SEVERNA PARK - Three business groups have scheduled a town hall meeting tomorrow at the Earleigh Heights Fire Hall on zoning enforcement and the permits and inspection process in the county.

Organizers from the Greater Severna Park and the Northern Anne Arundel County chambers of commerce, as well as the Pasadena Business Association have invited anyone who has been through or is going through the permit-application process or dealing with zoning issues to attend.

Everyone will be able to speak about their experience and make recommendations on how to improve the process.

Elected officials are invited, but will be asked to listen to residents speak rather than addressing the crowd. County officials have not been invited.

Organizers said this will be the first of several meetings on this topic. Those who don't want to speak at the meeting can fill out a form addressing their concerns.

The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the Earleigh Heights Fire Station at Ritchie Highway and Magothy Bridge Road. Speaker sign up sheets will be out at 6 p.m.

For details, contact the Pasadena Business Association at 410-360-4722 or pasadenabusinessassociation1@verizon.net.

Red Cross urges blood donation

The local chapter of the American Red Cross is encouraging everyone to donate, since the chapter is short on four blood types.

The Greater Cheaspeake and Potomac Region, which includes Anne Arundel County, has less than one day's supply of types O positive and negative and B positive and negative blood types.

Emergency accidents, such as trauma accidents and transplant surgeries require significant amounts of blood, officials said.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days, nor received a tattoo within the past year.

To set up an appointment, call 800-448-3543.

Volunteers needed for South River work

The South River Federation is looking for some helping hands to plant rain gardens and oysters over the next couple weeks.

The federation will be planting a rain garden from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the Department of Agriculture headquarters, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway. A sister project is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 8 at the Anne Arundel Department of Health, 3 Harry S Truman Parkway. Both projects are part of an effort to improve water quality in Broad Creek by helping filter pollutants and slow stormwater runoff from the parking lots.

The federation will provide work gloves and shovels for the two events, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite pair of gloves or a trowel and shovel. Refreshments will be provided.

The federation also is planning an oyster planting on sanctuary reefs in the South River from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 16. Oysters that have been growing in buckets along side volunteers' piers will be moved to the reefs and the buckets will be refilled with new seed for next year's crop of homegrown mollusks.

Volunteers will get wet and plenty dirty on this detail and are encouraged to wear sturdy, protective shoes, hats and a loads of sunscreen. Tools and refreshments will be provided.

To volunteer for any of these projects, call 410-224-3802 or e-mail info@southriverfederation.net.

- From staff reports