Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading The Spy today. We live in troubled times, but there is much to be thankful for, especially ... [Continue Story]
Public Affairs
Maryland Projects $1.4 B Shortfall for Next Year — Five Times April Estimate
Legislative budget analysts are warning of a $1.4 billion budget gap for fiscal 2027, driven by federal economic policies, that is projected to grow ... [Continue Story]
- Thousands of Maryland Seniors Notified of the End of their Medicare Advantage Plans
- Maryland Unveils ‘Historic’ $340 Million Settlement with Conowingo Dam Owner
- Spy Chat: The Release of Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal and his Future with Len Foxwell
- Update: Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal is Home
- Protest for Detained Pastor Draws Dozens in Easton
- Longtime and Beloved Minister of Easton Church Arrested by ICE
Centreville Highlights
Kent Island Has Its Day by Brent Lewis
This year’s Kent Island Day, an annual family-friendly event organized by the Kent Island Heritage Society to celebrate the historical and cultural ... [Continue Story]
- Spy Minute: Is the Millstream Trail One of the Best on the Mid-Shore?
- Hitting the Mark: QAC’s 4-H Marksmanship Club at 50
- “God of Carnage”: A Chat With CHT Director Michael Whitehill
- Eastern Shore Democratic Summit Held
- Mrs. Madelyn Hollis Takes a Bow: A Celebration of a Teacher’s Life
- The Road from Here: A Chat with Eastern Shore Land Conservancy President Steve Kline
Spy Highlights
From & Fuller: What Was Lost During The Government Shutdown?
Every Thursday, The Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment. This week, From and ... [Continue Story]
- From and Fuller: The Real Impact of the Big Democrat Election Victories
- Maryland Caucus with Foxwell and Mitchell: Moore and Ferguson Not Eye-to-Eye on Redistricting
- Giving and Growing: Robbin Hill Reflects on 24 Years at Mid-Shore Community Foundation
- From and Fuller: The Government Shutdown and a Dangerous Political Game of Chicken
- Maryland Caucus with Foxwell and Mitchell: The Children’s Hunger Crisis in Maryland
- From and Fuller: The “No Kings” Political Impact Now and In 2026
The Arts and Design
Spy Review: Cinematic Classical Gas, by Steve Parks
From chamber music to movie scores, many high-brow composers could do it all. Chesapeake Music’s Sunday matinee “Interlude” performance – its final ... [Continue Story]
- A Waterfowl Weekend with Artist Sandy Alanko
- Spy Review: MSO Salutes 3 of the All-Time Greats by Steve Parks
- ESWA Launches First Holiday Book Festival at Cult Classic Brewery, Dec. 13
- Spy Review: Dracula’s Brides Seek Vengeance by Steve Parks
- Dracula Reimagined: Cambridge’s Groove Theatre Returns with a Feminist Twist
- The Bay to Ocean Journal 2025: A Mirror to the Shore’s Creative Heart
Ecosystem
ShoreRivers Hiring Executive Director
ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. We are seeking a ... [Continue Story]
- ShoreRivers Director to Step Down, Search for Successor Begins
- Washington College Earns High Flyer Status for Bird Conservation
- Bay Journal: FEMA Cancels $1 Billion for Flood Prevention Projects in Chesapeake Bay Region
- The Solar Land Rush—A farmer’s perspective with Judy Gifford
- Intense Maryland Energy Debates in Annapolis Fill a Single Afternoon
- Maryland Levies Fines on Perdue, Valley Proteins for Environmental Violations
Maryland News
Low-income Marylanders, Local Officials Left to Navigate ‘Roller Coaster’ of SNAP Disruption
The Trump administration told states Friday that it would be releasing funds to support federal food assistance during the government shutdown — just ... [Continue Story]
- Moore pushes for Congressional Redistricting, sets up Confrontation with Senate
- Honoring Talbot County’s Uncle Nace Hopkins: The Day Freedom Came in Trappe
- Judge Appears Skeptical of Claim that Unaffiliated Voters Can Sue Maryland Over Closed Primaries
- Maryland, 14 Other Democratic States Launch Public Health Alliance to Counter Trump, Rfk Jr.
