The Kent County Board of Education recognized Elizabeth Proffitt, parent coordinator for the school system's Family Support Resource Center, with this month's Golden Anchor Award. The Golden Anchor Award is given to staff members or groups of employees who exemplify the mission and core values of Kent County Public Schools.

The RiverArts Street Festival called !magine is a community street festival along High Street on Sunday, September 11 from 1:00 to 6:00 that will include family fun for everyone: arts and crafts activities for all ages; artists selling their work; hands-on community arts projects; quick draw, photography, and sculpture competitions; music and food. It will be a fun way to celebrate RiverArts 10th Anniversary, a chance to re-engage with the community after the pandemic slowdown and a reminder of the value of arts to our community.

Godfrey’s Farm held its 2nd annual Blueberry Boogie 5K Walk/Run with 216 participants walking or running in the race. The event attracts runners of all ages and experience, and the event raised over $15,000 to support Benedictine’s programs that provide crucial services for moderate to severe developmentally disabled children and adults.

From modern cult comedy to the classically familiar to the pomp and pageantry of a beloved Disney classic, the Garfield Center’s exciting 2023 season will provide audiences with all the feels we expect from live theatre.

Hilary Cassel, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN has been named director of the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Heart and Vascular Center.

The Maryland State Department of Education opened a pathway for school systems to repurpose certain days as virtual instruction days in the 2022-2023 school year. Kent County Public Schools will have the opportunity to use a total of eight virtual days. No more than three days may be used as asynchronous. Kent County Public Schools administrators, in collaboration with teachers and staff, have developed a plan to ensure meaningful and equitable virtual instruction.

The Historical Society of Kent County is looking for a new Executive Director. Applicants must have experience working with volunteer committees to produce exhibits, publications, and programs highlighting Kent County’s rich and diverse history, and with fundraising, grant writing, social media, and community outreach to support Society operations.

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Clayton Contracting, Inc. to the Kent County business community with a Ribbon Cutting held in front of their newly purchased equipment, on July 12th. Clayton Contracting hosted a Business After Hours Mixer directly following at Molly’s Restaurant. Both events were well attended by Kent County Chamber of Commerce Board Members, local community business leaders, as well as friends and family.

Every summer, news articles show up around the country about toxic blue-green algal blooms. When people and pets get sick or die from exposure to toxic blooms, it makes headlines. The Eastern Shore is no exception: in the summer of 2020, the Sassafras River experienced its largest, most toxic, and longest-lasting algal bloom on record, rendering much of the river un-swimmable for 12 weeks during the height of water recreation season. The toxin concentrations during this bloom were 300-500 times higher than the State’s threshold of risk and were responsible for the death of at least one dog and several cases of people getting sick.

The Kent County Health Department is hosting free clinics for back-to-school vaccinations. The clinics are being held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Kent County Health Department, 125 South Lynchburg St., Chestertown. These clinics are free for any student requiring a vaccine for school.