You have to hand it to the Aspen Wye Fellows, the Chesapeake Bay’s affiliate of the Aspen Institute, to time their lectures to the most current of current events. Year after year, the Fellows have brought to the Mid-Shore some of the country’s leading figures in the fields of policy, politics, law, and other world-renowned experts to join in what Aspen calls “global dialogue” of issues and ideas.

A few weeks ago, that tradition continued with the appearance of Lucy Dalglish, dean of UMM’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, at Easton’s Temple B’nai Israel to talk about the challenging role of journalism in the 21st century.

The Spy was invited to talk to Dean Dalglish just prior to her addressing the Fellows about the state of journalism, its role in protecting freedom of speech, and the need to find a new and updated business model for America’s threatened newspapers. She also talks about the challenge facing college campuses to ensure that the right of free speech is preserved, even for the most repugnant points of view.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Aspen Fellows please go here.

Nothing can be more disturbing to the descendents of deceased family members then to witness the degradation of the cemeteries of their final resting place. And yet in Talbot County, with a number of rural churches closed or without maintenance funds for these historic burial grounds, this has become such a major concern that a number of local volunteers have come together to address this sad oversight.

The Family & Friends of the Asbury & Green Chappel was formed to not conserve these sites but have tasked themselves to the painstaking research required to identify past family members graves and their location.

Last week, the Spy sat down with Childlene Brooks, one of the dozens of volunteers helping on this project, to talk about its mission and an upcoming workshop for the community on October 5 to learn on how to participate in these important perveration efforts.

This video is approximately one minute in length.

Cemetery Preservation & Restoration Workshop featuring Robert Mosko
Mosko Cemetery Monument Services, Saturday October 5th, 8:30 – 4:00 p.m. New St. John’s Church, 9123 Tilghman Island Road Wittman, MD Registration is FREE ~ Contact Lynn Freeburger at lsfrebgr@bellatlantic.net