Eagle Scout Unveils Tribute to Amy Caprio

Eagle Scout Owen Mrok with Boy Scout Troop 124 set out to create a project to honor fallen Parkville Officer Amy Caprio.

On Sunday, Mrok revealed his tribute to Caprio at the Parkville Police Precinct. He decided to honor Caprio with a memorial garden at the police station.

According to Baltimore County Police, the garden includes plants native to Maryland, an engraved granite bench, beautiful walkway and cast bronze plaque affixed to a boulder.

Councilman David Marks attend the unveiling of the project on Sunday.

“I have known Owen and his family for more than a decade. He has matured into a confident young man, and he completed a truly meaningful project,” Marks said.

 

Teen Arrested in Parkville Double Stabbing

A teen has been arrested and charged in a Parkville stabbing.

According to Baltimore County police,  officers responded to the 2600 block of Rader Avenue, for a reported stabbing on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 8:30 p.m.

When officers arrived to the scene, they found a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old female, each suffering from a stab wound to the upper body. Medics transported the victims to an area hospital in stable condition.

Through investigation, officers arrested a juvenile suspect whose information will be withheld in accordance with state law.

Baltimore County Homicide detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding this stabbing.

Parkville Teacher Named Best History Teacher


Adam Laye, social studies department chair at Parkville High School, has been named the 2021 Maryland History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.

In 2021, parents, students, teachers, and administrators nationwide nominated a record 8,510 teachers for the History Teacher of the Year Award. Amidst a very competitive field, Laye’s name rose to the top in Maryland. In addition to a $1,000 honorarium, Laye’s school, Parkville High, will receive a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials, and Laye will be recognized at a ceremony in Maryland.

Laye has been teaching American history and American government for the past 15 years. He taught at Randallstown High before Parkville High. It was in college, at Frostburg State College, that Laye decided to apply his interest in social sciences to a career in education. Laye, who holds both a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and a master’s degree in teaching from Frostburg, is recognized for his inquiry-based approach to teaching history.

“We have been using inquiry as the center point of our instruction,” Laye said, “exploring multiple viewpoints, teaching kids to think historically. With our approach, instead of history being taught as a set of answers, we give kids questions to probe. That makes the learning of history rich and full of life. A lot of historical issues are deeply unsettled. Looking at them through a diversity of viewpoints helps our student see the world more clearly and even helps them be better consumers of modern-day news.”

Laye particularly enjoyed teaching about Reconstruction: “It feels like all roads go back to Reconstruction. Unresolved issues from that period weave through the decades. We continue to have so many of the same debates.”

“I enjoy the challenge of making history relevant to my students’ lives,” Laye said, “by giving them the tools to derive meaning from it.”

Inaugurated in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories. In fall 2021, the National History Teacher of the Year will be selected from the pool of state winners.

The 10 finalists for the National History Teacher of the Year Award will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 9, with the national winner announced later that month. An in-person ceremony for the winner will be held in late fall 2021, health and safety protocols permitting. Support for the National History Teacher of the Year Award ceremony is provided by HISTORY®

Nominations for the 2022 History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award. The deadline for 2022 nominations is March 31, 2022.

About the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources.

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. Drawing on the 70,000 documents in the Gilder Lehrman Collection and an extensive network of eminent historians, the Institute provides teachers, students, and the public with direct access to unique primary source materials.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Organization of American Historians, and the Council of Independent Colleges.

Delcher was Named Parkville Officer of the Month


Sergeant Delcher was named Parkville Precinct 8 Officer of the Month in June. According to the precinct, Delcher went above and beyond in his efforts to serve the community.

There was an example of one incident where he worked together with other officer on the ground and the Aviation unit to gather information and search for a missing person.

When Aviation spotted an undetermined shadow in the deep end of a pool, Sgt. Delcher did not hesitate to jump in and locate the missing person in the water. He pulled that person out of the poo and performed CPR with the help of other officers until EMS arrived on the scene.

Lighting Causes Parkville Apartment Fire


-photo courtesy of Providence Volunteer Fire Company of Towson Maryland Facebook page-

Baltimore County Emergency Crews had a busy day as a result of the strong storms in the area on Saturday, July 7.

Baltimore County Fire Department reported a two alarm condo fire in the 2200 block of Lowells Glen Road in Parkville.

