AGP Executive Report

Arts Education: A Queen Anne’s County partnership with the Carole Cascio Fund has grown from high-school dance programs to reach students from pre-K through high school, connecting them with local and professional artists. Youth & Community: St. Mary’s County marked 4-H Week by celebrating hands-on experiences that help young people build confidence, leadership skills and community ties. Maryland Stories: A drive along Montgomery County’s Clopper Road helped spark “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” though songwriter Bill Danoff said the song wasn’t based on Maryland. Books & Fall Fun: Maryland public libraries reached more than 163,000 readers through summer programs, while Historic St. Mary’s City is planning a free Halloween night on Oct. 24.

Arts & Identity: A Baltimore Rock Opera Society executive says she was fired after wearing cornrows on vacation, setting off debate over cultural appropriation and workplace judgment. Youth Well-Being: Eastern Shore nonprofit For All Seasons launched a free, self-paced course to help teens and trusted adults talk about mental health and suicide prevention. Education: Harford County English teacher Michael James was named Maryland’s 2027 Teacher of the Year; he has more than 30 years in education. Community History: Talbot Family Network’s free Conversations on Race series opens Oct. 26 at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, exploring whose stories are preserved and remembered. Reading & Connection: Maryland libraries reached more than 163,000 readers through summer programs. Travel: Maryland made Lonely Planet’s list of 50 destinations to visit in 2027.

Community & Food: Howard County opened its fourth community garden, with five plots set aside to grow produce for the county food bank. Arts & Education: Goucher College is remembering professor Robert Lewand, who made math accessible through creative courses and cross-campus collaborations; he died Sept. 29 at 81. Libraries: Maryland libraries engaged more than 163,000 readers in summer programs. Local History: Historic St. Mary’s City plans a free Lost City Halloween night on Oct. 24. Schools: Montgomery County is preparing community meetings on possible school closures and consolidations as enrollment continues to fall. Baltimore Arts: The city’s arts community is mourning an artist killed in Fells Point.

Baltimore Arts: The city is mourning an artist killed in a Fells Point attack, remembered as a champion of Baltimore’s arts scene. A Baltimore concert also aims to encourage Black voter registration. Schools: Montgomery County parents can weigh in starting Oct. 19 as MCPS considers school closures or consolidations amid falling enrollment; Overlea High students are also pressing for relief from severe overcrowding. Community: Howard County opened its fourth community garden, with 126 plots for growing produce and flowers. Fall Fun: Historic St. Mary’s City will host its free, family-friendly Lost City Halloween event on Oct. 24, with trick-or-treating, crafts and a “haunted ship.”

Books & Community: Lexington Park Library hosts a free Oct. 15 discussion of Lawrence Burney’s No Sense in Wishing, essays on Black music, belonging and Baltimore. Conservation: Harford County has added 22 acres of forest and vernal pools to the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center preserve, protecting land once slated for development. Maryland Heritage: The state has completed its first horse-industry plan, bringing agriculture, tourism, racing, education and land preservation together around a shared growth strategy. Neighborhood Health: South Baltimore residents are urging state regulators not to renew the Curtis Bay trash incinerator’s air permit, citing pollution and respiratory illness. Free Family Fun: Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department holds an open house Saturday, Oct. 10, with activities, demonstrations and a firefighter obstacle course.

Local Landmark: Guinness Open Gate Brewery near Baltimore will close Nov. 1, ending a run that drew more than 2 million visitors since 2018 and leaving 174 Aramark employees out of work. Maryland Heritage: The state’s first horse-industry plan aims to grow a $2.9 billion sector through tourism, workforce training, land preservation and animal welfare. Education & Opportunity: A new Queen Anne’s County scholarship will help residents pursue career and technical training at Chesapeake College; applications for spring 2027 are due Oct. 30. Overlea High’s overcrowding debate continues, with proposals ranging from a new school to a Golden Ring magnet program. Food & Community: Garrett County food-forest advocates are promoting community-grown produce, while Maryland’s Food is Medicine program is gathering Lower Shore input on tailored meals for eligible residents. Arts & Events: Annapolis Film Society will screen Club Kid at Maryland Hall on Oct. 19. A new approach to event impact also spotlights how Baltimore and Ocean City can measure benefits to communities, skills and local reputation—not just attendance.

Maryland Voices: Thomas Stone High senior Olivia Saint-Pierre will moderate an Oct. 9 United Nations discussion on girls’ equality, education and gender-based violence. History on Screen: UMD hosted a campus screening of Bear Me Into Freedom, a film tracing Frederick Douglass’ life and legacy through a Maryland-rooted project. School Choices: Baltimore families have more charter options than anywhere else in the state, but results vary widely; Hampstead Hill Academy stands out, with 54.3% of its middle schoolers proficient in math. State Pride: Maryland has named the megalodon its official state shark.

