News Staff

The cause of a fire this week on Hardwood Mills Road in Millington in Queen Anne’s County is under investigation. The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal reports the blaze started in one of the trailers parked inside the commercial steel framed building. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to the structure and contents including three trailers and a partial Building. No injuries were reported.

Centreville Department of Public Works is developing a Service Line Inventory per the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). DPW is working with several contractors to identify existing water service line pipe materials. The program aims to identify service lines with potential lead and copper and report these findings to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). George, Miles, and Buhr LLC (GMB) has been contracted to assist residents in completing the privately owned waterline inspections. Residents must complete and submit the survey to be eligible for the $20.00 bill credit.

The Town of Chestertown received a grant in the amount of $264,089 from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Parks and Playgrounds Program and is accepting bids in an amount not to exceed $264,089 to construct a new all-ages playground in Carpenter Park. The Town of Chestertown is inviting qualified firms\persons to submit creative design concepts and equipment installation proposals by 2:00 pm Tuesday October 15, 2024.

Rep. Andy Harris is the new chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Harris, who represents Maryland’s Eastern Shore and is the state’s only Republican in Congress, is a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and was already serving on the right-wing caucus’s board of directors. The vote came after the former caucus head, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) lost his June primary reelection bid, leading him to resign from his chairmanship position last week. Good was set to lead the House Freedom Caucus through December 2025.

Great Oak Manor welcomes and announces the appointment of Calin Taralunga as its new general manager.
As of 2022, this 12,000 sq ft. manor is newly owned by Werten Bellamy and his wife Kellye Walker who have overseen a full renovation property which was completed in May 2024. Taralunga has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry having started his career at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Romania. In 2008, he relocated to the United States and assumed various management positions in hotel operations.

The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners are actively seeking individuals to fill vacancies on several Boards and Commissions. The deadline for applications is October 18, 2024. Among the boards and commissions with vacancies are: Animal Control Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Building Appeals, Commission on Aging, Economic Development Commission, Ethics Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning Commission and the Plumbing and HVAC Board.

Queen Anne’s County Make a Difference Day is scheduled for Saturday November 6 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at Sudlersville Senior Center, 605 Foxxtown Drive in Sudlersville, MD. Lunch will be provided at no cost. Transportation is available but we ask that you call and make arrangements by October 15th, (410)827-7194.
The following services will be provided: Dental, Employment, Expungement Fair, Food Bank, Haircuts,
Health Care, Housing Assistance, Shelter, Veterans Services and Benefits, WIC Program and more.

The Town of Rock Hall Utilities Department will be conducting smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system in the upcoming week. This testing will begin on September 16th through September 18th, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm both days. This study will involve the opening and entering of manholes in the streets and public utility easements. An important task of the testing will be to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system. The smoke will also reveal sources of where storm and other surface water enter the sewer system.

A special non-toxic smoke will be used in these tests. The smoke is manufactured for this purpose, leaves no residuals, or stains, and has no effect on plant or animal life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor. Visibility and odor last only a few minutes, where there is adequate ventilation.

Queen Anne’s County Commissioners have approved hiring an independent auditing firm to conduct a performance audit of the Queen Anne’s County Public School’s Board of Education’s financial records and budgetary development procedures. According to the Kent County News, Commissioner President Jim Moran said in a statement, “The county does not suspect any fraudulent activity, but believes it is prudent for transparency to our citizens that we engage a third party firm to conduct a performance audit in order to assess the operational decisions of the school system, evaluate whether the finance office is properly structured and designed to deliver a complete, accurate, reliable financial information and ensure that no fraud is occurring.”

The Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating the 20th year of the annual Corsica River Day, set to take place on Sunday, September 22, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This milestone event marks two decades of dedication to promoting sustainable environmental practices and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.