Chesapeake Crier

12/13/2025

12/13/2025

❄️ Winter Car Seat Safety Tip ❄️

Bulky winter coats can keep car seat harnesses from fitting snugly — and a loose harness can put your child at risk in a crash.

👉 Remember: Strap, then wrap.
Secure your child in their car seat with the harness snug against their body first, then place a blanket or coat over them for warmth.

✔️ Harness straps should lie flat and be in direct contact with your child
✔️ Use thin layers or fleece jackets instead of bulky coats
✔️ Add warmth after your child is safely buckled

A snug harness saves lives — even on the coldest days. 💙

12/11/2025

The Town of Centreville's Holiday Parade is on Friday, December 12th at 6:30 p.m. The theme is Bright Nights and Holiday Lights! Roads start to close around 6:15 p.m., so please plan accordingly. We can not wait to celebrate with you!

12/11/2025

UPDATE: The suspect has been taken into custody. Police remain on scene as the investigation continues.

Police Activity in the Area of Matapeake Elementary and Middle School.

A lockdown was initiated by the School Resource Officer following an assault that occurred on campus. The individual involved fled the building, and there is no immediate danger to students or staff inside the school. As a precaution, law enforcement established a perimeter in the area while working to locate and apprehend the suspect.

Police remain on scene and are actively managing the situation. We will provide additional updates as soon as more information becomes available.

12/11/2025

We're thrilled to formally introduce Suzy Moore, Adkins Arboretum's new Director of Advancement. Known for her positive energy and strong sense of community, Suzy is excited to apply her decades of public engagement and nonprofit leadership experience to advancing Adkins' mission.

Over the past couple of months, Suzy has enthusiastically jumped in to her new role with both feet, quite literally! In addition to making connections, writing grants, and raising funds, Suzy has climbed ladders, poured drinks, schlepped pumpkins, installed signage, planned parties, delivered plants, pet dogs, baked cookies, attracted chiggers, climbed trees, driven golf carts, walked the trails, and more.

Click here to read more about Suzy's new adventure at Adkins: https://www.adkinsarboretum.org/file_download/inline/74fbe0b3-4d58-4a00-9c59-ff57dfcd54a8

Photograph on right by Mike Morgan.

12/11/2025

After an extensive search and hiring process, ShoreRivers is proud to announce the selection of Scott Budden as our next Executive Director!

“ShoreRivers Governing Board is thrilled with our selection of Scott Budden as the organization's new Executive Director," says Marian Fry, Chair of the Governing Board. "Scott was chosen from a robust pool of applicants based upon his skills acquired from a diverse 18-year professional background, which includes his performance as the Deputy Director of Finance at ShoreRivers. His undeniable talent and deep familiarity with our organization and our communities are the perfect combination to lead ShoreRivers into its next chapter. We wish him well, and can't wait to see how he takes on the role.”

Scott Budden was raised in Chestertown, MD, on the banks of Langford Creek. He attended Kent County Public Schools before graduating from Bucknell University in 2007 with a double major in Economics and International Relations and a minor in Spanish. After a 10-year stint in Washington, DC, as a corporate financial analyst for The Atlantic and Booz Allen Hamilton, he founded an oyster farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 2015. Within a decade, Scott helped scale Orchard Point Oyster Co. to a nationally distributed brand.

With his passion for aquaculture and familiarity with both the business and non-profit worlds, Scott is a natural fit for ShoreRivers. He is a past appointee to the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council and the Maryland Tidal Fish Advisory Commission, and has served on board and committees for non-profits like the Chester River Association (a ShoreRivers’ legacy organization) Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, Maryland Sea Grant, and Washington College’s Innovation Plant.

12/08/2025

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Complex is hiring a State Park Ranger Manager II! Apply by December 18.

12/06/2025

NEWS | The Maryland Natural Resources Police has ended the search for Lonnie James Johnson, 65, of Chesapeake Beach after NRP personnel located Johnson deceased on Thursday afternoon in the waters of Dorchester County near Taylors Island.

Officers responded to the northwest shoreline of Taylors Island, south of the mouth of the Little Choptank River at approximately 12:30 p.m. on December 4 when NRP aviators spotted the body while conducting aerial searches aboard the department’s helicopter, Natural 1.

Johnson’s 23-foot center console vessel was found unmanned on November 14 in the area of Taylors Island in Dorchester County after he left Chesapeake Beach to go fishing on the afternoon of November 13.

Search efforts lasted 21 days and were aided by Maryland State Police, United States Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Charles County Dive Rescue, Calvert County Rescue Dive Team, Baltimore County Police Department, Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department, Saint Leonard Volunteer Fire Department, and countless other allied agencies, volunteers, and good samaritans.