Faith & Community: Maryland’s Safe Worship Law took effect Oct. 1, making it a crime to use force, threats or obstruction to disrupt people practicing their faith at a place of worship. Baltimore Housing: The city approved the sale of the former Waverly Middle School, clearing a key step toward a 37-unit, zero-energy community planned for Baltimore teachers. Arts & Culture: Choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess brings memoir, conversation and live dance to Oxford Community Center on Oct. 9. In Columbia, an Oct. 11 program will explore African American and Native American contributions to the country’s story. Food & Festivals: Downtown Wheaton’s free MoCo Smoke Show debuts Oct. 17 with barbecue teams, live entertainment and family activities. Highlandtown’s Qaffee House has also opened its first shop. Local Arts: Chesapeake Arts Center marks 25 years with an anniversary gala Oct. 23, celebrating its classes, performances and exhibitions.

Caregiving: Hospice of the Chesapeake is expanding its dementia Caregiver Academy to Charles County, offering families support groups, virtual education and hands-on training. Books & Learning: Baltimore’s Storybook Maze founder Araba Maze brings free books and story times to underserved neighborhoods; local children can also earn free National Aquarium tickets by reading. Arts & Culture: BmoreArt’s picks highlight events around the region this week, and Annapolis Jazz & Roots returns Nov. 6–15 with music, history and culture. Food & Community: A Columbia coffee trailer has opened its first Baltimore storefront, while a Maryland measure aims to improve access to fresh, healthy food in underserved city neighborhoods. Outdoors: Maryland became the first state to designate a state shark, celebrating its marine life.

Maryland Politics: In Owings Mills, Gov. Wes Moore and challenger Dan Cox traded sharp attacks in their first debate, with Moore tying Cox to Trump and Cox accusing Moore of a “truth problem,” while both left claiming momentum. Local Economy & Transit: As the Purple Line nears completion, Maryland is sending more grants to struggling small businesses still boxed in by construction, including restaurants in Silver Spring. Health & Education: Gov. Moore and the Maryland Higher Education Commission announced a $2.38 million federal grant to connect rural students directly to careers through local colleges and employer partnerships. Public Safety: A Baltimore County softball coach pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, with prosecutors citing grooming texts and hundreds of calls. Community & Culture: The O’Malley Clan Association announced a Dec. 1 Zoom talk by former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley, spotlighting Irish heritage and a new musical composition. Immigration & Rights: Maryland Medicaid officials say they’re building tools to help residents navigate new federal reenrollment and work-hour rules starting Jan. 1, 2027. Arts & Learning: Garrett College welcomed new faculty, including a permanent psychology professor and an engineering assistant professor, expanding hands-on options for students.

Maryland Politics: Wes Moore and Dan Cox face off in Tuesday’s governor debate, with two other candidates excluded after polling fell below Maryland Public Television’s threshold. Gun Safety & Domestic Violence: A new federal SAFE Notice Act would alert domestic violence survivors when an abuser tries to buy a firearm illegally. Immigration Court Fight: Kilmar Ábrego Garcia returns to federal court as the government seeks to lift an injunction blocking his deportation to Liberia. Community & Environment: Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants are open (about $349,000 total) with a Dec. 1 deadline for projects supporting stewardship and natural resources. Local Business & Culture: Architessa is leaving Shockoe Bottom for a new appointment-only showroom in Scott’s Addition. Baltimore Living: Baltimore County approved a ban on commercial house parties, targeting noise, traffic, and safety issues. Lifestyle Picks: Wawa tied Sheetz for No. 3 in a national convenience store satisfaction ranking, and Port of Leonardtown Winery celebrated a Governor’s Cup win for its Cabernet Franc.

Maryland Entertainment: Gov. Wes Moore named Kenneth “Ken” Ulman chair of the Maryland Entertainment Industry Council, aiming to grow jobs and opportunities across film, TV, and the creative economy. Baltimore Food Access: Mayor Brandon Scott signed the Community Healthy Food Access Act, funding corner stores and local farmers to stock fresh produce through a Healthy Food Priority Area Grant Program. Education & Workforce: Maryland Rural Pathways to Prosperity Network received a $2.38M federal grant to connect students at rural colleges with paid internships, apprenticeships, and career credentials in high-demand fields. Local Learning Perk: The National Aquarium and Enoch Pratt Free Library brought back Read to Reef, letting kids earn free aquarium tickets by reading conservation-themed books. Health & Community: Coppin State’s six-year bachelor completion rate for the 2018 cohort was 26.2%, far below the statewide public four-year rate. Arts & Culture: Dominique Dawes will serve as Chatham Hall’s 2026–2027 Leader in Residence, sharing “Beyond the Podium: The Courage to Be You.” Sports & Fun: Rosecroft Raceway hosts Showcase of Champions night Sunday, Oct. 11, with eight $100,000 MD Sire Stakes finals. Accessibility Tech: SKMac was tapped as Listen Technologies and Ampetronic’s Mid-Atlantic representative to expand assistive listening options.

