Narrator Harnell Chesterton takes us to visit a small community theater group staging a play set in the Deep South. The play’s characters are all in an uproar because Fat Daddy, the patriarch of the family, is about to change his will. Is Fat Daddy the target of the killer? Is his wife, Sweet Mamma, looking to do him in? Or is it his son Earl, daughter-in-law Savannah or daughter Hyacinth? Maybe it’s the hired hand Clete! But — is it really Fat Daddy who is dead? Just wait until local police sleuth Officer Bainbridge begins his investigation!

Those might be some of the questions audience members will be raising at the Tred Avon Players latest production ‘You Have the Right to Remain Dead’ starting in a few weeks. The Spy asked play director Ron Sanchez and actor Archie Tinelli to stop by the Spy studio last week to fill us in.

The TAP’s talented ensemble cast: Greg Wilson (Harnell Chesterton), Archie Tinelli (Officer Bainbridge), Alison Lynch (Blanche LaToure), Joe Opalski (Fat Daddy/Arnold), Lynn Sanchez (Sweet Mama/Doris), Sarah Claggett (Savannah/Lois), Sarah Kilmon (Hyacinth/Leigh), Chris Mooney (Clete/Ajax), Greg Allis (Earle/Steve) and Avarie Wilson (Trudy Marsh).

TAP will be introducing TEA with TAP Sundays. Enjoy a complimentary cup of tea and treats at its Sunday matinees provided by Doehrn Tea Co of Oxford.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN DEAD opens on Thursday, February 15 and runs for seven performances through Sunday, February 25. Thrifty Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons are at 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center, 200 Oxford Rd in Oxford. Tickets are adults $25 / students $15 (no fee added.) Thrifty Thursday (February 15) and Sunday matinees sell out quickly! Purchase your tickets at www.tredavonplayers.org.

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 Fuller discuss the politics and the realities of immigration as a campaign issue in 2024 as House Republicans use the border crisis to block Ukraine war funding. Al and Craig also trade thoughts on how viable Donald Trump’s presidential aspirations are as his legal woes continue to plague the former president.

This video podcast is approximately sixteen minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

One compassionate act of kindness.

Sometimes that’s all it takes to make someone’s day.

To change someone’s life.

Maybe to even build stronger bonds within a community.

Springing from a single gesture of goodwill, the Delmarva-based nonprofit organization Tides of Grace, Inc. has grown into one of the most active charitable entities in our region and, with a new year’s calendar packed full of upcoming events, is forming a powerful wave of positive energy, ambitious goals, and direct hands-on efforts to lessen the load for as many of our Eastern Shore neighbors as possible.   

Because the circumstances of personal hardship are individual and infinite and not always financial, Tides of Grace operates from the perspective that on any given day each and every one of us could be, as founder Leann Rhodes-Ickes says, “coming out of a storm, in the middle of one, or getting ready to get hit with one.”

Board Memeber Mary Himmel, Founder Leann Rhodes Ickes, Board member Stacy Fox.

It was in the weeks leading up to Christmas 2020 that Rhodes-Ickes, a businesswoman, author, and mother of two, made the original small decision that sparked a larger idea. Culling through her young son’s toys, Leann thought perhaps she’d give away some of the things he played with the least. The stranger who took her up on the online offer explained that due to Covid both she and her husband were out of work and these slightly used toys would provide their family a Christmas that they otherwise might not have been able to afford. The conversation between the two women turned emotional.

Afterwards, Leann figured there were probably others who could use a holiday helping hand during those tough times, so with the recruitment of a few friends a semi-impromptu toy giveaway was quickly scheduled. The response from both those who donated and those in need was inspiring.

January 20th Bingo Night dinner

The toy drive grew in scope each year after that first event. In 2023 thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers and supporting business partners, over 600 local children had a much better Christmas than they would have had without the efforts of Tides of Grace and all their helpers.

Witnessing the community response to the toy drives, a decision was made that the spirit of giving shouldn’t be relegated to just once a year and that perhaps growth as an organization was a possibility. As Leann says, “When a community offers so much kindness its important to make the most of it.”

Beginning their second calendar year as an accredited 501(c)3 tax deductible NPO, Tides of Grace kicked off 2024 on January 20 with their sold-out Bingo For A Cause dinner, the first of three scheduled fundraisers designed to help support operational costs.

In February, the group will host a Community Baby Shower for expecting mothers, new mothers, and any mothers in need. Leann says that for many different reasons, parents sometimes don’t have the support system necessary to provide everything a baby may require. She says that no matter the circumstances, “Your bundle of joy is special and as a community we want you to feel the love.” Attendees will be welcomed with games, refreshments, and a personal photo opportunity. Each mom will be provided time to fill a bag with needed baby items. Then they’ll get to choose one large item like a crib or a highchair.

This event is scheduled for Saturday the 17th from 11 am to 1 pm. Now through February 9th, Tides of Grace will be accepting contributions to stock the free giveaway inventory. Among other basic necessities, items needed include new or gently used strollers, cribs, bassinets, booster seats, highchairs, car seats, play equipment, nursery necessities and decor, baby monitors, bottles, nursing accessories, bath and hygiene supplies, and clothing. Donations can be dropped off Monday-Friday between 9 am and 5 pm at 605 Main Street, Suite B in Stevensville, though other arrangements can be made by contacting Tides of Grace at [email protected], or 410-924-7744.

As the spring thaw begins, the next planned events are March’s Easter Basket giveaway and April’s Prom extravaganza. A success in 2023, the prom dress pop-up boutique approach utilized last year is going to be expanded upon this go round by adding suits to the clothing that will be available for teens who don’t have access to the hundreds of dollars that outfits for the big night can cost in retail stores. For $25.00 parents will be able to send their kids to the prom in style and if the need is there, the fee can be waived. Clothing donations will be accepted as the event nears.L ast year over 100 students said yes to a Tides of Grace dress.

The rest of 2024 shapes up thusly: May will focus on a clothing drive for summer wear.  June will see the first Family Fun Day, a free event open to the public featuring games, large inflatable play spaces, music, and amusements. A Paint Night fundraiser’s scheduled for July. August will be a Back-to-School drive featuring school supplies and free haircuts. The organization’s first 5K fundraiser will be held in September. October’s efforts will center around a winter clothes drive, November will feature Family Photos Day and December will see the return of the original Tides of Grace event, the Used Toy Drive.

There’s a saying that goes, “Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.” Through their planned efforts and the generous support of individuals, local businesses, and other non-profits, Tides of Grace is on an enthusiastic mission in this new year to help more families struggling with burdens both financial and otherwise. “When a family is in crisis,” Leann Rhodes-Ickes says, “it’s the little things that can make a better life that often slip by too easily. Our big goals include trying to help break the cycle of poverty in our community and to erase the stigmas and prejudices about those of us who could sometimes use a safety net, but really, it’s just about helping the person standing next to you with a small act of kindness and compassion. Sometimes,” she says, “that’s all it takes.”

Tides of Grace can be found online at https://tidesofgraceinc.org/ and on social media. Volunteers are always welcome, as are those in need of community assistance. Donations are tax deductible and go directly to those in need.

Brent Lewis is a native Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shoreman. He has published two nonfiction books about the region, “Remembering Kent Island: Stories from the Chesapeake” and a “History of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department.” His most recent book, “Stardust By The Bushel: Hollywood On The Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore”won a 2023 Independent Publishers award. His first novel, Bloody Point 1976, won an Honorable Mention Award at the 2015 Hollywood Book Festival. He and his wife Peggy live in Centreville, Maryland.

Louise Edwards of Antigua, Kiara Brummell from The Water’s Edge Museum, in conversation with Queen Camilla

Getting caught up in the enthusiasm and passion of the people associated with Oxford’s Water’s Edge Museum is inevitable. But there is a good reason for their recent excitement. They are witnessing the Museum becoming a bridge between our Eastern Shore and the faraway Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda. And the key to this bridge? Tiny, beautiful seeds.

It’s all about seedwork, an intricate art form that originated with enslaved African women brought to the islands. Wild tamarind and jumbie bead seeds are picked and then boiled for hours. Some are paired with African beads and then hand-stitched to create beautiful and intricately patterned jewelry, belts, mats, and purses. Besides providing income for these artists, their harvest also helps protect the island’s ecosystem since both seeds are considered invasive species.  Beyond being visually captivating, these creations also carry deep symbolic significance to their creators.

Now, here is where that bridge comes in: Seedwork has been found in a plantation home in Caroline County. Since the Eastern Shore has been one of the places where enslaved people disembarked, this is a vital link–it isn’t just some foreign art form; it’s woven into the very fabric of our shared history and heritage. And preserving it isn’t just about honoring the past, it’s about reclaiming a piece of this area’s identity.

But the clock is ticking. With only five aging master seed artists left, this unique legacy hangs by a thread.

That urgency has compelled Barbara Paca, founder of the Water’s Edge Museum and Cultural Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, to lead preservation efforts. Museum Director Monica Davis and intern Kiara Brummell are joining forces in her mission. “The challenge,” said Davis, “is how to keep this intangible culture alive, prosperous, and doing well. How do we create a story and a platform for people to want to keep it alive?”

One way was to start talking about it, exposing this art to others. During the Juneteenth celebration in Easton last year, the Museum introduced seedwork to the public, selling around 50 pieces and initiating a dialogue about the art’s significance.

Kiara Brummell and Monica Davis

The Museum currently features examples of the elaborate craftsmanship that’s involved. But it offers more than just showing off the art. Wander through the Museum, and you’ll also be able to connect the dots and understand the history of the connection to our Shores.

