County Executive James T. Smith Jr.
400 Washington Avenue
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-2450
E-mail Address: jimsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
Dear Friends of Baltimore County,
On behalf of everyone in County Government, I wish all of you a safe and joyous holiday season. Regardless of the specific holiday you celebrate in your home, this is a wonderful time to reflect on the blessings and good fortune of the past year and spend time with family and close friends. I am grateful to be able to celebrate this special season with my wife, our family and friends, and with my Baltimore County family as well. I hope that you will include these Baltimore County holiday traditions in your celebrations this year.
Every year, it seems as if the holiday season sneaks up on all of us and before we know it, it’s time to start buying gifts for your family and friends. This year, as always, there will be tremendous competition for consumer dollars during this all-important retail season. While there are plenty of stores and web sites that offer the common cookie-cutter gifts that are standard across the nation, Baltimore County’s neighborhood downtowns are ready to provide you with a welcome break from the same old holiday shopping experience. Thanks to the Baltimore County Revenue Authority, it will be even easier to enjoy our neighborhood downtowns this season. Shoppers can once again enjoy “free parking holidays” in December. As part of the ReDiscover Your Neighborhood Downtowns campaign, the County will offer free parking at all Baltimore County street meters and metered parking lots located within commercial districts from December 16 through December 25. From York Road in Towson to Frederick Road in Catonsville, there are outstanding opportunities across the County for your holiday shopping needs and they’re only minutes away.
As we ring in this festive season, Baltimore County has worked together with the Towson Chamber of Commerce to bring new life to a holiday tradition in downtown Towson. The Baltimore County Christmas Tree has a new location in the park at Towson Circle and Allegheny Avenue in the heart of downtown Towson. The new location for this tree is an outstanding addition to downtown Towson, and it will contribute to the festive atmosphere that is always so much a part of our County seat during the holiday season. Thanks to the Towson Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to make this new location for the tree a reality.
The great American author Washington Irving once described this time of year as “…the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” In this wonderful County where health and prosperity are so plentiful, it is incumbent upon those of us who are fortunate to reach out to those among us who find themselves wanting.
For more than 25 years, the success of the annual Baltimore County Department of Social Services’ Christmas Toy Drive has been a shining example of the generosity and kindness of the people of Baltimore County. This toy drive ensures that hard working families who are facing challenges this year are not left out of the holidays. Drop-off sites are available through December 23 at Bradford Bank at its Lutherville and Timonium locations, the Silhouettes Fitness Center in Rosedale, the Beverly Hochstedt Florist, Cromwell Valley Elementary School, and all branches of the Baltimore County Public Library. I encourage anyone who is able to contribute new unwrapped toys at one of those convenient locations. I assure you that the joy that the children will receive from your presents will brighten your own holiday as well.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2008!
James T. Smith
County Executive
Revised November 7, 2007
Courthouse 