The Spy

Ask Irma: The Role of Adult Children with Aging Parents

October 14, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Senior Nation is committed to offering resources to help us deal with the challenges and opportunities of aging. To that end, we are launching a new monthly video blog called “Ask Irma” hosted by Irma Toce, C.E.O. of the Londonderry on the Tred Avon in Easton, where we will be exploring on all topics related to aging.

After a professional career working with adult children and the care and of their aging parents, as well as going through that experience herself with her own in the Netherlands, Irma Toce seems particularly well qualified to talk about this unique change of roles and responsibilities for the “kids” in the family.

With many parents living well into their 90s, their adult children increasingly play a critical part in caregiving or providing much-needed relief to aging couples from the sometimes overwhelming challenges facing those in their later years.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

Academy Art Museum’s Craft Show’s People’s Choice Award Goes to Hegland Glass

October 13, 2019 by The Spy 1 Comment

This year, all Academy Art Museum Craft Show patrons were invited to take a ballot and vote for the “Best in Show” during their visit with the 70 artists spread throughout the Museum and the Waterfowl Building.

Patti and Dave Hegland

Academy Art Museum director Ben Simons explained, “During the three full days of this year’s Craft Show, we share with our community the 70 ‘winners’ who are the artist/makers selected in our juried craft show process; and so, we wanted the Best of Show to be selected by those who came to the Craft Show from the Preview Event on Thursday through Saturday evening.”

On the final day of this year’s Craft Show, Ben Simons announced on Sunday morning that the 2019 Winner of the People’s Choice Award is Hegland Glass of Chestertown, Maryland.

Patti and Dave Hegland learned early in their careers in engineering and finance how important an acute attention to detail is which they apply to all phases of their craft from the complexity of the designs to the precision applied to the finishing processes used to polish and shape each piece.

They are a husband and wife team known for innovative designs, complex construction, and precise finishing of their art glass. Acute attention to detail during each phase of the process is critical to a finished piece of work. Intricate designs incorporate hundreds of multi-layered hand-pulled murrine individually placed within thin strips of clear, transparent or opaque glass placed on edge. Once formed, each piece is extensively coldworked — shaped, ground, sandblasted and polished to enhance the visual impact and feel of the finished vessels and sculpture.

Their studio is located in historic Chestertown, Maryland on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, email: hegland@heglandglass.com or call: 410-778-1713

TAP Moments: Director Ed Langrell on a “Prisoner of Second Avenue”

October 12, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

While there is no official clause in the Tred Avon Players bylaws that every Neil Simon play they produce will have Ed Langrell as its director, that is the way is has worked out for several years. From The Odd Couple to Barefoot in the Park, Ed has been the goto fellow for Simon’s most hilarious stage productions, and this continues starting October 24th when “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” opens at the Oxford Community Center for a limited run.

Ed came by the Spy studio last week to give a short take of Simon, the themes of Second Avenue, and his admiration for the legendary playwright, as he and his cast make final preparations for opening night.

Tred Avon Players are presenting the Broadway comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon on October 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 and November 1, 2 and 3 at the Oxford Community Center. Ed Langrell is the director and John Perkinson is the assistant director.

Edna and Mel are a struggling, middle-aged couple living in New York City. Mel has just lost his job, the walls of their apartment are much too thin, and the city is in the middle of a heat wave. Their troubles escalate when Mel suffers a nervous breakdown. Mel becomes slightly paranoid, the apartment is robbed, and their neighbors, well, they don’t help matters much. Throughout it all, Edna does her best to support her husband, even getting a job of her own after Mel is fired. Mel’s siblings are called in as backup. Quickly, in a crowded apartment in the most crowded city in the world, all hell breaks loose.

Leigh Marquess and Steve Ford portray Edna and Mel, and the siblings are portrayed by Barbara Mann as Pearl, Maire McArdle as Jessie, Susan Patterson as Pauline, and John Norton as Harry.

