Greater Annapolis Patch reader Julie Kizer Ball asked why Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS) buses are so full? She wondered if it's a safety issue since there aren't seat belts in buses, seeing how some AACPS students have to sit three to a seat. She adds that three kindergartners may fit in a seat, but it's a different story for three high school students.  School bus overcrowding is a fluid and transitory problem, according to Chris Carter, director of transportation for AACPS. Overcrowding of school buses amounts to a safety concern for parents; however, for students and school …

Greater Annapolis Patch reader Mark Phillips sent in a question about flu shots. He wants to get a flu vaccine to protect himself and wondered if the county was still providing them. According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website, the flu vaccine offered this year protects against both H1N1 and other strains of seasonal flu. The Department of Health is still offering walk-in clinics for free flu shots and nasal spray. Weekly walk-in clinics are available locally at the Parole Health Center on 1950 Drew St. in Annapolis. Clinics are held every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30…

The end of October marks the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year. We're talking about Girl Scout cookie season, of course. That's why we looked into it when we received a note that Annapolis Girl Scout Community 46 was told that Giant Food placed new restrictions on outside sales for groups. For the scouts, grocery stores provide a safe place on the weekends to interact with members of the community to sell cookies and popcorn. As cookie season ends and the holidays begin, the Salvation Army starts their Red Kettle Campaign and a reader wondered how the new Giant guidelines …

Greater Annapolis Patch reader Laurie Wick sent an e-mail, "I heard a rumor that a Shell gas station is going in the Giant Food parking lot next to the Wachovia Bank on Bay Ridge Road." While the iconic Shell symbol won't be showing up in the Bay Forest Shopping Center, developers do have plans to bring a gas station into the retail area anchored by the Giant Food supermarket.  Giant, already the flagship tenant of the retail property, is looking to expand its reach by opening a Stop and Shop gas station in the parking lot, according to Phil McGowan, public information officer for the city of…

More than a month ago, we ran a story about some residents who live along Generals Highway and were upset about the lack of public input solicited for the location of a new elevated water storage tank. We've had several inquiries from Greater Annapolis Patch readers about the status of the water tower but we haven't had anything to report because there haven't been any additional public meetings. Richard Falk, president of the Generals Highway Council of Civic Associations (GHCCA), recently confirmed that a working group met privately with the  Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works…

People often ask us about where to volunteer around town because they know that Patch believes in publicizing opportunities for people to help in our community. Greater Annapolis Patch reader Stacy Kennedy wrote that her children were excited about helping with food drives at school and church so she wanted to find more opportunities for them to volunteer during the holiday season. While there are many more opportunities for teens, there are still things that children can do with their parents around town. If you look under the news tab of this site, you will find listings for "volunteers …

Ellen Scarano, an Annapolis Roads resident, sent us an e-mail because she noticed the Hillsmere Blockbuster is "really, really closed now; even the signs are gone!" She asked Greater Annapolis Patch what's going to take its place. The empty space in the Bay Ridge Shopping Center is barely noticeable for what it once was. The royal blue awnings with the bright yellow Blockbuster signs were quickly removed after the video-rental store closed at the end of September. The parent company filed for bankruptcy shortly after. However, the prime vacant spot is not going to sit empty very long. An …

The hopes and dreams of area students blow in the wind in the form of flags along both Forest Drive and Riva Road. Greater Annapolis Patch reader Jennifer Shearer sent a question asking about the meaning behind all the colored flags at Annapolis Middle School (AMS). Shearer said she'd also seen them at another school in the area. AMS Principal Monique Jackson stated that the flags were International Baccalaureate (IB)-related and part of a collaborative effort with the high school. All AMS students participate in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) that continues in grades 9 and 10 at …

Greater Annapolis Patch reader Jeff Evans noticed that one of his neighbors puts his recycling out in trash bags marked with an "X" while others just pile it loose in the county-provided yellow container. Evans wondered what the preferred method is, and whether yard waste such as leaves required special handling. Anne Arundel County makes it easy to recycle and doesn't require residents to use specific containers. Although the county provides the yellow recycling containers free, residents are not required to use them. Any bag or container may be used as long as it is marked with an "X" to …

Information about the drug take-back day sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Sept. 25 prompted a Greater Annapolis Patch reader to ask how they're disposing of the collected drugs. Heather Macintosh of Bay Ridge sent an e-mail expressing concern that the drugs could end up in the groundwater. She also wondered what people should do with their unwanted drugs since pharmacies don't provide disposal services. The back pain may have gone away or that nasty infection has finally cleared. But the pills remain, gathering dust in your medicine cabinet. And drug officials said …

The city of Annapolis recently closed Waterworks Park, the 40-acre passive-use park on Defense Highway, as a cost-cutting measure. Janet Norman, a Greater Annapolis Patch reader, posted on our Facebook page that she wanted to know when the park, which was closed in March, would reopen.Norman isn't the only one who wonders if the park will reopen. Fred Matos just wants his old fishing hole back. Patrick Miller envisions miles of prime mountain bike trails. Matos and Miller have put their heads together to offer ways to help the city reopen Waterworks Park, which is located a mile west of …

Have you ever wondered why the "Pothole from Hell" in your neighborhood is still there? Why roadwork that was supposed to be done in weeks takes months? Or the promise of that new development in an empty field has not been fulfilled? Well, so do we and we're going to do something about it. But we can't do it without your help! You Ask … Patch Answers is a weekly column for locals looking for solutions to community problems or issues. Everything from deer control to missing street signs to eyesores to local mysteries: Why has nobody removed the graffiti from the water tower? Why does the …