Central Library

I know Mama always warned us never to look directly at the sun. The lenses of our eyes concentrate sunlight on our retinas, and that can cause burns and permanent vision loss. But with proper protective gear, astronomers can give us a safe and fascinating view of the sun. From 9 to 11 this morning, the Howard Astronomical League will hold a "solar viewing event," featuring an array of sun-safe equipment. It's set for the Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, in Columbia. The weather looks perfect.

Notes For Laura Lippman fans: The most common refrain among mystery readers who scarf down the backlist of a favorite author is, "Who else writes books like this?" For those who have made their way through the complete works of Charm City's signature mystery writer, the refrain's answer is Jennifer McMahon, author of Promise Not To Tell (HarperPaperbacks/ 240 pages/ $13.95). Similar to Lippman's breakthrough standalone novel What the Dead Know, the inciting force is a decades-old disappearance of a young girl dredged back into a town's collective consciousness with the return of a long-absent stranger.

Area schools and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills and to assist in related projects.Among them are:New Horizons Academy Camp, operated at Baltimore's Montebello Elementary School, 2040 E. 32nd St., by a collaboration of city public schools and Office of Homeless Services, the Center for Poverty Solutions and the YMCA. Volunteers -- including celebrities -- are needed to read to children in the program from 9: 30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesdays, from June 30 to Aug. 18. Contact: Dawn Shirey or Jiovianni Felton, 410-396-6506 or 410-396-6127.

THE CLASSICAL lines and traditional materials of the Enoch Pratt Free Library's central building on Cathedral Street in Baltimore provide inspiration for the design of a three-level addition that will be constructed starting next year.Architects unveiled drawings this month that indicate the 45,000-square-foot annex will be similar in character to the 1933 landmark to which it will be attached.The addition is to rise on the south side of Franklin Street, between the main library and the smaller Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped that opened in 1991 at Park Avenue and Franklin Street.

I made the mistake of leaning on the Enoch Pratt central library. I was standing there, waiting for someone on the sidewalk. Nearby were three or four guys who had just finished lunch at Our Daily Bread, directly across Cathedral Street. I stuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans and casually leaned against the front of the library, between two of the large display windows. Within seconds, a security officer yelled from 50 feet away: "No leaning against the wall!" And he waved me off.You can't lean on the library?

The bartender poured champagne under a sign that said "Register Here for Library Card."Piles of old books ("The Scarlet Letter," among them) and literary quotations on cards served as centerpieces.The cake was a trompe l'oeil masterpiece, a haphazard tower of six classic tomes, including "Lust for Life" and "Love in the Time of Cholera," which, from a distance, passed for the real thing.Newlyweds Linda Drury -- in 40 yards of creamy tulle and Chantilly lace -- and David McBride -- in a tux and gold vest -- radiantly greeted 160 friends and relatives Saturday night in the grand, pillared lobby of the Enoch Pratt Central Library on Cathedral Street.

The Howard County Council has tentatively approved most parts of County Executive Charles I. Ecker's $93.1 million capital budget, including plans to open a new senior center in downtown Ellicott City.In two work sessions this week, the County Council took straw votes approving dozens of individual projects -- roads, parks, libraries -- planned for the budget year beginning July 1. The $26 million education capital budget is scheduled for discussion later this month.In yesterday's session, administration officials introduced new plans to build a $445,000 senior center on the second floor of the fire station on Ellicott City's Main Street.

The conviction of a man who raped a Columbia teen-ager has brought a sense of relief to many area residents, but the crime's impact still resonates.Assistant State's Attorney Janine L. Rice said the Columbia honors student -- who was raped March 20 behind the Howard County Central Library in Columbia -- seemed relieved when she heard the verdict after 3 1/2 hours of deliberation Saturday."

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER Jean Odesky "made the students at our school her children," recalls former Principal Jackie Lazarewicz."The school was her life."Odesky, who retired from Clemens Crossing Elementary School last year because of ill health, died Feb. 15 of cancer.The funeral service was held Feb. 19 in Ohio, where relatives of her husband, Marvin, live.A memorial service for Odesky will be held at 3 p.m. April 13 at Clemens Crossing.Plans call for a tree planting and a plaque dedicating the school's kindergarten room to her.Odesky started teaching kindergarten at Clemens Crossing when the school opened in February 1979.

In the wake of a teen-ager's rape near Howard County Central Library in the spring, police and library officials reviewed the library's security situation. But three months later, officials still 44 are refusing to reveal the results of that review and whether changes recommended by police have been adopted by the library."The library may or may not do some things as suggested in the report. And if we make [the recommendations] public, we would alert the bad guys," County Executive Charles I. Ecker explained this week.

