The Capital from Annapolis, Maryland • Page 26

B4 TUESDAY Nov. 10,1998 (Capital Crofton News tip? You can reach Crofton reporter E. Janene Nolan at (410) 280-5928 AROUND TOWN MARYANN LOMBARDO Xiwanis Club Auction a hit recent Crofton Kiwanis char auction involved 62 Kiwanian "volunteers, participation of 163 local e88e8 and organizations, and 227 anxious bidders the charity effort Dennis Robin, Ruts Shipley, Rlsher, Joe Nichols, Tom Al Tucker, Becky Daniel, Jim McOuire, Dick Kemezis, Pat Wilson and Jim Afford. The results were spectacular: approximately $11,000 volunteer spirit continued in frthe Halloween Haunted Trail at the Elks Club on Route 450, sponsored by the Crofton Ctyic Association. More than 500 participants enjoyed the event.

Under the watchful eye of Crofton Police Chief Debbie Bogush, a wide variety of volunteers, including 20 Elks Club members, put together this event Don and Nona Stewart, Dick and Mary Kennedy and John Istlvan were on hand each night of the event "We couldn't have done it without them," Chief Bogush said of the volunteers her husband, Dennis, for clocking mpre than 100 set-up hours and for werking as an actor, and to her daughters for "their never-ending volunteerism" Added to the "thank you" list are the Fort Meade Fire Department and Dwayne from the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department for their smoke machines, Chief Dave Ayers of the Arundel Fire Department and the Bowie Fire Department for blocking light on the street lamps; Bob Delahaney for his graveyard props; and all the behind-the-scenes people who participated This event was so successful that the Elks Club is considering hosting the trail again with the possibility of expansion. Trail admission was $1 with a canned good or $2 without This event generated 2Va trash cans full of canned goods that the Ladies of the Elks will be distributing to the needy. addition, proceeds totaled $556, will he donated tn the F.Iks jl Vrt By Geotge Lundskow The Capital Steven Fischer's career as a producer, director, artist, photographer and animator started out a decade ago with his drawings of Steve and Bluey, now an animated cartoon on a Baltimore cable station, and an exhibit at the Chesapeake Children's Museum. A creation in animation By E. JANENE NOLAN Crofton Staff Writer It was 10 years ago when Crofton resident Steven Fischer first doodled a picture of a boy and a dog, characters that would later become his claim to fame.

A boy named Steve a cartoon version of Mr Fischer and Bluey, an adventurous blue dog, are now a comedy team in an animated series on Baltimore's TCI Com- It was a persistent spirit that got the 26-year-old Arundel High School graduate the animated television series called "In a Minute It was persistence and a lot of hard work. Mr Fischer has worked as a producer, director, actor, photographer, writer and artist He's a two-time winner of the Inter- Association Festival Award, for a live action short that he produced in 1995 and a 1997 animation contribution to an interactive CD-ROM on biotechnology. In 1996 and ,1997. Mr. Fischer produced A boy named Steve a cartoon version of Mr.

Fischer --and Bluey, an adventurous blue dog, are now a comedy team in an animated series on Baltimore's TCI Communications. It's called "In a Minute." Most recently Mr Fischer starred in a commercial for Next Day Blinds, and is beginning work on a video series for use as a medical training tool, teaching health, care professionals skills caring for the elderly "For me, it's kind of a natural thing This is what I am supposed to be doing Mr. Fischer said And it started a decade ago with his Jan 31. He said the exhibit may move in February to the Capital Children's Museum in Washington Mr Fischer said his goal with Steve and Bluey was to enlighten the audience, finding humor in the interaction of the characters' attitudes and behavior. Bluey has a child-like zest for fun, which always tests Steve's patience, he "As a comedy team, we don't go out and put other people down to be funny a lot of the jokes are sophisticated," Mr Fischer said In 1991, he compiled the series of Steve and Bluey comic strips into a book called "There's a Blue Dog Under My Bed." Funding publication of the book himself, Mr Fischer said he sold a few hundred copies "The Anne Arundel County library system bought 40 copies.

