Author: eastbaltco

Heritage Fair to Go Virtual on Saturday


Although this year’s Heritage Fair was canceled as a result of COVID-19, the Dundalk Heritage Fair Association announced that they are teaming up the Dundalk Eagle to host a virtual Heritage Fair.

The online fair will take place Saturday, July 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature nine bands.

According to an online poster, the bands include: High Voltage (AC/DC band), Cold Gin (KISS), Mark Bray, Robert Wawa Legrand, Mickey Light, Gene Vincentt & the Cadillac Cruisers, Tom Beers & Free Range Blue, Landry Taylor and Dean Crawford & the Dunn’s River.

The online Heritage Fair can be watched
at www.virtualheritagefair.com

It was also announced the Dundalk Parade Committee and the Dundalk Optimist Club is hosting a vehicle-only parade in place on the traditional parade on Saturday morning.

Dundalk to Host 4th of July Caravan Parade


The Dundalk Heritage Fair Association released an official statement in May that the Heritage Fair & Fireworks will be canceled this year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Heritage Association added that the Parade Committee was exploring other options to possibly conduct the parade.

This week the Dundalk Parade Committee announced the Dundalk Optimist is hosting a caravan ran by Will Feuer and others to continue the 86-year history of 4th of July parade in Dundalk. The committee added that caravan will be a fifth of the size of the traditional parade and without the bands.

“We still can still enjoy the little things and celebrate our Independence Day together! Please, follow all of the laws while watching the caravan and do not enter roadways without checking both ways. Please also follow Covid-19 state regulations, wearing a mask and keeping your distance,” said a statement by Michael Mioduszewski, one of the parade organizers.

“The Parade Committee wishes you and your family a safe and wonderful 4th of July. Please visit next year when the parade committee goes back to putting on the biggest and best parade ever. Feel free to send us any pictures you have from Dundalk parades throughout the years so we can share the memories. Send pictures or any info to DundalkParade@gmail.com”

The parade usually takes place in the Old Dundalk area. With no walkers and all vehicles, the parade route will end in Old Dundalk but will start in the center of Dundalk at 9:30 a.m. and will include streets such as Merritt Boulevard, German Hill Road, Wise Avenue, Holabird Avenue and many other streets.

Beginning on Wise Avenue the route will cross over Merritt Boulevard and continue on Holabird Avenue,
making a right on Delvale Avenue to German Hill Road, turning right on German Hill Road to Merritt Boulevard, turning right on Merritt Boulevard to Sollers Point Road, turning left on Sollers Point Road to the traffic circle in Watersedge, taking the circle exit to Dundalk Avenue, turning right on Belclare Road to Liberty Parkway, turning left on Liberty Parkway to Dunglow, veering left at Dunglow Road to Dunmanway, turning right on Dunmanway to Trading Place, turning left on Trading Place to Shipway, turning right to Shipway to end in front of Dundalk Elementary School.

Here is the 2020 DUNDALK CARAVAN LINE UP provided by www.dundalkparade.com

* Lead fire truck with 2020 Grand Marshall Michael Andy, driven by “Purkey”

* Aaron Lewis Military flag truck

* American Legion Post 38 Honor Guard (joining procession at Belclare Road)

* Relay for Life bicycle driven by Michael Lepock (joining procession at Belclare Road)

* Dennis McCartney McShane Bell and Joe Falbo memorial

* Miller Brothers 1926 Model T Ford Truck escorting Marlene Miller Rydzewski

* Catonsville Parade Committee members

​* Mr. Tom, Chair of the Mayor’s Christmas Parade and Ms. Sharen Kerr

​* Ms. Irene Spatafore and Angels Supporting Our Troops

* Schweigman 1951 Ward LaFrance Pumper Fire truck

* United Rentals.com

* Greater Dundalk Chamber of Commerce

* Calvary Baptist Church

* Maryland State Police

* Dundalk Renaissance Corporation

​* Clean Bread and Cheese Creek

​* 9/11 Rolling Memorial by Charles Ritz

​* Victoria Bechtel Purple Jeep with Lady Liberty

* Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders escorted by Seahorse Inn Humvees (2 Humvees)

