Governor O'Malley Declares Chestertown Maryland's 'Capital for a Day'
Governor Holds Cabinet Meeting with Local Officials, Visits with Community Leaders and Environmental Advocates Including Local ‘Envirothon’ Youth Group
CHESTERTOWN, MD (June 17, 2008) – Today, Governor Martin O’Malley spent the day in Chestertown, MD with members of his Executive Cabinet, declaring that city Maryland’s “Capital for a Day.” The Governor began the day hearing from local leaders, including Mayor Margo Bailey, Kent County Commission President Roy Crow, and Senator EJ Pipkin, each of whom discussed with the group the challenges and opportunities facing Kent County and surrounding areas.
Throughout the day, Governor O’Malley met with local community, religious, and environmental leaders during this second in a series of “Capital for a Day” declarations across the State. The Governor’s activities, as well as those of his Executive Cabinet, focused on an environmental theme, illustrating that all of us play a role in a sustainable future for Maryland.
“I am proud to officially proclaim Chestertown Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day,’” said Governor O’Malley, making his announcement on the banks of the Chester River this morning. “Since the cornerstone of our progress is an ability to work beyond the confines of the State House with local partners throughout our One Maryland, we’re proud to bring the State Capital to the people of Maryland where they live and work. Chestertown is such a fitting place for today’s events, many of which have focused on the preservation and improvement of the environment we all share and help protect.”
Governor O’Malley praised the people of Chestertown, calling the city on the Upper Eastern Shore an example of the positive progress occurring through the State. Kent County has experienced a significant increase in education funding under the O’Malley / Brown Administration. School construction funding has increased more than 20 percent compared to the first two years of the previous administration. Community College funding has increased nearly 48 percent, and adult literacy has seen a nearly 600 percent increase over the same period. In addition, Chestertown and the surrounding areas have benefited from the second straight year of full funding for Program Open Space, with projects underway in local community parks, public swimming pools, and other recreation facilities.
“We’re so proud to have Chestertown serve as Maryland’s ‘Capital for a Day,’ particularly as this event centers on environmental preservation and sustainability,” said Chestertown Mayor Margot G. Bailey. “Chestertown was the first town on the Eastern Shore to enter into the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement and the sixth municipality in the entire state. We recently received a $40,000 Urban Greening Grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, part of which will measure our current tree canopy by satellite and give us a green benchmark for the future. We also used these funds, along with the State of Maryland's TREE-MENDOUS tree program to plant 80 trees last week along Campus Avenue and Rolling Road.”
Following the Governor’s announcement this morning, local elementary and middle school students helped him unveil the theme for this year’s “Bay Game,” a first of its kind interactive children’s activity book designed to transform kids’ restless energy during summer travel into a fun, creative, educational experience. The theme of this year’s game, “Celebrating Children in our Natural World,” is meant to inspire children to enjoy spending time outdoors while learning about issues affecting the local environment.
Governor O’Malley later visited with local shoppers and small business owners along High Street, where he greeted residents of Chestertown and thanked them for their hospitality. He then briefly toured the Kent Family Center, a facility offering family-strengthening services to over 1,000 families since its establishment in 1999, including comprehensive programming, parent education, and child development services.
Bethel AME Church Pastor Reverend Frederick W. Jones, along with the Church’s Board of Trustees, hosted Governor O’Malley and invited guests for lunch outside the church located on College Avenue. Here, local elected officials from Chestertown and Kent County, as well as local business and education leaders enjoyed a southern fish fry style lunch and discussed issues affecting residents of the Upper Eastern Shore.
Governor O’Malley’s afternoon activities included a “Meet and Green” event with representatives from several local Eastern Shore and Kent County environmental groups. Representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Chester River Association, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, the Queen Anne's Conservation Association, and many other groups committed to preserving and improving the environment in and around Kent County were on hand to network and share their experiences and proposals with Governor O’Malley and members of his Bay Cabinet.
Later, Governor O’Malley joined area youth participants of the Envirothon program, a hands-on outdoor education program for high school students to learn about environmental subjects, on their way to Harford County for a statewide competition. The young environmentalists demonstrated a log measuring activity for the Governor, where they determined how many board feet of lumber a tree will produce.
“The enthusiasm that these kids show for environmental issues should really serve as a model for us all,” said Governor O’Malley. “In Maryland, caring for the resources we cherish is at the core of who we are as a people. It’s reflected in our seal, the plowman and the fisherman living together in harmony, not only with one another, but also in harmony with the land, the air, the water upon which all of us depend. And so we take very seriously our duty not only to promote sustainable living and preservation throughout our State, but also to serve as an example for all Marylanders to that end.”
In that spirit, Governor O’Malley ended the day in Chestertown with the planting of a tree, donated by the Kent County Forestry Board and the Kent Soil & Water Conservation District, and capping the day of events with an activity performed at each “Capital for a Day” designed to illustrate the State’s commitment to a more sustainable future for all Marylanders.
“Capital for a Day,” a program launched by Governor O’Malley during his first term, brings the State Capital to every corner of Maryland through a series of monthly events across a diverse selection of Maryland cities, towns and communities. Six more such events are planned for the remainder of 2008 in areas including Leonardtown, Pocomoke City, Maryland’s port towns, Cumberland, Gaithersburg, and Ellicott City.
