— If you're from or live in Harford County it's likely you've heard of Ryan Furniture The local family-owned business has stood along Pulaski Highway in Havre De Grace since 1966 “The retail environment has changed considerably over the past eight decades and single-store operators are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with national companies and their expansive purchasing power,” Jim said Ryan Furniture separated itself from the competition with unparalleled customer service getting to know its clientele intimately and becoming immersed in the local community But that formula can only work for so long as customers begin to make decisions based solely on price Jim plans to fully cease operations by mid-May Jim also sold the 28,275 square foot building the business occupies through the brokerage firm Lee & Associates The store's closure comes after passing through three generations of Ryan's Richard and Lillian Ryan started the company They passed it onto their son's Jim and Tom “I started working at Ryan Furniture when I was 14 have poured all my energies into making the business successful and wish to thank our loyal customers who have supported us over many years,” Jim said “I am looking forward to my retirement years and have many fond memories serving the community.” Ryan Furniture in Havre de Grace to close shop The views expressed here are the author's own blankets and dinners to enjoy this free concert at Millard Tydings Memorial Park Maryland is excited to present Art Talk with artist Ron Crouse on Sunday Ron will talk about his journey as an artist from 3rd grader drawing baseball players to his years learning the craft at the Maryland Institute of Art to his career in advertising and now to his exploration of painting with acrylic paints Please join us for this free event to learning about Ron’s adventures as an artist Musicians and music historians David and Ginger Hildebrand have chosen pieces from period sources to create a historical music program to commemorate the anniversary of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Selections will be played on period instruments which will be introduced and discussed Confluence of factors impacted difficult decision to cease operations including growing competition in product category changing consumer tastes and age of current owner  a venerable home furnishings store which has operated in Harford County since 1948 have revealed plans to cease operations effective mid-May and the sale of its 28,275 square foot store located in Havre de Grace for $2.2 million Family members of the privately-owned and operated retailer cited growing competition in the furniture category changing consumer tastes and living trends and the age of the on-site owner as primary reasons driving the decision Kate Jordan and Mark Mueller of Lee & Associates Maryland a fully-integrated commercial real estate brokerage and management firm represented the seller and procured the buyer in this sales transaction “It was time to close Ryan Furniture and sell the property,” said Jim Ryan whose parents Richard and Lillian Ryan started operations nearly 80 years ago and operated the current location on a 4.4-acre site at 2121 Pulaski Highway since 1966 Richard Ryan first started selling furniture from an old truck parked on the side of the road with an investment of $5 he built his first store using excess lumber from Aberdeen Proving Ground before acquiring farmland along MD Route 40 to build the second building that housed operations for the past 60 years Jim and his brother Tom were woven into the business and continued the family legacy of providing a diverse array of home furnishings while also contributing heavily to the interests of the greater Harford County-area community with both financial support and volunteer efforts Groups that benefited from the family’s involvement included the local fire department Jim Ryan assumed day-to-day control of company operations and Ryan Furniture became a three-generation company following the hiring of his son Mike and single-store operators are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with national companies and their expansive purchasing power,” Ryan said “Another shift in the furniture sector occurred with consumers straying away from visiting showrooms and catalogues and or choosing low-price items to serve as short-term solutions to populate small apartment units All of these factors began to eat away at our loyal customer base over time,” he said Family members stood by Ryan’s determination to maintain operations of Ryan Furniture for as long as possible prior to the group making the collective decision to cease operations Recent escalations in shipping costs only served to exacerbate a declining situation “Our family is extremely proud of the Ryan Furniture legacy and everything we accomplished and would not change one thing,” he added and going to school and being friends with Tom’s daughter Laura since kindergarten this is a bittersweet situation both personally and professionally,” explained Jordan Principal at Lee & Associates | Maryland “Entrepreneurs such as the Ryan family sink their heart and soul into running local businesses and making an indelible impact on their local community This group was truly one-of-a-kind and their products and business philosophy will be sorely missed The new owners emerged as the ideal