Projects

Money from higher prices at bars and liquor stores is paying for athletic fields in Howard County, renovations to schools in Montgomery County and a new high school performing arts center in Anne Arundel. On Wednesday, Maryland's Board of Public Works approved $18 million for school construction projects in the three counties, doling out the first chunk of revenue from the 50 percent increase in the sales tax on alcohol that the General Assembly approved in April. The tax rose to 9 percent, from 6 percent, starting July 1. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, emphasized the jobs that would be created by the projects, asking officials from each school system who attended the board's meeting to estimate how many workers would be needed.

Thirty-four projects in Maryland and the five other Chesapeake Bay watershed states have been awarded $3.4 million in grants to help reduce pollution in local creeks, streams and rivers, officials announced Thursday. The projects, proposed by community and environmental groups and state and local government, include stream restoration and installation of rain gardens, storm drain retrofits and green buildings. Funds come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies, along with some assistance from private businesses and nonprofits.

The state's power grid operator does not need a $3.3 billion pair of transmission line projects built through Maryland because the weak economy has slowed demand for electricity, the staff of operator PJM Interconnection has concluded. The staff will recommend that PJM's board cancel the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway, or MAPP, and Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH, because its analysis showed they are not needed to maintain reliability of the power grid, according to a presentation PJM released Wednesday.

Gov. William Donald Schaefer said today the state has identified 142 capital construction projects worth $270 million that will be speeded up in an attempt to give the Maryland economy a quick breath of life.In a speech in a glittering, palm tree-lined atrium at the Owings Mills Mall, a feisty Schaefer said the state can no longer "wait for economic recovery."Many of the projects, which would receive federal, state and local funding, had been slated for 1992. Under the governor's plan, they could start as early as this month.

Over at Mondawmin Mall yesterday, shoppers negotiated their way through the ripped-up parking lots and blocked-off construction sites of a continuing $70 million project that promises to reverse the shopping center's long, slow decline. The talk was of things like the soon-to-open Target - no longer a big deal in the suburbs but the city's first - and the 10 for $10 "bonus buys" at the already open Shoppers Food Warehouse. And the federal investigation of state Sen. Ulysses Currie's string-pulling on behalf of Shoppers?

ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. William Donald Schaefer submitted yesterday a supplemental capital budget that transfers $7 million out of other projects in order to boost school construction and renovation projects next year.The money would raise to $64.7 million the amount the state is paying for schools next year."The importance of adequate school facilities, and the urgency of some projects, make it essential that more dollars go into next year's construction program," Governor Schaefer said in a written statement.

On the fourth annual Community Service Day Saturday, volunteers will be doing everything from cleaning up local waterways to handing out red ribbons in support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.The statewide event, which often spreads into a weekend of service and fund-raising, was designed to encourage residents to volunteer and get involved in their communities.In Harford County, among other things, businesses will run food drives, Boy Scouts will help Meals on Wheels and the American Association of University Women will spruce up Harford Glen, an outdoor education center.

WASHINGTON - Angry over a recent Supreme Court decision, the House of Representatives began a legislative drive yesterday to roll back the power of local governments to seize homes and other private property for economic development projects. By a vote of 231-189, the House approved an amendment forbidding the Bush administration from spending money on projects that seize private property for business development. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was among those who voted against the amendment, saying she opposes withholding federal dollars "for the enforcement of any decision of the Supreme Court, no matter how opposed I am to that decision."

Legislative leaders may revoke as much as $44 million in bond money earmarked for nonprofits and local capital projects as they work to craft a more austere budget than envisioned by Gov. Martin O'Malley. The at-risk bond funding has been authorized for projects around the state over the past quarter-century but has never been spent. House Speaker Michael E. Busch said yesterday that his chamber would likely seek to withdraw $14 million for several dozen projects that had been promised bond money dating to 1984.

County road engineers and land-use planners will be available tonight at Arundel High School on Annapolis Road to discuss public and private projects planned for West County.The information will be presented in a series of 30-minute, small group forums from 4: 30 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to John A. Morris, spokesman for the county Department of Planning and Code Enforcement.Specialists from PACE, the county Public Works and Recreation and Parks departments will answer questions about projects such as the Odenton Town Center, the extension of Town Center Boulevard and Morgan Road, the expansion of Severn/Danza Park and the West County and South Shore trails, and Tipton Airfield.