Cruising season on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay has begun and one of our agents joined owners of Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boats for their 8th annual gathering, this one with an Octoberfest theme. The nearly 40 vessels traveled to the Hyatt River Marsh Marina in Cambridge, Maryland and a few enthusiasts came by land.

The rendezvous launched eight years ago when Ranger Tug owners and avid cruisers John and Tracey Garcia joined forces with our local Ranger Tug / Cutwater yacht broker, Pocket Yacht Company in Grasonville. The enthusiasm of volunteer owners and the commitment of the fine team at Pocket Yacht, make this an annual can’t miss event for many avid boaters.

In addition to good food and good fun, the Ranger Tug and Cutwater manufactures come to the event and spend their days with the owners answering questions and troubleshooting. They made a low key presentation which started with the question, “well, what do you want to know?”

Most of the vessels have state-of-the-art Garmin navigation technology on board. This year, Garmin sent people to the rendezvous where they lead a very well attended discussion about what these amazing boxes can do.

Easton residents win best dressed…Rich and Alice Merrill

Talbot County had strong representation. Indeed, the best dressed award went to Easton’s own Rich and Alice Merrill who have been to multiple rendezvouses in their Ranger Tug, Bay Ranger.

These vessels are built in Washington State for open ocean cruising, so a June nor’easter didn’t deter the group from having an enjoyable Saturday night dinner before setting off in 15 to 30 knot winds on Sunday….well, reportedly, some took advantage of a deal to stay one more night and leave Monday morning with calmer winds.

Sunset at Marsh River Marina

Just goes to show that our boats provide a common denominator bringing a widely diverse group together for just plain fun, which is why the group is now calling this the “best Wurst rendezvous ever!”

The challenge of taking the group shot

Links for more information.

River Marsh Marina

Pocket Yacht Company

Just as Jupiter came into opposition (opposite the Sun in the sky for sky-watchers on Earth)last month, and its best position for viewing in 2019, so too does Saturn come into opposition on July 9th. Sky-watchers with telescopes will be able to get splendid images of both of the two biggest planets in our Solar System, but those without scopes will not be disappointed. Jupiter and Saturn will be on display all summer and into the fall.

Jupiter is clear of the southeast horizon by nightfall and is well up in the southern sky before midnight, unmistakable at magnitude –2.6. Telescopes reveal its colored cloud-banded surface and the changing positions of its 4 biggest moons around it. One can also detect that Jupiter appears flattened from pole to pole so that it looks wider at its equator. This is due to its rapid rotation (less than 10 hours) and its mostly gaseous composition. Binoculars will also reveal Jupiter as a disk and show its 4 big moons. Naked eye observers will delight at its shining brightness. Check it out on your local 4th of July fireworks night!

Saturn clears the southeast horizon at sunset and will be nicely positioned in the south by midnight on July 1st and by 10 pm on the 31st. Not as bright as Jupiter, Saturn is still the next brightest thing in the evening sky. Find it to the left of Jupiter

Of course, it is Saturn’s rings that make it so interesting to those with telescopes, but binoculars give a decent hint of the rings. With a telescope, the rings are seen with clear divisions between some of them and a hint of Saturn’s own bands of colored clouds. Saturn also shows 5 to 6 moons that can be spotted through a telescope in the nearby sky around it. Jupiter and Saturn are indeed a great summer treat for us.

July 20, 2019 marks the 50 year anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, when America and the whole world heard the immortal words of Neil Armstrong, “On small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” Where were you when it happened?

Though a total Solar Eclipse and a partial Lunar Eclipse occur this month, both events will be seen only by sky-watchers in Asia, the south Pacific Ocean, and Chile. The next lunar eclipse we will see is in 2020 and the next solar eclipse for us is in 2024.

Take the Helm launched its 3rd boat on Saturday afternoon on the Tred Avon. The sailboat, the Endeavor, was built by Talbot County teenagers under the leadership of Alex Greenlee, the YMCA’s project director for Take the Helm with area volunteers helping mentor the high school students in this creative program that teaches the technical aspects of construction along with essential life skills.

