Category: County Government

Gunpowder Elementary Dedicates Playground to Amy Caprio


–photo courtesy of Councilman David Marks-

Fallen Officer Amy Caprio was honored with on a playground at Gunpowder Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 23 in Perry Hall.

The event was attended by Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, state Senate Kathy Klausmeier, Delegates Harry Bhandari Joe Boteler and Carl Jackson and Councilman David Marks.

“Today, our Perry Hall community celebrated the opening of the new Unity Playground at Gunpowder Elementary School, dedicated to Officer Amy Caprio

“In my remarks, I spoke of the twin values of courage and community – the bravery of Officer Caprio when she was murdered on May 21, 2018, and the generosity of spirit shown by our community in the time afterward. We came together to support one another,” Marks said.

“In all my years as a Councilman, this was one of finest projects and among the best dedication ceremonies I have attended. There are so many to thank, but it begins with Kirsten Roller, Matt Clifford and their families from Linwen Way who sparked this project. Children will play, laugh, and learn here for years to come.

“The rain held off, like someone was watching over us.”

9/11 Events Scheduled all over East County


Here are a list of events to remember the victims of 9/11 in eastern Baltimore County on Saturday.

Baltimore County 9/11 Ceremony
To commemorate the events of the 9/11, Baltimore County Police and Baltimore County Government will hold a a wreath laying ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 11, to honor first responders and remember the lives lost that fateful day 20 years ago.

The ceremony will be held online at 9:30 a.m.

To watch the ceremony go to, facebook.com/BaltCoGov.

9/11 Memorial at Essex Volunteer Fire Company
The Essex Volunteer Fire Company will unveil a newly constructed memorial to honor the victims of 9/11. The event will be held at 11 a.m. at the Essex Volunteer Fire Company, 1449, Sussex Road in Essex.

9/11 Remembrance Bell Tolling Ceremony

Local firefighters and police officers remember the 345 firefighters and 72 police officers who gave their all on 9/11 at a ceremony at McAvoy’s Sports Bar & Grill between 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

The event is at 2531 Putty Hill Avenue in Parkville.

9-11 Tribute @ The Watersedge Fall Festival

There will be a 9-11-2001 tribute at the Watersedge Fall Festival on Saturday September 11, 2021 promptly at 5:30 pm at Watersedge Park

The Post 38 Honor Guard will present the colors followed by The Pledge of Allegiance , The National Anthem and a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives on that horrible day ! A piece of steel from the remnants of the North Tower will be on site at the front of the stage .

This event will be held on the stage of the Watersedge Fall Festival 2021

West Perry Hall Water System to be Upgraded


Councilman David Marks reported that preparations are being made to improve the water system in western Perry Hall, The project calls for restoring a decaying network that has experienced numerous leaks over the past two years.

“Baltimore County will begin replacing 4,000 feet of water line in parts of Seven Courts Drive, Pinedale Drive, Proctor Lane and Gunview Road before the end of this year. Contractors will replace 4- and 16-inch diameter pre-stressed concrete pipe with ductile-iron pipe in a project which is anticipated to take between three and six months to compete and cost $1.5 million,” Marks explained.

The councilman added there has been a delay in this projects because of supply issues and added that residents in the area will receive updates about temporary water shutoffs and parking changes that will be needed to facilitate progress. Driving lanes disturbed by construction will be resurfaced at the end of the job.

“This project was a big priority for me in the last budget, along with the four-mile resurfacing of Joppa Road. While it may be inconvenient, improvements must be made to end the chronic leaks that are disrupting everyday life,” Marks said.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Works and Transportation at engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.

County Opens New Senior Fitness Center in Dundalk


–photo courtesy of Baltimore County Facebook-

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined the Fleming Senior Center in Dundalk and the Baltimore County Department of Aging for the grand opening of their new fitness studio on Friday, Aug. 27.

“Physical health is such an important part of our well-being, and we’re excited to provide our seniors with the resources they need to thrive,” Olszewski said.

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.

