The company just opened its first Baltimore spot, in Federal Hill. It’s also planning restaurants in Harford County’s Abingdon area and Prince George’s County.
The chain restaurant just signed a lease for the Marlow building in the Merriweather District, according to a spokesperson for Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc.
Nash & Smashed owner M.N. Abassi said in a statement: “The Merriweather District project is a dynamic development that will serve as a cornerstone for our continued growth. We’re proud to join such great co-tenants and even more excited to serve the Columbia community.”
The restaurant chain, which recently rebranded from Nash & Smash, focuses on Nashville hot chicken, smashed burgers and mocktails.
The company said they did not have an exact location yet in Abingdon.
Have a news tip? Contact Bryna Zumer at bzumer@baltsun.com, or on X as @brynazumer .
]]>It took authorities 10 months to find and capture their main suspect, Victor Hernandez Martinez of El Salvador, who authorities said was in the country illegally. He was arrested in Oklahoma and extradited to Maryland, where he faces trial on murder charges in Harford County Circuit Court. Opening statements were heard Friday, and the trial continues Monday.
The county’s Latino community was as grief-stricken and as fearful as everyone else in the wake of the crime, says Arce, a Puerto Rican native who has spent 30 years supporting Spanish-speaking immigrants in Maryland. And with the high-profile proceeding underway, they’re feeling tense, worried the spotlight will reflect on them.
“People are following this trial very closely,” she says. “People are hurt. She was a young mom of five children. It’s just heartbreaking. Everyone agrees that if you come to this country and commit a crime, you deserve to pay the penalty.
“At the same time, it’s like — how can I say it? — people look at us like we’re [all] criminals or gang members. That is not the case. We also feel the pain, and we think, ‘Wow,’ this makes us all look bad.”
The killing of Morin is far from the only violent crime committed by individuals in the country illegally that has grabbed headlines and left American families shattered. Nor is it the first to be seized on by politicians who favor stricter immigration polices.
The fatal shooting of California woman Kate Steinle by a Mexican national in 2015 sparked fierce criticism and debate over San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy, which bars local officials from questioning a resident’s immigration status. Donald Trump was one of several Republican presidential candidates who made the case an issue in 2016.
Two years later, University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts was killed by an undocumented immigrant while jogging. A Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally was convicted in November of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia, in February of last year. And two others from Venezuela are facing capital murder charges in the rape and killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas last June.
Trump made those and other cases cornerstones of his argument for stiffer immigration policies on the campaign trail last year, and the message resonated: Most voters listed concerns about immigration as one of their two top concerns. the Pew Research Center found that 56% of registered voters favored mass deportations of immigrants who are living in the country illegally.

The Trump administration has followed through. A White House spokesman announced this week that it had deported more than 100,000 immigrants in the country illegally since January.
The 45th and now 47th president made Morin’s case a prominent part of the argument. He invited Morin’s brother, Michael, to speak at the Republican National Convention in June, where he blamed Harris-Biden administration policies for her death, and Morin’s mother, Patti, has appeared with Trump several times to back his administration’s hard-line policies.
The American Immigration Council and other critics point to numerous studies that show immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are statistically less likely to commit violent crimes in the United States than native-born Americans, and many have accused the President and GOP of exploiting tragedies to paint immigrants in the worst possible light.
Sheri Hoidra makes no such accusation, but she does fear that politicians can and will use a case like Morin’s to work up support for ill-advised immigration legislation
A immigration attorney with a roster of clients in Harford County, Hoidra says the times are so sensitive that few in her field, let alone Maryland immigrants, are willing to talk about their views on issues that affect their communities. The sentiment among her clients is overwhelming that the crimes against Morin were shocking and heartbreaking and that they want justice to be done, she said, but most are also wary of being viewed as suspect simply because they’re Latino.
And as an attorney, Hoidra is worried that conservative lawmakers will use the understandably powerful emotions around the Morin case to gin up support for bills she says would violate the rights of both documented and undocumented immigrants, the vast majority of whom are productive, law-abiding members of their communities.
Hoidra, currently the chair of the immigration law section of the Maryland State Bar Association, has appeared in Annapolis to oppose two bills before the General Assembly that would alter the legal framework local and federal law enforcement have been using to deal with suspected illegal immigrants in the state since 2021.

The Dignity Not Detention Act, passed that year, barred Maryland and its local jurisdictions from entering into agreements with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for immigration detention, essentially barring the state from participating in federal detention programs. It also prohibited state and local actors from inquiring about an individual’s immigration status.
Hoidra has testified against both House Bill 85, sponsored by State Delegate Nino Mangione, a Baltimore County Republican, which would remove many of those restrictions on local agents, and House Bill 1188, which would compel further cooperation by local law enforcement with ICE opposes
“I think the community is concerned because [politicians] are using the name of an individual who was, obviously, horrifically killed,” says Hoidra, a U.S. citizen who emigrated from Iran.
“The accused person was undocumented, sure. But to use that fact to say ‘we’re going to have Maryland police act as ICE agents and give them the right to ask questions about immigration status,’ that scares people,” she said. “Among other things, it will keep people from feeling OK about reporting crimes to police. It has a significant ripple effect through the whole community.”
One local cleric who works closely with immigrants says virtually everyone in the Spanish-speaking community hopes that anyone who commits the kind of crime Morin’s assailant did are dealt with severely — even more so, perhaps, if they’re Latino.
“With all the controversy over immigration, and given all the executive orders [Trump] has been signing, there’s a clear line among our people that if you’re a criminal, you have to be out of here,” says Bishop Angel Nuñez, longtime pastor of the Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore. “And if he’s found guilty, he should not be sent back to his home country so he could just come back here and do the same thing again.
“He belongs in jail,” says Nuñez, who also serves as vice president of the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance, a consortium of more than 800 churches in the U.S. “Those are the kind of thoughts people have.”

