Featured Articles

  Crime Reporter  by Helen Chappell 

Most writers go into fiction writing from a career in non-fiction. If I had a nickel for every newspaper person I’ve met who wanted to write the Great American Novel, I’d own a waterfront estate on the Miles. I sort of backed into journalism the other way. This was twenty-some years ago, maybe more, back when newspapers were still thriving. I’d had a fairly decent career writing novels and publishing a fiction column on the Op-Com Page of the Baltimore Sun. I always thought I was getting away with something by writing short, humorous stories for a serious editorial page in a major urban daily.    Read More …

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  Gulf Coast Beauty – Panama City Beach, Florida by Bonna Nelson

The slogan “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches” is what enticed us to give Panama City Beach (PCB) a try. It was my son-in-law Randy’s turn to select the family spring vacation destination. PCB’s blue skies, water sports, entertainment, dining options, warm spring weather and 27 miles of sugar-white sandy beaches on the Florida Panhandle made the decision easy. We were not concerned about the area recovering from Hurricane Michael damage from six months prior (more on that later). We agreed that we would be contributing to the recovering economy.    Read More …

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  Planting Seeds in Winter  by Michael Valliant

The Chinese bamboo tree takes five years to break the ground. For five years, it bides its time underground with no visible signs above that anything is happening. Once it breaks ground, it grows 90 feet tall in just five weeks. In a talk that brings tears to my eyes, author and motivational speaker Les Brown boils it down. “Now the question is, does it grow 90 feet tall in five weeks or five years?” Brown asks. “The answer is obvious: it grows 90 feet tall in five years. Because at any time, had that person stopped watering and nurturing and fertilizing that dream, that bamboo tree would have died in the ground.”  Read More…

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 The James Adams Floating Theater by Ann Foley

From 1914 to 1940, through war and peace, Prohibition and Great Depression, the most exciting vessel on Chesapeake Bay was an ungainly barge ~ one that labored to convey a floating theater from hamlet to town, propelled by two tugboats, Elk and Trouper. The tour brought professional entertainment through inland waters, from North Carolina well up into nearly every river feeding Chesapeake Bay. After Nina Howard of St. Michaels bought the vessels in 1933, they harbored in Maryland, wintering over at her estate on Long Haul Creek off the Miles River.  Read More… 

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  Valentine’s Party with an Asian Twist  by Pamela Meredith

A flavorful fusion of old and new tastes will bring fresh sophistication to your Valentine’s party. To inspire you, I’ve created a buffet menu that celebrates the delicious diversity of Asia’s regional cuisine, with recipes based on classic ingredients and cooking techniques. Each dish has been made easy for casual entertaining so guests can help themselves. From spicy Shrimp Satay and Savory Pork Tenderloin to Creamy Coconut Rice Pudding Brûlée, the menu showcases the fragrant flavors and beautiful presentations that are synonymous with Asian hospitality.    Read More…

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  The Tilghman’s Island Series (Part II)  by Gary Crawford

The first English attempt to settle in the unclaimed lands, between the French in the north and the Spanish in the south, was an expedition in 1585 to Roanoke Island, in what is now North Carolina near Kitty Hawk and Nag’s Head. Self-financed by Sir Walter Raleigh, the project ended badly, and nearly 20 years would elapse before anyone tried again. In 1606, the British Parliament created two joint-stock companies aimed at promoting English settlement in the New World. A group of London-based investors was granted the southern portion of the new territory, called “Virginia,” which included the Chesapeake Bay and, hence, our little island.  Read More…

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Tidewater Times was established in 1952 as a specialized monthly magazine which would appeal to the tourist, the prospective land buyer, and others for whom the Eastern Shore has a special allure. It was created to be small enough to fit into a woman’s purse or a man’s coat pocket. Today it has blossomed as a vital symbol of our thriving community.

Our award-winning group of Feature Writers include Helen Chappell, Gary Crawford, Pamela Meredith, Roger Vaughan, Bonna Nelson, Michael Valliant, Tom Horton, Jim Dawson, and Marc Teffeau. Distribution covers an area including Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s and Kent counties.

Subscriptions are $30 per year. For rate or subscription information please contact Tidewater Times.