Annapolis Man Charged with Threatening to Open Fire in Library
Police say John Joseph Marchesikie, 73, claims to have been "just playing" when said he would "blow this place up."

Thief Steals Vehicle Breathalyzer, GPS from Unlocked Truck
Someone stole a GPS, flashlights and an alcohol ignition device worth a total of $1,450 from an unlocked vehicle in the parking lot of Rudds Pest Control on Friday, according to police.

Baltimore Spectator Blogger, James MacArthur, Surrenders to Police After Standoff
AF James MacArthur, who blogs as the Baltimore Spectator, live streamed negotiations during a standoff with Baltimore police in Waverly on Saturday night. MacArthur surrendered peacefully, police said.

Prisoner Charged with Attempted Murder in Struggle With Police Officer at St. Joseph
A 30-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in an apparent escape attempt in which a police offer was grazed by a bullet at St. Joseph Medical Center.

Police: Man Robbed in Cheesecake Factory Bathroom
Howard County police report a man was robbed by two men inside the bathroom of the Cheesecake Factory on Wednesday afternoon.

Missing Man Found Dead in Trunk of Car in Parking Lot
Maryland State Police are investigating a possible homicide of a missing Frederick County man whose body was found Monday in the trunk of his car parked in a Montgomery County lot.

Alleged Remains of Wife's Buried Body Approved for Trial Evidence
Remains found buried in concrete underneath a shed in an Elkridge backyard can be used as evidence in the state’s trial against Robert Jarrett Jr., a judge ruled Monday. 

Editor's note: This feature appears on several Patch.com sites across Maryland.

Here's a look at some of the top stories from Severna Park Patch this week. To read more of any story, just click on the link.

1. Local Soldier Battles Life After the Army
Severna Park High School graduate Brett Miller said the Army helped put him on the right rack after he failed out of college. After his service was up he went back to school and got a degree. What he didn't realize was how the five years spent in the Army hurt his chances of getting a job.

2. Shipley’s Choice Students Sell Snowmen at Clements
A special education class at Shipley’s, taught by Kim Chesek, has created decorative snowmen and are selling them for $10 at Clement Hardware to help raise money for their annual field day at Marley Elementary.

3. Chatting with Mutt & Joe Manager Heather Jones
This week, Patch introduced a new column that talks with local business owners about life in Severna Park and how they got their start. To start off Patch caught up with Mutt & Joe manager Heather Jones.

4. Visions for Vacancies: Robinson Crossing
Inside the Robinson Crossing shopping center, next to the Dollar Tree, are two vacant buildings side by side. As empty storefronts emerge in Severna Park, Patch likes to highlight them to see what readers would like to see fill the properties.

5. SP Holiday Gift Guide
This week's holiday gift guides took an inside look at Victoria's Fancy Foods and Paper Trousseau. See what these local businesses are offering to holiday shoppers looking to save, spend or splurge on gifts.

All information is courtesy of Barranco & Sons Funeral Home.

Eleanor Phielpassed away on Dec 5, 2012 at the age of 101. She was borne on Nov. 1st 1911, the first daughter of Harry and Lucy Shanaman, and raised in a big, happy farm family in Malvern PA and then Parker Ford PA. One of 14 children (7 daughters and 7 sons), Eleanor spent her early years helping to care for her younger brothers and sisters. She was a beloved wife, the best mom and mother-in-law ever and caregiver to her extended family. She loved gardening and grew outstanding vegetables and flowers.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Phiel and is survived by son John Phiel jr, son Donald Phiel, daughter in law Vesta Harman Phiel, brothers David Shanaman, Carman Shanaman, and Robert Shanaman, sister-in-law Catherine Phiel and many, many nieces and nephews. She leaves fond memories in the hearts of her family as well as the wonderful staff and residents of Sunrise of Severna Park Md. and Kris Leigh Assisted Living, Severna Park MD.

An internment service for the immediate family will be held at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, King of Prussia PA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.

There are plenty of places in Severna Park to pick out this year's Christmas tree, including:

• Diehl’s Produce (50 McKinsey Rd.)
• Gary’s Gardens (651 Ritchie Highway)
• Homestead Gardens (522 Ritchie Highway)
• Old Timer Trees at Earleigh Heights (161 Ritchie Highway)
• Meadows Farms (470 Jumpers Hole Rd.)

