Children S Services

The Laurel Museum, 817 Main St., Laurel, is holding an orientation for volunteers at 2 p.m. today. Volunteers are needed to work one Friday or Sunday a month as docents or in the museum's gift shop. Information: Shari Pollard, 301-776-5229. The Laurel Historical Society, which operates the museum, will present a talk by Charles Camp about "The Importance of Supper" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at First United Methodist Church, 424 Main St., Laurel. The free program, which is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council, will be preceded by a potluck supper.

The celebration last week of an expanded human services operation in North Laurel is the kind of ribbon-cutting event that politicians love, and a bunch of them -- all Democrats -- showed up at the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center to mark the start of what County Executive Ken Ulman called "a major step forward" in bringing more services to the southeastern corner of the county. "There can often be two counties in Howard County," Ulman said at the event Wednesday morning. He said that while the county is often seen as a wealthy, highly educated enclave, "we have real needs in Howard County," especially in Savage and North Laurel.

Carroll County General Hospital has named Patricia Higgins as assistant vice president for patient care, women's and children's and support services.She will oversee inpatient and outpatient surgery and related units, the Family BirthPlace, pediatrics, shift coordinators and the staffing office, and nursing information systems.A registered nurse with a bachelor's degree, Higgins began at the hospital as director of women's and children's services in September 1996. Prior to that, she worked at St. Joseph Medical Center for 19 years.

What's more warm and fuzzy than a room full of grandparents? A room full of foster grandparents. Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland's Foster Grandparent Program held its annual Recognition Ceremony at the Forum, paying tribute to its volunteers, 60 years of age and older, who give personal attention to children in day-care centers, hospitals, schools and programs for the homeless.Singled out for honors were Cornelia Ridgley and three sisters, Rosa Lee Minor, Ruby Sergio and Eva Walker, who all have been volunteering in the program since it began 26 years ago.Also in the gathering of about 250: Brenda D. Harrell, director of the Foster Grandparent Program; Stan Levi, executive director of Family and Children's Services; Sallie Hedenstad, Elder Services director; foster grandparents Leslie Saunders, Marjorie Stokes, Ocie Burch, Shelvin Caulthorne and Pauline Taylor.

A former Westminster school building will reopen next week )) with a new role and a new name.The former West End School will become West End Place. The renovated building will feature an adult day care center and eight studio apartments for low-income seniors.Karen K. Blandford, Westminster city housing and community development administrator, obtained $710,000 in grants for the renovation of the school building at 7 Schoolhouse Ave. It most recently housed the Westminster Senior Center.Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland Inc. contracted with the Westminster Common Council to use the city-owned building after it became vacant in October 1996.

Westminster Councilwoman Suzanne P. Albert was looking for a job closer to home when she saw the advertisement for one right down her alley at the other end of town.By late May, Albert expects to be working in Westminster for the nonprofit Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland Inc. after it moves into the renovated West End School building.Albert retired from the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Jan. 6 after more than three decades working in government health programs.

A former Westminster school building will reopen next week )) with a new role and a new name.The former West End School will become West End Place. The renovated building will feature an adult day care center and eight studio apartments for low-income seniors.Karen K. Blandford, Westminster city housing and community development administrator, obtained $710,000 in grants for the renovation of the school building at 7 Schoolhouse Ave. It most recently housed the Westminster Senior Center.Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland Inc. contracted with the Westminster Common Council to use the city-owned building after it became vacant in October 1996.

Because all the bids were too high, the city of Westminster will readvertise the renovation of the former West End School and seek additional state money for the job.Despite cuts in the proposal, the gap remained too wide, said Karen K. Blandford, the city's administrator of housing and community development.The turn-of-the-century schoolhouse, off Pennsylvania Avenue near Western Maryland College, will house an adult day-care facility on the first floor and eight assisted-living housing units for the elderly on the second, to be run by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland.

A year ago, many of Carroll County's private social services programs were fighting for survival as the Board of County Commissioners considered deep budget cuts to balance a $5 million deficit.Public outcry and a last-minute tax increase kept the providers afloat, but the narrowly averted crisis has left a lasting impression.At a county budget hearing last week, officials from nonprofit groups told the commissioners that they've stretched their resources to the limit during the past year and have worked to become less reliant on county money.

