October 2025 Tidewater Times Web Magazine

Tidewater Times October 2025

About the Cover Photographer

Emily Wallace

Based in Cambridge, Maryland, Emily Wallace is a self-taught photographer who fi nds beauty in the quiet details often overlooked. As a stay-at-home mom, she fi rst picked up the camera to capture her children, but soon found herself drawn to the flowers, roses, and insects in her own backyard. That simple practice sparked her love of macro photography and blossomed into a true passion for storytelling through her lens.

Specializing in macro, nature, and candid photography, Emily draws inspiration from the delicate strength of a petal, the hidden world of insects, and the unposed warmth of real human connection. Whether it’s a flower in bloom or a fleeting smile, her work reflects a simple belief: even the smallest things deserve to be seen. Beyond the cam-

era, Emily is a wife, homeschooling mom of two, and proud cat mom who loves the outdoors and seeks wonder in the everyday. She’s currently working on publishing her fi rst children’s book. Her photography can be followed on Facebook and Instagram under W3 Photography, where prints are available for purchase.

Missing Roger

On August 25, 2025, the Tidewater Times family suffered a great loss. That was the day that our Roger Vaughan died peacefully at his home in Easton. His obituary is filled with the many deserved accolades of his illustrious career as a writer, editor, photographer, educator, sailor and mentor. But to us, he was so much more.

Roger and his wife Kippy Requard were, and are, family.

Roger was an incredibly polished writer who knew how to make you feel like you were a part of the adventure. And he was always willing to share his vast knowledge on so many subjects.

To meet Roger was an experience. He was funny, intelligent and had a true zest for life.

Roger covered Bob Dylan, The Beatles, the Woodstock and Monterrey Pop Festivals, early astronaut training, the Boston Symphony in China, and the Volvo (Whitbread) Round the World Race (as a participant) for LIFE magazine. He was founding editor of TheYACHT magazine, and wrote about several America’s Cups, Olympic Games, and other grand prix sailing events for both ESPN TV, and print. His 23 published books include the America’s Cup

Roger Vaughan be

(4); baseball (Tony Gwynn); hockey (Barry Melrose); golf (The Women’s Game); and development of the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique. His biographies include media magnate and America’s Cup winner Ted Turner; the late music director Herbert von Karajan; the late medical researcher Hilary Koprowski; Victor Kovalenko, Australian sailing coach whose teams have won more Olympic medals than those of any sailing coach in history; the late educator, philanthropist and sailor, Harry Anderson; and Arthur Curtiss James, Unsung Titan of the Gilded Age.

A celebration of his life will be held later this year.

In Praise of Chocolate

by Helen Chappell

It’s no secret that I love chocolate. In fact, I love it so much that finding I ate all the peanut M&M’s last night, I’m in serious withdrawal right now. Not enough to throw on some street clothes and hie myself down to the convenience store, but enough to at least think about it.

Let’s face it. If there were a Chocoholics Anonymous, I’d be in there every Wednesday night whining about something I’ve done to satisfy my craving for the brown stuff. If chocolate were illegal, I’d

probably be found in some dark corner of some deserted street, negotiating a Snickers bar or three.

Of course, I love the good stuff. Godiva’s Open Oysters are the stuff dreams are made of, and at $40 a pound, you can’t go wrong stuffing an entire golden box down your gullet in an orgy of sugary selfindulgence. I am convinced that when you die, you get to bathe in oceans of sweet, gooey milk chocolate.

After all, it’s got to be good for

you. As many people have pointed out with irrefutable logic, chocolate is a vegetable. And heaven help you if you get between me and my fix.

I wish I could say I was addicted to the upscale stuff, the dainty little morsels that come in those

fancy little wrappers, molded into charming shapes and all ready for a serious afternoon of lying on the chaise watching old movies and popping sweet and nutty bits into my open maw.

I wish I could say I was that upscale, but when it comes to chocolate, I’m a peasant. I’m helpless in the thrall of any kind of chocolate that comes with a healthy dose of peanut butter in it somewhere. Yes, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are my downfall. I’m ashamed to admit it, but there you have it. Those pedestrian peanut butter chocolate cakes just call my name like nothing else on the face of this earth.

Left to my own devices, I could probably eat an entire bag of them.

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I could peel the wrappers off like grape skins and lie in a heap of paper like an opium addict on a couch. And just as blissed out. There’s just something about those Reese’s Cups with their creamy peanut butter enrobed in a crisp chocolate shell. Yeah, that’s entertainment. I’ll take chocolate any way I can get it, from the obscene explosion of a devil’s food wrapped in an inch of chocolate fudge frosting to a miniature peppermint patty, just enough for a bite. I can’t help myself. It’s just the gypsy in my soul. But you wanna know what I really crave? Those holiday editions of Reese’s Cups that come in seasonal molds. The Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs seem somehow different, more delicious than the mundane

Chocolate

everyday Reese’s Cups. The peanut butter seems a little smoother, the chocolate a little sweeter when it’s put out there for the holidays. Don’t ask me why. I can’t explain it. It just is.

They’re only around for a short time, between, like, Valentine’s Day and Easter, so you have to snap them up while you can, and hoard them so, after they go on half-price sale for one day after Easter (oh, cruel retailers!), you’ll have enough to last you a few weeks until you have to switch back to regular Reese’s Cups. Which are, of course, fun but not half as much fun as the seasonal Reese’s Cups.

I have no idea why this is. It just is. I have friends who are addicted to salty snacks, and friends who guzzle soda by the quart. Everyone has a guilty snack pleasure, after all, and while some of us might conceal it behind a façade of crudites and fruit, we all know what’s really going on when no one is looking. It could be Cheetos or chips, or even the unspeakable pork rinds, but everyone has a secret vice they nurture behind closed doors in front of trash TV or the big game.

Yes of course, the food Nazis are going to look down their noses at you, but the food Nazis are always hungry and mean. The sporadic indulgence in some secret gluttony isn’t going to hurt anyone, as long as you keep it under control and don’t eat three whole bags of something without one natural foodstuff in it. If it’s full of chemicals and food coloring, it’s probably really bad for you and going to give you cancer, but you need to stray from the healthy path every once in a while. What fun is

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November 29 - December 2

Saturday 10am - 8pm

Sunday 11am - 8pm

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a holy life without sin to repent? So I beat on, sneaking a handful of pumpkin-shaped peanut butter Reese’s Cups, because, after all, you’ve gotta indulge yourself once in a while. And they’ll last until Reese’s comes out with Christmas tree-shaped peanut butter cups around Thanksgiving, because after all, cheap chocolate is a thing.

Helen Chappell is the creator of the Sam and Hollis mystery series and the Oysterback stories, as well as The Chesapeake Book of the Dead . Under her pen name, Rebecca Baldwin, she has published a number of historical novels. 40 Years

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One Island – Two Nations – One People

Part 2

Bonna L. Nelson

With sails billowing in the breeze, we set out on the Scoobi from Anse Marcel marina, near our resort of the same name, on the French island of St. Martin. Our destination was the nearby island of Anguilla. With chilled pina coladas in hand and accompanied by lively reggae music, we voyaged across Anguilla Channel, a strait in the Caribbean Sea that separates the two islands.

Our adventure on the 53-foot catamaran was one of the high -

lights of our visit to SXM, the twocountry, one island phenomenon of St. Maarten (a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), and St. Martin (a French collectivity). Together known locally as SXM, the island provided us with an opportunity to view Ansel Beach Resort, our home for two weeks, from the perspective of the sea. The welcoming, multilingual crew and our jolly 20 or so shipmates from all over the world were thrilled with the

St. Martin

weather, a brilliantly sunny day with few clouds in sight. My senses were attuned to the scent of the sea, the wind on my face, and the views of sea and sand in this tropical paradise. Under a dazzling blue sky, we voyaged across the gleaming turquoise

sea to the southern beaches of Anguilla, Cap Juluca and Rendezvous Bay. While St. Maarten/St. Martin’s beaches are amazing, Anguilla’s beaches rank among the world’s top 10 most beautiful. Viewing the postcard perfect, pristine, powdery white sand beaches lined with palm trees and tropical greenery, and occasionally glamorous accommodations, from the sailing vessel made the experience especially memorable. The crew served us fresh fruits and a variety of French cheeses, breads and pastries, along with an assortment of beverages from the open bar. Changing rooms and restrooms were available to get ready for swimming, snorkeling, floating, SUP or just sunbathing. An array of

Friday, December 5th, 2025 7:30PM

tropical fish, turtles and corals were located at sites close to rocks and the beaches with snorkelers generously calling to us to see what they spotted.

Anguilla, our third country visited on this adventure, a British Overseas Territory, lies directly north of St.

Martin and east of Puerto Rico. The island is approximately 16 miles long by 3 miles wide. It is known for its 33 beautiful beaches, luxury resorts and vibrant culture.

We visited a few beaches, swam, snorkeled and walked. On our last stop on the paradisiacal island of Anguilla we dinghied to shore for a tropical lunch buffet at picnic tables on a pearly white beach. We dined on grilled and jerked chicken, ribs and fish accompanied by coleslaw, salad and Creole rice, washed down with beer and lemonade. Too quickly it was time to return to our vessel, though we would have preferred to linger and lounge in the hammocks onshore.

On our return trip on the Scoobi

St. Martin

across the magical Caribbean Sea, we briefly stopped at a few of the 37 gorgeous SXM beaches only accessible by water. Some of the beaches were occupied by families and others by just seagulls and terns. We returned to port on the comfortable,

spacious catamaran with memories of the exciting and relaxing sail, delicious food and stunning sights. Every other day on our journey, we set out by car to explore more of the French and Dutch island sights and see more of its 37 beaches. The island is the perfect destination for beach lovers. There are beaches to suit everyone’s desires, surfi ng beaches, windsurfing beaches, snorkeling beaches, hidden beaches, family beaches, romantic beaches, nude beaches, calm surf beaches, rough surf beaches, windy beaches, nature sanctuary beaches, foodie beaches, palm treed beaches, city beaches, island beaches, remote beaches and resort beaches, like ours at Anse Marcel Bay.

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St. Martin

We drove around the island on its main road and enjoyed viewing or relaxing on over 20 beaches from north to south and east to west. Starting from our family friendly, snorkeling favorite, Anse Marcel with its caramel-colored sand, dotted with small volcanic rocks from the surrounding mountains, we embarked on an island beach odyssey.

On the northeastern end of St. Martin, Grandes Cayes is a wild, remote beach popular with residents. Heading south, at the calm Pinel Island Ferry Dock beach, we walked through mangroves looking for fish. We lounged, walked and dined at the island’s largest beach, Orient Bay, called the “St. Tropez of the Carib -

bean,” for its many shops, galleries, hotels, residences, restaurants and water sports. Looking across Orient Bay, we spotted the quiet, snow white, Green Cay island beaches.

We snorkeled at Happy Bay beach on the catamaran trip, a small curvy white sand beach. We stopped by Grand Case beach, one of the larger town beaches with a variety of restaurants to choose from. We drove by popular and rough Galion Beach and Baie de l’Embouchure, both being enjoyed by windsurfers on the east side of St. Martin.

Calm Lucas Bay was dotted with snorkelers enjoying underwater nature, while rougher Guana Bay was dotted with surfers. Friars Bay on the west coast is family friendly, safe and beautiful. Little Bay is a protected bird sanctuary.

St. Maarten’s capital, Phillipsburg, is located between Great Salt Pond and Great Bay Beach with its bars and restaurants, water sports and cruise ship watching. Traveling west from the capital, beach choices include Simpson Bay with a fishing village and Maho Beach located at

the end of the Juliana Airport runway, famous for experiencing the noise and turbulence of takeoffs and landings and inhaling jet exhaust! Further west, Mullet Bay and Cupecoy Bay are great for enjoying sunsets. We’ll have many more beaches to explore on our next SXM journey and several to experience on repeat. French St. Martin’s capital, Marigot, is located on a harbor, near but not on a beach. Its French and Caribbean charm, colorful gingerbread houses, bistros and shops lining the streets, waterfront walk and location makeup for not having a beach of its own. Marigot was our destination on several outings to dine at the “Lolos” at the harbor and browse in its open-air markets. We feasted on freshly caught

St. Martin

grilled lobster at one of the famous outdoor dining spots in Marigot. Lolos go back in history to the 17th century during the days of colonization and slavery. Over time, the slaves’ living quarters became districts. Districts gradually formed small villages. Villages built food outlets. Outlets used a sale unit called a “lot.” Lots evolved to “Lolos.” Lolos eventually became bars and community gathering centers, open late after work in local neighborhoods. Later, Lolos evolved into small, traditional restaurants.

Modern-day Lolos are usually entirely open, with tables arranged around a kitchen and barbeque grill. Popular with residents and visitors, local specialties are served, includ-

ing peas and rice, johnny cakes, fried plantains, banana bread, conch stew and beverages, all of which we had with our Caribbean spiny lobster dinner. Ribs and fresh fish are also popular. I savored a grilled red snapper on another Lolo visit. I also tried the sweet, local guava berry juice, a real treat.

We also shopped for gifts in the open-air markets next to the Lolos. Beach ware, hats, colorful dresses and coverups, scarves, jewelry, beach bags and other clothing were hung on the tent poles and swayed in the breeze. The vendors were welcoming and helpful.

On another exploration day trip, wanting to learn more about the history of the island, we trekked up to Amsterdam Fort on a hill above Phillipsburg at Divi Bay Beach Resort. The triangular stone fort, which guarded the salt trade, is located on the peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay and was built by the Dutch in 1631. It was the first Dutch fort built in the Caribbean and changed hands fre -

TIDE TABLE

OXFORD, MD OCTOBER 2025

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12:19 1:16 2:09 3:00 3:50 4:39 5:29

SHARP’S IS. LIGHT: 46 minutes before Oxford

TILGHMAN: Dogwood Harbor same as Oxford

EASTON POINT: 5 minutes after Oxford

CAMBRIDGE: 10 minutes after Oxford

CLAIBORNE: 25 minutes after Oxford

ST. MICHAELS MILES R.: 47 min. after Oxford

WYE LANDING: 1 hr. after Oxford

ANNAPOLIS: 1 hr., 29 min. after Oxford

KENT NARROWS: 1 hr., 29 min. after Oxford

CENTREVILLE LANDING: 2 hrs. after Oxford

CHESTERTOWN: 3 hrs., 44 min. after Oxford

3 month tides at www.tidewatertimes.com 11:18 12:02 12:56 1:46 2:31 3:14 3:57 4:41 5:27 6:16 7:10 8:09 9:13 10:22 11:32 12:32 1:27 2:12 2:50 3:25 3:58 4:31 5:06 5:43 6:24 7:09 7:58 8:51 9:49 10:49 11:49

St. Martin

quently as other countries fought for possession.

Overlooking Phillipsburg, the harbor and Great Bay, brown pelicans nest and soar overhead, and sailboats glide and race below. We were treated to fantastic views of the spectral blue sea meeting the bluebird-colored sky under the tropical sun as we walked from one crumbling stone fort ruin to the next. Stone ramparts, cannon embrasures and cannons still keep watch, and a small, unidentified stone building, perhaps a barrack, remains.

On our last night, we dined again at Rancho Del Sol, a tropic-chic restaurant perched atop a lush hill overlooking Orient Bay. Serenaded by Herb Alpert-type live music on a starry night, it was very romantic. Peacocks roamed freely, and hummingbirds visited the gardens surrounding the patio. John enjoyed his grilled steak, while I savored a seafood tapas dish that included mahi mahi, shrimp and red snapper with

grilled vegetables, fried plantain and rum punches.

On our last beach day, I beachcombed for treasures for our girls and my collection. I found multiple heart-shaped black lava rocks, basalt, from the volcanic mountains sheltering the beach. Smoothed by the sea and sand, they represented our feelings for this island paradise. If you are looking for a new experience, a new adventure, new cultures, new beaches, a new island, try SXM, two countries on one island and a gorgeous Caribbean gem.

Bonna L. Nelson is a Bay-area writer, columnist, photographer and world traveler. She resides in Easton with her husband, John.

Jen Wagner A Life Shaped In Fragments and Mosaics

by Tracey F. Johns

I’ve worked before with Jen Wagner on two community-based glass mosaic projects at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. I loved how small pieces of glass could fit together like a puzzle and create stunning images, especially when they are set on glass and have light shining through them.

I have been an admirer of Jen’s work, intelligence and boldness

since I first learned of her work in Cambridge, around what feels like 20 years ago. I remember, for example, when her now-adult children were toddlers and mine were in elementary school. That’s how long.

“Why don’t you come and be a part of the large project studio class,” she said over a phone chat, commenting that I send her so

Jen Wagner

many photos of other mosaics (it’s true) on Facebook that maybe it was time for me to create something on my own.

So, I took a step in my forever quest for learning and upping my artistic skills and said yes.

I remember arriving at Wagner’s studio in Easton to the sounds of conversation, laughter and the breaking of glass. As you open the door to Jen Wagner Mosaic’s Easton studio, it’s not unusual for Wagner to announce the arrival of a student with a belting welcome, as I recently experienced for my first studio project with her.

I decided to reproduce a favorite photo of mine of the ocean and shells. As I planned the piece, I

Jen Wagner

fussed over it not being just right.

“You’re thinking about it too much,” another student nearby said. And that’s how it is in this studio. A whole lot of positive energy, coaching, letting go, finding your Zen and the transformation of piles of broken glass into the most beautiful mosaics I have ever seen.

And it all happens through Wagner’s teachings and through the creative imaginations of those who piece these mosaics together.

Over the course of a couple of months, on Mondays and with Wagner’s guidance, I created a

mosaic that now hangs proudly in my living room window. I love everything about it, and I’m already signed up for my next project.

While I’m there, I love to walk around, as we each do, to admire the other works in progress, along with some of Wagner’s commissioned projects.

From Fragments to Art

Stained glass, pottery and other found materials scatter across the tables in Wagner’s studio. Each shard, whether anonymously donated or collected from a box of handmade tiles, carries memory and possibility.

Her career, now spanning more than two decades, has produced both intimate commissions and public installations across Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC.

Growing Up on the Shore

Born in Dorchester County and adopted as a baby, Wagner grew up as an only child in Talbot County. Books and notebooks were her earliest companions.

“I was a kid who read a lot,” she said. “I loved being by myself with a notebook. That’s how I started to process the world.”

Which makes sense, because every piece Wagner creates requires time in your head for the process of transforming small pieces of glass and objects into art.

Jen Wagner

As soon as she was able, she spent her teenage years working at local restaurants in the Bay Hundred Area, saving up for her future, which at first looked like college but ended up being an adventure.

“At the last minute, I realized I would still need to take loans out,

and as my passion was writing, I knew that would affect the kind of work I could pursue.”

She changed her course, packed up her tiny red Volkswagen Cabriolet and drove to Santa Cruz, California, where she found work as a petitioner, collecting signatures to put initiatives on the ballot.

This experience, which required talking to strangers on the street about their lives, hardships and dreams, proved to be a pivotal point.

“I was building my perspective,” she says, “and this work opened me up to view the bigger world with more clarity.”

She returned to St. Michaels in the summer of 2000, where she

Come for the Views and Stay Awhile!

Jen Wagner

met a sailor, jumped on a sailboat and cruised the Intracoastal Waterway and the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas.

Breaking and Rebuilding

Jen’s interest in mosaics came to light after she returned to living on land in Cambridge while she was a young mother.

A vase of her grandmother’s was accidentally broken. And after her grandmother’s death, Wagner wanted to find a way to take the broken pieces and turn them into mosaics.

“I didn’t want to throw them away,” she said. “I wanted to make something that I could keep to remember her.”

She contacted local artist Sue Stockman and spent several days working with her to learn some skills. After the initial tutorial, Wagner stayed to work with Stockman for several years.

“I learned more than mosaic techniques,” Wagner says. “I was able to observe how an artist runs their business.”

Wagner’s work grew in scale, culminating in a 17-by-70-foot temporary mural in Cambridge that cemented her reputation as a transformative public artist.

Teaching and Community

Today, Wagner balances her commissions with teaching at her Easton studio. Her classes attract students of all ages, each discover -

Jen Wagner

ing the meditative rhythm of cutting and arranging glass.

Her Brookland Middle School installation went viral when it served as the backdrop for a 2021 presidential press conference. In

2022, her piece for the Zenith Gallery exhibit “Betty White Unites” gained worldwide fame.

She has been named in numerous “best of” polls, and her work has graced the covers of various magazines.

Her community projects, too, are a hallmark of her work. “When you make something as a community, it belongs to everyone,” she said.

Meaningful Conversations

and What Comes Next Wagner’s mosaics are featured in private collections worldwide, as well as in galleries, restaurants and public venues, including the Zenith Gallery in Washington, DC.

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Jen Wagner

Despite accolades, she resists the trappings of fame.

“I’m ambivalent to chasing dollars,” she says when I ask about her future goals. “It’s to keep creating beautiful things and having meaningful conversations with clients.

“And to have my work recognized,” she says. “That’s what fills me up.”

Time to move those cars around!

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Looking forward, Wagner plans to keep her Easton studio after recently relocating to Baltimore out of her love of the city. She hopes to continue honing her skills, citing painter Bradley Stevens as an inspiration.

“Skill is something you never stop chasing,” she said. “I want to keep learning, keep pushing myself, keep evolving.”

Living Authentically

For Wagner, the work she does is a statement about her person. Her art is a glimpse at her philosophy, memory and her testimony.

“I want to live an authentic life,” she said. “That means not being afraid of challenges and being strategic.”

Her latest public project, a mosaic restoration at Easton Marketplace, reflects that ethos—an artwork created with summer camp students and the wider community. You can view more of Jen Wagner’s public, selected and commissioned work at jenwagnermosaics.com .

Tracey Johns has worked in communications, marketing and business management for more than 30 years, including non-profit leadership. Tracey’s work is focused on public and constituent relations, along with communication strategies, positioning and brand development and project management.

Tom McCall

Tom McCall’s Life Behind the Camera

by Michael Valliant

Tom McCall started taking photographs at his mother’s 50th birthday party, when he was nine or ten years old. He was told to take some pictures and stay out of the way. As the youngest of six boys, he found the freedom it gave him to be totally new and different.

“With the camera, I could go anywhere and do anything,” Tom said. “I could stand up on a chair, I could go underneath the coffee table, I could do whatever I wanted and everyone just said, ‘oh he’s taking pictures, it’s fine.’ It was an epiphany for me, that I could be so free.”

When they developed the pictures after the party, almost the whole roll of film was of women’s shoes. It’s what you see when you are a kid in a house full of adults.

Taking photographs has become Tom’s life and livelihood. From portraits to weddings, from business shoots to reporting, it all goes back to a feeling from that first experience.

“With the camera, I really felt like I came alive. I didn’t have to be shy, I could just be. It was a revelation for me. And I am a visual person—I’ve always loved to look at things; the way colors happen, the way connections with human be-

ings happen, it’s just incredible.”

