Sunday Cooking – Peach and Plums, No Pears, Oh My!
Although it’s beginning to look like fall, we’re still blessed with enough local summer fruit to keep our vitamin C nicely topped off and our sweet teeth satisfied. There are late variety local peaches, plums, and cane berries. Tarts, pies, cobblers, mousses, fools, and cakes with a layer of fresh fruit ‘enrobed’ (sounds so regal) in whipped cream, or a combo of whatever’s around and starting to go off macerated in sweet wine or liqueur and slopped over ice cream, or fresh, chopped and folded into your morning oatmeal. Plums (Prunus) have been particularly good this year. We have many native ...
Spy Profile: Captain Andrew of Echo Hill
It's fairly certain that Kurt Hahn, the 19th century founder of outdoor education, would be mighty pleased with Andrew McCown's 32 years of work at Echo Hill Outdoor School. It was Hahn's fundamental task as an educator, he said, "to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial, and above all, compassion." Following in Khan's footsteps, each year, Captain Andy takes command of the 40-foot skipjack Elsworth, with a crew of six young people on each trip, to do just that. Without ipods, mobile phones, television, computer games or helicopter parents, ...
Four Under Forty
Opening Friday, September 3 at the Chestertown Arts League, "Four Under Forty" features the work of four decidedly non-AARP Kent County artists: Robbi Behr, Emily Kalwaitis, Joe Karlik and Angela Ranzoni. They're thirty-somethings. What is their art about? Come to the opening reception (5-8 pm) and see. If you're still not sure, you might just ask them; at 6 pm the artists will be on hand for mixing and mingling. A Chestertown native, Robbi Behr is the illustrator and co-founder with her husband of the small press, Idiots’ Books. (See the Chestertown Spy profile: "Chestertown’s Brilliantly Lowbrow Idiots.") Her style is ...
Sunday Cooking — Fresh Figs
My poor little fig trees, engulfed as they are in a combination of raspberries-run-rampant and bindweed (Convuvulous) that miserable invasive that has blanketed my garden. But the figs, only two, or maybe three years old, soldier on; they’ll be producing a few small fruits in another week or two. Meanwhile, friends have a tree (more like a giant shrub) that they’re generous with, and several vendors now sell fresh figs at the farmers’ market in town. Figs, which are so much more than Newtons, are on the upper end of effective antioxidant delivery systems with a fiber kicker, which makes them if ...
Spy Eye: The Faces of Haiti
When Chris Foster, the Chestertown Spy's webmaster, was given the formal notice that his National Guard unit was to be deployed in May, we all assumed he would be sent to help with the oil clean up effort along the Gulf Coast. Instead, he was assigned to the office of public affairs with the Louisiana National Guard and was tasked to capture on film the Guard's recovery work with Haiti. The results of his assignment are both stunning and sobering as Foster's camera captures the fear, courage, and even hope of a people in crisis. With one photo in this collection already ...
Occurrences
Hurricane Earl Precautions
The Coast Guard operating within the Chesapeake Bay is warning boat owners of a potentially significant storm surge as the results of Hurricane Earl. ...
Spy/WCTR Election Profile: Tim Lloyd
The third participant in the WCTR/ Spy series of interviews with candidates for commissioner was Republican Tim Lloyd of Kennedyville. Lloyd, a co-founder...
Comptroller Releases Annual Revenue Report
Maryland pulled in less revenue than almost any time in four decades — but outperformed its bleak financial forecast, state Comptroller Peter Franchot...
Ehrlich Tailors Appeal to Montgomery Voters
In an appeal to Montgomery County residents Tuesday, former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) pointed to two tax measures passed by the Democrat-led General...
Things Are Great at Kent County Public Schools
Schools back in session and things are going great, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Wheeler. “It was one of the finest openings we’ve...
Fed Funds to Rehab Three Eastern Shore Airports
Today, Rep. Frank Kratovil announced $566,718 in federal funding to help assist in the rehabilitation of three airports in Maryland’s First Congressional...
Disturbances
Stereo Theft of Stereos
A 16-year-old was referred to juvenile services, accused of the theft of two stereos from two motor vehicles in Kennedyville. One belonged to Joshua Stap...
Walk-In Theft
Carl Clazey of Twin Court, Chestertown, reported $210 stolen from his residence on Monday, 30 August. There was no forced entry. Read More →
Burglary of Vacant House
Scott Nichols of Danville, PA reported that sometime between January 1, 2010 and August 27, 2010 someone broke into his vacant house on Carolina Ave.,...
Malicious Destruction of Property in Millington
On August 23, County Roads personnel discovered that Walnut Tree Rd. Bridge in Millington had been spray-painted with graffiti. The graffiti includes several...
Trade & Mercantile
Chestertown’s Young Entrepreneurs: Adam Hock
Starting a business in Chestertown is considered a brave feat by many. The Spy’s Young Entrepreneur Series examines those who take that leap and...
Downey’s to Close this Month
One of Chestertown’s most popular sandwich, chicken and soft ice cream stores will be closing at the end of August. Store owner Joe Strong Downey,...
The Secondhand Store Economy in Chestertown
As household budgets shrink, people are eating out less, spending less on clothes and putting off long-term purchases such as buying a house or a car....
Dollars & Sense Financial Services Ribbon Cutting August 6
The Kent County Chamber of Commerce has annouced that the Dollars & Sense Financial Services office will have a ribbon cutting at 357 High Street...