Baltimore County Renews State of Emergency

One Councilman Questions Purpose of the Announcement

As jurisdictions across Maryland and nationwide continue to experience rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases amid the contagious Delta variant, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski  declared a local state of emergency to expand Baltimore County’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olszewski previously declared a local state of emergency on March 13, 2020, which remained in effect until July 9, 2021.

“Government has an obligation to do all we can to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents. While we’ve made undeniable progress in our fight against this deadly virus, the rapid emergence of the Delta variant has made it clear that we need access to every tool in our toolbox to be able to respond to it,” Olszewski said.

“We remain committed to doing whatever is necessary to keep our residents as safe as possible and to ensure that when our children go back to school next week they can remain where they belong: inside the classroom.”

Baltimore County has been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, with 74 percent of County residents aged 12 and older having received at least one dose.

However, since July 30, 2021, the 7-day case rate in Baltimore County has increased 376 percent, pushing Baltimore County within the CDC’s “substantial” transmission zone (50-99 cases per 100,000 residents) as vaccination rates vary from community to community.

The new local State of Emergency issued today will give Baltimore County the ability to quickly adopt emergency public health measures to protect the safety and wellbeing of residents, assist the County in requesting additional resources from the state and federal governments to support response and recovery efforts, and quickly procure materials and supply necessary for protecting public health.

The Baltimore County Council will hold a vote to consider continuation of the County’s state of emergency beyond August 31 in the coming days.

“Despite our best efforts to combat COVID-19 and vaccinate our residents, the continued spread of the Delta variant is deeply concerning and I applaud the County Executive’s leadership in declaring this local state of emergency,” Council Chairman Julian Jones said.

“I am certain my colleagues will agree that we must take every step to protect our residents by ensuring our government has all the tools to protect the public’s health, and I will convene an emergency council meeting to extend the local state of emergency within the next week.”

Seventh Councilman Todd Crandell said not all members of the Baltimore County Council were consulted on the decision to renew Baltimore County’s State of Emergency and he questions the significations of the decision.

“It appears that only certain Council members were made aware of the County Executive’s announcement of a new Local State of Emergency. I was not one of them, so currently I am not able to explain the reasoning behind the announcement. I now will have to ask the same questions I asked in the past, as the Local State of Emergency gives the County Executive powers to control aspects of commerce, public gatherings, and transportation. That’s it,” Crandell wrote on social media.

“There is no language in anything we researched, nor has the Administration proven to us, that a Local State of Emergency is necessary to procure state and federal aid to respond to the pandemic. In fact, the County has been operating without a State of Emergency with no slowing of its response for the last six weeks.”

Masks Required Again on Baltimore County Facilities


As jurisdictions across Maryland and throughout the country continue to experience increasing COVID-19 cases amid the Delta variant, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced that County employees and the general public will be required to wear masks inside all County offices and facilities, effective Friday, August 13.

“This commonsense step will help limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of our workforce and visitors to our buildings and facilities,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I thank our dedicated employees for helping us keep each other, our loved ones, and our community safe. We continue to closely monitor key metrics and the advice of scientific experts and remain committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.”

This action aligns with recently updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommends that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks indoors in areas with “substantial” or “high” community transmission. Baltimore County’s COVID-19 case rate is now within the CDC’s substantial transmission zone (50-99 cases per 100,000 residents).  
 
“We must use all the tools in our arsenal to defeat this deadly virus,” said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch. “We are working to get the vaccine into the arms of all of our eligible residents. Until that is accomplished, wearing masks inside County facilities will go a long way toward decreasing the spread.”
 
Baltimore County will continue to make efforts to provide vaccinations to the public a top priority in order to slow the spread of the virus and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baltimore County has consistently been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, with more than 72 percent of County residents aged 12 and older receiving at least one dose.

Marks to Hold Meeting for Citizens on Patrol Set Up


Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and Eastern Perry Hall Citizens on Patrol will hold an online meeting to discuss how neighborhoods can implement effective Citizens on Patrol programs. The meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

This meeting is a follow-up to the initial meeting in December 2019 in which neighborhoods in eastern Perry Hall discussed the need for more Citizens on Patrol programs.

“I will be hosting an informational meeting tonight for residents who want to create their own Citizens on Patrol programs. While the primary focus is eastern Perry Hall, anyone may join who is interested in starting one of these units, Mark said about the meeting. For more information, go to the event’s Facebook page.

To attend the meeting go to the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8352699248

Meeting ID: 835 2699 2481
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83526992481# US (Washington DC)

County to Offer COVID Vaccinations at High Schools


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of mass vaccination clinics aimed at getting more students vaccinated before the start of school on August 30. The clinics will be held at County high schools in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and that have vaccination rates lower than the County average.

“As students and educators prepare to return to school later this month, their health and safety is our top priority — and increasing vaccination rates among students 12 and older is the best way to keep them safe,” Olszewski said. “The vaccines are safe and they save lives. They are plentiful and widely available. Not getting vaccinated puts you, your family, and your community at risk. I urge every unvaccinated resident to become vaccinated as soon as possible.”

“It is time to get REVVed up for back to school,” said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch. “Being Ready, Energized, Vigilant and Vaxxed will go a long way toward a successful school year for our students, families and staff.”

As part of the student vaccination initiative, mass clinics will be held at County high schools over the coming weeks and at Wellness Centers located inside of school buildings once school is in session. The Baltimore County Department of Health partners with Baltimore County Public Schools to support 17 School Wellness Centers located in elementary, middle and high schools across the County.

The first two High School clinics are scheduled at the following locations:

· New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd, Monday, August 9; 4 to 7pm

· Dundalk High School, 1901 Delvale Ave, Tuesday, August 10; 4 to 7pm

Vaccinations at these clinics will not be limited to students; any individual aged 12 or older can receive a vaccine. Individuals who wish to receive a vaccine but are not able to attend any of these clinics can find other available clinics at www.BaltimoreCountyMD.gov/vaccines.
Baltimore County has been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, and more than 70 percent of County residents aged 12 and older have received at least one dose. However, many communities across the County continue to have lower vaccination rates. Vaccination rates are also lower for younger residents, with only approximately 47 percent of residents between the ages of 12 and 18 having received at least one dose.

With the Delta variant spreading rapidly nationwide and in Baltimore County, Covid-19 case rates are again on the rise after falling significantly for months. Increasing vaccination rates is critical for slowing the spread of the virus and bringing the pandemic to an end.

Baltimore County Council to Remain Virtual


The Baltimore County Council announced that it will continue with virtual sessions and meetings.

The Council had been considering a return to in-person sessions and meetings, including Work Sessions and Legislative Sessions, with the Legislative Session scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

Since the Council held its Budget Adoption Session in-person in the
Council Chamber on May 27th, COVID vaccines were becoming more available,
cases/hospitalizations/deaths were trending down in a positive direction, the local State of Emergency had ended in July, and the State had lifted all restrictions.

It appeared that a return to in-person on Sept. 7 might be a realistic goal.

But now, as we are in the month of August and concluding the Council’s summer schedule, although many people are vaccinated, there is still a sizeable segment of the population
that is not vaccinated.

There are also significant concerns over the potential spread of the very
contagious Delta variant and cases/hospitalizations/deaths now appear to be trending in the wrong direction.

As a consequence, the Baltimore County Council will continue to conduct its meetings and sessions virtually via video teleconference.

“We want to be smart and deliberate about how we respond to the Delta variant and this recent uptick in COVID numbers,” said Council
Chairman Julian E. Jones, Jr.

“Although we would like to resume in-person meetings and ‘get back to normal,’ we don’t want to put anyone’s health and safety at risk unnecessarily.”

Anyone wishing to connect to the Council’s virtual meetings can do so by visiting the County Council Virtual Sessions and Hearings page on the Council Website
at
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/virtualmeetings.html.

You can also reach the County Council at 410-887-3196.