Former Jamaican Olympic Sprinter Sets Roots in Howard County

Sanjay Ayre won the silver medal as part of the Jamaican men's 4x400 sprint team, now he's starting a training business in Howard County and coaching at HCC.

Originally published Jan. 23, 2013. Just qualifying for the Olympics is quite a feat, but to compete on the Jamaican National sprint team--that's an entirely different achievement. In 1999, Sanjay Ayre was a 19-year-old sprinter living in the Bronx, NY who had just won gold in the 400-meter dash at the Pan American Junior Championships. The next year, Ayre began his college career at Auburn University where his coach encouraged him to try out for the Jamaican Olympic team. At the time, Ayre was 20 and a Jamaican citizen. "Track and field is by far the biggest sport in Jamaica," said Ayre, who recently opened up his own training center in Howard County and serves as the men's sprint coach for Howard Community College. "The fans are very …

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Jamaican Sprinter Finding Success in HoCo

A former Jamaican Olympian now coaching at Howard Community College.

New $50 Million Health Sciences Building Opens at HCC

A ribbon cutting for the new building took place on Monday morning.

  William Fisher, the director of cardiovascular technology, stood in the middle of his new classroom inside the new health sciences building at Howard Community College. He was showing people on a tour the new emergency room-like suite, the training beds, the shiny floor and all the new space he has. "Before, we were training in a classroom a quarter of the size of this," said Fisher. "This will be a whole new level of training." Local political and educational leaders gathered with students and residents at the ribbon cutting for Howard Community College's new $50.7 million Health Sciences Building. "It's a student-centered building," said Georgene Butler, president of health sciences at HCC, "and we're well-poised for continued growth…

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HCC Closes Early Due to Water Main Break

Howard Community College closed early and cancelled athletic activities and evening classes.

    Howard Community College closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday, cancelled athletic activities and evening classes after a water main break occurred at the college on Tuesday afternoon. The water main is the college’s main incoming water source from the county, according to HCC spokesperson Michael Scrivener. "Normal wear and age could potentially cause a pipe to deteriorate," wrote Scrivener in an email. "The college’s contractor and staff are excavating the pipe currently and won’t be able to determine repair time until then." A spokesperson from Howard County Department of Public Works said the college is on a private water main. The Children's Learning Center and Hickory Ridge Building will remain open because they are on a different water main …

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Bomb Threat at HCC: False Alarm

Some buildings were evacuated.

A bomb threat at Howard Community College turned out to be an unfounded threat, police said. Howard Community College staff and students received the following email at 9:52 a.m. with the subject "EVACUATE NOW":     By 10:45 a.m., staff and students were returning to the buildings. Howard County police spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn said that there was no bomb. "We checked it out," she wrote in an email. "Nothing there. School is open and fine." With reporting by Patch.com editors Elizabeth Janney and Brian Hooks.

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LOOK: Public Art Popping Up Around Town

Have you seen this new art?

Patrons of local libraries and public places around Columbia may find the scenery a little more aesthetically pleasing these days. Structures approved by the Howard County Arts Council have been installed in several locations across Columbia and Howard County. The installations are part of ARTsites, a year-long public art project celebrating 30 years of the Howard County Arts Council. HCAC anticipates putting the following 12 sculptures around the county:

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GreenFest 2012: Farmers Market, Live Animals and More

The Howard County GreenFest 2012 will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at Howard Community College.

Families looking for a free activity with a "green" theme Saturday are in luck. Howard County's fifth annual GreenFest is being held at Howard Community College in Columbia. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 100 vendors, workshops and demonstrations will be available in the Burrill Galleria. The event will also feature a "mini" farmers market, a shredding event and outdoor activities for all ages. "This year's theme is 'Saving the Environment One Yard at a Time' and focuses on the importance of taking steps at your own home to make a big impact," according to a press release for the event. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will be in attendance, along with GreenFest organizers from the Office of Environmental Sustainability, the Department…

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Educators to School Board: Fix Internal Conflicts

Howard County Education President Paul Lemle to read into the meeting record a letter requesting the school board to seek external help to work out its problems.

At tonight's Board of Education meeting, Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle plans to ask board members to seek external help to fix what he thinks are incapacitating personality conflicts. Last week, HCEA representatives passed a resolution directing Lemle to write a letter to the board, suggesting they solicit the services of either the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center at Howard County Community College or the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. Both organizations offer mediation services or professional training that would be available free of cost to the school board, Lemle said. Lemle has said he believes conflicts among school board members are getting in the way of governing. School board …

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You Said It!

Reader Comments: Restaurant Wars, Budget Woes

Patch readers weighed in on the placement of restaurants, the ramifications of shifting state teacher pension responsibilities to the counties and Howard Community College sports, among other topics.

Readers continue to respond, debate and complain on Patch sites acorss Howard County. This past week, readers questioned the decision to place three Mexican restaurants at one intersection and the wisdom and long-term effects of shifting some of the financial responsibility of the state teacher pension system to local jurisdictions while one reader learned of the existence of Howard Community College athletics. The HCC men's basketball team finished the regular season with a 12-12 record and earned a berth on the NJCAA Region XX tournament. Assistant Coach Jay Nowaskey has partnered with Columbia Patch to provide game coverage and photos, which led to one resident commenting about the general lack of coverage of HCC sports. That …

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Dating Violence Awareness Forum at HCC Friday

Domestic Violence Center, Howard Community College partner to provide free seminar during Teen dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

The Domestic Violence Center of Howard County and Howard Community College are partnering to hold "It’s Time to Talk: A Forum on Dating Violence" from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Fridy at the college. February is recognized nationally as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, according to a statement from DVC. During this free community forum participants will learn about this serious public health problem, how to spot the warning signs of dating violence and what resources are available to Howard County residents. Forum panel members will include survivors and intimate partner violence experts including WHUR “Sighlent Storm” radio host Denise McCain; David Thomas of The Johns Hopkins University; Matt Thorn with PFLAG (Parents, Families…

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