Performances dates are October 24, 25, 26, 27, 31; November 1, 2, and 3. Performance times are Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30 pm with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Tickets are $22 for adults, and $11 for students (fees included). October 24 is Half Price Preview Thursday. For tickets go to TredAvonPlayers.com or call 410-226-0061. The Oxford Community Center is located at 200 Oxford Rd. Oxford, MD 21654. Tred Avon Players is sponsored in part by revenues from the Talbot County Arts Council, which is funded by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

Eastern Shore Travelers Face Two Roads: One to BWI, Another to SBY

October 7, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Perhaps it takes something like a two year Bay Bridge repair project to force people, mostly for the first time, to consider the Eastern Shore’s only commercial airport in Salisbury, Maryland. That was the motivation for the Spy to start thinking about SBY when given an unexpected opportunity last week to ponder such things while waiting in a traffic jam to cross the bridge last week.

As a result, the Spy started an official inquiry into the matter, and our findings were surprising.

In our analysis of time and cost on what airport to use for a trip from the Shore to Los Angeles, the differences is results were striking. In the comparison between a BWI-LAX nonstop flight on Southwest versus an SBY-LAX American with a connection, there was only a 40-minute difference in final time spent to arrive in Los Angeles. And there was only a $31.35 price gap without factoring in possible check-in luggage fees on American.

And what does the traveler get in exchange for that forty minutes and thirty bucks? The peace of mind of experiencing an almost forgotten time in air travel. Starting with a simple and uncongested hour trip from downtown Easton to the terminal parking ($9 a day) and the surreal moment of getting out of one’s parked car and walk less than 50 feet to the airline counter in under two minutes. The security hurdle is more reminiscent of checking out a book at a public library. And then on to a regional jet for either Charlotte or Philadelphia.

That is only one of many reasons the Shore should take an interest in SYB. Long overlooked, despite its legendary history with Hansen Aviation (Piedmont Airlines), the Salisbury-Ocean City regional airport now has a new sense of itself with a new airport manager and an initial $5 million investment in the airport’s future. If things go according to plan, your next trip to London could start on the Lower Shore.

The Spy sat down recently with Dawn Veatch, SBY airport manager, to understand more clearly Salisbury’s desire to be more competitive with Western Shore airports, but also the extraordinary economic development power of a regional airport operating at peak efficiency.

This video is approximately minutes in length. For more information about SBY please go here.

Comparison (October 31 to November 5, 2019

Easton to LAX
	Dep	Time to Parking	Bridge Delay	Park Shuttle	Ticket/Gate	Total to Gate	Flight time	Total Time	TOTAL	Arrival
Southwest – BWI	3:50 PM	100	20	25	40	185	540	725	910	6:30 PM
American – SBY	11:43 AM	60	0	5	5	70	810	880	950	4:49 PM
									-40

Commerce: Bountiful’s Jamie Merida on Keeping Retail Growing on the Shore

October 3, 2019 by The Spy 1 Comment

While there continues to be good news on the main streets of Mid-Shore towns as a new generation of entrepreneurs open up new retail stores, there remains a significant problem in finding tenants to fill the increasing number of large commercial spaces in the over 10,000 square feet range.

In Easton alone, these large empty stores, from the old Safeway on Harrison, the former Earth Origins on Marlboro, and the News Center in Talbottown, remain a major reminder to the community that it has a long way to go before town leaders can say things have returned to “normal” in their retail sector.

That is one reason to look with hope at Bountiful’s recent move to its new location at Goldsbrough and Route 50.

With almost 20,000 square feet to fill, Bouniful’s owner Jamie Merida has taken a calculated risk that his customer base will actually grow in this new location, which has quickly become a new gateway into Easton thanks to the stunning new Community School building addition.

Believing that retail shopping must be an experience in itself, Jamie not only refurbished the Ceder Glass Company building into a brilliant open space showroom. He also convinced his friends at Turnbridge Point Bakery to join him in the new location so customers could enjoy fresh pastries and coffee as they walk through a delightful maze of home furnishings.

