What’s the Going Rate for Lawn Services in Anne Arundel?

As part of our new Smart Spending series, Patch wants to uncover the true going rate for various goods and services in town, so you'll know exactly how much you should pay for what you need. Help us out by replying in the comments.

This week: How much do lawn services cost? How much do you pay for your lawn service? And what does that cover—just mowing, or does it cover weeding, pruning, planting? Please share in the comments below—we promise we won't judge you! And if you've got a lawn service you love, tell us that too.  This is the first of an ongoing series, "What's the Going Rate for..." where Patch seeks to uncover how much things cost so you never have to ask again. 

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How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day? (Sponsored)

Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism. Sponsored by Sony.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of …

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College Students Give Back During their Spring Break

Dispelling the myth that the only thing college students care about on spring break is the beach, a group of 20 students from seven different schools devoted their week off to getting involved and giving back to the community as part of United Way of Cent

Maryland's Top April Fool's Day Pranks: Share

April Fools Day is one of the trickiest days of the year. How do you celebrate April 1?

April Fools Day is the day we've set aside to both celebrate and avoid our resident pranksters. Twitter and Facebook were alive with several joke links throughout the day. One of the more popular ones to make the rounds came from the Downtown Annapolis Facebook group. "Wow… Great NEWS! Downtown Annapolis is going to become a port for an international cruise line… Say good bye to Ego Alley and all parking… city residents will be offered a 10 % discount on all travel… Happy Monday!" How do you think that'd go over in reality? Huffington Post rounded up some of the best pranks of the year. I'll add Google's "treasure map overlay" on its Google Maps function as one of my personal favorites of this holiday—check the photo with this post for a …

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Sequestration, Papal Retirement and the Best of Maryland Local Voices

Here are the best of this week's Local Voices posts from Maryland Patch sites.

Here are some of the best Local Voices posts in the past week from around Maryland's Patch sites. Remember, if you have something on your mind, it's quick and easy to join the conversation. Just click "Start a Blog" under the top story on our front page. Sequestration: We Have a Choice: U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin talks about the impact budget cuts mandated by sequestration will have on Maryland. Gratia Benedictus XVI: In Montgomery County, a reader wonders what the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI will be. Benedict stepped down from the papacy on Thursday. Starting School Later Does Not Have to Cost More: A Howard County dad points out other jurisdictions that have later start times for schools. Marks Changes Position On County Cars for …

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Anne Arundel Local Voices Roundup: March 1

Here are interesting Local Voices posts from around Anne Arundel County Patch sites.

Here are some of this week's top Local Voices entries. If you want to join our Local Voices section, just click "Start a Blog" under the top stories on our front page. Before Snow Plows and Snow Blowers: A retired teacher and author in Pasadena shares a scene from snow days gone by. Local businessman seeks to be first Hispanic on Penn State's Board: Frederik L. Riefkohl, a 1987 Penn State graduate, announced his candidacy for one of three alumni positions in the 2013 board of trustees election. Support HB 1462 - A Maryland Task Force for Later School Start Times: A parent pushes for support of a bill to require later start times for schools. Italy Comes to Arundel: Hear about the visit of Italian students to Arundel High School. Organizing…

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Legislation Would Ease Pressure on Pit Bull Owners and Landlords

Bills in the House of Delegates and Senate would create a new standard where all dog owners are presumed liable for dog attacks, regardless of the breed of the animal.

Legislation overriding a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that made landlords liable for pit bull attacks, and put owners at risk of being evicted or having to give up their dogs, will be heard Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee. Identical House and Senate bills seek to create a new standard where all dog owners in civil action cases, regardless of the dog’s breed, are presumed liable for attacks unless owners can prove they did everything possible to avoid the attack, said Sen. Brian Frosh, sponsor of the Senate bill. It would also reverse the strict liability on landlords. “The interest groups: pet owners, landlords, and animal rights groups are pleased with it,” said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat who is also chairman of …

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Would Schools Be Safer With Armed Officers?

After the Newtown, CT school shooting, Maryland legislators are looking at a number of ways to make schools safer.

According to Annapolis Patch, delegates from Anne Arundel County are introducing legislation on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in hopes of increasing security and mental health services at public schools across the state. The proposed bill would also pay for an armed resource officer at each school. "If you really understand public schools in Maryland, you know this: They are becoming increasingly more difficult for classroom teachers because discipline is lacking at home and teachers are spending an increasing amount of time maintaining discipline in the classroom," said Del. Nic Kipke (R-Pasadena). In Montgomery County, Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown, a vocal advocate of school resource officers stationed in schools, told a room full …

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Weekend PatchTag Project: #Hashtag Patriotism In Your Patch

Post a patriotic photo from your Patch using the hashtag #PatchInauguration on Instagram.

We're starting something new here at Patch, borrowing an idea from social media networks. We're calling it the Weekend PatchTag Project. It's simple. Using your Instagram account, post a photo of patriotism in your community—you know, getting into the spirit of a presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tag it with #PatchInauguration and it'll appear in our grid of images on every Patch site in Maryland. It's your chance to show off how patriotic your community is to the rest of the state. Now get to it! Oh, and while you're at it, what's your Instagram handle? Post it in a comment below, and let us know what Patch you live in, and we'll follow you! 

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Letter to the Editor: Forest Conservation Needed Before Crystal Spring is Planned

Scott Mobley, President of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula Federation, raises his organizations concerns about a proposed development on Forest Drive.

Annapolis Neck Peninsula Federation (ANPF) and many environmental organizations, including the South River Federation, are concerned about the stormwater impacts of the proposed Crystal Spring development on Forest Drive. However, ANPF believes this project has much bigger issues, such as destruction of forests and wetlands. And more traffic congestion. And worse school overcrowding. So, are we ready to accept this project's plan? Crystal Spring must file a Natural Resource Inventory, describing which forests and wetlands to preserve according to the Maryland Forest Conservation Act. They've tried. Five times. The city found all inadequate. Until the location of forests and wetlands is well understood, no site plan should be in discussion…

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