Towson

Undeterred by the pandemic, the group Green Towson Alliance kept the Towson community’s green spaces healthy and beautiful throughout last year.

The Greater Baltimore Medical Center Health Care system has administered more than 4,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to staff and seniors older than 74, and plans to begin vaccinating seniors between 65 and 74 on Feb. 1, its chief executive officer said.

Louise K. Emmert, a longtime Baltimore County Public Schools educator who became active at the Bykota Senior Center after the death of her husband, died Jan. 4 from pulmonary hypertension at her home in the Breezewick neighborhood of Towson. She was 72.

Bazil African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically Black house of worship in Cockeysville, is celebrating its 145th anniversary this year.

Former state delegate Steve Lafferty is leaving his post as Baltimore County’s first chief sustainability officer to direct the county’s planning department.

The Best Dressed Sale, going on now at The Shops at Kenilworth, is a pop-up version of the upscale thrift sale, put on by the Women’s Board of The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Saying there is inadequate oversight to combat possible fraud, waste and abuse within Baltimore County Public Schools, County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. is pushing for a state bill that would empower the County Office of the Inspector General to act with discretionary oversight of the school system.

Citing a lack of transparency and communication from Baltimore County Public Library leadership and seeking healthcare benefits for almost half of the library system’s workforce, library employees are trying to unionize.

Police and public safety news compiled from local police alerts for the Towson area from late December and early January.

Amid the continued surge of COVID-19 infections statewide, the Baltimore County Public School system announced late Monday afternoon that the 2020-21 winter athletic season has been canceled.

Thomas J. Tallent, a retired Sykesville postmaster who enjoyed singing songs from the 1940s and 1950s, has died at 91.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center’s electronic medical records are beginning to be restored following a ransomware incident that struck its information technology at the end of last year.

Goucher College officials say all classes will remain online for the spring semester, citing concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Danita Tolson, chair for the undergraduate program for nursing at Coppin State University, has been tapped by Anthony Fugett to take over as branch president. Fugett, who led the county’s NAACP branch for 20 years, said he would continue to serve on the executive committee of the county NAACP branch in an advisory function.

The Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC) has been the heart of the community for nearly 125 years.

For the second time in three years, Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones will preside over the County Council as chairman.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center HealthCare in Towson began administering the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to its front-line staff on Monday.

Baltimore County Councilman David Marks released his picks for the 5th District Citizens of the Year.

Athletes made memories during difficult year

The Clearing House, a family-owned consignment shop in Cockeysville that during its 40-year run raised more than $180,000 to help women and children in need, will be closing in February due to the financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

Take a second look at some of the Towson Times’ best photography of 2020.

In a new partnership with the American Cancer Society, Towson-based artist Will Brown is commissioning paintings of cancer survivors and victims, donating 10% of profits earned from each painting to the international organization.

Towson and Catonsville crime log.

Anna B. Clifford, a retired secretary to the Loyola Blakefield headmaster, died in her sleep Nov. 5 at the Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium. She was 96.

Nancy Hafford, who has served as executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, has been nominated to chair Baltimore County’s Planning Board.

Virginia L. “Jinny” Streckfus, a retired Howard County General Hospital registered nurse who was an advocate for her Inner Harbor neighborhood, died Saturday of cancer. She was 85.

The Kids Charity Club’s first official event was held on Nov. 21 in Anneslie to support of Andrew’s Laughing Gas, named for a classmate at Stoneleigh Elementary School who died last year of leukemia.

Baltimore County has hired a third-party contractor to resume water billing for residents and businesses that have been delayed since April after Baltimore City stopped meter readings amid the coronavirus pandemic.