News | EASTBALTCO.COM

Dundalk to Host 4th of July Caravan Parade

The Dundalk Heritage Fair Association released an official statement in May that the Heritage Fair & Fireworks will be canceled this year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Heritage Association added that the Parade Committee was exploring other options to possibly conduct the parade.

This week the Dundalk Parade Committee announced the Dundalk Optimist is hosting a caravan ran by Will Feuer and others to continue the 86-year history of 4th of July parade in Dundalk. The committee added that caravan will be a fifth of the size of the traditional parade and without the bands.

“We still can still enjoy the little things and celebrate our Independence Day together! Please, follow all of the laws while watching the caravan and do not enter roadways without checking both ways. Please also follow Covid-19 state regulations, wearing a mask and keeping your distance,” said a statement by Michael Mioduszewski, one of the parade organizers.

“The Parade Committee wishes you and your family a safe and wonderful 4th of July. Please visit next year when the parade committee goes back to putting on the biggest and best parade ever. Feel free to send us any pictures you have from Dundalk parades throughout the years so we can share the memories. Send pictures or any info to DundalkParade@gmail.com”

The parade usually takes place in the Old Dundalk area. With no walkers and all vehicles, the parade route will end in Old Dundalk but will start in the center of Dundalk at 9:30 a.m. and will include streets such as Merritt Boulevard, German Hill Road, Wise Avenue, Holabird Avenue and many other streets.

Beginning on Wise Avenue the route will cross over Merritt Boulevard and continue on Holabird Avenue,
making a right on Delvale Avenue to German Hill Road, turning right on German Hill Road to Merritt Boulevard, turning right on Merritt Boulevard to Sollers Point Road, turning left on Sollers Point Road to the traffic circle in Watersedge, taking the circle exit to Dundalk Avenue, turning right on Belclare Road to Liberty Parkway, turning left on Liberty Parkway to Dunglow, veering left at Dunglow Road to Dunmanway, turning right on Dunmanway to Trading Place, turning left on Trading Place to Shipway, turning right to Shipway to end in front of Dundalk Elementary School.

Here is the 2020 DUNDALK CARAVAN LINE UP provided by www.dundalkparade.com

* Lead fire truck with 2020 Grand Marshall Michael Andy, driven by “Purkey”

* Aaron Lewis Military flag truck

* American Legion Post 38 Honor Guard (joining procession at Belclare Road)

* Relay for Life bicycle driven by Michael Lepock (joining procession at Belclare Road)

* Dennis McCartney McShane Bell and Joe Falbo memorial

* Miller Brothers 1926 Model T Ford Truck escorting Marlene Miller Rydzewski

* Catonsville Parade Committee members

* Mr. Tom, Chair of the Mayor’s Christmas Parade and Ms. Sharen Kerr

* Ms. Irene Spatafore and Angels Supporting Our Troops

* Schweigman 1951 Ward LaFrance Pumper Fire truck

* United Rentals.com

* Greater Dundalk Chamber of Commerce

* Calvary Baptist Church

* Maryland State Police

* Dundalk Renaissance Corporation

* Clean Bread and Cheese Creek

* 9/11 Rolling Memorial by Charles Ritz

* Victoria Bechtel Purple Jeep with Lady Liberty

* Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders escorted by Seahorse Inn Humvees (2 Humvees)

* Dundalk Patapsco Neck Historical Society and Museum, with Joe and Suzanne Stadler and Shirley Gregory

* John Melzer and Shaun the Sheep, Cleaning up Dundalk

* Chick-fil-A Eastpoint

* Can Am Spyder driven by Tina Weber

* New Light Lutheran Church

* Baltimore Hon Hive, escorted by Don Kight

* American Eagle escorted by Will and Stacey Kelly

* Vulcan Materials Company

* Maryland Waterways Foundation

* Baltimore Batman and the Batmobile

* James Shirk, Parade Committee (Support vehicle)

* Walmart Dundalk

* Orioles Car driven by Gregory Hudnet

* Brendas of Canton

* Bill’s Music

* U-Haul Company of Baltimore

* Grace Construction Triple Axle Dump truck

* Back River Restoration Committee

* Santa Brian Marchetti and Mrs. Wendy Claus

* Bubble blowing and flame shooting Fire truck

Kingsville VFC Not Allowed July 4th Tour

The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced that it had to cancel its 4th of July tour. The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced they will tour the Kingsville community on the 4th of July but that changed with a post on Thursday afternoon.

