Roaming for Thankgiving? Check Patch's Commuter Map

No matter how far away you roam, you can check for road closures, construction and more on Pikesville Patch.

Whether you're staying close to home or traveling afar for the Thanksgiving holiday, you can check your route ahead of time with Pikesville Patch's interactive commute map. It's a permanent tool on Pikesville Patch, with up-to-date road closures and construction projects and traffic conditions. Access it any time at http://pikesville.patch.com/commute. Because it's interactive map, so you can click and drag to any part of the country. Try dragging northbound up I-95 to see the numerous projects in the works after Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York. On the Pikesville Patch website, the map is accessible under the "More Stuff" tab at the top of the page.

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LETTER: Homes' New, Lightweight Construction Is Fire Risk

In a Letter to the Editor of Pikesville Patch, a National Fire Sprinkler Association official warns that homes built within the past 20 years have construction material that makes it difficult for occupants to escape and for firefighters to extinguish bla

Following is a letter to the editor, sent in by Russell Fleming, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association To the Editor: The United States is on the brink of a fire crisis. New lightweight construction methods and materials are making it harder and more dangerous for firefighters to safely extinguish blazes and for occupants to escape safely. It’s estimated that most homes built within the past 20 years contain these dangerous lightweight materials, which are designed to carry a greater load with less material by using prefabricated components. While these lightweight construction materials are touted as being more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, they also allow fires to spread much more rapidly, significantly …

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Pikesville Crime: Pocket Knife Frightens Away Robber

The following information was supplied by the Baltimore County Police Department. In cases where a criminal charge is noted, the information provided does not indicate a conviction.

Gwynn Oak Byfield Road. 3800 block. Between 2 p.m. June 19 and 9 a.m. June 20. A burglar cut the lock on a shed at a home and stole electric tools, including a saw, trimmer, blower and compressor. Milford Mill   Langrehr Road. Between 10:15-10:30 p.m. June 22. A man was walking along Langrehr Road at Liberty Road when a group of men punched and kicked him to the ground. They stole his cell phone, wallet, an iPod Touch and $2 in cash. Pikesville Marsue Drive. 6900 block. 11:35-11:44 p.m. June 20. A robber implied he was reaching for a weapon, but after the victim pulled out his pocket knife, the suspect ran. Greene Tree Road. 1838. Between 11:11 p.m. June 19 and 1 a.m. June 20. A burglar activated an emergency exit bar at the Washington …

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PHOTOS OF THE DAY: Construction Under Way

It's construction season, and there were numerous projects ongoing throughout the community this week. Here are some photos from projects at Beazer Homes at Quarry Lake, and tree-trimming work at Chizuk Amuno.

Tree trimmers were running the woodchipper Thursday at Chizuk Amuno Congregation. And construction was ongoing Friday on more Beazer Homes' condominiums at Quarry Lake.

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Editor's Notebook

Corner Bakery Cafe Construction—Outside?

There's a lot of construction going on outside the site of the Corner Bakery Cafe, set to open in July. Could this foundation work mean a patio and outdoor seating?

They're pouring a foundation today outside the Corner Bakery Cafe site in the Festival at Woodholme Shopping Center. Maybe this means outdoor seating? However, it could also mean there's an expansion of the indoor dining area in the works. The Corner Bakery Cafe, offering breakfast, sandwiches, paninis, salads, Wifi and more, is set to open in July, according to an official in the restaurant chain's corporate headquarters. It could open as early as July 2, the official said Tuesday in an email to Pikesville Patch. The new restaurant replaces Chicken Out that closed last year. Are there any construction types reading this who know more? Check out this photo, and give your opinion on what's going on?

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Janet Metzner

4:11 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I asked a construction worker today as I passed in my car. He said they're building a patio at the Corner Bakery Cafe site. So that's good news!   more ›

Greenspring Shopping Center Sports New Landscaping, Lighting, Pavement

The shops on Smith Avenue near Greenspring Avenue are now served by a newly blacktopped parking lot.

The parking spaces are all at right angles, there are bright, white arrows directing traffic, and the blacktop is smoothe and new at Greenspring Shopping Center. There are more trees where trees in planters used to be, and the sidewalk into the center is wide and ready for Shabbat foot traffic. Construction equipment and barriers are no longer obstacles to shopping. The improvements made to the property, managed by Shopping Center Management Company Inc., include new lighting and repaving.

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Janet Metzner

12:07 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I've added some shots that show the Greenspring Shopping Center parking lot before the improvements.   more ›

PHOTOS: Work Continues at Greenspring Shopping Center

Construction equipment and work areas change almost daily at the Pikesville shopping center.

Renovations to the parking lot, lighting, landscaping and sidewalks continued Tuesday at the Greenspring Shopping Center. Work is expected to continue through November, and includes repaving the lot and painting 90-degree parking spaces.

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PHOTOS: Greenspring Shopping Center Construction Ongoing

Work on sidewalks, new lighting and other projects continues in the parking lot of the Smith Avenue strip mall and Atrium.

If you're visiting Greenspring Shopping Center, bring along some patience. Some sidewalks and two entrances from Smith Avenue are closed there as construction is ongoing on lighting, sidewalks and other projects in the parking lot. A member of the center's management company Brooks & Goldman was not available Monday afternoon to comment on the work.

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PHOTO OF THE DAY: Greenspring Shopping Center

Workers removed tree planters from the parking lot at Greenspring Shopping Center.

Cement tree planters in Greenspring Shopping Center parking lot—including the trees in them—were torn down and removed Thursday from in front of Sunoco and Rite Aid.

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Janet Metzner

4:40 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

Wow! Was I wrong. I haven't been back today to see how many came down. Maybe they took out only those few in front of Rite Aid and Sunoco. Did anyone see?   more ›