Columbia

A 'Thunder'-ous weekend unseats 'Dark Knight'

It took four of Hollywood's biggest stars to take down Batman.

EnviroCenter draws interest

A renovated 1905 farmhouse on a busy truck route in Jessup might seem an unlikely place for political involvement in environmental innovation.

Landlords to be billed

Hundreds of Howard County homeowners who also own rental properties soon will receive bills for undeserved property tax breaks they received under Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit program.

Fine day for culture

Two women sit on a bench and converse in Korean as their kids play nearby, scurrying down a curvy slide and running across a kiddie bridge at one of Centennial Park's playgrounds yesterday.

Joan Leslie Tieperman

Joan Leslie Tieperman, a 20-year heart transplant survivor and former elementary school teacher, died Aug. 10 at her home in Woodstock in Howard County. She was 66.

Laura Vozzella: Getting Baltimore dolled up

If little girls in and around Baltimore want a doll that looks like Mommy, they're in luck, no matter if she shops all day at Cross Keys, gets lost on Columbia cul-de-sacs, works a street corner in the 'hood or lives with another mommy in Mount Vernon.

Vehicle ID etching offered

In cooperation with the Howard County Police Department, Wilde Lake Community Association will offer a free vehicle identification etching service from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

Blood drive set for Sept. 4

The Town Center Community Association will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive to help replenish the local blood supply from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 in the ballroom of Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point road.

Photography course set for September

Nature photographer Michael Oberman, a resident of Harper's Choice, will teach beginning nature photography from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Sept. 8 and 15 at Slayton House in Wilde Lake Village Center. An outdoor photo shoot is planned for Sept. 13.

6 schools fall short of state-ordered progress

Six schools in Howard County fell short of meeting state-ordered progress goals in the past year and were placed on a list of underperforming schools, despite appeals filed by county education officials.

Mystery writer Seitz due at book signing

Mystery writer Stephen Seitz will speak about and sign copies of his novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula, at 2 p.m. today at Borders Book & Music at Columbia Crossing.

Sara Beck to perform at One World

Former Howard County resident Sara Beck will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at One World Coffeehouse at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way. Beck now lives in Nashville.

Community Notes

The Red Cross is urging donors to help replenish Maryland's blood supply, which has dropped below what is considered safe and adequate.

Endangered historic treasures

In the eight years that Preservation Howard County has been compiling its list of the top 10 endangered historic sites, some places have been saved, some have been razed and some have seen little change at all.

Md. students fare better

A greater percentage of Maryland's elementary and middle schools met federal achievement standards than in recent years, even as the state raised the bar by requiring more students in each school to pass the yearly tests in reading and math.

Protestors aim anger at 'Tropic Thunder'

On the day the highly anticipated comedy Tropic Thunder opened nationwide, Matthew Plantz showed up at a Howard County theater, but he wasn't lined up to buy a ticket.

Calendar

Programs

Business Digest

Integral Systems Inc., a provider of software for command and control systems for satellites, has announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from Lanham in Prince George's County to Columbia next year, bringing more than 200 jobs to the area.

Religion Digest

Christ United Methodist Church is accepting registration for its Sunday School classes, kindergarten through high school, at Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia.

Community Notes

The annual Cuts Against Cancer cut-a-thon to benefit the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Lutfi's Salon and Spa, 12143 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville.

Health Notes

As part of its $105 million development plan, Howard County General Hospital has opened a new 542-space, five-level parking garage for the hospital's employees. Employee safety was a priority in designing the garage, which features emergency call boxes, guard rails to prevent unauthorized entry, interior and exterior cameras and an elevated security booth staffed 16 hours a day, according to a news release. The garage's Charter Drive entrance will be closed at 6 p.m. daily. The development plan also includes a five-level patient pavilion and extensive renovation of the hospital's structure.

State delegate returns property tax discount

Del. Keith E. Haynes informed the Howard County Department of Finance yesterday that he was returning five years of property tax discounts he improperly received under the Homestead Tax Credit program.

'Dark Knight' smokes 'Pineapple Express'

Batman was higher than Hollywood's newest pot heads.

Home tax benefits wrongly accepted

Several state legislators have been receiving thousands of dollars in undeserved property tax breaks under the Homestead Tax Credit program, records show.

