Baltimore County Police

Police Ask For Help Locating 24-Year Old Woman

Baltimore County, Md. (March 3, 2010) – Baltimore County Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a 24-year-old woman missing from where she was last seen on February 21 in the Catonsville area of Route 40 and Rolling Road, 21228 in Precinct 2/Woodlawn.

Police say that Cherice Maria Ragins, 24, of the 3600-block of North Rogers Avenue, 21215 went to the Catonsville area of Baltimore County to meet with someone. She has not been seen or heard from since.

She is described as a black female, 5’4” tall, 120 pounds, with brown eyes, and brown hair. Ragins also has her name “Cherice” tattooed on her neck. She was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a red hooded sweatshirt over a black shirt, and green and pink shoes. She was also carrying a black purse with silver trim.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Cherice Ragins is asked to call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.

I’ve been busy with my new job and rarely had time to post lately, but an incident tonight is bringing me back to make a post.

As many of you know, I took MARC to DC as part of a commute to Northern Virginia for about a year. After a few months in Baltimore, I recently returned to taking MARC everyday as part of my commute to downtown DC. So, I’m now adding another chapter to the past blogging about MARC here at Inside Charm City. In fact, I wrote most of this sitting on a MARC train as I commuted home.

For my first month or so back working in DC, I’ve had very few problems with MARC that affected me. There has been crowding on the morning train I normally take (the 513) at times by the time it gets to Halethorpe or BWI due to issues with a short consist (I think.) The S service was great the days I worked during the snow (Tuesday after the first round and Friday after Round 2.) The customer service on the 513 in the morning is great. The conductor actually keeps people out of the vestibules when it gets crowded. He actually apologizes for delays even when it’s an issue that is out of anyone’s control. I experienced one late night snafu when I took the 9:00 pm train out of DC home one night and it broke down at Seabrook that resulted in me getting home an hour later than scheduled after taking a MARC train south, an Amtrak train north, and another MARC train north again. Other than that, there were no major issues.

About the time I started commuting to DC everyday, MARC started prepping for a new policy at Union Station that caused a lot of discussion on local blogs. Off the top of my head, I recall Michael Dresser discussing it. DCist, Greater Greater Washington and probably Stuck on MARC all discussed it as well. It was an issue that needed addressing by the powers-that-be at Union Station. It related to the waiting situation at Union Station. They started requiring Penn Line passengers to board through Gate B and C and Camden/Brunswick passengers board through the main gate at A.

There was always a problem with people crowding onto the platforms when trains come in before they’re ready to be boarded. This clogs up the platform for all the Amtrak personnel working out there as well as making it hard for people to get to the station who are leaving the trains. Addressing the situation with some sort of policy was needed. The previous policy seemed to be for the MARC employee “Fred” (never got his last name) to make up some sort of lie like a fictional hazmat situation on an inbound train or the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers were inbound (I checked the schedule – they were in Canada that night) and the platform would be closed.

A lot of the comments on blogs centered around the problems the new gate arrangement would cause for Penn Line passengers who were Metro riders who exit the Metro station on the end closest to the train platform. The back hallway leads right to Gate A.

I honestly usually end up on the train that leaves at 7:40 lately. Last night, thanks to Metro, I was boarding the 6:40 and went right through Gate A to the Penn Line train at 6:39. Most trains usually board more than 10 minutes out from departure, so tonight when I got to the back hallway and saw my train I was a bit surprised to see the train hadn’t started boarding yet even though I could see it on the track and there was no one disembarking from that train still.

This is where the policy and rigid adherence to it in the face of common sense, coupled with a power-tripping  employee, results in problems. A MARC employee I had seen before (and he was being rude the times I saw him before) but never had the pleasure of actually interacting with was standing in the doors and running people out of the back hallway and into the main waiting area and reiterating the policy about B and C for Penn with A for Brunswick and Camden.

I went out to the main part of the station and a retractable rope line was covering the door to Gate B. The waiting area for B and C was as crowded as the dangerously overcrowded MARC trains have gotten in  the past and made the sardine can of a Red Line train on Metro that I had just exited from look spacious by comparison. The line out of Gate C was 3 or 4 wide and approaching the exit of the waiting area out across from Hudson News.

I went back over and milled around by the waiting area where people standing wait for trains outside Gate A usually. I was expecting the boarding call for the train to happen at anytime so I went back out to the hallway to see if the policy was still being so rigidly enforced. My new-found friend was still there and getting incredulous reactions from some passengers coming from the Metro down the back hallway as the train’s departure time drew closer.

I went over by the ticket machines and stood for a minute and as he was reiterating that you could go to Gate B and C if you were Penn Line. I am by no means a surly or loud person. In fact, most of my friends would probably say I am meek and mild-mannered. I didn’t raise my voice or use profanity. I called him “Sir” several times. I pointed out to this gentleman that I had just been at Gate B and it was closed with a rope across it. He was having none of it. He told me it was open when just a few minuters earlier I saw the barrier across it with my own eyes. When I tried to reiterate my point he argued it briefly before saying he wasn’t going to argue with me. I asked for his name twice before he gave it to me. He was wearing his Amtrak access badge but was not wearing it where his name could be seen, nor was he wearing a name tag. For the record for anyone reading this at MTA, he gave his name as David Johnson.

I went back out and lo and behold Gate B’s door was open by now after being closed a few minutes earlier. As I went through Johnson was standing inside and appeared to be smirking at me as I made a comment to no one in particular about the fire marshal and overcrowding.

There are two main problems with their attempted solution for a legitimate problem. They are making it problematic for Metro passengers to board Penn Line trains via the back hallway. I recall this being discussed on other sites when the plan was first announced. My other problem relates to fire and evacuation hazards in the enclosed waiting areas at Gate B and C.

In addition to the overcrowding inside, I’ve seen rope barricades blocking either door from the station. I’ve also noticed both in the mornings and evenings the use of bicycle rack style barricades across the outsides of the doors going from the waiting areas to the platform. One night these were still in place after the boarding announcement for that gate’s train was made.  This can’t be safe and I’m not sure the DC Fire Marshal would be too fond of an overcrowded area with exit routes in either direction blocked. I’ve noticed this for Amtrak trains as well.

This policy’s flaws along with the rudeness of MARC employee David Johnson have caused me to make a negative post about MARC after having mainly good things about the system in the past 2 months. The recurring theme of problems with MARC seems to center around communications problems, and I’d lump rude employees like David Johnson in that category after tonight.

I’m sure MARC employees deal with rude and surly customers all the time and I’m sure they become quite profane at times. However, treating me like the enemy because I dared to ask a question and didn’t back down when I reported seeing something firsthand is inexcusable.

MARC still needs to work on their communications issues with customers whether it be face-to-face, emails, or announcements on trains and platforms. They need to work out a better way of communicating and implementing their plan for boarding in the afternoons as well. Potentially dangerous situations related to overcrowding and blocked exits concern me the most. The issues with Metro passengers trying to board Penn Line trains is one that bears monitoring as well.

Come out to Crush Restaurant on March 3rd from 6pm to 10pm. There will be a “Happy Hour styled fundraiser” with drink and food specials to benefit the MD SPCA. Crush was just ranked in the Top 50 Restaurants by Baltimore Magazine so this is an even bigger reason to come out!

Not only will team “Baltimore Happy Paws” be out at Crush, but also Lauren from Driving for Danes will be present. Lauren has quit her corporate job, and is traveling across the country with one goal in mind: Raise $100,000.00 in a 100 days, all for animal related organizations.

To RSVP for this event via Facebook, please click here (And tell your friends!)

To join the “Baltimore Happy Paws” , or to donate please click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WE’RE EXPECTING!

THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM PREPARES FOR THE BIRTH OF
AN ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN CALF

Staff begins 24-hour observations on expectant dolphin during final weeks of pregnancy

Baltimore, February 22, 2010 – The National Aquarium, Baltimore is pleased to announce the pregnancy of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Jade. After months of regular check-ups, ultrasounds and other health assessments, Aquarium experts estimate that Jade will give birth between late-February and mid-March. The Aquarium’s marine mammal staff and a group of 50 trained volunteers have begun 24-hour observations to monitor the expectant mother for signs of labor as she enters into this final stage of pregnancy.
 
