Eastern Baltimore County News
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police reported that north bound I-95 in Rossville/White Marsh area has been closed due to a jack-knifed tractor trailer. There is heavy crash response and cleanup operations. There is a reported fuel spill cleanup.
All traffic is being detoured at I-695 (Ex64). Motorists are also being advised to use routes US 40, MD 7 or US 1.
Express Toll Lanes have remained open under normal tolling operations.
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) announced that the first semester of the 2020-21 School Year will be conducted by remote learning and BCPS releases information about their for virtual reopening last week.
With the start of the virtual reopening set for Tuesday, Sept. 8, BCPS will host two online Community Conversations during which Community Superintendents Christina Byers (central zone), Dr. Racquel Jones (west zone) and Dr. George Roberts (east zone) will answer questions about the upcoming school year. The live Community Conversations will be held on Monday, Aug. 24, from 3 – 4 p.m., and on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6 – 7 p.m. The public will be able to view the Community Conversations on the BCPS website and on BCPS-TV.
In preparation for the online discussions, BCPS invites the community to submit questions online, now through 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. Questions can be submitted in English as well as Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Uzbek and Vietnamese.
The live Community Conversations will offer closed captions in English as well as Arabic, simplified Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Urdu.
In addition, the three community superintendents will participate in an interview in Spanish with local journalist Pedro Palomino. The interview will be available on Facebook and YouTube before the end of August.
Baltimore County Marine Units discovered an unattended vessel on the water on Saturday evening at 8:10. The unoccupied boat was found near Hart Miller Island in Edgemere.
According to the Baltimore County Fire Department Twitter page, aviation units assisted with the marine units for the search and the owner of the boat was found safe and unharmed a short time later.
-photo courtesy of Councilman David Marks-
Angel Volunteers at Angel Park in Perry Hall dedicated the Liberty Swing on Sunday. This swing was added to the playground to help those in wheelchairs experience the thrill of the playground.
Councilman David Marks attended the event and was proud to added this swing to the four-year playground
“Angel Park was built by dreams,” Marks said in a statement.
“Eight years ago, Kelli Szczybor and a volunteer committee launched plans to build an all-access playground and amphitheater on property donated to Baltimore County. In 2016, thousands of volunteers built the project over ten days.”
The Baltimore County Department of Rec and Parks announced it will authorize rec. councils throughout Baltimore County to hold youth sports in the fall with strict requirements in place to protect the public health and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Under the guidance of the CDC, the Baltimore County Health Department and the National Recreation and Parks Association, the County has developed guidelines to protect public health that includes wearing face coverings by all individuals who are not actively participating in the sport and limiting parents and spectators to the sport.
The plan requires social distancing and prohibits the sharing of any personal equipment.
The County also stated that tackle football is NOT permitted but flag football and scrimmages are allowed.
Soccer games can be played but throw-ins are prohibited and goalies must wear gloves.
Baseball and softtball are also permitted but a clean ball must be provided every half inning.
Cheerleading is permitted by mask must be worn at all times and no stunts are allowed.
Below is a list of all guidelines for player safety:
•Participation in programs is only allowed if you have had no signs or symptoms of COVID-19, and you have not been exposed to someone who has had signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for a minimum period of 14 days before participation.
•Participation in programs requires a signed Baltimore County COVID-19 Waiver Form.
•If you are sick or feel sick, you should remain home.
•At risk individuals, youth or adult, should remain home.
•Temperature checks, under 100 degrees Fahrenheit, are required for players, volunteers and coaches.
•Hand sanitizer should be available at all activities.
•Assign an area for each player to place their equipment.
•No sharing of drink bottles or any personal equipment.
•No centralized hydration or refreshment areas.
•No spectators at events, with the exception of parents and guardians.
•Masks are required for parents and guardians if not practicing social distancing.
•Masks are required by all volunteers and coaches in the program.
•Masks are required for participants when entering the field and while on the bench.
•Masks are not required for players and officials while on the field of play, but are recommended.
•Social distancing should be practiced at all possible times.
•Participants should refrain from handshakes, huddles and high fives
Baltimore County Police have identified the pedestrian struck by a CSX train on August 11 as Brian Michael Abshire (40) of no fixed address.
Just after 8 p.m. on Aug. 11 police responded to the area of Pulaski Highway and Middle River Road in Middle River for a call of a person struck by a train.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Abshire walked along the train tracks when he was struck and killed.
