Fire Prevention Week

This week is Fire Prevention Week. Carroll County's 14 volunteer fire companies are reaching out to the community to promote fire prevention and fire safety to all ages. Following are some of the locations for activities: Sykesville: The company has fire-prevention activities lined up that will touch all the elementary schools, day care centers and preschools in the Sykesville-Eldersburg area. Children will visit the firehouse for a puppet show, hear fire-safety lessons, tour of the firehouse and get goodie bags.

Several Harford County fire companies held open houses last weekend in observance of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9 to 15. More open houses are planned for this coming weekend and later in October as the county continues to participate in the national observance of Fire Prevention Week. Among those holding open houses last weekend were Level Volunteer Fire Company, which drew a large crowd to its firehouse Sunday afternoon. Visitors took rides on one of the fire trucks, and firemen's jackets, boots and hats were available for the youngsters to try on. The fire company's museum was open and several demonstration booths were set up manned by local police and public safety agencies.

The county government is offering us an opportunity to relive a childhood fantasy of peeking into area fire stations.All next week, area fire stations hold open houses in honor of Fire Prevention Week. This is the one and only time to get answers to such time-honored questions as "Why do firemen wear red suspenders?" and "Where's the fire?"The Savage Volunteer Fire Company holds open house Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There'll be tours of the fire station and rescue facility, videos, balloons for the kids and -- if the firefighters can get a derelict auto in time -- a mock accident and rescue demonstration.

The Carroll County commissioners and Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association have teamed up to have smoke alarms installed in homes where there are none. Leon Fleming, the association's liaison to the county, asked the commissioners for money to purchase 1,000 smoke alarms "so we could put them on the apparatus and distribute them when people don't have smoke alarms in their houses." The commissioners allocated $4,000 from the general contingency account to pay for the smoke alarms.

The 37 kindergartners from Freedom Elementary School sat attentively as Cookie Monster and Big Bird bantered about what was more important: eating a cookie or dousing the flames in their clothing. After some persuasion, Cookie Monster agreed that the first thing to do was put out the fire. "Then can I eat my cookie?" he asked. The cookie had to wait, Big Bird said, until he stopped, dropped and rolled to put out the flames. As Cookie Monster and Big Bird sang the "Stop, Drop and Roll" song, the children rocked to the music.

An Ellicott City man lost his bid Friday to prevent prosecutors from using evidence expected to support allegations that he stole a $2,000 racing bicycle.Howard Circuit Judge Raymond Kane Jr. denied a request by Clifford Louis Bobo's attorney to prevent prosecutors from introducing bicycle components as evidence at Mr. Bobo's Oct. 16 trial.Mr. Bobo is the son of Del. Elizabeth Bobo.Defense attorney Lawrence Greenwald of Baltimore asserted at hearings Thursday and Friday that investigators provided a judge with inaccurate information to obtain a search warrant for Mr. Bobo's home in the 9200 block of Winding Way. Police seized bicycle parts during the search.

The 37 kindergartners from Freedom Elementary School sat attentively as Cookie Monster and Big Bird bantered about what was more important: eating a cookie or dousing the flames in their clothing. After some persuasion, Cookie Monster agreed that the first thing to do was put out the fire. "Then can I eat my cookie?" he asked. The cookie had to wait, Big Bird said, until he stopped, dropped and rolled to put out the flames. As Cookie Monster and Big Bird sang the "Stop, Drop and Roll" song, the children rocked to the music.

Harford County fire departments will be holding open houses throughout the month in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, today through Saturday.Open houses will be held to educate the community about fire safety and prevention, said Rhonda Polk, a firefighter andemergency medical technician for the Level Volunteer Fire Company.Although fire prevention is recognized nationally for one week, Ms. Polk said, "in Harford County, fire prevention is important all year long."Delta Fire Company will have its open house Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bel Air Fire Company will hold its open house between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Oct. 15, Lt. Pam MacLean said.

Calling two fatal house fires in which three men died over the summer "totally unacceptable," Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Association leaders are planning to launch a countywide campaign to make sure as many homes as possible have working smoke alarms. Visits by firefighters to homes in the neighborhoods where the men died -- Eldersburg in July and Winfield last month -- yielded frightening statistics: Of the homes with smoke alarms, half of them didn't work because of age or a dead battery.

Chamber sponsors forum for county, state candidatesThe Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor two candidate forums this month.The first, on Tuesday, will feature candidates for state senator and delegate.The second forum will be Oct. 13, featuring candidates for County Commissioner.Both forums are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wilhelm Ltd. Caterers on Route 140 in Westminster.Information: 410-848-9050.Family center presents varied events for membersThe Carroll County Family Center will offer activities for member families this month.

