Branch Library

Summer crafts for teens are available at the Elkridge and Miller branch libraries. A jewelry-box-making workshop, for young people ages 11 to 17, is to be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Elkridge library, 6540 Washington Blvd. Also at the Elkridge branch is a program on creating a "Back-to-School Mini Journal," to be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Materials will be provided, and registration is required. Information or registration: 410-313-5077. A "Veggie Sculpture" workshops for those ages 11 to 17 will be offered from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Miller branch library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City.

The Savage Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Faith & Ministry Center, 9032 Baltimore St., Savage. Those who attend should use the side entrance off Foundry Street. The topic will be "Remembering a Fallen Hero: Charles White." White died in World War II. His sisters, Sarah "Sally" Mullikin, Mary DuMond and Nancy Tripp, will share a videotaped interview they did with a student from the University of Maryland and will speak with visitors. They will also share memorabilia from World War II. The White children grew up on Howard Street in Savage, said the society's secretary, Helen Rushing.

Lake View Memorial Park will sponsor a living-memorial dedication to the late Peggy Holniker at noon Friday at the Eldersburg branch library.Friday would have been Holniker's 67th birthday. She died in December 1993. She was a community activist who was instrumental in getting the Eldersburg library built.Lake View's administrator, Chuck Kelly, has arranged for a tree with an engraved plaque to be placed in the library's children's section.Kenneth Holniker, Peggy Holniker's husband, will speak at the ceremony.

In Baltimore CountyLibrary branches schedule children's programs next monthTOWSON -- Free children's activities will be offered by Baltimore County Public Library at branches around the county next month. For a listing of events and sites, call 410-887-6127. Programs include:"Little Wonders," rhymes, finger plays and stories for infants and toddlers accompanied by an adult at 10: 30 a.m. July 8 at Cockeysville branch library, 9833 Greenside Drive. Information: 410-887-7750."The Magic of Wild Willy Woo Woo," a magic show for all ages, 1 p.m. July 10 at Arbutus branch library, 1581 Sulphur Spring Road.

Two closed library buildings in North Baltimore, in Roland Park and Charles Village, will soon open in strikingly different guises.One will continue to be a city branch library on the 5100 block of Roland Ave. The other will be a nonprofit learning center founded by community activists after the city closed their community branch library.The 75-year-old gray stone Roland Park library, closed since May for asbestos and lead paint abatement work, will reopen Aug. 2, a month later than scheduled, library officials said.

Lake View Memorial Park recently planted a braided fig tree in the children's wing of the Eldersburg branch library in memory of Peggy Holniker.Holniker was instrumental in getting the Eldersburg library built and a meeting room is named for her. She died in 1993.A plaque on the tree reads in part: "honoring her commitment to children and their education through library use. A grateful community says `Thanks.' ""Much of what you see around you here is the result of Peggy's efforts," said Linda Mielke, director of the Carroll County Public Library.

To some, public librarians are faceless bureaucrats who know what books are overdue and the location of the nonfiction aisle.For three years, Jennifer Haire quietly dispelled that image as library manager of Baltimore County's North Point branch in Dundalk. The New York native made herself a respected fixture in a blue-collar community protective of its image.Haire pushed use of the Internet, found innovative methods to promote reading by children and dived into community functions with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader.

The Maryland City branch library in Laurel will close Mondayat 9 p.m. in order to relocate. The new Russett branch library will open at 3501 Russett Common in Laurel in mid-October.The Maryland City branch book drop will remain open until Sept. 1, and library materials may be returned to any branch in the county.While the branch is closed, the staff will be preparing and shelving books and materials, setting up and testing equipment and completing training.Information: 410-222-7371.People in the newsAppointed to Hospice: Daniel J. Hoffman of Odenton was appointed to the foundation board of directors for Hospice of the Chesapeake.

The St. Paul Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will close tomorrow, ending a bitter fight with a community group that had protested its loss all the way to court.Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Joseph H. H. Kaplan upheld the authority of the Pratt to close its branch in the 2500 block of St. Paul St. on Tuesday, ruling against the Friends of the St. Paul Street Branch.James C. Welbourne, assistant director of the Pratt, said, "While we were going through these extensive court procedures, we'd already made arrangements [to keep the library open]

Strategic plan for library would improve PrattI support the concept of regional libraries for the Enoch Pratt Free Library.While there is still a need for library services at the local level, and this has been addressed in the new plans, newer, up-to-date regional libraries can better serve the communities because they will be more cost-efficient, provide a higher level of technical support such as Internet services, and will keep more materials on hand.I...

Events planned at Columbia library The east Columbia branch library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will be the venue for the Civil Law Self-Help Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 1 and 15. The center is open twice a month to provide free legal assistance to self-represented litigants in Howard County. Walk-ins are welcomed. Information: 410-313-2135. The East Columbia Chess Club, with instruction by experienced players (including a chess master) meets at 3:30 p.m. April 2 and 16. Players of all ages and experience are welcome.

The Howard County Library will hold its 12th gala fundraiser, "Evening in the Stacks: Along the Silk Road," from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 28 at the east Columbia branch library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Manil Suri, author of The Death of Vishnu and The Age of Shiva, will speak. An auction, belly dancing and other entertainment, and a 50/50 raffle are planned. Tickets are $100, available online ( www.hclibrary.org) and at library branches. Proceeds will benefit the library's educational initiatives, including Dogs Education and Assisting Readers, Teen Time, Cultural Connections and Kindergarten Here We Come!

The Columbia Association's Teen Advisory Committee will sponsor a teen dance called "The Jump Off," from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 24 at The Other Barn in the Oakland Mills Village Center. The event is open only to teens ages 13-18 and will feature a DJ and club music. Snacks and drinks will be served. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are $5. The Other Barn is at 5851 Robert Oliver Place. Information: 410-715-5523. Library programs The east Columbia branch library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will offer a program on "The ABCs of Intellectual Property" at 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Those who attend can learn how to protect an invention, a piece of writing or a musical composition that is on its way to the marketplace.

Attorney Jac Knust will be at Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22 for the 60 Plus Wills and Legal Screening Program. Services include simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills, small estates and deed changes. The program is open to Howard County residents ages 60 and older. The cost is on a sliding scale. An appointment is required; it should be scheduled well in advance. Information: 410-313-1400. Needlework The Miller branch library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, will welcome adult needle crafters to its Pins and Needles sessions from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday and Oct. 23. Take stitching, knitting or crocheting projects for an opportunity to meet people and trade ideas and tips.

Former Baltimore Colt and NFL star Joe Ehrmann, a community activist, will speak at a "Choose Civility Spring Symposium," to be held from 8 a.m. to noon May 14 at Grace Community Church, 8200 Old Columbia Road, Fulton. The focus will be on making a difference in your community. The program is part of the Choose Civility in Howard County initiative to make the county a national model of respect, consideration, empathy and tolerance, sponsored by the Howard County Library and about 40 community partners.

County to launch 3 farmers' markets The Howard County Economic Development Authority's Agricultural Marketing Program will launch farmers' markets at three locations in the county: the east Columbia branch library, Oakland Mills Village Center and the Glenwood branch library in Cooksville. The east Columbia library market opens from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, starting tomorrow; the Glenwood branch library market opens from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, starting this week; and the Oakland Mills market opens from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays, starting this week.

The Elkridge Hurricanes Football and Cheer organization will hold a basket bingo at 7 p.m. May 9 at Veterans Elementary School, 4355 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. The fundraiser features Longaberger baskets and Southern Living products. Admission is $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Information: 410-382-9881 or visit www.elkridgehurricanes.com. Race for Education set for Friday St. Augustine School, 5990 Old Washington Road, Elkridge, will hold its fourth annual Race for Education from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

The Savage Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. April 21 at the Faith & Ministry Center, 9032 Baltimore Street. Those who attend are asked to use the side entrance, off Foundry Street. Galen R. Menne, president of the society, will speak about "The 1842 Church Trial of a Worker at the Savage Manufacturing Company." Admission is free and open to everyone. ' Information: 301-725-1241 or 301-466-0408. Writers to meet at branch library The Savage branch library's Writers' Circle will meet at 7 p.m. April 14. Participants share their original writing with other aspiring authors for mutual support and response.

Mothers and daughters will discuss body image, self-esteem and the pressures on middle-school girls to conform to media images and peer pressure in a program at the Miller branch library, to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 24. "Family Communication Night: How Do I Look? A Mother-Daughter Workshop on Body Image and the Pressure to be thin, `Hot,' and Perfect," will include a free dinner. The program, to be led by Lisa Morrell, adolescent counselor and founder of Health Integration, is designed for youth ages 11 to 15 and their parents.

November's children's classes at the Miller branch library will include a 30-minute "Picture Book Parade" for ages 2 to 5 with an adult at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesdays, and 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays (except Nov. 21). Tickets for the program of stories and songs are available at the children's desk 30 minutes before each session. "Superfriends Twist & Shout," a program of stories and activities for children ages 3 to 5 with an adult, will be held at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Nov. 5, and 2 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Nov. 14, at the library.