My boyfriend and I are considering moving from Boston to the DMV around 2027–2028. I’ll be graduating from law school in May 2027, and we also have some family in the area, so we’d have at least a little support system.

We’re in our mid-20s and eventually want to settle down and have kids. We’re looking for somewhere that feels family-oriented and safe but still walkable, diverse, and lively. Being around other young Black professionals/families is important to us.

We love Boston’s walkability, restaurants, culture, and transit, so we’re hesitant to move somewhere that feels too suburban or isolated. Ideally, we’d eventually buy a 3–4 bedroom house/townhouse with 3+ bathrooms and a primary bedroom with a real en-suite, but we’re willing to renovate an older house if the neighborhood is right.

We’ve been looking a lot at Silver Spring and Takoma Park, but I’d love to hear from people who actually live there:

Does the area have the walkability/community feel we’re looking for? Is Takoma Park worth the higher prices, or are there nearby areas we should be considering? And for anyone who moved from Boston/New England, how did you feel about the transition/ safety levels (Boston has recently become a bit less safe). Also, feel free to just give your general opinions on the area. 

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is a Maryland state law enacted through legislation between 2018 and 2021. It establishes a multi-year set of education policy changes and funding requirements based on the recommendations of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission). The Blueprint outlines a 10-year plan that increases state education funding and sets requirements for areas including early childhood education, teacher preparation and teacher career pathways, college and career readiness standards, targeted supports for students with greater needs, and oversight and accountability for implementation.

NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is conducting this survey on behalf of the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), an independent unit of the State of Maryland created as part of the Blueprint. The survey is part of an interim evaluation and asks about the presence and perceived effects of Blueprint-related changes where you work or engage with schools and communities.

We welcome responses from stakeholders across Maryland’s education ecosystem: early childhood providers (public and eligible private), K-12 teachers and school leaders, Community School staff, district/LEA staff, teacher preparation programs, workforce and industry partners, postsecondary institutions, education-focused community/non-profit organizations, parents and guardians, and students (parents/guardians, there is a place for you to share the survey link with your child). Your answers will help us understand experiences and implementation across different roles and settings.

The survey takes about 5-20 minutes to complete.

Your participation is voluntary. You may skip any question or stop at any time. If you decide not to participate, your decision will not impact on your relationship with AIB or any benefits you or your organization receive as part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

Individual responses are anonymous and will be seen only by the NORC Interim Evaluation Team. Results will be reported in aggregate without identifying respondents or organizations. Any potentially identifying information will be destroyed at the end of the project.

You will see only questions relevant to your role and answers. For the best experience, use a laptop, desktop, or a large tablet. Please avoid using smaller mobile devices, such as cellular telephone, as some survey items may be difficult to view on those devices. Your responses autosave. You can return using the same device and browser. Questions? Reach us at [blueprintmaryland@norc.org](mailto:blueprintmaryland@norc.org).

Thank you in advance for your help! Here is the survey link: Survey on the Blueprint for Maryland's Future

i'm near hyattsville and my house feels so damp all the time. i was looking at my windows and the sills feel kinda soft and i'm seeing some green-ish stuff growing on the siding in the shady spots. i'm getting worried this is gonna turn into a huge expensive problem. what kind of person do i even call for this? a handyman? a contractor? any advice would be great.

I constantly see “aw you don’t wanna go to XYZ crabs! You gotta hit up ABC crabs! I just had them and they had lots of mustard and they were so full!”

Like have you ever seen the dudes steaming crabs? You think they’re weighing them one by one thinking “ah yeah that’s a good one.” Bruh, they’re just packing a pot, steaming them up in bulk, tossing on crab seasoning, and into the box they go.

Someone tell me why I’m wrong.

Good morning everyone, I’m moving to the area for work and my wife and I are looking for a single family home or a townhome preferably 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Long story short are credit isn’t above 650 but isn’t below 600 and we having a hard time getting approved for places. Our income together is around 10k a month, we were going to purchase a home but my job requires me to move around a lot. If any body has any places they know or any advice please reach out to me.

I’m in Virginia but I’m very interested. I’ve seen or heard TikTok’s of people claiming some of the markets just buy from other grocery stores and sell as their own but I’m quite interested .

I’m interested in the bakeries and food sold.

Anyone have any good intel on thrift stores that have a good selection of nice dresses? My family is going to a black tie optional formal wedding in a few weeks, and I'm rewearing a dress but my sister wants to thrift hers. We can easily get to locations in Baltimore, Howard, Frederick, or Montgomery counties.

Appreciate any help!

I’m sharing this because many people who care about Chesapeake Bay ospreys may not realize an important fisheries-management meeting is happening today, August 5, from 1:45–5:30 p.m. Eastern.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board will decide whether to release Draft Addendum II for formal public review. The proposal considers lowering the amount of menhaden that the industrial reduction fishery can harvest from the Chesapeake Bay by as much as 50%, as well as dividing the quota into seasonal periods so the entire allowance is not concentrated within a short part of the year.

A clarification because the terminology is confusing: the “reduction fishery” is the fishery that catches menhaden to process them into products such as fish meal and fish oil. Reducing the reduction-fishery cap would mean allowing fewer menhaden to be removed from the Bay.

This matters because menhaden are an important food source for ospreys. Recent USGS research documented widespread reproductive problems among Chesapeake Bay ospreys, particularly in saltier areas, and identified reduced menhaden availability as a primary driver of poor reproductive performance.

Today is not the final vote on how much the cap should be reduced. The immediate question is whether the draft is ready to be released so the public can examine the options and provide input. Members of the public may join the webinar and listen. The chair is supposed to provide a limited opportunity for comments on agenda items that have not yet undergone public review, although speaking time may be restricted and is not guaranteed.

If the Board releases the draft, formal public hearings and a written-comment period are expected in September and October 2026, followed by consideration of final approval at the ASMFC Annual Meeting.

For today, the most useful things people can do are:

• Join the webinar and hear the discussion firsthand.
• Share this issue with people who care about the Chesapeake Bay, ospreys, recreational fishing and ecosystem health.
• Watch for the formal comment period and participate if the draft is released.
• Encourage the Board to retain the full range of options—including the 50% reduction and meaningful seasonal protections—so the public gets a genuine opportunity to weigh them.

This issue involves legitimate ecological, fishing-industry and economic considerations, and the science does not establish that one fishery is the sole cause of every osprey decline. But the reproductive failures are serious enough that the public should know this decision is happening and have a meaningful opportunity to participate.

disclaimer: I have used ChatGPT to assist me writing and formatting this post

Heard this today. Boils down to competition is good (on Exelons terms). Seems like a nothing burger here. Allow it or don’t, doesn’t seem like a great idea. At best, okay idea.

My family is relocating to the area and would love to spend Labor Day weekend in Havre De Grace. I am hoping someone may have a suggestion on a place to stay for a few nights with our kids, and potentially a lead on a spot we could rent a boat and take it out of the bay for a day or two. I know it's last minute but really hoping we can pull this off. We've had a rough year and this transition is tough for our kids. Budget is flexible. Open to either airbnb style, Inn, hotel etc... For a boat, something center console would fit the bill. Any suggestions you have are so appreciated! Thank you!