In Baltimore County
Storm knocks out power to 14,000 throughout area
COCKEYSVILLE - More than 4,500 customers - most in northern Baltimore County - were without power last night after a storm yesterday afternoon.
Power was expected to be restored this morning to almost 2,800 customers in Baltimore County, 1,200 in Prince George's County, 360 in Baltimore City and others elsewhere, said Angela Walters, a Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. spokeswoman.
At the peak of the storm about 2:30 p.m., high winds, heavy rains and lightning caused a few power lines to fall, knocking out electricity to more than 14,000 homes, Walters said. She said Cockeysville and Bowie were hit particularly hard by the storm.
Suspicious parcel forces supermarket to close
COCKEYSVILLE - The Giant supermarket at 11399 York Road was closed for two hours yesterday after a customer reported a suspicious parcel at the main entrance.
Police evacuated employees and customers about 3:50 p.m. through the rear of the store and brought in the bomb squad to determine what was in the package. The package, which turned out to be harmless, was a cardboard tube filled three-quarters full with unpopped popcorn, wrapped in blue paper and sealed with rubber on both ends, said police Officer 1st Class Edward Borman.
"It was either made to look scary, or it was some kind of homemade baby rattle," Borman said. "I think it was somebody's idea of a bad joke."
Pikesville Rotary honors principal of high school
PIKESVILLE - Pikesville High School Principal Dorothy E. Hardin has been named "Person of the Year" by the Pikesville Rotary Club.
Hardin, who has been principal at Pikesville for about three years, was honored by the club for her "leadership, dedication and support to her students and staff."
The civic club presented the principal with a plaque at a meeting last month in Owings Mills.
Parkville High graduate wins $1,000 for essay
PARKVILLE - Anna Sharova, a recent graduate of Parkville High School, has won $1,000 from the Ayn Rand Institute of Marina Del Rey, Calif., as part of an annual essay contest that attracts about 3,500 student participants from around the world.
Sharova plans to attend the University of Maryland, College Park where she will study computer science and visual arts. She wrote an essay dealing with the characters and themes depicted in Rand's 1943 novel, "The Fountainhead."
Sharova was one of 10 students who won $1,000 each. Five received $2,000 each and one got $10,000. Since 1985, about 76,000 high school students have participated in the contest. Information, 310-306-9232, Ext. 213.
Cafeteria workers sought for county's schools
TOWSON - The Baltimore County school system is seeking men and women to work in school cafeterias during the school year, which begins Sept. 5.
Recruitment meetings will be held July 26, Parkville Middle School, 8711 Avondale Road; Aug. 4, Milford Mill Academy; Aug. 7, Woodlawn High School, 1801 Woodlawn Drive; Aug. 11, school headquarters, Educational Support Services Building, 6901 N. Charles St.; Aug. 14, Lansdowne Middle School, 2400 Lansdowne Road; Aug. 15, General Stricker Middle School, 7855 Trappe Road.
All meetings will start at 8:30 a.m. Information: 410-887- 7855
In Baltimore City
Urban League to offer free computer classes
The Baltimore Urban League, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is offering free, computer literacy classes for adults for four weeks beginning July 24 and ending Aug. 18.
Classes are offered from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a first-come basis at BUL headquarters, 512 Orchard St. One class will meet Mondays and Wednesdays, and the other Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Information: Leon Faruq, 410-542-8953.