Author: eastbaltco

Eastern Tech & Perry Hall Student Named Semifinalists in National Program


Mary E. Kumcheva of Eastern Tech High School and Erick Y. Kim of Perry Hall High School are among 20 BCPS high school students to have been named semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program coordinated by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

“Congratulations to these outstanding BCPS students for their academic achievement and to the teachers, families, and administrators who taught, challenged, and supported them,” said Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “These students represent schools from across our district and represent the potential we see every day in all of our students, in all of our schools. Recognitions such as this inspire all members of the BCPS family to set and reach higher goals.”

More than 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools applied for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by participating in the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NSMQT®). The highest scoring entrants in each state create the national pool of 16,000 semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of high school seniors in the nation. Most semifinalists advance to the finalist level (based on their academic records, recommendations and SAT scores) and compete for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships.

Through its longstanding partnership with the College Board, which administers the PSAT/NSMQT, BCPS provides funding so that all students in Grade 9 can take the PSAT 8/9, all students in Grades 10 and 11 can take the PSAT/NSMQT, and all Grade 11 students can take the SAT – all at no charge to the students or their families. The PSAT test provides practice for the SAT and provides BCPS educators with important assessments of student strengths and challenges

Driver of Suspicious Vehicle Arrested in White Marsh


Baltimore County Police arrested a man following a suspicious vehicle call at a Royal Farms store after he was seen filling tanks inside a van with fuel.

Police were dispatched to the Royal Farms at 10740 Pulaski Highway in White Marsh near Ebenezer Road for a call of a suspicious vehicle at 3:34 p.m. The call indicated that a white van was filling two large tanks inside the cargo area with diesel fuel. When the officer arrived on the scene he observed the van, bearing a Virginia registration plate, stopped at the diesel fuel pump. As the officer approached the van it pulled away and left the parking lot. The officer conducted an investigative traffic stop on the van and determined that the driver had committed an arrestable traffic violation and was taken into custody.

The investigation determined that the suspect, a 30-year-old man, paid for the gas using Royal Farms gift cards, but where and how he obtained those cards remains under investigation. The suspect indicated he was given the cards by the owner of the van, a Virginia man, who asked him to fill the fuel tanks using the gift cards. The owner of the van indicated he rented the van to the suspect with no fuel tanks inside, and denied any knowledge of the gift cards.

The Maryland Department of the Environment responded to collect the fuel, while the van was seized by Baltimore County Police. A search warrant yielded the discovery of a total of 68 Royal Farms gift cards and a credit card inside the van, the validity of which remain under investigation.

The identity of the suspect and charges will be released following formal charging. The incident remains under investigation by officers from the Essex Precinct and detectives from the Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit.

Marks Gives Update on Improvements to Recreations System


I am proud of the work we have done to expand our recreational system- eight new parks since 2010 – but also the improvements being done to our existing sites. Here are some highlights of the changes made throughout the area.

Chapel Hill Elementary School – Ball diamonds are scheduled to be delipped in September.

Cromwell Valley Park – two sinkholes will be repaired this month.

Eastern Regional Park – the artificial turf field will be rebuilt starting this fall. Work should begin on October 7th, weather permitting. This field is ten years old.

Honeygo Regional Park – maintenance was done on the turf field; a new field is budgeted for next year. The county finished stormwater enhancements.

Joppa View Elementary School – Ball diamonds will be delipped this fall.

Kingsville Park – lower ball diamonds have been added to the fall slipping list.

Northeast Regional Recreation Center – two indoor carpet fields will be replaced with artificial turf fields this September.

Overlook Park – Graffiti was removed and minor repairs made to the park.

Pedestrian Killed in Essex Over Weekend


A crash in Essex killed a pedestrian Friday evening.

Police responded to Eastern Boulevard and Volz Avenue at 8:01 p.m. on Sept. 6 after the pedestrian stepped off of the median into eastbound traffic and was struck by a Kia Rio. The pedestrian, identified as Robert Thomas Baker (55) with no fixed address, was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center where he later died. The driver remained at the scene.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team responded and is continuing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fatal crash.

