Holiday Issue 2022

and best fleet of towboats are on your waterways and ready to jump into action when you need assistance. For a season of worry-free boating, be sure to get towing from TowBoatU.S.

Sassafrass NRMA p. 33

Chestertown p. 16

Eastern Neck Island p. 33

Annapolis p. 22

Kent Island p. 16

Adkins Arboretum p. 33

Wye Mills p. 16

Wye Island p. 33

St. Michaels p. 16

Alexandria p. 16

Ocean City p. 16

Chincoteague p.16

Onancock p.16

Williamsburg p. 16

Norfolk p. 16

COVER Thomas Point Lighthouse photo: Jay Fleming Photo illustration: Caroline Foster

FROM THE EDITOR

’Tis the Season (for holiday spirit!)

by Je erson Holland

Over the years, it becomes harder and harder to find the perfect gift for the ones you love. My wife Louise and I have come up with a great solution: She buys the book she wants to read and I buy the book that I want to read. Those books get wrapped and paired with a nice bottle of wine. Then, on Christmas morning, we exchange gifts, open them and say, “Oh, thank you, that’s just what I wanted!” Then we exchange the same gifts back again. Works every time.

If that doesn’t work for you, we’ve compiled a gift guide you’ll find starting on page 26. There’s also a showcase of newly published books with local flavor on page 6. Remember, your loved ones are having the same problem finding the right gift for you. So here’s a suggestion: Do them a favor by picking out what you want, circling each item with a red felt-tipped marker (highlight the favorite one with a little sketch of Santa saying, “Hint, hint!”) and placing the magazine opened to the appropriate page in a prominent location in your household (say, under your spouse’s pillow).

Contributing writer Kate Livie says winter is the best time to explore the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. She shares four of her favorite winter walks starting on page 33. (That’s me and Millie, following Kate’s advice on Wye Island.)

But this season isn’t all about giving gifts— it’s about being grateful for all the gifts we enjoy just by living here on the Chesapeake Bay. The biggest and best lighted boats parade will celebrate its 40th year on December 10 in Annapolis Harbor, and you can see some of the cleverest entries on page 22. Niambi Brown Davis fi lls us in on more holiday happenings all around the Bay on page 16.

Kate Livie says that winter is the best time to explore the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore, and she shares four of her favorite winter walks starting on page 33. John Page Williams reveals the wonder of the Bay’s creatures preparing for winter in his Chesapeake Almanac essay, beginning on page 10.

And of course, each story is illustrated by some of the most talented photographers you’ll find anywhere. We are truly blessed with creative artists whose focus of inspiration is this miraculous place we call the Chesapeake Bay, and we are delighted to share their talents with you in this issue of CBM.

The Gift of Story

If you ask us, nothing makes a better gift than a book.

Here’s what we’re reading and recommending this season.

BY JEFFERSON HOLLAND

FAMILY AFLOAT

TWO YEARS SAILING THE WORLD WITH TWO KIDS AND TWO CAPTAINS

By Jim Toomey

Published by Mariner Studios $16.95

World-renowned humor writer and creator of the popular comic strip

Sherman’s Lagoon, Jim Toomey took off with his wife, their two kids and the family dog on a 22-month odyssey, visiting 32 countries, crossing an ocean and homeschooling the children along the way. This travel memoir is richly illustrated with drawings and maps, and filled with practical advice for those planning their own adventures and armchair voyagers alike.

variety of angles, showing what days and nights are like on a slow-go cruise. See what she sees—unique and commonplace. The narrative weaves information and humor into diverse topics such as navigation, enticing alligators, boat handling, pelicans, collision courses, unexploded bombs, historical background, edible spam and character-filled towns. Part travelogue, part coffee table art book, part cruising guide, the book is graced with 400 photographs that reveal beautiful national refuges, the hidden sides of cities, serene anchorages, pink and gold sunsets and 10-foot flamingoes.

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE

STILL WATER BENDING

By Wendy Mitman Clarke

Head to Wind Publishing, 2017 $17.00

In the river-born community of Ophelia, Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay, there are three religions: The Water, The Family and The Land. For generations, this trinity has sustained a community of proud, independent people. But their way of life is dying. In this work of fiction by CBM 's former Editor-at-Large, Wendy Mitman Clarke explores a Chesapeake Bay—and a waterman’s family—in the midst of great change.

DEADLY GAMBLE: THE WRECK OF SCHOONER LEVIN J. MARVEL

THE TRUE STORY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY’S WORST SAILING DISASTER

By Kathy Bergren Smith with the photography of A. Aubrey Bodine

Published by New Bay Books | $20.00

Photographer and maritime journalist Kathy Bergren Smith tells the story of the wreck of the traditional Chesapeake Bay ram schooner Levin J. Marvel in Hurricane Connie in 1955. Contemporary images of the Marvel by famed Baltimore Sun photographer A. Aubrey Bodine illustrate the book. .

WELL OF SOULS: UNCOVERING THE BANJO’S HIDDEN HISTORY

by Kristina R. Gaddy

Published by W. W. Norton & Company | $30.00

This illuminating history of the banjo reveals its origins at the crossroads of slavery, religion and music. Through meticulous research in diaries, letters, archives and art, Gaddy traces the banjo’s beginnings from the 17th century, when enslaved people of African descent created them from gourds or calabashes and wood, to its first commercial mass manufacturing in Baltimore in the late 19 th century by William Boucher Jr., a German immigrant running a music store on East Baltimore Street.

ANNAPOLIS PHOTOGRAPHY OF A. AUBREY BODINE

By Jennifer B. Bodine

Published by Schiffer Publishing | $34.99

Aubrey Bodine was a Baltimore Sun feature photographer from 1924 to 1970. His daughter, Jennifer, has curated Bodine’s vintage black-and-white images of Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy and the Chesapeake Bay, chronicling the essence of Maryland’s state capital in the mid-20th century. Picture Ego Alley with not a fiberglass yacht in sight—back when it was better known as the “Market Slip,” packed with bugeye schooners, skipjacks and deadrise workboats.

Winter Is Coming

Preparing for the season keeps Bay critters busy.

by Capt. John Page Williams

Truth to tell, preparing is probably a misnomer; we humans are the only Chesapeake critters that consciously consider preparing for winter. Adjusting is a better way to think about the process. Physics drives it. As Earth tilts away from the sun, solar radiation becomes weaker and the photoperiod (length of daylight) gets shorter. Incoming energy decreases, and temperatures gradually fall.

Water has an interesting physical property. It grows denser as the temperature drops, reaching its maximum at 4°C (39°F). As surface water cools, it sinks into the warmer

Above: Alewife herring are among the many small fish that benefit from seasonal turnover. Below: Keep a window cracked overnight in December and you may hear tundra swans coming in as you sleep, especially on the full moon.

lower layer. The effect is gradual as the season begins, but by early November, it has usually accelerated to the point that surface water reaches the bottom even in deep channels, forcing the bottom water to the surface. This effect, which scientists call turnover, brings cloudier water up to the surface, carrying decayed material and fertile sediment with it.

This bottom water generally has lower dissolved oxygen, but windy, rainy fall weather helps to mix both layers and reoxegenate the lower but warmer one when it rises. The physics of this circulation drives life throughout the water column. Think

WILL PARSON/CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM

about the water and the bottom sediment as two soil systems that interact to grow plants and animals that consume them. Summer’s warm temperatures and strong sunlight fostered huge quantities of life, including both higher plants in underwater meadows and microscopic, drifting phyto (plant) plankton that live in upper layers where light is available to drive their photosynthetic cells. All of this abundant “primary production” fed both zoo (animal) plankton such as just-barely-visible copepod crustaceans and filter-feeders including shellfish like oysters, clams and mussels; forage fish such as menhaden, bay anchovies and silversides; and in the upper tidal rivers, gizzard (mud) shad, young hickory and American shad, and river

herring. Fall’s turnover brings some of the “soil” on the Bay’s bottom to the well-lit upper levels of the water column, fueling another plankton bloom that makes the forage fish even happier. It also feeds the oysters, clams and mussels, which have recovered from the stress of spawning and reach peak condition in the fall.

As summer waned, a lot of dying

took place, including both plants and animals (e.g., phytoplankton blooms lasting only a few days). Thus the upper layers of the water column began to “rain down” huge quantities of decaying organic material and associated decay organisms that settled on surfaces such as oyster reefs. It creates a bonanza for the Bay’s many kinds of scavengers, in the same way that the season’s falling leaves become a banquet for the insects, fungi and worms on a forest floor. In the Bay, think first of blue crabs, of course, but that diverse group includes also more than a dozen species of small, bottom-hugging mud crabs, grass shrimp, amphipods, isopods, barnacles and hundreds of species of segmented and round worms in both shallow and deep water.

Now think of the juvenile and small fish that feed on fall’s benthic bounty, especially young spot, croakers, red and black drum, gray and speckled trout, white perch, rockfish, black sea bass, flounder, hogchokers, striped blennies, naked gobies, killifish (bull minnows), spotted hake and a surprising number of others. As temperatures fall from the 80s into the 70s and 60s that are generally more comfortable for them, these little fish spread out widely from deep water reefs to shallow flats and especially underwater grass beds. Mid-sized predator fish—especially rockfish, speckled trout and puppy red drum— follow them and feed heavily, including on the young of their species.

As temperatures fall into the 60s, the shallows cool first, followed by the upper layers of the river channels, the Bay’s main stem, and then the waters

outside the Virginia Capes on the Atlantic’s continental shelf. The larger volumes of water cool slowest, and in all of them, the bottom water cools slower than the surface, held there partly because it tends to be saltier and thus denser. As November begins, many of the smaller fish—especially young menhaden, spot, croakers, drum and trout—school up and head down the Chesapeake’s main channel to the warmer continental shelf. The seasonal migration sets the table for every larger fish and diving bird, and somehow, the falling temperatures alert them to fatten up ahead of winter’s lean season.

This is the setting for spectacular “gannet storms,” rafts of loons and flocks of gulls attacking schools of baitfish in the Bay’s open waters over the final two months of the year, frequently as rockfish attack from

The wood duck's colorful plumage stands out even more in snowy climes.

below. As the water cools further, most of the Bay’s large fish follow the southswimming smorgasbord to the continental shelf, though a surprising number of rockfish of all sizes stay in the Chesapeake’s deep channels and increasing numbers of both specks and puppy drum hole up in some of Virginia’s lower rivers.

It’s worth noting that both the gannets and the loons are regular fall transients, stopping o in the Chesapeake to refuel on long migrations. Frozen out of their rocky coastal nesting grounds, the big gannets are coming from Quebec’s Gulf of St. Lawrence and the coast of Newfoundland in Atlantic Canada, headed for the Gulf of Mexico. The loons are coming from now-frozen lakes and ponds in eastern Canada and New England, and they will be wearing their gray/brown/white

plumage, stocking up on calories for their short fl ightless molting period in winter, which they’ll spend out on the continental shelf.

Other birds will be coming to the Chesapeake from surprisingly long distances. The champions are probably our tundra swans. As November begins, most are feeding on roots and tubers in the marshes and waste grain in prairie potholes of the upper midwestern United States. They started from their now-also-frozen nesting/breeding grounds along the Arctic coast of Alaska’s North Slope and Canada west of Hudson Bay. A few will trickle in before Thanksgiving, but the main body will ride the season’s northwest winds diagonally southeast across the Great Lakes to Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina before Christmas, to loaf all winter in our waters, feeding on

underwater grasses, small clams and waste grain in fields. Keep a window cracked open in December as you sleep and you’ll hear them coming when you turn over in the middle of the night, especially on the full moon. Less obvious will be the multitude of migratory ducks that fi lter into our region from the Arctic; Canada’s boreal forests, prairies and Atlantic marshes; and the Upper Midwest. Our Bay and its tributaries serve them well as the relatively ice-free winter quarters closest to their northern nesting grounds.

Among the Chesapeake’s blue crabs, the immatures of both sexes and the jimmies continue to forage wherever they have spent the summer, until falling water temperatures slow them down enough in December to bury in the mud for winter. Sooks, meanwhile, carrying packets of sperm

from summer’s mating with the jimmies, head down the main Bay and its rivers to the high-salinity water their eggs need to develop. They too will bury themselves wherever winter finds them in the lower Chesapeake.

The ospreys are long gone, tucked in to their other summer in Central and South America, and most of the other herons have gone south as well, at least to the southeast U.S., but our mature bald eagles and great blues stay. In addition, immature and unmated older eagles from further north will begin to arrive in some of the Chesapeake’s winter roosting areas, including the Aberdeen Proving Grounds at the mouth of the Susquehanna, the massive Eastern Shore wetlands around the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Caledon State Park on the Potomac, the Rappahannock Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the James River National Wildlife Refuge.

Both the great blues and the eagles are entering mating season during these last two months of the year. After the fi rst of the New Year, they will get busy repairing nests in preparation for egg laying and incubating. But that’s another story. For these two months with us now, before winter really shuts in, look for ways to participate in all of this latefall activity, like fishing or looking for eagle, great blue herons and waterfowl. Dress for the season, fi ll a thermos, grab appropriate tools like rods and binoculars, and if you’ll be in a boat, take all appropriate coldwater safety precautions. But make sure you go. Even in the growing chill, this is one of our Bay’s richest seasons.

CBM Editor-at-Large, educator, guide and author of three quintessential Chesapeake Bay books, Capt. John Page Williams was named a Maryland Admiral of the Bay in 2013.

DREAM

Senior living just got an upgrade.

There’s retirement — then there’s first-class retirement. A retirement where your needs are anticipated, where you’ll find style and attention to detail everywhere you look, and where the service is second to none. This is retirement living the way it should be, at The Village at Providence Point—A National Lutheran Community. From gourmet to casual dining, a state-of-the-art aquatic center and stylish, well-appointed residences, you’ll find everything here is built to exceed expectation. Why? Because when it comes to the next step in your retirement, we think first-class is the only way to go.

Images depicted by artist rendering and subject to change, pending final design and engineering. The Village at Providence Point is affiliated with National Lutheran Communities & Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving people of all beliefs. The Village at Providence Point is subject to the final approval of the Maryland Department of Aging.

Holiday Happenings AROU ND TH E BAY

Mark your calendar for a slew of festive events.

BY NIAMBI D AVIS

Chesapeake Bay holidays means small-town parades, high tea and wine trails, boat parades and bushel-basket trees. Where else in the world can you find yourself in Victorian England one weekend and the next celebrate on a battleship with the Grinch? Not to mention handmade crafts, boozy hot chocolate, and a Harrriet Tubman-inspired dance party. This list just scratches the surface of everything available, so look to see what’s going on near you. From the Bay to the ocean, there’s something here during the holiday season.

Maryland

ANNAPOLIS

Mr. Paca’s Storytime at William Paca House and Garden Tuesday December 6 10–11:30 a.m.

For the little ones in your life, Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime invites children ages 3 to 7 to join them on Tuesday mornings to enjoy songs, a craft activity and reading. This session focuses on Daddy Christmas, Hanukkah Mama and My First Kwanzaa — stories about how two young girls celebrate the winter holidays. annapolis.org

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade

December 10, 2022 6–8 p.m.

No holiday in the sailing capital would be complete without the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Its creativity (think lighted palms, Christmas trees and snowmen) has

earned the EYC event a spot on the lineup of Maryland Events of the Year. The best views of the boats are near the Eastport Bridge, the Naval Academy, City Dock and Ego Alley. Or get out on the water and take it in from the deck of Harbor Queen, a steamboat-style party ship operated by Watermark. Admission is $10 or the donation of a bag of non-perishable food for people or pets. eastportyc.org/lights-parade; watermarkjourney.com

Midnight Madness

Dec 1, 8 and 15 4–11 p.m.

For three Thursday nights in December, downtown Annapolis becomes a festive street party with specials at shops throughout town, strolling carolers in period costume, impromptu second-line parades led by Naptown Brass, and whatever else frivolity the locals can come up with. downtownannapolispartnership.com

To plan your visit, from more events to lodging, go to visitannapolis.org.

BALTIMORE

Parade of Lighted Boats

December 1, 2022

6–8 p.m.

On land and on the water, Charm City lights up for the holidays. For the boating community, especially in December, where there’s a harbor, there’s a boat parade. The 31st Annual Parade of Lighted Boats begins at Anchorage Marina. Look for the decorated vessels anywhere from Canton and Fells Point waterfronts to Harbor East, the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill.

Washington Monument Lighting

December 1

5–9 p.m.

For many of its citizens, Charm City’s holiday season officially begins with the lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument (not to be confused with the white marble obelisk on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall), located in hilltop Mt. Vernon Square. Come for the fireworks, a children’s village, caroling, food vendors, a local makers’ market and music, including selections from the Morgan State University Choir.

To plan your visit, go to baltimore.org.

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge Dorchester Crabby Christmas Parade and Crab Basket Lighting

December 3

5 p.m.

The 73rd Annual Cambridge Dorchester Crabby Christmas Parade steps off from Long Wharf at 5 p.m. Line up along the route to enjoy this year’s version of what was once named the longest nighttime parade in the state. You’ll see talented marching bands, floats, classic cars and costumed characters as they make their way to the parade’s end at Washington Street. Stay on after Santa’s arrival and join in a Cambridge holiday tradition as the region pays homage to its watermen and women

with the lighting of a 20-foot-tall tree made from bushel baskets and buoys. christmasparade.org

Harriet’s Jazzy Holiday Ball December 12

7–9 p.m.

The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center invites you to dance the evening away to upbeat music at Harriet’s Jazzy Holiday Ball. The holiday merriment takes place at Heirloom Athletics in Cambridge. harriettubmanmuseumcenter.org

Christmas Train Garden Weekdays, 6–9 p.m.; weekends, 1–4 p.m. and 6–9 p.m.

For train aficionados, the holiday season is a time for model displays. Since 1934, Cambridge Rescue Fire Company 39 has kept to that tradition. Their Christmas Train Garden is the longest continually operating fire department train display in the United States and remains in its original home at 307 Gay Street. Every December since 1934, the RFC has run a daily display for the community. Take up their invitation and take the train lover in your life to Cambridge and go see them all through December. rfctraingarden.org

To plan your visit, go to visitdorchester.org

CHESAPEAKE CITY

Holiday Sip and Shop

Sunday, December 4

If you’re looking for a day of wine tasting, libation sampling, music and shopping, the Chateau Bu-De, Broken Spoke and Crow wineries have you covered with their holiday Sip & Shop. Add in Deep Blue Restaurant at historic Kitty Knight House and it’s the perfect holiday event. Book tickets in advance, then hop on a shuttle that makes the rounds to all four venues. Each stop gets you three wine samples (or make that Boozy Hot Chocolate at Kitty Knight) and the chance to shop for handcrafted holiday gifts

by local artisans. (You can also drive yourself if you just want to do the shopping.) And in any season, the view of the Bohemia River from the hilltop at Chateau Bu-De is breathtaking. The event is expected to sell out, so book in advance at any of the venue’s websites. chateaubude.com; brokenspokewinery.com; crowvineyardandwinery.com; kittyknight.com

Christmas Parade and Market by Poplar Hall

Saturday, Dec 10

All day

Behold a parade of horses, holiday bagpipers, local beverages galore and the best artisans from the Upper Bay and beyond at this elaborate street party in Chesapeake City, led by the Victorianminded owners of historic Poplar Hall in nearby Newark, Del. See why it’s been named one of the Top 50 Christmas Markets in the U.S. by Food and Wine chesapeakecity.com; poplarhall.us

To plan your visit, go to seececil.org.

