Dundalk Photo of the Day: Rock Fishing

Dundalk Patch presents its Photo of the Day.

Dundalk photographer Jimmy Rode captured this image of a red-breasted merganser seemingly sunning, or perhaps looking for dinner, from a perfectly placed rock. He took in the scene while at Cox's Point Park in Essex. View previous Photos of the Day here. Do you have a photo you'd like considered as Dundalk Patch's Photo of the Day? Add it to this article by clicking on the "upload photos and videos" button or send it to marge.neal@patch.com. Sign up for breaking news alerts and a daily email newsleter from Dundalk Patch. Follow Dundalk Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

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John's Journal

MD Legislative Session Wrap-Up: Guns, Death Penalty, Taxes

De. John Olszewski Jr. writes about the gas tax, death penalty, gun control and more in this wrap-up piece about the 2013 Maryland State Assembly session.

With the 2013 Legislative Session now officially drawn to a close, I am pleased to provide you with my End of Session Report. This overview covers some of the major developments of the session, though space considerations prevent it from covering every issue discussed. As always, my office would be happy to review the issues covered here in further detail, or to discuss any other piece of legislation that you may have an interest in. Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime at my district office (410-282-1733), Annapolis office (410-841-3458), or by email at delegateolszewski@gmail.com. State Operating Budget: After years of struggling to overcome a stubborn structural deficit, the Fiscal Year 2014 state operating budget continues …

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Essex Library Offers a Leg Up on Summer Gardens

Master gardeners will lead "Introduction to Vegetable Gardening" Saturday at the Essex branch of the Baltimore County Public Library system.

Spring has officially arrived. Daffodils and crocuses are up and tulips won't be far behind. Fat, healthy-looking robins have been spotted. Farmers are plowing their fields, and now is the time to begin planning your summer vegetable garden. If you've always wanted to grow your own vegetables but were afraid to try, the Essex branch of the Baltimore County Public Library has just the solution. Master gardeners will be on hand at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, to lead a session called "Introduction to Vegetable Gardening." The experts will talk about how to start a garden, including site selection; soil preparation; and how to grow some of the easiest and most popular vegetables, according to the library's website. To help out even more, the …

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Essex Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run Crash

Christina Campbell is charged in connection with the Essex crash that injured one person.

An Essex woman is charged with hit-and-run and other traffic-related charges following a crash in Essex on Jan. 11. Christina Campbell, 32, of the 600 block of Virginia Avenue in Essex, was charged after leaving the scene of the crash that injured a pedestrian who was attempting to work on a disabled vehicle, according to Lt. Robert McCullough, a spokesman for the Baltimore County Police Department. Police officers responded to the area of Southeast Boulevard and Turkey Point Road in Essex at about 10 p.m. Friday for a hit-and-run crash. A gray Ford Windstar van, driven by Lauren Bielanski, 19, of the 300 block of Sassafras Road in Essex, was disabled at the location, according to McCullough. Bielanski and her passenger, Kwante Betters, 19…

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Bay-Vanguard Bank to Acquire Vigilant Federal

Both community banks are based in eastern Baltimore County.

Police: Man Shot Multiple Times in Middle River

Anyone with information on the Wednesday evening incident is urged to contact police.

UPDATE (Dec. 13, 11:46 a.m.)—Police are investigating a drug related shooting in Middle River Wednesday evening. At about 6:58 p.m., near Middle River Road and Martin Boulevard, a man was shot multiple times. He was transported to University of Maryland Shock Trauma for treatment, according to a statement released late Wednesday by Baltimore County police. Police have not yet released the victim's identity or any information about a suspect. Late Thursday morning on Twitter, Baltimore County police announced that the victim was 25 years old and that the incident was drug related.  Police urge anyone with information on the shooting to call investigators at 410-307-2020. Sign up for breaking news alerts and a daily email newsleter from …

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Essex Woman Called 'Traveling Sex Predator' After Assault on Michigan Girl

Police say Roseanne Valesco Balagot, 22, traveled to Michigan on Thanksgiving weekend and met up with a 15-year-old girl she met online.

A 22-year-old Essex woman is charged in Michigan with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that occurred last Thanksgiving. Roseanne Valesco Balagot is being held in the Oakland County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond. She is charged with criminal sexual conduct in the third-degree. Balagot waived a pretrial hearing. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office  Computer Crimes Unit had been investigating the incident since January. Balagot, a Philippines citizen living in Essex, flew to Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday. She picked up the 15-year-old victim, whom she met online, and took took the Rochester Hills girl to an area hotel and sexually assaulted her, according to investigators. The victim's parents notified the sheriff's department…

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