The fire was reported through the roof. Crews evacuated tenants and pets. Everyone got out safely. No injuries were reported. The fire started before 3 p.m.

Investigators have confirmed this fire began with a lightning strike.

Henn Files for Re-Election on School Board


BCPS School Board of Education Vice Chair Julie Henn has filed for re-election. She serves in the 5th District that covers Perry Hall, Parkville, Towson and Kingsville. She is a resident of Perry Hall.

Henn made the official announcement on her social media page.

“Today I filed my candidacy to seek re-election to continue to represent the Fifth Council District on the Board of Education of Baltimore County,” Henn said. “I have cherished working with, and for, the students, families, educators, and staff of Baltimore County Public Schools. It has been the ultimate honor to serve the community that has been home to my family for four generations.”

Henn was appointed to the BCPS Board by Gov. Larry Hogan in 2016 and was one of the first elected members in the inaugural school board election in 2018. Henn and all school board candidates must run as a non-partisan candidates.

“The greatest gift we can offer our children is ourselves – our time and talents. I am thankful for all who serve the students of BCPS. Every adult on every child’s path to success matters. The past year has taught me how badly we need one another to lead students to meeting their college or career goals – as one team,” Henn added.

“I am excited to continue the work we’ve started. I will do my best to listen, learn and lead from the perspective of those who make a difference in our students’ lives.”

Parkville MS Student Honored at MD History Day


Vedansh Sawhney of Parkville Middle School and Lila Kassouf of Dumbarton Middle School earned honors in the 2021 Maryland History Day competition.

Sawhney, a student of teacher Molly Ricciardi, won second place in the junior individual website category for research on Nazi propaganda. As a second-place winner, Sawhney qualifies to compete in the National History Day competition.

Sawhney and Kassouf were among more than 300 middle and high school students who submitted extensive historical research projects online for the 2021 Maryland History Day competition. The competition, usually held in person, is the culmination of a year-long program from Maryland Humanities (an area nonprofit organization). Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, Maryland Humanities once again administered the contest in a digital format this year, with project evaluation across five categories taking place over several weeks.

“We are so proud of our students Vedansh Sawhney and Lila Kassouf for their achievements in the Maryland History Day competition and so proud of their teachers Molly Ricciardi and Kathleen Barry for preparing them to succeed,” said Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams.

Maryland History Day, coordinated by Maryland Humanities since 1999, is open to public, private, parochial, and homeschool students in Grades 6 through 12. Working solo or in small groups, students create original documentary films, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites exploring a historical topic of their choice on an annual theme, which this year is “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.” Maryland History Day sparks critical thinking and helps develop skills in research and analysis, writing, and public speaking.

Competitors at Maryland History Day have already won first or second place in their category at school and/or district levels. Students from 11 counties and Baltimore City received special awards, designated for outstanding Maryland History Day projects that cover specific subjects.

Sawhney will be among students from six Maryland counties and Baltimore City to represent Maryland in the National History Day competition, where they will compete among 3,000 participants from across the nation and beyond. National History Day, held in June, will also be virtual in 2021. The competition involves students from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and international schools in China, Korea, and South Asia.

Maryland History Day is an affiliate of National History Day, a nonprofit education organization that promotes an appreciation for historical research among middle and high school students through multiple annual programs, including the National History Day Contest

Apartment Fire Reported on Cedarburg Court


-photo courtesy of Providence Volunteer Fire Company of Towson-

Baltimore County Fire Department were on the scene of a two alarm apartment fire in the unit block of Cedarburg Court in Parkville.

The fire was reported on Friday, May 14 at 4:29 p.m.

First arriving units reported fire from the second and third floors of a three-story apartment building.

The fire was reported under control at 5:04 p.m. One civilian was evaluated for medical cause.

Weber’s Strawberry Festival to be Held in Parkville


Weber’s Farm 5th Annual Strawberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 5 & Sunday, June 6 at 2526 Proctor Lane in Parkville.

Tickets for entry into the event are now available for purchase. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Register early, space is limited!
Admission, $6 per person, is required for anyone attending the festival who is 2 years old and older. Under 2 years old are free.

The event will include live music, food trucks, barnyard animals, and other activities.

For more details about the Strawberry Festival and to purchase tickets please visit the Strawberry Festival ticketing page: