• Monday – Friday from 9am to 6pm
• Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm

Macy’s is hiring Warehouse Workers, Pickers, Packers, and Materials Handlers.  Day and night shift available, full time, $11.70 and up!

Macy’s Logistics and Operations distribution center in Joppa, MD is seeking talented individuals for warehouse positions.  Associates will need to be detail-oriented, and have a sense of urgency.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule with notice of work up to 24 hours in advance
• Ability to follow instructions and take directions
• Physical activity to include standing and walking up to 10 – 12 hours
• Ability to bend, twist, step, stoop, reach, lift, push and pull
• Physical ability to move merchandise on a regular basis without assistance for items up to 50 pounds

Visit www.macysjobs.com to complete your online application today!

View the job announcement flyer here

Capitol/EMI recording artist FACE DANCER is regrouped and re-energized in 2016. On August 20, 2016 at Club 66 7:00pm, they will perform classic radio hits like “Red Shoes” and “Time Bomb” in addition to showcasing new Face Dancer music.

Original band members Jeff Adams, David Utter and Billy Trainor are joined by dynamic Philly front man John West (formerly of Vanessa, Vision), guitarist/vocalist Charlie Thomas, and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist PJ Lee.

SHOW WILL SELL OUT, advance purchase recommended via www.club66.net.

The next upcoming job fairs:

• 7/31/2015 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

630 Edgewood Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040 (map), Phone 410-612-8098

• 8/01/2015 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

630 Edgewood Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040 (map), Phone 410-612-8098

• 8/02/2015 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

630 Edgewood Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040 (map), Phone 410-612-8098

What to look out for when it comes to social media and online safety

Here are some thoughts directed to helping those realize some things about social media. This goes beyond the simple “don’t give out personal information to strangers on the internet” you might tell your kids. In this article I will share some things I’ve had the fortune (or misfortune in some cases!) of bearing witness to, if not experiencing first hand.

A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

A common way for the wolves of the ‘net to get into the flock of peace-loving internet goers is by creating false accounts. They can either be done by posing as a fake friend, borrowing their identity, or hashing together an “original” account using stolen pictures and falsified information that may even look legit at a glance. Why would they do this? What could they possibly hope to gain by falsifying information so they could otherwise appear friendly enough (or attractive enough) for you to talk to them? Well let’s list the potentials, and some other bits of information to keep in mind when faced with them:

Keep Your Personal Details To Yourself

They may want to gain personal information from you (duh!). Why? To make new illegitimate accounts to trick your friends? So they could potentially open accounts with financial ties in your name for evil purposes? Perhaps even to pose as you to create issues between you and your peers? Who knows? Either way, unless you have solid evidence that the person you’re dealing with is legit, you probably shouldn’t even consider messaging them back, ESPECIALLY if they ask for things like: phone numbers, emails, addresses, and other information that really should be on a need-to-know basis with people you trust.

Avoid Phishing Websites

They may send you a website link, asking for you to look at it for some reason, either to simply look, or to perform some sort of action on it, like putting in information of some kind. Sometimes, they may have a sad story to tell, or offer some sort of compensation in an attempt to persuade you to click it. Often, these messages, often sent via IM (Instant Messaging), can actually be caught on for being evidence of evil intentions if you’ve the eye for it. Especially if you message back the ‘person’, you may notice they have a fast reply time for those 5 paragraphs they apparently just typed in 20 seconds… *cough cough*. Anyways, the important part, if all else fails, is realizing that the sites they send may often be ‘bad’ sites; containing viruses, offensive content, or other nasty things that could make your great day plummet down a well. So if it’s the first time a random person is messaging you, and they right off the bat ask you to do something for them, whatever the reason or compensation may be, you might as well ignore it. Its spam.

There are many other dangers that goes into lingering in the world of the Internet, and these two points are broad but cover many of them. Either way, on any and all social mediums, as well as simple communication mediums such as Skype, there are and always will be wolves waiting to take your information for nothing.

What do I do if approached by a Suspicious Person?

Well, here are a few tips to avoiding getting caught in the traps and scams of a Suspicious Person:

What if they messaged me first?

