Tidewater Times
June 2020
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Vol. 69, No. 1
Published Monthly
June 2020
Features: Publishers' Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 About the Cover Photographer: Walter Dorsett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Aunt Viv: Helen Chappell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Indiana Treasures: Bonna L. Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Living Shorelines - Living Watershed: Michael Valliant . . . . . . . . . 41 June Tide Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Tidewater Kitchen: Pamela Meredith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Tidewater Gardening: K. Marc Teffeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Spring and COVID-19: Bonna L. Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Delivering Hope to the Homebound: Tracey F. Johns . . . . . . . . 79 Health on a Half Shell: A.M. Foley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 The 1918 Influenza in Talbot County: James Dawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Chesapeake Music Presents Virtual Virtuosi!: Amelia Steward . . . 111 Changes ~ All American (Part IX): Roger Vaughan . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Leave it to Beavers: Tom Horton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Anne B. Farwell & John D. Farwell, Co-Publishers Proofing: Jodie Littleton & Kippy Requardt Deliveries: Nancy Smith, April Jewel & Brandon Coleman Social Media Liaison: Mary Farwell P. O. Box 1141, Easton, Maryland 21601 3947 Harrison Circle, Trappe MD 21673 410-714-9389 FAX : 410-476-6286 www.tidewatertimes.com info@tidewatertimes.com
Tidewater Times is published monthly by Bailey-Farwell, LLC. Advertising rates upon request. Subscription price is $30.00 per year. Individual copies are $4. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or whole without prior approval of the publisher. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors and/or omissions.
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Publishers' Note: Happy Birthday to Us! Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had a hard time finding things to celebrate. We are very aware that a large number of our advertisers and readers are struggling. During times like this, though, we have to take a step back and try to appreciate some of the things that we do have. Things have changed ~ but some things have stayed the same. This month, Tidewater Times celebrates our 68th birthday. We are so very proud and grateful to be a part of this wonderful community ~ and a part of your lives. It ha s b e en qu ite a n ex per ienc e t h i s l a s t mont h ~ p e ople have stopped us on the street and thanked us for continuing to publish during the stay-at-home. It has given them a little piece of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic time. As things start to loosen up, we hope you will remember our advertisers who have stood by us ~ the small retail businesses, salons, restaurants, gyms, non-profits and the like that have had to close their doors for these many weeks. These are the folks that form the foundation of any small community, and they need our support. We a lso want, once again, to thank all the folks on the front lines ~ doctors, nurses, paramedics,
firefighters, grocery clerks, mail carriers, gas station and mini-mart workers ~ all of you who have been considered essential employees who have daily gone about your jobs to keep our community running. We salute you! As for our birthday celebration, we think 68 looks good on the old gal. We've given her a face lift with a revamped website. We're still offering the magazine online, as we have done for many years, and a full list of the stories that our talented writers have provided. We've just given it a fresh new look. Please check it out at tidewatertimes.com. ~ Anne and John Farwell 5
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About the Cover Photographer Walter Dorsett Walter Dorsett is a self-taught 23-year-old wildlife and landscape photographer residing in Maryland, but he loves to travel all over the world. He's been published in multiple books and local magazines. Walter started getting into photography with a Fujifilm camera when he was about 8 years old, and
since then his love for photography has only intensified. He puts his heart and soul into his artwork. He says he is truly amazed to have so many people respond positively to his creations. You can visit his online gallery, or contact him with any questions, at www.walterdorsett.com.
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Aunt Viv
by Helen Chappell She wasn’t my aunt by blood, but we adopted each other early on. She was Aunt Viv from the start ~ none of that Miss Viv or Miss Brannock stuff. And when she slipped quietly away in her sleep at home at the age of 95, I felt so blessed to have had her in my life, and blessed to know that she died as she wished. She was in her own home in Church Creek, surrounded by all the wonderful things a life of travel, adventure and friendship had brought her. Vivian Brannock loved life. She embraced it and lived it. “I may be a “miss,” but I haven’t missed much,” she once told me after we’d had a couple or three margaritas on her famous porch. She loved almost everyone she met. And almost everyone she met loved her. You just couldn’t help loving her. Her heart was as big as Dorchester County, and then some. I had heard about Aunt Viv long before I met her. My friends Tab and Terri Brannock talked about Tab’s aunt all the time, so I was ready for a living legend, and I was not disappointed. Aunt Viv had done a lot of the raising of her nephew Tab. He is the oldest of four boys, and Aunt Viv enjoyed spending a lot of time
Vivian Amorette Brannock with him. They fished, they hunted, they played, and all her life, she treated him like her own. The feeling was mutual. Tab and Terri were married at Aunt Viv’s White Haven Methodist Church in Church Creek, and their wedding reception was at her house. From time to time, someone would play DVDs from old home movies, and I learned the family lore. I learned enough to raise my margarita glass every time Uncle 9
Aunt Viv Toots crossed the screen. I just loved the name Uncle Toots ~ still do. Uncle Toots was her brother Tyrus Brannock. Aunt Viv worked for the Register of Wills for Dorchester County until her retirement. She probably knew everyone in the courthouse! Or maybe in the county. You couldn’t go out to lunch with her at Old Salty’s or Snapper’s without someone, or a lot of someones, coming up to pass the time of day with her. She supported her parents until their deaths, and continued to live in the cozy white house on Brannock’s Neck until her own death. It was a warm, welcoming house, much like its mistress. Always open to guests, it was decorated with wonderful things she’d picked up in her travels. She had an eye, whether it was for some inexpensive tourist bric-a-brac or a great antique with a family story. Her favorite motif, openly displayed on porch
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Aunt Viv
of Aunt Viv’s dinners. Two traditional dates were the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. The Fourth would be crabs and fireworks (set off by the men) in the driveway. New Year’s Eve would be ham with all sorts of sides, including her heavenly pea salad. I have tried to make it like hers, but it always falls short. The big kitchen would be crowd-
chair cushions and wall hangings, was the margarita glass. No matter where she traveled, she found curious objects. And travel she did ~ all over the world, making friends everywhere she went. He house was always full of visiting company, and she kept up a lively snail-mail correspondence with almost everyone she’d ever met. Try as I might, I could never get her to learn how to use a computer. I really thought she’d love email and Facebook and Wiki. But, like a lot of older folks, she had no desire to learn. It was the only time I ever saw her decline to embrace the new. Nothing was more fun than one
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Aunt Viv
~ the kind I remembered from my childhood, before air conditioning was popular. That was back when people would just sit and chatter and catch a breeze. In the winter there were games. She loved to play cards, as did Tab and Terri, and she was good. There were also amusing games like Farkle. Later, as she got older and was fi nally bedridden, I’d come down every week to ten days or so to sit with her. I’d always bring her the latest Tidewater Times, because even though she couldn’t read as well anymore, she liked looking at the pictures. “When I get well,” she’d tell me, “I’m going to dance on the table.” “And I will be here to see it,” I promised. We’d talk about the old times and her adventures around the world. Eventually, she’d drift off to sleep and I’d quietly slip out. I’m missing her, of course, but I also know that somewhere, she’s dancing on the table, raising a margarita to the ones she’s left behind.
ed with people, and they’d spill out into the mudroom between the kitchen and the back door. People of all ages, from the elderly aunts to the young Tim and Jill Argie, who adored Aunt Viv as much as I did, all crowded into the house. There was always laughter and food and.... Somewhere in her travels, Aunt Viv had picked up a love for the margarita ~ an affection I shared with her and Terri. There were always margaritas for those who imbibed, and sweet tea for those who didn’t. You never knew who her guests would be, but you knew there would be interesting conversation and a pile of nachos and salsa before the main meal. In warm weather, we’d all gather on her screened porch with our margaritas, enjoying the faint breeze from Church Creek blowing across the road. She had wonderful old-fashioned wicker furniture
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 names, Rebecca Baldwin and Caroline Brooks, she has published a number of historical novels. 16
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We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon!
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Indiana Treasures from Buddhist Monks to Exotic Tigers by Bonna L. Nelson
We entered Indiana after driving over the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, via the Lincoln Bridge on a hazy fall day. Although the state name means “Indian Land,” the state is nicknamed “The Crossroads of America.” This is also the state’s
official motto. The phrase comes from Indiana’s central location below the Great Lakes and the many people, past and present, who travel through on their way across the United States. We drove through the small towns of Jeffersonville and
Entrance to the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. 19
Indiana Treasures Albany on our way to our two-night destination, Bloomington, Indiana. We passed rolling hills, broad valleys, bare trees, snow patches, small farms and red barns. Indiana lies at 40 degrees latitude, close to Maryland’s 39 degrees, and both states usually enjoy temperate weather and colorful autumn foliage. We visited amid wintry brown scenery and 35-degree weather, all due to an early fall Arctic Blast blanketing the central states and East Coast. After a two-hour drive, nondescript hotel check-in and quick lunch, we explored Bloomington before heading to our adventure for the day, the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (TMBCC) and the Kumbum Chamtse Ling Monastery. While Indiana has a population of 6.7 million, Bloomington, the state’s seventh-largest city, has a population of 85,000. A college town, it is the home of the f lagship institution Indiana University Bloomington and 48,500 students. The beautiful 2,000-acre campus is dotted with green spaces and stunning historic structures build with Indiana limestone. “We could be in Tibet,” we said as we drove through the highly decorated coral and blue entrance gate surrounded by fluttering prayer flags. We felt blessed to be visiting this rare cultural treasure in the middle of the United States. We entered the
Geshe Lobsang Kunga walks around the Kalachakra Stupa. 100-acre TMBCC site and passed a tranquil landscape of forest and field, a pagoda, two stupas (sacred Buddhist monuments), the Cultural Building and the Mani Korlo (Prayer Wheel Building) before arriving at the TMBCC Kumbum Chamtse Ling Interfaith Temple and Monastery. We were greeted warmly inside the Temple building by Mieklin, a Temple member, volunteer and knowledgeable tour guide. I had made a tour reservation online with a Buddhist monk named Tenpa whom we met later. Mieklin walked us down hallways lined with Buddhist art. She stopped at each object to explain the meaning of and symbols 20
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Indiana Treasures
not believe in a personal God creator. The Buddha is not considered a god, but rather a normal human who achieved Nirvana—the most enlightened, blissful and peaceful state one can achieve—t hrough meditation and structured behavior. Once Buddha became a being without suffering, he chose to each others how to reach Nirvana and end their suffering as well. Miek lin showed us impor tant Buddhism symbols in the paintings and later in the Temple prayer hall, including a variety of Buddha images and sculptures with special meanings. The wheel of life symbolizes the cycle of life, death and rebirth, with eight spokes to remind people that the Buddha taught about eight ways
in various religious paintings and drawings. Mieklin shared the basic principles, history and symbols of the Buddhist faith, a university World Religions class refresher for me. The faith was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“The Buddha”) over 2,500 years ago in ancient India. With more than 520 million followers, Buddhism is now the world’s fourth-largest religion. It is the main religion in many Asian countries but is practiced worldwide. Buddhism is different from many other faiths because it is not centered on the relationship between humanity and God. Buddhists do
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lin pointed out the altar adorned with Buddha sculptures, f lowers and a photo of His Royal Highness the Dalai Lama. The TMBCC was founded in 1979 by the Dalai Lama’s eldest brother, Indiana University Professor Emeritus Thubten J. Norbu (now deceased). Norbu established the TBMCC to preserve and acquaint people with the history and culture of Tibet and Mongolia and to support Tibetans and Mongolians everywhere. Further, the TMBCC’s mission is to promote interfaith harmony through intercultural and interfaith dialogue. The Dalai Lama has frequently visited and blessed the TMBCC Temple, monuments and statuary. Mieklin gave us a chance to pray and meditate while standing in the tranquil, serene Temple sanctuary (there were no chairs) as she greeted new arrivals. We were surprised to observe the welcoming interfaith nature of the sacred space. We noticed side altars and relics dedicated to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Nearby, we spotted a glass-enclosed permanent Buddhist sand mandala (meaning harmony) painting.
