Year: 2021

Julie Henn Selected as Chair of Board of Education


Julie Henn was selected Tuesday to serve as chair of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, while Cheryl Pasteur was selected as vice president. Both officers will serve a one-year term.

A resident of Perry Hall, Henn was first appointed to the Board of Education as a member-at-large in 2016. She was elected in 2018 to serve a four-year term representing District 5.

Henn currently works for the Community College of Baltimore County and is an information technology professional. Prior to joining the Board, she served on the Northeast Area Education Advisory Council, the Superintendent’s Parents’ Advisory Council, and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

She has been an active parent volunteer for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), a leader for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, a catechist for St. Stephen Church, and has served on the Glenside Farms Homeowners Association Board. Henn holds a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Marquette University.

Pasteur, a resident of Pikesville, was elected to her first four-year term in 2018. She worked as an educator in Baltimore City and County for more than 36 years. She served as the principal of both Old Court Middle School and Randallstown High School, from where she retired in 2012.

Pasteur is a graduate of both the University of Maryland College Park and Morgan State University, earning Administration and Supervision certification from Loyola University Maryland.

Joppa Road Bridge in Perry Hall Now Open


-photo by Ben Boehl-

Councilman David Marks has reported that the Joppa Road Bridge near Honeygo Elementary has finally opened. The road is now accessible between Honeygo Boulevard and Snyder Lane in Perry Hall.

Baltimore County announced in January that it has closed the small bridge on East Joppa Road (over Honeygo Run) in order to make emergency repairs.

The delays continued into the spring and summer as bridge parts were hard to repair since the bridge was built in the 1940s.

I-95 ETL Northbound Extension Update


The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has embarked on a $1.1 billion program to relieve congestion and improve travel along the I-95 corridor into northern Baltimore and Harford Counties.

Currently, the MDTA has five active projects including replacing Clayton Road overpass, noise wall construction along the southbound roadway north of New Forge Road and northbound mainline construction, which will add two Express Toll Lanes (ETL) to the existing four general purpose lanes between MD 43 and MD 152.

Reconstruction of the Interchange at I-95 and MD 152
The next construction project beginning shortly is the reconstruction of the I-95/MD 152 interchange and northbound roadway to accommodate two ETL from south of MD 152 to south of MD 24. Work associated with the interchange will require Old Mountain Road and the existing MD 152 Park and Ride lot to close.

MD 152 Park and Ride Lot to Close
The lot will close on or about December 15, as reconstruction of the I-95/MD 152 interchange begins. To accommodate the existing park and ride users, the MDTA opened a new Park and Ride lot at the intersection of MD 924 and Woodsdale Road, adjacent to the I-95 interchange at MD 24/MD 924 in the Abingdon area of Harford County. The MDTA encourages users of the MD 152 Park and Ride lot to utilize this new facility. Advanced signage has been installed to direct users to the new Park and Ride lot. It will serve the existing MD 152 Park and Ride customers until a new Park and Ride at MD 152 is completed in late 2025. For directions to the new lot please view the MD 24/MD 924 Park and Ride project sheet.

The ETL Northbound Extension will be completed in multiple segments and is expected to open to traffic in 2024 through MD 152 and in 2027 through MD 24. For more information, visit mdta.Maryland.gov/I95ETLNB/home.html

To sign up for email/text alerts or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov. For real-time updates on major incidents follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheMDTA.

The MDTA thanks its customers for their patience and reminds them to Stay Alert So No One Gets Hurt.

School Bus Crash Reported in Bowleys Quarters


The Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association reported a crash involving a school bus in Bowleys Quarters.

The accident was reported at on Tuesday at 7:27 a.m. at the intersection of Carroll Island Road and Eastern Avenue.

It was also reported that the bus had students on board. There was no further information on any injuries or the severity of the accident.

Proposed Site Plan for Pine Grove Middle Released


BCPS has been trying to alleviate overcrowding Perry Hall Middle School in northeast Baltimore County.

