Vale

After months of weighing proposals for deteriorating Aigburth Vale in Towson, a committee of county and community representatives last week agreed that the historic mansion should be renovated into offices.If County Executive C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger and the County Council approve, local builder Martin P. Azola will be awarded the three-acre property with the once-grand villa. His plan beat a proposal by Ronald and Anne Pomykala to turn the 1868 estate into a country inn.The Pomykalas, owners of Gramercy Mansion bed and breakfast in Stevenson, wanted to open a 17-room inn with a restaurant at the site on Aigburth Road near Towson High School.

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Historic Aigburth Vale in Towson may be rescued yet.A failed proposal by builder Martin P. Azola to redevelop the deteriorating, county-owned villa could be resurrected if the burgeoning Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University decides to relocate there."They would be the perfect tenant," Azola said. "The trick is to get them to fit."But the economic research program, which has grown from 23 employees to more than 70 since becoming associated with the university last year, also is eyeing other properties.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car on Route 924 near Vale Road around 5:23 a.m. Friday, according to a Maryland State Police officer in Bel Air. Police said Michael Francis Gist, 23, of Jarrettsville, was struck in the southbound lane of Route 924 by a 2003 Kia Sonoma headed south on Route 924, driven by Tina Louise Holland, 37, of Forest Hill. Gist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. Route 924 was closed for about three hours Friday morning between Vale Road and James Avenue.

Wanted: Buyers for a rundown Towson mansion.After months of fine-tuning the purchase requirements, Baltimore County is accepting proposals for Aigburth Vale, the once-grand villa that deteriorated after the school system took over the building in 1950.The asking price is $500.The county would like to see the building on 3.3 acres near Towson High School go to an individual, organization or corporation that will restore the estate -- an historic property -- to its former glory.And that's the catch.

Even before it officially opened yesterday, Aigburth Vale Senior Community was a success - at least in Nita Hughes' eyes. The retired nurse was "the guinea pig," she says, the first resident of the new independent-living facility at 212 Aigburth Road in Towson. She moved in the day after Thanksgiving and immediately established a radio link with her grandchildren. They live a few houses away on a side street, and their walkie-talkies have enough range to reach her apartment. "It's a joy to be here," says Hughes.

If a new proposal for dilapidated Aigburth Vale in Towson is approved, the former villa of one of the 19th century's most famous comedians will become housing for the elderly.The $5.5 million plan, recently submitted to Baltimore County officials, calls for building 70 one-bedroom apartments -- six in the historic mansion and 64 in a four-story addition behind the main house. A glass-enclosed breezeway would connect the buildings."We think it's a wonderful project that won't impact a lot of people," said Leo J. D'Aleo, who heads the development company Aigburth Vale LLC. "The project would be an asset to the community."

A once-grand Towson mansion that deteriorated while owned by the Baltimore County Board of Education has been valued at $1 or $500, according to county appraisals."

At dawn one recent morning, Betty Thomas looked through her bungalow window on Roland Avenue in Bel Air and counted 13 cars jetting down Vale Road. Betty Baynes parked her car a little farther down from there last May and, in one hour, counted 2,300 cars passing through the intersection of Vale Road and county Route 924. And earlier this month, county engineers counted 1,866 cars going through the same intersection during a morning rush hour. Still, studies show traffic delays are at acceptable levels, so county officials don't see much of a problem.

The rescue plan for historic Aigburth Vale has come apart, once again leaving the fate of the deteriorating Towson mansion unsettled.Builder Martin P. Azola, who was picked by Baltimore County to restore and renovate the 1868 mansion, says he can't proceed without financial help from the county. But county officials, who are selling the ramshackle property for $500, say they never planned to contribute money to the project."Negotiations have ceased," Shirley Murphy, chief of the county Bureau of Land Acquisition, said Friday.

Harford County sheriff's deputies are looking for the people who threw a large piece of concrete from the Vale Road Bridge and struck a car traveling on the U.S. 1 bypass in the Bel Air area, authorities said. The concrete damaged a 2004 Mazda 6 driver-side door and mirror at 12:45 a.m. yesterday, said Harford County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. David Betz. The driver, who pulled off to the side of the road after the impact, and a passenger were not injured, Betz said. The perpetrators had to heave the rock over the fence of the bridge, Betz said.

The Harford County Development Advisory Committee serves as a forum for the review of subdivision and site plans submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning by those seeking building permits. The committee will review the following proposals at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the second-floor conference room of the Harford County government building, 220 S. Main St., Bel Air: Lands of McGill Location: West side of Rocks Road (Route 24) across from Grier Nursery Road. Developer: Kelly F. & Geraldine A. McGill/Thompson & McCord Associates LLC. Description: Residential/commercial motor vehicle/equipment storage and construction services, 30.23 acres.

After an extensive search, Harford County officials have settled on a site for an elementary school that is intended to relieve crowding in the Bel Air area. The 23-acre property on Vale Road near Red Pump Road north of Bel Air will not be the easiest to reach or the least costly on which to build, but county ownership makes it the most practical choice, officials say. "This is not the best of sites, and only about half of it is developable," said Kathleen Sanner, school system director of planning and construction.

HENRY L. ALLEN, JR "HARRY" age 89 passed away Sunday, July 23, 2006 at the Genesis Nursing Home, Randallstown, Maryland. He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of 68 years, Betty Allen, three sisters, Cecilia, Virginia, Jean and a brother, Joseph. Surviving are his two daughters, Betsy Allen, Delaware, Sue Thompson and husband Jim, Cumberland and a son, Henry L. Allen, California. Two grandsons, George V. Kelly and wife Sherri, La Vale, Timothy L. Kelly and Fiancee Carole Streett, Rockville and great-grandson, Tyler M. George, La Vale.

Michael Vale, 83, the actor best known for portraying sleepy-eyed Fred the Baker in Dunkin' Donuts commercials, died Saturday in New York City of complications from diabetes, son-in law Rick Reil said. Ads featuring Fred, who uttered the trademark line "Time to make the doughnuts," ran for 15 years until Mr. Vale retired in 1997. Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts said in a statement that Mr. Vale's character "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature."

On August 11, 2005, FRANCIS W. "FRANK" WEBB, 88 years old, of Palm Coast, FL, formerly of Rockdale, MD. He retired as a Postman from the U.S. Postal Service in Baltimore. A Navy veteran of WWII, he was born in Alberton, MD and moved to Palm Coast in 1974. He was an avid reader, especially Civil War and WW II. Beloved father of David Webb of Tampa FL, Ann and Fred Lisi of Palm Coast; dear brother-in-law of Miriam Webb of Catonsville, and Elaine and Clarence Thompson; grandfather of Wendy Webb Shanklin and her husband Thomas of La Vale, MD, and Todd Webb of Westminster; great grandfather of Emily Day Shanklin; known as "Uncle Panky" to several nieces and nephews.

A Maryland section article in some editions Tuesday incorrectly reported the buyer of the Aigburth Vale mansion in Towson. The buyer was Aigburth Vale, LLC, a partnership headed by Leo J. D'Aleo.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 4/09/98

On May 20, 2005, EVA M. (nee Lutz); beloved wife of the late Donnie T. Sain; loving mother of Gene Saine and the late Gina Sain; dear grandmother of Donnie W. Saine and Dawn Bentz; great-grandmother of Ali and Katy Saine and Justin Halligan. Services and Interment to take place in Vale, NC. Arrangements by Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., and Warlick Funeral Home, Inc., Lincolnton, NC.

At dawn one recent morning, Betty Thomas looked through her bungalow window on Roland Avenue in Bel Air and counted 13 cars jetting down Vale Road. Betty Baynes parked her car a little farther down from there last May and, in one hour, counted 2,300 cars passing through the intersection of Vale Road and county Route 924. And earlier this month, county engineers counted 1,866 cars going through the same intersection during a morning rush hour. Still, studies show traffic delays are at acceptable levels, so county officials don't see much of a problem.