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January 25, 2026

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

00 Post to Chestertown Spy Food and Garden Notes

Wine of the Week: Barbera d’Alba 2024 DOC from the Albino Rocca Winery

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Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Barbera d’Alba 2024 DOC  ($18.95, 13.5% ABV)  from the Albino Rocca winery in the town of Barbaresco, Piemonte. The artistic black and white label is an abstract depiction of Barbaresco’s undulating hills.

Like many winemakers, the story of Albino Rocca began in the 1940’s with the founder,  Giacomo Rocca, who first sold his grapes to producers. Fate intervened in the 1960’s when he inherited prized vineyards in Barbaresco that are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato” recognized in 2014.  

The fourth generation of the Rocca family, Angelo Rocca’s daughters Daniela, Monica and Paola, along with Carlo, Paola’s husband, now manage the winery. Their vineyard area encompasses almost 20 hectares that are located in three out of the four productive communes of Barbaresco, Neive, and San Rocco Seno d’Elvio (Alba). In addition to Barbaresco, they grow Nebbiolo and Dolcetto; Chardonnay and Cortese; a Moscato D’Asti and a Grappa. The grapes are grown in four vineyards and the Barbera D’Alba is grown in the half hectare Vineyard Montersino, whose rolling hills were  planted in 1998 at the southern tip of the Barbaresco region. 

Barbera is the known as the everyday red wine of Piemonte and this Barbera is medium bodied, with aromas of fresh red berries, black cherry and plum; flavors of red fruit and spice; lively acidity that balances the soft tannins. An approachable wine befitting its “everyday” status; pair with Piazza’s mushroom risotto, stuffed pasta shells, grilled meats or veggies or roast chicken. 

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of this grape that is quite popular with our customers. The high on Friday (36 degrees)  and Saturday (44 degrees) will be perfetto to reach for this red wine. 

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

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

Gunston Joins Top 7% of Schools Nationally with AP Platinum Honors

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The Gunston School is proud to announce that it has been named to the Advanced Placement® (AP) School Honor Roll as a Platinum member, the highest possible distinction awarded by the College Board. This prestigious recognition places Gunston in the top 7% of eligible schools nationwide, signaling a deep commitment to expanding student access to college-level coursework while maintaining rigorous academic outcomes.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome students into Advanced Placement courses and support them on the path to college success. To achieve the Platinum designation, Gunston met high-performance benchmarks across three key categories for the graduating Class of 2025:

  • College Culture: 80% or more of the graduating class experienced at least one AP course during high school.

  • College Affordability: 50% or more of the graduating class earned college credit by achieving an AP Exam score of 3 or higher.

  • College Readiness: 15% or more of the graduating class took a total of five AP exams across their high school years, with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade.

“Achieving Platinum status is a testament to both the hard work of our students and the dedication of our faculty,” remarked Head of School John Lewis.. “It reflects our mission to provide an environment where students aren’t just taking difficult classes, but are actively thriving in them. By broadening participation in the AP program, we are ensuring our students are better prepared for the rigors of higher education and are entering college with earned credits already in hand.”

Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. For Gunston, this recognition highlights a holistic approach to education that balances high expectations with the necessary support systems to help every student reach their full potential.

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Founded in 1911 and currently enrolling 256 students, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

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

Donald the Red: The Modern Viking by Jim Bruce

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Donald Trump is a 21st-century throwback to Erik the Red, the Viking chieftain and explorer who first claimed Greenland and established settlements there one thousand years ago. When President Trump was asked recently if he saw any checks on his power on the world stage, he replied, “Yeah, there’s one thing: my own morality, my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

His assertion is consistent with the view expressed by his Domestic Policy Advisor, Stephen Miller, who insists that the world is governed fundamentally by strength, by force, by power, what he calls the “iron laws of the world since the beginning of time,” as if all other laws matter not. The Vikings believed similarly that the strong are destined to overcome and rule the weak, to plunder and even enslave them.

