Olszewski to Seek Reelection in Baltimore County


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. will seek re-election.

There was some speculation that the one-term County Executive could run for Governor since Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is term limited for seeking another term, but Olszewski made an announcement on Thursday.

Comptroller Peter Franchot is the likely favorite to win the Democratic nomination for Governor with Olszewski not entering the race and staying in Baltimore County.

“When I ran for County Executive, we set a bold vision for a #BetterBaltimoreCounty. In just a few years, we’ve proven together that transformative change is possible. But there is still more to be done,” Olszewski said in a statement.
“That’s why I’m excited to announce I will be seeking re-election in 2022.”

Parkville HS Congratulates Paige Holley


As Eastbaltco.com reported on Monday, Paige Holley, a senior at Parkville High School, was announced as one of two recipients of the Charles Perry McCormick Scholarship, worth $40,000 over four years. She is the first Parkville High student to earn this honor.

The scholarship was announced during a virtual Unsung Heroes program event hosted by McCormick and Company, Inc., on May 3.

Holley and the other Charles Perry McCormick Scholarship recipient were chosen from 100 Baltimore area student athletes recognized as Unsung Heroes this year.

When the women’s lacrosse team at Parkville High needed a goalie, Holley, a field player, stepped up to learn new skills to benefit the team.

During the pandemic, she also volunteered to be a group leader during the team’s virtual practice sessions.

Her coach, Shannon McFadden, describes Holley as the team’s morale booster.

“She has the best attitude no matter what her role is that day,” McFadden said.

“Paige is everything a coach can ask for in an athlete,” said Jeff Markle, Parkville High’s athletic director.

“She is an athlete who shows up every day and works as hard as possible to improve, and a great teammate whose attitude is infectious on the team.”

Three of the four other students recognized with additional scholarships at this year’s Unsung Heroes event also represent BCPS. Dustin Krotee of Hereford High School received a $7,500 scholarship.

Aureole Djoumejio of Owings Mills High School and Chase Glenn of Western School of Technology and Environmental Science each received $5,000 scholarships.

McCormick’s Unsung Heroes program was founded in 1940 by Charles Perry McCormick, Sr. The mission of the program is to recognize athletes for unselfish team play and highlight the efforts of those who contribute to the success of their teams without acclaim.

To date, the company has awarded over $1.9 million in scholarships to deserving student-athletes.

Donation Page Created for Parkville Fire Victim


A family in Parkville is looking to rebuild after a fire destroyed a elderly woman’s home on April 23 on Oakleigh Road.

The family reported the house is now unlivable and the vehicle she owned is destroyed. Many of her belongings has suffered fire and smoke damage.

There was no insurance and she has no savings. The family has started a donation page to help their mother.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/elderly-woman-loses-home-in-fire-in-Maryland?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

BCPS to go Back to Five Days in 2021-22


Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach (R-3) announced that Baltimore County Public Schools will return to a five-day in-person schedule with the opportunity for virtual learning for the fall of 2021.

“I am so pleased to share that we have received word that Baltimore County Public Schools will provide full-time, in-person instruction, five days a week, for all students for the 2021-2022 school year,” Kach said.

“A full time virtual option will be offered, but those interested must sign up at www.bcps.org by May 7th. Those who are not interested in a fully virtual program do not need to do anything.

BCPS started off all virtual from September until the end of February this year. Some students started returning for two days a week in-person and some will return to a four-day schedule starting next week.

Parkville High’s Holley Wins McCormick Female Unsung Hero


The Parkville HS Athletic Boosters Club reported on its Facebook page that Paige Holley of Parkville High School has been named 1st grand prize winner of the McCormick Unsung hero award. Holley has earned a $40,000 scholarship as a result of winning the award. She is a lacrosse player at the school.

The 81th McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards were held on Monday night. There were 100 Unsung Hero honorees who were nominated throughout the region

One male and female athlete were selected to receive a $40,000 Charles Perry McCormick Scholarship. Logan Welsh, a lacrosse player from Patapsco High School Center for the Arts was the female winner in 2020.

