Annapolis Taking Over Whitmore Park Maintenance

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 …

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Public Works Employees Speak Out Against Privatizing City Waste Services

Roughly 30 people, many wearing green shirts and holding signs, urged council members not to approve a managed competition process for bidding out solid waste services.

Wearing a green American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) shirt, Kevin Brown stood outside the steps of City Hall before Monday night’s city council meeting. With him were roughly 20 public works employees prepared to speak out against the possibility of privatizing the city’s solid waste services. Many of them were wearing the same green shirt and holding signs. “We’re fighting for our jobs,” said Brown, who was born and raised in Annapolis and has worked in the city’s refuse services for 23 years. As Patch reported in September, city officials have proposed a “managed competition process” to determine whether to continue using city staff or contract out city waste disposal services. Monday night, it was up to …

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Annapolis Harbormaster Boats Get New Hybrid Systems

The city displayed the first of two boat with hybrid diesel-electric-solar propulsion systems, made possible through grants.

You've heard of hybrid cars, but now, the city of Annapolis has a hybrid boat patrolling its harbor. In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen and Harbormaster Flip Walters unveiled the first of two hybrid diesel-electric-solar propulsion systems mounted on Harbormaster boats. The first boat, on display Thursday afternoon, will be used to collect mooring fees and as a water rescue boat as needed, city officials said. The second boat is the city's pumpout boat, which is currently being converted to an identical system. That boat is scheduled to be ready in January, officials said. The boats are not new, but were repurposed with the hybrid systems, city officials said. The entire process took about four years. …

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Photo Gallery: A Look at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

Visitors Have Opportunities to See Historic Structure Up Close in July, August.

Patch recently spent some time at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, which will be open for public tours later this summer. Enjoy our photo gallery and check Patch Monday for a story on the upcoming tours and the recent restoration efforts.

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New Year's Eve Fireworks in Annapolis

Early-bird fireworks allowed families from Annapolis and beyond to enjoy the show before bedtime.

Many families from Greater Annapolis headed downtown where the city hosted a free, fun-filled celebration with two rounds of fireworks. These photos were taken during the 7:30 p.m. show.

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Annapolis Middle Dancers Receive Donation

Students and faculty accepted a $500 check from the city of Annapolis to put towards their travel costs to the 2011 Orange Bowl.

Before they head off to perform in the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl halftime show in Florida this January, members of the Annapolis Middle School (AMS) Dance Company were honored at the Dec. 13 City Council meeting in Annapolis. They received a special award from the city to support them on their trip — a check for $500. "You ladies are wonderful," said Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson (D-4th Ward), as she introduced the dancers and asked them to state their names for the official city record. The four dancers representing the company were Annapolis High School (AHS) ninth graders Mary Virginia Kizer Ball and Madison White, and AMS eighth graders Kiki Jojic and Anne Lillefloren. Finlayson told the dancers that the council hoped they have a safe …

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Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

Tug of War, A Thanksgiving Sport

Which side will pull you over this Thanksgiving?

I remember the Thanksgiving mornings of my childhood; the sweet, warm smell of banana bread and coffee, the noise coming from the television where my older sister would be watching the parade, adding her commentary while she helped my mom. My mom, awake since dawn, would have the homemade stuffing already in the bird, which would be sitting on the counter, waiting to be slid into the oven with my help. My older brother was usually asleep until it came time to shower and lay out appetizers for the guests. Our father, who still knows to just stay out of the way, always arrived in the kitchen like clockwork each time the turkey needed to be basted.  It's been years since I had a Thanksgiving morning like those of my childhood. Sure, I wake up…

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