Fannie Lou Hamer

The sudden rise and fall of the woman who would have been the first elected African-American mayor of Annapolis has opened wounds in the capital city's black community. Now it's up to a white county councilman to try to heal them. Josh Cohen lost the mayoral primary last month but became the Democratic nominee after Zina C. Pierre, a charismatic political consultant who eked out a victory in a six-way race, said she was abandoning the contest after embarrassing revelations of debts and other personal financial problems.

Annapolis Alderman Sheila M. Tolliver, a Democrat who represents Ward 2, and WYRE-AM radio program director Melissa Owens are among six women being given the Fannie Lou Hamer Award tomorrow by the Martin Luther King Jr. Awards committee. Other award winners are Mary Ringgold, a Severn activist; Barbara Ann Dorsey, president of the YWCA board of directors; Deborah Mackall, an Annapolis activist; and Margurite R. Askew-Kirkland, a Severna Park activist. They will be honored at the ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

Six women will be honored Oct. 6 for their contributions to their communities as this year's recipients of the Fannie Lou Hamer Award, given by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Committee on the birthday of the renowned feminist and civil rights activist. Honorees are Del. Joan Cadden; Christine S. Davenport, the first black member of the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee from District 32; Mitzi Bernard, a South County activist; Shelia Raynor-Frazier, a Glen Burnie activist; Shannon Wells, a Severn activist; and Modestine Truvillion Wesley, a resident of Edgewater.

6 women to be honored at annual Hamer awards Six extraordinary women are to be feted at the 5th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Awards reception, named after the famous feminist and civil rights activist. The reception, which will be held at the Banneker Douglass Museum, 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis, is held each year to honor women who keep her legacy alive through their words, deeds, and actions. Mrs. Hamer was a remarkable woman. The daughter of a Mississippi sharecropper, she won national acclaim and assisted Martin Luther King, Jr. in working for the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, that insures that African-Americans right to vote would be protected.

Anne Arundel: Millersville Police identify man killed in crash Anne Arundel County police released the name yesterday of the 51-year-old man who died Thursday when his vehicle was struck by a police cruiser in Millersville. Vannoy William Baker, 51, of Upper Marlboro, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was driving his 2005 Toyota Corolla north on Veterans Highway near East-West Boulevard when his vehicle was struck as he attempted to make a U-turn. The officer, Cpl. Roger E. Crawford, a 16-year-veteran who was traveling behind the Toyota, was treated at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore and released.

Last week we witnessed the passing of Rosa Parks, the 92-year old "mother" of the modern civil rights movement. Mrs. Parks, who was arrested on December 1, 1955 for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, became a powerful symbol of the movement. On the evening of her arrest, a 26-year-old preacher by the name of Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed to the world, "Sister Rosa it is better that we walk in dignity than ride in shame," and with those words, a 381-day boycott of buses in Montgomery, Ala., occurred, which resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court striking down an ordinance that required African-Americans to ride on the back of the bus. Mrs. Parks was 42 years old when she refused to give up her seat.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's political redistricting plan earned a quick first stamp of approval from the Maryland Senate on Monday night despite a day full of objections from top Republicans — and a sitting Democratic congresswoman — who slammed the map as partisan gerrymandering that dilutes minority voices. The Senate was prepared to meet late into the night Monday to consider S.B. 1, O'Malley's proposal to redraw Maryland's eight congressional districts, likely adding another Democrat to the state's delegation to Capitol Hill.

A chief executive officer trying to improve the quality of life in Anne Arundel County. An outspoken lobbyist striving for improvements in education. A local leader fighting to protect the environment.Also, an educator tutoring children and adults. A federal attorney working to ensure that minorities receive equal opportunities. And a community activist guiding children in positive directions.These are six accomplished women who have had an impact on the county this year through their involvement in politics, education, business and community issues.

A new political map aimed at adding a seventh Democrat to the state's congressional delegation is expected to be sent to Gov. Martin O'Malley Thursday for his signature. The plan won approval in the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday after five hours of debate, overcoming unified opposition from Republicans and ire from suburban Washington Democrats. One final stamp of approval is expected from the Senate Thursday morning. Despite two weeks of steady criticism from liberal and conservative groups, the bill passed 91 to 46, with only five Democrats joining the House GOP caucus to vote "no. " House leaders easily fended off three Republican amendments and one from Montgomery County Democrats, who argued that the map denies them a minority voice in Congress.

Six county women to be honored for service Six Anne Arundel County women will be honored for their contributions to racial justice, equal opportunity and community service at the 13th annual Fannie Lou Hamer Awards Reception, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Francis Scott Key Auditorium at St. John's College. The event award is co-sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee Inc., St. John's College and the Office of the Attorney General. Hamer was a civil rights leader who worked until her death in 1977 for voting rights and equal opportunities for minorities.