Essex Boy Scout Honored for Saving Relative's Life

Local Turkey Point resident Christopher Mundy put his scout training into action on Oct. 9, 2010, when his cousin was choking. 

Performing the Heimlich maneuver on his cousin was a real act of heroism. Now age 11, Mundy was awarded the Arrow of Light and advanced to Scout status within Boy Scout Troop 355.

During the Baltimore Area Council's annual meeting on June 16, Mundy received the Heroism Award for his quick thinking and proper lifesaving action in October. Mundy used a skill he had learned during training for his Webelos Readyman Activity Badge for first aid. 

Boy Scout Troop 355 is chartered by the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Council 2452. The award was presented to Mundy by Baltimore Area Council Commissioner Brigadier General Charles A. Morgan III, MD ANG, Retired.

With nearly 4 million scouts and scouters across the country, only 367 lifesaving and meritorious action awards were presented nationwide. It is an honor of the Baltimore County Area Council to be home to Scout Christopher Mundy, recipient of this 2011 Heroism Award.

Holly Neck Conservation Association Delivers Scholarships

The Holly Neck Conservation Association (HNCA) is proud to present scholarships each spring to local students who will attend college with a major relating to the environment and/or conservation.

HNCA member Chris Morgan presented scholarships to Thomas Jones and Ashlea Zahner at Sparrows Point High School on June 3.  At the same time, HNCA President Ron Belbot presented scholarships to Grant Stefanowicz and Mary Ruland at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School. Congratulations to these students.

And thanks to HNCA for being a steward of our environment. Assisting these students as they learn to improve and protect our environment is an awesome service to the community at large.

Back River Restoration Committee Cleanups

With the help of the entire sixth grade at Stemmers Run Middle School, the beaches of the Essex Sky Park and the Ballestone-Stansbury Mansion were tidied.

More than 230 student visits accomplished these shoreline cleanups. 

Thanks for your work.

Also, on June 11, more than 85 members of the community—from both shores of the Back River—converged on the Back River Solid Waste and Sewer Treatment facility for a shoreline cleanup. Volunteers collected more than 30 tires from the beaches and coves and filled several dumpsters throughout the course of the event. 

The “summer crew” will return to the area to attack some areas that still need attention. BRRC will schedule another cleanup in this area later in the season. Watch for announcements of upcoming projects around the shores of Essex and Middle River.

Thanks to all who participated or donated in some way to this event.

Next Week ...

Watch for a report from the local Girl Scout Court of Honor event, as well as reports from other environmental groups making great strides to ensure our watershed is a cleaner and safer area for all to enjoy this summer.

And, are we ready for very low flying jets that will be measuring the air pollution over 695? NASA has a planned activity for this week; the estimated start day is Tuesday. Essex is one of the six “hot spots” identified for this air pollution testing survey.

Lastly, a personal note of thanks to all who have been keeping track of me:  I appreciate receiving all the cards and get-well wishes, along with your prayers.  My surgery went well and recuperation is going smoothly.