* Dundalk Patapsco Neck Historical Society and Museum, with Joe and Suzanne Stadler and Shirley Gregory

* John Melzer and Shaun the Sheep, Cleaning up Dundalk

* Chick-fil-A Eastpoint

​* Can Am Spyder driven by Tina Weber

* New Light Lutheran Church

​* Baltimore Hon Hive, escorted by Don Kight

* American Eagle escorted by Will and Stacey Kelly

* Vulcan Materials Company

* Maryland Waterways Foundation

* Baltimore Batman and the Batmobile

​* James Shirk, Parade Committee (Support vehicle)

* Walmart Dundalk

* Orioles Car driven by Gregory Hudnet

​* Brendas of Canton

* Bill’s Music

* U-Haul Company of Baltimore

* Grace Construction Triple Axle Dump truck

* Back River Restoration Committee

* Santa Brian Marchetti and Mrs. Wendy Claus

* Bubble blowing and flame shooting Fire truck

​

Kingsville VFC Not Allowed July 4th Tour


The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced that it had to cancel its 4th of July tour. The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced they will tour the Kingsville community on the 4th of July but that changed with a post on Thursday afternoon.

“We regret to announce that the county will not allow the 4th of July tour. The Fire Company pushed hard to bring you this event,” said a statement on the Kingsville VFC Facebook page.

Kingsville VFC said they still plan an onsite celebration with a display at their location at 11601 Bellvue Ave. in Kingsville.

“We will celebrate this patriotic day with a display at the Firehouse, that will include our members and equipment. If you planned to go on the tour, please bring your vehicle or float to the Firehouse at 10 a.m. The display will be open to the public from 11 am until 1 pm. The display will also be streamed on this Facebook page, with each item being described,” a statement from Kingsville VFC.

The fire company also thanked Councilman David Marks for his help and involvement with their celebration. Marks said he planned on taking part in the tour but will go to the firehouse.

“I have always supported this fire company and look forward to seeing many of you at the on-location event. Please come out and celebrate America,” Marks said about the Kingsville VFC efforts.

The original huge 4th of July event in Kingsville is the Kingsville Independence Parade, which was cancelled in the spring as a result of COVID-19.

Kingsville VFC still plans to make the best of the 4th of July.

“Our hard working and extremely patriotic members are committed to protect our community and celebrate this holiday with you. It’s no accident that our equipment is red white and blue.”

Local Author Holds CFL Stallions Reunion


– photo courtesy of McFarland & Company-
Local author and Essex resident Ron Snyder helped organize a special reunion in Baltimore sports history. He was able to get members of the Baltimore Stallions together for a reunion over the weekend.

The Baltimore Stallions were a mid 1990s Canadian Football League team that was the first and only American team to win the Grey Cup (CFL Championship).

Snyder wrote a book about the team called “The Baltimore Stallions: The Brief, Brilliant History of the Cfl Champion Franchise”. The team was a CFL expansion team in 1994 and they would last only two seasons as the NFL Cleveland Browns moved to the area in 1996 to become the Baltimore Ravens.

“People forgot about the Stallions when the Ravens came to town. There are some people that were not born yet,” Snyder explained on why he wanted to write the book. “People that didn’t live through [the CFL era] do not understand it.”

For this virtual reunion, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Grey Cup win, Snyder was able to get key Stallion legends as such running back Mike Pringle, quarterback Tracy Ham, cornerback Irv Smith, pass rusher Elfrid Payton and many more. He was also joined by former Stallion owner Jim Speros.

According to Snyder, he wanted to have a reunion in the area, but those plans were derailed with the restrictions of COVID-19.

-video courtesy of www.facebook.com/ron.snyder.142-
https://www.facebook.com/ron.snyder.142/videos/10219306529948947/

The new plan was to have an online reunion and it took place on Saturday, June 27.

Snyder was able to get the players to share the memories of their time with the Stallions. Snyder pointed out that when the Ravens arrived in 1996, there was no room for both CFL and NFL teams and the Stallions’ era came to an abrupt end.

“A lot fans did not get a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the players and the players never had a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the fans,” Snyder said. “We wanted to get everyone together.”

To purchase Snyder’s book, go to https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-baltimore-stallions/ and it is available at local book stores.

Snyder also has written the book A Season to Forget: The Story of the 1988 Baltimore Orioles

Kingsville VFC to Tour Area 4th of July


THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED. TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced they will tour the Kingsville community on the 4th of July.

This appears to be an alternative to the Kingsville Independence Parade, which was cancelled in the spring as a result of COVID-19.

According their website, the fire department will leave the Fire Station on Bellvue Avenue at 11:00 a.m.,
“go down Bradshaw Rd and make a right on Jerusalem Rd to Chapman Rd, then make a Right on Franklinville Rd, left on Bradshaw Rd, cross over I-95 and make a right on Pfeffers Rd, then south on Philadelphia Rd to Raphel Rd, then left on Mt Vista road to Harford Rd, north to Fork Rd to Baldwin Gate Rd to Sanfield Rd to Lewis Rd, back to Fork Rd to Sunshine Ave to Belair Rd. The tour will end at Sunshine Ave and Belair Road.”

The fire department added that no streets will be blocked off and they will be observe traffic laws.

Residents that want to watch the tour are being told to practice social distancing and to follow all safety guidelines concerning COVID-19. Parents are also asked to supervise children.

New BGE Lines Being Built Near Key Bridge


Many motorists have noticed activity near the side of the Key Bridge. According to a press release forom BGE, unwater powerlines are being replaced by above ground powerlines.

The construction is underway near the southbound lanes of the Key Bridge.

Here is the full press release from BGE.

Most large construction projects break ground with a ceremonial shovel jabbed into loose soil. To kick off the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative, BGE drove a steel pile into 100 feet of soft mud beneath the Patapsco River.

It’s a fitting start to construction of such a significant infrastructure project.

Underwater transmission cables in this shipping thoroughfare to the Port of Baltimore are nearing the end of their useful life. Multiple studies on replacing this “Key Crossing” segment, which was installed in the 1970s, determined that running new power lines high above the water would have a fraction of the environmental impact on the Patapsco River and its wildlife and be far less disruptive to port operations. Plus, overhead replacement would be half the cost of the underwater alternative, reducing the impact to electricity bills. It would also support more local jobs.

What followed was extensive planning, permitting, and outreach to key stakeholders—including environmental groups, elected officials, government agencies, and community leaders. The BGE project team received all necessary federal, state, and local permits prior to construction, and incorporated stakeholder feedback into the final design wherever possible.

Key Crossing construction began in early June 2020 and is expected to be completed in two years. Glen Burnie-based McLean Contracting is leading this initial stage from two massive crane barges. Their task: drive 120 steel piles deep into the Patapsco riverbed. The piles will be grouped into five clusters, which will each support a concrete foundation for one of the five new transmission towers for high-voltage wires strung across this two-mile wide river parallel with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Most large construction projects break ground with a ceremonial shovel jabbed into loose soil. To kick off the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative, BGE drove a steel pile into 100 feet of soft mud beneath the Patapsco River.

It’s a fitting start to construction of such a significant infrastructure project.

Underwater transmission cables in this shipping thoroughfare to the Port of Baltimore are nearing the end of their useful life. Multiple studies on replacing this “Key Crossing” segment, which was installed in the 1970s, determined that running new power lines high above the water would have a fraction of the environmental impact on the Patapsco River and its wildlife and be far less disruptive to port operations. Plus, overhead replacement would be half the cost of the underwater alternative, reducing the impact to electricity bills. It would also support more local jobs.

What followed was extensive planning, permitting, and outreach to key stakeholders—including environmental groups, elected officials, government agencies, and community leaders. The BGE project team received all necessary federal, state, and local permits prior to construction, and incorporated stakeholder feedback into the final design wherever possible.

