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Bengies Road Closure
Baltimore County officials, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to close Bengies Road at the connection to MD Route 43. This is a currently open and viable road which provides access to MD Route 43 and shorter travel distances for many residents of Bengies and Wampler Roads, and many other area residents. The county has ruled the road “is no longer needed for public travel,” the reason for closure appearing  to simply be the result of a decision made a number of years ago when the extension of MD 43 was planned. The actual closure was not completed at the time of road construction; however, the county now wants to spend additional taxpayers’ money to close the access.
Some residents are in favor of the closure for a variety of reasons, as commented on at a hearing held on Oct. 13, 2011 at the County Office Building. Approximately 50 - 60 persons were at the hearing, with all living in the immediate area. Approximately half of the attendants were in favor of closing the road with the other half in favor of maintaining access to Rt. 43.
The following should be considered:
Documents available seem to indicate the closure was intended to reduce heavy truck traffic through the residential corridor, but no other reason was provided by county documents. Truck traffic has only increased.
 Heavy trucks associated with the industry at the proposed dead end of Bengies Road will have no other route than Wampler Road and truck traffic will increase due to four new planned residential developments which will reportedly add up to 120 new homes.
Current road restrictions limiting through truck traffic on Bengies Road to ¾ ton or less is basically ignored and no visible enforcement is provided.
Some Bengies Road residents commented about trash being illegally dumped on their property. If the road becomes dead end as proposed, this activity will most certainly increase.
The local volunteer fire company, and Middle River Rescue Company, requested a gate be installed at the proposed closure which can be opened in an emergency. The need to operate a gate is counter intuitive to emergency access. The county representative stated that fire or rescue companies will not maintain keys to open the gate and would have to cut the lock.
Two hundred feet of guardrail would need to be erected to prevent circumvention of the gate at an additional cost.
A turnaround would have to be constructed for school buses, tractor trailers and other vehicles traveling to the end of Bengies Road, at an additional cost, while the existing cul-de-sac at the end of the widened Bengies Road is a perfect turnaround.
Residents complained that exiting from Bengies onto Wampler Road under current conditions is difficult due to the amount of traffic on Wampler Road. With road closure, this intersection will be the only means of travel and traffic will only increase after any new development.
Maintaining access to Rt. 43 may have negative impact on only a few local residents, while improving traffic for many other residents and better access for emergency responders.  Road closure will affect not only the Bengies Road homeowners, but Wampler Road residents as well. If you consider the maintenance of this road important, contact Councilwoman Cathy Bevins.

R. Coffey
Middle River
 
 
 
Forest of Trees
  There’s an old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees,” but sometimes you can’t see that perfect tree for the forest.
As the election of a new president draws near, it’s a time to reflect on what the past four years has brought to our country. Some good and some bad changes have taken place and its been a long time since the spirits of the American people have been lifted up. It’s time to restore America to the God fearing country it once was, restore its morals, values, honor and prosperity. We need to remember where all these blessings come from.
So as voters reflect on what they want for the future of America, may they remember who plants the forest of trees and may they look deeper into the forest. A tree does grow there that can bear fruit for our country again.
May God restore our country and bless it again.

Phyllis Brooks, Essex
Property Tax
Assessment Appeal
The Property Tax Assessment meeting on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the American Legion Post 38 on Dundalk Avenue was very informative. The meeting was held by Mr. Harold Christopher Lloyd, a former Liaison from the State of Maryland Property Tax Assessment Division and Mr. Don Mason, former Councilman. Mr. Lloyd recommended that everyone should file an appeal for their property tax assessment and request an alternate location and Saturday hours to be held at the American Legion Post 38 on Dundalk Avenue. All appeals must be filed by Feb. 10. Don Mason and Bob Long will be in contact with the State of Maryland Property Tax Assessment Office to coordinate these hearings. For more information, call Bob Long at 410-388-1974.

