Farewells from Our Friends
Writers
This week of giving thanks I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to have been a contributing writer for Bay Weekly. In the past two years, I have learned a lot about topics ranging from Frederick Douglass to Pocahontas, Tangier Island to Thomas Point Shoal Light, stream restorations to the Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay.
I often started work on a story thinking I knew something about the subject and once underway found out how much more there was to learn. With your patient help I hopefully started to overcome decades of writing habits fit for bureaucratic audiences for a style suited for Bay Weekly’s readership including our friends and neighbors.
I’ll continue to keep a newly trained eye on events in the community that might be the basis for the next good story.
Now I am delighted to learn that the demise of Bay Weekly has been averted.
IT’S ALIIIIIIVE!
Great news!
In the late ’90s, after moving to Calvert County, I found a newspaper titled Bay Weekly — or was it New Bay Times? Anyway, I remember an ad seeking writers to write about occurrences in and around the Bay area. Several years prior, I had written a tongue-in-cheek article for a small South Carolina newspaper. After publishing my piece, the editor told me he almost threw it away before reading it, since, as he put it, “No one can write humor.”
“Maybe next time,” he said, “I’ll pay you.” There never was a next time.
I sent an article about crabbing with kids to this paper, Bay Weekly, and, lo and behold, Sandra ran it, and, I even got paid! That was my first paid gig, and I still have the check today. One of these days I’ll have it framed.
That was 20 years ago, and I have had nothing but fun submitting articles at my whimsy. Sandra gave me permission to be creative and, at times, over the top. For that, I want to thank her and all who have made this publication possible.
I just read the announcement that Chesapeake Bay Media has acquired Bay Weekly.
This is an end of an era to me, sure, so I want to thank you for giving me a shot in 1995 with my first fly fishing article and for several years after that when you allowed me the space and freedom to create and write my Chesapeake Outdoors column.
Wishing you all the best as you embark of your new chapter.
The cheering could be heard all the way south to my Florida Gulf Coast home.
Such was the terrific news that Chesapeake Bay Media will continue our beloved Bay Weekly.
I had the privilege of being a contributing writer for Bay Weekly for a dozen or so years, allowing me to explore the stories of the people and communities, nature and resources of the Bay I had loved since childhood.
For a full quarter-century, Sandra Martin, Bay Weekly editor extraordinaire, helped shape those articles, reflections, commentaries, spreading and preserving the news everyone in Bay Country wanted to hear. Brava to Sandra and to Alex Knoll and Bill Lambrecht, the family team founders.
And I give a hearty hello to Chesapeake Bay Media.
P.S. I once wrote a piece for Chesapeake Bay Magazine on Wye River crabbing and I never spent the $100 they paid me. I have kept many of my Bay Weekly checks, too; I was so proud to do that writing.
It’s been a few years. Hard for me to believe that a few stories of mine ran in the Bay Weekly over 20 years ago. I’m still amazed by that opportunity.
I read Sandra’s letter on the continuation of the Bay Weekly with Chesapeake Bay Magazine and wanted to send you a note.
Congratulations on 27 years and over 1,300 issues. It is amazing, especially in this media environment, and a testament to the hard work and passion of your group. I’m glad your cool paper will continue to live on. I hope you enjoy whatever comes next, and best of luck.
Thanks for giving me that chance 20 years ago and teaching me the value of fewer words and tighter editing. Those lessons have been beneficial in this meandering legal career of mine.
Good luck on new adventures.
Congratulations!!! A great big sigh of relief just went soaring into the heavens from a LOT of people.
I’ve been meaning to reach out to you for a while, since I saw that Bay Weekly will be retiring at the end of the year. My heart is heavy, but as you say, every story has an ending. And Bay Weekly has had a great run. I hope all is going smoothly for you all in these last few months.
Thinking of you and all that you have accomplished with Bay Weekly over the last quarter-century. It is so impressive!
