How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day? (Sponsored)

Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism. Sponsored by Sony.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of …

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LETTER: Archbishop Offers Prayers for Victims of Boston Attack

Prayers from the Archdiocese of Baltimore include "an end to violence and terror."

Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, issued the following statement on the tragedy in Boston April 15: "On behalf of the priests and faithful of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, I offer prayers for those who lost their lives today and for those who were injured in the violent attack in Boston. Our prayers are with them as well as their families and loved ones, just as we pray too for an end to violence and terror throughout the world. May the love of our compassionate Savior be with all who were impacted by this tragedy.”  

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Stop the Cicada Madness, Already!

Dundalk Patch editor Marge Neal goes out on a limb to set the cicada story straight.

Comment: 'Time For Yuppies To Buy Shotguns'

Baltimore-area Patch readers speak their minds.

This week, Patch readers took to the comment streams to chime in on local politics, neighborhood crime and the proposed White Student Union at Towson University. Here's some of what your neighbors are saying: Perry Hall: "So happy for Daniel! It's a miracle - total physical recovery from such an ordeal. Looks like mentally he's healing quite well too. Got to love this courageous kid" — Karan Abbasi said on Daniel Borowy to Model As Part of Anti-Bullying Campaign North Baltimore: "It's time for yuppies to buy shotguns and big nasty looking dogs..." — Baltimore Matt on Police: 1 Man Responsible for Villages of Homeland Robberies Dundalk: "Very unfortunate. I am certain this does not reflect the views of our town." — Amy Menzer on Sandy …

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Maryland's Top April Fool's Day Pranks: Share

April Fools Day is one of the trickiest days of the year. How do you celebrate April 1?

April 1 is my dad's favorite holiday. Yes, it is a holiday to him. How else would you describe a day where you can put a loved one on edge simply because they know you like to pull pranks. April Fools Day is the day we've set aside to both celebrate and avoid our resident pranksters. Here are a few of the best pranks my dad has managed to pull off over the years: Of course, there are plenty of pranks you can view online. Huffington Post rounded up some of the best pranks of the year. I'll add Google's "treasure map overlay" on its Google Maps function as one of my personal favorites of this holiday—check the photo with this post for a localized preview. I'm curious about your favorite April Fool's Day jokes and tricks. Now, I'm not …

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Comment: ‘The Problem is the Jobless Drunks’

Baltimore-area Patch readers speak their minds.

This week, Patch readers took to the comment streams to defend police captains in trouble, discuss the future of a historic property and talk about dog bits. Here’s what your neighbors are saying: Hunt Valley-Cockeysville: "The whole point is to NOT FLUSH THEM down the toilet. We have a big issue where our sewage treatment plants cannot take the medications out of the sludge, and then it goes on into the bay and our water table, and wreaks havoc on fish. Just do a web search on anti-depressants and fish." – Tony Gostomski via Facebook on Cockeysville Precinct Serves as Drop Off for DEA Program Catonsville: "I believe that Catonsville has a moral responsibility to preserve the history of the people who lived at Spring Grove. It would be …

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Marriage Proposals: At Surprise Birthday Party, on a Pier ...

Patch Readers share engagement stories in celebration of Proposal Day.

There's a day to celebrate everything, it seems, from pickles and doughnuts to hugging and camping out. So it should come as no surprise to find there is a Proposal Day, celebrated each year on March 20, according to the Huffington Post. Patch asked its readers to share their engagement stories, and a few brave souls shared their special moments. We didn't get responses yet from Hunt Valley and Cockeysville. So, if you'd like to share your story, add it in the comments section below. From Patch readers: "I convinced my girlfriend's friends to get her to throw me a 'surprise' 30th birthday. It went off without a hitch. Except for one thing. The surprise was on her. I knew the date of the party, but wasn't sure where it was going to be or …

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Blog: Being a Morning Person is a State of Mind

Chris Shea explores positive outlooks of church leaders and 'morning people,' and applying them to our own daily lives.

Meet an Owner of Towson Hot Bagels in Timonium

Tony Scotto is among eight family members and another partner who own the restaurant in the Yorkridge Shopping Center, and he's from a family that's been in the deli business for three generations.

When Tony Scotto, part-owner of Towson Hot Bagels, was growing up in Italy he developed a taste for fine deli meats and ingredients. That's because "my family has always been in the deli business," he said, recalling his grandfather who ran a deli and made his own bagels and sold them to restaurants, door-to-door in Monte di Procida, Italy. "The flavors are what you grow up with—no one can take that away," Scotto said. As a part-owner of three THB bagel shops and delis, including the Timonium store that's been open since July in the Yorkridge Shopping Center, he said he brings the same love of quality food to his customers. That means the eggs in the omelettes and on bagel breakfast sandwiches are fresh-cracked, Scotto said. The bagels are…

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