Allegany County officials are expecting to seek bids soon for the construction of the $2.5 million Outdoor Wellness Complex on Willowbrook Road, according to Adam Patterson, county public works director. The project, to be built on 24 acres of land between Allegany College of Maryland and the Cumberland Country Club, was first proposed in 2018. However, Patterson said it was sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic and personnel changes in the agencies involved in the funding package.
Unique play features, including a sway glider, we-go swing and merry-go-all, as well as a sensory-friendly rock abacus with special textures and shapes, and innovative musical stations were installed recently at Centennial Park North in Ellicott City, designed to allow anyone with physical challenges to play freely by themselves or with others. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Recreation and Parks Director Nick Mooneyhan celebrated the opening of the park’s sensory trail loop and all-access playground area on Nov. 17.
The Frederick County Council’s decision this week to reject the proposed Sugarloaf Rural Heritage Overlay Zoning District shocked some and raised questions about the future of the Sugarloaf region and efforts to preserve it. On Tuesday, the council voted 5-2 to reject the proposed Sugarloaf overlay zone, the intent of which was to restrict certain land uses and limit their potential impacts on the environmentally sensitive areas around Sugarloaf Mountain.
I’ve traveled across the country since I was 3 years old. While I don’t have the flyer points to prove it, I know how exciting it can be to come back to your hometown or visit a new place during the holidays. Now that I’m older and building my life and home, I love inviting friends from all over to come visit and explore Maryland. My colleague recently shared a few amazing places in Baltimore to eat with your out-of-town friends.
TurningPoint Energy and Pivot Energy Friday announced a collaboration on six community solar projects in Maryland totaling 16.6 MWdc of solar capacity. The projects, located in Howard, Prince George’s and Garrett counties are in the late stages of development and are expected to start construction in 2024. The acquisition of the portfolio marks the first transaction between TPE and Pivot.
Despite a low unemployment rate and a positive jobs outlook, economists warn Maryland may face a soft recession in 2024. Maryland’s unemployment rate reached 1.6% in September and only climbed one-tenth of a point in November to 1.7%. The rate is the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of any state since 1976. But economists warn this historic milestone does not paint the true picture.
AAA said that over 115 million people are traveling for Christmas and New Year’s. Over 115.2 million travelers are expected to hit the road and will drive 50 miles or more from their homes over the holiday travel period. There’s been a 2.2% increase this year compared to last year and the second-highest year-end travel forecast since 2000, AAA said. “This year-end holiday forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” said Paula Twidale, the Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.
Baltimore is not on the verge of landing a pro outdoor soccer team, nor are plans to add such a squad past the proverbial midfield. But after a report published Wednesday, the ball is now rolling. In a report that Crossroads Consulting Services submitted to the Maryland Stadium Authority, four sites were identified as potential locales for a soccer stadium with a capacity between 7,500 and 10,000. The hypothetical venue would host a D.C. United minor league team, competing in the MLS Next Pro league.
The holiday rush has begun at Reagan National Airport and airline customers can expect new travel protections after the Southwest Airlines meltdown last year. 7.5 million people are expected to fly for the holiday season and, if you remember, this time in 2023 — it was pure chaos due to the Southwest disaster. But since then, there’s been big improvements to transparency and making holiday travel more efficient.
Mayor Brandon Scott promised voters that he’d reduce violent crime in Baltimore, and after three years in office, some indicators suggest his approach is working. Violent crime is down, and the city is currently on track to end the year with fewer than 300 murders for the first time in nine years. Polling also suggests that parts of Scott’s approach to crime reduction that he campaigned on in 2020 — policies that address root causes, such as poverty and a lack of community resources while pursuing more effective policing and gun control — are broadly popular.