In its anxiety to be seen doing something good, the Maryland General Assembly has managed to do something gravely disfiguring. What began as a noble effort to deliver long-overdue justice to survivors ... [Continue Story]
Public Affairs
Federal Funding Drop hits Home: The Neighborhood Service Center Needs Help ASAP
If federal funding grant projections for the Neighborhood Service Center turn out to be accurate, one of the Mid-Shore's most critical social services ... [Continue Story]
- Growing on Vine Street: A Chat with Talbot Interfaith Shelter’s Julie Lowe
- Spy and Avalon to Host Easton Election Town Hall Meeting on April 29th
- County Council Highlights: Keep Solar Farm Regulation Local
- Watermen Closing Out Wild Oyster Season
- Congressman Jamie Raskin Speaks at Cambridge Town Hall
- Budget agreement could generate more than $1 billion in new revenue
Spy Highlights
From and Fuller: What Does a Constitutional Crisis Look Like and the Fate of Federal Reserve Chair Powell
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 growing evidence that the United States is facing a significant constitutional crisis as the Trump Administration continues to defy court orders. Al and Craig also discuss […]
- From and Fuller: The Trump Tariff Retreat and Survival Outlook
- Beyond Cinderella: Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks by Anke Van Wagenberg
- Spy Concert Review: All-Mozart, Start to Finish by Steve Parks
- From and Fuller: Trump Liberation Day and Wisconsin Election Results
- Dorchester Community Services and Daycare: A Chat with CEO Andy Hollis and Daycare Director Petrae Simpson
- Sci-Fi Comes to Oxford: A Chat with The Man from Earth Director Cece Storm
The Arts and Local Design
Spy Theater Review: ‘Man From Earth’ visits Oxford by Steve Parks
To understand where a play entitled “The Man From Earth” comes from – aren’t we all men and women, etc. from Earth? – look to the author of the book ... [Continue Story]
- Art Travels Alex Katz: Theater And Dance by Anke Van Wagenberg
- Studio B Check in: Betty Huang with Artist Diz Hormel
- Earth Music: Two Painters, One Song
- Cuban Links in Cambridge by Anke Van Wagenberg
- It’s Springtime at Oxford Community Center: A Chat with Liza Ledford
- Rembrandt Comes to America by Anke Van Wagenberg
Chesapeake Ecosystem
Intense Maryland Energy Debates in Annapolis Fill a Single Afternoon
For the last few years, the nuclear energy industry has stood on the precipice of the Maryland energy policy debate, waiting for its ... [Continue Story]
- Md. leads in carbon emissions reductions – Maryland Matters
- Maryland Levies Fines on Perdue, Valley Proteins for Environmental Violations
- Bay Climate Adaptation: The TNC Guide in Finding the Money for Major Infrastructure Change
- Mid-Shore Arts Plein Air Easton and ESLC Pair Up to Promote Land Conservation
- Wild-Caught Chesapeake Blue Catfish Phenomenon Booming: Thank Goodness
- Blue Crab Populations are Down, But Experts are Not Worried
Maryland News
Local farmers, food banks plan for potential ‘blow’ to food assistance output from Trump cut
Jesse Albright, along with his brother and father, has been operating Albright Farms in Baltimore County for decades, producing beef, pork and, more ... [Continue Story]
- House, Senate ratify budget compromise on final day
- Sheriffs defend cooperation with federal officials on immigration enforcement
- Tensions boil over in shouting match during final House vote on fiscal 2026 budget
- Ferguson warns of ‘Maryland Recession’
- Federal layoffs pose workforce threats beyond Prince George’s, Montgomery counties
Health
Let’s Talk About It with Beth Anne Dorman: For All Seasons in All Seasons
This month, Beth Anne Dorman, CEO of For All Seasons, makes the compelling case that at a time when state and federal budgets are being cut or ... [Continue Story]
- Let’s Talk about It: Dare to Lead Training Shapes Mid-Shore Leaders with For All Seasons Beth Anne Dorman
- Mid-Shore Health: Getting to the Heart of Heart Disease with Dr. Ian Davis
- Let’s Talk About It: A Different kind of Valentine with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman
- Mid-Shore Health: The role of forensic nursing with survivors of sexual and physical assault
- Qlarant Foundation takes a big step forward with first executive director Amanda Neal
Education
MD Senate Panel’s vote on Blueprint bill straddles House, Administration Versions
A Senate committee advanced parts of Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan Friday, splitting the difference between versions of the bill advanced ... [Continue Story]