Part of the plan is to construct a new northeast middle school on King Avenue. Another project to help is the expansion of Pine Grove Middle School in Carney.

The proposed site plan for Pine Grove Middle School expansion was released by the BCPS School Board meeting.

There is currently a existing Student Rated Capacity of 1,197 students at Pine Grove. The proposed SRC is for 1,419 students. Current enrollment at the school is 926 students.

The existing building area is 153,000 square feet and the proposed building area is 169,000 square feet.

Pine Grove was built in 1972 and has seen renovations in 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2009. This project will improve circulation in the building and will create modifications to improve traffic flow.

Marks Honors 5th District Citizens of the Year


Councilman David Marks honors constituents by giving out a Citizen of the Year award for his 5th Councilmanic District. This year the Perry Hall Family Worship and Neal Houk were honored by Marks.

“Every year, we recognize outstanding volunteers and leaders as Fifth District Citizens of the Year. Today, we recognize Perry Hall Family Worship Center and one of its longtime volunteers, Neal Houk, for their service to northeastern Baltimore County,” Marks said.

“Perry Hall Family Worship Center has been exceptionally involved by organizing food drives, community festivals, and service projects throughout the area. Neal Houk is one of their key volunteers, leading the recent cleanup of our community gateways, among other projects. We salute these amazing volunteers!”

Shooting Reported on Pavia Ct in Rosedale


Officers responded to a local hospital for a reported walk-in gunshot victim on Thursday, Dec. 2 around 11 p.m.

During that same timeframe, there were reports of a potential shooting in the Unit block of Pavia Court in Rosedale.

As Baltimore County detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident, they are asking anyone who may have information about it to contact them by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous.

Construction to begin at Carroll Island Rd. in Middle River


Councilwoman Cathy Bevins released a statement about a construction project near Carroll Island Road and Eastern Boulevard in Chase that cause delays starting next week

“A Baltimore County contractor will be replacing a large-diameter storm drain pipe under Carroll Island Road starting on December 6. Crews will be working about 500 feet from the intersection of Carroll Island Road and Eastern Boulevard until the end of the month, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday,” Bevins said.

“In order to replace the pipe, some lanes will be intermittently closed. Drivers should expect some delays.”

New Northeast Elementary School to be Named by Public


Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 7, with the first of two public surveys, you can have a say in what Baltimore County’s newest elementary school will be called.

For the first survey, Baltimore County Public Schools will invite the public to submit names for the new school, which is currently under construction at the intersection of Rossville Boulevard and Gum Spring Road in White Marsh. Naming nominations will begin on Dec. 7, 2021, and close on Dec. 23, 2021. Nominations are open to all citizens, including BCPS staff, students, parents, and community members, and nominators may submit more than one name.

A second survey from Jan. 4 to Jan. 21, 2022, will ask respondents to choose from among the top most popular names. The top vote-getter will go to BCPS leadership for review and end with Board of Education of Baltimore County approval by February 22, 2022.

A link to the first survey will be available here and will become active on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The first survey also may be accessed by smartphone on Dec. 7 by using the QR Code at the bottom of this release.

“Schools in Baltimore County are more than just wonderful places to learn. They are also centers of their communities and neighborhoods, and their names reflect that,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Northeastern Baltimore County is known for its strong families and amazing schools, and so I am looking forward to seeing plenty of pride and creativity in the names to be put forward for this new school.”

All nominations must meet school system criteria to be eligible for consideration. For example, the Board of Education may name a school after:
• A community, subdivision, or street on which the school is located
• The geographical location of the school
• A significant and distinguishable landmark, which can assist in locating the general area of the school
• A deceased, prominent person who has made an outstanding contribution of service to
Baltimore County, the state of Maryland, or to the United States.

Full criteria are contained in Baltimore County Board of Education Policy and Rule 7520 regarding the naming of a new school.