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:

Free COVID tests
Dorchester County’s Department of Health is continuing to provide free COVID-19 testing at several locations, weather permitting. No appointment, doctor’s order or medical insurance is needed.
Testing is open to the general public and Spanish interpreters are available. Mouth coverings are required.
• July 29 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Dorchester County Health Department
• Aug. 6 from 3 p.m. on the lot with grass between Greenwood and Cosby streets in Cambridge

Run for Cambridge office
Interested in serving your community by running for city office? Candidate qualifying for mayor and all five city commission seats is now open.
The deadline to qualify is 4 p.m. on Sept. 2. The candidate filing packet can be found at choosecambridge.com.
Do you know your city ward number for the Oct. 17 Mayor and City Commission election? Check your city address at arcgis.com.

DoCo Health Department
To give our staff a break over the weekends, we will only be posting Dorchester County data updates every Monday through Friday. We appreciate your understanding. You can also visit Maryland Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at coronavirus.maryland.gov for daily data updates, information, and resources.

Public Library
Get your child prepped for the upcoming school year with a selection of beginner chapter books from the Hurlock Library! Request them today through Library to Go by calling (410) 943-4331 or visiting the online catalog at dorchesterlibrary.org.
Libby Wimbly, Tour Guide - Amy Cobb
My Furry Foster Family: Betty the Bearded Dragon - Debby Michiko Florence
Let’s Play, Crabby! - Jonathan Fenske
Yasmin the Gardener - Saadia Faruqi
Unicorn Diaries: Bo’s Magical New Friend - Rebecca Elliott
Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man - Stan Kirby
Ana & Andrew: A Day at the Museum - Christine A. Platt

United Way
Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay is a non-profit organization serving girls in K-12th grades on the Delmarva Peninsula. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore is privileged to partner with GSCB in support of their after school outreach programs during the school year. Your donor dollars create positive impact for our local nonprofits, like GSCB and continue to work hard to keep essential needs and services going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay is very thankful to all the donors who contributed to the LIVE UNITED Response Fund. Your contribution is providing the necessary funding to help us safely reopen Camp Sandy Pines in Fruitland and our office located in Salisbury, through the purchase of cleaning supplies, face masks, hand sanitizer, and other items to ensure the safety of the girls and volunteers when they return to the properties,” said Denise Eberspeaker, Development Director. “COVID-19 has changed the way we are currently providing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. During this pandemic we are committed to keeping girls socially connected through virtual opportunities and providing high quality activities they can do at home. Girls are still able to work on badges and high awards such as the Gold Award.
She continued, “We invite all girls in K-12th grades to participate in the virtual troop meetings, programs, and activities. Stay-at-home activities are posted on our website and free to all. Girl Scouts remains committed to providing the best leadership experience for girls that emphasizes courage, confidence, and character. We are so thankful for the ongoing support from the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and for the donors that contributed to the LIVE UNITED Response Fund grants during COVID-19.”
Thank you to the Girl Scouts staff and volunteers for their dedication to providing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and adjusting their programs to meet the needs of girls during the pandemic. To learn more about Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay go to gscb.org or call 302-456-7150.

Brew Fest canceled
Dearest St. Michaels Brewfestians,
It is with heavy hearts that we have made the decision to reschedule the 2020 St Michaels Brewfest to June 5, 2021. Your tickets will be honored at that time. While Brewfest means a lot to us, the health and safety of our loyal guests means more. We’d like to take this time to thank those of you who have been with us since 2014 as well as those of you will be joining us for the first time next year. Your spirit and energy are what makes St. Michaels Brewfest a magical event.
We invite you to keep your tickets for 2021 as we will honor them regardless if there is a price increase or additional attractions to the Brewfest. Please stay safe and healthy and know that we will miss you with all of our hearts.
For those of you who need a refund we understand and will refund the face value of your ticket purchase. Just email contact@event-advocate.com with your name and order number and they will process your refund in a timely manner.
Again, thank you for your support of St. Michaels Brewfest and we look forward to seeing you next June.

Harvesting Hope
Thanks to one of our mentees for the artwork on our book crates. We have free book packets that will include a few social emotional worksheets/activities.
Our reading social program will continue via social distancing. We will have books crates out in the community and a drive-through reading social where families can swing through to grab free books. Summer is the perfect time to grab a good book and go on an adventure and meet new characters.
Remember, we should read at least 30 minutes a day. Thank you Tamira Dotson for the beautiful art!
Thank you Mary Beth Klotz for putting the packets together! We really appreciate the both of you!
What book are you reading this week?

Md. Board of Elections
Do you want to receive a mail-in (absentee) ballot for the Nov. 3 general election? It’s not too early to apply. You can apply online at elections.maryland.gov. You can also do so by texting “VBM” or “VOTE” to 777-88, and you will receive a link to request your ballot.
Do this early to ensure the timely receipt of your ballot.

Bay 101
Horn Point Laboratory offers Bay 101, a virtual lecture series for non-scientists.
Every Wednesday through Aug. 5 from 5-5:30 p.m., you can join Horn Point Laboratory researchers and participate in a free, virtual seminar series about the science of the Chesapeake Bay.
The 30-minute programs will shed light on the mysteries of the Bay and highlight Horn Point programs working to improve the health of the Bay and its aquatic life. Questions and participation by all will be encouraged.

Give blood
Donating blood is always important, but due to shortages from coronavirus, people are in need of blood more than ever before. Learn everything you need to know about giving blood during the coronavirus pandemic.
Visit donate.bbd.org/donor/schedules/geo to find a donation location nearest you.

Recreation & Parks
Recreation and Parks asks users of the Dorchester County Pool to please bring exact change for admission.
Admission for Children 9 and under is $2, and Admission for all guests age 10 and older is $3. We thank you very much for bringing exact change at admissions.

Caroline County YMCA
Monday marked the anniversary of our first Community Luau! This week at our YMCA, we’re going to celebrate luau style, since we were unable to actually hold our luau. So join us this week by wearing luau/summer attire and take pictures in our luau corner!

City of Cambridge
Let’s get trash-free!

1. Head down to your local park.
2. Pick up trash and take a photo.
3. Post on your social media accounts with the hashtag #trashfreeshorerivers
4. Remember to tag ShoreRivers on Facebook or @shoreriversorg on Instagram.
5. Send your photo to cliu@shorerivers.org to be featured on ShoreRivers accounts.
6. Enjoy the sense of stewardship you have for our local waterways.
7. Repeat!
   Sultana event canceled
   Sultana Education Foundation has announced that its 2020 Downrigging Weekend Festival set for October has been cancelled. Since the success of last year’s event, Sultana’s Downrigging Committee, as well as their partner Tall Ships, vendors and musicians, have been hard at work planning for this October’s festival.
   However, with the arrival of the virus earlier this winter, Downrigging has proven to be an insurmountable challenge. Several alternate formats for the Chestertown, Maryland-based festival were explored, but in the end the committee concluded that none would provide the quality experience that people had come to expect from Downrigging.
   Candidate Mason Town Hall
   Mia Mason, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress in Maryland District 1, will host a “virtual” town hall starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday. A local volunteer group, Indivisible Worcester Maryland, is sponsoring the Town Hall and will lend Mia the use of a Zoom license so as to protect all participants from the Eastern Shore’s raging Covid-19 outbreak.
   Viewers can join by entering us02web.zoom.us/j/81887585637 in their browsers.