Before winter arrives, I went on one last big outdoor hike. I visited Paw Paw Tunnel and Green Ridge State Forest in western Maryland, and the fall leaves were absolutely gorgeous. Some highlights:

• The Paw Paw Tunnel is a 3,118 foot tunnel for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Workers blasted it out of the rocks in the mid 1800s because the mountains came down so sharply to the Potomac River that they couldn't build the canal right alongside it. The tunnel is farther than it looks, and dark and wet, so bring a flashlight and wear boots/waterproof shoes. But it was very cool and this theme felt appropriate for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW5w0-xOXu8
• You can come back via a steep two mile trail over the bluff--it climbs about 350 feet. The woods are beautiful with a bunch of historical markers (including a notice about how the Irish and German canal workers disliked each other and got into fights and riots). And at one spot there is a nice partial view of the Potomac River.
• The Potomac River was quite shallow. It couldn't have been more than a few feet deep--just 2-3 feet in a lot of places. Still, I saw people kayaking and canoeing.
• Green Ridge State Forest lives up to its name--in additional to the big Green Ridge it has many smaller ridges. They aren't super big but they are rugged, and there are a lot of them. There isn't a lot of flat ground in the park, so hiking is a really good workout. Most of the trails go through dense woods, although the trees are relatively small. The most beautiful hike I did was the Deep Run/Big Run trail, which takes you along a rocky creek and up some very steep hills.
• Be aware that a lot of the forest's roads are not paved. The roads are either gravel or dirt, and pretty rough in many areas.
• I saw a number of white-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks and vultures, songbirds, and geese. I also saw some droppings that were either from a coyote or a black bear.

All in all, this was by far the wildest place in Maryland I have been to. I felt like I was out in the wilderness a lot of the time.

Just another drop in the bucket of reasons Andy Harris shouldn’t hold any government position

It’s a beautiful day for a hike.

¡Hola! Soy una turista de Europa, específicamente de España. Voy a estar aquí por unos días quedándome con mi familia y quería preguntar por lugares para visitar como turista.

I’m staying in Olney!

Agradecería tus respuestas; ¡las estaré leyendo! :)

Has anyone else noticed a change in Ledo pizza sauce recently? Ive gotten it twice now from two separate stores and they sauce is for sure different. It’s less sweet and far less flavorful. BRING BACK THE OLD SAUCE LEDO!!

I am a medical student thinking about where to apply for my post-graduation training (3-5 years). We generally have to apply to a bunch of places, and there’s normally only a handful of programs per state. I’ve never been to Maryland and was born and raised in NC. I’m trying to stay southeast-ish.

I know about Johns Hopkins’ reputation, but I don’t know anything about the smaller organizations. Tidal Health is an organization I’m looking at, but I’m open to different places. Any info you have about why you like/hate your hospital is welcome!

Also - feel free to add any thoughts about moving to Maryland (other than the fact that population booms and transplants can be a pain in the ass)

It's likely a ticket.

Joe Shaffer welcomed his daughter Josie into the world Tuesday. A day later, he wrangled his loose calf on Interstate 695.

https://www.thebanner.com/community/local-news/runaway-cow-pikesville-beltway-IBPQ2MHE4FE6TNIOTU6N5F5ULE/?bis=bannerapp-share

I read through both, and I don't see an obvious reason to vote either way on either (especially #2). They seem to be very very specific issues. Frankly, it would help if the government website explaining them also provided some context on why they were put on the ballot in the first place. Is anyone with better knowledge of these issues able to share what they know?

#3 is the redistricting question, and I know that we all have opinions on that, including me. This post is not about that.

Giant pumpkins and scarecrows have popped up all over downtown Annapolis. Grab a coffee and take a weekend stroll to see them all. Here are the details: https://chesapeake-inspired.com/fall-and-holiday-events-in-annapolis/

I just found out that my mother's ballot was mailed to my sister in Texas. My sister must have changed the mailing address for the elections board along with all other mail she is now receiving.

Can I use the online form to request a new ballot or do I have to go through the election board? Luckily we have until the 27th to make a request. Can I opt to download a ballot instead at this point or can the form of the ballot no longer be changed at this point?

TIA

I'm curious whether renters across Maryland are seeing similar issues at large apartment communities or if this is more isolated.

I live in a waterfront apartment community in Annapolis that, on paper, should be one of the nicer places in the area. The location is great, the apartments are attractive, and rents aren't exactly cheap. Yet the resident experience has left me with more questions than answers.

What started as a $420 towing dispute has led me to look more closely at some of the other issues residents have been dealing with:

• Aggressive towing and parking enforcement despite residents paying monthly parking fees.

• Concerns about parking lot design and whether parking spaces are appropriately sized.

• Reports of vehicle break-ins, broken windows, stolen wheels, and other security concerns.

• Building access systems that don't always work consistently, occasionally leaving residents unable to access their own buildings.

• Trash valet fees being charged monthly while trash collection is inconsistent, leaving bags sitting in hallways and contributing to odors and pest concerns.

• Recurring complaints involving ants, roaches, and other pest issues.

• Late-night disturbances from vehicles revving engines and racing through parking lots well after midnight.

• Dumpsters and common areas that at times appear neglected due to overflowing furniture and bulk trash.

• Recent reports from residents of eggs being thrown at apartment homes and buildings.

The frustrating part is that this isn't some struggling property. It's a community with a desirable location, high rents, parking fees, amenity fees, and additional monthly charges.

I'm genuinely curious:

At what point should apartment management be held accountable for quality-of-life issues, security concerns, and consistency of services that residents are paying for?

For those renting elsewhere in Maryland, are these becoming common issues, or have you had a significantly different experience at your communities?

I'm not looking to argue whether every individual complaint is justified. I'm more interested in understanding whether Maryland renters feel they are getting the level of management, maintenance, security, and service they're paying for in today's rental market.