Each week, The Spy partners with Baywater Animal Rescue to feature animals looking for a second chance. These profiles spotlight the personalities, quirks, and stories behind the cats and dogs waiting for adoption. Meet your next companion.

Miami Heat is a true gentle soul. This beautiful 5-year-old Labrador Retriever is as sweet as they come.

Personality

Miami Heat has a shy nature at first, but once she feels comfortable, her loving personality quietly shines through. Unlike many dogs, Miami Heat is very calm and quiet—she rarely barks and enjoys a peaceful environment.

What She’s Looking For

She gets along wonderfully with other dogs, cats, and children, making her an excellent fit for a wide variety of homes. Her gentle demeanor makes her especially well-suited for families or individuals looking for a relaxed, affectionate companion.

Miami Heat is spayed and up to date on all vaccinations, so she’s healthy and ready to start her next chapter. Her adoption fee has been waived.

Meet Figmyer, a 5-year-old male domestic short hair who is as charming as he is affectionate.

Personality

Figmyer has a sweet, outgoing personality that makes him a favorite of everyone he meets. He loves people and isn’t shy about showing it. One of his most endearing traits is his habit of gently climbing onto his people, clearly believing that laps (and shoulders!) are exactly where he belongs.

What He’s Looking For

Figmyer actively seeks attention—in the best way possible—and enjoys being close to his humans. His affectionate nature makes him an ideal companion for someone looking for a cat who wants to be involved in daily life.

Adoption Details

If Miami Heat or Figmyer sounds like your kind of joyful friend, Baywater Animal Rescue would be delighted to introduce you.

For more information about adopting these sweeties or meeting other pets waiting for homes, visit Baywater Animal Rescue or reach out directly:

• Website: baywateranimalrescue.org

• Phone: 410-228-3090

• Location: 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD

“Fur Your Consideration” is The Cambridge Spy’s weekly look at the extraordinary animals at Baywater Animal Rescue who are ready for their next chapter. Because every great story deserves a home.

Downtown Cambridge sparkled with ice, music, and patriotic spirit during the 5th Annual Cambridge Ice and Oyster Festival, held January 16 and 17. This year’s festival carried special meaning as organizers dedicated the event to celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Stretching from Cannery Way to Blue Ruin downtown, the festival transformed Cambridge into a winter playground filled with dazzling ice sculptures inspired by Eastern Shore culture, wildlife, transportation, and American heritage. A new patriotic ice maze joined returning highlights such as the ice slide, life-size hunting blind, graffiti wall, and ice thrones.

Visitors wandered among trains, tractor-trailers, geese, benches carved from ice, and oversized ice picture frames, stopping to snap photos or leave messages etched into the graffiti wall. Children enjoyed kid-friendly ice golf, games, and slides, while adults gathered at glowing ice bars, sampled local oysters, and sipped craft beer from regional vendors.

As the sun set, festivalgoers warmed themselves at fire pits for s’mores, took in live music, and explored downtown, where all restaurants and retail shops were open, adding to the lively atmosphere. Ice skating at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort and Spa offered another winter escape just minutes away.

Now in its fifth year, the festival has grown into one of Cambridge’s most anticipated events. The inaugural 2022 festival famously launched during a snowstorm, and by its third and fourth years the event welcomed more than 8,000 visitors. Today, it consistently ranks as one of the busiest weekends of the year for Cambridge, rivaling even major holidays.

More than a celebration, the Ice and Oyster Festival continues to deliver a major economic boost while bringing together residents and visitors from across the Mid-Shore. With its blend of art, food, history, and community, the 2026 festival once again proved why winter in Cambridge is anything but quiet.

History books and documentaries are great, but there are other methods for exploring the past. One of those is through postcards. I haven’t verified the fact, but I’m confident I have one of the largest Cambridge postcard collections, and I can give you a tiny window onto the past of our city with them.

There are two ways we can use these Cambridge postcards to look at history—specifically 20th century history. First, there’s the front, with its art or photograph. This can show us elements of the city that have been altered or don’t exist anymore.

