The Fund for Educational Excellence announced the creation of the Dr. Sonja B. Santelises Legacy Fund to honor Santelises’ decade of service as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools.

Santelises’ time as CEO made her the longest-serving leader of the district in more than 80 years. More than $250,000 has already been raised to support the fund through donations from philanthropic supporters who wanted to honor Santelises’ legacy and invest in Baltimore City students.

The fund was created in partnership with Santelises and will use annual investment income to give pre-college experiences to a cohort of Baltimore City Public Schools high school students. These experiences are meant to expand their horizons and help them find pathways to academic and personal success.

Students selected for the program will be known as Santelises Scholars. The initiative symbolizes City Schools’ excellence and Santelises’ commitment to increasing opportunities for Baltimore’s young people.

“Dr. Santelises has dedicated her tenure to ensuring Baltimore City students have access to the opportunities, support and belief they need to thrive,” said Roger Schulman, president and CEO of The Fund for Educational Excellence, in a statement. “This Legacy Fund is a meaningful way to honor her extraordinary leadership while investing directly in the future of the young people she has championed every day.”

Santelises has served as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools since 2016. Last year, she was named superintendent-in-residence at The Broad Center at Yale University’s School of Management, Baltimore Fishbowl reported in October 2025. The new role involves leading a public education leadership fellowship, teaching in the school’s Master’s in Public Education Management degree program, and mentoring alumni.

“Under her leadership, City Schools has seen notable improvements in student literacy, expanded access to rigorous coursework, strengthened arts programs and significant facility upgrades, accomplishments that reflect her deep commitment to equity and excellence for every student,” according to a press release from Baltimore City Public Schools.

Santelises was recognized as Maryland Superintendent of the Year in 2025 and one of four finalists for the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year award. She was even considered a serious candidate for President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Education in 2020.

Details regarding the application process and selection criteria for the inaugural Santelises Scholars cohort will be announced in fall 2026. Those interested in contributing to the Dr. Sonja B. Santelises Legacy Fund may contact development@thefundbalt.org for more information.

The sun is out, soft shells are returning, and the Baltimore food scene is waking up for spring. This week is a busy one – here’s a look at what’s coming up:

Openings & announcements

The Silver Queen Café crew has a new venture in the works. The team is taking over the Harford Road space most recently occupied by Emma’s Tea Spot, and has plans to open The Market at Hamilton, which will be a deli also carrying specialty food items like cheeses.

Happy 30^th anniversary to Sotto Sopra, which celebrated three decades in business on April 9.

Truong Tien, a Vietnamese restaurant in northern Virginia, is opening its second location at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. The new spot is slated to open in late May.

As of earlier this week, Burnt Hill Farm is taking reservations for its Chef’s Counter, for seatings starting May 1. The reservations are available to Burnt Hill email list members via a Tock link – and are likely to fill up quickly as they are released, as the restaurant only seats twelve. But Chef Tae Strain’s cooking is worth the effort.

Starting April 18, HEX Superette will offer a breakfast menu with options like shakshuka, breakfast burritos, and fresh pastries. The menu will also include a full coffee and espresso program, all starting at 8 a.m. and available on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Change for BSC

Baltimore Spirits Company has decided to end its wholesale distribution operation. Starting May 1, its products will no longer be available in retail outlets, though they will still be available for purchase at the distillery’s tasting room and the Cocktail Gallery at Union Collective.

Spring Fling at Old Line Spirits

On Saturday, Old Line Spirits celebrates nine years in business with its annual springtime party, held in collaboration with Monument City Brewing Co. The event includes cocktails, tastings, Smashdads Burgers, Unhinged Desserts, and live music.

Lost Restaurants of Little Italy dinner

On Saturday evening, Pierpoint Restaurant goes back in time with an evening remembering and re-tasting the food of bygone favorites in Little Italy.

Tea at The Duchess

On Sunday, The Duchess is hosting a special (and ticketed) afternoon tea inspired by the show Bridgerton.

Greek Easter at Cypriana

Also on Sunday, Cypriana is offering a special menu in honor of Orthodox Easter, with seatings starting at noon (and vegan and gluten-free options available).

Disaronno Godfather Week pop-up

On Tuesday, April 14, Rye Baltimore is going all in on the classic Disaronno cocktail the Godfather, as part of a global Godfather Week event.

Chef’s Cycle fundraiser at Gunther & Co.

