Mar-Va Theater Adds New Board Members and Theater Manager

Written By

Bill Kerbin

POCOMOKE CITY -- When the Mar-Va Theater board now meets, there are four new faces around the table: new board members Sage Allen, Rob Clarke and Kennis Austin, along with new theater manager Katy Fleming.

Having been in banking since 1974, Allen is branch manager and business development officer for Shore Bank in Pocomoke City. Prior to coming to the area Allen had attended the International Fine Arts College of Fashion in Miami and Fairmont University in West Virginia, her native state.

Having attended her first meeting, Allen said that it was an honor to be named to the board. She called the group professional, "one of the best boards I have ever been on," and she looked forward to working with the members.

Clarke is perhaps best known in the Pocomoke City area as the Councilman from District Five. He was recently elected to his third term on the Council. At Salem Church, he serves as treasurer of the trustee board. He is a forester with Maryland's Department of Natural Resources and has a B.S. in forest resource management.

Clarke said that it is a good feeling to see all the traffic in downtown Pocomoke on Friday and Saturday nights. He hopes that the theater and the other museums will encourage more businesses to locate in the downtown. He mentioned the fact that the Holly Gove school had used the theater for a program, hoping that a connection will be made with other local groups.

Austin is a 17-year veteran with the Worcester County Board of Education, having served as a teacher, administrator and currently a student services specialist. He is a graduate of Radford University and Old Dominion University.

Austin said that he was excited about being a part of the board that operates "one of the great symbols of Pocomoke." He is impressed with the preservation of the theater.

Fleming comes to the Mar-Va from the Delmarva Discovery Center, where she served for 16 months as the visitor services coordinator. She is a graduate of Hollins University where she worked in marketing and public relations during her college tenure.

At the Mar-Va, Fleming said, her duties will include mainly marketing and promotions. She praised the board, citing the support that they have given her. "Everyone has a role," she said.

***The annual Mar-Va dinner meeting is planned for March 27 at 6 p.m. at the Pocomoke Fire Comany community center. A beef and dumpling dinner will be served by the Ladies Auxiliary, and tickets are $20.***

Another program is a presentation by Aaron Wilburn, a comedian and songwriter, on March 31. Wilburn has been featured on the Gaither Homecoming Tour. Tickets are $10 at the door or $7.50 in advance.

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***Since this article was written the date for the Mar-Va dinner has been changed.  Please see post below for new date.***jmmb