IN BRIEF

Thursday, August 28, 2008

County Government Sets Labor Day Closures

In observance of Labor Day, all Howard County government offices, library branches, the landfill and the animal shelter will be closed Monday. Libraries will also be closed Sunday. Trash scheduled for pickup Monday will be collected Tuesday. Recycling scheduled for pickup Monday will be collected the following Monday. Parking regulations and fees will remain in effect. Police and fire departments and the 911 call center will be open.

Community TV Offers Opportunities for Youth

The Columbia Association offers opportunities for children and teenagers to host the "KidsKorner" and "Spotlight on Teens" segments on its television show "Columbia Matters." The segments are shown bimonthly.

"KidsKorner" topics include library events, educational resources for children, recipes, crafts, games and children's book reviews. "Spotlight on Teens" debuted this month with coverage of a teen fashion show at Columbia's 41st birthday celebration. Future topics will include local teen events and issues of importance to them.

"Columbia Matters" airs on Comcast Channel 71 and Verizon Channel 41 at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. On Comcast Channel 73, it airs at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. It can also be viewed online at http://www.columbiamatters.org.

To express interest in hosting or corresponding, contact producer Mary Weeks at 410-715-3120 or catvshow@columbiaassociation.com.

Group Heading to France For Culture Exchange

Columbia residents are invited to travel to France with the Columbia Association Oct. 17-29. The first half of the trip will be spent in Columbia's sister city, Cergy-Pontoise, a half-hour from Paris. Participants will stay with host families, visit sites around Paris, attend two cooking classes and wine and cheese tastings. For the second half of the trip, participants will stay at a hotel in Toulon, where they can see part of the Mediterranean coast; tour Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and two wineries; and dine together on traditional food of Provence.

Applications are due tomorrow. The cost will be $3,900 to $4,400, depending on hotel room occupancy and cooking class participation. Applications are available at http://www.columbiaassociation.org. For more information, contact Meredith Jaffe at 410-715-3162 or meredith.jaffe@columbiaassociation.com.

Foundations Awards Grants to Service Groups

The Horizon Foundation announced several new grants this month designed to improve the health safety net in Howard County. Foundation President Richard Krieg noted an increased number of families in need because of layoffs and higher energy and food prices. After awarding $3.5 million to Howard County General Hospital and $500,000 to the Howard County Health Department this year, the foundation turned its focus to several other service providers.

The latest grants include $100,000 to the North Laurel Multiservice Center; $15,000 to the Salvation Army; $20,000 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Howard County; $23,000 to Neighbor Ride; $20,000 to the Arc of Howard County; $10,748 to Running Brook Elementary School; $10,000 to the Korean American Association; and $25,000 to the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County.

The foundation also offers a list of service providers at http://www.horizonhelp.org.

Vendors Needed for Oakland Mills Festival

The Oakland Mills Community Association is planning a cultural arts festival Oct. 4 with entertainment, food, children's activities and a car display. Vendors interested in participating should contact Susan Azoulay at 410-730-4610 or omcaprog@columbiavillages.org.

Businesswomen Award Goes To Communications Firm Leader

Bonnie K. Heneson, president of Bonnie Heneson Communications, was one of 25 local recipients of Smart CEO's Bravo! Women Business Achievement Award to honor female entrepreneurs for their accomplishments in business finance, philanthropy and leadership. Heneson founded the company, which operates in Columbia and Owings Mills, in 1990. She is vice president of Network 2000 and is a past president of the Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Glyndon Chamber of Commerce.

'Pinnie's Girls' Celebrating 40 Years of Charm

Students of Pinnie's Charm Studio and contestants of the Maryland Talented Teen Competition will celebrate Pinnie L. Ross's 40 years of talent coaching in Maryland at a gathering 1 p.m. Sunday at the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Since opening the charm studio in 1968, Ross has mentored more than 600 young women, including actresses Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tanya Blount and Kimberly Ann Brooks, CNN News anchor Suzanne Malveaux and former Maryland deputy attorney general Donna Hill Staton. Two students mentored by Ross in the Talented Teens competition became international winners: Edna Hill-Sallah, Miss Black Teenage America 1973; and Kimberly Ann Brooks, Miss Talented Teen International 1981.

Project Begins Tuesday To Widen Norfolk Avenue

Construction will begin Tuesday to widen Norfolk Avenue and improve drainage along the road in the Laurel neighborhood of Patuxent Heights. The project should be completed in mid-January. For more information about the work, Capital Project J-4183, contact Lisa Brightwell at 410-313-3440 or publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

HCCA Panel to Discuss Columbia Master Plan

The Howard County Citizens Association will host a panel discussion, "Columbia Downtown: A Community Response to the Master Plan," at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Oakland Manor, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. A panel of activists including Alan Klein, Jud Malone and Alex Hekimian, moderated by HCCA President Bridget Mugane, will talk about General Growth Properties' proposal for development of downtown Columbia.

The public is invited to participate. The draft master plan can be viewed at http://www.columbiatowncenter.info. For information, call 443-283-3967 or visit http://www.howard-citizen.org.

-- Compiled by CARRIE DONOVAN