Dorsey, 74, a current Carroll County Board of Education member, was given the Joseph R. Bailer Award from McDaniel College last month. The annual award recognizes a McDaniel master’s degree recipient for contributions to the field of education. Dorsey graduated from McDaniel with a master’s in education in 1983 and earned a doctorate in education from University of Maryland, College Park in 1999.

“It was very touching,” said Dorsey, who lives in Westminster. “I was very honored, and it was reaffirming of some of the things that I’ve certainly tried to accomplish throughout my career. It was good to know that someone was watching or someone was acknowledging some of my past efforts.”

Before being elected to the school board in 2018, Dorsey worked for Carroll County Public Schools from 1972 to 2011, as third grade teacher, Title I resource teacher, assistant principal, and principal, at William Winchester, Westminster, Eldersburg and Taneytown elementary schools.

After retiring from the public school system, Dorsey became a field assessment coordinator and field assessment administrator for National Assessment of Educational Progress, providing data collection and assessment services to aid in tracking student achievement.

Dorsey said receiving the award from McDaniel was bittersweet, in light of the loss of her husband.

“It meant a lot to me to receive it,” Dorsey said. “The first thing that came through my head was, I wish my husband were here to enjoy this honor with me, and that created a whole flood of emotions.”

The Carroll County Times asked Dorsey about the impact she has made on education in Carroll County. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

You made the decision twice to continue your education to attain higher degrees. How has that decision impacted your career?

It helped to open doors for me. It allowed me to apply for administrative jobs when I was working in the school system. Once I had made the decision that I was going to make a run for the Board of Education, it certainly opened up some doors for me there. I am quite active with our Maryland Association of Boards of Education, and that’s an opportunity that you can only have if you’re a board member. My mother used to tell us to go forward. She would say, “forward ever, and backward never,” so I keep striving to go forward. I loved learning, I loved everything that schools were providing. It was a fulfillment, something that I felt like I wanted to do personally for myself, whether anybody would have acknowledged it or not. It was something that I wanted for myself, to not just get the master’s, but then to also pursue receiving the doctor of education degree that I received as well. It’s one of those things where, when you work for things like that, those are things that no one can take away from you. It’s yours. I sort of went from taking my mother’s advice to continuing to try to move forward and I knew it was something that I wanted to certainly achieve for myself.

What roles have you had with the Maryland Association of Board of Education and what impact have you made in those roles?

I did serve for three years as a member of the board of directors. On the main board of directors, we would set the goals for the association, and we would come up with the strategies that we were going to use to pursue those goals. … Each each job that I’ve had, or each committee that I’ve worked on, all really connects. We’re trying to make sure that our organization, that our strong collective voice, continues. Our main focus is on our governance role. One of our biggies is that we always support local control. That, at times, can be difficult, because sometimes we feel like the local control is [being] taken away from us. [There] are bills that we will not support unless there’s changes made, because, we want to have local board authority.

What initially drew you to beginning your career in education, as a teacher?

I’m one of those people who can say that I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. It was just in me, so to speak. As kids, my sister and I would would play… back in our day, we created things to do. One of the things we created was, “let’s play school.” Whenever we would play school, I would be the teacher, and I would give her spelling words and math problems, and, I took on the teacher role. She was my little student. I’d even go around the house and question my mom, dad, uncle, and other relatives about how to spell certain words, or how to solve little problems or whatever. It’s almost like it’s been in me, I’ll put it that way… I’ve always enjoyed teaching, and I’ve always enjoyed learning. As a kid, you watch your teachers, and you see the things that they’re doing, you hear them, and they’re sort of your models. Already knowing I wanted to be a teacher, I was picking up from different [teachers] things that I liked, and maybe things that didn’t like. It’s something I’ve always had a desire to become.

I taught for for 10 years, before becoming a resource teacher, then moving into administration. Even once I moved into administration, I was still working with teachers. [I was] working at a different level, but still working collaboratively with them, as they were working to teach the kids. It’s been something that I’ve always enjoyed. We’re certainly not in it, as educators, for the money. It’s something more than that, we get out of teaching kids and being a part of education. Sometimes you don’t even realize the impact that you have on kids, but years later, they’ll certainly come back and share some things with you, and you begin to realize that.

Why did you decide to become a principal, and what was it like working for Carroll County Public Schools as a principal?

As a resource teacher… I went to Title I schools, giving professional development and trying to help the teachers incorporate different strategies or techniques to help the kids become more successful. In Title I schools, we really had to look at the data on how kids were performing, so my job was to try to help the teachers help the kids become more successful. I enjoyed that, because even though I wasn’t directly teaching the kids, unless I was giving a demonstration or a model lesson, I still had my foot in the door as far as educating the kids is concerned, by working through the teacher. … Once I became the assistant principal, then the principal, I had access to all grade levels, from K through five. I could really see the strands of the curriculum in each subject area, how they connect, and how we built upon prior years learning to set the stage for the next year’s learning. It’s good to see the whole continuum…

What made you want to run for Carroll County Board of Education?

[It goes] back to enjoying education, teaching and learning. In addition to enjoying learning, and having been retired for a while, I got to the point where I was sensing that it would be good to give back to the community. I’d already given, with my years of employment through the school system, but I still felt like I had something to contribute, to give back so to the community. When I saw that there was an opening on the board, I jumped in and ran in 2018.

You have been a popular candidate, winning the 2018 election in a landslide and narrowly defeating candidate James Miller for reelection in 2022, despite the other two members of his three-person slate winning seats. What about you and your message do you think resonated with voters?

I’m appreciative of the connections that not only I have made in the county, but also my family. I think when it came time to cast votes, some of those connections paid off. I had some parents who who said to me, they were parents that I had years and years ago… when they saw I was running, the parents said, “well, you better vote for Dr. Dorsey.” It’s that kind of thing, the connections I’ve had with the students, their parents, and staff members. My husband worked with the U.S. Post Office, so he certainly had a lot of positive connections in the community. I think the connections that helped to seal my victory.

What have you accomplished since joining the school board?

People have to understand, you can’t go in with individual goals and thoughts, “this is what I’m going to do, and this is what I’ll make sure happens,” because that’s not it. You’re with four other people; you’re a board of five. I have shown that I can certainly work collaboratively with other board members, from the first board to this current board. We don’t all think the same, we don’t always come up with the same kind of solutions to situations, but we’ve worked together, and I’ve shown that I could certainly work with folks. At times, I’ve been the lone person out there in some of the votes, and other times I’ve joined with others.

I’ve not been able to accomplish any one thing on my own, I’ve had to really work with the group. For me, what I’m most proud of, is that no matter what the vote, no matter what the situation, I’ve always remained true to myself. I went in with the ideal of trying to do what’s best for the students, for the staff members, the teachers, for the schools. … and that’s what I remain true to. … That’s the thing that I am most proud of, and it’s one of the things that you can’t lose sight of… You’ve got to be true to what you’ve committed to.

Why were you the only board member to abstain from approving the school calendar for the past several years?

That’s a perfect example of, even though I feel one way and I see the others are feeling another way, you just voice your opinion and move on. With the calendar issue, when I was still in the system, we had gotten to the point where schools opened that last week in August, and to me, it was great because college kids, for the most part, had already returned, and schools were active with their sports practices at that time. It seemed like everybody else was going back to school. … It made the day after Labor Day more efficient for us, because folks already had a week under their belts. I lived through it… and I certainly had teachers who were supporting that …

Is there an added significance to your accomplishments because you are a Black woman? Do you have a sense that it is a benefit to others to see someone so accomplished who also looks like them?

I think so. Years ago, when I first became a teacher, there were a number of African American kids in the school, and I thought, “this is good for them to to see,” that they had someone looks like them here, serving as a teacher. Then the thought came to me, “well, what about the other kids? Do you think it’s important to them as well?” I got to the point where I said, “yes, it’s important for them as well, to see me just as I’m presenting myself.” I don’t go around touting who I am or what I have, I’m just present. It was important; it was important for all the kids … A teacher is very important role and has a big influence on those kids’ lives.

What are your plans after your second term on the school board expires in 2026?

I guess I’ll be back to true retirement at that point. I’m active in my church, so I’ll continue to be active there. I serve as treasurer for my church, and I’m also a part of our music and drama ministry teams, so I’ll be continuing in those things as well. It’ll be church and family, as far as I can see at this point.

Downtown Sykesville Connection Executive Director Julie Della-Maria said the shuttle aims to relieve parking constraints caused by construction on Baldwin Avenue. The shuttle is paid for by the town and coordinated by the Downtown Sykesville Connection.

The shuttle will run continuously between the three locations — the middle school at 7301 Springfield Ave., the park at 100 Raincliffe Road, and the downtown stop outside The Local Motive at 7540 W. Main St. — until the end of July, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Della-Maria said each loop takes the shuttle around 20-25 minutes to complete.

“It’s a pilot project,” Della-Maria said. “We hope to gain some insight into needs, beyond the help during construction work, because we’re not going to stop growing.”

The stops were selected because they are roughly equidistant and there is ample parking at Sykesville Middle and Freedom Park. Della-Maria said ridership was low during the shuttle’s first weekend, but few people likely knew about the new service.

Downtown Sykesville Connection is accepting feedback on the shuttle program. Della-Maria said the shuttle may become a permanent if there is high demand.

“For the people that used it, they were mentioning that they would want it to go faster,” Della-Maria said, “and that’s something we’re not opposed to. We’re seeking feedback to be able to adapt and improve. …”

Construction at the south end of Sykesville’s Main Street aims to improve pedestrian access. According to the town website, updated last month, the first phase of construction has taken longer than expected due to weather and other delays. Crews have been working on sidewalk improvements, new crosswalks, and redesigned parking lot lanes and islands on Baldwin Drive.

Downtown Sykesville Connection is an accredited Main Street Maryland program, a community development and revitalization program for historic downtowns funded by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The nonprofit also has Main Street America accreditation, a national program that aims to boost economic prosperity and small-town charm in municipal downtowns.

Della-Maria said the cost of operating the shuttle is not yet known.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

Seven companies and 53 individuals collectively filed to appeal the federal ruling.

PSEG was contracted by PJM, the organization responsible for operating and planning Maryland’s electric grid, to build a 67-mile powerline that would run through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties.

The appeal, filed Tuesday evening in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, seeks to reverse the decision U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson issued on June 20. Joanne Frederick of STOP MPRP Inc., a group that has urged property owners to refuse the company access to their land, said Abelson’s decision sets a dangerous precedent by granting eminent domain rights to a company.

“There is an injustice here of potentially epic, and potentially far-reaching implications,” Frederick said, “for the entire nation, for a very long time to come.”

The $424 million Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project is projected to be operational by June 1, 2027. Before construction can begin, the project must receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Maryland Public Service Commission, a five-member board appointed to five-year terms by the governor.

The commission did not set a schedule for certificate proceedings at a pre-conference hearing on June 10 but announced plans to release a proposed schedule within 30 days. The commission also directed PSEG to provide all information requested by the Power Plant Research Program, which is responsible for reviewing issues related to power generation and transmission in the state, including a routing study and alternative project routes, within 30 days.

Sondra McLemore, assistant attorney general representing Maryland’s Power Plant Research Program, told the commission at the June 10 hearing that PSEG’s certificate application is incomplete because the company is required to survey land on the project path.

“There are other flaws in the PSEG CPCN application,” Frederick said, “including the information regarding the other alternative routes. Before we accept PSEG adding insult to injury by coming on the landowner’s property, we think that the project deserves and the decision needs more scrutiny.”

Joseph Curran, a lawyer representing PSEG in the certificate approval process, urged the commission at the June 10 hearing to set a timeline for a decision on granting or denying the project application.

Frederick said the project’s aggressive schedule would rush the approval process and does not account for PJM’s decision to delay the closure of fossil-fuel-burning Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner power plants in Anne Arundel County, which would delay the need for the energy reliability project.

“Part of the core of the issue here is, why are we rushing so much? The reason for the rush has now gone away,” Frederick said, “or has at least been delayed for an additional four years. There’s all this pressure to rush on this schedule, when the circumstances have changed. Part of the justification for needing the field surveys is because we need to hurry, before we’ve even determined if the line is needed at all. Shouldn’t it be that we determine whether the line is truly needed, and then determine who it will truly serve, and then determine where it should be located, and then consider field surveys? We’ve gotten this process all backwards, and it’s the land owner, it’s the little person, that suffers that injustice.”

Melvin Baile, of New Windsor, 64, said the project would cross his property, and would disrupt operations on a 30-acre field in Wakefield Valley, which he rents and farms. Baile tends cattle and alternates growing corn and soybeans. He also chairs the Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals and previously served on the Carroll County Planning Commission for more than 15 years, in addition to being a farmer for 45 years.

“Here’s what aggravates the snot out of me,” Baile said, “PSEG Is a private company, and they, through the federal filing that they did, are basically getting the powers of a government to utilize eminent domain. That’s what really infuriates me.”

Baile said his land is prone to sinkholes, and he is concerned he may be liable for sinkhole-related injuries a surveyor may sustain. If approved, the project would cross his cattle pasture, forest conservation easement, and trout stream, he added.

Frederick said the order requires PSEG to give 24 hours notice before surveying land, but grants unrestricted access to affected properties.

“PSEG has frequently said one thing and done something else,” Frederick said, “and now they’re asking us to trust them to come on property and do surveys, and that feels a little hollow. It could be that they’ll come on a piece of property and determine that there are flora, or fauna, or an endangered species, or for one reason or the other, the land is not suitable for the power line. It is entirely possible that if the field surveys were to happen, the line would have to move, and then it would impact someone else.”

Sheriff Jim DeWees said in an April 22 news release that Carroll County law enforcement will not enforce court orders requiring access to properties along the project path. Instead, Carroll County police will respond to calls about trespassing, assault, and other criminal activity.

Frederick said there has yet to be a confirmed instance of PSEG or affiliated staff invoking eminent domain to survey a property.

“I don’t understand how the judge could allow a private corporation to come on to our land uninvited,” Baile said. “Actually, we’re opposed to them coming onto our land, so it’s more than just being uninvited. How they could do that? It has implications for laws and regulations across the entire country, on what your personal property rights are.”

Baile was not among more than 100 landowners named in PSEG’s federal lawsuit for property access rights, representing more than a quarter of affected landowners, but is among 116 landowners with property on the project path granted intervener status in the CPCN proceedings on May 10, which will allow him to provide testimony and call witnesses in that process. Intervener status was granted to 127 entities that filed petitions in the MPRP case.

Freederick said her organization will provide evidence that includes  data from an Independent Market Monitor report. The report found that data centers account for 93% of the new large-load additions to the energy grid projected for 2026.

“Data center load growth is the primary reason for recent and expected capacity market conditions, including total forecast load growth, the tight supply and demand balance, and high prices,” PJM’s Independent Market Monitor reported on Wednesday.

In Northern Virginia, Loudoun County’s data center alley is the world’s largest concentration of data centers, with more than 30 million square feet currently in operation and at least five million more being planned or developed, according to the Loudoun County website. The county is home to more than 3,500 technology companies, and there has not been a day without data center construction in Loudoun in more than 14 years.

“This project should have been renamed,” Baile said. “It should not be the Maryland Piedmont reliability project, it should be the Northern Virginia reliability project, because this doesn’t have anything to do with our electric grid here.”

PSEG filed for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the power line project with the Maryland Public Service Commission in December. The commission will typically render a decision within nine months to a year, though it could take longer for complex cases, according to Tori Leonard, a spokesperson for the commission.

“Eminent domain, according to the Constitution, is only applicable in cases of public use and public good,” Frederick said. “It is untenable to think that data centers are public use or a public good, when in fact, all the benefit of those data centers is to the data center owners.”

Said Baile: “This ruling flies in the face of the eminent domain laws, not just in the state of Maryland, but the whole country over, by allowing a private company the powers of eminent domain before they have the right to eminent domain, and they don’t have the right to eminent domain until they get the public necessity certification from the Public Service Commission.”

“We like to give back,” said Coil, of Westminster, “this is something that we’ve always done. It’s just the right thing to do. This is unprecedented, so it’s really the humane thing to do. … I can only imagine if I was in that position.”

After announcing that the food truck would go to 43 S. Columbus St., for dinner service beginning at 4 p.m., someone donated $100 to provide free lemonade to the first 20 people who work outside. Another person donated $100 for food, and someone later added $40 to the donation pool, Coil said.

The food truck is licensed to operate in several Maryland counties, including Carroll. Coil said he received special emergency permission from Littlestown Mayor Jennifer Beskid to operate in the municipality during the outage, and he plans to return if he is needed.

“We don’t live too far away,” Coil said, “so we reached out to the mayor. She was very receptive, and told us that we could come up anytime, immediately.

Outages began in Southern Pennsylvania late Sunday when a substation operated by energy company Met-Ed caught fire, Fox 43 reported. About 3,383 Littlestown area residents were without power as of Tuesday morning. Power was expected to be back by Wednesday morning.

Coil said any additional help for Littlestown, from water donations to service from mobile businesses with a generator such as Bebo’s Mac Shack, would be appreciated.

“Any food truck vendors who would like to set up in Littlestown today — we have space,” Mayor Beskid said in a Facebook post Monday.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

On Tuesday, the temperature reached a high of 104 and the heat index was 110. Wednesday is expected to be sunny with a high of 100, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The heat index could reach 108. The Baltimore region will be under an extreme heat watch from the National Weather Service, running from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Aja Ebaugh, 32, of Westminster, said the heat drove her to the pool with her sons, ages 5 and 10. The family has a season pass and the children love the new slide and splash pad, while she appreciates adult swim time.

“It’s nice to have the separation of pools,” Ebaugh said. “The littler kids have an area where it’s more fit for them, and there’s a little bench for the parents to sit in with them, so we like it. It’s nice. There are more areas with shade.”

Around 200 people had visited the pool by 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to pool staff. Among them were 50 children attending Camp Colonial, a Christian summer day camp for kids in prekindergarten through grade nine.

Alice Brown, the camp’s chapel time teacher, said this is the second year the program has included pool time. “Swimming is one of the things that the kids love,” Brown said, “so that’s why we continue.”

The Westminster Municipal Pool was closed for renovations in the summer in 2022, which cost the city $3.5 million. The pool reopened in 2023 after installing a waterslide, an additional racing lane, and four family restrooms that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The second phase of renovations included a splash pad and a lap/learning pool.

The splash pad is a shallow-water recreation area for kids, which includes a giant surfboard, shark and shark fin that spray water, and large umbrellas to keep pad splashers shaded. The attraction also features a zero-depth entry, a gentle slope that allows pool-goers to wade into the water at their own pace, to ensure access for those with disabilities.

Sherri Adams, 63, of North Carolina, attended the Westminster Sting Rays’ first swim meet this season on Saturday. Adams’ grandchildren, ages 6 and 9, are on the team, and she visited Westminster to see them compete and to celebrate her granddaughter’s sixth birthday.

Adams took her grandchildren to swim practice on Tuesday and spent time at the pool with them afterward. She said the pool is clean and refreshing, the workers are polite, and the snack bar is convenient.

“I love the adult time swim,” Adams said. “That makes them drink, reapply their sunblock, and then we get a little swim time, which is great so they can cool down.”

Adams said she values the quality family time she is spending during her week in Westminster. “It’s [the] best thing ever,” Adams said. “I recommend it to everybody. Bring your grandchildren out, get them outside.”

The pool is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. through Labor Day. Westminster adults pay $15 to visit the pool; it’s $20 for non-residents. It costs $12 for city residents ages 13 and younger, 65 and older, and for members of the military; $15 for non-resident children, older adults and military. Children ages 2 and younger enter for free, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The price drops to $10 for residents and $13 for non-residents at 4 p.m.

A punch card, which allows 10 visits, costs $125 for residents or $175 for non-residents. A season pass costs $185 for residents or $275 for non-residents; a family season pass costs $360 for residents or $495 for non-residents. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for discounts, by contacting Westminster’s Recreation and Parks Department at 410-751-5501, according to the city website.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

The cows roamed along Maryland Route 140 by the Westminster Crossing shopping center, near the mall, the parking lot of Chick-fil-A along Route 140 (144 Englar Road), and the Walmart parking lot (280 Woodward Road), after escaping from a farm on Lucabaugh Mill Road, Chiavacci said. One cow reportedly ran through the Westminster Strength and Conditioning gym at 61 John St.

“They were dangerous,” Chiavacci said, “and they were endangering people.”

Eric Shugars, 36, of Westminster, owner of Westminster Strength and Conditioning, said having a cow in his gym is among the last things he ever expected.

Shugars said he was with an employee in a back room of the gym with the door open, because the room is not air conditioned, when one of the loose cows appeared.

“I was probably more scared than the cow,” Shugars said, “and I took off and ran to the other side of the gym. Then the cow ran right back out the door that he came in.”

Chiavacci said the cows were being prepared for slaughter when they escaped and were put down with the owner’s permission. One cow was put down on John Street, the other on Hirsch Avenue.

Several cars were reportedly head-butted by cows, and Chiavacci said the extent of damage is unknown.

“I am proud of our officers for dealing with it quickly and efficiently,” Chiavacci said.

Animal control was unable to respond quickly because it takes time to prepare the correct dose of sedative, which in turn  requires knowing the weight of the animal, Chiavacci said.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

In-person classes will be held the weeks of July 7-11 and July 14-18, following a week of virtual instruction, June 23-30.

“Traditions weeks are of like a best parts version of the college experience,” Director of Promotions and Development Maria Wong said. “For a lot of people, it’s about community, obviously, but it’s also an opportunity to be exposed to ideas and practices, things that you never, never were exposed to before.”

This year’s Common Ground on the Hill music festival will be replaced with a benefit concert to support the Veterans Initiative program, which allows veterans to attend courses for free. The concert, at 7:30 p.m., July 12 at McDaniel College Alumni Hall, will feature performances from Lost in Holland, Walt Michael & Co., and Grammy-nominated blues artist Guy Davis. Tickets cost $25, though active-duty military, veterans, and their families may attend for free. A reception will be held before the event at 6:30.

“It is similar to the festival in that you’re getting a range of different musicians and different musical styles,” Wong said, “but what’s different is it’s really going to be concentrated in that evening performance, so it’s not an all-day event. It’s just a concert, but it should be really fun, and we’re really hoping to provide a good boost to our Veterans Initiative program through ticket sales, so that we can continue bringing veterans for free to experience our program.”

Wong said the program is a powerful way to help veterans.

“PTSD is huge,” Wong said, “and being able to do these kinds of programs with exposure to music and art and being able to freely express themselves in these safe ways, and to be in a community, can end up saving lives.”

The program has grown since it began more than a decade ago with a small group of Marine veterans who each had success reintegrating into civilian life, Wong said.

“A lot of them have said to us, ‘You saved me, this program saved me,'” Wong said, “and because of that, we feel really strongly about continuing this program.”

Classes will offer the wide range of learning opportunities attendees have come to expect, Wong said. Participants can sign up to learn a skill that interests them, from common instruments such as guitar or rarer ones like dulcimer, to Cherokee pottery, wine appreciation, and many things in between. More than 100 weeklong classes will be offered in one of five daily time periods from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bluegrass has long been a staple of Common Ground classes, and Wong said this year’s bluegrass program is built around influential banjoist Tony Trischka.

“We’ve been so fortunate that the kind of instructors who come to our program are people who really understand that we’re about community,” Wong said. “We’re about learning from each other and working with each other, and that’s not to say that other camps aren’t that way at some level, but we really focus on the community aspect.”

Common Ground on the Hill is one of eight Maryland folklife centers and is supported by the Carroll County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council and Maryland Traditions. The organization was founded in 1994, “on the premise that there is a common human thread unifying all people expressed in our various artistic traditions,” according to its website.

This year, Common Ground’s program of courses will have an emphasis on Indigenous traditions, Wong said, following a Maryland State Arts Council initiative. Drew Shuptar-Rayvis, a citizen and cultural ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, will deliver a keynote address at 8 p.m. on July 14 at Alumni Hall about what it means to be a knowledge keeper in his tribal community.

The gathering will feature a slate of free concerts and lectures at 8 p.m. from July 7 to 18 at Alumni Hall, including old-time music July 8 and 15, blues on July 9 and 16, bluegrass on July 10, potpourri July 11 and 18, and Celtic/international music July 17. John Willis will give a keynote lecture titled “The Arts Are Stronger Than Politics” July 7.

“Every night we have either a concert or lecture or something that’s going on,” Wong said. “It’s free, and we hope people will just come out and be a part of it.”

For more information, or to sign up for classes, visit: https://www.commongroundonthehill.org

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

“[Policy] JLCE, first aid and healthcare, is being brought to you this evening to also make sure that it aligns with recent legislation,” Superintendent Cynthia McCabe told the school board, “and to make sure that we add in the verbiage in there about bronchodilators, which we have not had in the past.”

A bronchodilator is more commonly called an “inhaler,” Director of Student Services Karl Streaker said, and the updated policy reflects that it can be used to treat “respiratory distress.”

The inhaler update is part of a law that changed during Maryland’s most recent legislative session. Streaker said state lawmakers also voted to allow emergency-use epinephrine in addition to epinephrine auto-injectors, commonly called an “EpiPen,” due to a pandemic-related shortage of auto-injectors. Single-use epinephrine must be administered by a qualified medical professional, such as a school nurse.

Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylaxis, which is a severe potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, according to the policy. The school system intends to continue buying EpiPens, Streaker said.

“We’re glad we have it,” Streaker said. “We hope we don’t need it.”

School board member Greg Malveaux said it is important to offer naloxone in schools because the substance can be used to treat an overdose caused by opioids interacting with other substances.

Common opioid medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration include oxycodone, oxycontin, hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, methadone, buprenorphine, suboxone, and (pharmaceutical) fentanyl, according to the policy. The portion of the policy that establishes in-school use of naloxone remains unchanged.

“It is important for the public to understand that those things are available in our schools if need be,” Board of Education President Tara Battaglia said.

Changes to Board Policy JLI, governing student seclusion and physical restraint, include removal of the phrase “corporal punishment,” and replacing it with, “principals, teachers, and school security guards intervening in fights,” according to the policy.

“[We] made a correction that this has nothing to do with corporal punishment,” Streaker said. “Rather, it has to do with teachers and school security guards intervening in fights, which is already referenced within the definition of restraint and it remains unchanged, the definitions are unchanged.”

The update would also add that staff may only use seclusion of physical restraint that is, “consistent with an evidence-based trauma informed crisis prevention intervention program,” according to the policy.

Verbiage that only allows physical restraint in a safe and effective manner, without intent to cause harm or undue discomfort, only after alternatives have been considered or attempted, and in a manner that is consistent with the student’s behavioral plan or known medical limitations, would remain in the policy.

“We did a deep dive to make sure we’re in alignment with [Code of Maryland Regulations],” Streaker said.

The board is responsible for reviewing each school system policy every three years, and proposed revisions will will be considered by the school board at its July 16 meeting. Anyone interested in providing feedback on either or both policies may use this link, or mail comments to 125 N. Court St., Westminster, MD 21157. Citizens also may speak during public participation at the July 16 school board meeting.

Anyone who wishes to participate must fill out an online sign-up form at carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information or call the communications office at 410-751-3020 by 9 p.m., on the Tuesday before a meeting.

School board meetings are open to the public and live streamed on the Carroll County Public Schools YouTube channel and viewable on the right side of the Board of Education’s website at carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information, under CETV Livestream. Meetings are also broadcast throughout the month on Carroll Educational Television, Channel 21.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

Moonshadow Collective aims to become a hub for creativity and art and will include a creative space to make art projects and host workshops. The business will sell art supplies, gifts and wellness products.

Uncle Joe’s will offer Sykesville residents a place to buy groceries without having to drive to Eldersburg, and have pre-made foods to purchase and eat during downtown Sykesville events.

“We have heard multiple times that Sykesville’s Main Street needed a true deli; a true deli is coming,” Downtown Sykesville Connection Executive Director Julie Della-Maria said. “We have heard that we needed to save some space for an art space. We listened and we did it there is an art space now opening in downtown Sykesville. That’s the beauty of letting a nonprofit organization that is focused on community development be in charge of such projects, because you guarantee that the tenants are not going to be selected on the simple basis of the fact they’re able to move in and pay rent. They’re going to be selected on the appropriateness for the fabric of downtown Sykesville, how they are going to fit into our mosaic of businesses.”

The two-year renovation of the property at the base of Main Street, near the farmers market area, was funded by Downtown Sykesville Connection, which made use of $256,000 in state funding, according to Della-Maria. The nonprofit selected the businesses that would open there.

Moonshadow Collective

Moonshadow Collective will be open during downtown Sykesville events on Friday and Saturday evenings, and on Sundays during Sykesville’s farmers market.

Moonshadow Collective owner Beck Stavely, 37, of Sykesville, said the space will host arts-and-crafts activities geared toward children and families during town events.

“You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy it,” Stavely said. “It’s designed both for creative people and for those who are curious about trying some creative things and create art — very low-pressure, approachable ways to explore art and expression, and it’s a space that you can shop and create.”

Stavely said the business aims to provide a space for community members to exist and connect with others, without expectation of payment.

“It could be an alternative than going out to a bar together,” Stavely said. “It’s a way to get together and create, because a lot of times the magic happens in the process, and not always just the end result of it. Oftentimes, when it’s an experience and you’re doing it with other people, then the end result can be even that much better, because it gives you the memories of that time together.”

Moonshadow Collective will also host workshops and classes designed to help people connect with their creative side and learn new skills. Upcoming workshops will include papercutting with artist Annie Howe and creative ceramics with artist Kate Rowe. Creative wellness workshops will likely feature sound baths, meditations and mindfulness exercises. Stavely said each workshop will likely cost $30 to $70, depending largely on the cost of relevant art supplies.

Artists interested in working with Moonshadow Collective may email hello@moonshadowcollective.com.

“I’m looking to facilitate this community ecosystem,” Stavely said, “so that we can support each other, but also reach clients and customers.”

Stavely said she designed the space to be inviting: “The vibe is going to be cozy, and it’s going to spark curiosity, but also be community-filled, so a welcoming place to hang out, get inspired, and try something new.”

Uncle Joe’s Deli & Market

Uncle Joe’s Deli & Market is planning to open next month, Joe “Uncle Joe” Gallagher, 27, of Sykesville, said. Gallagher co-owns the business with his sister, Colleen Wittig, 33, and brother-in-law Tyler Wittig, 32. The trio all live on Sykesville’s Main Street.

The market will sell produce, meats, cheeses, pasta, sauces, and common groceries and the store will be open to selling local goods, including products from Sykesville’s farmers market vendors. Gallagher said he expects the business to benefit downtown Sykesville. The closest grocery store is about a 15-minute drive.

The deli aims to debut a menu of 10 to 12 cold sandwiches, “then we’re going to build off of that in the future,” Gallagher said, “once we have our whole setup of and concept of how it’s going to be run in there, once we get in there and are able to see how the flow of things are going to work.”

Gallagher said he has worked in the restaurant industry his entire adult life, and discovered his love for kitchen work when he took a kitchen job at The Local Motive about a year and a half ago. Colleen and Tyler Wittig opened the restaurant and bar on Main Street on Jan. 12, 2023, with Tyler Wittig’s brother, Michael Wittig.

Colleen and Tyler Wittig met while attending Liberty High School in Eldersburg, then reconnected while working as bartenders at Market Tavern. Gallagher said he worked with them as a barback. The Local Motive occupies the space Market Tavern once held.

Gallagher said the Wittigs’ business expertise has been a valuable resource in establishing the deli and market.

“It’s been really fun putting it together,” Colleen Wittig said. “The space is beautiful. The Downtown Sykesville Connection completely renovated the space that we’re going to be in, and it’s looking very nice. It was just an empty shell when we walked in there, but now we have a bunch of our equipment moved in.”

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.

Taneytown Elementary became eligible to become a community school last year.

The schools are now eligible to provide additional services to students thanks to grants provided via the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future program.

State grants can be used to provide medical, dental, mental health, or behavioral support services, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jon O’Neal told the Carroll County Board of Education Wednesday evening.

O’Neal said the district could also provide support to residents who live near the schools, depending on the needs identified in a Blueprint-funded evaluation.

Board of Education President Tara Battaglia said providing these services could improve student achievement.

“More than likely these are students who it’s very difficult for them to get to the dentist. It’s difficult for them to have access to medical care,” Battaglia said.

Taneytown Elementary’s needs assessment, which was announced in February 2024, will be concluded soon, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Nick Shockney told the school board on Wednesday. Officials do not yet know which services will be prioritized and how much money the school is eligible to receive.

The first year a school is designated as a community school it gets a state grant to fund the hiring of a community school coordinator. The coordinator conducts a needs assessment to determine what services would benefit the community. During a school’s second year of eligibility, additional services are funded by a state per-pupil grant.

“To give some credit where credit’s due to the state, this is a program that is state-funded,” O’Neal said. “There is not a local share here, it is a grant from the state.”

Eligibility is based on a school’s three-year concentration-of-poverty average, beginning the year a school is deemed eligible. A school that becomes ineligible can receive the personnel grant for two school years after the school loses eligibility, but may not receive the per-pupil grant, according to Maryland law.

The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price meals determines a school’s concentration of poverty status.

The threshold for community school eligibility has decreased by five percentage points for each school year since it began in 2020, when a school with a concentration of poverty of at least 80% was eligible for the grant. That percentage was lowered to 55% this year, where it will remain. O’Neal said Carroll benefits from seeing how other districts have operated community schools.

“We certainly are able to look at the experience of other systems by the time even we got to Taneytown,” O’Neal said. “There’s some continuum across the state of what that would look like, but there’s no prescribed, ‘it needs to be this.’ It needs to be a needs assessment for the students and the families in that community. The personnel grant in the early years pays for the person to do that assessment.”

Baltimore County Public Schools operated 91 community schools last school year.

“I’ve heard some feedback from colleagues from other systems,” Board member Patricia Dorsey said, “and they’ve had all positive things to say about their community schools and the amount of services that can be provided to families, even linking it with student achievement rising.”

Crossroads Middle School, an alternative school designed to serve students temporarily, has exited eligibility. Gateway School, the county’s alternative high school, is eligible to become a community school this year, O’Neal said. Alternative schools are designed to monitor and improve student behavior to promote success.

“The population is designed to come and go, and as they need services,” O’Neal said. “They go back to their home school perhaps, so the student population that’s in place when the school is identified as eligible may well not be the same population in place when the needs assessment’s completed, so that’s a complexity we’ve been seeing.”

Gov. Wes Moore’s administration proposed the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act this legislative session, which would have paused funding increases to community schools for the next two years. Maryland’s legislature voted against reducing funding for community schools.

Have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at thsmith@baltsun.com.