Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!

We wish you, your family, and friends a very happy new year!

Have a great 2010!

Thank you to all those that have made Rodgers Forge such a fantastic community.
Best regards,

Rodgers Forge Community, Inc. Board of Governors

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week of 12/21/2009

From the Baltimore County Police Department:

Click on the images for a larger view.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week of 12/14/2009

Below is the BCPD's Significant Events report for your review.

As always, stay alert and call 911 if you see anything suspicious.




Questions & Concerns?

This is a regular post that allows you to comment with any questions or concerns.

The idea is to allow residents another avenue to communicate with the board and ask questions.

Comment away!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

County Christmas Tree Recycling Begins Monday, January 11

Towson, Md. (December 18, 2009) — The collection of Christmas trees for recycling will take place over a two-week period, beginning Monday, January 11, 2010. To ensure collection of Christmas trees, residents must have the trees out at the curb no later than Saturday, January 16.

Residents must follow these simple rules when placing their Christmas trees at the curb to be recycled:

Set out the tree only (no decorations, bags, tree stands, etc.)
Only set out trees at the front curb/street; trees will not be collected from alleys.


Collectors
Baltimore County collectors will pick up Christmas trees in standard trash/recycling trucks, and deliver them to County facilities to be chipped and later used as mulch. Baltimore County residents who live in an apartment or condominium should follow their concierge's or property manager's rules when recycling their Christmas trees. Residents who want to drop off Christmas trees themselves may do so starting Saturday, December 26, 2009.

Drop Off Locations
Residents may drop off their Christmas trees (no decorations, bags, tree stands, etc.) at one of the following County drop-off locations:

Western Acceptance Facility, off of the 4500 block of Hollins Ferry Road, in Halethorpe. Monday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility, on Drop-off Drive, off Warren Road, in Cockeysville. Monday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Eastern Sanitary Landfill Solid Waste Management Facility, off of the 11400 block of Pulaski Highway, in White Marsh. Monday - Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.


Directions
For directions to the County's three drop-off centers, Baltimore County residents may log onto www.baltimorecountymd.gov/recycling or call the Bureau of Solid Waste Management at 410-887-2000.

To visit the County's news release, click here.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Area Traffic Project - FYI

Dear Constituents,


I am writing to provide information on an upcoming construction-related traffic shift for the project to reconstruct the I-695/Charles Street interchange and rehabilitate the I-695 bridge over along Light Rail.


According to the State Highway Administration, on or about 8 p.m. Sunday night, December 20, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will install a long-term temporary split of the lanes along eastbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop) between Exit 24, the I-83 North Interchange, and Exit 25, the MD 139 (Charles Street) Interchange, weather permitting.


Beginning 8 p.m. December 20, crews will remove and re-set highway pavement markings, concrete traffic barriers and overhead traffic signs along eastbound I-695 to create the new traffic pattern. During the night, the right lane of I-695 and the ramp from eastbound I-695 to Charles Street will be temporarily closed. Motorists wishing to reach Charles Street that night will be diverted to Exit 26, the York Road interchange, to westbound I-695 and back to the Charles Street interchange.


As of 6 a.m. Monday morning, December 21, weather permitting, the ramp from eastbound I-695 to Charles Street will re-open and the three lanes on eastbound I-695 between I-83 North and Charles Street will be split with concrete barriers separating the right lane from the center and left lanes. All lanes will be through lanes; however, motorists going from eastbound I-695 to Exit 25, MD 139 (Charles Street Interchange) must stay in the right lane to reach the exit ramp.


In case of inclement weather, the traffic shift will take place on the next night possible (December 21 or 22) before the Christmas holiday.


This traffic lane split is necessary for Phase Two of demolition and construction work on the I-695 bridge over the Light Rail tracks, originally built in 1954 and widened in 1969. SHA is rehabilitating the deck (riding surface) of this bridge as part of the $38 million I-695/Charles Street Interchange project. The bridge deck project is being done in three phases to allow all six lanes of the I-695 bridge over Light Rail to remain open to traffic during bridge rehabilitation work. During this phase, which begins the first week of January, crews will remove concrete from a section of the eastbound deck (riding surface) and replace it with new concrete.


Temporary overhead traffic signs and barriers will guide motorists through the work zone and temporary traffic patterns along eastbound I-695 between Exit 24, the I-83 North Interchange and Exit 25, the Charles Street Interchange. The State’s contractor for the entire I-695/Charles Street Interchange project is the Six-M Company of Delta, Pa. The traffic split will be in effect until spring 2010, weather permitting.


For more information about highway construction activities along I-695, citizens may contact SHA’s District Four Office at 410-229-2300, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or by email at shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us. Citizens may also contact the SHA project field office in Lutherville at 410-296-9041 for information regarding construction and traffic operations.


Very truly yours,

Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann

District 42 - Baltimore County

303 Lowe House Office Building

Annapolis, MD 21401

410-841-3258; FAX 410-841-3163

susan.aumann@house.state.md.us

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week of 12/7/2009

Below is the weekly Significant Events Report from Precinct 6 - Towson.

Increased efforts by residents, Mike Calwells' Crime Prevention and Safety Committee, and Rob Williams's RFCOP continue to have a positive impact on issues in Rodgers Forge, but we all must stay vigilant and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

If you see anything suspicitous, CALL 911!

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW.








Monday, December 14, 2009

RF Meeting Summary - November 2009

Below is a summary of the Rodgers Forge Community, Inc. board meeting held on November 11, 2009 at 7:00pm in the cafetorium of Rodgers Forge Elementary School.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW.




Sunday, December 13, 2009

Gift Idea - 4th and 5th Graders Ski For FREE!

From Board member Pat Foretich:

Parents -

Need a Christmas gift idea for that 4th or 5th grader that says "I don't know" whenever you ask what they want for Christmas?

Pennsylvania offers a pragram where 4th and 5th greaders get free lift tickets (a savings of $40) once you complete the form at http://www.skipa.com/4thgrademain.htm.

The nearest Pennsylvania resorts that are 1 hour away are:
- Ski Liberty - http://www.skiliberty.com/lmr/index.aspx
- Ski Roundtop - http://www.skiroundtop.com/
- Whitetail - http://www.skiwhitetail.com/index.htm.

And don't forget that the Baltimore County public school kids are off January 26th (Friday) for Teacher Day, but not in Pennsylvania. Weekdays are less expensive for the tickets and equipment, PLUS the crowds are much smaller.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!
- Pat

Saturday, December 12, 2009

RFCOP News - Suspicious Van Alert

From Rob Williams, RFCOP leader:
Suspicious Van Alert

On Friday, December 11 around 4:30am, a RFCOP
was stopped at the Rodgers Forge triangle. An older
white van had just pulled into the Forge from Stevenson
Lane and was at the stop sign. The van was hesitant to
move so the patrol flashed its lights.

The van eventually drove up Dumbarton Road. The patrol
turned around to see where the van was headed. The van
pulled onto Regester Avenue at about the first or second
house. The patrol came back up around and down Regester
Avenue. In less than 20 seconds, the van had disappeared.
It appeared that the driver backed up and left in the same
direction he came from.

The driver of the van was a black male. The van was white,
like an old box style van. The tag number began with the
numbers 305.

On several occasions recently in Rodgers Forge, suspicious
vehicles, notably vans, have been reported.

Also, please be aware that a Taurus, with Maryland tags,
KMT 869, has been reported to have been spotted at recent
break ins in Rodgers Forge and in surrounding communities.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Handbell choir to play at the Towson Public Library this Sunday at 2PM


From Towson Presbyterian Church:

Dear Friends,

Thought you'd like to know that the Towson Presbyterian Handbell choir willplay at the Towson Public Library on the corner of York and Chesapeake Ave.this Sunday afternoon at 2 PM. We'll be located at the bottom of the spiral.We've wanted to play in this space for years. It is a free performance and agood one to introduce the kids to handbells. You can come and stay as longas you'll like. We added Frosty for the young set.


I'll be playing the little bells and Mr. Chuck, my husband, will be playingthe big bells at the other end of the table. He's the tall one with thebeard. Maybe I should have him wear his Santa hat! I think my daughter,Colynn, will be playing the clarinet with us. She is playing a piece called"Christmas Tidings" and it rocks! Very bluesy!


Hope you'll drop by to hear a few pieces.


Happy holidays.


Lorene LaBerge

Speed Hump Update

An update from Beth Foster:

Speed hump construction on Heathfield and Dumbarton Roads is scheduled to begin next Monday, 12/14, weather permitting. During the 3-5 days of construction, there will be single lane closures with flaggers and reduced on-street parking. Please watch for posted signage instructing drivers NOT to park in designated areas.

This project will present a short-term inconvenience to residents, and will also affect RFES and DMS families. Parents are asked to please allow sufficient time for drop-off and pick-up. Consider walking, or carpool with another family if driving is necessary. Given the crew's work hours, the morning is likely to be more challenging than the afternoon. The "carpool" lines will be affected at some point, as humps are being constructed in the midst of those areas. Also, pedestrian ramps are being cut at the RFES crosswalk, though hopefully that work will take place mid-day.

Friday, December 4, 2009

West Towson Elementary School Boundary Meeting

WEST TOWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUBLIC FORUM

Wednesday, January 6, 2010, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
(Snow Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM)

Loch Raven High School1212 Cowpens Avenue, Towson

You are invited to provide input to the school board on the proposed boundary for the new West Towson Elementary School. New boundary lines may include boundary changes at Hampton, Riderwood, and Rodgers Forge elementary schools.

At the Public Forum, participants will:

• Review options presented by the West Towson Boundary Committee
• Receive information on background data and area demographics
• Participate in a small group discussion and provide written comments
• Provide valuable input to the Board of Education via questionnaire

Directions: From the Beltway, take Exit 29 (Cromwell Bridge Road) and proceed east on Cromwell Bridge Road less than ¼ of a mile to the school on left.