The late Lenny Robinson, who became known for his charitable appearances as Batman at events in support of children and who died last year in a car accident, played a role in an award received recently by the Howard County Library.

The system received international recognition by Hermes Creative Awards for the cover photo on its 2015 summer issue of “source,” a magazine it publishes to promote library happenings.

The photo, “Batman Reads,” was awarded the 2016 Platinum Award in the photography portrait/people category. Robinson is featured as the Caped Crusader in the photo.

Robinson, 51, of Owings Mills, died in August when he was struck by a vehicle in Western Maryland. His custom black car — his version of the Batmobile — had broken down on Interstate 70, and he was checking the engine when the accident occurred.

Library officials said the system's public relations team of Christie Lassen, Geoff Baker and Dennis Wood staged and shot the photos to promote last year's summer reading initiative in Howard County.

The Hermes Creative Award recognizes creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. The competition is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

HCLS' entries were chosen from more than 6,000 entries from throughout the world. Only 15 percent of entries win the Platinum Award, the organization's top honor.

Law signed to investigate Howard schools' public information compliance

Maryland's public information ombudsman will investigate whether the Howard County school system has unlawfully withheld public information from taxpayers, based on a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Larry Hogan.

The bill, passed by the House and Senate, requires the ombudsman to investigate the validity of the county school system's refusals to fulfill public information requests from July 1, 2012, when Superintendent Renee Foose took office, through December 31, 2015.

A report on the findings is due Jan. 1, 2017, to allow enough time for review by the Howard County delegation before the start of the Maryland General Assembly's legislative session next year.

Del. Warren Miller proposed the bill last October in response to allegations by parents that the school system has not released the full version of a report on special education in the county that cost taxpayers $300,000, and also that it had unlawfully refused to turn over school system staff emails pertaining to indoor air quality issues at Glenwood Middle School.

The bill will also require the State Public Information Act Compliance Board to review complaints about fees charged by county school officials to cover the cost of fulfilling public information requests. Anyone who is quoted more than $350 to fulfill a public information request may file a complaint.

—Lisa Philip, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Planning for Howard's first veterans memorial begins

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman will include funds for the county's first veterans memorial in his upcoming operating budget. The Veterans and Military Families Commission, a 13-member group created in 2011, pushed for the memorial for more than a year to honor and preserve veterans' contributions, according to Bob Gillette, a member of the commission.

“The memorial is a very public way of the county showing its appreciation and gratitude for veterans and their families,” said Gillette, who joined the Navy one month after graduating from high school in 1992.

Howard County has more than 20,000 veterans — roughly 7 percent of the population.

The memorial will likely be located on the lakefront in Columbia, according to Gillette. The commission is working with the county administration and the Columbia Association to reach a land use agreement, and plans to unveil the site and concept design at Columbia's 50th anniversary celebration next year.

“The site was chosen because it's really in the heart of the county. Downtown Columbia is a well-known, well-established, visible area,” Gillette said. The commission wants the memorial's design to match downtown Columbia's “modern” and “forward-looking” feel, said Gillette.

Kittleman's operating budget, due to the County Council this month, must be approved by the council in late May. The administration has not finalized how much money it will set aside for the memorial, according to press secretary Andy Barth.

—Fatimah Wassem, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Meadowridge wastewater pump station upgrades to start April 18

Utility construction at the Meadowridge wastewater pump station near Meadowridge Road by Route 103 and Washington Boulevard around U.S. 1 in Elkridge is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, according to Howard County officials.

During the project, roughly 2,424 feet of 8-inch PVC force main will be installed along Meadowridge Road and Washington Boulevard. County officials said the station's existing pumps will then be replaced with dry-pit submersible sewerage pumps.

Construction hours will vary, county officials said, with some impact on traffic. Meadowridge Road between Business Parkway and U.S. 1 will be closed overnight during the main installation phase from Sundays through Thursdays, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The right lane of southbound Washington Boulevard will also be closed as needed during daytime construction hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The project is expected to be completed by late July.

For questions, contact Lisa Brightwell, public works customer service, at 410-313-3440 or publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

—Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group