Update from Mayor
Good evening, I want to begin tonight by acknowledging Memorial Day, which was
yesterday. In Annapolis, commemorations included the annual parade downtown,
the Blessing of the Fleet at the Yacht Club, and the first-ever local participation in
Taps across America, led by Major Rick Barnes of the Maryland Defense Force
Band who performed at Annapolis City Dock yesterday afternoon. I thank
everyone who helped to organize and participate in these events to honor our
fallen military heroes.
==
I would also like to acknowledge tonight another community member who
recently passed: Helen Palaigos. Helen and her husband Pete were the
owner/operators of Brunswick Billiards—better known to locals as Pete’s Pool
Hall, and later Acme Bar and Grill—until they chalked up their final cue and retired
in the early 1990s. Pete and Helen had taken over the business from Helen’s
father, who himself had operated the pool hall since 1919.
They were well known in downtown, as
Pete’s was more than pool; it was a place where teens could line up next to
lawyers, and midshipmen could meet their match in legislators. Throughout their
time at Petes/Acme, Helen held steady behind the counter while also raising their
three children.
Helen was married to Pete for 59 years. She made it to 100, passing peacefully at
her daughter’s home in Florida. I know she’s now back at the table with Pete -
who passed in 2007 - reunited for one more round.
[moment for Helen and Pete]
==
Tomorrow, the City will dedicate the memorial to Congressman Parren J. Mitchell
at Pip Moyer Recreation Center on Hilltop. The event starts at 1 p.m. and we are
expecting hundreds to attend, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Congressman Mitchell was Maryland’s first African American elected
representative in Congress. He was instrumental in making the Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. holiday a reality and opened the door to scores of politicians who have
been elected in his wake.
We thank the Caucus of African American Leaders for raising the necessary funds
for this memorial and choosing the Pip Moyer Center as the location.
We look forward to seeing you at the event!
==
On Saturday, the Kenneth R. Dunn Pool at Truxtun Park opened for the season.
While Mother Nature didn’t provide any hot days last weekend – we know they
are coming and our pool staff is ready to help you cool off over the summer. I
thank our Recreation and Parks team for their work in getting both Truxtun and
the HACA pool ready for the season.
I should mention, due to needed repairs, the HACA pool did not get inspected in
time to open. With that said, HACA is working on the repairs and getting the
Health Dept. inspection scheduled. From there, our Rec and Parks team will be
able to run the pool this summer.
==
This coming weekend, we’ve got the Annapolis Pride parade and festival. This
year, the parade has a slightly different route, stepping off at 11 a.m. from St.
John’s St at Calvert Street. The parade will go down Calvert to Northwest St, then
to Church Circle, and then it head up West Street to Amos Garrett Blvd. The Pride
Festival will then take place at Bates Athletic Field behind Maryland Hall.
The parade grand marshals this year are Attorney General Anthony Brown, who
has been a fierce advocate and legal champion for the LGBTQ+ community, and
Colonel Bree Fram, of Space Force, who is one of the highest-ranking transgender
officers in the US military.
Again, the parade steps off at 11 a.m. and the festival begins at noon.