candidate for the building and have been extremely compassionate with the transfer to align with the emotions and best interests of the Ryan’s” and wish to thank our loyal customers who have supported us over many years,” Ryan said © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved 2025 at 1:42 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Approximately 130 trees were planted at Chapel Road Park for Arbor Day Harford County leaders have planted more than 33,000 native trees eastern red c (Shutterstock)HAVRE DE GRACE the city of Havre de Grace has planted trees in honor of Arbor Day black gum and hornbeam - along the north side of the Water Street project An estimated 3,000 plants also have been planted along the waterfront to date Approximately 130 trees also were planted at Chapel Road Park for Arbor Day The April 18th plantings included the presentation of the Arbor Day Foundation’s National Arbor Day Tree City USA Award to Harford County government which Harford will be presented for the 22nd time staff and citizens who plant and care for the community forest benefiting the environment and the economy Havre de Grace has earned the Tree City USA designation which is given by the Arbor Day Foundation More than 3,500 cities participate in the Tree City USA Program to create and maintain tree cover Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Subscribe Now By T. Edward Nickens MarylandWhen: year-roundIf you like: arts and culture Madison Mitchell’s carving shop; Mitchell made wooden decoys for half a century and his shop was a training ground for many recognized artisans Scholarship also plays a significant role in the museum’s efforts evidenced by the permanent exhibition Influences of African Americans on Decoy Making The forty-third anniversary of the Havre de Grace Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival will host carving demonstrations and tons of artists and vendors on May 3 and 4.      G&G tip: Regional decoy-collecting associations regularly head to Havre de Grace for pop-up events with living carvers Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles These top-notch bakeshops let flour-free customers have their cake—and pies The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate (WBFF) — A Havre de Grace man was sentenced to 30 years suspend all but 12 years after pleading guilty to depraved heart murder and distribution of controlled dangerous substances charges in what officials called the state's first murder conviction tied to a deadly overdose The Office of the State's Attorney for Harford County announced Monday that Kusan Hines was sentenced to 30 years suspend all but 12 years to be served at the Department of Corrections and 5 years of supervised probation following his release for his role in the overdose death police from the Harford County Sheriff's Office were sent to an apartment in Havre de Grace for a welfare check a 33-year-old victim was found dead from a suspected overdose and a glass smoking device commonly used for smoking crack cocaine was found under his body Police say a forensic toxicologist confirmed the victim had a combination of cocaine and Despropionyl fentanyl in his system at the time of his death The Assistant Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be intoxication of fentanyl and cocaine Authorities say that surveillance videos from the victim's apartment showed Hines and a woman arrive at the location on the night of the overdose Police say the next video showed the couple leaving the victim's apartment and they were determined to be the last people at the apartment before the victim was found dead the next day who said that he was friends with the victim and confirmed it was him on the surveillance video Hines told police that the victim had a preexisting mental condition that caused him to have hallucinations that drugs made those hallucinations worse and that the victim's mental condition was "worse than ever." Police say that Hines admitted he went to the apartment to cook crack cocaine and smoke with the victim the victim started "acting weird," and despite this Hines and his girlfriend left the victim alone in the apartment without seeking medical assistance A witness told police that the day after the overdose death Hines entered the Fluff and Fold Laundromat and kept saying The witness said when Hines was asked what he was referring to Police said this same witness confirmed that Hines was the only person who would deal drugs to the victim since other dealers refused due to his mental conditions Hines pled guilty to one count of second degree depraved heart murder and one count of distribution of controlled dangerous substances on Friday State's Attorney Alison Healey said via a press release “I cannot say enough about the importance of this case and the precedent it has set for how we will handle future overdose cases in Harford County I commend Assistant State’s Attorney Stuart Welch for his tireless efforts and collaboration with our Harford County Drug Taskforce to support the investigation and prosecution of those that deal drugs in our communities this is the first murder conviction in the State of Maryland related to a fatal overdose and Harford County has now opened the door for this to become the norm We will continue to seek even higher sentences in an effort to deter the distribution of these poisons in our community.” — Maryland