Spy Special Agent 86 assembled significant evidence this week that Spring is now officially here in Talbot County. The intelligence officer submitted his report earlier this morning.
This video is approximately one minute in length.
Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community
by Spy Agent 86
Spy Special Agent 86 assembled significant evidence this week that Spring is now officially here in Talbot County. The intelligence officer submitted his report earlier this morning.
This video is approximately one minute in length.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Chestertown resident Pete Sweetser is on a mission to heal some old wounds: the unfortunate and often harsh treatment that men and women in uniform received during the Vietnam War.
Sweetser has been instrumental in bringing the National Vietnam War Veterans Day to Chestertown and is now gearing up for another event honoring the nation’s Vietnam War veterans. On March 29, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the town will host its third annual ceremony at Memorial Park. The event, which has drawn nearly 600 attendees in past years, aims to recognize and thank the men and women who served during the Vietnam War era.
Congress authorized the creation of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration under the Department of Defense. Its primary objective was to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families on behalf of the nation for their service and sacrifice, with distinct recognition of former prisoners of war, families of those still listed as missing in action, and those who were killed in action (Gold Star Families).
The ceremony is part of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, established by Congress to honor Vietnam veterans and their families. The commemoration recognizes all individuals who served in the U.S. military between 1955 and 1975, totaling nearly 9 million people, of whom about 6 million are still alive today.
During the ceremony, veterans will be individually thanked for their service and sacrifice. They will also receive a specially designed lapel pin as a token of appreciation. Additionally, widows of veterans who have passed away since the war and family members of those missing or killed in action will be honored with special pins.
The event will feature several significant elements, including the singing of the National Anthem, a presentation of the National Flag by a Color Guard from the U.S. Marine Barracks in Washington, DC, and a Missing Man Table ceremony performed by members of Washington College’s Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Five Gold Star families from Kent County will also be recognized.
The keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony is Colonel Larry Wilkerson, U.S. Army (ret), a veteran who flew helicopters in Vietnam. Col. Wilkerson has had a distinguished military career, serving in various roles, including as an assistant to Colin Powell and later as Secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration.
All residents of Kent County and surrounding areas are invited to attend the ceremony, regardless of military service. Veterans from all eras are encouraged to participate, with a special invitation extended to Vietnam War veterans. Those who have already received a pin are urged to attend and bring another veteran who has not yet been recognized.
The ceremony is made possible through the collaboration of several local organizations, including the American Legion Posts from Chestertown, Rock Hall, Betterton, and Centreville; G.A.R. Post 5 – Sumner Hall; Old Kent Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Washington College Kappa Sigma Fraternity; and the Town of Chestertown, Kent County, represented by its Commissioners; and local law enforcement and Rescue Squads.
It promises to be a meaningful and respectful tribute to those who served during the Vietnam War.
All residents of Kent County and the surrounding areas are invited to attend, whether they have ever served in the military or not. All veterans, whenever they served, are invited. Veterans from the Vietnam War period are particularly invited to attend and be recognized if they choose to do so. All Vietnam veterans who have previously been presented with a pin are urged to attend and to bring another veteran who has not.
The Spy recently talked with Mr. Sweetser about the significance of the March 29 event. For more about the National Vietnam War Veterans Day, go here.
This video is approximately seven minutes in length.
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“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” – Malala Yousafzai
March is Women’s History Month; this year’s theme is Women Who Advocate For Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Women’s History Month actually started as a local celebration of “Women’s History Week “ in Sonoma, California, in 1978. The movement gained such momentum and popularity that in 1980 President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.
In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month was created to recognize, honor, and celebrate the many contributions that women have made throughout history to culture and society. The month also recognizes the struggles of women and their accomplishments over those struggles.
In the context of Women’s History Month, March has gone purple, green, and white in honor of those women who paved the way. Purple represents the dignity and determination of women who have fought for their rights throughout history. Purple is also a soothing and calming color that promotes harmony and balance. Green represents the hope and optimism that comes with progress and change. It symbolizes the new life and opportunities that women have gained through their hard work and perseverance. The color green reminds us that change is possible and that progress is within reach. White represents the purity of women’s intentions and the clarity of their message. It symbolizes the righteousness of their cause and their commitment to nonviolent protest.
My home state of Wyoming, rich in women’s history, has “The Equality State” as its nickname. Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. William Bright, a resident of South Pass City, introduced the women’s suffrage bill to the Wyoming Territorial Legislature that passed in 1869. Many legislators voted for the bill hoping to increase the territory’s population. As a result, suffragette Esther Hobart Morris became South Pass City’s justice of the peace, and the first woman in the United States to hold a political office.
Nellie Tayloe Ross was an American educator and politician who served as the fourteenth governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927. She was the first woman in the United States to be elected governor. Nellie Tayloe Ross went on to become the first woman director of the U.S. Mint from 1933 to 1953.
On September 6, 1870, Louisa Swain, aged sixty-nine, put her apron on and walked to town to buy groceries. Louisa Swain, joining a group of women waiting to vote, was the oldest in the group and therefore the first woman allowed to vote in Laramie, Wyoming and the entire United States.
Wyoming Territory retained its woman suffrage law even when that law could have jeopardized the Territory’s application for statehood. In 1890, when Wyoming had a large enough population to become a state, Wyoming residents petitioned Congress with a constitution that included suffrage for women. Wyoming became the first state allowing its women citizens the right to vote. Wyoming women exercised their right to vote, in the 1880’s, ninety percent of women voted.
In 1880, Susan Johnson was appointed postmaster in Cheyenne and Mary Bellamy became the first woman to serve in a state legislature.
I often wonder if having free thinking parents while growing up in Wyoming was the reason that I avoided the pinch of inequality in being a woman. My parents celebrated our dreams and goals in life without question. Education was important to my parents and college was absolutely the next step after high school.
In an age (late1960s) when women wore hats and gloves, my Mother would show up to volunteer at my elementary school wearing Levi’s, rolled at the cuff, Minnetonka moccasins, and a beautiful blouse. She was an independent woman who pursued her art and music every day. Mom was a great role model who didn’t apologize for doing what she loved. She managed our family finances, invested in the stock market, and made the world’s best cream puffs. Her days included volunteer work that was always raising money to support women and children. My parents were equals, they were a team, they each had very busy careers and an active social life.
My parents had several dear friends who were ranchers. In one family, the husband was a surgeon and the wife managed the family’s cattle ranch. Another great example of equality that was the norm in my 1960’s childhood.
Unfortunately, in a 2022 U.S. News and World Report ranked Wyoming 45th out of the 50 states for gender equality. The state lagged behind other states in two categories – representation and power and family planning. The late journalist, Cokie Robert’s summarized the state’s history with gender equality during her keynote speech at a Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus conference in 2019. “Wyoming has a lot of firsts, but not a lot of seconds.” Despite having one of the highest levels of gender equality in labor force participation, the state has one of the highest gender wage gaps, though it has closed somewhat in the last twenty years.
Wyoming was a wonderful place to grow up but now it’s just a nice place to visit.
“Wyoming is the first place in God’s green earth which could consistently claim to be the land of the free.” – Susan B. Anthony
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This Talbot Historical Society Charles C. Harris Collection photo is of a 1965 volunteer trash cleanup effort somewhere in Talbot County. C. C. Harris lived near Royal Oak so it’s possibly in that area. The only person identified is 3rd from the right Ed Kilmon. Can you identify the other volunteers in this group?
Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!
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St. Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates St. Patrick, the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Because St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, it became a day for Christians to take a break from the abstinence practiced during the weeks leading up to Easter. By the 1700’s, the holiday had started to take a decidedly more festive turn than its founders had intended.
In America, St. Patrick’s Day slowly shifted from a religious observation to a secular celebration of Irish heritage. Irish Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which is the oldest and largest St.Patrick’s Day parade in the world.
