The American Rivers organization is getting $4 million in federal economic stimulus money to remove two dams along the Patapsco River, the organization announced June 30.

The national nonprofit group devoted to protecting rivers plans to remove the Simkins and Union dams on the lower Patapsco River as part of its overall Patapsco River Restoration Project. Simkins, south of Ellicott City, and Union, north of Ellicott City, both straddle the Howard-Baltimore county line.

The dams no longer serve a purpose, are a danger to swimmers and block migratory fish from traveling the river, according to the organization.

Work on removing the Union dam is expected to start in September and work on Simkins is scheduled for the summer or fall 2010, said Serena McClain, associate director of the River Restoration Program at American Rivers.

The project is a partnership between American Rivers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of the Patapsco Valley State Park. The Patapsco River spans about 35 miles and crosses through Ellicott City and Elkridge before eventually reaching Baltimore Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay.

-- Derek Simmonsen

Normandy Shopping Center Safeway closes its doors

The Safeway supermarket in the Normandy Shopping Center on Route 40, in Ellicott City, has closed, a move prompted by the grocery chain's decision to focus on its larger stores in the area.

The 31,252-square-foot store, which has been there since 1961, closed June 27, said Craig Muckle, a Safeway spokesman.

A property manager for Normandy Venture Limited Partnership, which owns the strip mall in which the Safeway is located, did not return a call for comment on what might replace the supermarket.

Muckle said Safeway management had decided to focus on larger stores. "These small stores aren't serving the community," Muckle said. Safeway had wanted to enlarge the Normandy Shopping Center location, he said, but was prevented by the center's owners from doing so.

When the store's lease expired, management decided not to renew it, Muckle said.

He said Safeway wants to focus on its larger, existing stores in the Columbia Village of Long Reach and further west on Route 40, near Enchanted Forest. Both of those stores are about 55,000 square feet.

Rather than siphoning business away from those larger stores, he said, Safeway decided to close the Normandy store.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Police arrest nine on DUI charges at checkpoint

Howard County police arrested nine people on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while impaired as part of a weekend sobriety checkpoint, according to police.

The checkpoint was set up on westbound Route 40 at Governor's Run Lane in Ellicott City between June 26 and June 27. About 662 cars passed through the checkpoint and 16 were pulled over for further examination, police said.

Out of those, one person was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license. Nine others were arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

-- Derek Simmonsen

Ceremony marks opening of expanded Ellicott City Y

Concluding a year and a half of renovation and expansion, the Ellicott City Y unveiled its new facility June 10.

The $11 million renovation project more than doubled the size of the Ellicott City recreation center, making it the largest Y in Central Maryland, according to staff.

The facility includes recreation and therapy pools, a two-story climbing wall, senior and teen centers, community meeting space and two gymnasiums.

The center has been re-named the Dancel Family Center Y after primary donor Bernie Dancel, a Howard County resident and founder of the Columbia Ravens youth sports organization.

Although the Y remained open throughout construction, the's ceremony marked the building's completion and emphasized the partnership between the Columbia Ravens and the Y.

-- Heather Carney

Ellicott city man arrested after crash with police car

An Ellicott City man was arrested June 22, a day after losing control of his car and colliding with a state police vehicle on Doncaster Drive in Ellicott City.

Justin Connor Hitt, 19, was charged with assault, leaving the scene of an accident and other criminal and traffic charges, police said.

After crashing into the squad car, Hitt's vehicle spun out of control and knocked down about 40 feet of wooden picket fence and a 10-foot tree, Maryland State Police said.

The collision occurred at about 2:40 a.m. June 21, according to police, when Maryland State Police Sgt. Daniel Mclain saw a car speeding down Doncaster Drive. Mclain turned on to Doncaster Drive and followed the car, a tan Toyota Corolla.

At College Avenue, the driver of the Toyota made a U-turn and drove back up Doncaster Drive, according to police. The Toyota crossed onto the wrong side of the road and struck Mclain's patrol car head-on, police said.

The Toyota then spun 90 degrees and left the roadway, police said.

Immediately after the collision, the driver fled the scene, leaving two male passengers in the car.

Hitt was later arrested after further investigation, police said. No injuries were reported during the incident.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Ellicott City violin teacher charged with abuse of girl

Howard County police announced June 22 that an Ellicott City violin instructor had been charged with sexually abusing an 11-year-old student during private lessons at his home.

Ming Yueh Liang, 67, of 2812 Deerfield Drive, was charged with eight counts of fourth-degree sex offense and eight counts of second-degree assault, police said.

Liang has been released on an unsecured bond, police said.

A woman who answered the phone at Liang's residence said he was not available for comment.

Police are urging other students who may have been victimized to come forward and contact the department at 410-313-3200.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Motorcyclist, wife injured after striking guard rail

A motorcyclist and his wife were injured June 6 when they veered off of Route 29 at Seneca Drive, in Columbia, and struck a guard rail, police said.

Timothy Danaher, 55, of Ellicott City, was driving southbound on Route 29 shortly before 2 p.m. when he veered left and crashed into a guard rail, police said. Danaher and his wife, Diana Danaher, 52, who was riding on the back, were thrown from the motorcycle, police said.

The pair was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where Timothy Danaher was listed in critical condition June 8, a hospital spokeswoman said. Diana Danaher was treated and released June 7, the spokeswoman said.

-- Mike Santa Rita

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