“We regret to announce that the county will not allow the 4th of July tour. The Fire Company pushed hard to bring you this event,” said a statement on the Kingsville VFC Facebook page.

Kingsville VFC said they still plan an onsite celebration with a display at their location at 11601 Bellvue Ave. in Kingsville.

“We will celebrate this patriotic day with a display at the Firehouse, that will include our members and equipment. If you planned to go on the tour, please bring your vehicle or float to the Firehouse at 10 a.m. The display will be open to the public from 11 am until 1 pm. The display will also be streamed on this Facebook page, with each item being described,” a statement from Kingsville VFC.

The fire company also thanked Councilman David Marks for his help and involvement with their celebration. Marks said he planned on taking part in the tour but will go to the firehouse.

“I have always supported this fire company and look forward to seeing many of you at the on-location event. Please come out and celebrate America,” Marks said about the Kingsville VFC efforts.

The original huge 4th of July event in Kingsville is the Kingsville Independence Parade, which was cancelled in the spring as a result of COVID-19.

Kingsville VFC still plans to make the best of the 4th of July.

“Our hard working and extremely patriotic members are committed to protect our community and celebrate this holiday with you. It’s no accident that our equipment is red white and blue.”

Kingsville VFC to Tour Area 4th of July

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED. TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company announced they will tour the Kingsville community on the 4th of July.

This appears to be an alternative to the Kingsville Independence Parade, which was cancelled in the spring as a result of COVID-19.

According their website, the fire department will leave the Fire Station on Bellvue Avenue at 11:00 a.m.,
“go down Bradshaw Rd and make a right on Jerusalem Rd to Chapman Rd, then make a Right on Franklinville Rd, left on Bradshaw Rd, cross over I-95 and make a right on Pfeffers Rd, then south on Philadelphia Rd to Raphel Rd, then left on Mt Vista road to Harford Rd, north to Fork Rd to Baldwin Gate Rd to Sanfield Rd to Lewis Rd, back to Fork Rd to Sunshine Ave to Belair Rd. The tour will end at Sunshine Ave and Belair Road.”

The fire department added that no streets will be blocked off and they will be observe traffic laws.

Residents that want to watch the tour are being told to practice social distancing and to follow all safety guidelines concerning COVID-19. Parents are also asked to supervise children.

New BGE Lines Being Built Near Key Bridge

Many motorists have noticed activity near the side of the Key Bridge. According to a press release forom BGE, unwater powerlines are being replaced by above ground powerlines.

The construction is underway near the southbound lanes of the Key Bridge.

Here is the full press release from BGE.

Most large construction projects break ground with a ceremonial shovel jabbed into loose soil. To kick off the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative, BGE drove a steel pile into 100 feet of soft mud beneath the Patapsco River.

It’s a fitting start to construction of such a significant infrastructure project.

Underwater transmission cables in this shipping thoroughfare to the Port of Baltimore are nearing the end of their useful life. Multiple studies on replacing this “Key Crossing” segment, which was installed in the 1970s, determined that running new power lines high above the water would have a fraction of the environmental impact on the Patapsco River and its wildlife and be far less disruptive to port operations. Plus, overhead replacement would be half the cost of the underwater alternative, reducing the impact to electricity bills. It would also support more local jobs.

What followed was extensive planning, permitting, and outreach to key stakeholders—including environmental groups, elected officials, government agencies, and community leaders. The BGE project team received all necessary federal, state, and local permits prior to construction, and incorporated stakeholder feedback into the final design wherever possible.

