🌱 New 'Crime-Fighting Bills' + Catonsville No. 8 Streetcar Mural

Hello, friends. It's Monday in Catonsville and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in our community.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Catonsville Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know 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.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and mild. High: 58 Low: 33.

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Here are the top three stories today in Catonsville:

1. After recent events, including the arrest of Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Catonsville for an alleged planned firearm attack against Baltimore's power grid and the arrest of David Linthicum for allegedly shooting and wounding two Baltimore County police officers, the Republican state lawmakers in Maryland have introduced a package of crime-fighting bills. The Republicans' Gun Violence Accountability Act, or Senate Bill 745, would increase the penalties from three to five years for illegally possessing a firearm. The Violent Firearms Offender Act of 2023, Senate Bill 744, would increase fines and jail time for gun crimes as well as close the loophole so that drug dealers do not get a lighter sentence. The other crime-fighting bills are the No Bail for Repeat Violent Offenders Act of 2023 or House Bill 736, Gun Theft Felony Act of 2023 or House Bill 750, and the Juvenile Gun Offenses Accountability Act of 2023 or House Bill 753. (WBAL-TV)
   2. A mural on the Catonsville Rails to Trails No. Eight Streetcar Path honors Berley Roberts Sr., the first Black streetcar driver in Baltimore. Roberts' three surviving daughters Barbara McGee, Diann Cupid, and Shelia V. Lewis visited the mural for the first time on Feb. 8, which depicts the No. Eight streetcar with Roberts in the driver's seat. Roberts is described as the "Jackie Robinson of Baltimore’s streetcars." One of his daughters, Barbara McGee said, "My father never missed a day of work. I knew what he was going through and he just kept striving." (Subscription: Baltimore Sun; Free: Catonsville Times via Twitter)
   3. The Terps, the University of Maryland women's lacrosse team, finished the 2022 season with a 19-2 record. This season the Terps have added three five-star players: the No. 1 incoming freshman, midfielder Kori Edmondson, and former Ivy League All-American defender Marge Donovan from Catonsville. After the Ivy League added a new rule that would not allow athletes to play an extra year, head coach Cathy Reese told Donovan, "You've all your life to work, you know, and you're too good of a player to leave a year of eligibility on the table." Reese said she was "thrilled" when Donovan decided to play for the Terps. (247 Sports)

Today in and around Catonsville:

• Teen Time At Catonsville Branch Library (3:00 PM)
• Sit and Stitch At Catonsville Branch Library (6:00 PM)
• Auditions for Doctor Dolittle At 905 Frederick Road (7:00 PM)
• Above the Bar: Comedy Open Mic At St. Marys Jamaican Restaurant in Baltimore (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The community is invited to the Catonsville Business District Parking Study Open House - Results presented by the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. The results will be shared today, Feb. 13, at 6:00 p.m. at the Catonsville Clubhouse. (Catonsville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• Here’s some post-Super Bowl trivia for you: Baltimore ranks 1st in the state for top NFL athlete hometowns, with 106 NFL players and 26 Super Bowl players hailing from our city since the 1966-67 season. Check out more Super Bowl stats from across the country in this new BeenVerified study. (BeenVerified)
• Yoga For Recovery is on Feb. 18 at Rolling Brook Yoga & Pilates in Catonsville! The class includes inspirational reading, sharing time, and a gentle yoga practice for anyone working to overcome any form of addiction and those affected by addiction. (Catonsville Patch)

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Featured events:

• Join St. John's for an In-Person Open House (February 16)
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That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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!