On Sunday evening, TikTok, the popular social media platform, was executed in the US. Since 2016, swiping through endless short-form videos on your smartphone customized to your tastes has been a ... [Continue Story]
Public Affairs
Easton Council President Race Begins: Don Abbatiello Files
Don Abbatiello has filed to run for Easton Town Council President in the upcoming election on May 6th. He has been the Ward 2 representative on the ... [Continue Story]
- Q&A with Cambridge Mayor-Elect Lajan Cephas
- Council Highlights: Should Talbot County charge overnight visitors a 6% accommodation tax?
- Maryland’s flagging economy and transportation infrastructure linked
- Cephas wins in Cambridge; ex-mayor’s comeback attempt falls short
- High quality oysters, fickle market greeting new season
- Five-year Maryland state budget projection foresees ‘enormous gap’ not seen in two decades
Spy Highlights
Equal and opposite, summer-winter, and poor man’s fertilizer by Dennis Forney
Here on Delmarva, the past summer was brutal: extremely hot and extremely dry. Now the principle of equal and opposite settles in; every action producing an equal and opposite reaction. This winter, starting 2025, is bringing extreme cold and lots of precipitation. Shades of the winters of 1977 and 1978. Several days of single-digit temperatures […]
- From and Fuller: A Middle East Cease Fire and the Legacy of the Biden Years
- Capturing a life in focus with Ruth Wittersgreen
- This week proves PT’s admonition about watermen
- From and Fuller: How Serious to Take Donald Trump and the Great Los Angeles Fire of 2025
- From and Fuller: Remembering Jimmy Carter and 2024 in review
- Publisher Notes: Reader survey results on how to better spying in 2025 and holiday best wishes
The Arts and Local Design
Cars as movie co-stars and museum artworks by Steve Parks
And just when you thought drive-ins were a thing of the past – particularly in the dead of winter – Easton’s Academy Art Museum launches a monthly ... [Continue Story]
- Ten new things at the Academy Art Museum to kick off the new year by Daedelus Hoffman
- The Avalon is alive with the Sound of Music for the holidays
- Spy Art Review: Start your engines at AAM by Steve Parks
- Arts community gathers to celebrate Talbot Arts Champion Donna Ewing
- Spy Concert Review: MSO’s Joy to the Season by Steve Parks
- The Magic of Celtic Music: A Chat with Harp and Soul’s Meredith Davies Hadaway
Chesapeake Ecosystem
Md. leads in carbon emissions reductions – Maryland Matters
Here’s some rare good news for Marylanders on climate change: A new analysis of federal government data found that Maryland led the way when it came ... [Continue Story]
- 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
- First Baby Eagles Hatch on Reborn Chesapeake Island
Maryland News
CWDI board meeting brings up topic of public communication
Transparency has been a controversial issue for Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc., the entity responsible for the Cambridge Harbor project. The ... [Continue Story]
- Governor’s budget proposal to include tax cuts and ‘growth agenda’ spending – Maryland Matters
- CAN president Chuck McFadden on the group’s past and future
- Advocates try again on bill to halt the practice of charging inmates for phone calls
- Poll: Maryland voters back cooperation with feds on immigration enforcement – Maryland Matters
- Services scheduled for former Lower Shore Sen. Richard Colburn
Health
Qlarant Foundation takes a big step forward with first executive director Amanda Neal
To state that philanthropy is in the DNA of Qlarant is a matter of fact. From the day the company began operations to combat fraud in Medicare and ... [Continue Story]
- Mid-Shore Health: The war against lung cancer with Drs. Rashmi Benda and David Oliver
- Health advocates: Maryland needs to improve screening efforts for lung cancer
- Mid-Shore Health: Domestic violence on the Mid-Shore with Angie Price and Jeanne Yeager
- Let’s Talk About It: The reality of intergenerational trauma with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman
- Let’s Talk About It: Suicide on the Mid-Shore with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman
Education
Morgan State professor fined for presenting himself as licensed architect
The Baltimore Banner reported yesterday that Professor Dale Glenwood Green at Morgan State University was not a licensed architect and had ... [Continue Story]
- 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
- Prekindergarten Expansion For Private Providers Off To A Slow Start
- Spy Survey Summary on Learning for a Lifetime on the Mid-Shore
Food & Garden Highlights
Wine of the Week: Tenuta dei Monaci Monacello
Ciao Tutti! This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste a red wine that was recently added to our collection, Monacello Matera DOC ... [Continue Story]
Brevities
Red dye by Katherine Emery
I was newly pregnant with my fourth child the summer that the chicken pox was running rampant in my neighborhood. August is one of the windiest months ... [Continue Story]
- Soup by Katherine Emery
- Agent 86 Reconnaissance: In the dead of winter
- February sky-watch 2025: Bright winter stars and planets by Dennis Herrmann
- Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Time to make a Snowman in Royal Oak
- Glimmers by Katherine Emery
- Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Heading over to Harrisons on Tilghman Island
Commerce
Talbot County Business Center demolition scheduled for 2025
As part of Phase Two of the Airfield Modernization Program, Easton Airport is set to begin the demolition of the Talbot County Business Center in ... [Continue Story]
Community Notes
Waterfowl Festival announces 2025 Board Members
Waterfowl Festival Inc. have recently welcomed new additions to their Boards of Directors in January. Jonathan Rondeau, Kim Newcomb, and Amy Horne ... [Continue Story]
- Tax cuts, increases part of Moore’s ‘growth agenda’ – Maryland Matters
- Waterfowl Festival, Inc Appoints Julie Susman President for 2025 Festival
- Talbot County launches Talbot 250 Commission to celebrate America’s semi quincentennial
- Winterfest EMS 2025 gets ready for another year of excellence in emergency training
- Talbot County crews respond to winter storm to keep residents safe
- Chesapeake Fire & Ice is back For 2025
Senior Life Highlights
Londonderry celebrates Team Service Awards
During Londonderry on the Tred Avon’s annual Stockholders Meeting, stockholders, residents, and team members gathered to recognize the dedicated ... [Continue Story]
- December Fitness Feature: Leg Strength
- Cruisin’ with Christine: Protecting the Londonderry Community with Rich Williams
- Londonderry on the Tred Avon honors its Veterans
- Enjoy the health benefits of Thanksgiving Day by Susan Covey
- Cruisin’ with Christine: Serving the Londonderry Community with Pat Bradley
- Upper Shore Aging Hosts the Re-Dedication of the Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center
Arts Notes
SMAL announces 2025 Mixed Media exhibit winners
The St. Michaels Art League (SMAL) is pleased to announce the winners of their Mixed Media exhibit which can be seen at the newly renovated ... [Continue Story]
- Mid-Atlantic Symphony to present string quartet performances featuring Shostakovich and Mendelssohn
- Coffeehouse features Ampersand, raises funds for UUFE
- New sounds at Delmarva Public Media
- Within Our Reach: Mixed Media Works by Bridget Z. Sullivan on view through Feb. 28 at Adkins Arboretum
- Tred Avon Players opens 44th season with PLAZA SUITE
- Waterfowl Festival & The Ward Foundation present: Maryland State Arts Council Folklife Film & Art Evening
Ecosystem Notes
How a Maryland county tried to sway a Delaware vote on offshore wind
In early December, a new website appeared online urging Sussex County, Delaware, residents to contact their council members and tell them to deny a ... [Continue Story]
Education Notes
Gunston welcomes Mike Hardesty as Director of Facilities
The Gunston School is pleased to welcome Mike Hardesty as its new Director of Facilities. Hardesty brings 18 years of experience in maintaining and ... [Continue Story]
- Centerville Y to host Current Geopolitical Affairs program
- Explore the rich African American experience in Dorchester County
- Share the Chesapeake story as a CBMM volunteer interpreter
- Tilghman Watermen’s Museum speaker series
- Jen Wagner hosts Intuitive Mosaics with Chesapeake Forum
- Understanding Dementia with Beth Hobson and Chesapeake Forum
Health Notes
For All Seasons is the mental health partner for the 2024 Military Bowl
For All Seasons recently participated in the festivities of the 2024 Military Bowl at Navy Stadium in Annapolis, MD as this year’s mental health ... [Continue Story]
- Choptank Health welcomes pediatric dentist in Denton
- UM Shore Regional Health announces 2025 Safe Sitter® dates
- For All Seasons announces new Board members
- Faiz Khaja, MD, joins UM Shore Medical Group – surgical care
- Bird flu found in Caroline County marks first case in Maryland chickens since 2023
- For All Seasons shines a light on human trafficking this January
Commerce Notes
Talbot County Business Center demolition scheduled for 2025
As part of Phase Two of the Airfield Modernization Program, Easton Airport is set to begin the demolition of the Talbot County Business Center in ... [Continue Story]
- Anthony P. Kern selected as Qlarant Board Chair
- Talbot County Liquor Board 2025-2026 license applications now available
- Rural Maryland Council honors rural community advocates
- Three from EU graduation from Leadership Programs