With so many options, picking out a Christmas tree can sometimes make you feel like you're in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Any given tree can either be too short, too tall, too bald, too bushy or have a myriad of other problems.

So how can you tell which tree is the right one for you? To help select your favorite tree, the characteristics of the more popular species are listed below.

Douglas-fir:  This tree is generally available as a sheared tree and is the most common species found on tree lots.

It has a nice fragrance and a medium-to-good shelf life. Because of the thick, bushy crowns, they do not lend themselves to large or heavy decorations. 

This species is the easiest to grow because it is relatively problem-free.  It requires seven to eight years to mature as a Christmas tree.

Noble fir:  This species is considered the “Cadillac” of Christmas trees.  It grows in a more open pattern, has stout branches, luxurious green needles, a long shelf life and a nice fragrance.  It is popular with families that have large or heavy ornaments.

It is the most expensive tree because it takes eight to ten years to mature and is the most difficult species to grow. 

Grand fir:  This sheared tree is the most fragrant of the native species.  It has an attractive needle that makes it a popular choice as a flocked tree.

Grand fir trees require eight to nine years to grow and have a medium shelf life.

Fraser fir:  This North Carolina native has strong branches that will hold heavier ornaments.  The needles have a pleasant fragrance and a long shelf life comparable to a noble fir.

Fraser fir trees are difficult to grow because of the many pests that threaten them. They require eight to 10 years before they are ready for harvest.

Norway and blue spruce trees: These are generally available only at choose-and-cut farms.  They will hold heavy decorations.  Some consumers think they are child- and pet-proof because of the stiff, prickly needles.

Spruces require eight to nine years to mature as Christmas trees and have a medium shelf life.

Tips for caring for your tree:

Once you make it home with your tree, cut one-quarter inch off the butt and place the tree in a water stand.  The stand should be large enough to hold at least one gallon of water after the tree is placed in it.  Check the water level daily.  A typical six-foot tall tree can drink one gallon of water each day and remain fresh for two to three weeks.

TELL US: Where did you buy your Christmas tree in Severna Park? What kind is it? Share in the comments below. 

Looking for a job? Here are the latest job openings in Severna Park. To see more information on each job, simply click on the link.

Recreation Assistant
Company: Genesis HealthCare
Duties: Assists in the planning, organizing and directing activity programs for customers
Requirements: High school degree or equivalent; certification in accordance with regulatory agencies governing the center

Customer Service Specialist
Company: Office Depot
Duties: Responsible for providing an exceptional in-store customer service experience through proactively engaging with and working to make the customer satisfied in every interaction
Requirements: High school diploma or GED preferred; previous sales/customer service experience is considered an asset

Driver Helper
Company: UPS
Duties: A physical, fast-paced, outdoor position that involves continual lifting, lowering and carrying packages
Requirements: Not listed

Clerk
Company: Safeway
Duties: Orders, stocks and displays non-food merchandise in accordance with company standards regarding merchandise and presentation
Requirements: Not listed

Sales Associate
Company: Massage Envy
Duties: Provide excellent service to members/guests by answering phone calls, setting appointments, greeting members/guests upon arrival and selling memberships
Requirements: Customer service and sales experience preferred; Able to work flexible days and hours

Job listings were found through Indeed.com. View the full listings to read the complete descriptions of duties and requirements.

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Police said a man armed with a knife robbed a pizza delivery driver in Millersville on Saturday night.

This is the second reported robbing of a delivery driver in Millersville in three days. A driver was robbed in the 8200 block of Bernard Drive on Thursday night, according to police.

According to a police press release, officers responded to the 600 block of Paddle Wheel Court in Millersville at 6:16 p.m. on Saturday for a reported robbery. Officers spoke to the delivery driver for A-1 Pizza in Millersville. He said he was making a delivery when he was confronted by a man armed with a knife.

The suspect demanded money, and the delivery driver handed over an undisclosed amount of cash, according to the release. The suspect then ran into a wooded area.

