Category: Business Matters

Hygea Healthcare Opens Center in Middle River


–photo courtesy of Jennifer Sawyer-
Hygea HealthcareHygea Healthcare leadership was joined by Gov. Wes Moore, Special Secretary Emily Keller of the Maryland Office of Overdose Response, Baltimore County Deputy Administrative Officer Elisabeth Sachs, and former Baltimore County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins to officially open its cutting-edge, 50-bed, 30,000 sq ft, substance use treatment center at 1210 Middle River Road on Monday, July 29.

“During our first nineteen months, my administration has made health care access a priority. We created an Office of Overdose Response to coordinate efforts and save lives. We directed $13.5 million to pilot programs to improve access to behavioral health services. We just carried out one of the most successful Medicaid renewal campaigns in the country. Maryland is committed to taking care of our people,” said Gov. Moore.

“You cannot have a healthy state without a healthy population. At a time when our state faces disparities in substance dependence; at a time when opioids account for nearly 90 percent of overdose deaths in Maryland—our healthcare partners aren’t just pointing out the challenge, but are choosing to be part of the solution. All of us are touched by this crisis. It will take all of us to stop it. And together, we can – and we must.”

“This project started with a vision. A vision to disrupt the current treatment approach and to create a building which expresses and defines who Hygea Healthcare is and what we offer. A facility which decades from now will stand as a beacon of what treatment should look like and how quality treatment can be delivered using whole person care and evidenced based practices,” said Robby Stempler, CEO and Founder of Hygea Healthcare.

“Technology will serve as a key driver to improve the way treatment is delivered. Treatment success is about outcomes and how recovery can be established and maintained by the community we serve. We are excited to open this center and begin helping people transform their lives and start their path of recovery.”

The Hygea Middle River facility provides Level 3.7 and 3.7WM ASAM-certified treatment programs, designed to meet the unique needs of each client. The campus is open and welcoming, designed with extensive green spaces to promote health and healing, while offering the privacy needed to begin the recovery process.

The comprehensive Level 3.7 ASAM treatment program includes medical care and evidence-based activities aimed at improving motivation, enhancing readiness for change, building recovery skills, and preparing clients for transition to lower levels of longer-term care. In addition to traditional cognitive-behavioral counseling, Hygea Middle River takes a holistic approach to recovery, offering yoga, meditation, recreational therapy, and healthy eating programs.

Hygea expresses its gratitude to Mullan Contracting Company and Curry Architects for their exceptional work in designing and constructing the center.

Hygea Healthcare at Middle River Ribbon Cutting with Governor Wes Moore, Hygea Healthcare Founder & CEO, Robby Stempler and more.

Credit Union Commits $50,000 to BCPS


At a reception honoring recipients of its 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 “Putting Students First Grant” program, First Financial Federal Credit Union announced a $50,000 commitment to Baltimore County Public Schools over the next five years.
Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the credit union will award 10 $1,000 grants each year through the 2027-2028 school year.

Putting Students First Grants of up to $500 each were first offered in the 2021-2022 school year through
a partnership between First Financial and The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools.

The Putting Students First Grant program, available to BCPS educators and school administrators, supports student services and curriculum enhancements.

The grants are reviewed, judged, and selected by a joint committee of Education Foundation and First Financial employees.

Recipient schools for 2022
include: Battle Grove Elementary School, Cedarmere Elementary School, Charlesmont Elementary School, Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet School, Featherbed Lane Elementary School,
Glyndon Elementary School, Loch Raven Technical Academy, Perry Hall Elementary School, Riverview Elementary School, and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science.

“First Financial’s commitment to extend and enhance the Putting Students First Grants brings extra sparks of excitement and motivation to the educators in BCPS,” said Deborah S. Phelps, executive
director of The Education Foundation.

“This opportunity will allow educators to create and design additional innovative, research-based programs. It will provide them supplies and resources to implement the programs contributing to the overall learning environment for our students and allow educators to continuously embrace the total child. The foundation extends its utmost gratitude to First Financial Federal Credit Union for being our ‘Education Champion’ for Team BCPS.”

Founded to serve the financial needs of educators, First Financial is well known for its commitment to enhancing education in the community it serves.
“Seeing the impact this partnership has had within the educational community made it easy for us to decide to continue this initiative,” said First Financial President and CEO Eric Church.

“Recognizing how critical quality education is to our future, we’re proud
to deepen our support of the grant program and extend this partnership for another five years.”

To learn more about First Financial and membership eligibility, visit the credit union’s website or call
Member Services at 410-321-6060, option 5.

Perry Hall Wawa Now Open for Business


-photo courtesy of Delegate Joe Boteler-

The Wawa of Perry Hall held its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 3. The store is located at the intersection of Belair Road and Honeygo Boulevard near the Perry Hall Library. Councilman David Marks was one of the dignitaries at the event.

“The corner of Belair Road and Honeygo Boulevard was zoned for commercial development in 2000. A shopping center was approved two years before my election. Our office persuaded the developer to reject uses that would be more appropriate elsewhere – Lidl located to the Mars supermarket site instead, for example. Surrounding neighborhoods were actively engaged as plans for Wawa moved forward,” Marks explained.

“The Wawa offers more choice for motorists and employs local residents – and is already giving back to the community. Today, the store made a donation to Gunpowder Elementary as it recognized Kirsten Roller for her work on the playground project.”

Baltimore Kettlebell Club Moves to E Joppa Road


-photo courtesy of Delegate Carl Jackson-

The Baltimore Kettlebell Club held their grand opening in Perry Hall on 4132 E. Joppa Rd. Kettlebell Club has been in business since 2011, and they moved into a larger location in the summer and held the traditional ribbon cutting on Saturday.

The ceremony was attended by Delegates Carl Jackson Joe Boteler, Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, and County Councilman David Marks.

“Today, on behalf of myself, Delegate Harry Bhandari and Delegate Joseph Carroll Boteler I presented a citation from the Maryland General Assembly congratulating Baltimore Kettlebell Club on their new location in Perry Hall,” Jackson said. “I also had a chance to workout with some parents and kids as well.”

The Baltimore Kettlebell Club was founded by Dan Cenidoza and his wife Jessica 10 years ago.

“Dan Cenidoza ran a good event, with demonstrations of exercises they do with the parents and the kids, as well as various feats of strength and agility,” Boteler added.

“This has become a popular, family-oriented physical fitness organization – I was amazed at the number of kids today,” Marks said. “We are delighted to have this club in the heart of Perry Hall at the Festival shopping center on Joppa Road.

Country Club Bowling Lanes Has Closed


AMF Country Club Lanes has closed its door. The bowling alley was located at 9020 Pulaski Hwy in Middle River.

The windows have been boarded up and there was an announcement on the AMF website.

“We’re sorry to say that AMF Country Club Lanes has permanently closed. We would like to invite you to keep bowling with us at AMF Perry Hall Lanes,” said a statement on the AMF site.

Pinland Bowling in Dundalk closed in the spring and Edgemere Bowling lanes closed back in 2012. Both of those bowling alleys were duckpin lanes and privately owned.

Country Club Lanes only had traditional tenpin lanes and was owned by corporate giant AMF.

County to Give Grants to Local Organizations


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced that Baltimore County and the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) have awarded more than $2.47 million in grants to over 50 local community-based organizations to support their recovery and enhance efforts to strengthen neighborhood resiliency.

“Baltimore County is home to so many dedicated community organizations working every day to create opportunities for our residents and supporting our diverse neighborhoods,” Olszewski said. “Thanks to these new grants, we are proud to provide millions to support the recovery of these organizations, allowing them to continue providing services on behalf of our residents for years to come.”

