Calvary United Methodist

Lt. Angus A. Park of the Howard County Police Department died yesterday in Carroll County General Hospital of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 47 and lived in Finksburg.A police funeral with a departmental honor guard will be held for Lieutenant Park at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Calvary United Methodist Church, 3939 Gamber Road in Gamber.In honor of Lieutenant Park, county police officers are wearing black mourning ribbons on their badges, and flags outside the police stations are being flown at half-staff until after the funeral.

The Mount Airy Hall of Fame has announced this year's five inductees, who include the wife of a charter member, a former teacher and a well-known agricultural leader. The 2004 class will be inducted at the Mount Airy Historical Society's annual dinner March 16 at the American Legion home on Prospect Road. Nominations for the five annual inductees are accepted each fall. People who have contributed to the Mount Airy community may be nominated. This year's inductees are: Josephine "Joan" A. Collins.

DONALD WALTER ROSS, 72, of Sherwood Forest, MD died July 9, 2004 at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer and emphysema. Mr. Ross was born in Brooklyn, NY, October 13, 1931. He was educated in Baltimore area schools and was a graduate of the University of Baltimore and attended Mt. Vernon School of Law. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and served in the Guard and Army Reserve from 1948 to 1960 achieving the rank of Battalion Sgt. Major. His entire career was spent in the Automotive Parts After Market.

Name: Jennifer Ann StillHonored by The Carroll County Sun for: Being named Maryland State Buddy Poppy Queen for the Veterans of Foreign WarsAge: 18Residence; hometown: Finksburg; Randallstown, Baltimore CountyEducation: 1991 Liberty High School graduate; currently attending Carroll Community College studying communicationsFamily:Mother: Marianne L. Still, 46, microfilm supervisor at London Fog; father: George D. Still, 47, loader operator at Edrich Lumber;...

WHAT BEGINS AS an opportunity to exercise for many area women often turns into something much more. Led by a devoted and spirited group of volunteer instructors, women of all ages faithfully attend Body and Spirit Aerobics classes at Calvary United Methodist Church. Self-described as a "a great workout to contemporary Christian music," the group has grown tremendously from its humble beginnings 12 years ago. Initially organized by a stay-at-home mom as Christian aerobics, the class was held two mornings a week in the church's basement.

The Rev. Robert Herzog sees Mount Airy as a community of goodwill -- waiting to be tapped for the needy in the four counties surrounding the town."[Our help] really is needed," said Mr. Herzog, who serves as pastor at St. James Episcopal Church. "And the one thing I keep finding is that the need is surprisingly geographical. I think the counties themselves would like to have an anchor in Mount Airy, where services could be delivered on more of a mutual basis."Tom Mitchell, program director at Calvary United Methodist Church, said the group was formed in response to requests to the churches for food and assistance.

When financial woes beset Sara, her husband and their three childrenlast spring, this bank saved their bacon.And meat and potatoes."The Food Bank helped us tremendously last spring after my husband was laid off from his well-drilling job for six months," said Sara,34."

MOUNT AIRY - More than anything, Susan G. Hornick wanted to live for her children, to see them through their growing years.That wish gave her the will to fight against cancer for nearly two years.At 4:45 p.m. Monday, though, the 33-year-old mother of Danny, 12, and Ashley, 5, lost her battle."Her body just gave out on her," said her friend, Cathy Davis. "She fought so hard to be here with those kids. She was so involved in all they did."Carol C. Yocum, Hornick's friend and pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church, echoed those sentiments.

Blas A. Alfaro, a retired Howard County educator who had owned several hair salons and a beauty academy, died Sunday of prostate cancer at his Mount Airy home. He was 75. Mr. Alfaro was born and raised in the Bronx, N.Y., where he graduated from high school. He served in the Marine Corps and Army from 1946 to 1952, and later wrote a privately published memoir, Stories of GIs in Japan, chronicling his experiences serving with the Army's occupation forces in Japan. Mr. Alfaro wrote that memories of those years would surface occasionally "without rhyme or reason" and then "you are transported to the land you left behind through music, odors or food."

With the help of her new classmates, Sladjana Savic, 8, is not only surviving but enjoying life in a country where nothing is familiar and no one speaks the language of her war-torn homeland.Last month, a local church group helped Sladjana and her family escape the gunfire and bloodshed in Bosnia for life in Annapolis. The group found them housing, jobs and a car. But all worried how Sladjana would fit into third grade. She could barely speak a word of English.Then Sladjana met her classmates.