- Undocumented Residents’ Access to State Health Insurance Marketplace Delayed From 2026 to 2028
- Maryland Officials Work To Set Up Supports For Federal Workers During ‘Scary Time”
Shore Health
Lets Talk about It with Beth Anne Dorman: Making Sure Our Veterans Get the Help They Need
For many veterans, coming home means facing a different kind of battle, one that unfolds quietly, within families and communities. And on the ... [Continue Story]
- Senior Nation: Nature’s Multicolored Autumn Farewell by Susan Covey
- A Spy Chat with Shore Regional Health’s New Clark Breast Center Director Dr. Kathryn Kelley
- Lets Talk about It with Beth Anne Dorman: The Riddle and Some Answers for ADHD
- A Bad Diagnosis, Remarkable Recovery, and Giving Back: A Chat with Andrew Dorbin
- Let’s Talk About It with Beth Anne Dorman: Keeping your Mental Health During Tough Times
- Let’s Talk About It: Human Trafficking with For All Seasons’ Susan Ahlstrom
Mid-Shore Education
Benedictine’s Next Chapter: A Chat with Executive Director Scott Evans
It can never be said enough times how lucky the Mid-Shore is to have such a remarkable place as Benedictine in our region. And that is the reason we ... [Continue Story]
- Washington College President Michael Sosulski Steps Down
- Wetlands 101: Sultana Education Foundation Presents an Evening of Interactive Science
- MD Senate Panel’s vote on Blueprint bill straddles House, Administration Versions
- Gunston celebrates Class of 2025 college-bound athletes
- Wood Foundation awards $100K grant to Radcliffe Creek School
- Morgan State professor fined for presenting himself as licensed architect
Brevities
The Slow Unfurling of Christmas By Katherine Emery General
A couple of weeks ago, on a crisp morning walk with my dog, an idea popped into my mind as softly as the season itself. Instead of the usual ... [Continue Story]
Community News
Caroline Foundation Awards $1 Million in Grants to 26 Caroline County Nonprofits
The Caroline Foundation celebrated its 10th year of community grantmaking by awarding $1 million to 26 nonprofit organizations during the annual ... [Continue Story]
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore (BBBSES) Giving Tuesday Celebration: FriendsGiving Bingo.
- Winter on the Chesapeake Returns to CBMM on Dec. 13
- Church Hill Theatre Seeks New Business Manager
- The Top 5 Things to Get Excited about Waterfowl Festival 2025 with Deena Kilman
- County Commissioners Request State Assistance for MD 405 and US 301 Safety Improvements
- Queen Annes Chorale Holiday Concert: A Classic Christmas
Senior Life
Senior Nation: Embrace Your Age, Live Your Best Life by Susan Covey
According to Leading Age, “Active Aging is a worldwide initiative that honors the spirit and contributions of older adults while encouraging active ... [Continue Story]
- The Difference Between Try And Triumph Is A Little Umph! By Susan Covey
- State Officials Launch 10-Year Plan to Boost Supports for Growing Senior Population
- Strive for Independence, Not Just on the 4Th Of July! by Susan Covey
- Senior Nation: Gardening a Great Boost for Body and Soul by Susan Covey
- Senior Nation: April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month by Susan Covey
- It’s American Heart Month by Susan Covey
Art Notes
Oxford’s Dan Weiss Becomes New Director of Philadelphia Museum of Art
Oxford resident Daniel Weiss has just been appointed the new director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mr. Wise had recently retired from the ... [Continue Story]
- New Class at the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore in January
- Violist Paul Laraia Discusses The Catalyst Quartet’s “Cinematic Refuge” By Maria Grant
- Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Presents Its Annual “Holiday Joy” Concerts
- Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore Hosts Fourth Annual Handmade Market
- Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Music Director Michael Repper Receives Two GRAMMY Nominations
- Smithsonian Exhibition on Innovation Arrives at Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center
Ecosystem Notes
Pickering Creek Revitalizes Junior Naturalist Program
A key part of the success of Pickering Creek’s annual EcoCamp is its Junior Naturalists (JNs). JNs, who are middle and high school students, form a ... [Continue Story]
- Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Celebrates 35th Anniversary
- ESLC & Plein Air Easton Alumni Invitational Celebrates Eastern Shore Forests in the Fall
- ESLC Conservation Videos Connect Clean Water to Conservation
- Pairing Herbs, Food, and Wine with Chesapeake Bay Herb Society
- Conservation Easement Expands Cecil County Conservation Corridor to 16,445 Acres
- New Seasonal Staff at Pickering Creek Dive into the Season
Education Notes
Benedictine Community Celebrates Construction Milestone
Staff, supported students and adults and community members came together to celebrate the construction of new residential buildings on ... [Continue Story]
- Blueprint Board Approves Legislative Recommendations for 2026 Session
- Gunston Welcomes 47 Students to the National Honor Society
- Gunston School Transforms Education into Action with Civic Learning Day
- Gunston School’s 10th Annual Bull & Oyster Roast Raises $150,000 for Campus Technology Overhaul
- Four Gunston Students Honored with National Merit Commended Recognition
- Celebrate OysterFest with CBMM on Oct. 25
Health Notes
Frosty’s Holiday Village Event Expands to Offer More Family Fun and Resources
For All Seasons will host the fifth annual Frosty’s Holiday Village event on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Anchor Church at 620 ... [Continue Story]
- Talisman Therapeutic Riding Sleigh Celebration is Bringing Broadway to Maryland
- Choptank Health Recognizes National Rural Health Day
- UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology Welcomes New Interventional Cardiologist
- McKenna Gillen, MS, OT, Joins University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Outpatient Rehabilitation Teams at Denton and Queenstown Locations
- Primary Stroke Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Earns Honors for Tenth Consecutive Year
- For All Seasons Brings Awareness to Mental Health Challenges of Family Members and Caregivers of Veterans
Food Friday
Food Friday: Gobble, Gobble
We had hoped to simplify Thanksgiving this year. We have recently moved to temporary lodgings in an apartment while the new house is being finished, ... [Continue Story]
Looking at the Masters with Beverly Smith
Looking at the Masters: Christi Belcourt
Christi Belcourt, a Metis and First Nations of Canada artist, was born in 1968 in Scarborough, Ontario. She now lives in Lac Ste Anne, ... [Continue Story]
Design with Jenn Martella
Design with Jenn Martella: Sherwood Style
The picturesque unincorporated village of Sherwood between Tilghman Island Road and Waterhole Cove to Harris Creek was established in 1928 by ... [Continue Story]
From and Fuller Podcast
From & Fuller: What Was Lost During The Government Shutdown?