Key Crossing construction began in early June 2020 and is expected to be completed in two years. Glen Burnie-based McLean Contracting is leading this initial stage from two massive crane barges. Their task: drive 120 steel piles deep into the Patapsco riverbed. The piles will be grouped into five clusters, which will each support a concrete foundation for one of the five new transmission towers for high-voltage wires strung across this two-mile wide river parallel with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

McLean’s crew uses a 200-ton crane to hoist the pile from a horizontal to vertical position, then carefully lower it through placement guides on the surface of the water. The pile does much of the driving itself under its own weight.

Once the pile settles, McLean deploys a vibratory hammer to push the pile into the river bottom and then a diesel impact hammer to finish the driving job. The top of the pile will remain roughly 4 feet above the surface of the river, which is 23 feet deep at this location.

They also install a temporary bubble curtain to help protect fish in the area by reducing underwater noise caused by driving the pile. The bubble curtain is just one example of the environmental mitigation techniques that will be used on this project.

McLean will repeat some iteration of this process many times through the end of the year, when they anticipate they will have completed installation of every pile and can transition to vessel collision ring and foundation construction. McLean is also responsible for building foundations for Key Crossing’s three land-based towers—one on the Hawkins Point side of the river (Baltimore City) and two on the Sollers Point side (Baltimore County). The towers and wires stage of the project will begin in 2021.

Key Crossing is one small segment of nearly 1,300 miles of transmission circuits BGE operates in central Maryland. These lines are part of the regional transmission system that transports electricity into, out of, and through the BGE service area.

More information about the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative is available at bge.com

BCPS Seeks Opinions for Next School Year


What should Baltimore County Public Schools consider as it prepares for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year? To help with that preparation, BCPS is asking students, parents/caregivers, staff, and community members to provide feedback through the new BCPS Reopening Survey.

“Hearing from the entire community will help us craft a plan for next school year that takes into account the diverse needs of our families, staff, and schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Our plan will prioritize state and local guidance about health and safety, as well as allowing for adjustments throughout the school year based on the spread of the virus. Your feedback will ensure that we understand how COVID-19 is impacting our county in different ways.”

The anonymous online survey addresses issues involving transportation; preferences for virtual and/or in-person learning; preferences about returning to buildings; and expected challenges. A design team made up of BCPS leaders from across the organization will use the survey results, advisory group feedback, available research, health guidelines, and promising practices from across the state and nation to recommend a plan to Dr. Williams.

The survey is available in English as well as Spanish for parents and students, and will close on Tuesday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m.

A survey available in Arabic, Chinese, and Urdu for parents and students is scheduled to open on Friday, June 26, and close on Thursday, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. That survey’s website will be shared when available.

Speakers of additional languages may call 443-809-6814 for assistance taking the survey.

Marks to Block Cottington Road Development in Perry Hall


Councilman David Marks released the following statement about development near Cottington Road in Perry Hall.

Residents were concerned about the potential development of a five-acre wooded acre that begins on Darleigh Road and extends along a wooded ravine to Cottington Road. Developing this area would not only destroy a beautiful area near the condominiums, but impact single-family homes along Cottington Road.

I told the residents that I will support preserving this beautiful, undeveloped area as open space by applying the Neighborhood Commons zoning to all five acres. This means that the ravine and a wooded area near Darleigh Road will be protected from development.

Because the area was part of a zoning issue, I can recommend that the existing zoning be changed–and because it is owned by the homeowners association, the land can be designated Neighborhood Commons.

The Baltimore County Council will vote on the zoning maps in August.

Councilman David Marks.

Dundalk TV Reporter Attacked While Filming


Dundalk TV founder and reporter Scott Collier posted a video of him being attacked Wednesday morning around 5 a.m. on his YouTube channel. Collier was recording an altercation at the intersection of Liberty Parkway and Mornington Road in Dundalk.

The video showed a female, involved in the incident, asking Collier why he was recording video at the scene.

Then a few minutes later, the female walked over to Collier. She questioned him on why he was recording the incident again and next Collier’s camera fell to the ground. Police were already on the scene.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

According to the audio, Collier told police that the young female knocked the camera out of his hand.

Dundalk TV has over 1,100 subscribers and has taking videos around the Dundalk area since the YouTube channel was launched in 2012.