Tom lived in Manhattan for his earliest years then moved to Easton when he was in sixth grade. He graduated from Easton High School, where he played soccer and lacrosse and stayed behind the camera as the editor of the yearbook. While in school, he found the dark room and what that opened up in terms of photography.

He went to the University of Oregon and studied film history. When

Tom McCall

he graduated, his father was trying to come up with what to give him as a graduation present. Tom asked if it would be okay to do some traveling, and the result was a trip to South America.

Tom traveled extensively through Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Boliva and took tons of pictures.

“With a smile and a wink and the camera, I could get close to anyone,” Tom said. “Travel changed my life because I got a point of view that wasn’t just American. And a sense of all the things that are happening all around the world at any and every moment.”

Tom returned to Easton in 1992

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Tom McCall

and worked for the Star Democrat newspaper as a business writer. It was a fun place to work, full of smart people. One of the smart people was Samantha Moore.

Tom and Samantha traveled around the world for 10 months, making 14 stops, going west. They FedEx’ed photos and stories back to the Star Democrat to publish them. There were 10 articles, one per month.

While on the trip, they were in Tibet at a monastery. In Tibet, there is a big pilgrimage culture. People will travel for weeks to get to a sacred or holy destination.

“There were four guys, and each one had an amazing hat, they were all just sitting there happy, and I got down on my knees in front of them and visually I asked them if it was all right to take their picture, and they smiled at me, so happy. I think I took three frames. And I didn’t realize how great a photograph it was until I got home. Those guys were just beautiful, and a Hol-

lywood stylist couldn’t have made it any cooler. That was one of the first great pictures I have ever taken.”

Traveling through Bali, Tom asked Samantha to marry him. She said yes. When they got back from their travels, they moved to Portland, Maine, and Tom took his first full-time photography job as a portrait photographer, learning about lighting and the technical end of taking pictures.

While in Portland, he did a shoot for SALT, a visual anthropology school there, where he shot an island shepherd and took pictures of driftnetting for monkfish and cod. This was a step into shooting “reportage” instead of portraits.

And the portfolio of photos from these two projects were the strength of what got Tom into graduate school at Ohio University, where he earned a master’s degree in visual communications.

Graduate school was difficult. The work was a grind, and Tom spent time learning storytelling, photo editing and how to use Photoshop. For their final project, they had to put together an entire magazine. Tom focused on the Upper East Side of New York City, which ended up being important for getting his wedding photography noticed and off the ground.

“When I got into wedding photography, I was winging it. I had no idea what I was doing,” Tom said. “I was treating it like a magazine story

rather than a photo shoot, and the pictures told the story of the wedding day in a way that most photographers weren’t doing.”

After graduate school, Samantha got to pick their next place to live, and it was back to the Eastern Shore.

The list of people Tom took pictures of became a who’s who of popular culture at the time: George Bush, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Sean Penn, Winona Ryder, David Crosby and Arlo Guthrie among them.

“When you have a camera in your hand, you can go right up to Arlo Guthrie and take his picture and no one says anything,” Tom said.

A camera can also get you to the very top of the Bay Bridge. Photographer Richard Dorbin got permis-

Tom McCall

sion to take pictures from the top of the bridge and invited Tom to go with him. They got into a cherrypicker, then clipped in and walked up the span to the top, following guys changing lightbulbs.

“You could see both Tilghman Island and Baltimore from up there— it was awesome!”

As their work was growing, the McCalls also grew their family. Working through Catholic Charities, they adopted their son Max (now 22 years old) from Korea and then their daughter Molly (now 18 years old) from Vietnam.

Becoming a parent changed everything. First there was the practical side: having a different sense of needing to make money to provide for children and meet the increasing number of bills.

“I was born to be a creative.

There are things that come naturally to me. Running a business wasn’t one of those things,” Tom said.

A work week these days might include shooting a corporate retreat on one day, doing a stained-glass shoot for a church on another and spending countless hours in postproduction compiling and editing photos, which is often accompanied by listening to Led Zeppelin or U2 as loud as he can in the house.

To keep them grounded and connected, the McCalls attend Quaker Meetings at Third Haven Friends Meeting House in Easton, which they started attending more than 30 years ago. Tom says it helps him to stay present.

“Being a part of Quaker meetings helps me to remember who it is that’s doing everything, and it’s not me,” Tom said. “I pray before I shoot and I try to let go of the results, to just be in the moment.”

While Tom is the creative with the camera, Samantha is the business partner, the trusted advisor, who also has a great eye for photographs.

Tom McCall

Life took an unexpected turn for the McCalls when liver disease hit Samantha and her health declined for three years, at one point causing her to be flown from Easton Hospital to Christiana for treatment.

Fifteen months ago, they got a phone call to be at Johns Hopkins University Hospital at 6 a.m. the next day. They had a liver for her. Every week since, Samantha’s health has continued to improve.

As the kids continue to grow and learn and break out on their own a bit, Samantha returns to gardening and floral arrangements, and Tom considers what his photography business looks like. He sees more fine art photography in his future.

This summer, while staying with family on Fisher’s Island in New York, Tom was contacted by the Fisher’s Island Community Center and asked if he’d submit photographs for a show they were having. He gave them a shot of a lotus flower in a pond, a photograph of New York’s Upper East Side, and a shot of three Victorian chairs with gourds hung on them. All three photographs sold during the show, which was life-affirming.

Tom also realized, despite having photographs published in The New York Times, The Washington Post , and Town and Country Magazine , that he hasn’t really gone after magazines.

“If I was really brave, I’d push for National Geographic ,” he said. Whatever the particulars, Tom is doing what he was put here to do.

“I can write a little, I can talk a little, I can care for my family, but I have been brought to this planet to take pictures,” he said. “Photography is my ministry, and it’s the best thing that I do.”

Michael Valliant is the Assistant for Adult Education and Newcomers Ministry at Christ Church Easton. He has worked for non-profit organizations throughout Talbot County, including the Oxford Community Center, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Academy Art Museum.

Ms. Serita by William Dial

“Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen, nobody knows but Jesus!”— these familiar lyrics from an old slave lament express the hardship of those facing grueling labor and little hope. They evoke empathy for the suffering endured.

When you encounter someone with cerebral palsy, that imagination might again evoke empathy. You might wonder what troubles this person has endured with this malady, which, in many ways, enslaves. That is, until you meet Serita, who lives with cerebral palsy.

Serita, a resident in a care facility in Easton, Maryland, is clearly a person whose life has been troubled. Her motions are animated, her hands contracted by paralysis, her forearms tiny. Serita, who is easily recognized by her sequined slippers, greets everyone with a big smile. But that smile and laugh belie troubles: her paralysis, her palsy. Nevertheless, she navigates expertly in her motorized wheelchair, controlling it with her palsied hand. Don’t get in this lady’s way. You cannot slow her down. She radiates joy.

In 1954, the year Serita was born, premature babies born in

large hospitals did not fare well. Neonatal intensive care facilities were rare, and treatment was unproven. In Tidewater, Virginia, healthcare was racially segregated. African American care was limited. In 1954, the Commonwealth of Virginia moved to improve care for all its citizens. This offered little help to Serita’s mom when she delivered, at home in Suffolk, Virginia, a two-pound, premature baby girl.

At the hospital, providers gave Serita a poor prognosis and suggested making her comfortable until she passed away. Defying this advice, her mother took her two-pound baby girl home in a shoebox. The two-pound infant demonstrated a strong determination to survive. And survive she did. Could Serita’s premature birth and neonatal care have contributed to her cerebral palsy, CP? Research shows that infants born before 28 weeks or with very low birth weight are at higher risk for CP. Serita was born at 20 weeks and weighed two pounds. At nine months, Serita showed delayed development, leading to the first suspicion of CP.

Ms. Serita

When Serita talks about her mother, she gets a little sad. She notes her passing in 2022, shortly before Thanksgiving, at the age of ninety-four. Serita’s mother arranged the necessary resources to support Serita and provide training opportunities. She describes her experiences with various educational institutions and the ongoing requirement for therapy and training, care her mother made possible with love.

At the age of two, Serita began attending a school for children with developmental disabilities, participating in programs often located in church basements. When

one school indicated it could no longer provide services to Serita, her therapist arranged for her to transfer to another school where she could continue receiving therapy. Serita notes that Easterseals was involved in her support, an organization known for offering education, outreach, and advocacy.

Suffolk, Virginia, where Serita was born, is home to Planters Peanuts. Serita is fond of the reputation of Suffolk for peanuts. Her little dog, whom she loved, was named “Skippy” in deference to the peanut butter. She laughs when she remembers Skippy, the big yard, and the boisterous puppy.

Serita moved with her family

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to Norfolk, VA, as a toddler. Her mom taught her crocheting. Her crocheting ended when, at age 31, a bus accident caused paraplegia in addition to her cerebral palsy. Despite the limitations of her paralysis, she remains resilient.

Serita enjoys mysteries. Her favorite author is Agatha Christie. When asked, “Did the butler do it?” She laughs and says, “No, it was the maid.” Her sister Judy teaches English as a Second Language, ESL, classes at two community colleges. With a big smile, Serita describes Judy as “bossy.” In addition to watching soap operas and “Dr. Phil” on television, Serita listens to audiobooks, gospel music, and plays games on her

Alexa device, which she also uses to call her sister each night using voice commands.

Time spent with Serita is, itself, therapy. Her uplifting spirit, her infectious good humor, and her kindness towards everyone leave one with a sense that you are in the presence of someone truly special. Perhaps it is only Jesus who knows the trouble we have seen. In the story of Serita, it will remain only Jesus. She does not intend for anyone to dwell on the trouble she has seen.

Bill Dial is retired and lives in Oxford.

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Caroline County – A Perspective

Caroline County is the very definition of a rural community. For more than 300 years, the county’s economy has been based on “market” agriculture.

Caroline County was created in 1773 from Dorchester and Queen Anne’s counties. The county was named for Lady Caroline Eden, the wife of Maryland’s last colonial governor, Robert Eden (1741-1784).

Denton, the county seat, was situated on a point between two ferry boat landings. Much of the business district in Denton was wiped out by the fire of 1863.

Following the Civil War, Denton’s location about fifty miles up the Choptank River from the Chesapeake Bay enabled it to become an important shipping point for agricultural products. Denton became a regular port-ofcall for Baltimore-based steamer lines in the latter half of the 19th century.

Preston was the site of three Underground Railroad stations during the 1840s and 1850s. One of those stations was operated by Harriet Tubman’s parents, Benjamin and Harriet Ross. When Tubman’s parents were exposed by a traitor, she smuggled them to safety in Wilmington, Delaware.

Linchester Mill, just east of Preston, can be traced back to 1681, and possibly as early as 1670. The mill is the last of 26 water-powered mills to operate in Caroline County and is currently being restored. The long-term goals include rebuilding the millpond, rehabilitating the mill equipment, restoring the miller’s dwelling, and opening the historic mill on a scheduled basis.

Federalsburg is located on Marshyhope Creek in the southern-most part of Caroline County. Agriculture is still a major portion of the industry in the area; however, Federalsburg is rapidly being discovered and there is a noticeable influx of people, expansion and development. Ridgely has found a niche as the “Strawberry Capital of the World.” The present streetscape, lined with stately Victorian homes, reflects the transient prosperity during the countywide canning boom (1895-1919). Hanover Foods, formerly an enterprise of Saulsbury Bros. Inc., for more than 100 years, is the last of more than 250 food processors that once operated in the Caroline County region.

Points of interest in Caroline County include the Museum of Rural Life in Denton, Adkins Arboretum near Ridgely, and the Mason-Dixon Crown Stone in Marydel. To contact the Caroline County Office of Tourism, call 410-479-0655 or visit their website at www.tourcaroline.com .

