Having a house location on a corner lot in any urban area is a plus and having a two-car garage is rare but this property in St. Michaels’ Historic District has both.  The house is very close to San Domingo Creek for access to the boat launch, park and the Rails to Trails over the picturesque covered bridge that spans the water at the park. This two-story house was once a classic two room wide, one room deep house with the Colonial exterior color palette of white lap siding and black shutters.  A rear addition is offset from the front elevation to respect the original streetscape and telescopes down with a shed dormer and two gables to the one-story kitchen area along the side street.  This geometry also creates a delightful sheltered outdoor area with a terrace for relaxing in privacy from both streets.  

The front door opens into a foyer with an “L” shaped stair between two sitting rooms.  The stair is open to both rooms at the lower run and becomes a sculptural element with its artisan cherry newel posts that are among the most imaginative I have ever featured.  At the ceiling level where walls once separated the two rooms, more cherry trim outlines the edge of the stair shaft above a lower trim piece at the handrail height infilled with white pickets. At the living room side, white trim follows the angle of the winders above and a shallow niche separates the paneled wall.  At the hall side, the area under the stairs has a clever series of drawers for extra storage.

The living room at one side of the stair has a fireplace as its focal point from its projection into the room and the firebox’s highly detailed surround in white contrasts with the black marble around the opening.  Above the mantel is a mirror with a spotlight above to enliven the frame’s highly articulated carving.  The vista from the fireplace to the family room is a dramatic change from the original two rooms and enclosed stair.  Now the space is filled with sunlight from the front windows, the side window at the living room, the skylight over the stair winders and the French door in the family room for access to the rear yard and terrace. The family room’s interior design takes its cue from the fall foliage color in the artwork over the sofa with the foliage color repeated in the contemporary leather chairs. 

A wide wall opening in the living room leads to the dining room and its vista of built-in millwork and open shelves that display the owners’ collection of beautiful blue and white ceramics and crystal pieces.  I admired one of several contemporary rugs with this one’s wavy lines that anchors the wood table with an artful arrangement of white linen end chairs and side chairs whose pattern  reminded me of branches whose red and white colors complements the large shallow red bowl centerpiece.

The spacious kitchen is sunlit from windows and doors on three sides and from the skylight over the wood trestle kitchen table with contemporary black molded chairs in the center of the “L” shaped layout. Wood floors, lighter wood cabinets, darker countertops and stainless steel appliances make this the gathering space with easy access to the terrace for al-fresco meals. 

The primary suite spans across the front of the second floor with the upper stair hall leading to a cozy office/sitting room at one corner and the second bedroom suite over the addition.  The primary bedroom’s beautiful three-paneled two-toned wood artisan headboard is the backdrop for crisp white bedlinens. I loved the zig-zag pattern of the master bath flooring with small tiles at diagonal ends of larger creamy colored tiles. 

The guest room over the dining room below has niches for a display of artisan wood pieces between the wall behind the headboard and the light blue and white color scheme with a honey gold accent color creates a serene retreat. For extended stays, lucky guests can claim the upper floor over the garage with access by an exterior stair.  The space includes a recreation room with a mini kitchen tucked under the shed dormer triple window, office, storage/gym and full bath. On the lower level behind the garage is a multi-purpose room filled with light from the windows and French doors.  It is currently set up as a workshop and then I understood where the wood details I had admired in the house had originated, especially the distinctive carved wood newel post at the upper stair hall that had been crafted by one of the owners. 

Great corner lot in the heart of St. Michaels’ Historic District near San Domingo Creek, a serene interior palette of gray blue with white trim, wonderful abstract rugs over beautiful wood floors, contemporary and antique furnishings, a collection of art from abstract pieces to landscapes, all artfully arranged for maximum appreciation-my compliments to the Owners!

 

For more information about this property, contact Skipper Marquess with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Annapolis Church Circle at 410-263-8686 (o) ,410-924-3212 (c) or skipper3212@gmail.com. For a virtual tour, visit  https://tour.vht.com/434139917/200-w-chew-ave-st-michaels-md-21663, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by TruPlace , (301) 972-3201

Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.

Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.

The advantages of Corridor 7 included:

• Better congestion relief at the existing Bay Bridge
• More effective reduction of duration of unacceptable level of services
• More effective backup reduction at the Bay Bridge
• Better compatibility with existing land-use patterns likely resulting in fewer indirect effects
• The best diversion route and overall incident management
• Potential for lower environmental impacts particularly to Chesapeake Bay aquatic resources

The purpose of the Bay Crossing Study is to consider corridors for providing additional capacity and access across the Chesapeake Bay in order to improve mobility, travel reliability, and safety at the existing Bay Bridge.

The MDTA has provided two options for public input on the DEIS, including a Public Hearing Virtual Information Room (VIR) and Live Testimony Sessions.

The live testimony will consist of four call-in sessions, with two in-person opportunities also available. Each testimony session will include the opportunity to provide public and one-on-one testimony.

