Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen, Annapolis aldermen, City Manager Michael Mallinoff, Department of Planning and Zoning Director Jon Arason, Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs Director Maria Broadbent, representatives from the Annapolis Fire Marshal's Office and Annapolis Economic Development Corporation CEO Lara Fritts will be celebrating the grand opening of the city's new Central Permitting facility Thursday.
Central Permitting is a one-stop location for the Departments of Neighborhood & Environmental Programs, Planning & Zoning, and the Fire Marshal's Office. By colocating these resources under one roof, the city is better able to close the gaps in the approval process for any project. Central Permitting fulfills a key commitment of the mayor to make City Hall more efficient and customer-friendly.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at 145 Gorman St. on the third floor. The public is invited to attend.
Immediately following the grand opening of Central Permitting, the City Council will have its January work session from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in council chambers. The quarterly budget update will be presented along with the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
Meanwhile, the standing committee agenda for the remainder of this week includes:
Tonight
5 p.m. Public Safety
6 p.m. Economic Matters
Thursday
4:30 p.m. Environmental Matters
5:30 p.m. Transportation
Martha Wood Leadership Award
The City Council awarded the Martha Wood Leadership Award to the Legal Aid Bureau of Anne Arundel County at Monday's council meeting.
The bureau was recognized for providing legal assistance to low income families and consistently providing excellent legal services and dedicated advocacy on behalf of the residents of public housing.
Attorneys Anita Bailey, Margaret Leonard and Amy Siegel were showcased for providing exemplary service representing residents and the Resident Advisory Board.
New store opens in Annapolis
The public is invited to join the mayor and Annapolis Economic Development Corporation CEO Lara Fritts as they welcome Retropolitan Fine Antiques and Vintage to Annapolis.
Cindi and Caitlin Ryland recently moved Retropolitan Fine Antiques and Vintage from Ellicott City to West Annapolis. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening will take place at its new location, 14 Annapolis Street, at 11 a.m. Thursday. The public is invited.
"By relocating to Annapolis, Cindi and Caitlin Ryland have created a new and exciting way to go green," Cohen said. "What better way to reuse, repurpose and resell than to showcase vintage items. This is a brilliant way to offer Annapolis an alternative shopping experience while helping to promote a green lifestyle. It's an example of how the range in services meets the demand of our residents and adds to the enduring appeal of our city."
The store is open for appointments on Monday and Tuesday, with normal business hours Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Since its inception in 2003, Retropolitan's mission has been to provide upscale yet affordable treasures to all. The showroom is filled with unique antiques and vintage items which specialize in such luxury goods as crystal, silver, lighting, textiles, furniture, jewelry, porcelain, fine art and clothing.
"This store offers another unique shopping experience to our residents and is such a great addition to the existing shops selling one-of-a kind treasures in West Annapolis," Fritts said. "There is something to be said about being able to buy a vintage dress, a Russian cut crystal champagne set and a sofa all at one location. I wish Cindi and Caitlin much success in their new Annapolis home."
The staff can also help you prepare your house to be placed on the market for sale. As home stagers, they can assist you and your Realtor in identifying your home's strengths and provide services to enhance its saleability.
For more information, go to
or call 410-263-0800.
Film premiere helps local nonprofit
Larry Griffin and the We Care and Friends organization will be honored on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Annapolis.
The event, starting at 6:30 p.m., is also a fundraiser for We Care and Friends, a nonprofit organization offering support and resources for those who are homeless, those with substance abuse issues and others in need of food, shelter, clothing and other basic needs.
The event will feature a short film, "Why We Care - The Movie," with the $30 ticket price going directly to the We Care and Friends organization. Wine, light fare and live music will follow the film premiere. Seating is limited and tickets must be reserved by Jan. 31. Go to
or call Bruce Burns at 443-321-0741 to reserve your tickets.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis is at 333 Dubois Road, in Annapolis. We Care and Friends is housed in the Stanton Center. For more information on the organization, go to http://www.wecareandfriends.org