Local perspective

by Jeffrey Smith

As a lifelong resident of Maryland, I have come to realize that one of the most important assets of our state is the wealth of parks and open spaces dotting the landscape.

In the immediate vicinity of my family’s Nottingham home, there are over a dozen parks, trails, community centers, or other recreation facilities available.

The development of parks and the preservation of open space are vital for everyone.

First and foremost, these

by David Marks

Many people don’t give a second thought to the food they eat – and I’m not talking about calories and nutrition.

I’m referring to the complicated process by which food begins on farms and ends up on our kitchen tables. Sadly, the role of the American farmer is simply lost to many people today.

In 1870, half the country’s population was employed in agriculture. Today, that number has fallen to less than 1 percent.

Thanksgiving

by Jeffrey Smith

There’s something special about settling down for a good night’s sleep and hearing the sound of a train in the distance.

Wherever I’ve lived, I have always been lucky enough to experience this unique aspect of Americana. For over 150 years, there have been rail lines operating throughout eastern Baltimore County. To this day, residents of the area can still witness regular visits by trains of all

by David Marks

This is the time of the year when children gather around bonfires to hear stories about the dead who may walk among us. Ghosthunters come out of the woodwork. And in Perry Hall, one of the oldest places in Baltimore County, speculation turns to those houses that look like they might belong in a Stephen King story.

Without a doubt, the most frequently-mentioned place is

by Jeffrey Smith

While the month of October may generally be most associated as ending with the costume-wearing, candy-collecting night known as Halloween, for those of us of German descent (like myself), the month will always be seen as a time for such classics as polka music, steins full of beer, and plates heaping with bratwurst sausages!

In other words, it’s time for the fun and fellowship that can only come from a Maryland Oktoberfest.

For those of you

by Jeffrey Smith

I was recently at the local bookstore and I happened to notice former President Bill Clinton’s new book titled Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. While flipping through the book, I came across this inspiring quote: “We all have the capacity to do great things – lift spirits, touch hearts, and demonstrate that citizen activism and service can be a powerful agent of change in the world.”

The book itself serves

by Jeffrey Smith

No sooner than the kids go back to school does it seem like autumn weather descends on northeastern Baltimore County. The leaves are already starting to fall and the local stores are stocking up on candy and decorations for Halloween.

Fall is probably my favorite time of the year, which makes living in this area all the more enjoyable.

All along the U.S. Route 1 corridor – starting from up at Kingsville, continuing through Perry Hall, and

by David Marks

A visitor to northeastern Baltimore County in the early Nineteenth Century or early Twentieth Century would have strained his or her eyes to find Perry Hall on a map.

Riding horseback along the dusty country lane that became Belair Road, the visitor would have climbed Putty Hill to come across three villages, none of which were named Perry Hall. Moving north, these were the villages of Necker, Indian Rock, and Germantown.

Today, the villages are lost to

by Jeffrey Smith

I never really thought about the significance of Labor Day until very recently.

For me, it was always just another day off – either from school or from the daily grind of a career.

But recently, I began to think about the important place that work actually occupies in the lives of most of us. If you stop and think about it, the average person probably spends more time at work (eight-plus hours a day,

by Jeffrey Smith

If you’re looking for something to do outside in Perry Hall, you don’t have to go very far to have a whole bunch of options for fun in the sun!

And these days, with the fast pace of our daily schedules, it’s even more important than ever for us to make time for outdoor recreation and exercise.

Whether you choose to join an organized sports league, or just want to find a quiet spot

by David Marks
There’s a saying: everything old is new again. Look no farther than Honeygo Boulevard and Joppa Road.

Most people think of Honeygo as Twenty-First Century Perry Hall, with its tree-lined streets, fancy restaurants, and million-dollar homes. It’s the last part of Perry Hall to be built-out. But ironically, this “new” neighborhood is actually the oldest part of our community.

More than two centuries ago, northeastern Baltimore County was

by Jeffrey Smith

Now that the hottest days of summer are here, I’m sure that most of you are seeking out ways to beat the heat, especially if you have any children within earshot! Sure, you could opt to go swimming, either at a local pool or perhaps at some industrial-size water park somewhere. However, I’m sure, if you’re like me, you would rather find a tastier way to cool off.

As it happens, this part of the county

by David Marks

For most people in Perry Hall, the town fair is simply one more thing to do on a lazy summer day.

They can take an hour to stroll along Ebenezer Road, browsing the booths. Their children can pet the ponies or play a game. And when that is done, there are heaps of food they can pile on their plates.

But for the volunteers who organize the fair, it’s the culmination of months of hard

by Jeffrey Smith
Since the Civil War, Perry Hall has played host to a series of significant transportation projects that were truly cutting edge in their time.

Looking ahead, two of our community’s most significant roadway links, Belair Road and the I-95 superhighway, will once again be at the center of some of the most exciting developments for mobility that Perry Hall has ever seen! But before we learn about where

by David Marks

The Perry Hall Mansion is the best known – and least understood – landmark in northeastern Baltimore County.

I say “best known” because the actual name of the building – “Perry Hall” – has come to represent the burgeoning community of 30,000 residents between Pulaski Highway and Putty Hill. But the building itself is a mystery to most of them.

In fact, the Perry Hall Mansion is probably one of the most historic places in Maryland. Built

by Jeffrey Smith

Longtime NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw has described the American veterans who fought World War II as “the greatest generation any society has ever produced.”

As we commemorate Memorial Day this week, it is entirely appropriate to pay tribute to those sons of Perry Hall, and the families they left behind, who offered themselves in defense of liberty.

Like so many communities across America, Perry Hall was shocked by the events of December 7,