For 12 years now, we’ve asked you, dear reader, to weigh in on your favorite things here in Chesapeake Country and determine the Best of the Bay.     By no means a scientific study, this readers poll is more a reflection of your passions. You cast thousands of votes, and after long hours tallying the ballots, intern Rose Anderson had the winners.     What the ballots couldn’t reveal, however, was the thinking behind your votes — What makes these...

No less an authoritative body than the National Research Council weighed in this month on progress in restoring Chesapeake Bay. In a hefty report, the council, which is part of the National Academies of Science, delivered a sobering assessment of what would be required to achieve ambitious goals.     This was not one of those feel-good reports like those old Environmental Protection Agency assessments patting themselves on the back. The Obama administration may have declared war...

Accessorize Affordably     Great style does not have to equate to big dollars. Keep a current issue of Bay Weekly on hand for monthly savings coupons.     Magnolia Shoppe is a home furnishings and accents boutique. We offer unique furniture at fair prices and beautiful home accessories, changing with the season, including lamps, mirrors, pictures and table-top accents. As well, we feature a ladies’ line of sterling silver jewelry, handbags and fashion...