Culotta

Who says you can't go home again?Not Chris Culotta. Two years ago, he and his wife bought the Towson-area house where he was raised and moved in with their three sons. The house where, as a child, he had painted Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy characters on his bedroom wall; where he had eaten popcorn and sundaes while watching television in the club basement.In Towson and Timonium, Cub Hill and Stoneleigh, such second-generation homes are becoming more common as grown children seek houses and neighborhoods loaded with memories.

Joseph V. Eder, a Baltimore electrician who never forgot the boyhood friend who saved his life during a World War II invasion, died Thursday of cancer at his home in Eastpoint. He was 74.His World War II combat experiences resulted in a lifetime of serving veterans and their organizations for Mr. Eder, who boxed and studied law at the University of Baltimore after the war.Giving up his law studies, he became an electrician who worked in construction as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 28, until retiring in 1986.

The front ramps of the landing craft dropped into the surf. Hundreds of helmeted men fought their way ashore, battling for a beachhead in the face of withering enemy fire.Scores fell, dead and wounded. The bodies of those who never reached the beach drifted slowly on the waves; others died on the sand. The cries of the wounded filled the air.It was D-Day.But not the bloody landing in Normandy against the Nazis, commemorated June 6 by hundreds of Allied veterans and heads of state. This was the ferocious June 15, 1944, invasion of Saipan in the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, one of many D-Days on America's island-hopping march toward Japan.

All but ignored after leading the Maryland Republican Party to its strongest gubernatorial election effort in a generation, William Seth Shepard is running again and finding parallels for his struggle in nature.Even as Mr. Shepard urged supporters to help him "Finish the Job in '94," a white pine in his front yard in Potomac suffered blight at the top."I would have taken the dead branch away, but I couldn't get to it. It's surrounded by poison ivy to which I am deathly allergic. So I just watched it. I thought the whole tree would die, but that hasn't happened."

Neither rain, nor snow nor dark of night can keep Samuel A. Culotta, Baltimore's perennial Republican mayoral candidate, from his appointed round with Democrat Kurt L. Schmoke this November.In fact, the 67-year-old attorney should thank the U.S. Postal Service for his victory in the GOP primary election. After finishing Thursday in a virtual neck-and-neck tie with challengers Bruce K. Price and Joseph A. Scalia, Mr. Culotta received a welcome surprise in the mail: absentee ballots that favored him overwhelmingly.

The following candidates have received The Evening Sun's endorsement in tomorrow's primary election. Only contested races are list. This list may be taken into the voting booth.MayorKurt L. Schmoke (Democrat)Samuel A. Culotta (Republican)President of City CouncilMary Pat ClarkeComptrollerJoseph T. Landers IIICity Council1st DistrictNicholas C. D'Adamo Jr.John CainPerry Sfikas2nd DistrictAnthony J. AmbridgePeter BeilensonCarl Stokes3rd DistrictKevin O'KeeffeMartin O'MalleyMaegertha Whitaker4th DistrictLawrence BellSheila DixonAgnes Welch5th DistrictVera P. HallIris G. ReevesRochelle "Rikki" Spector6th DistrictArlene B. FisherRodney A. OrangeMelvin L. Stukes

In another six weeks, