Thursday, May 23, 2013
The timing of a bill that reduces fees for developers comes as an August deadline looms for more than a dozen projects.
The Baltimore County Council Thursday is scheduled to vote on a bill that would lower the rates charged to developers who would rather pay a fee in lieu of setting aside a portion of a proposed development as open space. Michael Harrison, a lobbyist for the Home Builders Association of Maryland, said his group asked for the rates to be updated last November—the first such change in seven years. "The fees were set at the peak of the market and developers could afford those prices," Harrison said, adding that later it became apparent that a number of developers were in danger of losing their ability to move forward because they had not yet paid the waiver fees. If the council adopts the new fee schedule, developers would pay rates equivalent…
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The following information was supplied by the Baltimore County Police Department's Franklin Precinct, which covers Reisterstown and Owings Mills. Arrests do not indicate convictions.
Oakmere Road. Unit block. Between 1:45 p.m. and 5:05 p.m. on May 18. A burglar stole a Mac laptop, $1,500 cash and a jewelry box that contained four gold rings after entering the home through an unlocked side kitchen door. Knights Court. Unit block. Between 1:30 a.m. and 9 a. on May 18. A burglar stole an Xbox, an Xbox controller, pocket knife and $16 cash while victims were asleep. Craftsmen Court. Unit block. Between 8 p.m. on May 16 and 7 a.m. on May 17. A burglar stole two Mongoose bicycles from the yard after entering through an open fence. Butler Road. 4300 block. Between 5:30 p.m. on My 14 and 12 p.m. on May 16. A burglar stole an 18-inch chainsaw, five-gallon gas can and eight gallons of gas after opening the back yard gate and …
Capt. Andre Davis was replaced at the Woodlawn Precinct by Towson Precinct Capt. Jonathan Trentzsch in a series of command changes earlier this month.
The former commander of the Baltimore County Police precinct in Woodlawn is the subject of an internal affairs investigation. Capt. Andre Davis was transferred May 10 from his position as commander of the Woodlawn Precinct to an administrative position inside the department's Community Resources section. Elise Armacost, a police department spokeswoman, declined to comment on the investigation. "I can confirm that there is an Internal Affairs investigation into a complaint involving Capt. Davis," Armacost said. "I can't comment on or offer the details of that complaint because it is a personnel matter." Davis was transferred nearly two weeks ago as part of three command staff reassignments. Capt. Richard Howard, who previously was assigned …
Baltimore City has proposed a 15 percent increase beginning in July.
Water service for county residents will not likely cost more despite a proposal by Baltimore City to raise rates by 15 percent. At least not this year. The increase proposed by city Department of Public Works would increase water bills by nearly $24 per quarter for the typical city water customers. The system supplies water to 1.8 million residents in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Howard Counties. Baltimore County absorbs some costs of the system through a complex agreement with the city. Other costs are paid for through the Metropolitan District Fund that is assessed as a line item on county property tax bills. "Given [the agreement] and the metropolitan fund balance, there was no need to pass this increase on to…
Find homes for sale in Owings Mills and Reisterstown on this page every week, from our partners at Zillow.
More Owings Mills-Reisterstown Real Estate Listings >> Find out what Open Houses are happening in Owings Mills and Reisterstown this week. Town Resources:
Who’s NOT planning a BBQ this weekend? If the weather holds and you’ve got propane or charcoal, chances are, you’re grilling something with your friends and family. Here, new ideas for keeping your costs down.
Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party. 1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead -- say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess.” Try…
Yes, Wednesdays can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"
Are Wednesdays really so tough? Well, yes, they can be. Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors - neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us. But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys. Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And feel better about your tough Wednesday. Enterprising Dad Juggles …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Potentially more fees in store at BWI, Reagan National and Dulles airports for summer travel.
In 2012, airlines raked in more than $6 billion in baggage and change fees, solely accounting for a 3.7 percent profit margin, according to WTOP. The practice of collecting additional fees for the once-free baggage began in 2008, when prices for jet fuel rose nearly 50 percent as oil hit an all-time high. Since then, the fees have increased and are typically in the range of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second. These baggage fees added $3.5 billion to airline coffers in 2012, 3.8 percent more than in 2011. While some commercials make light of the anger and frustration caused by the additional fees, a J.D. Power & Associates survey cited by the Los Angeles Times shows that a greater percentage of passengers who pay to …
Some helpful links with information for how to pitch in as Oklahomans try to pick up the pieces today from yesterday's massive tornado.
Patch is about helping your neighbors, and today after the devastation near Oklahoma City where a giant tornado claimed dozens of lives, Oklahoma is our neighbor. In addition to hoping for the best for the survivors and rescue workers still out in harm's way today, here are some links where you can donate your time or money to help the recovery efforts. Give: Share: Do you have any experience with a tornado or other natural disaster? What do people need most after going through something like this? Share your tips with us by writing a blog post.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's likely that there's fecal matter in public pools across the country.
Summer is just around the corner and what could be more refreshing than a dip in your local pool? Just don't open your mouth. In a recently released study, the CDC found E.coli in more than half of the public pool filters tested for genetic material. Although the researchers did not find the toxin-producing strain of E. coli that can cause diarrhea, cramps and, sometime, kidney failure, the bacteria they did find is normally found in human intestines and feces. What that means, in case it’s unclear, is that “swimmers frequently contaminate pool water when they have a fecal incident in the water or when feces rinse off of their bodies because they do not shower thoroughly before getting into the water.” In addition to 58 percent of the …
Chuck Burton
9:53 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Another reason, besides the TSA, to forget flying anywhere. more ›