Erik the Red’s sphere of influence was a tiny northern slice of the globe — Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. President Trump’s new National Defense Strategy extends the 18th-century Monroe Doctrine to assert that the entire Western Hemisphere is the domain of the United States, so other great powers should stay out, the so-called “Donroe Doctrine.” Thus, Trump is asserting his claims on Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, and even Canada. Trump’s real goal in the western hemisphere is not interdicting illegal drugs in speedboats, nor regime change in Venezuela, nor spreading democracy, but rather old-fashioned plunder. His intent to plunder Venezuela’s resources is now obvious as he takes control of their oil. He also covets rare earth minerals in Greenland and Canada for starters and wants to deny Russia and China any opportunity to plunder in the western hemisphere. It is not enough to add U.S. military bases to Greenland, which the U.S. is free to do under existing treaty. Trump insists that he must own Greenland. We have never before seen a modern President unabashedly plunder other sovereign nations, including our own allies.

Erik the Red and Trump are surprisingly similar. Ancient texts describe Erik as having strikingly red hair with a fiery temper, and a penchant for naming landmarks after himself in Greenland to stake his claim on the land. Trump’s hair color is a chromatic shade off red, but red nonetheless, along with an incendiary temper.

Both Erik the Red and Trump the Red operated boldly and comfortably outside the law. In fact, both Erik the Red and Trump were banned from their homelands — Erik was banned from Iceland for murder twice, and Trump was banned from doing business in New York state. Erik the Red moved to Greenland and Donald moved to the White House.

Both were slick marketers. Erik named the land “Greenland” not because it was green, but because it wasn’t. The name Greenland would lure settlers in hope of lush pastures, better than the truth. Donald’s marketing brand color is gold — gold lettering, interiors, ballrooms, a Golden missile defense shield, a golden class of ships, and gold gifts.

Neither Erik nor Donald cared about what the people already living in Greenland want for their future. Erik sought to create new Viking settlements over which he would reign as chieftain. Donald’s purpose is to own Greenland and plunder it by conquest or by inexorable economic pressure.

Erik’s settlements in Greenland lasted 500 years, but probably climate change, specifically the Little Ice Age, ended the settlements in Greenland. Donald is just as blind to climate change as Erik the Red, who had no science advisors.

Given the world in which he lived, we can still honor the legend of Erik the Red, ten centuries later, as a Viking chieftain, explorer, and colonizer. Donald gets no such pass from history.

Those 1,000 years of civilization since have repealed Stephen Miller’s “iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.” We have learned to respect the sovereignty of nations and their right to self-determination. In 1789 we adopted a Constitution that substituted the rule of law for these “iron laws.” Beginning a century ago, two world wars established the well-recognized principle that conquering another nation just because it might make yours more secure, or wealthier, is condemnable. Donald the Red is a dangerous anachronism.

Jim Bruce
St. Michaels

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

Academy Art Museum Welcomes Five New Members to it’s Board of Trustees

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Pictured from left to right: Benjamin C. Tilghman; Debbie Potter; Jay Borneman, PhD; Denise Anne Bode; Mark Dickinson.

The Academy Art Museum (AAM) is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Trustees, strengthening the Museum’s leadership with deep expertise across the arts, education, public policy, business, and community engagement.

The newly appointed trustees — Jay Borneman, Denise Bode; Mark Dickinson; Debbie Potter; and Benjamin C. Tilghman — bring decades of professional experience and a shared commitment to advance the Museum’s mission of connecting people to art, ideas, and one another through exhibitions, education, and public programs.

“The new trustees reflect a   breadth of perspectives and  experience that will help the Academy Art Museum continue to thrive,” said Christine Martin, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Their  knowledge, leadership, and passion for the arts will be invaluable as the Museum continues to grow its impact locally and regionally.

New Trustees

Jay Borneman is the founder and principal of Oak View Point Partners and retired Chairman and CEO of Hyland’s, Inc., a mid-size OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer. He holds degrees in chemistry, finance, and health policy, and has served as a trustee for St. Joseph’s University, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and the Avalon Foundation. Mr.. Borneman splits his time between Pennsylvania and Oxford, Maryland.

