100 Black Men

Here's the schedule of games, all at Coppin State College's Pullen Gymnasium, 2500 W. North Avenue, in the first Mayor's Basketball Academy:TodayGirls: Lake Clifton vs. St. Frances, 4; Walbrook vs. H. D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.), 5: 30Boys: No. 8 Southern-Baltimore vs. McKinley Tech, 7; No. 2 Southwestern vs. Towson Catholic, 8: 30FridayBoys: Walbrook vs. Paul Robeson (N.Y.), 4 p.m.; No. 4 Dunbar vs. Strawberry Mansion (Phila.), 5: 30; No. 3 Lake Clifton vs. Roman Catholic (Phila.), 7; No. 1 St. Frances vs. Ben Franklin (Phila.

Male and female basketball players from high schools in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Washington will converge on the city today to compete -- and to attend class.While they'll play in tournaments today, tomorrow and Saturday, participants in what sponsors believe is the first program of its kind will also get Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) preparation, go over National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines, learn about the college admissions process and get a course in resisting social pressure.

Plans for a basketball tournament next month that also will involve players in workshops about qualifying for college were announced yesterday by Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and city school officials.The first Mayor's Basketball Academy Tournament Jan. 9-11 at Coppin State College will involve girls and boys teams from seven Baltimore high schools, as well as three from Philadelphia, two from Washington and one from New York City. Players' parents or guardians are to participate, too.During morning classroom sessions, players and parents will participate in workshops about the NCAA's newest guidelines on freshman eligibility.

Man to be tried in Pa. for body found in Md. A man who had been charged in Baltimore County with murder in the death of another man whose body was found in the northern part of the county will be tried in Pennsylvania, authorities said yesterday. Justin Anthony Glover Jr., who had been arrested and charged in the county in the death of a man whose burned body was found along a highway last year, is one of two people awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges in Pennsylvania in the killing, according to a Dauphin County, Pa., prosecutor.

Bone marrow drive for minorities plannedWOODLAWN -- A bone marrow drive for minorities is being sponsored Dec. 10 to boost the number of potential donors for blacks suffering from leukemia, aplastic anemia and other fatal blood diseases.The drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross and 100 Black Men Inc., will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Martin's West, 6817 Dogwood Road.Red Cross officials say that there is a critical shortage of volunteer donors and that of all potential marrow donor volunteers, 6 percent are black.

Officials from the Social Security Administration handed out checks yesterday totaling $118,000 to Baltimore nonprofit groups, which welcomed the windfall from contributions made by the federal agency's staff. At a ceremony at Our Daily Bread, officials presented funds to the food pantry as well as to the House of Ruth, the American Red Cross' Central Maryland Chapter, My Sister's Place, the United Way of Central Maryland and 100 Black Men of Maryland. Social Security officials said employees of the Woodlawn-based agency gave a record $1.2 million through their annual Combined Federal Campaign, more than $100,000 above last year's total.

Frank Smith, who was known for his calm and even demeanor during his 30 years as a city elementary school teacher, died Tuesday of Alzheimer's disease at the Villa St. Michael Nursing and Retirement Center in Northwest Baltimore.Mr. Smith, 64, of Randallstown taught at four city elementary schools from 1962 to 1992. He was known for his patience in dealing with the youngsters."He never got mad, never lost control," said Ruth Knowles of Baltimore, who taught with Mr. Smith for many years. "He treated the kids the way he would want to be treated, and they responded to his methods.

Ralph Vincent Chase Sr., a former Baltimore City Recreation and Parks official who had been manager of the old Memorial Stadium, died Sunday of heart failure at Sinai Hospital. He was 71. Mr. Chase, the son of a federal worker and homemaker, was born and raised in Washington. After graduating from Spingarn High School in 1956, he attended what is now Morgan State University on a football scholarship. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1961 in physical education. After serving in the Army as a military policeman, Mr. Chase was honorably discharged in 1963 and then began his 28-year career with the city's Recreation and Parks Department.

Social calenderJan. 9: Ninth annual "Heartfest" honors Dr. Simeon Margolis, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital; Debbie Allen, producer, director and actress; and Earl Woods, father of golf star Tiger Woods. The latter two are spokespeople for heart-disease prevention. Martin's West. 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets $60. Heart-healthy dishes prepared by 25 area restaurants. Call 410-472-1504.Jan. 9: Friends of Historic Annapolis Foundation's "Cabin Fever Social." Eastport Yacht Club. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets $10 for members; $15 nonmembers.

Jovan Edmunds has guided 316 seniors through the college admissions process as a school counselor for the Class of 2006 at Dundalk High School. She presented college information to all senior classes, wrote recommendation letters for at least 100 students and reminded others to sign up for college entrance exams. Next fall, she and other counselors at Dundalk and Woodlawn high schools will have a little more help, thanks to a new program coordinated through 100 Black Men of Maryland. The 100 College Access Program will hire a part-time counselor for each school to assist next year's juniors and seniors in meeting deadlines and overcoming economic barriers to higher education.