Iron Girl Gridlock

The Iron Girl triathlon is coming to town this Sunday at Centennial Park.

From HoCo PD:

Major traffic delays are expected on Sunday on Md. 108 and surrounding roads for the Aflac Iron Girl Triathlon. Motorists are advised to use caution when sharing the roads with an anticipated 2,000 participants.

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Md. 108 will be closed to westbound traffic between Ten Mills Road and Centennial Lane. Southbound Centennial Lane from the park entrance to Md. 108 will also be closed.

Police officers will be posted at various locations throughout residential roads on the bicycle course to direct motorists or to temporary close roads to ensure the safety of the bicyclists.

Delays are anticipated along the following roadways, where participants will be given the right of way:

• Homewood Road
• Folly Quarter Road
• Carroll Mill Road
• Mt. Albert Road
• Cantor Lane
• Jumpers Hill Road
• Triadelphia Road

Motorists are advised to allow extra time or plan alternate routes and are reminded to slow down and use caution when sharing the road with bicyclists.

Mall-aise?

We periodically check the listings of who's coming to the Mall in Columbia, and found this notice posted back in July:

* Vera Bradley: Now Open!
* CJ Watch & Jewelry Repair: Now Open!
* Best Buy Mobile: Now Open!
* Coldwater Creek: Opening October 2010 on the lower level, Nordstrom Wing

From our new perch at Capital Business we get touts for all kinds of retail openings around the region, leaving us to wonder what effect if any General Growth's trip through the bankruptcy courts is having on its ability to attract fresh concepts.

Here's lists of new store openings at Montgomery Mall and Tysons Corner. And the Tysons list doesn't include the recent announcement that an American Girl store is headed Fairfax way in 2011.

Policing the Pathways

From HoCo police:

Howard County police have charged a Columbia teen for inappropriately touching a woman on an Oakland Mills pathway and are asking anyone who may have been a victim to come forward.

The teen was charged on Aug. 13 as a juvenile with fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault for an incident that occurred on June 30 in Oakland Mills.

Police are investigating three additional cases in which women were inappropriately touched while walking on pathways in that vicinity in April and July. Detectives are working to determine if the same suspect may have been involved.

In the April case, the suspect approached a woman on a Sunday afternoon. In the other cases, the suspect approached the women on weekday mornings. The suspect engaged the women in conversation, then began to make lewd comments and touched the women inappropriately. In all of the cases reported to police, the women fled on foot to safety.

In an attempt to identify the suspect, on Aug. 4, an undercover female officer was stationed on a pathway in the area where the crimes occurred. The teen approached the plainclothes officer and solicited her for prostitution. He was subsequently charged. Through investigation, police then linked the suspect to the June 30 incident.

The teen is described as a black male; 6 feet, 2 inches tall; 160 pounds; with brown hair, brown eyes, a medium complexion and short hair. Anyone who may have been a victim or who has information is asked to call police at 410-313-STOP. Callers may remain anonymous.

Police have recently increased patrols in this area of Columbia. As a result, patrol officers also made a quick arrest in an armed street robbery Saturday.

Police responded to a footbridge over U.S. 29 on Saturday for a reported armed street robbery. Two victims were sitting on a pathway near Lake Kittamaqundi when two unknown suspects approached them, displayed a gun and stole a backpack and mp3 player. The suspects fled on the footbridge over U.S. 29 toward Stevens Forest. The victims called police and provided a description of the suspects. Patrol officers in the area responded quickly and located two suspects matching the description provided by the victims. The suspects led police on a foot pursuit and were apprehended in the 5600 block of Stevens Forest Road. The suspects were in possession of the backpack and mp3 player that were reported stolen moments earlier.

Gehiji S. Thomas, 19, of 3005 Belmont Avenue in Baltimore, and Christian G. Graham, 16, of 9426 Farewell Road in Columbia (charged as an adult), are facing two counts of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, using a handgun in the commission of a felony, two counts of first- and second-degree assault, three counts of theft, two counts of reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm by a person under age 21.

Thomas and Graham are being held at Howard County Detention Center. Thomas is being held without bond, and Graham is being held on $50,000 bond.

Six Arrested For Car Thefts

UPDATE...The police department corrected some of the dates and other details from an earlier release, and we have updated.

From HoCo police:

Howard County police have charged six people for a series of five motor vehicle thefts in Columbia over the summer.

The following cases have been closed:

• A June 16 theft of a 2004 Ford F150 from the 8400 block of Greystone Lane in Columbia
• A June 21 theft of a 1997 Dodge Caravan from the 8700 block of Cloudleap Court in Columbia
• A June 24 theft of a 2000 Dodge Caravan from the 6000 block of Majors Lane in Columbia
• A June 26 theft of a 2008 Infiniti M35 from the 6300 block of Gray Sea Way in Columbia
• An Aug. 1 theft of a 1998 Buick Regal from the 5700 block of Stevens Forest Road in Columbia

In all of the cases, police recovered the stolen vehicles. Police tied the suspects to the cases using evidence found in the recovered stolen vehicles. Police also linked the suspects to the thefts after they located property that had been stolen from the cars and then pawned.

In the June 21 case, shortly after the 1997 Dodge Caravan was stolen, a patrol officer spotted the vehicle in Columbia and initiated a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and led police on a pursuit that ended when the driver of the stolen vehicle collided with a tree on a ramp from U.S. 29 onto Md. 175 and both the driver and passenger fled on foot. They were later apprehended by police.

Joseph Brandon Davis, 21, of 649 Charraway Road in Baltimore
• June 16 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, unauthorized removal of property, presence in a vehicle with the intent to commit theft and theft
• June 21 theft: charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft, two counts of unauthorized removal of property, two counts of presence in a vehicle with the intent to commit theft, four counts of malicious destruction of property, fleeing and eluding police in a vehicle, fleeing and eluding police on foot and driving without a license
• June 26 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft
• Arrested Aug. 17 and being held at Howard County Detention Center on no bond

Stephen Charles Diggs, 19, of 5971 Mill Race Court in Columbia
• June 21 and June 24 thefts: charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft, two counts of unauthorized removal of property, two counts of presence in a vehicle with the intent to commit theft, four counts of malicious destruction of property, fleeing and eluding police in a vehicle, fleeing and eluding police on foot and driving without a license
• June 26 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, three counts of theft, three counts of conspiracy to commit theft, unauthorized removal of property and conspiracy to commit unauthorized removal of property)
• Arrested Aug. 10 and being held at Howard County Detention Center on $33,500 bond

Ashley Nicole Collins, 18, of 6516 Overheart Lane in Columbia
• June 16 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, unauthorized removal of property, presence in a vehicle with the intent to commit theft and theft
• Arrested June 24 and released the same day after posting $3,000 bond

Andy Lymonne Connely, 18, of 5792 Stevens Forest Road in Columbia
• Aug. 1 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft.
• Arrested Aug. 13 and being held at Howard County Detention Center on $6,000 bond

Heather Gwen Ladd, 31, of 311 South Smallwood Street in Baltimore
• Wanted for June 26 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft
• Police are attempting to locate Ladd. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 410-313-STOP. Callers may remain anonymous.

Diangelo Wayne Smith, 19, of 6318 Red Haven Road in Columbia
• June 26 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft
• Aug. 1 theft: charged with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, two counts of theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft
• Arrested Aug. 12 and released the same day after posting $30,000 bond.

School Supplying

We're happy to pass on from the nonprofit group twentyfivefortyfive (twentyfivefortyfive is an initiative of The Columbia Foundation, which serves as a catalyst for building a more caring, creative and effective community in Howard County by encouraging philanthropy among those between the ages of 25 - 45.):

twentyfivefortyfive is hosting a "drive-by" giving event on Sunday, August 22 with Prepare for Success, a local organization that provides backpacks and school supplies to thousands of Howard County school children in need each year. Your donation of school supplies will go directly to local students and help them get off on the right foot this school year.

It's easy: while you're out shopping for school supplies for your children or even during your weekly grocery run, please consider picking up a few extra items from the list below. And, it's a great opportunity to get your kids involved in giving as well by helping to pick out school supplies for others while shopping for their own!

Then all you have to do is swing by the Columbia Foundation headquarters (10227 Wincopin Circle in Columbia) on Sunday, August 22 between Noon and 3 p.m. to drop them off -- we'll take care of the rest.

Thanks for your interest in twentyfivefortyfive and we hope to see you on the 22nd!

CDR/JF

Supplies needed:

· Backpacks
· 3-hole lined paper
· Highlighters
· Subject dividers
· Pink erasers
· Colored pencils
· Marble composition books
· Sticky notes - 3 x 3
· Pocket folders
· Blunt scissors
· Zippered pencil pouches
· Magic markers
· 2" 3-ring binders
· Glue sticks
· 12" rulers
· #2 pencils
· 1-subject spiral notebooks
· crayons

Dredging Up The Numbers

How much is a lake worth?

The Sun has a thorough story on what's up with all the dredging, and why it seems to be taking so looooong. Seems folks miscalculated the amount of sediment flowing into our manmade lakes. And guess what? Even when it is done we will still be stuck with the algae!

Measurements this year revealed higher-than-expected sediment flows into Elkhorn and Kittamaqundi over the past four years that would raise the cost at least $3.4 million above the $11.4 million estimate for dredging both lakes, CA officials were to report to the association board Thursday night. Estimates on a smaller dredge project at Wilde Lake are running $700,000 under the $2.2 million budgeted. Preparations for dredging at Kittamaqundi and Wilde Lake are to begin next month, officials said.

