Essex-Middle River 2011 in Review: October-December

As 2011 comes to a close, Patch is taking this week to look back and reflect on the events that shaped the last 12 months.

What were the biggest moments for you? How did they change your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments.

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Here are the stories that stood out in October, November and December.

Oct 8:

More than 100 people turned out to the Middle River Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Co. to support the son of Essex-Middle River Patch editor Ron Snyder. In all, more than $9,000 was raised to help 8-year-old William Snyder, a brain cancer survivor, buy a service dog. Thanks to the generosity of so many William has since raised the funds necessary for the dog and expects to get it some time in 2012.

Oct 20:

A Middle River man was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a 16-year-old girl whose body has not been found. A Baltimore County jury found Jason Gross, 36, guilty in the death of Rochelle Battle. Prosecutors said Gross killed Rochelle Battle on or about March 6, 2009.

Oct. 21:

A Middle River couple died in an apparent murder-suicide. The woman, 84, and the man, 85, identified by police as John and Margie Sigmon, were found shortly before 3 p.m. on that day by fire crews in the living room of a home on the 10100 block of Bird River Road. Both were shot and a note was left at the scene, said Elise Amacost, a Baltimore County Police spokeswoman.

Oct. 31:

After more than 35 years on the job, Baltimore County police Captain Mike DiPaula called it a career. DiPaula spent his last four years at Essex, but decided to retire in order to take advantage of an early retirement benefit passed by the County Council this year. He was part of about a quarter of the department’s command staff to retire.

November 2011

Nov. 4:

A proposal to lower the speed limit on the Middle River to 6 knots up to the mouth of the river was rejected by a state Department of Natural Resources panel. The Boat Act Advisory Committee voted 14-3 to defeat the proposal, originally proposed by the Bowleys Condo Marina and the Bowleys Condo Association.

The vote came after more than 100 people turned out for a public hearing at the Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Company to debate the issue.

Nov. 9:

Chesapeake didn’t even have a coach until the first week of August. But the school’s football team put together an impressive season as the Bayhawks reeled off eight straight wins after starting the season 0-3. Chesapeake won its county division title and advanced to the Class 2A North semifinals.

Nov. 17:

The Essex-Middle River area lost a century of emergency medical service experience when paramedics Terry Hutchinson, Rick Kahler and Sam Snyder decided to retire. Hutchinson and Kahler retired in November after 25 years on the job while Snyder walked away after 31 years of service.

Nov. 23:

John and Jim Harbaugh made NFL history when the brothers became the first to coach against each other in a regular season game. John Harbaugh’s Ravens defeated Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers, 16-6.

Nov. 26:

Vandals took bulldozers and other pieces of heavy equipment for joyrides after breaking into the Eastern Sanitary Landfill late Friday causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, police said. One bulldozer had been rolled onto its side with the engine still running when workers found it.

December 2011

Dec. 1:

The Blue Angels will be in Maryland June 16 and 17. They will fly over Fort McHenry where the iconic naval flight demonstration squadron will perform in the city as part of the Star-Spangled Sailabration, the state’s bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812.

During its stay in Baltimore, the Blue Angels squadron will be based at Martin State Airport. The squadron was at the Middle River air facility Thursday to conduct familiarization flights in advance of the air show and to help promote the event.

Dec. 2:

is tightening security measures involving teenagers, shopping center management announced. The statement was released 10 days after a that led to the arrest of a 14-year-old girl. Made effective on Dec. 2, The Avenue now requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older after 9 p.m., according to the statement.

Dec. 13:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for a woman suspected of robbing an Essex bank and targeting two others.

The woman allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo Bank, located on the 600 block of Eastern Blvd., at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 13. FBI officials said this came after she tried to rob another Wells Fargo bank on the 2000 block of East Monument St. in Baltimore.

The FBI also alleges that she also robbed a third Wells Fargo, located on the 5000 block of Sinclair Lane in Baltimore, on Dec. 7.

Dec. 13:

A group of blind men are suing a White Marsh paintball park, claiming their state and federal civil rights were violated after they were denied access to the facility based on their disability, according to a Baltimore law firm.

The Baltimore-based firm of Brown, Goldstein & Levy filed a federal lawsuit against Route 40 Paintball Park on behalf of the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) and three blind men who allege the facility violated the Maryland White Cane Law. The law requires free and equal access to facilities regardless of blindness.

Dec. 29:

Baltimore County police arrested two people in connection with a string of vandalism cases that have occurred over the last month in Bowleys Quarters.

Officers allege that Lamountray Hampton-Williams, 18, of the unit block of Bayville Rd., and a 17-year-old boy are responsible for 53 cases of destruction of property.