Howard County officials have announced the start of a $600,000 project to restore deteriorated portions of historic Carroll Baldwin Hall in Savage.

Officials said the project will restore the hall’s Foundry Street and Williams Street facades and make the facility more accessible to users with disabilities. It will also renovate a room that once served as the county’s Savage Branch library.

“Carroll Baldwin Hall is a historical treasure that has served Savage residents for a century,” said County Executive Allan Kittleman in a news release. “This project will ensure that everyone in the community has equal access to the hall along with the building’s continued viability as a community center.”

The county’s Department of Planning and Zoning initiated the project after the state designated the North Laurel-Savage area as a Sustainable Community — making it eligible for a neighborhood revitalization program that provides funding opportunities for community enhancement projects.

The Carroll Baldwin project was selected by community members as a top priority.

According to the county release, Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall was built in 1921 by the Baldwin family to honor the life of Carroll Baldwin, the supervisor of Savage Mill until his death in 1918, and “for the welfare and happiness of the whole community.”

From 1966 to 1991, the building served as the Savage Branch of the Howard County library system. Today it serves as a community center that is owned and maintained by the nonprofit Carroll Baldwin Memorial Institute, Inc.

“Being able to preserve and renew our cherished Baldwin Hall through this project assures it will continue to be the heart of the community, serving as the focal point or gathering place,” said Susan Garber, chairperson of the Savage Community Association, in the county release.

In 2016, the county also used an $85,000 state Sustainable Community grant to install electrical service at Baldwin Common, which is located next to Carroll Baldwin Hall and serves as a site for community events. The county placed underground wiring in the park, along with electrical panels, outlets and sidewalk lighting. An electrical hook-up was also extended to the nearby Bollman Truss Bridge.

Spending in county executive race eclipses $1M

Campaign finance reports ahead of Tuesday’s general election show that incumbent Republican County Executive Allan Kittleman had more cash on hand than his Democratic opponent, Calvin Ball, and that spending in the race has topped $1 million.

Kittleman has $268,253.47, and Ball has $173,992 in their campaign accounts, according to the reports, the last ones released before the election.

Since August, Ball has raised $121,238.68. The councilman, who represents Oakland Mills and parts of Ellicott City, has since the end of August spent $337,476.18 on his campaign. The report notes that Ball spent $216,176.00 on media, $14,773.83 on printing and campaign materials and $5,197.13 on banking charges including wire transfer fees, according to campaign spokesman Jamila Ratliff.

Ball received $4,500 in donations from three Virginia-based companies, including Nova Oil, whose registering officer is based in Fairfax. The Democrat received $500 from Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 100 and $4,000 from the local and state branches of the Service Employees International Union. Multiple local and national politicians including Shelley Hettleman, a delegate for the state legislature, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and a committee affiliated with Sen. Ben Cardin donated more than $6,000.

Kittleman’s report notes his campaign has spent $671,969.88 since August, including $464,058.72 on media and $91,547.04 on direct mail.

Williams Companies, an energy firm based in Tulsa, donated $5,000 earlier this month. Kittleman received $6,000 from from Buch Construction Inc. by way of its owners, Ellen and Mike Buch. Fairfax Holding Co., a Canada-based financial holdings company, donated $1,000. Gula Tech, a venture capital firm, donated $6,000. Maryland Business for Responsive Government through its PAC donated $1,000. The Howard County Police Officers Association political action committee gave $3,700. M&T and Wilmington Trust PAC gave $1,000.

Kittleman’s campaign returned $2,000 to a woman because her donations exceeded the legally allowed limit, according to Sean Murphy, a Kittleman spokesman.

—?Erin B. Logan, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Suicide prevention panel, film scheduled for Thu.

Leadership U Howard County, a leadership development and community service program, is hosting a panel discussion and a short film focusing on helping teenagers who are struggling with depression or considering suicide.

The mission of the event is to “increase awareness of the devastating impact of teen depression and suicide,” and to offer the community tools to use in helping their friends and loved ones who are struggling. The panel will include include representatives from the Howard County Health Department, the Grassroots Intervention Center and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The free event is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia. For information, email LIV4TMRW@gmail.com.

—?Jess Nocera,

Baltimore Sun Media Group