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May 29, 2022

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Local Life Brevities

June 2022 Sky-Watch

May 26, 2022 by Dennis Herrman Leave a Comment

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All seven of the major planets will gather in the pre-dawn eastern sky this month. This is a relatively rare event, although I recall a similar line-up about 20 years ago, but in the early evening western sky.

On the morning of June 24th looking east about 1 hour before sunrise, the 5 “naked eye” planets will span the eastern sky in order of distance from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be seen, looking from left to right along a gently rising line of some 100 degrees along the ecliptic. The waning crescent Moon will also be nearby. All will be visible with the unaided eye.

Uranus and Neptune are also in the mix though binoculars will be needed to spot them. Uranus will be just east(left) of the Moon, and Neptune will be just west (right) of Jupiter. Mercury (magnitude +0.5) will be lowest to the horizon, and Venus (magn. –3.9) will be above and right. The Moon will be next in line mid-way from Venus toward the next planet, Mars (magn. +0.5). Jupiter (magn. –2.4) is next, followed by Saturn (magn. +0.4). These magnitudes (brightness) will help sky-watchers pin-point each planet. Also on the mornings before and after June 24th, the Moon will be closer to Mars or Venus respectively.

With no planets visible in the evening it is worth while to look at the Moon. A two day old crescent Moon will be just below the 2 brightest stars in Gemini; Castor and Pollux, just after sunset on June 1st. On June 5th the Moon will be near Regulus; Leo’s brightest star. The gibbous Moon is close to Spica (in Virgo) on June 9th, and the Full Moon is June 14th.

Saturn will be best viewed an hour before sunrise when it is at its highest in the sky. Jupiter, also well up then, offers the most visible surface details for those with telescopes. Mars’s surface features remain challenging even in telescopes this month even as it brightens. Venus is brightest of all, and on June 26th the Pleiades star cluster may be seen just above Venus and Mercury.

Overall June will be an excellent month for sky-watchers to enjoy!

Filed Under: Brevities Tagged With: local news, Sky-Watch

Pretty Cool Department: Maryland Drivers Licence Can Now Be Stored on Apple Iphone

May 25, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) today announced the launch of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, providing Marylanders with an easy, fast, and secure, digital version of their MDOT MVA-issued driver’s license or state ID card. Starting today, Maryland residents can choose to add their driver’s license or state identification (ID) card to Apple Wallet, and seamlessly and securely present it using iPhone or Apple Watch at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security checkpoints, within Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).*

“Maryland is proud to be a leader once again in safe innovation with the implementation of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “As we look to the future, we are committed to enhancing convenience and accessibility while maintaining the highest safety and security standards for our state and citizens.”

Maryland is the second state to implement IDs in Apple Wallet, and Maryland Mobile ID is currently the only form of mobile phone-based identification issued by MDOT MVA. It is only available to individuals with a current, valid Maryland-issued driver’s license or ID and serves as a companion to the physical, plastic driver’s license or ID – it is not a replacement and Marylanders must continue to carry their physical driver’s license or ID with them.

“Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet offers additional security and privacy benefits than the physical state ID or driver’s license because Marylanders get to review the personal information they share with others, and use biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID to authorize it,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “Over time, we expect the locations accepting mobile ID to grow, but we are excited to partner with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to allow Maryland residents to present their Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet at participating airports.”

Following a digital driver’s license pilot conducted by the MDOT MVA in 2017, the launch of Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is the next step in delivering on Governor Hogan’s customer service initiative and on MDOT MVA’s goal to provide the safest and most secure products for its customers.

How to add Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet

To enroll and use Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, Maryland residents must have a valid and easily readable Maryland driver’s license or ID card, as well as an iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, with the latest version of iOS or watchOS. You must also live in Maryland and have your device set to United States.

Adding Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet can be done in just a few simple steps. Maryland residents can tap the + button at the top of the screen in Apple Wallet on their iPhone, select “Driver’s license or State ID,” and follow the on-screen instructions to start the set-up and verification process.

How to Use Maryland Mobile ID at an Airport

At this time, Maryland Mobile ID is accepted only at select TSA terminals at participating airports around the country.