Easton

Map and History

The County Seat of Talbot County. Established around early religious settlements and a court of law, Historic Downtown Easton is today a centerpiece of fine specialty shops, business and cultural activities, unique restaurants, and architectural fascination. Treelined streets are graced with various period structures and remarkable homes, carefully preserved or restored. Because of its historical significance, historic Easton has earned distinction as the “Colonial Capitol of the Eastern Shore” and was honored as number eight in the book “The 100 Best Small Towns in America.” With a population of over 16,500, Easton offers the best of many worlds including access to large metropolitan areas like Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington, and Wilmington. For a walking tour and more history visit https:// tidewatertimes.com/travel-tourism/easton-maryland/.

Dorchester Map and History

Dorchester County is known as the Heart of the Chesapeake. It is rich in Chesapeake Bay history, folklore and tradition. With 1,700 miles of shoreline (more than any other Maryland county), marshlands, working boats, quaint waterfront towns and villages among fertile farm fields – much still exists of what is the authentic Eastern Shore landscape and traditional way of life along the Chesapeake.

For more information about Dorchester County visit https://tidewatertimes.com/travel-tourism/dorchester/.

TIDEWATER GARDENING

by K. Marc Teffeau, Ph.D.

October Cleanup Controversies

The October morning air is crisp. The shadows in the afternoon are longer, the daylight is becoming shorter, and we notice a distinct change in the environment all around us. Although the arrival of October signals that winter is just around the corner, to me it is one of the most pleasant months of the year.

I will never forget how beautiful the marshes looked in late September and early October along the Choptank River at Dover Bridge on MD Route 331, with a few remaining Crimson Eyed Marsh Mallow flowers dotting the marsh and the cattails opening up. It is also somewhat sad, as October serves as a gentle reminder that winter is

Tidewater Gardening

approaching. The nice thing in this season is that you can get out and do the work in the yard without suffering from the summer humidity! Take advantage of the crisp autumn weather to tidy up, plant and prepare for the next growing season.

So, let’s get at it! If you have houseplants on your outside porch

FRANK E.DAFFIN, INC.

and patio, now is the time to bring them inside. The longer your houseplants are allowed to remain outside in the fall, the more shock they will experience when they are finally moved indoors. Start the move when nighttime temps consistently dip below 60°F.

Before bringing them inside, check for any insect or disease pests and damage, and remove the damaged leaves. Inspect the leaves, stems, and soil for the presence of aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and ants. Spraying these pests with horticultural soap will help. Dust on the leaves blocks light absorption; wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove it.

If the plants have produced a lot of new growth, consider dividing them or repotting them into larger containers. Any quality potting soil will suffice, but if you have a heavy watering habit, a potting mix specifically designed for cacti and succulents may be a better choice, as it drains more effectively.

It is best to move houseplants indoors gradually over a few weeks to reduce shock. One method is to place them in shaded indoor spots

Tidewater Gardening

before moving to brighter areas. Regardless of the acclimatization methods you use, some plants will naturally drop leaves, so do not be overly concerned about this.

General principles of houseplant care include providing light from south-facing windows or using grow lights when they are moved inside. Reduce the frequency of watering; plants grow more slowly in the fall. To increase humidity around the plants, use trays with pebbles and water or a humidifier to combat dry indoor air. Avoid placing your houseplants near hot air vents. Remember that if a plant struggled outdoors on the porch, it may not survive the transition. Focus on those plants with strong roots and vibrant foliage.

Growing figs in the home landscape is a widespread practice, and figs do well on the Eastern Shore. Figs are cold sensitive, however, so you need to prepare them for the cold winter temperatures. In some winters, we have had severe cold

snaps that have frozen the figs to the ground.

Providing winter protection for figs in the landscape is not difficult. Stop fertilizing by early fall: this helps slow growth and harden off new wood before frost. If the fall is dry, it is essential to give your fig a good soak before the ground freezes to ensure it’s well hydrated. Remove diseased wood now, but wait until late winter for major pruning to prevent new growth before the first hard freeze.

To insulate the plants’ roots, mulch generously by applying four to six inches of straw, pine bark or

Tidewater Gardening

leaves around the base of the fig plant. It is essential, though, not to mulch right up to the stems. Leave a couple of inches open around the stems to prevent mice and voles from eating the stem bark during the winter months.

For younger trees, you can use burlap or frost cloth to wrap the trunks and branches, especially for varieties like Brown Turkey, which are hardy but still vulnerable to extreme cold. Another practice would be to enclose the plant in a wire cage and fill the cage loosely with fallen leaves. The University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Center has an informa-

tive webpage on growing figs in Maryland: extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-figs-maryland/. October is a good time for a cleanup in the fruit and vegetable garden. Removing diseased and dead plant material now will help control diseases next spring. Compost the debris if they do not

contain disease problems. Use a shredder, if available, to cut up the plant debris before placing it in the compost pile. This will encourage faster decomposition of the plant material.

If you don’t have a shredder and only have a small amount of materials, run them over with the lawnmower. This is effective with a bagging mower. Then rake up the cut material or empty the bag into the compost pile. Clean up fallen fruit and debris.

If the ground is dry and workable and the garden site is not subject to soil erosion, consider doing a fall plowing and letting the ground lie exposed over the winter. Late-fall tilling can help control insects,

such as corn borer, corn earworm, cucumber beetle, squash bug and vine borer because it exposes overwintering insects to winter conditions. It also makes soil preparation easier in the spring.

Another alternative is to mulch the entire garden in the fall with straw to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Then, in the spring, only pull back

Tidewater Gardening

the mulch in the areas that you plan to plant. You will need to do this a couple of weeks before planting, however, to give the soil time to warm up.

A general cleanup is also recommended for flower and landscape beds in October. I am aware that there are two opposing thought camps on this practice. The one

camp recommends cleaning up dead or diseased plant material to reduce the risk of fungal infections and overwintering pests, such as squash bugs. Remove dead annual flowers. Leaving debris can invite invasive weeds or pests if not managed carefully.

Composting healthy debris enriches the soil. Clear supports, such as stakes, trellises and netting, should be cleaned and stored to extend their lifespan. In the perennial garden, selectively cut back species that are prone or that don’t offer winter interest. If you prefer a neat winter landscape, cutting back spent flowers and clearing beds can give your garden a clean look.

Tidewater Gardening

The other, sometimes very vocal, camp argues that you should leave all standing dead flower stems and flowers because they provide overwintering homes for beneficial insects. Native bees overwinter in the hollow stems of flowers. Winter seed-feeding birds, such as cardinals, Chickadees, finches, jays, nuthatches

and sparrows, rely on dead stems, seedheads and leaf litter for shelter and food over the winter. Native plants packed with seeds include coneflowers, Coreopsis and Blackeyed Susans. Letting grasses go to seed can also provide food for local birds. By leaving the fallen leaves and plant matter in the flower bed, it acts as natural mulch, insulating the soil and eventually providing nutrients to the plants.

There’s a similar debate about whether to remove leaves from the lawn—a classic dilemma that has inflamed gardening sensibilities. Heavy leaf cover on turf can suffocate the grass, creating an ideal environment for turf diseases to thrive. The best solution in this case is to use a mulching mower to cut up the leaves. The cut-up leaves will decay, providing a slowrelease nutrient source for the turf.

The “leaf leavers” say that you should leave the leaves. Leaf litter shelters pollinators, including solitary bees, moths and butterflies, during the winter. The leaf litter also supports birds, amphib -

Tidewater Gardening

ians and beneficial insects—valid points.

So, what to do? Dear gentle gardening readers, I suggest a compromise: remove where possible and keep where necessary. Yours truly is a perfect example of this scenario. I live in a development governed by an HOA, and the HOA board members demand obedience to the ideal yard and flower bed appearance mantra. So, I rake the leaves on the lawn in the front yard and clean up the front and side flower beds to perfection.

My backyard is another story, however. A six-foot fence encloses it, so I leave the coneflower stems,

the Black-eyed Susan stems and other seed-bearing flowers for the goldfinches and other birds to enjoy over the winter, and I appreciate their presence. I only remove any diseased plant material to prevent the overwintering of disease spores.

Other, less controversial October gardening tasks: in lawn areas, continue mowing the lawn as needed until grass growth slows. Adjust the mower blade to a higher setting to avoid stressing the grass. Apply a fall fertilizer according to soil test results and state regulations to encourage strong root development.

You can divide and transplant crowded perennials as needed while the soil is still warm. Plant new trees and shrubs: October is an ideal time for planting, as the roots will have a chance to establish before the ground freezes. Be sure to give trees and shrubs a deep watering before winter, especially newly planted ones.

Plant garlic and shallots: October is the perfect time for planting

these for next year’s harvest. Add compost or manure to the vegetable garden to enrich the soil with organic matter, enhancing its fertility for the next growing season.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths, in the ground now for spring blooms. Check depth and spacing for each bulb species.

Follow instructions for each bulb type to ensure healthy growth and bloom.

Don’t forget to clean and store tools. For a long work life, wash, sharpen and oil garden tools before putting them away. Drain hoses and irrigation lines, and prevent damage from freezing by draining and storing hoses indoors. Clean and refill bird feeders and baths to get ready for winter birds.

Happy Gardening!

Marc Teffeau retired as Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the American Nursery and Landscape Association in Washington, D.C. He now lives in Georgia with his wife, Linda.

500 Dover Road Easton MD

St. Michaels Map and History

On the broad Miles River, with its picturesque tree-lined streets and beautiful harbor, St. Michaels has been a haven for boats plying the Chesapeake and its inlets since the earliest days. Here, some of the handsomest models of the Bay craft, such as canoes, bugeyes, pungys and some famous Baltimore Clippers, were designed and built. The Church, named “St. Michael’s,” was the first building erected (about 1677) and around it clustered the town that took its name.

For a walking tour and more history of the St. Michaels area visit https://tidewatertimes.com/travel-tourism/st-michaels-maryland/.

Thrill of the Hunt by A.M.

Auctions aren’t what they used to be—not since the double-whammy of the www and Covid hit them. Formerly, auctioneers sold off farms onsite, piece-by-piece, in daylong sales, knowing the name and purpose of each esoteric barn-find— plus a suggestion why every modern home needed one. These days Eastern Shore folks seldom have an opportunity to while away a whole Saturday in a muddy field, waiting for a desired object to come up.

My favorite auctioneer was the late Walton P. Taylor III. He had

Foley

a corner on sales in Dorchester County farming communities. An insurance agent and avid hunter, Taylor also conducted annual sales in Easton for the Waterfowl Festival and Ducks Unlimited. In all the time I frequented his farm sales, I never caught the whiff of collusion that wafted from some other venues, though he certainly knew his audience as well as he knew the items he offered. Nor did any absentee phone calls inflate live bids. I miss his and similar events, but must admit that impersonal,

This admission pinches. I’ve vowed more than once to never, ever again order anything online. Too often an e-tailer’s catalog sparks a vision in my imagination unmatched when a purchase arrives. So I have never been attracted to online auctions, appeasing my hunting instinct at thrift stores and yard sales. I was late to the game, only recently venturing a small bid over the net. As a result, I am now proud owner of a new-tome porch chair—and a convert to a local, hybrid version of online bidding.

Facebook brought an auction

house in Secretary, Md., to my attention. Secretary being a small Dorchester County town, I was curious enough to click a link to WhiteOakAuctions.com . One thing led to another. Soon several pages of mini-images had me cross-eyed, scrolling through intriguing-looking objects, several of special local or regional interest. Even clicking to the enlarged image sometimes defied identification, but then, I’m no Walton Taylor. Anyway, I must have joined White Oak’s email list, because I began getting notified of upcoming sales.

