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County Reopens Playgrounds, Restrooms & Park Facilities

Baltimore County’s Department of Recreation and Parks announced a series of updates to the status of its facilities as the County continues its safe and gradual reopening.

As the weather warms, more facilities will be open for recreational activities, though residents should continue to be safe and practice social distancing.

The following County facilities are now open:
•Playgrounds
•Outdoor tennis courts
•Basketball courts (residents should anticipate about two weeks to complete installation of rims)
•Other surface courts
•All fields and diamonds
•Pavilions and picnic areas
•Dog parks
•Skate parks
•Horseshoe pits
•RC/Model Plane Areas
•Lifeguarded swimming at Rocky Point
•Restrooms in regional parks
•Outdoor accessible restroom facilities will be opened in conjunction with scheduled permitted activities and as regular need demands.

Use of Pavilions for Worship in the Park Services

In an effort to help local religious organizations find safe outdoor spaces to worship, Baltimore County is opening access to outdoor pavilions at some County parks.

Local religious organizations may request a permit to use a park pavilion for regular religious services only.

These gatherings will be limited to 50 percent of each pavilion’s maximum occupancy.

Beginning today, religious organizations will be able to make reservations for the weekends of June 19 and June 26, at the following locations free of charge, and on a first-come, first-served basis:
•Eastern Regional Park
•Fort Howard Park
•Honeygo Regional Park
•Kingsville Park
•Meadowood Regional Park
•Northwest Regional Park
•Oregon Ridge Park
•Reisterstown Regional Park
•Rockdale Park
•Rosedale Park
•Southwest Area Park
•Sweet Air Park

More information and permit request forms are available on the County’s website.

Use of Pavilions for the Public Starting July 4

Beginning today, all pavilion rentals are available to be reserved by the public starting July 4.

More information and permit request forms are available on the County’s website.

Grab–and-Go Recreation Kits

The Department of Recreation and Parks today announced the creation of Grab-and-Go Recreation Kits, a new, free opportunity to provide youth with more activities to safely enjoy the outdoors.

Beginning Saturday, June 13 through July 22, young people can take part in these easy and free activities including the Ravens Fitness Flock (begins June 22), Locomotor Skills Obstacle Course, Nature Bingo, Butterfly Ring and Tissue Paper Flower Craft, and Recreation Rocks.

To find a location near you to pick up a premade kit, to learn how to make your own kit at home, or for more information, please email grabandgo-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov or visit the Department’s website.

Supplies are limited and if you are unable to get a Grab-and-Go Kit, please email grabandgo-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov to make additional arrangements.

Stay Safe

To the extent possible, residents should continue to practice social distancing and face coverings should be worn at park locations, especially when social distancing is not feasible.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in removal from park property.

The Department will continue to follow all State Executive Orders related to recreational activities.

Two Men Arrested After May Parkville Shooting

Baltimore County Police have arrested two adult suspects in the shooting of an 18-year-old man in Parkville last month.

Officers were called to the 8900 block of Old Harford Road in Parkville for a call of a shooting around 10:31 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.

Arriving officers were advised that an 18-year-old man had been shot and driven to an area hospital by family members. Detectives from the Baltimore County Violent Crimes Unit responded to the hospital and began their investigation.

Detectives determined that the victim was involved in a confrontation with a group of male subjects approximately an hour before the shooting at a gas station on Joppa Road. Among those subjects were Chimel Witherspoon and Demonte Poole, who would approach the victim on Old Harford Road an hour later. Witherspoon fired a handgun at the victim, striking him once in the upper body.

Chimel Mequon Witherspoon (19) of the 1300 block of Dalton Road of Parkville was arrested May 22. He remains held without bail on the following charges:

Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/crime of violence
Illegal possession of a firearm
Possession of a firearm with a felony conviction
Possession of a firearm by a minor
Demonte Derrick Poole (20) of the 3300 block of Dudley Avenue, 21231 was arrested on May 21 and also remains held without bail on the following charges:

Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Use of a firearm in the commission of a crime
Three juveniles have also since been charged in connection with this crime. Their identities will not be released.