Seeking mentors, tutors for elementary, middle schools

A-OK (Assist Our Kids) Mentoring/Tutoring Program is recruiting volunteers to work with Howard County elementary and middle schools.

Columbia Pro Cantare auditions begin next month

The Columbia Pro Cantare will hold auditions for all parts in its 32nd season of concerts. Among the works to be performed are Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Brahms' Requiem, and a Tribute to Paul Robeson, with baritone Lester Lynch and the chorus.

Misako Ballet concert next week is free

Misako Ballet Company will offer a free studio concert from noon to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the company's studio in the Harper's Choice Village Center, 5485 Harpers Farm Road, Suite 203.

'An Affair to Remember' at Slayton House Theatre

Slayton House Theatre in Wilde Lake Village Center will begin its 16th season of "Marvelous Movies and More" with a showing of An Affair to Remember at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12.

Move by transportation board angers some politicians

The move by the Ken Ulman-led Baltimore Regional Transportation Board to designate $340 million in future state transportation funding for mass transit projects has raised the ire of some politicians.

Community Notes

The Columbia Association's Culture and Cuisine Exchange is offering a travel opportunity for Columbia residents to Cergy-Pontoise, France. The exchange, scheduled from Oct. 17 to 29, will take place in two parts: the first, in Cergy-Pontoise, outside Paris; the second in the south of France.

Hole lot of fun

Any kid can splash-dive into a swimming hole. Gunther Byrd of Lutherville chose to go the way of a trapeze artist.

3 men indicted in May killing

Three Baltimore County men were indicted yesterday in the May killing of a Howard County man who was found shot in a Columbia parking lot, according to the state's attorney's office.

Calendar

Programs

Volunteer Notes

The Howard County Conservancy is seeking volunteer naturalists to serve as educators for school programs at the conservancy's headquarters at Mount Pleasant, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock.

Health Notes

The Central Maryland Red Cross will offer baby-sitting training for ages 11 to 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia.

Business Digest

Graphic Technology of Maryland Inc., a Jessup-based commercial printing company, has earned certification for its use of sustainable materials from three organizations. The company is certified to use a logo showing that the paper it uses for printing has been produced using sustainable forestry practices. The company was recently certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification; it was certified in 2005 by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Community Notes

Registration is open for the 25th anniversary Make-A-Wish Triathlon At Sea Colony in Bethany Beach, Del.

Squaring off on Wilde Lake future

A discussion this week between Wilde Lake residents and officials of the firm that wants to redevelop Columbia's oldest village center sounded more like a verbal tug-of-war than progress toward consensus.

Dismissal of sex abuse charges rejected

A judge yesterday rejected a motion to dismiss the charges against a former Howard County teacher accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with several students.

'Dark Knight' to pass $400 million mark

Even an army of the undead could not dislodge Batman from his box-office perch.

Deborah Stallings

Deborah Stallings, 48, is the founder and CEO of HR Anew, a human resources management consulting and professional services firm. She started the company as its only employee out of a small Columbia apartment almost 10 years ago. It now has 28 employees and about 20 independent contractors. Stallings lives in Columbia with husband Douglas M. Corner, who works in CarMax sales. She has a 28-year old daughter, Kena Hodges, and a 3-year-old grandson, Kristian.

Police chief to discuss safety trends

Howard County Chief of Police William J. McMahon will discuss trends in public safety at 7 p.m. Thursday at the meeting of the Columbia Association board's External Relations Committee.

Session to focus on gay matters

The Columbia/Howard County Chapter of PFLAG - Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - will hold a question session and discussion of matters relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way.

Library plans forgiveness lessons

The Howard County Library and 40 community partners will offer "Lessons of Forgiveness," a part of the multiyear initiative "Choose Civility" designed to make Howard County a national model of respect, consideration, empathy and tolerance.

Computer classes at 50+ center

Computer Seniors of America will offer basic, advanced and specialized day and evening classes at the east Columbia 50+ center.

Community Notes

Talk to focus on energy conservation

Arrest in Columbia killing

Howard County police have arrested a fourth suspect in the fatal shooting of a Columbia man in May.

Teen gets 10 years in attack

A teenager convicted of aiding in the near-fatal stabbing of another teenager at The Mall in Columbia this year was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison in Howard County Circuit Court.