has a lot of beauty but there is one hidden gem in Havre De Grace which has been a best kept secret Chris Scholz was able to get a hold of some peonies from a neighbor almost 15 years ago He learned how to plant and take care of the peonies and during the pandemic he opened his land to the public for people to visit the beautiful flowers "The first year I think we had 25 or 26 people and he made the website and the next year we had about I think about 100 and something and it's just grown and I think we're up to about our fifth or sixth year," says Scholz He says over time he has enjoyed sharing the beauty with people who come to visit and over the years he has even gotten different types of peonies from Festiva Maxima to Madame Emile "But the thing that makes me happy is when I see everybody out here and the flowers are blooming and there is just lots of smiles That's worth the money the investment I made so that's one thing," says Chris Scholz Scholz says as he expands his peony garden he enjoys having people come by and take pictures and even take some home "They bloom like you see for such a short period of time take them with you," he says but the time they bloom depends on the weather Scholz says this year he also wants to let people pre-select a type of peony they would like to take with them in the off season to grow on their own "So you put a steak at the one you like and then come back and see me in the fall we find a steak and we dig them up so that's something new we're going to try." says Scholz He is also looking to expand his garden over-all adding more plants than just peonies "We started a bunch of sunflowers so later on in the summer we're gonna have some flowers and hopefully over where the goats were will make a place for pumpkins and then out and that lower field I've got a bunch of wildflower seeds and I want to make like a wildflower area," he says The St. John's Peony Farmfields are expected to start blooming ahead of mother's day 2025 at 1:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Cameron Lingenfelter has died three days after an accident that happened April 14 along Route 22 in Aberdeen died in that 3-vehicle crash and six others were injured MD — The 14-year-old involved in a fatal crash that killed his father and seriously injured his two brothers has died Cameron Lingenfelter died three days after an accident that happened April 14 along Route 22 in Aberdeen. His father, 33-year-old Tyler Lingenfelter, died in that three-vehicle crash and six others were injured, Patch reported previously the vehicle crossed the center lines and hit a box truck The impact of the initial crash subsequently caused the box truck to hit the Ford Transit van Tyler Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene and Cameron was taken by helicopter to the hospital According to an obituary posted on the Zellman Funeral Home website for Cameron Lingenfelter he was described as someone who brought "joy and laughter to all who knew him." Cameron demonstrated a thirst for knowledge and a zest for life that inspired those around him His youthful enthusiasm and kindness touched the lives of many His vibrant spirit will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends," the obituary stated Cameron is survived by his mother, Chantella Lingenfelter, and his brothers, Cayden and Colton Lingenfelter. Tyler Lingenfelter was described as a "devoted husband" and "proud father" who worked as a landscaper and loved restoring cars and riding dirt bikes, according to his obituary "He cherished every moment spent watching his boys play sports sharing in their triumphs and encouraging them to chase their dreams with the same passion he brought to everything he did," the obituary stated A GoFundMe has been created by to help the family with medical and funeral expenses — Among the shops and restaurants in Havre de Grace is a place that offers something unique: high tea Bella's Tea Room is an enchanting venue for a birthday party They offer a variety of scrumptious options including scones the experience and connection make the tea room a favorite "When they come here they keep coming because they love it," says Al Rosas Kids and adults like to have parties and events there They are celebrating their 7th year in business in February You can keep up with the latest events on Bella's website 2025 at 6:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Shortly after 10 a.m a Chevy Traverse driven by Tyler Lingenfelter Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene and his 3 sons injured MD — A child is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit while his father was killed in a 3-vehicle crash Monday in Harford County Two other siblings were seriously injured in the crash and require surgeries To help the family, Destiny Wright, best friend of the three boys' mom, Chantella, has put together a GoFundMe to help them with medical expenses for the three boys and funeral expenses for her husband "This tragic event was very unexpected and none of us were prepared for it Chantella will be out of work for a while due to her children’s injuries Thank you and please continue to pray for Cameron Colton and the rest of the family," Wright posted on the GoFundMe page Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene Two juvenile passengers in the Traverse were taken by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries while a third child was flown by air ambulance to the hospital as well as the driver of the Ford Transit van also were taken by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries When Al Peteraf moved into his Havre de Grace home in 2008 he had somewhat of an idea of what he was signing up for But as Vulcan Materials Company has expanded its quarry so has the impact on homeowners who live nearby my geothermal loop?' These things are problematic "It can wake the dead and scare the heck out of the living I had an occasion where I fell out of bed during a blast," John Blomquist told WMAR-2 News Vulcan is one of the largest producers of construction materials in the country The company says the industry is a heavily regulated one and it's in compliance with all of those regulations the company is bound by stricter rules surrounding blasting activity It has to happen at least 2,000 feet away from homes Blomquist has lived in this home for 60 years and says it's been that way for as long as he can remember But a county council member, James Reilly, has put forth a bill that would do away with that rule in favor of Maryland Department of the Environment Regulations it will hurt us drastically in the future," Blomquist said Blasting could move 500 to 1,000 feet closer There's no need to undo the rules that are in place," Peteraf said Is my geothermal loop that's 150 feet down in the ground in danger of cracking By the time homeowners found out about the bill, county council had already held a public hearing "They put a little notice on the website that none of us knew about and now we're all scrambling to stop this," Peteraf said "You guys don’t have the courtesy to call some of the neighbors that could be directly affected The council was scheduled to vote on the bill tonight Peteraf said council president Patrick Vincenti postponed it At the Jan. 14 hearing two local Vulcan employees spoke in favor of the change Environmental manager Johnny Johnson told the council “Blasting has been studied continuously since around 1957 With the advancement of blasting emulsion products such activities are designed and monitored to have no potential to damage nearby homes and structures in and around quarries we are confident that this legislation will not negatively impact our ability to operate our facility safely while continuing to comply with all regulations intended to protect the environment and neighborhoods around the facility.” Community and government relations manager Justin Stein spoke to the company's "exemplary record of safety He also spoke about how this bill supports a business that the community relies on "Any major construction or maintenance project you hear of in and around Harford County has probably used Havre de Grace stone there would be a major supply chain problem to get quality grade stone to the projects being built in the area schools Our questions were directed to the bill's sponsor "We support Harford County's proposed legislation to adopt the Maryland standards for drilling While this proposed legislation will not change our existing Havre de Grace site operations it does provide a set standard at the local and state level that is developed by industry experts we take pride in going above and beyond local and federal standards for our site operations and environmental compliance We look forward to continuing to engage with the Havre de Grace community and provide necessary material that goes into building and maintaining our vital infrastructure." 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Harford County has developed the Prepare Because You Care citizen training class It is designed to address preparedness for a wide-range of disasters and emergency situations MD — In the event of a widespread emergency or disaster That's why officials are offering a citizen training class to help residents help themselves first in the event of an emergency Harford County has developed the Prepare Because You Care citizen training class The 4-week session will be held Wednesdays from May 7–28 between 7–9 p.m. at the Havre de Grace Community Center, 100 Lagaret Lane in Havre de Grace. To register, visit https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/1721/Prepare-Because-You-Care — A potentially very sad story ends happily in Havre De Grace Harford County Animal Control got a tip about some puppies abandoned in the woods on Country Club Road officers discovered three yellow labs left alone “Our animal control unit was called in reference to what they believed to be three yellow labs that appeared to have been abandoned,” said Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler Good news is the furry trio appear to be healthy The four legged fellas are estimated to be five-months old Right now the Humane Society of Harford County is getting them checked and vaccinated We’ve only had them for just under 24 hours but they appear to be very healthy." said Executive Director Amanda Hickman Hickaman says the pups already have new names Cheez-Its were used to sort of lure them out of their hiding place in the woods so that is where the namesake comes from.” After posting about the rescue on social media the Sheriff’s Office and Humane Society have been inundated with calls from people interested in adopting the puppies We're told they could be up for adoption early as next week To get a head start