I can go into a library anytime and check out my book, and that's cool. But then I eet decressed because it Hotel proposal blocked The Crofton Civic Association board unani mously voted last night to block plans for a hotel and conference center at the Crofton Country Club The board refused to alter a 10-year-old agreement with developer Bill Berkshire in which he agreed to put the project on 9 acres of land fronting Route 3 behind the Village Green hink anyhnriy manicthig don't want to spend any more time on it," board member Steve Grimaud saod. Mr Berkshire wants to build a 200-room hotel and conference center on the grounds of the club He agreed in 1988 that the land on Route 3 should be the site for a hotel and conference center. In exchange for CCA approval of that site, Mr. Berkshire deeded common areas in the community and Lake Louise to the association The agreement presents him from building his project at the club.

But because there's a county sewer line running through the Route 3 property, a hotel isn't feasible there, Mr. Berkshire said. That wasn't enough of a reason for board members to alter the deal Mr. Berkshire agreed to a decade ago. "(These plans) are completely at odds with the agreement," Mr.

Grimaud said. Mr Berkshire said he's not sure of his next step. But he did say the language of the 1988 agreement allows for amendments. "I talked to a lot of people that do want (the project) here. I don't think this fully rep-resented he sa4d-aJter-4he- meeting adjourned.

About 25 residents attended the meeting held at Crofton Elementary School to hear about the plans. Many said they were concerned about fairness to Mr. Berkshire, while others strongly opposed the hotel. "This means 10 years of his time is said Bonita Mclntire, a resident of about ,20 years Another longtime resident, Bill Flynn, said the CCA was out of order in deciding against the plans last night "People in the community ought to decide, and that's not nine people," he said CCA President Gayle Sears agreed "This is the kind of project that needs careful attention and we don't need to jump into anything right now," she said The board, however, voted to retain the agreement with Mr. Berkshire with no changes "We think it's been given a fair airing and listened to it and decided that we didn't like it," Mr Grimaud said It's not the first unsuccessful try Mr Berkshire had with the hotel and conference center idea.

youth program. wards were the main order of business at last month's Cub-Scout Pack 753 meeting. tThirty-two Scouts received awards. Garret AlberUon, Leland Baldwin, Mathew Caddenhead, Jiietln Knoll, Gregory Koepplng, Jonathon taPorte, Patrick Mangan, Chad, Jesse Rlghtnour, David Robles, Ryan Tippet, Brian Vermeman, Ryan Yeager, Nick Daly, Andrew Streslng, Tony Nogle, Andy Whittemore, David D'Augustine, Matt McLaln, David Bowen, Taylor Sokol, Devln Beach, Branden Spaid, Sfiawn Bobbin, Matt Tenitft, Daniel Seiner, Alex Winton, Michael Rantota, Michael Rantala, Jason Woodlll, Charlie Pyle, and Harrison Zachary. The Rev Jon B.M.

Fregger, pastor I of Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church, marked his second anniversary at the church He his feelings about the two years as "deeply grateful" The annual fall cleanup of church grounds will get umler way Saturday from 9 a.m. fo noon. his month's meeting of the Crofton Association of Retired Persons will get under way Nov. 18 at 10:30 a Annual dues are $10 December's meeting is a Christmas luncheon at the Fort Meade Officers Club Upcoming ekib 4nps- include -the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, and Christmas lighting at Longwood Gardens To learn more about this organization, call (410) rafters can call (410) 222 6227 or fi91 OSIfi fn a cnnf at and directed an AmeriCorps promotional documentary aimed at reducing childhood lead- poisoning ties. Mr.

Fischer said the piece helped to raise $40,000 for the program, expanding it into seven cities nationally. For his work, he Was accepted into the Directors Guild of America. He has directed public service announcements, including a recent spot for the House of Ruth, a Baltimore shelter for battered women "I have been dealing with these characters my really JTiey egos," he said. Chronicling the success of the Steve and Bluey concept, the Chesapeake Children's Museum in the Festival at Riva shopping center is exhibiting Mr Fischer's work from the doodles to the cartoon strips to the animated series "The Steve and Bluey Retrospective" opened in September and will run through says no one has cheeked it out in four years," Mr Fischer said with a laugh made half of Whan puTout; buTthat really wasn't the point The whole point was telling the story itself." Telling a story is his life's mission Now he hopes to move into more entertaining, and less educational, projects "I would like to see myself doing more narrative projects," he said "I fancy my self as a storyteller" Management expressed interest in a confer- jnce center site for professional Berkshire drew up the plans. But the federal agency chose another Mary land site and the deal fell through The hotel project faded away.

Mr. Berkshire also tried to push the club location through in 1995, again citing the 1988 agreement CCA Attorney Fred Sussman de dared then that the buildings were not allowed at the club property The CCA supported development on Route 3 in exchange for the country club property. Local man's hopes focus on other side of the coin By E. JANENE NOLAN Crofton Staff Writer He knew in grade school that his favorite class was art Crofton resident William Krawczewicz. 32, is still using his creative talent as a graphic artist at work a hobby.

Most recently, three coins that he designed for a contest were chosen as possibilities for Maryland's entry in the Mint's commemorative quarter program Altogether, five concept designs were selec ted by a special state committee as part of the Fifty State Commemorative Com program Under the-program by Congress, eacli state has been asked to submit three to five design concepts to the Mint A single design eventually will be chosen for each state and replicated on the reverse side of a special series of commemorative quarters The coins then will be issued in the Kfe tin As a visual information specialist for the White House, his designs have to satisfy the president. "It's not a boring place to work and there's always something to do," Mr, Krawczewtcz said Before his position at ,1600 Pennsylvania Ave, he worked as a graphic artist for the Mint, which fostered his interest in coins and medals "I can remember being younger and looking at the Bicentennial quarter and thinking how neat it was because it was different," he said "I "used to 'keep all of my Bicentennials aside While working at the Mint, he entered and won the first of three com design contests His designs of the World Cup soccer trophy graced coins commemorating the 1994 Olympics in Atlanta and hie riocion By Hensoi The Cap'ta Crofton resident William Krawzewlcz could have the unusual experience of seeing his design on the flip side of a quarter as part of a state commemorative coin contest. The State House Dome The Maryland shield along with an he said "His obviously are just beautiful spoliMiaan Mi- i the Dec 5 craft sale at the O'Malley Senior Center in Odenton Rental for an 8-foot square with table and chairs is $30 All crafts must be handmade Do you have community news 7 Call (410) 721-0953 or mail net Maryland, the seventh state will have itb com issued in 2000 If the concept chosen is one of Mr Krawczewic? roms he could end up earn mg his own design in his pocket '1 am really excited and happy, he said Pleasing a tough crowd is nothing new to the University of Maryland graduate Madison "was on the "flip side on a Bill of Rights commemorative coin As for the state commemorative quarter. Mr Krawczewic? said 1 keeping my fingers crossed His chances are good He submitted seven designs three of which were chosen by Gov Pams Glendening to be sent to the Mint Those three designs were I I I Ul UIC The Ark and the Dove, the boats that brought the first English settlers to Maryland in 1634 Before sitting down to draw the designs, he researched Maryland history at the library to come up with different concepts "I learned a lot about the state of Maryland that I didn't know It was really interesting Glendening said of Mr Krawczewicz's de signs Two other designs also were selected a depiction of the State House by FrariK 0 Rourke of Princess Anne and Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled Banner sirr ultaneously submitted by John Fieseler the Francis Scott Key Memorial Foundation and Donald Curtis.