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November 22, 2024

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

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Adkins Arboretum Mystery Monday: Guess the Pic!

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The answer to last week’s mystery is damselfly, pictured below:
Damselflies are often mistaken for dragonflies, but these insects are smaller, slimmer, and fold their wings against their bodies while at rest.
Damselflies are admired for their beautiful colors and forms, making them a popular insect to photograph. They are large, easy to observe, and have exceptionally charming, playful antics. Damselflies do not sting or bite, making them completely harmless to humans.
In its larval stage, a damselfly molts many times under water before moving on to land, where it transforms into a winged adult. Adult damselflies eat mainly flying insects, like gnats and mosquitos.
Damselflies live for a few weeks during the summer and fall, and fly mainly during the day. They have existed since the Late Jurassic, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

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

Sophie to Sophie: A Chat with Sophie Kerr Prize Winner Sophie Foster

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Graduating from college is a standout achievement in anyone’s life. Graduating with a check for $77,000 for artistic promise borders on experiencing life in a parallel universe that bestows unimaginable gifts designed to shock the senses.

That’s what happened to Sophie Foster at Sunday’s Washington College Commencement as she received her diploma and a check for becoming the 2024 recipient of the Sophie Kerr Prize, an award given annually since 1968 to the senior showing “the most ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor.”

The award is the nation’s largest undergraduate writing prize.

Foster, from Reisterstown, Maryland, found Washington College’s creative writing milieu while attending the Rose O’Neil Literary House summer Cherry Tree Young Writers’ Conference, a weeklong immersion in creative writing workshops, and a glimpse into what the college offers to budding writers.

The poet says that her previous writing experiences in high school were too personally competitive, fracturing any sense of a shared writing community, and she became wary of duplicating that experience in college. At Washington College, she found what she was looking for.

“It has been the honor of my life to come here and be among the impossibly rare community I’ve been granted here,” she said during her acceptance speech Friday night.

Washington College News Service writes, “Lauded by her professors as one of the strongest editors and literary citizens at Washington College, Foster has been praised for her consistent encouragement and support of her fellow writers. An English major minoring in creative writing and journalism, editing and publishing, Foster has been editor-in-chief of the College’s literary magazine, president of the on-campus Writers’ Union, and opinion editor of the school newspaper.”

For more about Sophie Foster, see the Spy article here.    

The Spy caught up with Sophie Foster the day after the award was presented.

This video is approximately five minutes in length.

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

“No Child Left Indoors” at Radcliffe Creek School

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One critical lesson from the pandemic’s dire years of isolating and monotonous shutdowns was the positive mental health results of reconnecting to the natural world beyond cell phones and computer screens.

This did not go unnoticed by educators, who are already aware of social media’s addictive nature and seeing it compounded by the pandemic. According to Annie E. Casey Foundation research, 95% of teens 13-17 use social media, with 1 in 3 reporting “almost constantly.”

Noticing these trends, Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown, known for its commitment to environmental education and working with students from kindergarten through 8th grade who have been diagnosed with learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, and other language-based learning difficulties, has announced the launch of a new outdoor education project titled “No Child Left Indoors.” 

Inspired by Richard Louv’s concept of nature-deficit disorder, the “No Child Left Indoors” project aims to ensure every child has meaningful experiences in nature each year. Louv’s book The Last Child in the Woods points out that today’s digital native generation lacks exposure to nature, which he calls “nature-deficit disorder.” He advocates that direct exposure to nature is crucial for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional well-being of both children and adults.

“Our purpose is to ensure that every child has a series of meaningful experiences in nature each year at RCS that will help them be better citizens in their communities and better stewards of their environment,” says Head of School Peter Thayer.

With a generous grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation, the project aligns with the Foundation’s mission to improve the planet through environmental education. Radcliffe Creek School has a long-standing commitment to educating children about nature and the importance of environmental stewardship.

