Around Maryland

All six candidates on the ballot for the Frederick County Board of Education discussed the increasing role of technology and expanding early education at a forum on Sunday. The forum was held at Hood College in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Frederick County; about 50 members of the community gathered to watch. Candidates Colt Morningstar Black, Josh Bokee, Jaime Kiersten Brennan, Veronica D. Lowe, Janie Monier and Chad King Wilson Sr fielded questions from moderator Betty Mayfield, a former math professor at the college and a past co-president of the League.

Stop sign camera enforcement near schools could be coming to Prince George’s County, Maryland. A bill to allow stop sign cameras in school zones is advancing in the county council. The measure was passed unanimously on Oct. 10 by the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. At the meeting, the panel was told by council staff that the bill was needed to authorize the camera installations, which have been given the green light by the Maryland General Assembly.

The plans for a controversial power line seem to be one step closer to becoming a reality for many Marylanders. PSEG unveiled its route for the 70-mile transmission line that would cut through multiple counties in the state. From the moment the project was announced, it has been met with backlash. Hundreds of Marylanders have spoken out about the proposal, including many local leaders.

Superintendent Mark Bedell informed the Board of Education recently that early release days for elementary schools will not have recess built into the schedule, to the frustration of some board members. “When we talk about recess, we are talking about something essential to a child’s growth, like food,” District 3 representative Corine Frank said at a Board of Education workshop Oct. 7.

There’s a miniature Windsor Mill Road structure that looks like it belongs to elves — or maybe a good witch or Harry Potter wizard. Officially, it’s the gatehouse to the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, known for decades as Kernan Hospital. The gatehouse comes with one of those delightful Baltimore tales. James Kernan, a successful theater owner, ruled the northern part of Howard Street in downtown Baltimore with his “Million Dollar Enterprise.”

Some runners rounded the corner of Hopkins Place and hit the homestretch on Pratt Street with a head of steam. They practically glided across the Baltimore Running Festival finish line Saturday. Marathon winners Willy Fink and Sara Kenefick were a part of that group. Heck, so was Baltimore Banner reporter Adam Willis, who finished 20th overall in the half-marathon.

After Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced Wednesday that the city would cut ties with the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, the news reverberated throughout the local art world. Turbulence over BOPA’s financial troubles had come to a head in recent weeks, but the announcement still appeared to be a surprise to some.

This summer, around 150 people jumped into the Inner Harbor for the first Harbor Splash. The Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor report shows many areas of the harbor are safe for swimming. A majority of sites have good or improving bacteria scores. The report found the Inner Harbor is safe for swimming 80% of the time.