River Hill High

The River Hill Boosters will sponsor summer sports camps at River Hill High School in Clarksville. The camps are designed to help young athletes improve basic skills. Weekly camps begin June 15 and run 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 20 camps will be offered this summer, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, cross county, track and field, cheerleading, weight training, wrestling and dance. Camp forms are available in the office at River Hill High School.

Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks will sponsor a fused-glass class for those ages 55 and older from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at Glenwood Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. Participants will work with pieces of colored glass fused together in a kiln to create jewelry -- pendants, pins and earrings. Participants are to pick up the finished pieces at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, after they have been fused in the kiln. The cost is $40, including equipment and basic materials.

When news of vandalism at a nearby church spread at River Hill High School, students sprang into volunteer mode. More than 35 students spent the last two Saturdays in October at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, where a garden, pathway and a fence were vandalized in mid-October. "People were linking [the vandalism] to our school," said Principal William Ryan. "The kids thought that this shouldn't be a reflection on our school." Sean Kirby, a 16-year-old junior, went to the church on both occasions to help clean up. Before the vandalism, he and many of the volunteers parked at the church during the school day. After the destruction of property, the church prohibited students from using the parking lot. "We felt that [the vandalism]

The Glenwood Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, will offer a Kidz Night Out, with crafts, music, dancing, movies and games, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Aug. 17. Parents will have an opportunity to have dinner and a movie. The event for children ages 5-12 costs $25 a child. Pizza and a beverage will be provided. Registration is required. Information: 410-313-4840. Democratic club to meet Tuesday The Western Howard County Democratic Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road (Route 99)

Days End Farm Horse Rescue, 15856 Frederick Road, Lisbon, will offer a horse care clinic for horse owners and anyone wanting to purchase a horse. The "If Only Love Was Enough" seminar, a two-day clinic, will be held Aug. 18 and Aug. 19. Discussion will cover horse handling and psychology, safety, hoof and dental care, health problems, care of older horses, emergency care, nutrition and parasites. The clinics, which include practical advice on trailering, boarding and other essential details, will be taught by horse industry professionals.

For the second time in less than a week, a popular teacher at a Howard County high school has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sex offenses against students. Police arrested Alan Meade Beier, a 52-year-old science teacher at the top-performing River Hill High School in Clarksville, yesterday at his home. They say he undressed and photographed a 16-year-old male student Monday evening in his classroom. Police also say he fondled a 17-year-old female student on two occasions, most recently in the fall.

THE PROM is a memory now for Glenelg and River Hill High seniors. Shorts and T-shirts have replaced tuxes and gowns in these warm spring days. And thoughts have turned to next week's graduations.Commencement evokes feelings of excitement -- and sadness. Excitement as students look forward to new adventures and people; sadness as they say goodbye to friends and teachers and leave their high school years behind.The schools' graduation ceremonies will kick-off the celebration.Thanks to the work of their dedicated parents, seniors at Glenelg and River Hill High Schools will celebrate with chemical-free graduation cruises on the Chesapeake Bay.Parents, faculty, and administrators at both schools agree that the structured post-graduation activity will help students remain alcohol- and drug-free on graduation night.

BEN AND Eileen Woodbury of River Hill are planning River Hill High School's art auction.Heisman Fine Arts Gallery of Ardmore, Pa., will bring 200 pieces of art to be auctioned at the event, to take place at 7: 30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the school, 12101 Clarksville Pike (Route 108), in Clarksville.Prospective buyers are invited to preview the art from 6: 30 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m.Rosemary Lather -- the school's orchestra director and director of the Howard County Middle School Gifted and Talented Orchestra -- has arranged for students to play in a string quartet during the preview.

DESPITE THE cool temperatures and chilly winds last weekend, the Spring Expo at the River Hill Garden Center was filled with a warm and festive atmosphere.The expo celebrated the opening of River Hill Garden Center's new greenhouse and landscape design center -- both at 12165 Route 108, Clarksville, where the garden center has been in business since 1992. The greenhouse, which brings the garden center to 9,000 square feet of space, is the largest retail facility of its kind in Howard County.

THE DRAMA department of River Hill High School will present its fall musical production, "Once On This Island," at 7: 30 p.m. today,tomorrow and Saturday.The play, the culmination of two months of intense effort, went into production in early September.Impressed by the number of talented students who auditioned for the production, drama teacher and director Pam Land anticipates spectacular performances."Once On This Island" is based on Rosa Guy's novel "My Love, My Love."The book, in turn, was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid."

