This week's hero risked his life to save a man from an oncoming train in Chicago! Here's the story:
(Photo: Anthony Perry, 20, was surprised Wednesday with a 2009 Audi A8 from Early Walker, founder of the anti-violence organization I’m Telling Don’t Shoot. Credit; AP)
Chicago man who saved man on train tracks gets free car
Associated Press June 10, 2022
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man who jumped onto train tracks to rescue someone who had fallen onto an electrified rail during a fight at an L station earned more than praise for his heroic act: He’s also been gifted with a car.
Anthony Perry, 20, was surprised Wednesday with a 2009 Audi A8 from Early Walker, founder of the anti-violence organization I’m Telling Don’t Shoot.
“We wanted to literally show our appreciation because we need more people like you. We need more Anthonys in the world,” Walker said after also giving Perry a $25 gasoline card.
Perry said the car will make his life “way easier.” He’s been taking two buses and a train to get from his home in the South Side neighborhood of Park Manor to his job with Amazon Fresh in suburban Oak Lawn.
On Monday, he got off at a stop on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line when he noticed a nearly unconscious man on the electrified third rail of the tracks. He jumped down onto the tracks and pulled the man to safety.
“I was hoping I could just grab him and not feel nothing, but I felt a little shock,” Perry said. “I felt it all though my body actually. I didn’t let that stop me.”
With the help of another commuter, Perry administered CPR on the man, who had been hurt by an electric shock. The man was taken to a hospital and was expected to survive.
Police are still investigating the incident that led to the man falling onto the tracks, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Perry’s car was delivered to him blocks from his home as residents and police officers looked on in support.
“So many times people think these young men are out here doing the wrong thing, but this is just a prime example of how a young man took it upon himself to jump in and do the right thing,” said Chicago police Lt. Yolanda Irving.
If you haven't heard of the Beagle Freedom Project, you should know about it. Our friends Anne Marie and Simon shared an experience that one of their friends had with the group -who saves beagles from research facilities.
Anne Marie said, " One of my dear friends adopted a Beagle from the Beagle Freedom Project. They had to go through a lot of hoops to adopt her, but totally worth it. She’s still a bit shy because of the torture she endured when in the research facility, but after a few years with my friend, Dave, and his family, she’s come a long way and is actually willing to be pet, sit with her family, and be loved. Lucy is a gem. Here's the website: https://bfp.org/mission/
The Mission: RESCUE. REHAB. REPEAT.
Beagle Freedom Project is a non-profit animal rescue and advocacy organization and the world’s leading organization for rescuing and rehoming animals used in experimental research. BFP is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals used in testing and research and subjected to other forms of unique cruelty, abuse and neglect. BFP strives to end this cruelty through its educational programs, campaign initiatives and lobbying efforts to make the world a better, safer and healthier place for both animals and people alike.
Since 2010 the charity has been freeing survivors from laboratory experiments, senior and special needs animals from shelters, and victims of horrific abuse from around the world.
No matter what the condition, the location, or the expense, Beagle Freedom Project stands at the ready to rescue, rehabilitate, and repeat.
Here's a viewing guide for tonight's Jan. 6 insurrection hearings. I remember seeing Watergate trials back in the 1970s, and this is likely to be somewhat similar, but much more detailed- outlining how January 6th Seditious insurrection came together and happened. Here's the viewing guide today from the Associated Press:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly a year since its inception, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will go public with its findings starting this week as lawmakers hope to show the American public how democracy came to the brink of disaster.
The series of hearings that will take place over the next several weeks begin with a prime-time session Thursday night in which the nine-member panel plans to give an overview of its 11-month investigation. More than 1,000 people have been interviewed by the panel, and only snippets of that testimony have been revealed to the public, mostly through court filings.
What you need to know ahead of the hearing:
WHEN WILL THE HEARING TAKE PLACE?
The first of six hearings is set to go live at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday. It will take place in a large House office building in the U.S. Capitol complex. Lawmakers plan to have witnesses testify and to display a series of never-before-seen images and exhibits relating to the lead-up to the insurrection and the attack itself.
HOW TO WATCH THE HEARING
Several major networks and cable news programs are expected to carry the first hearing live in its prime-time slot. The committee is also expected to live-stream it on C-SPAN and on its YouTube page.
WHO IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY?
The select committee has yet to release details about who is expected to testify Thursday. But the public hearing, unlike other committee hearings, will be a mixture of traditional testimony as well as a multimedia presentation.
WHAT WILL THE HEARING ENTAIL?
The first hearing is expected to be a table-setter for the rest of the subsequent hearings. The committee, comprised of seven Democrats and two Republicans, plans to lay out several areas of information it has gathered throughout its investigation.
The panel’s probe has so far been divided into a series of focus areas, including the efforts by former President Trump and his allies to cast doubt on the election and halt the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory; the financing and organizing of rallies in Washington that took place before the attack; security failures by Capitol Police and federal agencies; and the actions of the rioters themselves.
