🍦Crofton’s fighting redistricting

Good morning, Annapolis. Tell your dog I said hi. That’s the entire intro.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

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There’s a pre-submittal meeting tonight at 6 PM for a 130- to 135-townhome development on Ritchie Highway where Severna Park Golf Center currently sits. Pre-submittal means plans haven’t been approved so this is in the very early stages. The meeting is in the Community Meeting Room at the Severna Park Library – 45 West McKinsey Road, Severna Park, MD 21146.

December is stressful enough and most of us probably couldn’t even imagine learning a new job while trying to tackle all the holiday shopping and baking we have to do. Not the case for the city government. As of yesterday, Mayor Jared Littmann has been in office for a week, and he started off Monday by announcing his new chief of staff and community engagement strategist. Both jobs are going to key members of his campaign: Neilye Garrity, campaign manager, is the new chief of staff; Laura Richards, deputy campaign manager, is his community engagement strategist. Garrity previously served as executive director of the youth sports organization PlayAnnapolis, and Richards was executive director of the Annapolis Film Festival.

Next on the hiring list: Littmann must hire a city manager and finance director. Both offices were vacated via resignation earlier this year. ($)

The Army–Navy Game — and the events leading up to it — is steeped in tradition, from a spirited pep rally and the 36-mile Ball Run to Baltimore, to the high-energy Patriot Games between midshipmen and cadets. Fun fact: the Ball Run began in 1982 as a way to get the “unlucky” 13th Company off the Yard. While the pep rally and Ball Run aren’t open to the public, you can catch the Patriot Games:

🏆 Hopefully, we’ll all see Navy hoist the Patriot Games trophy on December 13 during the Army/Navy football game.

This year marks the 126th meeting of the storied rivalry and the 50th anniversary of the Service Academy Exchange Program, in which select mids and cadets spend a semester at their rival academy before the symbolic “prisoner exchange” at midfield on game day. The time spent in “enemy territory” showcases the balance of rivalry and camaraderie — reminding both sides that while they compete fiercely on the field, they’ll ultimately serve our great nation together.

While the Board of Education rescinded many of its redistricting proposals last month, it still approved a measure that will affect roughly 750 Crofton-area students and families. Over 500 community members have petitioned the Board, stating that the process was not transparent, based in fact, or in the best interest of students. Taking things one step further, the group One Crofton has formed to pursue an appeal of the decision. It’s not yet known whether the group has grounds for an appeal, but an attorney has been retained to examine all sides of the issue. ($)

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When it comes to planning for retirement, the greatest advantage of being young is that time is on your side. One of the hardest parts, however, is prioritizing your future self when goals like retirement are still 20 to 30 years away. How much money will I need to retire in 2040? The year 2040 can feel like a lifetime from now, especially when short-term goals seem far more pressing.

How to get started early:

No matter where you are on your financial journey, the hardest (and most important) part can be simply getting started. At Scarborough Capital Management, we work with a lot of young couples and professionals and are here to help. Schedule a no-obligation conversation and get the discussion started.

🩰 Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents The Nutcracker Dec. 13-21. Our state’s premier professional ballet company opens an all-new production of this holiday favorite.

🎄 Talent Machine Company presents A Merry Mix-Up Dec. 12-23. Experience the magic of the season with Talent Machine’s spectacular revue full of holiday cheer.

👻 Colonial Players presents A Christmas Carol Dec. 3-14. This original musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens holiday tale is always hard to get tickets to, so don’t wait.

💐 Compass Rose Theater presents Pride and Prejudice Nov. 14-Dec. 14. Be among the first to see this new adaptation of the Jane Austen classic.

🎶 Live Arts Maryland presents A Celebration of Christmas Dec. 12. The Annapolis Chorale and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra take the stage for this annual holiday favorite blending everyone’s favorite songs.

We write about many events. And you may be wondering, are they actually worth your time? The truth is that we don’t feature every event in town so if it’s in our newsletter, you can consider it a stamp of approval. But not all events are created equal. So we’re going to go through yesterday’s list and give you 100% honest reviews. Hope this helps you plan your calendar.

Tuesday

Brigade Holiday Market | Gotta be honest. We haven’t been to this. Going on the Yard is always special, though, and Dahlgren Hall is absolutely stunning.

Thursday

USNA Band Holiday by the Bay Concert | More confessions. Never been to a USNA band concert. We’ve heard nothing from great things, and again, the venue (Naval Academy Chapel) is stunning. So we can’t see how this wouldn’t be great.

Midnight Madness | No need for confession here. It’s widely known that Scoop loves Midnight Madness. Bundle up, get a group of friends, and don’t forget to plan time for drinks & dinner.

Saturday

Santa Speedo Run | Never done this. Running’s not my thing so I’m definitely not doing it half naked. Watching, is another story. Highly entertaining.

Annapolis Holiday Market | This was great at City Dock. We’re sure it will be great at St. John’s, too.

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade | This is a Top 10 Annapolis event. Maybe Top 5. The only excuse we’ll accept for skipping is going to Army-Navy.

We interrupt your holiday programming for some important planning ahead. The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Hooley tickets are on sale, and we hear they’re moving fast. This pre-parade party is an Annapolis tradition, with great bands, food, and drinks. This year, Dublin 5, Spinphony, and the Naptown Brass Band will be getting everybody out of their seats for a spin around the room. You’ll also get the chance to meet this year’s Grand Marshall (TBA) and honorary first responders. So get your green suit and your dancing shoes and we’ll see you there. May 7 at 5 PM at the Naval Academy Alumni Association Fluegel Center.

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.

36 🌡️ 33 | ⛅ | 1% | 💨 SE 9 mph (8 knots)

46 🌡️ 37 | ☁️ | 9% | 💨 SSW 13 mph (11 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 44ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Seth Mitchell Band & Friends | 7:30–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewaldi | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Gilmour Project  | 8 PM | Tickets

49 West | Pam & Paula Classical Duo | 4:30–6:30 PM
49 West | Songbird Collective | 7:30–10 PM
Brian Boru | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Michael Kocher | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Chris Diller | 6–9 PM
The Point | Jordan/Pressing Strings | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Milk Carton Kids | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Russell Jacobsen | 9 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Fred & Wilma | 9 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, tell your dog I said hi (I mean it!)