Police and a K-9 unit searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

See Also:

• Pizza Delivery Driver Robbed in Millersville

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The Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company has rescheduled its Santa Runs originally set to take place on Sunday to Monday night.

Santa was scheduled to visit several Severna Park communities on Sunday evening but was forced to reschedule due to the weather.

As long as the weather permits, Santa is rescheduled to visit the following local communities between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday:

• Berrywood Ridge
• Berrywood South
• Robinson Landing
• West Ridge
• Oakleigh Forest
• Cape Arthur
• Fair Oaks
• Fair Oaks on the Magothy
• Whitehurst
• Arundel Beach
• Magothy River
• Severna Gardens
• Robinson Knolls
• Cool Pond
• Robinson retreat
• West Severna Park
• Severna Forest
• Colchester on the Severn
• Severndale
• Sabrina Park
• Parkridge
• Oaks of Severna Park

Have photos of Santa in your community? Share the on Patch.

The Severna Park High School girls and boys basketball teams both fell to rival Broadneck High on Saturday.

The girls team lost to the Bruins 54-50 in a closely contested match while the boys fell 47-39.  

Both teams will be back in action this week, along with the rest of the winter sports teams at Severna Park High School. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule.

Monday:

• Indoor Track, 3:30, at Broadneck High School
• Girls Varsity Basketball vs. St. Marys Ryken High, 6:30 p.m. at SPHS

Tuesday

• Varsity Wrestling, 4 p.m. at Old Mill High
• Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Glen Burnie, 5 p.m. at SPHS

Friday

• Girls Varsity Basketball vs. South River, 5 p.m. at South River
• Boys Varsity Basketball vs. South River, 6:45 p.m. at South River
• Varsity Wrestling, 7 p.m. at SPHS

See Also:

• Girls Basketball: Falcons Focusing on Defense, Striving for Wins

Despite some rain, many area residents came out to the Severna Park Chamber for the tree lighting and the festivities that followed at Park Plaza on Friday night.

During the tree lighting, Severna Park Elementary sang a number of holiday songs and local girl scout troops provided cookies. Bruster’s was also there serving up samples of ice cream.

The celebration continued in the Park Plaza shopping center as the Severna Park High jazz band and Folger McKinsey chorus performed, along with other local groups.

Santa and Mrs. Claus even made an appearance. The pair rode in on a horse-drawn carriage and posed for pictures with children who had been lined up all night.

Take a look at the photos from the Christmas festivities and be sure to add your own by clicking the “Upload Photos and Videos” tab.

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The next time you’re having trouble balancing your checkbook you might ask a fifth-grader at Severna Park Elementary School to help.

Thanks to the program Junior Achievement BizTown, local fifth-graders are learning real-world skills about money management, landing a job and life in the workplace.

“JA BizTown provides work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs for students in kindergarten through high school,” said Kim Fabian, senior vice president of the junior achievement of central Maryland.

Jennie Merrill’s fifth-grade class at Severna Park Elementary has been practicing these skills for a little more than five weeks, and the students got to show off what they learned on Friday at the JA BizTown facilities, which were recently renovated by Ikea.

“They come to our facility where they are assigned jobs such a mayor, CEO restaurant manager and so on, and they experience a real-life workday,” Fabian said. “They have meetings and receive paychecks all based on the skills they have learned."

This is the second year Merrill’s classes have participated in the program and she said the skills they learn are not only useful for the activity but also in the future.

“The program gives them real life skills,” Merrill said. “You don’t teach anyone how to use a checkbook anymore because you do it online, but these kids are getting all that. Everything they have been learning just came to life on Friday.”

Schools from all over the county and state participate in the JA BizTown program, but Fabian said they continue to be impressed with Severna Park Elementary.

“It is interesting because some schools are better prepared than others,” Fabian said. “Severna Park Elementary has been coming for the past several years and they are always a really great school to work with.”

The program is something Merrill really believes in teaching and she hopes to continue JA BizTown’s lessons in the future.

“Each year I am more and more surprised with the kids and what they learn,” Merrill said. “I can’t wait to see what we do next year. I am so excited. It is great to see the kids thinking outside the classroom.”