A trusted Spy was able to capture the Endeavor’s first sail under strong winds as part of the fun this weekend.

For more information regarding Take the Helm, call 410-822-0566.

This Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo was taken c.1968 of the Calvary Methodist Church on North Washington Street, Easton, Maryland being demolished to make room for the new Safeway structure! The Calvary Methodist Church was built in 1830. It was sold in the late 1950’s when three Easton Methodist churches joined to build St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. The church housed the Easton YMCA until the new YMCA was built in 1968.

Do you have any memories of that church? Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

Prom time at St. Michaels High School in 1953! The ceiling decorations were amazing as were the beautiful gowns! Do you recognize any of these Prom attendees? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s Laird Wise Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

The Talbot Spy shares with its readers each week Discover Easton’s “This Weekend in Easton” events newsletter. Each edition takes a look at the community events going on in Easton for the coming weekend, and highlights Signature Events hosted by Discover Easton. From shows at the Avalon Theatre, fundraisers, art exhibits, in-store promotions, festivals, and more, there is always something to do in Easton, Maryland.

First Weekend
Fri., June 7 – Sun. June 9
Easton, Maryland

Shop | Dine | Arts

Experience Easton on the first weekend of each month. Our local merchants are excited to show you what makes our business community special and showcase our Eastern Shore hospitality! More Info

2019 Chamber Music Festival
Now Through June 15
Various Locations

During two music-filled weeks, artists and musical ensembles will delight audiences with 8 concerts featuring works from the 18th to the 21st centuries. More Info & Schedule

Let’s Roll Summer Skate Nights
Fri., June 7 | 7 p.m.
Talbot Community Center (10028 Ocean Gtwy)

Let’s Roll Summer Skate Nights during special Friday evenings this summer! Live DJ, Snack Bar, & 2-Hours of Open Skating with your family & friends. Rent skate or bring your own. More Info

Andrew Collins Trio
Fri., June 7 | 8 p.m.
Stoltz Listening Room (40 E Dover Rd)

Bending and blending genres, mandolin-maestro Andrew Collins and his fellow Trio string-meisters are five-time Canadian Grammy nominees and seven-time Canadian Folk Music Award winners. More Info

Easton Ghost Walk
Fri., June 7 | 8 p.m.
Meet in front of the Tidewater Inn

Take a nighttime ghostly walk through the Eastern capital of Maryland. Filled with history and mystery, the Easton ghost walk is a hauntingly entertaining evening that is fun for the entire family. More Info

Farmers Market
Sat., June 8 | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Public Lot; 100 Block of N. Harrison St

Fresh produce, nursery stock & bulbs, breads, pastries, handcrafted gifts, fresh cut flowers, local honey, pet treats, kombucha, rum, and prepared foods. Live music begins at 10:30 a.m. every Saturday. More Info

Donor Dash 2019 Color Run 5k
Sat., June 8 | 9 a.m.
Talbot Community Center (10028 Ocean Gtwy)

All proceeds go to The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland, a non-profit that assists with organ donations. We are setting a goal to raise $10,000. Come have a great time & help out a great cause! More Info

Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival
Sat., June 8 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Talbot Free Library (100 W Dover St)

Meet & greet children’s book authors and illustrators, book readings, many free children’s activities, book discounts, and giveaways thanks to our sposors & donors! More Info

Talbot Historical Society WWII Veterans Exhibit
Sat., June 8 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Talbot Historical Society (30 S Washington St)

Honoring the men and women who served. Also focusing on the creative ways the community pulled together for the war efforts. More Info

Critchlow Cornhole Tourney
Sat., June 8 | 12 p.m. registration
Easton Elks Lodge (502 Dutchmans Lane)

The tournament is open to any and all players of varying skill levels. In the event of rain, the tournament will be hosted indoors. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. More Info

All You Can Eat Crab Feast!
Sat., June 8 | 6 p.m.
Hummingbird Inn (14 N Aurora St)

A monthly All-You-Can-Eat Crab Feast featuring steamed crabs, red potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob at Hummingbird Inn. Cash bars provided by St. Michaels Winery & Hair O’The Dog. More Info