Saint Patrick’s given name was Maewyn Succat; when he became an ordained priest he chose the name, Patrick. Maewyn was born into a wealthy family in the fourth century in Roman Britain, possibly in the area now known as Wales. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity working as a shepherd. It was during this time that Patrick found God. After his escape, Patrick became a priest and returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. He spent many years evangelizing in the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, Patrick, described as a humble man, had established monasteries, churches, and schools.
Legends say that Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to students, by showing the example of the three-leaved plant with one stalk. In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number, the Irish had many triple deities, which may have aided Patrick in his evangelisation efforts. Icons of St. Patrick depict him with a cross in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other.
Some are surprised to learn that Patrick was never canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church despite living in constant danger of martyrdom. This lack of official sainthood is because there was no formal canonization process in the 400s.
Before the nineteenth century the color linked to St. Patrick was blue. Green is now the typical hue, thanks to Irish immigrants who came to America and celebrated their Irish ancestry by wearing this symbolic color. The color green is represented in Ireland’s flag and the country is referred to as “the Emerald Isle.” According to fun folklore, you get pinched on St. Patrick’s Day for not wearing green because green makes you invisible to Leprechauns. Leprechauns are mischievous creatures, according to legend, that like to pinch people.
The original Irish shamrock is traditionally spelled seamrog, which means summer plant. The shamrock has been used as a symbol of the Emerald Isle since the late 17th century. The shamrock is a type of clover, although Botanists are divided on which species of clover. Shamrocks aren’t unique to Ireland, they grow all over Europe and the United States. The nectar of shamrock flowers is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. The shamrock or white clover is the perfect plant for organic lawn care as it fixes nitrogen. It keeps soil in better shape than grass does and it I s an excellent forage crop for livestock due to its high protein content. The shamrock is firmly established as an Irish emblem. For good luck, it is usually included in the bouquet of an Irish bride and the boutonnière of the groom. Viewed as an act of rebellion in Victorian England, Irish regiments were forbidden to display the shamrock.
Since 2010, famous landmarks have been lit up in green on St. Patrick’s Day as a part of Ireland’s “Global Greening Initiative.” The Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland were the first to participate and since then three hundred landmarks in fifty countries across the globe have gone green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Every year, officials turn the Chicago River green in honor of St. Patrick and the many Irish immigrants who helped settle the city.
“May you all have the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold.” -Old Irish Blessing
Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
This is a photo of the beautiful Log canoe “Nannie” in front of the Altvater home in Tunis Mills with the Tunis Mills wooden bridge in the background. circa 1905-1910. The tall mast atop the log canoe’s rear sail actually belongs to a Bugeye/Schooner docked at the Tunis Mills bridge. The “Nannie belonged to Charles Decker Altvater. Charles was a carpenter with plenty of work in St. Michaels. Like many others in this period, Charles converted the “Nannie” to power and died in 1915.
A large majority of the Chesapeake Bay workboats in the late 1800s and early 1900s were sailing log canoes. In the early 1900’s, many like my grandfather Gus Mielke’s were converted to power. In so doing, the bow and stern were reversed. Small cuddy cabins were also added. The sheer, unmatched, majestic beauty of a log canoe is never more evident than in this example. What lines! No wonder there is an undying interest in log canoes and their competitive racing!
Photo courtesy of Charles Decker Altvater’s grandchildren, Phil and Rebecca Walker.
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Ninety percent of American households owned a television set in 1960.
Saturdays were the best day of the week for kids growing up in the 1960’s, cartoons all morning. We had two tv’s in my house, one in the basement playroom and one in my parent’s bedroom. Television was not a social activity for my family, we watched privately as a family. A family television was eventually added to our Den in the late 1960’s, but never in the formal living room. My parents always had a television in their bedroom which was a cozy place to watch when sick or late at night.
