In Baltimore County
Randallstown man crossing Liberty Rd. killed in hit-and-run
RANDALLSTOWN -- A man attempting to walk across Liberty Road near an auto dealership was struck and killed by a car last night in a hit-and-run incident, county police reported.
The car was found abandoned a short distance away, but the driver had fled, police said.
The victim -- described as a Randallstown resident in his 50s -- was walking north to south across the 9300 block of Liberty Road in front of Universal Ford and was not in a crosswalk when he was struck about 7:20 p.m. by a westbound convertible, police said.
The man's name was withheld pending notification of relatives.
Man accused of filling wetlands without permit
ESSEX -- An Essex man has been charged with illegally dredging and filling state wetlands on his property without a permit, Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. said yesterday.
Scott H. O'Day, 47, of the 1300 block of Wildwood Beach Road is accused of damaging wetlands along a road between Dec. 1 and Feb. 1 this year, Curran said. The charges were brought by the attorney general's Environmental Crimes Unit.
The maximum penalty for illegal dredging and filling is a $1,000 fine.
2 emergency shelters for homeless to open
TOWSON -- Baltimore County will sponsor two shelters from tomorrow through April 15 to provide emergency overnight accommodations for the homeless.
The shelters will be at Eastern Family Resource Center, 9100 Franklin Square Drive in Rossville, and at 7600 Clays Lane in Woodlawn. They will provide dinner and breakfast and will remain open during the day if weather conditions are bad enough to curtail regular activities at the two locations.
The shelters will be operated by ReVisions Inc., through a contract with the county. Regular operating hours will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Anyone in need of shelter should call the county Department of Social Services at 410-853-3000. Agencies, groups or individuals wishing to donate food should contact the Baltimore County Coalition for the Homeless at 410-847-9007.
Villa Cresta Elementary to mark 50 years Sunday
PARKVILLE -- Villa Cresta Elementary will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the school.
Former pupils, faculty and staff are invited to the festivities, which will include a slide show, refreshments and school tours.
Villa Cresta is at 2600 Rader Ave.
In Baltimore City
Author, activist Bell to speak at Pratt Library
Writer, legal scholar and civil rights activist Derrick Bell will present a talk this evening at Enoch Pratt Free Library downtown and sign copies of his newest book, Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth.
Bell, who teaches at New York University School of Law, is the author of seven books including the best-seller Faces at the Bottom of the Well. In announcing his talk, the library said that in his latest book, Bell "urges readers to live a life of passion, to have the courage to take risks for what they believe in, and to rely on their loved ones and faith for support during hard times."
The free talk is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium of the library at 400 Cathedral St.
High school preview set for pupils Saturday
Pupils in seventh and eighth grade will have an opportunity to preview the educational options offered at the Baltimore school system's 30 high schools during an all-day high school fair Saturday.
The fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polytechnic Institute-Western High School complex at 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane. Teachers, principals and students from neighborhood and citywide high schools will be available to speak to prospective students.
Beginning this month, guidance counselors will speak to middle school pupils about entrance requirements for the selective citywide schools.