Two Pedestrians Killed in Dundalk Accident


Baltimore County Police are investigating a double-fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on May 2 shortly after 2 a.m., along North Point Boulevard just south of Norris Lane.

A preliminary investigation reveals a Subaru Legacy traveling southbound on North Point Blvd. in the southbound lane struck a pedestrian who at the time was attempting to cross North Point Blvd. just south of Norris Lane. The pedestrian was walking westbound when he was struck. After the crash occurred, the driver of the Subaru came to a controlled stop on the east edge of North Point Blvd.

Shortly thereafter, a driver passing the location of the crash observed the pedestrian in the roadway and stopped on the west edge of North Point Blvd. As she walked into the roadway to assist the injured pedestrian, she was struck and killed by a passing motorcyclist.

Both pedestrians were pronounced deceased at the scene. They have been identified as:

Pedestrian #1

34-year-old Joshua Day

2600 block of Edgemere Ave.

Pedestrian #2

21-year-old Berlynn Matthews

400 block of Nollmeyer Rd.

The motorcyclist, 24-year-old William Collazo-Brown, was traveling southbound on North Point Blvd. in the southbound lane when he struck both pedestrians. Collazo-Brown’s vehicle continued southbound on its side where it came to a rest.

The driver of the Kawasaki Vulcan was identified as an off-duty Baltimore County police officer. Collazo-Brown has been arrested and charged with DUI related offenses; his police powers are currently suspended. Collazo-Brown has been a member of the Baltimore County Police Department since June 2019.

This case remains under investigation by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Crash Team, and the Baltimore County Police Department’s Bureau of Professional Standards/Internal Affairs.

Independence Day Parades Returning to Kingsville & Dundalk


It appears the 4th of July will return to some normalcy as Dundalk and Kingsville will hold their annual Independence Day parades again.

Kingsville canceled its parade in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 and Dundalk altered its parade into a caravan parade around the Dundalk area. Both will be back, but will return on Saturday, July 3 to avoid a conflict with early morning church services.

“Your Dundalk Independence Day Parade is so excited to have our traditional Parade this year we can not wait,” said a statement on the Dundalk Independence Day Parade Facebook page.

Members of the Dundalk parade committee held a Easter Bunny Parade on April 3. This will mark the 86th year of the Dundalk Independence Day Parade.

There has been no official statement on the Kingsville Independence Day Parade social media page, but Councilman David Marks attended the group’s meeting and released a statement.

“The Kingsville Independence Day Parade will return! I was pleased to join community leaders last night who are planning the event, scheduled for Saturday, July 3rd,” Marks said on Wednesday, April 28.

The Dundalk Independence Day Parade is looking for donations.

Not all events are back to normal for July 4th. The Fullerton Fireworks canceled its firework display for the second year in a row. There has been no official decision on the Heritage Fair or the Dundalk Fireworks. A virtual Heritage Fair was held in 2020.

Fullerton Fireworks Canceled Again in 2021


For the second straight year, the Fullerton Fireworks have been canceled as a result of COVID-19.

The 4th of July Firework Display is held at the fields of Fullerton Elementary School. They released an official statement on their Facebook page about the cancellation and plans to return in 2022.

“Due to COVID restrictions we are unable to have our July 4th Celebration,” said a statement on the group’s Facebook page.

“We will be back in 2022 with an all day celebration Sponsored by Jerry’s Toyota starting at noon with music and food. See you then.”

The group was hopeful in mid March that the Fullerton Fireworks could be held, but made the cancellation on April 17th.

All of the local public parades, fireworks displays and festivals were canceled in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. There is hope as Dundalk and Kingsville announced that their parades will return this July.

Two Local Students Elected to County Student Council


At the April 20 Baltimore County Student Councils General Assembly meeting, students elected the current BCSC president, first vice president, and community outreach director to serve again during the 2021-2022 school year.

Students also elected officers for the newly established Baltimore County Junior Councils, which were created to enhance and nurture the influence and leadership of middle school students.

The elected officers are:

Baltimore County Student Councils

President: Samantha Warfel, Hereford High School

Samantha has served as president of BCSC since June 2020. Prior to that, she served as vice president from 2019-2020. Under her leadership, BCSC has hosted a P.I.V.O.T. (Positive Informational Virtual Organizational Tips) event, bi-monthly General Assemblies, monthly Instagram Live lunch chats, and its inaugural Black History Month Summit. It also has implemented implicit bias training and launched Baltimore County Junior Councils. Samantha also serves as communications director and chair of the Women’s Leadership Forum for the Maryland Association of Student Councils and was named BCSC Distinguished Student Leader of the Year for 2020 by MASC. In addition, she is chief of staff for the State Student Member of the Board Advisory Council. At Hereford High, Samantha is a member of the National English Honor Society and National Honor Society.

First Vice President: Claire Cabral, Hereford High School

Claire has served as vice president of BCSC since June 2020 and assisted in the creation of Baltimore County Junior Councils. She also serves as school safety liaison for the Maryland Association of Student Councils and Baltimore County student representative for the Maryland Center for School Safety. At Hereford High, Claire is an honor roll student, freshman Student Council advisory board member, and a member of the Key Club and Model United Nations.

Community Outreach Director: Carter Bohart, Eastern Technical High School

Carter has been involved with BCSC since 2016 and has served as community outreach director since 2018. He is the Division 2 liaison to the Maryland Association of Student Councils. At Eastern Tech, he serves as vice president of the National Spanish Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honors Society. He is an executive board member of Eastern Tech’s student government, an advisory board member to the National Honor Society, and member of the National English Honor Society.

Baltimore County Junior Councils

Chair and BCSC Second Vice President: Anisa Kalil, Dumbarton Middle School

Anisa is an honor roll student who currently serves as a member of BCSC Diversity and Equity Affairs Committee, BCSC Board of Selected Students, Students Against Violence Everywhere, and Dumbarton Middle’s Student Government Association. She also is a member of her school’s tennis team and plays the violin in the school orchestra and Honor Orchestra. She holds a second-degree black belt and is a junior instructor in Tae Kwon Do.

Vice Chair: Adalyn Murveit, Perry Hall Middle School

Adalyn is an honor roll student and earned high honors in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth talent search. At her school, she is involved with the strategic game and environmental clubs, student council, and the Spanish Honor Society. She has been taking piano lessons for five years and is part of a band. She also volunteers at the National History Society of Maryland and around her school.

Eastern Tech HS Named Top 10 School in Maryland


Eastern Technical High School and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science rank among the top 10 high schools in Maryland according to the 2021 Best High Schools list compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

Five BCPS high schools ranked among the top 50 in Maryland. They are Eastern Tech, Western Tech, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Hereford High, and Towson High.

The U.S. News rankings include data on nearly 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Rankings are based on college readiness (30%), math and reading proficiency (20%), math and reading performance (20%), underserved student performance (10%), college curriculum breadth (10%), and graduation rate (10%). Factored into the rankings were participation and achievement in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, state math and reading assessment scores, and four-year graduation rates.

“We appreciate this recognition of the quality of our high schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, “but we care even more about the experiences our students and families have in our schools. There are so many ways to measure the quality of a school. Paramount for us is that all our students graduate from all our high schools ready for success in college, careers, and life.”

The BCPS high schools that received rankings on the U.S. News & World report are:
• Eastern Technical High – ranked #3 in Maryland, #132 nationally, #1 in Baltimore metro area
• Western Tech – ranked #7 in Maryland, #332 nationally, #3 in Baltimore metro area
• Carver Center – ranked #16 in Maryland, #721 nationally, #9 in Baltimore metro area
• Hereford High – ranked #26 in Maryland
• Towson High – ranked #50 in Maryland
• Dulaney High – ranked #58 in Maryland
• Pikesville High – ranked #95 in Maryland
• Franklin High – ranked #109 in Maryland
• Catonsville High – ranked #124 in Maryland
• Loch Raven High – ranked #143 in Maryland
• Perry Hall High – ranked #152 in Maryland
• Sparrows Point High – ranked #162 in Maryland
• Chesapeake High – ranked #167 in Maryland