IN BRIEF

Hickory Ridge Election

A special meeting is planned at 7:30 p.m. May 19 at the Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring, Columbia, because a quorum was not reached during Hickory Ridge village elections April 26.

Residents who have not voted may do so. For information, call the Hickory Ridge Community Association at 410-730-7327.

Land-Use Discussions

The Howard County Citizens Association will host a panel discussion on how to increase public participation in land-use decisions at 8 p.m. Monday at the Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring, Columbia.

Panelists include County Council members Mary Kay Sigaty (D-West Columbia) and Jen Terrasa (D-Southeast County); Marsha McLaughlin, Department of Planning and Zoning director; task force members Bridget Mugane and Cathy Hudson; and Grace Kubofcik, League of Women Voters co-president.

The association will conduct its annual meeting at 7, before the panel discussion. For information, call 443-283-3967 or visit http://www.howard-citizen.org.

Kiwanis Names 2008 Teen

The Kiwanis Club of Columbia has named Oakland Mills High School senior Stephanie Hunter as its 2008 Teenager of the Year.

Hunter was awarded a $1,000 college scholarship and will be considered for the Teenager of the Year by the Kiwanis Capital District.

The club chose Hunter based on her school and community service, character and academic achievement. She has served as president of her school's Human Relations and Future Educators clubs and has been a member of the African American Awareness Club, Best Buddies, the National Honor Society, the Howard County Youth Summit planning committee, the NAACP County Youth Council and the Howard County Martin Luther King Commission. She also has taught Sunday school at Israel Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Police Present Honors

The Howard County police department gave several awards to outstanding officers and volunteers last month.

Cpl. Scott Wheeler, who was killed while attempting to enforce speeding laws in June, was awarded a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor. The Scott Wheeler Traffic Safety Award was created and given to a traffic enforcement supervisor, Sgt. Frederick von Briesen.

Police Officer of the Year was awarded to Jason Eskra, who was praised for working closely with the community he patrols. Civilian Employee of the Year was awarded to Janet Saunders, who has worked at the 911 call center for 19 years.

Sgt. Eric Kruhm was given an Outstanding Community Service Award for his work investigating sex offenses. Officer Zachary Cerrone was lauded for his beat policing with the First Year Service Award.

Dispatcher Kristin Harvey, who works in the 911 center and trains other employees, won the Telecommunicator of the Year Award. Frances Rhea, a volunteer who places cats in adoptive homes, was given the Animal Control Volunteer of the Year Award.

The Auxiliary Officer of the Year Award went to Pieter Lucas for his continued dedication to the program, despite losing a leg in a traffic accident while volunteering in 2005.

Michael McChesney, an Atholton High School student, was named Explorer of the Year for his leadership and volunteer efforts with the department's Youth Explorer Program.

Aquatics Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is expected to be completed this summer on new aquatic facilities for Howard County.

County Executive Ken Ulman (D) has said the community strongly supports a 50-meter Olympic-size pool and other facilities.

The study is being funded by a $50,000 state grant to the county's Department of Recreation and Parks. When the draft report is submitted, it will be posted on the county's Web site, and a public hearing will be scheduled.