Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Essex SkyPark Association will pay $200,000 for the long-term lease agreement.
Essex Patch received the following letter from Ron Lane, secretary of the Essex SkyPark Association: "Essex SkyPark Association is pleased to announce that we have secured a 99-year lease with Baltimore County for the operation of Essex SkyPark airport. Over this past year, we have worked to accomplish three goals: First, secure a long-term lease for the airport; second, obtain a historical designation; and third, obtain IRS nonprofit status. All three were successfully completed by March 15, 2013. Our agreement for the 99-year lease required Essex SkyPark Association to pay $200,000 to Baltimore County upon signing the lease. Under the leadership of Brian Dolan, we were successful in raising a $200,000 through a bond drive to be paid back…
Friday, June 22, 2012
Editor Ron Snyder reflects on the last two years as he prepares to leave Patch.
To me, one of the biggest roles of a journalist is that of a historian. A journalist is charged with framing the events of their community as they happen. When future generations research the history an event, time period and/or person, it is the work of journalists that is often studied to place those historic moments into perspective. That is a role I have always taken seriously, especially during my last two years while serving as the Essex-Middle River editor for Patch.com. In this role, I wasn’t just recording history; I was recording the history of my community. Essex-Middle River is where I live, it’s where I raise my children and where I plan on living for many years to come. I’ve enjoyed being able to tell the story of my …
Friday, May 11, 2012
The county executive spoke about a number of Essex-Middle River issues with the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce.
Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is optimistic that the long-dormant Middle River Depot will one-day be part of a vibrant economic engine for the Middle River-White Marsh corridor. Kamenetz provided insight into the future of the property while speaking to members of the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce Tuesday at Crab Quarters in Middle River. Kamenetz said he recently met with the owners of the property, who paid $37.5 million in an online government auction in 2006, about their plans for the 55-acre site. He believes they will be able to develop new retail opportunities while maintaining its historical integrity and respecting the facilities aviation legacy. The owners have applied to get the property rezoned for mixed-…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Austin Hanna, 88, was granted his wish to fly in a plane at the Essex Skypark thanks to the generosity of local pilots.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Ron Snyder
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Austin Hanna doesn’t get around like he used to. The 88-year-old longtime Essex resident is a World War II veteran and owned a business for decades. But in recent years, Hanna had trouble walking and moved into the Franklin Woods assisted living center. Hanna’s niece, Debbi Mullinix, wants to ensure that just because her uncle has his limitations doesn’t mean he still can’t live life to the fullest. Over the last several months, Mullinix took Hanna out to eat, bowling and to the movies. But, it was a recent drive that would provide Hanna with his greatest experience of all. Mullinix was driving Hanna around Essex when he asked her to make a sudden turn. That turn led the pair into the Essex Skypark, which brought back many great memories …
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Essex Skypark Association is considering options, including signing a long-term lease or purchasing the property from Baltimore County.
The group of aviation enthiusiasts that operates the Essex Skypark is considering purchasing the property the community airport occupies from Baltimore County, or arrange a long-term lease with the county in order to save the popular airfield. The Essex Skypark Association recently met with county officials to discusss ways to preserve the 70-year old aviation facility after community concerns were raised regarding its future. Baltimore County owns the 40 acres the airfield occupies and the county wants to use the land for enviornmental conservation efforts, officials have said. “The county seems to be putting forth a good faith effort to reach a solution that satisfies all parties involved,” said Tom Katzenberger, an association member. …
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The county councilwoman hopes to facilitate a meeting between County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and representatives of the 70-year-old airport.
Baltimore County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins said she is among those who want to ensure the Essex Skypark remains open. Bevins, an Oliver Beach Democrat, met with members of the Essex Skypark Association in December. She hopes to facilitate a meeting soon between the group and county officials in hopes of finding a solution for keeping the 70-year-old airport in operation. Baltimore County officials recently informed the Essex Skypark Association that the county plans on eventually taking over the 40-acre site in order to comply with federal pollutant mandates for the area, plant trees, protect birds, improve water quality along Back River, replace forests destroyed by other development in the county and help to mitigate other pollution …
Monday, January 30, 2012
The county has expressed plans of forcing the 70-year-old airport to move in order to plant trees and address environmental issues.
Baltimore County officials have recently expressed its desire to clear the site of the 70-year-old Essex Skypark. Vince Gardina, director of the county’s department of environmental protection and sustainability, said the county wants to clear the 40 acres of the skypark in order to plant trees, improve water quality along Back River, replace forests destroyed by other development in the county and help to mitigate other pollution issues along the Chesapeake Bay watershed. But, members of the Essex Skypark said the airport is an Essex institution that does not negatively impact the environment and is something that the local residents want to remain in their community. What would you like to see happen to the Essex Skypark? Take our poll …
Monday, January 23, 2012
County officials have said they want to take control the property at the 70-year-old Essex institution in order to plant trees and address other environmental issues.
Tom Katzenberger said flying does not have to be something only for the wealthy. To understand that, he said, one only needs to check out those who house aircraft at Essex Skypark. There, about 46 aircraft are housed and many of them were built by the pilots. “The people who use Essex Skypark have wrinkled faces and weathered skin,” said Katzenberger, who is president of Community Concrete Restoration and owns a 1996 Maule. “It’s a blue-collar airport in the truest sense.” But, Katzenberger and others with the Essex Skypark Association, which operates the airport, fear that the 70-year-old Essex institution will soon be a thing of the past if Baltimore County gets its way. Vince Gardina, director of the county’s department of …
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Baltimore County officials want to reforest area along the Back River Neck Peninsula.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
General aviation airport traces its history back to 1943.
Aviation has long played an important role in the growth and development of eastern Baltimore County. Logan Field in Dundalk provided commercial service prior to Friendship International (now BWI Marshall) and military service during the War. Glenn L. Martin literally put Middle River on the map when the aircraft manufacturing company relocated here in the 1920’s. During World War II, the Martin Company was the largest employer in the area and as a result created a population and housing boom the likes of which may never be seen again. These large airports were not the only ones in the picture, however. Many smaller municipal airports began to appear as aviation became a faster and in many cases less expensive mode of travel. One of these …
A Robinson
10:03 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sen. Stone surely deserves kudos, but making the airport historic likely did nothing to secure them a new lease. Judging from the related stories it looks like the entire house of delegates for Balto County and Ms. Bevins deserve the credit for facilitating the meetings and getting them to negotiate. All in all, a good cause with a good result. more ›