- Nominations accepted for Talbot County’s Community Impact awards
- US court blocks Kroger acquisition; Harris-Teeter to remain in Easton (for now)
Food Friday
Food Friday: Sausage and peppers
I love trailing through food stores, peering through shop windows and admiring perfectly arranged still lives of fruits, vegetables, and meats; getting ideas and inspirations. ... [Continue Story]
Looking at the Masters with Beverly Smith
Looking at the Masters: A Victorian Christmas
Christmas traditions we cherish were established during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901). Others are as old as the ancient Roman Saturnalia ... [Continue Story]
Design with Jenn Martella
House of the Week: Townhome living in Chestertown
Chestertown’s North and South Queen Streets streetscapes are uniquely different in their architectural character. Much of North Queen’s single family housing stock on tree-shaded blocks dates from the 1770’s to the mid-19th century. South Queen’s streetscapes have some more recent development, including this row of townhomes with a mix of façade treatments. From the front […]
From and Fuller Podcast
From and Fuller: A Middle East Cease Fire and the Legacy of the Biden Years
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: How Serious to Take Donald Trump and the Great Los Angeles Fire of 2025
- From and Fuller: Remembering Jimmy Carter and 2024 in review
- From and Fuller: Budget turmoil and Musk power
- From and Fuller: The selection of a new FBI director under Trump and 1,500 Pardons from Biden
- From and Fuller: The Trump agenda and the realities of governing
- From and Fuller: Trump cabinet appointments and the future of “Talking Heads” media
Columnist J.E. Dean
Trump asks Congress to abdicate its constitutional responsibility by J.E. Dean
After watching several reruns of video of the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, I decided not to write about it this week. President Biden’s ... [Continue Story]
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
The Classic Motor Museum starts a new trip in St. Michaels: Craig Fuller talks to Mike Iandolo
Classic Motor Museum board member Mike Iandolo joined in a conversation with the Spy’s Craig Fuller at the end of last week, soon after closing on ... [Continue Story]
- 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
- One Amazing Story by One Amazing Individual by Craig Fuller
- A Presidential Debate: No Commission / No Audience / Perhaps, No Gloves by Craig Fuller
- An Enjoyable and Important White House Story by Craig Fuller
Columnist Jamie Kirkpatrick
Eudaemonia By Jamie Kirkpatrick
For more than twenty years, I worked in an all-boys high school as a college counselor, teacher (Middle Eastern Studies) and coach (baseball). I’m ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Laura Oliver
Snow Fall By Laura J. Oliver
The film After Life asks, “If you could choose only one memory to hold onto for eternity, what would it be?” The question is like choosing a ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Angela Rieck
The polar vortex by Angela Rieck
The recent snowstorm on the Eastern Shore is just the beginning of freezing temperatures due to the polar vortex. These temperatures from the Arctic ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Al Sikes
Untruth and Consequences by Al Sikes
I want an Editor. Well okay, I don’t deserve one. The business model says no. Business model? Now awake from this flirty dream, I move on. The periodic spark, at times white hot, inflamed the news for several days. Meta announced that they would no longer be fact-checking Facebook and Instagram—editors be gone. Sorry, they […]
Opinion
Presidential pasts and an impending future by Steve Parks
Former president and now president-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated again – this time to a non-consecutive second term. (The first since Grover ... [Continue Story]
- 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
- I Have Concerns Over the Route 662 Closure in Hospital Plan by Lynn Mielke
- We’re All Stocked Up on Crazies by Maria Grant
- What Difference Does It Make? By Maria Grant
Letters to the Editor
Letter to Editor: Thanks to the Bridge Family for Snow Removal
I stopped to thank the guys filling up trucks at Talbot County's "Salt Barn." I specifically spoke to Ryan Holden, an Easton resident employed by the ... [Continue Story]
- Letter to Editor: Talbot County Council continues to ignore illegal actions
- Letter to Editor: More lies and innuendo from Pay Attention America in Talbot County
- Letter to Editor: Talk with our neighbors
- Poem to the Editor: Times Like These
- Letter to Editor: Don’t attack those whom you disagree with
- Letter to Editor: I’m proudly voting for Kamala Harris
