HdG Main Street Board to Meet about 'Recent Events'

The president of Havre de Grace Main Street spoke with Patch Wednesday.

Charlie Hiner, who is the president of Havre de Grace Main Street, said its board of directors will be meeting soon to discuss "recent events." In a phone interview with Patch Wednesday, Hiner said: "The board will be getting together to discuss recent events that were in the Patch this weekend." On Friday, Havre de Grace Patch published an article about a letter that MacGregor's sent to the Main Street board resigning from the organization. The owner of MacGregor's, Dan Lee, wrote that he believed Main Street had "lost its moral compass" in electing a convicted child sex offender to its board of directors. "What triggered all of this was the resignation of Dan Lee," said Hiner, who told Patch he has not spoken with Lee since receiving …

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Entrepreneur Magazine Ranks Maryland Top State for Startups

The ranking was based on several factors, including jobs, programs and businesses.

Maryland was recently ranked the best place to start a business, according to Entrepreneur magazine. Its list of the “10 Best States for Starting a Business” evaluated states based on programs that support entrepreneurs; the number of jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and concentration of high-tech businesses.  Two programs in particular set Maryland apart, according to Entrepreneur. One was ACTiVATE, a UMBC-developed initiative that helps women launch technology companies. Around since 2004, the program's alumna added 77 jobs and developed 32 companies for the region by 2010, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. The other offering Entrepreneur singled out was a special networking list called “Maryland …

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Top Maryland Headlines: House of Cards in MD, First Lady Inspires

What advice did the first lady give graduates at Bowie State University? Get all the Maryland news with one click on Patch.

By Patch Staff It was a big week for Maryland, with a visit by the first lady and a heads up for a sixth casino in the state. Here's an array of headlines from the 48 Patch sites across Maryland: Michelle Obama to Bowie State Grads: It's Time to Feel Hungry Again In a speech rich with historical references, the first lady reminded the BSU class of 2013 why education is important. Gun Control, Gax Tax Hike Laws Signed Thursday Two of the most contentious bills Maryland state lawmakers grappled with this session became law Thursday. The Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which provides for a hike in the state's gas tax, and the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, a restrictive gun control bill, proved divisive for legislators this…

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HdG Mainstay Resigns from Main Street

The owner of MacGregor's Restaurant said the organization 'has lost its moral compass.'

Havre de Grace Main Street board members received notice Friday that a major player in the city's downtown district resigned from the organization. "Even though I feel Main Street is a very worthwhile organization, I believe the board has lost its moral compass," Daniel Lee, owner of MacGregor's, wrote in a letter of resignation to the Main Street board of directors. "...allowing a convicted felon, child molester, to sit on the board of an organization that sponsors functions that attract children is unconscionable," Lee continued. Main Street held its annual elections earlier this year and installed new officers, listed here. Lee did not name the person in question in his letter but he expressed his discontent. "A felon can't own a gun, …

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Elizabeth Janney

1:15 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Harford County Moves Construction Permits to Digital Storage

Starting June 1, builders with approved construction plans must upload documents online.

Harford County construction permits are going digital. The county announced this week that its department of inspections, licenses and permits are migrating from paper to digital storage. Currently, the department disposes of submitted paperwork 180 days after a certificate of occupancy has been issued. Electronic storage will eliminate paperwork disposal and the need for hard copies and allow inspectors to access those documents anywhere, according to a county release. The department will require electronic copies of building permit documents—once a building's plans have been approved—starting June 1. Required materials can be uploaded on the county's website.

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PHOTOS: The Ground Floor in Havre de Grace

The office off US Route 40 is a space for idea, workspace sharing.

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3 Havre de Grace Businesses Celebrate Birthdays

Bomboy's, Doodads and Wonder Toys mark milestones this month.

Three downtown Havre de Grace businesses have reason to celebrate in May. Bomboy's Candy is celebrating its 35-year anniversary on Market Street. The store's owners invited people to stop in and sing lyrics to "Happy Birthday" for a 10 percent discount on May 1 via Facebook. "Our customers share their memories with us and we wanted to share our milestone with them," Vice President Kathy Bomboy told Patch. Doodads, the fair trade store on Saint John Street, had its 10-year anniversary in early May as well. Doodads posted a photo of its storefront from May 2003 on the store's Facebook page, with the message: "We started out pretty plain..." On its 10-year anniversary, that's no longer the case, as the store is festooned with colorful prayer …

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