CFF’s 2024 Festival Dates

The Chesapeake Film Festival is now open for submissions on Film Freeway for its 17th edition. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their work for consideration for this event, set to take place in Easton, from Sept. 27-29.

As a platform dedicated to showcasing the best in independent cinema, the festival offers a unique opportunity for filmmakers to connect with audiences and industry professionals. 

The festival has also recently been awarded two grants: the Maryland Humanities’ Marilyn Hatza SHINE Memorial Grant and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation's Artistic Insights Fund Grant. These awards will further support the festival’s mission of celebrating the art of filmmaking and fostering cultural exchange. 

For further information on becoming a sponsor or volunteer, or to sign up for the festival’s newsletter, visit chesapeakefilmfestival.com.

Dorchester County Public Library

If you or someone you know would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the library, become a summer reading sponsor, send us items from our Amazon Wishlist, or join the Friends of the Library, visit dorchesterlibrary.org/support-us for more information.

Town of Preston

Preston Connects will welcome Mrs. Marilou of Appleseed Books for Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day themed story times.

Mark your calendars to bring your children and grandchildren to Town Hall from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Feb. 14 for a Valentine’s Day story and a heartfelt make or take craft, and March 13 for a St. Patrick’s Day story with a cloverleaf make or take activity!

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife & Heritage Service 

If you’re a person who enjoys the outdoors, then taking an exploration-minded hike can lead you to animal tracks, bones and the occasional owl pellet. Many birders also enjoy discovering plenty of species that stay all year or that arrived to spend the winter here. Being outside and exposed to natural daylight can help combat the winter blues, but if being indoors is your thing, there is also a book list from last year’s Winter Habichat for you to explore!

Things to do:

Winter Safari

news.maryland.gov/.../02/01/habichat-winter-safari/

Cozy Winter Reading List

news.maryland.gov/.../a-cozy-winter-reading-list.../

Botanical art classes 

Learn to capture the nuances of plants in colored pencil or watercolor when Adkins Arboretum offers a series of botanical art classes. Programs include:

Color Pencil I: Techniques
Fridays, Feb. 9 and 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Taught by Sarah Saltus, the focus of this course is on color application and color theory.

Botanical Drawing I
Sundays, Feb. 11, 18, 25 and March 10, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Led by Sarah Saltus, this introduction to botanical drawing will focus on developing skills and techniques necessary to capture the essence of flowers, fruits, pods and leaves. Each student will produce a detailed botanical study in pencil.

Botanical Drawing II

Sundays, March 17, 24, April 7 and 14, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Watercolor is a versatile and expressive medium that can initially be intimidating. This introductory class with Kelly Sverduk will focus on proper watercolor techniques: brush handling and control of water, mixing colors using a limited palette and achieving gradients with washes and layering.

Main Street Gallery

Until Feb. 25, the Main Street Gallery in Cambridge will show the works of their member artists in a special show, “Serendipity.” Hours are Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Second Saturday event is planned for the show from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 10. There will be a brief talk by artists, and light refreshments.

The Main Street Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Second Saturdays until 8 p.m. The gallery is at 518 Poplar St., in Cambridge.

Ridgely VFC line dancing

Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department offers line dancing to the public every second Wednesday of the month from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $5 per person, children 12 and under are free.

An instructor will teach one or two new dances each week and then there will be social time to show off dance moves. The Firehouse is located at 101 Sunset Boulevard, Ridgely. For more information, call 410-634-2424 or email ridgelyfd@comcast.net.