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October 8, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

6 Arts Notes

Bayside Quilters Installation at Talbot County Free Library

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The Talbot County Free Library and Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore are proud to present a special installation of quilts to celebrate TCFL’s 100th Anniversary. The installation will be displayed at the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library from May 29 to October 3, 2025. 

The installation features 64 beautifully designed and constructed quilts created by Bayside Quilters guild members and hung throughout the library. The quilts display a range of styles – including traditional, contemporary, modern, appliqué, hand and machine quilting and art. 

From the exuberant swirls of a modern appliqué quilt to traditional quilts honoring the Eastern Shore and the natural world – visitors are sure to be dazzled by the array of colors, patterns and themes on display.

The collaboration is a part of the library’s year-long Centennial Celebrations – a brochure with information on the Bayside Quilters and the quilts displayed will be available at the Circulation Desk for the duration of the installation. 

The Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is a guild committed to the creation, study, and sharing of quilts and quilt making, and have been proudly serving the community for over 30 years. 

“Outreach is core to our mission statement … We are honored to help celebrate the Talbot County Free Library’s 100th Anniversary. The art and craft of quilting goes hand in hand with reading” reports a Guild representative. “Whether it’s learning how to quilt through How-to books, getting inspired by reading fiction or nonfiction or just taking a break. Audible books can be checked out through Hoopla. Listening to a book while stitching is another way quilters use the library services.”

Bayside Quilters meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 9a.m. to about noon at the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company, 4001 Powell Ave, Trappe, MD. Visitors are welcome, and everyone is invited to join. For more information visit, baysidequilters.com, or check out on Facebook at Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore.

For more information about the installation and the Talbot County Free Library, visit www.tcfl.org, or call (410) 822-1626. \

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

Chesapeake Film Festival and Talbot County Free Library launch new monthly film series

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The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) and the Talbot County Free Library are thrilled to announce an exciting new monthly film series, celebrating the library’s 100th Anniversary and CFF’s 18th Season of Our Bay, Our World, Our Festival. This collaborative kick-off event features a captivating lineup of films showcased on select Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Talbot County Free Library’s Main Branch in Easton. Screenings will begin at 6PM for the first three screenings and at 2PM for the June Saturday date, offering perfect midweek & weekend cultural escapes with a wonderful film for younger audiences in June. All films are free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

Upcoming Film Highlights & Key Dates:  

  • March 19: Taste of Things — Celebrate Women’s History Month with this exquisite film starring Juliette Binoche, a tribute to culinary artistry and female empowerment.
  • April 30: River — In honor of Earth Day, experience this breathtaking documentary narrated by Willem Dafoe, exploring the vital role of rivers in our ecosystem and culture.
  • May 21: Conclave — Dive into the intrigue of this Oscar-nominated film starring Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini, a gripping narrative of power and secrecy.
  • June 21: Wicked — Get ready for a wild and wonderful cinematic journey with this theatrical masterpiece starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum. 

“We are delighted to partner with the Talbot County Free Library to bring this diverse and dynamic film series to our community,” said Irene Magafan, President of the Chesapeake Film Festival. “It’s a celebration of storytelling, history, and the shared joy of cinema.”

Join us for these unforgettable evenings of film, community, and celebration. Mark your calendars and don’t miss this opportunity to experience world-class cinema right in Talbot County.  This programming is brought to you by our generous sponsors Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot County Free Library, Maryland Humanities Council, The Artistic Insights Fund, The William Lucks Professional Group powered by Keller Williams Realty and Laser Letters.

All screenings are at the Easton Branch of the Talbot Library and are free and open to the public. Films start at 6PM in March, April and May & 2PM in June.  

For more information, please visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. Or call the library at
410-822-1626.

Chesapeake Film Festival Now OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS on FilmFreeway

Submissions are now OPEN on FilmFreeway!! Filmmakers from around the world are invited to showcase their work and become part of the fastest-growing, prestigious film festival on the Eastern Shore.

Film Categories Include:

  • Environmental Features and Shorts
  • International Features and Documentaries
  • Narrative Features
  • Documentaries
  • Spotlight on Maryland
  • Student Shorts
  • Animations

Key Dates to Remember:

  • Regular Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025
  • Extended Submission Deadline: June 21, 2025
  • Notification Date: July 7, 2025

Festival Dates: October 10, 11, and 12, 2025 Venues: Ebenezer Theater, Academy Art Museum, and Talbot County Free Library

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your film at one of the most dynamic cultural events on the Eastern Shore. Submit your film today and be part of an inspiring celebration of cinema.

For more information and to submit your film, please visit  https://filmfreeway.com/chesapeakefilmfestival

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

Library to host 9th Annual Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival Extravaganza

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For the ninth year in a row, the Talbot County Free Library will host Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival as a kick off for the annual Summer Reading Program.
“The day of the Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival is always one of my favorite days of the year,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman. “All the happy children, all the wonderful storytelling and art, all the authors sharing their thoughts with little ones—it just can’t be beat.”
On Saturday, June 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. prepare for a one-day, rain or shine, free extravaganza at the Easton Library, 100 W, Dover Street. This year’s Summer Reading Program theme, “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” offers a celebration for children of all ages, diversity and the joy of reading.
Children who sign up for the Summer Reading Program and attend the festival will receive a voucher valid for one free book from the attending author of their choice (while supplies last). The festivities will include live readings from some of the authors as opportunities for the public to meet individual authors and illustrators.
This year will include 13 new authors to the festival. Laura Shovan is a novelist, educator, and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. Her award-winning children’s books include “The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary,” “Takedown,” and the Sydney Taylor Notable Book, “A Place at the Table,” written with Saadia Faruqi.
Shovan is a longtime poet-in-the-school for the Maryland State Arts Council and teaches for Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Her latest poetry collection for kids is “Welcome to Monsterville.”
Chiêu Anh Urban is an award-winning children’s book author, illustrator, and book designer. She enjoys creating playful books that provide fun learning and exploration for the youngest readers.
Urban’s recent titles include, “Illusions in Art: Animals” and “Illusions in Art: Food” with Candlewick Press (2023), and novelty books “123 Zoom” and “ABC Roar” with S&S (2022). Urban is the creator of the board book series “Color Wonder: Hooray for Spring!” and “Color Wonder: Winter is Here!” When she’s not delving into novelty book projects, she’s indulging in
sweet confections and arts and crafts with her family. She is also the winner of the Indigo Design Silver Award Winner in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
This program is funded in part by a grant from Talbot Arts with revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council. Other funders include the Friends of the Talbot County Free Library, the Talbot County Free Library Foundation, and the governments of Talbot County, Easton and Easton Rotary Club. Maryland Public Television will be a media partner for the festival.
Partner organizations at the festival will include: Imagination Library of Talbot County, Maryland Public Television, Judy Center, Flying Cloud Booksellers, University of Maryland Extension – Master Gardeners, the Friends of the Talbot County Free Library, Pickering Creek Audubon Center and Daughters of the American Revolution.
For more information about the 9th Annual Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival and the Summer Reading Program, visit www.chesapeakechildrensbookfestival.com/ or visit www.tcfl.org or call the library at 410-822-1626.

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St.; and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, and digital devices, as well as free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

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