Arundel

When Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman first suggested withholding state tax refunds from people who have open warrants nearly three years ago, critics said it was a foolish pursuit. "One of the criticisms I got was, 'How many criminals have jobs where they are going to get a tax refund?'" he recalled. He couldn't say. Now he can. "There were 396," he told the County Council during a recent budget hearing. This past tax season - the first with the program fully in effect - that's the number of letters the state comptroller's office sent, telling people if they wanted their money, they'd have to clear their open Anne Arundel County warrants.

The cinder block dugouts are decrepit and the backstop is ragged at the old baseball diamond in Galesville, but giants once ran the bases in this southern Anne Arundel County town. Not just giants but Elite Giants, as in the old Negro Leagues team of the 1930s and 1940s. They and other legendary clubs from era of segregated baseball — such as the Homestead Grays and Newark Eagles — were annual visitors to play exhibitions at the home of the Galesville Hot Sox. Scores of local residents turned out Sunday to remember those days and celebrate the preservation of a vibrant part of Anne Arundel's African-American history at a first-pitch ceremony marking the county's acquisition of the Hot Sox Field at Wilson Park.

'Grains of Sand' An exhibition of digital collages, watercolor paintings and calligraphy by Joan Machinchick is on view through June 30 in the Willow and the Garden galleries at Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road in Annapolis. A reception will be held from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends; closed Tuesdays. The park charges a daily entry fee of $6 per car. Information: 410-222-1777 or friendsofquietwaterspark.org.

An Annapolis man who admitted sending a threatening letter from his prison cell to an Anne Arundel County judge who'd sentenced him to serve 10 years for armed robbery had a year and a day added onto his sentence Friday. "I will send a firebomb into your workplace and destroy you if you become more resistant," said the letter that Richard Glenn Parker Jr., 26, acknowledged sending to Circuit Court Judge Paul A. Hackner after Hackner sentenced him in 2010. The letter was signed Jesus Christ, according to Anne Arundel prosecutors.

Sunday, May 19 Concerts The Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra will hold its final performances of the season at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at St. John's College's Key Auditorium, 60 College Ave. in Annapolis. The 3 p.m. concert features the Preparatory Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Junior Flute Ensemble. The Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, String Orchestra and Senior Flute Ensemble perform at 7 p.m. concert. Admission is free; donations will be accepted.

A 24-hour charity marathon raised more than $600,000 for Anne Arundel County nonprofit groups this week. The "Great Give," organized by the Community Foundation for Anne Arundel County, encouraged donors to give to their favorite charities through a special website between 7 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Thursday. The event was capped with a party at Rams Head Center Stage at the Maryland Live! casino in Hanover. During the event, bonuses were give to the charities through contests,such as having the most donors overall or the most donors during certain time periods.

Del. Steve Schuh was elected Friday to chair the Anne Arundel County delegation to the General Assembly. Schuh, a Republican from Gibson Island who is also a candidate for county executive, takes over from Del. Nic Kipke, a Pasadena Republican. Kipke was named House minority leader.

Anne Arundel County Councilman John Grasso received a $70 ticket Wednesday morning while sign-waving in Edgewater as part of his bid to become county executive. But later in the day, a county police spokesman said the department will ask the state's attorney to drop the charge, because police believe the law may be unconstitutional. Grasso, a Republican from Glen Burnie, who said he wanted to get his name out to voters in the southern part of the county, was waving a large red campaign sign from the median of Route 2, just south of the South River bridge during morning rush hour.

Longtime Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee is retiring from the position he's held for 25 years to become a member of the state's Parole Commission. His appointment was announced Wednesday by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Weathersbee, 69, a prosecutor for four decades, said he will “retire” June 11, and start on the commission the next day amid “mixed emotions.” “I've got an opportunity to do something else and stay kind of in the field, so I am going to take it,” said Weathersbee, a Democrat.

An attorney for the family of an Anne Arundel County 7-year-old suspended from school after being accused of nibbling a pastry into the shape of a gun says he met with school officials Wednesday in an attempt have the student's suspension expunged, but no resolution was reached. Park Elementary School student Josh Welch was suspended in March for two days after school officials accused him of shaping the pastry into the form of a gun and waving it around. School officials sent a letter home to parents saying the student had been removed from the classroom for making "inappropriate gestures that disrupted the class.