Key Crossing construction began in early June 2020 and is expected to be completed in two years. Glen Burnie-based McLean Contracting is leading this initial stage from two massive crane barges. Their task: drive 120 steel piles deep into the Patapsco riverbed. The piles will be grouped into five clusters, which will each support a concrete foundation for one of the five new transmission towers for high-voltage wires strung across this two-mile wide river parallel with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Most large construction projects break ground with a ceremonial shovel jabbed into loose soil. To kick off the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative, BGE drove a steel pile into 100 feet of soft mud beneath the Patapsco River.

It’s a fitting start to construction of such a significant infrastructure project.

Underwater transmission cables in this shipping thoroughfare to the Port of Baltimore are nearing the end of their useful life. Multiple studies on replacing this “Key Crossing” segment, which was installed in the 1970s, determined that running new power lines high above the water would have a fraction of the environmental impact on the Patapsco River and its wildlife and be far less disruptive to port operations. Plus, overhead replacement would be half the cost of the underwater alternative, reducing the impact to electricity bills. It would also support more local jobs.

What followed was extensive planning, permitting, and outreach to key stakeholders—including environmental groups, elected officials, government agencies, and community leaders. The BGE project team received all necessary federal, state, and local permits prior to construction, and incorporated stakeholder feedback into the final design wherever possible.

Key Crossing construction began in early June 2020 and is expected to be completed in two years. Glen Burnie-based McLean Contracting is leading this initial stage from two massive crane barges. Their task: drive 120 steel piles deep into the Patapsco riverbed. The piles will be grouped into five clusters, which will each support a concrete foundation for one of the five new transmission towers for high-voltage wires strung across this two-mile wide river parallel with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

McLean’s crew uses a 200-ton crane to hoist the pile from a horizontal to vertical position, then carefully lower it through placement guides on the surface of the water. The pile does much of the driving itself under its own weight.

Once the pile settles, McLean deploys a vibratory hammer to push the pile into the river bottom and then a diesel impact hammer to finish the driving job. The top of the pile will remain roughly 4 feet above the surface of the river, which is 23 feet deep at this location.

They also install a temporary bubble curtain to help protect fish in the area by reducing underwater noise caused by driving the pile. The bubble curtain is just one example of the environmental mitigation techniques that will be used on this project.

McLean will repeat some iteration of this process many times through the end of the year, when they anticipate they will have completed installation of every pile and can transition to vessel collision ring and foundation construction. McLean is also responsible for building foundations for Key Crossing’s three land-based towers—one on the Hawkins Point side of the river (Baltimore City) and two on the Sollers Point side (Baltimore County). The towers and wires stage of the project will begin in 2021.

Key Crossing is one small segment of nearly 1,300 miles of transmission circuits BGE operates in central Maryland. These lines are part of the regional transmission system that transports electricity into, out of, and through the BGE service area.

More information about the Key Crossing Reliability Initiative is available at bge.com

Marks to Block Cottington Road Development in Perry Hall

Councilman David Marks released the following statement about development near Cottington Road in Perry Hall.

Residents were concerned about the potential development of a five-acre wooded acre that begins on Darleigh Road and extends along a wooded ravine to Cottington Road. Developing this area would not only destroy a beautiful area near the condominiums, but impact single-family homes along Cottington Road.

I told the residents that I will support preserving this beautiful, undeveloped area as open space by applying the Neighborhood Commons zoning to all five acres. This means that the ravine and a wooded area near Darleigh Road will be protected from development.

Because the area was part of a zoning issue, I can recommend that the existing zoning be changed–and because it is owned by the homeowners association, the land can be designated Neighborhood Commons.

The Baltimore County Council will vote on the zoning maps in August.

Councilman David Marks.

Two Way Traffic in Harbor Tunnel for Next 10 Days

The northbound tube of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) will be closed continuously until the end of June. Two-way traffic (one lane in each direction) will operate in the southbound tube. Motorists are reminded to obey speed limits and stay in your lane. In April, the southbound tube closed continuously for work with two-way in the northbound tube.

Weather permitting, the northbound tube will close at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19, until June 29. Drivers should expect additional tube closures as crews work towards the completion of this project. MDTA will issue additional traffic advisories as work progresses and schedules are finalized.

The closures are part of the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) three-year, $189 million project to replace the 60-year-old I-895 Bridge and the Holabird Avenue exit ramp north of the Harbor Tunnel and rehabilitate the Harbor Tunnel. The project began in April 2018 and is expected to be completed in summer 2021. Work includes repairs to the tunnel portal, approach walls, and tile & pump replacement. For details visit 895bmore.com. Follow #895bmore on Twitter.

Sign up for email/text alerts at https://bit.ly/2Dh9EZn or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways by visiting mdta.maryland.gov.

For real-time updates on major incidents follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheMDTA.

Limited Outdoor Visitation Now Allowed at Nursing Homes

Ahead of Father’s Day weekend, Governor Larry Hogan today announced a plan to begin allowing limited outdoor visits to Maryland’s nursing home facilities. The plan also allows for limited communal dining and small group activities to resume with proper precautions in place. This is the first step in allowing nursing homes to begin a safe and phased reopening, in accordance with strict protocols established by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

“The COVID-19 pandemic has required all of us to make incredible sacrifices, including being unable to visit family members and loved ones in nursing homes,” said Governor Hogan. “As our state continues on the road to recovery, this Father’s Day weekend we are able to begin safely allowing outdoor visits to certain nursing homes. This is made possible by our early and aggressive actions to slow the spread of the virus, and the tremendous efforts of doctors, nurses, and especially nursing home staff across the state.”

The governor also announced today that, following universal testing of nursing homes, state health officials will now require weekly retesting of nursing home staff. Residents will be retested weekly at facilities that continue to report facility-acquired COVID-19 cases. At present, there are active COVID-19 cases in 107 of the state’s facilities.

Facilities must meet a series of prerequisites to begin relaxing any restrictions, including:
•The facility must not be experiencing an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, defined as one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a resident or staff member.
•Absence of any facility-onset COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days. If a new case is detected, the facility shall return to the highest level of mitigation (pre-Phase 1) and begin again.
•No staffing shortages and the facility must not be under a contingency or crisis staffing plan as described in the CDC’s Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages.
•Universal source control is in place, requiring all residents, staff, and anyone else entering the facility to wear a facemask or cloth face covering at all times while in the facility.
•Staff must have access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
•Nursing homes must be able to conduct COVID-19 testing among residents and staff at sufficient frequencies to fulfill the CDC’s Testing Guidance for Nursing Homes.

Read the Maryland Department of Health’s order and guidance.

Provided a facility has met the prerequisites for reopening, limited outdoor visitation is allowable if:
•Visitors and residents wear a face covering at all times.
•Visitors and residents maintain proper social distancing at all times.
•There is not an ongoing outbreak at the facility.
•Additionally, it is strongly recommended that there are no more than two visitors at a time per resident per visit.

Read the Maryland’s Department of Health’s outdoor visitation guidance here.

A number of restrictions at nursing home facilities will remain in place for the foreseeable future and will not be relaxed at any time during the reopening process, including:
•Facilities must continue to screen all people who enter the facility, and screen all staff at the beginning of each shift.
•Facilities must continue to screen all residents at least daily, including performance of temperature checks, pulse oximetry checks, observing for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and asking questions about signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
•Facilities must continue to dedicate space for cohorting and managing care for residents with COVID-19 separate from the general population. Additionally, facilities must continue to dedicate space to quarantine new admissions and readmissions in private rooms for 14 days for the purposes of monitoring these residents for the development of signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
•All staff must wear appropriate PPE, including use of procedure or surgical facemasks (i.e. not cloth face coverings) when they are interacting with residents.