CHESTERTOWN

A Dickens of a Christmas

December 2–3

Events run all weekend

The very Victorian “A Dickens of a Christmas” returns to historic downtown Chestertown, with no evidence of Scrooge in sight. It’s a weekend of nonstop good times, sponsored by Main Street Chestertown. Make it authentic and “dress like the Dickens” (you can rent garb onsite), sing along with carolers, or go full steam ahead into the festivities and enter the Bedlam Bed Race. For a less high-spirited

experience, take a carriage ride, or have a toddy around the bonfire and enjoy the sounds of the American Rogues; their repertoire covers everything from movie soundtracks to foot-stomping Irish jigs. Make sure to visit the Bank building, transformed for the weekend into London Row, for handcrafted holiday gifts created by local artisans. Take the kids to visit Santa’s house in Fountain Park, or to the Flea Circus and petting zoo. Finish off your weekend merriment with a delicious Holiday Tea and a house tour on historic Water Street near the Chester River. mainstreetchestertown.org

To plan your visit, go to kentcounty.com

KENT ISLAND

Tree Lighting at Kent Narrows

December 3

2–6 p.m.

Join the Queen Anne’s County Waterman’s Association when their Basket Tree returns to the Kent Island waterfront, on the grounds of the Fisherman’s Inn Crab Deck. Each basket is hand-painted by local community members, honoring watermen both past and active. Come early to purchase nautical and holiday gifts crafted by local artisans; stay for the 6 p.m. lighting ceremony and join the community in honoring past and present watermen. kentnarrowsmd.com/holiday-basket-tree

To plan your trip, go to visitqueenannes.com.

OCEAN CITY

Winterfest of Lights

November 17–December 31

From mid-November until New Year’s Eve, Ocean City celebrates its 30th Winterfest of Lights. At Northside Park, take the walking paths through thousands of twinkling, animated displays. You’ll see Santa’s Workshop, Twelve Days of Christmas, the

Candy Cane Woods, and even a nightly show put on by a 50-foot performing tree. Santa makes an appearance at the Park every night until December 23. Don’t miss the Winterfest gift shop. oocean.com/events/ winterfest-holidays

To plan your visit, go to ococean.com

ST. MICHAELS

Christmas in St. Michaels

December 9–11

Events run all weekend

According to many of its citizens, there’s no Christmas like a St. Michaels Christmas, especially when Midnight Madness takes over. It’s a weekend of late-night shopping and strolling the bright and beautifully decorated streets of downtown. No “picturepostcard town” would be complete without a holiday parade. On December 10, grab a Santa hat or full costume and take your place in the Talbot Street Parade’s Santa Dash. If you’d rather watch than walk (or run), grab a spot on the street to enjoy the lineup of llamas, boats, bands and antique cars leading up to the grand arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Santa. Later that night, head for the waterside where the parade of lighted boats returns to St. Michaels Harbor. christmasinstmichaels.org

To plan your visit, go to tourtalbot.org.

WYE MILLS

Old Wye Mill Christmas Shoppe

December 3 and 17th 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

On December 3, history and the holidays come together when the Old Wye Mill Shop opens for two Saturdays in December. Choose from pottery, ornaments, stoneground flours and fresh-baked goods, with proceeds going to support the mill’s preservation and operations. Try the Mill’s jellies; visitors have been known to return

especially for the Peach Pecan. While you’re there, take time to view the historical display and discover the workings of a mill that has ground grain since 1682. oldwyemill.org

To plan your visit, go to visitqueenannes.com.

Virginia

ALEXANDRIA

Biggest Holiday Weekend

December 2–4

Events run all weekend Historic Alexandria charms any time of year, but never as much as around the holidays. Kick things off at 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of December with the 51st annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, featuring Scottish bagpipers, Scottish kilts and even Scottie dogs, dressed up for the occasion. The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sets sail along the Potomac at 5:30 p.m., with viewing parties up and down the riverfront, including the pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company. But the festivities continue all month at the shops and galleries along the historic city’s cobblestone streets. visitalexandria.com/holidays

To plan your visit, go to visitalexandria.com.

CHINCOTEAGUE

Christmas by the Sea

December 3

All day

Take an island holiday and experience Chincoteague’s Christmas by the Sea. Join the festivities on December 3 at the island’s Holiday Home tour of homes, inns and art

Christmas parade lines up at Main Street. This year’s theme is “Christmas in Toyland.” View the parade of floats, marching bands, decorated boats, classic cars, equestrian teams and fire companies from all around the Eastern Shore. Meet Santa for afterparade festivities at the Chincoteague American Legion Post. Throughout the month, visit the Museum of Chincoteague’s Christmas Tree Village and vote on your favorite decorated tree. On December 31, come as you are or as your favorite costumed character for New Year’s Eve fireworks and lighted horseshoe drop. On January 1, 2023, in the home of the Saltwater Cowboys, welcome the New Year with the Polar Pony Plunge. chincoteaguechristmas.com

To plan your visit, go to chincoteague.com.

NORFOLK

WinterFest on the Wisconsin November 9–January 1 Wednesday–Sunday from 4:30 p.m.

In the Tidewater city of Norfolk, the Nauticus’s WinterFest returns bigger and better with over one million lights. Explore nine new dazzling light trails that run aboard the Battleship Wisconsin and see the Mistletoe Marina and its decorated boats. Visit the Grinch, take a scavenger hunt and unlock the mystery of Santa’s Elves. If a lighted Christmas tree by the water brings out your holiday spirit, come for a Grinchled lighting on the fantail of the Battleship Wisconsin., nightly at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. winterfestonthewisconsin.com

To plan your visit, go to visitnorfolk.com

ONANCOCK

Lights on the Lawn Dec 10–11

Events run all weekend

In Onancock, from December 3 to 31, experience Lights on the Lawn, the annual outdoor display of lighted Christmas trees on the grounds of Ker House, considered “the finest and most elaborate Federal mansion on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.” But for the biggest party, on Saturday, December 10, begin the day with a Holiday Artisan Market at the Historic Onancock School. Later, make your way to the Wharf to welcome Santa (and his kayak reindeer) as he arrives by boat, then take a tour of homes dressed up for the holidays. And on Sunday, December 11, join Onancock residents for a small-town Holiday Parade of floats, fire trucks and caroling. onancock.org

To plan your visit, go to visitesva.com.

