“The Art of Loading Brush", a book written by Wendell Berry, argues that sustainable agriculture, rooted in love for the land and community, is not ... [Continue Story]
Spy Highlights
From and Fuller: Trump’s Big Iran Problem, Military Parades and No Kings
Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment. This week, From and ... [Continue Story]
- Publisher Note: Just Once for the Chestertown Spy in 2025
- From and Fuller: The Los Angeles Protests and the Rise of Gavin Newsom
- Maryland Caucus with Foxwell and Mitchell: Moore Budget Cuts and LA Protests Impact on MD Politics
- From and Fuller: The GOP Senate’s Big Beautiful Problem and Elon Musk Leaves the Building
- Maryland Caucus: Mid-Shore “Sanctuary” FUBAR and Wes Moore’s Trip to South Carolina
- From and Fuller: Trump’s Beautiful Bill in the Senate and Presidential Pardons
Public Affairs
Governor Moore Launches “Just Communities” on Juneteenth to Address Racial Wealth Gap
In a major policy announcement aimed at addressing longstanding racial inequities in Maryland, Governor Wes Moore unveiled a series of actions Tuesday ... [Continue Story]
- How Did the Mid-Shore Community Foundation Donate almost $4 Million for the new Regional Hospital?
- Town of Millington Proclaims June as Pride Month
- Community and Law Enforcement Hold Meeting About Crime Uptick
- Town Manager Outlines Progress and Delays for Town Security Cameras
- Oh Never Mind: Homeland Security Removes Talbot and QAC from Sanctuary List
- “Community Conversation” with Chestertown Police Chief to Address Crime June 5
The Arts
David A. Douglas Intersections at Katzen Arts Center at AU
It was so great to curate, interview and edit the catalog for the Alper Initiative for Washington Art (June 14 – August 10, 2025) the exhibition ... [Continue Story]
- “Colorful Visions” By Carol McClees Featured at The Artists’ Gallery July 4
- KCA Announces Summer Resident Artists
- Spy Review: Two Mid-Shore Classical Music Celebrations by Steve Parks
- Spy Concert Review: National Music Festival Opening Night by Steve Parks
- The Spy’s Laura Oliver Returns to the Avalon June 4th with More Stories
- Marc Castelli exhibition “The Brutal Elegance of Log Canoes” at MassoniArt June 3 – 30
Chesapeake Ecosystem
Federal Cuts Could Threaten Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge, a Kent County Treasure
The Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, one of Kent County’s most prized natural and recreational resources, is facing an uncertain future due to potential federal funding ... [Continue Story]
- FEMA Cancels $1 Billion for Flood Prevention Projects in Chesapeake Bay Region
- Bay Journal: USDA shuts down ‘climate smart’ program
- The Solar Land Rush—A farmer’s perspective with Judy Gifford
- New polling finds strong Eastern Shore support for offshore wind
- Bay Journal: Nonprofits, states scramble as Trump administration pauses funding for many Chesapeake restoration programs
- Invasive catfish, west coast oyster shells fueling Chesapeake renaissance
On the Hill at Washington College
$4.5 Million Gift to Washington College to Create Two Endowed Chairs, Support Athletics
Richard and Tara Wood, parents of a recent Washington College graduate, have made a substantial gift to the small liberal arts college on Maryland's ... [Continue Story]
- Washington College’s Lifelong Learning Academy Opens Call for New Courses
- Washington College Commencement Recap
- Manassas Native Wins $74k Sophie Kerr Prize from Washington College
- ABC News’ Jonathan Karl to Deliver Washington College Commencement Address
