Home Care In Middle River, MD

BALTIMORE COUNTY - The plan to construct a 3-million-square-foot industrial park at the former LaFarge Quarry, previously greenlit by the Baltimore County Council, was unanimously rejected on Monday.

Initially approved in October with a 4-3 vote, the Middle River Quarry project had been met with persistent resistance from local residents concerned about environmental damage and the potential for traffic congestion in the predominantly rural area.

The seven-member council retracted its endorsement of the quarry project, previously authorized as a planned-unit development (PUD).

A PUD designation is typically reserved for mixed-use projects offering public benefits or meeting superior development standards. Many individuals voiced their support for rescinding the project's approval during a council work session on May 30, including state delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki.

Recent legal concerns have also arisen around the project's legality due to its residential zoning, as highlighted by the county's Office of Law.

Chesapeake Real Estate Group and Holcim-MAR, the project's developers, had plans to construct warehouses, retail outlets, and offices at the former mining site. They also proposed donating around 200 acres for a vocational school. The Board of Education declined this offer after a report concluded the area was not fit for a high school.

In April, the County Council passed a bill proposed by Councilman David Marks, enabling council members to revoke previous approvals for planning projects. On Monday, Marks used the bill to call for a reversal of the council's prior approval, citing legal questions, opposition from the community, and a lack of responsiveness from the developers.

"The earlier approval was rushed through the County Council two months before the last election," Marks said. "There was no traffic plan, no assurance that all the land would be free from contaminants, and no requirement that the developer pay for the infrastructure needed thanks to this project. I thank the many residents and community associations who joined me in opposing this proposal."

He warned that legal challenges could plague the project for years, creating problems for the community, the county, and the developers.

The bill was co-sponsored by Izzy Patoka and Wade Kach, who initially supported the quarry project but was reportedly unaware of the depth of community opposition when he did so.

Josh Sines, a longtime leader in the Bird River Beach, commended the action.

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"True to his word, Councilman Marks acted to preserve the sensitive environment and quality of life of eastern Baltimore County," Sines said in a statement.

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MIDDLE RIVER, Md. —

Space is open for business, and Maryland is now positioned as a player in the space economy.

Rocket Lab, a direct competitor of Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, is establishing a footprint in Maryland, moving forward with a facility in Middle River, Baltimore County, at a location that also honors the past.

A new aerospace facility is taking shape at an enormous warehouse that has been home to aerospace manufacturing since 1929. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday was low-tech for a facility that's about as futuristic as they come.

Rocket Lab just inked a deal to turn the former Lockheed Martin vertical launch building on Eastern Boulevard into a space structures complex, a manufacturing hub for rocket, satellite and spacecraft components.

"Rocket Lab, we're really happy that you decided to come here and be a part of our history," said U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-District 2. "These projects will help our national security and the economy."

The 113,000-square-foot warehouse will not roll out completed rockets, but it will build enormous components of rockets.

"Within these walls, our team will develop and build advanced spacecraft buses, structural panels and assemblies, satellite dispensers, aerostructures and heat shields, composite overwrap pressure vessels and solar panel substrates and more," said Adam Spice, Rocket Lab's chief financial officer.

At Friday's announcement, officials from all levels of government and both parties called this a big deal for Baltimore County, Maryland and the nation.

"It's jobs, it's economic growth, it shows confidence in our future. But what it really means is that we are going to have what it takes to be competitive ... to be able to have a reliable supply chain, to be able to keep the leadership in regards to space technology," said U.S. Sen Ben Cardin, D-Maryland.

"This is so exciting to continue the long history of aeronautics right here in Middle River," said Baltimore County Delegate Kathy Szeliga, R-District 7A. "Thinking back to when B-52 bombers during World War II rolled out of the facility onto the airport runway here. Rosie the Riveter was instrumental in those efforts, and now we have rockets being built right in the district."

"It really is cool when you think about what's going to be happening on this site, and just really a new generation of aerospace projects," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.

Officials told 11 News that the lease was signed on Thursday, and the site is expected to be up and running with 65 employees by 2025.

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Rocket Lab USA, an aerospace company based in Long Beach, will open a new manufacturing facility in Middle River, Maryland.

The dedicated product development and production complex, which Rocket Lab announced last week, will support the company’s efforts to expand its delivery of composite products to its customers and for Rocket Lab’s own internal needs, the announcement said.

Rocket Lab’s Space Structures Complex will be built in a 113,000 square-foot facility in Middle River, which was previously Lockheed Martin’s Vertical Launch Building. The facility has been used in the aerospace industry since 1929.

The company will develop and manufacture carbon composite spacecraft buses, structural panels and assemblies, satellite dispensers, heat shields, launch structures, and more at the new complex, the company said.

The facility will also serve a key function in developing carbon composite structures for Rocket Lab’s new medium-lift launch vehicle, dubbed the Neutron — which is the successor to the Electron, the world’s only reusable orbital-class small rocket that is powered by a 3D-printed engine, according to the company’s website.

Composite development and manufacturing will also continue at Rocket Lab’s other facilities, including in Long Beach and in New Zealand, the company said.

The new Maryland complex, though, is an important addition to the company, last week’s announcement said, as it enables Rocket Lab to expand its operations closer to its ongoing test complex at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, which is home to production and launch facilities for its Neutron and Electron rockets.

“We have the experienced team, manufacturing and test equipment, established supply chain, and heritage to deliver reliable composite products to the space industry at scale,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said. “And because we’re deeply vertically integrated, we can do it fast and at competitive prices. We’re incredibly excited to bring advanced Rocket Lab composite products to market for our customers.”

The Space Structure Complex will be Rocket Lab’s second facility in Maryland; the company already has an existing and separate facility for satellite separation systems and CubeSat dispensers, the Friday, Nov. 17, announcement said.

The Maryland Department of Commerce, meanwhile, has given Rocket Lab a $1.56 million repayable loan to help the company open the new complex.

“We are excited to support Rocket Lab in expanding Maryland’s efforts in the space industry,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in the announcement. “Renovating this significant Baltimore County site and creating dozens of new jobs will stimulate opportunity for the region, and we are certain that this new Rocket Lab location will become a prominent and successful facility in the state.”

Rocket Lab has yet to set a date for the Space Structure Complex’s opening, the company’s senior communications director, Morgan Bailey, said in a Tuesday, Nov. 21, email.

Rocket Lab, though, also recently celebrated the opening of a new 144,000 square-foot Engine Development Center in Long Beach, at the former headquarters of the now-defunct Virgin Orbit.

The company paid $16.1 million to take over Virgin Orbit’s lease at 4022 Conant St. in May, shortly after Virgin Orbit declared bankruptcy and laid off the majority of its workers.

The Engine Development Center, Rocket Lab said previously, was opened to scale up production of its 3D-printed Rutherford engine and the development of a new engine called Archimedes, which will eventually be used to power the Neutron rocket.

Rocket Lab said it planned to bring on 120 new local employees with the Engine Development Center’s opening.

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — A proposed redevelopment in the Middle River and White Marsh area has sparked concerns among residents.

Some residents on Ebenezer Road are upset about the proposed development of a nearly three million-square-foot industrial park and logistics space in the area, similar in size to the White Marsh Mall.

A community input meeting is scheduled for Thursday to hear concerns and find out what modifications can be made to the project that will affect many people's living conditions.

"I haven't met one person that thought this was a good idea,” said one person who lives in the area.

The property that will be used for the development is known as Lafarge Quarry. It has operated as a sand and gravel quarry for 75 years.

In 2019, Baltimore County was notified that the property was going to be redeveloped.

Now, a developer has proposed to place three warehouses on the property, along with over 200 acres that will be donated to Baltimore County to use.

But this project is drawing more concerns and questions than acceptance.

"I’m very angry, I’m very angry,” said Bryan Amig, who lives off Ebenezer Road.

Part of the plan includes widening Ebenezer Road from two lanes to four.

Amig has a home off that road and says this will cause more accidents on a road that already sees many cars in the ditch.

"The four lane is only going to make it worse cause the people are passing each other now at a no passing zone at high rates of speed and the gentleman across the street over the past two, two and half years has had five accidents right there at his driveway,” said Amig.

The change would also take away many people's front yard and everything in it.

"They're talking about seven feet off their house and five feet off of our house. We have wells and septics and everything in the way. I mean what all of us get to lose our houses so someone can build some buildings we don't need anyway,” said another person who lives off Ebenezer Road and asked to not give his name.

Hundreds of people are expected to be at the meeting, including the developer and Councilman David Marks, who represents the area.

"I’m expecting there's going to be a lot of questions, there's going to be a lot of opposition this is an area that's been through tremendous growth over the past 20 years or so,” said Councilman Marks.

Councilman Marks says that according to the law, modifications can be made to the project for up to 90 days after Thursday's meeting.

"And that's what I’m probably going to do, I’m listening to the community, like I said I didn't vote for this before I represented the area but my job as a councilman is to listen to the concerns and try to take action," said Councilman Marks.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Gunpowder VFW Post 10067 at 6309 Ebenezer Road.

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Neverland, A New MusicalBy David Evans andCharlotte Evans Crowley

Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt

Musically Directed by Charlotte Evans Crowley

Choreography by Rachel Miller

Uh oh! The Captain has lost his hook!

Travel with us to Neverland in this modernized tale of Peter Pan, set to an original 80s pop score, written by CPM's resident musical director Charlotte Evans Crowley and her father, David Evans.

You will find all of your childhood favorites revamped, and maybe even meet some new ones! Will Peter, Tink, and the Lost Boys ever find a mother? Can Wendy win Peter’s affection? Will the Croc finally get to eat Hook’s other hand?

It’s a show for all ages. Children will be in awe at the magic of Neverland. Adults will find humor in the 80s/90s references. There will be sequins and glitter. You might even see some rapping, moonwalking pirates.

Don’t miss your chance to catch this truly special, one of a kind premiere production.

And really, who stole the Captain’s hook?!

Join us to find out at The Children's Playhouse of Maryland this Holiday Season when a cast of the area's best and brightest young performers light up the CPM Stage! "Neverland, A New Musical" is Holiday Fun for All Ages!

Performance Dates

December 2, 3, 9*, 10, 16, 17 @ 1pm

December 9 & 16 @ 4:30pm

*The Saturday, December 9th - 1pm performance will be ASL Interpreted by students from the CCBC Interpreter Program.

Please call the box office for information and to purchase tickets or visit us online at cpmarts.org or ccbctickets.com Tickets available at the door beginning 1 hour prior to showtime.

$15 for Adults, $10 for Students/Children 18 and under

Groups of 15 or more receive a 15% discount.

Administration Building Lecture Hall, adjacent to parking lot #4, CCBC Essex Campus, 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21237.

BOX OFFICE Mon - Fri 443-840-2787 CPM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 443-840-2426

EMAIL [email protected]