Middle River Man Dies in Chase Crash on Eastern Avenue

Police continue the investigation into a Monday Night crash in the 13000 block of Eastern Avenue after the driver died Wednesday.

The preliminary investigation revealed that just after 9 p.m. a Honda Civic was traveling eastbound on Eastern Avenue when it struck the rear of a trailer attached to a Ford F350 that was parked on Eastern Avenue. The driver, who was the only occupant of the Honda, was transported to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center where he remained hospitalized until he succumbed to his injuries and died on Wednesday.

The driver is identified as Nicholas Marion Maenner (29) of the 7000 block of Greenbank Road of Middle River.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team is working to determined all of the factors involved in this fatal crash.

Dundalk Man Arrested After Fleeing Police on Wednesday

One suspect was taken into custody after fleeing from officers in the Dundalk Precinct on Wednesday, June 10, crashing into three vehicles, and breaking into a residence.

Officers first responded to a late reported call for an assault of a male subject on the parking lot of Sandy Plains Elementary School in the 8300 block of Kavanagh Road in Dundalk on Wednesday at 9:47 a.m. A witness reported seeing two suspects on the parking lot just before 8 a.m. using a baseball bat to repeatedly strike a victim who was on the ground. One suspect fled in a black BMW SUV with New York registration plates. The other suspect fled on a bicycle. Neither were located at the time the officers were dispatched.

Hours later, around 3:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle call for a black BMW SUV with New York registration plates. An officer located the BMW at the intersection of Trappe Road and North Point Road and initiated an investigative traffic stop, but the BMW refused to stop for the officer, struck another vehicle at North Point Road and Merritt Boulevard, then fled the scene. The aviation unit responded and surveilled the BMW from above, allowing patrol officers to discontinue following the vehicle. The BMW traveled to the intersection of Mornington Road and Liberty Parkway where it struck a second vehicle. The suspect fled from the moving vehicle, allowing it to drift into a third victim’s vehicle. That victim began to chase the suspect, who was fleeing on foot, but stopped when patrol officers arrived to the location.

The suspect shattered the glass window of an apartment in the 2900 block of Liberty Parkway and entered the residence in an effort to evade police, but K9 Officer Davies was able to take the suspect into custody without further incident. He is identified as Christopher Michael McClure (23) of the 2900 block of Liberty Parkway in Dundalk. He is currently charged with a number of traffic-related charges, third and fourth degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, and possession of narcotics that were discovered upon his arrest. He is held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on no bail status pending a bail review hearing.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the initial assault call at Sandy Plains Elementary School and are asking anyone with information to contact police at the Dundalk Precinct at 410-887-7320.

Former Parkville Resident Arrested on Sex Offense Charges

Baltimore County Police arrested John David Hobbs (51) of the unit block of Fallstonview Court, 21047 on a warrant Wednesday. He is charged with third degree sex offense, child abuse molestation and second degree rape.

The investigation began after Hobbs, who was a teacher at Bel Air Middle School, was accused of sexually abusing his former student who was a juvenile at the time. The incident occurred multiple times between 1999 and 2000 at Hobbs’ former home in Parkville. Hobbs is currently held at the Baltimore County Detention center on a no bond status pending a bail review hearing.

The Baltimore County Police Crimes Against Children Unit asks anyone who may have been abused by Hobbs to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020.

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, reach out for help. You can call the police non-emergency line at 410-887-2222.

Baltimore County Public Library Announces Steps to Reopen

Baltimore County Public Library is moving forward with plans for the next steps in the re-opening of its branches*. The re-opening, which will occur in phases, is being conducted according to guidance from county, state and federal health agencies, and takes into account social distancing protocols and community needs.