To use Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet at a TSA checkpoint, residents can simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch near the identity reader. Residents’ devices will then display what information is being requested by the TSA, and only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested information released from a device. Since the information is shared digitally, residents do not need to hand over their iPhone or Apple Watch to present their Maryland Mobile ID.

Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is Private and Secure

Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet is private and secure. Identity data is encrypted and helps protect against tampering and theft. When using Maryland Mobile ID in Apple Wallet, neither Apple nor MDOT MVA have access to when or where a Maryland Mobile ID is presented.

In the instance that an iPhone or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, residents can use the “Find My” app to easily lock their device and help locate it, or remotely erase their device. Additionally, biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID ensures the only person who added the ID to the device can view or present their ID or license in Apple Wallet.

Maryland Mobile ID and Maryland myMVA Account

Marylanders who would like to add Maryland Mobile ID to Apple Wallet are encouraged to sign up for a myMVA account. If additional verification is needed, customers can complete the process through their myMVA account. Customers can also remove their Maryland Mobile ID at any time through their account, as well as opt out of the service completely.

myMVA is unique to each customer and provides several other services, including driver’s license information and vehicle registration status. Customers can order replacement driver’s licenses or ID cards through myMVA should theirs be unreadable for Maryland Mobile ID.

To learn more visit https://mva.maryland.gov/Pages/MDMobileID_Apple.

*Travelers should refer to checkpoint signage to confirm availability.

Filed Under: Brevities

Chestertown Ukulele Club

May 17, 2022 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

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It’s been a chilly Spring, often dipping to 50 degrees as the sun begins to set, but the Chestertown Ukulele Club cheerfully meets every week to jam outside Jamie Hurley’s Washington Avenue home. For the past two years, ever since Covid disrupted their customary indoor sessions, members of this musical group have gamely gathered outdoors, even during the winter months, to play their instruments and sing along.

“The Chestertown Ukulele Club Has Been Playing Year ‘Round in Spite of Covid”. Left to right: Gale and Barbara Quist, Cheryl Hoopes, John Guthrie, Doug Gates, Jamie Hurley, Mare Schumann, Leslie Raimond, Linda Davis, Lolli Sherry.

“Call it crazy, but as long as the temperature is going to be around 50 and it isn’t raining I send out an email and people just show up”, says Jamie. “I guess it’s a good example of ‘if you build it they will come’”. It helps of course that she provides a roaring fire pit, a couple of propane heaters and warm-from-the-oven cookies to ward off the chill.

Created 10 years ago by ukulele enthusiast Jamie and led by her brother Ford Schumann on his guitar, the group now has 55 members. For years they got together and played in what’s affectionately known as “Jamie’s Parlor”, spending a couple of hours warmed by good music, friendship and hot soup. But Covid changed all that and now the music takes place outdoors, often accompanied by enthusiastic song birds as well as a gutsy backup rhythm provided by Doug Gates on his authentic washtub bass.

Leaders Jamie Hurley and Ford Schumann warm up the group on a chilly evening.

Ukulele clubs have sprung up all over America in recent years, perhaps because this popular instrument is so reasonably priced yet capable of supporting extraordinary musicianship. A scroll through YouTube will find a ukulele cover of almost any song you can think of.

The Chestertown club’s songbooks reflect the members’ wide musical interests. Any given week will find them playing selections ranging from Fats Waller to the Beatles, Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan, Irving Berlin to the Grateful Dead. Traditional Hawaiian songs are also in their repertoire and the club is often invited to play at local luau parties. They traditionally kicked off the monthly Open Mic sessions at the Garfield Center and played at other local events.

Are you interested in trying it out? Newbies are enthusiastically welcomed and even offered a loaner “uke” if needed. For more information contact Jamie at MarySHurley@mac.com.

Filed Under: Brevities Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, local news

Tea Party Festival Returns with Pyro Musical Fireworks

May 4, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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Country Current

The Chestertown Tea Party Festival returns after a two year hiatus.  Highlights include Pyro Musical Fireworks Saturday night, the popular US Navy band the Country Current, and the Tea Party re-enactment at 2 pm.

Gillespie & Son and Cross Street Realtors are the lead sponsors for the fireworks.

