Hammond Elementary

WHAT DO you do if your child will eat nothing but noodles? Or if the sight of a squash sends her sprinting from her seat? Karen Seigel, a nutritionist with the Howard County Health Department, addressed these and other issues at a seminar Saturday at the Savage branch library. Seigel, of Scaggsville, is a registered dietetic technician and nutrition counselor. But her credibility is sealed by the fact that she is also the mother of a 4-year-old -- and she practices what she preaches. No junk food in her cupboards -- Seigel is a strict vegan, and her daughter is vegetarian.

On Gorman Road there is a curve so sharp you must slow down to drive by. At the point of the curve, on the barbed wire fence that fronts the road, a bouquet of hydrangeas, faded to rusty gold, tops the upper wire.Below hangs a grape vine wreath whose flowers have dropped off, leaving only bright ribbon. Further down, hidden in the tall weeds by the fence post, stands a bouquet of once-red roses, the blossoms shrunken and blackened.These flowers poignantly express someone's hope that Pam Basu's death will not be forgotten.

Some children in Howard County may be heading to the classroom earlier -- or later -- if the school board approves adjustments to next year's school schedules.The school system is anticipating tweaking opening and closing times for some schools to accommodate the opening of a new school and expansion of the county's Technology Magnet program, and to save money.According to a report presented to the board last night, the school system would need $231,000 for seven more buses if the proposals are rejected.

A stroll along the colorful halls of Hammond Elementary School reveals no evidence of the power struggle that threatens to turn neighbors against one another and teachers against parents. "It's become divisive in the community," said Nancy Trudel, a parent who has heard rumblings of the unrest, but is unsure of its origin or basis. Tucked away in a back room last week at the North Laurel school, a group of 11 educators detailed what they say is harassment by a small group of parents they contend can't separate fact from fiction.

Makenna Burns is only 8, but she believes she'll never have a Halloween as memorable as this year's. Her Pocahontas costume garnered a slew of comments, including one from President Barack Obama. Makenna, a third-grader at Hammond Elementary in Laurel, was one of 200 children at the school to receive a ticket to the Obama family's first Halloween celebration at the White House. No one at the school is exactly sure how it was chosen, but they don't care. They're still basking in their brush with one of the most powerful families in the world.

"I think the book 'Arthur's Honey Bear' by Lillian Hoban is spectacular. One reason is the illustrations are marvelous. I also liked it because Arthur had a honey bear. Arthur became an uncle because he sold his honey bear to his sister. One day Arthur wanted his honey bear back."-- Damani Carter,Hammond Elementary"My favorite book is 'Mummies' by Joyce Milton. It's about all sorts of mummies. The mummies live in pyramids. I think everybody should read this book because it has action in it."

"I think 'Hazel's Amazing Mother' by Rosemary Wells is jTC spectacular. I enjoyed the characters Hazel and her mother. My favorite part is when Hazel says, 'My Elenor!' I especially like the illustrations."- McKenzie Stough,Hammond Elementary School"My favorite books are by Dr. Seuss because they are nice books to read to my little sister and you can learn some more stuff, too. They are fun books to read to someone. They are good books, very good books. I liked the pictures, too. You should get them."

Two weeks ago, the Board of Education changed the redistricting plan that isolates three streets (called Polygon 16 and 1016). Under this plan, 20 students would attend Guilford Elementary while all of the other streets in Dickinson would attend Atholton or Hammond Elementary. As the western boundary for Guilford Elementary under the proposal, the closest residence to the east would be 1.4 miles away. Our children would have to walk, bike, or be driven at least 1.4 miles through commercial zones and across major roads to visit friends, while just one street to the west, kids will be going to Atholton Elementary.

Developers planning subdivisions in eastern Howard County or projects that require conditional-use permission must meet with neighbors before submitting plans to the county. The next scheduled meetings are: Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Frederick Ward Associates Inc., 7125 Riverwood Drive, Columbia, about a proposal for 50 units on 43 acres on the Meyer property, 5600 U.S. 1. Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Hammond Elementary School, 8110 Aladdin Drive, North Laurel, for a conditional use sought by Hammond Park Recreation Inc. on 8034 Helmart Drive.

State Sen. Martin G. Madden and officials from the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative will meet with North Laurel residents Wednesday to discuss recent runoff problems and odors emitted by the plant.When workers clean trucks at the milk plant, the runoff flows into the nearby Hammond Branch. Residents have complained to Mr. Madden that strong odors from the runoff waft into their yards.Mr. Madden, a Republican representing East Columbia, Jessup and North Laurel, and officials from the plant will discuss steps that could be taken to correct the problem.