The Spy sat down with Jamie last week to hear first hand how he decided to purchase the property, his views on the retail industry, and a word of warning to landlords that they must reduce their rents to ensure success for new tenants to fill these big holes.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about Bountiful please go here.

Understanding the Plant: Cannabis Use in Treating Addiction

September 30, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

It is hard to believe that the legal use of medical cannabis will have been the law in Maryland for two years come this December. Compared to its progressive counterparts in the country, Annapolis lawmakers took a considerably longer time embracing the plant’s medicinal benefits despite substantial evidence documenting its extraordinary capacity to heal and comfort those in need.

There are a number of reasons for this tardiness, but the first is a long and painful history with drug problems in Maryland. It didn’t matter what kind of illegal substance it was, and communities only saw their devastating effects as the source of addiction, crime, and a host of other issues that destabilizing neighborhoods and destroyed families.

The other was that any kind of approved use would send a very mixed message to young people. Just when law enforcement leaders were warning their communities about cannabis being a “gateway” drug that led teenagers to far more dangerous and possibly fatal opioid abuse, it was hard to balance that danger with some possible benefits.

In the end, Maryland has joined 32 other states in the legal use of medical marijuana, but there remains a cloud over its use and application. Even with two dispensaries serving the Mid-Shore, a certain stigma still exists on its use and its users.

The Spy, in partnership with Hippocratic Growth, LLC, the owner of Ash+Ember of Centreville, believes it is important to help our readers understand more fully the use of the plant and how it may improve the lives of loved ones suffering from a variety of ailments.

We begin as the region ends its anti-opioid “Goes Purple” month of September with the counterintuitive use of cannabis to help addicts stop using these powerfully addicted and fatal drugs.

Ashley Herr, the co-founder of Ash+Ember, talks about this very misunderstood use for cannabis and the remarkable impact it is having on those struggling to end their addiction.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Amber+Ash services, please go here. Disclosure: Chestertown Spy publisher and editor Steve Meehan is a principal in Hippocratic Growth, LLC.

The Future of Solar in Maryland with Nature Conservancy’s Josh Kurtz

September 14, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

The Nature Conservancy’s Maryland chapter has just finished new report on the future of solar deployment in the state. And that was the reason we asked TNC”s Josh Kurtz, who helped direct the study, to share with the Spy some of these important findings.

The Conservancy had convened a series of listening sessions with stakeholders and community members across the state to figure what the prevailing attitudes are around the future of solar in Maryland and what the hurdles are to accelerating deployment enough to meet the new 50% renewable energy by 2030 goal.

You can also read the big takeaways from the report and download it here.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about the Nature Conservancy’s work in Maryland, please go here

Ask Irma: Harmonicas for Health and Welfare

September 10, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Only a few years ago, the long-neglected ukulele had a burst of new enthusiasts starting to play this overlooked runt of the guitar family as their instrument of choice. And to our knowledge, this trend continues to this day.

But if Irma Toce has her way, the uku would make way for another neglected source of music, the American harmonica.

The Spy discovered this unique passion of Irma’s as we were setting up our camera for our “Ask Irma” question of the month. And as Irma started to talk about the physical and social benefits of harmonica playing for seniors, we make the quick decision to make this our September installment.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

To read about the health benefits for those impacted by various lung diseases please go here.

Spy Diner: Cambridge Foodie World Lives On

September 5, 2019 by The Spy Leave a Comment

When word got around that three of Cambridge’s most popular restaurants closed in less than three months this past winter, townspeople people began to worry. Would Cambridge’s energetic food scene suffer?

A recent walk around downtown Cambridge has dispelled this concern. In fact, we’re glad to report that a new wave of cool places has energized the area. Katie Clendaniel, Executive Director of Cambridge Main Street, agrees. “We are marketable as a destination, and even though business come and go, the reputation stands, and we continue to build on that. We have already built a reputation as a food destination thanks to various places – Bistro Poplar, Ocean Odyssey, and even more casual establishments like Carmela’s Cucina and our dockside establishments. Also, events like Taste of Cambridge have helped launch and sustain the connection with Chesapeake Bay foodway focused on Blue Crab and now giving exposure to Snakehead Fish.”

