Recreation And Parks

Funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks was a hot issue at City Hall on Wednesday - with the City Council president suggesting that police and other agencies transfer money to youth programs, an activist criticizing a proposal to hire a driver for the department and a councilman re-emphasizing the need for an audit of its books. Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young took the unusual step of suggesting at a public meeting that major city agencies, such as the Police Department, transfer 1 percent of their funds to the struggling department.

Children's author Elissa Brent Weissman is kicking off a new set of classes for the Baltimore Young Writers' Group, for kids 8 to 13. Students meet twice a month, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to learn about writing stories and poems. The schedule is January 21, 28; February 11, 25; March 10, 24 at School 33 Art Center , 1427 Light St. in Baltimore. For more information or to register, visit www.ebweissman.com/classes Meanwhile, the Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks is soliciting entries for the Senior Citizens Poetry Contest 2012.

There are 28 parks in Carroll County, including five in Westminster. The newest will soon have a name, to be chosen from suggestions by the public. "This is the first time we've had this promotion," said Jeff Degitz, the county's Director of Recreation and Parks. "It's not designed to be a popularity contest," he said. "Over 100 people have submitted ideas, and we've asked each of them to detail why their suggestion would be appropriate for the community. So far, a lot of people have come up with creative ideas and names.

WINFIELD — The Board of County Commissioners this week approved purchase of a 9.16-acre tract in the Winfield area for a new park and athletic fields. The commissioners voted unanimously to buy the tract for $200,000 at its Dec. 6 meeting, tapping various Program Open Space resources for up to $190,000 of the cost, and other sources, including park impact fees, for the remainder. This 9.16-acre property is opposite Winfield Elementary School. Officials noted that the county continues to experience a need for park land and athletic fields in many areas, including Winfield.

Occupy Baltimore protesters have asked city officials for permission to remain in an Inner Harbor park until April, according to an application submitted to the city. Protesters delivered applications for permits to use the park to both Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Recreation and Parks Department, a mayoral spokesman said Wednesday. The president of the Maryland and District of Columbia chapter of the AFL-CIO union sent a letter to Rawlings-Bake calling on her to allow the protesters to remain.

Edward Zarius Watson Jr., a retired Baltimore schools administrator and founder of a Little League program, died of pneumonia Saturday at Union Memorial Hospital. The Northwood area resident was 94. Born in Earleigh Heights in Anne Arundel County, he was a 1936 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. He earned a degree in history at what is now Morgan State University and a master's degree in divinity from Howard University. Family members said the end of World War II changed his plans to become a military chaplain.

The Community Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, honors those who have gained prominence and/or have made a substantial contribution to recreational sports programs in Howard County. This year's inductees are the late Gary Arthur, Bob Falk, Paul Goldenberg, Jean Hodges and Louise Waxler. Their stories are being told over a two-week period. This is the first installment. The induction ceremony will be held at the ninth annual Celebration of Sports, Oct. 18 at the Turf Valley Resort, in Ellicott City.

Was married to Martha Arthur, with three sons from a previous marriage Scholarship football player at Clemson University Rose from recreation director in 1979 to director of Recreation and Parks, a position he held until his death in 2010. Worked to form strong relationship with the county school system. Under his leadership, Howard County received accrediation from the National Recrationa and Parks Association, an honor held by fewer than 100 agencies in the country.

I am extremely happy about the attention the press and citizens of Baltimore are devoting to the city's trees. The Sun's editorial ("Standing up for city trees" Aug 15) accurately highlights the crisis we face in increasing Baltimore's tree canopy while at the same time reconciling large budget cuts and promoting economic development. Upon my arrival this year I was briefed on the city's tree plan with the Grand Prix organization, and I agree it can be a win-win for both parties.