Elkridge

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is urging CSX Transportation to find a site in the city for its multi-million dollar cargo transfer center rather than look for a site in suburbs to the south. In a letter to CSX President and CEO Michael J. Ward released Thursday, the mayor said she was "deeply troubled" that plans for the Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility have stalled and expressed concern that if a new rail yard was not completed soon, "economic opportunity will pass us by. " The truck-to-rail center would allow CSX to bypass the narrow, century-old Howard Street tunnel beneath the city and double-stack containers trucked from the Port of Baltimore onto freight trains.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is urging CSX Transportation to find a site in the city for its multi-million dollar cargo transfer center rather than look for a site in suburbs to the south. In a letter to CSX President and CEO Michael J. Ward released Thursday, the mayor said she was "deeply troubled" that plans for the Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility have stalled and expressed concern that if a new rail yard was not completed soon, "economic opportunity will pass us by. " The truck-to-rail center would allow CSX to bypass the narrow, century-old Howard Street tunnel beneath the city and double-stack containers trucked from the Port of Baltimore onto freight trains.

Cheer coaches The Ellicott City Patriots Youth Football &Cheer Program is looking for volunteers to serve as head coaches, assistant coaches, stunt coaches, dance coaches, gymnastics coaches, fitness trainers and competition- level coaches. Information: Linda Lagala- Spano, 410-461-1225, or linda3at home@msn.com. Spring art classes Howard County Center for the Arts is holding registration for its visual and performing arts programs April 12 through June 13. Adult courses include beginner watercolor painting, sumi painting and knitting.

The Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point races will be run once more over the grounds of historic Atlanta Hall Farm, 2933 Pocock Road in Monkton, on Saturday, April 7. This annual race is the traditional warmup for Maryland's Triple Crown of steeplechasing. It has been a testing ground for the country's best timber horses for more than 50 years. There are three levels of parking admission: general, subscriber and finish line. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Julie Smith at viking48@earthlink.net or call 410-404-7071 for tickets.

Howard County Police have identified an 18-year-old Severn man as the second victim killed in a single-car crash Friday night in Elkridge. Jonathan Lloyd Deckman, a rear passenger in the vehicle, was identified as the victim. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident in the 6200 block of Lawyer's Hill Road. The front passenger, Jeffrey Ryan Giles of Linthicum, was also killed. Police said a preliminary investigation found that neither man was wearing a seat belt when the 2008 Pontiac GT collided with a tree.

Howard County police shot a man Monday near railroad tracks by an Elkridge industrial park after he refused to drop his handgun, police said. Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn identified the man Monday night as Jeffrey Dustin Nichols, 19, of the 6600 block of Grouse Road in Elkridge. He was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was listed in critical condition, she said in an email. Police said they were called about a man firing shots in the Hanover area around 3 p.m. Police followed him from the area near Loudon and Melrose avenues to an industrial park in the 7400 block of Hi Tech Road.

A woman was in critical condition after she was struck by a car while walking in the roadway along Route 1 in Elkridge, according to Howard County Police. The victim, whom police have not been able to identify, was walking in the southbound travel lane of Route 1 just south of Port Capital Drive at about 9:44 p.m. when she was struck by a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, according to police. The woman was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment. The driver was not injured.

James (Jim) H. Durfee , of Office Movers, Inc., in Elkridge, has been elected president of the Office Moving Alliance at its 2011 Annual Meeting, held Oct. 24-27, in Phoenix. Durfee will serve a two-year term at OMA, an international trade organization that boasts member revenues in excess of $780 million. Durfee will serve as President of OMA in addition to his regular position at Office Movers Inc. Ron Mason , chief operating officer, and chief executive officer Jerry Rader , both of Corridor Mortgage Group, presented a check for $7,500 to Special Olympics Howard County director Bob Baker . Corridor raised the money through a golf tournament held in October.

Elkridge-based electronics recycling company E-Structors was honored with a Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award Tuesday, June 7. The award is given to organizations that "have shown a strong commitment to sustainable practices, measurable results and continuous improvement," according to a news release from the Maryland Department of the Environment. E-Structors was able to ensure that 100 percent of the materials it recycles stay out of landfills by increasing the company's operational efficiency and taking advantage of new opportunities to recycle material such as shrink wrap and broken wooden pallets.

Howard County officials have agreed to purchase Belmont, the historic 18th-century estate in Elkridge, for just over half the cost paid by owner Howard Community College. The county reached an agreement Sept. 7 with Howard Community College at a price of nearly $2.7 million for the 81-acre property. But, because the county previously provided about $2.6 million to the school to help it purchase Belmont, Howard will now only pay the difference of $89,000, said Kevin Enright, a county spokesman.

Sunday, March 25 Concert The Orchestra of St. John's presents its final concert of the season, "Great Masterpieces," at 4 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. Admission is $25, $10 for students 18-24 with ID, and free to those 17 and younger accompanied by a paying adult. Information: 410-461-7793, ext. 501 or orchestraofstjohns.org. Wednesday, March 28 Schools The Board of Education's Legislative Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the department's Lobby Conference Room ML 2, at 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

100 Years Ago Visitations Miss Annie Pickett left Saturday for Staunton, Virginia, where she will spend several months. Mr. Edwin HB. Cromwell spent last week in West Virginia and Western Maryland. Mr. Charles Hobbs was in Mt. Airy last week. Mr. Frank Hobbs was in Baltimore Tuesday. And, break out the band, roll out the red carpet, Ellicott City had a treat that week as the Times reported that lo, and behold: "Mr. W. Harvey Davis was in Ellicott City Tuesday.

In July 2010, Adarien Jackson's 6-year-old son, Kaden, began complaining of itchy bumps on his ankles. They soon turned into a rash and spread to his back, behind his ear, and on his eyelid. The child's pediatrician and dermatologists tried allergy drugs, diet changes, oils and oatmeal baths. But it wasn't until months later that Jackson discovered the cause of the problem. Kaden's twin brother, Kyler, began waking in the middle of the night, crying out, "Bugs are crawling on me!"

Residents of Columbia, Ellicott City and Elkridge neighborhoods are waiting for County Executive Ken Ulman to weigh in on a plan that has the potential to shift several areas among County Council districts. The County Council on Monday broke a months-long deadlock on a redistricting plan proposed last year. The final plan, which needs Ulman's approval, would satisfy Ellicott City residents who complained loudly about an earlier proposal to move them into a Columbia district. But the plan also splits Elkridge, a measure that drew fresh complaints from people who live in that area.

Elkridge residents are turning to lawmakers from Howard County for help fighting the potential placement of a CSX rail transfer facility in their community, arguing that lower costs should not be the only factor considered. The site in Elkridge is the cheapest of four potential locations, and the only one estimated to stay within the original $150 million cost estimate — which CSX and the state had agreed to split equally. But Elkridge residents say the project would devastate the property values of the 353 homes that lie within a quarter-mile of the facility.

The Elkridge Furnace Inn made Open Table's 2012 Diners' Choice Award winners for the 100 most romantic restaurants in the U.S, the only Md. restaurant to make this year's list. The Elkridge Furnace Inn has since 1998 been in the hands of Daniel Welker, who is also the restaurant's executive chef. The restaurant is part of a 16-acre  complex on the Patapsco. The handsomely restored interior rooms are a particular treat for fans of colonial architecture. The restaurant is accepting reservations throughout Valentine's Day weekend and is offering a fixed-price menu  - three courses for $65; $75 for four courses - on Feb. 14. Open Table "awards" reflect the combined opinions of nearly 5 million reviews submitted by verified Open Table diners for more than 12,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the online restaurant-reservation resource.

Two people whom police believe were not wearing their seat belts were killed and three others were injured Friday night in a single-car crash in Elkridge. Howard County police say a 2008 Pontiac GT with five occupants crashed into a tree around 8:05 p.m. in the 6200 block of Lawyer's Hill Road. The vehicle was traveling westbound when the driver lost control, crossed the eastbound lanes and struck a tree. Police said speed appeared to be a factor in the accident. The front passenger, Jeffrey Ryan Giles, 19, of Linthicum, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fate of a $2.64 million deal for a new elementary school site in Elkridge remains unclear, with the property owners embroiled in a dispute over a lien that has delayed the project. If the Howard County school system cannot purchase a 10.1-acre site from Ducketts Ridge LLC, school officials will have to look elsewhere to open a 600-seat elementary school. The new school, which officials had hoped to open by August 2013, is needed to ease projected growth at Bellow Springs, Deep Run and Elkridge elementary schools in the northeastern part of the county.

Elkridge will get a new elementary school for the 2013-2014 academic year now that the sellers of a 10.1-acre site on Ducketts Lane have settled a dispute in court. The Howard County school system was supposed to close the deal with Ducketts Ridge LLC in October, but a shareholder refused to release a lien to the sellers. The $2.64 million deal was put on hold, leaving the school system without property needed to alleviate overcrowding in the northeast and causing the system to file a lawsuit in December.

Executive Chef Daniel Wecker reflects: This is one of my personal favorites because of the combination of the elegant, flaky flounder with the tartness of the sauce with the capers. I recommend a rice blend or creamy polenta as the starch and a garnish of chopped parsley. This dish pairs very nicely with Pouilly-Fuisse, White Burgundy, a rich, dry white wine. Sauteed Flounder Grenobloise Sauce Ingredients: - 3 cups of brown chicken stock - 1/3 cup roux (equal parts butter and flour cooked)