So, if you haven’t gone to Cambridge lately, here are some places that have opened recently that you need to check out.

Ava’s and Theos

Who is not familiar with the award-winning Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar or the all-American classics served by Theo’s Steakhouse? Both have been a staple in St. Michaels– Ava’s since 2008 with Theo’s opening three years later. To the delight of many fans, Ava’s in Cambridge has just celebrated their first anniversary, and Theo’s opened just last month. Says owner of both restaurants, Chris Agharabi about the decision to open in Cambridge: “First, the three restaurants that closed, had nothing to do with the town itself. What it comes down to for us is that at the end of the day there are a lot of good people who live and work there and they needed some options. Cambridge has a historic and cool downtown. Business is good and not as seasonal as in St. Michaels. We have a lot of locals who are regulars.” One regular is Elyse Camozzo from Easton, who is impressed with the friendly and pleasant atmosphere and prefers the Cambridge location. “Food is consistently good, and they have a nice wine selection. The wait staff is knowledgeable. Good service.”

Some of the crowd’s favorites at Ava’s includes their Detroit deep dish pizza, meatballs, and fresh mozzarella. As much as possible, they use fresh, locally sourced produce and make their food from scratch. This includes all the pizza dough and mozzarella. The menu is basically the same as St. Michaels, but the Cambridge location is larger and has a big event room capable of accommodating a group of 30.

With Theo’s recent opening, the menu is not as extensive, and there are a few differences from the one in St. Michaels. They are also still working on the wine list. But, according to Agharabi, he’s been pretty happy with the response from customers. “We put some money into the restaurant and have brand new equipment.” Despite their sleek and upscale environment, shorts and boat shoes are welcome.

We spoke with Anna Tiernan from Doylestown, PA, who ate at Theo’s the weekend they opened. “I had a yummy salad and the best crab cake sandwich! We had great service. This was a relaxing and really enjoyable meal.”

Ava’s: 543 Poplar St, Cambridge
Open seven days for lunch and dinner at 11:30 am

Theo’s: 305 High St, Cambridge
Dinner: Wednesday-Sunday at 4:30 pm
Happy hour daily starting at 4:30 pm

Bombay Tadka

There is a reason this eatery is being included even though they are not located in the downtown area. That’s because most people we spoke to, mentioned this Indian restaurant as being one of their new favorites in Cambridge. Bombay Tadka (Tadka meaning a type of cooking technique), has been open since April 2018 and has seen a steadily growing repeat business.

Owner Rohit Shinde thinks he knows why. His customers, he says, are eager to try foods from different cultures. He describes Indian cooking as covering all six tastes that create the flavorful and complex food found on his menu: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. Additionally, Indian cooking contains a wide range of vegetarian options such as Saag Paneer or Gobi Manchurian, as well as meat-eater favorites Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Chettinad.

As the ambassador of this cuisine, Shinde has been offering a weekly Sunday buffet. Last month he held an Indian Street Food Festival, bringing a varied selection to a sold-out, standing room only crowd. To assure that more people have the opportunity to experience some of their specialties, he’s extended this month’s Ganesh Festival over a three-day period. Shinde recommends keeping up with their specials on social media, particularly Facebook.

For those who think Indian food is spicy, Shinde wants to assure them that all food is cooked to order and they will accommodate any level of spiciness. Ben Lee, who works in Cambridge, agrees. “Every dish I’ve had there has been excellent. The owner is really good at recommending you a dish you’ll enjoy based off of your previous visits or tastes. Also, the paratha is to die for. It’s one of my favorite flatbreads I’ve ever had.”

Late-breaking news: Bombay Tadka is looking to open a carry-out location in Easton. Stay tuned.