WILL THERE BE NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE INSURRECTION?
Several members of the committee have promised new and explosive information to arise from the public hearings, but it remains unclear what that will entail.
The hearings are expected to be exhaustive but not the final word from the committee. It plans to release subsequent reports on its findings, including recommendations on legislative reforms, ahead of the midterm elections.
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For more coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection hearings, go to https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege
On May 24, Salvador Ramos, 18, used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in the bloodshed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas killing 21 innocent lives, 19 of them children. In the U.S. Democrats have tried to get common-sense gun legislation to protect citizens and hope prevent these massacres. Republicans (all who support the National Rifle Association), refused ALL legislation to protect people and their Children. On May 26th, the Associated Press outlined what has been done, and what has been tried in various states. NOTE: TheLaw Center to Prevent Gun Violence, points to 2010 statistics showing that seven out of 10 states with the strictest regulations also had that lowest gun homicide rates.Find YOUR state here.
(21 people murdered in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022 by an 18 year old with an assault rifle.)
States divided on gun controls, even as mass shootings rise
By RACHEL LA CORTE and ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quick to react to this week’s carnage at a Texas elementary school, sending a tweet listing the gun control measures the Democratic-controlled state has taken. He finished with: “Your turn Congress.”
But gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they also have become increasingly scarce in most states. Aside from several Democratic-controlled states, the majority have taken no action on gun control in recent years or have moved aggressively to expand gun rights.
That’s because they are either controlled politically by Republicans who oppose gun restrictions or are politically divided, leading to stalemate.
“Here I am in a position where I can do something, I can introduce legislation, and yet to know that it almost certainly is not going to go anywhere is a feeling of helplessness,” said state Sen. Greg Leding, a Democrat in the GOP-controlled Arkansas Legislature. He has pushed unsuccessfully for red flag laws that would allow authorities to remove firearms from those determined to be a danger to themselves or others.
After Tuesday’s massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Democratic governors and lawmakers across the country issued impassioned pleas for Congress and their own legislatures to pass gun restrictions.
Republicans Call for More Guns Instead
Republicans have mostly called for more efforts to address mental health and to shore up protections at schools, such as adding security guards.Among them is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among young people and said tougher gun laws in places like New York and California are ineffective. In Tennessee, GOP Rep. Jeremy Faison tweeted that the state needs to have security officers “in all of our schools,” but stopped short of promising to introduce legislation during next year’s legislative session: “Evil exists and we must protect the innocent from it,” Faison said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has repeatedly clashed with the GOP-controlled Legislature over gun laws. He has called for passage of universal background checks and “red flag” laws, only to be ignored by Republicans. Earlier this year, the Democrat vetoed a Republican bill that would have allowed holders of concealed carry permits to have firearms in vehicles on school grounds and in churches located on the grounds of a private school.
“We cannot accept that gun violence just happens,” Evers said in a tweet. “We cannot accept that kids might go to school and never come home. We cannot accept the outright refusal of elected officials to act.”
On Wednesday, a day after the Texas shooting, legislative Democrats asked that the Wisconsin gun safety bills be taken up again, apparently to no avail. Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos did not return messages seeking their response.
In Pennsylvania, an effort by Democratic lawmakers Wednesday in the GOP-controlled Legislature to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms failed, as House Republicans displayed their firm opposition to gun restrictions. The GOP-majority Legislature has rejected appeals by Democratic governors over the past two decades to tighten gun control laws, including taking steps such as expanding background checks or limiting the number of handgun purchases one person can make in a month.
The situation is similar in Michigan, which has a Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature. On Wednesday, Democrats in the state Senate were thwarted in their efforts to advance a group of bills that would require gun owners to lock up their firearms and keep them away from minors.
“Every day we don’t take action, we are choosing guns over children,” said Democratic Sen. Rosemary Bayer, whose district includes a high school where a teen was charged in a shooting that killed four in November and whose parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of failing to lock up their gun. “Enough is enough. No more prayers, no more thoughts, no more inaction.”
Republican state Sen. Ken Horn responded by urging discussion about the other potential causes of gun violence.
“I would just point out that there are political solutions, but there are just as many spiritual solutions,” he said. “We don’t know what’s really happening in this world, what’s happening in this country, what’s happening to young men.”
Florida stands out as a Republican-controlled state that took action. The 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland that left 14 students and three staff members dead prompted lawmakers there to pass a law with a red flag provision that lets law enforcement officers petition a court to have guns confiscated from a person considered a threat.
Democrats now want that expanded to allow family members or roommates to make the same request of the courts, but there has been little appetite among Republicans to amend the law. Instead, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants lawmakers to allow people to carry handguns without a permit. The state currently requires a concealed weapons license.
While Republicans have supported red flag laws in some other states, most legislative action around gun control in recent years has been in states led by Democrats.
In Washington state, the governor earlier this year signed a package of bills related to firearm magazine limits, ghost guns and adding more locations where guns are prohibited, including ballot counting sites.
