🍦This is just a drill

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. You’ve probably heard of Punxsutawney Phil. But he’s only right 35% of the time. Staten Island Chuck is right 85% of the time. And Chucky called for an early spring yesterday.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• Bitty & Beau’s celebrates 5 years

• County budget town hall

• Galentine’s Day

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins, & Ryan Sneddon

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THE DIGEST

This is just a drill 🚨

If you see or hear anything disturbing in the general vicinity of the Naval Academy on Wednesday morning, don’t panic. It’s just a drill. Navy security forces along with a bevy of local law enforcement and first responders are doing an annual training for an active shooter mass casualty event. There will be live volunteer victims, realistic injury moulage paint, and simulated gunfire. And while we’re sharing this so you can be informed and not panic, this is a closed training. AKA not open to the public. AKA do not try to go watch.

(Good) Ideas wanted for Carrs Beach

Annapolis Rec and Parks is currently accepting ideas for Carr’s Beach Heritage Park, the 5-acre piece of land that was once Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beaches, two popular Black resorts founded in 1926 and acquired by the City in 2022. The County is holding listening sessions at the Pip Moyer Rec Center (there’s one Friday), with civil engineers from McAdams, the firm designing the park.

One possible contentious point is demolishing a cottage that once belonged to Parlett L. Moore, former president of Coppin State University, to build a visitor’s center. To attend this week’s meeting and to see further hearing sessions on the calendar, click here. And if you’re interested in the many influential musicians who performed at Carr’s Beach over the last 100 years, check out this incredible list. ($)

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Annapolis’ favorite flower man is back. Just in time for Valentine’s Day

Just in case you don’t know, that’s Darim – the guy who sells flowers on Church Circle. They’re always fresh and he’s always smiling. He just got back from his annual trip home to Africa so if you still need flower plans for Valentine’s Day, this one’s for you. Just make sure you bring cash.

Bitty & Beau Celebrates 5 Years

City Dock’s all-inclusive (but not like cruise ship all-inclusive) coffee shop is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a dance party! On Saturday morning, come down to the shop at 124 Dock Street and grab a coffee or hot chocolate sample, shake it out a little bit, and throw your hat in the ring for some great raffles and giveaways. 9–11, Saturday, Feb. 8

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

SPONSORED BY STRETCHMED

You don’t need medicine. You need to stretch.

Don’t take it from us. Take it from the Washington Post. As reported by health and wellness columnist Gretchen Reynolds, “If your body is flexible, you’re likely to live longer than someone whose body and joints are tight and rigid, according to the first, large-scale study of the links between flexibility and mortality.” In the study by Claudio Gil S. Araujo, 3,139 men and women between ages 46 and 65 completed an evaluation of overall flexibility. Researchers followed them for more than a decade. They found that people with the stiffest joints — especially women — were substantially more likely to die prematurely than those with greater flexibility. Assisted stretching decreases pain, improves posture and mobility, and increases longevity. One Scoop reader said StretchMed Annapolis literally changed his life. So what are you waiting for? Book your no-cost intro stretch today.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Coming up this week

🎹 Monday

Instrument Petting Zoo with the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Introducing your child to a new instrument can be a challenge, as any parent who has hidden a recorder in the couch cushions can attest. On Monday, bring the tots to Busch-Annapolis Library on West St. to test their chops on different band instruments that you do not have to take home with you. I repeat you do not have to take them home with you.

🎨 Tuesday

Paint Night: Winter. There are few scenes more beautiful than a snowy evening. Come to the Broadneck Library at 6 PM on Tuesday night to explore winter as a muse. All materials will be provided.

🧩 Wednesday

Lego Challenge. Severna Park Library is hosting a Lego Challenge, inviting brickmasters young and old (because you’re never too old for Legos) to come and build a masterpiece. 4–5 PM

📷️ Thursday

Galentine’s Day on Maryland Avenue. Grab the girls and head downtown for this fun evening celebrating female friendships. Shop Cupla has a happy hour planned, Groundswell Yoga Shala has a 2-for-1 yoga class with a wine tasting at Annebeth’s. Other shops will be open late for a fun evening with friends. 5–8 on Maryland Ave.

Arundel Camera Club. The Arundel Camera Club hosts Ron Peiffer at the Severna Park Baptist Church on Thursday at 7 PM. Peiffer will be sharing insights into photographing Southwestern landscapes. A Facebook livestream will be made available for those attending virtually. Free. Btw, this happens every Thursday if you want to connect with fellow photographers.

A Reckless Night, A Path to Freedom: The Royal Navy on the Chesapeake in 1814. Annapolis’ resident historian & Scoop office neighbor Dave Gendell tackles the story of the HMS MENELAUS, a Royal Navy frigate whose sole mission was “an eternal annoyance of the enemy” by raiding towns on Chesapeake. In 1848, the MENELAUS was involved in the Battle of Caulk’s Field, which culminated in the death of the famed British Captain Peter Parker and the escape of dozens of enslaved peoples. 7 PM at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, $10.

Chesapeake Bay Paddle: 🌊 Registration is open now

How much of the Chesapeake Bay would you be up for paddling in a single day? 35 miles? 10 miles? 3 miles? All three distances are options for the annual Chesapeake Bay Paddle this summer, and registration is now open. You could be among paddlers of all ages and abilities who take to the water on July 26 for this tradition that raises money and awareness for Chesapeake Bay preservation efforts.

The tradition is going into its fourth year as a group event, after starting as an epic solo endeavor by Annapolitan Chris Hopkinson, who paddled the entire length of the Chesapeake Bay in 2020. This format with three distance options makes it accessible for more participants to get involved and show their love for the bay.

Running for SMOB 🗳

Are you (or do you know) an AACPS student interested in serving on the Board of Education? Anne Arundel County’s student member of the board (aka SMOB) is the only student member of a board of education in the entire country with full voting rights, so it’s a pretty cool thing to say when Aunt Kathy asks what’s new this Thanksgiving. High school juniors in good academic standing can get more info via an online meeting on Wednesday @ 6:30 PM.

Other important upcoming dates to note:

🗓 Feb 19, March 5: Campaign clinics
🗓 Feb. 26: Nomination deadline
🗓 March 3: Application packets due
🗓 March 7: All nominees scheduled for interviews
🗓 March 20: Candidate town hall
🗓 April 9: Finalist debate

The election is in April, and the winner is referred to the governor, who confirms the appointment. Get more info on applications and key dates.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

CIVIL NEWS

⚖️ County Council Meeting

On the agenda for tonight’s County Council meeting:

• General development plan

• Reorganization

• School bus facilities

• See full agenda

The meeting is at 7 PM in the Arundel Center. The public is welcome to attend. Click here to submit testimony or watch online. 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis, 21401

District 6 Budget Town Hall 💵

It’s almost time for Anne Arundel County to figure out what it’s spending on and what it’s not in Fiscal Year 2026, and you have a say. County Executive Steuart Pittman has been holding budget town halls in each of Anne Arundel’s 7 districts. The final town hall is slated for District 6 tomorrow from 6–8 PM at Annapolis High School. Use this Google Form to sign up to testify.

🤔 What district do I live in? Here’s a handy tool to find out. Just plug in your address.

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WEATHER

Monday

48 🌡️ 45 | ⛅ | 8% | 💨 S 9 mph (8 knots)

Tuesday

51 🌡️ 31 | ⛅ | 5% | 💨 NNW 12 mph (10 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 36ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Monday

49 West | Molly Durnin, Sam Pugh and Madisun Bailey | 7:30–10:30 PM
Brian Boru | PJ and Neal | 6–9 PM

Tuesday

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Hot Tuna | 7:30 PM | Tickets

NAVY SPORTS

Past results

Women's Basketball (15-6)
2/1 @ Bucknell | W 79-75 OT

Men's Basketball (8-15)
2/1 vs. Bucknell | L 85-75

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THANKS!

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