News Staff

The deadline is approaching as Queen Anne’s County Commissioners look for individuals to fill two vacancies on the Social Services Advisory Board. The deadline for applications is August 30, 2024. The Social Services Board serves in an advisory capacity to the director and members act as liaisons to bring concerns from their communities and to take back information. Social Services Board members participate in the process to select the Director of Social Services for appointment and complete the Director’s annual performance evaluation with the Department of Human Resources. For individuals interested in serving, the application process is accessible online at https://onboard.qac.org/.

A Church Hill boy is listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries after he was injured in an explosion. Investigators say the boy was injured when two boys were experimenting with black powder, marbles and a section of electrical conduit, trying to construct a device capable of shooting the marbles at a target set up in the backyard. The Star Democrat reports as the one boy who was injured held the device, the second boy lit the powder with a lighter. The resulting blast was heard miles away. Paramedics arrived on Laysan Teal Court to find the boy suffering with injuries to his left hand and eyes. Anthony Sturgill, a close family friend, had tied a piece of a sheet around the boy’s arm as a tourniquet while they waited for help to arrive.

Registration has opened for the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning’s fall semester, which will offer a broad range of knowledge in the arts, history, leadership and creativity. Term 1 classes run from Sept. 3 to Oct. 14 and Term 2 classes run from Oct. 13 to Nov. 23. Course registration will remain live through Tuesday, Aug. 20. To register, visit https://www.washcoll.edu/people_departments/offices/wc-all/2024/index.php

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, through its Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, has awarded $47 million in grants to 11 projects, including projects in Rising Sun and Galena.

The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners are actively seeking individuals to fill two vacancies on the Social Services Advisory Board. The deadline for applications is August 30, 2024. The Social Services Board serves in an advisory capacity to the director and members act as liaisons to bring concerns from their communities and to take back information. Royal Sonesta Harbor Court at 550 Light Street.

Ed Sears of Annapolis drove away from the second annual Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company Car Show on Sunday with the top prize as his 1935 Buick Cabriolet “Resto-Rod” earned the title of Best in Show.All told, 78 vehicles were judged in the Aug. 4 event staged at Worton Park

For the month of August, adoption fees will be waived for all participating animal shelters and rescues across Maryland as part of the Maryland 3000 adoption challenge. 2024 has been a difficult year for animal shelters across the country, with most seeing a sharp increase in the number of animals entering shelters. Queen Anne’s County Animal Services is no exception, experiencing a 50% increase in their cat population from just one year ago. Campaigns such as the Maryland 3000 hope to encourage residents to adopt from their local shelters or rescue organizations.

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved 49 new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation easements during their August 7 meeting. The easements will permanently preserve 4,998 acres of prime farmland in several counties, Kent and Queen Anne’s County among them. The total investment among all counties is more than $25 million.

The Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park was the recipient of a total $1.5 million grant from the Rural Economic Development Fund, in partnership with the state of Maryland in 2022/2023. The monies were also approved by the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners. The funding facilitated significant infrastructure improvements within the 4-H Park property located on Route 18, between Centreville and Queenstown.

At the August 5, 2024 mayor and town council meeting in Chestertown, there was a presentation on a proposed prototype public restroom facility for the downtown area. According to the town Facebook page, as presented, that bathroom facility would cost, all inclusive, more than $300,000 or a per square foot unit cost well in excess of $1,100. This is a cost higher than that of new residential construction for an entire family home. The mayor and council have directed town staff to develop other options at a more reasonable cost.