on the application process, click here Abandoned puppies rescued in Harford County 2025 at 10:12 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Harford County animal control officers received a report of abandoned puppies in the woods They appear to be five months old and in good health and are being examined at The Humane Society of Harford County (Photo courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office)HAVRE DE GRACE MD — Harford County animal control officers received a report Thursday of three puppies that appeared to have been abandoned in the woods When officers arrived in the 900 block of Country Club Road in Havre de Grace The puppies were taken to The Humane Society of Harford County and an investigation has been launched into the situation The HSHC stated on its Facebook page that the puppies are on a stray hold and must be vaccinated and medically cleared by a veterinarian before they can be adopted They expect the puppies to be ready for visits by potential adopters sometime next week — Police have made multiple arrests related to a drug ring at a restaurant in Havre de Grace Harford County detectives began investigation drug activity related to a local restaurant called Abbey Burger This was due to calls from the restaurant and anonymous tips saying that drugs were being used and sold from within the restaurant police say Detectives saw multiple employees engaged in drug sales/drug usage while on the clock cocaine was sold to undercover officers and three of the sales were allegedly made by employees while they were at work The investigation led to 42-year-old Michael Wade and a search warrant was served at his home and the Abbey Burger charged and taken to the Harford County Detention Center: BALTIMORE — Happy Friday! Temperatures will climb back into the mid-70sthis afternoon with some passing clouds and breezy winds A big warm up takes place this weekend with highs climbing into the mid-80s on Saturday and mid-70s on Easter Sunday 2024 at 11:33 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Noon Year's Eve celebration at the Bel Air Library​ in meeting rooms 1 Whitehall and Whiteford library branches starting at 11:30 a.m MD — Ring in the New Year at one of several events being held across Harford County The highly anticipated New Year's Eve Duck Drop A DJ will be on hand for the event's 25th anniversary Here is a look at some additional events happening in and around Havre de Grace: The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year which was in mid-March when they planted their crops the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition 2025 at 7:28 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay spent time recently at the renovated and reopened MacGregor's Restaurant in Havre de Grace MD — Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay has spent time at the renovated MacGregor's Restaurant in Havre de Grace Ramsay, a Michelin-starred chef with restaurants in Maryland and DC, is known for hosting multiple culinary shows including "Hell's Kitchen," "MasterChef," and "Hotel Hell." Ramsay and a film and production crew were spotted over several days recently working in and outside MacGregor's Restaurant and Tavern in downtown Havre de Grace, WJZ reported A crew member told WJZ that Ramsay was shooting a pilot episode for a series that will air on a streaming service "I think the secret is out by now that Gordon Ramsay is in town and filming at one of our wonderful restaurants," Bridgette Johnson the Director of Economic Development and Tourism for Havre de Grace MacGregor's Restaurant was closed for renovations earlier this month, according to its Facebook page MacGregor's has been serving upscale-casual American and fish-focused fare for over 35 years on the waterfront of the Susquehanna River in historic Havre de Grace The restaurant said it has immediate openings for part-time and full-time workers heading into the summer season Ramsay helms restaurants across North America His eateries included sites on the Las Vegas Strip Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Maryland father was killed and his three young sons were seriously injured in a devastating crash on Churchville Road in Harford County that has left the community heartbroken died at the scene of a three-vehicle wreck near North Stepney Road in Aberdeen shortly after 10 a.m The family shared a photo of the three boys — smiling in matching Grinch pajamas beside a Christmas tree just months before the crash that changed everything Troopers said Lingenfelter was driving a Chevrolet Traverse westbound when it crossed the center line and hit an oncoming box truck which then collided with a Ford Transit van Lingenfelter’s three sons — identified in a family GoFundMe as Cameron and Colton — were in the Traverse at the time and suffered serious injuries One of the children was airlifted to an area hospital and remains in the ICU fighting for his life The two younger boys sustained multiple broken bones and required surgeries, according to the fundraiser which was started by a close family friend to assist with medical and funeral expenses is expected to miss work while caring for her sons “This tragic event was very unexpected and none of us were prepared for it,” organizer Destiny Wright wrote As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign had raised nearly $12,000 "Yesterday my cousin