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October 14, 2025

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

2 News Homepage News News Portal Highlights

QAC Finds a Path for Biking: A Chat with Steve Chandlee and Steve Cohoon

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Just a quick look at a map of bike trails (noted in black above) in Queen Anne’s County says it all. While the opportunities for expanding biking and pedestrian trials are enormous, the existing public access bike paths are a mere fraction of that potential.

That’s no secret to the Queen Anne’s County planning professionals tasked with delivering a draft master plan for the County Council to expand this fledgling network. Still, without serious community input on where to create those new trails, it is unlikely those recommendations will see the light of day.

And that’s why Steve Chandlee, QAC’s parks & recreation director, and Steve Cohoon, the county’s public facilities planner, are eager to have community involvement before their final report is submitted early next year. Through systematic survey collection, public input meetings, and more informal conversations with residents, nonprofits, and planning experts, they will be able to document a road map that might make QAC a state-wide leader in non-vehicle traffic planning.

The Spy spent a few moments with Steve and Steve via Zoom last week to understand more about the scope of their work and vast opportunities a master plan could provide for funding and improved quality of life for all.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about this project please go here.

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

Passing the Torch at Londonderry: A Chat with Christine Harrington and Irma Toce

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Unlike most organizational change, the passing of the torch from one retirement community director to a new one is more akin to a college president or a rector of a large church. While the first responsibility is to keep budgets aligned, expenses paid, and a steady revenue flow, these transfers of responsibility also include the less tangible  but equally important sense of culture and community.

In fact, for Irma Toce, the retiring CEO of Londonderry on the Tred Avon, if one keeps a special culture of a place right, most, if not all, of the financial management challenges work themselves out. And for the last decade, Irma’s instincts have proven correct; Londonderry is at total capacity, including a healthy waiting list. Undoubtedly, the retirement community’s location is one of many other factors for its success. Still, with Irma’s encouragement and support during her time, it is its genuine sense of community that is the most compelling selling point.

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that when Londonderry’s board was tasked to find Irma’s successor, Christine Harrington was the first choice. Growing up in Easton in a neighborhood of families, some of whom are now residents of Londonderry, Christine comes to her new role with a long career in the senior living field.

That included being the former executive director of The Arbor Company, an administrator of The Homestead Manor and Heritage Community, a specialist for The Arc of Maryland, a supervisor for Genesis Healthcare, a director of Community Health for St. Agnes Hospital, and a residential director for eMerge.

The Spy sat down with Christine and Irma for a recent chat about this important transition.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Londonderry please go here.

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

Benedictine Easton Community Services & Training Center Turns 10 Years Old

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Pictured left to right: Michael, supported adult; Greg supported adult and serves on Benedictine Board of Trustees; Mike Arntz, from Congressman Harris’ office; Alyssa Hastings, Senator Van Hollen’s office; Kimberly Kratovil, Senator Cardin’s office; Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director; Rebecca, supported adult; Suzanne Hoback, trainer and job coach; Zach, supported adult; Robin McDuffie, Meaningful Day Services Director; Ade Ladipan, Adult Services Director; Jessica Vaughn, Administrative Assistant.

The Benedictine Easton Community Services & Training Center marked its 10th anniversary with a gathering of over 40 people on Thursday, October 19th. Dedicated staff, community partners including The Tidewater Inn and Kent Island Best Western, donors, and supported adults who have utilized the services celebrated the Center’s wonderful accomplishments.

Amy Kreiner, President and CEO of the Talbot Chamber of Commerce, welcomed guests and introduced Robin McDuffie, Meaningful Day Services Director who shared the history of the Center, how the training impacts local area special education high school students who participate as well as the adults living with developmental disabilities and autism that Benedictine supports. The students and adults learn job skills and Benedictine works to place them with partner businesses in the community, provides transportation to the jobs, and job coaches.

“We are proud of the work that happens at our Easton Office.  Our students and adults gain valuable skills that enable them to enter the workforce and through this process they are able to demonstrate that their disabilities will not hold them back from living fulfilling lives. In these roles they contribute to their place of employment and the community – and they bring joy to the workplace, develop friendships, and confidence too!” commented Robin McDuffie, Benedictine Meaningful Day Services Director. “We could not do this important work without the community partners who hire our workforce-ready candidates and the dedicated staff that work side-by-side with our students.”

Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director, emphasized what Robin had shared and was given citations from Senator Ben Cardin and Senator Van Hollen’s Office. These were presented by Kimberly Kratovil and Alyssa Hastings respectively. Mike Arntz, from Congressman Harris’ office attended and Senator Johnny Mautz joined the festivities and presented a citation from the Maryland General Assembly. Frank Gunsallus, Easton Town Council President, and Sharon Pepukayi, superintendent of the Talbot County Public Schools were also in attendance.

