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Maryland to Reopen Limited Outdoor Dining, Camps and Pools

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state will be taking steps to reopen more businesses such as outdoor dining, outdoor pools and youth camps.

“Over the past two weeks, we have been encouraged by the successful Stage One reopenings all across the state and by the improvements in important data and metrics statewid,” Hogan said.

“All of this progress allows us to now safely move forward with the completion of Stage One of our recovery plan”

Starting Friday May 29th at 5 p.m., restaurants and social organizations such as American Legions, VFW’s, and Elks Clubs will be permitted to begin safely reopening for outdoor dining, following strict public health requirements consistent with the CDC, FDA, and the National Restaurant Association.

Also effective at 5 p.m, on Friday, many other outdoor activities such as youth sports activities and outdoor activities at youth day camps may resume with safety measures in place for staff and participants.

Hogsn added that outdoor pools can reopen with strict safety guidelines

Drive-in movie theaters will also be permitted to safely reopen.

“Our Coronavirus Recovery Team will be continuing to watch all of the data very closely, and if these encouraging trends continue into next week, we would then be in a position to begin entering Stage Two of our recovery by allowing other non-essential businesses to begin reopening,” Hogan said.

For more information go to, https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/05/27/governor-hogan-announces-resumption-of-outdoor-dining-additional-activities-to-complete-stage-one-of-recovery/“>

County Laying Groundwork if Restaurants Can Open Outdoors

In anticipation of future steps by the state of Maryland to further reopen, Baltimore County today issued proactive guidance to help restaurants and bars prepare to provide expanded outdoor dining options.

Under Governor Hogan’s statewide executive order, restaurants and bars are currently only permitted to provide carryout and delivery service. While County governments may not exceed state mandates, this effort from Baltimore County will help ensure establishments in the jurisdiction are ready to reopen more quickly.

“We are here to work in partnership to support Baltimore County’s restaurants and bars, which add to the vibrancy of our communities and are vital to our local economy,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “We don’t know exactly when the state will allow outdoor seating, but we’re taking action now to help ensure these small businesses can reopen as fast and as safely as possible.”

Public health experts, including the CDC, have identified outdoor restaurant and bar seating—combined with social distancing and sanitary practices—as a lower risk option compared to indoor seating. This service, once permitted by the state of Maryland, would complement existing drive-through, delivery, take-out, and curbside pickup options.

In a letter to restaurateurs, officials provided proactive updates outlining necessary steps to incorporate these public health practices into their business. Baltimore County is in the process of creating a streamlined application for establishments to request expansions in order to allow outdoor dining in areas not previously authorized, including both the use of private and public property.

County officials are also in conversations with Chambers of Commerce about possible street closures in an effort to identify expanded outdoor dining options.

By helping establishments expand outdoor dining options, restaurants and bars will be able to reopen more quickly.

This is the latest effort from Baltimore County to safely reopen key portions of the local economy while maintaining public health measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Man Dies in Overlea May 15th Shooting

On May 15 just after 2 a.m., police responded to the 6200 block of Radecke Avenue in Overlea for a shooting.

Responding officers found Keynon Jerrod Bryant (28) lying in the back yard suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Bryant was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition. On May 24, Bryant succumbed to his injures and died at an area hospital.

Baltimore County Homicide detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information should contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Garage Fire Reported on Holabird Avenue in Dundalk area

The Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company reported a fire in the 6800 block of Holabird Avenue.

Crews on the scene have reported a vacant garage fire.

The fire is near the Baltimore County and City line and the blaze could be seen at the intersection of Holabird and Dundalk avenues.

Sparrows Point High Student Wins County Athletic Award

Nathan Wynne of Sparrows Point High School has been named the male winner of the 33rd annual Mildred Murray All Academic Scholar Athlete Award and Scholarship.

Wynne played varsity soccer for three years and varsity tennis for four years at Sparrows Point. His soccer coaches selected him as the recipient of the school’s sportsmanship award during his junior year. In his senior year, he was named captain of both teams, both of which won state championships.
During high school, Wynne volunteered for The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer), which provides soccer instruction to individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities.

In Grade 10, he was chosen as the sole ambassador from Sparrows Point High to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. In addition, he serves as the treasurer of the National Honor Society. During his junior and senior years, he completed many courses at the Community College of Baltimore County, and he has maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA throughout high school.

Wynne will attend the University of Maryland, College Park, in the fall to study aerospace engineering and participate in the University Honors program.

The annual countywide scholar-athlete award is named in honor of the late Mildred H. Murray, former BCPS coordinator of physical education and athletics. She dedicated 43 years to promoting excellence in athletics and academics throughout the county, region, and state, and she helped establish the annual scholar-athlete award.

Sierra Raspa of George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology was named the female winner.

Presented by the BCPS Office of Athletics, the prestigious honors will be awarded during an online ceremony on Thursday, June 4, at 1 p.m.

The scholarships are given to female and male senior student-athletes who have maintained a minimum 3.5 unweighted grade point average (GPA) for each quarter and have participated in at least two varsity sports. Each BCPS high school nominates seniors for this honor.

Police Identify Essex Officer Involved in Suspect Shooting

Baltimore County Police identify the officer involved in a shooting on Skipjack Court in Essex last Saturday, May 16.

Police Officer First Class Knight is a 24-year veteran of the force permanently assigned to the Essex Precinct. He has no prior officer-involved shootings.

Officer Knight is presently on routine administrative leave.

County to Reopen Retail Stores & Salons with Restrictions

Following progress in major indicators including expanded testing and increased access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for nursing homes, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced new actions to reopen key portions of Baltimore County’s economy while maintaining public health measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

“With significant progress in expanding testing and PPE, I’m confident that Baltimore County is ready to take these next steps, and do so in a safe manner that protects the health of our residents,” Olszewski said. “While these steps are important, we’re not out of the woods yet, and I urge all residents to continue practicing social distancing to limit the spread of this virus.”

New Actions Effective Friday, May 22

Olszewski will issue an executive order stating that effective Friday, May 22, at 9 a.m., Baltimore County will take the following actions:

•Retail stores may reopen for in-store retail with a maximum capacity of 10, including staff. This applies to all retail establishments outside of those considered essential under the state’s previous orders. Curbside pickup and delivery is strongly encouraged, and all public health precautions should remain in place. Shopping malls must continue to stay closed except for retail establishments that can be accessed from the outside.

•Barber shops and hair salons may reopen with a maximum capacity of 10, including staff. They may operate by appointment only and with appropriate health and safety guidelines. Other personal services establishments must remain closed until further notice.

Clarification on Religious Institution Restrictions

Olszewski also clarified that the restrictions that were in place on all religious institutions in the state prior to last week remain in place in Baltimore County. That means that the restriction on gatherings of more than 10 remain in place, either indoors or outdoors. Religious institutions may hold drive-through or drive-in services, as some have done.

Residents Encouraged to Continue to Stay at Home

Baltimore County’s prohibition on indoor and outdoor gatherings or events of 10 or more people at all locations and venues remains in place.

Residents and visitors to Baltimore County should strive to stay at home unless they are traveling to work or medical appointments, shopping for groceries or other retail goods, or traveling to outdoor recreational opportunities. Older and more vulnerable residents are strongly advised to continue staying home as much as possible.

Residents and visitors should practice safe physical distancing and wear masks in public, and frequently wash their hands and sanitize high-touch areas.

Employers should continue to encourage telework for their employees when possible. Individuals who can work from home should continue to do so.

Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke Principal Visits 8th Grade Homes

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many cancellations all over the area that include Memorial Day services, 4th of July events and of course high school graduations.

Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke Catholic School in Dundalk was no exception as the school had to cancel its traditional farewell services for its 8th grade students.

Many students have been at the school for over a decade as they started pre-school at OLHSL.

Longtime school principal Sister Irene Pryle wanted to make sure this year’s 8th graders had a memorable exit, in spite of the cancellation of the school year.

Pryle and other teachers went to the homes of the eighth graders and presented each student with a gift.

“Sr. Irene, our Middle School Teachers, Mr. T, and Mrs. P visited all 24 8th Grade Students delivering signs, yearbooks, and lots of cheers,” said a statement on the school’s Facebook page.

“We are so proud of our 8th Graders and wish them all the best! We know that they will “Let their STAR shine!” In everything they do! Let’s hear it for our 8th Grade Students!”

To see all the photos go to the school’s Facebook page.

Golden Ring Middle’s Bridget Moore Receives Writing Grant

Bridget Moore, an English language arts teacher at Golden Ring Middle School, was selected from among 1,800 international applicants to receive one of 20 grants from the Sustainable Arts Foundation.

The $5,000 grants are designed to benefit artists and writers who are parents. Moore plans to use her grant to develop online lessons about children’s literature. The lessons will focus on children’s literature that reflects diverse backgrounds and often is not taught in schools or in homeschooling curriculum.

Moore, a Baltimore City resident who has been a Baltimore County teacher for two years, received the grant partially based on an excerpt from her upcoming young adult novel. The book, “Dr. Marvellus Djinn’s Odd Scholars,” will be published this fall by MVmedia, LLC. Although Moore has had numerous short stories and poetry published, this will be her first published novel.

The novel is an historical fantasy that Moore has described as “’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ meets ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ meets ‘Kindred.’” The story is based, in part, on her research about African American amusement parks and magicians in the 1920s. Moore, who refers to her Golden Ring Middle students as “amazing,” said that five of them served as beta (or test) readers during the novel’s development and offered her valuable feedback.

Originally from New Jersey, Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Rutgers University and is pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at McDaniel College. A teacher for 11 years, Moore worked for Baltimore City and Prince George’s County school systems before joining BCPS.

Eastern Tech, Parkville & Towson High Seniors Earn Grants

Baltimore County Public Schools seniors have earned all three of this year’s one-time scholarship grants from the Engineering Society of Baltimore Education Foundation (ESB-EF).

Emma Evans-Nolet, Parkville High School, is the recipient of the $2,000 ESB Board of Trustees Scholarship. She plans to major in electrical engineering at Duke University or the University of Maryland, College Park.

Amir Moon, Eastern Technical High School, is the recipient of the $3,000 James Posey Associates Centennial Scholarship. He is headed to the University of Maryland, College Park, to study mechanical engineering.

Rakrish Dhakal, Towson High School, is the recipient of the $2,000 Larry Lewis Memorial Scholarship. He will pursue a degree in computer engineering or computer science at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The goal of ESB-EF is to provide financial support to talented Baltimore metropolitan area high school students interested in becoming engineers. Each year, the program awards low-interest loans and three one-time scholarship grants. Eligible students must reside in Baltimore City or Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, or Howard counties.