The observation team is monitoring Jade around the clock for signs of labor so the marine mammal staff can prepare an ideal setting for the mother and newborn upon delivery. Initial labor signs include reduced appetite, front arch, back flex or side-to-side motions, speed swimming, excretion of milk from the mammary glands, and spiraling.
 
Close observations and careful preparation are important steps in ensuring the best possible outcome for the calf during its first hours of life. In both natural settings and in aquariums, dolphin calves have a high mortality rate and approximately 1/3 of all calves do not live to one year of age.
 
“We do everything we can to provide the right habitat conditions, nutritional needs and care for the mother and calf, but ultimately survival of the calf depends more on the mother than anything else,” commented Sue Hunter, director of animal programs at the National Aquarium. “Dolphin calves are especially fragile and depend on their mother’s care in the two to three months of life. Our staff is prepared to help if necessary.”
 
Upon birth, the amphitheater will close for 24-48 hours to provide undisturbed time for the mother to establish a bond with her calf. Staff will avoid moving around the calf’s pool for the first week so as not to disrupt nursing or startle the calf.
 
Round-the-clock observations of the mother and calf will continue for two to three weeks after the birth. The marine mammal staff has prepared a dolphin milk formula and can assist with feeding in the event the calf does not nurse from its mother.
 
Jade has given birth to one other calf, Foster, who is now two years old and living at the Aquarium. While raising Foster she shared nursing responsibilities with two other experienced dolphin moms. Jade is in good health, all exams have shown positive results, and Aquarium veterinarians and animal care staff are cautiously optimistic about the pregnancy.
 
When Jade was suspected to be pregnant, the Aquarium’s marine mammal staff reduced her high-energy behaviors, began observations of her behavior, and increased veterinary exams. The veterinary staff immediately began providing special care that has included periodic ultrasounds to monitor fetal growth and health, daily vitamin supplementation and diet monitoring and blood assessments.
 
The National Aquarium maintains high standards for excellence in animal care, including meeting or exceeding stringent standards set by Federal agencies, and rigorous review, inspection and accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited marine mammal facilities like the National Aquarium dedicate extensive resources to meeting the physiological and social requirements of animals. Animals are housed in habitats that allow them to exhibit a full range of natural behaviors, such as breeding.
 
The dolphin colony at the National Aquarium is thriving and very dynamic, with three generations of dolphins ranging in age from 38 years old to one year old. Seven of these dolphins were born at the National Aquarium. They receive regular check-ups and health assessments from Aquarium veterinary staff.  The marine mammal trainers interact with the dolphins for some 16 hours a day and monitor behaviors that help interpret their well-being. 

At the National Aquarium we are committed to education on the aquatic environment and believe that face-to-face encounters with living animals are vital experiences that help to connect the public to environmental challenges all around us. Through each of our exhibits and through our extensive science-based education programs, we teach people respect for animals, inspire them to preserve aquatic habitats, and empower them with information and opportunities they can act on.  For many of our visitors their visit is their first step toward making their own commitment to conservation.

The public is encouraged to visit Waterlog, the Aquarium’s blog, at www.aqua.org/blog to learn more about the dolphins, and register at aqua.org for the latest updates from the marine mammal team as they prepare for the expected birth.

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Media contacts:
Amy Burke, Profiles, 410-243-3790, aburke@profilespr.com
Jennifer Bloomer, 410-576-3860, jbloomer@aqua.org

LUSH, a chain of stores selling socially-conscious and environmentally-friendly bath and body products, will be offering a free bath bomb of your choice with any $30 purchase on Saturday, February 20 at their Towson Town Center location (2nd level).  “As a salute to being the creators of the original bath bomb back in 1989, and as a throwback to the retro vibe of the 1980s Olympics, this party is all about cranking up the energy!”  LUSH offers a range of products from soap to solid bubble bath bars to hair and skincare items.   Hillary’s picks:  their best-selling Honey I Washed the Kids soap, Amondopondo bubble bar for a tub full of long-lasting suds, strawberry-scented Yummy Yummy Yummy shower gel, and Waving Not Drowning bath bomb for a soothing lavender-scented soak.

Phone: 410.828.1313

E-mail: towsontowncenter@lushusa.com