MENU

Sections

More

June 22, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

1 Homepage Slider

Building a Different Kind of Factory for the Mid-Shore: A Chat with Cecile Storm

by

For a good number of Talbot County residents and a few more on the Mid-Shore of a certain age, there is a collective memory of Cecile Storm as a young teen working as a waitress at her parents’ legendary sushi restaurant General Tanuki’s in Easton in the early 2000s. And if one tracked Cece’s life since those early days, it’s no wonder that almost 20 years later she has become a major force in the cultural life of the Mid-Shore.

Freelancing as a filmmaker and photographer in 2009, a production manager at the Avalon Foundation, and head of marketing at Rise Up Coffee, the list grows even longer, with over 300 wedding gigs as a videographer. And more recently, her “Stage Fright” play series has had record-breaking attendance.

All of this has prepared Cece for one of the most ambitious performance projects in the entire Eastern Shore.

Cece is spearheading an initiative called “The Factory,” which has an aspirational mission to be a regional leader in producing original works and reimagining classics to reflect and celebrate Eastern Shore stories, traditions, and arts.

This unique blend aims to make high-quality, avant-garde art accessible outside major urban centers. Storm’s approach combines production, education, and community outreach, drawing inspiration from prestigious national theatres. The Factory’s journey includes notable projects like the “Stage Fright” series, highlighting immersive theatre experiences.

By leveraging local assets like the extensive costume shop, Cece seeks to preserve and evolve the artistic legacy of the Mid-Shore area, emphasizing the importance of involving the younger generation in the arts to ensure its continued vitality and relevance.

The Spy sat down with Cece last week to learn more.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about The Factory, please go here.

 

 

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tracing the Roots of Baseball on the Eastern Shore: A Chat with Author Marty Payne

by

Growing up in a town rich in the oral tradition of baseball, author Marty Payne recounts his journey from childhood to becoming a researcher of the game’s local history in his interview with the Spy. . Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, he first encountered the local baseball culture while working at his father’s drugstore, a popular hangout for teenagers. His academic pursuits led him to Washington College, where he earned a master’s degree before embarking on a career as a state bureaucrat. It was during this time that his interest in baseball history deepened.

Inspired by Bill Mowbray’s  The Eastern Shore Baseball League, he began to explore the origins of baseball in Talbot County. His research revealed a fascinating correlation between the sport’s growth and the expansion of railroads and steamboats in the region between 1865 and 1867. As transportation networks connected towns, baseball followed, attracting players from major cities and nurturing local talent.

Local newspapers became a goldmine for his research, revealing how baseball was more than just a game; it was a social cornerstone of the community. Throughout the early 1900s, the Eastern Shore produced notable players like Homer Smoot and Jake Flowers. By the 1920s, the minor leagues had become a breeding ground for future Hall of Famers, transforming local games into major social events that drew large crowds and fostered community connections. This historical journey through baseball on the Eastern Shore highlights the sport’s profound impact on local culture and community life.

Marty stopped by the Spy studio last month to talk more about his book.

This video is approximately minutes in length.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Meet the New Director of The Water’s Edge/Bellevue Passage Museums

by

From the Spy’s point of view, the Mid-Shore has never experienced a more exciting era for historians as local efforts to find and recover community history have reached an all-time high. And one wonderful example of this phenomenon is the appointment of Monica Davis as the first director of the the Water’s Edge and Bellevue Passage Museums. 

Monica is a fourth-generation descendant of Bellevue’s Dr. Dennis De Shields. She had recently completed a three-month field study project co-sponsored by Washington College when the opportunity to become the new museum’s first director was presented to her. 

In our first interview with Monica, she talks about her connection with the museums and the projects she hopes to develop as she settles into the new position.  

First on her plate are two events over the next few weeks. The first is a presentation at the Talbot County Free Library on June 3rd, where local leader Richard Potter will join her on the newly released children’s book “RUTH STARR ROSE (1887–1965): THERE IS A CITY CALLED HEAVEN.”

And then, on June 17th, she’s be coordinating the museums’ Juneteenth Celebration Concert by the Maryland Spirituals Initiative at the Avalon.

We caught up with her during the chorale rehearsal. 

RUTH STARR ROSE (1887–1965): THERE IS A CITY CALLED HEAVEN
With Director Monica Davis and Richard Potter
June 3rd, 2023, 11:00 AM 100 West Dover Street, Easton, MD

Juneteenth Celebration Concert by the Maryland Spirituals Initiative at the Avalon Theatre
Saturday, June 17th, 2023, 6:00 PM
40 East Dover Street, Easton, MD

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information and ticket information please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.