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November 9, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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On point with MD Secretary of Veterans and Military Families Anthony Woods

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Anthony Woods speaks from experience when he talks about his path to becoming Governor Wes Moore’s choice for Maryland Secretary of Veterans and Military Families.

Secretary Woods, a West Point graduate who served for two tours in Iraq, understands the significant challenges of transitioning to civilian life, including physical and mental health concerns, financial struggles, and social reintegration.

Now, two years into his tenure, Woods embraces care for veterans as a moral duty for those who sacrificed for their country and has been focusing on healthcare, employment opportunities, and mental health support to address severe conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and physical disabilities that, without proper care, could lead to unemployment, homelessness, or even suicide.

“First and foremost, we run a service program where we’ve got accredited claims officers who work at 15 different locations across the state and work virtually to help veterans file their claims to gain access to disability compensation or VA health care. That program is so successful, it’s got a 94% claims acceptance rate. So that means, when you sit down with one of our folks and they submit it to the VA on your behalf, 94% of the time the VA says, yes, this is a good claim.” Woods says.

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs has been renamed the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. Secretary Woods highlights that this name change reflects an expanded mission: the department now formally acknowledges and provides services not only to veterans but also to their families. This shift recognizes the vital role military families play and aims to address their unique needs alongside those of veterans.

“When we say military families, we mean veteran families, of course, active duty military dependents, but also caregivers and survivors. Because we were we have this fundamental belief that if the family thrives, the veteran or the service member thrives too” pointing out that the DoD moves  service members and their families all around the country and all around the world, but it’s up to the state to welcome them into the state and community or the job market.

Recognizing that government alone can’t address every issue, Secretary Woods says that the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families launched Maryland Joins Forces, a partnership initiative with veteran service organizations and military-focused nonprofits. Instead of duplicating efforts at high cost, the program collaborates to tackle key challenges in the veteran community, including employment, education access, housing and food insecurity, and healthcare.

The Spy recently interviewed Secretary Woods about the mission of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families and addressed other significant issues including the impact of punitive DEI and DoD policies on gays and transgenders in the military.

A day after the interview, The Spy reached out to the Secretary to ask if he had a statement about the recent Department of Defense scrubbing of the Arlington National Cemetery website, which removed links to the histories and lives of veterans of color—both men and women—including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the WWII Navajo codebreakers, Colin Powell, and others.

Secretary Woods replied:
“Erasing the stories and experiences of veterans, regardless of their background, dishonors their sacrifices and distorts the history of our military. It not only overlooks vital contributions but also weakens our ability to recruit and support future service members, who must see themselves reflected in the legacy of those who served. By diminishing the role of any veteran, we diminish the service and sacrifices of all.”
For more about the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, go here.
Secretary Woods, a Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, served two deployments to Iraq and continues as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon as an Intelligence Analyst. In the private sector, he has held key roles at Cisco Systems, The Boston Consulting Group, and Capital One. His public service includes leadership in mission-driven nonprofits, philanthropy, and a White House Fellowship under President Obama. He holds degrees from West Point, Harvard, and the University of Maryland.
This video is approximately 11 minutes in length.

 

 

 

 

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

Robert Blackson Takes Helm at Washington College’s Kohl Gallery

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Robert Blackson, a stellar arts advocate and educator who has made significant contributions to the intersection of art, education, and community engagement has been recently welcomed as Director and Curator of the Kohl Gallery at Washington College.

Blackson’s forward-thinking approach to contemporary art is perhaps best showcased through his tenure as Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs at Temple Contemporary, the art gallery of Temple University. There, he pushed the boundaries of public programming with visionary projects like the widely celebrated Symphony for a Broken Orchestra. This groundbreaking initiative addressed a pressing issue: the lack of functional musical instruments in Philadelphia’s public schools, which had significantly hindered students’ access to music education.

To bring attention to the problem, Blackson and his team collected 1,000 broken instruments from local schools, transforming them into a public exhibition. The project’s highlight was a unique performance featuring a composition by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, performed by local musicians using the damaged instruments. In addition, an ‘adopt an instrument’ campaign was launched, raising funds to repair the instruments and return them to the schools.

This initiative not only restored vital resources for music education but also demonstrated the transformative power of art to rally communities around a common cause.

Now at Washington College, Blackson is set to bring his expertise and passion to the Kohl Gallery, an integral part of the college and Chestertown’s vibrant arts scene. His vision for the gallery includes fostering connections between contemporary art and the local community, ensuring that the space serves as both a cultural hub and a platform for meaningful dialogue.