Denise Bode brings more than four decades of leadership in public policy, energy, and nonprofit governance. A nationally recognized expert in trade, tax, and environmental policy, she has led major industry associations and previously served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Denise has held trustee and executive leadership roles at several cultural and civic organizations, including the Avalon Foundation and the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, and is an active supporter of the arts on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Mark Dickinson is a retired attorney and real estate investor with extensive experience in historic preservation, conservation, and community-based philanthropy. Now a full-time Talbot County resident, he has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Preservation Maryland, the Washington County Historical Society, and San Mar Children’s Home. His work reflects a longstanding commitment to stewardship, mentorship, and place-based community investment.

Debbie Potter spent much of her professional career in Washington, D.C., serving in senior roles across federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice. A former journalist and national press award recipient, she is deeply engaged in volunteer service and nonprofit leadership on the Eastern Shore. Debbie has previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Avalon Foundation

Benjamin C. Tilghman is a professor of art history at Washington College whose work bridges academic scholarship and public-facing museum engagement. His background includes curatorial fellowships, exhibition development, public lectures, and extensive experience in arts governance and fundraising. He currently serves as Chair of the Public Arts Committee in Chestertown, where he has led major public sculpture initiatives and community collaborations.

Board of Trustees

The Academy Art Museum Board of Trustees is chaired by Christine Martin, with Brenda Fike serving as Vice Chair, Sue Bredekamp as Secretary, and Ronald Flohr as Treasurer. Additional trustees include MaryLou Armstrong Peters, Denise Bode, Jay Borneman, Sandy Cardin, Mark Dickinson, Robert Fogarty, Jazmine Gibson, Denise Grant, Shelton Hawkins, Elizabeth Hormel, Victoria Gomez Lozano, Joanne Lukens, Debbie Potter, Chris Sadler, Ann Scully, Beth Spurry, Ben Tilghman, Holly Townsend, Daniel Weiss, and Donald Wooters.

With the addition of these new trustees, the Academy Art Museum continues to build a Board that reflects its commitment to artistic excellence, thoughtful stewardship, and meaningful community connection.

About the Academy Art Museum

Founded in 1958, the Academy Art Museum is the Eastern Shore’s leading cultural institution, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It combines the dynamism of an ambitious contemporary art museum with the intimacy of a community space. With five working studios, a 24,000 sq. ft. facility, and innovative programs including a robust artist-in-residence initiative and major commissions for its soaring atrium, the Museum is a destination for artists, scholars, collectors, and families alike. For more information, visit academyartmuseum.org

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

From and Fuller: Trump Attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Powell and Foreign Affairs Distractions

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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 Fuller discuss the Trump administration’s decision to open a Justice Department investigation into whether Chairman Jerome Powell lied to Congress about the cost of renovating the Federal Reserve building. Al and Craig also discuss the use of Greenland and Iran to divert public attention from President Trump’s more controversial domestic policy problems.

This video is approximately 14 minutes in length.

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

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

Redefining Beauty By Angela Rieck

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I was flipping through channels last month and stopped at the NCAA Women’s Volleyball championship. I was surprised that a women’s volleyball game was televised on national television.

Women’s sports have a way to go, but they have made progress. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has become a popular spectator sport.

All of the women playing were physically beautiful. Some wore make-up and earrings and had their hair tied back, others let their natural beauty shine through. After each point they formed a circle and held hands to support each other. Their performance, athleticism, comradery, and appearance made them all stunning.

It allowed me to think about how the view of women’s beauty has changed over the centuries. Athletics for women was often discouraged in my time. 

In the Victorian era, the ideal woman was characterized by a very small, corseted waist, rounded shoulders, and a generally subservient and dainty appearance. Any form of strenuous activity was discouraged, believing it could harm a woman’s reproduction or general health.

