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Hello Westminster!
Clear your Saturday. July 11 packs five events into one day: the 8th Annual Westminster Pride Festival at City Park, 150+ classic cars at the Farm Museum, two monster truck shows at the Ag Center, a free Pokémon card show at the TownMall, and A Toast to Italy taking over Main Street in the evening. You can hit most of them if you plan it right: cards in the morning, cars at 11, Pride at noon, monster trucks at 2, and cannoli at 7.
On the news side: Chick-fil-A has pulled out of its long-planned new Westminster location on Route 140, and a just-retired Outdoor School teacher is publicly disputing the CCPS Board of Education's account of nightly staffing and safety incidents that were cited as they voted to end the program's overnights.
Find both full stories below, and a lot more. Let’s get into it.
The News
🐔 Chick-fil-A Pulls Out of Planned New Route 140 Location
Chick-fil-A has withdrawn from the deal for its long-planned new Westminster restaurant on Route 140 near Old Baltimore Road, Westminster Common Council President Tony Chiavacci told us Friday. The chain backed out over how long the process was taking — the project's approvals were tied to construction of the county's Market Street Extended connector road, which hasn't broken ground yet. The developer, The Morgan Companies, still fully intends to build a restaurant on the site, and Chick-fil-A could return to the project down the road.
🏕️ Retired Teacher Disputes CCPS Board's Outdoor School Statements
Misti Kelly, who retired in June after 13 years tied to CCPS Outdoor School, is publicly challenging the Board of Education's account of the safety incidents and other details it cited in voting 5-0 to end the program's overnight component. Kelly says there were always at least three adults on site overnight — not the "single adult" the board described — and that the board blended two separate intruder incidents years apart, one of which happened when no students were present. She details alarmed cabins, a locked gate, camera coverage, and emergency radios. CCPS spokesperson Carey Gaddis and Board President Steve Whisler have not yet responded to Westminster Wire's requests for comment on Kelly's statements.
In other news, Outdoor School appears on the agenda for discussion this coming Wednesday, July 15, in a 2 PM Closed Session prior to the public Board meeting scheduled for 4 PM.
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This Weekend
🏳️🌈 Westminster Pride Returns to City Park — Saturday, 12–5 PM
The 8th Annual Westminster Pride Festival takes over Westminster City Park this Saturday, July 11, from 12:00–5:00 PM, and it's free. Expect an afternoon of live music, comedy, art, and drag performances celebrating Carroll County's LGBTQ+ community. You can also purchase a $15 Rainbow Pass to get discounts for a year at local spots like Liquid Library, Maggie's, Covalent Spirits, Birdie's, Pipe The Side Brewing, and City Park Gaming & Brew Room.
🚗 Show Cars Roll Into the Farm Museum — Saturday, 11 AM–2 PM
The Carroll County Car Fest brings classic, custom, and unique vehicles to the Carroll County Farm Museum (500 South Center St.) this Saturday, July 11, from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM, rain or shine. Beyond the cars, there's live music from the Six Daze Band, food trucks, artisan vendors, and a Pipe the Side Brewery beer garden. The Show Car Award Ceremony caps things off at 2:00 PM. Admission is $10 per vehicle for spectators and $20 per vehicle for show cars; proceeds benefit the Park Legacy Fund. Note: grass parking only, no outside food, drinks, or pets.
🚛 Monster Trucks Take the Ag Center — Saturday, 2 PM & 7 PM
The Monster Truck Roundup rumbles into the Carroll County Agriculture Center (706 Agricultural Center Dr.) this Saturday with two shows — an afternoon show at 2:00 PM (gates 1 PM) and an evening show at 7:00 PM (gates 6 PM). Expect car-crushing runs, rides, and up-close views of trucks. General admission is $32; VIP is $62.
🎴 Free Pokémon Card Show at the TownMall — Saturday, 9 AM–4 PM
Collectors of all ages can buy, sell, and trade at the Pokémon Trading Card Game Show in the TCC Event Center at the TownMall of Westminster (400 N. Center St.) this Saturday from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Admission is free. Sponsored by The Collector's Cubhouse, the show brings vendors, deals, and more under one roof.
🍷 A Toast to Italy Turns Main Street Italian — Saturday, 5–9 PM
A Toast to Italy returns to downtown Westminster this Saturday from 5:00–9:00 PM, turning Main Street into an Italian street fair with authentic street food, a beer and wine garden, and artisan vendors. The centerpiece Big Italian Family Dinner seats ticket holders at a communal table stocked with fresh bread and olive oil; bring a homemade Italian dish or order from on-site vendors. Two stages run all night, plus the Miss Little Italy Pageant at 6:00 PM and the Cannoli Eating Contest at 7:00 PM.
That's the week. If you make it to all five Saturday events, we want photographic proof.
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— Westminster Wire