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UPDATE (4:40 p.m. Tuesday)—Police identified a 50-year-old Millersville man as the crash victim who died after being struck by another vehicle that did not stop Tuesday morning on I-97.

Wilmer R. Borgmann III of Millersville was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Maryland State Police. A Pasadena man who was in a street sweeper truck (with Borgmann) that overturned was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

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According to police, the crash occurred between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Tuesday on I-97 near Route 32 and Benfield Boulevard in the Millersville area.

Police said a preliminary investigation indicates Borgmann was the passenger in a street sweeper truck that was traveling northbound on I-97 when it entered the median, struck the guardrail and overturned.

Both men were reportedly ejected from the truck, and then Borgmann was struck by a vehicle—that left the scene—in the southbound lane.

Police believe Borgmann's body landed on the vehicle's hood since it was found more than 200 feet from the point of impact.

The vehicle that struck Borgmann may have extensive front end damage, most likely to the hood and windshield. The vehicle is missing a windshield wiper, which was recovered at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or may have been in the area at the time is urged to contact Maryland State Police at 410-761-5130.

Patch will continue to follow this story and update as additional information becomes available.

State Comptroller Peter Franchot told supporters Tuesday that he will seek re-election to the position he's held since 2006.

The state's top tax collector was rumored to be eyeing a run for governor in 2014.

In emails and calls to supporters, Franchot said he has decided to forego that campaign.

Stay with Patch for updates on this story.

A fatal hit-and-run in Millersville early Tuesday caused traffic delays for many area residents on their morning commute.

According to police, a truck hit a guardrail and overturned on I-97 near Route 32 and Benfield Boulevard around 3 a.m. The driver and a passenger were both thrown from the vehicle. The passenger was then struck and killed by another vehicle, which fled the scene.

Investigators still had sections of I-97 closed Tuesday morning during rush hour, and several Severna Park residents reported delays in their commute to work.

Lauri Ladd commented on Severna Park Patch’s Facebook page that her commute to Waugh Chapel was extra long.

“Took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from Waugh Chapel to Severna Park,” Ladd wrote. “That's going through Crownsville and never stopping.”

Nicole Lister commented that the traffic disrupted her morning yoga.

“Couldn't get to yoga in Crofton this morning,” Lister wrote. “97 south and 32 were all parking lots.”

I-97 was reopened just before 10 a.m., which allowed one Millersville resident to head into work late.

“Just getting ready to leave for the office,” Shelly Herbert Denton wrote around 11 a.m. “I just worked from home for a few hours.”

Maryland State Police are still searching for the driver in the hit-and-run. Anyone who witnessed the crash, or may have been in the area at the time, is urged to contact Maryland State Police at 410-761-5130.

Avoid being stuck in traffic by signing up for Patch’s breaking news alerts, which will send updates to your inbox.

See Also:

• Police Seek Driver in Fatal I-97 Hit-and-Run

Looking for the perfect gift for someone on your shopping list this holiday season? Patch can help.

For the next few weeks, Severna Park Patch will visit local shops and business to find out what items they are offering to holiday shoppers looking to save, spend or splurge on gifts.

Today’s gift ideas come from Franklin's Toys located at 558 Ritchie Highway.

Franklin's Toys is a dream destination for any kid. The shelves are filled with all kinds of toys for children of all ages.

The store's owner, Jeff Franklin, is as kind as can be and can recommend the perfect gift for any kid on your holiday gift list.

Save (Items $20 or less)

• Tenzi ($14.99)—This simple dice game is perfect for a family with children of all ages. The game comes with instructions for several games with a wide range in skill level.
• POGO Jumper ($17.99)—Similar to a POGO stick, this jumper is for kids who haven't quite mastered the skill. It has a thicker base, so it is easier to operate.
• Duct Tape Tote ($17.99) Franklin said kids seem to be obsessed with Duct Tape. With this, they can make practical crafts. This kit gives directions for how to make a tote bag out of Duct Tape.
  