Closer to the trial venue, meanwhile, Pablo Hernandez says Latinos will be keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
Hernandez, a U.S. military veteran who volunteers at a Spanish-speaking church in Edgewood, reiterates that most in the community fear that too many are associating the person who killed Morin with a broader Latino community that has had a presence in the county dating to the 1980s and that is as horrified by his actions as anyone.
“People speak about the crime — how bad, how violent it was, and especially about the repercussions to the children of the murdered young lady. They’re also speaking about how even though we don’t live in the city, we’re not immune from crime, how even the places we thought of as safe aren’t safe any more. We have to remain vigilant,” he says.
Have a news tip? Contact Jonathan M. Pitts at jonpitts@baltsun.com.
]]>ADDICTION COUNSELING: ASHLEY ADDICTION TREATMENT
Honorable mentions
Klein Family Center
Char Hope Foundation
Gorham
ALTERNATE WELLNESS CENTER: SALT WORKS SPA
Honorable mentions
Jeremy Betkey Massage Therapy
Namaste My Day
Lavish Salon & Spa

AUDIOLOGIST: BAY AREA AUDIOLOGY
424 Barnes St., Suite 102, Bel Air
410-941-3826
belairhearingaids.com
Dr. Trisha A. Bents Muth (Au.D., CCC-A) has a passion for helping patients better their lives by improving their hearing. “My job is a real joy, as I get to improve the quality of life for my patients, as well as their families and loved ones. If someone is suffering from hearing loss, my approach is, ‘Let’s make it better.’”
Dr. Muth notes that most patients experience hearing loss over several years and do not take action until the onset of symptoms. “It’s an intimate issue; people don’t want to talk about it. I call it a silent disability, as you cannot really see that anything is wrong,” she says.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to an increased risk of dementia, she notes. “Also, it affects your social and emotional health and can cause depression due to isolation. We pride ourselves on evidence-based best practices to provide the best outcomes.”
In addition to treating older adults, Dr. Muth also performs pediatric hearing evaluations.
“People with hearing loss don’t know what they are missing until they get a hearing aid. Suddenly, they have better conversations with loved ones and feel more confident,” she says.
Honorable mention
Hearing Associates Inc Harmony Hearing
CHIROPRACTOR: OPTIMAL SPINE CHIROPRACTIC
Honorable mentions
Dr. Poane
Ultimate Health Dr. Rob Reier
DAY SPA: SALT WORKS SPA
Honorable mentions
Aruba Sun and Spa
Lavish Salon & Spa
Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
DENTAL PRACTICE: RIVER DENTAL
Honorable mentions
Laurel Bush Family Dentistry
Smile Partners
Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
DISPENSARY: RISE
Honorable mention
Four Green Fields
EYE CARE (TIE): WILMER EYE INSTITUTE (BEL AIR)
EYE CARE (TIE): MYEYEDR.
Honorable mentions
Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates
Advanced Eye Care
Holloway Eye Care
MEDISPA: ALLURE AESTHETICS OF BEL AIR
Honorable mentions
Chesapeake Skin Solutions
Lavish Salon & Spa
ProMD Health Bel Air
OB/GYN: SUSQUEHANNA OBGYN
Honorable mention
Upper Chesapeake Women’s Health
ORTHODONTIST: BEL AIR ORTHODONTICS
Honorable mentions
Amanda Gallagher Orthodontics
Smile Partners
Isaacs, Nawy, Stern & Isaacs Orthodontics
ORTHOPEDIC: TOWSON ORTHOPAEDIC (BEL AIR)
Honorable mentions
Dr. Sean Curtin
Susquehanna Orthopedic Associates

PEDIATRIC DENTIST: GROWING SMILES PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Bel Air Office
2012 S. Tollgate Road, Suite 212
410-569-6700
White Marsh Office
11570 Crossroads Circle, Suite 116
410-697-9000
growingsmiles.com
If you ask most kids to list their favorite activities, heading to the dentist may not top the list. However, many parents have shared that their kids actually look forward to going to Growing Smiles pediatric dentistry, thanks to the fun and welcoming staff.
“We are uber-focused on providing a positive experience in a fun, caring environment. We love telling jokes. Above all else, we love smiles – those of our patients, parents and ourselves,” says Diana Capobianco, D.D.S., who started Growing Smiles over 20 years ago. “It started with just me in one location. Now we have grown to include four doctors, two locations, and 40 staff members.”
Growing Smiles is a pediatric dental office that treats patients from infancy through their teenage years, including those with special needs. “We provide all basic dental services, such as cleaning, fluoride, restorations, but we also provide services that are unique to children,” Dr. Capobianco explains. She and her staff volunteer by providing dental health screenings and education in the community.
Honorable mentions
Bel Air Pediatric Dentistry
Joseph LaPonzina Orthodontics
Chesapeake Pediatric
PEDIATRIC PRACTICE: PEDIATRIC PARTNERS
Honorable mentions
Bright Oaks Pediatric Center
Forest Hill Pediatrics
Bel Air Pediatric Dentistry
PHARMACY: CVS-TARGET (MARKET-PLACE)
Honorable mentions
Klein’s Shoprite
White Ford Pharmacy
Wegmans
PHYSICAL THERAPIST: AGAPE PHYSICAL THERAPY
Honorable mentions
McLaughlin Physical Therapy
Medstar Physical Therapy
Pivot Physical Therapy
URGENT CARE: PATIENT FIRST (ABERDEEN)
Honorable mentions
Express Care
University of Maryland Urgent Care (Fallston)
Klein Family Center
ELECTRICIAN: MATTINGLY ELECTRIC
Honorable mentions
DeLuca Electric
A&J Electric
JPS Electric
FLOORING AND CARPETING: TOP NOTCH FLOORING AMERICA
Honorable mentions
Bel Air Carpet
K.C. Flooring
Adams Flooring & Handyman Services
GARDEN CENTER/NURSERY: THE MILL OF BEL AIR
Honorable mentions
Griers Nursery & Greenhouses
Kroh’s Nursery
Fritz Farm & Nursery
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR: TAR HEEL CONSTRUCTION GROUP
Honorable mentions
Ward Home Improvements at the Ward Design Studio
Kris Konstruction
RR Projects & Design

