS-guided harvesting. These technologies exist for land agriculture; why shouldn’t they for shellfish aquaculture, too?” said Clark School Professor Yang Tao, a collaborator on the grant. “It’s a great opportunity for us to help the coastal communities of the U.S. and Maryland, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Chesapeake.”

Current practices and technologies used in shellfish farming have many shortcomings. For example, harvesting of bottom-culture shellfish relies on dredging, in which machinery drags a net across the bottom of an ocean, bay, or other body of water to scrape up and collect buried shellfish. The process is highly imprecise and can be ecologically catastrophic by damaging reefs, which are important habitats for oysters and other aquatic species.

By synthesizing recent advances in the fields of robotics, agricultural automation, computer vision, sensing and imaging, and artificial intelligence, the team will develop new, smart technologies and a management framework to help enhance productivity and profitability for both farmers and coastal economies while better protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems.

“In land agriculture, tractor operators use visual cues such as rows of crops to achieve precise harvesting; however, there are no geo-visual cues available for shellfish farmers. This, coupled with the inaccuracy of naval GPS, leads to disorganized and wasteful dredging paths,” said Tao. “A smart dredging process that incorporates available, modern technologies such as real-time, high-precision GPS, underwater imaging and sonar positioning, and advanced environmental sensing would help—and these are solutions within reach.”

Midshore Veterinary Service Opens New Veterinary Hospital

June 30, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

Midshore Veterinary Service in Easton has opened a new veterinary hospital at 605 Dutchman’s Lane, in the newly expanded space that previously served as a pediatrician’s office. The new clinic is three times as large as the practice’s space at 602 Dutchman’s Lane.

According to Dr. Steven Harris, DVM, veterinarian and owner, the new building’s capacity offers the staff the opportunity to better serve clients and provide quality care for patients. Harris has been in practice in Easton since 1994. He adds, “We had outgrown the space across the street. It was time to invest in a state-of-the-art facility which is designed with efficiency and patient comfort in mind.”

The new 6,199 square-foot building boasts six exam rooms, digital radiology, digital dental radiology, ultrasound, laser therapy, and indoor kennel runs. According to Amber Tatman, Practice Manager for Midshore Veterinary Service, who also served as the project manager for the new building, “We were striving to create a warm and inviting lobby and reception area for pet owners, with the clinical rooms in the back of the building. The medical wing in the back is almost as large as the original footprint of the building giving staff plenty of room from which to care for our animals.”

Photo: Back row, L-R, the staff of Midshore Veterinary Service in Easton in front of their new facility: Monica Sewell, Anja Cawley, Mandy Ebling, Dr. Jennifer Kerns, Dr. Steven Harris, Amber Tatman, Natalie Schmidt, Dr. Erin Riggin, and Megan Outten. Front row, L-R, Kayla Rex, Becky Caldwell, Claire Dowd, Taylor Dorrell, Chelsea Bees, and Mollie Dove.

Bruce Harrington of Harrington Construction was the contractor for the new building, working with architect Pam Gardner, AIA. He comments, “This is the first veterinary clinic I have built, but I have spent a lot of time in veterinary clinics as I have four dogs myself. We were able to take an existing building and repurpose it. It was important to understand all of the nuances involved that would make the staff’s lives easier, but we worked as a team to solve the challenges. I am absolutely thrilled with the results.”

Jennifer Kerns, DVM, a veterinarian with the practice adds, “We will now have the space to provide better care for our clients, including expanded treatment areas and improved services like our x-ray equipment, as well as the ability to board more animals. These upgrades are tremendous.”

To celebrate the opening of the new facility, Dr. Harris invited Carolyn Hanger of Easton, his first client in 1994 when he opened his practice in Easton to be his first client in the new building. Dr. Harris has known Mrs. Hanger since he as eight years old when he was a pet sitter for her dogs and cats in Potomac. His family lived near the Hanger family and it was his first foray into animal care. Mrs. Hanger brought her cat to Dr. Harris when he first opened his practice in 1994. This week, she brought her Labrador retriever, Punkin, making them the first official clients in the new building. She comments, “I think this building is just great! I can’t get over how big it is!”

Tatman adds, “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to oversee this project and gain both experience and knowledge. I am extremely proud of our new facility and excited to share it with our community.”

Midshore Veterinary Service is committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care, and health-related educational opportunities for its clients. For further information, visit http://midshoreveterinaryservice.vetstreet.com or call 410-820-9229.

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