"I appreciate they're going to be troubled by the additional money," said Dennis Mattey, the Columbia Association's director of construction.

The board can shift funding from the Wilde Lake project to the two larger lakes; other possible options are to reduce the amount of sediment removed or find more money. Since the biggest single expense for dredging is setting up the equipment staging area, Mattey said it might make sense to go ahead despite the costs. Removal of each added inch of sediment will cost about $100,000, according to a consultant, who said the muck is deepening at a rate of nearly 3.5 inches per year in Lake Elkhorn and 4.5 inches a year in Lake Kittamaqundi.

"I also don't believe it's going to be cheaper in five or 10 years to remove the sediment," Mattey said.

The Columbia Association had earlier sought to limit costs by dredging about 80 percent of the sediment that has accumulated in Lake Elkhorn since it was built in 1974. In some areas, water once 7 feet deep had filled to less than 2 feet, according to the consultant's reports.

Even after dredging, the water will be no more than 5 feet deep. No dredging is to occur in the lake's broad center section, behind the Swan Point townhouse development. Most of the work is taking place at the narrower eastern end of the lake, though the dock cove, the pond below the dam and the nearly fully silted pond behind the lake's source stream still must be dredged.

Engineers and consultants said that since a storm in June 2006 dropped 10 inches of rain, sediment has flowed into Lake Elkhorn at a rate 47 percent higher than expected. Estimates were based on calmer weather from 2001 to 2006. During the past four years, sediment flow into Lake Kittamaqundi was 97 percent higher than CA estimates. Wilde Lake, the smallest of the three, was 23 percent higher. Wilde Lake has been dredged several times, which has reduced sediment buildup.

For Elkhorn, that translates into an added 22,000 cubic yards of mud, and 37,000 cubic yards more accumulated in Lake Kittamaqundi.

Meanwhile, Elkhorn dredging has proceeded fitfully, with the dredge stopped and silent almost as often as it is operating. McHugh said the dredge scoops up sediment and pumps it to a receiving tank faster than it can be pressed dry and disposed of, which forces periodic shutdowns.

Charles Grey, the Columbia Association's project manager for dredging, expressed frustration that work has not proceeded more quickly, but the dredge must stop each time the green tank fills with sludge. Once dried and expelled, a large front-end loader lifts it into trucks. Then the barge, which uses a hydraulic device to chew and loosen the sediment before pumping it through long plastic pipes to the dredge site, can resume work. Work stopped on much of Aug. 6, for example, because of an electrical problem on the dredge, Grey said, and a hydraulic breakdown Monday delayed work again.

A Road Paved With Stimulus $$$

From HoCoGov:

A Howard County construction project to mill and resurface a section of Little Patuxent Parkway between Maryland Route 175 and Columbia Road in Columbia is scheduled to begin on or about Sunday,August 15. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by Tuesday, August 31.

This section of Little Patuxent Parkway is eligible and approved for repaving under the federally funded American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed by President Obama in February 2009. A portion of ARRA funds received by the Maryland Department of Transportation is reserved for distribution to county governments for Federal Aid eligible projects on county-maintained roads.

Construction will take place from 7 p.m. through 5 a.m. from Sunday, August 15, through Tuesday, August 31. Flagging operations will be in place to direct traffic as needed and variable message signs will be in place to advise motorists of the construction.
For questions or concerns about Capital Project H-2008, contact Lisa Brightwell, Public Works Customer Service, at 410-313-3440, or by e-mail to publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

WL's $1 million home

OK, not quite $1 million but in this market, close enough.

The Sun said the renovated manse near the WL boathouse sold for $928,000.

10026 Hyla Brook Road sits on .565 acres and has 7,112 sq ft of living space. The French country-style home has 5 bedrooms and 5 ½ bathrooms. The 2-story home was originally built in 1800 and was fully gutted and remodeled in 2004.
 
The expanded home now features 4 fireplaces, hardwood floors, a solarium, full, finished basement and an attached, 3-car garage.

Marketing director leaves CA

Steven Sattler is stepping down as CA's director of communications and marketing, according to the ExploreHoward blog.

Sattler had been employed by the association, the nonprofit that owns and operates Columbia’s recreational facilities, since January 2007. His resignation was effective July 16, according to CA staff.

One of the major projects that fell under Sattler’s purview was the development and launch of a Customer Service System, information management software under development since 2006 and intended to be launched earlier this summer after multiple delays.

The $2.7 million system, which was supposed to be launched in late June, was delayed indefinitely after a testing period uncovered major deficiencies in the software, mainly in financial accounting, according to Sattler and CA President Phillip Nelson.