Church

A three-alarm fire at an East Baltimore church tore through its roof and destroyed the rear of the building Thursday morning, according to Fire Department officials. The blaze at Mount Calvary Star Baptist Church in the 1700 block of N. Milton Ave. started about 9:30 a.m., officials say. More than 35 emergency vehicles responded to the scene, and it took more than an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. There was no one inside the building at the time of the fire, according to fire spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright, and no one was injured.

Church of the Ascension, 23 N. Court St., Westminster, will host a Blessing of the Animals liturgy on Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. Residents are invited to bring your four-legged members of the family to church. As part of the event, the church will collect donations of pet supplies, such as treats, food and cat litter, for the Carroll County Humane Society. For details, call 410-848-3251 or go to http://www.ascension-westminster.com.

Baltimore County Police say a Towson-area church fell victim to burglars last week who took items of copper and other materials from the property. The incident occurred at Idlewylde United Methodist Church, in the 1000 block of Regester Avenue, between 2:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and 3:30 p.m. Aug. 14, according to the police report. An air conditioning unit cover and coils, and copper wire were stolen from the property. In addition to this incident, the following items were compiled from police reports from the Towson precinct.

I don't always agree with Susan Reimer , but I must say that she seems to have her facts straight when it comes to the bad news coming out of the American bishops conference and the Vatican ("What would Jesus do? Not stuff like this," April 30). I've been complaining so much about the stand of the church on recent issues that I'm almost worn out. The petition drive targeting gay members of the community, as well as the really pathetic attack on American nuns, were the final straw.

The Church of the Open Door and Westminster Nurseries Inc. withdrew a request to create a business-zoned area on 15.5 acres north and east of Weis Market hours before a scheduled public hearing on the request yesterday.The two petitioners took a request for business zoning on a much smaller piece of land to public hearing before the Westminster planning commission last night. The Carroll County planning commission joined the hearing because part of the property lies outside city limits.Westminster Nurseries owns the approximately 100 acres of land between Gorsuch Road and commercial properties fronting on Route 140. The Church of the Open Door, an independent, nondenominational church, has a contract to buy the land.

On March 10, 2006 WILLIAM P.; beloved husband of the late Catherine T. Church (nee Dyas); devoted father of Paul W. Church; devoted brother of Ronald L. Church, Betty Cross and the late Margie Moore. Funeral Services will be held at the Lassahn Funeral HOme Ince, 7401 Belair Road, on Wednesday, at 11 A.M. Interment Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M.

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Savage has proposed renovations for its building. But local residents are opposed to the construction of steeples, which would be more than 50 feet high, making the church the tallest structure in the area.

On November 26, 2006, CLIFTON KENNETH CHURCH; loving son of Yvonne Ellis and Clifton Church. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC, 4300 Wabash Avenue on Thursday after 9, where family will receive friends on Friday at 11:30, followed by Funeral Services at 12.

On April 23, 2005, MARLAN A.; beloved wife of the late Lorraine L. Church (nee Klima); devoted father of Marlan W. Church, Garry J. Church and his wife Teresa and Lorrie L. Mitchum; loving grandfather of Alicia and Jammie Church, Joshua and Allison Mitchum. Also survived by other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Road (Perry Hall), on Tuesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., where funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10 A.M. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens.