Family Life Center

Waverly Elementary School PTA's next general meeting will feature a professional investment adviser who will speak on "Saving for Your Child's Future."Because the topic may hold interest for many parents, the PTA has thrown the meeting open to the community.The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the school.All are welcome to attend.*In late December, the Family Support Center quietly opened its doors in a townhouse located in the Hilltop development in downtown Ellicott City.The Family Support Center is a joint project of Howard County Community Action Council and a variety of county agencies and is funded by the United Way of Central Maryland.

Andrew Moore, a 23-year-old father of two, is slated to stand before nearly 500 men today to explain why he left the drug game to help raise his children. Moore quit selling hard drugs two years ago and decided to accept his parental responsibilities, primarily because he did not want to be like his father, who Moore says abandoned him when he was 2. Moore, now a bricklayer, will share his experiences as a panelist at a free one-day fatherhood conference at New Shiloh Baptist Church Family Life Center, 2100 N. Monroe St. "It's people out there that if they hear me speak and hear what I went through, they know they're not the only people out there that is going through that," Moore said.

Family Life Center Location: The Christian Church of Christ on New Cut Road in Severn. Developer: Manekin Construction LLC of Columbia Description: A 12,000-square-foot addition will include basketball and volleyball courts and event and dining areas. The building will also feature space for classrooms. Status: Construction has begun on the project, which is expected to be complete this fall.

POLICE LOG* Harper's Choice: 5400 block of Harpers Farm Road: Computer equipment was stolen from a business office between last Friday and Tuesday after someone entered through a roof opening and broke an office window, police said.10400 block of Twin Rivers Road: A window was found broken at the Family Life Center Tuesday morning. Police said someone had entered and stolen computer equipment overnight.

POLICE LOG* Hickory Ridge: 6100 block of Covington Road: A resident was awakened by noises early yesterday morning and saw a burglar run from the dining room and climb out a front living room window, police said. A rifle and other property were taken. The burglar had removed a screen from an open window to enter.* Harper's Choice: 10400 block of Twin Rivers Road: A VCR and cash were stolen from the Family Life Center on Friday or Saturday. A rock was used to break a window for entry. Police said blood found at the scene indicated the thief had been cut by glass.

On June 30, 2004, LEON H., beloved husband of Joyce A. Barrett, devoted father of Cnythia Corbin, Orris and Kevin Barrett. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. On Tuesday friends may call at the VAUGHN C. GREEN FUNERAL SERVICE, 5151 Balto. Natl' Pike from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. On Wednesday Mr. Barrett will lie in state at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 200 W. Lafayette Ave., where the family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:00 A.M. with services to follow.

As part of its professional development series, the Family Life Center will present a one-day workshop, "Healing the Wound of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Adult Survivors in Therapy," with psychologist Christine A. Courtois, tomorrow at the Holiday Inn at 7900 Washington Blvd.The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will enable clinicians to increase their ability to recognize clues to a sexual-abuse history, develop therapeutic strategies, learn about issues related to delayed memory controversies and learn about the requirements for treating victims of sexual abuse.

Marathon raises $12,000 for charity500 runners complete raceA total of $12,000 was raised in the Columbia Birthday Marathon Race on Sept. 19. Sponsored by the Columbia Foundation, the marathon was a celebration of Columbia's 26th birthday and a fund-raiser for the Columbia Foundation.The money will be used to fund Grassroots, the Family Life Center, the Domestic Violence Center, Columbia Pro Cantare and the Columbia Orchestra.About 500 marathon and relay runners completed the 26-mile course through the villages of Columbia.

A former chief executive officer of the Easter Seal Society of Maryland Inc. and past development director for Planned Parenthood of Maryland has been named executive director of the Family Life Center in west Columbia.Carol H. Holmquist, 47, of Baltimore was chosen Nov. 15 to head the 23-year-old center, a group of mental health professionals established to offer counseling. She starts the full-time job Dec. 11. The center has an annual budget of $500,000.She replaces Jane Walker, who held that position for eight years.