Baltimore County police are investigating an armed robbery at at the Top Hat Cue Club located in the 8800 block Satryr Hill Road at 2 a.m. Monday morning.

According to Lt. Wayne Sindall of the Parkville precinct, three men dressed in dark clothes, wearing masks and carrying handguns entered the club shortly before closing. The men tied up five people, including customers and employees and took $2000 in cash.

An employee at the club said he did not know if it had any problems with crime in the past. He said the club is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m to 4 p.m on weekends.

Grant writing seminar offered to community

The Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs will sponsor a free Grant and Proposal Writing Seminar Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Towson Library, 320 York Road.

The purpose is to give community leaders, civic groups and others information on grant/proposal writing to assist in the application for community block grants, community conservation grants, historic preservation grants, crime prevention and substance abuse grants. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:30. To register, call the office at 410-887-5557.

Volunteers to get training to aid special needs kids

The Children's Developmental Clinic at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC Essex) is looking for dedicated volunteers interested in helping young children with special needs.

Volunteers work with children in small groups, usually one to one, and are provided with advance training on Saturday, Sept. 29, college spokeswoman Cheryl Goodman said.

Volunteers are needed for the fall program, Goodman said.

The fall program of the Children's Developmental Clinic is scheduled for Saturdays, Oct. 13 through Dec. 15, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The program focuses on the development of spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination and fine and gross motor skills through active discovery time of children ranging in age from one to 18, Goodman said.

Parents are actively involved in the program and provide resources to assist with the development of their child, she said.

For additional information, call (410) 780-6387.

County offers major new booklet on illegal drugs

Baltimore County officials are distributing what they call a unique booklet as part of their back-to-school anti-drug campaign.

Titled Street Talk/Street Drugs, the 48-page booklet includes color pictures of drugs and the damage they can do through abuse.

Michael Gimbel, director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse in the county Department of Health, said copies of the publication will be distributed free of charge in schools, libraries and other outlets.

"This is the most comprehensive drug-education book we have ever offered to the public," Gimbel said.

"All parents should have a copy of this book at their fingertips."

Copes of the booklet may also be obtained by calling the bureau office at 410 887-3828.