30th Chestertown Jazz Festival promises ‘one unforgettable finale’
CHESTERTOWN — Ahead of announcements including the full lineup of performers, founding organizers of the Chestertown Jazz Festival find the 30th anniversary a special time for reflecting on its history. This year’s festival, which will be the last, is set for Saturday, Sept. 12 from noon to 6 p.m. in Wilmer Park. It’s being advertised […]
‘Captains Log’ is 2026 winner of Tea Party raft race
CHESTERTOWN –– Instead of the simple sails and masts that make up a typical waterfront view from Wilmer Park, inflatable palm trees, face-painted mimes and a plywood Cinderella carriage floated along the Chester River as the creative, locally loved culminating activity of this year’s Chestertown Tea Party Festival. Though it was an overcast afternoon for […]
Festival-goers Tea Party on, despite rainy weekend
CHESTERTOWN –– Longtime Tea Party Festival-goers from here and across the mid-Atlantic region brought enough brightness to town last weekend in the way of colorful umbrellas and memories of sunnier festivals past to keep the celebration lively despite the rainy weather. Chestertown Mayor Meghan Efland said she enjoyed seeing everyone in their colorful raincoats throughout […]
Former WC student sentenced for disturbing school operations
CHESTERTOWN –– A former Washington College student whose phone call to police here in January led to a shelter-in-place order at the college served nine days in jail following his sentencing earlier this month. Grafton Steele Howard, 26, of Chesapeake City was convicted of two misdemeanors related to disturbing school operations at his trial in […]
DAR plants ‘Liberty Tree’ on Washington College campus
CHESTERTOWN — Not every town in America has the visible Revolutionary War-era history that exists here. From Colonial sites in town to Washington College given its name by a Founding Father who would serve as the first U.S. president, Chestertown is a fitting place for reflecting on America’s legacy. To celebrate the United States’ semiquincentennial […]
Honoring heroes
ROCK HALL — Ahead of the national observance of Memorial Day, members of Sgt. Preston Ashley American Legion Post 228 on Saturday morning, May 23 continued their tradition of placing American flags at the gravesites of veterans in cemeteries in the Rock Hall area. Pictured here is Larry Crouch at the gravesite of his brother, […]
Garnet students, staff remember Vanessa Maddox as ‘a very good friend’
CHESTERTOWN — Along with celebrating art, music and the natural environment at the annual Art in the Garden earlier this month, the Garnet Elementary School community honored the late Vanessa Maddox, a longtime substitute teacher at the school and a staff member in the county’s Parks and Recreation Department. At the May 7 event a […]
Teacher accused of inappropriately touching 12-year-old student
CHESTERTOWN –– Police have charged a Kent County Middle School teacher with sex offenses and assault. James Scott Beck, 60, of Crumpton is accused of touching the breasts of a 12-year-old female student during an after-school athletic program April 23 in the gymnasium, according to the charging document. He was acting as a soccer club […]
Memorial Day salute to include parade, keynote address by Wayne Gilchrest
CHESTERTOWN –– In remembrance of United States military personnel who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, Sumner Hall will host the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony here on Monday, May 25. Before the parade down High Street kicks off, from 9 to 10 a.m., there will be music and poetry readings in […]
Colonial resistance and 250 years of American independence to be celebrated during Tea Party weekend
CHESTERTOWN — This weekend, the Chestertown Tea Party Festival will celebrate the “Chester Town Resolves” and the United States’ 250th anniversary. The namesake demonstration is the reenactment of the Chestertown Tea Party at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 at the main stage, located on High Street near the entrance to Court Street. It all […]