Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Governor calls budget package "good for all Marylanders." Republicans say burden to local governments may force county governments to increase taxes.
The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a package of three bills that increases taxes on some state residents, shifts part of teacher pensions to local governments and undoes the so-called "doomsday budget." The votes Wednesday afternoon capped the three-day special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley in order to override more than $500 million in cuts made in a budget passed in early April. The Senate approved the same three bills Tuesday. As part of the package, legislators approved by a vote of 86-51 what amounts to a 50-50 split of teacher pension costs with local governments. The split will be phased in over the next four years beginning July 1 with the new budget year. That bill also includes a doubling of…
The Aberdeen IronBirds will have a variety of new food options by opening day.
Entertaining baseball and family fun isn't all that's on tap when the Aberdeen IronBirds open the 2012 season next month. Ripken Stadium will have a variety of new food choices for fans when the Orioles short-season Class-A affiliate opens on June 20. The IronBirds rolled out two of their new food options—a burrito bar and a chicken wing bar—to members of the Aberdeen business community during the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday. Aside from the new bars—both of which were met with high praise Tuesday on the club level at the ballpark—the IronBirds will add Conrad's Crabs, The Charred Rib, Seasons Pizza and Rita's Ice. Single-game tickets are now on sale. Ripken Stadium will host the Lardarius Webb charity softball game on …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Your votes say one place is better than the rest for mom's brunch on her special day.
The tradition of Mother's Day brunch goes back to childhood for many of us. Small hands carrying a wobbly tray of late breakfast into mom's room to show here you care is a classic, quintessential Mother's Day image. The are a number of local restauarants who boast the ability to recreate that moment for you and yours. Patch asked readers to help determine the best place to treat mom on her special day, and the winner was Mountain Branch Grille. Write-in candidate Mountain Branch quickly gained traction in the poll. "Yum...eggs benedict, an omelette bar, smoked salmon w/ capers and cream cheese - the pastries are fresh and gooey!! Yep, a bit price[y], but once in awhile and certainly on Mother's Day well worth it," commented Karl Schuub. …
39.46705
-76.370979
1827 Mountain Rd, Joppa, MD
/articles/readers-choice-mountain-branch-best-mother-s-day-brunch
/locations/6991345
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Columbia Gas Transmission says pipeline from Owings Mills through Oregon Ridge Park to Fallston will add reliability to existing natural gas service to BGE.
A proposed extension of a natural gas pipeline has Warren Alperstein thinking a lot about the well that provides water to his house these days. Columbia Gas Transmission wants to build a 21.4-mile extension of an existing pipeline from Owings Mills through Oregon Ridge Park to Fallston. The extension is part of a larger system that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico. The extension would run along side another existing line, but would require the company to expand its current right of way from a width of 50 to 75 feet. Some of those easements will extend onto or near existing residential property, some residents said. The line would also run through the backyard of Alperstein's Reisterstown home. "The thought of a bulldozer backing into my …
39.53006
-76.44123
1901 Fallston Rd, Fallston, MD
/articles/proposed-natural-gas-pipeline-could-impact-fallston
/locations/6974425
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Bel Air Downtown Alliance is urging members of the community to spend at least $20 at The Whitehouse Trading Co. in Bel Air on Saturday.
What started in an Ohio town as a way to support a struggling, locally owned business has swept the nation and is coming to Bel Air this weekend. In January, a man in the Cleveland, Ohio suburb of Chagrin Falls challenged friends and neighbors to spend at least $20 at a family-owned hardware store that had been a part of the community for nearly two centuries, according to an AP story posted on Yahoo.com. The phenomenon, dubbed a "Cash Mob," has been recreated in towns across the nation, and on Saturday the Bel Air Downtown Alliance will join the movement. "Simply Charmed Boutique has decided to merge with The Whitehouse Trading Co. and we thought our first Cash Mob would be a great way to promote the merger and highlight two fantastic …
39.53792
-76.352669
140 N Bond St Ste A, Bel Air, MD
/articles/bel-air-to-cash-mob-local-business
/locations/6937969
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Construction has begun on the eatery across from Forest Hill Lanes.
A Chick-fil-A is being erected in Forest Hill and a banner on the front of the building reads "Opening Soon." The fast-food chain is a popular one in Harford County, with an existing location in Constant Friendship. According to the Chick-fil-A website, the Forest Hill business, located at 1980 Rock Spring Road, is slated to open July 19. "Chick-fil-A is definitely coming to Forest Hill! It is slated to open mid July. Stay tuned because there will be our infamous 1st 100 guest contest," wrote Chick-fil-A marketing director Josh Gorub on the Bel Air Patch facebook page in February. Check out the above pictures of the ongoing construction. How do you feel about another Chick-fil-A location coming to Harford County? Leave a comment below to …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tell us the best place to take mom for brunch on her special day.
It's time to celebrate mom and all she does. For many brunch on Mother's Day is a yearly tradition, but how do you decide where to treat mom on her special day? It's time to weigh in. Vote in the poll and leave a review on the business listing to help decide. Here are some of our picks, but if you think someone was left out, be sure to tell us in the comments so we can add them to the list: If your business is listed here, learn how to claim your listing by reading this article. Patch will announce the winner on Friday, May 11. (See attached .pdf document for rules) Don't forget to tell us why you voted the way you did, comments are important in the event of a tie.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Your votes and reviews determined the best places to purchase a flower arrangement in Bel Air.
One thing's for sure, Bel Air has great florists. Members of the community cast their votes and left rave reviews and comments for many of the entrants in last week's poll, making the process of determining a single winner a challenge. While Jonathan's Florist received the most votes with 96, there were no reviews under the Patch listing, one of the key elements used in determining a winner. Petals N' Posies was second in votes, with 63, and also received a 5-star review under the business listing. Mrs. Flowers Inc. and Richardson's Flowers & Gifts tied for third in voting with 42 votes each. Mrs. Flowers, however, received five 5-star reviews on its business listing. Flowers by Design also recieved a single 5-star rating on its business …
39.537708
-76.350955
Mrs. Flowers, Inc.
105 N Main St, Bel Air, MD
/articles/readers-choice-bel-air-s-top-florist
432234
/locations/6906889
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Forest Hill Planet Fitness opened at the beginning of April.
The second Harford County Planet Fitness location opened at the beginning of April, joining two other businesses in bringing new life to one local shopping center. The Forest Hill Planet Fitness is located at 1449 Rock Spring Road in the Rock Spring Center located at the intersection of MD Route 24 and Bynum Road. The shopping center is on the border of Forest Hill and Bel Air. The business opened April 2 and fills space formerly occupied by Tuesday Morning and Spenceola Antiques. Tuesday Morning moved next door. "We are known as the judgement-free zone," Planet Fitness Assistant Manager Paul Shapiro said. He said the gym is geared toward general fitness and has a licensed trainer who can provide tailored routines to any member free of …
The former Roy Rogers in the Rock Spring Center has a new purpose.
Two new businesses and a renovation are breathing new life into one Bel Air area shopping center. One of those new businesses is Cellular Sales, a Verizon Wireless retailer. The other new business is Planet Fitness, see related story. The Rock Spring Center, located at the intersection of MD Route 24 and Bynum Road, has borne several vacancies for the past few years, including the former Roy Rogers which had grown to be something of an eyesore. Before it was a Roy Rogers, the building housed a Hardee's. The former restaurant has been renovated and repurposed, no longer featuring a drive-thru, but instead cell phones and customer service representatives. The Verizon Wireless store, located at 1435 Rock Spring Road, opened April 13. Inside, …
39.557801
-76.370078
1435 Rock Spring Rd, Bel Air, MD
/articles/verizon-retailer-open-for-business-in-rock-spring
/locations/6882711
K Blue
11:27 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Who were the 8 Democrats that voted against the bill that split pension costs? more ›