Frisky

A bill that would have guaranteed the continued existence of Frisky's Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary in western Howard County was killed on an ironic 3-2 vote by the County Council last night. The deciding "no" vote was cast by newly appointed member Charles C. Feaga, a western county Republican who replaced the bill's sponsor, Allan H. Kittleman, who left the council in October to take his late father's seat in the state Senate. "We felt very differently on it," Feaga said, adding that Kittleman had lobbied him late yesterday to support a last-ditch compromise amendment supported by two Democrats, council Chairman Guy Guzzone, who represents North Laurel-Savage, and east Columbia's David A. Rakes.

The ravages of time have not yet caught up to the aptly named Young Dubliner. While most of his thoroughbred peers of 14 years have been retired from running and jumping and are turned out to an idyllic life in the pasture, Young Dubliner keeps right on going. "He probably thinks he's about 6 because he tries to run off like a child," trainer Katherine Neilson said. "When you get on him to gallop, he's ready to go." At lucky 13, the Irish-bred gelding had a very good year. He won the prestigious Maryland Hunt Cup and went on to clinch the National Steeplechase Association timber championship with a runner-up finish over yielding turf in Camden, S.C., late last season.

The next morning, the man telephoned the Zoo. George watched him. He was fascinated. Then the man went away.George was curious. He wanted to telephone, too. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. What fun!DING-A-LING-A-LING! GEORGE HAD TELEPHONED THE FIRE STATION!The firemen rushed to the telephone."Hello! Hello!" they said. But there was no answer.Then they looked for the signal on the big map that showed where the telephone call had come from.They didn't know it was GEORGE.They thought it was a real fire.

KEEDYSVILLE -- I have joined an army that no longer exists, fighting a battle and a war whose outcome is predetermined, and I can barely wipe the silly grin off my face when the cameras start rolling. Mr. Maxwell, I'm ready for my close-up. Right. Me and about 400 other re-enactors on location for Gods and Generals, Part 2 of director Ron Maxwell's Civil War trilogy. Part 2 is named for the novel by Jeff M. Shaara on which it is based. Today we're filming the battle of Chancellorsville, a resounding Confederate victory that came at the high price of Gen. Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson's life.

I have to admit that even though "Second Hand News" is a great way to kick off a night of what was clearly going to be hit after hit of A+, No. 1, solid-gold Fleetwood Mac tunes, hearing Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks sing the first few measures put a little stone in my throat. Lindsey sounded ragged and rough: Did he give too much to Madison Square Garden the night before? Perhaps over-carousing? Does Lindsey deign to carouse? And Stevie, oh Stevie, the top range of her uniquely fluid yet meaty voice clipped.

Howard County is home to a wealth of nonprofits serving a wide array of needs. Some of the organizations are assisting people in crisis, others are providing specialized services for underserved demographic groups and many are offering educational programs. Though many of the nonprofits specifically serve county residents, others serve people throughout the country and the globe from headquarters in Howard. Whether you're looking to donate time, money or resources, or are in need of special services, the following list provides a broad sample of the many nonprofits Howard has to offer.

Howard County's animal control, not the Board of Appeals, should decide when a private wildlife shelter in Woodstock must remove its exotic pets the board has ruled. The five appointed board members voted unanimously Tuesday to remove language from an order that gave Frisky's Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary four years to find new homes for its 28 monkeys. Since 1993, shelter manager Colleen Layton has cared for discarded pets and injured wildlife at Frisky's on Old Frederick Road. A year ago, the board ruled that the shelter could continue to rehabilitate the wildlife but that exotic animals, ostensibly the monkeys, had to go. Workers from the Department of Planning and Zoning first inspected Frisky's in 2000, acting on an anonymous tip that the shelter was operating without proper approval from the county.

Supporters of Frisky's Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary in Woodstock turned out for a Howard County Council hearing last night to support a proposed change in local zoning law to benefit the nonprofit animal shelter. The more than 50 supporters far outnumbered the three opponents of the bill that could help the embattled shelter by allowing animal sanctuaries as a conditional zoning use - after a public hearing, and if they meet technical standards. The bill sponsored by Councilman Allan H. Kittleman, a western county Republican, is due for a council vote Oct. 4. If approved, it would require at least a 3-acre site.

A juvenile Cooper's hawk with a broken wing was running along the fences backing to Windstream Drive on March 5. I made several unsuccessful attempts to rescue the youngster with the help of some neighbors I had never met and a close friend. It was very cold and getting dark but I was determined to save this beautiful bird from certain death. In desperation I hesitantly called 911, fearful of being accused of (and possibly fined for) inappropriately calling. I was surprised and elated when the woman who answered kindly offered to call Animal Control directly since they were closed.

Frisky's Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary can stay in Woodstock but its monkeys must be out in four years, a Howard County panel has decided. The vote -- which pleased neither Frisky's longtime manager nor the next-door neighbors opposed to the primates -- came after 27 months of hearings to decide the fate of the private shelter, which was operating without land-use approval. "I'm devastated, I'm totally devastated," said Colleen Layton, who runs the sanctuary from her 3.7-acre home. "Phasing us out, I could have handled, where you get no more, or `you have so many years to do something about the macaque monkeys' -- but all of them?"