🍦Navy Remains Undefeated

Good morning, Annapolis. AACPS has two-hour dismissals today and tomorrow. For anyone looking for ways to fill the time, read on.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

If you’re someone who can’t hear “$1 million” without doing your best Dr. Evil pinkie-to-your-lip imitation, you’re going to love this story. The office building at 605 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. in Severna Park — a nearly 4K-square-foot facility home to four business tenants — sold for $1 million. Hyatt Commercial handled the sale to Dr. Sahar Zare, owner of Luminous Smiles, a dental practice in the building.

🔎 Fun fact about the office building: Since 1970, the office building has often been owned by the same owner as the dental practice there. According to Hyatt Commercial, a dentist was the one to develop the building and open a practice inside it. The building/practice later sold to Dr. Lynn Morgan, who later sold the practice to Dr. Zare. Now that Dr. Zare owns the practice and building, she’s carrying on a 55-year tradition in Severna Park.

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Let us ask: if you had to move your entire office operations a few hundred feet to the left, how long do you think it would take you? For the Watermark team, the answer is just a few hours. When they arrived to work last Wednesday morning, the City Dock construction engulfed the waterfront. It’s where they’ve been working for the last 50 years. Anticipating 130 school kids coming to take the noon cruise, the team quickly moved the Harbor Queen, its floating operations office, several of its smaller vessels, and the ticket stand over to the dock at 1 Prince George Street. If you’re looking for the new office, just walk down Prince George until you hit the water.

The City Dock renovation is a multi-phased construction project designed to protect downtown Annapolis from flooding and sea-level rise. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

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We hope we’re not the first to tell parents, but AACPS has early dismissals today and tomorrow. Elementary kids dismiss at 12:25 PM. That’s A LOT of time to fill until bedtime. Some ideas . . .

Skyzone Gambrills is hosting an Open Jump today from 1–9 PM, or Tuesday (Oct. 28) from 4–9 PM. All ages welcome, including parents looking to get their jump on. Costs $28 for 90 mins.

Rolly Pollies: Lauren takes her kids to their Open Play often to enjoy the Severna Park-based gym’s moon bounce, trampoline, obstacle courses, and more. Book a session Oct. 27 or Oct. 28 at 4:15 PM. There’s also a 1 PM slot on Oct. 28. Costs $12 per child/hour. Consider their $60 Pass – 6 hours of Open Play, for any child, and never expires.

Be with Me Playseum: At the Annapolis Mall, kiddos can wander spaces and be a dentist, barber, camper, or play house. Open Monday and Tuesday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Come 3–5 PM on Monday–Thursday for one free admission. Costs $15 per person ages 1-100 (under 1 is free). Butter up the senior citizens in your life because Tuesday is Grandparents Day — they get in for $2!

Welcoming, empowering, inclusive — we could go on, as these are just a few of the words you could use to describe Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. The local biz received this year’s title of DisAbility Awareness Day Honoree from County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues. The honor recognizes the way Bitty & Beau’s employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are part of a national network of over 20 shops that pay competitive wages and offer skill development. They’ll accept the award at DisAbility Awareness Day on Thursday, 10 AM—noon, at the Severn Senior Activity Center (1160 Reece Road, Severn).

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.

Sustainable investing has transitioned from a niche interest to a mainstream financial strategy. Once a topic of discussion among a select group, it is now a significant factor in investment decisions, with women and millennials having a growing role.

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Downtown | Annapolis Scarecrow Stroll | Check out the decorated scarecrows and vote for your favorite with the social media tag #AnnapolisScarecrowStroll2025. It’s also a great time to also see the newly carved Great Annapolis Pumpkins before they roll (JK they need forklifts) out of town after Nov. 2.

Maryland Hall | Candlelight Concerts: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Get in the mood for handing out candy by celebrating the music of Halloween. Oct. 30 at 8:45 PM.

Downtown | Maryland Witches: A Storytelling Dinner | The Witches of Annapolis tours are spooky hot right now, and if you don’t love the idea of hoofing it around town, this dinner at Luna Blu is perfect. Oct. 31 at 7:30 PM.

