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CHESTERTOWN The threat of rain over Tea Party Weekend did not appear to dampen anyones spirits as the annual festival in downtown Chestertown was well attended.

The 41st annual Chestertown Tea Party Festival celebrated the local legend of Kent County Colonists storming a ship in the Chester River and dumping its load of tea in protest of British taxes. Whether true or not, the festival celebrating it continues to be a big draw in Chestertown.

Lt. John Dolgos of the Chestertown Police Department said that the attendance at the Tea Party Festival appeared to have been higher than in the past couple of years.

Another one in the history books, and it was a good one, he said.

Spanning four days, Tea Party weekend kicked off Friday evening with the Street Party at the foot of High Street. Mayor Chris Cerino and Street Party Coordinator Aundra Anderson made some opening remarks before musical act Dell Foxx Company began their set.

This is Andersons fourth year as Street Party coordinator.

She was tasked with transforming the event. Last year, the Street Party shifted away from its previous incarnation of a high-priced, Colonial dress and plated dinner affair to free admission and food trucks.

The atmosphere is meant to be a little more casual than the rest of the weekend, which is Colonial-centric. Andersons goal for the kickoff event aimed at Kent County residents, was to kind of set the tone for the weekend of providing a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, something where you feel comfortable bringing your kids, she said in a phone interview last week.

Originally from the Midwest, Anderson, a Washington College alum and its director of admissions communications, said that she has experienced a fair share of festivals and fairs, but nothing like Chestertowns Tea Party.

(There was) nothing with that kind of character behind it, this idea of celebrating Colonial rebellion, she said.

Margaret Jordan has been attending the Tea Party Festival since she and her husband moved to Chestertown in 2001. She was glad to see people participating.

Im not into dressing Colonial, but I enjoy that theres so many people out. I like seeing the people I dont normally see; I like to see the town sharing an event together, she said Friday night.

Maddy Margulies, a recent graduate of Washington College, also was enjoying the first night of the festival. From Pennsylvania, Margulies said that she has never been in Chestertown during Tea Party. She was excited to finally participate.

It is a good atmosphere (and) its really fun so far, she said.

Another popular stop of the night was the caricature artist, About Faces, which Ruth Tonkyro described as a highlight while she waited for her daughters portrait to be completed.

The family had travelled from Leonardtown to partake in the annual Tea Party Distance Classic and Run for Radcliffe on Saturday morning.

Its just a lot of fun. We originally came here for the run and then when we found out what else was here, we were kind of disappointed we didnt stay longer because its really cool, Tonkyro said.

Getting the community involved started earlier this year, with the additional Tea Bag Art Project launched by the Chestertown Arts & Entertainment district. The project asked participants to create artwork on oversized tea bags, large canvas sacks. The completed bags were displayed in storefronts throughout downtown.

The tea bags included a new slogan designed by Zane Carter, stating, Chestertown: Steeped in History. Stirred by Art.

I was very happy with the community engagement, Kay MacIntosh, Chestertown economic development and marketing coordinator, said in a phone interview Tuesday. The project drew in about 60 participants.

On Saturday, Chestertown was thrown back in time to the Colonial era, based on the story of patriots in 1774 tossed the brigantine Geddes cargo of tea into the Chester River as an act of rebellion again British taxes.

Caleb Schultz, 12, of Betterton was enjoying himself at the Tea Party Festival Saturday.

I think the festival is great, he said while walking down High Street.

Michelle Thompson, who just moved back from Chestertown from living in Virginia, said she never missed a Tea Party, even while living away. She said this years festival was pretty great.

Its always great to come down here and depend on things being the same, like my fried clams I have right here, Thompson said. You also get to see a lot of people you havent seen in years. Thats the most wonderful part.

As a start to the day, the Colonial Parade began, incorporating floats and an assortment of marching bands. This year, attorney Tom Yeager was honored as the parades grand marshal.

After the parade, Dick Goodall, CEO of Dixon Valve & Coupling Co., received the Edna Ross Award, which is given annually to a local business person for outstanding service to the community, according to the Tea Partys website.

Saturdays re-enactment is what brings many to the Tea Party. Re-enactors took to High Street at 2 p.m. for a skit before they marched down to the river, boarded rowboats and overtook the Geddes, portrayed by the schooner Sultana. After a mock-fight, the tea was tossed overboard.

The rain held off until the Colonists were triumphant in their rebellion, having disposed of the tea in the Chester River.

Artisans and food vendors lined the High and Cross streets downtown. Attendees and entertainers dressed in Colonial outfits. Benjamin Franklin made an appearance, as did John Jay.

Charles Bauman and his dad, Michael, came from Delaware to partake in the celebrations. Charles dressed the part as George Washington because he just wanted to.

Baumans wife is originally from Chestertown and has been attending Tea Party since she was a kid, which, he said, is how the whole family got involved.

On Sunday, Tea Party changed gears, with a craft beer and wine tasting in Wilmer Park, followed the crowd favorite, Tea Party Raft Race.

The Tea Cup, the top prize gifted to the raft with the best synthesis of creativity, engineering, and speed, according to the Tea Partys website, went to a Willy Wonka-inspired creation. The raft was styled after the movies blue and white boat, propelled by a team of Oompa-Loompas spinning a waterwheel.

The long weekend formally concluded on Monday with a Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m.

Sabine Harvey, president of the planning committee, has been a long-term participant in the festival, and seldom gets to enjoy the event that she spends a year planning, but its community commitment is what keeps her involved.

Its such a great community event and so many community organizations, Harvey said. I love this county and so I want to contribute. Ive gotten to meet and know a whole bunch of people I otherwise never would have met.

Continue reading here:
Weather does not dampen Tea Party - My Eastern Shore

By: Jasmine MorrowStaff Writer

The Mad Hatters Dancing Tea Party was an event put on for Westerns students by the Akerman Hall Student Government. The tea party was put on for anybody who wanted a break and wanted to enjoy themselves.

The Ackerman Hall Student Government played music while the tea-party-goers enjoyed their cupcakes and tea, but they also had a space for students to dance if they wished to. The committee members that put on the Mad Hatters Dancing Tea Party were: Morgan Montoya, Bridget Parker, Chase Culm and Ellen Moore.

Montoya, a first-year psychology major, organized the event, which was Alice in Wonderland themed. That being said, Parker, a sophomore biology major, is the President of the Ackerman Hall Student Government and helped Monoya decorate. They put on the event because they wanted some students to have some fun.

There were sunglasses waiting to be given to the guests and a small photo booth that tea-party-goers could get their picture taken looking like the Queen of Hearts. The table clothes were different colors, there were smiling Cheshire cats hanging on the wall, there were tea cups, flowers and clocks sitting on the table and pink plastic flamingos standing around the room.

One of the guests, Sarah Tran, a first-year biology major, said that she went to the event because she loves Alice in Wonderland, dancing and cupcakes.

I would definitely go to something like this again, but it would have to be a different theme, said Tran.

There were a handful of people that showed up at the very start of the event. As the evening progressed, more people started to show up. Everyone had a smile on their face, they were taking pictures of the decorations, with their friends and of the cute cupcakes. It appeared that the tea-party-goers were enjoying the evening.

Contact author at jmorrow16@mail.wou.edu

Original post:
May 31, 2017 in Campus Life: Mad Hatter's Dancing Tea Party - The Journal

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Photo: JERRY LARA / San Antonio Express-News

Protesters gather against Senate Bill 4 at the Texas Capitol. The bill ensures that law enforcement officers have the authority to ask people they detain about their immigration status.

Protesters gather against Senate Bill 4 at the Texas Capitol. The bill ensures that law enforcement officers have the authority to ask people they detain about their immigration status.

Protesters gather against SB 4. Inside the Capitol, protesters in the gallery above the House floor chanting and carrying signs were escorted out because such demonstra tions arent allowed in the gallery.

Protesters gather against SB 4. Inside the Capitol, protesters in the gallery above the House floor chanting and carrying signs were escorted out because such demonstra tions arent allowed in the gallery.

Leroy Pena of Dallas joins protesters against Senate Bill 4, the sanctuary cities ban, at the Texas Capitol.

Leroy Pena of Dallas joins protesters against Senate Bill 4, the sanctuary cities ban, at the Texas Capitol.

Nasty confrontation breaks out between tea party Republican and Latino Democrats at Capitol

AUSTIN On the final day of a legislative session a marked with bitter strife, a tea-party Republican got into an altercation with Latino Democrats after calling immigration officials on people protesting the recently passed sanctuary cities ban.

The dustup on the House floor escalated with the Republican saying he would put a bullet into the head of Democratic Rep. Poncho Nevrez of Eagle Pass, said Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, who claimed to have heard the remark.

In an interview with reporters, Republican Rep. Matt Rinaldi of Irving denied the comment, but later posted on Facebook that he would shoot him (Nevrez) in self defense.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, who later spoke to immigration advocates at a rally outside the capitol, said that Rinaldi racially profiled every protester in the gallery by calling U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement just because he saw a bunch of people that are a shade darker.

This is a clear example of how SB 4 will eventually encourage more incidents like the one earlier today (Monday), he said.

The confrontation on the House floor involved several lawmakers, observers said.

In his Facebook post, Rinaldi accused Nevrez of threatening his life, saying, Poncho told me that he would get me on the way to my car. He later approached me and reiterated that I had to leave at some point, and he would get me. I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, get me, I would shoot him in self defense.

Asked earlier by the Express-News what he had said to Rinaldi, Nevrez replied, I said, You gotta leave the building sometime.' Asked what he meant by that, he said he meant that rather than having these conversations here in front of everybody, we could have them outside.

Nevrez said he didnt recall whether he made his remarks before or after Rinaldi made his comment, which he said he didnt hear clearly.

I didnt hear the exact words. It was something about a bullet in my head, Nevrez said.

The scene was a capper to a session which saw ongoing battles between the House and the Senate, both dominated by Republicans; between tea-party Republicans and more moderate members of the GOP; and between Democrats and Republicans on issues including the sanctuary cities ban.

The ban drew particular concern and emotion from Democrats because it ensures law officers have the authority to ask people they detain about their immigration status, prompting fears of racial profiling.

Its almost reflective of kind of the ugliness that we saw all session. In a certain way, you hate to end on that note, but its almost appropriate that we do, because thats the kind of session it was, Rodriguez said.

Rep. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth, said the altercation started when he was looking up at the gallery above the House and pumped his fist to encourage the protesters , who were carrying signs and banners and chanting. The protesters were escorted out of the gallery by law enforcement because such demonstrations arent allowed in that space.

Romero said Rinaldi commented on the lack of decorum and said, Yeah, thats why I called ICE. Romero said that Rinaldi called the protesters a bunch of illegals.

Rinaldi said in the interview that he didnt remember exactly what had been said, and he declined to say whether he had called ICE.

However, on Facebook, Rinaldi wrote that his life had been threatened after I called ICE on several illegal immigrants who held signs in the gallery which said I am illegal and here to stay. Several Democrats encouraged the protesters to disobey law enforcement. When I told the Democrats I called ICE, Representative Ramon Romero physically assaulted me, and other Democrats were held back by colleagues.

No ICE agents were seen at the Capitol Monday

Asked about Rinaldis claim that he had been pushed and shoved, Romero said, Absolutely not. Hes absolutely lying, but I wouldnt put that past him.

After DPS troopers cleared the gallery, the protesters moved outside to the south steps of the Capitol. There, the Workers Defense Project, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, United We Dream and Black Transwoman held a rally with speeches and a band playing Mexican cumbias.

Congressman Castro told the crowd that they will eventually see Gov. Greg Abbott in court when SB 4 is argued as unconstitutional, and that Texas will not allow people to be victims of state leaders playing politics for their own primaries.

In every generation there have been Americans like yourselves who have stood up and said, thats enough, we are not going to take this anymore, the people of the United States and the people of Texas know better than this, Castro said.

The congressman said encouraging people to vote is key.

The only way to turn things around is if we do everything we can to get our fellow Texans out to vote. We need to replace the governor of the state of Texas, replace the lieutenant governor who wont give up on this bathroom bill, Castro said, referring to the bill that would have kept transgender Texans from using the bathrooms of the sex with which they identify, one of the main battlegrounds between the House and Senate leadership this session. The bill died.

Monica Roberts, a trans human rights advocate from Black Transwomen, said that SB 4 is nothing new to Texas, but rather it is following the pattern of conservatives in the Texas Legislature targeting groups they dont like.

She urged protesters to register to vote before November 2018.

Flush every Republican out of office that voted this bill into existence. It is past time for progressive Texans to take control of this House, Roberts said.

pfikac@express-news.com

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confrontation breaks out between tea party Republican and Latino - mySanAntonio.com

Patch.com

Tea Party Favorite, Trump Delegate Mae Beavers To Run For ... Patch.com Nashville, TN - State Sen. Mae Beavers says she will announce her intention to seek the GOP nomination for governor in Mt. Juliet next Saturday. and more »

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Tea Party Favorite, Trump Delegate Mae Beavers To Run For ... - Patch.com

In tonights Whats Working, we have a follow up to a Whats Working story we brought you a few weeks ago. We introduced you to a program for middle school girls at Williamson Prep School called, Classy Girls Wear Pearls. Its a program that teaches the girls life skills and manners. After our story aired, some special things happened for the girls.

Employees at the Bragg Mitchell Mansion saw the girls being featured on News 5, and decided they wanted to host a tea party for them. CCs Catering jumped on board and provided a nice spread of tea party food. Student, Kennedy Briggs, says this is the first time she has been to a tea party. To the tea, to the hat, to the treats and the staff. They were awesome. Lynn Stewart is the Executive Director of the Bragg Mitchell. Here at the Bragg Mitchell, most of our events promote southern elegance, southern manners, and southern hospitality. We feel programs like this fit right in with our mission to promote our southern manners. Manners are a lost art, and its great to have a program where they will have that background for the rest of their lives.

The highlight of the tea came when Shelly Scott with Friedmans Fine Jewelry gave each of the girls real pearl bracelets. Scott says, We wanted to make a lasting impression of something that will last forever and a tangible reminder of things they can see and touch. We want them to know that people care. We love them. We are proud of whom they becoming. Student, Mikyhla Sadler says, I have never owned pearls. I am very excited, and I will always treasure those pearls. The girls wear pearls every Wednesday during the school year as part of the program.

Original post:
What's Working: Classy Girls Treated to Tea Party and Pearls - WKRG