Author: eastbaltco

County Creates “BaltCo To-Go Map” for Carry Out Restaurants


As Baltimore County continues to identify ways to assist residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced new resources to help residents locate food distribution sites and identify County restaurants offering food pickup, carry out and delivery services.

“As we continue to respond to this rapidly evolving situation, we have to make sure our residents can access fundamental necessities—especially food,” Olszewski said.

“We will continue to work around the clock to identify additional resources to provide food security for Baltimore County families during this challenging time.”

The new Food Distribution Sites Map has information about locations offering free meals for youth throughout the County. It includes locations operated by both the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks PAL centers and Baltimore County Public Schools. Users can search for locations closest to where they live. The map will be updated as additional food resources become available for youth and other populations.

The County has also unveiled an online form to allow restaurants to self-report whether they are offering services during this time. Restaurant operators can share their location and what services they are providing, and the data collected will populate an interactive online map that residents can search. The BaltCo To-Go Map is online here.

Eastern Tech Teacher Earns Outstanding Educator Award from MSET


Kimberly Burton-Regulski, mathematics department chair at Eastern Technical High School, has been named that group’s 2020 Maryland Outstanding Educator. She will be honored at MSET’s Common Ground 2020 conference, April 30 – May 1, at the Ocean City Convention Center.

Burton-Regulski has taught mathematics and computer science at Eastern Tech for 21 years. She has earned a bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and computer science from Towson University and a master’s degree in advanced information technology from Stevenson University. She has been instrumental in building the computer science program at Eastern Tech. Eastern Tech now requires all 9th grade students to take Foundations of Computer Science. Burton-Regulski is also the innovation coordinator for Eastern Tech’s comprehensive Makerspace and a College Board consultant.

In 2009, Burton-Regulski was awarded the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching. Her other honors include being named Teacher of the Month by Code.org, Microsoft Innovative Educator, and the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator. She sponsors a Girls in STEM club and the Maverick Coding Club. She also teaches a Teaching Computer Science in the Secondary Schools course for Towson University.

In nominating Burton-Regulski, Eastern Tech STAT teacher Jayme Harget wrote: “Kimberly Burton-Regulski has a significant positive impact on technology use locally, regionally, and nationally. She exhibits leadership in her school with a vision of technology infusion that has resulted in the development of a makerspace and an elective course in Innovation & Design Thinking. Through the application of Design Thinking, her work empowers learners to flourish in a connected world by cultivating a passionate learning community and an empathy for others…She believes that in order to best serve her students she must be forward-thinking and willing to learn new technologies and new teaching strategies.“

I-895 Tunnel to Become Two-Way Traffic on Weekends Until April


The southbound bore of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) will be closed continuously over the weekends for the remainder of March through the weekend of April 3. Two-way traffic (one lane in each direction) will operate in the northbound bore. Motorists are reminded to obey speed limits and stay in your lane.

Weather permitting, the southbound bore will be closed:
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, March 23;
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, March 30;
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, April 6.

The closures are part of the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) three year, $189 million project to replace the 60-year-old I-895 Bridge and the Holabird Avenue exit ramp north of the Harbor Tunnel. and rehabilitate the Harbor Tunnel. The project began in April 2018 and is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

Beginning this weekend, weather permitting, the southbound bridge will close and two-way traffic will operate on the newly rebuilt northbound bridge, with one lane open in each direction. Later this spring, the southbound bore of the Harbor Tunnel will close 24/7 for 60 days, with two-way traffic operating in the northbound bore. For details, visit 895bmore.com.

MD General Assembly Finally OKs Funding for Northeast County Schools


The Maryland General Assembly passed HB 1 on Tuesday evening that will help fund school construction projects across the state. Baltimore County will receive additional $400 million in school construction funding from the bill.

This includes three northeast Baltimore County school projects; a new elementary school in the Rossville area, a new middle school at Nottingham Park on King Avenue and to expand Pine Grove Middle School in Carney.

The three northeast projects were planned several years ago to alleviate overcrowding, but those projects hit a few road bumps when Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. announced a budget shortfall in early 2019.

An original construction bill that would have funded the three projects was introduced in the 2019 General Assembly. That bill passed in the House of Delegates but never received a vote in a Senate committee.

The bill again passed through the House of Delegates on Feb. 14, but it appeared to be looming again in the Senate.

With the arrival of the coronavirus forcing the session into a three-week early adjournment, some were fearful that the bill might be a casualty as a result of the shorter session.

But northeast Baltimore County residents received the good news when the bill passed through the Senate 45 to 0 on Tuesday. Councilman David Marks has been an advocate for new schools in his district. He said this funding will help with overcrowded schools in his district.

