In this Issue of Harford Local Connect

🌤️ Harford County, MD Weather

🏗️ Havre de Grace to receive critical infrastructure improvements

⚖️ Bel Air Resident Jailed for Involvement in $20 Million Kickback Scheme

🏛️ Local Government: Upcoming Meetings

🏪 Support Local Businesses

📅 Local Events & Happenings

⭐ Local Business Spotlight

🏈 Justin Tucker's Field Goal Percentage Hits Career Low in 2023

🏀 Harford County High School Sports Schedule

Havre de Grace to receive critical infrastructure improvements

Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin recently announced over $2 million in federal funding for infrastructure improvements in the City of Havre de Grace.

The funding, provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's National Coastal Resilience Fund, will help strengthen the community's resiliency and reduce flood risk while protecting endangered species in the Chesapeake Bay.

The City of Havre de Grace faces threats from rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns, and this funding will support efforts to preserve and protect the waterfront community. 

The senators' work on the Inflation Reduction Act played a crucial role in securing this funding.

Bel Air Resident Jailed for Involvement in $20 Million Kickback Scheme

Elliott Dennis Kleinman, a 69-year-old resident of Bel Air, Maryland, has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his involvement in a kickback scheme that defrauded his employer of over $20 million. Kleinman, along with another employee, Eugene DiNoto, used their positions to execute a fraudulent billing scheme, receiving illegal kickbacks from drum vendors doing business with the company. The scheme involved overcharging the company for drums and splitting the extra money between Kleinman, DiNoto, and the vendors. Kleinman was also found guilty of tax evasion for failing to report the kickback payments as income.

As part of the scheme, Kleinman and DiNoto collaborated with Anthony P. Urcioli, the owner of drum supply companies called Tunnel, Barrel & Drum Co, Inc. (TBD) and Hartford Fibre Drum, Inc. Urcioli agreed to falsify invoices and overcharge the company for drums that were not actually delivered.

The scheme began in 2012 and continued until January 2020, during which time Urcioli invoiced the company falsely for a total of $20,300,757, with Kleinman receiving approximately $2,307,121 in kickbacks. Urcioli disguised the payments as checks to drum wholesalers to make them deductible as a cost of goods sold on TBD's tax returns.

Kleinman used his kickback earnings to fund personal expenses and deposited the checks into two commercial bank accounts he had opened under the name of a company he owned. Over the course of 2017 to 2019, TBD paid Kleinman a total of around $1,034,911 in kickbacks, which he failed to report as income on his tax returns.

Support Local Harford County Businesses

Upcoming Meetings:

December 4 - Havre de Grace City Council Meeting Agenda

December 4 - Havre de Grace Public Hearings – Ordinance Nos. 1130, 1131, 1132, 1133 & 1134 Meeting Details

December 5 - Harford County Council Public Hearing Meeting Details

December 5 - Harford County Council Legislative Session Meeting Details

December 4  Holiday Open House Street

December 5  St. Mary’s Luncheon Bingo! Pylesville

December 5  Visit with Santa Forest Hill 🎅

December 5 Campus & Community African Diaspora Luncheon Bel Air

December 6  Jingle Jam 2023 Havre de Grace

December 8  Holiday Cabaret Havre de Grace

December 8 Christmas Celebration on Ice Bel Air

December 8  Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides Havre de Grace

December 8  Ice Cream with Santa on a Fire Truck Jarrettsville 🎅

December 8  Holly Jolly Days Havre de Grace 🎅

December 8  Holiday Paint Party Bel Air

December 8  Bakerfield Basket Bingo Aberdeen

December 8 - 17 Elf The Musical Havre de Grace

Ongoing Seasonal Events:

Through December 16 (Fridays & Saturdays) Spirits of Christmas Past: Candlelight Christmas Tour Bel Air

Through Christmas (Saturdays & Sundays) Christmas Light Show @ Long Bar Harbor Abingdon

Through January 7 (Wednesday - Sunday) Gifts of the Season Art Show Bel Air

Through January 14 (Schedule Varies) 42nd Annual Train Garden Jarrettsville

🎅 - Santa is reported to be attending this event!

Have a Harford County Event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let Us Know About Your Upcoming Event

We Want To Spotlight Your Business!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business or see a business you love recognized in front of thousands of Harford County residents in an upcoming issue of Harford Local Connect?

👇Select an option below:

✅ Own a Local Business? Apply to be featured.

❤️ Love a Local Business? Nominate them to be featured.

Justin Tucker's Field Goal Percentage Hits Career Low in 2023

Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker, known as one of the most dominant kickers in NFL history, is facing a career-low field goals made percentage for the 2023 season. Tucker, who led the league in field goals made in 2022, is currently ranked number 12 with only 21 made kicks as of week 12. This decline in performance can be attributed to his increased number of field goal attempts from long distances, with only one successful kick out of five attempts from 50 yards or more.

These statistics highlight the need for the Ravens to address quarterback Lamar Jackson's mediocrity in the passing game. The team must focus on finishing drives with touchdowns rather than relying solely on Tucker's accuracy. While Tucker's perfection has been a luxury for the Ravens in the past, they must now manage their expectations and support him accordingly.

Fortunately, the Ravens can find solace in their top-ranked defense in points allowed. With this strong defensive unit, the team can approach the upcoming games with justified optimism. The well-timed week 13 bye might provide them with an opportunity to regroup and re-calibrate before the final stretch of the season.

Harford County Sports Schedule - December 4, 2023