County Residents

The year 2018 might seem a long way out, but Anne Arundel County residents appear to have clear visions of what life will be like then, according to survey conducted recently by Anne Arundel Community College's Institute for the Future. People are worried. Residents predict that energy costs will continue to rise, more population will lead to increased traffic congestion, and illegal immigration and crime will go up. And the economy won't recover significantly in 10 years, either. These were the major findings when AACC surveyed 312 county residents over the age of 18 about their expectations for 2018.

Howard County residents are being urged to drink plenty of water, exercise and wear sunscreen this year. The suggestions are part of the latest phase of the county's Healthy Howard Initiative, which was launched in April. "We're another voice to get people out and active," said Howard County Health Officer Peter L. Beilenson, who unveiled healthy tips yesterday. Beilenson suggested that workplaces encourage walking clubs during lunchtime. Walking clubs are also being encouraged by Gary Arthur, director of the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks.

Like the thousands of Howard County residents who are without health insurance, Carol Ray cannot afford preventive health care or visits to the dentist. A mother of two teenage boys, Ray, 45, said her $25,000-a-year secretarial job at a small extermination company can cover her apartment's rent and utilities and other necessities, but not private health insurance. "I'm not looking for handouts. I'm just looking for something I can afford," Ray said about finding insurance. The Ellicott City resident said she believes she has found affordable coverage as part of the Howard County government's initiative to provide health insurance for every low-wage resident in the county.

Twins get probation for lying on stand Twin brothers were placed on probation yesterday for lying on the witness stand about a notorious Annapolis murder, in a sentence that recognized their cooperation with federal authorities to help convict a second person in the crime. "I was young, and I was scared," Jonathan Griffin said of his lapse of memory when called to testify in the Anne Arundel County murder trial of one of two men accused of fatally shooting Straughan Lee Griffin (no relation)

Anne Arundel County residents consider education a top priority and the estimated $400 million school repair bill a serious problem, but they're loath to raise property and income taxes to pay for it, according to a recent community college poll.They would rather have the county borrow for repairs or use funds from a lottery, the poll by Anne Arundel Community College's Center for the Study of Local Issues showed."I am not sure what people fear about raising taxes," said Dan Nataf, director of the center.

Howard County residents left with broken tree branches and other storm-related debris can take them to the county's Alpha Ridge Landfill in the 2300 block of Marriottsville Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.County highway yards in Elkridge, Clarksville and West Friendship will be open for disposal of residential wood debris from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.The yards are at 7751 Mayfield Ave.; 4301 Route 32, 3.5 miles north of Route 108; and at 14212 Frederick Road.Eastern county residents may recycle fallen debris on their regular collection day.Where storm damage is heavy, residents may call 410-313-4400 to request a county worker to inspect their neighborhood and decide whether a cleanup container is needed.

Gorged with wealth and sparkling new homes after decades as one of the Baltimore area's fastest-growing suburbs, Howard County is awakening to a new reality: Development issues will soon take a back seat to the preservation and renewal of older neighborhoods.Battles still rage over two proposed villages along Route 216 in southern Howard, developments that could bring 2,600 homes. But planners say those fights mark the beginning of the end of Howard's fast-growth period -- foreshadowing changes that every suburb will eventually face.

Jillian Kong-Silvert, 30, who grew up in Columbia and graduated from Oakland Mills High School, fretted that her Generation-X peers aren't involved much in community life.Dan Crowley said he moved to Ellicott City two years ago from New England and he is impressed with Howard County -- but he can't figure out where he is sometimes. "Some town centers or landmarks might help. I don't know where we are much of the time," Crowley confessed to laughter.Those opinions and others on issues such as mass transit and combating poverty were aired at last night's meeting of Howard County -- A United Vision, a group that is designing a new vision for the fast-growing county.

About 200 western Howard County residents -- upset about plans for a 10-pump gas station at Carrs Mill Road and Route 97 -- turned out last night to protest at a meeting of the county Board of Appeals.So many people came to the meeting that the room at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City could hold only about a third of them. The meeting was postponed and rescheduled for March 11."I apologize for the inconvenience," said Planning Board member Jerry L. Rushing. "The board was not prepared for the crowd."

It's a rural version of an ungodly war centered on sewage, neighbors pitted against neighbors, with lawyers calling all the shots.Nearly 30 years after the Hampstead Wastewater Treatment Plant opened, its legacy can be summed up as this: the affluent vs. the effluent.Wealthy Baltimore County residents say dense development on Carroll County's side of the border threatens not only their preserved, pristine way of life but the source of drinking water for about 1.5 million Baltimore-area residents.

