Balto

The Baltimore County volunteer firefighter of the year was both surprised and humbled when he was awarded the honor last week by the American Legion's Towson Post. After five years on the force, Michael McKenna is still a relative newcomer to the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company, where generations of families have given their time since 1909. He said he has the time, energy and willingness to volunteer. "I know there are many other draws in life, especially family and job," said McKenna, 29. "But I also see this as something I want to do for the rest of my life.

Corporate Office Properties Trust said Monday that it had sold land and buildings in Baltimore County business parks for almost $49 million. The sales are part of the Columbia-based real estate investment trust's effort to get rid of typical suburban offices to concentrate even more heavily on specialized buildings for government agencies and their contractors, many of which need secure space to deal with classified information. COPT said in April that it intended to increase its revenues produced by government and defense information technology companies from 59 percent to 67 percent by the end of 2013.

The Y of Central Maryland plans to open a new facility by June in the North Plaza Shopping Center in Parkville. The facility will be a full-service, family center Y offering classes for children and adults such as youth sports, swimming, water aerobics, martial arts, yoga, indoor cycling and exercise programs. The facility will also feature a fitness floor for cardio exercise and weight training, free child supervision, a teen/senior room, children's play area and family activities.

Louis Miserendino's commentary regarding "special treatment for developers and sticking it to everyone else" in Baltimore ( "Fair taxes for all in Baltimore," Dec. 9) should include Baltimore County as well. Cutting down on special incentives would "reduce the temptation for developers and politicians to strike corrupt bargains. " While I concur with his reflection on this important and game changing issue, Baltimore County is not exempt from these special treatments for developers.

A Philadelphia man was killed early Saturday when he was thrown from his motorcycle in Chase. Cpl. John Wachter, of the county police, said Fred Sturgill, 57, of Philadelphia, was driving his motorcycle shortly after midnight on Graces Quarters Road near Ebenezer Road when his vehicle struck a guard rail. Sturgill was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. About an hour earlier, at 11:15 p.m., on North Charles Street in the Towson area, two cars collided near Gatehouse Drive, the entrance to the Sheppard Pratt Health System campus.

Baltimore police have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with a fire that destroyed an automobile repair and tire shop and cast a cloud of thick black smoke over Northwest Baltimore last Monday afternoon, police said. Police said Sunday that they had arrested the suspect, identified as Jason Hicks, on Friday and charged him with first-degree arson in the three-alarm fire in the 4100 block of W. Belvedere Ave. According to news reports and a Baltimore City firefighters' union website, the fire broke out around 4 p.m. Sept.

Baltimore County plans to add five speed cameras in school zones, bringing the county's total to 22. Police said Friday that the devices would be installed within the next few days. Motorists who go 12 mph or more above the speed limit in speed camera locations receive $40 tickets. The sites selected for the new cameras are: Winand Elementary (Scotts Level Road between Winands Road and Autrim Lane, both directions); Loch Raven Academy (Goucher Boulevard between Putty Hill Avenue and LaSalle Road)

Baltimore County officials have received 670 applications for an early-retirement incentive package - more than three times the number they had sought. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz proposed the buyouts in September, hoping to cut about 200 positions from the county payroll of 8,000. Applications for the program were due last week. Some people who applied have already rescinded, county spokeswoman Ellen Kobler said Tuesday. “That number does include some people who indicated that they really were just curious” about their retirement calculations, Kobler said.

In his article, "School choice is a fact, but who chooses?" Robert Maranto grossly misinterpreted the educational philosophy and performance of Joshua Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was superintendent of schools in Baltimore County from 1970 to 1976. Mr. Maranto quoted Mr. Wheeler as saying: "The purpose of public education is to provide an education for those few who want it. " If Mr. Wheeler actually said this, it was certainly taken out of context and contrary to his performance as an outstanding school administrator.

As Towson's representative on the Baltimore County Council, I would like to thank the Baltimore Sun for its whimsical suggestions for the community slogan contest ( "Towson: a realist's view," March 20). Towson has very much to be proud of, but not just sushi. Few other places in Maryland can boast, within only a few miles, three major medical centers and two institutions of higher education. Towson has one of Maryland's only Blue Ribbon high schools. Neighborhoods like Rodgers Forge and Stoneleigh are swelling with young families attracted by the area's excellent schools.