Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tough Mudder is doing an internal review of safety protocols following the death of an Ellicott City man at its event.
Two people who watched the incident that led to the death of a 28-year-old Ellicott City man said safety precautions at the "Walk the Plank" obstacle on the Tough Mudder course on Saturday in West Virginia were minimal. Avishenk Sengupta, 28, died after he jumped 15 feet from the obstacle into a pool of muddy, cold water, according to reports about the incident. The death marked the first time someone had died at a Tough Mudder course since it began three years ago, according to a statement from the organization. Tough Mudder is a company that sponsors the approximately 10-mile team obstacle courses at different locations across the world. The Medical Examiner in Manassas, VA, determined Sengupta had accidentally drowned, according to a…
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The wooden playground built by a community member in the 1970s may have to be taken down.
The tot lot behind Sixpence Circle and Buglenote Way in Hickory Ridge blends into the landscape with its weathered wood and natural look. The playground is known in the community for its wobbly bridge, a tree that grows directly through a fort and because its designer was landscape architect Fred Jarvis, who built his own house on Buglenote and lived in Hickory Ridge for decades. But due to modern safety standards, the playground may have to be torn down. The issue is divisive. Community residents say they consider the playground a treasure in Columbia. The Columbia Association says a major overhaul is necessary to avoid legal liability. “The thing that’s so great about this playground is it’s integrated into the landscape,” said Hickory…
Monday, March 18, 2013
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman was joined by local leaders at an event on Monday to release the final report of the joint task force on school safety.
County Executive Ken Ulman said Monday that $2 million would be spent to update security measures at Howard County schools, an initiative taken following the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut. In addition, a task force recommended emergency response training and measures to create a safe climate for students and help identify children who may be suffering from issues. “All of what we’re doing is trying to put together the best possible group of policies to diminish the chances that we have a tragedy in Howard County,” said Ulman. The recommendations were released Monday at an event at Thunder Hill Elementary in Columbia. and were prepared by a joint task force on school safety. By the end of this year, the county plans on …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Police have some tips for residents "before the burglar comes."
Howard County Police Capt. Daniel Coon visited with residents in Ellicott City's Dunloggin Neighborhood earlier this week to talk to people about residential burglaries. Along with specific information about their neighborhood, he shared some general advice for people to keep their homes safe, including a brochure from Maryland Crime Watch. Make your home look (and sound) occupied: Be a good neighbor: Install good locks ... and lock them: Secure your windows: Change the locks 'at the drop of a threat': Don't welcome burglars by telephone: Don't open your door to anyone with no business inside: Man's best friend repels burglars: Don't advertise your vacation plans: Tell the police: Write down the serial numbers for you electronic devices:
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services wants you to see the difference between a dried-out tree and one that's been well-kept.
When it comes to Christmas trees, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services has some tips to help you stay safe On its Facebook page, HCDFRS lists these tips to reduce the chance of a tree going up in flames: Howard County's Merry Mulch recycling program has, since 1993, helped residents recycle trees for free. The trees are delivered to a compost facility where they are recycled into compost and mulch. Check back with Patch in a few weeks for updated information on Merry Mulch. And remember—water your tree. Watch the video—courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories—to see what a difference it can make. For more local news, sign up for the Ellicott City Patch newsletter . Keep the …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
A recent fatal accident has brought the stretch of road between I-70 and 108 in Clarksville under examination.
After an Ellicott City man was killed in a fatal accident on Route 32 in Clarksville on Nov. 13 the safety of the high speed, two lane road has been called into question. Currently the stretch of road where the fatal accident occurred is a two-lane road that experiences traffic during rush hour. On Nov. 13, the fatal accident was caused by the driver of a flatbed truck losing control of the vehicle while driving southbound, skidding into the northbound lane and striking a Jeep driven by an Ellicott City man who later died at the hospital, according to police. A Maryland State Highway Administration spokesperson said officials are still examining the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine exactly what happened. In 2004, a group…
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Firefighters extinguished a two-alarm fire at a vacant commercial building on Sunday.
Howard County firefighters extinguished a fire inside a vacant commercial building on the 8100 block of Jenmar Road in Savage on Sunday afternoon. There were no injuries, according to fire officials. Firefighters responded to the fire at about 5 p.m. after callers reported seeing smoke rising from the building, according to a Howard County fire department spokesperson. Fire officials reported the building, a 5,000 square foot auto repair facility, was engulfed in flames when they arrived. It took more than 60 firefighters about 35 minutes to put out the fire, according to a spokesperson. The cause of the fire and damage estimates are unknown as officials investigate the scene.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Howard County Police recently stepped up security at the apartment complex in Swift Stream Place after a string of robberies were reported in June.
Ghazala Rafique moved into the Columbia Town Center Apartments almost three years ago with her daughter. She thought the neighborhood, compacted into a street circle less than a quarter-mile long, was a nice upscale community close to the mall. Last year, however, Rafique said she and her daughter got a visit from a police officer, warning them of a television thief who had broken into several of their neighbors' homes. This was the first security problem she said they had encountered at the Columbia Town Center Apartments–the only residential area on Swift Stream Place. Then in March, a burglar entered Rafique's home while she was away and stole $10,000 worth of her daughter's jewelry, she said. "The only reason I can think of as to why…
39.209473
-76.856961
10400 Swift Stream Pl, Columbia, MD
/articles/residents-want-cameras-safety-on-swift-stream-place
/locations/7521461
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Does recent crime news worry you?
Last week, my wife’s car, parked along the side of our absurdly quiet side street, was struck. The anonymous denter left no note, nor was any neighbor forthcoming with a tale of woe and bad driving. There was more than $2,500 worth of damage done to a car we haven’t yet owned for six months. Although a minor incident, our hit-and-run seems inexorably tied to recent negative news reports, as if an unknowable and unexplainable black cloud is reaching across Howard County. Columbia and Elkridge Patches both have long roundups of recent break-ins and thefts. Last week, a teen shooting victim was found in Ellicott City. In April, an Elkridge woman's body was found buried under a shed I’ve run past. In May, a shooting at an Ellicott City …
Luna Granby
1:34 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
I've done two Tough Mudder events and while I absolutely loved it, I have mixed feelings. Each and every competitor helps others. The spirit of camaraderie and looking out for each other is unparalleled, and the Tough Mudder company creates this atmosphere. I skipped Walk the Plank, both times (I did all the other obstacles). The first time I climbed up, what looked to be the Staff (it was … more ›