Commission approves funds for Canal Parkway
CUMBERLAND -- The Appalachian Regional Commission has approved $325,000 for the planning and design of Canal Parkway, a scenic road that will connect downtown with the city's south end.
The parkway, which will parallel the Potomac River and the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, is part of a $200 million project aimed at refurbishing Cumberland's riverfront near the canal and the Western Maryland Railroad train station.
The parkway is expected to cost between $30 million and $40 million and will alleviate traffic problems in the area.
Anti-Semitic graffiti painted on synagogue
ANNAPOLIS
ANNAPOLIS -- Anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered spray-painted on a synagogue yesterday morning, making it the second hate crime to be reported in the Annapolis area in a week, police said.
Swastikas and the words "White Power" and "Jews Die" were spray-painted in gray-and-gold lettering on the doors to Kneseth Israel Congregation, Annapolis' oldest and largest synagogue.
"We hope it's an isolated incident," said Laurence Block, the synagogue's president. "We've been here 100 years and never had this happen before."
Racist graffiti and swastikas were found last week spray-painted on an Edgewater hair salon owned by a black woman. Police said they had no suspect and did not know if the incidents were related.
9 youth groups named recipients of grants
BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE -- Youth as Resources, a program aimed at showing how young people can solve community problems, named nine Baltimore youth groups winners of a total of $11,405 in grants yesterday.
The groups will do projects such as cleaning up public-housing playgrounds and organizing an anti-drug, anti-violence skit for city elementary school students.
The winners: Family Life Players of Julie Community Center; the Fly Girls Club of West Baltimore; Youth Job Club; Lexington-Poe Homes Youth Development Center; Brothers' Club of Lafayette Courts; Mighty Lions Team of Old Court Middle School, Positive Expressions of West Baltimore; Youth from Park Heights of St. Ambrose Outreach Center; and Working in Neighborhood Green Spaces of Greenmount Community Center.
The Associated raises $455,133
BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE -- A total of $455,133 was raised yesterday during the annual telephone fund-raising effort of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
Sixty percent of the money raised will go to The Associated's 17 area agencies, and the remainder will be distributed to Israel and more than 50 other countries through the United Jewish Appeal, said spokeswoman Phyllis Hersh.
Along with the fund-raising effort, some 350 religious school students spent yesterday morning at the Jewish Community Center working on service projects, such as making care packages for imprisoned Jews, she said.
The money raised yesterday is part of The Associated's annual fund-raising campaign, which so far has raised more than $17 million, Ms. Hersh said.
Woman charged after car strikes and kills boy, 8
BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE -- Police have charged a 34-year-old Baltimore woman with driving while intoxicated and other traffic offenses after an 8-year-old boy was struck and killed by a car while crossing Belair Road Friday night.
Police officials are to meet with city prosecutors today to decide whether automobile manslaughter or vehicular homicide charges should also be brought against the driver, Lori Seibert, 34, of the 3200 block of Shannon Drive.
Deames Brooks, of the 4100 block of Brendan Ave., died from head injuries sustained when he was hit about 9 p.m. Friday in the 2000 block of Belair Road, said Officer Robert W. Weinhold Jr., a city police spokesman.
The Brooks youth was crossing the street with a 13-year-old girl when both were struck by a southbound 1979 Pontiac Firebird, Officer Weinhold said. The girl, Lashell Simmons, suffered bruises and was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for observation, Officer Weinhold said.
Denton man killed in head-on crash
DENTON
DENTON -- A Caroline County man died from injuries !c sustained in a head-on crash along Route 404 in Denton on Saturday, authorities said.
State police said Ronald Stafford, 28, of Denton, apparently was driving at high speed when he lost control of his car. The vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a car driven by Howard Hogan of Hartly, Del.
Mr. Stafford died at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Mr. Hogan and a passenger were treated at Memorial Hospital in Easton and were released.
Police said their investigation is continuing.
Gifts for needy children stolen from storage unit
PRINCESS ANNE
PRINCESS ANNE -- Christmas toys and clothing for needy children were stolen from a rental storage unit, Princess Anne police said.
The lock had been snipped off the storage unit, and more than 100 wrapped Christmas gifts and bags of clothing were taken, said Investigator Barbara Childress of the Princess Anne police on Friday.
The Seton Center, a charitable organization run by Catholic nuns, had been collecting the toys and clothes for months to be distributed to about 400 needy families in the area, said Sister Diane Moore.
Whoever stole the toys and clothing couldn't carry the items away on foot and probably had a truck, Investigator Childress said. "It's just sad, especially at this time of the year, for someone to take these things that were wrapped and obviously going to needy families," Sister Diane said. "It really hurts."