Julie Henn Selected as Chair of Board of Education


Julie Henn was selected Tuesday to serve as chair of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, while Cheryl Pasteur was selected as vice president. Both officers will serve a one-year term.

A resident of Perry Hall, Henn was first appointed to the Board of Education as a member-at-large in 2016. She was elected in 2018 to serve a four-year term representing District 5.

Henn currently works for the Community College of Baltimore County and is an information technology professional. Prior to joining the Board, she served on the Northeast Area Education Advisory Council, the Superintendent’s Parents’ Advisory Council, and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

She has been an active parent volunteer for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), a leader for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, a catechist for St. Stephen Church, and has served on the Glenside Farms Homeowners Association Board. Henn holds a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Marquette University.

Pasteur, a resident of Pikesville, was elected to her first four-year term in 2018. She worked as an educator in Baltimore City and County for more than 36 years. She served as the principal of both Old Court Middle School and Randallstown High School, from where she retired in 2012.

Pasteur is a graduate of both the University of Maryland College Park and Morgan State University, earning Administration and Supervision certification from Loyola University Maryland.

Joppa Road Bridge in Perry Hall Now Open


-photo by Ben Boehl-

Councilman David Marks has reported that the Joppa Road Bridge near Honeygo Elementary has finally opened. The road is now accessible between Honeygo Boulevard and Snyder Lane in Perry Hall.

Baltimore County announced in January that it has closed the small bridge on East Joppa Road (over Honeygo Run) in order to make emergency repairs.

The delays continued into the spring and summer as bridge parts were hard to repair since the bridge was built in the 1940s.

Marks Honors 5th District Citizens of the Year


Councilman David Marks honors constituents by giving out a Citizen of the Year award for his 5th Councilmanic District. This year the Perry Hall Family Worship and Neal Houk were honored by Marks.

“Every year, we recognize outstanding volunteers and leaders as Fifth District Citizens of the Year. Today, we recognize Perry Hall Family Worship Center and one of its longtime volunteers, Neal Houk, for their service to northeastern Baltimore County,” Marks said.

“Perry Hall Family Worship Center has been exceptionally involved by organizing food drives, community festivals, and service projects throughout the area. Neal Houk is one of their key volunteers, leading the recent cleanup of our community gateways, among other projects. We salute these amazing volunteers!”

Perry Hall Community Tree Lighting to be Held Sunday, Dec. 5


The Perry Hall Improvement Association and Perry Hall White Marsh Business Association will hold the Perry Hall Community Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

The ceremony will be held at the corner of Belair and Joppa Roads near the Perry Hall Animal Hospital.

Through a Baltimore County grant, the Perry Hall Improvement Association and Perry Hall White Marsh Business Association planted a Norway spruce at the location.

For a full listing of holiday events go to eastbaltco.com

Marks Gives Construction Update on Joppa Road Bridge


Councilman David Marks provided an update on the Joppa Road bridge near Honeygo Boulevard in Perry Hall that has been under construction since January. His statement is below:

“The county’s forces remobilized on the site earlier this month and have been making good progress. The precast concrete slabs have been installed and the cast-in-place concrete traffic barriers are now being constructed (see the attached photo).

“The next steps include reinforcing the steel set, pouring concrete, and final strengthening of the interior barriers. Once that occurs, the roadway will be paved and traffic barriers off the bridge will be installed.

“We anticipate it will take about two more weeks to complete the work, unless there are unforeseen material supply issues and weather delays,” Marks said.

“I have done all I can to push this project along. The delays have been driven by material shortages, and these are impacted by national economic trends. I appreciate the patience of all motorists, as well as neighbors who have been impacted by detours.”

Dundalk Advances to Football State Quarterfinals

Kenwood, Parkville, Sparrows Point & Perry Hall’s Seasons End


– photo courtesy of Dundalk Football-

The Dundalk Owls are in the football state quarterfinals as they defeated Kenwood 35 to 0 last night. The Owls were only up 7-0 at halftime. Then Dundalk took control of Kenwood in the second half.

According to Dundalk HS Athletics Twitter page, Owl Quarterback Calvin Stokes had a touchdown run and threw a touchdown to Antonio Brown. Running back Jordan Fiorenza also had a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Dundalk football released a statement after the game.

“Final here at the nest! Hard fought win. Respect to a hard nosed Kenwood team,” said the team statement

Dundalk will now play next week in the 4A/3A quarterfinals. Their opponent has not been announced as MPSSAA does reseeding for the quarterfinals. It does appear that Dundalk should be ranked high enough to receive another home game for next week.

The Owls are the only local football team to advance as four other area schools has their seasons ended last night.

In addition to Kenwood losing, Parkville lost at Broadneck 45 to 0. Perry Hall lost to Mervo 42 to 3. Sparrows Point dream season came to an end as the Pointers lost 38 to 30 against Largo.

Perry Hall Apartment Fire on Cardor Court


-photo courtesy of Providence Volunteer Fire Company of Towson-

Baltimore County Fire Crews were called to an apartment fire in Perry Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Providence Volunteer Fire Company of Towson reported that first arriving units said “smoke showing” upon arrival at the apartments on Cardor Court after 9 p.m.

Crews took an aerial to contain the fire. It was reported that the fire was quickly knocked and contained to the room of origin.

Two Maps Released for New Northeast Elementary School


The Northeast Area Elementary Boundary Study Committee held a virtual meeting on Wednesday night to release their two proposed boundary maps for the new Northeast Elementary School in Rossville.

The creation of the new school in Rossville will also shift some students in Elmwood, Fullerton, Joppaview, McCormick, Perry Hall Red House Run and Shady Spring elementary school to the new school or one of the existing schools.

This was a similar move in 2018 when Honeygo Elementary School opened and many of the students in the Perry Hall/Carney area were shifted. Honeygo students, along with Seven Oaks, Gundpowder, Chapel Hill or Carney will not be affected by the opening of the new Rossville school.

Perry Hall and Joppaview were will be apart of rezoning again, but it appears different neighborhoods from those schools will be shifted that did not take part in the 2018 rezoning.

BCPS Board of Education Vice Chair Julie Henn released the maps from the meeting on social media.

“The Northeast Area Elementary Boundary Study Committee has been meeting since September 22, 2021, to review and create options for revised attendance boundaries at elementary schools in the Northeast area,” Henn explained.

“The goal is to relieve overcrowding through additional seats at a new Northeast elementary school located near the intersection of Rossville Boulevard and Gum Spring Road and a replacement building of Red House Run Elementary School.”

Option 1

Option 2

The two options are also available on the Interactive Mapping Tool (View School Zones – Select Elementary Option 1 or Elementary Option 2)

BCPS is looking for feedback from the community for both options.
https://survey.k12insight.com/r/wvJlq3

Joppa Rd. Bridge Construction Starts Next Week in Perry Hall


Baltimore County Councilman David Marks announced today that forces will mobilize at Perry Hall’s Joppa Road bridge the week of Nov. 8 to start replacing the structure, which has been closed since January.

Bearing assemblies and precast concrete slab units will be delivered, and installation will start immediately. Baltimore County expects the work to be completed by the end of November, weather permitting.

“I would like to thank the Department of Public Works for working to complete this project, which was delayed due to the parts shortage affecting many parts of the U.S. economy,” Councilman Marks said.

“I appreciate the inconvenience experienced by many motorists. It has affected my family as well. We look forward to the bridge opening.”

County Announces 22-Acre Preservation in Perry Hall


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the purchase of a 22.3-acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of Gerst Road and New Gerst Lane in the eastern Perry Hall area, through Maryland’s Program Open Space (POS).

The site was purchased for $3.07 million and is the latest effort under the Olszewski administration to expand park and recreation opportunities throughout Baltimore County.

“Preserving open space in Baltimore County is a vital way to support a high quality of life for residents of all ages,” Olszewski said. “Our administration’s latest acquisition ensures we are creating another vibrant space for the Perry Hall community to enjoy for years to come.”

“Acquisitions such as these not only preserve precious parkland, but provide opportunities for everyone to play where they live and work right now,” said Recreation and Parks Director Roslyn Johnson. “COVID has reinforced how important the outdoors is for both physical and mental health, and we are happy that this site will provide even more green space for Baltimore County.”

“Acquiring this property means this 22-acre site in eastern Perry Hall will be permanently preserved for open space,” Councilman David Marks said. “The County Executive became personally involved in negotiations last year, a role that helped finalize this sale, and I thank the Olszewski Administration for their support.”

This latest acquisition will add significant acreage to the County’s existing network of parks within the densely populated Honeygo Growth Area.

ABOUT PROGRAM OPEN SPACE
Established under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 1969, Program Open Space provides financial and technical assistance to local jurisdictions for the planning, acquisition and development of recreation land or open space areas.

Since 1970, the County has utilized nearly $135 million in POS funding to assist in the acquisition of more than 6,800 acres of parkland, and for the construction, enhancement and renovations of recreational facilities at parks and public school recreation centers. The parkland acquisition program has allowed for the preservation of thousands of acres of woodlands, stream valleys and other sensitive lands.

With the support of POS funding, Baltimore County has secured or expanded a wide range of public parks and recreation sites including Oregon Ridge Park and Nature Center, Cromwell Valley Park, Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, seven regional parks and athletic facilities, and dozens of neighborhood and community parks.