Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I have been a professional artist for nearly 40 years with a specialty in portraying the beauty and ways of life around the Chesapeake Bay. The area’s watermen and women have also inspired my artwork as they fish, crab, clam and oyster these waters. They are genuine and hardworking folk who are following a proud tradition. Many have shared their time, wisdom, their homes and friendship with me: for which I am eternally grateful. They face many challenges in their work and we all should appreciate their efforts when we sit and dine on the treasures that these watermen bring to our tables.

With the arrival of so many new residents to these shores we must strive to be good neighbors, accepting of local traditions and mindful of the negative impact of our population on the Bay. The byproduct of our habitation is fouling our water! With over 18 million people (and growing) living in the Bay’s watershed, our Chesapeake is under unprecedented stress.

A ...