The festival will kick off Friday evening, May 27 at 5:00 p.m. with a block party at the foot of High Street. Hosted by Main Street Chestertown, the block party features the Best Kept Soul Band and food trucks.

Kent County Shuttle Service starts this weekend with service to Chestertown, Tolchester, and Rock Hall. The Shuttle runs daily on Friday through Sunday with 16 stops on hourly runs with Round Trip, Day Pass, and Season Pass options. For more information visit kentcountyrides.com

With graduation less than a month away, Kent County High School seniors and community members have already begun celebrating. This year's graduation ceremony is set for Friday evening, June 3 at Kent County High School in Worton. Like last year, the ceremony will be held outside in Trojan Stadium. The confirmed speakers — as chosen by the Class of 2022 and approved by the Kent County Board of Education Monday, May 9 — are Kent County High School teachers Caren Saunders and Melissa Walters.

The Emergency Department at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown has earned accreditation as a Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Two instructional assistants at Kent County Middle School were lauded at a Board of Education meeting May 9 for their dedication to students. Chanelle Copper and TyRay Johnson were recognized for their work with this month's Golden Anchor Awards.

The Chester River Health Foundation will host its 28th annual golf fundraiser at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club just outside of Chestertown on Friday, June 3, 2022.

Young runners and walkers will be lacing up their sneakers — or Velcroing them — later this month for the 32nd annual Sneaker Creeper. The series of fun children's races will help kick off the Chestertown Tea Party Festival weekend starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 27.

Last year, in the midst of the pandemic, ShoreRivers pivoted its annual Summer Solstice Celebration to instead feature small-group outdoor expeditions led by experts presenting particular aspects of our local ecosystem. Back by popular demand, ShoreRivers will again host a slate of exciting and experiential outings, as well as the beloved big-tent party on the banks of the Chester River! Register online now for your choice of a dozen expeditions and get your tickets for the Solstice Celebration at shorerivers.org/events. Expeditions will be held throughout the region from June 14-24 and the Celebration will be held at the Washington College boathouse on June 25.

Three Galena Elementary School students were honored for their essays earlier this spring by a local American Legion Post Auxiliary, with one student moving on to the national contest. The C. Henry Price II American Legion Post 246 Auxiliary of Betterton sponsored the Americanism Essay Contest this spring.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health celebrated April as National Donate Life Month, honoring organ donors and bringing awareness to saving or enhancing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. On April 22, UM SRH team members wore blue and green in honor of National Donate Life Blue and Green Day, which encourages the sharing of the Donate Life message and promotes the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.