Author: eastbaltco

BCPS Could Make School Decision on Tuesday


The Board of Education of Baltimore County will meet virtually on Tuesday, July 21 at 5 p.m. There is speculation that the meeting will result in an announcement about the upcoming school year.

Many neighboring school districts have announced that their students will learn online until January. BCPS has not announced an official decision yet.

The board will then meet in closed session as permitted by law.
The school system is committed to accessible communication with its stakeholders.

Accordingly, all Board of Education meetings are live-streamed and can be viewed on the BCPS website, or on BCPS-TV (Comcast Xfinity channel 73, Verizon FiOS channel 34).

Two Injured in Overlea Shooting Overnight


An early Sunday morning shooting in Overlea injured one adult and a juvenile victim.

Officers were called to the 4900 block of Hazelwood Avenue at 1:29 a.m. for a shooting.

One adult man suffered a gunshot wound to the lower body and a juvenile male victim suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body. Both were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ask anyone who may have additional information to call 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Man Shot in Parkville Parking Lot Saturday


Baltimore County Police are investigating a robbery and shooting in Parkville Saturday morning.

On July 18, 2020, at 3:30 a.m. officers responded to the 7100 block of Darlington Drive in Parkville for a robbery. The victims said they were on the parking lot of the Dubai Hookah Lounge when two suspects approached them and robbed them.

During the robbery, a suspect shot one of the victims who ran toward a neighborhood and called 911. The shooting victim was transported to a local hospital and has been treated and released. This is an on-going investigation.

Police are asking anyone with information on this crime to contact detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit at 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

CCBC Essex Fall Sports Delayed Until Spring


The National Junior College Athletic Association announced that all fall sports will be delayed until the spring season. That means CCBC Essex will not have a sports season this fall until spring.

“Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes,” stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO.

“Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

CCBC Dundalk does not have any fall sports but CCBC Essex is the home to Men’s and Women’s soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Volleyball during the fall. These sports are now slated to the spring season with baseball, lacrosse and other sports.

Towson University and UMBC announced their schools would not participate in fall seasons after a decision was made from their respective conferences.

Archdiocese Releases Statement for Catholic Schools


The Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools made an announcement about their plan for the 2020-21 school year.

The Planning Ahead Task Force for Catholic Schools has been working diligently to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the safe return of our faculty and staff on Aug. 24 and our students on Aug. 31st for instruction five days per week.

The Task Force is receiving technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to inform our plans to SAFELY return to in-person instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Although most school facilities will be able to accommodate all students for five day, in-person instruction while safely social distancing; some schools, due to their size, will incorporate a “blend” of in-person and remote learning that maximizes in-person instruction.

Families who do not feel comfortable returning their child(ren) to in-person instruction will be able to have their child(ren) participate remotely from home. Detailed reopening procedures will be finalized and shared by July 24.

Overlea Rec. Cancels 2020 Soccer Season


Overlea Rec. Council announced that their soccer program will not be having a season this fall.

“Overlea Soccer will not be having a Fall 2020 Recreational Soccer Program due to COVID 19. Some Rec Councils are still going to attempt to have a season and still play in the EASL League at Eastern Regional Park,” said a statement in an email to parents.

“If you are still interested in playing soccer in the Fall please see the list of Rec Councils in the EASL League. We are not positive that all of the Rec Councils are still attempting to have a Fall Season.”

The Overlea Rec. Council explained that this was going to be tough season with all the COVID regulations. Here is a list of the reason why the reason was made.

1. Liability for lawsuits to the Council, Board members, Program Coordinators, Coaches

2. Expecting Volunteers to keep contact logs of who comes to practice/ wearing masks at games for spectators

3. Parents who have underlying issues feeling forced to sign their child up to play so their child does not miss out playing

4. If season gets canceled – Overlea is not capable of sending out refunds again.

5. If 1 child on the team test Positive – All players would have to be quarantined for 2 weeks and test negative before coming back. (This would be the policy of Overlea Soccer – following CDC best practices)

6. NJCAA – Junior Colleges – Moved Fall Soccer to Spring – No Fall Soccer

7. Multiple College Fall Athletics have been cancelled already – Conferences Canceled – CACC, NJCAA, Patriot League, and MEAC are just a few that affect several colleges in our area.

No official word has been made for all rec. programs in Baltimore County. East Baltco News reported that Youth Football is hoping to hold a season.

Parkville Man Wanted in Towsontown Robbery


Baltimore County detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect wanted in robbing four juveniles as they walked out of Towson Town Center around 6:30 p.m. on July 9. Seneca Rice, 34 years old, from the 1800 block of Wycliffe Road in Parkville is charged with four counts of robbery, one count second-degree assault and various theft charges. He is currently in custody in Baltimore City on unrelated charges. A detainer will be issued until Baltimore City has concluded their investigation.

The July 9 incident occurred as the juveniles walked out of the side entrance of the mall near Fairmount Avenue and were confronted by the suspect. During the confrontation, the suspect had a knife on his belt as he demanded the juveniles’ backpacks and personal items. At one point, the suspect grabbed the back of one of the victims to prevent him from leaving. The suspect used bias slurs towards the victims during the robbery. The victims gave the suspect their personal items and he fled the area.