Prayer wheels. of life. The lotus flower symbolizes purity and divine birth. Buddhists worship at home or in a temple. In the temple, monks chant from religious texts and say prayers. Offerings of candles, flowers, plants, incense and pure water are placed at the shrine, be it at home or in a public temple. Meditation, training the mind to empty all thoughts so that what is important becomes clear, is a key component of worship for Buddhists and can be practiced by anyone, anywhere. Mieklin said that Buddhists meditate, learn and listen to live a better life. Anyone can practice and participate. When we entered the richly carpeted Interfaith Temple worship space, we were alone with Mieklin. As you can imagine, the sanctuary was welcoming and peaceful. Miek26
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and began our self-guided walking tour. We first walked to the nearby Kalachakra Stupa, a beautiful threetiered graystone and white structure with a golden steeple. The monument was built in conjunction with a World Peace Empowerment gathering given by the Dalai Lama, who blessed the Stupa and all other TMBCC buildings on his six visits. A colorful wheel of time mandala is brilliantly painted on the ceiling, and a Medicine Buddha sand mandala is located in the Stupa. The campus structures are surrounded by forests meditation walking trails. A path took us to our next stop, the Mani Korla Building, containing 18 copper carved and decorated Tibetan Prayer Wheels. Each wheel contains millions of mantras
As we departed on a self-guided tour of the TMBCC campus, we met Tenpa, the kindly, beatific monk that I had been corresponding with before arrival. After pleasant greetings, he explained that five monks currently live in the monastery above the Temple. They conduct weekly worship services, teachings, seminars, recitations, yoga, performances, retreats and special religious ceremonies throughout the year. They also clean and maintain the building and grounds with the help of volunteers. We interrupted Tenpa washing the hall floor. After Mieklin’s light-hearted but informative introduction to the site and Buddhism, we said farewell
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Indiana Treasures
r Fo ty ll bili a C ila a Av
for spreading spiritual blessings and wishes for wellness to all beings. The prayer wheels are upright and spin on rods. We spun them all in a clockwise direction following the sun, as instructed, sending our prayers for family, friends and all occupants of the planet out into the universe. Our last stop was the Cultural Building, with retreat rooms, a research library and the well-stocked Happy Yak Gift and Book Shop. A pleasant monk hosted the shop. I found some scarves, a small Buddha, jewelry and other trinkets to take home. Everything in the shop is related to Buddhism or Tibet and is made by Tibetan refugees from around the world. The profits are sent back to the artists. I mentioned
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Indiana Treasures
Joe the Tiger Rescuer (no, not Joe Exotic, the “Tiger King”). Upon arrival at our destination, the Exotic Feline Rescue Center (EFRC), we met the founder, owner and manager, Joe Taft. My Easton friend Ann Musser and her sister Amy McDonald are Indiana natives and friends of animals ~ one volunteers at an animal shelter, and the other is a pet caregiver. Both said the EFRC was not to be missed on our Indiana excursion. I had seen their photographs and a book about the EFRC and was interested enough to convince John, with allergies to cats, to make the stop. When I mentioned Ann’s name to Joe, he immediately offered to give us a personal tour. Founded by Joe in 1991, the EFRC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, USDAcer t if ied sanct uar y for abused, unwanted and abandoned exotic felines. The 260-acre facility is a national leader in the rescue, conservation and lifelong care of exotic felines. More than 200 cats call EFRC home, comprising about 12 species rescued from 24 states. The EFRC does not buy, sell or breed cats but provides education about large cats, including the reasons they aren’t appropriate as pets. EFRC’s cats come from the USDA, US Fish & Wildlife, FDA, DNR, police or other federal and state organizations that rescue abused cats from roadside zoos, circuses, drug cartels, tattoo parlors, strip
to the monk that I had recently read the Dalai Lama’s latest book written with Bishop Desmond Tutu, The Book of Joy, prominently displayed in the shop. He grinned from ear to ear and said, “Yes, good book!” We talked about returning to TMBCC for a peaceful, soul-enriching retreat in one of the campus’s five guest rooms or four cottages. A walk on the immaculately maintained forest trails surrounded by nature and attending services with the monks would also be in order. We would spend time at the Lotus Pond filled with koi, turtles and frogs on the next visit. Perhaps I could encourage John to take a yoga session then, or maybe not? The next morning, we drove one hour west of Bloomington to the little town of Center Point, Indiana. Near the town, we were due to meet
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to the public for educational tours, but no touching, petting or interacting with cats is permitted. The cats receive the best veterinary care from University of Indiana and volunteer doctors from across the nation. And twice a year, a team of veterinary dentists and technicians provides complete dental care to all of the cats, including cleaning and extractions. Imagine having to knock out 200 cats to clean their teeth! EFRC is home to large and small exotic cats, including bobcats, caracals, cheetahs, cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, lynx, ocelots, pumas, servals and tigers. The facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and they recommend that visitors wear comfortable clothes and shoes that can
joints, amusement parks and places like the infamous G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, a roadside breeding, petting and zoo operation featured in the Netflix series Tiger King. They also come from private owners whose cute baby grew too big to handle. The requests to care for unwanted cats exceeds the facility’s ability to accept them. According to a National Geographic Magazine headline, “Captive Big Cats in the U.S. Outnumber Tigers in the Wild, Putting Animals and Humans at Risk.” At EFRC, the rescued cats are given a home for life in comfortable environments. The rural center is open
Joe Taft with a lion he raised from a cub. 34
get dirty. Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk on gravel paths. We followed the recommended dress code and began the tour with Joe is not the type of person to call EFRC visitors “cool cats and kittens,” as did Carole Baskin, owner Big Cat Rescue in Florida and another star of Netf lix’s popular documentary Tiger King.
if they were small pet cats or dogs. The cats actually exhibited the same behavior as house pets. Joe said to notice that he never puts his fingers through the fence ~ he curls his hand into a fist or turns a flat palm or flat back of hand against the fence for the mutual petting. The big cats don’t realize their strength, and their version of play with a swipe of a paw or a chew of a finger could be costly to a human. The interaction between Joe and his charges was tender, affectionate, loving and very intimate, and this occurred at each feline enclosure. Joe walked up to the second fence of the enclosure, where visitors are not allowed. For safety purposes, each enclosure has a double fence exterior and also interior fences to allow for partitioning the cats from caretakers for feeding and cleaning purposes. Typical habitats are mostly enclosed natural environ-
Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin Joe first led us to an enclosure with EFRC’s newest rescue, Drago. At nine months old, the frisky tiger is their youngest guest. Drago was very entertaining. He tried to play hide-and-seek with us by hiding in or behind a large wooden box and then enjoyed pushing his basketball around the enclosure. He seemed gigantic to me, but Joe said he was just a babe and will grow much bigger. At each enclosure, we were surprised to see the cats come up to the fence and have a tender, loving chat with Joe, the “cat whisperer.” The huge 600-pound or so lions and tigers stood full height and faced Joe, nuzzled him through the fence, kissed, purred, played and patted as
Vinniebob the bobcat 35
Indiana Treasures
another lion responded. Joe said that the cats talk to each other day and night. Also interesting to us is that the cats sleep 18 to 20 hours, on and off, in a 24-hour day. Joe said that staff, volunteers and college interns clean and feed the cats daily. There is an onsite veterinary clinic for checkups and medical procedures. Nearby Indiana University conducts research, DNA testing and education sessions at EFRC, provides interns and assists with caring for the animals in other ways. We walked along the gravel path with Joe to visit more exotic felines residing in the natural wooded setting. We visited with about 55 cats on 20 acres: beautiful, engaging tigers, a white tiger, a few majestic lions, cheetahs, leopards, cougars and smaller exotic cats such as servals. All of the animals seemed peaceful, happy, healthy and affectionate with Joe.
ments with vegetation, trees, shade a nd a water source. Ma n-made structures include wooden climbing towers, perches, box-like structures for home and hiding, and toys such as balls. No concrete is used, enclosures are on earth, and some cats live in enclosures as large as one acre. So that the cats are kept safe and comfortable, they are housed as they came to Joe. If the cats had been housed together when they arrived, they are housed that way at EFRC. If they came alone, they stay alone, though they can see and socialize with other cats. Even if housed alone, the cats can communicate freely and see neighbors in nearby enclosures. And communicate they do. John described the first lion roar we heard as sending a primal, cold chill down his spine. We had to look around and see where the noise came from. Then
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Indiana Treasures
roar and, with keepers, visit EFRC areas not open to the public. A cottage stay includes a two-day pass. Maybe next time? Ann and Amy loved it! The non-profit raises funds to care for the rescued cats through entrance fees, yearly running programs, auctions, store purchases, holiday events, guest home rentals and fundraisers. They sometimes receive small grants. They always need additional donations to continue their rescue and care work. Donations can be made at www.efrc.org. With roaring and cat calls in the background, we said goodbye and thanked Joe and his staff. We were glad that Ann had suggested we visit EFRC and thankful to meet Joe, the staff and the exotic felines. Such a contrast to the horrible curbside zoos, such as Joe Exotic’s, made famous on Netflix. No breeding, no petting, no using animals for profit, no cubs, no mistreatment, no abuse and no killing, just peaceful, happy, engaged exotic cats living in a natural environment. Joe Taft and his staff and volunteers are genuine heroes for their loving lifelong care of those magnificent animals. As we drove away, a trailer pulled up to the gate ~ tonight’s dinner had arrived!