“Gone to press,” in the news business usually brings to editors a sense of relief and also accomplishment — for about 10 minutes — before the process begins in earnest, all over again.
But in December it will be a sad gone to press for many when Bay Weekly makes its exit.
During my career in journalism on occasion I, happily, did some freelance writing for Bay Weekly. It was always a pleasure to work with Sandra, who directed such great coverage for readers, stories of interesting people and events in Annapolis and the towns and countryside of the Bay area, our glorious Chesapeake Bay.
Many of the paper’s stories brought to mind how lucky we are to have that water, from the north, and the Bay’s multitude of rivers and creeks lapping up to sandy beaches, to the green rolling hills in Southern Maryland that slide down to meet the Bay.
So thanks to you and your staff, smooth sailing and God’s speed!
Readers
The primary reason that I read the Bay Weekly is because I love reading stories that relate to Anne Arundel and Calvert counties where I live and travel. The stories have always been informative, and they helped me appreciate the area where I chose to move 18 years ago. I love the editorial each week — if I read nothing else, I finish it before recycling the paper. I consider most magazine’s messages from the editor to be pablum, and I routinely skip them.
I wish I could put into words what it is about the Bay Weekly’s editorial that is so intriguing; I suppose I’ll just say that I love to read Ms. Martin’s well-written stories because they evoke some shared memory or emotion. They are relatable. I also love the paper’s features on my neighbors, the local wildlife, the environment, regional gardening and upcoming events. We have enough stories on crime, politics, and religion on other media platforms, and I love that the paper avoids these topics.
Finally, I love that I can pick up the Bay Weekly from most of the shops and restaurants that I frequent. I can pick up a paper at the Chesapeake Market and Deli around the corner from my house in Rose Haven. I often pick up the paper from Whole Foods in Annapolis. And I also get the paper from my local Twin Beaches Library in Chesapeake Beach. Wherever I am on a Thursday, I’m excited to find the latest issue ready to inform me about what’s happening in the week ahead.
I want to let you know how relieved I was to learn that Chesapeake Bay Media will be adding the Bay Weekly to its media portfolio. I am grateful to learn of the new plans for Bay Weekly and wish Chesapeake Bay Media and its team as much success as the paper enjoyed during in its 27-year run.
Thank you for your leadership in making the Bay Weekly such a welcome source of news in the larger Annapolis community. We are so sorry that you are stopping publication. The newspaper brings needed unbiased news to the community where there are very few other sources and none of the same quality. We use the newspaper to teach English in a real context of business and community, daily life, so it serves us in two ways.
You are known for your caring and commitment to the community as well as your excellence in journalism. We need your newspaper to know what is happening, objectively communicated.
Oh goodie, so happy to read this news!
As a part-time Annapolitan, I rely on Bay Weekly to keep me apprised of everything — from the health of the Bay, to weekend festivals, to lectures at SERC. One of my greatest pleasures is going to the Amish market, picking up lunch and the Bay Weekly and plotting adventures with the help of 8 Days a Week. Thanks so much for your wonderful publication.
How excellent that you walked Bay Weekly over to Chesapeake Bay Media! I have loved our old contributors, your new writer and photographers and your all-along people. I found Bay Weekly many years ago in the library foyer. Now I can continue to look there.
I kept your Nov. 7 issue for the ads, so labeled. It’s in my bookshelf.
This is an apropos time of year to take a moment to thank you for all you do and have done over the years for the Annapolis community. Congratulations on your alliance with Chesapeake Bay Media.
All the best to all of you.
Saw the news of your success with the next step, surely a bittersweet event but in the big picture, hopefully, the best for your team in today’s media world.
Please convey my sincere thanks to your editor for her enthusiastic support to our annual holiday homeless drive for Linda’s Legacy over the years … and best wishes to each of you as you move forward with new opportunities.
Congratulations on the welcome news about the future of Bay Weekly! Truly wonderful!
