Some Students Still Need to Register for BCPS


The first day of school is less than a month away, and as part of their Back2BCPS: Are You Ready? Campaign, Baltimore County Public Schools leaders are urging parents/caregivers to register their children now.

“We want to see every BCPS student in class and ready to learn on Monday, Aug. 30,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Parents and caregivers of children who will be new to our schools – including parents of Preschool, PreKindergarten, and Kindergarten students – are encouraged to register their children now. Registering before the school year starts ensures that schools can be better prepared to welcome and educate all students.”

To register, parents/caregivers can submit an online application through the Focus Parent Portal. Parents/caregivers can learn more about using the Focus Parent Portal by viewing an informational video. The password for the video is “Baltimore.”

After entering information online, parents/caregivers will be contacted by their child’s school to finalize enrollment. Additional assistance is available by emailing RegistrationHelp@bcps.org or contacting a school.

To enroll in Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by September 1.

To be considered for PreKindergarten, students must be 4 years old on or before September 1. Unlike enrollment for K-12, seats are limited in the PreKindergarten program. The Maryland State Department of Education requires that the PreKindergarten program be made available to students who meet automatic eligibility criteria based on educational or financial need. If space is available once the automatically eligible students have registered, other students may be placed from the applicant pool on a priority basis.

For Preschool, students must be 3 years old on or before September 1 to be considered for enrollment. As with PreKindergarten, Preschool seats are limited. Students are registered on a priority basis, with priority registration given to those students who demonstrate educational and/or financial need.

Essex Man Sets Fire and Commits Suicide


Baltimore County officials confirmed that there was a suicide at the site of Sunday night’s fire in Essex.

A 74-year-old man who set fire last night to his Essex apartment before committing suicide has been identified by Baltimore County Police investigators.

He is David Boyd Thompson of the 1000 block of Franklin Ave., 21221.

Police and fire crews were dispatched just after 11 p.m. to the Essex Co-Op Apartment Complex in the 1000 block of Franklin Ave. Firefighters found a small fire with heavy smoke in an eighth-floor unit; the sprinkler system had activated and was extinguishing the fire.

At 11:27 p.m., while fire crews were working on the ground floor to attach hoses to a standpipe, Thompson jumped from the 12th floor, the topmost floor. He landed about two feet from a BCoFD captain. EMS personnel provided emergency medical care, but the injuries were fatal.

Investigators determined that Thompson, who was scheduled to be evicted after being told he could not smoke in the building, set the fire in his eighth-floor apartment before committing suicide. They found several points of origin in the unit, as well as empty bottles of charcoal fluid and a lighter.

The one-alarm fire was contained to the suspect’s apartment, and no residents were displaced.

Marks to Hold Meeting for Citizens on Patrol Set Up


Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and Eastern Perry Hall Citizens on Patrol will hold an online meeting to discuss how neighborhoods can implement effective Citizens on Patrol programs. The meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

This meeting is a follow-up to the initial meeting in December 2019 in which neighborhoods in eastern Perry Hall discussed the need for more Citizens on Patrol programs.

“I will be hosting an informational meeting tonight for residents who want to create their own Citizens on Patrol programs. While the primary focus is eastern Perry Hall, anyone may join who is interested in starting one of these units, Mark said about the meeting. For more information, go to the event’s Facebook page.

To attend the meeting go to the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8352699248

Meeting ID: 835 2699 2481
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+13017158592,,83526992481# US (Washington DC)

Rosedale Shell Sells Winning Cash4Life Ticket


One lucky Maryland Lottery player in the area landed a big win this past weekend, courtesy of the multi state Cash4Life game.

Rosedale Shell in Baltimore sold a second-tier winning Cash4Life ticket worth $1,000 a week for life on Sunday, Aug. 8.

The player holding the lucky Cash4Life ticket is the second person to win a second-tier $1,000-a-week-for-life Cash4Life prize in Maryland in 2021.

It is also the fifth second-tier winner since the game became available in the state in 2016.

Rosedale Shell located at 7514 Pulaski Highway in Baltimore will receive a $2,500 bonus from the Lottery for selling the second-tier winning Cash4Life ticket.

The winner can choose between a $1,000-a-week-for-life annuity paid in annual installments of $52,000 a year, or a one-time payment of $1 million (both amounts are before taxes).

Check your ticket for the winning numbers of 6, 23, 31, 44 and 48 the Cash Ball was 2. Our lucky $1,000-a-week-for-life winner matched the first five numbers, but narrowly missed out on winning the top prize of $1,000 a day for life because the ticket did not match the Cash Ball number.

Winners have 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes. Lottery officials strongly encourage all winners to sign the backs of their tickets immediately and keep them in a safe location.

Person Dies Trying to Escape Essex Fire


Updated: This death was been ruled a suicide.

The Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters Association reported one person is dead at a fire scene in Essex.

Fire crews were working to extinguish a fire in 8th floor apartment on Sunday when it was reported a one person died at the scene as they attempted to jump to escape from the fire.

The apartment is located in the 1000 block of Franklin Avenue and the fire was reported around 11:30 p.m.

Fire has been extinguished and is under investigation.

Lottery Winners in Essex, Nottingham, Edgemere


The Maryland Lottery said over 23 players across the state won or claimed prizes of $10,000 or more, and the Lottery paid more than $29 million in prizes in the seven days ending Aug. 1.

Here is the weekly roundup of big winners:

Scratch-off Prizes Claimed From July 26 through Aug. 1 i:

$1 Million Prize

· Money Explosion, Food Lion #1653, 1565 Hyde Park Road in Essex

KENO

· $12,000 ticket sold July 27 at Royal Farms #311, 5361 Nottingham Drive, Nottingham (claimed)

RACETRAX

· $21,092.70 ticket sold July 27 at Full House Saloon, 2311 Sparrows Point Road, in Edgemere (unclaimed as of Aug. 2)

Zachary Lang Honored as Eagle Scout


– Councilman David Marks with Zachary Lang and his parent’s Tami Lang and Neal Houk-

Perry Hall resident Zachary Lang was honored on Saturday, Aug. 7 Troop 247’s newest Eagle Scout at the Perry Hall Worship Center.

Lang’s Eagle Scout project involved the soundproofing of the band room at Eastern Technical High School, which was his high school.

He joins his older brother Bradley Lang, who was also honored as an Eagle Scout a few years ago. Bradley was also the Masters of Ceremonies at the event.

Congressman Andy Harris, Councilman David Marks and Delegates Carl Jackson Harry Bhandari & Ric Metzgar came to the event to honor Lang.

“This afternoon, I had the pleasure of honoring Zachary Lang as Troop 247’s newest Eagle Scout,” Mark said. “Congratulations to Zachary and his parents, Neal Houk and Tami Lang, for all their hard work!”

County to Offer COVID Vaccinations at High Schools


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of mass vaccination clinics aimed at getting more students vaccinated before the start of school on August 30. The clinics will be held at County high schools in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and that have vaccination rates lower than the County average.

“As students and educators prepare to return to school later this month, their health and safety is our top priority — and increasing vaccination rates among students 12 and older is the best way to keep them safe,” Olszewski said. “The vaccines are safe and they save lives. They are plentiful and widely available. Not getting vaccinated puts you, your family, and your community at risk. I urge every unvaccinated resident to become vaccinated as soon as possible.”

“It is time to get REVVed up for back to school,” said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch. “Being Ready, Energized, Vigilant and Vaxxed will go a long way toward a successful school year for our students, families and staff.”

As part of the student vaccination initiative, mass clinics will be held at County high schools over the coming weeks and at Wellness Centers located inside of school buildings once school is in session. The Baltimore County Department of Health partners with Baltimore County Public Schools to support 17 School Wellness Centers located in elementary, middle and high schools across the County.

The first two High School clinics are scheduled at the following locations:

· New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd, Monday, August 9; 4 to 7pm

· Dundalk High School, 1901 Delvale Ave, Tuesday, August 10; 4 to 7pm

Vaccinations at these clinics will not be limited to students; any individual aged 12 or older can receive a vaccine. Individuals who wish to receive a vaccine but are not able to attend any of these clinics can find other available clinics at www.BaltimoreCountyMD.gov/vaccines.
Baltimore County has been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, and more than 70 percent of County residents aged 12 and older have received at least one dose. However, many communities across the County continue to have lower vaccination rates. Vaccination rates are also lower for younger residents, with only approximately 47 percent of residents between the ages of 12 and 18 having received at least one dose.

With the Delta variant spreading rapidly nationwide and in Baltimore County, Covid-19 case rates are again on the rise after falling significantly for months. Increasing vaccination rates is critical for slowing the spread of the virus and bringing the pandemic to an end.

Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River to Host Raven Event


The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River, will have a FREE Purple Saturday Open House featuring a special appearance by Baltimore Ravens Super Fan CAPTAIN DEE-FENSE!! He will meet fans and take pictures on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will also be museum tours, kids’ activities and more!

Plus, wear purple and get a free raffle ticket for our gift basket raffle. The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River, gift shop will be open and there is still have a limited number of Middle River-opoly games available.

For more information, go to The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River Facebook page