WILLIAMSBURG

Grand Illumination

December 3, 10, 17

Step back in time to Colonial Williamsburg at one of three Grand Illumination weekends. Celebrations run all weekend, with the big show on Saturday night, where revelers can enjoy fireworks displays along with the weekend-long musical performances, holiday shops and period decorations throughout the Historic Area. Celebrate the Yule Log and join a holiday procession beginning at the Capitol, where you can make a wish with a sprig of greenery tossed into the bonfire. Book at table at an historic tavern for a sit-down dinner, or bring lawn chairs and partake from food trucks in the center of town.

To plan your visit, go to colonialwilliamsburg.org.

Niambi Davis was raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and takes every opportunity to share her love of the Land of Pleasant Living through words and pictures.

to

Sharing the Light

Parade of Lights40turns

BY JEFFERSON HOLLAND

One of the most celebrated events on the Chesapeake Bay began humbly in 1981, when a guy named Jim Langer, who lived aboard his boat in Spa Creek, strung Christmas lights up in his rigging and paraded around Annapolis Harbor. The idea caught on and the one-man show quickly turned into a multi-boat parade. By 1988, the event was proclaimed the official Maryland Winter Celebration. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Eastport Yacht Club’s Lights Parade will feature dozens of boats ranging from a 75-foot skipjack from the Annapolis Maritime Museum to smaller sailboats, dressed-up Boston Whalers and more, gathered to dazzle more than 30,000 spectators surrounding the harbor on Saturday, December 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.

While the event is truly magical, it takes a huge effort on the part of scores of volunteers to make it happen. At the Eastport Yacht Club, all of the organizers are known as “elves.” “Everyone is an elf,” says Heather Ersts, former commodore of the club and “Chief Elf” of the parade from 2005 to 2008. “Everybody’s got a job. The skippers put in days and days of work to make that happen. Nobody’s getting paid and it costs a lot of money to decorate the boats, so it’s truly a gift to the City of Annapolis. Everyone involved is involved because they absolutely love it, they bring the joy through the boats and through the spirit of the evening.” 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EASTPORT YACHT CLUB LIGHTS PARADE

Tom and Trudy Stalder have served as Co-Chief Elves for the past four years, though in 2020, the event was canceled due to the pandemic pandemonium, and in 2021, it was canceled last minute on the day-of due to predictions of very high wind.

Nobody wanted a repeat of the parade in 1991, when a cold front burst through the harbor just before the parade was about to start, with wind gusting up to 48 mph. Most of the participating boats were already under way when that happened, Tom recalls. The Chief Elf at the time, the late Robin Allison, made the call that the show must go on, and so, “the skippers braved the elements and provided a spectacular display of seamanship in the harbor.”

As a precaution, Tom has announced that the organizers have a rain date this year for the first time. “If we know the weather’s going to be bad, we’ll run the Friday prior to the normal Saturday date,” he says. “We’ll know pretty much in advance what the weather’s going to be, so we’ll make that call at our skipper’s meeting on Thursday.”

Safety is key, Tom notes. There’s even a designated “Safety Elf.” In 1999, the parade route was extended up Spa Creek, through the drawbridge and up to Truxtun Park. According to Tom, that proved to be another challenge for the participating skippers. "It's really dark and shallow up there."

Navigating in the parade is a challenge to begin with, not just because of the weather, but because it takes place at night. “There are lots of lights on the boats,” meaning lots of red and green lights that interfere with lighted navigation markers. The parade route takes participants through mooring fields, under

the drawbridge several times, and up and down unlit channels.

The entries are awarded prizes for various categories. Last year, the Best in Show award went to a sailboat whose mast was decorated as a palm tree and the deck and rigging lit up as a “Pirate’s Treasure Island.” Past favorites include a boat with the outline of the “Fragile” lamp from the movie A Christmas Story, a golden angel blowing a trumpet, and the all-time classic, “The Flasher,” an animated display that shows a leeringly exhibitionistic Grinch flinging open his overcoat to reveal a glowing Christmas tree. That made its last appearance in 2003.

Of course, the fun isn’t just in watching the lighted boats. In 2001 there was the first Lights Parade wedding as well as the first Lights Parade proposal. Participation in the event is open to the public. “You don’t have to be a member of EYC to register a boat for the parade,” Trudy Stalder says. “In fact, most of the skippers aren’t members. Sail, power or dinghy, it doesn’t matter— decorated is the key word.” “And safe!” Tom adds.

You can even participate from shore. Spectators bundle up and crowd Annapolis City Dock to watch the spectacle, lining the Spa Creek Bridge and packing the street-end parks to watch the boats go by. Restaurants and hotels with Spa Creek views throw viewing parties, as do those lucky enough to have boats at downtown city marinas and slips. The whole thing feels like very festive street party, and has become a central part of the holidays in Annapolis. And not just there; coastal towns around Bay took inspiration and now boat parades are a tradition from Alexandria, Va., which celebrated 20 years in 2019, to Havre de Grace, Md., begun in 2021.

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE Gifts Worth Giving

We’ve got ideas for everyone on

your list, nautical and nice.

BY SUSAN MOYNIHAN

For Jefferson, editor-in-chief

Jeff Holland is always on the go, researching stories or playing concerts around the Bay, so he needs sneaks that keep up with him. Kiziks do the job, with cushy Rabbit Foam outsoles, breathable knit uppers and hands-free, slip-on lacing. Because as they say in their tagline, there’s more to life than tying your shoes.

Lima shoe, $109; kizik.com

For Caroline, creative director

The cockpit of Caroline’s Tartan 4400 is a great entertaining spot, but nothing ruins a boat party like a broken glass. Enter these deceptive Strahl polycarbonate glasses. At first glance, they look and feel like the real thing, but there’s no damage if you drop one (except the spilled drink). Available as rocks glasses, stemless wine glasses, champagne flutes and more, all customizable via printing or engraving. $75 for set of 4; rossmarineideas.com

For Susan, contributing editor

Susan loves cooling off in the Bay on a summer afternoon, but not so much in August when the jellies are cooling off with her. Enter this lightweight but sturdy floating net ring bed. It packs to the size of a sleeping bag for easy storage. When you anchor, just unbox, inflate and jump in and cool off, with protection from surprise stings.