passed away in a fatal car accident with his three children in the car," a family member posted on Facebook Cameron is currently on life support with no brain activity," she continued "His other two children are hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries." Tributes have poured in following the fatal crash The GoFundMe set up for the family can be found here "Please keep Chantella In your thoughts as her son fights for his life and she processes the loss of her partner," another friend wrote Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group 2025 at 7:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Tyler Lingenfelter was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash Monday morning He was driving a vehicle with 3 children who were injured in the crash Three adults also were injured after their vehicles were involved in the crash MD — A Havre de Grace man has died and six people - including three children - were injured in a three-vehicle crash that happened shortly after 10 a.m Troopers from the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack were called to the area of eastbound Churchville Road (MD-22) west of N the vehicle crossed the center lines and hit the box truck Three juvenile passengers in the Traverse were taken by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has fans excited as he films from inside a Harford County restaurant this week Ramsay and a large film and production crew have been working in and outside MacGregor's Restaurant and Tavern Fans waited for hours outside the restaurant on Tuesday to catch a glimpse of the popular host of Hell's Kitchen WJZ caught Ramsay going in and out of the restaurant a few times "We're all big fans of Gordon Ramsay," visitor Vincent Krijewski said Production is staying tight-lipped about what show they're filming and when it will air but a crew member told WJZ it's a pilot episode for a new show that will air on a streaming service Perhaps the bigger win for Ramsay's presence is the Havre de Grace community "I think the secret is out by now that Gordon Ramsay is in town and filming at one of our wonderful restaurants," said Bridgette Johnson Johnson said Havre de Grace officials learned of Ramsay's production three weeks ago.  we see this as a great opportunity to attract more restaurants to the downtown and of course to attract visitors," Johnson said And fans were excited to see their favorite celebrity chef in their backyard and so we had to come down today just to see if we could get a glimpse because it was on his bucket list to do," Harford County resident Amy Osier said Ramsay's fans waiting outside MacGregor's told WJZ the filming and the show provide good exposure for the Havre de Grace community "I think it will be good to bring a little more money to the town," said Kady Lipson "What is so wonderful is that he's actually brought a lot of people to Havre De Grace to support the economy and grow," Osier added This only reaffirms what Johnson already knew that Havre de Grace is an amazing place with so much potential and a visit from Ramsay is just the icing on the cake "I see the community has really just come together for this project," Johnson said "They're happy for the restaurant that will be receiving the renovations and the makeover and I think it's just a new restart the set button here in downtown." 2025 at 5:23 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}On Feb the Havre de Grace Police Department received a 911 call for an attempted robbery at 415 Market Street Officers identified the suspect as Garrett Guzik 41 MD — A man who attempted to rob the Citizens Pharmacy Wednesday morning was found not far from the scene Officers arrived on scene just minutes later They quickly canvassed the area and were able to identify the suspect as Garrett Guzik 41 of Aberdeen based off a clothing description from the staff at the care center and from a robbery that happened Feb Guzik was arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery two counts of theft less than $100.00 and concealing a dangerous weapon 2024 at 12:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The STAR Centre in Havre de Grace will debut new seats and a new seating arrangement in February MD — The STAR Centre will unveil its renovated theater area in February 2025 which includes new seats and seating arrangement that features two center walkways for easier access to the center seats The seats are a more modern style with additional comfort touches The first show on stage in the renovated area will be Almost Queen which also happens to be the first show to take the stage when the center stage debuted in 2022 The STAR Centre offers the community a 900+ seat theater two gymnasiums and a dozen multi-purpose rooms 2025 at 7:26 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Humane Society of Harford County leaders hope that those who were interested in the three Labs will look to adopt other animals at the shelter who need loving homes MD — The three yellow Labrador puppies found abandoned in a wooded area near Havre de Grace April 10 have gone from frightened babies to frolicking puppies who quickly found their forever homes When officers arrived in the 900 block of Country Club Road in Havre de Grace, they found the yellow Labrador puppies. They appear to be five months old and in good health. The puppies were taken to The Humane