There will be no formal presentation during the testimony sessions, and no responses to questions will be given. Due to the current COVID-19 health crisis and MDTA’s commitment to protect the public and agency members, the public is encouraged to provide public testimony through the call-in sessions.

Public Hearing Virtual Information Room (VIR)

The DEIS and public hearing materials are available for review in the Virtual Information Room (VIR). The public is encouraged to review these materials and provide comment. If you are unable to access the DEIS via the website or if additional assistance is required, please call 877-249-8370 or email the project team.

In the VIR, attendees will have the opportunity to:

• review information on the Tier 1 DEIS and the MDTA-Recommended Preferred Corridor Alternative
• register to give public or one-on-one testimony
• learn how to submit and provide written comments

Live testimony sessions begin in mid-April

Live testimony sessions begin April 14, with call-in sessions set for 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. April 14 and 15. Click here to Register to provide call-in testimony.

In-person testimony sessions are set for 6-8 p.m. April 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Annapolis, 210 Holiday Court, in Annapolis; and 6-8 p.m. April 22 at the Kent Island American Legion Hall, 800 Romancoke Road, in Stevensville.

To register to provide in-person testimony, please call 877-249-8370.

The MDTA will accept comments on the Bay Crossing Study Tier 1 DEIS through May 10.

For more information, go to www.baycrossingstudy.com.

BCS DEIS Executive Summary February 2021

This video is about 14 minutes long.

 

 

Often the news is about the news; reporters and editors can’t help themselves. The month of March has been crowded with stories about President Biden not holding a news conference. And then it happens, and the only real story was that it happened.

President Biden specializes in anesthesia. When necessary, he administers a blend of words that force and then smooth the transition. He is, for example, transitioning from filibuster supporter to opponent, having absorbed a simple truth. A 50-50 split in the US Senate will preclude a historic presidency unless the filibuster goes or is modified.

Not surprisingly, he cares mostly about being leader, not whether the absence of the filibuster will at some point help the other side. And that is the greater truth. He believes or is forced to believe by the Left of his Party that foundational changes made during his time in office will change America for the better and not be completely rolled back. To me, that is the headline from the news conference.

The President was a caring parent when asked numerous questions about the rush to, and often through, the southern border. He was a moralist when talking about a federal takeover of voting procedures in the States. He was indignant with China, and he constantly returned to an overarching theme of helping working families. In short, what he might have missed in specifics, he more than made up for with tone. Ronald Reagan frequently wrong-footed a press horde that faulted him for being, let’s say, out of touch.

I do think at some point, President Biden is going to have to find a common cause with some of the ten or so Republicans who seem to want to find areas of compromise. When the rhetorical fabric includes threads of unity, it will begin to fray if the only reconciliation occurs within your own political party. And especially if the compromise forcing filibuster is, for all intents or purposes, eliminated because you cannot get votes from the other side. The President should remember that almost half of the American electorate is more conservative and much more conservative than his Party’s left-wing.

Finally, let me return to my “news is about the news” opening. Our representatives in Washington just assured us that we will borrow $1.9 trillion to fund a so-called Covid relief bill. And stories have appeared in the last several days suggesting that an announcement is imminent on a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure package. Maybe there should have been one set of questions that probed for the President’s thoughts about extreme deficits and sources of additional tax revenue.

The press also let the President evade answers on gun control even though there were two horrendous mass shootings within days of the news conference.

President Trump, for the most part, faced a belligerent press. In part, that was his fault because variations on his charges of “fake news” were delivered almost daily. But, the reporters of the day, whatever day, should not let the carefully prepared words and phrases (talking points) of a President, any President, go unchallenged.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al recently published Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books. 

Speech and censorship face off—the irrepressible against the dogged. This month’s headlines come from Russia, China, Myanmar and, unfortunately, the United States. The others are hopeless, but let me comment on our country.

Numerous debates are now underway on the constitutional boundaries of free speech and there are important reasons why none of us should be complacent. Let me look forward with a glancing look back.

I chaired the Federal Communications Commission when, attempting to protect children from Howard Stern’s vulgar national radio broadcasts, we fined his network company for breaches of what Congress called “indecent broadcasting.” This eventually forced the company to move Stern to a subscriber tier on satellite radio. But, deciding when speech can be constitutionally censored is not easy work.

A debate is now underway on the extent to which Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 enables Internet computer services to censor online sources of expression. There are many providers, but the headlines normally cite Facebook or Twitter. The law gives companies that have chosen to moderate their users speech the right to exclude speech that is “obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.” Keep those words in mind.

Free speech talks back. I have noticed that readers of The Spy are not reluctant to express themselves, sometimes aggressively. And free speakers are frequently critics and power is not enamored with criticism.

Certainly many, if not most, recoil at the censorious aggression of the Woke culture as its outrage seeps into education, publishing and more. The Woke culture frequently sows division while claiming to preclude it.