Floaty ring bed, $699;

For the Boat Host with the Most

Are you a sucker for Yacht Rock like we are? Nothing says Michael McDonald like this Cocktail Captain cap, a conversation starter on land or sea. Cocktail Captain Trucker Hat, $19.99; westmarine.com

For the Hostess Who Has Everything

Who says everything has to be nautical? This whimsical set of pewter shakers from Vagabond House is impeccably detailed, and sure to please both chef and gardener any time of year. welcomehome.com

For the Engine Room Mechanic

Every handyman/woman knows it’s hard to get things done when you’re holding a flashlight. They also know that things tend to break in the dark. Which is why every boater (and camper, hiker and hunter) needs a good headlamp. The StripLamp Pro has a 230-degree wide-angle LED light with a long battery life, and it’s waterproof. $29.99; odelfi.com

For the Cocktail Aficionado

A proper Chesapeake Bay Bloody Mary needs lots of Old Bay. In 2022, George’s Beverage Company teamed up with McCormick & Company to create this spiceinfused vodka that’s sure to up your cocktail game. It’s distilled in Maryland by McClintock Distillery, and it won Double Gold at the San Fransisco World Spirits Price ranges; oldbayvodka.com

For the Parent/Grandparent

Few things in life are a sweet as reading to your child or grandchild, especially when that book shares your passion for the Bay. Author-illustrator Cindy Freland creates characters like Curtis the Crab, Jordan the Jellyfish and Olivia the Osprey to raise awareness about the Bay, in stories that are both uplifting and educational. $18/hardback, $12/paperback; cbaykidsbooks.com

For the Classic Gamer

Scrabble, rummy and poker are all great games. But cribbage—said to have been invented by an English gambler in the 1600s—just might be the best boat game out there. It’s perfect for travel as it doesn’t require much in the way of space—just a deck of cards and a board. This retro boat board is cute enough to display when you’re not playing. $34.95; shiptoshoremarine.com

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE

For the Snacker

Set sail for happy hour with this ingenious serving boat. The Rowboat serving bowl has four compartments, serving spatulas and a mast to hold the napkin sails. $85; uncommongoods.com

For the Model Maker

Pass those long winter months working on a smaller project with this Skipjack Model Kit. Wooden Boat Store has been making and selling model kits since 1974, along with plans and kits for full-size boats, books on the craft, and all manner of woodworking tools and parts. Skipjack Model Kit, $80; woodenboatstore.com

For the Traditionalist

This gorgeous brass lantern (based on a traditional miner’s lamp) would look amazing on a holiday mantle or front walkway. The hurricane-proof glass keeps the flame burning as long as there’s fuel, and it can be engraved for personalization. Brass Yacht Lamp, $249; weems-plath.com

For the Cruiser

prints by Annapolis artist Kim Hovell. She also offers candles, barware, wool rugs and more, based on her original paintings. Port Tack blanket, $90; kimhovell.com

The definitive guide to cruising the Bay returns in spring 2023! Price includes the guide, CBM subscription and online content. $100, Chesapeakebaymagazine. com/subscribe

HOLIDAY GIFTGUIDE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Otter Masterpieces

Each painting is a one-of-akind masterpiece done by one of our three otters: Chumley, Calvert and Chessie Grace. Tail drags, paw prints or otter hair are included with this unique gift that directly supports CMM. Limited edition, signed and numbered.

$45, available exclusively at the museum store; calvertmarinemuseum.com

Oyster Pendant

Our exclusive hand-carved oyster pendant comes cast in sterling silver or 14K gold with a 6mm cultured pearl. A Chesapeake Jewelers favorite, this simple yet elegant piece measures 1 inch tall. We design this as a ring bracelet and earrings. Check out our website or give us a call at 410-251-0394.

Prices start at $180;  chesapeakejewelers.com

Annapolis School of Seamanship Classes

Need a gift for the boater in your life who has all the gadgets and gear they need? Give the gift of nautical know-how! Gift cards are personalized and available for any class or a dollar amount that can be applied to future class registrations. Class dates can be selected at a later date. Cards are valid for 5 years and can be purchased for any current or future class offerings:

• Diesel

• Electrical Systems

• Weather

• Captain's License

• Docking & Other Onboard Training

• And More...

• Navigation asoscapt.regfox.com/giftcards

Spice Up the Holiday

Let J.O. spice up your gift giving this holiday season. This 5th-generation familyowned business has everyone’s taste buds covered. Choose a box set favorite or customize a unique gift for everyone on your list. J.O. is more than spice.... specializing in a variety of customizable gift items. This is just a taste of the wide range of offerings from J.O. Spice.

We have something for everyone’s budget. The pictured box is $31.95 but we have some starting at $14.95. We can do one or 10,000. Bulk discounts available. store.jospices.com

The Perfect Oyster Opener

The Original Chesapeake Chip and Shuck™ Oyster Opener is revolutionizing the way restaurants, caterers and all oyster lovers quickly, safely and easily open raw oysters and clams. Our built-in edge chipper creates a seam for the shucking wedge, which quickly and easily powers open the toughest shells— while saving the oyster liquor for best flavor and freshness! The Chip and Shuck™ Oyster Opener is manufactured in the U.S.A. of American-made parts. See the Chip and Shuck in action and order yours today!  $249; theoysteropener.com

Historical Maps & Framing

Wimsey Cove is your local picture framing, fine art printing, art gallery and historic map shop! Reproductions of historic maps, urban city plans, shipwreck maps, nautical maps, county district maps, bird’s eye views and more are beautifully and artistically framed for any need.

Wimsey Cove Framing & Fine Art Printing is located at 209 Chinquapin Round Road, Suite 101, Annapolis; open M-F 10-6 & Sat 10-4; 410-956-7278

Annapolis MD 1878 Downtown Map, from the Hopkins Atlas, 25" x 16", $40 unframed. wimseycoveframingannapolis.com

Wayne Laws. Skyline. Acrylic Painting. $250

Joanne Graham. Blue Fleece Shawl. $110

Terry Bydume. Fleece Hat. $52

Sonja Holleman. Kyanite, Pearls, Lapis. $150

Joe Foley. Wood Mandala. $120

Kay Fuller. Bonsai. Giclee. $50

David Blecman. 11x14 Matted Print. $69

Linda Donahue. Earrings. $35 Nico Gozal. Painting on Silk Ties. $50 each

Kenneth Graham. 8x10 Photograph. $20 Dave Murphy. Watercolor. $110

Barbara Burns. Holiday Cards. $6 each

Susan Gillig-Grube. Out on a Limb. Mixed Media. $325

Audrey Lee. Goodnight. Acrylic Painting. $400

Julie Heath. Hand Painted Ornaments. $15 each

Tina Van Pelt. Fused Glass Wall Art. $175

Jessica McGrath. Silver Necklace. $100

Four Winter Walks

Story

and photos

by Kate Livie

Winter doesn’t settle over the Eastern Shore with a hush, but with a clamor. The rush of wind in the loblollies, the crack of ice rime on the shoreline, the roar of a thousand Canadas and snow geese funneling into the cornfields. Suddenly the people are gone, and in their place, nature’s noises barge right in. The winter is when the Bay feels biggest and most immediate. There’s nothing between you and the full force of a Chesapeake ruled by the weather and the hardiest beasts and birds, and nobody there to distract you. It’s all yours.