Society of Harford County and an investigation has been launched into the situation., Patch previously reported “Without a doubt, we saw a difference in their personalities,” Erin Long with the Humane Society of Harford County told WMAR “...when the potential adoptive families were visiting with them we had them in our meeting room and they were playing and bouncing all over one another and they were a delight We all needed that injection of energy and fun and playfulness.” Even though the puppies were quickly adopted shelter leaders hope that those who were interested in the three Labs will look to adopt other animals at the shelter who need loving homes we have between 70 and 80 dogs here at the shelter so any time we can get an opportunity to shine a light on the animals that are sheltered here and get people to come out and adopt is a good thing,” Long told WMAR 2025 at 1:14 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Items that aren't accepted at dumpster day later this month can be taken to the Harford County Waste Disposal Center located at 3135 Scarboro Rd MD — Residents can dispose of unwanted waste metal goods and large items during the upcoming city-wide dumpster day to noon April 26 with collections taken at Bloomsbury Avenue and Wilson Street Items that aren't accepted at dumpster day can be taken to the Harford County Waste Disposal Center located at 3135 Scarboro Rd 2024 at 12:37 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Approximately 50 firefighters from the Susquehanna Hose Company battled a blaze that broke out at a Havre de Grace home Friday single family home sustained extensive damage (Photo courtesy of the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office)HAVRE DE GRACE MD — Officials suspect an electrical failure or overloaded power strip sparked a house fire Friday shortly after 9 p.m 20 at the home located at 550 Old Bay Lane in Havre de Grace The owners were home at the time of the fire and told investigators they were downstairs when they heard two loud and distinct noises When they went upstairs to check on the sounds they found the TV on the floor and their second-floor main bedroom on fire The husband attempted to put out the fire with fire extinguishers; however he was pushed out by heavy smoke and the 911 dispatcher told them to get out The owners escaped with their dog and cat and currently are displaced The bulk of the fire was contained to the bedroom but the fire stretched into the attic where firefighters encountered several false ceilings and void spaces Approximately 50 firefighters from the Susquehanna Hose Company battled the blaze single family home sustained extensive heat according to the state fire marshal's office Damage and loss of contents has been estimated at $500,000 and the fire continues to be investigated Maryland is a great place to visit year-round, as it offers almost everything America is known for, which is why it has been nicknamed America in Miniature so much is packed into this state’s 12,400 square miles Maryland showcases its best across its small towns like Thurmont and Ocean City opportunities abound for a wide range of activities from beach fun to watersports and several thrilling attractions that stay closed in winter are open during this season here are the nine coolest Maryland towns for a summer vacation in 2025 Havre de Grace is a charming waterfront town on Chesapeake Bay The town has a promenade for strolling with views of the bay and waterfowl it is easy to visit and tour the magnificent Concord Point Lighthouse which was built in 1827 as the second oldest lighthouse in Maryland and served for 148 years Havre de Grace is also home to the Susquehanna State Park an exciting place to cool off in summer with activities like boating The park also has trails for hiking and biking plus campsites and cabins for extended stays the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum is a cool place to visit as it offers exhibits and special events that reveal the maritime heritage of the region including the Chesapeake Bay and the Lower Susquehanna River Boonsboro is a lovely town with so many outdoor adventures to delight summer travelers the Greenbrier State Park with its 42-acre lake and white sandy beach set the stage for boating Less than two miles from downtown Boonsboro the Crystal Grottoes is the only commercial cave in Maryland and the largest of its kind in the state offering a unique way to cool off from the heat Summer visitors on a tour of this cave’s beautifully lit interior will enjoy cool temperatures and sights of stalactites Notably, several battles of the Civil War were fought around Boonsboro notably the Battle of South Mountain on September 14 the town is home to the Boonsborough Museum of History which sheds more light on the Civil War with its collection The museum also features other interesting collections of Egyptian artifacts the five-mile hike to Annapolis Rock is a must-experience as it presents breathtaking views of the Cumberland Valley and Greenbrier Lake A summer vacation in Thurmont is a delicious recipe for unforgettable memories This quaint mountain town has so much under its sleeves especially outdoor attractions like Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park the state’s highest waterfalls await to delight all Catoctin Mountain Park features 25 miles of hiking trails