In California on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic legislative leaders vowed to fast-track gun legislation, identifying about a dozen bills they plan to pass this year. Newsom highlighted a bill that would let private citizens enforce a ban on assault weapons by filing lawsuits – similar to a law in Texas that bans most abortions through civil enforcement.
Oregon’s Democratically controlled Legislature has passed bills that require background checks, prohibit guns on public school grounds, allow firearms to be taken from those who pose a risk and ensure safe storage of firearms. On Wednesday, a group of six Democrats said more must be done after the mass shooting in Texas and the racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, New York. They pledged additional action next year.
“We ran for office to solve big problems and make life better for our constituents — and that includes taking on the gun lobby and politicians that place profits and political power over children’s lives,” they said in a joint statement.
But there are limits even in some Democratic-controlled states, underscoring the challenge of gaining consensus to combat the rising frequency of mass shootings in the U.S.
Rhode Island has passed restrictions in recent years that include measures to ban firearms from school grounds and close the “straw purchasing” loophole that had allowed people to buy guns for someone else. But bills that would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines and assault weapons have been bottled up in committee, in part because the overwhelmingly Democratic chamber includes many lawmakers who have opposed the measures, citing their support for the Second Amendment.
In Connecticut, gun violence legislation supported by both parties swiftly followed after 20 children and six staff members were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary Schoo l in 2012. But additional gun control measures stalled this year in the Democratic-led General Assembly, in large part because of a short legislative session and threats by Republicans to hold up legislation through a filibuster.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday he’s uncertain whether he will call a special session on the bills. They would put limits on bulk purchases of firearms and require the registration of so-called ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home.
“I think it’s become an incredibly partisan argument right now in our society,” Lamont said. “It wasn’t that way, you know, 30, 40 years ago. So that is disturbing, even in a state like Connecticut, where after Sandy Hook we had strong bipartisan support.”
___
DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Associated Press statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this report.
The Murder She Wrote series of paperback mysteries is my favorite series to read. It began with author Donald Bain (who since passed) and Jon Land wrote a few. Now Terri Farley Moran is the newest author and she published Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond (Book 53 in the series). I could tell that the author was different as Jessica appeared a little more forceful/take charge, but perhaps it was the circumstances in the story. Two thirds of the way through I spotted a clue that helped me identify the killer, but it was subtle. I did enjoy the way she had Jessica Fletcher interact with the other characters, who really did come to life (all with their own hang-ups). And the use of the Harry McGraw detective character really helped bring the mystery to a conclusion. It was a very enjoyable book and I look forward to the next in the series.
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ABOUT THE BOOK When a friend’s husband dies while Jessica Fletcher is in town visiting, Jessica’s vacation turns into a murder investigation in this latest entry in the long-running USA Today bestselling series.
After traveling to Bethesda for a mystery writers’ conference, Jessica Fletcher decides she’s earned a vacation and takes a train to Columbia, South Carolina, to visit her old college friend Dolores, who has recently married her third husband, Willis Nickens, a wealthy and cutthroat businessman. They’ve moved into an opulent historic home with plenty of space for guests, and Jessica is ready for a week of shopping, gossiping, and relaxing at the grand estate.
But the morning after she arrives, Jessica discovers Willis facedown in the koi pond, and despite what the police think, she’s sure foul play is involved. She hadn’t known Willis long, but it’s clear to her that he didn’t concern himself with making friends. The question isn’t if her friend’s husband was murdered but by whom.
Last week, I took a trip to Tombstone, Arizona to sign my latest book called "Ghosts of the Bird Cage Theatre on a Medium's Vacation." The trip was actually a 28-year dream in the making.
Back in 1994 I went to Tombstone, AZ to investigate Wyatt Earp whom I became fascinated with. I later visited several other states where he lived and gathered info to write a book about him - but alas, there are already too many.
(Photo: Billy, Amy and Rob in the lobby of the Bird Cage Theatre. Credit: R.G)
I visited the Bird Cage Theatre/museum dressed as Wyatt in 1994 and the manager (who still manages it) befriended me.
(Photo: Rob autographing books in the lobby of the Bird Cage Theatre. Credit: R.G)
So, once my "super power" of mediumship came to be in 2005, and I returned in 2019 for the ghost tour. It was then I encountered 11 ghosts (all confirmed) and after getting the approval from my friend Billy who manages the Bird Cage, I wrote a book about those experiences. I published the book in Feb 2022 and it hit #1 on Amazon under the category of US Regional Western Travel guides! I was astounded.
(Photo: Some of the theatre boxes (also known as cribs) at the Bird Cage Theatre. Credit: R.G)
Billy and his wife Amy then invited me out for a book signing during the Wyatt Earp Days festival in the town "Too Tough to Die" as it's known.