Also, increasingly businesses have become censorious. For example, Amazon, which has a streaming service and is “promoting a wide array of films as a part of Black History Month, choose not to include a PBS produced show called “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words.” The film was available to stream on Amazon, but not anymore.

The political Right is angry believing it is being barred from Facebook and Twitter, among others. My concern goes beyond the current headlines. What about the potential to trigger attacks? Post-January 6th we don’t have to stretch our imaginations to envision mobs on the loose. Or what about intrusion from countries like Russia? Also we should remind ourselves that credulity is an invitation to manipulate. Indeed, can a democracy be healthy when a significant percentage of people accept outrage commentary at face value?

Historically when we think about speech, we think about words. Today hardcore agitation is frequently accompanied by images. Take a look at what Adobe’s Photoshop service lets you do with images. Or look up images of Tom Cruise in recent TikTok videos. These are referred to as deepfake productions which refers to the use of algorithms to replace the person in the original video with someone else. Images used to be primary evidence of truth. Not anymore.

What happens when manipulated images and incendiary words are paired with what I think of as outrage contagion by an organization whose name is a public relation agent’s concoction? Computer services know who is easily riled and again, after January 6th our imagination is no longer necessary in understanding what can happen.

The debate about online speech is underway. It is a debate that will test your span of attention, but remember your speech can count and if businesses offend you, shop elsewhere. Feedback, indeed pushback, are protected responses.

Let me close with some questions. Most importantly, what should be the limits of the free speech guarantee? Should online speakers have to identify themselves? Should the marketing of combustible speech have any effect on its constitutionality? There are many questions, but mostly difficult answers.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al recently published Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books. 

 

While one of the signs that our local economy will indeed recover from the COVID pandemic is that many major capital projects are moving forward. From Cambridge’s Waterfront initiative to Dixon Valve’s continued growth in Chestertown, groundbreakings and design planning are back on the front burner. It’s hard not to see the Mid-Shore having a significant comeback soon after the “all clear” signal is given by Governor Hogan later in the year.

One of those projects back online is the Lakeside Project in Trappe. With an ultimate goal of 2,500 housing units on a parcel of land on the east side of Route 50, the mixed-use community has made it clear to government agencies that the developer’s goal is to create a “natural extension of and with respect for the Town’s (Trappe’s) urban fabric, scale, and historic and architectural character.”

And this commitment to quality also applies to Lakeside’s long-term environmental protection strategies. Plans call for effective wastewater treatment and a promise for “zero net discharge” of pollutants to local waterways, including the Choptank River by way of Miles Creek.

While Lakeside’s plans to achieve these goals are well-documented, it has not stopped the Chesapeake Bay Foundation from fulfilling its mission of doing due diligence to independently assess the risk to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

In this case, CBF has some very specific questions for Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE), which has oversight over the project’s environmental management plan. This includes Lakeside’s strategy to spray up to 540,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day over its open spaces and fields.

This concern has led the CBF to file suit against the department to challenge the MDE’s conclusion that the project’s use of treated wastewater would result in no net pollutants once it leaves the field.

The Spy talked to Alan Girard, the Bay Foundation’s Eastern Shore director, a few weeks ago to provide some background on why CBF is concerned about Lakeside and its long-term impact on the Mid-Shore.

This video is approximately eleven minutes in length. For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation please go here

It’s not unusual in our lives to encounter something that that seems outside our daily experience. A distant friend calls the moment you are thinking about them; two people describe the same dream, a sense that a departed love one has re-manifested in your life.

Over the years, Dr. Robert Abel has collected close to 900 stories describing unusual accounts of near-death experiences.

“I found these narratives fascinating and just put them in a drawer to think about. The pandemic allowed me to take refuge in my house in Tolchester and take a closer look at them,” he says.

Abel, a Wilmington ophthalmologist who lectures worldwide on vision and integrative medicine, says that his newly published book, Is Death a Mystery? Personal Stories that Lift the Veil offers narratives without a theological or philosophical bias.

Although he is widely informed by his life-long studies of Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Lucretius, and medical research, he would rather leave the stories of near-death experiences as they are—for the reader to decide.

Abel describes a “your whole life flashes before your eyes” incident in his childhood while hiking with friends. As he dared to jump across a potentially fatal crevasse, his life flashed like a compressed cinematic moment. It was a life-altering experience and one that informed his empathy while listening to others.

The vignettes in the book describe a wide range of near-death, out-of-body, and spirit visitations without medical asides. In interviews, however, he is comfortable talking about neuroscience and their approach describing such phenomena as “merely projection” and will braid the discussion with quantum physics and Einstein formulations.

Clearly, many of us sense some indescribable dimension outside the five-senses. Abel has collected snapshots from those who believe they have been there, and all stories are linked by a common thread: healing, compassion, and love.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. Dr Abel’s book Is Death a Mystery? Personal Stories that Lift the Veil may be found on Amazon.