Curious, we asked Joe what EFRC feeds the 200 felines. Every day EFRC processes and distributes 4,000 pounds of meat, including horse, cow, deer and chicken, to its cats. The center has established a working relationship with nearby farms. Employees and volunteers pick up deceased livestock every week. Occasionally, farmers deliver the cats’ food themselves, which saves the organization vehicle and fuel costs. Thousands of chickens are also consumed by the felines. A fresh carcass delivery was expected that day. Overnight lodging is available on the EFRC campus. Ann highly recommended we stay, as she and her sister Amy had done, but this being our first visit we passed on that opportunity. The small guest house with all amenities accommodates two adults, no children allowed. From the cottage, you can watch exotic cats, hear lions
Bonna L. Nelson is a Bay-area writer, columnist, photographer and world traveler. She resides in Easton with her husband, John. 38
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Environmental Concern Crea�ng Living Shorelines & Growing Na�ve Plants to Improve Water Quality & Increase Habitat in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Contact restora�on@wetland.org to schedule a site visit
201 Boundary Lane, St. Michaels 410.745.9620 www.wetland.org 40
Living Shorelines Living Watershed by Michael Valliant
lines at the edge of both private and public waterfront. NOAA says that a living shoreline is a protected, stabilized coastal edge made of natural materials, such as plants, sand or rock. They comprise natural elements in combination with harder structures to stabilize coasts, bays and tributaries. The state of Maryland understands the importance of living shorelines for the health and sustainability of its waterways: in
Maryland packs a lot of shoreline. A 2003 Maryland Geological Survey, which includes minor Bay tributaries, upstream sections of larger tributaries, and streams draining the interior into some marshes, cites the state’s tidal shoreline at 7,719 miles. That number has changed over time, and so have the locations of those shorelines. One of the biggest emerging means to protect shorelines and improve water quality is the practice of creating living shore-
Environmental Concern staff staging plants for the next planting at Walton Beach Nature Preserve on the Chesapeake Bay. 41
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TIDE TABLE
OXFORD, MD 1. Mon. 2. Tues. 3. Wed. 4. Thurs. 5. Fri. 6. Sat. 7. Sun. 8. Mon. 9. Tues. 10. Wed. 11. Thurs. 12. Fri. 13. Sat. 14. Sun. 15. Mon. 16. Tues. 17. Wed. 18. Thurs. 19. Fri. 20. Sat. 21. Sun. 22. Mon. 23. Tues. 24. Wed. 25. Thurs. 26. Fri. 27. Sat. 28. Sun. 29. Mon. 30. Tues.
AM
HIGH PM
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12:16 12:23 7:16 1:14 1:21 8:27 2:10 2:16 9:32 3:03 3:11 10:33 3:53 4:05 11:29 4:44 4:58 12:22pm 5:32 5:51 1:12pm 6:21 6:44 7:09 7:37 12:34 7:58 8:31 1:32 8:48 9:26 2:34 9:37 10:23 3:41 10:26 11:21 4:52 11:15 6:04 12:16 12:02 7:12 1:08 12:50 8:15 1:55 1:38 9:12 2:36 2:27 10:03 3:14 3:15 10:50 3:50 4:03 11:32 4:27 4:51 12:13pm 5:06 5:37 12:53pm 5:48 6:25 6:33 7:14 12:01 7:22 8:06 1:04 8:12 9:01 2:08 9:05 10:00 3:20 10:00 11:01 4:39 10:56 6:00 12:02 11:54am 7:17
7:04 7:48 8:32 9:16 10:02 10:50 11:41 1:59 2:45 3:28 4:09 4:48 5:25 6:00 6:35 7:10 7:46 8:23 9:02 9:43 10:27 11:15 1:32 2:11 2:52 3:33 4:15 4:58 5:42 6:27
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Living Shorelines
entists at EC have refined the bioengineering protocol developed by the organization’s founder, Dr. Ed Garbish, so as to provide an effective long-term solution to control shoreline erosion naturally. Founders of the first native wetland plant nursery in the nation, EC now propagates and grows over 120 species of native plants, many of which are used in their living shoreline projects. “Living shorelines are buffers between land and water that protect and stabilize the shoreline and the transitional habitat, said Suzanne Pittenger-Slear, president of EC. “All living shoreline projects are designed to mimic natural wetlands and provide the same functions as natural wetlands.”
2008, the Maryland legislature passed the Living Shoreline Protection Act, which requires shoreline property owners to use natural solutions to prevent erosion. Two marine landscape companies that have been designing and building living shorelines for decades are Environmental Concern, based out of St. Michaels, and Unity Landscaping, based out of Church Hill. Environmental Concern, a nonprofit organization founded in 1972, is dedicated to working with all aspects of wetlands. EC’s restoration division has restored over 50 miles of shoreline in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The engineers and sci-
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Living Shorelines
fects of storms, especially tropical storms and hurricanes; build up shoreline areas by trapping sediments and stabilizing coastal land; create resilient shorelines that can accommodate sea level rise; create diverse habitats that benefit native birds, fish and other wildlife; and provide recreational opportunities such as fishing, kayaking and wildlife viewing. “Over the years, Environmental Concern has created/restored hundreds of living shorelines,” Gene said. “Among our more memorable projects is the living shoreline protecting the Walton Beach Nature Preserve in Calvert County. We were engaged by the town of North Beach to design, permit, construct and plant a living shoreline and transitional habitat. The new marsh now protects roughly 670 linear feet on the Chesapeake Bay, including valuable black duck habitat.” Per the scope of the project, EC does more than just design and build ~ they surveyed and designed the project, prepared and obtained all the necessary permits, and pre-
Gene Slear is senior vice president at EC and works with the restoration division. The Slears have advocated for, championed, designed, permitted, created, planted, monitored and maintained living shorelines over decades and are quick to point out the functions and benefits: to improve water quality in our bays and estuaries by filtering pollutants and nutrients; reduce wave energy and associated shoreline erosion; buffer the ef-
Suzanne Pittenger-Slear testing salinity level in the Bay with Calvert County Students prior to shoreline restoration.
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Living Shorelines
Inc. was founded in 1992 by Michael Jensen after he studied landscape architecture at Temple University. Jensen and Unity have helped property owners design and build shoreline solutions that balance natural beauty, improve water quality and meet regulations and policies regulated by the state and local jurisdictions. They’ve worked on dozens of living shoreline projects throughout the state. Lucas Lees joined Unity in 2015 as a coastal and environmental designer. While finishing his degree in marine science at the University of South Carolina, Lees completed an internship at the NOAA Cooperative Lab in Oxford, helping work on LEED upgrades for the facility. He knew he wanted to design and build living shorelines and was
pared and submitted grant applications for funding on behalf of the town. They were able to secure a grant for $540,000 through the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, which included funding for outreach and education. So, EC designed and implemented a “handson” county-wide program for high school students from Calvert County Public Schools. “EC is committed to improving water quality and creating, restoring and conserving wetlands, living shorelines and other natural habitats through education and outreach, propagation of native plant species and professional design and installation,” Suzanne said. Unity Landscape Design/Build,
EC staff planting North Beach living shoreline. 48
Tred Avon project: Before
Tred Avon project: After
put in touch with Jensen. In the past five years, Lees has designed and built more than a dozen living shorelines, with a recent project completed along Hambrooks Boulevard in Cambridge. When working with property owners, Lees said it is first and foremost about solving problems
and meeting their needs and desires while also working within state regulations and requirements. “When I talk with homeowners, we usually approach the project with two things in mind ~ what needs to happen so that we can solve the problem they are faced with; and what will be permissible
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Living Shorelines
Lucas Lees by local jurisdictions, usually educating the landowner that a living shoreline meets their needs and expectations if they are experiencing tidal erosion,” Lees said. “The state of Maryland has already mandated that living shorelines are the preferred approach, but it also makes sense in terms of environmental and economic advantages. A living shoreline is a permanent solution, with largely a one-time cost. It will last, it’s resilient to sea level rise and climate change, and it can even allow you to reclaim some of the property you have lost, along with being the best thing for the Bay… all that is why I got into this business.” For some of the larger projects Lees has worked on, it can take almost a year between the first meeting and the completion of a living shoreline. From an initial visit to look at an erosion problem, they will do a survey, from which they can develop a plan that meets the property owners’ needs and de-
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Living Shorelines
throughout the entire process, from design through completion. It is when he can work with a property holistically that he finds the process at its best. “Any time we can look at a whole property, incorporating beyond the limits of the shoreline and asking questions like how the space is most utilized and how we can live with the earth, not try and fight it, that’s when it can go to the next level,” Lees said. “We use a creative design approach but also ensure successful and functional projects that improve the quality of the Bay ~ it says ‘Unity Landscape’ on
sires, which then goes through the permitting process ~ from the Maryland Department of the Environment, through other involved agencies for a particular area, whether the Army Corps of Engineers or the Critical Area Commission, and then through the county processes. The whole design and permitting process can take six months, followed by several weeks of construction. When Lees works with a property owner, he is the point of contact that his customers interact with
Living shorelines make sense in terms of environmental and economic advantages. 52
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Living Shorelines my shirt, but it could probably say ‘Unity Restoration.’” Over the years, the public awareness of living shorelines has grown substantially. The long-term efforts and expertise of Environmental Concern have built both wetlands and awareness for the need for such solutions. Working together with companies like Unity, and with landowners, organizations and towns, is making a difference for an entire watershed, one shoreline at a time.
He has worked for non-profit organizations throughout Talbot County, including the Oxford Community Center, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Academy Art Museum.
Michael Valliant is the Assistant for Adult Education and Newcomers Ministry at Christ Church Easton.
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Immunity-Boosting Foods As we all face the threat of coronavirus, what can we do in our diets to boost our immunity? According to Eating Well magazine, you should avoid alcohol (even though consumption has increased 230 percent)! Dr. Romy Black and Dr. Arielle Levitan say having just one drink could extend an illness
by days. The alcohol disrupts the gastrointestinal tract, which keeps our immune system going. Alcohol can also interact with medications. If you are taking prescriptions, pay attention to pharmacists’ advice and labels on medications. But what can you eat that will help your immune system? A bal-
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Tidewater Kitchen
2. Dark chocolate has another kind of antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals. Get the highest percentage of cocoa solids you can find.
anced diet is the easy answer. Veggie-packed soups are one way to keep your gut in balance and strengthen your immune system. Harvard University emphasizes that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables is important, but so is adequate sleep. Don’t stay up all night watching the COVID-19 horror stories! Medical News Today has created a list of foods that may help, and I have mentioned them often in the last few years. 1. Blueberries, full of antioxidants. Toss them on cereal, in plain Greek yogurt, into a salad or use them as a base for your smoothie.
3. Turmeric may boost your immune response and has antioxidant and inf lammatory effects. You can buy the orange-yellow root in grocery stores and grate it in soups and smoothies. It also comes in powdered form. 4. Oily fish like wild-caught salmon, tuna and mackerel have good omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inf lammation. They also have vitamin D, which is very important these days. Consider taking a vitamin D3 supplement. 5. Broccoli is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. It’s better
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10. Green tea has less caffeine and more f lavonoids, which help with colds. 11. Oranges are a wonderful source of vitamin C. It is best to eat the oranges and avoid the sugary juice. Kiwi fruit has the same amount of vitamin C. as oranges 12. Red bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and are great roasted or used in stir-fry.
for you without cheese sauce, but eating it regularly is good. 6. Sweet potatoes are a source of beta carotene, vitamin A and fiber ~ all good for the gut. 7. Spinach has f lavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamins C and E. Flavonoids may help with the common cold. 8. Ginger has both anti-inf lammatory and antioxidant properties. Plus, it can settle an upset stomach. Buy it fresh at the farmer’s market and freeze it for smoothies and foods containing powdered ginger. When frozen, it grates beautifully! 9. Garlic is another f lavorful food that is good for you. It’s also a common home remedy for colds and other illnesses.
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but adding poached eggs lends a new twist.
13. Sunf lower seeds and almonds get high marks as sources for vitamin E, magnesium and fiber. A small handful makes a great snack. For iron, look to lean poultry, seafood, beans, broccoli and kale. Selenium can slow the body’s overactive responses. That’s where garlic, broccoli, tuna, Brazil nuts and barley come in. If you want an excuse to eat more oysters, remember that they contain zinc, which is important in slowing immune response and controlling inf lammation. You can also find zinc in crab, lean meats and poultry, beans, plain Greek yogurt and chickpeas. If you can’t find fresh foods, frozen is fine, but avoid canned vegetables, which often contain too much sodium or have been processed to the point where nutrients have been lost.
1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 medium zucchini, diced in small bite-sized pieces 2 cups eggplant, peeled and finely diced 1/4 t. paprika 2 cups plum tomatoes, finely diced 1 T. aged balsamic vinegar Kosher salt and black pepper to taste 8 t. pesto (I like to use homemade) 4 large eggs Chopped parsley and pitted olives for garnish Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, then add the zucchini and eggplant. Cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
RATATOUILLE POACHED EGGS Makes 4 servings This is an old family favorite,
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Tidewater Kitchen Add salt, pepper and vinegar to taste, simmer for 7 minutes. With the back of a spoon, make four craters in the ratatouille. Drop 2 teaspoons of pesto into each, then crack one egg into each crater. Cover the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, or until eggs are done to your liking. Garnish with the parsley and olives. Fun Fact: How do you know if the eggs are fresh? Put the egg gently into a bowl of cold water. If it sinks to the bottom, then it is good to use ~ if it f loats, it is too old. BALSAMIC-GLAZED ROASTED VEGETABLES This is great to serve over pasta or rice, as a side dish or to add to your eggs. I also like it as a sandwich filler.
2 small zucchini, sliced to a thickness you like (I like 1/4-inch thick) 1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips 1 large onion, quartered and thickly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup olive oil 1 T. balsamic vinegar Kosher salt and pepper to taste 3 T. fresh chopped basil
6 ripe plum tomatoes, cored and quartered lengthwise 1 large ripe tomato, chopped 1 large eggplant, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
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Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly oil a large, shallow roasting pan. As you cut up each of the veggies, transfer it to the pan. When all the veggies and garlic are in the pan, drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat everything with oil, and mix in the basil. Roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes, stirring two or three times during the last half of the cooking. When done, veggies will be tender-crisp, with very little juice in the pan. Serve hot.
I serve this with crisp pita chips or my favorite veggies. Adding smoked paprika gives it a fun kick. 3 medium ripe eggplants 1/4 cup tahini or sesame paste 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley 2 t. freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
GARLICKY EGGPLANT DIP Makes 6 servings This is so easy to make, and it tastes a lot like baba ghanoush.
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Tidewater Kitchen 1/2 t. kosher salt 1/4 t. smoked paprika Freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 425°. Drizzle a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Peel eggplants, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Add salt and pepper, and stir around so the eggplant gets coated with olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes, then cool. Drain off any excess liquid, then place in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend. Transfer into a bowl and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving. Note: If your dip is a bit bitter, you can stir in 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise. I’d suggest 1 tablespoon at a time, and taste. This will balance out the f lavor.
1/4 t. salt 2 cups chow mein noodles Dressing: 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 T. sugar 1 T. fresh ginger, minced 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1/4 cup water 3 T. apple cider vinegar 1-1/2 T. soy sauce Salt and pepper to taste
CRUNCHY ASIAN GINGER SALAD with CHICKEN Here’s a yummy colorful salad that you modify with whatever you have in the fridge. 2 cups cooked chicken pieces cut into bite-sized chunks 2 cups frozen shelled edamame 2 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced 2 cups grated carrot 5 scallions, sliced (white part only) 1 large bunch parsley, sliced 1/2 cup almonds, thinly sliced 1 T. sugar 2 T. apple cider vinegar
Divide dressing in half. Pour about 1/3 cup of dressing into a bowl. Add the chicken, stir to coat, then refrigerate. Prepare the edamame according to the package directions. Drain, then place a paper towel on a plate to absorb the excess liquid from the edamame. 64
In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, carrot, scallions, almonds, parsley and edamame. Add the sugar, vinegar and salt, mixing well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Just before serving, add the chicken and noodles, tossing well to combine. Mix in only as many noodles as will be eaten at each service. Noodles that sit in the dressing will get soggy. I like to have the extra dressing on the side in case anyone wants to add more. BLUEBERRY BEAN SALAD with FRESH VEGGIES This is great as a side dish with chicken, beef or pork. It is also delicious served over pasta. 1 can (15.5 oz.) red kidney beans 1 medium onion 1 medium tomato 1 large green bell pepper 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled 4 T. olive oil 8 T. apple cider vinegar 1 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper 1/4 t. curry powder Drain and rinse the kidney beans and place in a bowl. Cut the veggies into bite-sized pieces and add to the kidney beans. Stir in the berries, feta, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and curry
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Tidewater Kitchen
black pepper to taste 2-1/2 cups good tomato juice 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 cup avocado chunks, for garnish 1/2 cup sour cream, for garnish
powder. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the f lavors can meld. REALLY GOOD GAZPACHO What makes this so good is the ripe tomatoes that are now in season. Make sure you don’t over-process the ingredients.
Halve the tomatoes and scoop out the seeds. Discard seeds. Coarsely dice the tomatoes to make 3 cups. Transfer to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl. Finely chop the cucumber and zucchini in the processor, then add to the tomatoes. Process the bell pepper, onion and garlic, and add to the tomatoes. Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to the tomato mixture, stir and taste to adjust salt. Add the tomato juice, depending on how thick you want your soup. Cover for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Serve the sour cream, finely chopped parsley and chunks of avocado as garnishes.
5 large ripe tomatoes 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped 1 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped 1 large green bell pepper, coarsely chopped 1 cup red onion, coarsely chopped 3 garlic cloves, smashed 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar 1/2 t. kosher salt and fresh ground
CHOCOLATE BARK 1 cup whole salted, roasted almonds 14 oz. good semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup dried apricots, diced into bite-sized pieces 1/4 cup golden raisins Preheat the oven to 350°. Place 66
melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly into a rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the whole almonds, cranberries, apricots and raisins. Set aside for 1 to 2 hours until firm. Cut the bark into 18 to 20 pieces and serve at room temperature. a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Spread the almonds on the sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes to roast. Set aside to cool. Place the semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave for 20 seconds. Stir with a rubber spatula. Continue to heat and stir until the chocolate is just melted. Pour the
A longtime resident of Oxford, Pamela Meredith, formerly Denver’s NBC Channel 9 Children’s Chef, now teaches both adult and children’s cooking classes on the south shore of Massachusetts. For more of Pam’s recipes, visit the Story Archive tab at tidewatertimes.com.
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TIDEWATER GARDENING
by K. Marc Teffeau, Ph.D.
June ~ Transitioning to Warm-Season Vegetables Gardening activities in the home landscape and vegetable and fruit gardens are now in full swing. Hopefully, the COVID-19 virus has subsided and life has returned to some semblance of normalcy. Early peas, both regular and the edible pod types you planted in the garden, should be ready for harvest. Greens like kale, leaf lettuce, Swiss chard and spinach will be starting to bolt ~ go to flower ~ once the temperature gets consistently high. Don’t forget that these leafy crops can also be reseeded in late summer for an excellent fall crop. Spring-planted broccoli will have f lowered out and set heads. Cut the broccoli heads before they get too large to ensure a tender (not woody) texture. Since the broccoli plants are going into the hot part of summer, you will need to pull them out and plant the area with a warmseason vegetable. Replant with zucchini or yellow-necked squash or do a seeding of green beans. Speaking of warm-season crops,
if you haven’t planted already, now is the time to transition to warmseason vegetables like green beans, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, sweet corn and squash. While peppers, tomatoes and eggplants also do better as transplants than as seeded crops, you can directly seed green beans, cucumbers, squash and sweet corn. Be prepared to make a couple of plantings of green beans every two or three weeks through the end of 69
Tidewater Gardening July so you will always have pods to harvest. Even though I spray with an organic repellent, I always have problems with squash vine borer in my zucchini. To compensate for this damage, I make additional plantings about three weeks apart. If you have an asparagus bed, stop cutting in mid- or late June when the spears become thin. After the last cutting is made, fertilize the bed by topdressing it with 10-1010 at the rate at 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. Allow the tops to grow during the summer to store food in the crowns (roots) for the crop next spring.
A vegetable garden fertilizing hint: for very efficient, steady feeding of vegetables, sink a large can or bucket with many holes in its sides into the soil and fill it about two-thirds of the way with rotted manure or compost. Rain or occasional watering will keep a plentiful supply or nutrient seeping out to feed plants in a circle several feet wide. If you like to grow sweet corn, you might be interested to know that the National Garden Bureau (NGB) has designated 2020 the Year of the Corn. According to the NGB, there are five different types of sweet corn. Sugary types (SU) are the original sweet corn types used by your grandparents. They have superior seed quality, but the 70
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Tidewater Gardening
SE kernels and 25% SH2 kernels. Synergistic types tolerate cool soil conditions and do not need to be isolated from other types of sweet corn in the field. The NGB provides a list of practices that home gardeners should follow or the best success with sweet corn. Plant the seeds (kernels) 1- 1 1/2 inches deep and 9-12 inches apart. Each stalk should produce at least one ear of corn. It is important to remember that corn is wind pollinated. To get the best pollination success rate, plant in sweet corn in blocks of rows of a single hybrid (as opposed to fewer, longer rows). Planting in blocks will result in well-filled ears.