Spend (Items $45 or less)

• Telestrations ($29.99)—Franklin said there are few things that bring a family together like a board game and he calls this drawing game hilarious. He said the game is a cross between Pictionary and Telephone and is great for kids and adults.
• Boogie Boards ($39.99)—Don't be misled by the title, these toys are not for the ocean. These drawing boards came out six months ago and come in a variety of colors. Your picture can be erased with the click of a button and Franklin said they are great for the car.
• Fun Time Tractor ($36.00)—Franklin said this tractor is his favorite one-year-old gift. The toy feature animals that make noises and it plays "Old McDonald" while moving along.
• Fire Truck, School Bus, Tea Set etc. ($26.99)—These popular toys are made from 100 percent recycled milk cartons and come in a variety of vehicles and tea sets. Franklin recommends them for kids ages 2 to 5-years-old.

Splurge (Items $50 or more)

• Lego Sets: Star Wars, Batman etc. ($62.99)—Franklin called these Lego sets amazing and said they are great for anyone on your lists who enjoys building Lego creations. 
• Shopping Cart ($59.99)—Franklin recognizes this may be a little pricey for a shopping cart, but he says they are the best carts on the market. He said they are made of metal, very sturdy and will last longer than a plastic cart.
• Real Tools for Kids ($50)—These real tools are great for kids looking to build and Franklin said he has been looking for them for years and finally found them. He said kids get bored with the plastic tools and can actually use these to build things.

Interested in seeing more items from Franklin's Toys? Check out the photo gallery.

See Also:

• SP Holiday Gift Guide: Savvy
• SP Holiday Gift Guide: Victoria’s Fancy Foods
• SP Holiday Gift Guide: Paper Trousseau

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The town of Severna Park is full of local businesses that provide great services for the community.

In order to get a better sense of the owners and managers behind the businesses, Patch is introducing a new column. Severna Park Patch will talk with local business owners about life in Severna Park and how they got their start.

This week Patch spoke with The Breakfast Shoppe owner Kyle Algaze.

Kyle Algaze has owned The Breakfast Shoppe with his business partner
Jeff Fitchett for 20 years. The restaurant moved to its current location in Park Plaza in June of 2010.

Severna Park Patch:What is your favorite part about running a business in Severna Park?
Kyle Algaze: It’s a tight-knit community. I like to think that we have put an iron cage around most of our customers, and they are so gracious to tell other people about it. Word of mouth travels really well in this community especially if you are doing something good—you can put it out there and people will tell other people about it.

Severna Park Patch: What’s the biggest challenge The Breakfast Shoppe has overcome?
Algaze: Dramatic growth has been the hardest thing to deal with whether it is employees, finding the right help or making sure our vendors are on the same page. We have doubled business from the old location in a fast amount of time. That’s really been the most difficult thing—handling growth at such a quick pace. I'm not complaining at all—it's just a different set of circumstances.

Severna Park Patch:How did your business get started, and where did the idea come from?
Algaze: I have a partner Jeff Fitchett so it was his and mine brainchild to expand and he was gracious enough to allow me to kind of run with some ideas. He was fantastic in that aspect. He said come up with some fantastic things and ideas no one is doing and we’ll see where they are going to go. Over the last six months we have had a really heavy push in marketing, which we have never done before. It has taken off to television and newspaper and I have seen such a great feedback from people from all over that were like ‘I have to go try that place.’ It was neat to see.

Severna Park Patch:What’s unique about your business? Why should customers come?
Algaze: We really take everything we do seriously. Whether it is customer service especially with the food. I go out to eat at other places to see what they are doing and check them out. I am always impressed with the way we work here and how hard we work and I hope it relays itself to some of our customers.

Severna Park Patch:What’s a typical day like for you?
Algaze: The day starts at 4:30 in the morning and we get in before everyone else is even up. Everyone else is going to bed when we are waking up and it is non-stop between production, catering, customers and employees. It is about as busy as a person can be. Then, I go home to two young children.

Severna Park Patch:What other local business do you like to frequent?
Algaze: I went to Mother’s for the first time. I went there on Saturday and met the owner and we are probably going to hold our Christmas party there. They are a business I was really happy came to the area. Split Ends has been a great fan of ours and always helps us with things we are doing.

See Also:

• Chatting with Mutt & Joe Manager Heather Jones
  

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