The Best of Times      My heart skipped a beat when I read it. Giving up the ship? Not my ship, with Sandra, Alex and others I remember so fondly.      My first introduction to the paper was as a delivery person. I loved it.      Then I was given a chance to do some actual writing, under the watchful eye of Sandra. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me that experience, although short-lived in real life, inside a living...

      As the air crisps and nature sheds, outdoor fires grow appealing, for purpose and for pleasure. But fire is a mighty element that can get out of your control. Before you light your fire, take the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s advice on staying safe and preserving your home and property.          “Burning a large pile of brush is not the same as having a small campfire,” says State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci....

     Brian Boru Pub asks your help in feeding and clothing our needy neighbors this winter. Donate to the Irish restaurant’s Green Hearts Coats and Cans Drive running through December 24.          Brian Boru in Severna Park welcomes your donations of new or gently used coats as well as non-perishables and canned goods.          “We start collecting in October, when people are cleaning out...

      Libraries have long booked our travels in time and space. Now you can not only check out books about dream destinations and browse the Mango Languages learning app. You can also get your passport to travel the world at Calvert Library in Prince Frederick. The library is now a State Department-approved passport acceptance facility.          Applicants — including children and infants — must be physically present with a...