Category: Dundalk

Independence Day Parades Returning to Kingsville & Dundalk


It appears the 4th of July will return to some normalcy as Dundalk and Kingsville will hold their annual Independence Day parades again.

Kingsville canceled its parade in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 and Dundalk altered its parade into a caravan parade around the Dundalk area. Both will be back, but will return on Saturday, July 3 to avoid a conflict with early morning church services.

“Your Dundalk Independence Day Parade is so excited to have our traditional Parade this year we can not wait,” said a statement on the Dundalk Independence Day Parade Facebook page.

Members of the Dundalk parade committee held a Easter Bunny Parade on April 3. This will mark the 86th year of the Dundalk Independence Day Parade.

There has been no official statement on the Kingsville Independence Day Parade social media page, but Councilman David Marks attended the group’s meeting and released a statement.

“The Kingsville Independence Day Parade will return! I was pleased to join community leaders last night who are planning the event, scheduled for Saturday, July 3rd,” Marks said on Wednesday, April 28.

The Dundalk Independence Day Parade is looking for donations.

Not all events are back to normal for July 4th. The Fullerton Fireworks canceled its firework display for the second year in a row. There has been no official decision on the Heritage Fair or the Dundalk Fireworks. A virtual Heritage Fair was held in 2020.

Commercial Building Fire in Edgemere


–photo courtesy of Baltimore County Volunteer Fire Association-

Baltimore County Fire Crews reported a commerical building fire in Edgemere on Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m.

Crews arrived to heavy smoke conditions from a commercial building in the 8200 block of Fischer Road. Crews extinguished a conveyor belt fire around 9:24 a.m.

No injuries reported at this time.

Missing Man Found Dead in Dundalk Water


Middle River Volunteer Fire & Rescue reported that their dive team conducted a water rescue at Merritt Point Park in Dundalk.

A car was reported submerged under water on Thursday, April 15 around 5 p.m.

Police reported 72-year-old Alfonso Bryan was recovered from the scene along with his car

Bryan was reported missing and was last seen on April 9, in the area of Stemmers Run Rd. in Essex.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.

Patapsco Student Honored in Young Writers contest


Allie (Talis) Hill, a junior literary arts student at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, won a top prize in the Young Writers “Through Their Eyes” writing contest.

From thousands of entries received from across the nation, Hill’s poem “Growth” was one of only five selected to be honored. In addition to being published, Hill has won $100 and a trophy.

“Allie is an amazingly talented and prolific author with an incredible gift for conveying emotion in her writing,” said Trisha A. Dunn, Patapsco High’s magnet coordinator.

“Allie Hill joined Patapsco’s Literary Arts magnet last year as a sophomore,” said literary arts teacher Julie Cutlip, “She is quite a prolific storyteller — for a 20,000-word story, she limits herself to 40,000 words. Allie was insistent that she was ‘not a poet.’ Despite ‘having no talent’ for poetry, somehow, she managed to not only be recognized in the Young Writers’ Through Their Eyes writing contest but to actually win! Allie is currently a junior and writing amazing poetry every day in her poetry class. Today might just be the day she accepts that she is a poet.”

Since 1991, Young Writers has coordinated contests and offered online resources to encourage students to write.

Patapsco 2020 Graduate Killed in Crash


Maryland State Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in which one person died and another was injured early Tuesday morning in Anne Arundel County.

Shortly before 4:15 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Glen Burnie Barrack responded to a single-vehicle crash on northbound MD 295 at West Nursery Road in Linthicum Heights. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2018 Toyota Camry was traveling in in the left lane, when for unknown reasons, the driver failed to maintain control of the vehicle, drove off to the right grassy portion of the roadway and struck a tree. Both the driver and passenger were wearing seatbelt at the time of crash.

The driver of the Toyota, a 19-year-old male, was transported by ambulance to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for treatment of his injuries. The passenger of the vehicle, Sean Ruffin, 19, of Dundalk was pronounced deceased at the scene by Anne Arundel County EMS personnel.

Ruffin is a 2020 gradate of Patapsco High Center for the Arts. According to the Patapsco Patriots Football Facebook page, Ruffin was a 4 year member of the Patapsco Football Program, a Captain for both the JV and Varsity teams, who started at both Wide Receiver and Defensive back for the Patriots.

Sean was the type of kid every coach loves to have apart of their program, always knew the perfect time to crack a joke, but also knew when it was time to strap up and get to work. Sean’s coaches and teammates will always cherish the moments & memories shared during their time together and hold them close to their hearts,” said a statement on the page.

“The Patapsco Football program sends our deepest condolences to Sean’s family, friends, and loved ones during this tragic time.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

OLH/SL Spring Carnival Returns to Dundalk


After being forced to shutdown in 2020 because of COVID-19, Our Lady of Hope & St. Luke Parishes announced the return of their annual spring carnival to the Dundalk area.

The event will return to its usual spot at the Our Lady of Hope fields on Lynch Road near Wise Avenue. It will be held for two weekends (six days) from Friday, April 3 to Sunday, May 2 and again on Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 9, but face masks and social distancing are required.

We are excited to welcome you back to our annual spring carnival featuring rides & amusements from Shaw & Sons and a variety of dining offerings from local food trucks,” said a statement on the OLH/SL Spring Carnival Facebook page

“This year’s event will look a little different as we have adjusted our format to ensure public health & safety guidelines are met. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged wherever possible.”

Arrest Made in Gray Place Stabbing in Dundalk


Baltimore County Police reported that 36-year-old Bobby Lee Pittman Jr. of Eurith Avenue in Baltimore City faces criminal charges for the Dundalk domestic related stabbing that occurred in the 1600 block of Gray Place on on March 23.

Officers found a victim female at the location suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. She was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Pittman is charged with attempted first degree murder, first and second degree assault and is held on no bond status pending a bail review hearing.

Woman Injured in Tuesday Dundalk Stabbing


Police are investigating a domestic related assault that has left a woman critically injured in Dundalk.

Just after 11:30 p.m., Tuesday night, officers responded to the 1600 block of Gray Place to investigate a stabbing. Officers located an adult female at the location suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. She was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed that the victim stabbed knew the suspect; the person’s identity is being withheld pending formal charges.

The Baltimore County Police Department reminds the public that if you are a victim of domestic violence and are in immediate danger, please call 911. Resources and information about domestic violence are also available online.

Dundalk Woman Dies in Pedestrian Crash


A 50-year-old woman died Friday night after being struck by a car along Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk. It happened near Westfield Road just after 8 p.m.

As Melissa Leicht, of the 7500 block of Westfield Road in Dundalk, attempted to cross Merritt Boulevard in a travel lane, she was struck by a 2006 Chevrolet Aveo traveling southbound.

Leicht later died at the hospital. The driver remained at the scene.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Team is continuing to investigate the factors involved in this fatal crash.

Olszewski & Crandell to Hold Town Hall


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced his third annual series of town hall meetings to hear from constituents about their ideas and priorities.

The Seventh District Town Hall will be held on Tuesday, March 15 with Councilman Todd Crandell from 6 to 7 p.m.

“Please join the County Executive and me this Tuesday evening for this year’s Budget Town Hall meeting,” Crandell said about the virtual meeting.

Seven virtual meetings, one for each Council district, will provide a forum for public discussion focused on future budget priorities and ensure that community members have the opportunity to provide input into the budget planning process.

“In order to best serve the people of Baltimore County, we need to hear from them directly,” said Olszewski. “While this pandemic has upended our way our life, we remain committed to keeping Baltimore County’s government, open accessible and transparent so that we can continue to work with stakeholders in every community to build a better Baltimore County together.”

From 2016-2017, a total of two people testified on Baltimore County’s budget. In 2018, during his first year in office, Olszewski held the inaugural series of budget town hall meetings where over 2,000 residents attended, with hundreds sharing priorities for the county.

Last year, Olszewski held a second round of town hall meetings, which included a virtual opportunity for residents to share their priorities when in-person town hall meetings were canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All Budget Town Hall Meetings will be livestreamed on Baltimore County Government’s YouTube page and Facebook page. Residents may also join by phone.