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For our first connection, we have a public facing event to hyper-focus on a key element of our community — the power of women. This is a yearlong exercise in connecting, sharing, mentoring, modeling and caring about the women in our community.

It’s a powerful and risky venture but one we believe is worthwhile. While we began with a Women to Watch as a keystone event in the spring, this is a summer speaker series with some key influencers, movers and shakers.

On the Easton Mid-Shore event panel we have Amber McGinnis, executive dIrector of Chesapeake College Foundation; Morgan Foster, founder and CEO of The Pivot Process; Shania Gregory, the executive director of the YMCA-Easton; and Anne Altvater, group facilitator and owner, Campbell’s Lane Farm. Their discussion on “mindfulness” will be moderated by Cassandra Vanhooser, economic development and tourism director for Talbot County. Join us at 8 a.m. on Aug. 7 at The Market at Dover �鶹��ý. For more information go to .

Our other new offering is an effort to collaborate with people in the Eastern Shore community through those whose unique perspective and insight is a valuable asset to share with our readers. In our first effort we are engaging Easton Mayor Megan Cook to write a column on the first Friday of each month about the view, the sights, and experiences with the community “from the Mayor’s Chair.” She will share her work, her thoughts and her interactions with the community so we can all be more aware of our local world and what the future may hold. I am sure it will be sometimes serious and other times humorous — but always sincere and informative. Mayor Cook may, from time to time, engage or partner with other key influencers in our town so be ready, you may be called on to be on the team.

These two efforts complement the Star Democrat’s Reader Advisory Board that meets with us quarterly to give us perspective and insight into our coverage. They offer unedited truths and thoughts about what we do well and what we need to improve. It’s a great bunch and we’ll do them justice in another forum.

Thank you again and again for your support. It means the world to us.

Orestes Baez, Regional President

Adams MultiMedia/Chesapeake