Announced in May 2021, the Baltimore County COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Grant Fund offered grants of $10,000 to $100,000 to Baltimore County community-based organizations to support residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funds will be used to support a diverse range of community efforts, such as emergency shelter and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, support for food pantry expansions, installation of ADA compliant bathroom upgrades, mobile vaccination efforts, community financial counseling programs, and much more. Additionally, funds will help cover revenue reductions or operating expense increases that have occurred due to the pandemic.

The Baltimore County COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Grant Fund is supported by Baltimore County’s allocation of Maryland Recovery Now funding and is administered through a partnership with BCF.

“Baltimore County’s community organizations have exemplified time and again their ability to respond, innovate and support families’ survival and quality of life needs,” said Shanaysha Sauls, BCF President & CEO. “It was both natural and seamless to partner with County Executive Olszewski’s administration to steward these funds, achieve the program’s goals and do our part to help our region and its residents emerge from this pandemic safely and more resilient.”

Here is a list of some of the Baltimore County Emergency Response Fund awardees in eastern Baltimore County:

  • Baltimore County Sailing Center
  • Bowley’s Quarters Improvement Association, Inc
  • Dundalk Renaissance Corporation
  • Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County, Inc
  • Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library
  • Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum
  • Harford Park Community Association
  • Holy Trinity Episcopal
  • Middlesex Health Center
  • Sparrows Point North Point Historical Society
  • Sussex Community Association Inc

The COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Fund is the latest in a series of partnerships between Baltimore County and BCF. In March 2020, the County and BCF launched the Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which provided 50 local community-based organizations grants totaling $400,000 to enhance the County’s response to the COVID-19 crisis last summer.

In June 2021, the County and BCF established a fund to support the Baltimore County Summer Youth Jobs Program, providing skills training, coaching and paid work experience at public and private sector organizations for 300 Baltimore County youth.

Pizza Johns Partners With Weis Markets


Pizza Johns of Essex has announced that it will sell its world famous pizza products at selected Weis Markets.

Now 12″ and 16″ bake at home pizzas will be available at six Weis Markets in Eastern Baltimore, along with two stores in Harford County.

Here are a list of stores:
* 7200 Holabird Avenue in Dundalk
* 7848 Wise Avenue in Dundalk
* 168 Orville Road in Essex
* 4126 E Joppa Road in Carney
* 9400 Scott Moore Way in Perry Hall
* 7927 Belair Road in Fullerton
* 550 W Macphail Road in Bel Air
* 924 Pulaski Highway in Havre De Grace

Pizza Johns announced a similar partnership with a Kingsville store last summer,

USWind to Bring Manufacturing Jobs to Area


– photo courtesy of TradePoint Atlantic-

TradePoint Atlantic (TPA) held a press event on Tuesday to announce that they signed a deal with USWind to bring steel back to the Sparrows Point area.

Manufacturing is coming back to Sparrows Point and TPA said this deal will soon create 500 high quality, good paying, permanent union jobs for skilled workers once again.

Gov. Larry Hogan attended the event and said this announcement is both good for the environment and the economy.

“Expanding offshore wind in Maryland will diversify our economy and energy portfolio,” Hogan said.

“Through US Wind’s continued investment, the revitalization of Sparrows Point will be a shot in the arm for Baltimore, and another milestone for the transformative vision for Tradepoint Atlantic Industrial Complex.”

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. said that the addition of 500 union jobs could be a “game changer for the area.

“The legacy of Sparrows Point is built on good jobs for our families, and I’m excited about the prospect of the return of manufacturing to this site,” Olszewski said.

“This is a full circle moment that will strengthen communities across our entire region.”

Chase Bank to Open Location in Dundalk


Chase Bank is coming to Dundalk. Construction is underway in the 1400 block of Merritt Boulevard. It is in the same shopping center as Giant and Big Lot.

It is in the same location as the old Pizza Hut, which was demolished in the spring

According to its website, Chase has 4,700 locations and over 40 banks in Maryland.