I’d been needing to replace a chair that had been included forty-some years ago along with my Elliott Island house. The antique

chair’s wicker seat was giving way once again, despite several earlier repairs. Envisioning myself trapped in the clutches of a seatless—but still wickedly-strong— wicker chair, it was time to shop. A White Oak catalog for August included three mini-pictures of wicker porch chairs. Given past mistakes, I appreciated one chair was plainly labeled as child-size. Pic -

Oxford Map and History

Oxford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland. Although already settled for perhaps 20 years, Oxford marks the year 1683 as its official founding, for in that year Oxford was first named by the Maryland General Assembly as a seaport and was laid out as a town. In 1694, Oxford and a new town called Anne Arundel (now Annapolis) were selected the only ports of entry for the entire Maryland province. Until the American Revolution, Oxford enjoyed prominence as an international shipping center surrounded by wealthy tobacco plantations. Today, Oxford is a charming tree-lined and waterbound village with a population of just over 700 and is still important in boat building and yachting. It has a protected harbor for watermen who harvest oysters, crabs, clams and fish, and for sailors from all over the Bay. For a walking tour and more history visit https://tidewatertimes. com/travel-tourism/oxford-maryland/.

Thrill of the Hunt

tured online, all three looked the same, but I could identify one as an adult-sized chair with apparently presentable cushions. I pulled the trigger on a minimum bid.

One advantage, for those of us within reach of the Warwick River town, is a chance for in-person inspections prior to sale day. In this instance, I couldn’t get there before gambling $6 and thus remained in the dark on the chair’s actual condition. Never expecting to win, I hadn’t contemplated transporting furniture in my lessthan-mid-sized Nissan Versa, but the little gamble won. On collection day, I aimed to set out early.

Should the Versa fall short, I hoped a neighborly pickup owner might be available. Two short bungee cords and three dog leashes were all I could find in-house—no rope. I headed with them up the serpen-

tine marsh road for Secretary, 35 miles distant.

White Oak, in a former Main Street boat dealer’s facility, had parking available at the entrance. Inside I found proprietress Frances Phillips helping several winning bidders collect their purchases. Her husband Larry was on hand to assist, a welcome surprise. Sales are held through the platform HiBid.com , a national network for auction houses. Terms outlined by HiBid suggested buyers are on their own collecting items. To the contrary, I found the Phillipses’ attitude not so strict as HiBid’s one-size-fits-all terms. On the plus side, affiliation with HiBid’s national network facilitates out-

of-area sales, nearly half of their business. In her first year, Frances shipped as far as Alaska and Hawaii and likes seeing what’s popular elsewhere.

I came to learn that White Oak is a family-run operation, the brainchild of Frances Phillips of Cambridge. She and Larry, with daughter Zoe as tech-support, aim for as much flexibility as practicable, even accommodating the area’s computer-averse wherever possible. Frances and Larry are hunter/ gatherers by inclination and enjoy pairing kindred spirits with interesting things—things with a backstory (real or imagined). In their former lives, when their son and daughter were young, the fam -

The Treasure Chest

Thrill of the Hunt

ily prowled the shores of Larry’s native Hoopers Island searching for sea glass, Native American artifacts, evocative driftwood and whatever unexpected treasures the Chesapeake might offer up.

Frances remembers, “We started picking up sea glass when our kids were little as a cheap hobby. It rocketed from there.” She began crafting jewelry, now sold through a popular Cambridge emporium, Bay Country Shop. Frances asserts her material is “from the Chesapeake Bay in Dorchester County, Maryland.” (Elsewhere, some “sea glass” pieces are actually broken Chinese pop bottles, tumbled to simulate age.)

Repower for Fall Fishing

To the contrary, I found my wicker chair to be the real McCoy, sturdy and outfitted with apparently new floral cushions. A treasure hunter’s bonus: folded under the seat cushion was an Indian Dhurrie rug. Until a terrier named Gracie ate mine, I’d had a similar Dhurrie in use for decades. A second surprise, Larry proved willing to load my chair and was too polite to comment on my car’s trunk size or my dogs’ leashes. Having learned Larry’s a waterman and pound-netter by profession, I suspected all just might go well.

The tip of the chairback fit inside the trunk. The remainder protruded but was soon woven tightly to the Versa by an intricate web of bungees and leashes. Driving the suspended load home by back roads to Elliott Island, I wondered if I would have to cut the cords to extract the chair. It never budged, even swerving around the marshy

slalom course between Vienna and the island. At my front porch, I had only to unclip the leashes and the chair came out, as if happy to be home.

Seated now at my computer, I’m reminded of another Eastern Shore auction—once the antithesis of today’s White Oak. My desk chair came home 30-some years ago from Dixon’s Auctions in Crump -

ton, Md., a gargantuan event developed under Norman Dixon starting in 1961. Before Covid tamed the beast five years ago, Crumpton auctions drew customers weekly from far and wide for massive, fast-paced indoor/outdoor events. Now operated by his grandson, auctions continue but strictly online. Before, when I was furnishing my office, crowds attending were as interesting and diverse as multi-thousands of objects on sale. The atmosphere was akin to a gypsy fair, with intense competition among buyers, many of them antique dealers or pickers.

Pickers met head to head buying and selling at Crumpton, after prowling state to state seeking sal-

Tidewater Residential Designs since 1989

Thrill of the Hunt

able items. Quality “smalls” tended to be sold indoors. Outside, the auctioneer traveled by golf cart, up and down rows of goods lining two large fields. On auction day, trucks of all descriptions nuzzled up close to merchandise delivered a day earlier. As the sale progressed across the field, the picker trucks crept closer and closer, staying near the action so they could load purchases quickly and not miss a bid for more. “Finds”

might be resold to an elite New York decorator.

Many outside offerings were heaped into cardboard box lots. If you spied something of interest inside a box, you had to signal a minimum bid quickly. Otherwise, the golf cart kept moving and that box was added to the next lot, then the next, until a minimum bid was received. My carved wood, swivel office chair-to-be stood in line, following six or seven boxed lots receiving no bids. My chair bid took it all. Standing there alone, I had no idea what-all I’d bought. If I walked away with my chair, then came back to examine the box contents, I’d find little but empty boxes. Even as I

pondered my next move, scavengers were starting to rummage among my purchases.

Experienced Crumpton addicts traveled in pairs, so one could stand guard in similar situations. Or they engaged one of the day workers found there as watchman. One young picker couple, working out of a cargo truck that day, had a unique way to hold on to their goods. They followed the auctioneer together, buying and storing purchases in their wideopen truck without fear of theft. While they shopped, a Doberman

pinscher stood on the open tailgate, legs splayed, suspiciously eyeing each passerby.

Shopping a White Oak auction online is a far cry from Crumpton’s old live sales. Less exciting, yes, but the thrill of the hunt and the suspense endure. And the atmosphere is friendlier and climate controlled. The Phillips family aims to hold two sales a month, accenting Christmas starting in October.

www.WhiteOakAuctions.com 138 Main Street Secretary, MD 21664 woauctions@gmail.com 443.521.2006

[Schedule for October TBD]

Forty-some years ago, A.M. Foley swapped the Washington, D.C. business scene for a writing life on Elliott Island, Maryland. Tidewater Times kindly publishes Foley’s musings on regional history and life in general.

A Taste of Autumn

October is the heart of apple season — when orchards overflow with crisp, juicy apples in every shade of red and green. Whether you’re picking your own at a local farm or stocking up at the market, apples are a versatile and nutritious ingre -

dient that bring warmth and sweetness to fall meals.

In this month’s feature, we’re celebrating the apple harvest with delicious recipes — from fresh, crunchy salads to sweet treats and cozy slow-cooked favorites. These

Tidewater Kitchen

dishes highlight the natural sweetness, crunch, and tartness of apples, while maintaining a nourishing and seasonal approach.

October is the perfect time to reconnect with the season through food. Whether you’re baking a batch of apple chips or stirring a pot of slow-cooked apple butter, these recipes bring warmth, nostalgia, and nourishment to your table.

Kale, Apple & Quinoa Salad

Make 5 cups

A hearty, nutrient-packed salad with massaged kale, red apples, fluffy quinoa, cranberries, and a lemon-honey vinaigrette. Great as a lunch or side dish.

1 cup bite-sized pieces, your favorite apples

1/4 cup pepita seeds

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 lemon

2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup

3 cups chopped kale

1-1/2 cups cooked Quinoa

1/2 cup sliced green onions

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Himalayan Sea Salt and Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Place pepita seeds on top of the stove in a pan on medium-high heat, just for 2 minutes to toast them.

For dressing, remove 1 teaspoon zest and squeeze 2 Tbsp. juice from lemon. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon zest and juice, and maple syrup.

In a large bowl, combine kale, quinoa, cinnamon, apple, green onions, toasted pepita seeds, and cranberries. And dressing; toss to coat—season with salt and pepper.

Tip: for 1-1/2 cups cooked quinoa, rinse and drain 1/2 cup dry quinoa. Cook according to package directions; drain if needed.

Green Apple Slaw

Makes 9 cups

This has been a staple in my

house growing up, and I still love it to this day. Crisp and tangy slaw made with shredded cabbage, julienned green apples, and a light apple cider vinegar dressing — perfect as a side dish or sandwich topper.

1/2 cup organic evaporated cane sugar

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

1 head of cabbage

1 cup coarsely chopped apples, Granny Smith

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt

Boil the sugar and vinegar, and cool. Place cabbage in a food processor on a fine blade, or finely chop with a chef’s knife. Add cabbage slaw, apples, salt, as well as cooled vinegar and sugar to a bowl and mix. Chill until ready to serve.

Tip: You can cut peppers, celery, and carrots to add as well.

Ganny’s Apple-Maple

Cinnamon Rolls

Make 18 Rolls

My grandmother Ganny’s fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls swirled with apple chunks and warm cinnamon — the ultimate fall breakfast or cozy dessert.

1/2 cup organic evaporated cane sugar

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1 package active dry yeast

4 cups organic all-purpose flour or your favorite flour

1 cup grass-fed whole milk

1/2 cup grass-fed butter

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1 farm-raised egg

1/2 cup packed organic brown sugar

2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples, such as Honey Crisp or Granny Smith

1/2 cup raisins, optional

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped, optional

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, yeast, and flour. In a saucepan on medium-low, heat milk and 3/4 cup butter until butter is melted. Take off heat, allow to cool a bit. Slowly whisk in the egg and pour the liquid ingredients with the dry in a stand-up mixer with a hook attachment, or use a wooden spoon to mix well and form into a ball. On a floured surface, knead

dough until smooth, about 3-5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball. Place in a bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place, away from a draft, until doubled in size (1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours).

Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes. Line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and apples. If you are using raisins and walnuts, add those as well. Melt 1/4 cup butter.

On a floured surface, roll the dough into an 18 x 12-inch rectangle; brush with melted butter. Spread filling over dough, leaving 1 inch unfilled along a long side.

Starting from the filled long side, roll up the rectangle. Pinch the dough to seal the seam. Cut into 12 slices. Arrange in the prepared baking pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (45 minutes).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 20 minutes, until golden. Cool slightly. Using parchment paper, lift out rolls. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Drizzle with sugar glaze below if you’d like.

Sugar Glaze: In a small bowl, stir 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 4 teaspoons rum or vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over cinnamon buns.

To make ahead, prepare as directed except at the end, do not let

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rolls rise 45 minutes, just cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill 2-24 hours before baking. Let stand uncovered, at room temperature, 30 minutes. Bake as directed.

Apple Pie Overnight Oats

All the flavors of apple pie in a healthy, make-ahead breakfast. Rolled oats soaked overnight with your favorite milk, cinnamon, chopped apples, chia seeds, and a drizzle of maple. Wide-mouth pint jars are perfect for this easy, onthe-go breakfast.

1 cup organic rolled oats 1 cup chopped apple, such as Braeburn or Honey crisp 1 cup unsweetened plant milk or

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your favorite grass-fed milk

2 pitted whole dates, finely chopped

2 tablespoons of your favorite chopped nuts, toasted

1 Tablespoon chia seed

1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon orange zest

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Dash of Himalayan salt

In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients. If desired, divide the mixture between two glass jars or bowls. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight. The extra headspace gives you room to stir the cereal before eating.

If desired, you can top with some extra orange zest. For making apple pie overnight oats, prepare, except substitute 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice for ginger and orange zest.

Grannie Annies Slow Cooker or Oven Apple Butter

Makes 4 1/3 cups

My beautiful mom is famous for her apple butter. This makes a really special gift or a delicious treat to have in your pantry or refrigerator. Apples, cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of sweetness, slow-cooked until rich, thick, and deeply flavored. Spread it on toast, swirl into oatmeal, or spoon over pancakes.

4 pounds cooking apples, such as Granny Smith or Jonagold, peeled,

cored and sliced (6 cups applesauce) 2 cups evaporated cane sugar or maple syrup

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Place apples in a 5-6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the remaining ingredients together.

Cover and cook on high 4 hours; stir. Cook, uncovered, 2-2 1/2 hours more or until apples are very tender and most of the liquid is evaporated. Cool, uncovered at room temperature for at least 1 hour or cover and chill overnight. If desired, blend with an immersion blender or press through a food mill to reach the desired consistency.

Ladle apple butter into half-pint airtight containers, leaving a 1/2

inch headspace. Seal and label. Store in refrigerator up to 5 days or freeze up to 6 months.

Tip: Once cooled, the mixture may also be processed, half at a time, in a blender, food processor, or food mill. The apple butter will be slightly lighter in color and thinner in consistency.

Something fun we like to do is change it up; To vary the flavor of your apple butter, use 2-1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder or curry powder in place of the cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg.

If you don’t use already-made applesauce. The best sweet apples

are: Gold Delicious, Fuji, Honey Crisp, and moderately sweet are McIntosh and Jonagold. These are good for cooking the sauce as they cook quickly.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can place it in a big roasting pan in the oven at 300 degrees. Quarter the apples without peeling or coring them. Put apples into a large pot, and add the 3 cups of water. Bring to high heat, then lower the temperature. Cover the pot and simmer 15-20 minutes until apples are completely tender (total of about 40 minutes).

Run the cooked apples through a food mill or chinois with a large bowl or pot under the food mill to catch the sauce.

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Measure as you place applesauce in a large roaster. Stir in vinegar, seasonings, and bake at 325 degrees for 1-2 hours or until the sauce bubbles around the edges. Stir applesauce every 30 minutes. While the applesauce is baking, prepare the jars in a large pot of boiling water. Heat a pot of water on top of the stove until the water is steaming, then keep it on low to keep the water hot. In a smaller pot, do the same with the lids, covering them. Empty out the water, remove the jars from the water bath using tongs or jar lifters. Ladle the hot apple butter into the hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal the jars so they

are fingertip tight and place on a clean dish towel to cool and to hear the lids POP!

Once they have all popped, you can store them in the pantry for a year. If the top didn’t pop, they need to go in the refrigerator. Once opened, after they pop, the apple butter needs to be refrigerated and is good for up to 6 months.

Homemade Applesauce

Make 3-1/2 cups

Just a few ingredients — apples, a splash of lemon, and cinnamon — simmered to perfection. Customize your texture from chunky to smooth.

3-pound golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (9 cups)

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 2 pitted whole dates, chopped

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In a large saucepan, combine apples, cinnamon, and 1 cup of water. Bring just to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered 15 minutes or until apples are softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in chopped dates. Simmer covered, 5 minutes more. Mash apples to the desired consistency, cool.

Tip: If you would rather not use whole dates to sweeten, you can replace them with 1/4 cup of evaporated cane sugar or 1/4 cup maple sugar.

Baked Apple Chips

Makes 40 chips

Thinly sliced apples are baked low and slow until crisp. A naturally sweet and crunchy snack with no added sugar — just apples and cinnamon!

2 large apples, such as Pink Lady, Jazz, or Braeburn

1/4 cup organic evaporated cane sugar or coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

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Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a serrated knife or mandolin, cut apples crosswise into 1/8 inch thick slices. Arrange slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets. You can use a small round cutter to cut out the core and seeds. In a small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle apples with half of the sugar mixture and, if desired, brush with a pastry brush to cover evenly. Turn the apples and repeat with the remaining sugar mixture.

Bake 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until crisp, turning apples and rotating pan every 30 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Apple Pie Stuffed Apples Makes 4 apple halves

A creative twist on classic apple pie: hollowed apples filled with a spiced oat-apple mixture, baked until tender and golden. Serve warm with a scoop of coconut or vanilla ice cream.

4 very small or 2 medium-favorite apples

1/4 cup apple cider or apple juice

4-1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder

1 tablespoon chopped pitted whole dates

1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

Dash Himalayan salt

1/4 cup organic regular rolled oats

1-1/2 teaspoon almond butter, warmed

1 teaspoon pure maple syrup

Dash of Himalayan salt

Dash of apple pie spice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut off the top one-third of very small apples (cut medium apples in half crosswise). Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out flesh, leaving 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch shells. Chop apple flesh; discard cores and seeds.

For filling, in a small saucepan, combine chopped apple, cider, arrowroot powder, dates, 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice, a dash of salt, and 3 Tablespoon water. Cook and stir over medium heat 5 minutes or until the apple is softened and the liquid is thick and bubbly. Spoon into apple shells and place on the prepared baking sheet.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Sprinkle apples with topping. Bake 15-20 minutes or until apples are softened, filling is bubbly, and topping is lightly browned.

Pamela Meredith, formerly Denver’s NBC Channel 9 Children’s Chef, has taught both adult and children’s cooking classes.

For more of Pam’s recipes, visit the Story Archive tab at tidewatertimes.com.

The "Pretty in Pink" Exhibit and Sale returns for its second year! Presented by the Working Artists Forum, this uplifting event will showcase and sell fine art donated by WAF artists, with additional contributions from the Washington Society of Landscape Painters and other renowned artists. All proceeds benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center to advance breast cancer treatment in our region. Special thanks to our community partners: Waterfowl Festival, Easton Economic Development Corporation, Blue Point Hospitality, and many Local Restaurants.

• PRESENTED BY WORKING ARTISTS FORUM

• ORIGINAL ART CONTRIBUTED BY MORE THAN 50 ARTISTS

• PROCEEDS BENEFIT CLARK COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CENTER

• FRIDAY EVENING AWARDS AND COMMEMORATION CEREMONY

• BREAST HEALTH INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONALS ON SITE

• SILENT AUCTION OF WORKS BY THE WASHINGTON SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE PAINTERS

• ART RAFFLES AND DEMOS

• MUSIC, REFRESHMENTS, FUN!

• OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Chesapeake Film Festival

Opens with Spotlight on Environmental Filmmaking

The Chesapeake Film Festival launches its 18th season with an unforgettable Environmental Night on Fri., Oct. 10 at the Ebenezer Theater in Easton, Md. The opening night program begins with the popular VIP Reception from 5:30–7 p.m. This year’s reception theme is “Tides and Talent,” reflecting the Festival’s Eastern Shore roots and its many regional festival contributors. Allaccess pass ticket holders are VIPs and will have the opportunity to meet filmmakers, enjoy local cuisine and celebrate opening night in style. All-Access Passes are now

available at chesapeakefilmfestival.com . In addition to the VIP opening event, the pass includes admission to all films, speakers and panels throughout the threeday film festival.

Chesapeake Film Festival’s official 2025 environmental screenings begin after the reception, with “An Evening in Focus: Where Nature Speaks,” hosted by Irene Magafan, CFF President and documentary filmmaker. The special evening of environmental films is generously sponsored by Shared Earth Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. The program fea -

Women of Impact – Kenya

Chesapeake Film Festival

tures three acclaimed environmental films:

• The Maryland premier of Women of Impact – Kenya , produced by the World Wildlife Fund. This inspiring short film spotlights four Kenyan women leading community-based conservation projects.

• As wild salmon populations in Idaho approach extinction, The Grand Salmon documents the 1,000-mile kayak expedition by three women to conquer four dams, trace the salmon migration and explore solutions to restoring the dwindling population.

• Directed by Magafan and narrated by Ashley Judd, The Bonobo Connection explores bonobo apes’ peaceful matriarchal societies and the urgent need for conservation in the Congo.

The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with acclaimed environmental filmmakers Maggie Stogner and Dave Harp, moderated by CFF’s Magafan. Stogner is a professor of film and media arts at American University in Washington, DC and is the executive director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking. In a series of award-winning films, Harp has documented the beauty, challenges and evolution of the Chesapeake Bay for over 50 years.

Harp’s film Chesapeake

Rhythms joins a series of additional environmental films that are featured throughout the festival, including:

Saturday, October 11

• From Mountains to Shorelines , featuring the U.S. film On Water’s Edge and Look Down Not Up from Nepal. A Q&A with filmmaker Yehuda Goldman follows the screenings.

• Water, Wildlife, and the Will to Act featuring U.S. films One Bad Crab, Upstream, Downriver and Chesapeake Rhythms . CFF’s Magafan will moderate as Stogner and Harp team up again to host a follow-up Q&A.

Sunday, October 12

• Breaking Boundaries: Revealing Truths featuring the Canadian film The Rewilders.

“Environmental films are always a key pillar of the Chesapeake Film Festival. Year after year, it’s an honor to not only spotlight the content of these inspiring films, but to showcase our amazing local filmmakers, in addition to passionate filmmakers from around the world. Their creativity and vision as environmental documentarians are a compelling call to action,” remarked Cid Collins Walker, festival executive director.

For tickets and to explore full program details, visit chesapeakefilmfestival.com .

Chesapeake Film Festival

Upcoming Festival Highlights & Key Dates

• October 10 – noon – Opening Film – Loving Vincent, Ebenezer Theater

• October 10 – 5:30 p.m. – VIP Reception; 7 p.m. – Environmental Night, Ebenezer Theater

• October 10 to 12 – Ebenezer Theater, Academy Art Museum and Talbot County Free Library –For tickets and information, visit chesapeakefilmfestival.com .

CFF programming is brought to you by our generous sponsors Bluepoint Hospitality, the Shared Earth Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Maryland State

Arts Council, Talbot Arts, Maryland Humanities Council, The Artistic Insights Fund, Maxine Millar, Harley Gates, Philip and Karen Morrison, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, Al and Eleanor Smith, Thomas and Bill Lucks, Talbot County Free Library, Laser Letters, Red Zeppelin Productions, Martin Zell, Gayle Matthei and by generous patrons like you. 2025 CFF Sponsoring hotels include The Tidewater Inn, Inn at Perry Cabin, Sandaway Suites & Beach and Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriott.

Mrs. Kitching’s Kitchen

by James Dawson

Tiny, isolated Smith Island might have seemed like an improbably remote location for the world-famous kitchen of perhaps Maryland’s best cook ever, but Frances Kitching ran a boarding house there in her home for over 30 years. She started cooking for the public in her home for the linemen when electricity came in the 1950s, then served meals to locals and tourists, then as fame spread enlarged her dining room in 1971, which could seat about two dozen diners. In 1978, it cost $18 a night per person to stay there, which included a huge dinner and breakfast, or just a meal was $6. There was no menu—you ate what she served. The selection was large, but what you didn’t see, you didn’t ask for.