To implement the project, Radcliffe Creek School has designated Outdoor Education Coordinators for different grade levels. These coordinators work with teachers to plan educational field trips that tie directly to the academic experience. They also ensure that every excursion is safe, engaging, and educational.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences in nature and document them in their Nature Portfolio. This work is cross-curricular, engaging students’ skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

The spy recently interviewed Head of School Peter Thayer, Discovery Department Head Simone Vagnoni, and Discovery Teacher Amanda Stubbs.

 

This video is approximately thirteen minutes in length. For more about Radcliffe Creek School, go here. 

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

The Eastern Shore Trail Network Vision with ESLC’s Owen Bailey

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The Eastern Shore Trail Network steering committee, led by Owen Bailey, Director of Land Use and Policy at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, has announced its participation in Celebrate Trails Day on April 27. Over the past year, the committee has collaborated with the National Park Service, receiving a technical assistance grant to advance their trail initiatives.

Their efforts focus on three main goals: creating a greenway plan and trail map for the Eastern Shore, expanding outreach for a connected trail system, and establishing a trail coalition to support local governments in trail planning and development. The trail map, sponsored by the Midshore Regional Council and the Rural Maryland Council, highlights existing and planned trails, showcasing the region’s potential for a robust trail network.

Bailey emphasizes the importance of trails in promoting healthier lifestyles, economic development, tourism, and equity. He noted the challenges faced by smaller Eastern Shore communities in trail planning due to limited resources and highlights the benefits of trails in connecting people to parks, schools, and essential services.

Celebrate Trails Day will feature events across the Eastern Shore, including in Snow Hill, Oxford, Cambridge, and two locations in Chestertown. These events aim to raise awareness of the benefits of trails and encourage community engagement in trail development and utilization. Trails, Bailey argued, are essential in correcting community design that discourages walking and promotes automobile dependence.

The Spy recently interviewed Own Bailey to talk about the trail enhancement project.

To view The Eastern Shore Regional Trails Network map, go here.

For the Eastern Shore Trail Vision, go here.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. To find out more about the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, go here.

 

 

 

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On Writers and Writing: A Chat With Spy Columnist Laura Oliver

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In Thomas Mann’s novel Tristan, one of his characters, said, “A writer is one to whom writing comes harder than to anybody else.” A comic barb, but, as Mann suggested later, it holds some truth.

Readers certainly don’t sense that Laura Oliver struggles with her well-crafted columns appearing each Sunday in the Spy, but that’s the trick of artistic labor: for the final product to read as though it arrives trippingly off the tongue. Oliver writes every day of her life: writes books, articles, stories, lectures about the writing process, and teaches writing at colleges and workshops, and has a popular radio spot on NPR member station WHCP 91.7.

As a graduate of Washington College and the Bennington College MFA program, Oliver has significantly contributed to the writing community. Her book, The Story Within: New Insights and Inspiration for Writers (Penguin Random House), has been hailed by “The Writer Magazine” as one of the best books about the craft of writing. For a decade, it has been a trusted companion for writers seeking fresh perspectives on their writing journey.

On the rare occasion when Oliver is not writing, she plans to write or observes something she will file away to write about. “It’s not a hobby,” she says. And while that sounds strict and Spartan, you would find that in her classes and workshops at St. John’s College and other writing centers, her true default teaching persona is encouraging and helping students find their “story within.”

Don’t miss the chance to engage with Laura Oliver’s insights at noon on April 9 in the Hynson Lounge. She will be part of Washington College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) Learn at Lunch programs, discussing “Practical Magic: Change Your Story, Change Your Life.” This is a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned writer.

And on April 24, Oliver will take to the Stoltz Listening Room stage for the Spy Writers series at the Avalon Theatre for a public reading from her collection.

The Spy recently interviewed Laura Oliver about writers and writing and how the craft of writing has defined her life. For more about Laura, go here.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For information and tickets for Laura Oliver’s Spy Night on April 24, please go here.