The festival kicks off Friday, May 27 with a Street Party at the foot of High Street from 5 to 9 pm. The party, hosted by Main Street Chestertown and featuring the popular Best Kept Soul (BKS) band will keep you dancing all evening to your favorite soul, rock, and R&B tunes.  There will be a variety of food trucks. Beer and wine will also be for sale

Saturday’s festivities begin with the Chestertown Tea party Festival Parade, commencing at 10 AM, complete with fife and drum groups, community bands and the award winning Largo High School “Blue and White Marching Machine.”

Members of the 1st Battalion Maryland Loyalists, 1st Maryland Regiment, 1st Battalion New Jersey Volunteers, 4th Company Brigade of Guards and Clotz’s Battalion will set up camp on the shores of the Chester River and perform maneuvers at the Courthouse prior to the re-enactment.

The  Heritage Village, located on the Courthouse lawn features colonial chocolate making, beer brewing, grocers, sutlery, woodworking and blacksmithing.  Highlights include a presentation by members of the Lenape Nation and a portrayal of Benjamin Banneker, innovative Black astronomer, mathematician, and naturalist. Walking tours of historic Chestertown are available between 11 and 3 pm.

Musical performances include strolling colonial musicians, rousing sea chanties, English country dancers, cloggers, country, bluegrass, soul, R&B and even a children’s’ jug band. The Country Current, US Navy’s premier modern country and cutting edge bluegrass are the featured act on the festival Main Stage, scheduled for 12:30 pm.  And do not miss Yvette Hynson and the Sumner Hall Children’s Choir singing Aretha Franklin’s iconic R-E-S-P-E-C-T at 11:45.

The Garfield Center for the Arts features a presentation honoring  Phyllis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, virtuoso musician Stephen Christoff playing colonial music on a variety of instruments. Also returning is Katherine Fahey and her Crankie show, old fashioned story telling art form using a long illustrated scroll wound on two spools – a moving panorama accompanied by live music.

Saturday evening the sky will be lit up with Pyro Musical fireworks – fireworks set to music!  The fireworks will be set off at dusk from Wilmer Park and visible all around Chestertown.

The fun continues Sunday afternoon in Wilmer Park, with the Tea Party Beer Fest, complete with live music, craft beers from 8 different local breweries, artisan vendors and the infamous Raft Race. Children’s activities include facepainting, a puppet show, instrument making followed by playing in a jug band.

For more information and a full schedule of events please visit https://www.chestertownteaparty.org/.

Filed Under: Brevities Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, local news, Tea Party

May 2022 Sky-Watch

April 26, 2022 by Dennis Herrman Leave a Comment

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A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON is the highlight for Sky-Watchers in May this year, occurring on the evening of May 15th and the early morning hours of May 16th across the USA! Meanwhile there will be plenty of planet activity in the eastern early morning skies before sunrise for us to enjoy. East coast observers will see the entire eclipse in a dark sky, while in the Mid-West, the Full Moon will rise already partially inside the Earth’s shadow.

The Moon enters the deep umbra part of Earth’s shadow at 10:27 pm EDT. The first sign of the eclipse will be a grayish creep across the Moon giving way to a reddish-orange coloring. Totality (Moon completely inside Earth’s shadow)will last from 11:29 pm to 12:53 am EDT (85 minutes long). Mid-totality is at 12:11 am EDT (May 16th). Partial phases last until 1:55 am EDT. (Remember Central time zones times are an hour earlier.)

Make plans to check out this eclipse several times during the 3 hour 25 minute total length of it to enjoy the fullness of it! We will have plenty of time to do so —– so long as skies are clear!

A decent Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on the morning of May 4th, looking east around 4 am. The radiant (from where meteors appear to come) remains low, so fewer meteors may be seen this year because of approaching dawn, but take a look anyway. Ten to twenty meteors, very fast moving, may be expected to be seen per hour.

Saturn rises around 3 am in early May and by 1 am at the end of the month. It is in good position to be seen easily in the southeast sky an hour before dawn. The Moon will be just below the ringed planet on May 22nd.

Mars is up by 4 am on May 1st and by 3 am on May 31st. Mars, which is brightening, will be very close to much brighter Jupiter on the morning of May 25, with the Moon passing just below the pair of planets. On May 29th Mars will be just below Jupiter around 5 am in the eastern sky. Jupiter will also appear close to Venus in early May. Venus, often called “the morning star,” is the brighter of the two planets, and is the brightest object in the sky after the Moon and Sun all month. (Jupiter is next brightest).