(Photo: The basement area that was used as a gambling den and had rooms for ladies of the evening at the Bird Cage Theatre. This gambling area is famous for the site of the world's longest poker game, running over 8 years continually). Credit: R.G)
The Experience
I arrived on the afternoon of Saturday, May 28 and stayed to 5pm on May 30th! There were always a steady stream of visitors coming in.
(Photo: Friends Eric (right) and Steve (left) drove from California to Arizona for a vacation and arranged to meet me. Credit: R.G).
When you enter the lobby of the Bird Cage, there is always an employee dressed in western garb to give you a 5 minute overview of some of the history and then you can take a walking tour. I was stationed in the lobby and that meant that the "lady of the evening" ghost that I encountered in 2019 in the catwalk above the lobby let me know she was still around.
(Photo: I took this photo of the Bird Cage at sunset on May 28, 2022. Credit: R.G.)
Friends Visit from California
My friend Eric and his buddy Steve planned a driving vacation from California to Arizona, and timed it around my appearance in Tombstone. So we got to go to dinner and all took the ghost tour!
More Ghosts
During this ghost tour I encountered 4 of the same ghosts (out of the 11) that I met three years before. I also met a couple of others who were too shy to come out and greet me then. These other ghosts are also proven/cataloged figures from the 1880s in the Bird Cage!
(Photo: 1994 Photo of Rob as Wyatt Earp (left) with Billy (right) in his cowboy gear, and a lady of the evening (center) at the bar in the lobby of the Bird Cage Theatre. Credit: R.G.)
There are no words for the insanity, the stupidity, the idiocy of some people like this woman in Texas who even called George Bush a "Nazi." This is what the right-wing is now saying in case you didn't know. Further, there's a Q-Anon theory that "Nazis live on Mars," a Confused man about gas prices and a short clip of an interview with women at an Anti-Abortion rally with signs that beg people to adopt- None of them ever adopted children. They're all out of their minds.
- We talked to this lady who thinks she likes America but really, really doesn’t.
Michigan GOP Watch: Just to be clear. This is at the Trump rally in Michigan this weekend. And just to be even more clear, George Bush flew in a Torpedo Squadron in World War II when we fought against the Nazis. @CoChairMeshawn@migop
Police officers never know what they're going to get called to do, or who they'll be called to help. In the case of the police in Albany, New York, they were called to help get a bear out of a tree and return him to the woods. Here's the story:
(Caption: In this photo provided by the City of Albany Police Department, a black bear rests in a tree in Washington Park, a residential neighborhood about a half mile from the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The bear fell into a safety net after a wildlife crew used a fire department ladder truck to get in close enough to immobilize the animal. (City of Albany Police Department via AP))
Bear removed from tree in Albany, heading back to woods
— A black bear wandered into Albany, climbed a tree several blocks from the state Capitol and rested on branches about 30 feet (nine meters) up Tuesday before workers tranquilized the animal and caught it in a net.
The bear plunged into the net in the early afternoon after a state wildlife crew used a fire department ladder truck to get in close to immobilize the animal. The bear had climbed a towering pine tree on the edge of Washington Park in a residential neighborhood about a half mile from the Capitol.
The sprawling park is in the center of Albany, hemmed in by busy streets and surrounded by commercial strips and city neighborhoods of brownstones or single-family homes.
Albany police tweeted out several pictures of the bear in the tree, including one in which the animal looked like it was taking a nap.
Police said the bear would be medically evaluated before being released into a forested area of the Catskills, south of the city.
Police closed off the street for a few hours as a state Department of Environmental Conservation crew worked to get the bear safely out of the tree.
The Biden administration's Department of Justice filed a complaint against a controversial facility that breeds dogs for research and a judge agreed to shut them down. Here's the story from Science news on May 25:
Federal judge blocks controversial facility from breeding, selling dogs
Update: A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against a Cumberland, Virginia, facility that breeds and supplies beagles for research. The action is in response to a complaint filed last week against Envigo by the U.S. Department of Justice. The operation must "immediately cease breeding, selling, or otherwise dealing in beagles … until in full compliance with this order," the ruling states.
Below is our 20 May story on the removal, which has been updated to include a response from Envigo.
U.S. federal agencies have removed 145 dogs and puppies in “acute distress” from a major facility that breeds and supplies beagles for research, according to a complaint filed on 19 May in district court by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
As Science reported in November 2021, the Cumberland, Virginia, operation—formerly owned by Envigo and since acquired by Inotiv—has been cited for dozens of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Last year, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors found dozens of wounded, sick, and suffering animals at the Cumberland operation, and records of hundreds of puppy deaths that had gone uninvestigated, prompting a crackdown by Virginia lawmakers. (An undercover investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals resulted in nearly 50 more USDA citations, the group claims.)
The 19 May 40-page complaint accuses the facility of being understaffed and failing to provide adequate food, housing, and veterinary care. “The United States is entitled to an injunction to prevent and restrain Envigo from operating in violation of the [Animal Welfare Act],” the document reads. If the court agrees, it could shut down the facility until it complies with the law.
In a separate case, the Humane Society of the United States recently alleged that Inotiv neglected animals at an Indiana research facility.