HOMEBUILDER: BOB WARD TRADEMARK HOMES
200 Man O’War Place, Havre de Grace
443-804-9616
trademarkcustomhomes.com
While some homebuilders are focused on hitting sales goals and expanding into multiple markets, Clark Turner of Bob Ward Trademark Homes makes it clear that his focus is on the charming Chesapeake Bay town of Havre de Grace. “In our model home at Bulle Rock, all of our employees – many of whom live in Havre de Grace – are onsite,” Turner says. “By deliberately focusing on one area, we can deliver unparalleled customer service because we are onsite every day.”
Turner notes that 95% of their clients are empty nesters looking for their forever home.
Sales Manager JoAnna West notes that no two homes are designed the same at Bulle Rock. “Clark is our in-house home designer, and he will sit with the customer and sketch out a design based on their lifestyle and taste at no charge. That kind of attention to detail cannot be duplicated with a computer design program,” she says.
West adds that the company’s homes include standard high-end features and finishes that are considered upgrades by other builders, and aging in place features are also included.
Honorable mentions
Pinnacle Design and Development
Huskin Builders
Viking Construction
HOUSECLEANING SERVICE: CORNERSTONE CLEANING
Honorable mentions
Housekeeping By Susan
Two Arrows Cleaning Services
The Clean Castle
HVAC: SM MECHANICAL
Honorable mentions
Excel HVAC Services
First Response Heating & Cooling
Ground Loop Heating and Air Conditioning
INTERIOR DESIGNER/DECORATOR: HOME WITH HEATHER, HEATHER KROUT
Honorable mentions
Monica Burk – Trellis Designs
Wendy Miller – Wendmill Designs
Juniper Interiors
LANDSCAPER: LAWNSCAPE INC.
Honorable mentions
Turf Connection Inc.
Akehurst Landscape Service
Chesapeake Landscapes
MORTGAGE COMPANY: THE RICCITELLI TEAM – CROSS COUNTRY MORTGAGE
Honorable mentions
Freedom Federal Credit Union
Har-co Credit Union APGFCU
PLUMBER: AMP PLUMBING & HEATING
Honorable mentions
PlumbCrazy
Mike’s Plumbing And Heating Services
NAM Plumbing

ROOFING: HARFORD ROOFING & EXTERIORS
407 Congress Ave., Havre de Grace
443-331-4916
Shawn Whalen began working in the home remodeling business when he was 17 years old, carrying shingles and picking up nails on roofing jobs. More than 20 years later, he and his wife, Meagan, are owners of Harford Roofing & Exteriors and are dedicated to addressing pain points they have seen in their industry.
“Lack of communication and over-pricing are the two areas customers get frustrated about in this industry. If anything, I over-communicate,” he laughs. “I’ll text you to say we are five minutes away and take the time to explain every detail about how a new roof will be installed and detail each dollar of the price,” Shawn says.
In addition to roofing, the company also works on siding, windows, doors and gutters, and services Harford, Baltimore and Cecil Counties.
“We use 3-D modeling to show customers exactly what their home will look like when we are done,” says Shawn, who urges homeowners not to wait until a leak to have their roof inspected. “Regular roof maintenance is very important.”
Honorable mentions
Tar Heel Construction Group
Polk Contracting
Premier Roofing
WASTE/RECYCLING COMPANY: BARTENFELDER SANITATION SERVICES
Honorable mentions
Harford County Trash Services
Humpty Dumpsters
Maryland Pickers Junk Removal
ANNUAL FESTIVAL/EVENT: CHESAPEAKE SHAMROCK 5K
Honorable mentions
Bel Air Festival of the Arts
Harford County Wine Festival
St. Margaret Fall Festival
ART STUDIO/GALLERY: AMAZING GLAZE
Honorable mentions
Made Me Mine
Harford Artists Gallery
Gallery 220
BREWERY: HOPKINS FARM BREWERY
Honorable mentions
Independent Brewing Co.
Slate Farm Brewery
Double Groove Brewing Co.
CHARITY/NONPROFIT: CHESAPEAKE BAY ASSOCIATION
Honorable mentions
Humane Society of Harford County
The Hero Rescue
Harford County Public Library Foundation
KIDS ACTIVITY: HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Honorable mentions
Jurassic Golf and Arcade
Young Chefs Academy
The Arena Club
MUSEUM: STEPPINGSTONE FARM MUSEUM
Honorable mentions
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
Harford Historical Society
PARK: ANNIE’S PLAYGROUND
Honorable mentions
Rocks State Park
Susquehanna State Park
Eden Mill
PRIVATE SCHOOL: THE JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL
Honorable mentions
St. Margaret School
The Highlands School
Harford Christian School
PUBLIC SCHOOL: HARFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Honorable mentions
Bel Air High School
North Harford High School
Red Pump Elementary
RAINY-DAY ACTIVITY: JURASSIC GOLF AND ARCADE
Honorable mentions
Amazing Glaze
Made Me Mine
The State Theatre of Havre De Grace
SPECIAL EVENTS VENUE: ROCKFIELD MANOR
Honorable mentions
Hopkins Family Brewery
Ladew Topiary Gardens
The Liriodendron Mansion
THEATER COMPANY: THE STATE THEATRE OF HAVRE DE GRACE
Honorable mentions
Tidewater Players
Starlight Theatricals
Abingdon Community Theater
WINERY: HARFORD VINEYARD & WINERY
Honorable mentions
Fiore Winery
Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery
ACCOUNTANT: FRANK HAJEK & ASSOCIATES
Honorable mentions
DeCapite & DeCapite
Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra
DiNatalie Accounting and Tax Services
AUTO REPAIR: BEDELL AUTOMOTIVE
Honorable mentions
Forest Hill Automotive
Rt Auto Works
Harford Tire
BANK/CREDIT UNION: APGFCU
Honorable mentions
Har-co Credit Union
Freedom Federal Credit Union
Jarrettsville Federal
BARBERSHOP: OLD LINE BARBERS
Honorable mentions
Work of Art Barbershop
Whiteford Barbershop
Box Hill Barbers
CHILD CARE: FALLSTON CHILD CARE CENTER
Honorable mentions
The Arena Club
The Goddard School of Forest Hill
Kiddie Academy Abingdon
DOG TRAINER: SITS MEANS SIT DOG TRAINING
Honorable mentions
Blue Line K-9
Polite Pooches Positive Dog Training
Best Friends Fur Ever
DOGGIE DAYCARE: BEST FRIENDS FUR EVER
Honorable mentions
Country Comfort Kennels & Camp for Pets
Jarrettsville Vet
Luna’s House
DRY CLEANER: ZIPS
Honorable mentions
Kroh’s Cleaners
Sue’s Alterations
FINANCIAL ADVISER: HARFORD FINANCIAL GROUP
Honorable mentions
Crescendo Financial Group
The Kelly Group
Akers Financial Group
FLORIST: RICHARDSON’S FLORIST, GIFTS & FLOWER DELIVERY
Honorable mentions
Electric Daisy
Dee’s Flowers
Petals ‘n Posies at Jonathans
HAIR SALON: LAVISH SALON & SPA
Honorable mentions
Bella Vita Salon
Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
Coco Leigh Hair Boutique
INSURANCE COMPANY: GERETY INSURANCE
Honorable mentions
AAG Insurance Enterprises
State Farm Insurance
Palumbo Insurance Associates
PET GROOMER: HOME SWEET HOME DOG GROOMING
Honorable mentions
Katiedidit Grooming
Canine Couture
Grooming by Dennis

REAL ESTATE AGENT: DANIEL MCGHEE, VICTORY TEAM
1316 E. Churchville Road, Bel Air
833-888-1754
Long before he embarked on a successful career in real estate, Daniel McGhee had always focused on giving back, whether it was helping feed the homeless or taking mission trips to Costa Rica. He has taken this altruistic outlook to his real estate practice as leader of The Victory Team.
“Last year I took 700 needy children Christmas shopping. I believe giving back is so important,” McGhee shares.
McGhee and The Victory Team focus on providing luxury services at affordable prices to help homeowners and home buyers achieve their dreams. “We have lower fees and commission rates, as we want to treat real estate differently with a focus on service, not sales.”
McGhee says that his main goal is to go above and beyond to deliver for his clients and continuously checks in with clients even after the sale is complete to make sure that they are happy in their new homes.
“Clients are not just numbers to me. Buying or selling a home is the biggest transaction in your life, and I am honored that they have entrusted me,” he says.
Honorable mentions
Laura Snyder Premier Realty
Lee Tessier Team of eXp Realty
Streett Hopkins Real Estate
SENIOR CARE: KATHERINE’S KEEPERS
Honorable mentions
Visiting Angels
Lorien of Bel Air
Bel Air Assisted Living
TATTOO PARLOR: FLESH TATTOO CO.
Honorable mentions
Dark Arts Tattoo Studio
Athens Tattoo Co.
Chop Shop Tattoo Co.
TRAVEL AGENCY: BRENDA TACKETT – MARVELOUS MOUSE TRAVELS
Honorable mentions
Travelworks International
Vickie Roden, Utmost Travel by Cruise Planners
Jenn Greene, Journeys with Jenn
VETERINARIAN: CHADWELL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Honorable mentions
Homeward Bound Veterinary Services
Greenbrier Veterinary Clinic
Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
ACTIVIST: FRANK NEIGHOFF
Honorable mentions
Dan McGhee
Randy Geyer
Terence O. Hanley
CLERGYPERSON: FATHER KEVIN – ST MARGARET’S
Honorable mentions
Pastor Ben Cachiaras, Mountain Christian Church
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman, Hartford Chabad
Pastor Kirk Bolen, Mountain Branch
ELECTED OFFICIAL: SHERIFF JEFF GAHLER
Honorable mentions
Bob Cassilly, Harford County Executive
Tony “G” Giangiordano, councilmember
Rep. Andy Harris
PERSONAL TRAINER: TIM CAIN, THE ARENA CLUB
Honorable mentions
Heather Rockhill, Snap Fitness Cameron Ridgell,
Game Changers Fitness
Cary Barrett, Kore Bootcamp
POLICE OFFICER: SHERIFF JEFF GAHLER
Honorable mentions
Jerry Eaton, HCSO
Rick Krause, Bel Air Keith Jackson, HCSO
PRINCIPAL: RANDY GEYER, HARFORD ACADEMY
Honorable mentions
Anna Shanahan, St. Margaret School
Brad Spence, Havre de Grace Middle/High
Rob DeLeva, Bel Air High School
DANCE LESSONS: RAGE BOX
Honorable mentions
Supernova Dance Company
Dance Conservatory of Maryland
Dance With Me School of Dance
GOLF COURSE: MOUNTAIN BRANCH GOLF CLUB
Honorable mentions
Geneva Farm Golf Course
Bulle Rock Golf Course
Winters Run Golf Club
GYM/FITNESS CENTER: THE ARENA CLUB
Honorable mentions
Coppermine
Game Changers Fitness
The Ward Y in Abingdon
MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES: U.S.TAEKWONDO ACADEMY
Honorable mentions
Empire Dojo
Method MMA
MUSIC LESSONS: MUSIC LAND
Honorable mentions
Stone House Jam Academy
Do-Re-Wee Music Academy
Bel Air Arts Academy
SWIM CLUB: THE ARENA CLUB
Honorable mentions
Fallston Swim Club
North Harford Swim Club
Coppermine
YOGA CLASSES: YOGA CENTRIC
Honorable mentions
The Arena Club
Love Evolution Yoga
Kore Barre & Yoga
ANTIQUES: BELLE PATRI
Honorable mentions
JoRetro
Antique Mall, Havre de Grace
Tommy’s on Main
BRIDAL SHOP: K&B BRIDALS
Honorable mention
Edel’s Bridal Boutique
CAR DEALERSHIP: JONES JUNCTION
Honorable mentions
Bob Bell
Adams Chevrolet
Keene Dodge
CLOTHING BOUTIQUE: BRAY & EM
Honorable mentions
Apricot Lane
Stalefish Board Co.
Boutique 44
CONSIGNMENT SHOP/RESALE SHOP: TABITHA’S HOUSE
Honorable mentions
Habitat Restore
The Mannequin On Main
The Shabby Button

FURNITURE STORE: JARRETTSVILLE FURNITURE
3743 Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville
Jarrettsville Furniture of Bel Air
570 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air
Bel Air Town Center
jarrettsvillefurniture.com
When it comes to furniture, you want choices. Step into the Jarrettsville or Bel Air showrooms for Jarrettsville Furniture, and you’ll find endless choices for couches, end tables, chairs, lamps and more.
“With national chains, they only sell their own brands. We are a local, independent and family-owned business, and we carry over 50 brands, including 14 Amish vendors. We can order from all over the world to accommodate budgets from high-end to more affordable,” says Angie Stiars, President of Jarrettsville Furniture. Stiars is the co-owner of Jarrettsville Furniture along with her husband, James Stiars, and brother-in-law, Frank Avena.
Stiars explains that when customers visit either location – the Bel Air store opened in November – a member of the staff can give them a tour and then allow customers to browse on their own. “We don’t like to be invasive. As a family-owned business, we are here every day, and customers can ask anyone for help,” she says.
In addition to furniture, Stiars says that they have the largest mattress department of any store in Maryland. “We also have in-house designers who can assist with furniture selection and placement by coming to your home.”
Honorable mentions
Belle Patri
The Painted Mill
Restore Aberdeen
GIFT SHOP: THE NEST ON MAIN
Honorable mentions
Log Cabin Candy
Blue Heron Gifts
Schoolhouse Fallston
JEWELER: SAXON’S DIAMOND CENTER
Honorable mentions
F & L Jewelers
Moon & Sea Creations
AW Art & Design
LIQUOR STORE: BEL AIR LIQUORS
Honorable mentions
Ronnie’s Beverage
Friendship Wine & Liquor
Beards Hill Liquors
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions (listed alphabetically) were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online in October, November and December. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
]]>Contest voting ends Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
Results will be revealed in The Baltimore Sun.
Don’t see the ballot? Access the form here.
]]>More than 51,700 ballots were cast in 43 categories during this year’s contest — demonstrating that Harford County is a dining destination.
Based on reader votes, here are the 2024 Best Restaurants of Harford County winners and honorable mentions:
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from July to September. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
Ambience: One Eleven Main
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Mucho Gusto
Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Asian: Chopstix
Honorable mentions:
Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz
Lemon and Ginger
Fuji Sushi

Bakery: Newberry Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Woodlea Bakery
Yia Yia’s Bakery
Bar food: Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Sean Bolan’s Irish Pub
Looney’s
Barbecue: Mission BBQ
Honorable mentions:
Old Line Grill
Fast Eddies
Chaps Pit Beef
Bartender: Kari Burns, Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Tracy McCoy-Soper, Abbey Burger
Patrick Lynch, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Sloane Dela Cruz, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar

Beer list: Das Bierhalle
119 S. Main St., Bel Air. 443-819-3617. dasbierhallemd.com
Sauerkraut balls, 10 kinds of sausage and a giant 2-pound pretzel that could serve as a frisbee, if not so tasty. Such is the spread at Das Bierhalle, the German-American fusion eatery in Bel Air which opened in 2023. Kin of the Parkville sports bar with the same name, it doesn’t claim to serve purely German fare (hence, the Buffalo Chicken Schnitzel, Old Bay sausage and BEER-ia Tacos). Instead, it aims to please a multitude of palates with enough Old World entries to justify its name.
“We offer something for everybody,” said Shelby Stange, co-owner and manager. Though the slogan here is “Every day is Octoberfest,” non-Teutonic events pop up — everything from Taylor Swift album release parties to breakfast with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, for the kids.
Four bars and 29 TVs greet patrons, who raise their steins filled with suds from one of 30 tap lines. Or choose from the more than 100 beers in cans and bottles, half of them imports (favorites are Spaten and Warsteiner, from Germany). Every day boasts happy hours, with prices shaved on beers and crushes. Good service is a given, say customers, who voted Kari Burns and Doug Hitchcock as Best Bartender and Server, respectively.
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewery Co.
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Breakfast/brunch: Sunny Day Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Bagel Works
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Das Bierhalle
Brewery: Independent Brewing
Honorable mentions:
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Slate Farm Brewery
Double Groove Brewing Co.
Burger: Abbey Burger
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Das Bierhalle