- Wood Foundation awards $100K grant to Radcliffe Creek School
- Morgan State professor fined for presenting himself as licensed architect
- Slight increases on Maryland’s annual report card, but changes could be coming
- Radcliffe Creek School awarded grant to support students with ADHD and anxiety
- Spy-WHCP Check in with Dorchester Schools Superintendent Jymil Thompson
Food & Garden Highlights
Wine of the Week: Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG
Ciao Tutti! This weekend we will kick-off the holiday celebration with tastings of my fave mini Prosecco, the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG from ... [Continue Story]
Brevities
Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Spring Flowers
The Talbot Historical Society’s Laird Wise Collection has some pictures of spring flower shows at the Easton Elementary School in Easton, Maryland. ... [Continue Story]
- A Talbot County Act of Kindness: A Heart from their Hearts to Mine
- Landline By Katherine Emery
- Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: A New Look at the Tidewater Inn
- Lion’s Mane jellyfish a reminder of our cold winter
- F.E.A.R. by Katherine Emery
- Agent 7 Review: Caroline’s Table in Denton worth the Drive
Commerce
Talbot County Business Academy announces 14 new graduates
The Talbot County Council awarded graduation certificates to 14 participants of the Talbot Works Business Academy on Tuesday, April 8, at their ... [Continue Story]
- Talbot County announces 2025 Community Impact Award winners
- Qlarant Chief Technology Officer selected for Leadership Maryland Executive Program
- Taylor promoted to Director, Customer Experience
- LYON RUM receives Best of Class Designation; Sailors Reserve Rum earns only gold medal awarded in the Rum category
- Tech, consulting businesses will bear the brunt of proposed sales tax on business services
Community Notes
Shore Legal Access promotes Geoffrey Cooke, Esq. to Litigation Director
Shore Legal Access, a legal aid nonprofit organization connecting limited-income households with free civil legal assistance on Maryland’s Eastern ... [Continue Story]
- Talbot County Council introduces FY2026 budget
- Talbot Thrive’s survey shows candidates show broad support for safer streets and active mobility
- April 28 Factuality experience to explore inequities
- Talbot County invites community to shine “Two Lights for Tomorrow” on April 18
- A Talbot County Act of Kindness: Giving A Place in Line
- CBMM kicks off 60th anniversary celebration
Senior Life Highlights
Cruisin’ with Christine: Listening to the Nurse with Lorraine Flisher
Over the last ten years, the Spy and Londonderry on the Tred Avon have worked together on stories about this unique retirement community that educates ... [Continue Story]
- Senior Nation: April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month by Susan Covey
- Will Orange Crush be the new State cocktail? By Lisa Gotto
- Hello Spring by Susan Convey
- The Talbot County Senior Supply Drive is About Dignity
- It’s American Heart Month by Susan Covey
- Londonderry’s Satellite Rotary Club continues support for senior supply drive
Arts Notes
The Zebra Gallery opens new shows in May and June
The Zebra Gallery will open two shows in May, with an opening on Friday, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. with artist talks. The two artists in the Main ... [Continue Story]
- City Lights, Small Town Vibe: Academy Art Museum Gala Goes Industrial-Chic on May 3
- CBMM honors Horton, Harp, & Cannon-Brown with Bay Heritage Award
- Oxford Fine Arts 2025 roster and judge announced
- Two Lights for Tomorrow: One nation, two lights, three nights
- Working Artists Forum free demonstration, Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- The Jersey Tenors Rock the Eastern Shore by Maria Grant
Ecosystem Notes
Youth Environmental Action Summit inspires local students
Last month, high school students from Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Dorchester counties gathered at Chesapeake College for ShoreRivers’ ... [Continue Story]
Education Notes
Gunston Rocketry Teams launch bold designs in 2025 ARC competition
The Gunston School’s Rocketry Team recently concluded its most active and ambitious season yet, with 19 students participating in the 2025 American ... [Continue Story]
- TCS 90th anniversary celebration
- AAUW Easton Branch announces Mature Woman’s higher education Grant for women ages 25 and older
- TCPS announces leadership changes for the 2025-2026 school year
- Heron Pickleball Tournament raises $13,000 for Gunston athletics
- Chesapeake Forum takes flight with Maryland Public Television!