Maryland’s early and aggressive response to address COVID-19 in nursing homes began in early March, when state officials met with representatives of long-term care facilities and issued strong guidance to shut down visitation and ramp up infection control protocols. State officials have established strike teams to provide a higher level of triage and care, PPE requirements for staff, universal testing for residents and staff, weekly reporting on facility outbreaks, and bridge teams to supplement staffing shortages.

Illegal Fireworks Popping Up All Over Baltimore County

With the Fourth of July less than three weeks away, there has already been reports of illegal fireworks being sent off all over the county and at all hours of the night.

Second District Councilman Izzy Patoka said he has received phone calls and complaints from all over his northwest Baltimore County District.

Over the last week or so, I have noticed and received reports of folks setting off illegal fireworks in several neighborhoods throughout the 2nd District,” Patoka said in a Facebook post. “This post is intended to raise public awareness. Please do not set off fireworks in your neighborhood or community as people are attempting to sleep or getting their kids or pets to sleep.”

Fifth District Councilman David Marks, who resides in the Perry Hall area, says he has also heard the illegal fireworks at night.

“Last night was Sunday, June 14th – not the Fourth of July,” Marks wrote on social media.

“This post might not make any difference to some, but please do not set off fireworks in your neighborhoods when people are attempting to sleep, or getting their babies to sleep. Show some courtesy.”

Patoka also points out that backyard fireworks are illegal and shared a link to the Baltimore County website about fireworks.

“You cannot have a private display of fireworks at your home without a permit. All fireworks displays, regardless of location, require the proper permits and insurance. Call Baltimore County’s Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-887-4880 for information,” said a statement on the Baltimore County website.

Violators who possess or discharge illegal fireworks are subject to a misdemeanor fine of up to $250. The sale of fireworks without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine.

Olszewski Outlines Police Reform Initiatives for County

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of steps to improve accountability in the County’s Police Department (BCoPD) and promote more equitable policing.

These steps are the latest efforts by Olszewski’s administration to address systemic challenges and improve relationships between communities and the Police Department.

“The protests we’ve seen in Baltimore County and around the country are shining a bright light on what we already knew—that we have a long way to go to achieve equal justice for African American communities and that local leaders have a responsibility to take action,” Olszewski said. “We are listening to those in our community who have been marginalized, and we are recommitting to making real change.”

Taken together, the steps announced today aim to improve transparency and accountability in the Baltimore County Police Department, create a more diverse police force and improve relations between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

The steps announced by Olszewski and Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt are:

Update Use of Force policy. The Department has previously made a number of improvements to its use of force trainings that are in alignment with police best practices. The trainings include de-escalation training, Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT), and implicit bias training. Additionally, Chief Hyatt has incorporated into the Department’s Use of Force policy the concept of Sanctity of Life, the Duty to Intervene and Report excessive or unnecessary use of force, and the importance of Constitutional Policing. The County will now sign the Obama Foundation Pledge to review and update its use of force policy with community input.
Implement Fair and Impartial Police Training Curriculum for all BCoPD members. The Department will bring in a nationally-recognized police training program on Fair and Impartial Policing to be provided to all BCoPD commanders, officers and employees in the coming year.
Increased transparency of complaint, use of force and traffic stop data. In accordance with Olszewski’s commitment to a more transparent, accountable government, the County will build public dashboards displaying data on the number and disposition of complaints against police officers, instances of uses of force and traffic stop data broken down by race.
Support state legislation to amend the MPIA to increase transparency related to discipline cases. County leaders will support legislation in Annapolis to amend the Maryland Public Information Act to increase transparency related to the disposition of police disciplinary actions.
Conduct independent analysis and review of BCoPD hiring and recruitment practices. The County will hire an independent third-party organization to conduct a comprehensive review of our hiring and recruitment practices, including a review of data for discriminatory impacts or practices in our testing and background investigations.
Expand scope and duration of Equitable Policing Workgroup. Olszewski has issued an Executive Order to expand the scope of the Workgroup on Equitable Policing, originally formed to examine traffic stop data. Going forward, the Workgroup will be a permanent advisory group and will focus more broadly on disparities in policing.