Calendar

Programs

Howard Live Calendar

On Stage

Health Notes

Howard County General Hospital staff members will offer free, walk-in blood-pressure screening from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Aug. 18 at the Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville.

Community Notes

Oh, You Must Live in Columbia, a history of the town's unusual street names and the people who chose them, is available at the offices of the Columbia Archives, the book's publisher, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.

Religion Digest

The Parent Resource Place, a program of Jewish Community Services in Howard County and the Jewish Federation of Howard County, will offer "Shalom Belly, Shalom Baby," a childbirth education class with a Jewish perspective.

Role by youth urged in Columbia's plans

With the formal rezoning process for central Columbia's redevelopment about to begin, a group of young, business-oriented Howard County residents has stepped into the nearly five-year-old discussion.

'Dark Knight' passes $300 million mark

TheDark Knight continues to obliterate box-office records, crossing the $300 million mark in just 10 days.

Community Notes

Hall of Fame inductees named

Obama Sing-Out recalls '60s civil rights movement

On the same night that about 200 prominent Maryland Republicans gathered in Baltimore for a big-ticket fundraiser for John McCain, a similarly sized group of Democrats assembled in Columbia and sang out for Barack Obama.

2 linked to Baltimore drug ring are indicted

Two men accused of participating in a Baltimore heroin trafficking organization were indicted by a Howard County grand jury last week on gun and drug charges stemming from their arrest at a home in Columbia.

Community event and pizza party

In celebration of National Night Out, a national crime-prevention campaign encouraging neighbors to build a sense of community, the Wilde Lake Community Association will offer a pizza party for village residents from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Green.

Howard Education Notes

HCC cuts ribbon for radiologic lab

Dog adoption event set for Saturday

The Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue Adoption Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia PetSmart, 9041 Snowden River Parkway.

Oakland Mills plans pool party Aug. 4

The Oakland Mills Community Association will sponsor a pool party Aug. 4 for Oakland Mills residents.

Tower opponents win first victory

Opponents of a proposed 23-story tower in Columbia have won their first legal victory in more than two years with a decision by Maryland's second-highest court that could give them a chance to argue their case before the county appeals board.

Arc group home starts from scratch

The startling crunching and cracking sounds that reverberated through a neighborhood near Oakland Mills High School a couple of hours after daybreak yesterday gave way in the afternoon to duller thumps and thuds that are expected to continue today.

Religion Digest

The Shrine of St. Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Road, near Glenelg, will hold a Healing Mass on the Feast of the Portiuncula at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Masses for the feast will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and noon Aug. 2. A Day of Prayer: Praying with St. Clare of Assisi, is planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9.

Volunteer Notes

Historic Ellicott City Inc. will present its 24th Decorator Show House at Homewood Farm from Sept. 20 to Oct. 19 and is seeking volunteers to help with the event.

Community Notes

Charity's Closet, a thrift shop for women and juniors operated by teens, is having a sale tomorrow. All items at the shop are $5 each. Those who buy a pair of sandals at this price will receive another pair free.

Howard Live Calendar

On Stage

Students exchange cultures

When it comes to immersing themselves in another culture, exchange students from Howard County don't fool around.

A career in helping and housing

Carole MacPhee started her career as an emergency response volunteer helping house needy people in 1972 after the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Agnes in her hometown of Wilkes Barre, Pa.

Harmony watchword at concerts

Ever wonder what goes into preparing security for a big show at Merriweather Post Pavilion?

Calendar

Programs

Calendar

Friday

Swimmers show pool spirit

Warm-ups, which began an hour ago, have come to a close as it nears 8 o'clock Saturday morning. Team members, dripping in their bathing suits with wet hair plastered to their faces, gather around the pool for premeet cheers.

Health Notes

The Howard County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - Howard County) offers free support groups for those affected by mental illness, their families and friends. It is not necessary to be a member to participate.

Volunteer Notes

The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County, in cooperation with the Community Emergency Response Network, is recruiting members of the community and referring them to local nonprofit and government agencies that need volunteers for disaster preparedness and recovery.

Helping farmers find their niche

The sight of a wooden table full of plump peaches, shiny red cherries and mounds of ripe blueberries at Harbin's farm stand in Ellicott City on Monday makes Kathy Zimmerman's efforts to turn people on to local produce seem easy.