Havre De Grace

Havre de Grace voters go to the polls Tuesday to select three council members.Mayor Gunther D. Hirsch is also running for another term, but he is unopposed.Vying for the open council seats are incumbents John P. Correri Jr., James C. Vancherie Jr. and Rene A. Lambert, and challengers Henry J. Schreiber and Charles A. Maslin.The polling place in the auditorium of Havre de Grace High School will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nearly half of the city's 8,800 residents are registered voters.Letters from the candidates outlining several of their positions are at right and below.

A Havre de Grace man was killed and four other people were injured in a two-vehicle collision on Route 40 between Aberdeen and Havre de Grace Sunday afternoon, Maryland State Police said. Route 40 in the vicinity of Robin Hood Road was closed for several hours as a result of the accident, which occurred around 4:45 p.m. A preliminary investigation by state police found a 2000 Ford Explorer, operated by Shawn Marcel Christy, 28, of the 700 block of Otsego Street in Havre de Grace, was traveling east on Route 40. Upon approaching Robin Hood Road the operator lost control of the Ford Explorer, crossed the median of Route 40 and struck a 2004 Ford Expedition, operated by Margaret Ann Hockenberry, 54, of the 500 block of Congress Avenue in Havre de Grace, state police said in a news release.

The allegedly forced transfer of a half-dozen veteran teachers from Havre de Grace Elementary School by the principal has unleashed emotions that are not going to be calmed by Harford County school board promises of hiring a mediator to resolve the situation in the fall.Especially when the Harford school board and administration conveniently shield themselves from public discussion behind the hoary excuse, "It's a personnel matter." And when Superintendent Ray Keech gives unquestioned authority to Principal Franklin Tull to make those questionable personnel decisions.

Facing Havre de Grace over the next two years are many issues that have posed challenges to the city for the past several years, notably land development policy, the related matter of water and sewer service finances and the ever-present issue of the degree to which tourism is part of the city's economic base. On May 8, voters in the city will have a choice among seven people - three incumbents and four newcomers to city politics - when they cast ballots to fill three seats on the six-member Havre de Grace City Council.

It could have been just another summer, hanging around the '' house, looking for things to do. But for about 385 Harford County young people and another 200 in Cecil, the summer has been filled with learning "life skills" and getting some practical job experience.The first appeal was the money, according to youths in the program, like 18-year-old Dawn West. "Jobs are hard to find because everyone wants someone who is older and has experience," she said. Ms. West graduated from Havre de Grace High in June.

Mission: To restore, preserve and maintain the cultural history of the city of Havre de Grace and the former Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal, including the Lock House, Pivot Bridge, Canal Lock and Basin; and to interpret the history through educational programs and exhibits. In operation from 1840 to about 1900, the 45-mile Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal connected Havre de Grace with Wrightsville, Pa. Mule-drawn boats traveling the canal had to be raised 233 feet through 29 locks. Historical artifacts of Havre de Grace and the canal era are on display in the Lock House, which was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1982.

If the North Harford Hawks expected an easy game Tuesday afternoon, they got anything but and had to battle Havre de Grace for eight innings before coming out with a 6-5, non-division victory over the host-team Warriors. The win put North Harford (6-1 Chesapeake Division) at 8-1 on the year, while Havre de Grace (2-6 Susquehanna Division) fell to 2-7 on the year. Down 2-0 after the Hawks posted their second run of the game in the top half of the third, Havre de Grace pushed across four runs in the home half of the inning.

The Havre de Grace girls lacrosse team continued on its early season roll Wednesday night, beating visiting Rising Sun, 13-4. The Warriors also beat Aberdeen, which beat Edgewood. Perryville was also in the win column. Eva Villareal led the Warriors against Rising Sun with four goals, and Carly Thompson added three. Brianna Haffey, Haley Dean, Kara Neiberlein and Margaret Stump each had two goals. Warrior goalie Abbie Blessing chalked up the win with 12 saves. Dean and Katie Thompson each had six ground balls, while Katie Thompson also had four interceptions.

A fourth-grader at Havre de Grace Elementary School has been named a 2012 Carson Scholar for her academic achievement and inspiring essay written about one of her teachers. Gabriella Vega is the winner of a $1,000 Ben Carson reading scholarship, which will go toward her college education. She was honored during the Havre de Grace City Council meeting March 19, and even had the dubious honor of sitting on the dais during the first part of the meeting. According to the scholarship's website, carsonscholars.org, the award is given to students between fourth and 11th grades "who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities.

American Cruise Lines has announced it will return to Havre de Grace again this year, as its American Glory is scheduled to make port stops in the city during May and early June. According to American Cruise Lines, the American Glory offers discerning travelers a unique and modern style of small ship cruising. Each unique and off-the-beaten path port visited, gives guests a glimpse into the cultural heritage that is the fabric of our great nation. The country-club atmosphere onboard allows guests to relax, and enjoy the company of fellow travelers who share their interests in American history and culture.

The Havre de Grace Warriors improved to 3-1 in softball on the year with a victory Wednesday, topping the visiting Joppatowne Mariners, 21-1. The Aberdeen Eagles won three and the Perryville Panthers lost once in recent girls softball action. The Havre de Grace-Joppatowne game ended after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Warrior starter Megan Thompson tossed a no-hitter, striking out eight and issuing six walks over five innings of work. Joppatowne's lone run was scored in the second inning on two wild pitches and a passed ball.

There are characters, and there are characters, and one of the area's true unique ones, Leonard "call me Len" H. Lockhart Sr., died Feb. 27, the day following his 85th birthday. Plenty of folks around Havre de Grace knew Mr. Lockhart and some had business dealings with him, among them Cecil Hill, Bob Wood and the rest of group that developed Bayview Estates, where the eponymous Lockhart Court is named for him. Mr. Lockhart was a lawyer and a banker, a mixture of Harold Hill, Seabright Cooley and Elmer Gantry to name a few literary characters that come to mind.

A person was struck and killed by an Amtrak passenger train in Havre de Grace early Friday morning, Havre de Grace city police said. At 12:35 a.m. officers from the Havre de Grace Police Department, members of the Susquehanna Hose Company and the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps responded to a report of an individual being struck by an Amtrak train in the area of Post Road. Upon arrival, officers located one victim on the railroad tracks at the end of the 400 block of Webb Lane, according to a news release from the Havre de Grace Police Department.

All three Harford County municipalities will be recipients of state Community Legacy Program grants announced by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Wednesday. Havre de Grace will get a $100,000 grant to make landscaping, signage and other beautification improvements at the entrance to the Hatem Bridge and along Superior Street. The city will also receive a $20,000 grant to develop a living fence of shrubbery and other plants at its downtown water treatment plant.