- Six Students Vie For Washington College’s $74k Sophie Kerr Prize
- Community invited to Washington College PoliTalks with Hon. Heather Mizeur
- Upper Shore STRT1UP Roadshow Open to the Public at Washington College
- Chesapeake Changemakers and Natural Maryland Exhibits Coming to Washington College’s MuSE
Health
Choptank Health Hosts New Patient Welcome Sessions in Chestertown June 10-12
Mid-Shore families and individuals in need of a primary care provider are invited to attend a New Patient Welcome Session at Choptank Community ... [Continue Story]
- Let’s Talk About It with Beth Anne Dorman: Mental Health, Parents and Adolescence
- Let’s Talk About It with Beth Anne Dorman: For All Seasons in All Seasons
- HomePorts: A talk with John Murphy and Karen Carr
- Keys to Treating Stress By Lisa J. Gotto
- Let’s Talk about It: Dare to Lead Training Shapes Mid-Shore Leaders with For All Seasons Beth Anne Dorman
- Mid-Shore Health: Getting to the Heart of Heart Disease with Dr. Ian Davis
Education
Wetlands 101: Sultana Education Foundation Presents an Evening of Interactive Science
The Sultana Education Foundation (SEF) will host its monthly Third Thursday Speaker Series on Thursday, June 19 from 6-7PM when John Mann and Jackie Doerr present Wetlands ... [Continue Story]
- KCHS Messages to Seniors
- ‘Life is a Highway’ for KCHS Class of 2025
- WC launches updated Diversity website pages By Heather Fabritz
- MD Senate Panel’s vote on Blueprint bill straddles House, Administration Versions
- Wood Foundation awards $100K grant to Radcliffe Creek School
- KCPS Substitute Job Fair Saturday, Feb. 1
Maryland News
Amid High Energy Bills, Moore Touts $19 Million in Ratepayer Relief From Exelon
The parent company of BGE, Pepco and Delmarva Power will distribute $19 million to help its low- and middle-income customers in Maryland pay their ... [Continue Story]
- Talbot County Repeals DEI Language to Ensure Airport Work Continues
- Embattled DJS Secretary Vincent Schiraldi Steps Down
- Potential 2028 Presidential Hopefuls Moore, Walz Steal Show at South Carolina Democratic Weekend
- Some Good News: Second Bond Rating Agency Reaffirms MD Credit Rating
- Andy Harris stands alone as “Present” for vote on Budget Reconciliation Bill
- Moore Signs Two Energy Bills as June Rate Hikes Loom
Brevities
Chesapeake Flashback: Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre
Today’s Flashback photo is an undated image of the Prince Theatre on High Street in Chestertown, now home to beloved community theatre, the Garfield Center for the Arts. The ... [Continue Story]
Food Friday
Food Friday: Practicing Self-Care
The past week has been alarmingly hot — there have been a few days where it felt like a 3-alarm furnace already, and summer has just begun today. We’ve had Florida-grade ... [Continue Story]
Looking at the Masters with Beverly Smith
Looking at the Masters: Miriam Schapiro
Miriam Schapiro was born in 1923 in Toronto, Canada, to Russian Jewish parents, but she was brought up in Brooklyn, New York. One of her grandfathers ... [Continue Story]
Design with Jenn Martella
Design with Jenn Martella: Dutch Colonial Gem
Since my Spy beat is now four counties, I have enjoyed getting acquainted with Cambridge’s streetscapes around Hambrooks Bay with their mix of ... [Continue Story]
- Design with Jenn Martella: Farmhouse Meets Modern
- Design with Jenn Martella: Landscaping at The Miracle House
- Design with Jenn Martella: The William Smith House, c. 1794
- Design with Jenn Martella: The Tilley House Redux
- House of the Week: Go Dutch Colonial!