In the 1950s the hourglass figure was the ideal, with a philosophy that women do women’s work and stay away from sports. 

The aversion to female athleticism came from norms that associated strength, aggression, and competition with masculinity. Women who excelled in sports were often questioned about their femininity. 

But changes in the viewpoint of feminine beauty started with the women’s movement (which resulted in Title IX). The consensus about women’s beauty has increasingly become athletic-friendly. Beauty now embraces strength. Traditional views that women should not engage in physical effort have dissipated.  

There has also been an increase in collaborations between major beauty brands and female athletes and sports leagues (like the WNBA). These partnerships redefine beauty to include strength and athleticism.

Media coverage of women’s sports, especially around major events like the Olympics, have brought female athletes into the public eye, allowing their athletic prowess to be viewed and appreciated. It promotes a more inclusive view of beauty that celebrates the diverse forms and capabilities of women. 

We still have a way to go, models tend to be very slim and appear unhealthy.

But I like the direction in which we are headed. 

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

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

Design with Jenn Martella: Small Changes Make a Big Impact

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Brick herringbone pathways and a gated hedge border add structure and privacy to the inviting front façade.

Five years ago, I featured this distinctive property in St. Michaels’ Historic District. The property now has a new Owner whom I met recently and she told me about her changes to the landscape and interiors. I was quite intrigued as her style differed from the previous Owners. 

Since many of you take advantage of the winter months to spruce up your homes or plan your landscape for spring, as I am doing, I thought this would be an interesting case study to offer you ideas how small changes in the landscape and interiors can make a big impact. 

On the day of my visit, I was quite relieved to see that the house’s exterior color palette whose earth tones I had admired remained unchanged. I walked up the new herringbone patterned brick walk with its border of brick stretchers between the new extensive landscaping of low plantings. A new “wall” of both a low hedge and a wood gate provide privacy for the front porch. 

Diagonal bluestone paired with a red brick border brings bold contrast and dimension to the updated terrace.

Before going inside, I reacquainted myself with the wonderful outdoor rooms of the terrace that wraps around the corner of the house. The former terrace was laid in gray random sized pavers that blended into the landscaping. Now bluestone laid on a diagonal with a border of red brick visually expands the space and adds color. 

Thoughtfully positioned garden beds soften hardscapes while enhancing texture and visual flow.

New landscaped areas were included in the terrace’s layout that both add color and texture to the terrace and break up the expanse of the solid surfaces. I especially admired the detailing of the brick at the 90 degree corner of the planting areas.   

A cozy firepit framed by brick and gravel anchors the outdoor gathering space, surrounded by layered greenery.

I discovered that the terrace now ends at a new outdoor room of a fire pit outlined by a brick border that encloses the gravel. The easy care iron seating with cushions set the scene for nocturnal gatherings around the firepit-Smores anyone? New trees and shrubbery were spaced along the wood fence to both break up the length of the fence and to add texture and color. 

Large pavers provide both utility and elegance as they guide visitors through a shaded garden oasis.

The existing sycamore tree now has stone cherubs for companions that are placed among the hostas who thrive in this shady area. New large pavers create a welcome path through this area that is slow to drain. The pavers end at the gate in the fence to the alley where there is guest parking in front of the two-car garage.

Coffered ceilings refreshed with white paint and modern lighting bring a brighter, timeless appeal to the living area.

When the Owner greeted me at the original magnificent pair of walnut doors with their beautiful mahogany stain, I could see the living room’s former coffered ceiling was now brighter with the simple switch from black to white housings for the recessed lighting and white semi-gloss paint on the ceiling. I had loved the former sleek modern living room but this Owner’s transitional style is equally appealing. The green and white color scheme and the reupholstery of several pieces gives this space a fresh look and I especially admired the floral fabric from Scalamadre. New window treatments of both drapes that span to the underside of the coffered ceiling and up/down translucent shades offer various degrees of privacy. I also noticed the interior solid cherry doors now have solid brass door hinges, knobs, locks and ball catches. 