Chef: Zack Trabbold, The Local
Honorable mentions:
Juan Portillo, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Brian Boessel, One Eleven Main
Steve Braun, Sean Bolan’s
Cocktail: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar and The Local (tie)
Honorable mentions:
Mucho Gusto
One Eleven Main

Coffee: Coffee Coffee
Honorable mentions:
Concord Point Coffee
Dunkin Donuts
CoffeeBar (tie)
Wawa (tie)
Crab cake: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Box Hill Pizzeria & Crab Cakes
Conrad’s Crabs
Water Street Seafood

Deli: Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Honorable mentions:
Savona – Fine Italian Foods and Wine
Sam’s Deli
Jarrettville Creamery and Deli
Dessert: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Jarrettsville Creamery
Fine dining: One Eleven Main
Honorable mentions:
The Local
Pairings Bistro
Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Frozen treats: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Jarrettsville Creamery
Bomboy’s Homemade Ice Cream
Arctic Circle
Happy hour: Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Looney’s Pub
Sean Bolan’s Irish Pub
Healthful menu: Healthy Vibes
Honorable mentions:
HoneyGrow
Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz
Saladworks
Italian: Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Honorable mentions:
Enotria Restaurant
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Olive Tree
Late-night dining: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Looney’s Pub
Das Bierhalle
MaGerks Pub & Grill
Latin: La Tolteca
Honorable mentions:
Mucho Gusto
Plaza Mexico
Sol Oaxaca Cocina Moderna
Live entertainment: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewing Co.
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Fallston Barrel House
Lunch menu: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Das Bierhalle
The Hickory Lodge

New restaurant: Latitude Seafood Co.
Honorable mentions:
Sol Oaxaca
The Grazing Room at Boards by Dana
Akira Ramen & Izakaya
Outdoor dining: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Tidewater Grille
The Island at Flying Point Marina
Das Bierhalle

Overall: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
1225 E. Churchville Road, Bel Air. 410-420-5218. pappasbelair.com
Pappas serves so much crab that it’s a wonder diners don’t leave the place scuttling sideways. Thirty-one dishes on the menu feature crab, the staple at the family’s four area restaurants.
“We go through 1,500 pounds of crab meat a week here,” said Tim Miller, managing partner at the Bel Air venue, which opened in 2023. The 8-ounce crab cakes, made of colossal and jumbo lump meat, comprise 60% of the business and follow a secret recipe created more than half a century ago.
On occasion, said Miller, male customers pull him aside and say. “These crab cakes are better than my wife’s, but don’t tell her.”
Seafood powers the menu, from grilled octopus and orange roughy to specials like Chilean sea bass, served over sweet potato puree and topped with spinach and a mandarin orange sauce. Steaks, burgers and pastas have devotees, too.
“The only thing we don’t serve is pizza,” said Miller.
The outdoor patio, open year-round, is a favorite with patrons, and those with the late-night hungries are seated ’til midnight. As the holidays near, there’s a run on Pappas’ hand-carved turkey dinners, with walnut cornbread dressing. What, no crabmeat stuffing?
“If that’s what you want, we’ll work something up for you,” Miller said. “Our kitchen guys are pretty flexible.”
Honorable mentions:
Das Bierhalle
Mucho Gusto
The Local
Pizza: Love Crust Pizza
Honorable mentions:
Bacco Pizzeria
Buontempo Brothers Pizza
Italian Sensation
Place to take out-of-towners: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewing Co.
Das Bierhalle
Double Groove Brewing Co.
Place to take the kids: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Conrad’s Crabs
Seafood: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Conrad’s Seafood Restaurants-Markets
Richard’s Fish & Crabs-The Seafood Stop
Water Street Seafood
Server: Doug Hitchcock, Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Molly Patrick, Das Bierhalle
Jeremy Markel, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Regan Reisinger, Fallston Barrel House
Service: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Das Bierhalle
Double Groove Brewing Co.
The Local
Sports bar: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Das Bierhalle
Sean Bolan’s Irish Pub
Steak: Texas Roadhouse
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
One Eleven Main
The Local
Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Crabs
Honorable mentions:
Richard’s Fish & Crabs-The Seafood Stop
Madonna Seafood
Water Street Seafood
Takeout: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Box Hill Pizzareia
Tutto Fresco
Value: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Das Bierhalle
Mamie’s Cafe
La Tolteca
Vegetarian options: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz
Fuji Sushi
Indian Garden
View: Tidewater Grille
Honorable mentions:
Mountain Branch
Broom’s Bloom Dairy
The Promenade Grille
Wine list: The Vineyard Wine Bar
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Pairings Bistro
Black-owned restaurant: Maison Intimate Catering
]]>Nominations close Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.
Contest voting starts Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. and ends Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
Results will be revealed in The Baltimore Sun.
Don’t see the ballot? Access the form here.
]]>“I was the class nerd, the girl with brown hair and glasses who always had her homework done,” she said. Who’d have thought the quiet, bookish Etting, valedictorian of the Class of 1977, would wind up as mayor of Harford County’s bustling hub?
“I want to have a say in where Bel Air is going,” said the onetime attorney and current town commissioner. “As it grows and changes, we need to respect and honor our past and keep the town family-friendly.”
Etting, 65, attended The Johns Hopkins University before earning a post-graduate degree at the University of Maryland School of Law. She worked 27 years in the Harford County Law Department before turning to politics in 2021.
Here are three things you may not know about Etting:
She’s an able do-it-yourselfer.
“I am handy. I can install faucets and shower heads, scrape wallpaper and change toilet flappers and the lock on the front door. I put up our mailbox. My husband doesn’t like to do that stuff, but it gives me a nice feeling of accomplishment. I mean, when you cook a great meal, all that’s left are the dirty dishes — but change a shower head, and it’ll be there for years.”
Sewing keeps the mayor humming.
“I like making something out of a flat piece of fabric; it uses another side of my brain. I made my own clothes when I was pregnant, and now, I’m the go-to for our grandchildren whenever a stuffed animal loses an arm. They say, ‘This is broken and needs to go to NaNa’s.’
“The sound of a sewing machine is so relaxing. I made Halloween costumes for our kids, from Batman to a medieval princess. Our son liked his dinosaur costume so much that, at five [years old], he’d come home and put it on and sit there, reading a book.”
Her diplomas did her parents proud.
“I was the first in my family to graduate from college. Neither of my parents had that opportunity — my dad was one of eight Irish kids and had to leave school to work — but they valued education. In eighth grade, my father bought me a Texas instrument calculator for $150, a lot of money then. But he knew I’d need it for high school.
“An uncle said that I’d never finish college, that I’d get my ‘Mrs. degree’ instead; that was the opinion of people in his generation. But I was internally driven, and my parents fed on that.”