This phased reopening begins on Monday, June 15 with a limited number of staff returning to library buildings to begin internal preparations. Staff will be preparing work spaces, receiving and processing 8,000 new books and resources for users, gathering the 58,000 customer holds and planning for the return of the 400,000+ items borrowed before the library closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Exterior book drops at branches* will be opened on Tuesday, June 16 at noon and remain open 24 hours per day. Interior book drops will remain closed until the library reopens to the public. To prepare materials for safe re-shelving and reuse, all returned library materials must be quarantined for 72 hours per CDC guidelines before being checked in and prepared for re-circulation. Understanding that some may not be able to return materials immediately, all fines that have incurred are being waived if materials are returned by August 31, 2020.

Contactless curbside holds pick up service, with drive-up and walk-up options, begins at all branches* on Monday June 22, 2020. Hours for this service will be Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Further details about this service will be coming soon.

Once facilities have been fully prepared for modified and safe service, Baltimore County Public Library will be reopening to the public with limited in-branch services and social distancing measures in place. While the buildings remain closed to the public, Wi-Fi is available outside of ten branches with an upgrade in Wi-Fi service scheduled for remaining branches by mid-July. All virtual services put into place during the closure remain ongoing and include chats for reference and resources via phone, text and online and more than 100 monthly events and programs for adults, families and children.

“We are delighted to be taking these next steps to make the library more available to the citizens of Baltimore County. We are a vital part of the community and want to provide as many resources and services as possible while keeping our customers and staff safe and healthy,” said Baltimore County Library Director Paula Miller. “Since our March 15 closure, the staff has been exceptional at pivoting to offer resources and services to our users. While the world seemed to stop for a bit, it is evident from the 2,332 new library cards issued, the 388,000 downloads and the 43% increase in views on our YouTube channel that the community’s love for reading and the library never wavered.”

“Our libraries provide invaluable resources and services to our communities, and they have continued to do so virtually since the beginning of this pandemic,” said County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I’m grateful to the hard-working staff at all of our branches as they begin to gradually offer greater accessibility to their resources.”

*Baltimore County Public Library’s Loch Raven and Reisterstown Branch are currently closed for renovation.

MD Announces Reopening of Indoor Dining and Other Events

With key statewide health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction, Governor Larry Hogan today announced additional safe and phased reopenings through Stage Two of the ‘Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery.’

“This truly is one of the most daunting challenges our state has ever faced, but sometimes the worst times have a way of bringing out the very best in Marylanders,” said Governor Hogan. “And while I cannot promise you that we will fully recover from all these problems quickly, I will tell you that together we have faced and overcome daunting challenges before, and that we will get through these tough and difficult times together.”

The state’s critical health metrics continue to trend in a positive direction. Hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000, and to their lowest point in 61 days. ICU beds are also at an eight-week low. The state’s positivity rate has declined to 7.2 percent, and the positivity rate has dropped to single digits in 23 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions.

REOPENINGS EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, JUNE 12 AT 5 PM:
• INDOOR DINING. Restaurants can resume indoor operations at 50 percent capacity, with appropriate distancing, and following strict public health requirements consistent with the CDC, FDA, and the National Restaurant Association. Maryland Department of Health directives.

• OUTDOOR AMUSEMENTS. Outdoor amusements and rides, including miniature golf and go-kart tracks, may resume with appropriate health and safety protocols. Capacity restrictions at pools will be increased to 50 percent with strict safety guidelines still in place. Guidelines and best practices.

REOPENINGS EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, JUNE 19 AT 5 PM:
• INDOOR FITNESS ACTIVITIES. After an extra week of sanitization and safety preparations, indoor gyms, martial arts, dance, and other indoor studio fitness activities may begin to safely reopen at 50 percent capacity with strict health, distancing, and sanitization measures. Guidelines and best practices.

• CASINOS, ARCADES, AND MALLS. Casinos, arcades, and malls may also begin to resume operations with strict safety protocols.
SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE REOPENINGS
• GRADUATION CEREMONIES. The governor is encouraging local school systems to plan and hold safe outdoor graduation ceremonies with appropriate capacity and social distancing measures in place.

• SCHOOL BUILDINGS. School systems may now begin bringing small groups of students and staff into school buildings. School systems are encouraged to prioritize summer instruction for vulnerable populations. All nonpublic special education schools may reopen to serve students with disabilities.

• CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. All child care providers may begin to reopen, and the number of individuals child care providers can have in one room has been expanded to a maximum of 15.

• OUTDOOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. Outdoor high school sports may begin to resume practice and training activities within the same guidelines that were previously announced for youth sports programs.
EXPANDED TESTING IN BALTIMORE CITY. State officials are encouraging anyone who has recently attended peaceful demonstrations to get tested for COVID-19. As part of this effort, beginning next week, the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland National Guard will open multiple high-volume COVID-19 testing sites across Baltimore City, including at the Baltimore Convention Center.

REOPENING GUIDANCE. As additional industries and activities begin to resume, the Maryland Department of Commerce continues to develop and issue guidance and best practices to help businesses reopen safely. These resources are available at open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness.

COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH. Stage Two will continue to be implemented with a flexible, community-based approach that allows local leaders to allow reopenings at their discretion.

Kenwood’s Powell Named High School Principal of the Year

Kenwood High’s Brian Powell has been named BCPS 2020-21 High School Principal of the Year.

Powell is in his fourth year as the principal at Kenwood High and his 12th year working for BCPS. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education from Salisbury University. For the continuity of education BCPS has used during the coronavirus, Powell was one of the first BCPS principals to start posting school announcement videos online, often with his two young daughters taking part.

“This is something we can celebrate with the entire team,” Powell said. “As far as I’m concerned, we are school of the year. It’s not just about me.”

The Principal of the Year selection process began this year with an opportunity for community members to nominate school leaders. BCPS received 3,905 community nominations, which were considered by the Principal of the Year selection committee led by administrators from the Office of Organizational Effectiveness. This was also the first year in which both a middle and a high school Principal of the Year were chosen; in past years, only elementary and secondary honorees were selected.

Mars Estates O’Connell Named Elementary Principal of the Year

Mars Estates Elementary’s Kelly O’Connell has been named 2020-21 Elementary Principal of the Year

O’Connell is in her fourth year as principal at Mars Estates Elementary and her 18th year with BCPS. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in human resources school leadership from Towson University. She refers to students as #MarsStars, and that social media hashtag is regularly used to celebrate school and community achievements.

“This award is not just about me, it’s a reflection for everyone at Mars Estates Elementary,” O’Connell said. “It’s about teachers, students, and families and doing what is right for all kids.”

During several recent virtual school staff meetings, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams surprised three Baltimore County school administrators with an unexpected but great announcement.

Woodlawn Middle’s Rochelle Archelus is the 2020-21 Middle School Principal of the Year; and Kenwood High’s Brian Powell is the 2020-21 High School Principal of the Year.

“We have encountered many unexpected challenges this year, but I am so proud of how these Principals of the Year rose to the occasion,” Williams said. “They are champions of their school communities and have shown exceptional leadership.”

Principals of the Year are typically announced during the annual Teacher of the Year celebration each spring. Because of the school closings this year, however, the announcement was made during the online staff meetings for each principal’s school.

Fire Reported at the Islander Inn in Millers Island

Two people have been displaced following a two-alarm fire early Thursday at the Islander Inn in Edgemere.

The displaced residents lived in an apartment above the business. The restaurant was destroyed by the fire.

Fire units were dispatched at 1:33 a.m. for a report of a commercial building fire in the 9000 block of Cuckold Point Rd. First-arriving units found fire showing and quickly upgraded to a working fire profile, followed by a second alarm.

Commanders quickly ordered defensive operations because of the volume of fire. Firefighters supplemented the water supply from hydrants by drafting water from nearby sources.

One firefighter was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries or illness; another was treated at the scene.

The cause remains under investigation.