Curtis Bay Environmental Fight: Residents again demanded the BRESCO incinerator be shut down after concerns about toxic ash being trucked through city streets to the Quarantine Road Landfill, with speakers citing thousands of annual trips and possible health risks. Higher Ed & Workforce: College of Southern Maryland approved new associate degree programs in radiation therapy and healthcare administration to expand access to in-demand healthcare careers. Local Business & Neighborhood Pressure: Waverly’s empty storefronts stayed in the spotlight as residents pointed to one major property owner and urged action to revive the business district. Sports for Students: Garrett County Public Schools added flag rugby to physical education, partnering with Rugby Maryland to bring a non-contact, teamwork-focused option to students. Arts & Community Politics: Bruce Springsteen headlined the “Power to the People” protest festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, with proceeds supporting voter engagement groups. State Culture Moment: Maryland officially designated the megalodon as its state shark, tying the fossil to the Chesapeake region and boosting public education around marine history. Education Access: A Kiswahili children’s book push is now reaching Maryland public libraries, helping diaspora families keep Tanzanian heritage alive through reading.

Baltimore Schools & Ethics: Baltimore City Public Schools is terminating a contract with KEYS Development, tied to former board member Mujahid Muhammad, after an FBI search of the company and Muhammad’s resignation—an ethics panel is reviewing the relationship. Arts & Inclusion: Baltimore Rock Opera Society fired its new executive director, Kelly Carnes, after a Burning Man video showing cornrows sparked “cultural appropriation” complaints, with the group promising policy and anti-racism training changes. Immigration & Community Activism: A Maryland festival called “Power to the People” brought major anti-Trump energy, with Bruce Springsteen denouncing “lawless” federal action and former special counsel Jack Smith appearing in a “No Kings” shirt. Local Culture Calendar: Live Arts Maryland kicks off its season Oct. 10 with “A Concert for Peace” at Maryland Hall, pairing Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man with film and choral/orchestral performances. Food & Neighborhood Buzz: Halal Smash Burgers soft-opened its first D.C. location in Georgetown, bringing late-night smash burgers and Old Bay crab flavors to a longtime rotating storefront. Weekend Spotlight: The Chicks return for a 20th-anniversary run of Taking the Long Way, revisiting the band’s comeback story and defiance.

Maryland Education Watch: Somerset and Worcester counties spend about the same per student, but results diverge sharply—Worcester leads in reading and math proficiency while Somerset lands near the bottom, raising questions as lawmakers push new education spending. Local Schools Planning: Montgomery County school leaders are holding public meetings on possible closures and consolidation as enrollment declines, with no decisions made yet and community input driving the process. Community & Culture: Bruce Springsteen and other major acts brought a voter-turnout message to Maryland’s “Power to the People” festival in Columbia, pairing music with activism and support for groups like VoteRiders and HeadCount. Lifestyle & Safety: As e-bike and scooter use grows, serious injuries among youth are rising, prompting calls for stronger safety rules and helmet use. Coastal Stewardship: Anne Arundel County’s Deale library became the first in Maryland to host an oyster shell recycling bin, partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to boost restoration. Housing Consumer Alert: States are tightening oversight of “we buy houses” wholesalers after concerns they can confuse vulnerable sellers and strip away home equity.

School Closures Planning: Montgomery County Public Schools is holding two rounds of public meetings on how to organize programs and resources as enrollment declines, with the first round (Oct. 19–Nov. 2) focusing on the process and the second (Nov. 30–Dec. 10) on how potential closures and consolidation would be evaluated—no decisions are set yet. Community & Culture: Deale’s Anne Arundel County Public Library became Maryland’s first to host an oyster shell recycling bin, partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to boost oyster restoration. Voting Rights & Privacy: A federal judge in Maryland is set to rule on whether Trump’s plan to use personal data to build state-by-state voter eligibility lists is legal, raising concerns about disenfranchisement. Public Safety & Justice: New bodycam footage shows the moment Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania, including a strip-search, as his case moves through the courts. Books & Belonging: St. Mary’s NAACP meeting highlighted an achievement gap and the push for more reading outside school. Spooky Season Picks: Maryland readers get a steady stream of horror releases for October, from dark fiction to Halloween-themed must-reads.