About Dave Wheelan

Mayor Bob Willey of Easton is well-known for being a soft-spoken type. Leaning on his conservative instincts and a Talbot County upbringing, he’s never been eager to become too animated in his support of a town initiative or project. Let the facts be presented calmly, without due pressure, and a consensus will emerge, seems to be his thinking.

That has certainly been the case with the long-term Port Street redevelopment project and all its moving parts. But it’s also clear from our most recent Spy interview with Mayor Willey can’t disguise his excitement over the completion of a major footbridge at the end of Glenwood Avenue that will not only connect Easton’s residents to the town’s growing Rails to Trails, but will also extend the length of the hiking and biking pathway an additional 2.5 miles.

Willey also can’t hide his satisfaction that the success of the footbridge project also highlights the unique capacity of the nonprofit Easton Economic Development Corporation (whose board he sits on) in making this a reality. Using the talent of dozens of its volunteers, many of whom have international reputations in fields like engineering, finance, architecture, and urban planning, the EEDC was essential in helping Easton take one of its first significant steps in reclaiming the town’s only waterfront.

The Spy sat down with the mayor yesterday to understand more how this substantial bridge’s construction was assisted with this private-public partnership; how the bridge’s addition will play a critical role in the long-term enhancement of Easton Point’s public access,  and its longer-term impact for the town’s comprehensive design for the Port Street corridor from the Tred Avon Riverfront to downtown Easton.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Port Street Redevelopment Project and the Easton Economic Development Corporation please go here

Perhaps to the surprise of many in Kent County, Chestertown is the host of not one, but two national music festivals. The better-known one that comes at the end of spring is the much-beloved National Music Festival. But the other, the Eastern Shore Guitar Festival, sponsored by Washington College’s department of music, should be looked upon locally with the same pride and excitement as its more famous counterpart.

For close to a decade, WC has been the host of this gathering of some of the best and most talented classical guitar performers today as they offer both concerts and learning opportunities for students eager to join their ranks. And the man leading the charge, professor Matt Palmer, a highly accomplished guitar player in his right, is genuinely pleased with the growing attendance and greater awareness.

The Spy spent a few minutes with Matt at Spy HQ in Chestertown last month to hear more the festival and what he has planned for next week as the Festival joins Washington College’s Concert Series is some unique offerings.

This video is approximately minutes in length. For more information and schedule details of the Eastern Shore Guitar Festival 2018 please go here.

To get a perspective on the significance of the Star Worlds race going on in Oxford this week, serious sailing experts point to the fact that many of the America’s Cup winners first tested their skills on these twenty-three-foot boats to prepare for that ultimate test. With a design going back to 1910, all competitive sailors have a special reverence for the Star class as well as the men and women who travel the world to win one of the sailing community’s most demanding and coveted prize.

The fact that this truly international event, with more than sixty boats entered from around the globe, finds itself on the Mid-Shore after being hosted in places like Miami, San Diego, and Buenos Aires, has delighted tiny Oxford with hundreds of sailing crew and fans planning to attend. But no one in Talbot County is more thrilled than Bobby Lippincott.

The grandson of a Star boat designer, with family members winning silver and gold awards going back to the 1940s, with one annual race actually called the Lippencott Memorial, this native son of Oxford, finds himself in a once in a lifetime opportunity, after years of painstaking training, demanding travel, and expenses, to compete in his hometown and keep a remarkable family legacy going as the third generation of Lippincotts takes the helm.

The Spy talked to Bobby at the Tred Avon Yacht Club last week on the Star Class, the Lippincott history, and his devotion to keeping this unique sailing heritage alive and well.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. To follow the Star Worlds competition please go here for the latest results.