The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • Page 30

Maryland Page 10b Friday, March 12, 1999 The Sun Residents question motives as officials plan to build soccer complex on parkland Democrats, family urging Shriver to make 2000 congressional bid "Our kids play baseball. Our kids play football," says Laura Creedon. "Those soccer kids come from Bethesda and Potomac. They are seizing our park." Opponents say if Hendricks wants to build soccer fields, let him do so in his Potomac neighborhood, which has one of the highest concentrations of players. 'Thinking outside the box' Silverman says he understands the suspicions generated when government works with a private group, especially one with a lot of money and influence.

But, he says, those feelings can be overcome by monitoring all phases of construction and moving quickly to build other elements in the park, such as a swim center, tennis courts and trails. The result, Silverman believes, will be a much larger statement by the county to the private sector. "Everyone talks about thinking outside the box on projects. Well, this is one of them," he says. "If the next swim center becomes the Lockheed Martin Aquatic Center, so be it." more typical for congressional than legislative campaigns.

But, they cautioned, Shriver has just started an Internet-based company in Bethesda. He has a year-old daughter. And he might want to wait until Morella, who is 68, retires, or until the district's lines are redrawn more favorably before the 2002 elections. After last November's election, Kennedy asked Shriver if he would face Morella, who has been flirting with a run at the Senate seat of Paul S. Sarbanes, a Democrat who is seeking a fifth term.

Several Democratic operatives close to both men said yesterday that the cousins' frequent conversations about personal lives and politics have turned repeatedly to the 2000 election in the past few months. During last year's campaign for re-election to the legislature, a Shriver campaign aide said, many of his Montgomery County constituents asked why he had not taken on Morella. "If one were going to get into the race, one would look at it sooner rather than later," Shriver said. "Right now, I'm concentrating on the issues for the next 30 days." Because the 2000 Democratic Maryland primaries take place in Students, teachers honor slain teen-ager Soccer, from Page 1b consummate a public-private partnership for the good of the children. Not everyone sees it that way.

Residents near the park fear the traffic and noise a large athletic complex could bring. Parents of children who play other sports complain the county is ignoring the need for other types of athletic facilities. Running beneath the surface are residents' suspicions that concerns will be steamrollered by county officials smitten with the promise of free money from a man who wants playgrounds built, but not near his home. Contributions, tax breaks They note that Hendricks gave $20,000 to the Glendening campaign in 1997 and 1998, and gave Duncan $500 in the last election. Hendricks received $10 million in tax incentives from the county so that Discovery Communications would stay in Montgomery and build a larger headquarters in Silver Spring.

"For the past 20 years, the growing Hispanic community has been clamoring for soccer fields and nothing has happened," notes Jorge Ribas of the Montgomery County Civic Federation. "Yet, when one man takes his dream to the governor and county executive, suddenly hundreds of acres of parkland are available, and park photo, there was Lee at the junior prom. There she was at the school's military ball. And there she was, lost in high school horseplay, with the classmates who took turns speakingyesterday. Stacey Walton's voice cracked as she read a poem that started with the line: "You are not forgotten." Diane Knott, then Jacqueline Stanton, wiped away tears as they recalled their friend.

Debbie Warren's voice shook as she described Lee's love for the "Te-letubbies" television program. Ai-sha Pittman said Lee's jokes weren't always funny, but her enthusiasm always put a smile on her friend's face. Electronic toll for commuters Key Bridge, tunnel Ixxrths to get signal from vehicles BY A SUN STAFF WRITER Motorists interested in participating in the state's new electronic toll-collecting system soon to be in use at the Fort McHenry Tunnel, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and the Key Bridge can sign up for the program beginning today. The M-TAO program is scheduled to begin early next month with an estimated 70,000 drivers participating. In its first phase, M-TAQ will be available to commuters in cars, minivans, pickup trucks and other two-axle vehicles.

Motorists who establish payment accounts with the Maryland Transportation Authority will be able to roll through "M-TAG Montgomery Co. DOUO STEVENS BUN STAFF staff and taxpayers' dollars are unconditionally obligated." Duncan spokesman David Weaver says no connection exists between campaign contributions, tax breaks and the Soccerplex. A spokeswoman for Hendricks says Hendricks has been deeply hurt by personal attacks and suspicions of his motives. "He will get nothing out of this except seeing kids enjoying soccer," says Trisha Heffelfinger. "His own kids will never use it.

By the time it's built, they'll be too old." Germantown, once largely farmland, has exploded into a community of townhouses and new developments. The city has one of the lowest concentrations of soccer-playing youngsters in Montgomery, according to county statistics. Rebecca Walker, wearing an Aeropostale sweat shirt that Lee had given her as a Christmas gift, said she wasn't sure what to say. So she let Lee speak through an e-mail message sent last summer. Back then, Walker was mourning a friend who had died in an automobile accident.

Lee offered some thoughts on grieving advice that now gives comfort to her classmates. "I lost a dear friend myself, about a year and a half ago," Lee wrote. "I locked myself in my room and cried 24-7, until I thought I couldn't cry anymore. But I found close friends are the one thing you need to get on with your life. "But listen, if you were born, you were meant to die.

Of course, no one deserves to die so soon. It's OK to be in pain and be sad. Just don't let death, sadness, madness, rule your life." plan sign-ups to begin today Members Only" lanes at toll-booths without stopping. Each account holder will receive a plastic box about the size of a deck of playing cards to place on the inside of the windshield. The plastic box will automatically communicate with an antenna at the booth as the vehicle passes through the unmanned tollbooth, logging a toll.

The system, developed by Lockheed Martin will record the license plate numbers of vehicles passing through toll plazas. Drivers who go through an unmanned tollbooth without paying will receive notices in the mail with a bill for the unpaid toll. Eventually, M-TAQ will replace the MTA's current commuter ticket discount program. As with commuter ticket books, M-TAQ customers will pay $20 for 50 one-way trips, valid for 60 days. Cermatrtowii Recreational M3p.f' Black area 1 Rck Ur.

Memorialjrom Page 1b Min Lee left such an impression that two trees would be planted in her memory. A wreath of silk roses, in the circle in front of the school, marked the spot where a cherry tree will be planted once the ground thaws. Another tree, an evergreen, has been planted behind the school. It will grow on the spot where Lee liked to flop after an exhausting practice session with the lacrosse SUN FILE PHOTO Thinking: Del. Mark K.

Shriver is weighing seeking a House seat. March, Shriver won't have much time to make his decision, several people active in Maryland politics said. The 1998 Democratic nominee, former civil rights lobbyist Ralph G. Neas, barely let up after the November elections before he started his campaign to make another go at Morella. "Obviously, Mark and others would make good candidates," said Neas, who raised more than $800,000 last year, but won just 40 percent of the vote.

"If there were a contested primary, it would be fun, spirited, and very contested." Morella's top aide betrayed no concern at the prospect of facing Shriver. "They keep trotting out new guys, and Connie keeps winning with large margins in a very Democratic district," said Bill Miller, her chief of staff and campaign manager. "They believe in her." or field hockey teams. Susie Twigg, the assistant lacrosse coach, said Lee came into the program as a timid and unskilled player, and left as an honorable mention, All-County performer whose skills were unmatched among her teammates. "She grew into a leader," Twigg said.

"She was a dedicated player, and she was mad if you weren't, too." An easel held a collage of snapshots of Lee and her friends. In one Buy Direct from the Manufacturer and SAVE! Glucosamine Jufafe 500 tag He's still undecided about facing popular Morella By David Folkenflik SUN NATIONAL STAFF WASHINGTON Hoping to capitalize on the success of a storied political family to wrest a House seat from a popular Republican, some Democrats are urging Maryland Del. Mark K. Shriver to challenge Rep. Constance A.

Morella of Montgomery County next year. Shriver's chief champion is his first cousin Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, the son of Massachusetts U.S. Sen.

Edward M. Kennedy who is leading the Democratic effort to retake control of the House. But Shriver, the scion of two prominent political families with significant ambitions of his own, has expressed some reluctance to take on Morella, a moderate Republican popular among her largely Democratic constituency. "Have we talked about it? Yes," said Shriver, 35. "Have I made a commitment to him? No." Shriver is the son of former Peace Corps Director Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F.

Kennedy. He is also the cousin of Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. In an interview last night, he refused to rule out a run for Congress, but he said he was focused on his legislative duties in Annapolis, This year's General Assembly session lasts another month.

There's a certain logic to running next year, several campaign veterans said: Shriver's legislative post does not come up again until 2002, so he would not risk it in challenging Morella, and presidential politics tend to lift Democratic turnout in Maryland. He has shown that he can raise money, collecting more than $225,000 for his re-election bid last fall a sum We reserve me right to limit quantities. Oner good Friday i cuvy ULEBGLD (Xk fifcitil nmmmmfmimmm i Bail review of teen mother postponed for autopsy results Guatemalan immigrant charged in baby's death By Chris Guy SUN STAFF DENTON A Guatemalan teen-ager who faces a first-degree murder charge in the death last month of her newborn son was returned to jail yesterday, her bail review hearing postponed until the state medical examiner's office determines how the infant died. Defense lawyers and prosecutors said they had little choice but to delay the proceeding for 17-year-old Erminia Escalante-Ber-duo. "Obviously, we can't get to first base in this case without an autopsy report," said Caroline County public defender W.

Porter Ellington. "The cause of death is crucial for the defense and the state. But I'm not going along with this for long. There's no reason for her to be sitting in jail," Prosecutor Robert Greenleaf told District Judge L. Edgar Brown that he would subpoena the state medical examiner's office if an autopsy report is not completed by March 25, the new hearing date.

Dr. Margarita Korell, the state pathologist in charge of the case, did not return phone calls yesterday. Investigators say that Esca-lante-Berduo delivered the baby about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1 on the floor of a trailer she shared with her aunt and uncle in the rural town of Marydel in northeastern Caroline County.

About two hours later, relatives discovered the child wrapped in a plastic bag and Escalante-Berduo lying unconscious on a couch nearby. When paramedics and the Rev. Chris LaBarge the Roman Catholic priest who ministers to a large Hispanic community at Immaculate Conception Church in Marydel arrived, the baby was dead. Escalante-Berduo, who entered the country Illegally, moved into the trailer park near the Delaware line and began a job in a Kent County egg-packing plant in December, was charged as an adult with first- and second-degree murder, as well as assault and child abuse for allegedly failing to care for the child. LaBarge and others familiar with the region's growing Hispanic community have questioned whether Escalante-Berduo fully understands the charges against her.

They also say that, as an illegal immigrant, her identity and age are likely to be false. Yesterday, Erwin Bentzen Gra-nados, first secretary and counsel at the Guatemalan Embassy in Washington, said preliminary checks show that Escalante-Berduo turned 17 on Valentine's Day, two weeks after her baby died. "As far as we know, she entered the country illegally," Granados said. "We will monitor the case, and there will be a Guatemalan lawyer who will join the defense team." UKJ VOfW (omit -vr: QUR EYERYPAY WW PRICE' A TAX BREAK FOR YOU, A LEARNING TOOL FOR STUDENTS. When you're on vacation, donate your Sun home delivery papers to local public and independent schools.

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