Detectives were able to interview witnesses and gather evidence that led them to identifying suspect Rice. Detectives shared this information with Baltimore City and they advised he was in custody for an unrelated crime.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Youth Football Still Hoping for Season


While there is always uncertainty since the arrival of COVID-19, youth football in the area is still hopeful for a return in the fall. Three of the four football rec. programs that are part of the Upper Chesapeake Youth Football League [UCYFL] announced that they are holding registration.

There was a statement from Edgemere Rec. Council that registration is taking place, but the season will be delayed.

“The UCYFL is planning for a season start (practices) of 9/1/20, as opposed to the normal Aug. 1 start. Games, divisions, etc. are still being discussed by the UCYFL board and details should be out after the next meeting, which is Aug. 3,” said the statement.

The Stembridge Colts Football in Essex said they hosted registration on Saturday and will hold it again in Wednesday in person at their rec. center.

Jake Nohe, who is with Stembridge Rec. Council, said the program is waiting to see what the future will hold, but is also preparing and hoping for a full season.

“They haven’t given us the full green light. But we can do non contact workouts and hold registration.” Nohe said. “I can’t speak for other programs. But we are fully preparing for a season until the fully stomp on the brakes.”

Middle River Rec. Council announced they started online registration back on July 2.

Perry Hall Rec. Council did not have any updates for the 2020 football season on their website and were unavailable for comment.

Here is a list of registration information

Edgemere Falcon Rec. Football
Contact: espfalconscommunications@gmail.com

Costs: $150 registration fee.

Payment Plan Available:
$75 Initial Payment and $75 charged on 8/15 automatically.

***Each player will need a copy of their birth certificate AND a sports physical at the time of equipment pickup***

A separate $140 check will be required for uniform deposit collected at equipment distribution date. This check will not be deposited unless equipment is not turned in at the end of the season.

Age Groups (cutoff date is August 1st): 6-14

NO PARTICIPANT MAY HAVE STARTED HIGH SCHOOL!

Age cutoff is August 1.
A player must have a copy of their birth certificate.
A player must submit a current physical to us when they pick up their equipment (date TBD).

-THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS AT ALL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!!!!!

REGISTRATION IS $150 by cc only and a $140 deposit check will be due when the player picks up their equipment. These checks will NOT be cashed unless the equipment is not returned at the end of the season.

*Guaranteed uniform numbers until Aug 1st

Stembridge Colts Rec. Council
Football and Cheerleading registration will be held on Wednesday, July 15th 6pm-8pm at the Rec Center, 99 Stemmers Run Rd. The costs is $180 for either program. There is a $80 dollar deposit to secure your spot and the remaining balance due at beginning of season

Middle River Renegades Rec. Council
The Middle River Renegades football and cheerleading registration is now open by going to www.middleriverrec.com.

Olszewski Announces Small Business Grants for COVID


In the latest effort to support Baltimore County’s small businesses, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the Small Business COVID-19 Reimbursement Grant Program, a $3 million grant fund to reimburse service industry businesses for investments in critical improvements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of employees and patrons.

“Baltimore County’s service industry is a critical link of our local economy and we must do whatever we can to be a strong partner in their recovery,” said County Executive Olszewski. “These establishments have had to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business and we’re proud to offer these new funds to help support their efforts to keep visitors and employees safe.”

Through the program, the County will offer grants of up to $10,000 to reimburse Baltimore County-based service industry businesses that had to limit or cease indoor operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for investments in capital improvements or the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment to protect employees and patrons. Examples of items eligible for reimbursement under the COVID-19 Reimbursement Grant Program include:
• Capital improvements, such as Plexiglas shields, carryout window installation, and hand-washing stations;
• Outdoor tents, and other outdoor equipment;
• Additional or new furniture or fixtures necessary to safely serve customers;
• Services necessary to open and operate safely, such as cleaning and disinfecting services
• Equipment and signage to help ensure customers and employees can observe safety requirements.
Establishment operators will be required to provide paid invoices, receipts and contracts as well as describe how these improvements will promote safety and public health.

Beginning Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 9 a.m., grant applications will be posted online at baltimorecountybusiness.com and funds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To qualify for this grant program, establishments must:
• Be a for-profit enterprise,
• Be registered and in good standing with the State of Maryland, if required by law,
• Have been in operation as of January 1, 2020,
• Not be in default on any loans from Baltimore County or delinquent on County taxes, and
• Have between two and 25 full-time employees per Baltimore County establishment. Establishments may have more than 25 part-time employees.

This is the latest effort from Baltimore County to support small businesses and individuals impacted by the severe financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Baltimore County made millions in grant funding for small businesses through the Small Business Relief Grants Program, $200,000 to assist professional artists, musicians and performers, and $1 million in rental assistance to households at risk of losing their current housing.

Bicyclist Killed in Sparrows Point


Police are investigating what factors led to the crash that killed a bicyclist on Peninsula Expressway.

Officers were called to the scene near Bethlehem Boulevard in Sparrows Point Monday at 4:39 a.m. after the driver of 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was traveling northbound on Peninsula Expressway and struck the bicycle from behind, which was also traveling northbound on Peninsula Expressway. The bicyclist, an adult man, was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal crash. The identity of the decedent is withheld pending next of kin notifications.