The Star-Democrat from Easton, Maryland • Page 5

on the web www.AvenueNews.com February 26, 2015 The Avenue News Page 5 By TIM CURTIS Capital News Service WASHINGTON Remember MacGyver, the guy with the sweet mullet who could get out of any jam with a paperclip, chewing gum and a rubber band? Who could make a jetpack out of soda cans and disarm a nuclear bomb with a Swiss army knife? A group of Hollywood producers and engineers are hoping you remember him and that his character archetype can kick-start a new generation of women interested in engineering. the hit ABC program from the late 1980s and early 1990s featuring a secret agent whose greatest tool was his own ingenuity, inspired boys across the country to become scientists and engineers. This group hopes a show featuring a MacGyver- type lead female character could inspire girls to pursue similar career paths. started a contest, Next to crowdsource ideas for a character or show that fits the bill. not interested in blaming popular culture (for the lack of women in engineering said Adam Smith, Director of Communications for the University of Southern Viterbi School of Engineering.

interested in enlisting popular The project and contest kicked off Thursday with an event at the National Academy of Sciences that featured a panel including producers Anthony Zui- ker, creator of the series, Lori McCreary, CEO of Revelations Entertainment, and Lee Zlotoff, who created the series. Nineteen percent of students pursuing engineering bachelor degrees in 2014 were women, down from 20 percent in 2004 according to the National Student Clearinghouse. Women make up only about 24 percent of the engineering workforce, according to data being released next week by Change the Equation, a nonprofit advocating for more science and technology education for children. benefits are real and tangible in recruiting women to the engineering said Dr. Ruth David of the Na- tional Academy of Engineering.

lucky, engineering found me. But we rely on The producers will be looking for an interesting female character who uses her brain and ingenuity to solve problems. She have to be an engineer, but she should solve problems in a way that would inspire young girls to want to take on that type of hands-on science-based problem solving. is really similar to developing program said McCreary, who started out as a computer scien- tist before she became a producer. come up with an idea and then you have to figure out who wants to see the idea.

Or in software, going to use it? Why are they going to use it? And then you basically build your team and build infrastructure to see that The competition runs through April 17 and five ideas will be selected to be developed into pilot scripts by the end of the year. Zuiker and McCreary, joined by Roberto Orci, writer and producer of and and Clayton Krueger, senior vice president of television at Scott Free Productions, will serve as mentors to the contestants whose ideas are selected as finalists. Zuiker knows first-hand the effect that television can have on inspiring people to pursue new careers. Since his programs debuted in 2000, thousands of students have enrolled in forensic science programs at universities. He hopes shows with female leads can have the same effect.

develop nothing from this point forward without a female he said. By DAN BALDWIN ESSEX The Baltimore County Police Crash Team is investigating a Tuesday night, Feb. 17, hit and run crash in Essex that left a pedestrian severely injured, said the Baltimore County Police Department. According to police, the initial investigation into this incident has indicated that the pedestrian was trying to cross Eastern Boulevard from the south side to the north side in front of the Royal Farm store at Woodland Avenue. The suspect vehicle had been traveling west-bound on Eastern Boulevard.

The vehicle struck the pedestrian and then fled the scene, continuing west-bound on Eastern Boulevard, police said. The vehicle was last seen fleeing toward Bowleys Quarters. According to police, the suspect vehicle is described as a small to mid-sized sedan, dark in color. The suspect vehicle most likely has a broken windshield and might have bumper or hood damage. The pedestrian, a 25-year-old male, was transported to an area hospital and remains hospitalized in serious condition as of Thursday, Feb.

19, police said. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police at 410-307-2020. Tips can also be submitted to iWatch by email at or online at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/iWatch. Police investigating hit and run involving pedestrian The Baltimore County Police Department reported the following activities: Essex Precinct Robbery: At about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb.

18, the victim left his apartment to let in the person who buzzed his apartment in the 1100 block of Sandystone Road. He was confronted by three suspects. One of the suspects produced a handgun and told the victim to go into his apartment. All three suspects followed the victim into the apartment, ransacked it and asked for money. A television, PS3, PS4, and several video games were stolen.

Robbery: At about 11:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, while the victim was walking in the area of Dorton Avenue and Wampler Road, he was struck by an unknown suspect(s) in the back of the head and rendered unconscious. When he awoke he noticed money was missing from his coat pocket. Robbery: At about 8:50 a.m.

on Saturday, Feb. 14, the victim, a driver for a sedan service, was robbed by an unknown suspect displaying a handgun in the area of Blinker Court and Transverse Avenue. The suspect took the cash and ran. The victim was not injured. First-degree burglary: Sometime between 3 p.m.

on Friday, Feb. 13, and 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, an unknown suspect(s) entered the loca- tion in the unit block of Kingston Park Lane through an unsecured door and removed tools from the vacant house under construction. First-degree burglary: Sometime between 7:40 a.m.

and 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, a suspect broke a rear sliding door in the 4000 block of Rustico Road to gain entry and stole a handgun, jewelry box, jewelry, video games, an iPad, and other miscellaneous items. First-degree burglary: Sometime between 3 and 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb.

11, a known juvenile suspect entered a residence in the 900 block of Punjab Court and stole money and shoes. The juvenile suspect was located wearing the stolen shoes from the burglary and was arrested. Parkville Precinct Second-degree burglary: At about 6:20 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, two unknown suspects broke into a maintenance shed at the Taylor Park Apartments in the unit block of Mo- pec Circle.

The suspects were seen leaving the location on foot. According to the apartment maintenance staff, no items were taken from the location and there was no damage to the shed door. First-degree burglary: At about 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, the victim arrived home in the 9000 block of Harford Road and found his side door unlocked with pry marks on the door and scratches on the striker and striker plate.

The victim checked the location and found his PS3 and video games missing. First-degree burglary: Between 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, unknown suspects kicked in a rear basement door in the 4100 block of Long Green Road.

When that failed, the suspects threw a brick through the small window in the door. The suspects could not gain entry because of a dead bolt on the door. Then the suspects threw a brick through the basement window and gained entry. White Marsh Precinct First-degree assault: Around 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb.

17, the victim and suspect got into a verbal argument in the 8000 block of Pulaski Highway. The suspect pulled out a knife and attacked the victim. Both the victim and suspect were injured during the altercation. The suspect received medical attention at a local hospital and was then arrested. Second-degree burglary: Sometime between 4 p.m.

on Monday, Feb. 16, and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, unknown suspect(s) broke into two secured trailers at the Environmental Quality Resources job site in the 8200 block of Perry Hall Boulevard. The complainant advised that a chainsaw and pole saw were stolen from the two trailers.

POLICE BLOTTER aims to attract female engineers.