Chestertown, Maryland

Noticed a nice Farmer’s Market sign going south on Rt. 213 into Centreville. It is similar in style to the new Welcome signs that have appeared on the outskirts of many towns. Not sure if Chestertown has one of these but they should if they don’t!

The Kent County Board of Education meeting last night began about ten minutes late at 6:40 p.m. and lasted until close to 10:30 p.m. All members of the Board were present as were Assistant Superintendents Fay Miller and Mary Etta Reedy and Board attorney Chip MacLeod. Most of the seats were filled with concerned parents but also included some teachers and Board of Education staff as well as interested Kent County citizens. Among others attending were Trish McGee of The KENT COUNTY NEWS, Tim Lloyd, candidate for Kent County Commissioner and Rock Hall Mayor and Candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates Jay Jacobs. Kent County School Board President Dr. Michael Harvey read the nine page Resolution No. 2010-01 in its entirety. The ‘reading’ was followed by comments from Board members Al Hanifee, Sarah Brown and Dr. Harvey who presented a brief power point presentation showing Kent County’s place among what he referred to as the “Nimble Nine” or nine smallest school systems in the State. At least sixteen (16) citizens spoke – all against the proposed Resolution otherwise referred to as Option 2 – during the Public Participation period. A motion to accept Resolution No. 2010-01 amended with some minor spelling corrections was made, seconded and each Board member then stated their position during the discussion period before the vote. The final vote was 4 to 1 in favor of adopting the Resolution. Board member Sarah Brown cast the dissenting vote. Following the Resolution vote, a motion was made and seconded to move the Central Office to the Rock Hall Elementary School effective July 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. The final vote on this motion was also 4 to 1 with Board member Sarah Brown casting the dissenting vote. Approximately 37 employees will be moving from Chestertown to Rock Hall. Chestertown’s loss will be Rock Hall’s gain!

The BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL reported ‘largest layoffs in the Baltimore area’ in its March 5-11, 2010 issue. Among the largest layoffs were: M & T bank lost 521 jobs; Aramark Management Services lost 454 jobs; Black & Decker lost 250 jobs. The same issue also reported the ‘largest charitable foundations in the Baltimore area’. The largest foundation is the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Inc. with 2009 total assets of $2.5 billion; followed by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation with $1.8 billion, the Abell Foundation, Inc. with $180 million and the France-Merrick Foundation with assets of $166.7 million. Kent Center in Chestertown was the recipient of funds from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.