Area News Briefs

Academy holiday menu questioned

The meal was served Tuesday because classes weren't held on Jan. 21, the King holiday. Clips of the Rev. King's speeches were broadcast while the midshipmen dined.

An academy spokesman said the menu was chosen because it was a "traditional Southern meal." In September, midshipmen dined on fajitas, flour tortillas and Spanish rice for Hispanic Heritage Month.

But message board postings at GoMids.com indicated some were offended by the attempt to honor King.

One contributor wrote, "I thought we were well past these stereotypes!" The comments have since been removed from the site.

Reverend reports televisions stolen

ANNAPOLIS - Someone stole two televisions this weekend from the Calvary United Methodist Church, city police said.

The Rev. Byron Brought told police that on Sunday afternoon he discovered two 26-inch LCD TVs, valued at $448.72 each, were missing.

The church at 301 Rowe Blvd. is open to the public at various times, he told police, and the TVs were taken some time from Friday afternoon and yesterday afternoon.

"Churches are open to the public," the Rev. Brought said. "We want people to come, we encourage people to come. We're very vulnerable to this type of thing."

The church hasn't had a lot of problems with theft, but it did have a problem several years ago when electronics were taken, he said. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon, he said.

"It's outrageous. It's ludicrous when you think about it, but it happens," he said.

Police investigating graffiti vandalism

ODENTON - County police are investigating racist graffiti spray-painted on the side of an African American couple's home last week as a possible hate crime, a department spokesman said.

Lorenza and Virginia Trotter discovered derogatory slurs Jan. 20 on their home in the 2000 block of Brigadier Boulevard in Odenton. They were not sure how long the graffiti had been on the side of their home, police said.

Detectives would not release details but said the case is "unique." They said investigators are working diligently to find the motive behind the crime.

Group to discuss fly ash concerns

Gambrills - A citizen-activist group is hosting a forum tomorrow night about fly ash, a substance linked to environmental problems in the Gambrills area.

Crofton First has invited representatives from Constellation Energy Group, Maryland Department of the Environment, the county Health Department and mine-owner BBSS Inc. to speak about issues involving the substance.

Millions of tons of fly ash, a powdery gray byproduct from burning coal, has been dumped in a Gambrills surface mine since 1995.

Wells near the site have shown elevated levels of heavy metals, some carcinogenic. People who live near the mine are also concerned about the potential impacts of airborne fly ash.

The forum is set for 7 p.m. at the Village at Waugh Chapel community room. It will include a question-and-answer session.

- From staff reports