French doors lead to a side garden fountain, blending interior elegance with soothing outdoor ambiance.

Full height drapes were also added to the dining area whose table is on axis with the pair of French doors to the fountain in the side garden. On warm nights when the doors are open, the gentle sound of water can join the dinner conversation. I admired the mix of the Chippendale chairs’ solid color cushions and the accent of the patterned wing chairs flanking the sideboard.  The stylized twig chandelier is the perfect size for this space.

A splash of personality finds its way into the kitchen through floral-cushioned bar stools and woven window shades

Sometimes the only thing one needs to change the look of a kitchen are the bar stools like these that have rattan frames and flowered cushions. The new woven shades add a touch of color to the trio of windows overlooking the terrace.

Bold red millwork and adjustable shelving balance practicality with a vibrant aesthetic in this adaptable space.

The main floor layout of this house contains this flexible space with an adjoining bath that could be a primary suite or an office as this Owner needs. The former black millwork with identical bays now has adjustable height shelves and bright coats of red as an accent for the room. I admired  the harmonious mix of the millwork, Chippendale chairs and the beautiful original craftsman style door to the adjacent bathroom.

Black cabinet doors, bronze hardware, and streamlined tile updates give the adjoining bathroom a cohesive, modern look.

Bathroom changes are easy to do when the arrangement of the fixtures and the floor tile remains the same as it does here. The Owner added red paint to echo the adjoining room’s millwork, replaced the white cabinet doors with black doors and bronze hardware, and retiled the shower wall to remove the former accent band of tile. 

Whimsical details and blue tones transform this compact powder room into a stylish and functional retreat.

Powder rooms or compact ones can be easily changed too. The former wall finish was a bead board white vertical board wainscot and beige painted walls. Now the  new blue and white scheme of wallpaper and a sleek blue lavatory cabinet creates a fresh and inviting look. The chrome pulls and legs that frame both the front and back faces of the shallow cabinet that is a perfect scale for this space and adds a splash of color.  I especially admired the mirror’s touches of whimsy of the striped bass/bluefish on the left side and blue fish on the right side that adorn the mirror’s frame. The new 5-1/4 “ walnut flooring was the finishing touch.

Earthy tones and patterned curtains harmonize with deep salmon walls, creating a tranquil and sophisticated guest space.

The second floor guest bedroom’s new deep salmon colored walls inspired the  window treatments in a fabric with its vertical pattern and colors that complement the wall color.  The soft earth tones of the bedding enhances this serene space for relaxation and rest.

Light green walls and floral window treatments play off the white trusses to unify softness and architectural distinction.

I was relieved that the second floor’s primary ensuite’s interior architecture of the white exposed trusses and decking has remained. I loved the Owner’s selection of soothing light green walls and  the window treatments of large scale roses on a cream colored background. Her clever use of the same fabric to cover the existing window becomes a backdrop for the beautiful wood four-poster bed.

A gas fireplace and deep chairs invite comfort, while decorative accents add depth and visual interest to the chimney wall.

The wood-burning fireplace was replaced with a gas unit and the large cream colored upholstered chairs and an ottoman with accent pillows create a cozy spot for relaxing by the fire. I admired the painting with its perspective scene that adds depth to the chimney and the crisp white mantel and trim color accentuates the beauty of the wall color.

Dual mirrors and well-placed cabinetry redefine functionality in this elegant primary bathroom update.

The primary bath has also undergone a change to dual lavatories with a shared cabinet of drawers. Mirrors in thin frames with curved corners are a stylish touch. The shower alcove was enhanced by relocating the door to open into the shower from the lavatory area and new tile to wrap around the shower walls.  

A border of black and patterned tiles turns the soaking tub’s alcove into a striking focal point.

I had specified the same floor tile that the former Owners had selected for this tub alcove; but as it sometimes happens,  later renovations like this one cannot guarantee a color match. The new Owner cleverly solved the problem by adding a black border and tile with a subtle patterned color to create a “rug” for the alcove.

Compact cabinetry creates a functional mini-kitchen in this spacious guest retreat, complete with a loft bedroom.

The upper level of the garage is a spacious one-bedroom apartment for extended stay guests and is the now the domain of the Owner’s son. The Owner added the row of cabinets for a mini-kitchen that includes drawers for both the fridge and freezer, dishwasher, sink, and a pull-out trash cabinet. The half-circular open stair leads to the loft bedroom. 

A cleverly expanded bathroom balances blue cabinetry with sleek marble-like finishes for a refined guest experience.

The Owner cleverly incorporated space from the adjacent storage area next to the former half bath and the compact space is now a full bathroom. The veining of the shower surround complements the blue of the lavatory cabinet and the frameless mirror seems to float in the space.

It was a special treat for me to see how one house with great original interior architecture can easily adapt to another interior design style. I admired the current Owner’s design concept that hopefully will inspire those of you who want to refresh your own home.  Redesign and refurbishment involves many consultants, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers and the Owner graciously shared her primary sources:

Contractor: Marr Home Solutions: Ben Marr
Hardscape and Landscape Design: Bob L. Jackson Landscape Inc.
New Sprinkler System and Outdoor Lighting: Terra Nova 
Painter: Donnie L Gowe
Photographer: Brandon Manchion
The Lumberyard: Selected Custom Cabinetry
Ferguson Design Center, Annapolis:  Sconces, plumbing fittings for kitchen and baths, selected cabinets including the apartment mini-kitchen and its appliances.
Atlas Marble and Tile:  Bathroom tile and marble from a quarry in Tuscany, Italy
SolidTops LLC: Second Floor Primary Bath lavatory countertop
Fiona Weeks: All custom window treatments and fabrics for selected  reupholstered chairs
Conn Scott: Selected furnishings and lighting fixtures
Bruce Wilson: Leather reupholstery, Reupholster furniture fabrics & Antique & Classic Cars

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

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

UM Shore Regional Health Announces 2026 Safe Sitter® Dates

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The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, is hosting upcoming Safe Sitter® courses at UM Shore Medical Center locations in Chestertown and Easton.

The course will be taught by UM SRH Women and Children’s Department nurses and is designed for children ages 11 to 13.  Dates and times for the courses are: Saturday, January 24, March 14, June 20 and October 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 219 South Washington St.; and Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown St.

The course is designed to prepare students to be safe when they are home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting other children. The instructor-led class is taught using games and role-playing exercises so that students can practice rescue skills. Participants in the program can also expect to learn safety skills, including how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies; child care skills, such as tips to manage behavior that will help sitters stay in control of themselves and the children in their care; first aid and rescue skills, including CPR and choking rescue; and life and business skills to help sitters screen potential childcare jobs, discuss fees and greet employers.

“As parents and caregivers, we all want to know our children are prepared before we trust them with the responsibility of caring for someone younger,” said Stephanie Blades, MSN, RNC-OB, clinical nurse educator for Women and Children’s Services at UM SRH. “Safe Sitter is a nationally recognized, nurse-led program that empowers pre-teens with essential, real-life skills. Through interactive lessons, hands-on practice, and age-appropriate activities, students learn in a way that’s engaging and supportive. I’ve seen the long-term impact of this course firsthand — my own children completed Safe Sitter more than a decade ago, and now I have the privilege of teaching it to a new generation.”

The cost of the program is $50, and a Safe Sitter kit will be provided to all student participants. Students should bring a lunch on the day of the program.

To register for the course, email Gladys Peeples at [email protected]. Early registration is encouraged, as class size is limited. For questions, call Stephanie Blades at 410-822-1000, ext. 5234. 

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

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

Blue Dogs by Al Sikes

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Who knew? There is still a Blue Dog Caucus in the Democratic Party, even as New Yorkers elect a socialist as Mayor of America’s largest city. The Caucus is said “to be an official caucus in the House of Representatives comprised of “fiscally-responsible Democrats who are leading the way to find common sense solutions.”

And I found out that pearl, “small”, in the New York Times. The Caucuses continuing existence showed up in an article about a Member of Congress from a rural district in Washington State. Her name: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

At the beginning of the interview, Perez quoted from the gospel of Luke: “He who is faithful in a small thing is faithful in a great thing also.” Underscoring small she proposed an amendment to a bill because we are plagued with  “headlight brightness.” The amendment urges “the Secretary of Transportation to study the impacts of headlight brightness on the vision and safety of drivers, pedestrians, and other road users, as well as in regard to different terrain, such as hills and curves.”

Her signature cause is informed by her disgust with a never-ending stream of products that cannot be repaired. She co-owned an auto repair and machine shop with her husband. And I quote from Perez: “We don’t want to be perpetual renters of disposable crap”. She refers to much of what we own as items simply rented.

Thankfully, the article didn’t go into what she thinks about the President. We are forced to overindulge his performative behavior. In one very simple way Representative Perez is his antithesis. He is wedded to big things. The “Big Beautiful Bill”, for example, was biblical in its length. Even the best-informed got entangled in the details.

And if we want to simplify, much must be done locally. Yes, City Councils. Sparks will fly, but at the end of the day you will have had a chance to weigh in. And, much will have to be done by all of us as buyers.

My wife and I became beekeepers shortly after the century’s turn. We joined a beekeeping club. The Members bought, sold, repaired, and combined to buy less expensively. The leader of the club would drive ten plus hours to buy nuclei of bee hives called “nucs,” and everybody who bought one or more would show up with their pickup trucks the next morning, get their supply, and then hive them.

My wife and I were newbies, and a seasoned beekeeper offered his services free of charge to help us. He adamantly refused to take money.

President Trump should use his tariffs on disposable goods while letting what Representative Perez would call “goods we own” and can repair be tariff-free. Indeed maybe her Party should go beyond powerful identity groups and make small business a part of their platform. I think it would be popular and help revive businesses that fix the repairable while taking some pressure off landfills.

My guess is her party will run against Trumpism and not on a platform aimed at simplification. Or, as she might envision it, “ownership” so that those who want to cut the thread or maybe chain link binding us to Big Tech can do so. It would be refreshing at the next inaugural to see something other than Big Tech moguls in the prize seats.

More recently I have started paying attention to the Town Council where I live. The Council listens; my Member of Congress is too busy being herded around to pay any attention. Trump has a leash on him.

Now decentralization doesn’t assure happiness. I used to live in New York City and would be furious with the new Mayor’s radical moves embracing socialism. But I would know that next time around I could try to do something about it.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books. 

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

Poll: Moore Approval Numbers Continue Downward Trend Even as Most Voters Would OK Second Term

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Roughly half of Maryland voters said they would vote to reelect Gov. Wes Moore to a second term, even as the first-term Democrat’s job approval numbers continue a downward trend.

The poll released Tuesday by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media represents a mixed bag for the governor.

“If the election were today, Moore would be reelected, but the election isn’t today,” said Patrick Gonzales, a veteran state pollster. “It’s 10 months away. We have a session that is going to be rather problematic, I suspect, for the governor. Where we are six months from now, where we are on Labor Day, that’s going to matter. That’s how I see it.”

The poll of 808 registered Maryland voters who said they were likely to vote in 2026 was conducted between Dec. 21 and Jan. 6. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5%.

Gonzales also asked who voters would support if the 2026 election were held today.

Moore, with 49.9%, tops a generic Republican and third-party candidate. The number is driven by nearly 76% of Democrats who said they would give Moore a second term.

Democrats hold a 2-1 registration advantage over Republicans in Maryland, making up slightly more than 50% of all registered voters in the state.

Predictably, 81% of Republicans said they would back a Republican candidate. Unaffiliated voters are more evenly split, with 35% saying they would vote for Moore and 32% favoring the unnamed Republican.