“Thank you to the Senators who represent parts of the Fifth District – Chris West, Kathy Klausmeier, and J.B. Jennings – for their support,” Mark said in a statement. “The Build to Learn Act will help advance two new schools in the northeast, expand Pine Grove Middle School, and put us on a path to build new high schools throughout the county.

The funding will be finalized when Gov. Larry Hogan, who requested the legislation, signs the bill into law.

Rosedale Resident Dies in Camper Fire


A 56-year-old man died yesterday in a fire that destroyed his camper.

The victim is James Benidict Smith. His camper was parked in the 1300 block of Seling Avenue in Rosedale when the fire occurred.

BCoFD crews responded to the Seling Avenue address at on Monday, March 16 at 8:47 a.m. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and found the victim, deceased, in the rear of the camper.

Baltimore County Police fire investigators have ruled this an accidental fire that began on top of the camper’s built-in range.

BCPS Expands Meal Options for Their Students


In addition to the previously announced free meals available from Baltimore County Public Schools, the school system expanded meal sites today and will begin providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner at all sites tomorrow, Wednesday, Mar. 18.

Free meals have also been announced by the Maryland State Department of Education (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and Baltimore County Government (lunch).

BCPS program

By tomorrow, BCPS will be providing free Grab and Go meals for its students at 41 sites during the state-mandated closure of schools. Please continue to check the BCPS Coronavirus Updates webpage for the latest list.

• Grab and Go lunch from the BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services is available on weekdays through Mar. 27.
• New sites added today include Cove Village Apartments—Essex, Dulaney HS, Kings Point Shopping Center, Rosedale Library, and Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center.
• Tomorrow, Wednesday, Mar. 18, BCPS will begin providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner to students at all sites.
• New sites beginning on Mar. 18 include Carney ES, Chadwick ES, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church on Eastern Avenue, and Woodmoor ES.

Students must be present to receive meals in the parking lots of the locations identified below on weekdays through Mar. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Northeast/Central Areas
• Carney ES (as of Wednesday, Mar. 18)
• Dulaney HS (as of Tuesday, Mar. 17)
• Elmwood ES
• Halstead Academy
• Middle River MS
• Oakleigh ES
• Padonia ES
• Parkville HS
• Pleasant Plains ES
• Rosedale Library (as of Tuesday, Mar. 17)
• Stemmers Run MS

Southeast Area
• Battle Grove ES
• Chesapeake HS
• Cove Village Apartments, Essex, in front of rental office (as of Tuesday, Mar. 17)
• Deep Creek MS
• Dundalk ES
• Dundalk HS
• Hawthorne ES
• Logan ES
• Sandy Plains ES
• Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center (as of Tuesday, Mar. 17)
• St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eastern Ave. (as of Wednesday, Mar. 18)
• Sussex ES

State program

Maryland has announced free meals for students – three meals per weekday – available from all its summer meal sites. The state’s website includes a map feature at mdsummermeals.org to help families find the meal site closest to them.

County program

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks is offering limited meal distribution to children 18 and under through the Maryland Food Bank and Healthy Food Access St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. Take-away meals will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. Meal supplies are limited, and meals will be distributed on a first come first serve basis at the following locations:

• Arbutus Community Center, 865 Sulphur Spring Rd., 21227
• Cockeysville PAL Center, 9836 Greenside Dr., 21030
• Dundalk PAL Center, 15 Commerce Pl., 21222
• Hillendale PAL Center, 1111 Halstead Rd., 21234
• Mars Estates PAL Center, 1498 East Homberg Ave., 21221
• Scotts Branch PAL Center, 3651 Rolling Rd., 21244
• Shady Spring PAL Center, 8876 Goldenwood Rd., 21237
• Winfield PAL Center, 8304 Carlson Ln., 21244
• Woodmoor PAL Center, 7111 Croydon Rd., 21207

State & County Place More Restrictions to Deal with Coronavirus


Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that all restaurants, bars, movie theaters and gyms will be shut down on Monday starting at 5 p.m. Events with over 10 people will not be permitted too.

On the county level, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of new efforts to further expand Baltimore County’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote social distancing in order to slow the spread of the virus.

Olszewski issued an executive order prohibiting gatherings or events of 50 or more people at all locations and venues, providing local officials and law enforcement with the authority to enforce the limit. The order was part into place for Wednesday but that rule will change to Monday after Hogan announced the limitations of crowds 50 starting on Monday at 5 p.m.

This order also grants the Health Officer the authority to further reduce this number and to adopt additional rules or regulations governing places of public or social gathering as needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health and safety.

Extension of Licenses and Permits

Olszewski issued an executive order providing an extension of all County licenses, permits, registrations and other authorizations until 30 days following the end of the local state of emergency. The order also authorizes the head of each government agency to suspend the effect of any legal or procedural deadline, due date, time of default, time expiration, period of time or other statute, rule or regulation that it administers. This applies to suspensions concerning payments of late fees owed to Baltimore County. In addition, the order cancels or postpones all non-essential meetings of public boards, commissions or committees, and prohibits members of the public from attending those meetings deemed essential. Members of the public will be provided a way to participate in or observe all essential meetings. Guidance will be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Evictions Suspended

At the County Executive’s request, Sheriff R. Jay Fisher has agreed to suspend all evictions for the duration of the state of emergency in the County.

County Government Building Restrictions

County office buildings remain open at this time, but the County is instituting steps to limit public access. Permit requests and all other meetings with County department staff will be by appointment only as of Wednesday, March 18. All meetings and appointments currently scheduled with County departments or staff are cancelled unless individuals are otherwise notified. Instructions for scheduling appointments with County departments will be available in the next several days and posted to the County’s website. Until such time, members of the public will be restricted from entering County buildings. Visitors and those requesting appointments will be screened for illness prior to gaining access to County buildings.

“In the midst of this public health crisis, we must act decisively to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the public,” Olszewski said. “This situation continues to evolve rapidly and we remain committed to taking whatever action necessary to promote social distancing, limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”

Other Protective Measures

County Executive Olszewski previously issued an Emergency Declaration to address COVID-19, and the County has taken the following actions to protect employees and members of the public and minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Baltimore County Health Department Hotline

The Baltimore County Department of Health has a hotline for residents to call with questions or concerns about COVID-19: the number is 410-887-3816. The hotline is open seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Library and Senior Center Closings

Baltimore County Public Libraries Closed: All Baltimore County Public Library branch locations are closed from Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 29.

Baltimore County Senior Centers Closed: All Baltimore County Senior Centers will be closed to the public beginning on Monday, March 16, until further notice. Seniors can call the Maryland Access Point hotline at 410-887-2594. Calls are answered by a team of Certified Information and Assistance Specialists, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Water Shutoffs Halted

County Executive Olszewski and Mayor Young announced that neither municipality will turn off water service for failure to pay.

Department of Recreation and Parks

Buildings Closed: All Department of Recreation and Parks buildings are closed to the public effective Saturday, March 14, until further notice. County parks remain open to the public.

Department of Recreation and Parks Providing Meals: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, the Department of Recreation and Parks will be offering limited meal distribution to children 18 and under through the Maryland Food Bank and Healthy Food Access St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. The Department will offer the take-away meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. There is a limited number of meals available and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following locations:
•Arbutus Community Center: 865 Sulphur Spring Rd, Halethorpe, Maryland 21227
•Dundalk PAL Center: 15 Commerce Place, Dundalk, Maryland 21222
•Cockeysville PAL Center: 9836 Greenside Drive, Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
•Hillendale PAL Center: 1111 Halstead Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21234
•Mars Estates PAL Center: 1498 East Homberg Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21221
•Scotts Branch PAL Center: 3651 Rolling Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21244
•Shady Spring PAL Center: 8876 Goldenwood Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21237
•Winfield PAL Center: 8304 Carlson Lane, Baltimore, Maryland 21244
•Woodmoor PAL Center: 7111 Croydon Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21207

CCBC Classes Canceled

All in-person CCBC classes are canceled Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 22, and will resume remotely via alternative teaching methods starting Monday, March 23. Online classes will continue to be held as scheduled.

County Employees

Non-Essential Employee Telework: Baltimore County has instituted telework for all non-essential employees who are able to do so.

Suspension of County Travel: Suspending all County government-related travel through April 30.

Dundalk Man Killed in Eastern Boulevard Accident


The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team is continuing the investigation into a Middle River crash on Sunday night that killed a Dundalk man.

The preliminary investigation determined that a Dodge Journey made a left turn across traffic after exiting a parking lot in the 2800 block of Eastern Boulevard near Martin State Airport around 8:25 p.m.

As the Dodge Journey pulled out onto Eastern Boulevard it was struck in the driver side door by an Acura Integra traveling eastbound on Eastern Boulevard.

The driver and a passenger in the Dodge were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Acura was pronounced deceased at the scene. He is identified as Wade Bryant (41) of the 8700 block of Wise Avenue.

The Crash Investigation Team is working to determine all of the factors involved in this fatal crash.

State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Dundalk


Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Friday morning in Dundalk.

Troopers from the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack responded to a report of a vehicle off the road in the area of Interstate 695 East near Cove Road around 4:30 a.m.

According to a preliminary investigation, a female driving a 2007 Chevy Cobalt exited the right side of the road for unknown reasons and struck a guardrail.

After crashing, the vehicle caught fire with the victim trapped inside. The driver, whose identity has not been confirmed, was pronounced deceased at the scene by responding Baltimore County emergency medical service providers.

Troopers are working to identify the driver and locate any possible witnesses. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted at the scene with traffic delays as the right lane and shoulder were closed for about three hours before being reopened shortly before 8 a.m.