Located in the private and highly desirable Residences of Caves Valley Golf Club, 11315 John Carroll Road is one of Baltimore County’s finest; a stunning, custom designed and built stone and stucco traditional home. Expertly conceived and meticulously constructed with every amenity, the highest quality, materials, craftmanship and updated systems, this incomparable home pleases at every turn. A marble foyer entry leads into the main level featuring a great room, banquet-size dining room, gourmet kitchen with breakfast area, screened porch with cooking center, study, game room and a truly brilliant mahogany library where readers can peruse the extensive built-ins for just the right volume to read by the fireplace before taking the spiral staircase to play billiards on the lower level.

The sumptuous first floor primary suite includes a private hall entry, resort-like marble spa bath and two dressing rooms. Three large en-suite bedrooms fill the second level, including one with French doors overlooking the gorgeous rolling hills of Caves Valley. The extensive lower level includes the aforementioned billiard room and wet bar, a game room, indoor driving range/putting green, recreation room, exercise room, bonus/guest room and a bath.

Sweeping patios out the back of the home overlook a masterful example of landscape design. Extensive stone garden walls and professional landscaping surround the exterior of the home, accenting the covered flagstone porches and the large flagstone patio at the back of the home. Garden steps lead down from this serene setting to an additional patio as well as to a two-level fishpond with a connecting waterfall and look out over the 17^th hole of these picturesque golf course greens. A 24-hour manned gatehouse provides additional privacy to this quiet oasis in the highly coveted Caves Valley Golf Course community. Flawlessly crafted and designed and meticulously maintained, 11315 John Carroll Road boasts an exquisite home in a tremendous setting.

 

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The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) debuted a new advanced metal detection system on Wednesday that will revolutionize the process of confiscating weapons and cellphones from inmates.

With a price tag of $1.8 million, more than 160 Cellsense Plus portable devices will be distributed to the 24 facilities here in Maryland. The full body scanner developed by Metrasens—magnetic detection tech company—can identify cellphones, razors, tattoo needles, and other small items like staples that are often missed by traditional scanning devices. The system is two times more powerful than a normal metal detector and can easily locate any metal inside a person’s body.

Both Stephen Moyer, secretary of DPSCS, and Michael Zeigler, the department’s deputy secretary, got to see a demonstration of the new scanners and agreed they will be integral for the safety of Maryland prisons.

“It’s very impressive,” Moyer said. “In our more than 50 years of combined experience, we have never seen technology that worked like this.”

The introduction of the scanners comes on the heels of recent federal indictments of correctional officers colluding with inmates in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. Due to the increase in officer corruption, the devices are not just reserved for inmates—it includes any person that comes through the doors of a prison.

“Our plan is to implement the new device in conjunction with the normal entry procedure,” Zeigler said. “We will have everyone—I mean everyone, staff and visitors—come in the through the normal magnetometer and then go through the new apparatus as well.”

The scanner stands 6-feet tall and weighs just 19 pounds making it easy to transport and set up at various checkpoints inside a prison. The new detectors will also scan goods delivered to the facilities—like mattresses and food supplies—that could possibly contain contraband.

“The flexibility of the instrument is incredible,” Moyer said. “We have traditional magnetometers at the main entrances, but we’re able to move these just about anywhere. We can put them behind a wall, next to a wall, outside of the chow hall—we’re going to put them everywhere.”

The Cellsense Plus scanners are expected to be up and running no later than September 15, but word has already spread throughout prisons about the new technology. Some inmates have already surrendered weapons, cellphones, and other contraband to avoid extended sentences.

“We want to ensure a safe environment for our correctional officers,“ Moyer said. “We are putting all inmates on notice that we are stepping up our war on cell phones and weapons that make our facilities less safe.”

From the moment Stuart Forchheimer gets out of bed, often before 6:30 a.m., it’s all about technology.

Without lifting a finger, the kitchen lights come on and from the upstairs hallway an illuminated path downstairs is created. With a quick click on his cellphone, an entertainment system managed by Control4 streams music into the kitchen as he prepares breakfast. But the smart-home features don’t end there: “The automated shades are a big convenience, especially in areas that are difficult to reach,” he says. “You can easily press a button or put them on a schedule to open and close at certain times of the day through the Control4 system.”

Forchheimer should know: He’s president of HS Technology Group, a Baltimore-based technology integrator. But home automation isn’t only a matter of convenience in Forchheimer’s Timonium home—it’s also a tool for safety and security.

He has sensors that he can monitor from his phone that are connected to doors, drawers, and cabinets, so he can always know what’s going on at home.

Jay Steinmetz, CEO and founder of another Baltimore tech firm, Barcoding Inc., has a similar affinity for all things digital: His 1910 Mount Washington home is also fitted with the latest digital wonders.

Steinmetz’s front door automatically recognizes him and unlocks using the August Smart Lock. And with the Sonos music system, “a music alarm goes off to wake the kids in each of their rooms at 6:30 a.m. and turns off 30 minutes later to alert them it’s time to go downstairs for breakfast,” he says. His home is also connected with WeMo motion sensors that are attached to special light bulbs. “I can move anywhere in the house and the lights will come on when I enter the room,” he says.

We downloaded the brains of techies like these two to find out what’s hot on the market. Here’s our shortlist:

Phillips Hue

The Philips Hue White and Color starter kit allows you to sync your lights with your music and movies, or create the perfect ambiance for a romantic evening. Want it to appear you’re home during vacation? No problem: Up to 50 Philips lights and accessories can be added and controlled from your smartphone or tablet using the Philips Hue app. Starter kit $199.95.

Nest Learning Thermostat

This gizmo is a quick learner: It takes note of your habits and adjusts to your lifestyle. It notices when you turn the temperature down for bed and when you crank it up in the morning. After a few days, it will automatically set the temperature for you. It’s also energy efficient, saving on your BGE bill. $249.

Elite Series garage-door openers

With the Elite Series, connected by Wi-Fi, you can control garage doors from your smartphone. “There have been many times when I have left the door open, but I can easily close it from the app on my phone,” says Forchheimer. The MyQ technology allows connectivity from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Along with the app, you will receive alerts about your garage-door status. Visit website to locate a dealer for pricing.

August Smart Lock

Forever misplacing your house keys? With the August Smart Lock, you can use your smartphone instead to lock and unlock your home. Installation is “unbelievably easy,” according to Steinmetz. “There’s no need to replace your lock.” It even allows you to create virtual keys for guests and can keep track of who’s coming and going in your home. So no one needs to leave a key under the mat when Nana comes to visit. Starting at $199.

Sonos

This gadget and its accompanying app go a little beyond the typical sound system. “The Sonos music system can simultaneously play any song from any artists in any room in the house,” says Steinmetz. Using a third-party Sonos Voice app, you can also speak directly into your smartphone and it will act as an intercom throughout the speakers in your home. Products starting at $199.

WeMo Switch

This Belkin Wi-Fi-enabled switch uses your home’s existing Wi-Fi to control any electronic devices connected to the WeMo Switch. It also allows you to program triggers so your appliances will work without you having to even press a button. “I have a 106-year-old house and I attached my air conditioning unit to the WeMo plug,” Steinmetz says. “When the temp gets over 82 degrees, the WeMo plug turns it on,” says Steinmetz. You already have everything you need—just use this plug, download the WeMo app, and you’re all set. Starting at $39.99.