Boutique 44, 140A N. Bond St., Bel Air
This braided soft faux-leather bag offers double styling options as it is reversible.

Bay Breeze Soap & Gifts, 463 Franklin St., Havre de Grace
Made by local artist Kimi Ferro and perfect for making party platters.

Glyph, 212 N. Washington St., Havre de Grace
Gather your friends around a bonfire for a night of fun and laughs.

Glyph, 212 N. Washington St., Havre de Grace
A perfect late-night snack pairing. Just add a glass of wine.

Bay Breeze Soap & Gifts, 463 Franklin St., Havre de Grace
Locally made and scented for the season.

Glyph, 212 N. Washington St., Havre de Grace
The dog days of summer might be over but embrace pumpkin spice latte season.

Glyph, 212 N. Washington Street, Havre de Grace.
Find your inner artist and sketch your surroundings.

Boutique 44, 140A N. Bond St., Bel Air
Everyone should have these fall fashion staples.

Bay Breeze Soap & Gifts, 463 Franklin St., Havre de Grace
Stocking-stuffer alert. It’s never too early.

Boutique 44, 140A N. Bond St., Bel Air
These lightweight, geometric earrings will compliment any sweater or jacket.
]]>“He was so lonely,” Chizmar recalled and grinned. “I always saw the world differently than the other people around me. Even then, I was exploring the dark side.”
Now, the Bel Air resident is an acclaimed author who has penned six novels including four bestsellers. Two were co-written with horror icon Stephen King, who praises Chizmar’s “really interesting, innovative ideas.”
Chizmar has co-authored screenplays for the big and small screen, including one episode of Showtime’s “Masters of Horror” anthology series, and two episodes of NBC’s “Fear Itself.”
What’s more, the horror magazine-turned-publishing company founded by Chizmar when he was a senior at the University of Maryland is thriving. Cemetery Dance Publications, now in its 36th year, has published a roster of A-list authors from Ray Bradbury to William Peter Blatty of “The Exorcist” fame.
Even Chizmar’s personal life is rosy.

He’s still married to Kara, the green-eyed girl he fell in love with as a kid. His seventh novel, “Memorials,” will be published in October, one month after the couple’s eldest son, Billy, releases his debut novel, “Them.” The second and youngest son in the family, Noah, is a star lacrosse player at the University of Virginia, where he has displayed a toughness on the field that has been praised by Sports Illustrated.
So life for the 58-year-old Chizmar is looking pretty, well, sunny.
“When my friends finally started reading my work, they’re like, ‘Rich, where does this all this solemn stuff come from?'” he recalled.
“A bookseller in New Hampshire who got an advance copy of my new novel, “Memorials,” messaged me yesterday and said, ‘I’ve had nightmares two nights in a row. You’re going to mess people up.'”
An expression of pure joy crossed Chizmar’s face.
“I just loved that,” he said. “I told her, ‘I can do no better, unless I can make people cry.'”
He knows that an awful lot of people crave being scared out of their wits, though exactly how that mechanism works remains mysterious. What is it about feeling bad that makes some people feel so good?
Behavioral scientist Haiyang Yang, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, speculated in a university blog post last fall that fans of horror and suspense are unusually self-assured. People who flock to scary movies are confident they can overcome the obstacles fate throws in their paths, he wrote — a description that fits Chizmar like the cover of a book.
“When we first began publishing the magazine, I would go out to the newspaper box in front of my apartment building at 1 a.m.,” Chizmar said.
“I knew that by that time, no one was going to buy what was left. I would plunk a quarter into the box and take out all the newspapers and use them to pack up the books. We shipped them in boxes we found in dumpsters. I remember thinking, ‘Can you imagine being successful enough to buy boxes to pack your products in?'”

