Author: eastbaltco

CCBC Essex Women Clinch First Conference Title in 38 Years


The 12th ranked CCBC Women Knights have not played since Feb. 8, but this past Saturday when Chesapeake lost 84-68 to Harford, CCBC Essex clinched the Maryland Juco Athletic Conference. It’s the Knights first conference title since the 1981-82 season, in this the team’s first year back in a decade and a half.

“It’s just amazing to come back after a 15-year hiatus and win the Maryland Juco in our first season,” CCBC Essex head coach Mike Seney. “I’m blessed to have such a good administration and coaching staff around me and we have an incredible circle of young women that came together quickly as a family.”

The Knights (24-2, 10-0 Maryland Juco) are currently riding a 13-game winning stream and next play this Wednesday at home against Lackawanna. The Falcons (22-3) finished last season with a Division II semifinal run and are on a 14-game steak of their own, entering Monday.

CCBC Essex’s student-athletes are all over the statistics categories in the conference.

Mya Moye leads the conference with a 23.2 points per game average and is second in assists with 6.8 per game. She is also ranked third in three-point percentage at 39.5%.

Kasey Gagan is second in Maryland Juco with 4.5 steals per game and fourth in three-point percentage (36.5%). Gagan is ranked seventh in the conference with 4.7 assists per game.

Although Aislinn Flynn missed a couple games due to injury, she is still ranked second in blocked shots with 3.5 per game. Her 85 total blocks are also second and her 243 total rebounds rank fourth in the conference.

As a team, the Knights lead the conference in attempted three pointers with 950 (305-950), 250 more attempts than the next closest team.

Essex also leads the league in average points per game, scoring nearly 94 per game, while only allowing 61.3.

The NJCAA Region XX Division II Tournament begins Thursday, March 4 at Howard Community College.

CCBC Essex will seek its first regional title since the 1977-78 season.

Stayed tuned on the Knights’ website or @CCBCEssexSports on Twitter for tournament game times.

FOX 45 to Host Town Hall About Parkville High Sex Offender Case


In response to the story about a sex offender attending Parkville High School, Fox 45 announced on their newscast that they will host a Project Baltimore Town Hall called Registered and Enrolled. The event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Tall Cedars of Lebanon. 2501 Putty Hill Avenue in Parkville.

Fox 45 has been covering the case about the 21-year-old registered sex offender attending the school and is hosting a public forum to provide information to the community.

According to Fox 45, some elected officials and some school board members will attend the event. The station did not specify which elected officials and school board members were attending but they did state that BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams declined an invite.

Fox 45 has provided town halls for Baltimore mayoral candidates in locations throughout Baltimore City.

Dundalk High Student Among Three Finalists for BCPS Board Member


This year will be the first time that BCPS secondary students will be able to select their new student member for the Board of Education of Baltimore County. Each year, a student member serves on the BCPS Board of Education for a one-year term, but this will be the first election.

One of the three students on the ballot is Joshua Muhumuza of Dundalk High School. Muhumuza is a junior and is a member of the Dundalk school’s National Honor Society, Student Government Association and Homeland Security Program. Muhumuza has participated in the school’s debate team, AVID program, soccer team, Model Congress and Model U.N. programs.

He also serves as the southwestern representative for the Baltimore County Student Councils and a member of its infrastructure committee. Outside of school, he tutors with his church, serves as a volunteer soccer coach at Dundalk Middle School and is a senior patrol leader with the Boy Scouts of America.

He is running against Rosalind Marfo of Franklin High School and Vinay Khosla of Dulaney High School.

Marfo participates in a variety of community service activities, such as Baltimore City’s annual Day of Hope, and volunteers at homeless services providers such as Beans & Bread. As a member of Franklin’s mock trial team, Marfo says the most powerful way to show solidarity and affect change is through the law. Her participation in Franklin’s Student Government Association is an outgrowth of her respect for the law and the process of legislation.

Khosla is also a junior and has served on the Baltimore County Student Council’s General Services Committee. That is where he has advocated for an increased variety of vegetarian lunch options and voiced student concerns over the use of school devices and technology. He is PTSA liaison for Dulaney’s Student Government Organization and varsity captain for the Lion’s cross country and track and field teams. He participates in Future Business Leaders of America and Model United Nations as well.

Middle and high school students will cast online ballots on Thursday, March 12, for either Khosla, Marfo or Muhumuza. Each of the candidates, who were among five finalists, was chosen Feb. 5 following interviews with a panel consisting of students and administrators.

The student receiving the most votes on March 12 will be recommended for appointment to the governor, who annually appoints a student member to the Board for a one-year term.

For the past four years, student Board member candidates were vetted and voted upon during a special convention with student representatives and council leaders. Prior to 2016, student members were chosen and recommended by a committee of BCPS educators, staff, and student leaders.

This year, the application process was expanded to allow and encourage participation from all BCPS middle and high school students. Videotaped speeches from each of the three candidates will be available from Monday, Feb. 24, to Wednesday, Feb. 26, both online on the BCPSOne platform and in selected classes throughout the county. That will be followed by a videotaped question-and-answer session for the three candidates to be viewed online by students on Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11.

Student voting will take place online from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 12.

Police Investigating Essex Valentine’s Day Stabbing


Baltimore County Police responded to a stabbing in the 100-block of Bennett Road in Essex over the weekend.

Officers arrived and located an adult male victim in front of the location suffering from an apparent stab wound to the upper body on Feb. 14 at 11:30 p.m. The victim was transported to a local hospital, his condition is currently unknown.

As the investigation progressed, the suspect was taken into custody at the scene. He was also transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

More information will be released once the suspect is formally charged. This investigation is being handled by the detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit.

Kenwood’s Hunt One of 200 Cadets to Earn Honor


Josh Hunt, of Kenwood High School, is one of just 200 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets worldwide to earn a Chief of Staff Private Pilot Scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC. More than 2,575 cadets worldwide applied for the scholarships.

Valued at approximately $22,500, the scholarship will support Hunt in attending an accredited aviation university during the summer of 2020 to participate in an 8-week private pilot license training program. The scholarship covers transportation, room and board, academics, and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot certification.

“JROTC has given me lots of opportunities like this scholarship,” said Hunt, “and
I’ve learned a lot in regard to leadership and how to lead people as I’ve been in a leadership role in the JROTC the past three years.”

The scholarship program is an Air Force-level initiative, in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry, to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage.

Hunt hopes to become a pilot in the Air Force but also plans to attend college to pursue his interest in marine biology

Baltimore County Police Report Officer Shot near City line


According to Baltimore County Police, one of their officers was shot near the Baltimore City/County line in the 5900 block of Radecke Avenue and has been transported to Shock Trauma.

On Feb. 12 around noon members of a joint task force were attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant.

At that time officers confronted the suspect and gun shots were fired. Two members of the task force were shot. The suspect was also shot and pronounced deceased at the scene.

The two members of the task force include a Baltimore Police officer and a Baltimore County Police officer. Both officers are currently being treated at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

New Traffic Pattern Scheduled on I-895 Near Holabird Exit


In November 2018, the MDTA began the I-895 Bridge Project to replace the 60-year-old bridge north of the
Harbor Tunnel. Two-way traffic has been in place on the I-895 southbound bridge between the Baltimore
Harbor Tunnel and Boston/O’Donnell Street (Exit 11) while crews demolished and rebuilt the northbound
bridge. In addition, the I-895 Holabird Avenue exit ramp (Exit 10) has been closed during for a full rebuild.
With those portions of the project complete, crews will implement a phased switchover of two-way traffic
from the existing southbound bridge to the newly constructed northbound bridge beginning late
February or early March.

The rebuilt Holabird Avenue exit ramp also is anticipated to reopen during this
transition. Once the switchover occurs, crews will begin demolishing and rebuilding the southbound bridge.
Motorists are encouraged to continue avoiding I-895 whenever possible and use I-95 and I-695 as alternate
routes. Those who must use I-895 should stay alert and expect changing traffic patterns. The ongoing two-way
operation – with one lane in each direction – will remain in effect until the new southbound bridge is complete
in 2021.

Work also includes rehabilitating the Harbor Tunnel with repairs to the tunnel portal, approach ramps and walls,
deck and tiles. 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.

The bridge replacement project is expected to be complete summer 2021. The MDTA will continue updating
motorists on changing traffic patterns via traffic advisories and social media and will utilize roadway messaging
signs to alert drivers of ongoing traffic conditions. Motorists may also visit 895bmore.com or follow
#895bmore on Twitter.

Franklin Square Hospital Employee Arrested on Child Sex Offense


Baltimore County Police have arrested a former hospital employee, charged with a number of sex offenses, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Detectives arrested Donald Joseph Benson Jr (40) of the 3400 block of Park Falls Drive in Perry Hall on Thursday, charged with a number of sex offenses, including the sexual abuse of a minor.

Benson became the subject of an investigation after detectives received a tip that he may be involved in the viewing of child pornography.

As a result of the ensuing investigation, detectives uncovered explicit images of a juvenile female being sexually assaulted, who detectives determined was a patient at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center at the time of the assault. Benson was an employee of the hospital at the time the assault occurred in September of 2016.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have additional information on this case or any other incidents that Benson may have been involved in to contact detectives by calling the Baltimore County Police Crimes Against Children Un

State Legislators & County Exective Announce Bill to Ban Convicted Sex Offenders From School


Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. and members of the District 8 State Legislative Team announced a bill that would prohibit registered sex offenders from attending schools in Maryland.

This is after a registered 21-year old sex offender was reported attending Parkville High School. Olszewski said he spoke with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams about updating their protocol to prevent a similar situation from happening again in the future.

“As a parent, I understand that every time when we send our kids to school, we rightly expect that school to be a safe place where they will be protected from any harm,” Olszewski said.

Olszewski added that he is working with District 8 state Senator Kathy Klausmeier and Delegates Harry Bhandari, Joe Boteler and Carl Jackson to present a statewide bill that would ban all registered sex offenders from attending schools in Maryland.

“Sex offenders have no place in our school period,” Olszewski said.

Klausmeier is the lead sponsor of the bill in the senate and agreed with Olszewski that sex offenders do not belong in school.

“I was appalled to hear what happened at Parkville High School and I regret that this ever happened. But, I along with the delegates and senators will stop this from ever occurring again,” she said.

Klausmeier added that there might be some concern about the education of the sex offender but said the priority should be the safety of other students.

“There are other ways to get an education other than sitting next to a student in a high school or a student in a middle school. This should not happen again,” Klausmeier explained.

Marks Wants Revised Plan for Gerst Farm Project


After receiving community criticism at a Feb. 6 meeting for the proposal of the Gerst Farm project in Perry Hall, Councilman David Marks announced that he is asking the developer of the property for a revised plan that addresses the concerns of the community.

Gerst Farm is located at 9328 Gerst Road behind the Honeygo Village Center and near the Joppa and Cowenton road traffic circle in Perry Hall.

“Specifically, I am calling for far fewer units, as well as deed restrictions that require the senior housing to be owned by older residents,” Marks said in a statement. “I have also asked the developer to work with Baltimore County to set aside a large section of the property near the Honeygo Village Center as a public park.

Elm Street Development’s plan calls for the building of 317 townhomes/rowhomes on 47.61 acres of land. Some of the community concerns were more traffic to the area and adding to an already overcrowded school system.