The Town of Bel Air handed out its top civic honors Thursday night, recognizing a new religious center, a decades-long public servant, a downtown music store, and a nonprofit leader at its annual awards ceremony at the Bel Air Armory.
What’s Happening: The town held its 2026 Annual Awards ceremony October 22, giving out prizes for building excellence, community service, and business achievement. Four individuals and organizations walked away with recognition.
The winners:
- Harford Chabad received the Archer-Bull Award for building and design excellence, given by the town’s Economic and Community Development Commission. The award recognized Harford Haven, the organization’s facility at 38 East Broadway that opened in 2025. Rabbi Kushi Schusterman accepted the award alongside representatives from architectural firm Frederick Ward Associates and builder IMARK Builders Inc.
- Phil Raub received the Citizen of the Year award from the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Raub is a Bel Air native who has served the town as a volunteer, Town Commissioner, Mayor, and member of the Planning Commission.
- REB Records-MD received the Business of the Year award, also from the Town Commissioners. Co-owners Sean Lanahan and Mark Santoro accepted the honor. The music store at 4 N. Main Street has operated at that location since 2021 and is a graduate of the Armory Marketplace business incubator, a program that helps small businesses get started. The shop draws a long line of customers each year on Record Store Day.
- Jenny Erhard, executive director of the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, received a special recognition for completing 10 years with the nonprofit in 2026.
By the Numbers: Harford Haven opened in 2025. REB Records-MD has been at its Main Street location for five years. Erhard has led the Downtown Alliance for a decade.
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