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Week of Jan 20: Ellicott City Tunnel Delayed, Permanent School Closing, and So Much to Do This Week

Week of Jan 20: Ellicott City Tunnel Delayed, Permanent School Closing, and So Much to Do This Week

Ana Lohrmann
January 20, 2025

Welcome, Neighbor, to the Third Issue of Patapsco Valley View!

This week, as temperatures plunge to dangerous lows, let’s remember MLK Jr.’s words, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'”.

If you or someone you know needs help staying warm, please contact:

Baltimore County Emergency Shelters: 410-887-8463
Howard County Cold Weather Shelter: 410-531-6677

Please join me in celebrating some incredible growth! Last week, we asked you to guess how many subscribers we’d have by this week’s issue.

Drumroll, please…

We’ve more than doubled our growth from 200 subscribers last week to 565 this week!

A huge shoutout to Mayah from Catonsville, who guessed the closest with 500—congratulations!

Thank you in advance for sharing this valuable newsletter with your local friends and family via this link.

In this week’s issue:

OEC’s North Tunnel Project: Delayed
Catonsville Catholic School to Close
Small Business Spotlight: Twin Thrift Vintage
Opportunities for Residents
Events Happening This Week
Interesting Fact about the Area

But first, a word from our sponsor (which could be you!)

Advertise with the Patapsco Valley View

In celebration of our launch, we are offering FREE advertising to local businesses, community groups, and artists.

Reach residents across Catonsville, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Arbutus, and the towns that touch the Patapsco Valley.

Reply to this email for more information.

Ellicott City's North Tunnel Project: Delayed

The tunnel boring machine—affectionately named “Rocky”. Photo: Howard County Government

The groundbreaking for Ellicott City's Extended North Tunnel project, has been postponed due to ongoing property acquisitions and negotiations. Despite this delay, the project's completion is still targeted for Fall 2027.

What is the North Tunnel?

An 18-foot diameter underground tunnel
Approximately one mile long
Designed to divert up to 26,000 gallons of stormwater per second to the Patapsco River

Why It's Important
The North Tunnel is a critical component of Ellicott City's flood mitigation strategy. It aims to protect the historic downtown area from devastating floods like those experienced in 2016 and 2018.

This ambitious project underscores our community's resilience and forward-thinking approach to environmental challenges. While the delay is unfortunate, it’s a solution that promises to safeguard our historic downtown for generations to come.

Stay tuned for updates.

Got a share-worthy story about our area? Reply to this email and share it with the rapidly growing readers of the Patapsco Valley View!

St. Agnes Catholic School in Catonsville to Close After Current School Year

The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced on January 13, 2025, that St. Agnes Catholic School in Catonsville will permanently close at the end of the current school year due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment.

With 171 students currently enrolled, the school has experienced a 25% drop in enrollment over the past few years, leading to significant financial strain on both the school and parish. The archdiocese stated that the school can no longer meet its operational expenses or the needs of students and families.

To assist with the transition, the archdiocese will provide resources for families to apply to other nearby Catholic schools. Families will be allowed to pay the same tuition amount they paid at St. Agnes for the first year at a new archdiocese school, and will receive $100 for school uniforms.

Christian Kendzierski, spokesperson for the archdiocese, emphasized that this closure is not part of a larger trend, and no other Catholic school closures are currently planned.

Small Business Spotlight: Twin Thrift Vintage

Twin Thrift Vintage is more than a thrift and consignment shop—it’s a heartfelt celebration of nostalgia and sustainability. Run by twin sisters Jordan and Alexandra, this Ellicott City gem was inspired by childhood visits to their grandmother’s house, where they fell in love with vintage treasures and their stories.

Located at 13554 Triadelphia Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042, the shop invites you to explore unique finds, consign your items, and support sustainable shopping. You can also browse their latest treasures on social media (fb & ig) or shop online on Etsy.

Twin Thrift Vintage captures the vibrant energy these sisters bring to their passion project. Despite balancing careers and family, they make running the shop look as joyful as ABC, easy as 123—the Jackson 5 tune that reflects their spirit.

Next time you’re in Ellicott City, stop by, say hello, and discover the charm Twin Thrift Vintage adds to our community!

Local Opportunities for Residents

Wanna make a little extra money while contributing to our community? Check out this week’s opportunities! Quit smoking, get off opioids, play brain games for science, or submit for a teen contest to win $500 and make the world a better place!

Get Paid to Quit Smoking

Are you a daily smoker interested in quitting?

Cigarette smokers aged 18-65 who are currently thinking about quitting are needed for a 6-week smoking cessation research study.

All study sessions will take place at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and will last approximately 30 minutes after the initial screening visit.

Participants can earn up to $615 for study completion.

For more information please call 410-550-5143 or fill out the link below https://jhmi.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qAxNqYJKK8zOMm

Principal Investigator: Dustin Lee, Ph.D. Application No: IRB00170600

Get Paid to Beat Opioid Use Disorder

Join a research study using psilocybin to treat opioid use disorder

We are seeking individuals who are addicted to opioids to participate in a research study looking at the effects of psilocybin, a psychedelic drug found in naturally occurring mushrooms.

The study will investigate whether psilocybin can reduce opioid use and improve quality of life. Participants will be started on buprenorphine, receive either a high dose or low dose of psilocybin, and attend follow up appointments.

Study completers can earn up to $660.

To apply, visit our website here: https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/opioiduse or call: 410-618-3616 or email: [email protected]

Principal Investigator: Sandeep Nayak, M.D. IRB00399750

Got a local opportunity to share? Reply to this email and let us know!

Happening This Week

Even with the bitter cold, there is so much to do indoors to keep your heart and mind warm! Paint, dance, serve, and more—with your neighbors and new friends this week!

Monday - Jan 20

Thursday - Jan 23

Sunday - Jan 26

Did we miss something? Want to see your event listed here next week? Reply to this email and share it with the readers of the Patapsco Valley View!

Did You Know?

Illustration of Ellicott City flood from Harper’s Weekly - August 8, 1868

Ellicott City has experienced 20 major flooding events since its founding in 1772. The most recent devastating floods in 2016 and 2018 were part of a pattern that dates back over two centuries, with significant floods recorded as early as 1817 and 1868. This persistent challenge has shaped the town's character and spurred innovative flood mitigation efforts like the North Tunnel project.

Have a fun or interesting fact about the area that you’d like to contribute? Reply to this email and share it with the readers of the Patapsco Valley View!

That’s it for this week’s view. Please reply to this email if you’d like to share an upcoming event, highlight a local business, or share inspiring story.

Until next time,

P.S. This newsletter is free, but the resources and time to produce it are not. Please consider supporting us.