Urgent Planning Board Meeting Tonight

By Susan Lavin
Posted: July 31, 2008

The planning board meeting regarding Oleo Acres is scheduled for tonight, July 31st at 7 p.m. in the Ellicott City Room of the George Howard Building.

The technical staff report is ZB 1068M. Brantly Development will be presenting its case for change and mistake for Oleo Acres during this hearing. The petition is to change the zoning from R-ED to RA-15 with a specific site plan.

DPZ is urging denial of the request. To read the ZB 1068M petition, go to www.howardcountymd.gov and go to Planning and Zoning, then click on Planning Board.

“We need a good crowd to show up at this meeting. Please try to attend,” said Laura Bauman, GECA’s corresponding secretary.

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Alyssa Shouse Won Teen Idol Competition

By Susan Lavin
Posted: July 30, 2008

Mix 106.5 disc jockey JoJo Girard, background, stands with Howard County Library Teen Idol finalists Alyssa Shouse, Katie Rasmussen and Marissa Zechinato, from left. Alyssa won the event while Katie was first runner-up and Marissa won second runner-up. (Photo by Fritzi Newton).

Alyssa Shouse is making headway toward that “American Idol” stage, by winning the title of Howard County Library Teen Idol. The competition was held at the Baneker Room, in Ellicott City, earlier this summer. Shouse, an eighth-grader at Elkridge Landing Middle School, performed “Broken Wing” by Martina McBride.

Hooray also to Katie Rasmussen, who is a home school student in the area, and was named first runner-up and received $100 for her performance of “Be By My Side,” from “Godspell.” Second runner-up was Marissa Zechinato, a Mayfield Woods Middle School student, who received $75. Way to go, Marissa!

The competition has grown in popularity each year. This year’s competition featured about 50 middle and high school students who auditioned at the Miller Branch Library in late June.

After two nights of auditions, 10 students were selected as finalists, where they faced judges Amy Fadool, of Fox’s WBFF-TV, channel 45; Carmen Albuerne, Howard County Library teen time specialist; and Justin Custer, of Squaaks. JoJo Girard of Mix 106.5 returned as celebrity emcee, according to a press release.

Howard County Library Teen Idol competition is a component of the A+ Partners in Education initiative. Each year it has expanded to include more participants. Being involved in Teen Idol enables students develop musical talents, build self-confidence and self-esteem, and learn communication and performance skills.

For more details about Howard County Library, go to www.hclibrary.org

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Elkridge Shell has Low Gas Prices

By Susan Lavin
Posted: July 29, 2008

The Shell station at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Montgomery Road, in Elkridge, is selling regular gas is $3.86.9 a gallon.

I was traveling around Howard County today running errands, and when I returned home to Elkridge, I noticed the Shell gas station sign on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Montgomery Road. Wow! The price of regular gas is $3.86.9 at the Elkridge station, which is much lower than I noticed anywhere else. Let me know if you see it cheaper somewhere else.

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GECA Announces New Officers

By Susan Lavin
Posted: July 28, 2008

The Greater Elkridge Community Association has been active in the Elkridge community for more than 40 years and continues to provide a voice for residents in the 1st election district.

The association is pleased to announce the newly elected officers for the 2008-09 year. Howard Johnson, president; Ed Van Sickle, first vice president; Val McGuire, second vice president; Carol Bateman, treasurer; Sandy Grabowski, second vice president; and Laura Bauman, corresponding secretary.

Congratulations to these Elkridge neighbors who will serve as officers of GECA and look out for our communities best interests.

All are welcome to attend and discover what is happening in the area or present a topic that they feel would interest or help the community. The meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of September, November, January, March and May at the Norbel School, on Old Washington Road, in Elkridge. This organization also invites local State and County representatives to participate in the open meetings.

“Another way to get involved is to visit our Web site www.geca-elkridge.org. Here you will find a list of the current neighborhood directors that are willing to listen and bring your ideas back to GECA,” Johnson said. “You can also can print a membership form and join GECA or become a sponsor for the organization. We are always searching for new members and ideas to help maintain the quality of life we have come to appreciate in the greater Elkridge area.”

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Elkridge Junior Firefighter Program a Success!

By Susan Lavin
Posted: July 24, 2008

Hannah Summers, Kara Lehr, Amanda Summers, Daniel Casey and Amy Barnett, from left, march in the 116th Annual Maryland State Firefighters Convention Parade, in Ocean City. (Photo by Mike Barnett).

Congratulations to the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department’s Junior Firefighter Program! They won second place for the “Best Appearing Junior or Cadet Group” at the 116th Annual Maryland State Firefighters Convention, in Ocean City.

The group was lead by Junior Chief Amy Barnett and Junior President Amanda Summers.Congratulations to these Junior Firefighters who attended the parade in Ocean City: Barnett, Summers, Brittany Casey, Daniel Casey, Kara Lehr, Kelsey Lehr, Nicholas Pecoraro, Sammie Reed, Christopher Sherman, Hannah Summers and Alexis Wise.

This summer, the Junior Firefighters also are proud to announce being the winners of the “Best Appearing Junior Firefighters Award” at the Riviera Beach VFC Parade and the “Best Appearing Color Guard” at the Arbutus VFC Parade.

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