Middle River

Baltimore County planners want to allow hundreds of houses on waterfront conservation land along the Bird River in Middle River, over the strong objections of environmental regulators. Some county officials say a proposal for up to 400 homes where only three are now allowed would defeat the purpose of multimillion-dollar public investments in natural resource protection and would represent an unprecedented expansion into an area where the county has restricted growth since 1967. Joseph Stamato, owner of Verus Development LLC, the company that wants to develop the site, said "we're protecting the land" by using only about half of the 292 acres of woods and fields.

I am a huge supporter of Pat McDonough and The Sun is ripping him apart for the truth he states ("Baltimore and bigotry," May 18). I read another article recently in your paper that now after Mr. McDonough brought this situation out in the open, MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blakeis going to add additional police officers to the area ("Mayor has a look as police presence rises in downtown," May 20). At least the city is now taking action by adding more police. I will not go to the Inner Harbor area anymore - last time was about five years ago, and I know it's worse than it was then.

Navy Lt. Mark Tedrow has no problem reconciling an air show with a commemoration of the War of 1812, an era that precedes flight by almost a century. The Blue Angels pilot said he looks forward to flying over the Inner Harbor, Middle River and Fort McHenry - birthplace of the national anthem - during a bicentennial celebration in June. "It will be outstanding to perform multiple maneuvers over Fort McHenry," he said. "It will show just how far we have come. " Tedrow and his co-pilot flew into Martin State Airport in Middle River on Thursday to give a small preview of what the Navy's renowned flight team will do for the bicentennial maritime and air festival that kicks off June 13. "Stake out your places on the waterfront so you don't miss a thing," said Lt. Cmdr.

Baltimore County planners want to allow hundreds of houses on waterfront conservation land along the Bird River in Middle River, over the strong objections of environmental regulators. Some county officials say a proposal for up to 400 homes where only three are now allowed would defeat the purpose of multimillion-dollar public investments in natural resource protection and would represent an unprecedented expansion into an area where the county has restricted growth since 1967. Joseph Stamato, owner of Verus Development LLC, the company that wants to develop the site, said "we're protecting the land" by using only about half of the 292 acres of woods and fields.

Baltimore County Police are looking for information about the shooting of a 41-year-old man early Friday. Police responded to the rear of the first block of Oak Grove Drive in Middle River for a report of a man shot. They found the victim, identified as Denorris "Pops" Washington, with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center and remains in critical condition. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.

The Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co. employed 53,000 workers at Middle River at the peak of World War II, producing thousands of aircrafts and bombers and serving as a key economic engine in the Baltimore area. But that was another era. The company — now defense behemoth Lockheed Martin Corp. — announced Thursday it will stop manufacturing at the Middle River site next year, though 470 white-collar professionals will remain there. The move marks the end of a long-term decline for the Baltimore manufacturer that helped build the region's middle-class communities and put Middle River on the map. "That plant was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world during World War II," said Richard Clinch, economic development director for the Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore.

Three boaters were rescued Monday evening from Middle River by Natural Resources Police after their small boat capsized in choppy, wind-swept water, the agency reported. An officer found Dwayne W. Abbott, 28, of Essex and Jonathan M. Miller, 11, and William H. Miller, 34, both of Middle River in the 58-degree water near Wilson Point with help from the Baltimore County aviation unit. The boaters were transferred to a Baltimore County Fire Department boat and then taken to Franklin Square Hospital for evaluation, the police report said.

A gas water heater was suspected as the source of carbon monoxide that affected seven people Monday night at a Middle River housing community, according to Baltimore County authorities. Emergency responders were called at 11:05 p.m. to the 700 block of Lannerton Road, in the Commons at White Marsh community, said county Emergency Medical Services director Kyrle Preis. Five people were taken to area hospitals for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, but none was in critical condition, he said.

A series of cars and fences were found covered in spray paint Sunday morning in Bowleys Quarters, Baltimore County Police said. Police said they responded to three calls from residents in the 3700 block of Holly Grove Road around 6:45 a.m. They said the lines of spray paint appeared primarily on cars and that there were no suspects in the case. childs.walker@baltsun.com Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

An unidentified body was found in the Middle River area Tuesday evening, Baltimore County police responded about 7:30 p.m. to a reported sighting of a body in a wooded area near the 1200 block of Bengies Road west of Eastern Boulevard. Police have yet to reveal the age or gender of the person and will likely wait for a cause of death determination from the Medical Examiner before proceeding with the case, police said. Mary.gail.hare@baltsun.com Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

Baltimore County Police identified the man who died May 1 after being struck by a MARC train near Essex as Robert Ey of Middle River. Ey, 26, was walking south on the tracks when he was accidentally struck by a southbound train moving at about 100 mph, a police investigation found. The accident occurred about 7:15 a.m. near Northeast Creek Road and Schaefer Lane in Rosedale. Police arrived at 7:18 a.m. and searched the area, initially calling in a helicopter for assistance, police said after the accident.

