🌱 Balt. Co. Smart Meter Explosion + CHS To Perform On Live Broadcast

Hi all! Rose Mendez here with your fresh copy of the Catonsville Daily, full of all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Sun giving way to clouds. High: 44 Low: 29.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories today in Catonsville:

1. A Baltimore County couple, Richard and Susan Kahl, said their smart meter "exploded" and caused nearly $1,500 in damage to their home, but their Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) claim was denied. BGE claimed "the cause of the power outage/surge was equipment failure due to normal wear and tear." The Maryland State Fire Marshal has received reports of 38 fires connected to smart or regular meters in the last 10 years. Oliver Alkire, the senior deputy and spokesperson with the Maryland State Fire Marshal, said smart meters are "not something we're focused on, but certainly something we want to keep an eye on." (WMAR 2 News)
2. Today (Dec. 21) and tomorrow (Dec. 22) is the annual WBAL Kids Campaign Broadcast at Valley View Farms. There will be holiday music performances and guests including Catonsville High School, "Piano Man" Brent Hardesty, and Hereford Chamber Choir. The broadcast supports the WBAL Kids Campaign, which provides assistance to Baltimore's youth. Click here for a full list of performances and more details. (WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5 via Twitter)
3. At Towson Town Center, a nearby Baltimore County mall, there has been a sharp rise in shoplifting over the past year. According to data from Baltimore County Police, there has been a 145 percent increase in shoplifting since 2021. Between Jan. 1, 2021 and Oct. 10, 2021, there were 86 shoplifting incidents; within the same 10-month period in 2022, there were 211 shoplifting incidents. (Fox Baltimore)

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Today in and around Catonsville:

• Catonsville Farmers Market Wednesdays At Christian Temple (9:00 AM)
• Wellness Wednesday At Reaching 4 Wellness (5:00 PM)
• Santa Paws At The Point In Fells in Baltimore (5:00 PM)

• Looking for a new home or keeping updated on your local housing market is easier than ever! Check out the latest homes for sale in the Catonsville area, including a three-bedroom home on Rockwell in Catonsville for $399,999. (Catonsville Patch)
• If you want to bring a new furry friend home just in time for the holidays, check out this list of adoptable pets in the Catonsville area, including a tiny black and white Domestic Short Hair kitten named Greta! (Catonsville Patch)
• The Catonsville Chamber of Commerce introduced a new Chamber Member: Peepers Family Eyecare Catonsville. The eye care specialists have a new location at 6600 Baltimore National Pike, Suite D in Catonsville. (Catonsville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

Events:

• Special Services on Dec 18, 25 & 31, 2022 (December 25)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!