Chizmar and King have known each other professionally since 1989. At the time, King had been famous for nearly two decades, and when he sent Chizmar a signed promotional blurb for the fledgling “Cemetery Dance” magazine, it pretty much guaranteed that the new publisher could continue paying his bills for at least the next few months.
Over time, and after thousands of text exchanges and good-natured jibes about the rising and falling fortunes of the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, King became familiar with the younger man’s fiction. And when he found himself facing writer’s block, he turned to Chizmar for help.
The result was “Gwendy’s Button Box,” the first novel of a trilogy. The first and last books were written jointly by the two authors, while the second was penned by Chizmar alone.
“Rich basically bailed me out,” King said.
“He has a good feel for suburban life, for middle-class Baltimore and its backyard barbecues and the room in the basement where the kids hang out. I would call what he does ‘middle-class fantasy horror make-believe, with a kind of ‘Twilight Zone’ feel.'”
Even when Chizmar was growing up in Harford County, the youngest of five children of an airman who worked on the Aberdeen Proving Ground and an Ecuadorian homemaker, he was possessed of a keen sense that the best moments in life are fleeting.
He remembers one time in particular when that revelation struck him hard.
“I was about 14,” he recalled. “We had been sledding, but all my friends had gone home. It was dusk and the snow was falling and the lights were glowing. I could see my house off in the distance. I thought, ‘Nothing is ever going to be the same after this. We’re all growing up. People are going to leave, and some of us are never coming back.'”
That’s the moment that made Chizmar a writer.

“I am the one who is cursed and blessed to remember everything,” he said. “It helps to put it down on paper. I became a writer to help people make sense of the world.”
Perhaps. But it also seems likely that Chizmar became a horror writer because he likes to surprise people and make them laugh. His acute sense of life’s darker moments is paired with an equally well-developed mischievous streak.
A case in point are his two cinema-verite books, “Chasing the Boogeyman” and “Becoming the Boogeyman,” in which Chizmar goes to great lengths to trick his readers into thinking they’re reading a memoir instead of a novel.
The books are narrated by a young man named Richard Chizmar who moved back home with his parents to save money for his upcoming wedding — all details pulled from the author’s life. The books mix historic events, including a real-life criminal known in the 1980s as the Phantom Fondler, with a made-up serial killer.
The novel even includes black-and-white photos purporting to show the “killer” being handcuffed by police officers. In reality, the murderer and cops were costumed actors, and Chizmar took the photos himself.
“I’m just a big kid,” he admitted.
That turned out to be a very good thing. The author’s innate playfulness has helped him cope with occasional but genuine hardships, including his encounter at age 29 with a real-lifeserial killer: testicular cancer.
“After I was diagnosed, I had two operations,” Chizmar said. “And then my doctors declared me clear. They said there was a 99% chance the cancer would never come back.”
But six months later, Chizmar went to the emergency room after he found himself once again in great pain.
“My poor doctor had to tell me the cancer had spread to both lungs, my liver, my stomach and my lymph nodes,” he said. “I was given a 50% chance of survival.”
And still, the snowman refused to melt.
“I said, ‘If anyone can beat this, it will be me,” Chizmar recalled. “I told my doctors, ‘Tell me what to do, and I will do it better than any patient you have ever had.'”
As he had vowed that he would, Chizmar recovered fully. But even as he and Kara rejoiced, they were hit with another setback.
“After 12 weeks of chemotherapy, the doctors told us that so much poison was being shot into my body that we would not be able to have children the natural way,” he said.”But five years later, there came Billy. And four years after that, there came Noah. I wake up grateful every day.”
More than most of us, Chizmar knows how easily human existence can be snuffed out. But instead of frightening him, he views that painful reality as a cause for celebration.
“Life is fragile, but I’m an optimist,” he said, and then segued into a related thought:
“People tell me that the good thing about my stories is that they always contain a ray of hope.”
]]>“I always wanted to compete with the best crabcakes in the world,” said Kevin Grubbs, owner and operator of Latitude Seafood Co.
The first location opened in Midlothian, Virginia, in 2015, followed by a second in Stony Point, Virginia, in 2018. With the success of these initial ventures, Grubbs and his partners began exploring new opportunities. Grubbs has a personal connection to the area, having visited family in Baltimore, and one of the co-owners, Vishal Patel, lives near Bel Air.
Before opening the Bel Air location last spring, the owners revisited their crabcake recipe to ensure it met the high standards of Marylanders. Grubbs personally tested dozens of recipes to perfect the dish.

“That’s the best part of the job,” said Grubbs of the countless crabcakes he tried during the process of perfecting theirs.
Located in the Festival at Bel Air shopping plaza, the restaurant offers an ambience that feels worlds away from the outlet mall. Large windows allow natural light to flood the space, giving Latitude Seafood Co. a bright and spacious atmosphere.
Ingredients are a top priority for Grubbs and his team. The crabcakes are made entirely from jumbo lump crab, and all recipes are crafted from scratch.
“We’re not just putting steamed seafood on a plate,” said Grubbs. “We offer unique dishes that you’re not going to find at a normal place.”
Latitude Seafood Co. is “True Blue Certified,” meaning the Maryland Department of Agriculture has verified that they only serve local blue crabs.
“Because of the temperatures of the water, they store more fat in them, and that’s where you get that yellow mustard inside the meat,” Grubbs explained. “You’re not going to find that in any other crab meat.”
The menu at Latitude Seafood Co. is designed to cater to all tastes. The seafood pasta is loaded with shrimp, scallops, lump crab, with a light basil lemon cream. For those who prefer other options, the restaurant offers creative chicken dishes and high-quality steaks. Daily specials provide innovative choices for regular patrons, ensuring there’s always something new to try. To finish an evening at Latitude Seafood Co., the ample dessert menu features everything from ice cream sandwiches to crème brûlée.

Latitude Seafood Co.
5 Bel Air South Pkwy., Suite 1559, Bel Air. 443-402-1926. latitudeseafoodco.com
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