Annapolis

Operation Gridlock Annapolis?? What the hell is wrong with people? You don’t just get to decide when a virus is done. Yes, unemployment is skyrocketing. More and more Marylanders are living in poverty because of the shutdowns.

That doesn’t mean you can just protest your way out of it!

So what, you protest Governor Hogan, get him to reopen the state, so we can go back to work and...thousands more die?

I swear, I know I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. But I just can’t believe the idiocy surrounding this movement. I suppose my dad was right.

“A person is smart. People are stupid.”

Annapolis Police (199 Taylor Ave) is hosting a gun Turn-in from 10:00 to 2:00 today. No questions asked. It isn't a buy-back, just an amnesty. I doubt they're going to get too many "customers" without the buy-back, but you never know.

For the parents pondering sending their children to A-High, I attended graduation last night & I found a few statistics pretty impressive that were shared. First, this senior class of 425 students had over $20 million in scholarships awarded - That’s an average of $47,000 per student! Second, nearly 100 of the students graduating are first generation to have a high school diploma & many of these are continuing on with their education. 23 graduates came to A-High while in high school from a foreign country. 86 students earned their International Bachloriette certificates - the most rigorous course load in the county & highly desirable by colleges. 61 students earned their APEX/Performing Arts program endorsement.

Colleges this class is attending include: University of Chicago, US Coast Guard Academy, Tulane, Penn State, Bryn Mawr, Smith College, Washington College, U Penn, Swarthmore, Boston College, Alabama, Tennessee, Tampa, Salve Regina and of course Maryland, St Mary’s, Salisbury, Towson, UMBC & Frostburg (and these are just a few that I can remember). That list is compatible with every other school in the county.

So, for those questioning whether to send your kids to A-High, I’d say don’t stress about it. I often hear of people moving so your kid can “be in a better school district,” but what does that really mean?

Both of my kids have now gone completely through the Annapolis cluster of schools from K-12 & their futures look very bright. One has now graduated college & is doing far better than his university classmates.

My advice: be involved. Have a good enough relationship with your kids that you know what’s going on in their lives (but don’t hover over them) - open dialogue creates honesty & exchange of information & ideas. Volunteer at your kids’ schools & you’ll stay “in the know” - it’s amazing what you learn selling popcorn at a football game or parking cars. And lastly, remember this: when your kids enter the hallways their 9th grade year, you have 4 years to teach them what they need to know before they are adults & off into the world on their own - they aren’t children, but young men & women, so treat them as such.

TLDR: A-High has a bad rep, but it’s hogwash.

This was posted to my local Nextdoor feed.

No masks. No distancing.

Your freedom comes with responsibility. Stop acting like selfish morons or we're never going to be rid of this pandemic.

What are the main public infrastructure changes you want to see in Annapolis, connect to MARC, more green space parks? Extended outdoor dinning? A large market? Close off part of downtown to cars? Change upper west street into more walkable commerce? What else!? And why? Also, let's try to suggest ideas, not shoot down.