Filed Under: Brevities Tagged With: local news, Sky-Watch

Spy Report: Julian Brezon Comes Home to the Avalon

April 25, 2022 by Spy Agent 8 -- 00 Section Leave a Comment

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One of the most enjoyable parts of the Spy’s arts coverage is when we notice that some of the Mid-Shore’s best vocalists and musicians find their way home to perform after hitting the big time in places like the jazz clubs of New York City and elsewhere. Over the years, we’ve seen remarkable standouts such as Maggie Rogers and Hannah Gill rise to popularity in the highly competitive world of live performers and yet always find a way to come back to Easton for a celebratory gig.

That happened when the Avalon welcomed back saxophonist and composer Julian Brezon to the Stolz Room last Saturday night. While Julian graduated from Easton High School and moved on to the Peabody Institute, he has an exceptional place of honor at the Dover Street venue since it was his job to change the Avalon’s marquee sign every week.

And the Avalon made him feel right at home when they asked Julian and his quartet to honor the 100th birthday of the jazz great Charles Mingus as part of the foundation’s celebration of their theatre turning 100 years this year as well.

We had a Spy in the audience for a short report on how special this evening was for Mingus, Brezon, and the Avalon.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For more information about Julian Brezon please go here.

Filed Under: Brevities

Washington College Lacrosse 50th Anniversary Celebration of Postseason Competitio

April 22, 2022 by Spy Desk 2 Comments

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This year, 2022, will mark the 50th Anniversary of Washington College’s first entry into a national collegiate lacrosse tournament. This event coincided with the inaugural USILA Post Season Tournament, which took place in 1972. Up to this point, there was not an opportunity for a Division III school to compete for a national championship.

To commemorate this anniversary, the Washington College lacrosse teams of 1972 and 1973 will hold their 49th and 50th year anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 30, in the Skybox at Roy Kirby Stadium. Coach Barry Drew and the tri-captains of both teams, Bob Shriver, Peter Boggs and Tom George will host the players and descendants of Don Kelly, Jack Copeland, Dr. Joseph McLain, Hurtt Deringer, and Ed Athey.

The 1972 team was a talented group of overachievers led by the tri-captains. Expectations were low before the start of the season as the Sho’men hadn’t had a winning record since 1968. The prospects were further dimmed by a schedule filled with Division I colleges including Yale, Navy, Hofstra, Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Bucknell, and Loyola. However, a victory over Yale in their first game gave the team confidence. They proceeded to win the following eight games while dropping just three to Navy, Johns Hopkins, and Washington & Lee. The USILA post season followed with victories over Franklin & Marshall, Denison, and a gratifying win over Towson. The championship game against Hobart was a heartbreaking loss of 15-12.

Optimism abounded for the 1973 season with most of the returning players who surprised everyone the previous year. Once again, the schedule was filled with Division I schools but Washington College prevailed over Syracuse, Brown, Loyola, Delaware, Bucknell, and UMBC. The USILA Tournament featured wins over Baltimore, followed by a satisfying win over Towson. Just like the previous year, the Shoremen were pitted against another Upstate New York opponent, Cortland State and dropped the final contest, 13-8.

The 1972 and 1973 teams started a winning tradition of Washington College lacrosse. Over the last 50 years, the program has competed in post season play on 34 occasions and has won one national championship.

There will be halftime presentation for the 1972 and 1973 teams during the game with Dickinson on Saturday, April 30.

By Jay Elliott

Filed Under: Brevities

MPT’s Chesapeake Bay Week has Strong Eastern Shore Presence

April 20, 2022 by Spy Agent 7 -- 00 Section Leave a Comment

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This is the week when once again, Maryland Public Television’s Annual Chesapeake Bay Week invites viewers to immerse themselves “…in the history, science and culture of our nation’s largest estuary.

And, this year, there is a strong focus on life here on the Eastern Shore.

Tonight, MPT airs a near 30-minute version of THE LONG SHORE. This short film documentary of life on Chesapeake Bay was first presented by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum last Fall. CBMM actively participated in the filming and MPT’s longer version provides for an even greater discussion about shipbuilding. The film airs at 7:00 PM tonight.