kernels tend to convert sugars to starch quite rapidly, meaning they need to be eaten shortly after harvest. Sugary Enhanced types (SE) are much sweeter and have tender, creamy kernels and longer shelf life after harvest. You’re most likely to find SE types at local farm stands or farmer’s markets. Supersweet or Shrunken (SH2) types have increased sugar levels and maintain their sweetness for a long time for extended shelf life. SH2 types are common in the produce aisles of your local grocery. Some SH2 types require warmer soil to germinate. Augmented types have the SH2 genes for super sweetness, and the kernels are extra juicy and tender like SE types. Augmented varieties need to be isolated from SU types. These seeds need warmer temperatures to germinate. Synergistic types produce ears that have 75%
Note which type of corn you will be growing because some corn seeds need to be isolated from other types of corn categories for good ear development. For a list of the University of Maryland-recommended sweet corn varieties, download the publication Recommended Vegetable Cultivars for Maryland Home 72
Gardens, HG 70, 2010 from the Maryland Home and Garden Information website https://extension. umd.edu/hgic. Sweet corn needs sun, so choose a location that has at least six hours of sunlight a day. It also requires a lot of water, so be sure your corn plants receive about an inch of water per week, especially during the drier times of the season. Corn is a heavy feeder, especially on nitrogen. Leaf color can indicate fertility problems. Pale green leaves are a sign of nitrogen deficiency, while purple-tinged leaves indicate insufficient phosphorus. It is recommended to add fertilizer, such as a balanced 10-10-10 or liquid feed, throughout the growing season if
your soil is deficient. Corn plants have shallow roots, so lightly hoe or hand weed the area to avoid damaging the roots with deep weeding. When it comes to harvesting sweet corn, watch for the ear to
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for this pest is to handpick and destroy the bags before June 1. Treat the bags you can’t reach and remove with an insecticide. Early in the hatch, spraying the plant with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is the best control. Sold under the trade names of Dipel, Bt or Biotrol, this naturally occurring bacterium is sufficient for the control of caterpillars in the early stages of growth. June is the time to divide springand early summer-flowering perennials after the blooms fade. Instead of severing the clump, try jiggling the roots apart with two sharp spading forks. Dividing perennials this way takes more time but damages fewer roots than cutting the clump apart. It’s also time to divide and replant German iris. Cut back the leaves and divide the clumps into single plants with one or two sections of a healthy rhizome. Discard any diseased plants. If rhizome rot disease has caused problems for your irises, it may be wise to try a new location for them. Prune out the spent flowers of the spring-flowering perennials to maintain a vigorous plant and good flower production for next spring. Disbud chrysanthemum flowers to secure large, beautiful blooms on straight, sturdy stems. To disbud, remove the small side buds that form in the angles of the leaves along the stems. Disbudding allows all food reserves to be used for
start showing corn silk. The ear will be ready to pick about 20 days later. To harvest, grab the ear and twist with a downward motion. Some stalks may grow a second ear of corn and will be ready for picking at a later date. In the home landscape, the insects have shown up and are feeding. If you have cedars and Leyland cypress in your landscape, look out for bagworms. This insect scourge of cedar trees and other narrow-leafed evergreens hatches out around the first two weeks of June. If a little “Christmas ornament” hanging on your cedar tree contained a female bagworm, it now contains between 200 and 1,000 eggs ready to hatch when the temperatures are right. Bagworms are best controlled as soon as they hatch, as the older and bigger they get, the harder they are to control with insecticides. The best “organic” control method
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tle care to ensure a good flower display next spring. Leave the foliage on the bulbs until it starts to brown. Top-dress the bulbs with bonemeal or some 5-10-5 fertilizer to help the bulbs store up food reserves for next year. If your planting seems to have been declining in flower production, you may need to thin and replant them this fall. Make a note on the home calendar to do this. Happy Gardening!
one large flower rather than many smaller ones. Be sure to correctly water any newly transplanted trees and shrubs. Watering is especially important for those container-grown plants that you have established in the landscape. Because they have been grown in a peat/bark media in the container, the root balls dry out quicker than the surrounding heavier soil where you planted them. Make sure that the root mass doesn’t dry out, but at the same time, be sure not to overwater, especially in heavy clay soils. Don’t forget about the springflowering bulbs in the landscape. Now that they are faded memories, it’s time to provide them with a lit-
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.
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Spring and COVID-19 by Bonna L. Nelson April 2020
Spring and COVID are in the air, One brings joy The other despair. Rabbits are on the mating chase, While with a mask we cover our face. Flowers erupt into full bloom, While with family we FaceTime and Zoom. Trees and grass are becoming greener, While our dry, raw hands we wash cleaner. Coo, coo, coo sound the doves, While we yank and struggle to pull on our gloves. Squirrels soon learn that seed feeders are filled full, While children are learning via homeschool and virtual. On a tree branch a red cardinal rests, While desperate calls go out for more tests. Ospreys in high places gather long sticks, While we isolate and pray for a COVID fix. Hummingbirds flutter and drink nectar down, While frontline heroes save people and towns. 76
A bird assembles twigs into a cozy nest, While the world suffers and lays loved ones to rest. So as the birds sing, So should we. Sing of love, Sing of hope, Sing of gratitude, Sing of compassion, Sing of goodwill, Sing of caring, Sing of healing, Sing of blessings, Sing of dreams, Sing of spirit, Sing of grace, Sing of family, Sing of friends, Sing of freedom. This is a time for reflection, A time for connection, A time for protection, A time for isolating, A time for creating, A time for meditating. Spring and COVID are in the air, Spring brings hope For an end to despair.
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Delivering Hope to the Homebound by Tracey F. Johns
Cheryl Knopf says her life changed when she took on the role of Brookletts Place Meals on Wheels Coordinator three years ago, mainly because the role has expanded her love of people through the acts of kindness and care she witnesses between volunteers and recipients. “They care so much about the people they deliver to and help keep them connected to the world,” said Knopf. “Sometimes, we’re the only contact with another human being that someone has. So we’re not only providing food, we’re also providing a lifeline and check-up system to help with the safety and well-being of our participants.” Knopf coordinates more than 30 volunteers in the preparation, packaging and delivering of meals for more than 100 recipients. The deliveries are then divided into eight routes. The Rotary Club of Easton coordinates meal delivery three days per week through club members, with other organizations stepping in to help on a month-to-month basis, including Willow Construction, The Easton Group at Morgan Stanley and the YMCA, among others. “Fulfilling the need for food may be why we sign on, but ultimately it’s about connecting with another
Cheryl Knopf human being in a meaningful way,” says Derek White, who works with all the YMCAs in Talbot County as group executive and coordinates Meals on Wheels deliveries with Rotary Club of Easton members. “The work grows into friends who care for one another,” continued White. “You know their names and you understand their stories. Our responsibility as humans is to work to make the world as fair a place as possible for all individuals. Ev79
Delivering Hope erybody deserves a meal. Meals on Wheels helps make sure living circumstances don’t predicate whether someone can eat.” Meals on Wheels is a national non-profit volunteer community service providing nutritional homedelivered meals to seniors who are homebound and to those with disabilities who are unable to prepare or obtain adequate meals. The essential organization is helping to keep seniors safe amid COVID-19, with gloves, masks, sanitizer and set guidelines provided to volunteers and staff for no-contact, continuous delivery of food for recipients. Volunteers use their time and
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Delivering Hope
vehicles to pack and deliver meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each delivery includes two meals, two servings each of milk and juice, a cup of fresh fruit and bread. Knopf says the job only becomes challenging around the planning and packing of four meals for long holiday weekends. Knopf conducts in-person visits twice a year to assess each recipient’s mobility, mental and physical wellness, and feeding abilities. “The isolation many of us feel during this COVID pandemic is often what our recipients feel each day,” said Knopf. “Meals on Wheels makes sure those that are home-
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donors, with more at brooklettsplace.org. More about Brookletts Place’s Meals on Wheels program is at bit. ly/talbotmealsonwheels.
bound do not go hungry and, most importantly, that they feel cared for.� Brookletts Place Talbot County Senior Center brings individuals 60 years of age and older together for community engagement through year-round programs, resources and services, including Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is federally and state supported to meet the nutritional and social needs of seniors, with other funding coming from grants, private donations and atcost meal fees. The programs and services of Brookletts Place are made possible through the annual support of more than 60 partner organizations and 200 individual
Tracey Johns is a storyteller, engaging local, regional, and national audiences through her words and photography. She 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.
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Health on a Half Shell by A.M. Foley
Hibernating from the coronavirus has introduced many of us to unfamiliar feelings of anxiety. Luckily for residents around Chesapeake Bay, relief lies readily at hand. Scientists have discovered nutrients in oysters that are helpful in easing mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. Oysters’ water-filtering benefits to the marine environment have been well publicized. Their ability to remove excess nutrients from the Bay is legendary. Less attention is paid to the oysters’ effect on
the physical and mental well-being of humans, though they are prominent on menus around Valentine’s Day. (Giacomo Casanova and a partner reputedly started the day with fifty raw oysters.) In recent days, as cabin fever and claustrophobia have crept across Bay country, we might remember the old nutritionists’ adage, “You are what you eat.” While we chafe at being advised to stay home, oysters anchor themselves to the nearest rock and remain contentedly in the same place for
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Health on a Half Shell
Nowadays, we can forget the time-honored advice to only eat oysters in a month with “R” in its name. Modern refrigeration and aquaculture practices make this briny powerhouse safe and readily available all year ‘round. Maryland’s “wild” oyster season for tonging or dredging ends March 31, but leaseholders may harvest their cultivated oysters at will from rented plots of Bay bottom. Wylie Abbott, Jr. and his son Jason hold such leases on prime Fishing Bay bottom around their homeplace on Elliott Island in Dorchester County. They market their harvest under the label Fat Duck Oysters, selling to the public and wholesaling to dealers. The
a lifetime, placidly eating whatever comes their way. Hence, their filtering prowess and the generous variety of nutrients they offer for our dining pleasure. Oysters are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12 and zinc, all of which benefit heart and brain function. Significant deficiencies in these nutrients have been associated with memory loss, depression and suicidal thoughts. On the other hand, dining on oysters not only lifts the spirit, but helps to maintain healthy weight. According to Maryland’s Office of Seafood Marketing, oysters pack a mere nineteen calories per ounce.
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Health on a Half Shell Abbotts maintain f loating and bottom cages in the waters around Elliott and Duck islands in what is perhaps the most pristine water in the state ~ relatively free of pollution from agricultural runoff, shipping traffic and urban development. The Abbotts’ Native American ancestors would readily recognize the sparsely developed locale but would never understand the complexity of regulations exerted over a modern operation by Maryland’s Department of Health and Department of Natural Resources. Even Wylie’s grandfather, Joe, wouldn’t see why so much paperwork should
Photo by Katelin Murphy
Wylie Abbott, Jr. and his son Jason.