Be wary about replying if you did not initiate the conversation first. It may sound rather harsh, but if you didn’t message them first, and they sent the message to your personal account, it may be an indicator the person is looking to get something from you. This of course this doesn’t necessarily cover your response when it comes to handling a business account, but it’s still something to keep in mind. If a legitimate person has a legitimate business inquiry, they are more likely to contact you through the business using provided business information, not go after you directly.

What if they’re anonymous?

If unsure, check their account and the information on said account. No, this doesn’t make you a creep or anything. If you’re honestly hesitant about this new person but do not want to push them away yet, check out their account. Try to see when it was made, its interactions with other accounts, or anything that looks bad or like spam on their feeds/wall. If the account looks like a bad apple, you have done a good thing in doing some recon; avoid them! You have a right to know who you are interacting with, and if doing this keeps you from being dragged into some kind of trouble, go for it. Don’t feel bad about protecting yourself. It’s the internet. Anyone can hide behind a computer monitor.

If you cannot find any incriminating information on their account, or in other cases, NO INFORMATION, on their account, they either, A) Made the account very recently, or B) specifically are trying to keep information to themselves. If you are unsure, ask about certain specific, verifiable things.

Better safe than sorry, right?

Beware Spam Bots!

Earlier it was mentioned about the person having a ‘fast reply time’. This takes a bit of effort and being able to gauge how fast other people type – not the most efficient way of catching a trap, but viable when you’re unsure. This is a bit of a tricky one, and some of these troublemakers have caught on, so this entire section may be useless to you. Either way, for the less-patient troubler, it works. Perhaps they send you a message inviting a response from you. You respond. Perhaps 5-10 seconds right after they respond with one or more paragraphs, maybe ending after the fourth paragraph. Seems quick compared to you or other people you know, right? Either they have a ridiculously high words-per-minute (typing speed), or they copy and pasted that. If you send some dummy responses (false information, or even in some cases, just a response in general, like “wat”), you can gauge from the speed of their responses, and the nature of their responses, if they are even a person. Yep, some of these people use automated accounts to interact with you. Bots, they are called. Designed for maximum spam for maximum yield, either to get you to visit a site or for you to give information.

Some Final Thoughts

The things listed here aren’t necessarily things that will happen to you every day on the internet, but they are things that happen from hundreds to thousands of people every day. You never know when a wolf may come knocking on your virtual door. But that’s okay, because a good portion of the people on the internet actually aren’t bad. Heck, you could have friends on the internet, sort of like pen-pals but without the weeks of waiting. And you could perhaps trade information with them as well, maybe one day even meet up. The internet isn’t a horrible place, but it is still one where its travelers must watch their own backs. And that’s done by arming yourself with solid knowledge, and knowing what to look for. Just as our world as its own dangers, with creatures and diseases, so does the internet, with the wolves and its viruses.

Additional Resources

Here is a list of quick reads that are relevant to becoming more educated on personal virtual security:

• http://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/protect-your-personal-information/social-networks
• http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/antivirus-im.aspx
• https://safety.yahoo.com/Security/PHISHING-SITE.html

How Do You Stay Safe?

Can you offer some safety tips for others to follow?  Please share your advice in the comments below!

This is a guest post courtesy of Edgewood resident Aaron Stansbury.  If you would like to submit an article you may contact us here.

This free meeting is hosted by County Councilman Dion Guthrie to update and discuss Aberdeen Proving Ground growth, future planning and southern Harford County economic development in support of the APG mission.

The EPICENTER is located at 1918 Pulaski Hwy, Edgewood, MD – behind Walgreens.

Meet & Greet Event for Lt. Governor Candidate Jolene Ivey

Delegate Jolene Ivey represents Maryland’s 47th Legislative District in Prince George’s County. Hear her views on today’s Issues. This event will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Southern Precinct 1305 Pulaski Hwy. Edgewood. Event sponsored by African American Democrats Club.

Keeping Children Safe In A Crowd

If you are watching a parade or enjoying a fireworks display, remember:

• Take small children by the hand when walking through a crowd.
• Have older children use the buddy system.
• Make sure children know the name and phone number of someone to contact in an emergency.
• Designate a meeting place, in the event you are separated.
• Make a plan ahead of time and teach children how to seek help:
  • Ask a police, fire, or EMS officer, for help.  Parade and event officials can help, too.
  • Go into a public store, and ask the cashier for assistance or to use the phone.
  • Draw attention to yourself.

Fireworks Safety Message

From Maryland State Fire Marshal William Barnard:

The safest way to view fireworks is to attend one of the many public displays throughout the county.

“Fireworks have been a long tradition of the 4th of July holiday celebrations. Please make safety your number one priority so everyone can enjoy the holiday season,” adds the State Fire Marshal. “By acting responsibly, we can help eliminate fireworks injuries in Maryland.”

Click here to view the Fireworks Safety Flyer (PDF)

Edgewood Community Meeting

The Sheriff will host a community meeting on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the Edgewood Recreation Center gymnasium at 1980 Brookside Drive in Edgewood, MD.

In a statement yesterday, Sheriff Bane described the meeting as the first step in a strategic summer initiative; “I want to share my plan with you and give you a chance to ask questions and voice your concerns to me and my commanders. Together, I am confident we will find a solution and restore peace in the community.”

Members of the community and media are invited to attend.

Strategic Summer Initiatives in Edgewood

After weeks of investigation into the rise in violence coupled with an increased patrol, Sheriff L. Jesse Bane is launching the next step, a strategic summer initiative. This specific and concentrated effort will bring every resource the HCSO has to offer to the Edgewood communities.

Referencing the recent violence and homicide in Edgewood, Sheriff Bane remarked,

“The streets of Edgewood do not belong to the criminal element. Every member of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office is highly resolved to ensure that does not happen and the good people of Edgewood can continue to live in their communities without fear.

For the last several weeks, my deputies have worked tirelessly, around the clock, to respond to the violence that has recently erupted. It has been a challenging and time consuming effort. Now we have reached the point, where we must ask for the assistance and support of the citizens. This is a job that we cannot do alone.

To this end, I am launching a strategic, summer initiative where each bureau, each unit, and each member of the agency, will work to stop this needless violence. The first step is a community meeting, I want to share my plan with you and give you a chance to ask questions and voice your concerns to me and my commanders. Together, I am confident we will find a solution and restore peace in the community.”

Thus far, deputies and detectives have used intelligence to analyze evidence, identify possible suspects, investigate links between incidents, and gather information. At the same time, our patrol efforts have also increased significantly. Deputies are out all hours, in cars, on bikes, and by foot, looking for suspicious activity, and responding to the needs of the community. The missing piece is community input.

How You Can Help

Recognizing and respecting the fear that many people face in deciding to share tips and information is understood by members of the HCSO. As such, there are many ways to provide information anonymously via web (www.tipsubmit.com), text (text “CRIMES”, begin the message “MCS,” then add the information), and phone (1-888-540-8477). Major Doug Verzi, Commander of the Investigative Services Bureau, reminds the community, “Don’t assume that we know the information, yours could be the tip that breaks the case.”

“Thompson Toyota has completed its massive expansion to their Auto Park complex on Rt. 40 in Edgewood. A second collision repair center is now open, allowing for additional services and a larger capacity of vehicles being repaired. The brand new Used Car Super Store has opened its doors along with the New Toyota showroom and service center, which is now doubled the size of the previous facilities. Thompson’s new service operation has the latest state-of-the-art equipment, allowing them to efficiently serve each and every customer better than ever!”

“Thompson Toyota plans on hiring 20-25 full-time employees in order to staff the expanded facility. They also hope by increasing their business, the foot traffic for area businesses will increase as well.”

For more information visit http://www.thompsontoyotaservice.com

Quote from the Baltimore Sun –

The national retailer announced a hiring fair planned for Saturday. The company, known for keeping overhead and prices low, promises “wages significantly higher than the industry standard.”

The grocer needs cashiers, who are paid $12 an hour, shift managers, paid $16.25 an hour, and manager trainees, paid $25 per hour.

Applicants must have high school diplomas or GEDs, be available to work anytime between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and be able to lift 45 pounds. Retail experience is preferred. Management experience is preferred for manager trainees.

The hiring event is scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ramada Inn in Edgewood, 1700 Van Bibber Road.