This Christmas Eve, join WCBC for “Christmas in Maryland,” starting at 8am on Tuesday morning.  John Patti who travels the state looking for Christmas stories has produced the show since 2006.  He shared that his favorite story is a special train ride in Western Maryland…     “My favorite thing by far is the Western Maryland Polar Express. You can climb aboard that in Cumberland and magically you head to the North Pole. And if you’re someone who’s familiar with the Polar Express movie, that is just awesome how the train will pull up in somebody’s front yard – you’ll…

The Senator George Edwards Fund is thoroughly confident in the future of downtown Cumberland.  The fund has made grants to several projects, including one million dollars to Kristin and Fred Timbrook for their project on Baltimore Street. Fund director Jake Shade tells WCBC they have been pleased with how the monies have been used and will leverage their successes with lawmakers in Annapolis for more funding…     “This will bring over three million dollars in total that we’ve done in downtown Cumberland and it will spawn over twenty million dollars in private investment. So, we’re very excited for those…

Doug Schwab, chair of the Downtown Development Commission, brought recognition to members of the five Main Street committees at the recent Mayor and Council meeting. The committees – Design, Promotions, Organization, Economic Restructuring, and Clean and Green all assisted in the downtown reimagining. Schwab said their work on the redesign was important to the project…     “The committees came up with recommendations that were simple to execute with little or no help from the city and some that required a detailed project analysis and execution plan. This project documentation and development plan is being designed with City Administrator Jeff…

Marlene Lennox, owner of Lennox East – the oldest bridal shop in Maryland, was recently a guest on the Dave Norman program.  Lennox is encouraging people to go out and shop, but also enjoy the many Christmas light displays in the area, including Midland and Frostburg.  She said a little bit of Disney World has landed on Route 936 in Frostburg…     “It is awesome and incredible. This year’s theme is Disney. And let me tell you, those boys or whoever did this house have turned it into Disney right in front of your eyes. He has nine life-sized…

There are plans to reintroduce the Maryland Railway Safety Act in the coming General Assembly session.  The legislation did not make it out of committee last year.  CSX Train Conductor Randy Martz recently asked the Cumberland City Council to support the Act, saying it will be of particular help for CSX crossing issues in the city…    “First by prohibiting trains from blocking the highway and railroad crossing for more than five minutes and second, by limiting trains to no more than 8,500 feet in length.  Just up the road from City Hall is Baltimore Street, which CSX constantly blocks…

The City of Cumberland Planning Commission meeting today will go over a site plan review with developer Ed Scott for the location of a Chipotle Restaurant as part of the Cumberland Gateway site along Park Street.  The commission will look at the plans for the Mexican restaurant that would be located at the corner of Park and Williams Streets, featuring dine-in and drive-thru options.

AAA Mid-Atlantic is projecting that 2.3 million Marylanders will be traveling at least 50 miles to holiday destinations, with 90% of them going by car. That’s an increase of 2% over last year. AAA Spokesperson Ragina Ali tells WCBC that those hitting the holiday road will get a gift of price breaks at the gas pumps this year…     “Maryland gas prices are the lowest that we have seen since May of 2021. Maryland’s statewide average on Wednesday the 18th was at $2.92 a gallon, compared to $3.10 for the same time last year.”

Trash collection schedules will change on Christmas and New Year’s Days for Cumberland residents with Wednesday pick-ups. Collection is suspended those days in observance of the holidays.  Collection will resume in downtown on Friday, December 27 and in North End on Saturday December 28. Co-mingled recycling will resume on January 8.  All other collection days remain on their same schedule.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced that state agencies and offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 in observance of Christmas Eve. State employees are granted the day off, and the day will be treated like any other state employee holiday.

On Saturday, December 21, 2024 at approximately 10:27 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 500 block of Hilltop Drive for the report of an overdose patient.  Officers arrived and discovered that an assault had occurred.  The suspect, Karina Benitez, fled the residence on foot.  Police later located Benitez when she returned to the residence.  When officers went to place Benitez under arrest, she resisted.  After a brief struggle, officers were able to take her into custody.  She was transported to Central Booking where she is currently being held awaiting a bond hearing. ARRESTED: …