A Spy agent tracked down MPT producer Sarah Sampson and asked her to describe this week of special programing. She explained, “Chesapeake Bay Week is part of Maryland Public Television’s ongoing commitment to telling important stories about the history, people and culture of the Bay. Now in its 18th year, the popular week of programming highlights the beauty and diversity of our nation’s largest estuary.”

Chesapeake Decoys: The Nature of Waterfowl Art takes viewers to the Chesapeake marshlands, where hunters share in an age-old tradition, and to the Easton Waterfowl Festival where intricate decoys carved from blocks of wood fetch generous sums from enthusiastic collectors. The program aired early in the week repeats immediately following THE LONG SHORE at 7:30 PM. is also streaming now here.

Experts, scientists and policy makers converge on Thursday, April 21st at 9pm for The Chesapeake Bay Summit 2022 for a compelling discussion on the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, led by host Frank Sesno.

You can find a full listing of programs that are part of Chesapeake Bay Week here.

Filed Under: Brevities

A Snowy Owl Visits the Mid-Shore by Dave Harp

April 10, 2022 by Spy Agent 5 - 00 Section Leave a Comment

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Editor’s note: Esteemed Photographer Dave Harp sent along this stunning photograph to the Spy a few days ago. He writes “below is a photo I made of him in a tree behind my house, shortly before he departed in March.

He attracted hundreds, if not thousands, of avid birders and regular folks interested in a glimpse of his highness. It was such a pleasure having him (most likely a young male) around on gray winter days!

It was a snowy winter in Cambridge.  What started out as a Christmas present in December turned out to be a winter-long gift, when a snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca) graced Cambridge with its presence until the end of March. The owl, most likely a young male, was far out of its normal range, which goes into the high arctic.

Nearly two feet tall, he made quite a presence and attracted birders with powerful scopes, photographers with their giant lenses and people with cell phone cameras looking for a glimpse of the beautiful owl.  He would spend days on chimney’s, roofs, docks and trees in the historic west end of Cambridge, probably living off rodents, ducks and small birds. He was the talk of the West End all winter and provided a respite from thoughts of covid and other worldly matters. “Where’s Snowy today?” was usually answered by looking for pods of people, some with tripods and cameras, gazing heavenward.

We hope he returns next year.

Filed Under: Brevities

Old Wye Church Anniversary Presents A Lecture Series Beginning with Former WC President Baird Tipson

April 3, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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The Wye Episcopal Parish has joined with Washington College’s Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture to celebrate the 300th anniversary  of Old Wye church (Wye Mills, 1721) with a series of three lectures on the history of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The lectures, the first of which is on April 19, are free and open to the public.

The inaugural lecture will present the vibrant religious environment of the Colonial Eastern Shore, when generations of church-goers struggled over whether assurance of God’s favor could be found in established liturgies, or only in the inner experience of a spiritual rebirth.  

The lecturer will be Baird Tipson, eminent scholar and past president of Washington College from 2004 to 2010.  Dr. Tipson, now affiliated with Gettysburg College, is the author most recently of Inward Baptism: The Theological Origins of Evangelism, published in 2020 by Oxford University Press.

Dr. Tipson’s lecture will be delivered on April 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Washington College’s Hyson Lounge in Hodson Hall.  Parking is available on the campus.

Two more lectures in the Wye 300th Anniversary series, also co-sponsored with the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture, are planned for 2022.  In September in Easton, at a time and place to be announced, Eric Anderson, AIA, scholar of religion and architectural theory and practice, will offer a presentation on eighteenth century Colonial architecture on the Eastern Shore.  

In October 2022, the final lecture of the year will be delivered at Old Wye Church in Wye Mills by Dr. Joseph Prud’homme, author/editor of numerous books including Faith and Politics in America: From Jamestown to the Civil War (2011) and the Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture. His subject will be the impact on the Eastern Shore of the famous Anglican clergyman Thomas Bray, organizer of the Church of England in the Colony of Maryland.

For further information, call 410-827-8484 (Wye Parish) or 800-422-1782, ext. 6486 (Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture).T

Filed Under: Brevities

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