2020 was an incredibly challenging year for health care organizations nationwide, and University of Maryland Shore Regional Health was no exception. For all its challenges, 2020 also saw many exciting and promising developments at UM Shore Regional Health.

Kent County, Maryland now has one command center for economic growth and tourism—the new Department of Economic and Tourism Development. Established to provide a comprehensive support strategy to the Kent County business community, this new department is a one-stop-shop for everything the public needs to start a business, grow a business, build a brand, network, and continue attracting visitors, residents, workers, and new businesses to Kent County.

Beginning in January 2021, ShoreRivers will implement a suite of conservation and pollution‑reduction projects on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. These projects include new watershed assessments in Caroline and Kent Counties; a robust action plan for Eastern Shore dairy operations; and others.

Avery Hall Insurance Group announces that Marti Wright, senior account executive for Avery Hall Benefit Solutions, retired as of January 7, 2021. Account manager Cynthia Hardin will be taking responsibility for Marti’s accounts.

Annie Richards joins the ShoreRivers team as the new Chester Riverkeeper in January. As Riverkeeper, Richards will be the primary voice for the Chester River and its tributaries, working through the core, science-based strategies of advocacy, enforcement, outreach, and water quality monitoring to achieve cleaner waterways.

Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., announced the award of four grants totaling $300,000 to organizations in the First Congressional District from AmeriCorps, a federal agency for volunteering and service. Funds will be utilized to engage Americans 55 and older to help communities increase the capacity of local organizations by recruiting and managing other volunteers.

The Kent County Chamber is thrilled to welcome Marta Kumer with Selkie Books of Rock Hall as a new member. Selkie Books offers Used Books in a wide range of genres, Rare Books, Ephemera, Art, Artifacts, Vintage Maps, Vintage Albums, and Sidelines to fit any reader’s interests, at very modest prices fully competitive with all online sites. Click the story to learn more about Selkie Books.

ShoreRivers recently welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors: Scott Budden, Nick DiPasquale, and Barbara Boyd. This volunteer group includes scientists, farmers, educators, business and legal professionals, activists, and public servants. ShoreRivers believes that diverse perspectives on the board make the organization stronger.

Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that his agency has extended filing and payment deadlines for certain Maryland business taxes and quarterly estimated income tax returns and payments that would be due in January, February and March 2021 until April 15, 2021.

Fifteen University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) frontline health care workers from throughout the hospital system’s five-county region were vaccinated today with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Those vaccinated included employees from emergency departments throughout the Shore, COVID units and infectious disease departments, as well as respiratory therapists, nursing staff, environmental services team members and security personnel.