The gallery is named in honor of Ben and Judy Kohl who supported its creation and has been central to showcasing contemporary art while also engaging with historical and cultural themes. It frequently collaborates with other academic departments, fostering interdisciplinary exploration. Additionally, Kohl Gallery has been instrumental in providing students hands-on experience in curating, art handling, and gallery management.

Here, Rob Blackson discusses his vision of the Kohl Gallery’s role in arts education and curation of the exhibits to come.

Located in Gibson Center for the Arts, Kohl Gallery is Washington College’s flagship venue for visual arts programming.

For more about Kohl Gallery, go here.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length

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

Camp New Dawn Prepares for 30th Season: A Chat with Rhonda Knotts and Sherrie Young

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Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is a traumatic and isolating experience. Dealing with it alone only magnifies its impact and extends the bereavement process and can lead to long-term mental health issues.

For young people especially, processing complex emotions like sadness, anger, fear, and confusion is an overwhelming experience. But it’s one that can often be helped by having their feelings validated in a safe environment with others who are experiencing the same trauma.

Celebrating its 30th year the weekend of August 10th, Compass Regional Hospice will continue its mission to provide grief support at Camp New Dawn and will again host its grief retreat for children, teens, and families on the grounds of Camp Pecometh in Centreville.

The three-day, two-night camp provides children, teens, and families a safe environment for group discussions, participation in healing activities, and connecting with peers with the guidance of professional grief counselors.

Campers ages 7 to 17 attend therapeutic workshops and age-specific grief support groups and participate in supervised camp activities such as swimming, fishing, drumming, yoga, and arts and crafts.

Camp New Dawn Director Rhonda Knotts says that one of the many empowering traditions that has become the heart of the annual summer retreat is the frequency with which campers return as counselors to pass along the experience that helped them through the grieving process.

Each child and teen is paired with a volunteer counselor or “Buddy,” who, along with former campers known as “PALS,” offers a strong support network throughout the day’s activities. Campers are divided into groups and engage in various activities such as yoga, swimming, or fishing. They also participate in age-specific grief support groups or art classes, where they can visualize and express their emotions.

“We are very deliberate in the way that we assign our children, their adult buddy for the three days. We go by common likes, like, maybe we have a little soccer player. And we know that, Joe, who’s one of our adult buddies, loves to kick around the soccer ball, or maybe they had a similar loss. Maybe Joe lost his dad when he was 10. And the little guy we’re going to assign to him, you know, just lost his father or parent. So, there’s a lot of things that go into assigning people to where they’re going to be,” Knotts says.

Compass Regional Day Camp also reaches into the schools in the tri-county area.

“We do a lot of grief support in the schools. Last year, we provided grief support to about 140 kids in all three counties. So, we always make it very clear that it doesn’t have to end there. And sometimes, it works the other way. We get them to camp. And they want to know, well, what else can I do? And we say, well, we can come to your school,” Knotts says.

With extraordinary support from regional businesses and vendors, the camp schedules are carefully planned months in advance. Compass provides training for new counselors and is always looking for additional support.

The Spy recently talked with Camp New Dawn Director Rhonda Knotts and adult grief counselor Sherrie Young.

To find out more about Compass Regional Hospice’s Camp New Dawn, how to contribute, or volunteer, go here.

This video is approximately eight minutes in length.

 

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

Adkins Arboretum Mystery Monday: Guess the Pic!

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The answer to last week’s mystery is damselfly, pictured below:
Damselflies are often mistaken for dragonflies, but these insects are smaller, slimmer, and fold their wings against their bodies while at rest.
Damselflies are admired for their beautiful colors and forms, making them a popular insect to photograph. They are large, easy to observe, and have exceptionally charming, playful antics. Damselflies do not sting or bite, making them completely harmless to humans.
In its larval stage, a damselfly molts many times under water before moving on to land, where it transforms into a winged adult. Adult damselflies eat mainly flying insects, like gnats and mosquitos.
Damselflies live for a few weeks during the summer and fall, and fly mainly during the day. They have existed since the Late Jurassic, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

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

Adkins Arboretum Awarded Environmental Education Grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust

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Adkins Arboretum was recently awarded a three-year environmental education grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust. It will support curriculum development, Arboretum field trips and more for seven Caroline County seventh-grade teachers and 1,200 students. Photo by Mike Morgan.

Adkins Arboretum has been awarded a three-year environmental education grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust in support of its “Eating the Sun” project. The goal of this project is to embed a systemic, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience in Caroline County Public Schools’ seventh grade life science curriculum. The project will support curricular development, teacher professional development, school ground visits, field experiences at Adkins and action project support for approximately seven teachers and 1,200 seventh graders over the three-year period.