Gonzales noted that polling data suggests voter discontent over pocketbook issues: affordability, the economy and taxes. Nearly six in 10 voters who responded said they believe they are paying too much in taxes.

“They’re paying too much for their electricity,” he said. “They’re paying too much in taxes and people are [angry].”

All of which is a harbinger for a potential pocketbook election, he said.

Gov. Wes Moore has seen a narrowing of the separation between voters who approve of his job performance and those who disapprove since entering office. (Gonzales Research & Media Services

Gonzales noted that of those who said they pay too much in taxes, “a hypothetical Republican candidate bests Moore by 13 points, 47% to 34%.”

Another 41% said they believe they pay “the right amount” in taxes. Just 1% said they believe they should pay more.

Last year, Moore and the General Assembly increased taxes by a projected $1.6 billion,  part of a plan to close a projected $3.3 billion structural budget deficit.

The expectation was that the tax increase, coupled with one-time fund shifts and some cuts, would fill the spending gap and leave $300 million for the fiscal 2028 budget year.

Those expectations fizzled. The state faces a $1.5 billion projected structural deficit for the coming budget year. Officials point the finger at federal actions including the loss of 25,000 federal jobs since President Donald Trump took office.

Republican candidates in recent history enjoyed late election year surges tied to one or more so-called pocketbook issues. In 1994, Ellen Sauerbrey lost to Parris Glendening by just 6,000 voters. In 2002, Robert Ehrlich became the first Republican elected governor in nearly four decades. In 2014, Larry Hogan won the first of two consecutive elections. He was the first Republican to do so since Theodore McKeldin.

Downward job approval trend continues

Moore entered office in 2023 enjoying approval of roughly six in 10 Marylanders. He peaked in Gonzales’ September 2024 poll, when 64% of those surveyed approved of his efforts. The gap between those who approved and those who disapproved in that poll was 35 points.

Since then, there has been a downward trend. Last March, there was a 19-point separation. In Tuesday’s poll, 52% said they approve of the job Moore is doing compared to 41% who disapprove, three points lower than a Gonzales survey in March 2025. The governor has performed similarly in other surveys, including the Institute for Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Beneath those top-line numbers in the Gonzales poll, the survey shows a continuing trend of voters who are changing their minds about Moore’s efforts.

The current poll shows an 11-point separation between those who approve and those who disapprove. And for the first time since Gonzales asked about Moore’s job performance, the number of those who said they strongly disapprove is larger than those who strongly approve.

Roughly one voter in three said they strongly disapproved of Moore’s job performance heading into the final session of the current term — a 7-point change from March.

Moore lost ground with Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters. While 73% of Democrats approved of Moore’s performance, that was down from 83% in March 2025. At the same time, those who disapproved increased five points, to 18%.

In March, one-fifth of unaffiliated voters declined to offer an opinion on Moore’s job performance. Now, just 10% declined to answer: 41% of independent voters approve of the governor’s performance — a 7-point increase from March — but 49% said they disapproved, also an increase of seven points.

Democratic optimism

Moore’s job approval numbers come even as the Gonzales poll shows an uptick in overall sentiment about the direction of the state.

Of those surveyed, 47% said the state is moving in the right direction compared to 44% who said the state is on the wrong track.

The results are an improvement from last March when 50% said the state was on the wrong track and 41% said things were moving in the right direction.

The results don’t track directly with Moore’s job approval numbers.

“It’s not solely tied to whether people think taxes are too high,” Gonzales said. “There are other factors that play into what seems like a contradiction in the poll. I wouldn’t get all bollixed up on that.”

Instead, Gonzales said national politics and the impending midterm elections — a referendum on Trump — may be in play. Democrats nationally are eying the potential to retake a majority in the U.S. House in November.

“When we did the poll in March, Trump had just taken office and Democrats were a bit demoralized,” Gonzales said. “Now they’ve got that eye of the tiger, Rocky and Apollo Creed running on the beach mentality back and 70% of Democrats see things moving in the right direction for them.”

 

by Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters
January 13, 2026

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

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