Because of tough budget constraints, the Enoch Pratt Free Library has closed some library branches on some days and ended late-night hours for its Telephone Reference Service. "We had to try to make sure that the decisions we made wouldn't have a huge impact on our patrons," said Roswell Encina, director of communications for the Pratt. The Central Library has shorter weekday hours as a result of the change. The library used to be open until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until 5:30 p.m. Thursdays.

As Baltimore's unemployment rate rose, many people headed to the library. Since the onset of the recession, attendance at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's career center classes has jumped 92 percent. For free, the Central Library on Cathedral Street in downtown Baltimore offers a range of classes that teach how to build a resume, network strategically, search and apply for jobs online, make job seekers' employment "recession-proof," get a federal job in 10 steps and develop basic interviewing skills.

Nurse open house Howard County General Hospital will hold an open house for nurses 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday in the hospital's lobby at 5755 Cedar Lane in Columbia. Applicants need at least one year of acute care experience to qualify. For more information, call 410-740-7774 or go to hcgh.org. Preservation applications Howard County will accept applications for the sale of agricultural land preservation easements beginning Monday and continuing through July 31 as part of "Batch 14" of the Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

American Success Awards Dinner set FIRN, the county government, the county Economic Development Authority and the county Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the seventh annual American Success Awards Dinner from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 6 at the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville. The dinner, a fundraiser for FIRN, honors the Rev. Young S. Song of the Church of Phillipi, Lily Bengfort of CenGen and Yifei Gan of Howard Community College. Tickets are $75; $675 for a table of 10. Purchase online at www.firnonline.

theater 'Ragtime': This is an all-new production of one of the great musicals of our times. The stage version of E.L. Doctorow's novel is a masterly interweaving of the fates of a middle-class Victorian family, an immigrant Jewish family and an African-American jazz player. Performances are Saturday through May 17 at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. N.W., Washington. Tickets are $25-$90. Call 800-444-1324 or go to kennedy-center.org. Mary Carole McCauley art Landscape shows: Two landscape-oriented shows open today at C. Grimaldis Gallery, 523 N. Charles St.: New Work by visual artist Christopher Saah and a group show titled Landscapes Into Art, featuring work by Fairfield Porter, Robert Dash and others.

The Howard County Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, will observe Holocaust Remembrance Day at 7 p.m. April 21. Edith Cord will recount the story of a youth spent hiding from the Nazis. Born in Vienna in 1928, Cord was the second child of observant Jewish parents. She and her family left Vienna for Italy in 1937 and subsequently fled to France, where her father was arrested as an enemy alien. Eventually, her father and brother were sent to Auschwitz, and Cord lived hidden in Vichy France.

Auditions, arts camp at Slayton House Slayton House Conservatory for high school students is holding auditions for its 2009 sessions from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m to 4:30 p.m. April 4. Applicants should prepare a one-minute memorized monologue and 16 bars of a song, and be ready to learn and demonstrate a brief dance combination. The camp will be held June 29 through July 17 and July 20 through Aug. 7. Information: Kathy Verheul, 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883. Slayton House Camp of the Arts, a musical camp for children in grades one through eight, is accepting registration for its three summer sessions: June 22 to July 10, July 13 to 31 and Aug. 3 to 14. Registration forms are available at www.wildelakecommunityassociation.

The Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, offers the following events this month: * "Decorating 101," the first in a three-part series with April Force Pardoe, at 7 p.m. tomorrow. The program, titled "Make Your Room Happy," covers elements of good design and the secrets of creating happy rooms. * "Happy Birthday, Bach!" A performance by the Raphael Trio in celebration of the composer's 324th birthday is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday. * The Howard County Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will sponsor a showing of Life in Occupied Palestine, by Anna Baltzer, at 1 p.m. March 29. Admission is free.

In observance of International Women's Day, the Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, will offer a program of short human rights videos and a panel discussion at noon tomorrow. Participants will include human rights experts, immigration counselors and a Howard County resident who will share her personal story. Lunch will be provided, and activities for preschool-age children will be available. The program is being presented in partnership with FIRN. Reservations are requested.

The Central library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, will hold two 30-minute workshops at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 30 to explore civility concepts for children ages 4 to 7 with stories, songs and a craft. Registration begins Dec. 23 online and at the library. Information: 410-313-7860, or www.hclibrary.org. Book discussion The American Association of University Women will meet at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 10 at Clyde's Restaurant in Columbia. The group will discuss the book We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, by Cokie Roberts.