Pet Watch
Animal Hoarding: Animal Cruelty or Mental Illness
Earlier this year, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agents arrived at a New York City apartment to find that dozens of cats and kittens had overtaken the small...
Pets of the Week
I don’t particularly like pit bulls, due to a previous experience, but by the time I had finished playing with Mama, I was ready to take her home. Mama,...
Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010 Passes House
Last Wednesday, July 21, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 416-3 to pass H.R. 5566, the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos...
Pets Suffering from Heatstroke in Parked Cars
As many parts of the country struggle with recent heat waves, we’ve all seen the disturbing news reports of pets, mostly dogs, dying from heatstroke...
Outdoor Life and Sports
WC Starts Fall Sports Season this Weekend
Four Washington College teams open the fall 2010 season this weekend, with a men’s soccer home night game headlining the action. The volleyball,...
WC Men’s Soccer Team Comes to Season with Experience
After fielding extremely young squads each of the past two seasons, the 2010 Washington College men’s soccer team is comprised of a more experienced...
Eastern Neck Posts Deer Season Closing Dates
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge will once again conduct an annual white-tailed deer hunt on selected days in October and November. Please be advised...
Friends of Eastern Neck & WC’s CES Trip – September 12
The Friends of Eastern Neck and the Center for Environment & Society are sponsoring a field trip to Foreman Branch Bird Observatory in Queen Anne’s...
Food and Garden
Sunday Cooking – Peach and Plums, No Pears, Oh My!
Although it’s beginning to look like fall, we’re still blessed with enough local summer fruit to keep our vitamin C nicely topped off and our sweet...
Fungus Can Digest Plastic
Scientists are reporting discovery of a more sustainable way of disposing of plastics that contain bisphenol A (BPA) — without releasing that potentially...
DeCoster’s Kent County History
As we watch the egg recall roll on we remember when the DeCoster facility in Massey in the early 1990’s was the subject of Maryland state attempt to...
Sunday Cooking — Fresh Figs
My poor little fig trees, engulfed as they are in a combination of raspberries-run-rampant and bindweed (Convuvulous) that miserable invasive that has...
Arts & Lifestyle
Gershwin, Wonderfully Done
The 59th season of the Washington College Concert Series opens Sunday, Sept. 19 with internationally acclaimed pianist Thomas Pandolfi playing an all-Gershwin...
Spy Cam Flies South
Dear Spy Cam fans: In response to your calls and letters regarding the whereabouts of the spy cam and its loyal subjects, I now offer you this explanation...
Spy Profile: Captain Andrew of Echo Hill
It’s fairly certain that Kurt Hahn, the 19th century founder of outdoor education, would be mighty pleased with Andrew McCown’s 32 years of...
The Met, Live in HD
One of the benefits of living in Chestertown is that through some mysterious force we are connected to just about every city, town and person on Earth....
Hands-on Workshop for Book Lovers
Print Shop Workshops Offered at Washington College Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the history of the book and the printed word, and try your hand...
Town Notes
Kent County Library Board Members Recruitment
Kent County Public Library Board President Jack Stenger, President, Kent County Public Library announced that the Kent County Public Library is seeking...
Washington College in Top 50 in Nation for Science PhDs
In an article in CBS Moneywatch.com, Washington College was number 24 in a list of colleges whose undergraduates eventually pursued a PhD in science. The...
Chestertown Film has Outdoor Screening Saturday Evening
On September 4, there will be a special outdoor showing of the 1998 film, Chestertown, Maryland: An American Home Town for more than 350 Years, at 7:30...
And The Winner Is…Drumroll, Please…Chestertown Farmers Market!
The town’s Saturday farmers’ market has been voted best in Maryland ahead of Bethesda Central Farm Market, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Farmers...
Chester River Association Grant Award Ceremony Today
Rep. Frank Kratovil will join representatives from the USDA and EPA today, September 1st, in awarding a grant to the Chester River Association to help...
Opinion
Editorial: Library Rebuilding
There is plenty to be angry about the recent troubles at the Kent County Public Library. After months of the county looking under almost every sofa cushion...
Letter to Editor: What We Need for County Commissioners
Editor: Thanks to the League of Women Voters’ forum on Tuesday night, it’s crystal clear that of the eight candidates for Kent County commissioner, three...
Open Letter from Jack Stenger, President of Kent County Public Library
The Kent County Public Library Board of Trustees is keenly aware of the adverse publicity we have received since late June and the extensive coverage...
Publisher Note: A Comment on Comments
One of the most difficult policy decisions we’ve had to make since starting the Chestertown Spy is how we treat readers’ comments. Almost from the...
Fortnightly
Chestertown Futures Case Study #4: Matt Hogans
Matt Hogans, like many native sons of Kent County, made it a point not to return to the community when he graduated from college in the early 1980′s....
Between Preservation and Innovation: Architecture Today in Chestertown by Kathleen James-Chakraborty
Editor’s Note: Chestertown native Kathleen James-Chakraborty recently returned to her childhood town to deliver a lecture on the role of architecture...
Chestertown Futures Case Study 3: Liza Brocker
When Play it Again Sam’s co-owner Liza Brocker graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, she was rather clear her future was...
Excerpts from “Letters to Sophie” by Hailey Reissman
At this year’s May 16th commencement, Washington College again awarded the Sophie Kerr Prize. At $64,253, it is the largest undergraduate literary...