USDA referred all questions to DOJ, which would not comment further on the case. Envigo tells Science that it is "fully cooperating with DOJ and other involved authorities. … Envigo denies the allegations in the complaint and will vigorously defend against the lawsuit. The highest quality of animal welfare is a core value of our company and is central to our business."
If you ever visit Maryland, U.S News/ Travel put together this amazing list of 26 attractions to see.
LINK TO ORIGINAL STORY 26 Top Things to Do in Maryland
Dive into nature, history, seafood and more on your next Maryland getaway.(GETTY IMAGES)
From cities on the ocean and an island with wild horses to small towns rooted in centuries of American history, Maryland is geographically and culturally diverse. With Washington, D.C., a stone's throw away, the legacy of the country's founding fathers can be keenly felt. For example, the state is home to Fort McHenry, where the national anthem was inspired. Maryland's women have also made their mark on history, with some risking it all to do what was right.
Risk-taking is another quality that defines Maryland, whether it was developing the nation's first steam-powered railway, forging an important canal system or fostering the art of self-taught artists. When it comes to preserving Maryland's wildlife and wetlands, no risk is taken: Refuges, parks and protected areas are intended to keep the state's environmental resources viable and able to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Whatever you're looking to do in this mid-Atlantic state, Maryland has plenty to keep visitors occupied. The best part? Many of the state's museums, beaches, parks and institutions are free to the public. Here are the top things to do in Maryland.
American Visionary Art Museum
This Baltimore museum takes the idea of stuffy art and … stuffs it. The American Visionary Art Museum describes itself as the country's official national museum for self-taught and intuitive artistry. Exhibits vary, but even the permanent collection can be described as colorful, eclectic and unexpected. Mixed mediums will grab your attention from intricate woodcarvings to a collection of robots to a 15-foot-high pink poodle sculpture named "Fifi." Visitors call the four floors of collections thought-provoking, and some even suggest that the gifts in the museum shop are underpriced, which is a rarity. Timed tickets are required for AVAM's main exhibition, which recently was "Healing and the Art of Compassion."
Address: 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230
National Aquarium
(COURTESY OF NATIONAL AQUARIUM)
The National Aquarium is an eye-catching building with a neon wave located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. From sharks and jellies to octopuses and an Indo-Pacific coral reef, the aquarium features myriad creatures and habitats to admire and learn about. Award-winning exhibits include faraway lands, such as "Amazon River Forest" and "Maryland: Mountains to Sea," which stars the state's own diverse ecosystem. Beyond the real thing, kids can use all their senses to experience aspects of the aquarium at the 4D theater, which brings fun films like "Being a Dolphin" to life. Recent visitors advise to try to avoid peak times as some of the exhibits are small and the aquarium can get crowded. The family-friendly National Aquarium is open every day.
Address: 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
B&O Railroad Museum
(COURTESY OF B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM)
More than just a space on the Monopoly board, the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad is the oldest railway in the country, opened in 1827. Discontinued in the 1970s, the Baltimore railroad station called Mount Clare Station and Yard is now a museum containing the oldest and most comprehensive American railroad collection in the world, according to its website. Galleries of the historic locomotives that kick-started American railroading are featured alongside "Thomas the Tank Engine" theme days for the kids and dedicated sensory programming for neurodiverse visitors. Visitors give mixed reviews on the museum's seasonal offerings, such as its holiday-themed Polar Express event, but appreciate how large the museum is and recommend spending extra time on the exhibits in the roundhouse.
Address: 901 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21223
Explore the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
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"O say, can you see?" … "The Star-Spangled Banner," originally a poem, was inspired in Maryland and visitors who want to connect with the proverbial "rocket's red glare" can do so at a number of the state's historic sites. The 560-mile Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail stretches across land and water from Virginia into Washington, D.C., and onward into Maryland. The 106-mile scenic route through central Maryland retraces the War of 1812, which gave way to our national anthem. The Maryland route begins at Sotterley Planation in Hollywood and hits numerous sites along the way, taking travelers to Solomons Island, through Baltimore and onward to the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop. Perhaps the most important among these sites is Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore. It was here where 25 hours of a British onslaught were immortalized with the words "bombs bursting in air." Despite the odds, the defending American flag was raised victoriously the following morning, inspiring author Francis Scott Key to pen "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Visit a classic American saloon
The Horse You Came In On Saloon originally opened in the Fell's Point neighborhood of Baltimore in 1775. Still in operation, "The Horse" is considered one of the oldest continuously operating bars in the country. While it's worth a look-in for this accolade alone, the bar's history is far more interesting than its age. It inspired the name of mystery writer Martha Grimes' '90s best-selling detective novel. It's also quite famously the last known location of another mystery author, Edgar Allen Poe, before he died. Whatever draws you in – and for many, it's the sign – grabbing a drink here is a part of Baltimore (and national) history. The daily happy hour specials aren't too bad either. Recent patrons admit that while drinks can be pricey, the atmosphere – including live music – is worth a visit.
