Jack Johnson shocked the world by rising from the culture of Jim Crow to become boxing’s first African American world heavyweight cham­pion. A century later, Adrian Matejka chronicled his life and rise to fame in The Big Smoke. In 2013 it was considered for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award — for poetry.         This year, The Big Smoke is circulating around Anne Arundel County as part of The Big Read, which began...

Annapolis Rotary Club Scholarships For: Up to four graduating seniors in Annapolis area high schools and homeschoolers (zip codes: 21401, 21403, 21409, 21144) planning to attend a college or university and with a demonstrated commitment to community service; awards of $1,000 each. Deadline: Apply by April 1; www.annapolisrotary.org/scholarships.   Anne Arundel Watermen’s Scholarship For: Two graduating seniors from Anne Arundel County schools pursuing a career in marine sciences or...

       In Calvert County, the public library has gone beyond collecting books to creating them. For Women’s History Month last March, the library sponsored Inspiring Black Women of Calvert County. This year men take the stage as subjects of a new local history book, Inspiring African American Men of Calvert County.       “When we joined the Big Conversation on Dismantling Racism last year,” says Robyn Truslow, library spokeswoman and...

      Wondering where that snowplow is as wintery precipitation falls? You can find out on Anne Arundel County’s new tracking system.       A new Automated Vehicle Location system automatically determines and transmits the location of the county’s 74 plows and 250-plus contracted plow trucks. Department of Public Works reviews the data to monitor road conditions and the effectiveness of plowing strategies.        You take the next...