On Saturdays we’d get up early, fix ourselves a bowl of Sugar Pops, Alpha Bits, Trix, Cap’n Crunch or Sugar Snaps cereal and head to the basement to enjoy a glorious five hours of uninterrupted cartoons. First up were Heckle and Jeckle, a pair of magpies who would cause problems for themselves and others with their bizarre antics. Heckle spoke in a rough, New York accent and Jeckle had a proper British accent.
The Jetsons was a huge favorite about a futuristic family residing in Orbit City. “Meet George Jetson,” are the first words in its catchy theme song that I can still sing to this day. George and his wife, Jane had two children, Judy and Elroy. Astro was their dog and Rosie, their robotic maid. George’s work week consisted of an hour a day, two days a week. Jetson commuted in an aero car with a transparent bubble top. The original cartoon had several devices that didn’t exist at the time but subsequently have not only been invented but are in common use: a flatscreen television, newspaper in a computer like screen, video chat, a tanning bed, and a home treadmill. The Jetsons satirized Space Age notions of a better tomorrow so when the twenty first century arrived and there weren’t any flying cars or personal jet packs, many viewers complained.
Quick Draw McGraw was a horse caricature that walked on two legs, he had “hands” that were hooves with thumbs that could hold objects such as guns. Quick Draw satirized the westerns that were popular among the American public at the time. Quick Draw was well intentioned but somewhat dim. His catchphrases were “Hold on there!” And “I’ll do the thin’in around here and don’t you forget it!” Quick Draw often accidentally shot himself with his own six-shooter, saying, “Oooh that smarts!” Baba Looey, a Mexican burro, is Quick Draw’s deputy.
Top Cat was a show about the life of a group of cats and their “get rich quick” schemes, living in a New York Alley. Top Cat, whose friends call TC, is a clever hustler who leads his faithful followers on assorted scams, gambling activities, and harebrained stunts, all in pursuit of a fast dollar. Keeping an eye on things is Officer Dribble, a beat cop who has his hands full trying to break up TC’s shenanigans.
Rocky and Bullwinkle, Yogi Bear, and Mighty Mouse were also in the queue on Saturday mornings. The morning ended with re-runs of Lassie and The Lone Ranger. We switched off the tv when college sports came on.
We eagerly anticipated the commercials on Saturday mornings that accompanied the cartoons. Fruit Stripe gum, McDonald’s, Trix Cereal, Tang, toys, and games were a few favorites that were advertised. Mattel’s commercials of kids playing with the latest Barbie’s were what I dreamt about all week. My brothers wanted the latest GI Joe action figure. Our Christmas wish lists were greatly influenced by Saturday morning commercials.
One Christmas my older brother was given the iconic Mattel’s “Vac-U-Form” which was the 1960s version of a 3-D printer. The Vac-U-Form was invented by Eddy Goldfarb, based on the industrial process of vacuum forming. A rectangular piece of plastic was clamped in a holder and heated over a metal plate. When the plastic was soft, the holder was swung to the other side, over a mold of the object to be formed. I can remember the smell of the melting plastic to this day. We would always get little burns while making creepy crawlers. We were thrilled to be making our own toys.
The reasons for the end of Saturday morning cartoons are numerous, they have their roots in Parental Advocacy Groups. The groups were concerned about the amount of time kids spent watching cartoons, cartoon depictions of violence, and stereotypes as well as the commercialism that has always been a part of TV cartoons. Kids, it turns out, had a difficult time distinguishing the shows they were watching from the ads that ran during them.
Saturday morning cartoons, like pay phones and video rental stores are one of those cultural touchstones that meant so much to older generations, but are meaningless to children today.
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You can clearly see parts of the original 1915 Memorial Hospital at Easton in this Talbot Historical Society Laird Wise Collection photo! The center wing addition that is in the foreground was dedicated in 1955! More additions that totally concealed the original hospital building were made in 1985. Facts: “Easton Album” by Norman Harrington 1986.
Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!