Bob Long, Baltimore
 
The Essex Sky Park

Citizens of Baltimore County, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is George Krach, III.  I need to inform all the Citizens of Baltimore County that a historical treasure in our backyard, the Essex Sky Park, is in trouble and is in dire need of our help and support in order to keep it going.
For those of you who are not familiar with the history of the park please read on and I will give you a brief history lesson on this treasure.  The landmark is located in Essex just off Back River Neck Road on Diffendall Road.  The Sky Park started out as an air strip before World War II and was then named Diffendall Airport.  Sometime in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s it became the Eastern Airport under the ownership of Mr. Shapiro, who eventually deeded the acreage in a Trust to Baltimore County with the easement and understanding that the airport would be there to perpetuity, meaning to the end of time. It is the home of the current tenants consisting of over 40 small general aviation aircraft members whom not only pay the rent for this park, but also pay to maintain the buildings, ground keeping and storm repair. These members pay a rental fee of $12,000 per year to the County, which in turn the County is supposed to assist in the upkeep and legalities insuring the continuance of the Air Park to which the County has not held up to the legal request of the original owner, Mr. Shapiro. Remember, my fellow citizens, at the time Mr. Shapiro deeded this land over to the County, it was a different era.  It was an era of trust and a time when a handshake spoke volumes. Unfortunately, we live in a time where we must fight for what we want to hold sacred to us, we must unite and come together to make it happen.  I have faith in the citizens of Baltimore County, that they will help the members of the Essex Sky Park keep Mr. Shapiro’s wishes to keep this Park a home to the Citizens of our County.  This air park is also used by the Civil Air Patrol, the Cub Scouts and individuals who fly in and out of Essex Sky Park from all over the County, the State and the Country.  This is where the Cub Scouts go to earn their aviation badges. It is home to both young and old who learn to fly model aircraft, many of whom follow their dreams to become pilots themselves.  United States Astronaut, Tom Jones, first learned to fly at this Sky Park.  The Citizens of the community use this park to walk their dogs, watch aircraft take off and land, not to mention the abundance of wildlife that call the woods and meadow-like landing strip their home. 
Now our County Government would like to close this Sky Park!  You ask “Why?” Is it in the name of safety?  No!   Is it for future development? The reasons are unclear. There is a distinct possibility there are some developers trying to gain prime waterfront for financial gain.
We need your help to stop this action and to persuade the Baltimore County Administration to live up to its end of the bargain. Here is what you can do: Please contact the Essex Sky Park and sign the petition to save the Sky Park at www.aopa.org.,http://essexskypark.org/essex/index.jsp or on Facebook, Friends of Essex Sky Park. Contact the County government and your elected State and County representatives to put a stop to this land grab.
George Krach III,
Concerned Citizen
What Christmas Means to Me
Christmas means more to me than just a day of pushing and shoving, buying and giving. To me it means trust in the Lord. He was born on this day. I give my heart and my life to Him and make Heaven my home. It means eternal life to whomever will put their faith and trust in Him, with all his heart and life eternal forever more.

John Howell
Baltimore
To All Local State and
Federal Elected Officials
Question: What percent of my money do you think government should be able to keep?

Don Mason, Essex
                 

Attention Dundalk/Edgemere
It’s time to be compensated to all of those who are impacted by all the industrial companies located in the Sparrows Point area. Because of the impact, many lives have been disrupted. Cries for help to the officials such as Maryland Department of Enviornment (MDE), EPA, even a Federal Order Consent Decree, still no corrective action taken.
For many years I have had to complain about “kish” entering my property.  The cost to rid the kish from the swimming pool is $20 - $60 each time the kish would enter onto my property. I was told at one time, calling MDE to file a complaint, “They’re doing your family a favor by giving you daily vitamins and minerals.”
I heard for many years, “When we find the source, corrective action will be taken.” I also heard for years kish is being treated as a nuisance dust. I have a copy of Bethlehem Steel Company (BSC) data sheet for kish.  It states: “long term inhalation to uron oxide fumes or dust has been associated with a lung condition known as siderosis” (SARA Title III Hazardous Categories Delayed Chronic Health).
Another form from the National Emission Hazardous Air Pollutants Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing states, “Inhalation exposure of humans to Benzene causes leukemia, premature death, various disorders in the blood, etc.”
My mother worked for BSC for 34 years and they cut her pension, which had to cover her medical bills that she suffered terribly from asbestosis. Now my ex-husband has it after working 37 years at the Point. Years ago I took bags upon bags of information, complaints, video recordings, pictures, etc. to different lawyers. Back then not too many seemed interested in what toxins were doing but times have changed, thank God. We have three great lawyers wanting to help us. Finally, we can have our suffering lives heard.
So if you just sit there and do nothing then but complain, you snooze, you lose. You’ll be on your own. You’ll continue cleaning up the messes they caused. Please listen to me, they played me for years. I was one of the parties who got the consent decree. After 14 years of battling I finally learned that companies are issued permits to pollute, but not on our health, our property, etc. There are laws to protect us.
So my friends, the time is now to take a stand, sign the Class Action and in great hope, the action will show them, they better stop hunting us. Sign up today at www.SparrowsPointAction.org.

Christine Gangi, Baltimore
P.S. to ‘Job Well Done’
I second the motion that the Baltimore County Police did a commendable job apprehending the juveniles responsible for a recent series of burglaries and car thefts.  Unfortunately, the rest of the story is that they were released to the custody of their parents that same day.  Inquiries reveal that Juvenile Services guidelines are to release them unless it is necessary to protect the juvenile or others.  There is apparently no weight given to the magnitude of their offenses.  Three girls and two boys broke into many homes, stole electronics, jewelry, cash and other possessions and stole at least three cars, wrecking two of them beyond repair.  Our Delegates are aware of this and want our support to get the guidelines changed.

Art Hamm, Rosedale
No More Property Taxes
I believe that property taxes should not have to be paid after your home is completely paid for.
When purchasing your home, the bank holds the mortgage. Monthly payments are arranged and property tax payments are included in the mortgage payment to the bank. You pay anywhere from 30 to 50 years, whatever your arrangement.
You continue paying until the home is completely paid for and the mortgage is paid in full. After your home is paid for, you are required to pay yearly property taxes out of your pocket.
You own the home now, it's yours, but you are still paying property taxes. The government is a landlord, all the days you're being a homeowner.
These taxes should be abolished and so should the government jobs that stay in place as a result of our property taxes that we pay.
They never cease as long as you own a home; they grow higher and higher. There are some states that do not pay property taxes. Why us? If you can't pay your taxes, the property tax accumulates and the government will own your home next.
Homeowners should not be obligated to pay property taxes after their home is paid for. Don't like the sound of this, though?! It's my opinion and I believe it!
Get this off the Government Dependable Mandatory list and let homeowners live in peace without having to struggle to continue to pay. They struggled to make bank payments for the mortgage. That struggle was enough. When it’s paid for, that should end it all. No more property taxes. This is my opinion!
Gloria Nassner
Baltimore
The Boys Are Back in Town
We could probably make a song out of this title but it might not catch on. Our new County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is loading his administration with some of the people who just left government and bringing back some old timers. Should be interesting and I wish him and them well. I read all of the press about him saving money by eliminating unfilled positions. I wonder if the savings are going to offset the creation of a new department? This Department of the Environment will be led by Mr. Vince Gardina. He is well qualified to head such a department. However, if his department does not have meaningful enforcement authority it will be just another layer of feel good bureaucracy that the County taxpayer does not need. Let's hope they get it right.
 
William M Libercci. Sr.
Baltimore
Don't Be the Victim of a Crime
 With the days becoming shorter, there are opportunities for criminal activities to take place. Be aware of your surroundings when walking to your car. Trust your instincts if something looks out of order. If possible, keep a light on in the back as well as the front of your house, if only for a short time. It helps to protect you and your family. Many crimes are successful because people think it couldn't happen to them. Crimes are stopped by the vigilance of the citizens. Calling 911 will put your mind at ease if there is any suspicious activity happening near you. The police depend on us to help them make our community safer.

Dennis Gilpin, C.O.P.
Aero Acres