Star Democrat

4 days ago | stardem.com | Wendy Weitzel

ANNAPOLIS — News organizations across the region were recognized with awards for work they produced over the past year. The editorial staff of APG Media of Chesapeake garnered 30 awards in 20 categories. The awards were announced during the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association’s annual ceremony Friday, May 9, in Annapolis. The association represents over 100 member news media organizations in the region. The contest recognizes the best print and online work completed in 2024.

5 days ago | stardem.com | Andrea Grabenstein

Planting seeds for the next generation, a young American Elm tree was donated by a Stevensville family to replace the historic 120-year-old, 60-foot tall elm stricken with Dutch Elm Disease and removed from the Queen Anne’s County Historic Courthouse Square in Centreville last July. Growing the young elm from a seed started in 2019, arbor enthusiast John Masone, of Stevensville, is a “hobbyist arborist,” who said he has always loved trees and is partial to growing elms to give to others.

5 days ago | stardem.com | Andrea Grabenstein

Believing that “beautiful moments deserve beautiful flowers,” Molly Busick, of Church Hill, is the owner and lead designer of downtown Centreville’s new florist. Filling Liberty Street with the scent of fresh flowers and cheerful community in time for the season’s first First Friday, Three Little Buds Floral held a ribbon cutting ceremony May 2.

5 days ago | stardem.com | Marty Madden

Unlike Mantua, Italy, there is no opera house in Huntingtown. However, to Emma Agazzani, a resident of Italy’s “Capital of Culture,” living in the U.S.A. in general and Calvert County in particular has hit a high note. According to her, it’s been a dream come true.

5 days ago | stardem.com | Will Bontrager

BETTERTON — On a 12-day music tour, local musician/songwriter Nicholas Ray’s plans to reach California were thrown off by a snowstorm. Alone, two hours from the Grand Canyon, the snow fell so heavy it froze his headlights. Driving in the dark, fighting to keep visibility, unbeknownst to him, the nearest civilization was two hours away. Ray explained it was a Sioux Indian reservation, where they told him it had not snowed there yet until that very day.