A gardening clinic will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Glenwood Library, 2350 Route 97 in Cooksville, on May 26.For more information, call 410-313-5577. Around town 'Arm Yourself with Knowledge' series: Program designed for and limited to seniors, features Lila Boor of the Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs and Pfc. Holly Burnham of the Howard County Police Department speaking on "Home Repair Fraud" at 10 a.m. Sunday at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane. Call 410-730-3987 or 410-730-4744.

The Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville, will offer plant clinics at the library from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m Monday and May 26. Information: 410-313-5577. hclibrary.org. around town Sports camps : The River Hill Boosters will sponsor summer sports camps at River Hill High School in Clarksville. The camps are designed to help young athletes improve basic skills. Weekly camps begin June 15 and run 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 20 camps will be offered this summer, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, cross county, track and field, cheerleading, weight training, wrestling and dance.

Summer reading at Glenwood The Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville, will offer an orientation for volunteers for the library's Summer Reading Club. High school volunteers, ages 13 to 17, who help library staff with the club and other tasks, can earn service hours toward graduation. Those interested should submit a volunteer application; qualified applicants will be invited to attend a training session at the branch where they will volunteer. Training sessions will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. May 2 and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 5. Applications are available at www.hclibrary.

Healing program for returning veterans The Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, will offer "A Day of Healing, A Day of Hope: Coming Home More Fully for Veterans and Spouses," a workshop guided by Ann Bracken, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The program uses expressive arts and a spiritually based approach to help veterans and their spouses heal the physical and psychological wounds of war. Those who attend can participate in writing exercises, create a "Collage of Hope" and experience a ritual of healing and re-integration.

The River Hill Boosters will sponsor summer sports camps at River Hill High School in Clarksville. The camps are designed to help young athletes improve basic skills. Weekly camps begin June 15 and run 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 20 camps will be offered this summer, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, cross county, track and field, cheerleading, weight training, wrestling and dance. Camp forms are available in the office at River Hill High School.

Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. was the epitome of good sportsmanship in his crisp gray pin-striped suit, delivering coffee and doughnuts to Howard County Executive Ken Ulman's office at 9:17 a.m. Monday, and later donning a River Hill High school sweat shirt to serve pizza to the school's undefeated football team. Smith was fulfilling his bet to be Ulman's assistant for a day because River Hill defeated Baltimore County's Eastern Tech, 14-7, for the state Class 2A title last month.

The Columbia Jazz Band will perform original and traditional music at 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at River Hill High School, 12101 Route 108, Clarksville. Admission is free. On the program are jazz tunes from the swing era to the present day, including Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island," Victor Lopez's "Grooved Pavement" and "Trofeo de Bolos" by Craig Skeffinton. The community jazz ensemble, with more than 20 musicians, rehearses once a week at River Hill High. Peter BarenBregge directs. The band performs at dances, parties and weddings.

When news of vandalism at a nearby church spread at River Hill High School, students sprang into volunteer mode. More than 35 students spent the last two Saturdays in October at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, where a garden, pathway and a fence were vandalized in mid-October. "People were linking [the vandalism] to our school," said Principal William Ryan. "The kids thought that this shouldn't be a reflection on our school." Sean Kirby, a 16-year-old junior, went to the church on both occasions to help clean up. Before the vandalism, he and many of the volunteers parked at the church during the school day. After the destruction of property, the church prohibited students from using the parking lot. "We felt that [the vandalism]

Mark and Patty Carroll, who own Town and Country Auto Repair in Dayton and are alumni of Glenelg High School, are offering Good Neighbor Savings Cards that include discount coupons for two oil changes and other services. The cards, which are being sold by Glenelg High School students, are $20 each. The proceeds will help pay for the school's marching unit and drill team to attend out-of-state competitions. River Hill boosters selling citrus fruit The River Hill Music Boosters are selling Florida navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and variety packs.

Drew Moszczienski has not taken a band class in several years. The high school senior can still play trombone, but he prefers writing and playing his own songs on guitar and bass. Until this year, there were few outlets at River Hill High for musicians like him. Now Drew is one of about 40 students plugging their instruments into state-of-the-art computers in River Hill's new music technology lab. Aimed at nontraditional music students, the $120,000 lab opened Oct. 1. Just over a year ago, M. Joseph Fischer, River Hill's director of bands, was looking for a way to target students like Drew.