Baltimore County

A company that makes automotive windshield wipers has moved from Baltimore City to Baltimore County's Southwest Enterprise Zone. Executives from Alberee Products/SAVER Automotive on Wednesday marked the opening of the firm's new location, a 101,750-square-foot office and warehouse building in Halethorpe. The company acquired and renovated the previously vacant building with the help of $6 million in industrial revenue bonds authorized by the county. The move brought 73 jobs to Baltimore County, and a representative said the firm hoped to employ up to 150 employees within the next two years.

Baltimore County police are warning that scammers are trying to trick homeowners into coughing up money by claiming they're behind on property taxes -- and threatening to send a sheriff to their door if they don't immediately mail a check. The county will put a lien on your property if you're delinquent and include it in the annual tax sale (June 4 this year), but it's not dispatching police to collect the tab. If you get a call, police say, don't send money and don't give out personal information.

I am sure that Baltimore County residents are very pleased to know that our councilmen have finally resolved their pensions, thinking of themselves as always ("Weaker pension reform bill approved," Jan. 20). Maybe now they will find time for their constituents' problems now that they gotten their pensions out of the way. Zoning violations and code violations that are still present in some communities. Councilman Joe Bartenfelder states that there was "no support on the council" for the stronger pension reform bill he proposed.

In just a few months, I will take the helm of Baltimore County Public Schools, a district with the unshakable belief that all students can learn at the highest levels. For the past 12 years, Superintendent Joe Hairston's vision, passion and drive in leading a team of outstanding individuals have resulted in phenomenal gains in student achievement. I am humbled that the Baltimore County Board of Education has selected me to build on his legacy. These are challenging but exciting times for public education.

Spraying to control mosquitoes in Baltimore County's Pikesville neighborhoods has been postponed until next week, health officials said. The state Department of Agriculture will spray Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 in parts of Pikesville. Spraying in Catonsville will be Sept. 19 and 26.  Spraying will begin after 7:30 p.m. each evening.(More information and maps can be found at the county health department website .) Agriculture officials recommend residents and their pets stay inside as not to come in direct contact with the spray, Biomist 30-30.

Baltimore County school board president Lawrence Schmidt's assertion that "the board makes no apology for the selection or the process utilized" to name S. Dallas Dance as our new superintendent ("Selection of Dance involved extensive public input," April 21) is just one more in the lengthening list of displays of arrogance by the leaders of our school system. True, the search agency provided a link to a survey on the school system's website. However, the primary input citizens were invited to give was to consider the agency's laundry list of descriptors and then select, from that list, a limited number of what we felt were the most important qualities the next superintendent should possess.

I definitely support City Council member Kevin Kamenetz's plan to bring about a law making K2 and chemicals that have similar effects illegal ("Days of 'legal pot' could be numbered in Balto. County," Aug. 17). I think that if marijuana is outlawed, substances that share its effects should be too. They seem as if they are equally dangerous, having the same side effects such as racing heartbeats, headaches, and high blood pressure. If they have that much in common, it is possible that K2 and the like may be every bit as addicting as pot. Finally, the fact that K2 is so readily available is frightening; at least marijuana isn't so easy to get a hold of. The fact that it is in Ocean City is also a great cause of concern, given how many recent graduates go there for senior each year.

W hen it comes to recycling, Baltimore County is about to go from being a laggard in the region to being a leader. Starting Feb. 1, the county will allow residents to put out all kinds of recyclables - paper, plastic, metal and glass - in one bin. It will accept a much broader range of materials than it did before, and it will begin extending pickup to multifamily residences that were not previously served by recycling. It's a big improvement, and it's about time. Years ago, Baltimore County was a pioneer in the area in its decision to cut trash pickup to once a week and increase recycling to once a week - a shift not accomplished in the city until just this year.

One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash around 4 a.m. Sunday in Baltimore County, police said. The victim was male. The crash occurred in the 14700 block of York Road in the Sparks area, according to police. The vehicle apparently struck a tree. No other information was immediately available. Andrea F. Siegel

This is not a time to elect the faint of heart in Baltimore County. As in other jurisdictions in Maryland and elsewhere, the county is facing serious economic issues that, despite signs of recovery, could be exacerbated by cutbacks and other policy decisions that could soon be made at the state and national levels. Kevin Kamenetz, a 16-year veteran of the County Council, is the best choice to lead as county executive in a time of turmoil. The 52-year-old Owings Mills attorney has a depth of knowledge of county affairs, but also — perhaps more importantly — a willingness to make changes and seek innovations that might improve the quality of life for Baltimore County residents.