One way the Spy thought it could best honor the late (and very great) George Merrill, our Sunday morning columnist for the past eight years, was to check in with Wilson Wyatt a few weeks ago to discuss a suitable successor. Wilson is the publisher and driving force behind one the region’s great literary gems, the Delmarva Review, and it was his kind recommendation that led us to George in 2014. 

Laura Oliver

Back then, I was looking for a unique voice to anchor our Sunday edition. Eager to depart from our weekday pieces on politics and local matters, George’s spiritual, almost transcendental, subject matter was a perfect way for the Sunday edition of the Spy to challenge its readers with the unexpected musings from a creative writer rather than an opinion maker.

The Spy’s goal after George’ passing, which was shared by Wilson, was not to find someone who could replicate his themes or voice but to use this slower Sunday morning space to explore and celebrate writing itself. And on the top of his list was the author and writing teacher, Laura Oliver.

With that as background, the Spy is delighted to announce that Laura Oliver will be our Sunday columnist starting today.

Laura is an award-winning book editor and writing coach who has taught writing at the University of Maryland and St. John’s College. She is the author of The Story Within (Penguin Random House), named by “Poets and Writers Magazine” as one of the best writing books ever published. Oliver’s own fiction and essays are published in national newspapers, magazines, and top-tier literary reviews such as The Washington Post, Country Living Magazine, The Writer Magazine, The Sun Magazine, Baltimore Review and Glimmer Train.

A graduate of Washington College and with an MFA from Bennington College’s highly regarded writing program, Laura has called Annapolis her home for most of her adult life. I hope that the Spy’s readers will join me in welcoming her to her new virtual home every Sunday and enjoy her deeply engaging essays for many years to come.

Dave Wheelan
Publisher and Executive Editor 

It’s a shame that plans to introduce the Harriet Tubman $20 bill have been postponed until 2030 rather than in her bicentennial year, but that hasn’t stopped the United States and, in particular, the Mid-Shore, from making 2022 a memorable year in honoring this remarkable American hero.

One of those leading that effort has been Dana Paterra, the park manager for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. Hired eight years ago to help plan for this multi-million dollar Maryland State Park, Paterra has been capturing and documenting (and some might say even channeling) Harriet waiting excitedly to this important milestone. Seeking to maximize the national spotlight, Dana has been working with local, state, and federal agencies as well as leaders from the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center in downtown Cambridge to make the most of the next nine months.

This educational campaign kicks off at the Tubman State Park on March 11 for a weekend of special programming. Starting with the virtual premiere of Rooted Wisdom, a locally produced documentary made in partnership with Adkins Adbordeum, on how the knowledge of nature helped those seeking freedom in the 19th century, the celebration continues on Saturday for lectures, music, and the appearance of Harriet herself in the form a gifted reenactor.

This week, we sat down with Dina at the WHCP/Spy studio in Cambridge to get the lowdown.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information on this event and others please go here.