“We were so excited to learn about the Easton Office’s job training program at the anniversary celebration,” stated Candace Chiaruttini, Benedictine supporter and co-chair for Benedictine’s upcoming Gala, “Bourbon Street Masquerade” on April 27, 2024. Our friend and Benedictine board member Gregory Hviding has been a student, employee, and a graduate of the program and thrives in one of the local, Benedictine managed group homes. Benedictine, and in particular, the Easton Office –  has so much to offer as far as job training and life skills which has such a positive impact on the local community,”

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and also collaborates with the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community.

For more information on how to become a Community Partner, or to donate, please call the Benedictine Foundation office at 410 634 2292.

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

The Arc’s Port Street Commons Update: A Chat with Angie DeMoreland and GGC’s Ben Harries

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There are more than just a few eyes on The Arc of the Central Chesapeake’s first major project on the Eastern Shore after the organization’s groundbreaking ceremony a few months ago on Port Street in Easton.

Excited by the prospect of not only a first-rate community resource center for The Arc’s traditional clients of those with developmental challenges and two floors of family-friendly affordable housing, the Port Street Commons represents a remarkable new step in creative solutions for the Shore’s accessible housing dilemma.

And given that general interest, the Spy asked The Arc’s Angie DeMoreland, its director of executive operations, and Ben Harries, founder and owner of BuilderGuru Contracting (BGC), one of The Arc’s longtime contractor partners, to give a update on the project. At a time when financing and supply chain challenges can severely set back timelines for any kind of construction, the good news is that Port Street Commons remains on target for a 2024 opening with no budget challenges.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about The Arc Central Chesapeake Region programs please go here.

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

Spy Moment: The Community Comes Together at Temple B’nai Israel

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The Spy was part of an overflow crowd of 400 members of our community who attended a prayer vigil supporting Israel and mourning the loss of innocent lives held at Temple B’nai Israel in Easton on Thursday, October 29th.

The event was hosted by Rabbi Peter Hyman and an interfaith coalition of religious faith leaders, including Father James Nash of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Reverend Sue Browning of the Unitarian Church, Rector Steven Mosher of Christ Church in St. Michaels and Kevin Cross, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Oxford. 

Together with members of their congregations, they came together to embrace the Jewish community in Talbot County and on the Mid-Shore, which has been reeling from the horrors of last week’s brutal attack on Israel. The standing room only crowd was overwhelmed by the heartfelt and beautiful words of support from the interfaith community.

One of those in attendance, Madeleine Cohen, said: “Each of the faith leaders who spoke was distinctly moving in their messaging and delivery, conveying much appreciated sympathy and compassion during this time of crisis.”

Temple member Sharon Berg, a citizen of Israel with a second home in Talbot County, read aloud a selection of harrowing real-time text messages from her friends and neighbors in Israel, describing the horror of war and the resiliency of the Jewish people. In a stirring show of support, a cadre of local officials, including state senators, town and county council members, and other community representatives, stood shoulder to shoulder on the pulpit with Rabbi Peter Hyman as he read a proclamation from the Town of Easton.

The vigil reminded us that from time to time, it is essential to turn off the news and be with people, light candles, read responsively, bow our heads in prayer, and realize that we are not alone. 

 

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

TAP Takes on THE FANTASTICKS: A Chat with Director David Cherry and Actor Jane Copple

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Tred Avon Players presents THE FANTASTICKS, a charming and romantic musical about a boy, a girl and their two mothers who try to keep them apart. Music by Harvey Schmidt ( book and lyrics by Tom Jones and directed by David Cherry, this classic musical runs October 26-November 5 at the Oxford Community Center.

The longest-running musical in the world, THE FANTASTICKS is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. It’s a moving tale of young lovers who become disillusioned, only to discover a more mature, meaningful love. Their story is punctuated by a bountiful of catchy, memorable songs, many of which have become classics.

“Songs like Try to Remember are classics most everyone will recognize,” says Director David Cherry. “Don’t be surprised if you hum them on your way home from the show.”

You won’t want to miss an outstanding performance by a talented cast of vocalists and actors: Ed Langrell (El Gallo), Lucy Pearce (Luisa), Connor Christopher (Matt), Maureen Curtin (Bellomy), Jane Copple (Hucklebee), Herb Ziegler (Henry), Bill Gross (Mortimer) and Jaclyn Royer (the Mute).

The Spy asked David Cherry and Jane Copple to stop by the Spy Studio last week to learn more.

THE FANTASTICKS opens on Thursday, October 26 and runs for seven performances through Sunday, November 5. Thrifty Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons are at 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center, 200 Oxford Rd in Oxford. Tickets are adults $25 / students $15 (no fee added.) Thrifty Thursday (October 26) and Sunday matinees sell out quickly! Purchase your tickets at www.tredavonplayers.org.

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

Building a Life-Cube for the Mid-Shore: A Chat with Scott and Madeleine Cohen

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Like many good things being generated in America’s 21st-century contemporary art world, Mid-Shore artist Scott Cohen’s Life Cube started out as an outdoor collaborative art project at Burning Man.  The famed annual desert gathering turned out to be a successful launch pad in 2011 for what has turned out to be a series of phenomenal public art installations from Miami to Las Vegas, where young students to senior citizens gather to share their life dreams and art through the portal of a welcoming cube.

