College Center

Baltimore County marked the start of work Thursday on a long-delayed library and community college facility in Owings Mills — construction designed to jump-start a billion-dollar project that includes homes, stores and offices. Promoted as an economic engine, the project near the Metro station was proposed in 1998 as a "Main Street" hub where residents would live, shop and play. But development got only as far as the massive parking garage, built in 2007, that overlooks Interstate 795. But with construction on the community college and library starting this week, there are great expectations once again — and some lingering concerns.

Synthetic marijuana ranked in the top three substances abused by the nation's high school students in 2012, according to a new report compiled by the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland, College Park . The drug -- herbs treated with chemicals designed to mimic the effects of marijuana -- ranked third next to alcohol and marijuana, which 57 percent and 39 percent of students in grades nine through 12...

The Laurel College Center, a partnership of Howard and Prince George's community colleges, will hold a drop-in open house from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 205, Laurel, adjacent to the Laurel Shopping Center. A tour of the center will be offered. There will be an opportunity to talk with academic and financial aid advisers and learn how to register for credit or noncredit classes. Representatives from the Career Services Office of Howard Community College and the Laurel College Center's higher-education partners -- the College of Notre Dame, Towson University, University of Maryland, University College -- will be on hand.

The long-planned Metro Centre in Owings Mills is set to finally stir to life this week with the opening of Baltimore County's largest library. Officials envision the library branch, to open in a building called the County Campus next to the Owings Mills subway station, as the anchor of a cluster of shops, restaurants and apartments that they have long hoped would form a new center in the northwestern suburb. Also planned for the County Campus are dozens of classrooms and offices for the Community College of Baltimore County.

Laurel College Center, a partnership between Howard and Prince George's community colleges, will offer a free information session for prospective students at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Those who attend will learn about credit and noncredit courses, weekend classes and options for associate's and bachelor's degrees. The center is at 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 205, Laurel, adjacent to the Laurel Shopping Center. Information: 866-228-6110, or www.laurelcollegecenter.org. Around Town Lunch, bingo, dessert -- The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 8097, 7209 Montevideo Road, Jessup, will sponsor a bingo, lunch and bake sale today.

Laurel College Center, a partnership between Howard Community College and Prince George's Community College, will hold a free, no-obligation information session from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 on the Laurel College Center campus, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 205, Laurel. Those who attend will have a chance to learn about the college center's credit and noncredit courses, weekend classes and options for associate's and bachelor's degrees. Information: 866-228-6110, or www.laurelcollegecenter.

In a move to bolster the fast-growing Owings Mills area, Baltimore County and a group of business leaders want to build an educational center featuring classes from more than a half-dozen local colleges and universities.The center, which might also include a business incubator, would be the first of its kind in the county. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the University of Baltimore, Towson University and Morgan State University are among the schools that have expressed interest in offering courses and career training there.

It's Monday, so the six men pile into an office about the size of a walk-in closet at the Laurel College Center. They mill about, scribble notes and crack juvenile jokes. Music fills the background. "Frank, I like my typist to be good-looking; you don't qualify," Lee Dumais Sr., said to a friend who was typing notes into a computer for him. "That's a fact," replied the friend, Frank Anatale. "That is a fact." Others begin talking about a broken hard drive. They gather around the broken machine, craning to see the screen.

Benjamin Karim, a longtime associate of Malcolm X during the years of his greatest popularity and the author of a new biography and memoir of the outspoken Nation of Islam leader, will speak at Western Maryland College on Feb. 16 as part of the college's observance of African-American History Month.Mr. Karim, who spent eight years working with Malcolm X in the Black Muslim movement, will discuss his experiences in a lecture at 7:30 p.m. in McDaniel Lounge. The event, like all others scheduled for the monthlong celebration, is free and open to the public.

Women's History Month will be celebrated at Western Maryland College throughout March.Highlighting the month's activities will be a film screening and panel discussion March 27 with Canadian filmmaker Donna Read; Dr. Ellen Reeder, curator of ancient art at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore; Sheila Barth, director of the Temenos Center for the Healing Arts in Mount Airy; and moderator Dr. Julie Badiee, professor of art history at Western Maryland."

Baltimore County marked the start of work Thursday on a long-delayed library and community college facility in Owings Mills — construction designed to jump-start a billion-dollar project that includes homes, stores and offices. Promoted as an economic engine, the project near the Metro station was proposed in 1998 as a "Main Street" hub where residents would live, shop and play. But development got only as far as the massive parking garage, built in 2007, that overlooks Interstate 795. But with construction on the community college and library starting this week, there are great expectations once again — and some lingering concerns.

Women in business topic of conference in Catonsville The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville campus chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges will hold its seventh annual Women's Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature more than 200 businesses owned or operated by women. It will take place in two tents as well as in the gymnasium and cafe. Admission ($6) will be waived for those with a college or university ID and those on active military duty.

Laurel College Center, a partnership between Howard Community College and Prince George's Community College, will hold a free, no-obligation information session from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 on the Laurel College Center campus, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 205, Laurel. Those who attend will have a chance to learn about the college center's credit and noncredit courses, weekend classes and options for associate's and bachelor's degrees. Information: 866-228-6110, or www.laurelcollegecenter.

Laurel College Center, a partnership between Howard and Prince George's community colleges, will offer a free information session for prospective students at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Those who attend will learn about credit and noncredit courses, weekend classes and options for associate's and bachelor's degrees. The center is at 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 205, Laurel, adjacent to the Laurel Shopping Center. Information: 866-228-6110, or www.laurelcollegecenter.org. Around Town Lunch, bingo, dessert -- The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 8097, 7209 Montevideo Road, Jessup, will sponsor a bingo, lunch and bake sale today.

Benefits counseling offered for veterans As part of the 2007 "Harley's Heroes" Tour, veterans in Howard County and surrounding areas can receive free counseling and assistance with their government benefits from noon to 4 p.m. Friday at Harley-Davidson of Maryland, 7010 Troy Hill Drive, Elkridge. A mobile service office of the Disabled American Veterans will provide counseling to veterans who suffer from service-related injuries and may not have filed a claim or have had difficulty working with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Representatives from the Department of Social Services will be available from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Jan. 3, at the Multiservice Center in North Laurel to help residents in need apply for food stamps, cash assistance and medical assistance. The department joins the Community Action Council, Domestic Violence Center, Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, FIRN, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and the Legal Aid Bureau in offering services at the center in the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center, 9105 All Saints Road.

Women's History Month will be celebrated at Western Maryland College throughout March, with a number of events focusing on issues pertaining to women.All the campus events are free.The Women's History Month "kickoff" will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today in the Decker College Center Pub. Participants will receive ribbons to show solidarity and support of the monthlong celebration.An art exhibition by WMC junior Sara Lundberg will open tomorrow with a reception at 7 p.m. in Gallery One in the Hoover Library.

Sun reporter Milton Kent's prediction for the women's Sweet 16, by regional sites. Greensboro, N.C. 1. Maryland Defending champ has all the necessary parts to repeat. 2. Tennessee Even with Candace Parker, the Lady Vols are under the national radar. 3. Purdue New coach Sharon Versyp takes over a talented Boilermakers squad. 4. California Former Duke assistant Joanne Boyle is building a power at Berkeley. Fresno, Calif. 1. Stanford Candice Wiggins is ready to lead Cardinal return to prominence.