District 12

United We Stand sponsors forumFive Democrats and four Republicans have filed as candidates in the delegate race in Maryland Legislative District 12A, which includes southwest Baltimore County and portions of Columbia and Elkridge.These candidates have been invited to participate in a candidate forum sponsored by United We Stand America of Maryland, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Arbutus Branch of the Baltimore County Library.Each candidate will be requested to present a five-minute introduction and outline why he or she should be elected.

State Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, who represents District 12 which includes Catonsville and Arbutus as well as portions of Howard County, is one of three state legislators honored for their efforts in support of people with developmental disabilities. Kasemeyer received a Champion for Real Lives Award from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition at the 2013 annual Developmental Disabilities Day in Annapolis last month. "Throughout his tenure in the Maryland General Assembly, Sen. Kasemeyer has been a tireless advocate for the issues most important to Marylanders with developmental disabilities," said Ken Capone, public policy coordinator for People on the Go, in a release.

MAYOR: Martin O'Malley (D) CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT Sheila Dixon (D) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 Angelo Solera (D) Brandon S. Katz (R) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 Lois Garey (D) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 Robert W. Curran (D) Lorraine B. Pontilla (R) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 Kenneth N. Harris Sr. (D) Bruce W. Fleming (R) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. Rochelle Rikki Spector (D) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 Shawn Z. Tarrant (D) Owen B. Hanratty (R)

Del. Steve DeBoy, who represents Arbutus, Lansdowne and part of Catonsville in District 12A, has been named to the board of directors for the Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. Barry Williams, a Lansdowne High graduate who is now director of the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, will preside as chairman of the 86-member Scouts board for a second term. Williams is the nephew of Margaret Williams, a black Cowdensville resident who sued to gain entrance to all-white Catonsville High School in 1936.

Housing Alliance plans a public forumThe Howard County Housing Alliance will hold a public forum for Howard County's political candidates to present their postions on low- and moderate-income housing at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Michael Spear Center, Rouse Company Building, Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Information: 841-5840.District 12 candidates will meet at open forumDistrict 12 state Senate candidates Edward J. Kasemeyer and David P. Maier will meet in a public forum 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Arbutus.

Both Democrats and Republicans in Howard County believe they have a chance to win a new seat in the House of Delegates proposed for the area around Ellicott City. The added seat comes as part of a state legislative redistricting map put forth this month by a panel appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley, and would mirror Howard's most competitive County Council district — won in a tight race last year by Democrat Courtney Watson. "I think the map gives us some excellent opportunities," said Howard's Democratic Central Committee Chair, Michael C.A. McPherson.

Want to work out like Katniss? The Maryland Athletic Club has developed a Hunger Games workout. The four-week program is designed to “bring out your inner tribute,” by testing your endurance, reflexes and natural strength. Officials say the workouts will get progressively more intense (though there's no mention of arrows, fire balls or genetically altered dogs.) The program will feature: Week 1 is “District 12,” which includes iceskaters, spiderman push-ups, inverted rows, ball slams, suicide sprints, straight punches and jumping squats.

Republican state Sen. Sandra B. Schrader held on to her seat by the narrowest of margins last night in a pivotal race for party control against veteran Councilman C. Vernon Gray. Schrader was 2 percentage points ahead with all 40 precincts reporting, a difference of 732 votes. The race pitted Howard County's first female state senator against a man who would have been the county's first African-American in that office. Schrader, who was appointed to her seat in January when Martin G. Madden resigned and had never run for office, faced a tough battle from Gray, a Columbia Democrat with 20 years' experience on the County Council who had never lost an election.

Republican state Sen. Sandra B. Schrader held on to her seat by the narrowest of margins last night in a pivotal race for party control against veteran Councilman C. Vernon Gray. Schrader was 2 percentage points ahead with all 40 precincts reporting, a difference of 732 votes. The race pitted Howard County's first female state senator against a man who would have been the county's first African-American in that office. Schrader, who was appointed to her seat in January when Martin G. Madden resigned and had never run for office, faced a tough battle from Gray, a Columbia Democrat with 20 years' experience on the County Council who had never lost an election.

County Library Web -- howa.lib.md.us Central Library -- 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. 410-313-7800. East Columbia branch -- 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-313-7700. Elkridge branch -- 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. 410-313-5088. Glenwood branch -- 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. 410-313-5577. Miller branch -- 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. 410-313-1950. Savage branch -- 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. 410-880-5980. Policies Borrowing library materials -- Howard County library cards entitle cardholders to borrow up to 30 items at a time.