Defenders’ Day is back but at a new location and date.
Debbie Staigerwald, Chairperson of Defenders’ Day, announced that War of 1812 event will move from its traditional home of Fort Howard Park to Veterans Park in Old Dundalk. There is also a new date as Defenders Day will move a week later from Labor Day Weekend to Saturday, Sept. 11 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I am pleased to announce we will be having “Not your Usual” Defenders’ Day this year! Because of COVID, it will be much smaller than usual and no re-enactment, but we will be having stations with living history actors recounting the events of that day and the history of “The battle of North Point,” Staigerwald said.
“We will also be having children’s activities and soldier encampments. We will also have a small 9/11 memorial service at 3 p.m.”
There will also be food trucks and other events at the shopping center during Defenders’ Day.
For more information and/or to volunteer, please email Debbie Staigerwald
Troopers arrested and charged a Baltimore County man today after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation developed evidence supporting charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.
The suspect is identified as Robert Wayne Olszewski Jr. 31, of Essex. Multiple news outlets reported that he is the cousin of Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr.
Olszewski is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession with intent to distribute child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
He was arrested in Linthicum and transported to the Anne Arundel County Detention Center where he is awaiting a bail review hearing with the court commissioner.
Beginning in March, the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit conducted an investigation into the distribution and possession of child pornography online.
The investigation led to the identification of the suspect and his residence in Baltimore County.
On May 24, Maryland State Police served a search warrant at the identified residence of the suspect in Essex, Maryland. A preliminary forensic review of the suspect’s electronic devices revealed multiple child pornography files.
The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.
The Baltimore County Public Schools Office of English Language Arts PreK-12 will share information and ideas with parents about strengthening students’ reading and writing skills at the shopping center’s Tots@10 event on Thursday, Aug. 5, beginning at 10 a.m. at THE AVENUE at White Marsh, 8125 Honeygo Blvd.
At the same event, The Education Foundation of BCPS will distribute free children’s books and will accept donations of school supplies for students from low-income families.
Throughout August, through its Back2BCPS campaign, the school system will be sharing information about school registration, immunizations, COVID-19 vaccinations, fall athletics, and new academic programs and initiatives.
The children are siblings. Johnson faces multiple charges including 1st degree child abuse that resulted in the death of a child under the age of 13.
Due to the nature of this case, it will take time to determine the exact circumstances that led to the children’s deaths.
In partnership with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as well as the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department remains committed to bringing closure to this horrific case.
The children found deceased during a traffic stop in Middle River on Wednesday night have been identified as 7-year-old Joshlyn Johnson and 5-year-old Larry O’Neil.
“Tonight, the entire Baltimore County Police Department grieves with the community over the unspeakable deaths of two innocent children,” Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said. “The investigation into this atrocious crime will not stop until those responsible are brought to justice.”
Just after 11 p.m. on July 28, 2021, officers from the Essex precinct conducted a traffic stop on Eastern Boulevard near Wagners Lane in Bowleys Quarters in Middle River.
The deceased minors were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. Baltimore County detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Baltimore County Public Schools released a statement this morning that requires universal masking for students, staff, and visitors in schools for the Fall of the 2021-22 school year.
BCPS sent out a twit, that “local leaders support universal masking in BCPS Schools and on school buses.”
Fifth County Councilman David Marks responded that he was not consulted about this decision and is upset he found out about the mandate on social media.
“Let me be very clear. This ‘local leader’ was never informed about another BCPS mask mandate. I found about it on Twitter,” Mark said.
“Over the past 16 months, the County Council and other units of government worked collaboratively to address public health concerns. Collaboration does not mean learning about an edict like this on social media.”
BCPS Board of Education Vice Chair Julie Henn said that operational decisions such as mask mandates are made by the Superintendent’s office but she was not expecting an announcement on a decision about masking until the special Board meeting for Aug. 3.
“The Board has neither discussed nor taken a position on universal masks. While individual Board members had opportunities to share input on masks, we have not discussed masking or other health and safety concerns around opening as a group. And there are many,” Henn said.
“We need to keep our schools open for safe, in-person instruction. But we also need to discuss what that means and what that looks like for all our learners. One size does not fit all”
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) will require universal masking for students, staff, and visitors in schools for the Fall of the 2021-22 school year. The current federal order for masks to be worn on school buses will continue.
The Board of Education of Baltimore County will conduct a special meeting on Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. to update the Board and community on universal masking in Baltimore County Public Schools. More information about the special board meeting is forthcoming.
“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students, families, and employees,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to impact our community. Universal masking is an important part of our multifaceted approach to mitigate the spread of COVID while keeping schools open for in-person learning.”
“I fully support Dr. Williams’ decision to protect Team BCPS students, staff, and visitors by adopting the latest mask recommendations from the CDC,” said Makeda Scott, chair of the Board of Education of Baltimore County. “As this crisis evolves, what matters most is that we continue to prioritize in-person learning by providing appropriate health and safety guidelines that respond to the latest conditions. I also join leaders across the county in encouraging all citizens aged 12 and over to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
“We want our children REVVed up (ready, excited, vigilant and vaccinated) for the new school year,” said Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch, Baltimore County Health Officer. “Requiring masks is an extra layer of protection for our students, teachers and their families.”
“Protecting the health and well-being of our children and educators is a top priority, especially as we approach the beginning of a new school year. With our youngest children not yet able to be vaccinated and with the growing spread of the Delta variant, it’s critically important we take steps to minimize the spread of Covid-19,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I applaud the decision by BCPS to adopt the CDC’s latest recommendations, and I encourage every County resident who is eligible to receive a vaccine to do so as soon as possible.”
National experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have recently updated their mask guidelines due to surges in COVID infections and hospitalizations across the nation, as well as a plateau in vaccinations.
The BCPS COVID-19 webpage links to the BCPS data dashboard and related information. Updates are provided as available.
The Baltimore County COVID-19 Vaccine Hub provides access to vaccine appointments, as well as free testing and vaccine statistics and information.
The Joppa Road Bridge near Honeygo Elementary School in Perry Hall has been closed since January.
Baltimore County Councilman David Marks shared an email from the Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation about the Joppa Road bridge, and why it is taking so long.
According to the email, the Joppa Road Bridge is now scheduled to reopen in October
“Councilman Marks,
I’ve had a lot of internal conversations with DPWT on the bridge that is currently closed on Joppa Road by Honeygo Elementary School. The bridge was closed in January 2021 because the center portion of the bridge had delaminated (the concrete outer cover was coming loose from the structure) and it was determined the structure in the center could no longer carry the minimum moving load of typical cars/truck traffic.
“The center portion of the bridge was built around 1920, the ends around 1940. The County had no existing plans on the structural design. Once the bridge was closed, the County was able to deconstruct the outer concrete in order to see the structure and re-engineer from there. This also required surveys and testing. That re-engineering has been going on behind the scenes and is not easily viewable by the public.
“When the bridge was closed the best case scenario on timeline was released publicly. In hindsight the DPWT team should have put float in the schedule to allow for unforeseen conditions.
“Attached are two images that help highlight the technical design complications with this bridge that were not evident until the testing, which couldn’t be done until the bridge was closed.
“Typical Bridge 210727” – note the 2 straight tension rods that are marked on the plan. These create even/equal sections of structure between them for the whole length of the bridge. This makes for a copy and paste for the design engineer once they design 1 section. This is a layout on typical bridge.
“Joppa Road Bridge B0545- 210727” – note the quantity of ‘dashed lines’ these are the tension rods needed for the geometry of the Joppa Road bridge due to the ‘kink’ circled on the plans. This means each of these rods needed a design and each section between rods needs a design, there is very little copy
/paste. This took longer to engineer before the plans can be given to a pre-caster to form the bridge sections.
How the 1920s Bridge design is set up
“In order to expedite, this the design was done in house, instead of adding time for proposals from design firms, procurement of contracts, this saved at least 3 months. The plans are finishing up today and being released to the on-call precast contractor. The contractor needs to have the materials made, delivered and installed.
“Given the significant design effort that was unknown at the time of bridge closure the new timeline is reopening of the bridge in October 2021. The Countys website is being updated to reflect this information.
“Thanks for your patience and concern for the safety of our roads!”
Mark said he is frustrated with the ongoing process of this bridge and the delays to reopen.
“I recognize this is a major inconvenience for motorists. My parents live a half-mile from this bridge,” Marks said.
“While there are special circumstances that make this a difficult bridge to reconstruct, it’s unacceptable that the county did not recognize these structural issues earlier.”
