🍦Top Scoops of 2023

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. Since “Wrapped” lists are all the rage, we thought we’d take a look back at our most clicked stories of 2023. Check it out in The Digest section.

Let’s get to it.

— Ryan Sneddon, Rebecca Kraybill, & Lauren Burke Meyer

P.S. Happy Birthday to Tom Cagle! 🍰

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THE DIGEST

Strong winds may impact Bay Bridge 💨

Hold onto your hats. Winds of 25-35 mph and heavy rain are expected today. At the Bay Bridge, there’s potential for eastbound delays during afternoon rush hour. One lane of eastbound traffic may be directed to the westbound span.

Rain safety recs: turn on your headlights, slow down, and allow extra braking distance. Bay Bridge wind operations are as follows:

• Warning: Sustained winds of 30–39 mph or gusts consistently exceeding 30 mph. House trailers, box trailers, motorcycles, and vehicles with roof racks are advised to use extra caution.

• Limited wind restriction: Sustained winds of 40–49 mph or gusts consistently exceeding 40 mph. House trailers, empty box trailers, and other vehicles law enforcement deems unsafe to cross will be prohibited from crossing and given assistance with turning around.

• Full wind restriction: Sustained winds of 50 mph or gusts consistently exceeding 50 mph. Only cars, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, commercial buses, and tractor-trailers weighing more than 64,000 pounds may cross.

• Bridge closure: Sustained winds of 55 mph or gusts consistently exceeding 55 mph. MDTA may close the bridge to traffic entirely.

⚠️ AACPS weather update

All AACPS schools are closing two hours early today (1/9) because of the weather. All school-sponsored after school activities are canceled.

Don’t forget to name the Thomas Point coyote

The decoy coyote stationed at Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse to deter bird 💩 needs a name. Since Wile E. Coyote is taken (thanks Looney Tunes), we need your help christening this coyote. Enter your suggestions here by Friday (1/12). You’ll vote for the winner next week and they’ll get two lighthouse tour tickets for the upcoming season ($180 value)!

Local brothers turn 100 & 101

Annapolis siblings Charles and Francis Harris have always been together. They served side by side in World War II. They worked for 30 years in the Naval Academy kitchen. They both drove taxis in Annapolis. And now, they’re both about to be centenarians. Charles turns 100 this Sunday and Francis turned 101 in November. So what’s the secret to living until 100? Good genes, for a start — their father lived to be 105. Read more of their fascinating life stories on the Capital. ($)

Top stories of 2023

We sent over 3.2 million emails to y’all in 2023. That’s bonkers. And in those emails, these were the most popular stories (in order). Enjoy the walk down memory lane.

1. Edgewater Restaurant Crabcake review

2. Who won the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade?

3. Yes, that was a sonic boom

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

Alaskan tundra swans wintering in Annapolis

📸 @fv_porkchop

Tag @NaptownScoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

LOCAL BUSINESS

Third Eye Comics is expanding again

Three stores. Three eyes. Side by side by side. Third Eye Comics and Third Eye Games are getting a sibling, Third Eye Music & Video, at 209 Chinquapin Round Road, Suite 300 in Annapolis. The new store will offer over 8,000 square feet of records, movies, books, and more to get your nostalgia fix.

The grand opening is set for Saturday, January 27 from 11 AM-9 PM. And you’ll save 20% off in stores at all three locations. Some exclusions apply. The first 25 people in line get a free tote, keychain, and t-shirt!

While you await the grand opening, have a listen to our podcast interview with Third Eye’s passionate owner, Steve Anderson 🎙️ 

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 THE ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Music for a New World 🎶

The Annapolis Symphony Academy presents the elite Orion Youth Orchestra’s winter concert – Music for a New World on Saturday, January 20 at the Kerr Center of Performing Arts at 7:30 PM.

The Orion Youth Orchestra is a high-level, tuition-free youth orchestra for advanced students at the Annapolis Symphony Academy. At this show, they’ll perform alongside Annapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians, conducted by Maestro José-Luis Novo and Assistant Conductor Shun Yao.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Prokofiev, and William Grant Still – this concert will have it all. You won’t believe the amazing talent of these youth musicians! Adult tickets are $20. Students age 18 and under are FREE! Get your tickets today.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Theatre Talk Tuesday

Told through emojis.

👵 🤖 ❤️ ❓ → Marjorie Prime is about an 85-year-old woman who spends her final days with a computerized version of her deceased husband. It grapples with the mysteries of human identity and what technology can and cannot replace. See it at Colonial Players of Annapolis January 12–27. Tickets.

🎭 👩‍🏫 🐝  → Compass Rose Theater tryouts for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Compass Rose is accepting audition submissions for its show running March 15–April 28. Submit a video by Wednesday (1/10). Actors must be 16+. Learn more.

Important clarification: the auditions above are for a play about a spelling bee, not an actual spelling bee 🐝

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

First public FY2025 budget hearing today

The Board of Education hosts its first public hearing today (1/9) to hear input on AACPS’ proposed FY2025 operating and capital budgets. Today’s meeting is in-person only and testimony is limited to two minutes/person. 6 PM at Old Mill High School at 600 Patriot Ln, Millersville, MD 21108.

If you can’t make this meeting, the second and final hearing is on Thursday (1/11) with a virtual and in-person option. That’s at the Board Room at the Parham Building at 6 PM, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

• Click here to review the budgets in advance of the meetings.

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WEATHER

Tuesday

55 🌡️ 46 | 🌧️ | 100% | 💨 SE 27 mph (23 knots)

Wednesday

48 🌡️ 36 | 🌥️ | 5% | 💨 WSW 17 mph (15 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 44ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Tuesday

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
Copper Creek Pub & Ale House | Jazz Jam | 8–10 PM
Mother's Peninsula Grille | Lower Case Blues | 8–11 PM
The Point | Skribe | 5–8 PM

Wednesday

49 West | Pam Godfrey Classical Duo | 5–7 PM
Brian Boru | Larry Lay | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–10 PM
Middleton Tavern | Ryan Kozel | 6–9 PM
Mother's Peninsula Grille | Troll Tribe | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Loose Change | 7–10 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Russ | 9 PM

SPORTS

St. Mary’s honors legendary coach Chuck Miller 🏀

Over the past three decades, Chuck Miller has held assistant, JV, and varsity basketball coaching roles all over town. He tried retiring after 16 years at Severn where he led the varsity girls to the program’s most successful era. But he quickly came out of retirement to take over St. Mary’s. In his last season, the Saints earned a historic, undefeated season, the IAAM B Conference title, and an A Conference promotion. Chuck’s career ended at 370 wins and 160 losses.

Friday night, Chuck was honored with lollipops (one of his trademarks 🍭) and packed bleachers during St. Mary’s 54-47 win against Mercy. Saints senior Baily Walden also eclipsed 1,000 career points. After the first quarter, Chuck — who’s known Baily since seventh grade — presented her with a commemorative ball. ($)

Fun Fact: Scoop writer Lauren here. Chuck’s successor, Leo Latonick, was my first basketball coach. He also knows the magic of lollipops. Coach Latonick used to hand them out after every practice 🍭

Upcoming Navy games & matches

Women’s Basketball (4-9)
1/10 vs. Holy Cross | 5:30 PM

Men's Basketball (5-8)
1/10 @ Holy Cross | 7 PM

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THANKS!

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