Through a combination of classroom lessons, schoolyard exploration and Adkins field experiences, students will find answers to the driving question, “How do native plants transfer energy to other living organisms and contribute to healthy ecosystems?” Projected activities include conducting experiments to observe how leaves release oxygen and water as part of photosynthesis, identifying native plants and wildlife in a forest food web scavenger hunt, making inferences about whether an animal is a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore based on its skull structure and collecting data about keystone and indicator species in the Arboretum’s forest and wetland.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action.” MWEEs actively engage students through hands-on, outdoor learning in order to connect students with their local environment and empower them to take actions that contribute to stronger, more sustainable communities.

A 400-acre native garden and plant preserve, Adkins Arboretum offers five miles of paths that showcase more than 600 species of native plants. Admission is free thanks to member support. The Arboretum’s mission is to provide exceptional experiences in nature to promote environmental stewardship. Youth education programs like “Eating the Sun” are a key component of this mission and engage approximately 4000 students each year. To learn more, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

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

Sophie to Sophie: A Chat with Sophie Kerr Prize Winner Sophie Foster

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Graduating from college is a standout achievement in anyone’s life. Graduating with a check for $77,000 for artistic promise borders on experiencing life in a parallel universe that bestows unimaginable gifts designed to shock the senses.

That’s what happened to Sophie Foster at Sunday’s Washington College Commencement as she received her diploma and a check for becoming the 2024 recipient of the Sophie Kerr Prize, an award given annually since 1968 to the senior showing “the most ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor.”

The award is the nation’s largest undergraduate writing prize.

Foster, from Reisterstown, Maryland, found Washington College’s creative writing milieu while attending the Rose O’Neil Literary House summer Cherry Tree Young Writers’ Conference, a weeklong immersion in creative writing workshops, and a glimpse into what the college offers to budding writers.

The poet says that her previous writing experiences in high school were too personally competitive, fracturing any sense of a shared writing community, and she became wary of duplicating that experience in college. At Washington College, she found what she was looking for.

“It has been the honor of my life to come here and be among the impossibly rare community I’ve been granted here,” she said during her acceptance speech Friday night.

Washington College News Service writes, “Lauded by her professors as one of the strongest editors and literary citizens at Washington College, Foster has been praised for her consistent encouragement and support of her fellow writers. An English major minoring in creative writing and journalism, editing and publishing, Foster has been editor-in-chief of the College’s literary magazine, president of the on-campus Writers’ Union, and opinion editor of the school newspaper.”

For more about Sophie Foster, see the Spy article here.    

The Spy caught up with Sophie Foster the day after the award was presented.

This video is approximately five minutes in length.

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

“No Child Left Indoors” at Radcliffe Creek School

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One critical lesson from the pandemic’s dire years of isolating and monotonous shutdowns was the positive mental health results of reconnecting to the natural world beyond cell phones and computer screens.

This did not go unnoticed by educators, who are already aware of social media’s addictive nature and seeing it compounded by the pandemic. According to Annie E. Casey Foundation research, 95% of teens 13-17 use social media, with 1 in 3 reporting “almost constantly.”

Noticing these trends, Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown, known for its commitment to environmental education and working with students from kindergarten through 8th grade who have been diagnosed with learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, and other language-based learning difficulties, has announced the launch of a new outdoor education project titled “No Child Left Indoors.” 

Inspired by Richard Louv’s concept of nature-deficit disorder, the “No Child Left Indoors” project aims to ensure every child has meaningful experiences in nature each year. Louv’s book The Last Child in the Woods points out that today’s digital native generation lacks exposure to nature, which he calls “nature-deficit disorder.” He advocates that direct exposure to nature is crucial for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional well-being of both children and adults.

“Our purpose is to ensure that every child has a series of meaningful experiences in nature each year at RCS that will help them be better citizens in their communities and better stewards of their environment,” says Head of School Peter Thayer.

With a generous grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation, the project aligns with the Foundation’s mission to improve the planet through environmental education. Radcliffe Creek School has a long-standing commitment to educating children about nature and the importance of environmental stewardship.

To implement the project, Radcliffe Creek School has designated Outdoor Education Coordinators for different grade levels. These coordinators work with teachers to plan educational field trips that tie directly to the academic experience. They also ensure that every excursion is safe, engaging, and educational.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences in nature and document them in their Nature Portfolio. This work is cross-curricular, engaging students’ skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

The spy recently interviewed Head of School Peter Thayer, Discovery Department Head Simone Vagnoni, and Discovery Teacher Amanda Stubbs.

 

This video is approximately thirteen minutes in length. For more about Radcliffe Creek School, go here. 