WITH HELP FROM the United Way, Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland helps Baltimore County and the rest of the region cope with some of their most pressing problems, including a burgeoning elderly population and troubled families.Family and Children's Services, a private non-profit group, operates on an $8 million budget; $1.5 million of it comes from the United Way.The organization uses this money in concert with public funds to provide valuable services it otherwise could not afford, such as adult day care and support for in-home eldercare; adoption initiatives for kids with serious health programs, including AIDS, and different kinds of family counseling.

Anthony and Iris Thorpe adopted their first child nearly 16 years ago, a 6-week-old girl whose mother had been given a diagnosis of HIV-positive. With two other children of their own, the couple figured that the infant made their family circle complete. Since then, the circle has ballooned, with 48 foster children, five adoptions and one foster child whose adoption is in the works. The Thorpes, of Port Deposit, have opened their arms to infants and toddlers from Baltimore who make up some of city's most disheartening child statistics: the offspring of drug-afflicted, HIV-infected parents.

James C. Holman, an attorney who represented corporate and banking clients and had been board chairman of a children's charity, died of congestive heart failure Monday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Timonium resident was 61. Born in Springfield, Mo., he earned a bachelor's degree in history from Drury University, a law degree at Vanderbilt University in 1971 and a master's degree in law from George Washington University. After law school, Mr. Holman served in the Army at Fort Holabird.

Caretakers' workshop set for Tuesday The Howard County Office of Children's Services will sponsor "Think Differently: Appreciating Multiple Intelligences," a workshop for parents, and child care and early childhood professionals, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Office of Children's Offices, 3300 N. Ridge Road, Suite 380, Ellicott City. The workshop on diverse learning styles includes strategies for teaching to children's strengths. The cost is $20. "Helping Children Learn Self-Management," a workshop on helping children gain control of their own behavior, will be offered from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the same location.

Nonprofit returns to Wilde Lake building Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland has returned to its facility in the Village of Wilde Lake after a four-month absence while its building was being renovated. In January, the staff of the nonprofit organization moved to the basement of the Rose Price House, the building next to Oakland Manor in Town Center. Renovations to the Wilde Lake building, which 40 years ago served as Howard County Library's first Columbia branch, included a new sprinkler system, new acoustical ceiling tiles, new carpeting, paint and windows.

Center offers families aid The CARE Center for Child and Adolescent Resources will help families discuss their needs and offer resources and referrals. Information is available on community services, county recreation and sports facilities, financial assistance, support groups, emergency needs, help for drug or alcohol abuse, classes for parents, school readiness and achievement, emotional and mental health, child care resources and other topics. The center is a service of the Howard County Department of Citizen Services' Office of Children's Services.

The Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS) and the Howard County Office on Aging will present Senior Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way in Columbia. Panels will discuss "Essential Legal Documents" from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; "Looking at the Next Stage" from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; "Senior Care Programs at the Office on Aging" from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; and "Aging: What's Normal, What's Not" from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Providers of senior services will have booths offering free information.

Sallie Ann Hedenstad, former director of elder services at Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, died of breast cancer Wednesday at her Severna Park home. She was 75. For 23 years until retiring in January because of failing health, Mrs. Hedenstad oversaw programs for the elderly and disabled, some of which included senior assisted-living facilities, a community services employment program for low-income seniors and in-home care. "She was [a] very even-tempered and strong person.

Flotilla 24 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will present a three-day boating course, leading to the award of a boating safety education certificate. A written examination is required to receive the certificate. The course will be offered from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Sept. 24, 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Sept. 27, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 in the multipurpose room at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel. Tuition is free; there is a fee of $40 for materials which include a textbook, workbook and compact disk.

The Writer's Circle at the Savage branch library, 9525 Durness Lane, will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 to share original writings and offer mutual support and comment. Registration is not required. "Passion, Lies and Pieces," a public reading of works by the circle's writers, will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the library. Information: 410-880-5980. Around Town More help -- The North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center, a cooperative center created by local nonprofit organizations to reach residents in the southeast area of the county, has expanded to include counseling, legal assistance, information and referral, immigrant services and assistance with food, energy and housing for those in need.

Howard County has expanded child services with three new staff members to help parents and grandparents find appropriate programs -- from behavior problems to after-school care. Paid for with more than $393,000 in state and county funds, the added services were labeled "The Care Center" at an announcement Wednesday at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City. Susan Rosenbaum, county citizens services director, said more office space is being sought to house the new program. The workers -- an information specialist and two behavioral specialists -- are in the county's Office of Children's Services at 3300 N. Ridge Road, Suite 380, and have been working for most of the summer.