Kings Contrivance

Columbia is nothing if not organized, and three Howard County council members want to use that village structure to create a citywide revitalization committee to keep the four-decade old town spiffy. Two members, Mary Kay Sigaty and Calvin Ball, both Democrats, took a first step toward that goal yesterday with a meeting in the county council chambers involving eight of Columbia's 10 villages and a variety of county agencies and private business representatives. "This is a great opportunity to improve our constituent services.

AT THE sound of a loud gong, four skippers aimed their sailboats through the starting gates.Driven by an uncertain breeze, the boats sped toward yellow buoys marking a windward turn. Skill and fortune kept the racers within inches of each other as they battled for position across the course.Saturday's race, held by the Maryland Model Yacht Club, was the first Thanksgiving Six Pack Regatta on Lake Kittamaqundi. The boats -- called "East Coast 12s" -- are radio-controlled scale models of sailboats that competed in the 1962 America's Cup."

WANTED: BLOCK captains. No experience necessary. Duties include being neighborly, playing in sand and starting fires. Apply at www.LuminaryProject.com.Kings Contrivance resident Jay Cincotta could place such an ad to recruit help (although he hasn't). Cincotta plans to bathe 1,000 Columbia streets in candlelight on the evening of Jan. 1, 2000."I think he got the idea when he was a kid," said his mother, Elaine Cincotta, who lives in Town Center. "We used to drive over to the neighborhoods by Centennial Lane at Christmas where they had luminaries on the streets."

The Columbia Council has decided to explore further the possible "annexation" of a proposed Rouse Co. development in North Laurel.Rafia Siddiqui, Columbia Association's vice president for administrative services, made a preliminary presentation to the 10-member council Thursday on the legal, financial and community implications of absorbing the so-called Key property into Kings Contrivance village.Under a Rouse proposal, the 516-acre parcel -- slated to have 1,145 dwellings, 1.2 million feet of employment space and 100,000 square feet of retail space -- would be subject to the association lien and would benefit from its programs and services.

LAST-MINUTE shoppers looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift can visit the Columbia Association Art Center. "Singular Sensations," a holiday exhibit of artwork priced at $150 or less, opened there Thursday.More than 300 pieces -- paintings, glass, ceramics and jewelry -- are available in the gallery show and sale displayed in the art center's main gallery."We bought three things," said state Sen. Martin G. Madden, who attended the opening with his wife, Julie. "I found some nice Christmas gifts."

The Rouse Co. wants its proposed North Laurel community to become part of Kings Contrivance village in east Columbia.The move, if agreed to by the Columbia Association and village officials, would mean that the 1,145 apartments, townhouses and single-family homes -- as well as the 1.2 million square feet of employment space and 100,000 square feet of retail space -- would be subject to the association lien, the community's equivalent of a property tax,...

STEVENS FOREST Elementary School fourth- and fifth-graders will be presenting "Let's Hear It for the Heroes," a play produced by physical education teacher Barry Palmer.Palmer has staged a play at Stevens Forest every year for the last 18 years. Now he has added "Heroes" to a revolving repertoire of seven plays presented by Stevens Forest students.The story involves an imaginary basketball team called The Gophers. In a critical game, they are down 22 points at halftime. Going into the locker room, the coach is having a difficult time inspiring his team.

THE TIME is right for dancing in our village centers. Summer is here, and Columbia merchant associations are sponsoring free summer concerts.From music to magic to puppet shows, families can enjoy entertainment as well as alfresco dining in their neighborhood shopping center.Most of the acts rotate through the village courtyards. All are professional, many from our area."I was looking forward to it this year," said Mike Mesa, 51, as he listened to the American roots music of the Dave Chappell Band while eating lunch on a shady bench in the village center earlier this month.

IF YOU live in Columbia, you have surely heard the comment, "That's an odd street name. You must live in Columbia!"If you live in Kings Contrivance, now is the time to show your pride in the unusual and often poetic names of our community's streets.Anne Dodd, Kings Contrivance village manager, is planning an exhibit called "The Story of Street Names in Kings Contrivance."Residents are urged to take a group picture of their neighbors around their street sign and bring it to Amherst House.Include the names of the people -- and pets -- in the photo, as well as the photographer's name and the date the photo was taken.

The Kings Contrivance Community Association invites middle school students who live in the village to enter a contest by submitting photographs that capture the beauty and history of the neighborhood.A single photo or a collage, in either black and white or color, may be submitted.The photo must be shot in Kings Contrivance and be the original work of the student.Entries must be submitted to Amherst House, 7251 Eden Brook Drive, Columbia, no later than 5 p.m. March 16.The winner will receive a $50 cash prize, and have his or her work displayed at Amherst House.