The Subdudes
Sat., June 8 | 8 p.m.
Avalon Theatre (40 E Dover Rd)

Their music features an intoxicating blend of passionate, joyous roots music, and some of the sharpest musicianship and ensemble playing you’ll ever hear. They have quietly become one of America’s national music treasures. More Info

Roland Comtois, Internationally acclaimed Spiritual Medium, Grief Specialist, best-selling Author, and Inspirational Speaker returns to the Eastern Shore after Sold Out Channeling events in years past here. He returns for a channeling event on June 21st at The St. Michaels Inn, St. Michaels and will be offering a new event at the Avalon/Stoltz Listening Room in Easton on June 22nd. All events are open to the public.

Roland is a gerontology nurse by profession who commits full time to his mission of healing and love. He has been sharing specific and meaningful messages now for over 45 years. Attendees to Roland’s events are truly touched by his abilities to connect with departed loved ones and share direct powerful messages that the attendees can understand. The messages truly change people’s lives. This is Roland’s 3rd year returning to the area, and his events are always anticipated with great enthusiasm from past attendees, who gain a greater understanding of the afterlife and communicating with your loved ones, and some received one of Roland’s signature Purple Papers.

Roland’s unique signature Purple Papers with documented messages he receives daily in meditation are pre-transcribed messages that bring peace and comfort beyond words to the recipients. The Purple Papers truly set Roland apart from others in his field. Examples of the Purple Papers are shown here:

For these June events, Roland will again be providing messages, address how to remain connected with your loved ones who have passed and overcoming grief, and the eternity of love. A new addition for the Avalon event includes Roland telling first-hand the story of his near-death experience, including an original musical score and songs, and then deliver poignant channeled messages from loved ones, including his Signature Purple Papers. Roland will deliver as many messages as possible as time permits, and some may also receive a Purple Paper. The events are such a compelling experience to help those who have suffered loss to find strength through the love they shared. Roland is dedicated to helping people recognize that life – and love – do not end when someone passes from this plane. Roland’s following includes a global audience of all faiths and ages who look to him for affirmations that love is eternal and heaven exists, and that spiritual connections are possible in every moment of time.

Roland is also the co-host with Bobbi Parlett, owner of Simpatico, Italy’s Finest, St. Michaels, MD for their annual St. Francis pilgrimage to Italy around St. Francis feast day in the late September/early October time frame. Bobbi met Roland in her own grief journey after her husband Ed Parlett passed in 2012. Bobbi says “Roland has helped me tremendously to gain a much better understanding about eternal love and connections that continue with our loved ones who have passed, including how to notice signs from them. I have received signs, messages and several Purple Papers over the years which are irrefutable evidence that our loved ones are with us always and that our spirits live on. The comfort and comprehension of

this realization helps people move forward with their lives and brings a new level of understanding of life and love everlasting.”
The events are open to the public and attendees must be 18 years of age. Tickets can be purchased through www.rolandcomtois.net for the St. Michaels event and the other events in the area or www.avalonfoundation.org for the Easton event.

For more information about Roland or to schedule a media interview visit www.rolandcomtois.net under Events or call Bobbi Parlett at 610-209-5409.

The schedule for all of Roland’s events in the area include:

June 21st – Channeling Event: The St. Michaels Inn, St. Michaels, MD 7 PM to 9 PM
June 22nd – “Through the Door’ and Channeling Event: Avalon/Stoltz Listening Room, “Through the Door” the story of Roland’s near-death experience and the second part is channeling of messages. 8 PM to 10 PM

Caroline Wrightson & Alice Lloyd

Caroline Wrightson using her heart shaped acupuncture cups

Caroline Wrightson and Alice Lloyd remember seeing each other growing up in Easton. Caroline worked in her Aunt’s downtown shop American Pennyroyal. Alice popped in there from time to time, but they also had mutual acquaintances and their families are long-time friends. Little did they know their paths would cross again much later. Since leaving Easton as young adults, they were surprised to learn their lives had crisscrossed, sharing similar life experiences while worlds apart. In a wonderful and deeply connecting meeting that they still talk about today, Caroline and Alice had their first brainstorming and business dreaming session this time last year. Today, they are pleased to bring their passions together as a unified partnership believing in whole-body wellness and nutrient-dense eating.