Now, Scott and his wife Madeleine want to bring a Life Cube to the Eastern Shore, and next week, they start that process with an open house at the Conservation Center in Easton hosted by Talbot Arts to talk about what this community-driven project will look like to students, their teachers and artists from around the region eager to contribute.

The Spy asked Scott and Madeleine to stop by the Spy Studio yesterday to learn more.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.

Find out more about how you can get involved in this exciting public arts initiative at our brainstorming and information session, and help us make the Life Cube project engaging, exciting, and meaningful for our entire community.

WEDNESDAY, OCT 25th from 5-7 PM
Eastern Shore Conservation Center
114. S Washington Street, Easton, MD
Refreshments will be served

RSVP to reserve your place, as seating may be limited: jlevy@talbotarts.org 

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

An Emotional High and Unexpected Low at Easton Town Council: Support for Israel and Powers of the Council President

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The Town Council meeting last night reflected the very best of the Easton community and a decidedly low moment of parliamentary discourse, all within the span of a few hours.

The spiritual high was the moving declaration of support for the people of Israel read by Mayor Megan Cook and a response from Rabbi Peter Hyman of Temple B’nai Israel. It was a moment that moved the entire assembly as the community continued to mourn the tragic loss of life after the Hamas terrorist attack on Jewish communities near the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

Unfortunately, that sense of unity quickly dissipated over what initially appeared to be a minor disagreement on when the Council would vote on a moratorium on approving recreational and medical cannabis operations in Easton.

Council President Frank Gunsallus favored tabling the moratorium vote until the next meeting in early November, when the Council would have more information from the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which is also studying the issue. Councilmember David Montgomery felt most of the Council was prepared to vote that evening, as per a previous agreement with council members.

In response, Gunsallus, citing powers he believed were bestowed by charter to the Easton council president, announced that he would use his authority alone to table the discussion. The result sparked outrage from Montgomery as fellow council members and the mayor seemed stunned by the rapid change of atmosphere.

Ultimately, the Council agreed to wait another two weeks before voting on the cannabis moratorium. It may take more than a few weeks for the Council to recover from this unnerving and extremely rare display of discourtesy in the town council chamber.

 

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A Different Kind of Iceman Cometh to CFF: A Chat with Director Harold Jackson III

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By his own count, Emmy-nominated producer and director Harold Jackson has done 12 full feature films or shorts since he fell in love with cinema while growing up in Los Angeles. After growing up in an extended family of film consumers and serving his time in the U.S. Marine Corps, Jackson immediately doubled down on his love of film with an undergraduate degree in television and a master’s in film from American University. 

Since those school days, Harold has produced, written, and directed multiple films, series, and documentaries and is a critically acclaimed writer, director, and filmmaker. Some of his award-winning productions include “Last Night” (ABFF BEST SCREENPLAY/AUDIENCE CHOICE Winner) and HBO Best Film winning “Unarmed Man.” Harold received an EMMY Nomination for his guest-producing work on the series “Anacostia.” Harold’s recent projects include “The Forgettable Life of Liam White,” with a cast of Jasmine Guy, TC Carson, and singer Brave Williams, “GASLIGHT,” and his latest creation, “Once Upon A Time In The District.”

The secret sauce for his successful film career is a commitment to tell different stories to different audiences. A case in point is Harold’s most recent film, Million to One, which will open this month in theaters. Unapologetically a family film with traditional comedy and warm-hearted characters, Jackson doesn’t hesitate to use tried and true traditional storytelling when he connects with a good plot. 

But unlike other filmmakers who stay within a specific genre, Harold equally embraces pushing the envelope. Immediately after finishing Million to One, Jackson moved to the other extreme with his production of Iceman: Chapter One, which will have his world premiere at the Chesapeake Film Festival on September 30th. 

In Iceman, Jackson turns his camera to the world of organized crime and the tale of a newly retired organized crime fixer pulled back deeper into the underground than he’s ever been before. 

The Spy chatted briefly with Harold last week via Zoom to hear about his career and why he selects such diverse projects for his passion for storytelling.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For tickets and information about the Chesapeake Film Festival, please go here.

 

 

 

 

 

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

Opinion: Talbot County’s Joe Trippi on the No Labels Threat in 2024

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While political consultant Joe Trippi is the first to admit that he and his family are “come heres” it should be noted for the record that his “come here” took place more than 25 years ago. In fact, Trippi, who first hit national attention with his out-of-the-box management of Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign, has been so local that for many years, he and his wife, Cathy, owned and operated Justine’s Ice Cream Parlour in St. Michaels.

With those credentials in mind, The Spy was eager to get a uniquely qualified opinion about the No Labels movement and the possibly tragic consequences of a third-party candidate for the country in 2024. As noted in our conversation with Joe, he considers a 3rd party candidacy a direct threat to democracy since it would open the door for a Trump victory. Consequently, he and other veteran political leaders (including Spy Columnist Al From) have formed Citizens to Save Our Republic to avoid this kind of predicted outcome.

We talked to Joe by Zoom this week.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length.

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