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Hello Westminster!
Area law enforcement ran, walked, and biked through Westminster and Taneytown for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland on Tuesday. We caught it as it came down Main Street, and McDaniel College hosted the closing ceremony at Gill Stadium. There’s more on that below.
Speaking of running, the Rock 'n Run 5K takes place this Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m. at the Carroll County Farm Museum (500 S. Center St.). It’s a twilight race with live classic rock along the course and a concert at the end.
We also published the full backstory on the "Boardwalk to Nowhere" this week, the $4.2 million trail project along Route 27 that's been sparking strong opinions online. It’s a state-funded project requested by Carroll County, and we’ve lined up as many details on it as we could find. Find all that and more below.
Let’s get into it.
This Week's Stories
🎸 Rock 'n Run 5K at Carroll County Farm Museum — Saturday, June 13
The Rock 'n Run 5K presented by Rehab 2 Perform hits Carroll County Farm Museum (500 S. Center St.) this Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m. — a twilight race with live classic rock along the course and a post-race concert by Doc Marten and the Flannels starting at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $49.28 through race day at rocknrunmd.com and includes an Under Armour shirt, finisher medal, free parking, and one free beer for runners 21+.
🍺 Westminster Beer & BBQ Stroll — Saturday, June 20
The City of Westminster Recreation & Parks is bringing the annual Beer & BBQ Stroll back to downtown Main Street on Saturday, June 20 — 20+ breweries, wineries, and distilleries pouring samples, live music on five stages, and two dozen food vendors. VIP tickets are $40 (early entry at 10:30 a.m., commemorative gift, reserved seating) and are on sale now. General Admission is $15, sold at the gate day-of only; kids 12 and under are free. Free parking in any Westminster Municipal Parking Lot. As of publication, the city’s event registration page shows that only 73 VIP tickets remain!
More big news for beer and food fans: The same day, Brewery Fire Taphouse opens in the 140 Village Shopping Center. We got a sneak peek at the new place last weekend, and you can check it out on Instagram.
🛤️ “The Boardwalk to Nowhere" — Why It Exists and How It Got Here
That stretch of raised wooden walkway along Route 27 near the Route 140 bridge has a social-media-driven nickname: the "Boardwalk to Nowhere." Critics see a $4.2 million plank path winding through a floodplain; the full story is more deliberate. The boardwalk is the final phase of the Westminster Community Trail, a multi-segment path in the works since the mid-2010s, and the segment that closes the loop.
Contrary to some social media comments, the boardwalk is not a City of Westminster project but a state-run, county-driven effort. Carroll County first requested state funding in 2010; construction started in fall 2023 and is now 60% complete, with SHA targeting a fall 2026 finish. Love it or loathe it, all the details you need are in the article.
🏅 Local Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
Area officers and community members turned out Tuesday for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics Maryland, with routes rolling through Westminster and Taneytown before the day wrapped up at McDaniel College. Walkers started at 500 S. Center St., runners at Taneytown Pike & Park Rd., and cyclists from Carroll County Community College, all converging for a closing ceremony at Kenneth R. Gill Stadium with state, county, city, and college officials on hand.
We caught the run as it came down Main Street. Run Moore, McDaniel College, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office captured the event on their social media accounts.
Missed it? Keep an eye on Special Olympics Maryland for year-round ways to support.
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🏛️ Westminster Common Council met for a packed slate on Monday
The Mayor and Common Council had a packed agenda Monday night: a proposed 40-unit townhouse development called The Willows at Route 140 and Pennsylvania Avenue, an increase to water and sewer connection fees, a downtown zoning reform designed to simplify the site plan process for Main Street businesses, a new commercial wastewater inspection authority, four police vehicles, and a grant contract for the Wakefield Valley Park Trail.
The full meeting is available on the City of Westminster YouTube channel, where you can keep up with all of the city’s public meetings if you can’t attend in person.
🎣 Carroll County Largemouth Bass Tournament at Piney Run Park
This one’s a real fish story. Carroll County Recreation & Parks kicks off its Largemouth Bass Tournament series at Piney Run Park (30 Martz Road, Sykesville) on Friday, June 19, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Open to all skill levels, with cash prizes: $200 first, $150 second, $100 third, plus a Biggest Fish Trophy. Pre-registration is $15 (closes 4:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18); day-of is $20.
GOT PLANS? The World Cup kicks off this Thursday. Is there any place you’re planning to catch the games in Westminster? Know of any bars and restaurants running any specials? Tell us in the comments on our posts on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
That’s it for this edition. Thanks for reading!
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