In Baltimore County
Ex-office manager sentenced to 30 days for stealing $100,000
TOWSON - A former office manager who pleaded guilty to defrauding her employers of more than $100,000 was sentenced yesterday in Baltimore County Circuit Court to 30 days in jail.
Sharon M. Aquilla, 52, of the 600 block of Hunting Fields Road in Middle River will serve her sentence on weekends. Her lawyer claimed in court that a psychological disorder prompted Aquilla to forge checks, use office credit cards, and otherwise steal $103,909.59 from the doctors' office where she worked.
Judge John O. Hennegan also ordered Aquilla to pay the office $28,316.57 in restitution. Insurance covered $75,000 of the doctors' loss, said Assistant State's Attorney Peter Johnson.
School board to discuss building projects today
TOWSON - The Board of Education will meet in open session at 7:30 p.m. today at the Educational Support Services Building, 6901 Charles St. Among the items scheduled for discussion are contract awards and building projects.
The meeting will be preceded by a closed session at 5 p.m. to consider personnel matters, such as appointments and resignations. School officials say no public business will be discussed at the earlier session.
The public is invited to all open meetings.
Reading groups to meet at two library branches
RANDALLSTOWN - The Randallstown Reading Circle will convene at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Randallstown library, 8604 Liberty Road.
Discussion will center on One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. Information: 410- 887-0770.
The Reisterstown Readers will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Reisterstown library, 21 Cockeys Mill Road. The Color of War by James McBride will be discussed. Information: 410-887- 1165.
In Baltimore City
Rawlings Blake garners officials' endorsements
City Council Vice President Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake won the endorsement yesterday of Mayor Martin O'Malley, Council President Sheila Dixon and three colleagues in her bid for re-election in the Sept. 9 Democratic municipal primary.
During a news conference outside City Hall, O'Malley said Rawlings Blake deserves a third term representing Northwest Baltimore because she helped the administration bring in $1.6 billion in construction projects, including two new grocery stores in her district. The growth has boosted home sale prices in her area by 45 percent, the mayor said.
Rawlings Blake - also endorsed by council members Rochelle "Rikki" Spector, Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. and Robert W. Curran - faces five challengers in trying to represent the city's new Sixth District. She, in turn, endorsed O'Malley and Dixon.
"The progress the city has made is undeniable. And that success is due in large part to the cooperation of this mayor and City Council president," she said.
Witnesses sought in hit-run that killed city man, 72
City police are seeking witnesses to a hit-and-run incident that killed a 72-year-old Highlandtown man.
The victim, identified by police yesterday as Frank Arnold Jr. of the first block of S. Highland Ave., was walking south on a northbound entrance ramp to the Jones Falls Expressway near North and Mount Royal avenues when he was struck by an unknown vehicle about 3:45 a.m. Saturday, said Lt. Paul Sheppard, commander of the police traffic division.
A note in Arnold's pocket, which instructed anyone who found him "wandering around" to put him in a cab and send him to his Highland Avenue address, helped police identify him, Sheppard said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 401-396-2606.
Public school system offers free shots, lead test
The city public school system will provide free immunization shots and blood-lead testing for school-age children Saturday.
The shots and testing will take place during the system's Back to School Fair from noon to 4 p.m. at Baltimore City Community College's Liberty Campus.
Parents are urged to bring their children, who must have up-to-date shots before the first day of school on Sept. 2. There will also be entertainment, prizes and refreshments. Information: 410-396-8577.