It also helps that Paca was introduced to Anne Jonas, Secretary to the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda. Together, they’ve come up with ways to expose these creations. They also recently applied for funding to expand free workshops to teach seed art. Jonas is also known for creating Botanique Studios, which is dedicated to generating economic opportunities for seedworkers, helping to keep seedwork part of contemporary conversations. She also showcases products on social media.

And the media began to pay attention with articles about the seedwork initiatives. Here is where this small art form takes a more global turn.

In addition to her influential role, Paca recently launched an exhibit at the Garden Museum in Central London in honor of Antiguan artist and environmentalist Frank Walter. As part of the larger exhibition, she funded a companion exhibition exploring Antiguan seedwork and other crafts unique to the island.

Which brings up Queen Camilla of England.   

Since the Queen was going to be touring the Frank Walter exhibition, it also became the perfect opportunity to introduce her to the artistry of seedwork. And who better to do so than the women so intrinsically involved in this program? So Paca privately funded the airfare, accommodations, and related expenses from Antigua/Maryland to London for five people for a 6-day holiday fair, leading symposia and seminars on seedwork in December. The delegation included: From Antigua–Anne Jonas, Louise Edwards, the oldest seedwork artisan, and Mosia Challenger, artisan craft person, and from Maryland–Monica Davis and Kiara Brummell,

Mosia Challenger from Government House, Antigua, with Her Majesty Queen Camilla

On the day scheduled for the tour, Paca personally guided the Queen through the Walter exhibition and then presented the delegation of women from Maryland and Antigua who shared with Her Majesty the story of the seedwork and how it has miraculously survived as an art form since the time of the first arrival of enslaved Africans disembarking on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.

“The Queen was fascinated by the work,” said Paca, “handling it gently while asking many good questions. This led to a lively conversation about the importance of arts and crafts in establishing identities that uplift and empower youth. The Queen recognized the integrity, sense of mission, and sheer beauty of the artworks they are working to preserve.”

At the end of the tour, Edwards, an artist for the past 50 years, decided she needed to have a final word. “She looked directly at the Queen,” said Paca, “and asked her to please help to teach children about seedwork, culture, and heritage. Smiling, Queen Camilla nodded in solidarity, and everyone felt the commitment that marked the high point of the tour.”

Queen Camilla’s visit has helped validate the seed artists’ cultural contributions on the global stage. However, the real work goes far beyond one royal meeting. It will require ongoing effort to educate, motivate, and inspire youth to carry on this living legacy. With culture-bearers like Louise Edwards soon retiring from their craft, it is imperative that seedworking’s light must not be extinguished.

One way to prevent that is on a more local level. Water’s Edge Museum plans to partner with the Harriet Tubman Underground RR Museum, bringing seedwork to summer camps, teaching kids the craft, and showing how this art connects them to their history.

It’s something that resonates with Brummell. The 19-year-old was initially hesitant to take on a public-facing role due to anxiety about speaking to groups. Besides, she wanted to move out of the area.  But in discovering her regional heritage, something happened she didn’t expect. “I took this area for granted, and couldn’t wait to get out of here. But after learning more about my history, I’m so proud to be part of the Eastern Shore. The seedwork is very symbolic, in reference to the strength, the sorrows, and just the resilience of that culture and their heritage. So I hope that once people understand that aspect, they’ll want to keep this tradition alive.” Even more than that, she said, she considers herself a ‘history geek.’ “The thought of anybody’s history getting washed away is gut-wrenching to me.” The surprising personal impact gave her the voice she thought she didn’t have, as she now helps run museum tours. She even got to speak to the Queen.

Also next up is developing an affordable line of seedwork, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience. “The women who make these are not in it for the money,” said Davis. “It’s part of their passion and something that’s been passed on generation after generation. The money is to keep their journey going.”

Rupert Tyler Chair Garden Museum Trustees, Queen Camilla, Barbara Paca 

This brings up one additional important aspect of this story and it has to do with money made for selling the seedwork. “It goes back to Ann Jonas,” said Davis, “who uses it to teach the younger generations about the culture and heritage. The idea of purchasing this work is to promote this international connection between the Caribbean Islands and the Eastern Shore, which is amazing. Like mind-blowing!”

So you can understand their passion. Barbara Paca perhaps said it best after returning from London: “The trip reinforced the shared intention among The Water’s Edge and Bellevue Passage museums, Oxford’s Middle Passage Port Marker and Black-owned/women-owned/Afro-Caribbean-owned ventures supporting intangible cultural heritage–and in this fashion, the arts are expanding onto a broader global platform. It is with happiness and a willingness to do the hard work that we collaborate to celebrate the excellence of all we share among other cultures. For all of us, this effort will become a component of education in the schools in 2024.”

Pretty cool, right?

To view the seedwork, visit botaniquestudios.com.  Better still, see it in person at Water’s Edge Museum, 101 Mills St., Oxford