Western Howard County

State transportation officials say Route 32 through western Howard County is so dangerous to drive that a proposal to widen it ought to be granted a rare exemption from Maryland's Smart Growth law, which bars spending on highway projects that might encourage sprawl development. The rate of rear-end collisions on the often-congested nine-mile stretch of Route 32, which links Carroll County with Annapolis, is twice the statewide average, but the overall accident rate is about 10 percent lower and the rate of fatal accidents in recent years is half that on other two-lane roads in Maryland, according to State Highway Administration figures.

The Howard County Conservancy will hold its Fall Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Groundbreaking for the historic Montjoy Barn, with County Executive James N. Robey, local dignitaries and members of the Dawson Lee family - former owners of Montjoy - will kick off the festival. The conservancy had the barn disassembled in 2003 and began repairs on the building, which dates from the late 18th century and is the only one of its kind in Maryland. After being reassembled, the barn will be used as part of the conservancy's education programs.

Though Republicans won all three legislative seats and the County Council race in far western Howard County, the celebratory champagne was flowing for the Western Howard County Democratic Club at a gathering last week at the Glenwood library. Members of the seven-month-old club are delighted at the Democrats' successes elsewhere in the county and countywide -- notably in the county executive race. And they are tantalized by their chances for making inroads in western Howard, the only part of the county where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

The Western Howard County Democratic Club will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock, the club's new meeting location. Bill Chestnut of the Vote Smart Project will speak. Information: 301-854-6507, or e-mail robicl@comcast.net. Student to speak about his first novel College sophomore Drew Bowling will speak about the publication of his first novel The Tower of Shadows, which he began writing in high school, at 7 p.m. March 6 at the Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville.

Deputy planning director Marsha McLaughlin told the Zoning Board Thursday night it will have to deal with two important issues -- competing property values and residential-rural conflicts -- when rezoning western Howard County.Residential property brings a higher price than agricultural land and as a result, there is tremendous pressure to convert agricultural land to residential use, McLaughlin said.Many people move to the western part of the county because they are enchanted with the pastoral setting, but once there, many become disenchanted with the smell of fertilizer, the use of pesticides, and slow-moving farm traffic, she said.

OPENING MORE baseball diamonds and sorely needed fields for soccer and lacrosse at two new Howard County parks could be postponed by at least a year if the current local-government budget crunch worsens. Gary J. Arthur, director of the county's Department of Recreation and Parks, said in an interview that if contingency plans the county executive has are needed to address the budget crisis, his department will not be able to staff crews needed to maintain the new fields. They're being built in Glenwood's Western Regional Park and in Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City.

A plan to bring a nonprofit home for troubled boys to Mount Airy worries residents who fear that the juveniles might visit their troubles on western Howard County.But the home's executive director says those worries are misplaced, that the 5-year-old nonprofit program is geared toward making carpenters, high school graduates and better neighbors out of teen-agers who have had problems but have no history of violence.On the grounds of Taylor Manor in Ellicott City since July 1994, Our House Youth Home serves eight young men, who range in age from about 16 to 21, battling foster care woes, drug problems, minor criminal histories and learning disabilities.

Efforts to keep stadium lights out of a new western Howard County park got a significant boost yesterday when County Councilman Allan H. Kittleman filed an amendment to remove funding for lights from the proposed county budget. Kittleman, a Republican whose district includes the Western Regional Park site, said he received hundreds of e-mails and held meetings with residents on both sides of the issue before siding with the anti-lights group. "There are many people in my district who are upset and probably an equal number that think I did the right thing," Kittleman said.

The Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company will hold a basket bingo at 7 p.m. Friday at the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company hall, 1330 Woodbine Road, Lisbon. Doors open at 6 p.m. Prizes are filled Longaberger baskets, pottery and wrought-iron items. Tickets are $15 in advance; $18 at the door. Information or to purchase tickets: Joan Bennett, 410- 489-4933 or Doris Bowman, 410- 489-4821. School board sets informal meeting The Board of Education of Howard County will hold a "Coffee & Conversation" session from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday in the media center at Mount View Middle School, 12101 Woodford Drive, Marriottsville.

Dayton residents took on some of western Howard County's hottest hot-button issues last night, without getting too heated themselves. In a forum with County Councilman Allan H. Kittleman, a western county Republican, residents focused on such contentious subjects as development and the proposed widening of Route 32. A few people had pointed questions, but no yelling - or arm-waving - ensued. "If anyone comes in all riled up, it's my job to calm them down," said a joking Martin Bonura, vice president of the Dayton Community Association, which held the meeting at Dayton Foursquare Gospel Church.