For example, we can no longer see the house known as The Point, the Dorchester Hotel, Hotel Dixon (also once called the Cambridge Hotel), Oakley Beach Hotel, Cambridge High School (the first or second one), Cambridge-Maryland Hospital, Cambridge Manufacturing Company, the old Fire Engine House, the Straughn House, the Grand Opera House, or the State Hospital.

The gazebo is gone from Spring Valley, Dr. Guy Steele’s tulip garden has been removed from Church Street, and the lovely boxwood garden at High and Glasgow Streets has been replaced by a gas station. The remains of the original Choptank River Bridge are now the defunct Bill Burton Fishing Pier. Race Street is paved, unlike in 1912. Zion M.E. Church had to be rebuilt in stone after a fire destroyed the frame original. The Yacht Club no longer looks like the deck of a ship. And Long Wharf Park now has the lighthouse.

The other way to use the postcards for a peek at the past is through the writing on the back. For instance, we can learn what the weather was like here at specific times.

It was “lovely” in September 1913, but there was heavy snow the following February. In July 1938, flooding made Cambridge “miserable.” While it had been “awful hot” in mid-1940, the spell broke by August 2 to make way for “cool.” And there was “wonderful weather” in January 1942, when Cornelia had “an elegant visit” here.

We can also find out what visitors thought of our fair city through the notes they wrote on the cards. Tom and Chas had “bully times” staying at the Dorchester Hotel in July 1911, when they caught “all the crabs and fish in Chester River (almost).” Chas thought it “pretty country . . . but nothing like Berks Co.”

In an early-century postcard that, for some reason, was never mailed, Kitty said she was “in love with” Cambridge and thought High Street was just “one of the many pretty streets” here. Sometime in the 1920s, May and someone else stayed in Cambridge because it was “a nice place to spend the night,” even though it was out of the way on their road trip. Lizzie stayed at the Oakley Beach Hotel in June 1928 and called it “a wonderful place” where she could swim and listen to a “very good” orchestra.

In April 1944, Betty had a nice time in Cambridge, which she considered “a pretty little town.” But, in her opinion, it couldn’t beat Princess Anne, and none of the restaurants could beat the fare at Elmer Jones’s house. However, Gus and Gladys liked Cambridge so much when they stopped here on the way to Baltimore in August of 1954 that they spent the night at the Oakley Beach Hotel. Gus said, “We went fishing and caught more different kinds of fish than we ever saw.”

Although I use my Cambridge postcard collection for the Spy’s Cambridge Time Machine feature and also on my Cambridge_MD Instagram account, I’ve never before been able to present all that can be gleaned from these little pieces of thick paper. In fact, I hadn’t actually paid attention to the notes people wrote on the backs until I was preparing this column. So, I thank you for showing me something new. Or old.

Each week, The Spy partners with Baywater Animal Rescue to feature animals looking for a second chance. These profiles spotlight the personalities, quirks, and stories behind the cats and dogs waiting for adoption. Meet your next companion.

Bear 2.0 is a handsome 2-year-old Catahoula with a big personality and even bigger energy!

Personality

This playful boy loves his toys and thrives when he has plenty of room to run and stretch his legs. He is already off to a great start with training—he knows commands like sit and paw, and he’s eager to learn more.

What He’s Looking For

His intelligence and enthusiasm make him easily trainable, especially with positive reinforcement and fun activities. With the right mix of exercise, playtime, and continued training, Bear 2.0 will make a loyal, fun-loving companion.

Bear 2.0 is neutered and up to date on all vaccinations, so he’s healthy and ready to go to his forever home.

Lala is a sweet and gentle 1-year-old female Domestic Shorthair who is all about comfort and companionship.

Personality

Lala gets along wonderfully with other cats and is great with kids, making her an excellent addition to a family home. Her calm, affectionate nature makes her a joy to have around, whether she’s snoozing nearby or curled up in your lap.

What She’s Looking For

This lovely girl adores cozy naps, warm laps, and spending time with her favorite people. If you’re looking for a cuddly cat to keep you company, Lala fits the bill perfectly.

Lala is spayed and up to date on all vaccinations, so she’s healthy and ready for her forever home. She is patiently waiting to bring comfort, love, and plenty of purrs into your life.

Adoption Details

If Bear 2.0 or Lala sounds like your kind of joyful friend, Baywater Animal Rescue would be delighted to introduce you.

For more information about adopting these sweeties or meeting other pets waiting for homes, visit Baywater Animal Rescue or reach out directly:

• Website: baywateranimalrescue.org

• Phone: 410-228-3090

• Location: 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD

“Fur Your Consideration” is The Cambridge Spy’s weekly look at the extraordinary animals at Baywater Animal Rescue who are ready for their next chapter. Because every great story deserves a home. 

The guest speaker at the January 7 meeting of the Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods was Police Chief Justin Todd. CAN President Chuck McFadden said Todd had “changed the whole attitude of the police department,” especially with his ideas on community policing. Todd gave the assembled CAN members a slew of information regarding the department in 2025 and then took questions. Below is some of what he discussed.

• He would like to have a real-time crime center in Cambridge in the next couple of years. This would be a centralized, technology-driven police unit that synthesizes live, actionable data to enhance officer safety, improve situational awareness, and speed up incident response times.
• The department has conducted 36 successful drone missions since the program was implemented. One example of a drone mission is the arrest of five members of an outside group that brought dirt bikes into the city for riding illegally on the streets.
• There has been a significant drop in ShotSpotter calls since 2023. ShotSpotter, which was introduced to Cambridge in late 2022, is a gunshot detection system that includes acoustic sensors around the city to help the police identify and respond to gunfire in real time.
• CPD has a well-known problem with keeping officers because of the level of pay, but the department has recently gotten some good pay raises for personnel who most deserve it.
• While most school children “try to do the right thing,” CPD has major issues with 15 to 20 juveniles in the city. The main reason for the trouble is the lack of accountability for the kids under current law. Creative alternatives have been exhausted, so the laws must change and parents must bear some responsibility.
• The department has put out noticeably fewer press releases in the past few months because of officer injuries and leave time. This will be remedied soon.
• Thanks to a mental health and wellness grant, CPD is working with the Health Department and hopes to have a clinician in the department for eight hours per week initially. Todd would like to increase the hours eventually.
• A technology grant will allow the CPD to install new cameras around the city and also purchase license plate readers. The grant will also provide overtime pay for officers in high-crime areas.
• Todd would like for the Police Advisory Board to be more active in 2026. The Board consists of seven members: the mayor, a resident of each ward, and a resident of the city nominated by the mayor. They are responsible for advising the police department on complaints from the citizens and improvements in operations.
• Mental health calls of service were up 60 percent in 2025. The police are not the answer for homelessness or mental health issues, and Todd would like to hire someone to follow up on related incidents.
• Thefts, simple assaults, DUI offenses, and traffic citations were up in 2025. Rapes, robberies, and juvenile arrests were down.
• CPD has little contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is concerning to Todd. The department has no involvement with ICE operations.
• As far as what the citizens can do to help CPD, doorbell camera footage of incidents is always welcome. Contact the police and they will even go out to your house to download the footage.
• The high-crime areas of Cambridge are Greenwood Avenue, Cedar Street, and Washington Street. However, CPD is currently trying to find patterns in crimes to be more focused.
• Car break-ins are a major problem in the city, and owners can help discourage thieves by keeping cars locked and valuables out of sight.
• Todd has mixed feelings about a gun buyback program, but it has been discussed as long as he has been chief.
• Police bodycams are important because of the times officers don’t even realize they have done things that are inappropriate.

I think that practically any method of connecting people can be a good thing, including the often-derided social media. Everyone knows about Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, yet there’s another one I haven’t often used but have come to appreciate as a journalist and advocate for Cambridge. That’s Nextdoor (one word, so my headline is not a typo).

Nextdoor has over 100 million registered “neighbors,” and roughly 46 million weekly active users. While there are no published statistics for the platform’s use in Cambridge, it can be estimated that there are a few thousand registered local users.

It doesn’t always feel like that if you’re on the app and see the same few names pop up constantly. But one needn’t post or comment to get benefit from Nextdoor, it just helps. So, how useful is it?

As part of my research for this column, I posted a couple of questions to the Cambridge users: Do you find Nextdoor useful, and what do you use it for? The answers weren’t all that surprising, but they served as a good structure for my analysis. Let’s look at some of the responses, categorize them, and expand on them with examples.

