Carroll Manor in Northern Baltimore County, which includes Baldwin, Long Green, Glen Arm, Phoenix and Sweet Air, resembles the Cotswolds in the English countryside with its rolling hills and rural landscape.
“It’s a little bit of heaven,” said Evelyn McKenny, who lives in a rancher in Sweet Air, aptly named for the fragrance wafting from one of the many working dairy farms in the area on hot summer days.
“I have neighbors, but no neighbors.”
Her closest companions in view are of the four-legged variety, best known for their galloping prowess.
A number of horse farms exist in the area as well as exclusive mansions, starter homes and plenty of wide-open spaces.
New developments have sprung up over the years, but the area is part of the Loch Raven watershed, ensuring that large parcels of land will be preserved.
It’s also a great place to raise a family.
“This was the perfect setting for my two boys, who loved to fish, explore, hike and dress up as knights or pirates or whatever else came into their heads,” said Sharon Lukowski, of Glen Arm.
“They could go to streams and underground water ‘caves’ literally in their backyard.”
Sharon and her husband Greg wanted to raise their sons in an area where the boys could experience the same unparalleled innocence and freedom as they did growing up in Baltimore in the 1960s and ’70s.
They researched the schools, and Carroll Manor Elementary, Ridgely Middle and Dulaney High schools received high marks.
Carroll Manor is one of the top elementary schools in the state.
“We are committed to developing students who are knowledgeable, self-motivated, critical thinkers,” wrote Principal John Kroh in a statement.
The school provides its students with many opportunities to showcase their talents, including an annual operetta. Even as the school has transitioned from a rural institution into more of a suburban one, families continue to play an integral role in keeping the quality standards high.
Carroll Manor is a tight-knit community that thrives on togetherness. The local volunteer fire department holds flea markets, wedding receptions, bull roasts and breakfast with Santa.
“We value the support of our community,” said Bill Saur, vice president of the Long Green Volunteer Fire Company.
The community also supports the local farm stands — two of which operate on an “honor system.”
Customers weigh the produce — some of the best tomatoes and silver queen corn the state has to offer — and put the money in a cardboard box.
“It’s not just the places and schools around here that are so great — they are — its the neighbors,” said Lukowski.
Living 6 miles from the nearest stores, families help each other out with a cup of sugar or a carton of milk. Neighborhood friendships are built by the necessity of sticking together.
“There are no streetlights out here,” said Saur.
“You can see millions of stars.”
10 Things: Carroll Manor PALMISANOS ITALIAN STORE
“Italian subs are our claim to fame,” said Lisa Palmisano, who opened the deli and carryout 30 years ago. “People love the prepared meals too.” They carry hard-to-find Sun of Italy products like red peppers and tomato sauce along with many other Italian delicacies at 13500 Long Green Pike. 410-592-9486
SUNSHINE GRILLE
“Best lamb chops you’ll ever taste,” raves one reviewer. This popular Greek restaurant at 12607 Fork Road opened two years ago and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The grille carries a full arsenal of Greek and American desserts. They also show movies and hold car shows. 410-592-3378
LONG GREEN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
The volunteer fire company recently remodeled its banquet hall, which includes a formal and informal room for parties, wedding receptions and gatherings. Breakfast with Santa and the Easter Bunny highlight some of the activities at the station at 3500 Sweet Air Road. Its fleet of mint-green fire trucks holds between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons of water, because no hydrant system exists in the area. “Our job is to get there,” said Bill Saur, the fire company’s vice president. The company handles 500 calls per year.
CARROLL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The blue ribbon school at 4434 Carroll Manor Road binds the community together. It’s located between a cornfield and a park — and overlooks the Long Green Valley. The gray stone exterior looks similar to when it was built in 1935. It is regarded as one of the top elementary schools in the state. 410-887-5947
BOORDY VINEYARDS
Situated on a 230-acre farm in the Baltimore countryside at 12820 Long Green Pike, Maryland’s oldest family-run winery was established in 1945 and is owned by the R.B. Deford family. Rows of carefully tended vines, a cluster of charming 19th century farm buildings and shaded picnic grounds await visitors. 410-592-5015
ROMA CARRY-OUT
Roma, at 3419 Sweet Air Road, serves some of the best thin-crust pizza and subs in the area and has done so for decades. The prices are very reasonable. 410-666-7325
DOGWOOD TACK
This store offers everything imaginable for riding a horse, at 14232 Jarrettsville Pike, from muck boots and halters to martingales. Buy your horse a treat here like one of Uncle Jimmy’s Hanging Balls — in apple, caramel, carrot or molasses flavor — or a Himalayan salt lick. 410-666-3352
ALBRIGHT FARMS PRODUCE
Open from May through October at 3505 Sweet Air Road, this farm sells delicious strawberries, a complete selection of vegetables, asparagus, greenhouse tomatoes, bedding plants, vegetable plants, honey, hay, straw, spring flowers and bedding plants, and pumpkins. 410-666-1116.
THE THIRSTY BREWER
The Thirsty Brewer at 13522 Long Green Pike is the preferred vendor for anyone making quality beer, wine and mead at home. 410-592-2843
THE BISTRO
Formerly Henry’s Bistro, at 3493 Sweet Air Road, the restaurant serves such appetizers as crab pretzels, crab quesadillas, and something called a crabatini. The bistro serves standard regional fare including crab cakes as well as steaks and burgers. 410-667-6600
