Pointers Run

Marissa Skapura thought she was done. She had just stood up in front of her fellow fifth-graders at Pointers Run Elementary School and read a poem about a cheerleading competition. As the audience clapped, she began to walk back to where she had been sitting on the cafeteria floor. But Gayle Danley, the visiting poet who was presenting the event, stopped her, saying Marissa had promised to do a cheer. "I thought that was a choice I could make," Marissa replied, indicating she didn't want to do it. The other students encouraged her, and, after much prompting, she performed a cheer, complete with some arm movements.

Larry Rosenberg knew he was on to a good thing when, in the span of just one day last summer, he received contracts on the 12 homesites his company planned to develop in River Hill, Columbia's newest village.The president of Mark Building Company quickly signed on with Columbia's developer, the Rouse Co., to buy 49 lots in a new section of the village that Rouse plans to open up to development this fall.River Hill, the last planned village in Columbia, is attracting a lotof interest from potential buyers.

Howard County school officials need to be more proactive and more creative when dealing with the issue of school crowding, according to dozens of parents and community members who spoke out last night about the superintendent's proposed capital budget and longer-term capital improvement plan. Superintendent John R. O'Rourke released his proposed capital spending plan for fiscal year 2003 last month. The $63.6 million plan - which includes a 117-seat addition to Clarksville Middle School and adds 50 seats to an addition planned for Rockburn Elementary - is $7 million more than last year's plan.

The annual rite of Howard County parents fretting over their children moving to a different school has begun as the school system unveiled to the public last night a redistricting plan to fill a new elementary school in Dayton and relieve crowding at neighboring schools in the west. The preliminary redistricting proposal not only takes into account the opening of the 788-seat elementary school in August 2006, it also considers a new Ellicott City elementary school in 2007 and several other elementary school projects in the county's western region.

They had to come from behind to do it, but the Glenelg High School varsity baseball team won the Maryland state AA baseball championship Saturday in a tight 3-2 game against South Hagerstown High School. This is the second time in three years that Coach Ed Ashwell and his team have brought the state title to Glenelg. Seniors Sean Lookingbill, Mike Goldberg, Mike Deming and Zach Guerra and juniors Dennis Pagel and Ben Gugliotta are among the standout players on this championship team, according to Athletic Director Mike Williams.

County officials seek about $860,000 to reconfigure courthouse Howard County court officials are seeking about $860,000 to reconfigure the county's cramped circuit courthouse to meet the county judicial system's most pressing needs. The money would be used to create a fifth jury courtroom and more hearing rooms while moving the state's attorney's office to another building. In a letter to County Executive James N. Robey, Administrative Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. said the fix recommended by a consultant's recent report should be enough to allow court officials to "work effectively" for five years - or until the state awards the county a sixth Circuit Court judge.

As of yesterday morning, the computer network at Hollifield Elementary School was down, the thermostat out of whack and hundreds of student chairs had yet to be delivered.Yet, everyone seemed certain that all would be ready by Monday, the first day for Howard County's public school students."It's going to all get done; it really will," assured Glenn W. Heisey, principal at Hollifield, one of three new schools in Howard County this year."This summer, with all the planning, is a lot more stressful than it will be in years to come.

A drive through the average cul-de-sac in River Hill -- where swing sets dot the lawns and minivans line the driveways -- reveals the very essence of Columbia's newest village. Kids. "We've accused Al Scavo of putting something in the water," said David W. Berson, a former village official, referring to the Rouse Co. executive who oversees development in Columbia. "That is one of the identifiers of the village: It is child-heavy." River Hill's many tony homes, spacious yards and location near Clarksville have given it an image of elitism.

AUTHENTIC-LOOKING Treasure Island maps decorated the corporate offices of the Discovery Channel last spring and summer, courtesy of students at Pointers Run Elementary School.First-graders made the maps from manila paper torn at the edges, drawn on, colored and coated with wax. Art teacher Lisa Robbins used the art fun to teach map skills and art to the young students.TC Fourth-graders drew pictures of animals with fangs last spring and studied similar pictures by children's book author and artist Maurice Sendak.

The staff, students and parents of Mount View Middle School have enthusiastically embraced the challenges a new school brings. Many programs are "up and running," according to principal Marion Payne.The school's PTA has received its charter from the national PTA. Its officers send thanks to the PTAs at Glenwood Middle School, Patapsco Middle School, Waverly Elementary School and West Friendship Elementary School for their start-up donations.Mount View band director Shelley Williams announces over 100 members in its concert band and wind ensemble.