Elijah Bond lived in Baltimore in the late 19th century and first patented the Ouija board. If you channeled Bond today, you might be led to his one-of-a-kind gravesite in Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery. The reverse side of his headstone is, itself, a Ouija board. So what does this have to do with a 7-Eleven? After more than a century, the origins of the mysterious board have scattered about the city, and the location of where the name "Ouija" was coined (once a boarding house where Bond lived) is now a convenience store on 529 N. Charles St. See it for yourself: a plaque to the right just inside of the entrance marks the occult milestone.
Address: 529 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Port Discovery Children's Museum
(COURTESY OF PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM)
Parents can find a haven for kids at the Port Discovery Children's Museum, which is located near the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor. Interactive and engaging play areas and exhibits invite babies, toddlers and preschoolers to take part in this maritime-themed venue with 80,000 square feet of space. Parents say the facilities are clean and well-supervised and the Egyptian area is a standout. Popular attractions include the four-story SkyClimber (best for kids ages 5 and older); a giant pretend cargo ship, perfect for tiny role-playing; plentiful puzzles; occasional theater performances; and a water activity room for those little ones who like to splash. If rain washes out your plans, shore up to Port Discovery, which includes all-day entry plus any special events in the price of admission. According to recent visiting families, 6 is an ideal age for kids spending a day here. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Address: 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Catch a baseball game at Camden Yards
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Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the home of Charm City's Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore is also the birthplace of Babe Ruth, one of the game's greatest players, and a bronze statue of his likeness greets fans at the entrance to the stadium. Signed to the then-Orioles in 1914, Ruth reportedly got his "Babe" nickname in his brief time playing for the team. Even more of a fitting tie-in, Ruth's father once owned a building that housed a saloon on the first floor and the family on the second floor; it was located on what is now center field of Oriole Park, which opened in 1992. Be part of Baltimore's growing baseball legacy with tickets to a game at Camden Yards. Even recent visitors who are admittedly not huge baseball fans said the ballpark is beautiful and the hot dogs exceed expectations.
Address: 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Get lost in the George Peabody Library
License(MATTHEW PETROFF/COURTESY JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SHERIDAN LIBRARIES)
George Peabody found success as an investment banker after a modest childhood and is considered a father of modern philanthropy, due to his generous charitable donations of millions throughout his life in the mid-1800s. One of his largest donations was to The Peabody Institute in Baltimore, where a stylish library was constructed. Sometimes called "a cathedral of books," the library is located in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood and is part of Johns Hopkins University. It contains about 300,000 volumes, from the 18th and 19th centuries, across five floors of ornamental cast iron balconies. The library is free to visit and open to the public during select hours.
Note: The library was closed to visitors at the time of publication, only open to Johns Hopkins University students, faculty and staff. It is expected to reopen to visitors later in 2022.
Address: 17 E. Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Worship craft beer at the Ministry of Brewing
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The Ministry of Brewing has a unique take on houses of worship. The minds behind the now-taproom (once St. Michael's Church in Baltimore) envisioned it as a community meeting place once again – except the drink of the day is an IPA or a brown ale, not Communion wine. This brewery offers in-house sodas and hard ciders in addition to plenty of beer brewed on-site. Visitors to the Ministry of Brewing can enjoy an inventive rotating tap list from a restored pew. The charitable surroundings aren't all surface-level, though: The brewery's founding members have a focus on education, with the intention to host Baltimore City high school students to teach them lab skills, and philanthropy via fundraising for Baltimore's public school system.
Address: 1900 E. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21231
Assateague State Park
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Maryland's only oceanfront park is on Assateague Island, located between the Atlantic Ocean and Sinepuxent Bay in Berlin. Assateague is best known for its population of feral horses, and seeing wild ponies running along the shoreline is a special sight. Other wildlife here include Sitka deer and more than 200 species of birds, such as snowy owls and eagles. Visitors to this unique place can enjoy 2 miles of ocean beaches with swimming or fishing, while the bayside offers plenty of great coves to explore via kayak or canoe. Along with its natural and unbridled beauty, Assateague gives day-trippers a window into what Colonial life was like on Maryland's coasts courtesy of the restored 18th-century Rackliffe House. Located a half-mile from the island's visitor center, Rackliffe House offers trails and regular museum visiting hours between mid-May and October, which is also camping season on the island. Access to the island is limited to preserve its wildlife; reservations can be competitive and are available up to a year in advance.
Rocky Gap State Park
Allegany County in western Maryland is home to Rocky Gap State Park, which boasts 3,000 acres of land with rugged mountains on all sides. A mile-long gorge feeds the 243-acre Lake Habeeb and, according to the park's website, it contains the bluest water in the state. Other natural features of this state park include a hemlock forest and a population of black bears. Rocky Gap Casino and Resort is the place to stay if you want to be near the woods but also partake in a round of golf or a trip to the spa. Recent visitors to the park enjoyed swimming in the lake, fishing and visiting the small on-site aviary.
Address: 12900 Lake Shore Drive, Flintstone, MD 21530
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
(COURTESY OF HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BYWAY)
The land where Harriet Tubman lived – and worked – as an enslaved child in Maryland is now a national historic site dedicated to her heroic freedom-fighting legacy. The visitor center houses permanent exhibits about the Underground Railroad network she operated to help free slaves, a research library, a film about Harriet Tubman and more. Visitors describe the museum as a labor of love from the community and a beautiful tribute to Tubman, particularly the mural on the side of the building. The park in Church Creek is open Tuesday through Sunday. For a much fuller picture of Tubman's early life and work, the Harriet Tubman Byway is a self-guided scenic road trip of more than 30 sites – including the park – that also features murals, gardens and the farm where she once lived.
Address: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622
Ocean City Boardwalk
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The nostalgia of boardwalk amusements is in full effect in Ocean City, a well-regarded beach resort town on the coast of northeast Maryland. The 3 miles of Ocean City's boardwalk are packed with entertainment, day and night, during the spring and summer seasons. With music, arcade games, rides, souvenir shops and the wafting smell of funnel cake, Fisher's Popcorn and Thrasher's French fries, a stay in Ocean City has all the hallmarks of a family beach vacation, plus unexpected sites like the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, dedicated to a predecessor of today's Coast Guard. Be sure to peek inside the Trimper's Rides pavilion where you'll find a carousel more than a century old. Handcarved in 1912, the carousel's twin went to New York's Coney Island but was destroyed in a fire, leaving just this one. Have a ride – if you dare: The carousel is supposedly haunted by Joanne Trimper, who was married to the manager of the amusement park until his death in 2008.
Along the Miles River in St. Michaels, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum maintains a dozen exhibition buildings, a fleet of floating historic boats and a peaceful waterfront setting for guests to learn about the Chesapeake Bay. Interactive exhibits include shipyard tours, as well as art and object collections. A visit wouldn't be complete without a scenic boat ride on the bay in a vessel from 1920. What's more, festivals featuring sea glass, antiques or oysters are held here throughout the year. Recent visitors to the museum mused that the exhibits weren't boring, and many appreciated the information on how to build a boat, the chance to climb a lighthouse and the nautical gift shop.
Address: 213 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, MD 21663
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
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The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge has many important distinctions. Among them, it has been named a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. In addition to an abundance of birdlife, including the largest breeding population of American bald eagles on the East Coast north of Florida, Blackwater is also home to the largest natural population of the formerly endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrels. Visitors can access 20,000 of the refuge's 32,000 acres. Hiking, biking and paddling are great ways to experience Blackwater, as well as a 3.6-mile paved wildlife drive popular with cyclists, birders and photographers. While many of these activities may be best experienced in spring or fall, winter offers its own perks: The best time for viewing waterfowl at Blackwater is between mid-October and mid-March.
Annapolis
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Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, is home to more than just the U.S. Naval Academy. The city of about 40,000 residents offers attractions ranging from an opera house to escape rooms. Gorgeous waterfront walkways highlight its population of yachts, and tourists can get out on the water for great views of the city on any number of boat tours. But 8 miles from downtown, across the South River, tourists will find Historic London Town and Gardens, a 23-acre park featuring a home from 1760 as well as an ongoing archaeological excavation. A mile-long trail takes visitors through the Woodland Garden, which boasts a variety of native and exotic plants. Back in the heart of Annapolis, there is more history to be found with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial. This sculpture pays homage to the author of the story "Roots" and recognizes the role of Annapolis in slavery. The completed memorial has stood along the water off of Main Street, not too far from the Asbury United Methodist Church, since 2006.
It might be impossible to think of Maryland and not think of crabs. And here, crabs aren't anything without Old Bay seasoning, an 18-spice recipe purchased by Baltimore-based McCormick & Co. in 1990. The Maryland blue crab (which turns a red-orange when steamed) is the state crustacean, and half of the country's blue crabs hail from the Chesapeake Bay. Crab comes in many forms – cakes, bisques, claws – but the traditional way is to enjoy this seafood is with a steamed crab feast. A number of restaurants offer steamed crabs, which are often served outside in the summer and early fall, although many eateries allow indoor dining as well. In Baltimore, try L.P. Steamers in Locus Point or Bo Brooks in Canton, both with views of the Inner Harbor.Other popular spots to find steamed crabs around the state include Ocean Pride Seafood Restaurant in Baltimore County, Cantler's Riverside Inn in Annapolis, Kentmorr Restaurant & Crab House in Stevensville, Schultz's Crab House in Essex and Crab Bag in Ocean City.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
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Like the B&O, the C&O – Chesapeake and Ohio Canal – contributed to early industrial and transportation efforts along the Potomac River Valley. It's come a long way from being known as the "Grand Old Ditch," first opened in 1831. Nowadays, pleasure-seekers can explore 184.5 miles of the canal with bike trails and notable sights like Williamsport's Conococheague Aqueduct or the Great Falls, which offers views of Virginia for an entrance fee. The Maryland side of the falls has a gorgeous visitor center called the Great Falls Tavern, where historic canal boat rides depart. Pass through a lock and listen to the stories from crew in period clothing of what life was like living and working along the canal in the 1870s. Boat rides are seasonal; check the C&O website for additional details and schedules.