Caroline is a nationally board-certified acupuncturist through the NCCAOM and a Licensed Acupuncturist in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. She is certified in cancer care through the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She actively seeks to provide exceptional patient benefits in her hometown. Acupuncture promotes health and well-being in many ways, through normalizing the body’s function, treating symptoms of certain diseases and dysfunctions, and preventing or modifying the perception of pain. Caroline has experience with both chronic and complex illness, addiction, pain, and more. She passionately seeks to provide natural and authentic healing for all her patients utilizing a unique form of acupuncture while combining functional medicine principles to create a highly effective and 100 percent natural treatment. Caroline is compassionate, results oriented and dedicated to helping each of her patients find long term health care solutions.

Alice Lloyd, NTP

Alice, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, is certified to make nutritional recommendations to balance the body’s natural chemistry. She works to support and address full body wellness through thoughtful education via nutritional and lifestyle adjustments. Her goal is to help her clients become knowledgeable and responsible for their own health by focusing on preventative care and wellness. Alice works with her clients in reaching their optimal level of health by addressing the causes of ailments through supporting and bringing balance to the foundations in our body. All these foundations are built upon a single, solid base: a properly prepared, nutrient-dense whole foods diet. Alice has experience helping many clients and their families in different stages of life.

Together Caroline and Alice share a vision dedicated to helping the surrounding community. Their goal is to bring to the Eastern Shore an innovative and wholistic model for understanding health and healing using the best of both ancient and modern medicine. Your body is designed to achieve and sustain health, and together they will show you how. Caroline and Alice are your local, dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable practitioners. In addition to their healing practices, Caroline and Alice are co-chapter leaders of The Talbot County Weston A Price Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to nutrition and health. Caroline and Alice have quarterly gatherings to discuss cooking techniques, where to get local food, and much more.

Weston A Price gathering at Bartlett Pear Inn

Weston A Price gathering at Bartlett Pear Inn

Halo Wholistics and Nutritional Lifestyling with Alice are proud members of Discover Easton. Visit them online at www.halowholistics.com and www.nutritionallifestyling.com. For more information on Discover Easton, including ways to support the independent businesses community of Easton, visit www.discovereaston.com.

Losing a beloved family member is never easy. Over the past week, my beloved twenty-one year old cat, Izzy, had all the signs that I dreaded to see – a decreasing interest in food, a vacant gaze and yesterday he did not come down for his morning meal. Blood tests proved that severe liver issues had surfaced since his last check-up in competition with the feline leukemia that had been diagnosed late last year. I made the heartbreaking decision to let him go.

In my grief I turned to a wonderful book by one of my neighbors, Meg Daley Olmert, “Made for Each Other, The Biology of the Human–Animal Bond” and reread her words of wisdom.  I also remembered the poem “Cat in an Empty Apartment”, a poem from the book “View with a Grain of Sand” by Nobel Laureate Wislawa Szymborska. Unlike the cat in the poem, I survived Izzy and he lived a long life with me after his two previous human companions had died. Two of the poet’s phrases resonated with me-“nothing seems different here, but nothing is the same…someone was always, always here, then suddenly disappeared.”

I gratefully remember the day at Talbot Humane when I saw a heavy orange and cream cat laying in his litter box who was clearly traumatized by his new surroundings. I was delighted to discover he was a polydactyl with big “mitten” paws. It was love at first sight for me and he came home with me to meet my younger cat, Bunter. Izzy weighed twenty-five pounds and quietly sat in front of Bunter like a serene Buddha.  Bunter, however, was eager to establish dominance and began flaying his arms to pick a fight.  Without changing his expression, Izzy smacked his paw across Bunter, sending him into a backward tumble.  So many happy memories that I know will sustain me.

At times of stress, a song pops into my head to help me cope. This morning I heard in my head Sarah McLachlan’s song “ I will Remember You” and I know my beloved Izzy will always be with me in spirit.