Category: Dundalk

Overlea/Sollers HS Grad Named Young Woman of the Year


Michelle Sobambo, a 2021 graduate of Overlea High School, has been named Baltimore County’s Young Woman of the Year. She will be honored by Baltimore County government and its Commission for Women during the 39th Annual Woman of the Year Awards Ceremony, which will be a virtual event, held on Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m.

“Michelle Sobambo is a hardworking and dedicated student committed to her educational future,” said Dr. Monica Sample, principal of Overlea High. “Michelle is a natural leader and role model to others. Michelle selflessly and willingly serves her community and is always looking to contribute to the global society in a positive way.”

“Through her outstanding academic performance, student leadership, and community service, Michelle Sobambo brings honor to her family, her schools, and all of Baltimore County Public Schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Her example challenges all students to pursue their areas of interest and find ways to contribute and lead.”

At Overlea High, Sobambo was a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honors Society, African Students Association, World Language Club, Girls Who Code, varsity soccer team, varsity softball team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and the Allied Bowling Team. In addition, she attended Sollers Point Technical High School as a member of the selective Academy of Health Professionals program, with a specialty in anatomy and physiology. At Sollers, she earned nursing assistant certification and was a member of the National Technical Honors Society. She expects to become certified as a pharmacy technician by August.

As president of the Overlea High Student Government Association, Sobambo coordinated the schoolwide One Love outreach campaign (to educate students about relationship abuse), the Angel Tree program (for helping the less fortunate during the holiday season), a project to assist animals living in animal shelters, and the Let’s Read book donation and guest reader program. Under her leadership, Overlea’s Student Government Association won the highest BCPS honor awarded for overall student council effectiveness, the Superintendent’s Cup.

Beyond Overlea High, Sobambo was a member of the Baltimore County Student Councils’ Board of Selected Students and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council; has attended county and statewide leadership training; teaches Sunday school at House of Praise Baltimore; and volunteers at the Rosedale branch of Baltimore County Public Library.

Casanova Wins East Balt Co Scholarship


Congratulations to recent Patapsco High Center for the Arts graduate Joaquin Casanova who was named our East Balt Co News scholarship winner for the 2020-21 school year.

Casanova was selected by the school and was awarded the scholarship by EastBaltCo.com.

EastBaltco awards a scholarship to a student that has ambitions for a career in media. Casanova is the fourth winner for the Benstorming/East Balt Co News scholarship since 2017.

Casanova will be headed to the University of Cincinnati to study media production starting next year. He was also involved with the theatre department at the school and said his time at Patapsco was a valuable experience.

“Patapsco has prepared me for the future through the skills I learned in the theatre department but more importantly it has given me the confidence to succeed in new situations and interact with new people,” Casanova said.

According to Casanova, he was only at the school for two years, but said he was welcomed to the school with opening arms.

I’d say that my memories of Patapsco are of late nights working on theatre shows and studying with others before exams,” Casanova added. “Beyond that what really stuck with me was how quickly the students accepted me even though I only arrived in junior year.”

Pinland Bowling to Hold WAVFC Fundraiser in Final Days


A fundraiser will be held this Saturday, June 12 at Pinland Bowling Lanes in Dundalk. The fundraiser will be held for the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company from 7 to 10 p.m.”

“This station is run on volunteers and a love of helping their community!   So please come show them your appreciation. $15 a person for 3 hours of bowling and shoe rental is included,” said a statement on Pinland’s Facebook page.

“There will be a 50/50, raffle baskets, and baked goods for sale during the event.  No groupons will be honored during this event.”

The Wise Avenue VFC promoted the event on its Facebook page, but it also revealed that Pinland was on the verge of closing.

“Please Come Say “GOODBYE” To a Dundalk Landmark and Business!! Yes. Pinland Bowling Alley is closing it’s doors. Help Support the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company and Give Pinland a Great “Thanks For The Memories” send off!,” said a statement from WAVFC.

“Thank You Pinland Bowling Alley for your CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT for so many decades.”

Pinland is located at 10 N Dundalk Avenue and has been in operation for over 60 years. The bowling alley has held toy drives for the holidays, a food drive for Thanksgiving and held other charitably events for the community.

Pinland has still been hosting fundraisers as the bowling alley had an event to raise funds for Watersedge baseball/softball on June 2.

When EastBaltCo News asked about the future of Pinland, their social media coordinator said that the Pinland will be put on “pause”.

“At the conclusion of the firehall’s fundraiser Pinland and the Duckpond’s operations will be put on pause until the owner has his business plan set up to move forward.”

Dundalk Heritage Fair To Return in 2021


The Dundalk Heritage Fair is returning in 2021. After being forced into a virtual event in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, the fair will return Friday, July 2; Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4 at its Heritage Park site in Old Dundalk.

The main concert acts include the Mahoney Brothers on Friday, July 2 at 8 p.m.; Crack the Sky on Saturday, July 3 at 8 p.m.; Beginnings on Sunday, July 4 at 8 p.m. There will be many other performers including Dean Crawford & The Dunn Rivers Band, Chesapeake Sons, Gene Vincentt and many many more.

The fair will include food, beer garden, rides, games and arts and crafts. Tickets are $10 per person and children under 12 are free.

It was announced that all three Independence Day Events will return as the Dundalk Independence Day Parade will return, Saturday, July 3 at 8 a.m. and the Dundalk Fireworks will be held Monday, July 5 after 9 p.m. at the North Point Government Center; along with the Fair. The parade and fireworks were moved off their traditional July 4th dates to not conflict with Sunday morning and evening church services.

For more information, go to the Dundalk Heritage Fair website

Pedestrian Dies in Dundalk Near Eastern Ave


Baltimore County police reported that 61-year-old Hermenegildo Alvizurez-Chajon of the 4100 block of 51 St., 20710 died in a fatal crash on Tuesday,
June 1 .

Just before 4:30 p.m., a 2015 Hyundai Accent struck pedestrian Chajon who was outside a vehicle near Eastern Avenue and North Point Boulevard in Dundalk. Chajon was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Hyundai remained at the scene and was not injured.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team is continuing their work to determine the factors involved in this fatal crash.

Suspicious Package Found at Dundalk Walmart


Walmart in Dundalk has re-opened after police investigated a suspicious package.

A manager of Walmart in the 2300 block of North Point Blvd in Dundalk called police just after 7:30 a.m. on May 31 after finding a suspicious object in the store.

After evacuating and temporarily closing the Walmart, members of the Baltimore County Police Department’s Hazardous Devices Team determined that the object was not hazardous.

The store has since been re-opened to the public.

Reported Mail Truck Stolen in Dundalk


There are multiple reports that an United States Postal Truck was stolen in Dundalk.

The incident was reported Sunday afternoon before 6 p.m. on Lynch Road in the West Inverness area of Dundalk.

There are additional reports that the suspect or suspects were apprehended near Wise Avenue in Dundalk.

There has been no official statement from Baltimore County Police on this incident.

We will provide more information when it becomes available.

Al’s Seafood Opens Dundalk Carryout Site


Al’s Seafood is back but with a new location for now.

The Essex location at 1551 Eastern Blvd. caught on fire in October, where firefighters reported heavy smoke from the second floor in October. There were no reports of injuries during the fire.

Al’s has now reopened as a carryout location until the old Essex location reopens.

Al’s Seafood carryout is located in Dundalk at 7458 German Hill Road.

For more information, go to their website their Facebook page or call 443-503-6236.

Partial Human Remains Found in Dundalk Water


Baltimore County homicide detectives responded to the Peninsula Expressway Bridge in Dundalk after fishermen discovered partial human remains in the water and called 911 in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 5.

Dive teams spent much of the day searching the waterway for additional remains; detectives continue to actively investigate this case.

If you have any information on the identity of the victim or the circumstances surrounding their death, please call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.

Two Pedestrians Killed in Dundalk Accident


Baltimore County Police are investigating a double-fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on May 2 shortly after 2 a.m., along North Point Boulevard just south of Norris Lane.

A preliminary investigation reveals a Subaru Legacy traveling southbound on North Point Blvd. in the southbound lane struck a pedestrian who at the time was attempting to cross North Point Blvd. just south of Norris Lane. The pedestrian was walking westbound when he was struck. After the crash occurred, the driver of the Subaru came to a controlled stop on the east edge of North Point Blvd.

Shortly thereafter, a driver passing the location of the crash observed the pedestrian in the roadway and stopped on the west edge of North Point Blvd. As she walked into the roadway to assist the injured pedestrian, she was struck and killed by a passing motorcyclist.

Both pedestrians were pronounced deceased at the scene. They have been identified as:

Pedestrian #1

34-year-old Joshua Day

2600 block of Edgemere Ave.

Pedestrian #2

21-year-old Berlynn Matthews

400 block of Nollmeyer Rd.

The motorcyclist, 24-year-old William Collazo-Brown, was traveling southbound on North Point Blvd. in the southbound lane when he struck both pedestrians. Collazo-Brown’s vehicle continued southbound on its side where it came to a rest.

The driver of the Kawasaki Vulcan was identified as an off-duty Baltimore County police officer. Collazo-Brown has been arrested and charged with DUI related offenses; his police powers are currently suspended. Collazo-Brown has been a member of the Baltimore County Police Department since June 2019.

This case remains under investigation by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Crash Team, and the Baltimore County Police Department’s Bureau of Professional Standards/Internal Affairs.