Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What investigators say happened before shots were fired on Franklin Street
Also check out Tea Under The Sea on the Bel Air Patch calendar

Hello Bel Air! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- What investigators say happened before shots were fired on Franklin Street
- See why Downtown Bel Air's Main Street is worth your next stroll
- Summerween Spooktacular is bringing early Halloween fun to Bel Air
Also on today's calendar: Tea Under The Sea and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: A few t-storms, some severe, with a high of 78 and low of 65 degrees.
- Friday: An afternoon shower or two, temps: high: 78, low: 68.
- Saturday: Humid with rain and a t-storm, with a high of 78 and low of 66 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Names Released Of Bel Air Officer, Driver Involved In Fatal Shooting (patch.com) — Bel Air officials have released the names of the local officer and driver involved in Saturday night's fatal police shooting on Franklin Street, with state investigators now handling the case. Authorities say a traffic stop turned into a physical struggle before the officer fired, and they're asking anyone with video or information to contact the Maryland Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division.
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2. Visit a Main Street (maryland.gov) — Downtown Bel Air gets a spotlight here as a historic, walkable Main Street packed with local shops, restaurants, and year-round community events like the Maryland State BBQ Bash. The statewide guide invites you to explore Bel Air alongside other Maryland Main Street towns, each offering its own festivals, dining, and small-town character for day trips and weekend visits.
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3. Summerween hits D.C. with parties and pumpkin spice (axios.com) — Bel Air is getting in on the early Halloween fun with a Summerween Spooktacular on Aug. 29, featuring costumes, trick-or-treating and creepy books. While D.C. and nearby areas rush pumpkin flavors and spooky decor into late summer, this Bel Air event gives local families a way to enjoy that fall feeling before the weather actually cools down.
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4. Harford County schools superintendent discusses priorities, challenges for new year (cbsnews.com) — Harford County's new school superintendent, interviewed in Bel Air, is outlining priorities that will affect every local family this fall, from classroom instruction to safety and tight budgets. She explains recent cuts to middle school sports and specialist positions, and describes new reading and math support plans aimed at boosting achievement from elementary grades through high school.
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5. Stevenson student, Miss Maryland 2026 prepares for Miss America competition (wbal.com) — A former Bel Air high school student, now Miss Maryland 2026, is preparing to compete for Miss America while championing healthy relationship education inspired by her own past. She's planning school visits across the state to share resources with students, emphasizing prevention and support for those in unhealthy situations, and highlighting the strength and resilience she associates with Maryland communities.
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📸 Around Bel Air
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Bel Air
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Tea Under The Sea →
Aberdeen Fire Department - Station 1, 21 N Rogers St, Aberdeen
11:00 am
Sunday August 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Pokémon® Club
Bel Air Branch Library Bel Air Library - Meeting Rooms 1, 2 & 3
6:00 pm - EPIC Connect (Formerly Project Connect)
Harford Chamber of Commerce The EPICENTER at Edgewood
8:00 am - Sensory Story Time
Bel Air Branch Library Bel Air Library - Meeting Rooms 1, 2 & 3
10:15 am - Free Community Dinner →
Dinner Church
6:00 pm - 2026 Classic Car Cruise Night →
Harford Vineyard & Winery, 1311 Jarrettsville Rd
4:00 pm - Guided Tour of the Historic Tudor Hall →
Tudor Hall, 17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air
1:00 pm - Special Talk - John Wilkes Booth's Sister Asia and Her Children →
Tudor Hall, 17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air
2:00 pm - Dudes & Brews →
Abingdon Grill, 418 Constant Friendship Blvd, Abingdon
6:30 pm - Improv Comedy Night →
Harford Vineyard & Winery, 1311 Jarrettsville Rd
7:30 pm - Kore Bootcamps 9 Year Anniversary Celebration Bootcamp & Axe Throwing →
Crabby Axe Throwing, 331 Baltimore Pike, Bel Air
8:00 am - PUBLIC AUCTION Harford County's Historic 'Stansbury Mansion' at Eden Mill in Pylesville →
1616 Eden Mill Rd, Pylesville
10:00 am
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
Saturday August 22
Sunday August 23
Thursday August 27
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
📣 Bel Air Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Bel Air PatchAM possible:
- BluePulse AI Digital Solutions — (667) 279-7755
- M.i.t drycleaning and laundry — (410) 299-1954
- Aspiring Phoenix Montessori+ — (443) 601-9730
- Wessel Insurance Services Inc — (443) 499-2100
- Platinum Wildlife Solutions LLC — (410) 692-8812
- Laura Hinkel — (443) 257-7671
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- A Ceremony of Celebration for Workforce Training Grads at Harford Community College —Susan Fletcher Read on Patch
- Harford Community College Holds Medical Assisting Completion Ceremony —Susan Fletcher Read on Patch
- Forest Hill's Jeff Judge in MarketWatch: The DIY skill that gets you to $1.2 million isn't the one that gets —Jeff Judge Read on Patch
- Forest Hill's Jeff Judge in Advisorpedia: Why working more hours isn't the fix for a packed calendar —Jeff Judge Read on Patch
- Forest Hill's Jeff Judge in Barron's: The retiree credit card debt hiding in plain sight —Jeff Judge Read on Patch
- I bought the big two-pack of Kirkland marinated artichoke hearts at Costco, so naturally I had to figure out something fun to do with them.
I roasted red pepper, Roma tomatoes and plenty of garlic, then added black olives, lemon and herbs to make a chunky Mediterranean spread. It is good… (Nextdoor King's Charter) - Anyone available to make a dump run tomorrow (Wednesday)?
I am in Bel Air. No heavy bags just household trash. (Nextdoor Howard Park)
- ShopRite Supermarkets posted a job opening for ShopRite - Cake Decorator (Kleins MD) Salary Range $15.91 - $22.91/hr in Bel Air. Apply here.
- Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Bel Air. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bel Air here.
Ok Bel Air! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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