- House of the Week: Captivating Craftsman Bungalow
Food and Garden
Wine of the Week: Dardinello Sicilia DOC Zibibbo 2023
Ciao Tutti! Last month at Piazza Italian Market, we tasted a dry white wine from one of my fave Sicilian wineries, Cantina Assuli, located in the ... [Continue Story]
Delmarva Review
- Delmarva Review: The “Best of” Anthology
- Delmarva Review: Leitmotif by Rita Plush
- Delmarva Review: Arrogance by Katherine J. Williams
- Delmarva Review: A System of Seeing by Colin Jeffrey Morris
- Delmarva Review: The End of the Story by Patty Somlo
- Delmarva Review: Something More Than Winter Weighs (Upon Me) by John Muro
Chesapeake Lens
Chesapeake Lens: “Gulp” By Sherri Baton
Take-out from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. ... [Continue Story]
- Chesapeake Lens: “Idle in Awe” By Paul Hanley, Jr
- Chesapeake Lens: “Lady of the Bay” By David Sites
- Chesapeake Lens: “Dippin’ for Crabs” by Tracey Johns
- Chesapeake Lens: “On the Prowl” by Richard Bodorff
- Chesapeake Lens: “Jack Meets the Morning” By James Dissette
- Chesapeake Lens: “Magothy Sunrise” By Louise Zeitlin
Commerce
Memorial Day Event to Feature Parade, Entertainment and a Remembrance of Vets Who Died in Combat
Long after the Tea Party tourists have left town, the Memorial Day parade and remembrance on May 26 – long a locals’ favorite – will honor veterans ... [Continue Story]
- Investing in You: A talk with Chesapeake Bank and Trust CEO Bob Altieri
- Kent Attainable Housing Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Homeowners, the Duncan Family
- Kent County and Main Street Chestertown Awarded Grants to Support America’s 250th Semiquincentennial Planning
- Kent County Local Management Board Seeks New Board Members
- Chamber Hosts Post-Legislative Session Discussion with 36th District Lawmakers
- 2025‐2026 Rock Hall Lions Marine Trades offers $1500 Scholarship
Community Notes
Remembering Theodore “Ted” Holt Chase
Theodore “Ted” Holt Chase, 93, civic leader and Washington College supporter, dies. Theodore “Ted” Holt Chase, a beloved member of the Chestertown ... [Continue Story]
- Town Manager Submits Resignation
- Town Manager’s Update on Town Cameras
- Shelter Alliance Appoints Kimrose Goodall As New Director
- No Kings Day Nationwide Protest: The Spy Would Like Your Thoughts
- In Pride Month, Transgender Marylanders Reflect on Strengths, Weaknesses, of State Protections
- Sumner Hall Now Part of the National Park Service’s Reconstruction Era National Historic Network
Arts Notes
Greg Burrows Trio Returns with Another “Sould Jazz” Concert at The Mainstay
On Saturday, July 12, The Mainstay – Kent County’s non-profit live music and events venue – welcomes back drummer, bandleader Greg Burrows and his ... [Continue Story]
- “Colorful Visions” By Carol McClees Featured at The Artists’ Gallery July 4
- Acoustic Folk-Rock Duo The Nields at The Mainstay
- KCA Announces Summer Resident Artists
- Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Honors National Arts Leader Deborah Rutter and Conductor Julien Benichou with Legacy Awards
- Bayside Quilters Installation at Talbot County Free Library
- Forest Music Returns to Adkins Arboretum
Education Notes
MSDE Celebrates Teachers of the Year
Kent County Middle School teacher Cheryl Fracassi was among the top educators recognized recently at a Maryland State Board of Education meeting for ... [Continue Story]
- KCMS celebrates eighth-grade promotion
- Commissioners Honor Dr. McComas
- 114th Gunston School Commencement Celebrates The Class of 2025
- Blueprint Gets a Road Map: Two Agencies That Oversee School Reform Agree to Clarify Roles
- CBMM’s Shipyard Set for Busy Summer of Programming
- CBMM to Celebrate Educators with Gratitude Day on June 20
Health Notes
Prioritizing Children’s Mental Health in the Summer
Summer is supposed to be a happy time for children, but sometimes it requires special attention to children’s mental health. Although prioritizing ... [Continue Story]
- Lifelong Learning: A Key Pillar of Active Aging
- New $2.4 Million Investment in Medical Training Program Promises to Put More Doctors on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Help Prevent High Rate of Premature Deaths in Region
- Choptank Health Welcomes Carmen Grant to Easton Health Center
- Choptank Health Promotes Bill Baxendale to Facilities Director
- For All Seasons Event Debuts Heart to Heart: Coloring Together
- Choptank Health Hosts New Patient Welcome Sessions in Chestertown June 10-12
Opinion
Not Normal: Where Are We Going? By Aubrey Sarvis
This has been a deeply troubling and dangerous week, complete with risky calls and delicate dances, some high wire acts in the streets of Los Angles ... [Continue Story]
- Character Rot: Sounding the Alarm by Johnny O’Brien
- Op-Ed: Anything Goes, but Pete Hegseth May Go First By Aubrey Sarvis
- OP-ED: Mayor and Council: Trust in you has evaporated By Robert Miller
- Kent County and a serious healthcare hit? By Tom Timberman
- Op-Ed: Making American Great Again?