- Building African American Minds (BAAM) receives $1 million gift to endow Girls Program
Health Notes
Up to 100,000 Marylanders could lose coverage if Medicaid imposes work requirements
As many as 109,000 Marylanders could get thrown off Medicaid if Congress follows through on a proposal to impose a work requirement for the coverage, ... [Continue Story]
- UM Shore Medical Group-Nephrology welcomes new provider
- UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology welcomes three new Providers
- Partnerships make a difference in mental health for area veterans and their families
- Next UM Shore Regional Health Safe Sitter® course set for April 26
- For All Seasons educates the public about sexual assault in April
- Health For All Seasons with Beth Anne Dorman
Commerce Notes
Talbot County Business Academy announces 14 new graduates
The Talbot County Council awarded graduation certificates to 14 participants of the Talbot Works Business Academy on Tuesday, April 8, at their ... [Continue Story]
- Talbot County announces 2025 Community Impact Award winners
- Qlarant Chief Technology Officer selected for Leadership Maryland Executive Program
- Taylor promoted to Director, Customer Experience
- LYON RUM receives Best of Class Designation; Sailors Reserve Rum earns only gold medal awarded in the Rum category
- Tech, consulting businesses will bear the brunt of proposed sales tax on business services
- Connect and Serve Program Addresses Workforce Development, Civic Service
Food Friday
Food Friday: Easter eggs
Food Friday is on the road this weekend, so you Gentle Readers will have to put up with a re-run of my favorite Easter lemon cheesecake. Mr. Sanders and I are heading to a ... [Continue Story]
Looking at the Masters with Beverly Smith
Looking at the Masters: The Limbourg brothers illustrate the story of Easter
The Limbourg brothers, Herman, Paul, and Jean, born between 1385 and 1388, were Dutch painters from Nijmegen, but they were active in Burgundy and ... [Continue Story]
Design with Jenn Martella
Design with Jenn Martella: The (second) empire strikes back
As I was searching for this week’s feature, I had just finished watching Season Five of “The Parisian Agency” so France was on my mind and this house spoke to me. The Second Empire style became popular in France during the reign of Napoleon III, France’s “Second Empire”. Its origin was actually in the 17th […]
From and Fuller Podcast
From and Fuller: What Does a Constitutional Crisis Look Like and the Fate of Federal Reserve Chair Powell
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 ... [Continue Story]
- From and Fuller: The Trump Tariff Retreat and Survival Outlook
- From and Fuller: Trump Liberation Day and Wisconsin Election Results
- From and Fuller: What does the Signal Chat Signal for Team Trump
- From and Fuller: Are the Courts Strong Enough to Push Back Trump and the End of JFK Conspiracies?