Layer up and head out to explore this winter world for yourself on these four Eastern Shore walks. Whether it’s the cli s of Kent County’s Sassafras NRMA or the coves of Eastern Neck Island, the Osage trails at Wye Island or vernal pools at Adkins Arboretum, these rambles will take you to the heart of a secret, snowy Chesapeake well worth bundling up to see. 

Kate Livie is a Chesapeake writer, educator, and historian. An Eastern Shore native and current faculty member at Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society, Livie’s award-winning book Chesapeake Oysters was published in 2015.

Sassafras NRMA

Just east of the tiny hamlet of Kennedyville is the sprawling Sassafras National Resources Management Area (NRMA). Established in part by the efforts of a neighbor, former Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, Sassafras has easily walkable, well-marked trails that traverse the park’s open fields, mature forests and Sassafras River shorelines.

The real reason to head to Sassafras in winter is to scale (or at least, admire) the site’s famous cliffs. Documented first by John Smith on his 1608–1609 explorations of the Chesapeake, the Sassafras River was home to the Tockwogh tribe, who built their towns on the cliff tops, capitalizing on the commanding views. At least three of the trails take you from the central parking lot to river access points, each with a different view, vibe and landscape.

For the most sweeping views of the mouth of the Sassafras and the greater Chesapeake beyond, the Old Lodge Trail is hard to beat. In the 20th century, most of the NRMA was a working farm and commune. The trail follows the remnants of a oncelandscaped farm lane—look for the huge English boxwoods—to the overgrown foundation of the old farm cottage. Though the cottage burned in the late 2000s, the incredible views it once enjoyed remain, and are best appreciated in wintertime when the leaves are down.

For maximum eye-searing glory, look for a small trail past the foundations that lead back into the woods towards the water. Just about 30 yards down, another set of boxwoods marks a magnificent overlook on the edge of a 100-foot cliff. Sweeping views of the golden, iron-stained cliff faces and dark blue river are breathtaking, and the Sassafras often shelters huge overwintering rafts of swans, geese and ducks. Mature and juvenile eagles pinwheel on warm drafts above the cliffs, too. Birders will want to bring their binoculars to get an even closer look.

The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are no bathrooms or water sources onsite, so plan accordingly. Leashed dogs are welcome. Learn more at dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands.

WYE ISLAND NRMA

Across the Eastern Shore, the landscape is so timeless it seems like something out of the past. On Queen Anne’s County’s Wye Island, it truly is. Once a tobacco and wheat plantation owned by William Paca and John Beale Bordley, the island has been relatively unchanged for centuries, with the original Osage hedgerows and wheat fields still defining the island’s interior. In the early 1970s, the island was threatened by development as Jim Rouse, the developer of Columbia, Md., eyed Wye for a similar scheme (706 units, including apartments, duplexes, and a general store). Fortunately, the state intervened and purchased the island a few years later. Today, the island’s lovely colonial landscapes and sweeping views of the Wye River provide a quiet refuge in a quickly developing corridor along Route 50.

For a ramble through the past, check out Ferry Point Trail. This 1.5-mile, out-and-back route will take you through an ancient Osage hedgerow, now grown into a long tunnel. Osage trees, a non-native species, were favored in the 18th century as a “natural” fencing option due to the extreme durability of the wood and the tree’s long thorns. Yesterday’s colonial fence has since grown into a gnarled, witchy wood that ends where the ferry service once brought carriages and goods across the Wye River. The protected, sandy beach at the trail’s midpoint is great for progging and in early spring, a dogleg off the trail explodes with hundreds of Jack-in-the-Pulpits.

PLAN YOUR VISIT: 632 Wye Island Road, Queenstown, MD 21658. Open daily, year-round, sunrise to sunset. There is a vault toilet at the head of Ferry Point Trail. Leashed dogs are welcome. Learn more at dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands. 

Eastern Neck Island

Today Eastern Neck Island is part of the Federal refuge system, but for centuries, the island’s location at the confluence of the Chester River and the Bay meant great abundance—and lots of human activity. In previous centuries, the island was teeming with people—Native American seasonal communities, colonial plantations, 19th century maritime towns, 20th century waterfowling clubs—that came to harvest the crabs, fish, oysters and waterfowl that lived in the protected coves. In the 1950s, the island was slated for major development, but it was ultimately purchased and preserved by the U.S. Government in 1962. Today, most of the signs of human habitation have been removed, save for the daffodils that bloom each spring in longforgotten gardens. Birds, fish and game rule the island in all seasons, thriving in the island’s many little guts, inlets and woods.

Winter is a spectacular time to visit. Buffeted by the winds and waves of the open Chesapeake on its western shoreline, the protected eastern coast of the island is tranquil and dreamlike. Tall stands of loblolly pine open to marshes of salt meadow hay. Canvasbacks, buffleheads, black ducks, tundra swans and other migratory waterfowl peacefully forage in the island’s evocatively named coves (Fryingpan, Calfpasture, Tubby). Walkers can expect zero altitude—it doesn’t get much flatter than Chesapeake islands—and easy trails that often conclude at the shoreline.

For a beautiful wander, check out the Duck Inn

Trail. The mile-long, out-and-back trail winds through pines and stands of gum before opening to a marsh grass alleyway. Enjoy a long pause at a special beach overlooking the Chester River. Instead of sand, the beach is all oyster shells—the remnants of an old oyster midden from the days when native tribes feasted all winter long on the huge oyster reefs that were once offshore. Once upon a time, this site also saw violent skirmishes between oystermen and the State Fishery Force during the Oyster Wars of the 19th century. Today, this stretch of the Chester still supports an oyster industry in the form of aquaculture—observant visitors can spot the black frames of Orchard Point Oyster’s aquaculture oyster cages just north of the beach.

Though the island attracts diverse species of migratory waterfowl, it’s Eastern Neck’s overwintering tundra swans that are the most magnificent. Birders can post up with long lenses or binoculars at the tundra swan boardwalk adjacent to the island’s wooden fishing bridge or the Tubby Cove bird blind. The refuge also offers free monthly guided winter birding walks from December to March.

