Beltsville

Like the ingredients in hot dogs, what stirs the human heart sometimes defies easy description. Luncheon explorer Brian Pienta sat inside the Greene Turtle restaurant in Laurel and offered this rationale for his bold attempt to push the eating envelope. "Basically, it started because ... just because," he stammered. Sound familiar? When British mountaineer George Mallory was asked back in the 1920s why anyone would dare climb Mount Everest, he famously replied, "Because it's there" - then promptly died trying.

"Good morning. Good morning," George Dumas says as he shuffles toward a cluster of tables at the back of the restaurant, near dueling window posters of a gigantic double cheeseburger and a behemoth honey mustard snack wrap. "All's quiet on the western front," Dumas announces, "except in Iraq." Actually, the noise level is pretty high inside this McDonald's on Powder Mill Road, hard by the Beltsville exit of Interstate 95. It's 8:30 a.m. and the bumblebee buzz of conversation is in full drone.

Alliant Techsystems Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of solid-fuel rocket motors, including those that propel the space shuttle into orbit, is expanding its satellite business with the acquisition of Beltsville-based Swales Aerospace. The purchase is a significant one for Alliant, which is better known by its ticker symbol, ATK. Swales has contracts to build satellite delivery systems for the military and intelligence agencies, and together they would be able to offer a broad spectrum of products, analysts said.

In Prince George'sGuard at FDA charged in slaying of co-workerBELTSVILLE -- A security guard at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration building in Prince George's County was charged with murder in the shooting death of a co-worker yesterday morning.According to U.S. Park Police, Todd McNeil, 33, of Elkridge, an employee of Unlimited Security of Washington, got into an argument about career development with James Coffman, also 33, of Beltsville, a guard supervisor, about 2: 15 a.m.Coffman was shot in the head with a handgun, police said.

An 18-year-old Beltsville man shot during a dispute in North Laurel one week ago died Monday night from a gunshot wound to his head, making him the third slaying victim in Howard County this year.William Kirk Vanness Jr. of the 4500 block of Tonquil St. died at 8: 10 p.m. at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, said Barbara Crawford, a hospital spokeswoman. A family member declined to comment yesterday.Vanness was one of two men shot at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in the 9100 block of All Saints Road in North Laurel.

Professor Charles M. Christian had a question."In 1848," he asked nine teams of children sitting in front of him, "these two people escaped from slavery in Georgia. She impersonated a slaveholder, and he pretended to be her servant in one of the most celebrated slave escapes in history. What were their names?"Team seven -- Marisa Greenway, Erick Cruz and Jamie Acevedo, all from Maryland City Elementary School in Anne ArundelCounty -- answered correctly: William and Ellen Craft. Chalk one up for Maryland City.

The search continued yesterday for a retired scientist from Beltsville Agricultural Research Center who has been missing since June 10 when a sightseeing boat capsized near the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador.Richard Sayre, 80, and Diane Sayre, 70, were thrown from the 70-foot Moby Dick when it hit a rough swell and pitched four of its 15 passengers into the Pacific Ocean. The accident killed two people and left two missing at sea and feared dead.Rescuers found Diane Sayre's body, but were looking yesterday for Richard Sayre and another passenger, Lyon Zeisler, 75, said Stephen Richards, president of Elderhostel Inc., the Boston-based company that sponsored the trip.

A man entered a Jessup sandwich shop Wednesday evening, asked for a job application and then pulled a gun to ask for his first paycheck -- in cash, from the register.A state trooper patrolling the area along U.S. 1 arrested a Beltsville man in connection with the robbery.Police said that about 8: 40 p.m. a man entered Jerry's Subs and Pizza shop in the 7900 block of U.S. 1, approached the register and asked for a job application. The man returned to the counter a few minutes later, but instead of handing over a filled-out form, he displayed a handgun and demanded money, police said.

It practically killed off the elm tree, caused the Irish potato famine and has been labeled the world's largest living organism.Fungus -- a life form that attacks athletes' feet and sprouts as mushrooms -- is nowhere more abundant than in the National Fungus Collections stored at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.The collections, put together and owned jointly by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service and the Smithsonian Institution, make up the largest storehouse of fungus in the world, serving as a repository for about 1 million specimens of mushrooms, toadstools and other organisms plucked by government and private scientists over the past century.

Christopher R. McCleary, the man widely credited with transforming Digex Inc. of Beltsville from a small regional Internet service provider into a company with a national reach, is stepping down.McCleary, 45, said yesterday that he would resign from the company by the end of the year. His posts at Digex -- president and chief executive officer -- are being eliminated by Digex's new parent, Intermedia Communications Inc.The Tampa, Fla.-based telecommunications company, which bought Digex in July for $150 million, said the president and CEO posts at Digex are being eliminated as part of the merger.

