Centreville Spy

10/13/2026

I just finished reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the next selection in my Great Books Club. I read it several years ago and enjoyed reading it for a second time. Wilde died in extreme poverty after serving two years in a British prison for homosexual offenses. Today, in addition to...

10/12/2026

Every week, Maryland political analysts Len Foxwell and Clayton Mitchell break down the politics and personalities shaping the state and the region on the Spy podcast Maryland Caucus. This week, Len and Clayton discuss Maryland ballot question 13, which would amend the state constitution to allow re...

10/12/2026

The Birthing Tree tells the story of Aliet Paul, a Mi’kmaw woman, and explores the tension between traditional Indigenous birthing practices and modern medicine. I finished the book in tears, thinking about my own four birth experiences. I once read that Deepak Chopra believed modern medicine ofte...

10/12/2026

Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured in photo #1? The answer to last week’s mystery is Woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus, pictured in photo #2. Woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus, is a large native wetland sedge often called a bulrush. Despite its grassy appearance, it is neither a true grass...

10/12/2026

Fans of the Baltimore Ravens may recall John Urschel, who was an offensive lineman for three seasons and then retired. His retirement was not because of poor performance on the playing field or failure to come to an agreement on the terms of his contract. It was due in part to his concern over repor...

10/12/2026

10/11/2026

A Belted Kingfisher has the last laugh in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. “What’s So Funny?” by Alessandro Bruno AI Disclosure: The Spy and its writers may use artificial intelligence tools to support accuracy and clarity in our reporting.

10/11/2026

The year was 2016 and I had just wrapped up a book tour that took me from a Barnes and Noble in Nashville to friends hosting a talk in New York City. In two weeks, I had met with hundreds—their questions and comments reflected a pervasive unease. I write ten years later. The unease has intensified...

10/11/2026

So I’m at JT’s, my personal trainer—only he’s not all that personal. By my count, he’s about 50 people’s personal trainer, and I’m sure we all start our sessions with a self-disclosing catch-up on our week’s activities. We are diametrically opposed politically, so I avoid those topic...

10/11/2026

The Eastern Shore Writers Association’s Holiday Book Festival will return to Cult Classic Brewing Company in Stevensville on Saturday, November 7, from noon to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The festival will feature 40 regional writers with books for children, teens and adults, including ...