If I were writing a heartwarming, Hallmark-esque family movie, I might include a scene where a little girl who used to wish for snow days returns to her hometown as a single mother, watching her young son participate in the same ritual. Snow days prove fleeting, but one magic moment of whispery white powder, a sled and a perfect shared memory lasts forever. That scene came to life on Tuesday when an unexpected holiday snowfall canceled school in Baltimore and many other districts.
Maryland has some of the longest emergency room wait times in the nation, but state lawmakers want to ensure that Marylanders with dire health needs can receive care as quickly as possible. The House Health and Government Operation Committee met Wednesday to discuss contributing factors that lead to Maryland’s higher-than-average emergency room wait times and determine if some concerns can be addressed during the 2024 session.
A new report from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs shows that the rate of Minority Business Enterprise participation increased slightly last fiscal year, which included the first six months of the Moore-Miller administration. The new figures on participation of women and minority businesses in state contracts provide the first glimpse into a new Democratic administration striving to meet the “statewide aspirational goal of 29 percent,” which was put forward during the administration of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan but was repeatedly fallen short of in meeting that mark of minority participation.
Officials with the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad announced Monday they have leased rail lines along Georges Creek with plans to boost tourism and freight service opportunities in the area. State Sen. Mike McKay, chairman of the scenic railroad board, and Wes Heinz, CEO, said a 36-month lease has been signed to revive dormant lines extending from Shaft — located near Interstate 68 — south 13.5 miles to Westernport.
As she visits hospitals and health systems in her new role as the president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, former state Sen. Melony Griffith said there continues to be a pervasive need in the state for more health care workers, “no matter where you travel.” Griffith, who is in her first month leading the association, a powerful trade organization for more than 60 nonprofit hospitals and health systems in Maryland and Washington, D.C., resigned from the legislature earlier this year after 22 years representing Prince George’s County.
A Cambridge brewery has expanded its reach across the Chesapeake Bay, opening its second location this week. RaR Brewing opened a taproom and restaurant called Chessie’s Wharf in West Annapolis on Jan. 16. The space at 609 Melvin Ave. underwent major renovations and was formerly home to the Mexican Cafe. The around 2,500-square-foot space features 38 drafts from RaR Brewing and a rotating selection from breweries nationwide, according to the brewery’s website.
Montgomery County parents went to bed Tuesday night thinking they could sleep in later before sending the kids to school. But the next morning, the Maryland school system sent out another message that left some parents scrambling to find other arrangements. Montgomery County Public Schools announced around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday that instead of a two-hour delay, classes would be canceled, citing lingering ice on school sidewalks and parking lots.
Weis Markets, the central Pennsylvania-based grocery store chain, is looking to develop the site of the former 75-80 Dragway in Monrovia. According to state property records, the 15.45-acre former drag strip site was sold by 75-80 Properties LLC in June 2021 for $2.6 million, contingent on certain approvals. A monthly report from the the Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting shows that Weis Markets, which has the contingent contract to purchase the site, submitted a concept plan for a 65,500-square-foot store in November 2023.
The first thing you see when you enter the lodge: a big, lifelike black bear. Then, your eyes catch on a faux fox, ski-lift benches, antlers hanging on the lights and green vines strewn throughout the space. This may sound like a rustic chalet on a snowy mountain in the woods, but it’s actually an American restaurant and bar in Clarksburg. Clark’s Lodge is projected to open in March at 12011 Snowden Farm Parkway, owner Neel Kamal recently told MoCo360. The restaurant will replace GrillMarx, which closed in June 2023.
Christopher Judy is thrilled. At least as much as his cautious nature allows. The head of the shellfish program for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Judy is delighted to report what he calls an “historic spat set,” referring to the crucial moment in the oyster lifecycle when larvae successfully attach to a hard underwater surface, often a piece of shell, where they can gradually grow into adult oysters. The DNR’s annual survey of spat set conducted last fall recorded something extraordinary: Not only are the overall numbers high, but, most crucially, baby oysters turned up all over the place.