Four Local Small Businesses Receive BGE Grant


This month, BGE awarded 88 small businesses located within BGE’s service area $20,000 grants through its Energizing Small Business Grants program. This program is part of BGE’s $15 million pledge to assist small businesses with COVID-19 relief and recovery and is a multi-year commitment expected to run through at least 2023.

Here is a full list of the four eastern Baltimore County Recipients

Chimax Medical Center
Chienyenwa Nwachinemere | Rosedale, MD

Maryland Maids
Ruby Cardwell | Middle River, MD

Skin Access Studios
Danielle Johnson | Parkville, MD

EHS Maryland
Nina Zunt | Dundalk, MD

“Small businesses are a vital part of Maryland’s economy, creating jobs throughout the state—and they unfortunately bore the brunt of COVID-19’s economic fallout. BGE’s Energizing Small Business Grants program is critical to helping stabilize local businesses and the communities we serve,” said BGE CEO Carim Khouzami. “These grants also complement our Customer Relief and Energy Infrastructure Investment Plan that freezes customer rates in 2021 and supports more than 26,000 jobs in Maryland. The pandemic has far-reaching impacts and this multi-layered approach to supporting our customers, businesses and communities will help our region recover and thrive.”

Of the 88 recipients, 26% are in the food and beverage industry, 14% in healthcare and wellness, 12% in professional business services and 10% in beauty and self-care. A majority of the grants went to businesses owned by historically marginalized groups and a full 82% have fewer than 10 full-time employees.

“I am beyond pleased to be a recipient of the BGE Energizing Small Business Grant. It couldn’t come at a better time. I will be able to catch up on my deferred rent payments and keep my place of business. This grant will also make it possible for me to bring back some part time help,” said Elaine McCloud, grant recipient and president of Glen Burnie-based Ambrosia Caterers.

BGE partnered with Hello Alice, a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses launch and grow, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a Washington, DC-based organization that supports entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. and around the world, to provide the grants. All applicants gain access to Hello Alice’s free COVID-19 Business Resource Center to ensure consistent support and mentorship to all business owners. Businesses will be able to apply for grants during two additional application periods: May 5 – June 16 and Sept. 1 – Oct. 13.

“The impact that the ongoing pandemic has had on small businesses has been well documented, as have the even more devastating impacts on minority and women entrepreneurs. In partnership with BGE, we are thrilled we were able to support this grant program for the 88 small businesses that are so well-deserving, 56% of which are woman-owned and 66% of which are minority-owned, groups that are historically underfunded and underserved,” said Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice.

In addition to small business grants, BGE’s comprehensive efforts to support Marylanders during the COVID-19 pandemic have included an additional $1.5 million contribution to the Fuel Fund of Maryland, $1 million in funding to county-administered business pandemic relief funds, expansion of BGE’s Workforce Collaborative infrastructure academy to train approximately 600 local residents for job placement over the next three years, and extending flexible payment arrangement plans to help qualifying customers to maintain their electric and gas service. BGE and the Exelon companies in Maryland directed $1.25 million to Maryland relief organizations, including the Maryland Food Bank, United Way of Central Maryland, PCs for People, and the Baltimore Community Foundation. The Energizing Small Business Grants program and all nonprofit contributions are made using shareholder dollars and are not reflected in customer bills.

Avenue at White Marsh to Host Job Fair


THE AVENUE at White Marsh is hosting a job fair on its campus Monday, May 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. The following Avenue at White Marsh stores are looking for employees at the job fair.

Akira Ramen and Izakaya -Apply online here: Waitress/Waiter – Nottingham, MD 21236 – Indeed.com or apply in person
Ando’s Market – Stop by and apply in person or email your resume to katie@redbrickstation.com
Brown Rice – Stop by and apply in person
Bandito’s Bar & Kitchen – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Bar Louie – Find info and apply online here:
Bar Louie Team Members Career Opportunities (prismhr-hire.com)
BurgerFi – Apply online here: https://indeedhi.re/32wctCs
Chili’s – Find info and apply online here: https://bit.ly/2RnrXGi
Coldstone – Apply online here: https://www.coldstonecreamery.com/jobs/applications/?store=22025&brand=14
LOFT – Find information for the sales associate position online and apply here: https://bit.ly/3tAEZyl
Find information for the sales lead position online and apply here: https://bit.ly/3gqVnxR
Red Brick Station – Stop by and apply in person or email your resume to paul@redbrickstation.com
SLICE on THE AVENUE – Stop by and apply in person
Spa on THE AVENUE – Apply online here: https://bit.ly/3enXxvI
Texas Roadhouse – Apply online here: https://bit.ly/32Baf4s
The Curious Oyster – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Wayward Smokehouse – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Yankee Candle Company – Stop by the store and apply in person

Man Arrested in Fatal Parkville Crabs Crash


85-year-old Louis Anthony Fernandez, after review by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, has been charged with manslaughter, reckless driving and other related charges in connection to the fatal motor vehicle accident that happened on Dec., 2020 in Parkville on Harford Road between Taylor and Lavender Avenue.

Deanna Jean Allik (35) of the 8100 block of Harford Road was killed in a fatal crash at Parkville Crabs when a Subaru Outback that was on the parking lot drove through the glass window area at the front of the business.

Essex Shooting Reported in Middleborough Area


Detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred just after 6 p.m., on April 21, 2021 in the Essex area near Lanflair and Dargun roads.

Responding officers located an adult male suffering from at least one gunshot wounds to the lower body. He was transported to an area hospital in critical but stable condition.

The Violent Crimes Unit of the Baltimore County Police Department is investigating this case. If you have any information about this shooting, please call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.

Commercial Building Fire in Edgemere


–photo courtesy of Baltimore County Volunteer Fire Association-

Baltimore County Fire Crews reported a commerical building fire in Edgemere on Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m.

Crews arrived to heavy smoke conditions from a commercial building in the 8200 block of Fischer Road. Crews extinguished a conveyor belt fire around 9:24 a.m.

No injuries reported at this time.

BCPS to Expand In-Person Learning to 4 Days


As early as May 10, Baltimore County Public Schools will offer identified students the opportunity for four in-person learning days per week, an increase from two in-person learning days. Families may continue to choose five days of virtual learning.

For all students on Wednesdays, teachers will continue to provide virtual learning in addition to the opportunity to meet with small groups of students, provide tutoring, conduct individual student check-ins, plan for instruction, and engage in professional learning.

Through consultation with health experts and while continuing to implement mitigation strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the extent possible, students in the following groups may begin four days of in-person learning on the dates indicated. Schools will provide specific information to families about making the choice, and the deadlines for making the choice are Wednesday, Apr. 21, for elementary students and Friday, Apr. 23, for secondary students.

Four days of in-person learning may begin on May 10 for these students:
• All students in elementary schools, Preschool – Grade 5.
• All students in public separate day schools (Battle Monument, Maiden Choice, Ridge Ruxton, and White Oak schools).
• In Grades 6 – 12, students receiving special education services primarily outside of general education in cluster and regional programs, including Functional Academic Learning Support (FALS), Communication and Learning Support (CALS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Hearing Impaired, and Visually Impaired).

Four days of in-person learning may begin on May 17 for these students:
• Any student in Grades 6 – 12 with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan.

BCPS has identified May 10 and May 17 as start dates for system planning purposes; however, we have learned that the nature of this pandemic is evolving, which could impact the scheduled timeline as more updated information is provided.

During weeks with previously-scheduled closures for students, there will be three in-person days for students. May 13 is a systemwide professional development day and May 31 is Memorial Day.

The expansion is aligned with recent CDC guidelines adopted by the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland State Department of Education. Schools will continue to maintain the CDC’s recommended mitigation strategies, including the consistent and correct use of face coverings; social distancing to the extent possible; frequent hand washing and covering of coughs and sneezes; cleaning and disinfecting; and contact tracing.

BCPS phased in two days of hybrid in-person learning for all students from the week of Mar. 1 to the week of Apr. 6.

Missing Man Found Dead in Dundalk Water


Middle River Volunteer Fire & Rescue reported that their dive team conducted a water rescue at Merritt Point Park in Dundalk.

A car was reported submerged under water on Thursday, April 15 around 5 p.m.

Police reported 72-year-old Alfonso Bryan was recovered from the scene along with his car

Bryan was reported missing and was last seen on April 9, in the area of Stemmers Run Rd. in Essex.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.

Patapsco Student Honored in Young Writers contest


Allie (Talis) Hill, a junior literary arts student at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, won a top prize in the Young Writers “Through Their Eyes” writing contest.

From thousands of entries received from across the nation, Hill’s poem “Growth” was one of only five selected to be honored. In addition to being published, Hill has won $100 and a trophy.

“Allie is an amazingly talented and prolific author with an incredible gift for conveying emotion in her writing,” said Trisha A. Dunn, Patapsco High’s magnet coordinator.

“Allie Hill joined Patapsco’s Literary Arts magnet last year as a sophomore,” said literary arts teacher Julie Cutlip, “She is quite a prolific storyteller — for a 20,000-word story, she limits herself to 40,000 words. Allie was insistent that she was ‘not a poet.’ Despite ‘having no talent’ for poetry, somehow, she managed to not only be recognized in the Young Writers’ Through Their Eyes writing contest but to actually win! Allie is currently a junior and writing amazing poetry every day in her poetry class. Today might just be the day she accepts that she is a poet.”

Since 1991, Young Writers has coordinated contests and offered online resources to encourage students to write.

Woman Killed in Single Auto Crash


Baltimore County Police continue their investigation into a single-vehicle crash that killed a woman this morning.

Officers responded to North Point and Maple Roads in the Dundalk on Thursday, April 15 just before 1:50 a.m. after a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado left the roadway and struck a tree. The occupant of the vehicle, 37-year-old Kristin Dewald, was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The Baltimore County Police Crash Investigation Team is continuing their work to determine the factors involved in this fatal crash.