Benfield Road

YOUR TAX DOLLARS are at work this summer, and our only question is: How much longer?Of course, I'm referring to the repaving of Severna Park Slalom Course. Oops, I mean Benfield Road.Am I being ungrateful? Will repaving really improve the "corridor from commuter Hell"?The problem is the mountains of macadam piled around the manholes so that when the resurfacing is complete, the surfaces will be even. But how long must we dodge these eruptions before the project is finished and we return to the peace and quiet of simple rush hour?

Elizabeth B. "Betsy" Bacot, a retired teacher and administrative assistant whose career spanned half a century, died Wednesday of heart failure at Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie. The longtime Round Bay resident was 79. Mrs. Bacot had retired this year from St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church in Severna Park, where she had been a teacher and administrative assistant for 50 years in the church's day school. She was also an active communicant of the church, where she had served as coordinator of the flower guild and ushers.

More than 100 Severna Park residents have delivered a message to county highway officials: Don't change Benfield Road; develop East-West Boulevard.The residents showed up Wednesday night at the Severna Park branch of the Anne Arundel County public library system to protest a county plan to divide the single eastbound lane of Benfield into two lanes.The Department of Public Works has proposed adding the second lane just east of Windward Drive and extending it east to Knollwood Drive.The work, expected to cost several thousand dollars, would not begin until October.

Selma D. Streett, who with her husband developed Anne Arundel County's Chartwell community, died Oct. 8 of heart failure at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson. She was 98. The daughter of a businessman and a homemaker, Selma Demmitt was born in rural Carroll County and spent her early years on a family farm in New Windsor until moving to Baltimore in 1927. After graduating in 1931 from Forest Park High School, she worked as a cashier in the Hutzler's Tea Room. She was married in 1948 to Charles Albert Merritt, a builder turned developer.

The people spoke and County Executive John G. Gary listened.The first-term Republican, citing substantial opposition from Severna Park residents, dumped a three-month county plan to convert a section of eastbound Benfield Road to two lanes."

County officials, admitting they can't enforce rules against thousands of illegal signs, are turning to videotape to get rid of the controversial signs along Benfield Road in Severna Park.The new program, announced Friday by County Executive Robert R. Neall, responds to nine months of controversy about the the Department of Planning and Zoning's inability to enforce county sign ordinances because it is woefully short of inspectors.Violations include temporary signs, or those that violate height,size and setback requirements.

Rejoicing Spirits worship will be held at 4 p.m. every second Sunday of the month at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 400 Benfield Road, Severna Park. Call 410-647-1658.

A gunman in a white Nike baseball cap and mirrored sunglasses robbed a Severna Park bank of an undisclosed amount of money yesterday.County police said the bandit walked into the First National Bank in the 500 block of Benfield Road just after 2 p.m., pulled a gun and demanded money.A teller handed money over, and the man ran out with it.Police had no detailed description of the gunman. They said he may have escaped in a black Hyundai that sped away on Benfield Road toward Route 2.Pub Date: 5/08/97

Sunday, July 4 First Sunday Arts Festival Event features crafts, artists, music, street performers and sidewalk dining, noon to 5 p.m., in the first block of West Street and Calvert Street in Annapolis. The Juliet Lloyd Duo will play from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the Annapolis Junction Big Band performs at 2 p.m. as part of the Whitmore Park Swing Dances. Free. Information: 410-741-3267. 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' This one-act musical comedy will be performed Thursdays-Sundays through July 25 at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, 143 Compromise St. Shows at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $18. Information: 410-268-9212 or summergarden.

Rejoicing Spirits worship will be held at 4 p.m. every second Sunday of the month at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 400 Benfield Road, Severna Park. Information: 410-647-1658.