Word of her exceptional culinary skills spread, and before long she was even drawing diners and food critics from New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC and even overseas as far away as England, India and Australia who came to sample her fare and sign her guest book. She was featured in The Arts section of the New York Times in July 1979.

Mrs. Kitching and her husband, Ernest, who was a waterman, were

featured in the Smith Island segment in the National Geographic Special “Chesapeake Borne” in 1986, which you can watch on YouTube. It also showed them renewing their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary.

Frances Kitching wrote a cookbook with Susan Stiles Dowell titled “Mrs. Kitching’s Smith Island Cook Book,” published by Tidewater Publishers in Centreville, MD in 1981. It

Mrs. Kitchings

was dedicated to her grandmother, Maggie W. Evans, from whom she learned how to cook when she was a girl by helping her in the kitchen and “steering” her bubbling pots and pans on the wood stove. She married Ernest Kitching in 1934, and they had two sons and a daughter. They always lived on the island. In fact, she lived two houses down from the house where she was born.

Her cookbook is divided into sections for the different seasons, and generations of recipes are featured. For instance, the Summer menu includes 17 recipes for crabs, including Crab Soup, Crab Cakes, Crabmeat Salad, French Fried Jimmy Crabs, Crabmeat-Shrimp au Gratin and Crab Burgers (which the owner of

this book marked “Great!”) and also Clam Fritters, Pickled Carrots and Mama’s Plain Cake. Fall recipes: Rockfish Stuffed with Crabmeat, Corn Fritters, Cranberry Nut Mush, Sweet Potato Pie, Broiled Bluefish, Stewed Rockfish or Croaker, Pan Browned Wild Duck and Stewed Goose. Some of the Winter recipes include 11 recipes for oysters, including Oyster Stew, Oyster Supreme, Corn Spoon Bread and

Barbecued Oysters and also Collard Greens, Cracker Pudding–a Skipjack Recipe, Oyster Pie and Oyster Puffs. For Spring there is Peach Pie, Fig Cake, Poor Man’s Cake, Blackberry Cobbler, Ham Potato Salad Loaf and Pickled Watermelon Rind. And more. Much more including photo sections on how to pick a crab, prepare a bluefish and shuck an oyster and lots of local lore. Mrs. Kitching was proud of her cookbook.

But it is interesting that the recipe for her world-famous ten-layer Smith Island chocolate cake was not in her book. Guess she wasn’t about to give that one away!

There must have been some complaints about that omission, though, because the big selling point of the

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Mrs. Kitching's Kitchen

printing of the book done in 1999 was the gold sticker on the front cover that read “Sixth Printing with Smith Island Ten-Layer Cake Recipe Added.” And so there, on p. 110, was the recipe for the cake with a separate recipe for the icing. Mrs. Kitching didn’t create the cake, which had been around on the Island since the 1890s and usually has from 8 to 10 layers, but she definitely made it famous.

Also missing from her book were any recipes for muskrat or diamondback terrapin, which she didn’t like and so stated in the book’s introduction.

This handwritten, unsigned note

of a conversation with Mrs. Kitching was found folded in a first-edition copy of her book that I purchased recently. Unfortunately, there is no clue as to who owned this book and conducted this short interview. I am sorry that I don’t know who you

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Mrs. Kitching's Kitchen

are, but thanks for leaving us this interesting peek into Mrs. Kitching’s kitchen.

This copy is inscribed, “God Bless! Frances Kitching, 7/9/86 from my kitchen to yours, Come Again.”

CONVERSATION WITH MRS. KITCHING DURING LUNCH 7/86

As we sat down to eat— “Hope you enjoy your hot dogs.”[Imagine dining at Mrs. Kitching’s famous seafood inn and just having hot dogs!]

Before we’d gone to Smith Island on the ferry, we asked a Captain in Crisfield if we could get some

fresh fish. “Nope: crab in summer, oysters in winter.”

A girl came in while we were eating and asked Mrs. K. for a dictionary. “Sorry, gave it to my granddaughter.”

“Well, how do you spell VENDOR?”

“VENDER.”

The girl asked all of us if that was a consensus and we all agree it was ‘OR.’

“Well, I think I’ll go with Mrs. Kitching!”

After she left we asked if she was a neighbor.”

“Nope, there’s two of ’em. They count eggs and birds for the state.”

“Is there Island government?”

“We all govern ourselves. We need people to come out here and work in the community, but they work on their boats first then their homes. Grandmother called all visitors to the island ‘Foreigners.’”

“Do you feel that way?”

“No. No, that’s what the old people said. They all know it from the books. Corps of Engineers put the telephone poles on the Island and we told ’em to put ’em in the marsh. Cost us $50,000 to move ’em! And

back in ’36 a Sergeant went out there in the big freeze—and froze to death! Island’s about two feet above water level.”

“What do you do in a storm?”

“Water comes up and runs right off.”

“Are you a native?”

“Next week, god willin’, on the 16th I’ll be sixty nine—Born right here in 1918–Been married 52 years now.”

Then Ernie her husband came in. Steve asked, “How ya doin’?”

“Still kickin’—but not too high!”

Asked if he ever did any market gunning? “Some, but you know those writers. Tell ’em a word and

they make a book out of it. Did use the big guns some tho’–Slid right down your side.”

“Any duck huntin’?”

“Mostly down on Tangiers–Problem is the game wardens–Today you can get electrocuted for killin’ a duck. You can kill a man and get away with it, but don’t kill a duck out of season! A waterman can’t tell a farmer anything–and a farmer can’t tell a waterman anything: if one did it would go right through! Got a Model 12 shotgun in there–and a couple of Ward decoys left–used to hunt over ’em. Guy offered me a lot of money for my Model 12, but I don’t have to feed it or mow it.

Mrs. Kitchings Kitchen

Those decoys are kind of a insurance policy.”

Mrs. Kitching added, “Can’t git insurance!”

Dick asked if a male crab keeps molting?

“Nope–don’t live long enuf.”

Ernie told us he’d been waterin’ all his life and just learned somethin’ a few years ago. “We put two Jimmys in the cage (when the peel-

ers started to move) and we got 160 females–must have been blondes!”

Asked Mrs. K. about the Geographic special.

“Just thought–wasn’t that nice, been a workin’ girl just tryin’ to make it and they came to Smith Island to talk to us–we’d been together 50 years then. Goin’ to Salisbury tomorrow–been on the Island six weeks. –Nope, not goin’ shoppin’, just goin’ out.”

Sadly, she would close her worldfamous inn a year later in July 1987 due to health problems and the need to care for Ernest, who died in 2001, which makes these notes all the more poignant. Mrs. Kitching died in Genesis HealthCare in Salisbury on July 2, 2003 at age 84. Her obituary in the July 4, 2003 Baltimore Sun by Frederick N. Rasmussen summed up her long, interesting

life. She was also the subject of an article, “Seeking Mrs. Kitching” by Susan Moynihan in the Feb. 2021 Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

Frances Kitching had said in the National Geographic interview that she wanted to live in such a way that her life would be worth livin’ and have meaning to her children and grandchildren.

She often said, “I love people, and I love to cook,” which is how we can remember her. I think she would have liked that.

Mrs. Kitching’s house was sold and later torn down, so only her recipes remain. The Smith Island Chocolate Cake is now the Official State Dessert of Maryland.

Afterword: Smith Island is in Somerset County, MD, out in the Chesapeake Bay and accessible only by water. It is Maryland’s only inhabited island which does not have a bridge, but a ferry runs from nearby Crisfield. The area is about 9 square miles and shrinking. The habitable part is about 900 acres. Current population is just over 350. There are a few cars on the Island but only two miles of paved road. Visitors can rent golf carts or bicycles. There are three restaurants and three stores. No alcohol is sold there. And when you visit, please check out the Smith Island Cultural Center.

James Dawson is the owner of Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe.

C. ALBERT MATTHEWS

Where Integrity Meets Innovation

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Partners In Care Maryland, Inc.

Arlie is 96 years old. He is also, remarkably, still an avid golfer. Only one thing stands between Arlie and the links: a ride to the golf course. Thankfully, Arlie is a member of Partners In Care Maryland, Inc. (PIC), a service exchange organization that connects older adults with a variety of services that allow them to not only live independently, but to thrive. In Arlie’s situation, a PIC volunteer driver provides him with safe, reliable transportation to play a few rounds.

Today there are 1.4 million people over the age of 60 living in

Maryland, a number that continues to grow. The vast majority will age in their homes. PIC is a nonprofit organization that helps those individuals age in place with dignity and respect by providing vital services like transportation, home repairs—even access to personal connections to combat loneliness. The organization offers all generations the opportunity to support the independence of older adults either as volunteer service providers—driving PIC members to appointments is just one example—or by making a donation.

Partners in Care

What makes PIC unique is that it is an organization powered by volunteers who directly engage with members. It’s a great way for volunteers to make meaningful connections with older residents in the community while providing essential services to someone in need.

For a PIC member, something as simple as changing a light bulb or fixing a broken storm door can be difficult, even potentially dangerous.

PIC’s Repairs With Care program will dispatch a friendly handyman to take care of those seemingly ordinary routine maintenance issues so members can stay safe in their homes.

Through its member care pro -

Serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's & Talbot Counties

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation connects private resources with public needs in order to enhance the quality of life throughout the Mid-Shore Region. We provide tools that enable donors to easily and effectively support the causes they care about - immediately or via bequest.

102 East Dover Street Easton, Maryland 21601 410-820-8175

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grams, PIC offers everything from expert advice on how older adults can stay safe online to programs that combat social isolation. Its Phone Buddies program, for example, connects volunteers with members ready to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line. Its Veterans Helping Veterans program fosters multigenerational connection between members of our armed forces.

In addition to volunteering as a repair-person, driver, or a subject matter expert for special programs, PIC operates upscale resale boutiques in Frederick and Anne Arundel counties (in Frederick and Pasadena, respectively) that accept donations of items for sale. They’re a great destination for sustainable shopping that benefits the organizational mission. The boutique, its donation intake center—even the PIC office—are predominantly staffed by volunteers.

PIC also offers supports for family members or friends who are caregivers, connecting them to resources that can alleviate some of the stress of caregiving or offer beneficial guidance. And as an organization that has the health and wellbeing of seniors at its heart, PIC acts as an advocate on behalf of older adults.

PIC provides service in Anne Arundel, Frederick, and Mid Shore (Talbot & Caroline County). Ready to get involved? Visit PIC online to learn about services or to volunteer or donate.

All Quiet on the Sound A novel by

B. P. Gallagher

Chapter 26: A Reckoning, Of Sorts

Holding cells at the Wicomico County jailhouse were much as Earl had imagined they would be. Cold, nondescript cubes of brick and iron designed to be impersonal and, with their barred doors that bared all to the world, devoid of privacy. On the first night of their imprisonment, he and Leon were thrown into the same cell. But the following morning interrogations began, after which they were placed on opposite ends of the little cellblock. This

arrangement lasted for two days, during which Earl had scant social interaction outside of hostile questioning and three tasteless meals a day, all delivered by Tyler Calhoun. Hours of relentless questions, separated by hours of replaying and dissecting every response in search of damning blunders.

If jailor was among Tyler Calhoun’s regular duties, Earl could understand how the man had managed to devote so much of the past few months to spying on the Higginses. As far as Earl could tell, he

and Leon were the sole prisoners in residence, except for a couple drunks sleeping off their overindulgences. Those were only good for garbled snatches of conversation, much of it incoherent, and they were turned loose within a few hours once they sobered up. No such luck for the Higgins brothers. Still, Earl tried to stay hopeful.