- From and Fuller: The Politics of a Government Shutdown and Trade War Impact
- From and Fuller: Ukraine Meets Trump 2.0 and Reviewing the State of the Union
Columnist J.E. Dean
Trump is Making Us Question Again (Well, at Least Some of Us) by J.E. Dean
Less than three months into what will be a long four years, President Trump has changed America. Things that were abnormal, and in some cases ... [Continue Story]
- Burn a Tesla? Don’t even Think about It! By J.E. Dean
- Trump 2.0: A House of Cards? By J.E. Dean
- Worried About Flooding? Donald Trump Doesn’t Have Your Back by J.E. Dean
- Is Andy Harris representing Maryland or Donald Trump? By J.E. Dean
- How to Destroy American Higher Education by J.E. Dean
- Trump 2.0: The good, the bad, the ugly and the insane by J.E. Dean
Columnist Hugh Panero
The Death of TikTok by Hugh Panero
On Sunday evening, TikTok, the popular social media platform, was executed in the US. Since 2016, swiping through endless short-form videos on your ... [Continue Story]
- The Awkward Gentrification of Bellevue by Hugh Panero
- Mr. Biden, It’s Time to Hand Over the Keys by Hugh Panero
- The Mess in Oxford Gets More Messy by Hugh Panero
- Be Like a Cicada and the Catharsis of Dreams by Hugh Panero
- Let’s Retire the Word “Retired” by Hugh Panero
- Top 15 Indicators That You Are Too Old For Technology by Hugh Panero
Columnist Craig Fuller
Conversations with Craig Fuller: Ambassador and Author Frank Lavin
My friend and former White House colleague Ambassador Frank Lavin has a book coming out in March about his experience in the White House and ... [Continue Story]
- Midair collision over the Potomac: Week two update by Craig Fuller
- A midair tragedy last night in Washington by Craig Fuller
- The Classic Motor Museum starts a new trip in St. Michaels: Craig Fuller talks to Mike Iandolo
- A Community Town Hall focuses on education in Talbot County by Craig Fuller
- MPT, the Chesapeake Bay and Viewers Like You: A Chat with Station Manager Steven Schupak
- So Much Money, So Little Time by Craig Fuller
Columnist Jamie Kirkpatrick
Masterful By Jamie Kirkpatrick
I admit it: I spent most of last weekend watching The Masters. I assume most everyone is familiar with The Masters—the first of the golfing world’s ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Laura Oliver
In the beginning was the word By Laura J. Oliver
Here’s what old people do. They talk about their aches and pains and what they had to eat at their most recent meal. Grilled cheese, and my hip ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Angela Rieck
Saying Goodbye to Annie by Angela Rieck
This week my dog, Annie, an (almost) 19-year-old cockapoo passed away. My grief is immeasurable. At the end she had dementia, cataracts, and was ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Al Sikes
Jazz: 2014-2025 by Al Sikes
Thursday was vivid; the sun unburdened. The trees were flowering—what a beautiful moment. Would that it would have lingered but life can move from Spring to Winter quickly and that happened to Marty and me. Deep winter. Until yesterday we had our 5th edition of a black Labrador named Jazz and then we didn’t. We […]
Opinion
Maryland’s Budget Crossroads Demands Unity, Not Division by Patrick Firth
If there’s one thing Republicans and Democrats can agree on, it’s that Maryland is facing a budget crisis. But how we got here – and why it’s becoming ... [Continue Story]
- The Political is Personal: Reflections on DEI by Margaret Andersen
- New report reveals value of resource conservation for Shore businesses by John Horner
- Presidential pasts and an impending future by Steve Parks
- Gov. Wes Moore: Now’s the time to fix our fiscal crisis
- Maryland’s fiscal apocalypse by Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr.
- Consent first, investigate later by Aubrey Sarvis
- Analysis: Moore’s delicate balance as the session gets under way
- Electric Workboats on the Chesapeake? By Rob Etgen
- Reflections on cabinet choices by J.T. Smith
- Balancing Growth and Green: Chestertown’s Greenbelt Plan Faces a Solar Challenge by Steve Kline
- Andy Harris and our right to vote by Heather Mizeur
- Will our history repeat itself? The lessons of Civil War Maryland by Paul W. Callahan
- Striking Out at Camden: How Three Bad Seasons Sent A Once Proud Franchise Into A Decade Long Tailspin
- Moving Ahead on Cambridge Harbor
- Sunset for Sea Stars? By Rob Etgen
Letters to the Editor
Letter to Editor: Don Abatiello for Town Council President
I write in support of Don Abatiello for Easton Town Council President. Now before you scroll to the end of this letter and dismiss its worthiness ... [Continue Story]
- Letter to Editor: I Support Rev. Elmer Davis For Ward 4
- Letter to Editor: I Support Don Abbatiello
- Letter to Editor: Endorsements Matter to Easton
- Letter to Editor: Elon Musk and the Ponzi Scheme
- Letter to Editor: I Support Don Abbatiello for Easton Council President
- Letter to Editor: Sea Level Rise Hits a BRIC Wall