The Kings Contrivance Community Association, 7251 Eden Brook Drive, will offer a new class, called "Royal Keys: Manners Make the Person," 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 18 through Nov. 22. A free class will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The program is designed to teach kindness, manners, respect, values social skills and self-esteem. The cost is $110 for Columbia Association residents; $121 for others. Information: royalkeys.com. Registration: 410-381-9600. A scarecrow-making session and hayrides are planned at Amherst House in Kings Contrivance Village Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

In recent weeks, the soon-to-open Harris Teeter store had to station an employee at the front door to ward off would-be customers because many were walking in, grabbing a cart and shopping for groceries. Around the Kings Contrivance village center, where the supermarket will replace the former Safeway, anyone wearing a Harris Teeter shirt is fair game for questions about the opening date and the products the store will carry. The other day, a woman called and wanted to order a cake. Clearly, there is excitement over the arrival of the North Carolina-based chain.

Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks will sponsor 10-week Watercolor classes for ages 55 and older, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays, starting March 28, at the East Columbia 50+ center, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Artist Carol Zika has designed the class for beginners; continuing students and experienced dabblers are welcome. The group will paint during spring and summer, when landscape colors are brightest. A supply list will be discussed at the first class. The cost is $60. Registration and payment are due as soon as possible.

Howard County's Relay for Life, a community overnight event in which team members raise funds for the American Cancer Society, will be held June 6-7 at Hammond High School. Team members camp out and keep a team member walking around the school track throughout the night. Teams are forming now. For the first time, captains can register teams on-line at www.howardrfl.com and team members can register for an existing team. Registration is $10. A team captains' meeting will be held March 20. Howard County's 2007 Relay, attended by roughly 1,000 people, raised more than $270,000.

The Kings Contrivance Village Earth Day cleanup of the neighborhood's open space is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 29. Participants can sign in at Amherst House in the Kings Contrivance Village Center. They will receive a free T-shirt and a chance to enter a drawing for gift certificates. The rain date is April 12. Information: Hillary Bierce, 410-381-9617 or Anne Brinker, 410-381-9600. So many book clubs, so little time The east Columbia branch library's "Morning Books With Coffee" book club will discuss Don't Make a Scene, by Valerie Block, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Food *** (3 stars) Service *** (3 stars) Atmosphere *** (3 stars) Howard County, which, for whatever reason, is long on franchise eating places and short on fine dining, has had one notable exception since the 1960s: the Kings Contrivance. It was one of the first restaurants in the area to offer Continental dining, and now is one of the last. There's a sense of a different era about this place, even though the 1890s mansion has just gone through a major renovation to make it seem as fresh as a shiny new penny.

The Kings Contrivance Village Board will sponsor a discussion on recent crimes committed in the village center and local neighborhoods. Lt. Morris M. Carroll of the Howard County Police Department will attend the regularly scheduled Kings Contrivance board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Amherst House to answer questions raised by board members, residents and village merchants. Everyone is welcome. Information: Anne Brinker, 410-381-9600. Dorsey Run Road to get new sewer main A Howard County construction project to install about 200 feet of 2-inch, low-pressure sewer main along Dorsey Run Road is scheduled to begin this week.

Columbia is nothing if not organized, and three Howard County council members want to use that village structure to create a citywide revitalization committee to keep the four-decade old town spiffy. Two members, Mary Kay Sigaty and Calvin Ball, both Democrats, took a first step toward that goal yesterday with a meeting in the county council chambers involving eight of Columbia's 10 villages and a variety of county agencies and private business representatives. "This is a great opportunity to improve our constituent services.

Seniors who live in Kings Contrivance village are invited to a free lunch with their neighbors, to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 31. A main course and beverages will be provided; those who attend are asked to take a dessert to share. The lunch will include musical entertainment by Larry Scott, keyboardist and vocalist. Admission is free. Registration is requested by July 25. Information or registration: 410-381-9600. Belly dancing for adults July 16 The Long Reach Community Association is offering belly-dancing classes for adults July 16 through Sept.

The excitement Mary Tomasetti felt when she heard that a Harris Teeter store was coming to the Kings Contrivance Village Center had faded over the months as she waited for demolition to begin on the vacant buildings where the upscale supermarket would be built. "It has taken so long," said Tomasetti, 84, who lives nearby. "I really began to give up. I didn't know if it was going to come here anymore." Tomasetti's worries were put to rest as the arm of a backhoe began clawing away yesterday morning at the bricks, aluminum siding and roof of the vacant building that formerly housed a Safeway grocery store.