Sunday, February 17, 2013
Here's a quick look back at the biggest Annapolis headlines of the week.
Crews Battle Fuel Truck Fire in Annapolis Fire officials say a 3,000-gallon fuel truck caught fire on Edgewood Road, but no injuries were reported and the fire was extinguished quickly. Naval Academy Announces Next Commandant Capt. Bill Byrne was recently selected to be the 85th Commandant of Midshipmen, a position similar to the dean of students. Construction To Start on Annapolis Commons St. John Properties will build a 28-acre mixed-use business community off Harry S. Truman Parkway near the intersection of Riva Road. Union Jack's in Annapolis Now Open The casual pub offers a variety of British and American menu items for lunch and dinner. Stan and Joe’s Celebrates Six Years of Success The local saloon will celebrate at its Annapolis …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
On Valentine's Day, we celebrate a local couple as they share the story of how they met and what brought them—and keeps them—together.
While you might know him as an Anne Arundel County councilman or as a riverkeeper and he is both of those, for Valentine's Day, we'd like to introduce you to Chris Trumbauer—the husband and father. And since most great love stories require more than one person, there's also Mary, Chris' wife, but there's more. We need a great backdrop for this love story and we find it in the environment—yes, it's been at the forefront of Chris and Mary's relationship since day one. Their shared commitment to the environment is, in fact, what brought this couple together. "We were stream sampling," explained Chris. "We met in '99 or 2000." He then took off his wedding band and examined it. "We got married in 2003 and we met in 2000," Chris said, …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Some charter amendments sailed through the polls with a 90 percent approval vote, with the lowest being 61 percent.
Anne Arundel County voters are set to ratify 15 county charter amendments by a landslide, according to early results. All of the county's charter amendments were set to pass as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night—some with as much as 91 percent approval, and as low as 61 percent approval. But the results so far have left no room for middle ground on the issues. Among the charter changes are removing authority from the county executive's veto rights, giving the council the authority to remove a councilman or executive convicted of a felony, and setting the month of August as a legislative recess for the seven-member council. A few of the tighter races are yet to be determined, but Anne Arundel County residents can rest tonight on pretty solid ground …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Some of these items resolve long-standing disputes on the County Council, while others fix newer problems.
When Anne Arundel County voters arrive at the polls, they'll not only be voting on the DREAM Act and same-sex marriage, but also deciding the fate of 15 Anne Arundel County charter amendments—ranging from how convicted county councilmen should be treated to enacting an August recess for the Council. In an attempt to make these 15 items more digestible once you arrive at the polls, I will disassemble the legalese into a more understandable language, and explain context when necessary. Some of these items resolve long-standing disputes on the County Council, while others fix newer problems. Question A—Gives county departments more time to file their budgets. It also moves the start of the 60-day window for budget deliberation by the County …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Debris is expected to begin showing up along the shorelines of the Chesapeake in the coming weeks.
Dam operators opened four of Conowingo Dam's 53 flood control gates Thursday to relieve pressure from Hurricane Sandy's record-breaking downpour. The gates began to open Tuesday and Wednesday, and more were opened Thursday. When more than 40 of the floodgates were opened in September 2011, following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the resulting debris was carried from the Susquehanna River in northeast Baltimore down to nearly all areas of the Chesapeake Bay. Environmental groups started cleanup efforts in several regions, including Annapolis and Cape St. Claire. The event also spurred talk of how to handle wastewater runoff in the state after the introduction of the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay pollution diet. …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
An informational meeting on 20 ballot questions facing Annapolis voters this November will be held at City Hall on Wednesday evening.
The city will host an in-depth look at November's six-page ballot and how each of the 20 ballot questions affect residents on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers. "I looked at my own ballot, and I thought something needs to be done to ensure people understand what all this means," said Alderwoman Shelia Finlayson (D-4th Ward), who organized the event. The two-hour discussion will include input from both Republicans and Democrats from the city, county and state. In November, Anne Arundel County Council approved 15 county charter amendments that residents will have to vote on this November in order for them to be approved. Maryland also has five questions of its own on the ballot about gay marriage, gambling, redistricting, removal…
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Annapolis' representative on County Council seeks new legislation to use less toxic pesticides to battle bugs at county parks.
The kind of pesticides sprayed at Quiet Waters Park could soon be less toxic thanks to legislation pushed by Annapolis' representative on Anne Arundel County Council. Councilman Chris Trumbauer (D-6th District) said his proposal would prioritize pesticides based on toxicity to ensure that the least toxic option is used whenever possible. Another requirement of the legislation is additional signage for the public when these pesticides are used. “I originally set out to ban herbicides and pesticides altogether,” Trumbauer said. “This approach is more iterative.” Trumbauer said the idea struck him while he was visiting a county park with his children and discovered a sign nearby with a “no children” warning, because the parks department was …
Friday, March 16, 2012
Some Anne Arundel County councilmen lay the blame for a split vote on party politics.
Many Anne Arundel County councilmen claim a political game is being played over the vacant District 1 seat at the expense of the district's constituents. Patch editors interviewed each of the six councilmen to gauge their position in the division over who should fill the District 1 seat. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. The councilmen who have supported Wagner include Derek Fink (R-3rd District) of Pasadena, John Grasso (R-2nd District) of Glen Burnie and Dick Ladd (R-5th District) of Broadneck. Smith's supporters include Chris Trumbauer (D-6th District) of Annapolis, Jamie Benoit (D-4th District) of Crownsville and Jerry Walker (R-7th District) of Gambrills. Wagner's backers have primarily touted his experience and …
Patch editors asked the six current members of the Anne Arundel County Council about their division over filling the District 1 vacancy.
Each Anne Arundel County councilman was asked the same five questions regarding the District 1 vacancy and the state of the council. The final candidates are Peter Smith and Mike Wagner. Some were reached by phone, and some by email. Their answers are provided here. Contacted by phone What makes Wagner the better choice for you over Smith? There are two simple reasons. Wagner's lived here way longer than Smith. Smith has been here, what? Five years? Wagner's been here for infinity. I've been here for 50 years and there are still parts of the area I don't know. So imagine how much of the area he doesn't know after five years. The other thing is Wagner is a guaranteed conservative vote and we won't have a budget being passed like the last …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
County officials start the process for the city to take over maintenance, but county will maintain ownership.
Anne Arundel County Councilman Chris Trumbauer announced Monday that the city would be taking over the maintenance of Whitmore Park in downtown Annapolis. The news came at the end of the Monday night county council session, during which the board was set to vote on a resolution that would declare the half-acre property at the intersection of Calvert and Clay streets as surplus, in preparation for a potential sale. During previous meetings, county officials had said the park has been a drain on county finances for years. But with Annapolis officials now taking over the maintenance, the county is off the hook, Trumbauer said. "A draft lease has been prepared, which would over a two- or three-year horizon, allow the city of Annapolis to take …
Janice Hayes-Williams
2:11 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Nice!!!!! more ›