Around Maryland

Five years ago, hundreds of teens met up at the Inner Harbor over Memorial Day weekend, setting off a firestorm of public opinion after some grew rowdy and six were arrested. Last year, a similar crowd of young people talking, dancing and riding scooters downtown, near the Inner Harbor, prompted a police response to “monitor” activity. Days later, two teens were shot along East Pratt Street.

Transit Services of Frederick County has received a national award as 2024 Community Transportation System of the Year, according to a county news release. The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) recognized Frederick County’s Transit Services in the “Large System” category, for systems that either serve more than 50,000 people or receive federal grants for transportation planning in urbanized areas.

“Harbor Wetland,” a National Aquarium floating exhibit that re-creates a salt marsh habitat, will be open to the public Aug. 9, near the date of the aquarium’s 43rd anniversary. The exhibit, including a walkable floating dock, spans 10,000 feet. Admission will be free, and it will operate the same hours as the aquarium, which is open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Whether it’s electrified music or someone with a microphone and amplifier spreading their message, Montgomery County said it will begin cracking down on loud noises next month in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. And now, there are new signs saying just that. Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard told NBC Washington that enforcement will focus on the worst of the violators.

Leadership positions in Howard’s public school system will be reorganized in the coming months, including the creation of six new positions to oversee significant divisions of the school system, acting Superintendent Bill Barnes announced at a county Board of Education meeting on June 6. Barnes will become permanent superintendent July 1 and has served as acting superintendent since Jan. 10, after previous superintendent Michael Martirano announced his retirement Nov. 17 despite having almost three years left in a four-year contract.

The Montgomery Planning Board unanimously passed an Attainable Housing Plan that would allow residential land in Montgomery County zoned for single-family homes to be used for duplex, triplex or fourplexes. The plan heads to the County Council later this month. “I want to be clear on something. This proposed zoning change is not a mandate for people to turn their properties in to duplexes or townhomes or small apartment buildings,” said Planning Board Chair Artie Harris.

In an effort to stave off development that could interfere with operations at Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick County Council President Brad Young is drafting legislation modeled after the city’s airport overlay zoning district. During a joint meeting of the council and the city’s Board of Aldermen on Wednesday, Young said the idea to create a Frederick County version of the airport overlay came out of discussions with the city’s Airport Commission, of which he and Alderwoman Katie Nash are members.

A heat wave is expected to hit the Tri-State area next week before summer officially arrives. Heat indexes could reach 100 degrees next week, according to National Weather Service meteorologists for the region. The stretch of hot, humid days is forecast to start Monday, though the main concern for heat is expected to be mid to late next week, meteorologist Jeremy Geiger said.