Every Thursday, The Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment. This week, From and ... [Continue Story]
- From and Fuller: The Real Impact of the Big Democrat Election Victories
- From and Fuller: A Rough Week for Trump in Court, with Russia and China, as Epstein Returns as the Front Page Story
- From and Fuller: Is Trump Winning the News Cycle and Governor Newsom Pulls the Trigger on Redistricting for 2026
- From and Fuller: The Political Impact of RFK Jr.s MAHA Agenda and Texas Redistricting Part 2
- From and Fuller: Ending ICE Madness and an Epstein Tipping Point?
- From and Fuller: Elon Musk’s 3rd Party and the Epstein Files MAGA Civil War
Columnist J.E. Dean
Thanksgiving 2025 By J.E. Dean
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading The Spy today. We live in troubled times, but there is much to be thankful for, especially ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Howard Freedlander
Out and About (Sort of): Stars in Different Realms by Howard Freedlander
What did Willie Mays and Donald Sutherland have in common? Nothing. Except an overriding desire to excel in each’s craft. Mays was a true wonder ... [Continue Story]
- Out and About (Sort of): Slavery of Thought by Howard Freedlander
- Out and About (Sort of): Higher Education on Edge by Howard Freedlander
- Strike for Democracy by Howard Freedlander
- Out and About (Sort of): American Voter by Howard Freedlander
- Out and About (Sort of): Hospice Heroes by Howard Freedlander
- Out and About (Sort of): An Apolitical Document Fails by Howard Freedlander
Columnist Craig Fuller
Conversations with Craig Fuller: Ambassador and Author Frank Lavin
My friend and former White House colleague Ambassador Frank Lavin has a book coming out in March about his experience in the White House and ... [Continue Story]
- Midair collision over the Potomac: Week two update by Craig Fuller
- A midair tragedy last night in Washington by Craig Fuller
- The Classic Motor Museum starts a new trip in St. Michaels: Craig Fuller talks to Mike Iandolo
- MPT, the Chesapeake Bay and Viewers Like You: A Chat with Station Manager Steven Schupak
- So Much Money, So Little Time by Craig Fuller
- One Amazing Story by One Amazing Individual by Craig Fuller
Columnist Jamie Kirkpatrick
Of. By. For. By Jamie Kirkpatrick
Eight score and two years ago—almost to the day—President Abraham Lincoln soothed America’s soul on a blood-soaked field near Gettysburg, ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Laura Oliver
Love is a Relative Term By Laura J. Oliver
As you read this, Grandme is a memory, relationships have come and gone, children have left home. As you read this, only the feeling that existed ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Angela Rieck
Nature’s “Inventions” By Angela Rieck
Since recorded history, people have looked to nature for knowledge. Today, the study of animals, insects, and plants has led to inventions such as ... [Continue Story]
Columnist Al Sikes
Thanksgiving: Our Choice By Al Sikes
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is quite understandable. We give thanks for many things in our lives and beyond. And it is universal; it ... [Continue Story]
Opinion
Character Is Policy by Johnny O’Brien
Perhaps you—like me and most of my friends—have a grave difficulty discussing politics in our hyper-partisan nation. We often report that civil ... [Continue Story]
- Trump Policies Disrupt the Eastern Shore Soybean Market by Wilson Dean
- As the Supreme Court Term Begins… Some Reflections by Margaret Andersen
- Character Rot: Sounding the Alarm by Johnny O’Brien
- The Political is Personal: Reflections on DEI by Margaret Andersen
- New report reveals value of resource conservation for Shore businesses by John Horner
- History of US Territorial Acquisitions By Tom Timberman
Letters to the Editor
Letter to Editor: An Abundance of Cruelty
Have you noticed how often, how persistently, the word “cruelty” is showing up in the news? I was reading about the prison built in the Everglades by ... [Continue Story]
- Letter to Editor: A Vanishing Way of Life
- Letter to Editor: How the Big Beautiful Bill Would Affect the Mid-Shore
- These Republicans Are Right – Don’t Blame Governor Wes Moore For Maryland’s Long-Projected Budget Deficit
- Letter to the Editor: Maryland’s Legislature is failing rural communities By Janet Christensen-Lewis
- Letter to Talbot County Council: Keep employee handbook DEI statement
- Letter to Editor: Representative Harris snubs the ‘Beagle Brigade’