Simon Paul "Sy" Jarosinski Jr., a retired aeronautical engineer and former member of the Baltimore County Liquor Board, died April 30 of ischemic cardiomyopathy at his Timonium home. He was 90. The son of a Baltimore City councilman and a homemaker, Mr. Jarosinski was born in Baltimore and raised near Patterson Park. After graduating from Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Jarosinski went to work in 1940 for the old Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River, eventually becoming an aeronautical engineer.

Lester J. Rose, a retired aeronautical engineer and World War II veteran, died Thursday of cancer at his home in Newport News, Va. The former longtime Northeast Baltimore resident was 91. Mr. Rose was born in Ashland, Wis. and raised in St. Paul, Minn., where he graduated from high school. After graduating in 1943 from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, he enlisted in the Army Air Force, serving as a navigator in the Pacific Theater aboard bombers.

If The Sun doesn't believe coverage of primary races selecting candidates for a U.S. presidential election is news, what do the editors think is important ("Romney rolling toward the fall," April 25)? There was nothing on Wednesday's front page about the five primaries held the day before. Inside the paper on page 8 was a headline describing Gov. Mitt Romney as "rolling" toward the fall. What does that even mean? Are we talking about a failure or autumn? The national paper I read published a brief of Mr. Romney's sweep of five primaries on the front page under "What's News - Worldwide.

A Middle River man pleaded guilty Monday in the stabbing death of his girlfriend last year, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger said. Sam Davis, 61, pleaded guilty in Circuit Court to first-degree murder in the death of Jacqueline Denise Paul. Prosecutors said Davis stabbed Paul, who was 35, in the chest last April as she lay in bed at the home they shared at 355 Grovethorn Road. Davis left the home and called others to say he had hurt Paul, prosecutors said.

A Dundalk man's missing persons case, which police have investigated since September, has been ruled a homicide, and a grand jury has charged two Middle River residents with the killing. Jeffrey Jennings, 57, of the 8100 block of Gray Haven Road, was reported missing on Sept. 15, when Jennings' son called police and said he hadn't heard from his father in nearly a week, according to police. Detectives from Baltimore County's Missing Persons Unit launched a months-long investigation, police said, and intercepted communications between John Leschefsky, 27, of Middle River and others that led police to believe Jennings was the victim of murder.

Big Lots Inc. plans to open two Baltimore-area stores on Friday, the retailer announced Thursday. One store will open in Middle River, at 9977 Pulaski Highway. The other will be in Hanover, at Ridgeview Plaza on Annapolis Road. The Columbus, Ohio-based company, with more than 1,400 Big Lots stores in the United States, is the nation's biggest closeout retailer, selling discounted, brand-name merchandise such as housewares, toys and seasonal items. Lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com Text BUSINESS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun Business text alerts

When Baltimore County police squad cars arrive at Chase Elementary in Middle River, it is usually for a social call. Uniformed officers, carrying several bags of carryout from a local deli, head to the fifth-grade classroom. The school on Eastern Avenue has organized a mentor program that pairs a dozen students with county police officers from the Essex precinct. The officers rotate the days, according to their shift assignments, but typically spend one lunch hour every other week with the child they are mentoring.

Some people purchase waterfront property with the intent of tearing down any structures as soon as possible. It's usually the land they are after. In 1991, Roy and Mary Jones purchased property in eastern Baltimore County on Middle River, one of the busiest tributaries on the Chesapeake Bay. They paid $235,000, and their intentions were a little different. They lived in the house instead of tearing it down. But after 20 years raising a family in the home, the couple decided it was time to start over.

An unidentified body was found in the Middle River area Tuesday evening, Baltimore County police responded about 7:30 p.m. to a reported sighting of a body in a wooded area near the 1200 block of Bengies Road west of Eastern Boulevard. Police have yet to reveal the age or gender of the person and will likely wait for a cause of death determination from the Medical Examiner before proceeding with the case, police said. Mary.gail.hare@baltsun.com Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts