A new river runs through Homestead Gardens. It’s a little out of the way, off to the side of the garden center with its plants, trees and shrubberies. But this river, which only runs when it rains, is at the center of making Homestead’s 12 acres a zero contributor to the pollution of Beard’s Creek, the South River and Chesapeake Bay.     This river flows at the bottom of a grassy bowl. Before it was built, rain rushed down the sides of the bowl in a torrent...

When the U.S. Lighthouse Society wanted to get Thomas Point Shoal Light ready for visitors, Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County helped with a mini-grant.     Kneseth Israel Congregation used a mini-grant to explore a century of the Jewish Experience in Anne Arundel County. Annapolis Maritime Museum used another to show people around historic Eastport. Another mini-grant supported a kayak tour of the Rhode River. Yet another helped the...

What’s a small-town orchestra doing at a place like this?     You usually hear the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra at South River or Annapolis High School.     This weekend, the community-based orchestra of some 80 local professional, community and student musicians plays the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.     “This will put us on the map,” says Anna Binneweg, Londontowne’s conductor and a professor at Anne Arundel...

This bandwagon is a trash truck, and it’s picking up speed in Maryland     On September 10, the city of Annapolis reduced its trash and recycling pickup from two days to once a week.     Anne Arundel County made the same move in June, reaping countians a savings of $17 on their solid-waste disposal fee, now $298.     Annapolitans will do better in increased saving and services. With the city’s switch from government to private pick-up...