For all the years embedded in the 1,359 issues you and your staff have delivered on deadline, many many thanks. What Bay Weekly has done for the vast area of its coverage is bring many reading hours of good local stories, many chuckles, and created an overall good feeling of community.
This is to say nothing of the writers that may exist today because of the understanding you had of youth and words and how you allowed them to express their findings in your pages.
A good staff goes a long way in creating an outstanding and thoughtful publication, but what brings it all together and makes it happen is the editor. Sandra Martin has proven to be a spectacular chief.
Clichés are the bane of any editor, but often they are very apt: Enjoy your new time to smell the roses!
With regret that you leave us, but with gratitude for what you did.
I am happy for Sandra and all of your team that Bay Weekly lives on. You offer a closer link into the Annapolis community, telling the varied stories of those who quietly contribute daily, often in the simplest ways.
Excellent news! I’ve loved your paper right from the start.
So glad to hear your great news of the phoenix-like rebirth of Bay Weekly! I’ve been meaning to write and congratulate you on a great run since I read your announcement. Now my procrastination allows me to send you a different kind of congrats.
We’ve always felt connected to your various incarnations, and with great sadness (and a not-inconsiderable amount of relief) we closed our own doors on Halloween this year.
Best to you all in your various pursuits, and good on Chesapeake Bay Media for recognizing your unique value.
It’s time for me to say thank you.
I moved to this area from Prince George’s County 22 years ago. Discovering your newspaper was such a blessing. I’ve enjoyed Bay Weekly for many reasons — everything from Alex Knoll’s Sky Watch articles to Wayne Bierbaum’s articles and pictures about the nature of our region. Most of all, though, I’ve appreciated the 8 Days a Week feature. I can’t tell you how many neat times I’ve had attending events and such listed in your paper. Truth is, I’d never even have known about most of those events if it wasn’t for Kathy Knotts compiling them for us.
Thank you for bringing a lot of good stuff into my little world these many years. A community newspaper makes a community better. Please know you’ve served us well.
Thanks for your great effort and work over these many years when I’ve been a beneficiary of your newspaper, which each week has kept arriving in my mailbox in Baltimore
Especially thanks for covering those first Potomac River Swims for the Environment, including my poem, On Swimming an Estuary, and for the attention you paid to our waterways up and down the Chesapeake.
When I think of Bay Weekly, I think of community, heritage and stewardship.
I was pleased to read the news that Chesapeake Bay Media is making Bay Weekly part of its publishing business. I look forward to many more interesting articles in Bay Weekly.
What a wonderful Christmas gift!
Can’t tell you how happy I am to have learned about your two organizations coming together. It’s a wonderful thing for our community!
Dear friend, Sandra Olivetti Martin: Yes, friend! We bought a cottage in Masons Beach, Deale, 14 years ago. Our main residence is in Fairfax, but, I have relied on Bay Weekly to find activities, restaurants, yard sales, parades, consignment shops, beaches, yard maintenance, individuals that make a difference, especially our garden guru (his passing left an emptiness as we had several caring phone conversations). It provided me the history of the Bay region and gave me places to go and people to meet.
All this, and it was free.
I personally do not know what I am going to do without this incredible resource to guide me. Go if you must. But know that we have appreciated each and every word.
Thank you for making us feel at home and introducing us to what makes the area special.
Sending you much gratitude and best wishes for as soft a landing as possible for everyone.
Will truly miss the great stories and insights arriving at local stores each Thursday.
I was delighted to learn Bay Weekly will continue — yahoo and congrats!!
I’m so very pleased to hear that your community has helped Bay Weekly and its staff get to this point.
Bay Weekly has been my Thursday morning routine for oh so many years now! Over the years it has also been fundamental in promoting many of my programs either through Natural Resources with Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown or with my many theatre projects with Chesapeake Youth Players, The Chesapeake Theatre Company, The Scurvy Crew and now recently The Community of Christ Players. I applaud you all as you pass on the flame: Bravo and Brava!!