PLAN YOUR VISIT: 1730 Eastern Neck Rd., Rock Hall, MD 21661. Plan your visit and see the events schedule at fws.gov/refuge/eastern-neck. Open daily year-round, sunrise to sunset. There are designated picnic tables and two public restrooms on the island. Leashed pets are welcome.

Adkins Arboretum

Located near Ridgely, Md., adjacent to Tuckahoe State Park, Adkins Arboretum is a special place to explore in all seasons, but especially wintertime. The Arboretum’s 400 acres of woodlands, meadows, wetlands and gardens are bisected by tributaries of Tuckahoe Creek, and the numerous trails onsite delve deep into the creek’s natural ravines and quiet wooded floodplains. The property is beautifully managed and interpreted, with notable species of plants, shrubs and trees clearly marked and labeled, and art installations in meadows close to the visitor’s center. Several of the trails cross the creek numerous times over charming small wooden bridges.

Adkins is particularly glorious in very late winter when the cold seems to drag on interminably. The tall hardwood forests provide protection from scouring March winds and create some unique early spring environments that are a treasure to explore. For a self-guided late winter walk, strike out on the easy, mile-long Blockston Branch Loop to see early spring beauties and bluebells carpeting the forest floor. Scarlet and green cones of skunk cabbage emerge from the wooded wetlands to the soundtrack of a spring peeper chorus. Keep your eye out for signs of beaver—they are easy to spot while the trees are bare—and don’t miss the bright gold buds of spicebush flowering at eye-level during your ramble.

WHEN YOU GO: 12610 Eveland Rd., Ridgely, MD 21660. Check out adkinsarboretum.com for the schedule of events, including guided walks and plant sales. Their online map is also excellent. The admission fee is $5 for adults, $2 for youth ages 6 to 17; kids under 5 are free, as are members. Grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset; the Visitor's Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Leashed dogs are welcome.

474 SANDY RUN TRAIL, KILMARNOCK, VA

One of the most unique properties in the Northern Neck. Take in the salty air breezes and unwind at this private family retreat. Relax on your private Sand Beach or launch the kayak and take a tour of the back creek. Head out on a fishing excursion, just minutes from your home to great catches. Entertaining has never been so easy! You and your guests will enjoy 3900 square feet of endless views from every room. Grand living room with vaulted, beamed ceiling, cozy fireplace, new wet bar and deck access. Enjoy cooking in this newly renovated luxurious kitchen with an open dining area and double sliding doors leading to the screen porch with three sides of water views. Bedrooms feature two ensuite downstairs, one ensuite upstairs, bayside bedroom with private balcony and bonus room with balcony and full bathroom. All located on a private 2.5 acres overlooking Indian Creek / Chesapeake Bay and just minutes from great town amenities. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to make this your stay-cation.

David Dew

804-436-3106

DavidEDew@gmail.com

Katie Horsley Dew

804-436-6256

KatieDew@horsleyrealestate.com

HorsleyRealEstate.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

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RAY MUDD/MIKE DUNN 410-320-4907

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Southern Anne Arundel Co: Over 2,900 sq.ft.+.. 5Br., 3Fb, 2Hb., expansive Bay views. Impressive waterfront porch, hardwood floors, formal dining room, owners bedroom with enclosed porch, 2 car garage. Close to North Beach boardwalk, marina’s & shops. 45 minutes to D.C.. Was the original “Inn of Holland Point”. Schwartzrealty.com/MDAA2044428

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of

410 Severn

Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. Contact Person: Theresa Sise. Telephone: 410-263-2662. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquar ters or General Business Office of Publisher: 410 Severn Avenue Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: John Stefancik 410 Severn Avenue Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. Editor: Jefferson Holland, 410 Severn Avenue Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. Managing Editor: none. 10. Owner: Chesapeake Bay Media, LLC 410 Severn Avenue Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. John Stefancik, John Martino, Barbara Martino 410 Severn Avenue Ste.314, Annapolis, MD 21403. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages and Other Security Holders: None. 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months. 13. Publication Title: Chesapeake Bay Magazine. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 2022. Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: a. Total Num ber of Copies. (1)Outside County Paid/Requested Mail 4966. (2)In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions 877. (3)Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS 668. (4)Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS 0. c. Total Paid Distribution 6511. d. Free or Nomi nal Rate Distribution by Mail and Outside the Mail: (1)Outside-County Copies 2953. (2)In-County Copies 521. (3)Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS 0. (4)Outside the Mail 359. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 3833. Total Distribution 10322. Copies not Distributed 145. Total 10467. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 62%. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: a. Total Number of Copies. (1)Outside County Paid/Requested Mail 4185. (2)In-County Paid/Request ed Mail Subscriptions 738. (3)Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS 460. (4)Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS 0. c. Total Paid Distribution 5383. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution by Mail and Outside the Mail: (1)Outside-County Copies 2099. (2)In-County Copies 370. (3)Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS 0. (4) Outside the Mail 382. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 2851. Total Distribution 8234. Copies not Distributed 400. Total 8634. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 62%.

’Twas the Lights Before Christmas

by Je erson Holland

The boats all arrive from around the bend, Looks like a galaxy having no end Into the Harbor to brighten the night The annual Eastport Parade of Lights

It’s always on the coldest night, The annual Eastport parade of lights We’ll cuddle with huddling crowds that flock To watch the parade from the City Dock

There’s a golden angel as tall as a mast Tootling a tune on a golden sax She’s circling now in a glittering array At the annual Eastport lights parade

Listen to Je ’s rendition of this poem on “An Oyster Boy Christmas” accompanied by Tom Guay on the hammer dulcimer.

In a red top hat comes a big snowman With a sly little wink and a wave of his hand He opens his overcoat—what’s underneath? A brightly lighted Christmas tree!

The crab on the deck of that motor yacht— Look at the big Santa hat he’s got With a fine Santa smile on those Santa jaws He needs Santa mitts for those Santa crab claws

There’s Santa himself on a Coast Guard craft Tossing candy canes fore and aft “Ho, ho!” Santa says as they sail out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

true talbot. true chesapeake. truemagic

Talbot County is home to some of the most beautiful and historic small towns in America. Explore our culinary treasures, one-of-a-kind boutiques and elegant inns. Or bike, kayak and sail the Chesapeake Bay. Plan your escape today! 410-770-8000 | TourTalbot.org

Easton • Oxford • St. Michaels • Tilghman Island

Visitor’s Guide