Waff

The County Council agrees with residents and developers that there should be more discussion of the planning department's rewrite of the county subdivision regulations."

Responding to a rash of robberies at a popular WaWa Food Markets in Savage, store officials announced yesterday they would close the mini-market for good late last night.The news distressed a number of residents, who say there isn't another convenience store nearby. "I don't think this is good at all for our community," said William B. Waff, president of the Savage Community Association and a longtime resident.Over a five-month period this year, the store, in the 9000 block of Baltimore St. in the historic section of Savage, has been robbed five times, with bandits usually making off with several hundred dollars, police said.

Savage Community Association members plan to meet tonight to discuss ways to bolster the foundering Savage Fest, which lost $1,000 this year, in part because ridership on the carousel was lower than usual.The 7:30 p.m. meeting at Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall will focus on ways to attract more business sponsors, increase publicity and draw more volunteers.The association also wants to find rides other than the carousel that has been used for years."We're trying to get a lot of new ideas," said Bill Waff, president of the Savage Community Association.

OUR CORNER of the county is commercially active -- high growth, construction everywhere!But with many of the county's cultural and social events taking place in other parts of the county, let's face it, occasionally this end of the county can get a little scruffy!Well, here's a chance to make Savage-Laurel look as good as we really are.The State Highway Administration is planning to landscape the cloverleaf at the interchange of U.S. 1 and Route 32.The administration has shovels, 200 saplings, 2,000 bulbs, mulch, water hoses, buckets and a landscape design.

Seven years after winning a rezoning battle for higher density development in North Laurel, a developer has abandoned plans to build 194 apartments in favor of selling 160 town house lots, due to the difficult economic climate.The James F. Knott Development Corp. submitted plans this month for the last phase of Bowling Brook Farms, off Gorman Road, which is expected to have 1,140 town houses and apartmentscompleted by the end of 1993."In the financing environment today, apartments are more difficult to develop," said Kevin Geraghty, senior development manager for the Towson-based firm.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is! My algebra teacher wrote that on one of my tests several springs ago. Until then I hadn't realized that teachers were human and sick of winter, too.*Did you enjoy the Savage Community Festival last June? There was a carousel on Baldwin Commons, nonstop entertainment by country and rock bands, karate demonstrations, a dance show, a parade, a craft show, game booths, great food and a dunk booth.Did you wish there had been more crafts?

People who want to win approval for unconventional developments in Howard County will have to meet a higher standard soon - but only for about a month. One Howard County Board of Appeals member is leaving the state in a few weeks to escape spiraling property taxes, and the County Council cannot appoint a replacement until March at the earliest. During that period, people hoping to win variances, appeal land-use decisions and expand churches must convince a larger percentage of the board - three out of four members, instead of three out of five.

The folks in Savage have known about the historic Bollman Truss Bridge on Foundry Road for years. They've walked over it and fished under it, and some have even gotten married on it, watching the water of the Little Patuxent River swirling far beneath them. But until recently, not many others knew about the 1869 bridge, the only one of its type remaining in the world. In February, the red iron bridge became a National Historic Landmark, and officials hope it will draw more tourists to Howard County.

POP's GENERAL Store promises to reopen tomorrow.It has been more than two months since the Savage landmark closed for renovations, and residents -- especially the junior set -- have missed the store. Pop's is the sort of place that helps define a child's growing years.Parents stopping by for a newspaper bring their infants in strollers. Toddlers come in with Mom for nickel candy, and they come, as well, with older brothers and sisters for ice cream. Later, when those little ones grow, they come to the store hand-in-hand with younger children.

LONGTIME SAVAGE resident Ellen Waff has done more than raise a family, serve the Savage Community Association and work as a midwife. She has another side, no less public, but less often displayed here. She loves to sing. Waff likes it so much that she has long been a member of musical groups. Two of them - Camerata Musica and Fol-de-Rol - specialize in ancient music. Camerata Musica is to perform tomorrow at Borders Books and Music in Columbia. Waff joined in 1987, three years after the group was founded.