Garage Door

Columbia's Clemons Crossing is about as far as one can get from an urban area and not be in the country. There are no drive-by shootings, no strangers lurking in dark alleyways. It is a quintessential suburban neighborhood of comfortable homes on quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sacs -- a place sought after precisely because it seems so safe.But even the serenity of suburbia is occasionally shattered, and never so much as when a child is the victim.The tragic death of 8-year-old Simon Robert Decker of Clemons Crossing last Wednesday evening rips the veil off the illusion that "these things happen elsewhere."

A 12-year-old Pasadena boy was in critical condition at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Children's Center yesterday after being hit in the head by a pellet fired from friend's toy rifle Tuesday evening, police said.The youth was taken to surgery yesterday morning. The state's attorney's is reviewing the incident, said county police spokesman Officer Randy Bell.The incident happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. at a house in the 300 block of Dorchester Road. The victim was sitting in an easy chair playing a video game.

POLICE LOG* Owen Brown: 6500 block of Dobbin Road: Someone attempted to break into an F&M store early Monday by smashing a glass door.6400 block of Dobbin Road: A cash register at All Tune and Lube was taken when someone pried open a garage door to enter the business between Saturday and Monday.9300 block of Snowden River Parkway: Someone attempted to pry the rear door of the Petra Deli on Oct. 6 or 7, but no entry was made, police said.

POLICE LOG* Long Reach: 8800 block of Blade Green Lane: Someone tried to enter a maroon 1986 Subaru last Wednesday by tampering with the lock on a passenger side door, police said.5400 block of Tree Frog Place: Someone broke through a dining room window Friday or Saturday and stole a VCR, CD player, jewelry and a bank. Police said three windows were shattered and a garage door was pried during the burglary.Owen Brown: 9300 block of Wheat Sheaf Way: The rear window of a maroon Nissan Stanza was smashed some time between Nov. 5 and Wednesday, police said.

Columbia Council establishes grantsThe Columbia Council has established a grant program of $1,000 for funding community service projects initiated by high school students who live on Columbia Association assessed property.Up to $250 will be awarded to those projects meeting community service criteria as established by the Columbia Council.Applications and a copy of the criteria are available at high schools, village centers, the Columbia Association at 10221 Wincopin Circle and the Member Service Center at The Mall in Columbia.

After the arrest of two boys who jumped from a stolen Jeep Cherokee in Baltimore yesterday, Baltimore County police were searching for two suspects they believe may be part of a theft ring that used garage door openers to steal electronic equipment from homes.Two youths, ages 15 and 17, were arrested by Baltimore City police officers when they jumped from the stolen Jeep at Clifton Avenue and Ellamont Street near Walbrook Avenue after a chase that started at about 6 a.m. Two men who also jumped from the truck and fled are being sought.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City: 2500 block of Ashbrook Drive: Someone broke into a house Monday by kicking in a garage door and a door leading into the house. A shotgun, jewelry, videocassette recorder, television, fax machine and printer were stolen.Ellicott City: 10200 block of Raleigh Tavern Lane: Jewelry, computer equipment and frozen food were stolen from a house Monday after someone kicked in the front door.Ellicott City: 2500 block of N. Farm Drive: A fax machine, computer equipment and videocassette recorder were stolen from a house Monday or Tuesday.

Pictures are perhaps our most treasured possession. Tangible memories, they tell our stories, capture the moments of our lives and document our histories. They, of course, deserve proper and safe storage. Photographer and album designer John Porter couldn't agree more, having just created John Porter Everyday Archives, a comprehensive line of albums and photo storage tools to safely keep and protect photos up to 200 years. The line of products, which meets or exceeds preservation requirements set forth by the Library of Congress, includes a 9-by-7-inch or 5-by-7-inch Easy Archive Album ($10.

The crime report is a sampling of crimes in Howard County compiled from police. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-313-3700. East Columbia Stonebrook Lane: 8800 block, Kings Contrivance. Someone entered a residence July 31 and took jewelry. West Columbia Twin Rivers Road: 10500 block, Wilde Lake. Someone smashed the rear sliding-glass door of a residence Aug. 1 and took change and a stereo. Turnabout Lane: 5900 block, Harper's Choice. Someone broke out a back window of a residence Thursday and stole about $400 in change.