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

Adkins Arboretum to Launch The Diversity Around Us with the Maryland Biodiversity Project

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On Thurs., April 4 at 1 p.m., Adkins Arboretum will launch The Diversity Around Us, a series of free talks and walks offered in partnership with the Maryland Biodiversity Project. Jim Brighton, co-founder of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, will introduce the series and provide insight into his project’s efforts to catalog Maryland’s living things and build a vibrant nature study community. Understanding biodiversity is the first step toward conserving wild species, habitats and a healthy ecosystem.

Over several months, The Diversity Around Us will bring experts and citizen scientists together to learn about and observe the plants, animals and fungi of Maryland’s Coastal Plain. The general public is invited to participate in some or all of the series. Lecture topics include birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fungi and lichen of the Coastal Plains. INaturalist Walks, led by experts, will build on the information presented in the lectures and take place on third Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. from April through October.

The Diversity Around Us will culminate in a Community Bioblitz at the Arboretum in early September. Experts will be on hand to help identify and confirm sightings. Data gathered will contribute to a comprehensive list of species at the Arboretum and be added to the Maryland Biodiversity Project website.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and plant preserve that strives to be a model for land stewardship. Biodiversity is an integral indicator of healthy and resilient landscapes. Through its Diversity Around Us series, the Arboretum will create a more complete picture of the biodiversity of Maryland’s Coast Plain and empower community members to contribute to resilient, biodiverse ecosystems.

For more information and to register for the series, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

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

ShoreRivers Seeks Volunteers for Project Clean Stream

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Join us on select dates in April to clear trash from our roads, parks, and rivers! ShoreRivers and volunteers are once again hosting community trash clean-ups as part of Project Clean Stream, a Bay-wide trash clean-up effort organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and coordinated by local groups like ShoreRivers. Project Clean Stream is an opportunity for citizens across the entire watershed to work together to clean our shared water resource.

This year, we are also excited to be partnering with a variety of community organizations for Clean Anne’s County Day—a day of environmental service throughout Queen Anne’s County. A variety of trash pick-ups are scheduled for Sunday, April 7, to help keep the county and its waterways clean.

Join a Project Clean Stream cleanup near you:

  • Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Romancoke Pier with Kent Island Rotary Club
  • Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Matapeake Park with Plastic Free Queen Anne’s County and Four Seasons
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Millstream Park in Centreville with Centreville Rotary Club
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Centreville Wharf with Corsica River Conservancy
  • Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Gibson’s Grant (meet at clubhouse)
  • Tuesday, April 9, at 10am: Oyster Shell Pile Clean-up at Grasonville Disposal Area with Oyster Recovery Partnership (rain date: Thursday, April 11)
  • Saturday, April 13, at 8:30am: Fox Hole Landing in Kent Island
  • Saturday, April 13, at 9am: Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area

To volunteer for any of these clean-ups, please contact Maegan White at [email protected] or visit shorerivers.org/events for individual event details. Trash bags and gloves will be provided; volunteers are encouraged to bring water and wear appropriate attire.

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

Chesapeake Film Festival Recognized for Promoting Environmental Awareness

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Festival Open for Submissions through June 5 – Accepting shorts and features, documentary, narrative and animated films

 The Chesapeake Film Festival is proud to announce a significant milestone in its mission to promote environmental awareness and advocacy through the power of film.  The Shared Earth Foundation, has awarded a prestigious environmental grant to bolster programming for the upcoming September 27 – 29 Chesapeake Film Festival, which includes many inspiring films with environmental topics.  The grant represents not only a vital investment in the festival’s continued growth, but also is a testament to its unwavering commitment to fostering dialogue and action on pressing environmental issues.

The festival’s environmental programming this year will begin on Friday, September 27 at the beautiful Ebenezer Theater in downtown Easton, Maryland at 7PM.  Films will include a new short film directed by local filmmaker Dave Harp and written by Tom Horton called Chesapeake Rhythms.  The film is a magnificent celebration of the native trumpet swans who migrate to the marshes of the Eastern Shore.  Following this short documentary, we will present the inspiring feature-length Diary of an Orphan Elephant. This evocative film follows the rescue and rehabilitation of an orphaned albino baby elephant and introduces us to the history and vital operations of a unique elephant orphanage in Southern Africa that was created in response to a wildlife crisis caused by habitat encroachment and poaching.

In addition to our environmental films in the evening, our September 27 Opening Day will feature the documentary film Call Me Dancer directed by Leslie Shampaine.  The film tells the story of Manish, a young and talented street dancer from the City of Dreams, Mumbai. He struggles against his parents’ insistence that he follow a more traditional career path to support the family.  Ambitious and passionate, Manish is determined to succeed as a professional dancer, but the odds are stacked against him.  The director will be on hand for a live Q & A following the screening.

SAVE THE DATE FOR FREE FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENT – AUGUST 15

On Thursday, Aug 15 join us for a special screening at the Academy Art Museum  This free preview event  features the film WYETH — about the life and work of artist Andrew Wyeth — and includes Q & A with the director Glenn Holsten following the screening.  WYETH is a documentary film telling the story of one of America’s most popular, but least understood artists.  While Andrew Wyeth’s exhibitions routinely broke attendance records, art world critics continually assaulted his work. Through unprecedented access to Wyeth family members, archival materials, and his work, WYETH presents the most complete portrait of the artist ever – bearing witness to a legacy just at the moment it is evolving. This event is free to the public. Join us to learn more about what will be happening during the three-day festival in September. Light refreshments will be served.

FESTIVAL KEY DATES

  • June 5 – deadline for submissions.  Submit at filmfreeway.com/chesapeakefilmfestival
  • August 15, 6 to 7:30PM  — Free Preview Event, WYETH documentary screening – August 15, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
  • September 27, 5:30 pm – VIP Reception, Ebenezer Theater, Easton, catered by Bluepoint Hospitality
  • September 27-29 — Chesapeake Film Festival –Ebenezer Theater, Easton, MD

Early Bird Tickets for all events available soon. For more information about the Chesapeake Film Festival – attendance, donation and sponsorship — please visit chesapeakefilmfestival.com.

Founded in 2008, it is the mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival to entertain, empower, educate and inspire diverse audiences of all ages by presenting exceptional independent films and events. We offer outstanding filmmakers, experienced and emerging, a forum to showcase and discuss stories of compelling interest to our local and global community.  Because of our location on the Chesapeake Bay and our diverse population, we prioritize films that focus on the environment, women’s achievement, student initiatives and social justice issues.

 The Chesapeake Film Festival is generously supported by the Mr. and Mrs. Paul Prager on behalf of Bluepoint Hospitality, The Nature Conservancy, Shared Earth Foundation, Maryland Humanities, Maryland State Arts Council, Mid-Shore Community Foundation & Artistic Insight’s Fund, Talbot Arts, the Maryland Film Office, Choptank Electric Trust, Shore United Bank, Talbot County Department of Tourism, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, U.S. Small Business Administration and Easton Utilities.

The MD Humanities Grant has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland Historical Trust, an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning which is part of the State of Maryland.

For more information, please contact Cid Collins Walker, Executive Director, Chesapeake Film Festival [email protected] , (410) 822-3500 or visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com

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

National Vietnam War Veterans Day Comes to Chestertown: A Chat With Peter Sweetser

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Chestertown resident Pete Sweetser is on a mission to heal some old wounds: the unfortunate and often harsh treatment that men and women in uniform received during the Vietnam War.

Sweetser has been instrumental in bringing the National Vietnam War Veterans Day to Chestertown and is now gearing up for another event honoring the nation’s Vietnam War veterans. On March 29, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the town will host its third annual ceremony at Memorial Park. The event, which has drawn nearly 600 attendees in past years, aims to recognize and thank the men and women who served during the Vietnam War era.

Congress authorized the creation of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration under the Department of Defense. Its primary objective was to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families on behalf of the nation for their service and sacrifice, with distinct recognition of former prisoners of war, families of those still listed as missing in action, and those who were killed in action (Gold Star Families).

The ceremony is part of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, established by Congress to honor Vietnam veterans and their families. The commemoration recognizes all individuals who served in the U.S. military between 1955 and 1975, totaling nearly 9 million people, of whom about 6 million are still alive today.

During the ceremony, veterans will be individually thanked for their service and sacrifice. They will also receive a specially designed lapel pin as a token of appreciation. Additionally, widows of veterans who have passed away since the war and family members of those missing or killed in action will be honored with special pins.

The event will feature several significant elements, including the singing of the National Anthem, a presentation of the National Flag by a Color Guard from the U.S. Marine Barracks in Washington, DC, and a Missing Man Table ceremony performed by members of Washington College’s Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Five Gold Star families from Kent County will also be recognized.

The keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony is Colonel Larry Wilkerson, U.S. Army (ret), a veteran who flew helicopters in Vietnam. Col. Wilkerson has had a distinguished military career, serving in various roles, including as an assistant to Colin Powell and later as Secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration.

All residents of Kent County and surrounding areas are invited to attend the ceremony, regardless of military service. Veterans from all eras are encouraged to participate, with a special invitation extended to Vietnam War veterans. Those who have already received a pin are urged to attend and bring another veteran who has not yet been recognized.

The ceremony is made possible through the collaboration of several local organizations, including the American Legion Posts from Chestertown, Rock Hall, Betterton, and Centreville; G.A.R. Post 5 – Sumner Hall; Old Kent Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Washington College Kappa Sigma Fraternity; and the Town of Chestertown, Kent County, represented by its Commissioners; and local law enforcement and Rescue Squads.

It promises to be a meaningful and respectful tribute to those who served during the Vietnam War.

All residents of Kent County and the surrounding areas are invited to attend, whether they have ever served in the military or not. All veterans, whenever they served, are invited. Veterans from the Vietnam War period are particularly invited to attend and be recognized if they choose to do so. All Vietnam veterans who have previously been presented with a pin are urged to attend and to bring another veteran who has not.

The Spy recently talked with Mr. Sweetser about the significance of the March 29 event. For more about the National Vietnam War Veterans Day, go here.

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.

A Talbot County Star at the Starr Center: A Chat with Jaelon Moaney

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Jaelon Moaney’s appointment as Deputy Director of the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College is a full–circle return to his roots on the Eastern Shore.

A tenth-generation son of Talbot and Kent County, his ancestors helped found Copperville, the only American village founded by once-enslaved soldiers. They also helped establish the earliest free Black community known as “The Hill” in Easton.

A graduate of Easton High School and a B.A. with honors from Williams College as a political science major, Moaney’s journey back to the Cambridge area has been replete with education, preservation, and state-level engagements to not only foster an understanding of Black history but to promote and advocate learning projects honoring the “legacies and landscapes” of Delmarva.

Co-founder of the Needles Eye Academy in Talbot County, a project to promote the “literary empowerment for the Black & Brown youth of MD’s Eastern Shore”—covered in the Spy here—Moaney was recently appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to be on the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.

Moaney has emerged as a prominent figure in the national preservation movement in the United States, championing causes on Capitol Hill and state capitols nationwide. His deep policy knowledge and advocacy efforts played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, encompassing Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties. President Joe Biden signed this designation into law in January 2023. Additionally, his achievements include securing the confirmation of the Hon. Sara C. Bronin, the first person of color to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the expansion and redesignation of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to include four locations outside of the original site in Kansas. He also played a key role in establishing the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area in Chicago, Illinois, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Texas.

Director of the Starr Center Adam Goodheart writes, “All of us at the Starr Center are thrilled to have Jaelon as the newest member of our leadership team. He comes to us with vision, passion, and an impressive record of community engagement and public service, as well as strong professional connections throughout Maryland and beyond. What’s more, he’s a proud native son of the Eastern Shore who draws inspiration from that legacy and is eager to share it with others. We can expect to see him at the helm of some exciting initiatives ahead.”

Jaelon Moaney recently shared his vision of working with the Starr Center with the Spy last week.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Starr Center at Washington College please go here.

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