🍦Coming home after 40 years away

Good morning, Annapolis. We’re back in your inbox and stoked to be here. I hope you’ve already had your coffee. It’s gonna be a great 2026.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

Good news for your routine. Yoga Factory has expanded the class schedule at the Crofton studio, with new classes designed to fit even more lifestyles and schedules.

Whether you’re looking to start your day with an energizing morning practice or unwind with an after work sweat, there are now more options to choose from. These additions make it easier to stay consistent, try something new, or finally make room for yoga in a busy week.

Spots are open now, and classes are filling quickly. Be sure to reserve your spot in the Yoga Factory app so you don’t miss out.

If Crofton is your home studio, this is a great time to roll out your mat and check out what’s new.

Some of you spent New Year’s at a bar. Some spent it with friends. Some (hi, it’s me) were in bed by 8 PM. Malika Warrick spent New Year’s Eve in labor. She and Keyontray Johnson welcomed their daughter Kendall Daniya Johnson at 1:46 AM on January 1, making Kendall Anne Arundel County’s first baby of 2026. Although Malika and Keyontray live in Kent County, their delivery was at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center — and nearly a week past Kendall’s Dec. 26 due date.

Congrats, Mom and Dad! And welcome, Kendall!

Here’s a story that will appear to lighthouse nerds (and because Scoop publisher Ryan is a lighthouse nerd himself, we use that term endearingly). The Thomas Point Lighthouse’s Fresnel lens is coming back to Annapolis for an exhibition at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

Now, if you’re not a lighthouse nerd, you might be thinking, “What the heckity heck is a Fresnel lens?” This 19th-century invention used glass facets around a lighthouse bulb to throw light up to 20 miles. This particular lens lit up Thomas Point from 1899 up until the 1980s, and for the past 39 years, it’s been kept at the Coast Guard admin building in Baltimore where nobody can see it. Now the Coast Guard is putting it on permanent loan to Annapolis Maritime Museum, which will display it at the new exhibit space just an oyster’s throw away from the waterfront museum.

We’ve got good news and bad news: Construction has started on City Dock’s much-anticipated new Maritime Welcome Center and flood prevention measures, but this means parking is going to be a little tight for the foreseeable future. As of Jan. 19, fencing will block off construction and staging, which will limit parking on upper Dock Street from Randall Street to Craig Street. Dock Street will be closed completely from Craig Street to Susan Campbell Park. Business in this area will still be open, but you’ll need to find parking elsewhere (hint, hint: the Mills-Hillman Garage is close and has 590 parking spaces).

What’s next? This first phase of the project goes until May 2027. After that, Dock Street will be completely closed between Randall Street and Craig Street — no parking, no driving. This second phase goes from May 2027 to March 2028. So you’re gonna be hearing about this from us for a good, long while.

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Get ready to snack — Graze Craze, specializing in charcuterie boards and boxes, opens in Edgewater tomorrow. Stop by the new location at 95 Mayo Road for a ribbon cutting ceremony from 4–6 PM. The ceremony is free, but RSVPing would be nice so the Crazy Grazers know how many charcuterie lovers to expect.

B2B or not B2B isn’t really the question — it’s always a good idea to market, network, and collaborate with your fellow businesspeople. That’s why Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation has put together its first-ever Arundel Biz Expo on January 28 from 8:30 AM–3:30 PM. It’s an all-in-one day for businesses of any kind to connect and learn. The expo reached exhibitor capacity last month, but there’s still time to get tickets to attend. Learn more.

Not to be confused with the Maryland’s Best Expo just a few days later.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Boatyard Bar & Grill | Tug of War Trophy Presentation | A friendly meeting between Annapolis and Eastport for a recognition of Eastport’s Tug of War win and distribution of fundraising to local causes. Tuesday 6:30 PM.

DoubleTree Hotel | Maryland Yuletide Celebration | Two nights of winter fun including balls, music, dancing, a cash bar, and a renn fair marketplace. Friday/Saturday 6–11 PM.

Gallery 57 West | A Day of the Arts | Enjoy live in-gallery demonstrations by two featured artists, Kathy Strouss and Robert Neales, as they share their creative process. Sunday 1–3 PM.

Maryland Hall | Annapolis Symphony Academy winter concert | Hear music from the Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra and Orion Youth Orchestra as they play alongside their Annapolis Symphony Orchestra mentors. Sunday 5 PM.

Call us biased, but Maryland has the best food. C’mon, think about your favorite Maryland produce or seafood. Right? And if you’re a farmer, producer, or processor responsible for that great Maryland food, you want to be able to show off — so don’t miss your chance to connect with buyers at the Maryland’s Best Expo organized by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The expo’s set for Feb. 3 at the Naval Academy Stadium. Participants include farmers, watermen, aquaculturists, processors, grocery store retailers, restaurants, and many other professionals. Get info and register.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

The County Council holds its first meeting of the new year tonight at 6 PM at the Arundel Center (44 Calvert Street, Annapolis). On the agenda are votes on the Clean Energy Loan Program, cottage home developments, and dog care/training in commercial districts, among other issues. See the full agenda. You can submit testimony on any legislation online or sign up to testify in person. The meeting is open to the public or available to be streamed via Arundel TV.

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New year, clean slate. And yes, that includes your windows. Blue Heron Property Services clears away dirt, streaks, and grime so your home looks brighter inside and out. Their professional window cleaning instantly freshens every room and makes your space feel lighter and more welcoming. Scoop readers get a special New Year discount when they book now. Annapolis homeowners trust Blue Heron Property Services to make their homes shine. Yours could be next. Get your free estimate today.*

Spend your Thursday nights this winter immersed in Chesapeake stories at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. The Winter Lecture Series brings together expert speakers and local voices exploring Bay history, maritime traditions, ecology, and art in an engaging, accessible way. Attend in person at the museum or tune in virtually from home. Lectures are free for First Mate members and above, with tickets available for non-members. Thoughtful conversation and perspective await. Details and registration at amaritime.org.*

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

41 🌡️ 34 | ☁️ | 6% | 💨 SE 10 mph (9 knots)

45 🌡️ 41 | ☁️ | 9% | 💨 SE 5 mph (4 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 37ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Back Room Sessions Hosted by Skribe | 7:30–10 PM

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
Brian Boru | PJ & Neal's First Tuesday Hootenanny | 6–9 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewaldi | 5–8 PM

After last season, we had a feeling this might be another good year. We had no idea it would be this good. Navy capped an incredible 11-2 season with a 35–13 Liberty Bowl win over Cincinnati on Friday. QB Blake Horvath made the most of his final game in blue and gold, throwing 2 TD passes and rushing for another. He was named MVP of the game.

Only two other Navy teams have earned 11 wins in a season (2015 and 2019). We’re looking forward to sharing a longer story with all of the incredible stats Navy posted and records that were broken this year. It certainly was one for the books. And even though Navy’s losing some key seniors, we’re excited for next season already.

Yes, it’s cold and windy outside, but it’s never too late to put some spring family fun time on your calendar. Navy Baseball is almost back with a roster of 28 returning players, including 2025 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Ty DePerno. The Mids have a 49-game season, with 27 of those matchups played at the Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The season starts February 13, with the home opener vs. Delaware State on February 17. Get your tickets now and start warming up your “Hey, Batter Batter Batter!” vocals. Full schedule is here.

Football (11-2)
1/2 vs. Cincinnati | W 35-13

Women's Basketball (7-6)
1/3 vs. Holy Cross | L 66-55

Men's Basketball (10-5)
1/3 @ Holy Cross | W 65-58

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Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with the person you actually believe will stick to their New Year’s resolution. We believe in them, too.