Maryland State Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash on the Beltway that killed one person and injured another early Thursday morning in Rosedale.
The Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack received two calls regarding a disabled vehicle in the center lane of the inner loop on Interstate 695 between I-95 and Philadelphia Road on Thursday, Aug. 13 around 4:30 a.m.
According to a preliminary investigation, when troopers arrived at the scene they found two pedestrians who were struck by the disabled vehicle, a grey Ford Taurus.
One of the victims, Amira Geovoni Jennings, 17, of Baltimore was declared deceased at the scene. The other victim, an 18-year-old male, was transported by ambulance to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
According to a preliminary investigation, the suspect vehicle, which is possibly a dark grey Infiniti G37. Infinity G25 or Infiniti Q40, swerved around the Ford and struck the victims, who were standing in front of their vehicle. The suspect vehicle fled the scene after the crash. The road was closed until about 7 a.m. as a result of the crash.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700.
Baltimore County Police released a photo of an older model sedan believed to have been involved in a July 22 hit-and-run crash in Rosedale.
Just after 12:30 a.m., the victim, a 39-year-old woman, was on the westbound side of Pulaski Highway just west of Chesaco Avenue in Rosedale when she was struck by a vehicle.
The vehicle made no attempt to stop and continued driving in the direction of Baltimore City. The woman was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Investigators from the Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team are asking anyone who may recognize this vehicle, may have seen any portion of the incident or who may have information regarding this incident to contact police at 410-307-2020.
The Perry Hall White Marsh Business Association has postponed its annual Town Fair. The event was rescheduled at Perry Hall High School on Sept. 5 from its original June 27 date but announced on Tuesday that the county would not allow the fair at the high school.
“The FAIR IS POSTPONED (again),”said a statement from the Fair.
“Well, friends, Baltimore County Facilities has denied our request to use the high school driveway, and it is now unlikely that Baltimore County will grant a gathering permit for our Town Fair. We have no choice but to now POSTPONE The Town Fair to June 26, 2021.”
The Perry Hall Fair joins the Parkville-Carney Festival, the State Fair, Essex Day and many other local events that have been canceled this summer and fall as a result of COVID-19.
Baltimore County Public Schools has updated its Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year, with virtual learning planned from Tuesday, Sept. 8 through the end of the first semester on Jan. 29, 2021.
The version of the plan released today includes additional information about attendance, special education, assessments, schedules, and athletics among other topics. Highlights are included below:
Attendance: Teachers will take daily attendance based on student log-in to the Schoology learning management system each Wednesday and Google Meet on other days of the week.
Special education: BCPS provides free appropriate public education to students with disabilities through supports and services that address each student’s unique needs as identified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), while protecting the health and safety of students and staff.
SAT and PSAT: Through the end of the first marking period on Nov. 13 the following are cancelled: Saturday administrations of the SAT college entrance exam, the SAT Day initiative providing the SAT for free during the school day, and the PSAT.
Schedules: The plan provides sample teacher and student schedules for Preschool – Grade 12.
Athletics: Virtual sports conditioning and coaching will be allowed during the first semester. The Office of Athletics is considering how athletics may proceed during the second semester, with the possibility of shortened seasons for fall, winter, and spring athletics.
Preschool and Prekindergarten: Preschool and Prekindergarten materials will be mailed to students’ homes for each curricular unit. Teachers will contact students and families for direct instruction.
Use of facilities: Currently and while instruction is virtual, BCPS facilities are not open for use by outside organizations.
Face coverings: Face coverings and adherence to county and state health guidelines are required while on BCPS property for adults and children aged 2 and older.
As announced in July, teachers will provide live, virtual instruction on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, in addition to independent student work and small group instruction. Wednesdays are reserved for targeted student intervention and independent student work. School schedules will provide opportunities for movement and screen and lunch breaks.
Chromebook distribution for students in Grades Kindergarten through 12 will continue until a 1:1 student-to-device ratio is achieved. BCPS will continue to provide mobile hot spots for students without home Internet connectivity, including students who are experiencing homelessness.
BCPS will survey families from December 1-18 regarding interest in continuing virtual learning or opting into hybrid (in-person and virtual) instruction, if safe to do so for February through June 2021.
The BCPS Reopening Plan was developed by BCPS and community leaders based on community surveys, advisory groups, and advice from health and education experts. Aspects of this plan may be adjusted as conditions warrant.
