HoCoH20, a coalition of government and environmental groups, will hold a conference April 29 about Howard County's waterways and how they fit into a global and local environmental perspective.

"Ravaging Runoff A Call to Action: Our Waters & Our Role From a Global & Local Perspective," is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wilde Lake High School.

The conference speakers, Mike Tidwell, founder and director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Fred Tutman, an environmental advocate, will talk on environmental issues facing the county's waterways.

Those issues include erosion of river banks, lack of storm water management, global warming and local rivers picking up too much sediment as they flow into the Chesapeake Bay, said Cathy Hudson, a coordinator for HoCoH20.

Del. Elizabeth Bobo, a Columbia Democrat, will give introductory remarks.

The conference will be held from in The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. Admission is free.

For more information, go to www.HoCoH20.com. To attend, e-mail RSVP@HoCoH20.com.

-- Mike Santa Rita

County to redevelop Guilford Gardens site

Howard County officials announced plans last week to redevelop Guilford Gardens, a county-owned residential community in east Columbia.

After evaluating proposals from a number of companies, the county's Department of Housing and Community Development awarded a contract to The Shelter Group, a Baltimore-based developer and property management company.

Guilford Gardens, an 18-acre property built in 1981 next to Guilford Elementary School, currently consists of 100 apartments and townhouses.

Under the redevelopment plan, which has yet to be finalized, the area would be converted into a "mixed-income, multi-generational community" with as many as 270 apartments, a community center with a pool, athletic courts and activity rooms, paved walkways, and play areas for children, according to a statement released by officials last week.

New structures in the plan would be built using environmentally friendly building techniques, officials said, adding that a more detailed plan and financial negotiations on the project will take place in coming months.

-- Jennifer Broadwater

Sobriety checkpoint nabs six in Savage

Police arrested six drivers during a sobriety checkpoint in Savage last weekend.

Approximately 815 vehicles passed through the checkpoint on southbound Route 1 near Howard Street between 11 p.m. April 18 and 2:45 a.m. April 19.

The checkpoint was manned by officers from the Howard County Police Department and troopers from the Maryland State Police, county police said.

The checkpoint, the first police held in by Howard County police this year, was part of a larger overall program to lower the number of intoxicated drivers on the roadway. That program includes checkpoints, saturation patrols and regular patrols, said Sherry Llewellyn, a Howard County police spokeswoman.

Police were also assisted in the checkpoint by members of the Howard County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, county police said.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Owen Brown Village has new manager

The owner of a local home improvement business has become the new manager of Owen Brown Village.

Michael Casper, 32, an eight-year Owen Brown resident and owner of Casper's Home Improvement, took office on March 31, replacing Tom Wulf.

Wulf resigned from the position last fall to pursue other interests after working on the job for less than a year. Wulf had replaced Ruth Bohse, who retired from the position in 2006, after working as the village manager for more than 27 years.

Casper will oversee the village's staff, help maintain buildings, plan programs for the community and put together the village's budget.

Without going into details, Casper said he plans to work with the Owen Brown Village Board to create programs for residents of all ages and backgrounds and hopes to help people in the village get to know each other.

"So far everything is going pretty well," said Casper, who holds a degree in management information systems.

-- Andrei Blakely

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