Brand Energy and Infrastructure Services, which provides pipeline infrastructure and building materials for the construction industry, is moving an operations center that will employ about 100 workers from Beltsville to a redeveloped warehouse in Southeast Baltimore. Construction is to start at the Holabird Industrial Park on Monday to redevelop the 15-acre site of the former Lesaffre Yeast Corp. manufacturing plant, which closed in late 2005. Principals of Baltimore brokerage firm Corridor Reznick LLC acquired the property for $2 million in December 2006 and have been doing environmental cleanup and marketing, Michael B. Glick, chairman of Corridor Reznick LLC, said yesterday.

Turn off a nondescript highway in Prince George's County, pass through an electronically controlled gate, drive a mile on a rutted one-lane road, and you'll find America's response to agricultural Armageddon. Here, on the south side of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, researchers are raising trees from seeds in one of 28 federal repositories set up to ensure survival of the planet's agricultural products - and the humans who depend on them. These 64 acres of trees and shrubs, along with the seeds that produced them, contain genetic weapons to battle the droughts, blights and bugs often brought on by invasive species, habitat loss and climate change.

Favorite places -- Slayton House Gallery in the Wilde Lake Village Green, Columbia, will open a three-person show of paintings and photographs by Columbia artists Bonita Glaser and Natalie Harvey, and Beltsville resident Audrey Hopkins, on Thursday. The collaborative exhibit of familiar Maryland scenes runs through June 9. A reception with refreshments and music is planned from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 20. Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Alliant Techsystems Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of solid-fuel rocket motors, including those that propel the space shuttle into orbit, is expanding its satellite business with the acquisition of Beltsville-based Swales Aerospace. The purchase is a significant one for Alliant, which is better known by its ticker symbol, ATK. Swales has contracts to build satellite delivery systems for the military and intelligence agencies, and together they would be able to offer a broad spectrum of products, analysts said.

Like the ingredients in hot dogs, what stirs the human heart sometimes defies easy description. Luncheon explorer Brian Pienta sat inside the Greene Turtle restaurant in Laurel and offered this rationale for his bold attempt to push the eating envelope. "Basically, it started because ... just because," he stammered. Sound familiar? When British mountaineer George Mallory was asked back in the 1920s why anyone would dare climb Mount Everest, he famously replied, "Because it's there" - then promptly died trying.

"Good morning. Good morning," George Dumas says as he shuffles toward a cluster of tables at the back of the restaurant, near dueling window posters of a gigantic double cheeseburger and a behemoth honey mustard snack wrap. "All's quiet on the western front," Dumas announces, "except in Iraq." Actually, the noise level is pretty high inside this McDonald's on Powder Mill Road, hard by the Beltsville exit of Interstate 95. It's 8:30 a.m. and the bumblebee buzz of conversation is in full drone.

On November 19, 2006 CHARLES RAYMOND ANDERSON, age 77, at his home in Beltsville, Loving husband of Ann B. Anderson, beloved father of Evelyn Gradijan, wife of Robert Gradijan and Ada McGlynn, wife of Dennis McGlynn; doting grandfather of Colin, Kate, Chelsea, Leanne and Brennan; brother of Norman W. Anderson. He was predeceased by a son Ray Anderson. Relatives and friends may call at BORGWARDT FUNERAL HOME, 4400 Powder Mill Rd, Beltsville, MD, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Service will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, MD, on Wednesday November 22 at 11:00 A.M. Interment private.

HAGAN, DOYLE D. on Thursday, October 26, 2006. Beloved husband of Marjorie M. Hagan (nee Hale); loving father of Paul D. (Patricia), Gary F. (Laura), and the late Alan C. Hagan; grandfather of Nathan, Ethan, Paul, Matthew, Charis, and Christine Hagan.M-BM- He was predeceased by a brother, Erville H. Hagan.M-BM- Relatives and friends may call at BORGWARDT FUNERAL HOME, 4400 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD, on Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM, where service will be held on Monday, October 30th, at 12:00 PM.M-BM- Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, MD.

ANITARITTENHOUSE SCHLEGEL, beloved wife of Walter, died suddenly on March 26th. She will be missed by her five daughters, Brenda Van Der Loo, Susan Baliff, Kari Doffermyre, Lisa Fout and Amy Schlegel-Skora, sons-in-law, one brother, and 11 grandchildren. Anita was born on January 29, 1937 to Harley and Janette Rittenhouse in Rochester, NY. She had two older brothers, Albert and Rodney. After graduating from Hood College in Frederick, MD, Anita met Walter and they were married in 1960. She taught Biology at Bladensburg High School until the first of her daughters was born.

On Friday, March 31, 2006, BROTHER WILLIAM J. GARVEY, F.S.C. Survived by his beloved niece, Lynn Garvey and his religious community, The Brothers of the Christian Schools Religious, relatives and friends may call at La Salle Hall, 6001 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD Tuesday morning, April 4 at 11 A.M. Brother William's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 P.M. Interment Christian Brothers Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Brothers Development Office, P.O. Box 1710, Beltsville, MD 20704-1710.