- The Political is Personal: Reflections on DEI by Margaret Andersen
Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor: Getting the Bang for the Buck
President Trump proudly announced that because he is so wealthy he need not collect a salary. While $400,000 sounds like a lot, it pales in comparison ... [Continue Story]
- Letter to the Editor: Surprise! I Liked The Parade
- Letter to the Editor: Respecting Arlington National Cemetery
- Letter to the Editor: Praise for the Tea Party
- Letter to Editor: Beware of Homeowner Service Scams
- Letter to the Editor: Let Maryland Voters Decide on Local Control
- Letter to the Editor: When we have lost our democracy, how will we know?
Columnist J.E. Dean
A Third Party? Divided We Fall by J.E. Dean
Last week was a doozy that reminded us that the world is not in a good place. Half the country believes we are in a “golden age,” led by “THE most ... [Continue Story]
- What the President is Doing for Us by J. E. Dean
- Pardon Me, Mr. President, But Are You Corrupt? By J. E. Dean
- Our President and Bruce Springsteen by J.E. Dean
- Springtime’s Blessings by J.E. Dean
- The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in the Wind by J.E. Dean
- Trump is Making Us Question Again (Well, at Least Some of Us) by J.E. Dean
Columnist Craig Fuller
Conversations with Craig Fuller: Ambassador and Author Frank Lavin
My friend and former White House colleague Ambassador Frank Lavin has a book coming out in March about his experience in the White House and ... [Continue Story]
- Midair collision over the Potomac: Week two update by Craig Fuller
- A midair tragedy last night in Washington by Craig Fuller
- The Classic Motor Museum starts a new trip in St. Michaels: Craig Fuller talks to Mike Iandolo
- MPT, the Chesapeake Bay and Viewers Like You: A Chat with Station Manager Steven Schupak
- So Much Money, So Little Time by Craig Fuller
- One Amazing Story by One Amazing Individual by Craig Fuller
Columnist Laura Oliver
Call My Name By Laura J. Oliver
If it weren’t for the fact that we have had overlapping lifetimes, I’d think I’m a reincarnation of the celebrated astrophysicist and poet of the ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Al Sikes
GOAT vs. TOAD by Al Sikes
The moment was vivid. I have written about it before, so apologies if this is your second time through. The year, 1986. The President: Ronald Reagan. ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Angela Rieck
A Precious Right by Angela Rieck
Before I begin my day each morning, I spend a few minutes thinking about what I am grateful for (which is a very long list, I have been ... [Continue Story]
Senior Life
Senior Nation: Gardening a Great Boost for Body and Soul by Susan Covey
The calming benefits of being in the natural world are endless and include fresh air, improved mood and concentration, mental clarity, lower ... [Continue Story]
- Senior Nation: April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month by Susan Covey
- It’s American Heart Month by Susan Covey
- Enjoy the health benefits of Thanksgiving Day by Susan Covey
- Upper Shore Aging Hosts the Re-Dedication of the Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center
- Herb Cain Appointed Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging
- Water, Water Everywhere…For Drinking, Playing And Exercising!