State Circle | Halloween Party at Parley | With a DJ, costume contest, drink specials, and all sorts of fun prizes, this is the adult Halloween party you’ve been manifesting. Oct. 31 at 6 PM.

For 25 years, the Coastal Conservation Association’s Annapolis chapter has worked to improve the water from the waterline up. The group’s October fundraiser on October 30 brings together recreational fishermen to discuss ways they can do more to conserve, promote, and enhance marine resources for all bay residents. And, of course, oysters will be served at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Philip Merrill Center, 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis. Grab tickets.

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.

All this talk about early dismissals had us wondering how AACPS’s plan to reduce them is going. Welp — it’s going extremely well.

The Board of Ed approved changes to the 2025–26 school calendar, replacing six early dismissal days with three full student days followed by three non-student days for grading and professional learning. The changes fall at the end of the second, third, and fourth marking periods:

Note: Early dismissals on Oct. 27–28 and Unity Days (Dec. 9, Feb. 10, Mar. 17) remain unchanged.

New state legislation made these adjustments possible while maintaining seat-hour requirements, even if they fall short of 180 days.

The City Council will meet tonight at 6 PM in City Council Chambers (160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis) to discuss several important pieces of legislation. These include resolutions re: fines for those who fail to clear snow and ice from city sidewalks. There will also be discussion of the Market House lease and ranked-choice voting in city elections. See the full agenda or sign up to testify.

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Step aboard the historic Skipjack Wilma Lee for a special Halloween sunset cruise on the Chesapeake Bay. Enjoy a crisp autumn evening on the water with friends, festive vibes, and a touch of Halloween magic. We will serve a selection of spooky snacks along with beer, wine, and canned cocktails. Costumes are welcome and encouraged. Captain Rick will judge the evening’s best costume, with the winner receiving a mystery prize. Get tickets here. 21+*

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59 🌡️ 46 | 🌤️ | 5% | 💨 NE 9 mph (8 knots)

57 🌡️ 49 | ⛅ | 8% | 💨 NE 15 mph (13 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 61ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Rehaash with Daphne Eckman & Dan Haas | 7:30–10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Secret Sisters w/ Emily Drinker | 8 PM | Tickets

49 West |  Hot Funyuns | 7:30–10:30 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
Middleton Tavern | Annapolis Songwriters Showcase | 6–9 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Iam Tongi w/ Shaun Gomban | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Suzy & Shaun | 6 PM

When you’re undefeated, the pressure to keep the streak is on. This past Saturday, Navy football more than delivered on Homecoming before 32,175 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy (7-0) beat Florida Atlantic 42-32 and also tied a school record with its 10th straight victory!

Senior QB Blake Horvath rushed for 174 yards and four TDs, while senior snipe Brandon Chatman added 141 yards. Linebacker Coleman Cauley shined in his first start with nine tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. The Mids’ 7-0 start is their best since 1978. Head Coach Brian Newberry credited the defense’s three turnovers for 21 points. Read the play-play of Navy's win.

What’s next? Navy faces North Texas Saturday (11/1) at noon in a battle of American Conference contenders. Catch the away game on ESPN2, ESPNU, or the Navy Radio Network.

The women’s college basketball season opener between No. 1 UConn and No. 20 Louisville is moving from Germany’s Ramstein Air Base to the U.S. Naval Academy due to the government shutdown. The 2025 Armed Forces Classic tips off November 4 at 5:30 PM in Alumni Hall and airs live on ESPN. The Armed Forces Classic — created in 2012 by ESPN Events — honors service members as part of its annual Salute to Veterans initiative. It’s the first-ever women's matchup in the series — we’re blaming “The Caitlin Clark effect” for all the hype. Ticket info is coming soon.

Football (7-0)
10/25 vs. FAU | W 42-32

Women's Rugby (3-5)
10/25 @ Army | L 84-0

Men's Rugby (5-0)
10/25 @ No. 10 Penn State | W 36-7

Women's Soccer (9-6-3)
10/24 vs. Lafayette | L 2-0

Men's Soccer (3-6-7)
10/25 @ Loyola | T 1-1

Women's Volleyball (10-10)
10/24 vs. Lafayette | W 3-2
10/25 vs. Lehigh | W 3-1

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Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone whose child eats lunch at 9:25 AM on early dismissal days.