Business

Chesapeake Life Center Offers Fall Grief Support Groups and Workshops

Chesapeake Life Center Offers Fall Grief Support Groups and Workshops

Chesapeake Life Center offers a range of grief support groups and workshops this fall designed to help adults, teens and families cope with loss through creative expression, nature, mindfulness, and peer support in both in-person and virtual formats. WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS Nature’s Healing Power: A Grief Support Group Series is a free, nature-informed...
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Governor Moore Announces Microsoft to Open Quantum Research Center at the University of Maryland Discovery District

Governor Moore Announces Microsoft to Open Quantum Research Center at the University of Maryland Discovery District

Governor Wes Moore announced last week that Microsoft will open a new quantum research center in the heart of the University of Maryland’s Discovery District to serve as a development hub for next-generation quantum technologies. The partnership between the State of Maryland, the University of Maryland Enterprise Corporation, and Microsoft marks a critical milestone...
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59th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival Returns to St. Mary’s County This Oct. 18-19, 2025

59th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival Returns to St. Mary’s County This Oct. 18-19, 2025

The iconic U.S. Oyster Festival returns to St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds on October 18 – 19, 2025, bringing together oyster lovers, top shuckers, and seafood enthusiasts from across the region. Tickets are on sale now at usoysterfestival.org. Celebrating more than five decades of Chesapeake Bay heritage, the two-day festival has traditionally convened more than...
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One Million Oysters Planted in Breton Bay as Volunteers Pack Abell’s Wharf

One Million Oysters Planted in Breton Bay as Volunteers Pack Abell’s Wharf

Last weekend, Volunteers turned out in force Saturday for the 4th annual Breton Bay Oyster Planting, meeting the ambitious goal of placing one million oysters into the Breton Bay Oyster Sanctuary. Organizers said approximately 200 bushels of spat-on-shell — baby oysters attached to shells — were delivered to the sanctuary at Lover’s Point. Fifty-one...
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18th Annual Riverfest This Saturday in St. Mary’s City, FREE Event!

18th Annual Riverfest This Saturday in St. Mary’s City, FREE Event!

The 18th Annual RiverFest will be held at 47418 Old State House Rd, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686, and everyone is invited to come celebrate, explore, and protect the St. Mary’s River. Admission and activities are completely free, thanks to sponsors, donors, volunteers, and members. Hosted by the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association. The...
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Attorney General Brown Opposes USDA Plan to Close Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County

Attorney General Brown Opposes USDA Plan to Close Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown submitted comments opposing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reorganization plan that would close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County, Maryland. USDA’s reorganization plan threatens over 1,000 Maryland jobs and ignores federal laws that require Congressional approval before closing the research facility. “This plan...
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Maryland Audit Finds Social Services Agency Repeatedly Failed to Protect Foster Children, Placed Children Into Homes with 7 Registered Sex Offenders

Maryland Audit Finds Social Services Agency Repeatedly Failed to Protect Foster Children, Placed Children Into Homes with 7 Registered Sex Offenders

A state audit released on September 12th, 2025, has found that Maryland’s Social Services Administration (SSA) repeatedly failed to protect children in its care between May 2020 and May 2024, allowing them to live in unsafe environments, miss essential medical care, and, in hundreds of cases, be placed in hotels under unlicensed supervision. The...
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Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille is Pleased to Announce New Leonardtown Location!

Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille is Pleased to Announce New Leonardtown Location!

Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille made the exciting announcement today that they’re opening a second location in downtown Leonardtown! The family owned business is pleased to be right in the heart of historic Leonardtown and cannot wait to bring the freshest & finest quality Italian fare and our bar featuring 100+ Bourbons, great Wine...
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78th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair Is Here! Family Fun from Wednesday to Sunday Starting Today

78th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair Is Here! Family Fun from Wednesday to Sunday Starting Today

St. Mary’s County Government, on behalf of the St. Mary’s County Fair Association, invites all members of the community to join in the fun happening this weekend at the 78th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair! Highlights for this year’s program include: Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Entry Day! Bring your exhibit to the fair –...
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Gov Moore Announces Registered Apprenticeship Program to Expand Maryland’s Teacher Workforce and Create More Affordable Pathways to Teaching Careers

Gov Moore Announces Registered Apprenticeship Program to Expand Maryland’s Teacher Workforce and Create More Affordable Pathways to Teaching Careers

Governor Wes Moore announced Maryland’s first state-sponsored registered apprenticeship program for teaching. The program will enable aspiring teachers to receive more hands-on training, mentorship, and paid work experience while reducing the out-of-pocket cost of earning a degree and license. “If someone is raising their hand to teach our children, they should be rewarded with...
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Southern Maryland NAWCAD WOLF Division Develops New Ground Communication Capability for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Southern Maryland NAWCAD WOLF Division Develops New Ground Communication Capability for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Webster Outlying Field (NAWCAD WOLF) Special Communication Mission Solutions (SCMS) division collaborated with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to quickly develop and deliver a new ground communication system to the squadron at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, July 24, 2025. Due to its age, the legacy...
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USPS Operation Santa Now Accepting Letters From Kids and Families Across the Country!

USPS Operation Santa Now Accepting Letters From Kids and Families Across the Country!

The U.S. Postal Service has officially kicked off the 2025 season of USPS Operation Santa, inviting children and families across the country to begin writing and sending letters to Santa Claus. The beloved program, now in its 113th year, connects letter writers with generous individuals and organizations who help fulfill their holiday wishes. Beginning...
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Developing The Workforce! Navy Selects Four NAWCAD WOLF Engineers for Leadership Program

Developing The Workforce! Navy Selects Four NAWCAD WOLF Engineers for Leadership Program

The Navy recently selected four members of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Webster Outlying Field (NAWCAD WOLF) workforce for one of its flagship leadership development plans, the Journey Leadership Development Program (JLDP). “Developing the next generation of leaders is one of the most important NAWCAD WOLF strategic imperatives,” said NAWCAD WOLF...
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Court Ruling Ends Vape and Smoke Shop Sales of Hemp Products That Get You High

Court Ruling Ends Vape and Smoke Shop Sales of Hemp Products That Get You High

Maryland’s courts and cannabis regulators have shut down what many people saw as a “hemp loophole.” The Appellate Court of Maryland ruled on September 9 that the state’s cannabis law is valid, that Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC were never legal in Maryland, and that only licensed cannabis dispensaries can sell intoxicating THC products. Days...
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Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – September 9th, 2025

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – September 9th, 2025

Friday, September 12, 2025 – On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Commissioners held their annual Preliminary State Legislative Proposals Public Hearing. The yearly process allows residents and government officials to propose legislation to state legislators to be added to the county’s state legislative package during the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session. Commissioners heard 23 proposals during the...
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Calvert County Public Hearing on September 30th, 2025, for Master Plan of Prince Frederick Town Centers

Calvert County Public Hearing on September 30th, 2025, for Master Plan of Prince Frederick Town Centers

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. to receive and consider written and verbal public comment regarding the draft Chapter 1: Town Centers and the draft Chapter 2: Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan of the Master Plan of Town Centers....
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Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant Applications Now Being Accepted for 2026

Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant Applications Now Being Accepted for 2026

The Maryland Environmental Trust in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust are proud to present this year’s Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. About $357,000 is available for this year’s grant round.  The Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program...
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October 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

October 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

October is packed with fun at the Calvert Marine Museum, with two exciting new events debuting this month: Haunted Water Cruises aboard the Wm. B. Tennison and an Animal Mask-Making Workshop for tweens and teens. The museum will also host the annual Patuxent River Appreciation Day, Homeschool Day in Solomons, and family favorites like...
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Flour Donuts & Bakery in Leonardtown Closing Permanently

Flour Donuts & Bakery in Leonardtown Closing Permanently

Flour Donuts & Bakery has announced it will be closing its doors for good on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The local favorite, known for its donuts, baked goods, and community presence, shared the news with customers this week. As part of its final days of operation, the bakery is offering 50%...
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Four Dedicated St. Mary’s County Coaches Chosen for Prestigious 2025 All Ripken Games in Aberdeen

Four Dedicated St. Mary’s County Coaches Chosen for Prestigious 2025 All Ripken Games in Aberdeen

Four dedicated baseball coaches from St. Mary’s County were recently hand-selected to participate in the 2025 All Ripken Games, an elite three-day tournament held at the world-renowned Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Maryland. The coaches—RJ Bean, Ryan Shephard, Mikey Farrell, and Jimmy Jones—were chosen through a rigorous vetting process that recognizes their commitment to developing...
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Governor Moore Announces State Grant Awards to Support Smart Manufacturing Efforts

Governor Moore Announces State Grant Awards to Support Smart Manufacturing Efforts

Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded a dozen local manufacturers with grants to implement smart manufacturing efforts. The $180,000 in funding is through the Maryland MADE grant program, which helps small manufacturers invest in the adoption and deployment of smart manufacturing and high-performance manufacturing technologies that will increase...
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Governor, Comptroller Highlight Importance of Increasing Housing Supply in Maryland

Governor, Comptroller Highlight Importance of Increasing Housing Supply in Maryland

Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore in approving more than $782 million today during a meeting of the Board of Public Works. Treasurer Dereck E. Davis was unable to attend. During the meeting, Governor Moore highlighted his recent executive order directing state agencies to invest in strategies that will increase housing production in Maryland. The Board of...
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A Silent Fire: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in the Fire Service – By Fire Chief Jason Turner

A Silent Fire: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in the Fire Service – By Fire Chief Jason Turner

A Silent Fire: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in the Fire Service – By Bay District Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Turner SMNEWSNET Editors Note – “In October of 2024, Jason Turner, at just 27 years old, made history as the youngest Fire Chief elected in the Department’s 80-year history. By then, Turner had...
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St. Mary’s County Government Releases 2025 State of the County Video

St. Mary’s County Government Releases 2025 State of the County Video

St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) is proud to announce the release of the 2025 State of the County video, now available to the public and can be watched below. Produced annually by the Public Information Office, the video highlights major accomplishments of county government over the past fiscal year, offering residents an overview of progress...
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U.S. Navy VX-31 Delivers Historic Harriers to West Coast Museums

U.S. Navy VX-31 Delivers Historic Harriers to West Coast Museums

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Maryland: In a powerful tribute to Marine Corps aviation history, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 delivered two AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft to aviation museums on the West Coast, in July and August, marking the end of their operational service and the beginning of their legacy as...
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