Also on Tuesday, Gunther & Co. is hosting a cocktail party fundraiser in honor of the 200-mile bike ride Jerry and Nancy Trice are about to embark upon to raise money for No Kid Hungry. The evening includes a raffle and silent auction, plus bites and drinks from a bunch of excellent local businesses, including Huck’s American Craft, Old Line Spirits, Alma Cocina Latina, The Capital Grille, Dutch Courage, Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles, Knotty Pine, The Dive, The Corner Pantry, Of Love & Regret, True Chesapeake, The Food Market, and Sally O’s.

Spring cooking at Cosima

On Wednesday, Cosima hosts a fun dinner and interactive cooking class with Chef Donna Crivello and drinks expert John Brown. The menu includes baked stuffed artichokes, lamb, and ricotta cheesecake.

Wine dinner Wednesday

On April 15, there are a couple great options for wine lovers.

In Roland Park, Johnny’s welcomes the winemaker from Honig Winery in Napa Valley for a three-course meal with pairings and discussion.

Also on Wednesday, The Black Olive in Fells Point will showcase wines but from a different continent: the Nemea region of Greece.

Ekiben x The Urban Oyster

Also on Wednesday,Ekiben teams up with The Urban Oyster for a short-term collaboration – tickets are live and the meals will be available for pickup at Ekiben’s Hampden location.

Tequila Thursday

On Thursday, The Corner Pantry and Spirit Shop team up for a five course dinner with pairings representing “an exploration of tequila.” Courses include dishes like lobster ceviche and coffee and smoked salt-rubbed beef.

Books & cruises at Hersh’s

Also on Thursday, Hersh’s partners with The Ivy Bookshop for a dinner celebrating Jung Yun’s All the World Can Hold. The buffet menu is cruise-themed – to fit with the book – and includes items like shrimp cocktail and prime rib.

Spring flavors

Springtime ingredients are back in season, which means ramps are just about back on the menu at Foraged, where their brief season receives a huge amount of love.

Manor Tavern’s spring food and drinks menus, including options like the Manor Garden Southside, is available starting Friday night – just in time for The Manor Races on Saturday.

Magdalena’s spring menu is just about to drop – and like at Foraged, ramps will get a spotlight.

One sure sign of spring: soft shell crabs are popping up on menus around town, including at The Food Market, Thames Street Oyster House, and The Milton Inn.

Planning for the future

Mark your calendars for:

April 18-19: Spring Welcome Picnic at Juniper Farm

April 22: Dinner with Brian Lavin at Boordy

April 29: Spring in Positano Wine Dinner at Limoncello

The Pikesville Armory Foundation announced its first immersive multimedia art exhibit, “Resonant Site,” taking place over the last two weekends in April.

Maryland artist duo Collis Donadio created “Resonant Site,” a multi-screen audiovisual installation that examines the ways industry intersects with the environment in Baltimore, where water meets land. Baltimore-based artists Shannon Collis and Liz Donadio form the duo, combining their photography, digital video, and sound installation backgrounds. They create work that explores public spaces and show details of those places’ pasts, presents, and potential futures.

“The Pikesville Armory is an ideal setting for this installation, with its large scale and raw, open interior,” the duo said in a statement. “The building’s unfinished character and layered history offered us a unique opportunity to work within a space in transition. ‘Resonant Site’ uses the drill hall’s size and acoustics to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Visitors move through a series of suspended screens displaying video and sound drawn from Baltimore’s waterfront and industrial landscape. As they navigate the space, the work unfolds gradually — bringing together projection, sound, and architecture into a single, unified experience.”

The first phase of the Armory’s renovation was completed in August 2025, part of a multi-year plan involving the creation of “an intergenerational community destination for sports, recreation, and the arts,” according to a news release. The Armory held a free jazz concert series last summer and a PopUp! Inflatable Art Festival in September 2025.

“Resonant Site” is free to attend and open to all on Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19, and Saturday, April 25–Sunday, April 26. Exhibit hours are 1–6 p.m. There will be an Artist Talk on the closing date, Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m.

The exhibit is located in the drill hall of the historic Pikesville Armory main building at 640 Reisterstown Road. The Pikesville Armory has free parking onsite.

For more information, visit “Resonant Site” online.

More than 400 apartments could be built near the Rogers Avenue Metro Station in Northwest Baltimore, under a plan by state officials to identify developers for public land around transit stations.

