Back River

On Friday, August 19, 2005, RACHEL E. SMILEY, beloved wife of James S. Smiley, Sr. Also survived by her stepchildren, grandchildren, brothers and their families. A memorial service will be held at the Back River United Methodist Church, 544 Back River Neck Road, Essex on Wednesday, August 31 at 1 P.M. Condolences can be offered to the family starting at 12:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Back River United Methodist Church.

On November 29, 2004, JOY E.; beloved wife of the late Carl D. Snell Sr.; devoted mother of Terry and his wife Kathy, Carl Jr., and the late Lee and Gary Snell; cherished grandmother of Eva, Bryan, Daniel, Gregory, Andrew and Jeannette. Also survived by her sister, Barbara Griffin and her husband Gerald, and nephew Michael Ried. Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex, at route 702 (beltway exit 36) on Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Services from Back River United Methodist Church, 544 Back River Neck Road on Thursday at 11 A.M. Interment Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

A national design team unveiled a broad outline yesterday for improving Essex-Middle River through new community gateways and commercial hubs, abundant public spaces and improved public schools, and issued a call for volunteer "sparkplugs." What must come now, residents and officials agreed, is the investment to sustain the redevelopment of eastern Baltimore County. "It's time to summon that pride and accomplishment that was the hallmark of this area during and after World War II," said Hannah Twaddle, a planner from Virginia and one of 10 members of the Urban Design Assistance Team that studied Essex-Middle River for a week.

The County Council approved a bill last night that will make it tougher for a longtime county oil recycling business to operate a new plant in North Point. The change to the zoning regulations, which passed unanimously, now forces U.S. Filter Recovery Services to seek a zoning commissioner's approval before starting up at its new site - and appears to render moot questions of whether the company is in the business of refining or recycling oil. Under the bill, businesses that recycle, process or recover oil must obtain a special exception to operate in the county's heavy manufacturing zones.

Bacteria from sewage are at more than 2,000 times healthy levels in tributaries to Baltimore County's Back River, according to a new report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But they are much lower and dropping at Sandy Point beach near Annapolis. The school's first major report on the Chesapeake Bay examined pollution levels to try to determine what impact they have on the health of the 16 million people who live in the bay's watershed. The authors, who studied numerous waterways in the Chesapeake region, didn't find any immediate threats to the public health.

A Pikesville developer has purchased for $2.85 million a prime waterfront parcel in eastern Baltimore County that could one day feature $1 million homes. Mark C. Sapperstein said that he might build luxury homes on Back River and additional affordable, single-family houses and townhouses with a low-rise condominium building. He hopes to present a concept plan to county officials by June. "This is prime waterfront property, and we think we won't be overburdening the area, though the density might be greater," said Sapperstein, who is involved in developments in Locust Point and Federal Hill.

It was far from a typical win for the top-ranked Arundel girls basketball team last night. But when you play a good team like No. 12 South River for the fourth time and have to beat it a fourth time or go home, you'll take it any way it comes. So there was junior point guard Ana Baker, the Wildcats' smallest starter at 5 feet 6, swatting away two shots. And there was 6-foot junior forward Janae Butler stepping out in the fourth quarter and hitting a rare three-pointer from the left corner.

Four city public works and transportation projects have won awards from the Maryland affiliate of the American Council of Engineering Companies. The council recognized the following projects Friday: Repairing a 72-inch water main that broke under the harbor near the Key Bridge on April 10, 2002. Dive teams had to work 35 feet under water, with a 24-inch gas main on one side and electrical cables on the other. The $2 million job was completed in July, restoring water to 250,000 customers.

Suddenly on January 12, 2004, GLENN BARRY MORALES; beloved husband of Nancy Morales (nee Wilbanks); devoted father of Alexander Glenn Morales; loving son of the late Jim and Ida Morales and loving son-in-law of George and Geri Wilbanks; dear brother of Brenda, Diane, and Adele Morales; dear brother-in-law of David and Donna Wilbanks; loving uncle of Steve Wilbanks, Christina Blackman, Treavor Morales and Kimberly Gill. Friends may call at the Cvach-Rosedale Funeral Home, 1211 Chesaco Ave., on Friday, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Friends may gather at the Back River United Methodist Church, 544 Back River Neck Road, in Essex, on Saturday from 10 to 11 A.M., with funeral services at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Back River United Methodist Church.

On October 9, 2003, GEORGE F. McGINNIS, 82, of Essex, MD, beloved huband of Ruth D. McGinnis (nee Detweiler); devoted stepfather of Caren Bezanson, Robin Jones, and Kevin Shaner; dear brother of Helen Till of Alabama. Also survived by seven grandchildren. Cremation private. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Back River United Methodist Church, 544 Back River Neck Road, Baltimore, 21221. Arrangements by Cvach/Rosedale Funeral Home.