“I’m grateful to the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department who serve honorably and put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities and I believe that these steps will make the Department even stronger,” Olszewski said.

About the Equitable Policing Workgroup

In November 2019, after reviewing traffic stop data showing that African American individuals were issued citations at a higher rate than other individuals, Olszewski created the Workgroup on Equitable Policing to examine policing policies and practices.

Chaired by the County’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Troy Williams, the group has met six times, including two community listening sessions, and will issue a report later this year. Going forward, the group will continue to examine traffic stop data and will also:

Review community policing training policies and practices
Review oversight systems, seeking community input and identifying best practices
Review the internal and external officer complaint and disciplinary process

Williams is the County’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a position created by Olszewski to help address disparities and promote equity and inclusion countywide.

In addition to the Workgroup on Equitable Policing, Olszewski created a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Community Advisory Council and Employee Advisory Council, both aimed at advancing equity and inclusion in Baltimore County and changing the culture of County government to focus consistently on equity in decision-making.

County Reopens Playgrounds, Restrooms & Park Facilities

Baltimore County’s Department of Recreation and Parks announced a series of updates to the status of its facilities as the County continues its safe and gradual reopening.

As the weather warms, more facilities will be open for recreational activities, though residents should continue to be safe and practice social distancing.

The following County facilities are now open:
•Playgrounds
•Outdoor tennis courts
•Basketball courts (residents should anticipate about two weeks to complete installation of rims)
•Other surface courts
•All fields and diamonds
•Pavilions and picnic areas
•Dog parks
•Skate parks
•Horseshoe pits
•RC/Model Plane Areas
•Lifeguarded swimming at Rocky Point
•Restrooms in regional parks
•Outdoor accessible restroom facilities will be opened in conjunction with scheduled permitted activities and as regular need demands.

Use of Pavilions for Worship in the Park Services

In an effort to help local religious organizations find safe outdoor spaces to worship, Baltimore County is opening access to outdoor pavilions at some County parks.

Local religious organizations may request a permit to use a park pavilion for regular religious services only.

These gatherings will be limited to 50 percent of each pavilion’s maximum occupancy.

Beginning today, religious organizations will be able to make reservations for the weekends of June 19 and June 26, at the following locations free of charge, and on a first-come, first-served basis:
•Eastern Regional Park
•Fort Howard Park
•Honeygo Regional Park
•Kingsville Park
•Meadowood Regional Park
•Northwest Regional Park
•Oregon Ridge Park
•Reisterstown Regional Park
•Rockdale Park
•Rosedale Park
•Southwest Area Park
•Sweet Air Park

More information and permit request forms are available on the County’s website.

Use of Pavilions for the Public Starting July 4

Beginning today, all pavilion rentals are available to be reserved by the public starting July 4.

More information and permit request forms are available on the County’s website.

Grab–and-Go Recreation Kits

The Department of Recreation and Parks today announced the creation of Grab-and-Go Recreation Kits, a new, free opportunity to provide youth with more activities to safely enjoy the outdoors.

Beginning Saturday, June 13 through July 22, young people can take part in these easy and free activities including the Ravens Fitness Flock (begins June 22), Locomotor Skills Obstacle Course, Nature Bingo, Butterfly Ring and Tissue Paper Flower Craft, and Recreation Rocks.

To find a location near you to pick up a premade kit, to learn how to make your own kit at home, or for more information, please email grabandgo-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov or visit the Department’s website.

Supplies are limited and if you are unable to get a Grab-and-Go Kit, please email grabandgo-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov to make additional arrangements.

Stay Safe

To the extent possible, residents should continue to practice social distancing and face coverings should be worn at park locations, especially when social distancing is not feasible.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in removal from park property.

The Department will continue to follow all State Executive Orders related to recreational activities.