Around Maryland

The first humans to lay eyes on what would eventually become Annapolis, more than 10,000 years ago, likely gazed upward and saw it as a ridge above a wide river valley that led out to the Atlantic Ocean. Over millennia, fresh water from the rivers and creeks of the coastal plain and salt water from the sea devoured the shoreline, filled in the valley and created what we know as the Chesapeake Bay.

This week, Washington County resident Chris Keane attended his commencement. Not for high school, he’s already done that. Not for college, he’s yet to cross that milestone. But for something more novel, Maryland’s Service Year Option program, which started last year. The Herald-Mail covered the launch event for the program enacted in 2023 for recent high school graduates last October, recording the remarks of Keane, an inaugural year program participant, as he spoke about his early days serving at Horizon Goodwill in Hagerstown to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who backed legislation during his first year in office to create the program.

There is nothing like a snowball to beat the heat on a Baltimore summer day. Handmade snowballs could be readily found around Baltimore as early as the 1850s and 20th century machines helped further popularize the confection of shaved ice and flavored syrup that’s often topped with marshmallow. Not to be confused with other shaved ice treats like Japan’s kakigori, Hawaii’s shave ice, Mexico’s raspados or New Orleans’ sno-balls, which use finer shavings and are more likely to be drizzled with condensed milk than marshmallow, Baltimore’s snowballs have attained a cultural importance that transcends the mere need to beat the heat. So, how did they get so big here?

A member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education was serving on the board after taking a job with a school system in Missouri at the start of the year. But District 1 representative David Murray only resigned last week — around the time a complaint was filed with Maryland’s Board of Education. Murray’s new job as the chief academic officer for the Ferguson-Florissant School District in the St. Louis area was announced in December.

Members of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board expressed frustration Monday on the slow pace of the so-called “cost review” process to determine if six prescription drugs are unaffordable for workers on state health plans. While most of the administrative hurdles have been addressed, staff said it could still take months before the board is at a point where it can officially declare whether a half-dozen medications are unaffordable for Marylanders.

On a typical night just north of Washington, a dozen drone flights quietly take off as part of a major police trend spreading across the country. And the agency behind them — the Montgomery County Police Department — plans to double its program over the next few months. “They really have made a difference for us,” County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said Wednesday night, speaking at a community meeting in Bethesda, the latest area for coverage.

Looking for where to take your out-of-town guests? This 24-hour itinerary packs in the best of Baltimore, blending iconic landmarks with quirky, off-the-beaten-path gems. With a pick-your-own-adventure twist, you’ll explore vibrant breakfast spots, historic sites, local eats and thrilling entertainment. Charm City’s unique blend of history, culture and culinary delights promises a day full of fun and full bellies.

Military veterans can face a tangle of challenges when they complete their service, from physical and mental health problems to employment and financial issues, as they return to the civilian world. Frederick County officials are hoping to better inform the roughly 17,000 veterans in the county about the range of services available to them.

Robert Moody, the newly appointed music director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, lost his beloved husband five months ago to a sudden heart attack. That devastating loss is changing everything about how the acclaimed conductor approaches his art form. This fall Moody, 57, will become just the third music director in the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra’s history.