Calling two fatal house fires in which three men died over the summer "totally unacceptable," Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Association leaders are planning to launch a countywide campaign to make sure as many homes as possible have working smoke alarms. Visits by firefighters to homes in the neighborhoods where the men died -- Eldersburg in July and Winfield last month -- yielded frightening statistics: Of the homes with smoke alarms, half of them didn't work because of age or a dead battery.

This week is Fire Prevention Week. Carroll County's 14 volunteer fire companies are reaching out to the community to promote fire prevention and fire safety to all ages. Following are some of the locations for activities: Sykesville: The company has fire-prevention activities lined up that will touch all the elementary schools, day care centers and preschools in the Sykesville-Eldersburg area. Children will visit the firehouse for a puppet show, hear fire-safety lessons, tour of the firehouse and get goodie bags.

The 37 kindergartners from Freedom Elementary School sat attentively as Cookie Monster and Big Bird bantered about what was more important: eating a cookie or dousing the flames in their clothing. After some persuasion, Cookie Monster agreed that the first thing to do was put out the fire. "Then can I eat my cookie?" he asked. The cookie had to wait, Big Bird said, until he stopped, dropped and rolled to put out the flames. As Cookie Monster and Big Bird sang the "Stop, Drop and Roll" song, the children rocked to the music.

The 37 kindergartners from Freedom Elementary School sat attentively as Cookie Monster and Big Bird bantered about what was more important: eating a cookie or dousing the flames in their clothing. After some persuasion, Cookie Monster agreed that the first thing to do was put out the fire. "Then can I eat my cookie?" he asked. The cookie had to wait, Big Bird said, until he stopped, dropped and rolled to put out the flames. As Cookie Monster and Big Bird sang the "Stop, Drop and Roll" song, the children rocked to the music.

They've lost a few mirrors off the big fire engines, but most of the members of Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department have learned over the years to back their engines into their circa 1920s firehouse without a scratch. "You've got about this much space," said John L. Krebs IV, his thumb and forefinger about 2 inches apart. "I can hit it pretty good," he said, laughing to clarify that he means guiding the equipment through the doorway, not hitting it. "But it's a challenge." The fire company is in line to receive a $900,000 loan that would be used to renovate the old building and build an annex with wider doorways.

Consignment sale for children's goods is set for Oct. 25 The Dorsey Search Woman's Foundation Inc. will hold its Children's Consignment Sale from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 25 at Dunloggin Middle School, 9129 Northfield Road, Ellicott City. Admission is $1. For safety reasons, strollers are not admitted before 9 a.m. Sellers, who receive 50 percent of the sale price, must register in advance. Only children's clothing, toys, books, furniture, baby equipment and maternity items will be accepted for consignment.

Consignment sale for children's goods is set for Oct. 25 The Dorsey Search Woman's Foundation Inc. will hold its Children's Consignment Sale from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 25 at Dunloggin Middle School, 9129 Northfield Road, Ellicott City. Admission is $1. For safety reasons, strollers are not admitted before 9 a.m. Sellers, who receive 50 percent of the sale price, must register in advance. Only children's clothing, toys, books, furniture, baby equipment and maternity items will be accepted for consignment.

They've lost a few mirrors off the big fire engines, but most of the members of Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department have learned over the years to back their engines into their circa 1920s firehouse without a scratch. "You've got about this much space," said John L. Krebs IV, his thumb and forefinger about 2 inches apart. "I can hit it pretty good," he said, laughing to clarify that he means guiding the equipment through the doorway, not hitting it. "But it's a challenge." The fire company is in line to receive a $900,000 loan that would be used to renovate the old building and build an annex with wider doorways.

Chamber sponsors forum for county, state candidatesThe Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor two candidate forums this month.The first, on Tuesday, will feature candidates for state senator and delegate.The second forum will be Oct. 13, featuring candidates for County Commissioner.Both forums are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wilhelm Ltd. Caterers on Route 140 in Westminster.Information: 410-848-9050.Family center presents varied events for membersThe Carroll County Family Center will offer activities for member families this month.

Harford County fire departments will be holding open houses throughout the month in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, today through Saturday.Open houses will be held to educate the community about fire safety and prevention, said Rhonda Polk, a firefighter andemergency medical technician for the Level Volunteer Fire Company.Although fire prevention is recognized nationally for one week, Ms. Polk said, "in Harford County, fire prevention is important all year long."Delta Fire Company will have its open house Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bel Air Fire Company will hold its open house between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Oct. 15, Lt. Pam MacLean said.