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

The Eastern Shore Trail Network Vision with ESLC’s Owen Bailey

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The Eastern Shore Trail Network steering committee, led by Owen Bailey, Director of Land Use and Policy at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, has announced its participation in Celebrate Trails Day on April 27. Over the past year, the committee has collaborated with the National Park Service, receiving a technical assistance grant to advance their trail initiatives.

Their efforts focus on three main goals: creating a greenway plan and trail map for the Eastern Shore, expanding outreach for a connected trail system, and establishing a trail coalition to support local governments in trail planning and development. The trail map, sponsored by the Midshore Regional Council and the Rural Maryland Council, highlights existing and planned trails, showcasing the region’s potential for a robust trail network.

Bailey emphasizes the importance of trails in promoting healthier lifestyles, economic development, tourism, and equity. He noted the challenges faced by smaller Eastern Shore communities in trail planning due to limited resources and highlights the benefits of trails in connecting people to parks, schools, and essential services.

Celebrate Trails Day will feature events across the Eastern Shore, including in Snow Hill, Oxford, Cambridge, and two locations in Chestertown. These events aim to raise awareness of the benefits of trails and encourage community engagement in trail development and utilization. Trails, Bailey argued, are essential in correcting community design that discourages walking and promotes automobile dependence.

The Spy recently interviewed Own Bailey to talk about the trail enhancement project.

To view The Eastern Shore Regional Trails Network map, go here.

For the Eastern Shore Trail Vision, go here.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. To find out more about the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, go here.

 

 

 

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

On Writers and Writing: A Chat With Spy Columnist Laura Oliver

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In Thomas Mann’s novel Tristan, one of his characters, said, “A writer is one to whom writing comes harder than to anybody else.” A comic barb, but, as Mann suggested later, it holds some truth.

Readers certainly don’t sense that Laura Oliver struggles with her well-crafted columns appearing each Sunday in the Spy, but that’s the trick of artistic labor: for the final product to read as though it arrives trippingly off the tongue. Oliver writes every day of her life: writes books, articles, stories, lectures about the writing process, and teaches writing at colleges and workshops, and has a popular radio spot on NPR member station WHCP 91.7.

As a graduate of Washington College and the Bennington College MFA program, Oliver has significantly contributed to the writing community. Her book, The Story Within: New Insights and Inspiration for Writers (Penguin Random House), has been hailed by “The Writer Magazine” as one of the best books about the craft of writing. For a decade, it has been a trusted companion for writers seeking fresh perspectives on their writing journey.

On the rare occasion when Oliver is not writing, she plans to write or observes something she will file away to write about. “It’s not a hobby,” she says. And while that sounds strict and Spartan, you would find that in her classes and workshops at St. John’s College and other writing centers, her true default teaching persona is encouraging and helping students find their “story within.”

Don’t miss the chance to engage with Laura Oliver’s insights at noon on April 9 in the Hynson Lounge. She will be part of Washington College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) Learn at Lunch programs, discussing “Practical Magic: Change Your Story, Change Your Life.” This is a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned writer.

And on April 24, Oliver will take to the Stoltz Listening Room stage for the Spy Writers series at the Avalon Theatre for a public reading from her collection.

The Spy recently interviewed Laura Oliver about writers and writing and how the craft of writing has defined her life. For more about Laura, go here.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For information and tickets for Laura Oliver’s Spy Night on April 24, please go here.

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

Adkins Arboretum to Launch The Diversity Around Us with the Maryland Biodiversity Project

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On Thurs., April 4 at 1 p.m., Adkins Arboretum will launch The Diversity Around Us, a series of free talks and walks offered in partnership with the Maryland Biodiversity Project. Jim Brighton, co-founder of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, will introduce the series and provide insight into his project’s efforts to catalog Maryland’s living things and build a vibrant nature study community. Understanding biodiversity is the first step toward conserving wild species, habitats and a healthy ecosystem.

Over several months, The Diversity Around Us will bring experts and citizen scientists together to learn about and observe the plants, animals and fungi of Maryland’s Coastal Plain. The general public is invited to participate in some or all of the series. Lecture topics include birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fungi and lichen of the Coastal Plains. INaturalist Walks, led by experts, will build on the information presented in the lectures and take place on third Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. from April through October.

The Diversity Around Us will culminate in a Community Bioblitz at the Arboretum in early September. Experts will be on hand to help identify and confirm sightings. Data gathered will contribute to a comprehensive list of species at the Arboretum and be added to the Maryland Biodiversity Project website.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and plant preserve that strives to be a model for land stewardship. Biodiversity is an integral indicator of healthy and resilient landscapes. Through its Diversity Around Us series, the Arboretum will create a more complete picture of the biodiversity of Maryland’s Coast Plain and empower community members to contribute to resilient, biodiverse ecosystems.

For more information and to register for the series, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

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