We’ve got them second-guessing their story, he told himself. Otherwise, the deputy wouldn’t still be prodding us with the same old questions day in and day out.

The longer they stuck to their guns, the more doubt they sowed in the minds of their interrogators, the sharper the picture Earl wanted to paint should come into focus. Why, then, did Earl feel so wretched? Guilt, he supposed, and worry.

Guilt, because a damning part of his mind had started whispering again now he was behind bars, weighing the right and wrong of it all where it had no business. What’s become of me? that voice asked. He’d been a good person once, before all this lying and scheming. Hadn’t he? Could he be that person again?

Worry, because so much remained uncertain, so many things unaccounted for. Would the pastor’s corpse stay sunk? Would the toolbox see the light of day and absolve them if it came to trial? Neither of

which mattered, of course, if he or Leon gave up something before then that sunk them both.

No, don’t even think it. Earl would hold his own, as would Leon. It was time at long last to trust his brother. They’d discussed the plan at length. Worrying about it would help nothing. Easier said than done, though, and even if all went as planned, what then? Earl seemed to recall hearing about cases in which accomplices to murder—before and after the fact—got the same lethal treatment as the murderer themselves. At the very least, someone was going to serve time in an actual prison, not this Podunk holdingcellblock.

On the third morning of their imprisonment, the Higgins brothers were escorted to the Salisbury courthouse for their arraignment. Maggie was permitted to bring them dress clothes before they went before the judge. “Don’t worry,” she assured Earl in hushed tones, passing the parcel of clothing through the bars. “Jonah’s got a plan.”

“Jonah? Just how much have you let him in on this? We already got a plan!”

“We do, and he’s helping with it! He just wants what’s best for me, Earl, and in this case that means what’s best for you.”

“Okay, then. What’s he planning?”

“He’s written a very strongly worded letter—”

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and within

“A letter? What’s that gonna do?”

“You’re not letting me finish! He’s written a very strongly worded letter and got it signed by a bunch of people from the community, almost a score of them!” She counted off names on her fingers. “Jonah and me and Clara, obviously, and Dave and Becca Howell, Bunky Hodges and his wife, John Barnhart, lotsa people! Hell, he even wrangled Bubba Coyne! Maybe our name’s not so dragged in this town as we thought.”

Earl was touched, but he didn’t see how this would help him and Leon. He said so.

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Because, All Quiet

dummy, he’s demanding that any judge with family ties to the Calhouns recuse themselves! We’re doing everything we can to make sure you get a fair shake.”

“Judges? We’ve not even had counsel yet!”

“What?” Maggie looked outraged. “Why the hell not?”

“Public defender’s on his way from Annapolis, or so Tyler Calhoun claims. That’s why they held off the arraignment in the first place, but I guess they’ve tossed that idea out now.”

“All the way from Annapolis? That’s bull-hockey! That deputy’s a lying sumbitch!”

The outburst surprised Earl. He hadn’t considered the lack of repre -

All

Quiet

sentation problematic. Now he wondered whether he’d made a critical oversight. “We already got a plan, like I said. I don’t see what help some uppity—”

“Don’t be a blinded fool, Earl, you’ll need all the help you can get! Dammit, you always think you’re smarter’n everybody! I’m gonna go give Leon his change of clothes, then I need to find Jonah! We’ll figure out an attorney for you, yet.”

She pecked him on the cheek through the bars of the door, then dashed down the hall to the other holding cell. A few moments later Earl heard Leon’s faint exclamation. “A letter?!”

Via whatever mysterious channels Jonah Everett had access to, the promised counsel appeared within the hour. That left a scant two hours to prepare for the arraignment. This proved immaterial, because within a minute of meeting the youthful attorney Jonah had secured for them, Earl concluded that he hadn’t made a glaring oversight after all. He could no more share the reality of the situation with this bespectacled wisp of a fellow—who looked much like Earl imagined Jonah might within five years—than the deputy himself.

The fledgling lawyer’s name was Braddock. He wore a shoddy suit rivaled only by the shoddiness of his proposed defense, the central argu-

ment of which amounted to no body, no murder. A flimsy approach, considering the substantiating evidence the prosecution might bring to bear, but who was Earl to argue? He couldn’t give the man much else to work with, or risk unraveling the case he’d already spun.

At two in the afternoon, he and Leon were marched before the judge. The Salisbury courthouse was a stark space with an atmosphere that struck Earl as oddly akin to a church. Rows of wooden pews faced the judge’s elevated bench, occupied by a crowd that wouldn’t have looked out of place at one of the late Pastor Calhoun’s sermons.

Earl scanned the gallery and found familiar faces among those assembled, some known intimately to him. Margaret stood in a rear corner beside Jonah, both looking nervous. Bold of young Mr. Everett to chaperone her in this capacity; foolhardy, even. Whether or not his contributions to the Higginses’ cause proved worthwhile, Earl had to give the kid credit. If he hadn’t been a pariah of the Calhoun family before, he would be now. Clara Gibbs stood at Maggie’s other side. Both girls wore dark dresses, like mourners. Mourning Earl’s and Leon’s futures, no doubt, though they needn’t worry over the latter.

A little over an hour ago, Earl had arrived at a decision towards which he’d been building for weeks—

months, maybe. As boys, Leon had often protected him, the stalwart older brother Earl could count on for anything. He’d been born to the role, in every sense. It was why he’d never forgiven himself for Shane’s death, why he’d never once swayed in his dedication to helping Maggie deliver Clara from the clutches of a predator. Through it all, in spite of his frequent gripes, Leon’s actions had followed from the staunch conviction that Clara and Maggie were worthy of the sacrifices made—and crimes committed—on their behalf.

Yes, he could be a drunken buffoon. Yes, he’d made mistakes (the latter often a direct result of the former). But throughout he’d shown nothing less than guileless, unwavering devotion to the people he loved. And if the court and the Calhouns had their way? Leon’s reward waited in the form of a cold, dank cell, or worse, the electric chair. That remained a very real possibility.

Best intentions be damned. If Leon takes the fall for this, it’s all been so much good after bad.

Maybe not all bad, on second thought. Clara hadn’t taken her eyes off Leon since they entered the courtroom. If Leon had any chance of a life with her, didn’t he deserve it? Didn’t Clara, who had suffered worse than any of them? Clara, whose family legacy would

be tarnished, one way or another, by today’s proceedings? Didn’t they deserve the chance, at least, of happiness?

Yes. Earl thought so.

This time, the fault must be Earl’s to bear alone. Not Leon’s, though he didn’t doubt his brother would take it on if he could. Given the opportunity, Leon would keep on punishing himself forever—so Earl wouldn’t give him the chance.

The Higginses’ case was the sole item on the docket for the day, which rendered all the more impressive the number of folks in attendance. From the gallery, spectators watched with the rapt expressions of worshipers, completing Earl’s sense that he and his brother were being presented at the altar of some perverse sermon. And lo! Amidst courtroom proceedings, as amidst a riveting sermon, impassioned cries must be allowed to ring out. Like: Alleluia! and Amen!

Or in this case: “I did it!”

“No, Earl!” said Maggie.

“Yes!” Earl had to shout to be heard over the roiling throng in the gallery. “Leon didn’t do nothin’, it was all me! I’m the one who helped get rid of the evidence. I’ll tell you everything, but you gotta promise to leave my family out of it!”

At the other end of the defendant’s table, Leon fought to his feet, was shoved back down by Deputy Calhoun.

“Counsel him!” Earl told Braddock.

The fresh-faced attorney stopped staring dumbstruck at Earl and delivered a torrent of whispers into Leon’s ear. To his credit, he managed to restrain Leon from implicating himself, even when the judge reiterated the charges—accessory to felony murder after the fact—and asked a second time for their pleas.

Earl Higgins: guilty.

Leon Higgins: not guilty.

After that, the rest of the day was a blur.

Charges against Leon were dropped. He was released the following morning on conditions negotiated by Braddock, who was turning out to be worth something after all.

Earl’s sentencing hearing was held a week later. By then, he’d prepared a painstakingly worded statement detailing his involvement, post facto, in the removal of the Pastor’s truck from Moore Island to the Gleeson Creek fishing hole, then by barge to a mud flat in the Bay. He swore ignorance of the location of the Pastor’s body but made several other “admissions.” These included a detailed description of the cove where he’d dumped Mr. Gibbs’s toolbox, in case the local law failed to recover it of their own accord. With Earl’s confession

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to provide context for the imposing body of evidence that he’d arranged against himself (which by the date of the hearing would grow to include an ostensible murder weapon and written confession, plus the Pastor’s truck and fragment of scalp), he figured the case would look airtight.

Earl’s statement included the explicit claim that Robert Gibbs had murdered Peter Calhoun, though Earl maintained that neither he nor Leon had witnessed the actual event. Left implicit was Mr. Gibbs’s motive for murdering the pastor. In the end, it had felt too slimy to air Clara’s grievances to his own benefit, even with the caveat that certain details and Robert Gibbs’s name be omitted from the public portion of proceedings. But Earl gambled that the embarrassment of digging into such a sensitive matter would deter Deputy Calhoun from haunting Moore Island once he was locked up. After all, Robert Gibbs was dead and gone. He couldn’t care one way or the other what he stood accused of.

Earl, very much alive and desperate to stay that way, did care. So long as he wasn’t being pinned for the murder, he could hope to escape the death penalty. That, he kept telling himself, was what mattered.

For pleading guilty to the charge

of accessory murder after the fact, Earl was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary. As the sentence was read out, he felt himself grow old on the hard courtroom bench. With the bang of the gavel, an even decade shaved off his life. That easy.

In the gallery, Maggie began to weep. Beside her, Jonah Everett stood stony-faced. Bunky Hodges cursed, and Dave Howell shook his head sadly. Leon and Clara weren’t in attendance. Leon had visited Earl once after being set free, then fled the county jail without another look back. He seemed to have developed the nigh-superstitious belief that he’d be clapped in chains if he ever stepped foot in another courthouse. Given the look of icy dissatisfaction on Tyler Calhoun’s face as the sentence was read out, Earl didn’t begrudge his brother missing the occasion one bit. If the deputy had expected a more sympathetic judge, he would find this verdict underwhelming.

Earl had Jonah Everett to thank for that.

Clara’s absence was no surprise, either. In the wake of recent ‘revelations’ about her grandfather, she’d acquired similar pariah status to the Higgins family. As Earl understood it, the contents of his plea statement were an open secret on the lower Shore. Clara’s presence at the hearing would’ve only invited acrimony, possibly even at

the expense of a more severe sentence. Earl hoped she could forgive his besmirching her family name and not hold it against Leon. Without Earl’s level head to keep him straight, his brother would need someone to keep him in line these next few years.

As for Earl, he felt a touch…relieved. The ploy had worked, and his burden of guilt was alleviated for it. Not wholly relieved, but lessened. He deserved this, didn’t he? Whatever the facts of the case, material and immaterial, manufactured and real, his role in the crime was being rightfully punished. He ought to be thankful. After all,

had this gone a hair differently he might be staring down a date with the electric chair.

Instead, according to Braddock, he’d be up for parole in four or five years if he toed the line. All things considered, that didn’t seem so terrible if it meant Leon and Margaret got to go on with their lives. Eventually, Earl would join them; until then, he’d have plenty of time to figure out what to do with his.

figure

Brendan Gallagher is a 2013 graduate of Easton High School and is currently finishing up a Ph.D. in Social-Personality Psychology at the University at Albany.

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