In This Issue

First in a special Baltimore’s Child series on school safety Not long after the February shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, there was a threat against Mary Stovenour’s middle school in Carroll County. The online threat was not real, it turns out, and the school’s principal quickly reassured …

Party planning is exhausting — and when you’re drowning in invitations, reservations and rental fees, it’s hard to imagine an end in sight. Many have opted for the DIY approach in the digital age, which is clearly beneficial if you’re trying to save time and money. There are endless instructions, …

You’ve got the date, a rough idea of the guest list … now what? Don’t be intimidated, a few area party planners say. They’re in the business to make the big event easier. Off site: First, consider if you want to have the party at home or to go someplace …

Lives: Baltimore Children: Maya, 6; West, 4 Occupation: Writer and global marketing strategist Tell us about a typical day of work for you. First of all, do you have a typical day? There is no typical day of work. I’m a global marketing strategist by day and writer by night, …

How healthy are Maryland’s children? Since 1990, the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation has compiled all sorts of data that provide snapshots of the health of children in every state. Each summer, the foundation publishes a KIDS COUNT data book that reports on 16 indicators in the areas of health, …

As the end of tax season inches closer — April 17 to be exact — many residents may still be pulling together their official documents and making appointments with certified public accountants. Having children adds another dimension to filing and potentially more questions. We asked two local CPAs what parents …

Get ready to get reading! Baltimore County Public Library’s annual month-long series of events, BC Reads, is happening now. A wide variety of programs, including author visits, community forums, film discussions, poetry workshops, book discussions and more encourages conversation and a deeper connection for residents living in Baltimore County. But …

When her daughter, Darcy, was born nine years ago with Down syndrome, West Towson mother Alana McFall says she “dealt with every stereotype.” McFall was told Down syndrome babies “are so nice,” and since McFall was a special educator she’d be able to “handle” all of Darcy’s “lifelong challenges.” “The …

Lives: Reisterstown Children: Max, 19; Evan, 18; Oliver, 12 Occupation: Owner, SoulBody LLC How did the idea for SoulBody come about? About eight years ago, after teaching other pre-choreographed programs as well as pilates and barre, I noticed that there was no consistent barre programming for larger clubs. My best …

This month’s cover model exceeds the typical achievements of a high school athlete. Nyjari McNeil is one of the best young track stars in the country, ranked No. 2 in both Maryland and the U.S. She holds 13 state championship titles and 16 medals. Her relay team won gold in …