Businesses & Services. Not everyone on Nextdoor appreciates the commercial use of it by advertisers, especially a man in the Historic West End who is inundated with sales pitches for prefabricated showers. But more people appreciate learning about the opening of new businesses or sales at existing ones, as well as recommendations for services of all types. Not only do specialists advertise their small companies that offer carpentry, plumbing, or in-home pet care, but regular users will advise others who express their needs for a particular skill like lawn maintenance or woodturning.

Pets – Lost & Found. You can always find posts on Nextdoor by people looking for their beloved furry friends who got out of the house or yard, and these posts can lead to helpful suggestions and even reunions. One Oakley Street woman announced that her cat had bolted through the door, and commenters advised setting out dirty laundry, posted helpful Internet links, and even offered to print flyers. Ida was proud to tell me she had been able to return a lost cat to someone five miles away from her, and Grant in Lloyds was able to find a black Lab’s people only an hour after posting about it.

News & Updates. Users are more than willing to let neighbors know about local emergencies, traffic problems, road closures, weather issues, and crime reports. Plus, professional news outlets post stories, including The Star Democrat newspaper and the media website Patch. However, Jo Alice complained that some of the news links lead to a paywall.

Meeting People & Joining Groups. When someone who had just moved into the West End posted that she was looking for book and gardening clubs, people jumped in to direct her. A couple of folks mentioned the historical society’s book club as well as the one at the library while several mentioned the Dorchester Garden Club as having a strong membership. One frequent contributor on Cedar Grove Road even said she would be happy to discuss gardening with the newcomer. That last part is rather common on Nextdoor: people wanting to meet up and hang out, and it’s nice to see.

Offering a Hand (or scarf). One “lonely senior” with no family in Cambridge admitted that he wished he could get a gift for Christmas, and hopefully one for his cat, too. Several people offered to provide those gifts, such as a scarf and some cat food, while others offered their company over coffee. In another example, Lillian needed to borrow a laser level for a new exhibit at the Dorchester Center for the Arts, and Barbara welcomed the loan of hers. And when Choptank Elementary Teacher Emma requested donations toward a new rug for her classroom, the project was fully funded within 11 hours.

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture. Nextdoor isn’t perfect: sometimes new posts take a while to appear, folks sometimes get into arguments, and there really are too many professional ads. But I believe the platform is worth at least keeping an eye on sometimes, if for no other reason than to see how your neighbors are doing right down the street.

Each week, The Spy partners with Baywater Animal Rescue to feature animals looking for a second chance. These profiles spotlight the personalities, quirks, and stories behind the cats and dogs waiting for adoption. Meet your next companion.

Turk is an 8-year-old, 40-pound mixed breed with a heart full of love and energy to spare!

Personality

This handsome boy is a total love bug who adores being around his people. Whether he’s showing off his playful side or soaking up affection, Turk’s joyful personality shines through.

What He’s Looking For

Don’t let his age fool you—Turk still has plenty of pep in his step and is always ready for playtime, especially if toys are involved. He’s the perfect mix of fun and cuddles and would make a wonderful companion for someone looking for a loyal, happy pup.

Turk is neutered and up to date on all of his vaccinations.

Marshmallow is a 9-year-old domestic short-hair sweetheart who truly lives up to her name.

Personality

With her sweet nature and easygoing personality, she’s the perfect companion cat for anyone looking for a loyal snuggle buddy and a warm presence in their home.

What She’s Looking For

This gentle girl adores cuddles, cozy laps, and long, peaceful naps. Marshmallow is happiest when she’s by your side, soaking up affection and providing calm, loving companionship.

Marshmallow is spayed and up to date on all of her vaccinations.

Adoption Details

If Turk or Marshmallow sounds like your kind of joyful friend, Baywater Animal Rescue would be delighted to introduce you.

For more information about adopting these sweeties or meeting other pets waiting for homes, visit Baywater Animal Rescue or reach out directly:

• Website: baywateranimalrescue.org

• Phone: 410-228-3090

• Location: 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD

“Fur Your Consideration” is The Cambridge Spy’s weekly look at the extraordinary animals at Baywater Animal Rescue who are ready for their next chapter. Because every great story deserves a home.