The problem:: A water main leak on Millers Island persists despite repeated calls for help. The back story:: Edgar Bartlett has called. So have all his neighbors. Since September, the residents of Bay Drive on the edge of Millers Island in eastern Baltimore County have all tried to get a leaking water service line repaired. They each called the nonemergency number for Baltimore County residents - 410-396-5352 - several times to report the problem. "It's just a mess out here," Bartlett said.

The Columbia Association has launched its fifth annual "Get Active Howard County," a 10-week effort to encourage Howard County residents to be more active by incorporating 30 minutes of physical activity into their day, at least five days a week. The program is free and open to anyone living or working in Howard County. To register: GetActiveHowardCounty.org. Participants can pick up a paper log at any Howard County library branch or any of the 10 village centers. The program runs through June 7. Information: Carol Wasser, 410-715-5523 or Carol.

About 250 people attended a public hearing Thursday night in Annapolis to express their opposition to - or support for - a proposed slots casino at Arundel Mills mall. County residents and businesspeople crammed into the County Council's chambers for the meeting, which the council held to hear public testimony on a zoning bill that would allow electronic slots in a county that does not permit them. While many residents of communities surrounding Arundel Mills have been outspoken in their opposition to the casino, many others spoke up at the meeting to show their support for the project, which could bring in $30 million in tax revenue for the county and $447 million for the state.

The year 2018 might seem a long way out, but Anne Arundel County residents appear to have clear visions of what life will be like then, according to survey conducted recently by Anne Arundel Community College's Institute for the Future. People are worried. Residents predict that energy costs will continue to rise, more population will lead to increased traffic congestion, and illegal immigration and crime will go up. And the economy won't recover significantly in 10 years, either. These were the major findings when AACC surveyed 312 county residents over the age of 18 about their expectations for 2018.

Army officials are scheduled to present a report at a public meeting Wednesday that concludes that a proposed $400 million expansion to Harford County's waste-to-energy facility in Joppa poses no threat to residents or the environment. The project is intended to help accommodate the growth at Aberdeen Proving Ground because of BRAC, the military base relocation and closure process that is expected to bring 10,000 new jobs to APG over the next 10 years. Steam from the plant supplies buildings in the Edgewood area of APG with heat in winter and air conditioning in summer.

Whatever happened to 'Choose Civility'? It seems to me that the more than 9,300 county residents who signed the CB-58 referendum used this vehicle in hopes of improving our zoning process. The public now reads in The Baltimore Sun ("Turf Valley Development Petition Fuels Resistance," Feb. 8) the plaintiff's allegation that the solicitors of this democratic process cheated. Whatever happened to the theme "Choose Civility" in Howard County? Perhaps the citizens who signed the petition believe it's time for a change and to hopefully bring transparency and public confidence in our county government.

Crafting a new way to extend medical services to uninsured residents has proved tricky for county health officials. The health staff was initially overwhelmed in October, when 1,100 people came to the East Columbia library during nine sessions to enroll in Healthy Howard Inc. All but 66 turned out to be eligible for four existing insurance plans for limited-income people. Now county health officer Dr. Peter Beilenson has come up with a new plan to reopen enrollment while trying to counter criticism from County Council member Greg Fox, a Fulton Republican.

More than 70 percent of county residents say dire straits on international financial markets have begun to affect them directly, siphoning value from stock and retirement accounts and boosting anxiety - making the economy the most important issue facing Anne Arundel County, according to a semi-annual opinion survey. Continuing economic woes prompted nearly 50 percent of respondents to the poll conducted by Anne Arundel Community College to say that slowly rising salaries, combined with higher costs for everything from transportation to taxes and utilities have left economic conditions only as fair or poor.

Should Maryland's drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18, as proposed by a number of local college and university presidents? 62% Yes 35% No 3% Not sure (1,520 votes; results are not scientific) Next poll An unpublished Abell Foundation report, noting that Baltimore juries tend to convict much less often than juries in nearby counties, has raised the possibility of creating jury pools combining city and county residents. Would you be in favor of a regional jury system? Cast your vote at baltimoresun.

A lawyer representing opponents of the proposed Wegmans store in Columbia is vowing to take the case to Maryland's highest courts and perhaps to federal court despite another setback this week. Meanwhile, Wegmans is preparing to move forward with the project despite the legal appeals, said Stephen Leaty, the grocery chain's project manager. "It really is an internal scheduling thing. We're anxious to get going on this," he said, but months of internal planning and preparations are required.