Community Corner
Community Meetings, STEM Awards, Vets for Pets
Councilwoman Cathy Bevins speaks with residents, recognizes students; free vet clinic offered.
It was another very busy week in the Essex Middle River area! There are so many people doing so many interesting things! Here are a few highlights around town:
Bevins Communicates with Local Community Groups
Last Monday night, District 6 Councilwoman Cathy Bevins was the guest speaker at the Holly Neck Conservation Association monthly meeting. Bevins answered numerous questions posed by the local residents of the lower Back River Neck Peninsula.
Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Representatives from several other community associations also attended the meeting, including Back River Neck Peninsula Community Association as well as those representing Turkey Point, Rockaway Beach and Baurenschmidt Manner.
Those in attendance asked numerous questions regarding zoning changes as well as crime stats. Several issues were noted by Bevins’ assistant for follow-up investigation, such as the status of the seemingly never-ending repair work on the water system that began when a pipe burst in November 2009 at Josenhann’s Corner (Back River Neck Road, Old Eastern Avenue and Stemmers Run Road intersection). The work is still in progress and water service interruptions are continuing.
Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bevins ended her presentation by asking residents to provide feedback to her office regarding development of the 55-acre depot site on Eastern Boulevard across from Martin State Airport.
The developers have met with Bevins and have said they are open to suggestions of what the community would like to see built on that property. Bevins said her goal is to ensure that some high tech, good paying jobs are included in whatever development takes place on this prime property location.
Bevins Honors STEM Fair Winners
On Wednesday, I again crossed paths with Bevins at Chesapeake High School. Over the past couple of months, local elementary schools have studied hard while researching science projects.
The STEM Academy Science Fairs were held in each school for the fourth and fifth grades. Each of the district’s 14 elementary schools had fabulous accomplishments.
Each of the winners was invited to attend the first-ever STEM Academy Awards Ceremony. (Note: STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
“I was contacted by Hawthorne Elementary School asking me to be a judge for their STEM Science Fair," Bevins said. "When I saw how much time, effort and fabulous work these students had done, I realized that the winners needed a special event to recognize the accomplishments these students had achieved … not just at Hawthorne Elementary but at all the science fairs.
“Knowing that Chesapeake High School is the STEM academy magnet school, I knew how impressive and exciting it would be for these science enthusiasts to see the STEM Lab at Chesapeake."
Bevins presented a Baltimore County Council proclamation to each winner from the fourth and fifth grades from each school, praising their hard work. Students, parents and teachers were then given a tour of the STEM Academy lab at the school.
Reese Glidden is a senior engineering student at Chesapeake who has been accepted to Cornell University. He is fulfilling a student internship in the STEM lab this year.
Glidden gave an overview of the primary features of each room in the lab and provided a brief demonstration of landing a spaceship on the moon. Students, parents and teachers alike were impressed with the level of technology available at Chesapeake.
“Chesapeake STEM Academy is proud to partner with Councilwoman Cathy Bevins in hosting the first Elementary STEM Awards. Showcasing our exciting Virtual Learning Environment will hopefully generate interest and enthusiasm for our elementary students to continue their studies in STEM in order to be better prepared for the workforce of the 21st Century,” said M. Niki Crawford, teacher at Chesapeake High School.
Bevins presented proclamations to:
Carney Elementary
Grade 4 Arason Anbazhagan
Grade 5 Kayla Stottlemyer
Elmwood Elementary
Grade 4 Kathryn Dennis
Grade 5 James DiPietro
Fullerton Elementary
Grade 4 Cadin Walter
Grade 5 Adam Suson
Glenmar Elementary
Kelly Price representing school
Grade 4 Jessica Dong
Grade 5 Matthan Teves
Hawthorne Elementary
Grade 4 Isabel Tharp
Grade 5 Alisha White
Martin Boulevard Elementary
Grade 4 Arielle Wiggins not attending
Grade 5 Zoe Kelly
McCormick Elementary
Kelly Price representing school
Grade 4 Shane Shakoor and Raven Askins
Middleborough Elementary
Grade 4 Brian Bailey
Grade 5 Mark Quesnel
Oliver Beach Elementary
Grade 4 Connor Wright
Grade 5 Michael Rigopoulos
Seneca Elementary
Grade 4 Hana Harwood
Grade 5 Joseph Sheely
Vincent Farm Elementary
Grade 4 Angela-Marie Jung Boeren
Grade 5 Zachary B. Dell
Schools not in attendance:
Chase Elementary
Grade 4 Jessica Presley
Grade 5 Hannah Mills
Shady Spring Elementary
Grade 5 Shannon M. Meyers
Victory Villa Elementary
Grade 4 Savannah Layne Hunter
Grade 5 Dakota Hickman
Cancer Legislation Protections Are a Must
On Thursday, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) provided information to all the customers at Bill Bateman’s Express, located on Compass Road in Middle River.
During the busy lunch period, ACSCAN - ACT Leads Chanel Benn and I, along with staffer Sherry McCammon, talked with customers, encouraged them to join ACSCAN and to become active in the fight to protect medical care for patients with cancer as well as the provision of diagnostic screenings for all.
At dinnertime, Sherry and I again talked with various customers, making them aware of the issues being addressed by both state and federal legislators. I also offered my book for sale: Anna's Journey: How many lives does one person get? A portion of the proceeds from my book sales as well as a donation from Bateman’s food sales will help to support the ACSCAN activities.
ACSCAN is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. Celebrations with Action events will be scheduled later this year to continue to raise awareness of issues impacting the cancer community. “Milestone” stories are being collected. These will be presented to our Congressional representatives during the ACSCAN Lobby Days in September.
These personalized stories will more clearly show Congress the impact cancer research has on individuals, families, friends and caregivers.
If you have reached a milestone, made possible through cancer research breakthroughs—new technology, new procedures and medications—and would like to share your story, e-mail me at annarenault@ymail.com.
Free Vets For Pets
Do you have a pet? This weekend, “Free Vets for Pets” will be at the Victory Villa Senior Center, located at 403 Compass Road in Middle River.
Veterinarian Dr. Tara Klimovitz from Essex Middle River Veterinary Center will be on site to provide exams, deworming, vaccines, flea/tick medications, I.D. tags and more. The event is set to from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
No appointments are needed, as it will be a first-come, first-served event. All pets must be on a leash or in a cage.