Category: Dundalk

BCPS Students Named to All-County Honors Dance Ensemble


Thirty-two high school students and 30 middle school students have been selected to
participate in the Baltimore County Public Schools 2022-2023 All-County Honors Dance Ensemble.

The ensemble will rehearse weekly at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
throughout the winter and spring. The culminating event for the ensemble will be a gala concert
performance on Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at Carver Center.

“A total of 100 students – 50 high school students and 50 middle school students – were nominated by
their teachers to audition for the honors ensemble,” said Darryl Pilate, BCPS dance and theatre resource
teacher. “The adjudicators were impressed by all of the students’ technical and professional skills. The
students accepted for the All-County Honors Dance Ensemble demonstrated not only their technical
ability but also the ability to think ‘on their feet’ and be expressive through the art form while applying
feedback.”

The members of the 2022-2023 All-County Honors Dance Ensemble are:

HIGH SCHOOL MEMBERS
Franklin High School
Trinity Hicks

George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
Olivia Anderson; Camila Abrego Argueta; Isabel Armstrong; Annelese Atkinson; Simone Brown; Dante
Campbell; Melody Cole; Jada Daniels; Jaia Dinkins; Jadin Holiday; Sharon Kasibante; Ja’Zara Lane; Devin
Nichelson; Shoshana Paley; Madisyn Rice- Evans; Makenzie Smith; Jase Woolcock

Lansdowne High School
Sa’Ni Betts; Giulia Mendes

Milford Mill Academy
Toimar Allen; Melaya Barker; Jahnai James; Zyaire McMillan; Kyla Randall

Owings Mills High School
Shayla Johnson

Parkville High School
Lyndsey Hoxter; Ariel Parker
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
Zarrah Allen; Madison Cosden; Aashyah de Vries; Armani Woods

MIDDLE SCHOOL MEMBERS
Deep Creek Middle School
Malia Terry

Deer Park Magnet Middle School
Morgan Clinton; Kendall Davison; Nyiemah Gibbs

Franklin Middle School
Madison Beyer; Elon Bryant; La’Nae Coldin; Bailey Ferrel; Masio Pearson; Jada Sellers

Loch Raven Technical Academy
Joshua Nichols

Middle River Middle School
Madison Cooper; Arianna Hunt; Makayla Ortiz

Pikesville Middle School
London Bailey; Maya Chase; Sophee Fields; Larae Jones; Cydney Polk; Kayden Sorrell

Southwest Academy
Kaleb Jenson; Makyli Williams

Sudbrook Magnet Middle School
Solae Beaman; Shabraya Dennis; Claire Jabaji; Timara Keyes; Ibunkun Ojemuyiwa; Nylah Queen; Jaelyn
Sabb

Two Lottery Winners Sold in Middle River & Dundalk


The Maryland Lottery announced three tickets worth $100,000 or more delivered the biggest prizes were sold throughout Maryland, including Middle River. There was also a winner from Dundalk area.

All winners from eastern Baltimore County are listed below:

Scratch-off Prizes Claimed July 25-31:
$10,000 Prizes

· $500,000 Crossword, Soda Pop Store, 7715 Westfield Road, Dundalk

FAST PLAY and Draw Game Tickets Sold for Drawings July 25-31:

FAST PLAY

· $133,638 Home Run Riches Bases Loaded ticket sold July 31 at Martin Exxon, 2333 Eastern Boulevard, Middle River (unclaimed as of Aug. 1)

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Dundalk Man Charged in Mother’s Death


Baltimore County police officers from the Dundalk Precinct responded to the 7300 block of Kirtley Road in Dundalk in reference to a call for an unknown trouble on Thursday, March 17, at approximately 4 a.m.

Once on scene, officers encountered an individual who was walking in the roadway. This individual was stopped and identified as Raymond G. Swartz (23). Officers were then directed to the residence of Mr. Swartz, where they located Stacy Franz (54). Ms. Franz had sustained multiple puncture wounds, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Mr. Swartz was arrested and charged in connection with this homicide.

He is currently being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Dundalk Woman Wins $200,000 from Lottery


–Article & photo courtesy of Maryland Lottery–

Have you ever woken up and just knew you would win the Maryland Lottery?

Well, that’s what happened to our winner, “Trini Girl.” Just a year after the dream, the Dundalk resident purchased a $10 FAST PLAY ticket and became $201,693 richer!

“I told my fiancé that I would win the Lottery,” said the winner, who selected the nickname “Trini Girl” because she was born in Trinidad and Tobago.

She immigrated to the United States at age 11. “He didn’t believe me at the time, but I’m here now!”

“Trini Girl” found her winning FAST PLAY Lucky Numbers ticket while visiting 7-Eleven #25756 in Baltimore.

The 26-year-old purchased multiple FAST PLAY tickets and then walked around the store to get food before scanning her tickets. Very quickly, the Baltimore County resident became upset at the message she saw on the screen about the jackpot for the Lucky Numbers game.

“I saw that the progressive jackpot dropped from over $200,000 to just $100,000 and I immediately felt a sinking in my stomach as I scanned my tickets,” said “Trini Girl.”

“And then, I realized the reason the progressive prize fell – I won!”

The winner said she would use the money to pay down debt, save for future purchases and take her two daughters to Disney World.

The $10 Lucky Numbers game joined the Lottery’s lineup of FAST PLAY games in February 2020. The game still has 21 unclaimed progressive jackpot prizes and 30 unclaimed $50,000 prizes. Progressive jackpots start at $100,000 and grow with each Lucky Numbers ticket purchased until a player buys a progressive jackpot-winning ticket.

Her retailer, 7-Eleven #25756 located at 7501 Dunmanway in Dundalk, will also benefit from selling one of 40 progressive jackpot prizes.

The Baltimore County store will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a winning FAST PLAY ticket of $100,000 or more.

Man Fatally Shot in Dundalk on Ewald Avenue


Baltimore County police officers responded to the 1900 block of Ewald Avenue in Dundalk for reports of a shooting on Wednesday, March 2 around 2:30 p.m.

When officers arrived they located a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medics transported the victim, 43-year-old Tayvon Scott, to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Baltimore County homicide detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this shooting. Anyone with information regarding the case is being asked to call 410-307-2020.

Ukrainian Cemetery Desecrated in Dundalk


– photo courtesy of Baltimore County Police Department –

Baltimore County Police received information that more than 50 headstones were damaged at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Cemetery in Dundalk.

The incident was called into police on Wednesday, Feb. 23 around 4 p.m.

Detectives continue to investigate this case.

Anyone with information about this case may contact precinct detectives at 410-307-2020.

Information may also be provided through iWATCH.

Menzer to Leave Dundalk Renaissance Corp.


-photo courtesy of DRC-

The Dundalk Renaissance Corp. announced that its Executive Director Amy Menzer is stepping down to take a position with Baltimore County Government.

Menzer has served as the DRC Executive Director for the past 15 years.

Dundalk Renaissance President Dan Dawes thanked Menzer for her service to Dundalk and her commitment to the DRC.

“Amy’s vision and leadership over the past 15 years has been a key driver to propel Dundalk Renaissance to become the organization it is today. And while she will be greatly missed by the staff, board, partners and our Dundalk neighbors, her tireless and thorough work over the years leaves us on very solid footing,” Dawes said.

“Personally, having worked alongside Amy as a board member for 5 years, I’ll miss her passion for helping our community, but I think it’s great that she’s taking this opportunity to share her talents on an even larger stage to help more neighborhoods in Baltimore County.”

Menzer announced on social media that she is taking a new position with the Baltimore County Department of Planning working with Director Steve Lafferty.

“It has been an incredible honor to do community development work in Dundalk,” Menzer said in a statement about her time at the DRC.

“I have learned so much and been challenged beyond belief and been privileged to work with great people and make concrete positive things happen.”

Dundalk Resident Wins $500K in VaxCash 2.0 Promotion


The first of 12 prizes in the VaxCash 2.0 Promotion has been awarded to a 71-year-old Dundalk resident who visited Lottery Headquarters in Baltimore on Feb. 23 to claim the prize.

The winner, who chose to remain anonymous and use the nickname “Mi Familia,” received a call from the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) on Feb. 15 informing her of the win. She was in disbelief until she walked into the Lottery Winner’s Circle, where she enthusiastically danced around the room with Lottery staff.

“I didn’t believe it was real, until today,” the excited winner told Lottery officials. When asked why she chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster, she said that she wanted protection from the virus.

“My mom convinced many of our family members to get the vaccine, too,” the winner’s daughter said. “She believes it is so important.”

The VaxCash 2.0 Promotion, which was announced by Governor Larry Hogan on Feb. 8, will award $2 million in cash prizes in weekly drawings from Feb. 15 to May 3. VaxCash 2.0 aims to incentivize Marylanders to get the COVID-19 booster. All Maryland residents 18 and older who have received an initial shot(s) and a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at eligible facilities in Maryland at any time are eligible to win. No registration or entry is needed.

In addition to the $500,000 prize awarded to the Dundalk winner, 10 weekly drawings from Feb. 23 through April 26 will award $50,000 prizes. And the promotion will end on May 3 with a drawing to award a grand prize of $1 million.

The mother-of-three plans to use her winnings to buy her dream house.

“My mother is superwoman,” the winner’s daughter said. “She spent her life raising my siblings and me. This is her much-deserved compensation.”

VaxCash 2.0 follows last year’s successful collaboration between the Lottery and MDH for the VaxCash Promotion that ran from May 25 through July 4, 2021, awarding $2 million in prizes to vaccinated Marylanders. For complete details about VaxCash 2.0, including the official rules and a list of frequently asked questions and answers, visit the VaxCash 2.0 page.

Parkville and Overlea Advance to Boys Regional Finals


– photo courtesy of Overlea Falcons MBasketball Facebook page-

Parkville and Overlea are in the boys basketball regional finals as they defeated two local schools to get to the finals of their regions.

The Knights improved to 22-0 with an 89 to 65 win over Dundalk in the 4A playoffs. Parkville recently won the Baltimore County title last week.

Also Overlea defeated Sparrows Point in the 2A Regional Semifinals 77 to 22 on Monday.

Parkville will play the winner of Catonsville/Dulaney on Wednesday and the Falcons will host the winner of Carver Vo-Tech/Dunbar also on March 2.

Two Separate Dundalk Fires Take One Life & Seriously Injure a Woman


Baltimore County Fire Department reported a woman died and another was seriously injured in two separate Dundalk electrical fires on Sunday.

The first fire took place in the 7000 block of Dunhill Road in Dundalk and took the life of Vesta Irene Cooper, 92, She was declared dead at the scene at her home in after the fire started on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Fire crews were called for a dwelling fire with rescue. A neighbor who called 911 reported the house on fire and an elderly female possibly trapped.

Crews arrived within three minutes of dispatch, entered the home and found the victim in the living room.

Fire investigators determined this was an accidental fire that began with a damaged electrical cord.

Later that night, a 72-year-old woman was critically injured in a Sunday night two-alarm apartment fire. She was transported to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Fire and Police units were dispatched at 11:38 p.m. to an apartment fire in the 6900 block of Mornington Road in Dundalk. Fire crews found smoke and fire in the living room of one unit; a second alarm was called due to multiple rescues.

Responders found the critically injured victim in the bathroom. Eight other patients were treated for minor injuries; four of those were transported to hospitals.

Fire investigators determined this was an accidental fire caused by electrical failure of a series of connected extension cords.