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“When clouds look like horsetails, rain or snow will come in three days.” Every culture around the world has its own weather sayings that are a part of daily life. The weather is always a topic of discussion, especially for teachers, we keep a close watch on the weather for daily outdoor recess, but most of all, we love a “snow day.” We might be a little superstitious around snow, one fellow teacher makes a soup that has resulted in a heavy snowfall. After a particularly long week it has been jokingly suggested that it’s time to make “snow soup.”
After the mild winter of 2023, meteorologists predicted a very snowy 2024. Many work colleagues reference The Farmer’s Almanac’s prediction of snow through April. We have four extra days built into our school calendar for snow days, we’ve used one. As I look at the weather channel’s forecast, the last days of February and the beginning of March seem very mild. I can’t imagine snow in April, especially when everyone has vacations planned for June and the thought of extending the school year seems brutal.
According to Folklore, Ember Days are an ancient method of predicting the weather, they foretell the weather for the next three months. Ember Days coincide with the four seasons, they occur on successive Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Ember Days in 2024 are celebrated on February 21, 23, and 24; May 22, 24,and 25; September 18, 20, and 21; and December 18, 20, and 21. February 21 forecasts the weather for March; February 23 for April, and February 24 for May.
Ember Days also focus our attention on the blessings of nature, we give thanks for the blessings we’ve received and also remind ourselves of our need for penance and grace. The roots of Ember Days go back to the Old Testament. The book of Zechariah describes an ancient Jewish practice of fasting four times a year.
It is believed that Ember Days observances date back to the time of Pope Leo I in the 5th century, when observers would thank God for the gifts of nature, embrace those gifts in moderation, and assist the needy. Pope Gregory VII expanded the observance of Ember Days making it a large part of the Catholic faith. It is said that Ember Days may have been created in response to the excessive celebrations that surrounded the pagan festivals in Rome. Ember Days can be thought of as mini-Lent with some fasting and abstinence to refocus spiritually.
The Ember Days this month were a little warmer than typically predicted by meteorologists for the end of February, which must mean that March, April, and May will have higher temperatures. It is suggested that we are to step outside and observe the weather on each of the Ember Days. It was a sunny day on February 21 so according to folklore, March is going to be sunny. It rained all day on February 23 so April will be rainy. February 24 was a mix of early rain in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon, so using Ember Days’ philosophy, May will have rainy and sunny days. Nothing here suggests more snow.
Pennsylvania Dutch proverbs and sayings have a deep connection to Ember Days. Edwin Fogel, after researching Ember Days, wrote the book: Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans. In his book, Fogel recounts beliefs that people born on Ember Days can see ghosts, that rain on an Ember Day is followed by three weeks of rain, and that washing on an Ember Day is unlucky. Fogel goes on to say that; as it rains in March, so it rains in June. Thunder in March brings a fruitful year. If the wind on the first day of spring is out of the north, little fine weather should be expected until July.
Step into your yard, a nearby field, or go for a hike and look around for Mother Nature’s weather signs. Extra bushy squirrels’ tails and a very thick, black coat of a woolly worm, are a couple of signs of a harsh winter. Due to leap year, February got an extra day and spring is early this year, March 19. My daffodils and crocuses are reliable predictors of spring and they are close to blooming. Many of us who want to be sure it’s going to rain are forced to go back to the old-time reliable method of painful arthritis and aching joints that indicate wet weather.
The Old Farmers Almanac first published in 1792 includes many anecdotal weather forecast tips. Before modern meteorology, folks watched the skies to forecast the weather. Many proverbs are based on a certain truth; for example; “A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather.” A halo around the Moon usually indicates an advancing warm front, which means precipitation. For centuries, farmers and sailors-people whose livelihoods depended on the weather relied on lore to forecast the weather. They quickly connected changes in nature with rhythms or patterns of the weather.
Every morning during circle time, my class discusses the weather. They are learning new words such as blustery, foggy, and overcast, to describe the day’s weather. As the month of March approaches, I’m teaching my kindergarteners about weather folklore. We will make notes on March first; will March come in like a lion or a lamb? We will then make predictions about whether March goes out like a lion or a lamb.
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – John Ruskin
Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.