the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo is in Thurmont and invites visitors to see hundreds of exotic animals Wine lovers will be thrilled at the Catoctin Breeze Vineyard & Winery as it offers tastes of some of the region’s finest wines and stunning mountain scenery Ocean City is Maryland’s most popular summer destination it is home to the famous Ocean City Boardwalk nearly three-mile stretch along the beach lined with vibrant shops Visitors can stroll through this boardwalk and enjoy some thrilling rides at Trimper Rides & Amusement Park or savor fresh seafood at the Angler Restaurant the pleasure continues as the sand is soft while opportunities abound for water sports like surfing and parasailing on the Atlantic the Art League of Ocean City is always a great spot to check out the artworks from local and regional artists and partake in art classes Solomons is a tiny town with a surprising list of things to offer on a summer vacation Located on the Patuxent River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay this town is a haven for boating adventures and it has several full-service marinas like Spring Cove Marina for easy access to the surrounding waters There’s even a boardwalk on the waterfront Solomons hosts the famous Calvert Marine Museum where the maritime and ecological history of Southern Maryland is preserved and showcased This museum is a must-visit to explore exhibits and artifacts marine creatures in their various habitats and original fossils highlighting the region’s history the town’s Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center is always a delightful place to walk through a nice sculpture garden and shop for artsy gifts at the gift shop the Tiki Bar & Grill is a spacious outdoor spot in Solomons where visitors are invited to enjoy live music Berlin is one of the coolest towns in America famous for its proximity to Assateague State Park As Maryland’s only oceanfront park located on Assateague Island this attraction alone is worth spending the summer in Berlin and sunbathing; a bayside ideal for kayaking and canoeing the famous Assateague wild horses can be seen roaming freely around the park walking through Berlin’s tree-lined downtown is a pleasurable experience as it offers sights of Victorian-era structures and access to several historic attractions visitors can easily learn about the town from the 1800s to date at the Calvin B Taylor House Museum or step back to the area’s colonial era at the nearby 1740s Ratcliffe House Museum Those fascinated by mermaids are invited to the Mermaid Museum to see mermaid artifacts and exhibits enjoy interesting tales about the creatures the Windmill Creek Vineyard & Winery is always a great place in Berlin to enjoy some of the region’s best wines and explore an old farmhouse The town also has the Pemberton Historical Park where 4.5 miles of nature trails slice through wetlands which dates to the 18th century and is open for tours For visitors in town around the third weekend of September the Maryland Folk Festival is a must-attend This event is free and celebrates American culture with food and a lineup of some of the country’s best traditional musicians and performers Summer in Cumberland promises to inspire a sense of appreciation for nature and the area’s history and culture. Located along the Potomac River in the Appalachian Mountains, this town is naturally gorgeous, and summer is just the perfect time to hit the river to boat Cumberland is the starting point of the Great Allegheny Passage Summer travelers to Cumberland can enjoy an exciting bike ride on this smooth trail as it winds through the beautiful mountains the Rocky Gap State Park hosts the 243-acre Lake Habeeb the park has hundreds of campsites and several trails like the 5.3-mile Lakeside Loop Trail that winds along the lake’s shoreline and through woodlands summer visitors to Cumberland can always head to the Allegheny Museum to learn about the region’s history and heritage from its earliest Native American residents from 12,000 years ago to European settlers Rock Hall is one of Maryland's most charming waterfront towns to experience a summer of seafood Visit this town this summer and start with some nature at the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge and hike or drive several short trails through the park’s varied habitats Those who love history will enjoy the Waterman’s Museum’s collection of exhibits on crabbing A recreated shanty house is also on display in the museum alongside historical photos and local carvings highlighting the history of the Chesapeake Bay’s watermen Rock Hall surprisingly has a cute little beach known as Ferry Park where one can relax and swim carefully as there are no lifeguards on duty is recommended as it is located right on the waterfront and offers delicious seafood Maryland remains an amazing place for a summer vacation as the state has 3,190 miles of coastline While the state’s larger cities like Baltimore and Columbia definitely deserve some spotlight these towns are excellent places to make memorable summer experiences this year you’re never far from refreshing waterbodies and there’s always a mix of things to enjoy where everything from seafood restaurants to theme parks can be found Visit these coolest towns in Maryland this summer and prepare to enjoy a warm-weather vacation for the ages photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com