Dorchester Banner
CAMBRIDGE — As the situation regarding COVID-19 continues to develop, local groups are reaching out to spread the word about changes to their events and schedules. It remains a good idea to check on the status of goods and services before leaving home.
The Banner compiled a list of announcements over the previous week, which follows:

Community Conversations
There will be an interview with Superintendent Dave Bromwell July 15 on WHCP Community Radio 101.5 FM. If parents or community members have questions they want asked, please inbox or email me at tstafford21613@gmail.com.
This will be an opportunity to get clarification on questions about school openings, academics impacted by the pandemic, or just questions in general about the school system. It will be an informational interview. You will also be allowed to send in questions during the interview. Please share.Theresa Stafford

DCPS: Free kids’ meals
Starting July 7, free grab-and-go bags will be available for youngsters 18 and under at Choptank Elementary and Hurlock Elementary from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays until July 30. Tuesday’s bag will have meals for two days, Thursday’s bag will have meals for three days.

United Way
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore is to provide children facing adversity with enrichment and strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. UWLES is honored to have BBBSES as a partner agency in support of their year round mentoring program.
Your donor dollars to the LIVE UNITED Response Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic is helping our local non-profits like BBBSES pivot to continue providing needs and services to their clients.
“Thanks to the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and other various funders throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore (BBBSES) took immediate action to maintain and professionally support the vital, life-changing services provided to the community,” said Jessica Mimms, Executive Director. “During a time of uncertainty for many BBBSES families, the agency provides direct assistance to resources such as personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and food. BBBSES continues to facilitate mentoring relationships, ensuring kids stay connected to their mentors to prevent social isolation.”
Thank you Jessica, and the entire team at BBBSES for all you do throughout the year and during a global pandemic to continue supporting, caring, guiding and nurturing the youth in our community!
For more information on BBBSES, please go to shorebiglittle.org.

Film Festival
The Chesapeake Film Festival’s (CFF) commitment to bringing outstanding independent films to the people of the Chesapeake Bay area remains a priority despite the challenges of 2020. Because of the pandemic, CFF has had to figure out an alternate means of delivering those films to you. Our answer is a virtual festival, which extends our potential audience beyond the physical boundaries of the Eastern Shore.
We’re here this year to reach our community during these times of isolation. Inclusivity is our hallmark by uniting our audience in a celebration of cinematic achievement. During times of chaos and uncertainty, unity is strength — when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. Mark your calendars for Oct. 1-4 for the 13th Chesapeake Film Festival coming to you at your home.
The mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival is to entertain, inspire and educate by bringing the finest in narrative, documentary, short film, environmental film and animation to the greater community. The films we showcase illuminate both the diversity and universality of humankind and the environment. We believe films can affect positive change, and through this medium, individuals and communities can gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world.
Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of our offerings for the 2020 festival!

SU offers signs
As businesses, schools and other gathering places continue phased reopenings while still attempting to slow the spread of COVID-19, Salisbury University is providing a new resource for the community. SU recently unveiled a series of downloadable, printable signs, available for public and private use, with a goal of keeping the community safe while visiting local businesses and public buildings.
“As SU prepares for the return of students, faculty and staff this fall, we have considered the need for these types of communications and reminders on best practices in social distancing, face mask use, hand washing and more,” said Eli Modlin, SU chief of staff and director of government and community relations. “We are happy to share this signage for use by businesses and others in the community facing similar considerations in welcoming back members of the public.”
In addition to safety advice, signs also are available to mark public facilities (sinks, water fountains, etc.) temporarily not in use, best practices for public spaces and the location of hand sanitizer stations, among others.
The downloads are available at SU’s COVID-19 webpage, salisbury.edu/COVIDsigns. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at salisbury.edu.

DoCo Health Department
Starting on Monday we began providing free curbside COVID-19 testing at Dorchester County Health Department on Mondays and Wednesdays 12:30-3:30 p.m., weather permitting. No appointment is needed. Testing is open to all.
There will be additional testing events at various community locations. Details will be posted to our page.

