Street name change approved

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. - Residents of April Wind Court, a street in the Oakland Mills Village of Columbia, are pleased to have approval to shed the negative racial connotations of their previous street name, Coon Hunt Court.   At a public hearing of the Howard County Planning Board last night, the application was unanimously approved allowing county officials to make this change within the next 30 days.

"Residents now can be proud of their street and feel more comfortable in their neighborhood," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. "It only makes sense that we would rid ourselves of this offensive connotation, which does not appropriately represent our community."

The six households on the street successfully shared their experience that the previous name created a disturbance in the community and caused the street sign to be stolen numerous times over the years.  The support of County Council Member Calvin Ball, who represents their community, also was instrumental in leading the initiative.  "There is no reason to maintain such unsettling references to our past in our community today," stated Ball. "We must move forward in a shared spirit of acceptance and embrace our diversity."