Not everyone trolls during trophy rockfish season. A growing contingent of shore-bound anglers fish bloodworms or cut bait on the bottom. They have been catching an ever-more impressive number of big migratory stripers.     An equally expanding cadre of small- and medium-sized boat anglers have also been chumming and chunking fresh menhaden (aka alewife or bunker) to hungry post-spawn giants. A big, juicy bloodworm on a bottom rig is just as effective fished from a skiff as it...

As Bay Weekly’s 20th birthday approaches, we reflect on entrepreneurial courage. What crazy notion compelled three family members to start a community newspaper on a wing and a prayer?     Innovative thinking drives small, independent businesses. Some like to follow, some to lead and others to create. Creating is risky, expensive and typically fueled by passion. That’s the American way.     The same spirit motivated brothers Chris and Jon Cook to get...

Forums are few and far between in Chesapeake ­Country. Like the forum of ancient Rome and town squares of cities around the world, Annapolis City Dock is a natural. It’s also a work in progress, with vision evolving and conflict between people and parking seeking resolution.     The libraries of Anne Arundel and Calvert counties give us 20 such forums. This Library Week, we celebrate that role in our Bay Weekly conversation with Pat Hofmann, who’ll leave us a...

It’s a big job making sure Dr. Bear’s closet at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., is never bare.       For the children, it’s a closet as crucial as the closets that hold bandages and medicine.     Dr. Bear’s Closet stocks toys and games for children with a special request or who have a special day, like a birthday, coming up.     Often, a toy from the closet helps a child who...