Maryland’s Department of Transportation this week issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) from development teams interested in working in partnership with the state to build housing on a nine-acre parcel near the Rogers Avenue Metro Station at 4600 N. Rogers Ave. The state-owned land is zoned for transit-oriented development and currently used as a parking lot.

According to the RFQ, called the Rogers Avenue Metro Station Joint Development Opportunity, responses are due by 5 p.m. on May 29 and a shortlist of development teams will be made public on June 19. A request for proposals will then be issued to those finalists, with responses due on Sept. 30. State officials say they will review the proposals and name the selected developer in November.

A preliminary analysis indicates that the land has the potential to accommodate more than 400 residences that would generate more than $27 million in combined city and state tax revenue, while supporting increased transit ridership and economic development along the Metro corridor.

The actual unit count will be finalized once a developer is selected, as will decisions about how many of the apartments will be market-rate versus below market-rate and what retail spaces might be included.

The selected developer “will be responsible for the design and delivery of a meaningfully dense, mixed-use, transit-oriented development that integrates seamlessly with the Station and complements the surrounding residential neighborhoods,” the RFQ states. “The Developer will engage key stakeholders including the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), Baltimore City, and the community to support the long-term vision for the site.

State officials say the RFQ is part of a larger effort by Gov. Wes Moore’s administration to make state-owned land near transit stations available for private development and improve regional mobility through substantial investments in transit across the Baltimore region. The effort is called the Baltimore Region Transit-Oriented Development Strategy.

In all, officials say, the state owns 134 acres that are suitable for joint development, including new housing and commercial space, along the Metro line that runs from the Johns Hopkins medical campus in East Baltimore to Owings Mills, and the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to Glen Burnie. In addition, the Maryland Transit Administration is spending nearly $1.4 million to modernize the light rail line with new vehicles, station upgrades and other improvements.

“We have said from the beginning that if this is going to be Maryland’s Decade, it has to be Baltimore’s Time,” said Moore, who spoke about the state’s transit-oriented development strategy during an event at the Rogers Avenue Metro Station on Monday. 

“Part of making that real means making sure our investments in Baltimore’s Metro and Light Rail System lead to opportunity — opportunity to live near transit, opportunity to strengthen communities near transit, and opportunity to create work, wages, and wealth near transit,” Moore said. “That is what it means to leave no one behind.”

“For generations, restrictive housing and transportation policies were intentionally used to limit opportunity and investment in so many of our neighborhoods. Today, the opposite is true,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who joined Moore at the Rogers Avenue Metro Station. 

“Working with the State and public and private partners, we are intentionally anchoring housing projects near transit — just as we envisioned in Our Baltimore, a comprehensive development plan for the city,” Scott said. “This strengthens our communities, attracts new residents, and creates opportunity for local businesses as we continue to drive Baltimore’s Renaissance forward.”

By Sam Gauntt, Alexander Taylor, Aline Behar Kado, Rhiannon Evans, Irit Skulnik, Ian Ferris and Nolan Rogalski  

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland General Assembly has spent the last three months working on legislation to address a host of critical issues, including tackling rising utility costs and limiting federal immigration enforcement in the state. 

With the legislature set to adjourn Monday, it’s down to the wire.

Democrats tout accomplishments, including bans on agreements with Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents, but say they’re scrambling to get more done. 

“We’re trying to make sure that when we leave here and adjourn, the people are in a better place,” House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, told Capital News Service. “And I believe we will do that.”

While Republicans point to some wins, including protecting the seat of Maryland’s only GOP congressman, they said they’re frustrated that taxpayers and ratepayers did not get more relief. 

“We’re standing here very disappointed,” Minority Whip Sen. Justin Ready, R-Carroll and Frederick, said at a press conference Thursday. “We have a lot to fight for the next couple of days.” 

Here are some key issues lawmakers have considered this session.  

State budget 

Gov. Wes Moore signed the legislature’s three-bill budget package into law on Wednesday. The $70.8 billion plan resolved a projected spending shortfall. It was the second year in a row state lawmakers had to close a deficit. 

The budget includes no new taxes or fees, maintains the state’s rainy day fund and will increase the state’s general fund, leaving a surplus, according to the governor’s office. 

“A budget is more than numbers on a page,” Moore said in a statement. “It tells our people what matters, it tells our people who we are fighting for, and it tells people whether we are willing to make hard decisions and still deliver.” 

Utility relief 

Just days before the end of the session, House and Senate leadership said they had reached an agreement on the Utility RELIEF Act of 2026, a comprehensive bill aimed at lowering Marylanders’ energy bills. 

“Over the past several weeks, the House and Senate have worked collaboratively to advance the Utility RELIEF Act as a balanced, statewide approach to deliver meaningful savings, strengthen our energy grid, and protect ratepayers,” Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, both Democrats, said in a joint statement Wednesday.

The leaders said they’re still finalizing the bill’s language, but are confident it will “deliver real, immediate relief while making long-term investments in Maryland’s energy future.” 

The act would regulate utilities and data centers, change regulations on energy sources and expand clean energy. 

“We’re doing what we can with the tools we have at the state level, but we have to be very, very clear about where we’re seeing price increases come from. It’s the federal government from an indiscriminate war in the Middle East,” Ferguson, of Baltimore City, said at a press conference last Friday.

Immigration bills

State legislators introduced more immigration-related bills this year than in any session in the last 15 years. Many address concerns about cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

About a dozen of the 43 immigration bills introduced moved forward in the legislative process. Only a few are expected to become law.

Earlier in the session, Moore signed legislation to prohibit agreements between Maryland local law enforcement officials and ICE, under what is known as the 287(g) program.

Many immigration advocates and Democratic senators have also pushed the Community Trust Act, which prohibits law enforcement agents from engaging in certain immigration enforcement actions. The bill had initially stalled, but the Senate took it back up Friday to consider amendments and move it forward before Monday’s deadline.

Cheltenham investigation 

Legislation to launch an investigation into the deaths of hundreds of Black boys at the House of Reformation for Colored Children in Cheltenham is on its way to the governor’s desk.

The bills, sponsored by Sen. William C. Smith Jr.,  D-Montgomery County, and Del. Jeffrie E. Long Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s, moved through the legislature without much opposition.

The legislation was one of several priorities of Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus.

Other priorities included raising sickle cell disease awareness, reducing punitive student debt programs, protecting voting rights and reforming the youth sentencing system. 

Del. N. Scott Phillips, D-Baltimore, the caucus’s chair, said 17 of the caucus’s 25 priority bills had moved through the legislative process by early April.

Phillips cautioned that although the caucus is the largest in the legislature, its members must still push for its priorities until the end of the session. 

“I want to remind you we’re not done,’’ Phillips told the caucus earlier this month. “It is incumbent on all of us, if [priority bills] are in your committee, to make sure they get a vote, they come back, that they pass those bills so that we can celebrate at midnight on April 13.”

What hasn’t made it?

Some efforts, however, are unlikely to survive. 

The Democrats’ proposed congressional redistricting initiative, an early priority for Moore and supported by Peña-Melnyk, hasn’t budged in the Senate since the House passed a measure in February. The effort came amid a wave of congressional redistricting plans across the U.S., and drew high-profile support from national Democrats, including U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Maryland’s redistricting plan would have targeted the seat of U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., the state’s lone Republican congressman. 

Other efforts with little forward momentum include a measure to make seatbelts mandatory on some school buses and Republicans’ effort to pause the state’s gas tax. 

Legislation not approved before the session’s end will have to wait another year for its next shot at becoming law. 

By BEN MESSINGER

Capital News Service

(WASHINGTON)–Democrats running for Congress in Maryland’s 1st District are less focused on their primary opponents right now than on the incumbent they want to face in the fall – Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Harris.

There are currently four Democratic candidates running in the June party primary. They’re not talking about each other much, though; they’re talking about the Republican chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

“We have to show people that Congressman Harris does not care about them,” Democratic candidate Dan Schwartz said. “He only cares about what the president wants and his culture war, extreme policies.”

“Andy Harris is a bad representative. That’s not something that’s, like, you’re feeling. That’s fact,” said Randi White, another Democratic candidate. “Andy Harris doesn’t represent the people in Maryland One at all.” 

In interviews with Capital News Service, neither candidate mentioned the other nor the other two candidates in the primary race. 

“We’re going to convince people to vote for a more reasonable alternative to Congressman Harris,” Schwartz said. “Showing people what it’s like to have a representative who actually shows up and fights for them instead of one that hides from them.”

Yet Harris doesn’t seem worried.

“Congressman Harris is busy representing his district. Closer to the election, he can turn his attention to the campaign,” a Harris spokesperson told CNS in an email.

Harris hasn’t faced strong competition in recent general elections. He’s held the seat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore since 2010. He first narrowly lost to Frank Kratovil in 2008, then dominated a 2010 rematch.

Harris has controlled the seat ever since. He has won his last eight elections by at least 10% more than his Democratic challenger. His largest win was 41% more than his opponent’s in 2014.

The last midterm election was his tightest win as the incumbent. In 2022, he only received 54.4% of the vote, defeating Heather Mizeur.

In 2024, Harris won a higher percentage than Trump in every county, defeating Democratic candidate Blane Miller by more than 90,000 votes.

Democrats say they have confidence in 2026 because they think Harris won’t be boosted by President Donald Trump’s name on the ballot. 

Harris’s affiliation with the Trump administration without the president on the ballot was part of why Schwartz and White decided to join the race. 

“Midterm years are always going to be lower turnout. He always benefits from Trump. We got to look at 2022,” White said. “The key to it is we make Andy own everything with Trump.”

Democrats also cite his status as the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus as potentially unpopular. The House Freedom Caucus is an all-Republican group“committed to fiscal discipline, limited government, and restoring accountability in Washington while advancing the liberty, safety, and prosperity of all Americans,” according to a Harris spokesperson.

Schwartz claims Harris is “uniquely more vulnerable than Donald Trump is here, and that is because of his voting record.”

“Congressman Harris is more vulnerable than he has ever been,” Schwartz said. “He’s shown that he does not work for the people of the 1st Congressional District. Instead, he works for the president.”

The other Democratic candidates are Victor Allen Guidice and George Walish. Neither responded to requests from CNS to discuss the primary. 

Schwartz, 37, said his main three issues are affordability, tackling corruption and restoring consumer protection. 

Schwartz has a background working for state governments. He claims to be “the only candidate that has real experience in government.” He spent 14 years working with state and federal regulators to protect consumers from financial misconduct and abuse in Washington with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors in different policy-related roles.

He says that his broad base of support could differentiate him from other candidates. 

“I’ve, at this point, raised over $503,000 powered by more than 10,000 individual donations from all 50 states,” Schwartz said. “I’m the only Democratic candidate in the race who’s raising the funds necessary to run a real campaign against Congressman Harris.”

That said, White says that she is better situated to beat Harris because of her campaign strategy.

“Money doesn’t beat Andy Harris,” White said. “My opponents and everyone in the last 15 years thought it takes money to beat Andy Harris. What every candidate has done wrong is they’ve forgotten about the different communities.” 

White, 42, is a former radio and TV personality. She is a Black woman who was born and raised in Salisbury. Her campaign focuses on community involvement.

White said that Democrats in the past didn’t resonate with many communities in the district, especially the Black community. Thus, many opted not to vote. She’s looking to change that. 

“I’ve looked at all the data from the last 15 years, and every single time, it was bad strategy,” White said. “The real strategy is actually talking to people. None of those candidates went into communities like mine; they didn’t talk to Black people… without Black people in this community, you don’t win.”

“I’m the only candidate that can beat Andy Harris, and that’s because I’m a candidate that we haven’t tried,” White said. “I go where people are. If they’re at a bar, I’m there talking about it. We have conversations. I don’t ask political party. I just start talking.”

She said her platform focuses on three aspects: healthcare, education and the cost of living. 

Both White and Schwartz are open to support regardless of party affiliation. With the district’s demographics favoring Republicans, Democrats will likely need bipartisan support to defeat Harris.

“The assumption is any Democrat can win, and that’s not the case. It should be, but it’s not,” White said. “In order to get people to come on your side as well, it’s about being authentic.”

Expect the unexpected as the 8th edition of Dîner en Blanc returns June 6 at a Baltimore location that will remain secret until the last minute.

Guests must wear all-white upscale attire and arrive as a pair for the French-style meal “infused with a touch of local flavour,” organizers wrote in a news release.

“Lively conversation, flowing champagne, and refined conviviality set the tone as the event celebrates reconnecting with friends, making new connections, and enjoying a magical night in a surprising city setting,” according to organizers.

With the $60 package, guests must bring their own table and chairs. All table elements must be white, including the chairs, tablecloth, and serviettes (cloth napkins).

For a little extra, guests can purchase the $82 package in which a table and chairs will be provided.

Guests should arrive at their departure point between 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., from which they will walk about 15 minutes (half a mile) to the event site. The event is scheduled to last from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the dinner portion slated to begin after The Napkin Wave around 6 p.m.

Attendees can bring their own gourmet meal or pre-order a meal from catering company Rooted Rotisserie through the event’s online store.

No outside alcohol will be allowed, but guests can purchase wine and champagne through the e-store as well.

Any e-store purchases – including food, drinks, flower centerpieces, pre-styled tables, and a cigar lounge experience – must be made by 11:59 p.m. June 3.

Guests must be age 21 or older and must bring a valid ID.

No plastic or single-use glasses, dishes, or cutlery are allowed in order to maintain the event’s sustainability and elegance.

For more information, visit the Dîner en Blanc website.

Put your local news knowledge to the test with David Conn’s Daily Dispatch Quiz.

6 questions. 90 seconds.

Today’s topics include:

• Downtown’s unexpected new neighbor
• Governor’s budget leaves something out
• Apple’s surprising Towson departure

See how you stack up against other quiz-takers on the leaderboard.

Brag – or lament – about how much you really know in the comments below.

Unionized Apple store in Towson Town Center closing due to “declining conditions” – CBS Baltimore

Trump DOJ backs challenge to Howard County’s private detention ban – Baltimore Banner

Federal agents search for man who murdered aunt then lived with body for days – FOX Baltimore/WBFF-TV

Crews battle Millersville house fire where water access is a mile away – WBAL News Radio

Police officer injured in crash on US Route 29 in Howard County – WBAL-TV

Gov. Wes Moore among possible 2028 contenders to speak at National Action Network – PBS NewsHour/YouTube

Harford County is cutting the time it takes to test its public water for “forever chemicals” from weeks to days.

Harford recently became the first county in Maryland to operate its own state-certified laboratory able to test for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a type of long-lasting man-made chemicals that are difficult to remove from the environment.

These chemicals may also lead to increased risk for negative health effects, including cancers, decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, reduced ability to fight infections, and other impacts.

“Safe, reliable drinking water is vital to our community, and my administration is taking a proactive, innovative approach to protecting public health,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said in a statement. “By investing in our own testing capability, we are delivering faster test results, helping us ensure safer drinking water for customers of our public water system.”

Harford County conducts more than 230,000 water tests per year to make sure the public water meets all requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maryland Department of the Environment.

County officials report that samples have consistently tested below the maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion, which is about one drop in five Olympic-size swimming pools worth of water.

That’s important as the county provides drinking water to more than 130,000 customers.

Since 2012, the county has been using an outside lab to test water samples for PFAS. But the process of sending out the samples for testing and analysis can last weeks. Bringing operations in-house will cut the wait time to days and reduce costs.

The new laboratory was certified by MDE in December 2025 and is housed in the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant. Harford County invested $700,000 in its water quality infrastructure, including buying a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer, which is used to detect PFAS at extremely low levels to make sure the county’s water is safe to consume.

The county hopes to extend testing capabilities to community partners served by well water, including schools, libraries, recreation centers, and others.

Environmental chemist Leah Griffin leads the PFAS laboratory team. Griffin earned the 2025 Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award from the Water Environment Federation and the Chesapeake Water Environment Association.

A nightspot proposed for Baltimore’s Station North Arts District needs a little more time before it’s ready to open, according to the lawyer for the team behind the venture.

The project is Laverne’s, a lounge and entertainment venue planned to replace the old Trip’s Place nightclub at 1813 N. Charles St.

On Oct. 9, 2025, the liquor board approved an application from 1813 Sips LLC to transfer an active Class “BD7” Beer, Wine and Liquor license that’s associated with the property so the applicants can sell alcoholic beverages at the new establishment.

The group is led by Catherine Carmen Borg, Megan Kathryn Elcrat and Amrita “Ami” Kaur Dang. The lounge is intended to be the first phase of a larger arts and culture hub that includes both the former Trip’s Place club and the former Gatsby’s club at 1817 N. Charles St.

The Gatsby’s building stands out on the block because it has a large illuminated artwork by Tony Shore on its front façade, called “Aurora” and unveiled last June as part of the $1 million ‘Inviting Light’ initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. It was once the headquarters of the Noxzema skin cream company.

Borg, Elcrat and Dang are part of a separate group that acquired the two buildings at auction in 2024 for $609,000, with the intention of renovating them for artistic and cultural uses consistent with the Station North entertainment district. Elcrat’s design firm, Present Company, is the project architect.

The liquor board’s approval last fall gave 1813 Sips until April 7 to transfer the liquor license held by the previous property owner, the Estate of Anthony Dwight Triplin Sr., the former club owner, who died in 2014 at age 64.

The license was sold as part of the real estate auction but the buyers need the liquor board’s approval to transfer it from Triplin’s estate once the building renovations are completed in keeping with city codes. According to materials on file with the liquor board, the lounge will be on the first, second, mezzanine and basement levels of 1813 N. Charles St.

The board held a hearing on Thursday because Borg, Elcrat and Dang applied for a hardship extension that will give them an additional 90 days from April 7 to finish renovating 1813 N. Charles St. and complete the previously-approved liquor license transfer.

Stephan W. Fogleman Jr., the attorney for the applicants and a former chair of the liquor board, told the panel that his clients requested more time because they’ve experienced construction delays.

“This building’s had to undergo significant renovations, due to pipes bursting last year during the winter,” he told the board.

“The applicant needs more time to finish the buildout and clear inspections,” he said in a March 13 letter on file with the agency.

The liquor board voted unanimously to approve the hardship extension, giving the applicants until early July to complete the license transfer.

Fogleman told the board members that his clients are confident the 90-day extension will give them sufficient time to complete their renovations and move ahead with the transfer.

“They’re close,” he said. “They really believe they can get this done within the 90 days.”

Maryland Public Television was nominated for a national Emmy Award in the Outstanding Historical Documentary Category for its 2025 film “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect.”

“Becoming Thurgood” premiered in September 2025 and explored the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, visionary lawyer and first Black justice on the United States Supreme Court. Marshall was born in Baltimore in 1908, and the film takes viewers through his childhood to his years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law.

Marshall’s groundbreaking career as a civil rights lawyer dismantling segregation is documented in the film, showing him to be man of action: strategic, courageous, and devoted to justice. He won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Winning that case invalidated the “separate but equal” precedent and ended legal racial segregation in public schools, though segregationists and racists across the nation did their utmost to preserve white supremacy.

In 1967, Marshall became the first African American appointed to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served for 24 years until his retirement in 1991.

“To those of us who know the struggle is far from over, history has another lesson,” Marshall said. “It tells us how deeply rooted habits of prejudice are, dominating the minds of men and all our institutions for three centuries, and it cautions us to continue to move forward, lest we fall back.”

Even though Marshall died in 1993, his warning that unless society continued to progress, it would backslide proved accurate. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious college admissions, threatening gains in recruitment, student support programs, and overall college access for students of color. After Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term in January 2025, he signed multiple executive orders that were aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education and other areas of society. Many universities complied. Marshall’s historical admonitions remain relevant.

Emmy Awards announcements will be made on May 28, 2026, during ceremonies in New York City. Viewers can watch the film on MPT.

Students pursuing an advanced degree from the University of Maryland’s business school can now study at a new campus in Baltimore Peninsula.

The university’s Robert H. Smith School of Business on Tuesday celebrated the grand opening of its new campus on the 3rd floor of Rye Street Market in Baltimore Peninsula, where students can be part of the Flex MBA program.

The part-time flexible program allows students to earn their Master of Business Administration degree through in-person, online, and hybrid options.

“For more than two decades, the Smith School has delivered a nationally ranked MBA program in Baltimore, providing working professionals with rigorous business education and a vital pathway for regional leaders,” said Prabhudev Konana, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, in a statement. “As we open our doors at Baltimore Peninsula, we are entering an exciting new chapter—one that deepens our long‑standing commitment to the city and expands opportunities for the professionals, alumni, and organizations that make this region such a vital part of Maryland’s economic future.”

With the business campus’s opening, UMD has relocated its Flex MBA program from UMD BioPark to Baltimore Peninsula. The program is also offered at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Flex MBA students in through in-person, online, and hybrid options.

“Welcoming the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business to Baltimore Peninsula marks an exciting moment for the continued growth of this neighborhood,” said Chenire Carter, Chief Engagement Strategist for the Baltimore Peninsula Partnership, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to bring new energy, new faces, and new opportunities into the community, and we look forward to the connections and collaborations that will emerge. This is exactly the kind of partnership that makes Baltimore Peninsula a hub for innovation, talent, and shared progress.”

Baltimore Peninsula is establishing itself as a space to showcase and support rising entrepreneurs. 

Last month, the Baltimore Peninsula Partnership announced The Launchpad, a residency program that allows business owners to run kiosks for two weeks. The experience is meant to help entrepreneurs test their concepts and use the space as a potential springboard for future growth.

UMD’s new business school campus is located within walking distance of restaurants, entertainment, waterfront amenities, and major employers like Under Armour and CFG Bank.

“Baltimore Peninsula gives our Flex MBA students a dynamic environment that mirrors the dynamic nature of the business environment,” said Rosellina Ferraro, associate dean for MBA programs at the Smith School, in a statement. “This new space strengthens our ability to deliver a rigorous curriculum while deepening our connections with the companies and professionals who shape the region. It’s an exciting step forward for our students, our faculty, and our presence in Baltimore.”

Hundreds of people will come together on Sunday, April 12 for Kennedy Krieger’s ROAR for Kids and a morning of family fun at the Maryland Zoo.

Kennedy Krieger’s ROAR for Kids is an annual 5K road race and low-mileage fun walk at the zoo, which this year has drawn a near-record number of registrants. Bennett Blazers, Kennedy Krieger’s youth adaptive sports team, will kick off the race, which is both accessible and family friendly. Participants can run, walk, and roll to the finish line, and every participant will receive a finisher medal.

In addition to the race, ROAR will have games, face-painting, visits from some of the Maryland Zoo’s animal ambassadors, giveaways, and a DJ. The festivities will conclude with a mascot dance-off, featuring favorite characters from local sports teams and schools.

ROAR for Kids began in 2005 and has raised nearly $4 million for programs and research that support children at Kennedy Krieger. This year’s event is the 22^nd annual ROAR for Kids. In the year after the pandemic, the race registered the most number of people, with 1,669 participants. As of this writing, Kennedy Krieger has 1,564 participants registered for the event. With three days to go and registration permitted at the event, they expect to break the record this year and beat their post-pandemic numbers.

Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders and injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. They treat nearly 30,000 people per year.

The Maryland Zoo is located at 1 Safari Place, Baltimore, MD. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 12. The 5K is set to begin at 8 a.m. and the zoo opens to the public at 10 a.m. The Kennedy Krieger event officially ends at 10:30 a.m. (Note that East Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic between approximately 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.)

The day’s schedule will be as follows:

• 6:30 a.m.            Registration Opens
• 7:55 a.m.            Fairmount School Kick-off Performance
• 8:00 a.m.            5K Begins
• 8:15 a.m.            Fun Walk Begins & Last Call for Participants
• 9:00 a.m.            Animal Ambassador #1
• 9:30 a.m.            Awards Presentation & Animal Ambassador #2
• 9:45 a.m.            Mascot Dance Party
• 10:00 a.m.          Zoo Opens
• 10:30 a.m.          Event Ends

To register for ROAR for Kids, and for more information, visit Kennedy Krieger’s website.

The 20th Annual Empty Bowls Family Festival is back—and it’s bigger, heartier, and more fun than ever!

Saturday, April 18 | 4 – 7 pm | Maryland State Fairgrounds

Join St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore on Saturday, April 18, for this beloved, feel-good community favorite that brings together families, friends, and foodies for a one-of-a-kind day filled with delicious soup, local creativity, and nonstop entertainment.

• Discover soups and food from local restaurant staples like Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Linwoods, Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen, Absolutely Perfect Catering, and more of your favorites
• Win silent auction items, including Baltimore Orioles merchandise, tickets to top Maryland attractions like Ladew Topiary Gardens and the B&O Railroad Museum, and exclusive experiences like a private wine tasting at Linganore Wine Cellars.
• Check out the Kid Fun Zone, packed with family-friendly activities such as face painting, character meet-and-greets, live music, meet-and-greets with Bluey and Mickey Mouse, and more.
• Don’t forget to select your favorite handcrafted ceramic bowl painted by local schools and sponsors to take home after the event.

Children 9 and under are free! Admission is $40/ticket—and the best part is, all proceeds support the assistance programs and services of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. Together, as a community, we’re working toward a future where no one in Baltimore goes hungry or homeless.

We can’t wait to welcome you for a day full of hearty food, joyful moments, and meaningful impact!