Frederick
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The city (and county) of Frederick is situated less than 60 miles from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Along scenic byways, travelers will find quirky museums, such as the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, several golf courses and a few art galleries. The parched can take their pick of wineries, breweries or distilleries – there are numerous options in and around Frederick. Restaurants specializing in comfort food, such as Brewer's Alley, complement specialty shops making chocolate truffles from scratch or selling local fruit products like jams and jellies. This small city is off the charts with charm any time of year, but Frederick's annual events attract lots of attention and include the country's only high-wheel (aka penny-farthing) bike race each July, as well as a nine-day fair and carnival each September.
Explore the Crystal Grottoes Caverns
(COURTESY OF CRYSTAL GROTTOES CAVERNS)
If you find yourself near Boonsboro, about 20 miles northwest of Frederick, you are in the vicinity of Maryland's only known natural caverns. The Crystal Grottoes is in its third generation of business and first opened to the public in 1922. The must-see caverns boast impressive rock formations and are worth a tour to witness yourself. Tours run about 40 minutes long and are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visitors to the caverns say that while the cave is relatively small, it has enough stellar formations in a natural setting that make a stop here worth it.
Find morbid memorabilia at the National Museum of Health and Medicine
(COURTESY OF OTIS HISTORICAL ARCHIVES, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE)
If you're not too squeamish, consider a visit to the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring for an unusual day at the museum. Founded in 1862 to study the effects of war wounds and diseases on the body, the institute has a historic collection of human remains, including the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln, along with shards of his skull. Other medical and historical oddities are on display in rotation, with focus on American military medicine, from wax molds and replications to the real thing – in jars. If it's any incentive to brave the bodily displays, the National Museum of Health and Medicine is free to the public.
There are objectively not many things cooler than NASA, so if you find yourself in Greenbelt, about 10 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., make a stop at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The James Webb telescope – essentially a modern, improved version of the Hubble Telescope, with more clarity – was built in Maryland at the Goddard, which means it's a site burgeoning with active space exploration. Self-guided tours of the collections and exhibits will keep your attention; they include a full-size rocket garden with replicas of rockets from various missions. Free monthly experiments and model rocket launches are fun events for kids. A visit here may spark an interest in a career in engineering, astrophysics or earth science. The Goddard Space Flight Center is free to visit. Even the landscaping is out of this world; the sycamore in front of the visitor center flew as a seed on Apollo 14 and is known as a "moon tree."
Address: 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Calvert Cliffs State Park
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Formed 10 to 20 million years ago, the Calvert Cliffs of southern Maryland today reveal fossils of prehistoric sharks, whales and "seabirds the size of airplanes," according to the park’s website. These cliffs trace the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County (around 50 miles south of Annapolis) for 24 miles and provide a stunning backdrop to sandy beaches and a recycled tire playground. A freshwater and tidal marshland provides fishing opportunities, plus there are 13 miles of scenic hiking trails for visitors to traverse. There is a designated area to hunt for fossils on the beach, and more than 600 species have been identified so far.
Address: 10540 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby, MD 20657
Tour Maryland's covered bridges
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Maryland was home to more than 120 covered bridges at one time. Only six are left in the state, but they are worth a road trip. Half of the bridges are located in Frederick County: the Roddy Road Covered Bridge, circa 1856; the Loy's Station Covered Bridge, built in 1848 (with some original timber); and the Utica Mills Covered Bridge, originally built in 1843. This bold red bridge had to be rebuilt after it was washed out by the 1889 Johnstown Flood and it stands out among the surrounding green fields. Maryland's longest covered bridge is Gilpin's Falls in Cecil County: It's 119 feet long and was restored in 2010 after 150 years. The second covered bridge in Cecil County is Foxcatcher Farms, built in 1860. Little Gunpowder Falls is where you'll find the Jericho Covered Bridge in Kingsville in Baltimore County. People believe the bridge is haunted today based on legends from the Civil War era.
Glen Echo Park
(COURTESY OF GLEN ECHO PARK)
Looking to expand your artistic skill set? Glen Echo Park (located near Bethesda and 8 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.) offers a wide range of hands-on classes from glassblowing and pottery to puppetry, drawing and dance. If you're not quite looking to get your hands dirty, the cultural center also offers art galleries, performances, dances and a carousel for the kids (and young at heart). A supporter of arts of all kinds, Glen Echo hosts 13 resident artists and organizations as well as a nature and aquatic life program. There is always something happening, whether it's a folklore festival or outdoor marketplace.
I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob
