🌱 COVID-19 Outbreaks In Local Schools Tripled + UMBC To Buy Hospital

Hello again, Catonsville! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Catonsville Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Catonsville Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Catonsville long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Low clouds may break. High: 70 Low: 58.

Here are the top three stories today in Catonsville:

1. Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Health released its weekly list of K-12 schools with outbreaks of COVID-19. According to the data, the number of outbreaks has nearly tripled in Baltimore County schools over the past week. This week, 30 Baltimore County schools reported a total of 279 outbreaks, including Catonsville Elementary School. (Catonsville Patch)
2. Yesterday, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved the proposal to sell the Spring Grove Hospital Center's 175-acre campus in Catonsville to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) for $1. Mental health advocacy groups and labor unions representing the hospital’s staff objected to the sale, saying the agency had no detailed plans on how to replace Spring Grove’s much-needed psychiatric services, including 375 patient beds. Health Secretary Dennis Schrader said, "precise plans to replace Spring Grove will be devised over the next decade or two." The hospital will continue operating, but will eventually be closed and patients will be transferred out of Spring Grove beginning in 2032. (Baltimore Sun)
3. On Tuesday, the Catonsville High School softball team won 7 to 3 against Carver in the Baltimore County championship game at CCBC-Catonsville. Catonsville senior Maggie Kreis pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Catonsville coach Paul Harris said Kreis was "absolutely amazing" and she had "the Carver offense off-balanced for the whole game." Catonsville senior catcher and captain Caelyn Voss said, "It’s very exciting, it’s [the county championship] something we didn’t get last year and we get to get it this year. We now have everything under our belt and we are going for another good run." (Baltimore Sun)

Today in Catonsville:

• CNA/GNA (On-The-Spot-Job-Interviews) At 4 E. Rolling Crossroads, Suite 209 (10:00 AM)
• Weekly Food Pantry At 715 Ingleside Avenue (11:00 AM)
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Open House At CCBC 800 S. Rolling Road (5:30 PM)
• Spoken Word Poetry Workshop for Veterans At Catonsville Clubhouse (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The National Weather Service announced a coastal flood advisory for the shoreline in southern Baltimore County and the city of Baltimore until 7 a.m. today, May 12. The storm will bring about five days of rain. View the link for more information and the weather forecast for next week. (Catonsville Patch)
• Don't miss the Arts & Drafts Festival kick-off concert on Friday, Jun. 24! The free show is from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Guinness Brewery, featuring Sweet Leda and Lower Case Blues. Saturday and Sunday, Jun. 25 and 26, the free festival continues with more live music and performances! Click here to learn more. (Instagram)

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Events:

• Outside Flea Market (May 14)
• Baltimore Birth Festival (May 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (May 17)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you all tomorrow morning for 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!