County Executive Neuman To Speak in Cape St. Claire in July

The executive will be the guest speaker at a community association meeting in July.

The county's newest executive, Laura Neuman, will be the next guest speaker for the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association. The community association, which oversees all homes in the Cape St. Claire region of Broadneck, made the announcement on its Facebook page. Neuman will speak to the association at the group's next quarterly meeting, scheduled for July 23. Neuman became the county's executive in February after being chosen by the Anne Arundel County Council to serve out the remainder of the term for former executive John R. Leopold, who resigned. Since becoming the executive, Neuman has been overhauling county departments and recently outlined her plans for the 2014 fiscal year budget. Before becoming executive, Neuman was the CEO of …

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Jack Mayoffer

10:09 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I'm getting a good vibe from this lady. Hopefully she can spin County Government 180 degrees, and at the same time root out the GOOD OLE BOY network and culture that has existed in the county for the last 50 years. YES THERE IS CORRUPTION IN AA COUNTY. MAKE NO MISTAKE. All you gotta do is open your eyes.   more ›

Cape Residents Take Stand Against 'The Pit'

Citizen watchdogs have kept the police and school informed about student activities behind the high school.

A group of vigilant Cape St. Claire residents saw a problem at The Pit behind Broadneck High and decided to do something about it. Their actions drew police attention to activity behind the school, which precipitated a string of charges against juveniles in February, and the arrest of a 23-year-old man with six knives in his vehicle and drug paraphernalia. Beau Breeden, the chairman of the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association's security committee, has become a watchdog for illegal activity behind Broadneck High School—an area commonly called The Pit. "The Pit has been an issue for a long time. This didn't start last year. It's been an ongoing thing for 20 years—probably since the school's existence," he said. So what happens at The Pit…

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Q&A: Scott Dembowski, Cape St. Claire's Newest President

Dembowski takes over for Kathleen Mooneyhan as the community association's newest leader.

On Tuesday, the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association (CSCIA) elected its newest president, Scott Dembowski. The association is responsible for managing the overall affairs in the community, administering the Special Community Benefit District of which the Cape is a part of, and publishing the regular community newsletter, "The Caper." Patch caught up with Dembowski to ask a few questions about him and what he'll be bringing to the table as the group's newest president. Broadneck Patch: What challenges will the CSCIA face in the coming year? Scott Dembowski: CSCIA continues to face challenges regarding covenants violations and other legal issues, which affect the quality of life, and home values for many in the Cape. Fortunately, under …

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Scrap King Pleads Guilty to Burglary

Cape St. Claire man agreed to pay $2,500 in restitution.

Cape St. Claire's so-called Scrap King pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary on Wednesday in a case that had been postponed since October. Michael Joseph Conti, 49, of the 800 block of Chestnut Tree Drive, pleaded guilty to burglary on Wednesday and agreed to provide a restitution check of $2,500 to the owners of stolen goods. Conti was arrested in June for burglarizing a home in Cape St. Claire that was undergoing renovation and an adjacent home, according to a police statement. A refrigerator, tools and lawn equipment had been taken from the homes. A second-degree burglary charge carries a sentence of between one to four years in jail, according to Maryland's sentencing guidelines. A sentencing hearing was set for Jan. 24 to allow …

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Cape Volunteers Terminate Phragmites

Phragmites are an invasive, tall, reed-like plant that is threatening Lake Claire Beach and the rest of the Atlantic Coast.

Community leaders within Cape St. Claire spent the weekend ridding Lake Claire Beach of an invasive species of plant called phragmites. Cape St. Claire Improvement Association President Kathleen Mooneyhan and Beaches and Parks Committee Chairman Scott Dembowski organized the first-ever Phragmites Clean-up Day at Lake Claire Beach. A group of community volunteers, including two Master Watershed Stewards, helped make a dent in the phragmite population around the lake and beach.  Mooneyhan said additional clean-up days are planned. "We will continue to tackle this invasive species as a part of our master plan for shore erosion control and lake restoration," Mooneyhan said.   Phragmites are an invasive species of reed that has become a …

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'Scrap King' Draws Wrath of County, Angry Neighbors

Members of the local community association are fighting back by preparing a lawsuit.

One can't help but notice the front yard of Mike Conti's home when driving down Chestnut Tree Drive in Cape St. Claire, a tight-knit community at the edge of the Broadneck peninsula. Scrap metal, cars, grills, signs of all sorts, trash cans, a riding lawn mower, a boat, and a waving American flag all greet passersby in the community. If you've ever seen the A&E television show Hoarders, you have a good idea of what the place looks like. Conti said he’s been gearing up for a “mega yard sale” this weekend, which he said would clean up the yard and put some cash in his pocket. But neighbors said his lawn has been this way for months. On his business cards, Conti refers to himself as Mike the Scrap King, with the slogan—“Beautifying AACO one …

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Most Residents Want More Sidewalks in Cape St. Claire

The poll this week showed that most who voted want more sidewalks to protect residents who walk.

I asked, and the answer was loud and clear—Cape St. Claire residents want more sidewalks along Cape St. Claire Road. The poll results: Should Cape St. Claire Road Have Sidewalks? Total votes: 137 There was active discussion about the topic on Facebook and in the article's comments. Here's what some readers had to say about the issue:

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POLL: Should Cape St. Claire Road Have Sidewalks?

Sidewalks would make the community more walkable, but at what cost?

Cape St. Claire Road features some beautiful views along the hilly street to the coast of the northern peninsula. But it's not very walkable. There are no sidewalks. Just before the Strawberry Festival's parade on Saturday, I parked at Graul's Market. I walked along with the parade, taking the photos you see in the photo gallery. But after the festivities were over, I walked all the way back to Graul's. In doing so, I realized that the Cape community could probably use some sidewalks. I passed by a few groups of people encountering the same issue of dodging cars, and walking along the sloped lawns. I asked two of these people the same question: "Does this area need sidewalks?" And I got two very distinct answers: "Yes, that would be great…

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The Cape Connection

Traffic Woes at Cape St. Claire Elementary School

Parents, neighbors, administrators and volunteers deal with a daily snarl of cars and buses coming in and out of school, though no viable solution to the traffic problem is on the horizon.

Cape St. Claire Elementary School has a long-standing reputation for excellence, but parents often find it isn’t the easiest school to access. Although the school is visibly located right in the middle of Cape St. Claire, this attribute is also its greatest hindrance. With well over 700 students, the school has the third-largest elementary student body in the county yet has an exceptionally small parking lot and is bordered on three sides by tree-lined residential roads. Additionally, these quiet streets mean a greater proportion of students at Cape St. Claire over other schools are considered “walkers” rather than bus riders. Since the parents of many walking students choose to drive them, especially in rainy or cold weather, the number …

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Nels Cross

1:37 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The crossing guard recently asked me to move from the painted curb, I complied and didn't think she was out of line when she spoke to me. It begs a larger question though. Why is a school crossing guard policing the school parking lot? That was a task Mr. Z routinely did during his tenure. In the few times I have picked my son up at the school this year I have not seen an administrator on the …   more ›

The Cape Connection

Meetings Provide Important Updates for Cape Residents

Councilman Dick Ladd discusses county budget cuts at Cape St. Claire's quarterly membership meeting, while at a separate presentation, a representative from Koch Homes Developers reviews plans for a new development adjacent to the Cape.

County Councilman Dick Ladd (R-District 5) attended last Tuesday's quarterly membership meeting of the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association (CSCIA) to report on several subjects relating to the 2012 county budget. Ladd, who is chairman of the Anne Arundel County Council, said that the budget will continue to be discussed for the next couple of weeks to review deep cuts that have been presented. He said the county is now operating "under a virtual spending freeze, with a four to four-and-a-half percent reduction of take-home pay for county employees." Ladd reminded residents that officials will hold upcoming public hearing sessions on the budget on Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Old Mill High School in Millersville and on Wednesday, May 11 …

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