They are coming by water, but you won’t catch them sailing up the Patuxent like the British in the War of 1812.     These invaders are a lot smaller but with the potential to pack a wallop on our shores.     You can help stop this enemy before all heck breaks loose.

The Annapolis Circulator, which hit the road July 1 on a six-month trial, can take the hell out of Annapolis city traffic.     The four trolleys that together are the Circulator make it possible, perhaps even easy, for you to park and ride throughout historic Annapolis — with Eastport and West Annapolis just over horizon.

June 9, 1900, was a signal day in Chesapeake Country. The Chesapeake Beach Railway began bringing throngs of fun-seekers from Washington, D.C., to a new amusement park and sparkling beach resort at the mouth of Fishing Creek. A small community, incorporated in 1894 as the Town of Chesapeake Beach, had grown up around the park construction site. By 1900, development pushed toward the Anne Arundel County line as the land above Chesapeake Beach was platted for summer cottages.

If you’re taking a ride down to Shady Side and you head onto Snug Harbor Road, you’re bound to see a mess of cranes, bulldozers and trucks in the center of the wooded lot.     Resident or passer-by, you’ll likely be wondering, what’s with that?

For a quarter-century, music fed Calvert Marine Museum’s otters and salaried its staff.          In service of the museum’s twin causes of local history and science, Los Lobos howled, Crosby Stills and Nash harmonized, Bob Dylan growled and the Allman Brothers jammed.

America’s No. 1 animal rights advocate joins state activists to celebrate a landmark legislative year It has been a very good year to be an animal in Maryland. Propelled by the volunteer organization Maryland Votes for Animals and bi-partisan support, five animal protection bills became law in 2011.     “This year was unprecedented,” says Carolyn Kilborn, founder and chair of Maryland Votes for Animals.

Every July, Americans celebrate our nation’s birthday with fireworks. The crowd gets quiet as the sun goes down, waiting for the countdown to illuminate the sky in a bombastic and awe-inspiring yearly birthday ignition.     It only takes a moment to ignite a firework, the touch of a match or more accurately, the push of a button. It takes far longer to organize a large-scale celebration.

Buying local is all the rage. But what is local? Until now, there has been no way to guarantee that what you’re buying is grown locally — whatever that is — or even grown in Maryland.     Now, thanks to a new law taking effect June 27, foods sold in Maryland as “locally grown or produced” must be identified by state of origin. Raw meat, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, shellfish and processed dairy products all fall under the law.

“We’re all Fowler’s Followers,” said Congressman Steny Hoyer, as 86-year-old retired state senator Bernie Fowler led the 24th annual Wade In to his beloved Patuxent River. Hoyer had already proclaimed the river’s health — C- to D- as measured by the Patuxent Riverkeeper — “not good enough.”

Anne Arundel County     Arundel Olympic Swim Center - Swim lessons for adults and kids. Children must be a least three years old and potty-trained: 410-222-7933.     Truxton Park Swimming Pool - A variety of swimming programs for adults and children: 410-263-2958.     North Arundel Aquatic Center - Swim lessons for adults and kids. Children must be a least three years old and potty-trained: 410-222-0900.