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land: The Land That Time Forgot, Gator said, “Joe had an old canoe, the River Queen, he kept just for tonging. Between seasons, he run her up the creek and let ’er sink. When oystering was coming back in, he’d go bail ’er out and she’d pop back up. Every year or so he’d go up to the junkyard in Cordova and get a Ford engine.” River Queen was one of the traditional hand-hewn workboats that evolved from native canoes. Comparing working from her to working from his own relatively modern plank-built deadrise, Gator said, “We had walking boards [on the River Queen]. Her wash-
be necessary. “Aquaculture” is just a modern term for the oyster beds created by Joe and his neighbors in Fishing Bay since the 1800s. Some beds have been cultivated by the same families ever since. Wylie and Jason have simply updated ancestral practices. Formerly, when watermen rented barren Bay bottom from the state, a new bed was created by simply dumping shell overboard, followed with seed oyster called “spat.” Wylie’s father, known to many of his friends as “Gator” Abbott, helped his father-in-law, Joe Gray, tong his bed from an old canoe. Interviewed for Elliott’s Is-
Photo by Katelin Murphy
Jason Abbott’s boat, Why Worry III. 89
Health on a Half Shell
ing every daylight hour working hand-tongs over the side of his canoe. Ralph Foxwell, Jr. said of his father, “He loved what he did. I guess that was lucky, ’cause it would’ve been a miserable life crabbing and tonging if he didn’t love it. “He never made much money, but I remember, as a youngster on the Shore, I could hear him out there tonging and singing. He couldn’t carry a tune, but he’d be rocking back and forth, tonging and singing out over the water.”
boards weren’t so wide that it was a problem reaching over them. It was nice to be able to brace your knees when you swung the tongs in, but working from the newer boats~ standing on the washboards ~ is a little easier.” *** Perhaps a diet rich in oysters made such watermen rather uncomplaining and easy to get along with. The late Ralph Foxwell, Jr. was another islander whose working life began in the first half of the 1900s. He remembered how his father loved his work, despite spend-
*** In France, to go along with their oysters, wine-lovers speak of terroir, the distinct f lavor imparted
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Health on a Half Shell
but there is nothing new about the concept. Generalizing about the oysters of Fishing Bay, the late Captain Calvert “Katz” Evans said, “They grew the best oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Lord, they were some kind of good oyster. . . . They weren’t what you’d call real salty, like Chincoteagues ~ they’re too salty. But they were not fresh. They were just about a good brackish. Everybody that ever tasted them said they were the best they ever tasted.” Captain Katz knew something about oysters. As a boy, he sailed with his father, Captain Raymond Evans, aboard the schooner Fannie Insley, which brought seed oysters every spring from the James River for planting the different Fishing Bay beds. But even within the waters of Fishing Bay, different rocks produce distinctly different oysters. Old-time island oystermen knew where the superior oysters grew, though the cause of some variations remained a mystery. Ralph Foxwell, Jr. could name all the different oyster rocks of Fishing Bay, natural or cultivated, and he could generally tell where an oyster came from simply by looking at it. Speaking of the wild oysters growing on Point Rock in the 1930s, he said, “They always had some green stuff on the oysters up there.” Of the area where the Abbotts’ Fat Duck stock matures, Ralph
to a wine by the soil and climate of terrain growing its grapes. This led trendy food writers to coin the term merroir, meaning the f lavorful qualities imparted to an oyster by its own watery environment: its salinity, strength of current, algae, rainfall, and who-knows-what. The word merroir may be new,
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said, “Duck Island’s got a big rock down there ~ or did have. It was famous for oysters always being real fat and uniform in size and shape. Even when the rest of the river was different, they always stayed about the same on Duck Island.” Nearly one hundred years later, that’s what customers say about those cultivated by Fat Duck Oysters under the watchful eyes of Jason and Wylie Abbott, Jr. The noticeable difference now is that some Duck Island oysters grow in cages. Aquaculture has become so popular that a shortage of spat sometimes arises, but availability is more reliable than it used to be, when spat reached Fishing Bay under sail from Virginia on the Fannie Insley. Speaking of his father, Captain Raymond Evans, who invested in seed oyster, Katz Evans said, “Pop went down and bought from tongers who went out and caught them in the James River. Then he had to get them up here as soon as he could in the spring of the year before the weather started getting warm. “That was risky. Pop had a lot of money tied up in them. Once, we got caught in a fog over on the mouth of the Rappahannock River. Wasn’t no radars then ~ you went in a harbor and anchored. We were caught three or four days before it finally cleared off. Pop thought with the weather warming he was
Oyster spat gonna lose them. He’d go forward and look at them and see if they were opening their mouths. . . .” Tongers vied to be the first to spot Fannie approaching from Tangier Sound. “They came down to meet us,” Captain Katz recalled. “Sometimes three or four canoes came down, and they tied on behind and
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Health on a Half Shell
Motoring homeward with a bag of custom-sized spat is surely more efficient, but lacks the excitement created when the two-masted Fannie sailed in from Tangier Sound with the year’s spat among the shell heaped on her 78-foot deck. Now that many folks have relearned how to bake homemade bread, they might want to seek out videos on How To Shuck Oysters.
came aboard to talk and look at the oysters ~ see how they were. George Thomas always wanted to steer coming up Fishing Bay. ‘Raymond, let me have her,’ he’d say. “That was Pop’s life. He loved running oysters to Fishing Bay. He anchored off in Forks Channel and the watermen would meet us in their canoes. We shoveled the oysters off our boat into the canoes, ’cause the canoes could go in the shallow water. It took all day, the canoes were so slow. . . . ” These days, the Abbotts buy spat by the hundreds of thousands from a nearby aquaculturist who grows and sells seed graded by the mil. Wylie estimates, “I’d say 200,000 four-mil oysters are about a coffee can full. They’re sorted in a shaker according to the size you order, then put in a fi ne-meshed nylon bag.”
After co-writing pictorial histories for Arcadia Publishing with Gloria Johnson (Cambridge and Dorchester County), Ann Foley wrote Having My Say: Conversations with Chesapeake Bay Waterman Wylie “Gator” Abbott; A Dorchester County Scrapbook: “That Reminds Me of a Story” (with Terry White); and, most recently, Holland Island: Lost Atlantis of the Chesapeake (with P. Smith Rue).
Photo by Katelin Murphy
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The 1918 Influenza in Talbot County by James Dawson The current coronavirus threatening the world is, unfortunately, not the f irst pandemic that has menaced the globe, or even Maryland. Just 100 years ago a similar disease killed millions. No place was safe, not even small towns on the Eastern Shore. And, unfortunately, there are eerie similarities between the two epidemics, as we will see by comparing the historical entries in the diaries of Charles F. Willis Sr. of Trappe regarding the 1918 outbreak
with modern accounts of Covid-19 in 2020. People were practicing social distancing, staying at home and wearing masks both times. From 1918 to 1920, the Spanish inf luenza raged and is estimated to have infected 500 million people (about a third of the world’s population) and killed up to 50 million. That’s more people than died in the first World War, which was also raging at that time. The crowded conditions in troop ships jammed
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brought it to army camps across the U.S., from which it spread throughout the country. On Oct. 11, 1918, the Baltimore Evening Sun stated that “Two hundred and eleven thousand influenza cases have been reported in army camps to date, with 7,432 fatalities” and ended with the sobering note that “The grimness of the situation is accentuated by a shortage of coffins and grave diggers.” This was especially true in Maryland at Camp Meade near Baltimore, where in just a few days 1,900 soldiers and nurses were stricken. There were similar outbreaks at Fort McHenry and a military hospital set up at Aberdeen, from which it spread throughout the state.
full of soldiers helped spread the extremely contagious disease to the four corners of the globe and
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demic in history up to then, contagious diseases of all sorts ran rampant in those days everywhere. At the same time the Spanish f lu was stalking Trappe and Talbot County, lesser outbreaks of scarlet fever and measles also made their appearance. Not to mention typhoid fever, tuberculosis, cholera and smallpox at other times. The causes were unknown; a local doctor wrote a paper claiming that the epidemics of smallpox in Talbot in 1813 and 1814 were caused by an earthquake and a comet. There were so many different contagions that it might have been difficult to tell which disease someone had died from. And Talbot County was a reasonably healthy place.
Hundreds of years before anyone knew it was caused by an invisible virus, the sickness was blamed on astral or occult inf luences, hence the name inf luenza. “Flu” as a new colloquial nickname quickly took hold in popular parlance in the early 20th century, even appearing in a girls’ jump rope rhyme, “I had a little bird/ And his name was Enza/ I opened the window/ And in-flew-Enza!” A lt houg h it i nd iscr i m i nately killed all ages, the 1918 f lu was often deadlier to healthy adults than to children and the elderly, whose weaker immune systems weren’t as likely to be triggered into a fatal overreaction. Although it was the worst pan-
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Influenza One of the cruelest months for inf luenza in Talbot Count y was October 1918, when there were 871 cases of f lu and 133 deaths. And, as a reminder of how impersonal statistics can be, just two persons from that impersonal total were Clarence Sullivan and his one-year-old daughter Margaret Louise, who died just eleven days apart that month. Real people with real tragedies. There were so many deaths in Talbot County that a friend who used to go exploring in Easton’s Spring Hill Cemetery when he was a kid remembered seeing an unusual number of tombstones dated 1918.
He never k new why until many years later. It is interesting the similarities between 1918 and 2020. Schools were closed, public gatherings were banned and families were quarantined by locally appointed health officers. There was also debate on when it was safe to reopen schools. On several occasions, schools were opened too soon, resulting in more infections and schools being closed again. The f lu seemed to come in waves. Just when everyone thought it was safe to go outside again, it came back with a vengeance. The flu hit hardest in the winter of 19181919 and seemed to die out in sum-
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Influenza mer, only to return in a somewhat less virulent form in the winter of 1919-1920. Influenza was everywhere. There was no escaping it, even in the small town of Trappe, where Charles F. Willis Sr. of Clora Dorsey farm kept notes of the progression of the disease in his daily journals. These entries have been abstracted from my book 100 Years of Change on the Eastern Shore: The Willis Family Journals 1847-1951, published in 2014. To my knowledge, these entries are the most personal accounts of the 1918 f lu on the Eastern Shore. The 1918 epidemic was so terrible
that people just wanted to forget about it, so you won’t see much of anything about it in local histories. Willis’ accounts of the Spanish f lu which follow are rare indeed. My notes and comments are in brackets. 1918 Oct. 9 We had a card from Catherine [Willis’s daughter] stating that all of the schools are closed until the 21st next on acc’t. of the Spanish inf luenza ~ to come for her. Oct. 20 The “f lu” is a scourge ~ 50 died in county this past week. Oct. 22 The “f lu” or grippe has not increased & all his [Dr. Ross’s] patients are better. Morris BordenSmith, who married Miss Edith Powell, [daughter] of E.A. Powell,
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Influenza was taken sick in Easton & brot. to Trappe & died of the disease Sunday. [Poor guy! Married on Monday, died on Sunday, one might say. Morris died just six days after his second wedding anniversary.] Nov. 4 Schools opened again to day. The “f lu” has just about spent its self. Dec. 13 All the schools of Trappe were closed on Wed. (that is not school on that day) not to be opened until the new year. all on acc.t of a recurrence of the “f lu.” A vast number of persons of the dist. are sick- some ill. Dec. 18 The “f lu” is general in Trappe & vicinity- many are very ill
and there was one death last night. Dec. 29 The “Spa nish f lu” is still in force about & in Trappe- in Easton & St. Michaels district. The health officers have warned not to assemble. 1919 Jan. 5 The “f lu” has caused so much sickness and so many deaths, that the health officers have closed all places of public gathering in Easton & Trappe. Jan. 9 Dr. Seymour is still housed from an attack of the “f lu.” Dr. Ross has more than he can do. Jan. 10 We heard to night that there are several cases of “f lu” on “Wilderness” [a nearby farm]. Jan. 12 All at home. All public
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Influenza places are closed in the count y & many schools- our neck school included on acct. of the “f lu”. Very many deaths are occurring in the district. We heard thru Billy Ollie is improving. Dr. Seymour is out again. Dr. Ross for two weeks was the only Dr. at Trappe- one day he had 59 calls & over 40 at other times. We are trying to escape the disease by keeping at home. Jan. 15 The epidemic of “f lu” is subsiding- not many new cases. Old improving. 1920 Feb. 9 We are told that J. Frank Baker’s wife & one child has scarlet
fever & Jno. Hughlett’s wife & child & wife’s brother the same & that each home is under strict quarantine by the health board. Many cases of scarletina not subjected to being housed & many cases of measles. Sixty cases of “f lu” in St. Michaels & all schools closed. Feb. 10 He [Dr. Ross] stated that there were many new cases of scarletina & the infection is traced to the occupants of the school auto bus from S.E. of Trappe. Mrs. J. Frank Baker is very ill- all others getting on well. Schools indefinitely closed for the week at least. Feb. 14 Mrs. J. Franklin Baker died at her home in Trappe at 3 p.m. on Thursday- aged 31 yrs. of the new disease “f lu”.
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Influenza Feb. 22 We are all tired out with being virtually housed or quarantined. The children have lost two weeks at school from roads or others’ sickness...Many of our school are sick; Trappe is reported about off the sick list. The “f lu” is plentiful about Easton ~ many deaths occurred in Oxford the past week. The press adv ises precaution or the disease will be epidemic. It is advised not to assemble in groups or avoid visiting unless the family is known to be well. No sunshine to day. [This is an interesting entry. Did Willis mean that there was no sunshine because of the virus threat with its social isolation, or quite literally that the sun didn’t shine that day? Or possibly a bit of both?] Feb. 24 I heard to day that our school, [Isla nd Creek Neck], is
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closed from want of pupils - whole families are sick. This is that last entry that can be ascribed to the Spanish f lu, which had apparently run its course after its two-year reign of terror. The Mrs. J. Franklin Baker that Willis mentioned was the first wife of baseball legend and Trappe native “Home Run” Baker. Her beautiful art nouveau tombstone in Spring Hill was probably one of the stones my friend had seen. Although so very many died in the period from 1918 to 1920, thankfully the survivors developed resistance, so by late 1920, you were either dead or had immunity. Although most people survived the ordeal, in some rare cases, it
ruined their health, as in the case of Trappe native Maria D. Barnett, who caught the disease when she was in Baltimore. She lived but was left with severe disabilities because of it until her death in 1937. A vaccine was never developed. T he 1918 i n f luen z a e vent u a l ly burned itself out when it ran out of victims. Many thanks to Charles F. “Nick” Willis III for allowing me to quote from the Willis diaries. Nick generously donated his family treasures to the Talbot County Free Library, where they are safe in the vault in the Maryland Room. James Dawson is the owner of Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe.
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Chesapeake Music Presents Virtual Virtuosi! A Virtual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival 2020
by Amy Steward Chesapeake Music celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival this June with an exciting virtual festival. In response to stay-at-home restrictions caused by COVID-19, the festival’s internationally known artistic directors, Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho, have put together a wonderful series of concerts to bring extraordinary music to the festival audience. It is a pleasure to welcome back the distinguished artists who have performed for years and to greet the outstanding new musicians participating in this year’s festival. This year’s festival will be presented as five online concerts made available through the Chesapeake Music website, chesapeakemusic.org. Concerts are free and will be available online for a 24-hour period, with 48 hours between concerts. All concerts will be posted at 5:30 p.m. Two concerts, professionally filmed and recorded at Queens College’s LeFrak Concert Hall, will bookend the festival. Awardwinning Steinway pianist Diane
Jennifer Liu Walsh and cellist Marcy Rosen will open the festival on Thursday, June 4 with a concert of sonatas by Beethoven and Chopin. The closing concert on Tuesday, June 16 is a program of Haydn, Debussy and Dvořák performed by Rosen, violinist Catherine Cho and acclaimed pianist Robert McDonald. The second concert will highlight several of festival artists playing works recorded at home. Ieva Jokubaviciute, a much sought-after chamber musician, will perform
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Chamber Music
Gergana Haralampievam
Caeli Smith
solo piano works of Bach/Busoni and Schumann; Walsh will play the 4 Chopin Impromptus; outstanding violinist Todd Phillips will be joined by pianist Rachel Yunkyung Choo in performing Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor and violinist Francesca dePasquale and the wonderful pianist Adam Golka will share the Dvořák Romance in F minor. Concerts will also include an evening with the fabulous flutist Tara Helen O’Connor and her equally fantastic husband violinist Daniel
Phillips, performing from their New York City living room. This year, Chesapeake Music had planned an inaugural Young People’s Concert Project, with a mission of engaging families and students of all ages in a musical experience that would nurture a love of music and concert-going. Catherine Cho’s vision was to “ignite the curiosity of children through a program engaging their senses and inspiring their interest and need for expression through musical experiences.”
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Changes:
All American Part IX of a novel in many parts
by Roger Vaughan Previously: The year is 1998. Andy Thomas made an ill-advised tactical call during a race in 50foot sailboats that nearly caused a dangerous collision. His father, Mitchell (at the helm), was livid. Later, at the awards dinner, a drunken Andy delivered a public challenge that made it virtually impossible for Mitchell Thomas, a well-known Corinthian sailor, not to mount a Volvo Round the World Race challenge. Mitchell is CEO of Moss Optical, a company inherited by his wife, Deedee Moss. Thomas was thoroughly outraged by his son’s gaffe. At a board meeting of Moss Optical held in the company’s planetarium-board room, a proposal for the company to sponsor the first American boat in the Volvo Race was presented, and accepted, much to Deedee’s delight. Colorful two-time America’s Cup winner Jan Sargent held one of his high-intensity press conferences to announce he had been asked by Mitchell Thomas to skipper the Moss boat, All American. In his of-
fice at Moss, Andy is distraught, having learned his father has made him part of All American’s crew. He agonizes over this to his friend Jeff Linn, a Moss opticist. Linn jokingly suggests Andy shoot himself in the foot. Gloria, Andy’s secretary, buzzes to tell him his father wants to see him. After an unpleasant meeting with his father, who is adamant about Andy going on the Volvo Race, he drives to see his mother, Deedee, on the Long Island estate, hoping she will intervene. Andy has a very pleasant sail with his mother ~ her favorite thing to do ~ but is distraught to find her conviction about him going on the Volvo Race is set in concrete. When pressed, Ossie, the old Norwegian who has run the family’s boathouse for 40 years, says his mother has a very good reason for insisting he go on the race. Andy spends two weeks with the crew doing an Outward Bound course for training and bonding. He is subjected to hazing from this fraternity of professional sailors, and he hits back.
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All American
power was a word foreign to her. She didn’t relate to power. She was At home, seated at his power- smart as hell. Andy knew that. But ful telescope, Andy’s proclivity for power? astronomy is revealed. Isha is disShe had paused on a page that covered being nosy about a secret showed a photograph of Andy, age project of Andy’s. 3. Andy glanced at it briefly. Old *** pictures of himself didn’t particuAndy’s mother had the scrap- larly fascinate him. There he was, books out. They weren’t dusty, like another gawky-looking kid, and so most scrapbooks. They were well what, just another grain of sand on worn from constant scanning. In the beach. But today his eyes were truth, they needed to be rebound. drawn across the page to the arrestThey were coming apart. ing shot of his mother playing tenThree o’clock on most any af- nis. He’d seen it a dozen times, but ternoon and right here in her man, what a shot! The photograph bedroom is where you could find was evidence that his parents would Deedee unless some minor crisis often hire a pro for the day to shoot had gotten her up. the family activiThe ball was about a She napped at two, ties, the tennis, the foot off the racket, and by three she was sailing, the cocktail waking up by paging hour with friends. a blur through one of half This shot was taken a dozen elegantly bound memory with a long lens from Deedee’s oplane books having to do with... ponent’s point of view, the shutwhat? Better days, Andy guessed. ter having been released a split Anything had to be better than second after Deedee had smacked his mother’s life at the moment. a scorcher of a two-handed backIt wasn’t like some raging illness hand. The ball was about a foot off had gotten hold of her, or she didn’t the racket, a blur. Both of Deedee’s have enough to eat, heaven forbid. feet were off the ground. Her body The doctors fussed over her all the angle was perfect, with every time, but Andy swore she wasn’t ounce of her diminutive self coiled sick ~ not in the usual sense, any- into the perfect launch pad for the way. She just didn’t do anything. exact moment when she contacted The servants ran the house, cooked the ball. Her eyes were still on the meals, dusted the sailing tro- the racket face where the ball had phies. Deedee just existed. She was hit. Her skirt ~ white, of course ~ still the power. She had the con- swirled with the full-body effort. trol, the assets, Moss Optics, but Her teeth were gritted in a grimace 118
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All American
and rolled on like he’d done several times before, but he had to rememof determination. You could almost ber why he was here. To fi nd his hear the solid thwack! That sucker missing card, the card he could play was a put-away, no question about that would get him out of the Volvo it. Talk about power. So where had Race. It had to be here somewhere. all that gone, Andy wondered. And He’d looked under the dresser just the sailing. He knew how good a for fun. Nothing. Maybe Becky Cotsailor she was. You don’t get there ton had it. It was worth having a without confidence in self, without look. “That was years ago, Mother. Of the power to prevail. “Pass me that next one, Andy. course I remember Becky. We had some good times. The Cottons were Number three.” Andy knew number three. He like relatives. Becky was the girl reached into the bookcase on the next door. But that was then. This shelf over the head of her bed and is now.” “Well you should see her now, pulled it down, the number having been imprinted in gold on the navy Becky. You would if you ever came to the club for dinner blue leather binding. “I wanted you to see Becky was the girl next with us.” Deedee opened the old picture of you door ~ but that was then, number three and and Becky.” this is now quickly found the Andy groaned. “Mother, sorry, but you show me page with the amateur snapshot of a girl and a boy around 12 years that one every time I come.” “Well it’s important, dear. Be- old standing on the dock next to cause she is such a wonderful per- a tidy-looking sailboat, mainsail neatly furled, lines coiled. Perhaps son.” Andy might have ignored it, because of his mother’s teasing, or might have just changed the subject because he was desperate, he really
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Andy was really looking now, after receiving the intense message looked at the photo this time and from Becky, and he found himself suddenly he was back in the sail loft being amazed still again by the unwith Becky after that afternoon on usual degree of formality expressed the water, the two of them collapsed by his parents’ generation. They on a pile of sails feverishly kissing were in their late thirties in these and exploring. Making out, it was pictures, kids, people his age, in called then. Whoa. Andy took a their prime, and they came off like breath and started laughing. old fogies. Stiff. No energy. Proper “What is it?” to a satirical degree. Sometimes he “Just a memory.” Andy laughed listened to himself talking to his again. mother and it was more like he was “Good.” talking to his grandmother. Deedee flipped the page. There “I have to say, Mother, these ‘famwas grandfather, also dressed for ily’ pictures, or the cocktail party, tennis. No action shots. More like whatever it is, they have a very... he was dressed for watching tennis formal... feel to them.” The critique after maybe playing just popped out. the two of them one slow, boring set. It surprised Andy. collapsed in a pile of Randolph was very He’d stopped askaware of the camera. ing his mother about sails, kissing He seemed to be rethe family long ago. stricting himself to what he thought It was a dead end. But it occurred were poses appropriate as head of to him that maybe this was his the family. card. The other approaches hadn’t Deedee and Mitchell were also worked. It was an old approach, but in this collection of photos, which a new time. Andy expected were of the cocktail “Your grandfather had a very party because they were also pro- strict, old-fashioned sense of professional. Lovely black-and-white priety,” Deedee said as she reached prints. Because the photographer for the familiar bottle of green medwas Art Kane, a genius who did icine that was on her night table. all the Moss advertising work, he She undid the cap and took a swig, couldn’t help probing in spite of no apologies this time for drinking himself, and Kane had managed to from the bottle. do the impossible: capture telling Andy about slid off the bed at this moments and expressions in such straightforward piece of informaa way that his subjects had to like tion coming from his mother. It was them. A good trick. a bland enough statement about 122
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Andy said nothing. That was a lot to digest. Deedee started coughing. She someone, but from her it was remarkable. Could he be feeling the reached for her medicine, took a tumblers clicking in this safe he’d swig. The coughing stopped. Myrtle, the maid, came to the been trying to open? He was back on the boulders in Maine, tenuously open door and knocked quietly. hanging on with a few fingertips “The doctor called. He’ll be here shortly, ma’am.” and toes. “Thank you, Myrtle.” “Yeah,” Andy said carefully, so as Deedee got up and went into her not to disturb this sudden tiny fissure that had appeared in the im- changing room, shut the door. Andy got up and stretched, trying penetrable wall of family folklore. “I certainly got that from him. Then to get his bearings, feeling totally again, I only saw him in his lab, and off track. Randolph worried other people might not realize he was betI was still young when he died.” Deedee was studying the pictures ter than they? Man, what a thing to say, what an attitude. . . Christ, like she’d never seen them before. he hadn’t even had “I’d say he did Her eyes had lost that a chance to get into have a sense of superiority about him,” habitually cloudy stare the Volvo Race, give her the last big pitch, Andy ventured, “the and came alive and now the freakway he ran things. I can see it in these photos. But hey, ing doctor was coming, game over. he deserved it. What he did revo- Damn. Okay, he’d have to force the lutionized the industry.” Andy felt issue. The doctor could bloody wait. He’d circled the bed and found a little awkward, talking too much. Deedee looked up, then turned to himself staring at the bottle of Andy, looked him in the eyes. Right green medicine. He picked it up, then, he knew how her opponent had idly curious. He unscrewed the felt twenty or so years ago just before cap, had a sniff. Nothing. No odor. she’d hammered that backhand that He shrugged, decided to take a froze him in place. Her eyes had lost tiny swig and ~ what the hell!? He their habitual cloudy stare and had couldn’t believe it. All these years? come alive. Andy was frightened for He quickly replaced the cap and a moment. “Randolph didn’t think reseated himself on the other side he was better than other people,” of the bed. Just in time, as Deedee Deedee said evenly. “His main con- came out of her room dressed for cern was that other people might not the doctor, hair brushed, no makeup understand he was better than they.” as usual. She sat down in the wing 124
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All American
And you’re going to be a driver?” “Yes, that’s what Sargent said. chair across from the foot of the You taught me. But mother, I’m bed, her feet flat on the floor, hands 34 years old, I’m very committed folded in her lap, and looked at him. to this business deal, and while Andy realized she knew him, knew I agree it’s great that I have been what was coming. Busted before he named a driver ~ I don’t for a mineven began. Christ. Too bad. He had ute discount that, that...honor ~ I simply cannot drop out of life for to get it out. “Look, Mother, I really need your nine months, scuttle my deal...I just help. We’ve talked about this before, can’t. I can’t. No way.” Deedee was sitting very still. She and now it’s extremely serious, my going on this race, it can’t happen, spoke evenly. “When your grandfather died, my it just can’t happen. Okay, I screwed up, I brought it on myself by being father, he called me in, told me to drunk, careless, stupid. I was out to shut the door. I sat on the bed very get my father, and I got him all too much like you have been sitting on good. I’m sorry about that. What my bed. I was very excited because I thought he was going really happened is Busted before he even to pass on to me what I got myself, and I should pay for that. began. Too bad. He had he had. He’d often mentioned it. Not in But soon I’ll be able to get it out. any serious way, but to. I have this very big project going, a big deal, it’s he’d use old joke lines, say things gonna make me a ton of money so like ‘someday all this will be yours.’ I can help underwrite the expense It started when I was a kid, when of entering this boat. But I can’t see he confided in me about the Elves. I this deal through while I’m spend- was first to know, you know. No one ing nine months helping sail a boat else but me knew for years. ‘You’ll around the bloody world. I can’t. It’s have what I have,’ he’d whisper to one thing or the other, and believe me. ‘You’ll know.’ So I believed him. me, it’s no contest. You’ve got to step I believed he had the power to do in for me. You’re my last hope. I hate that. And I think he did. I know he to put you in a spot. I know, I’ve done did. But he didn’t. He called me in. it a lot. But this is the last time, I He took my hand, and he said, ‘ahh, Deedee, my sweet, if only I could promise.” “I’m told you won the sailing in pass on to you what I have. But I can’t. Because it wouldn’t fit. It’s Maine.” that simple. It wouldn’t fit. It just “Yes, that’s true, I did.” “I was so proud to hear that, Andy. wouldn’t fit.’ 126
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All American “That’s the last we spoke. He died the next day. He left me the estate, the boats, the company. . . everything. But he wouldn’t leave me what he had. He could have, but he didn’t. He didn’t because he was worried I would stop thinking he was better than I. He had to die making sure that did not happen.” Myrtle appeared with her quietly insistent knock. “The doctor is here, ma’am.” “Thank you, Myrtle.” Deedee stood up carefully, as she always did. The surge of energy was gone. The eyes were flat again, but a touch of the voice was there. “Go on the race,” she said. “It’s a miracle it
came up. You’re right. You made it happen, being drunk, being clever. Being obnoxious. But that makes it special. Very special. You don’t know. Go on the race. Drive the boat. You’ll be fi ne. Your big deal will wait. There are much bigger deals waiting to happen for you. But fi rst, you must go on this race. You might even win it.” Deedee went off to see her doctor. Andy flopped on the bed, fighting back tears. Roger Vaughan lives at the recommended social distance, works, and hopes to sail again in Oxford. Previous chapters of All American are available at tidewatertimes. com.
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Leave it to Beavers: Species’ Ability to Alter Land by Tom Horton
Notes to myself on preparing to teach my Chesapeake Bay course at Sa lisbur y Universit y for t he 10th year: Teach oysters? Always, but this time I’m also going bigger, with beavers. Both are “keystone” species, and Castor canadensis, aka the North American beaver, is potentially the more important, even if restoring bivalves gets more press. Sewage treatment? Can’t ever ignore 17 million toilet flushers, but as with beavers over oysters, I’m moving inland, traveling upslope, emphasizing the lands of the Bay’s watershed vs. the Bay itself.
And that word, “watershed,” let’s reimagine it ~ it only entered the language around 1800, by which time we’d already eliminated most beavers and their dams and ponds throughout the Chesapeake region. And, that fundamentally altered and accelerated the way water moved off the landscape. So what’s a better word ~ waterkeep? Waterseep? Waterooze? Waterhold? …Something to get us back conceptually to the way it was when the Bay was healthy, its lands more fiercely retentive of life (water equals life). You want to tell st udents ev-
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Leave it to Beavers erything you know. But when you have just 16 three-hour classes a semester, and you’re tr y ing to spend four or five of those sessions outside with watermen and farmers and scientists, or paddling through climate-changed landscapes, you have to choose. Recently, my choices have moved upslope, come ashore, for a couple of reasons. Land use is most of the ballgame in our estuary, more so than almost any other on Ear th. The watershed/waterkeep is about 16 times the area of the tidal waters into which it drains. And the Bay is so shallow that there’s astound-
ingly little volume of water given its long, broad surface ~ clearly too little to dilute the runoff from 48 million acres. The other reason is that the advanced sewage treatment and air pollution control technologies that have carried the Bay restoration to its current, modest success don’t have enough juice left to get us to our 2025 cleanup goals. This is especially so in light of a growing population ~ and in light of no population-control policies at any level of government, or even among most environmental groups. Success by 2025 is going to depend more and more on how well we can halt pollution running from the land ~ specifically the land that our
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population radically alters wherever it goes. Stormwater controls from developed landscapes are better designed than ever, but expensive. It’s uncertain they will be deployed, maintained, inspected and enforced anywhere near 100 percent. Sediment control, for example, decades after it became law in places like Maryland, remains inadequate. Agriculture, a far larger pollution source, is moving in some good directions with a new phosphorusbased manure control mandate in Maryland and the increasing use of winter cover crops that suck up fertilizers from groundwater before it carries them to the Bay. But this is not happening every-
where, particularly not in Pennsylvania; and even where it is happening, we still don’t have convincing evidence that we’ll get big enough pollution reductions from the intensive row cropping and concentrations of animals that typify modern farming. Add to this the real possibility that national policy may soon call for greater use of corn-based ethanol in gasoline. It saves little or no energy and would likely result in clearing more acres around the Bay for more corn. There are promising programs to counteract polluted runoff, such as planting thousands of miles of vegetated buffers along rivers and streams. But those efforts are far
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Leave it to Beavers behind schedule, and they don’t specifically call for the vegetation to be forest, the best buffer. And while such greening of the Bay’s lands is good, we know that far better would be green and wet; and that’s where we need to reconsider and actively restore the beaver. No creature on Earth, save for modern humans, has more capacity to transform a landscape; and in designing a landscape that produces excellent water quality, the beaver has no equal. Beavers ruled the hydrology of North America for a million years or more, until just the last few centuries, when fur trapping reduced
popu lat ions f rom a n est imated 100 million or more to less than half a million. In the Chesapeake, from millions to thousands is a fair estimate. Through damming and ponding, beavers stanched the shedding of water from the watershed, cleansed it, filtered it, held back floods, let rain soak in to keep water tables high and streams running even in drought. They created luxurious habitats for a stunning variety of amphibians, fish, waterfowl and mammals. In recent decades, beavers have come back to the point where a solid body of science in Canada and the United States confirms they were this continent’s most impor tant keystone species ~ a species whose
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f unc t ioning under pins a whole ecosystem. My class this year listened to a young man in the stream-restoration business say that in many cases, the work that his company does might be done as well or better by just releasing beavers. But it is illegal to do that, he said. T h at ’s a m i nd s e t t h at ne e d s to change. It will take education to overcome prevailing v iews of beavers as tree-chewing, propertyf looding nuisances. They can be, but there are technologies to help us coexist ~ piping that keeps beaver ponds deep enough for the animals without f looding, for example. You will hear more about beavers in my future columns ~ and in the
news, I hope. A good place to start: Should the Chesapeake restoration effort include a beaver goal? In the meantime, we must emulate the animal any way we can, creating wetlands throughout the landscape wherever there is opportunity, moving rapidly toward a “slower” watershed, one that sheds water only grudgingly. Reprinted with permission from the Bay Journal. Tom Horton has written about the Chesapeake Bay for more than 40 years, including eight books. He lives in Salisbury, where he is also a professor of Environmental Studies at Salisbury University.
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