Meals til Monday
For 15 weeks we packed and provided over 15,000 bags of food to children and their families here in Dorchester County. We want to thank everyone involved who worked so hard to provide food for our community; all our packers, those who handed out the bags, transported our bins and so many folks who we rely on such as our Maryland Food Bank Partners, DCPS, The Salvation Army, SYSCO, Bimbo Bakeries, Habitat Choptank, the YMCA, and other community partners who helped provide needed food.
Hungry kids are still hungry in the summertime and Meals til Monday will continue to pack and hand out bags:
Here’s where you can go to get your Meals til Monday bags of food:
St. Paul’s Church: every Monday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cambridge Commons Apartments rental office (for families who live in that community) Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The YMCA: any day when the Y is open, just go in and ask for a bag!
River Church, 415 Academy Ave., Fridays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mandala Pies, 115 Old Ocean Gateway, Vienna, Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
There will be more locations, including Hurlock and Choptank ES as they will also distribute school meals in July. We will update you on those additional locations.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate assistance with food please call us at 443-225-6789, or email leslie@midshoremealstilmonday.org
We’re here to help. Thank you, Dorchester County for your support and help to feed hungry children and their families.

American Legion Post 91
It’s time to vote! Due to the current status that we are in relating to the COVID-19 virus, changes are in effect by our Department of Maryland.
Dorchester Post 91 2020-2021 election of officers will be held on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. Only election/convention information will be discussed.
Nominations for post officers will be taken on the following dates: July 21, 2020 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 18, at 6 p.m.
No nomination will be taken after those dates. There is a sign-up sheet for those who are interested on the bulletin board in the hallway of the lounge to the bathrooms.
Offices for election are as follows: commander, first vice commander, judge advocate, adjutant, finance officer, historian, sergeant at arms, chaplain, and four executive committee members at large. If you have any questions please contact Commander Sam Monaghan.

Nathan of Dorchester
Happy 26th anniversary to Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester! Things are a little different this year, but she is rigged and starts training under sail this week. Great progress despite COVID. Be safe until we can sail away!
Boy Scouts of America, Del-Mar-Va Council
Over 400 Scouts from 12 states are registered to attend our upcoming Virtual Summer Experience. Come join us for this fun educational summer program, where every Scout can attend up to five week-long Merit Badge courses or instructional rank requirement lessons over the course of the month of July.
Don’t be limited to just one week of Scouting, let’s make the whole summer awesome!

Unique Opportunity:
• Scouts will not be tied down to a computer 6-8 hours a day. They can enroll in any 5 courses over the 4-week period.
• Courses are limited to 15 Scouts per class to ensure that Scouts get the personalized attention that you know to expect from our camp staff.
• The first period of the day starts at 10 a.m. EST and the last at 9 p.m. EST. This will allow scouts nationwide to join in on the fun! (Not to mention, who won’t mind sleeping in?)
Cost is $150 per scout, which will include access to five courses, a patch, and a neckerchief. Participants will also be given access to exclusive content created by our staff from Akridge, Henson, and Rodney which will include Campfires, Worship Services, Bay Hikes, ATV Camp Tours, Staff Shooting Competitions and more! For information, visit dmvc.org/virtualsummerexperience.

Christmas Parade
It’s hot outside, but thinking about the Christmas Parade is cool. While it might be tough to think Christmas, we sure are! We are planning the annual event as if there’s no Rona, at the moment. As with most activities, we will have to see what December brings, but Parade Planning is in full swing
Mark your calendars early for the 72nd annual Cambridge-Dorchester Christmas Parade, Dec. 5! Stay tuned for future website updates, theme announcements, and parade-specific details as we enter into our planning season.
Have ideas? Something you’d like to share or see this year? Let us know! We also extend an invitation to anyone that would like to join the committee. If you’re interested, please send us a message on Facebook so we can provide info. We’d love new people to join us and lend a hand.