Bombay Tadka: 1721 Race St.
Lunch: 11 am to 2:30 pm
Dinner: 5 pm-10 pm
Closed on Mondays

Maiden Maryland Sweets & Treats

In March, when Tammy and Tracy Lynndee opened their gift shop featuring goods made by local artists and artisans, ice cream was never part of the plan. They had an extra room at their shop and thought about selling craft sodas, and Maryland made snacks. But then a friend gave them this advice, ‘if you’re going to sell anything, you need to serve ice cream. That’s the real missing link in Cambridge.’ He was right, and their business exploded. In only the two months since they rented additional space and opened Sweets and Treats, they have sold over 1600 gallons of ice cream.

The shop sells Hershey’s ice cream, chosen after much research. “It’s a known and great product, says Tammy Lynndee, “and it allows us to keep our price point low so that we’re community-friendly. Tracy and I have been single moms, we’ve felt the pinch of having to provide for our kids. So, we didn’t want any family to feel like they have to mortgage the house to bring the kids out for ice cream.”

To serve their dairy-free customers, the pair has gone to Cream Cruisers out of Baltimore. “Through them, we get sorbet push-pops that are so good,” says Lynndee, “We have them in watermelon and strawberry-lemonade flavor. Plus, we also sell Hershey’s lemon sorbet.”

Whatever you’re craving, chances are one or more of their many flavors can satisfy. As proof, the shop is always packed with smiling customers. Lyndee thinks it’s because Cambridge has a lot to offer visitors. “Cambridge has become a destination; not just locals are coming to our town. We see people from DC, Philly, and Virginia. We have people spending a week here on their vacation from California, Colorado, and Wyoming. If you’re coming to Cambridge, you’re getting something different; you’re not getting something that you can find in any city.”

Maiden Maryland Sweets and Treats: 315 Gay Street (corner of Poplar)
Monday-Thursday noon-8 pm.
Friday & Saturday noon-9 pm.
Sunday noon-5pm.

Blue Ruin

There is a certain nostalgic atmosphere about Blue Ruin. It’s part New Orleans, part Cheers, part cocktail lounge, and part neighborhood bar. Which is precisely what owner Doug Kyle and “Head Mixologist” Paul Dendorfer hopes you take away from your visit. After all, the name Blue Ruin, refers to the nickname given to homemade (bathtub) gin during the 1920’s Prohibition. To further add to this nostalgia, Blue Ruin is currently working with a distillery to make their own blue-tinted gin.

The cocktail bar, located on the corner of Race and Gay, opened at the end of July. “There is something for everyone, we’re not just a cocktail bar,” says Dendorfer. “You could get cocktails. You could get a glass of wine, a draft beer, or a 2.50 can of beer.”

And that’s only part of what makes them so different from others in the area. Blue Ruin serves classic cocktails; mixtures that most bartenders will need to consult in their how-to guide: Rickeys, Manhattans, Old-Fashioned, and Side Cars. They also pay homage to their town with Cambridge inspired cocktails with names such as Underground Railroad and Long Wharf Punch. “And then there is stuff that I play around with,” says Dendorfer. June Cuddy, Western Shore resident and first-time visitor to the bar was enjoying one of his specials, the Cocoa’s Essence cocktail. “This drink is beyond delicious,” she said and mentioned how much she liked the overall vibe of the bar. “I’ll be back.”

Another difference worth mentioning is freshness, not typically a word associated with a bar. “We make our own fresh-squeezed grapefruit, orange, and, lime juices,” says Dendorfer. “We use all fresh local herbs. We make all our own syrups, limoncello for cocktails, and vanilla bourbon. I make my own tonic for gin and tonic. We don’t have any flavored spirits; you’re getting natural flavors going into your cocktails.”

Blue Ruin is being mentioned in this compilation of new eateries in the area because it’s about to start serving food. Not tapas says Dendeorfer, but shareable plates. “You won’t be getting an appetizer, salad, and entrée. You’ll be able to make a meal out of it, but it will be different.” Also, look for their current menu of 33 cocktails to double in size by next month. Something tells us this is just the beginning.

Blue Ruin: 400 Race Street
(Starting September 9th)
Sunday-Thursday 4 pm to midnight
Friday and Saturday 4 pm to 2 am

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