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June 16, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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2 News Homepage Archives

Last Chance: Take Our Education Survey Before the Avalon-Spy Town Hall with School Board Candidates

September 30, 2024 by The Talbot Spy

We need your input as we prepare for an important Avalon-Spy Town Hall on public education in Talbot County! Your thoughts will directly contribute to the conversation with the Spy’s Craig Fuller and the candidates for the Board of Education that evening.

Please take just a moment to respond to two quick questions in our brief survey. Your feedback is invaluable and will help shape the upcoming Town Hall discussion.

TAKE THE TALBOT COUNTY EDUCATION SURVEY HERE 

Thank you for making your voice heard. We appreciate your participation and will share the results during the Town Hall on Wednesday, October 2nd starting at 6pm.  If you can’t attend, a recording will be available on the Spy and Avalon Foundation websites and Youtube channels.

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, Archives

The Spy to Offer Election Interviews with all St. Michaels Commissioner Candidates

April 25, 2024 by The Talbot Spy

The Talbot Spy is offering Zoom election profiles/interviews this month to those running for St. Michaels Commissioner on the May 6th ballot.

As the Spy has done in the past, these short video conversations with those seeking office are a helpful way for the community to see and hear candidates for office about their background, motivation for running, and the policies they advocate.

Candidates are asked to express their interest in participating by contacting the Spy’s Dave Wheelan at [email protected] by April 29 to schedule an interview.

 

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

Filed Under: 5 News Notes

Talbot County’s Hannah Gill Releases New Video

January 20, 2024 by The Talbot Spy

As loyal readers may already know, the Talbot Spy does have one bias despite billing itself as a nonpartisan publication. Ever since Hannah Gill performed with her band at the Avalon ten years ago, the editorial staff has been unapologetically rooting for this native of Talbot County as she continues climbing to the top jazz vocalists performing today.

Hannah recently released her latest video, “Put’em in a Box” a delightful tribute to the swing era of the 1920s to 1950s. Produced by Scott Asen, this album features Gill’s band and notable musicians, including Gordon Webster on piano.

Knowing that many Spy readers are also big Hannah Gill fans, we decided to share the YouTube clip.

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

Filed Under: 6 Arts Notes

The Talbot Spy Agrees to Stop Bugging Readers by Wednesday at Midnight

October 23, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

As part of a general agreement with other interested stakeholders, the Talbot Spy has agreed to discontinue bugging their readers for their annual donation, effective at midnight on October 25.  

The planned cancelation of the campaign was a clear indication that many readers, many of whom read the Spy daily, would rather not be bugged to contribute to this extremely local news and arts education project. 

Talbot Spy editor Dave Wheelan agrees with the decision. “While one might say that the Talbot Spy is in the business of bugging its readers with important public affairs and the arts, we understand that our annual request for support, like all fundraising these days, is exhausting for all involved, but so important for the community.”

That said, Wheelan quickly pointed out that there are two more days to donate before the campaign shuts down. Electronic donations can be made here. 

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

Filed Under: Spy Highlights

The Case for The Talbot Spy’s Extremely Local News and Arts Coverage

October 18, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

For quite a few years now, this publisher has silently stewed over reading in national publications about the crisis of “local news” coverage. The source of irritation is not the subject itself. There is, indeed, a real problem with communities, large or small, losing critically important newspapers of record at a time when news is so vital to our form of government and quality of life. I am grateful for that kind of attention to a big problem.

No, my beef is the term “local news” itself. A case in point: the nonprofit Baltimore Banner has rightly been hailed as a role model in saving “local news.” But “local” in Baltimore’s case means over 1 million people in a metro area. It’s understandable why “local” is defined that way, but it’s hard to compare that major million-dollar enterprise to the mission and scale of something like the Talbot Spy.

The Spy has always considered itself in the “hyper-local” category, a minimal subset of a major, more significant movement in large cities across the country. Tiny by circumstances and capacity, these primarily rural online publications are typically just squeaking by with writers (many of them volunteers) and low budgets.

After almost 14 years, I’ve concluded that “squeaking by” as a business model falls into the category of good enough. With the Talbot Spy realistically limited by market size and geography, this public education nonprofit will always be a bit broke.

It also will be highly dependent on the goodwill of a relatively small number of sponsors and readers who know the importance of local news and its direct impact on their community’s quality of life.

To make the Talbot Spy work every year, we have to pay those writers and editors who need to be paid for their work. It also means covering the growing costs of a high-traffic web presence, small office spaces for interviews, and other basic business costs. Or roughly some $35,000 a year.

As its publisher, I am proud of that relatively low budget number. The Talbot Spy was never built with continued growth in mind and potentially divert needed philanthropic support to our sister nonprofits with far greater needs.

And the Spy is proud that we are making it work with the active inclusion of covering the arts and culture. While several online nonprofit news organizations are doing well in covering local government, the Talbot Spy is a unique model in that it provides equal coverage of local arts and local culture.

In many ways, the goals of the current Talbot Spy are similar to the purpose of the original Chestertown Spy in 1793. In short, it’s to keep the lights on.

Three times a year, we ask our readers to help “keep the lights on” for the Talbot Spy. Whether donating $10 or $1,000, we must count on your support to keep this labor of love a vital, relevant part of the greater Talbot County community.

To donate, please go here.

Dave Wheelan
Publisher and Executive Editor

 

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

Filed Under: Spy Highlights

Frank Gunsallus Wins Council Presidency

September 14, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

After absentee ballots were counted, final results were:

Frank Gunsallus 875
Bob Willey 746
Al Silverstein 393
Kevin Bateman 36

 

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

Reminder: Avalon-Spy Council President Election Town Hall at 6 pm Live and Streaming

August 29, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

A reminder to Spy readers that the Avalon Foundation and the Talbot Spy will be co-sponsoring a Town Hall meeting hosted by Spy columnist Craig Fuller tonight at 6 pm in the Avalon’s main theatre. The one hour program is free to the public and will also be live-streamed online using this link.

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

Filed Under: 9 Brevities

Talbot County Proposes Tax Rate Hike for 2024 Fiscal Year

May 2, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

The Talbot County Council has proposed at their regular meeting on May 2, a real property tax rate increase of 2.55 cents for $100 of assessed valuation for all properties located outside the incorporated towns, which is 5.3% higher than the current rate. Properties located within incorporated towns will have a tax rate differential of between 6.01 and 13.30 cents lower than the county rate.

During the public hearing on the constant yield tax rate, the Council made it clear that they were raising taxes regardless of what happens to the tax rate. The FYI 2024 proposed budget prioritizes public safety and education, which reflects a significant investment in the employees who are the backbone of service delivery. The budget also prioritizes funding for capital improvement projects, infrastructure, and addresses escalating costs associated with state-mandated funding requirements.

The proposed property tax rate of 0.74344 for county-owned properties includes property tax revenues that are 2% over FYI 23 revenues, an additional 1 cent increase to the property tax rate as authorized by the voters of Talbot County in November 2020, and a 4.8% educational supplement to support Talbot County Public Schools. The county’s property tax rate will increase by 6.14 cents, which amounts to a 9% increase, with 3.48% of the increase as part of the county real property tax rate. The remaining 5.52% increase is attributable to the education supplement used to pay for the increased funding for schools.

The county tax bill for a home with a property assessment of $300,000 will increase from $2,046 to $2,230, which is a $184 increase, $144 of which is attributable to the education supplement. While the proposed increase in property taxes may be viewed as a burden by some taxpayers, it is worth noting that other counties will also be experiencing the same challenges in meeting the increased funding requirements of Maryland’s Blueprint.

Overall, education expenditures for Talbot County represent 43.7% of its budget, with Talbot County schools representing 42.1% of those expenditures. The budget proposal includes funding for capital projects requests for school renovations and funding for infrastructure, such as roadway enhancements, culvert replacements, and the extension of sewer service in an effort to remove dependence on septic systems.

Public safety accounts for the second greatest expenditure in the budget proposal, with 23.8% of the budget allocated to it. Included in the budget proposal are requests for additional funding for school nurses and the cost of three resource officers. The proposal also includes a 4% cost of living adjustment and one step for employees.

The Council has emphasized that the proposed budget is the result of conservative budgeting practices that have been successful in Talbot County in the past, and that they are committed to providing necessary services for the community. The budget proposal will be adopted as part of the fiscal year 2023-2024 annual budget and appropriation ordinance on May 23, 2023.

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

Get Out the Vote: Easton Election for Mayor on Tuesday

May 1, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

Get out the vote. That’s what councilmembers Megan Cook, Al Silverstein and incumbent mayor Bob Willey  are telling their supporters as town residents prepare to cast their ballots Tuesday. The ballot will also include Ward 1 and Ward 3 town council elections.

The Talbot Spy has covered this election extensively over the last few months and have compiled some of that content to help the undecided.

Avalon Spy Town Hall Meeting 

Mayor Profiles

Megan Cook

Al Silverstein

Bob Willey (incumbent)

Ward 1

Maureen Curry

Frank Gunsallus

Ward 3 

Ron Engle

David Montgomery

Ward Map

The Tuesday May 2 2023 election polling location will be held at Easton Volunteer Firehouse (315 Leonard Rieck Drive) from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.  The Board of Canvassers will meet Wednesday May 3, 2023 in the Town Hall Council Chambers to count absentee ballots and certify the election.

 

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

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

Spy-Avalon Election 2023: Easton Council Ward One Candidate Profiles

April 5, 2023 by The Talbot Spy

About a month ago, the Talbot Spy and the Avalon Foundation agreed to partner in providing the community with candidate profiles for those running for the Easton Town Council for Ward One and Ward Three in the May 2 election.

We begin with Ward One candidates Maureen Curry and Frank Gunsallus.

Interviewed by the Talbot Spy editor Dave Wheelan, with the technical support of the Avalon’s Mid-Shore Community Television MCTV, these profiles center on three primary subjects; a candidate’s background, qualifications, and priorities if elected to office.

We think that our viewers will walk away much better informed on those critical themes, but will also recognize, as did the Spy and Avalon crew, that our community is all the more enriched by having such a unique collection of dedicated citizens among us.

Maureen Curry

Frank Gunsallus

These profiles are available for viewing in two different formats.  The first, appearing below, are edited versions similar to other Spy interview format where we limit the content to each candidate’s commentary. They average about 15 minutes in length. MCTV will be broadcasting these interviews in their entirety until election day and can also be watched on the Avalon website here. 

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

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider, Special, Spy Highlights

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