Stemmers Run Middle authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School


In a letter to Principal Bryan Thanner, IB’s Director General Siva Kumari wrote, “As an IB World School offering the MYP, you are part of a global community of schools committed to developing knowledgeable, caring young people who will be ready to negotiate their futures successfully and make contributions resulting in a more harmonious and peaceful world. We commend your school’s educators, administrators, students and families for their active roles in choosing to offer the MYP. The positive results of this choice will become evident in your community as classes of MYP students graduate and undertake activities that enhance social, cultural and economic environments locally, nationally and, perhaps, internationally.”

Thanner explains that MYP enriches instruction for every Stemmers Run student. “We still implement the Baltimore County Public Schools curriculum,” Thanner said. “MYP is a layer we put on top, bringing in global perspectives and real-world relevance to every subject area. MYP is inclusive of every student in the school, at every level. It is how we teach. We have already seen it improve engagement and rigor.”

Two other aspects of MYP are particularly noteworthy, according to Thanner. “IB requires that we explicitly teach skills, like collaboration, that students will need for success,” he said. “It also requires a strong character education program that culminates with every Grade 8 student planning and implementing a community service project.” The projects range widely, based on students’ interests – from marker and toothbrush recycling to food drives and volunteering at animal shelters.

“Seeing what middle school students are able to do through service gives them a lot of perspective and helps them realize their ability to make change,” Thanner said.

The process to become authorized by the IB started three years ago and involved the entire Stemmers Run Middle community. “It began,” Thanner said, “with completing a candidate school application that was more than 75 pages long. In it, we needed to demonstrate that our school had the ability to implement the program. After being accepted as a candidate school, we then needed to implement the program and train staff for the next two years. The training requirements were significant. During the second year, the IB sent a team of representatives to Stemmers Run to determine if the school should be authorized. They spent two days in the school, meeting with every department, parent groups, and central office administrators.”

The IB is a highly rigorous academic program focused on critical and independent thinking and logical inquiry. It is offered in almost 5,000 schools globally in more than 150 countries. The MYP is described by the IB as “a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.” It prepares students for the Diploma Programme (DP), which is offered in Baltimore County Public Schools at Kenwood High (an IB World School for the DP), for which Stemmers Run Middle is a feeder school.

“The Diploma Programme is an advanced program,” Thanner explained, “only open to students who qualify for it. It is our hope that the MYP at Stemmers Run will help all students learn more about IB and encourage more students who qualify to pursue the Diploma Programme.”

International studies programs, based on the IB framework, are also offered at Wellwood International and Woodmoor elementary schools, Middle River and Windsor Mill middle schools, and New Town High School.

Dundalk Shooting Victim Dies at Area Hospital, Police Investigating


A man has died after checking into a local hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.

Police were dispatched to the hospital at 5:43 p.m. after the man was dropped off by an unknown person and died shortly thereafter. The preliminary investigation indicates that the shooting occurred in the 100 block of Center Street in Dundalk. Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Anyone with information should contact the Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Council Removes Loophole in Open Space Law


The Baltimore County Council unanimously passed Bill 37-19 on Tuesday, which removes loopholes in Baltimore County’s open space law that have substantially reduced the amount of public open space that development projects Council Chair Tom Quirk and Councilman David Marks were co-sponsors of the bill.

“Proud to have cosponsored this bipartisan bill with Councilman Tom Quirk that eliminates loopholes and should lead to more open space,” Marks said in a social media post.

“The single amendment makes the bill prospective – but only for a small number of projects where a plan is under review. Some builders wanted it to go into effect as late as 2020.”

Barbara L. Hopkins, Executive Director of the non-profit group Neighborhood Open, was happy that the bill passed unanimously through the council.

“None of this was easy for anyone and I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to those who testified, submitted written testimony, emailed, called, donated, and offered advice, especially as summer vacations and the start of the school year demanded your attention. [H]istory dealt our County an open space hand that years ago created a huge open space deficit. That deficit has had an increasingly negative effect on the livability of our communities over time when it comes to things like places for kids to safely play, storm water management, and home values,” Hopkins said in a statement.

“These facts demand less confrontation and more collaboration among government, nonprofits, County residents, and members of the development community if we are serious about addressing the livability challenges that exist today in communities inside the URDL. I am hopeful that, tonight, we took a big step in that direction and, on behalf of our board of directors, thank you for your efforts on behalf of the bill and your continued support.”

Man Injured in Overnight Shooting in Essex


One man was injured in a shooting in Essex early Sunday, Sept. 1.

The man, 23, was in the area of Bayner Road and Bayner Court with friends at approximately 1:40 a.m. when he suffered a non-life-threatening wound and responded to a nearby gas station for help. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information should contact police by calling 410-307-2020

Can You Identify Any of These Seasoned Mariner Burglary Suspects?


Baltimore County Police need your help identifying any of these suspects who burglarized The Seasoned Mariner in Dundalk.

The restaurant, located in the 600 block of Wise Avenue, didn’t open until 4 p.m., but around 2:30 p.m. these suspects were caught on security cameras entering the business and stealing cash. They left the location in the red 4-door vehicle seen in surveillance video.

Traditional investigative measures have not led to the identification of any of these suspects, so detectives from the Baltimore County Burglary Unit are now turning to the public for help. If you recognize any of these suspects or can provide detectives with any additional information regarding this burglary, call police at 410-307-2020.

Reward Offered

Metro Crime Stoppers, an organization that is separate from the Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County Government, offers rewards for information in connection with felony offenses.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Metro Crime Stoppers by phone, online or via mobile app.

Phone: 1-866-7LOCKUP

Olszewski Announces Baltimore County Overdose Awareness Signs


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the placement of overdose awareness signs around the County in an effort to shine light on the opioid epidemic and reduce the stigma often associated with addiction. Strategically placed in five, high-visibility locations around the County, the signs will display the total number of overdoses and fatal overdoses in the County so far this year.

“There’s not a community in our County that hasn’t been touched by the disease of opioid addiction and we have to do everything within our power to raise awareness, increase access to services and save lives. These signs will be a stark reminder that this crisis persists and that we have a responsibility to help our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, neighbors and friends who are struggling,” Olszewski said.

The signs were created with support from the Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation and sponsors identified by foundation Executive Director Toni Torsch. Torsch created the foundation following the death of her son, Daniel, from a heroin overdose. The foundation works to raise awareness of opioid addiction and overdose, helps individuals find treatment resources and provides training for individuals to use the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.

“I applaud the Torsch Foundation for partnering with the County to provide awareness and education of overdose death statistics,” said Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch, Director of the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services. “Anyone who is facing an opioid addiction or knows someone who is, should reach out and prevent another untimely death by calling our REACH Helpline, 410-88-REACH (410-887-3224).”

Each month, the Baltimore County Police Department will update the numbers displayed on the signs, which will be located at the Public Safety Building in Towson, as well as the Dundalk, Pikesville, White Marsh and Woodlawn precinct buildings.

“In my very first meeting with newly-elected County Executive Olszewski, I asked for help breaking a bureaucratic logjam that prevented these signs from going up. He delivered. This is one part of a more robust strategy toward reducing and eliminating opioid abuse,” said 5th District Councilman David Marks.

Olszewski has taken a number of critical steps in the effort to combat the opioid epidemic. As recommended by his transition team, he included funds in his first budget to create an Opioid Strategy Coordinator position to guide strategy across agencies and ensure a cohesive, comprehensive response.

In addition, he named an Opioid Response Working Group to engage County residents and stakeholders, examine data, assess the County’s current efforts and make recommendations for how the County can continue to ramp up its efforts to address addiction and overdose. The working group will release its draft report for public comment in the coming weeks.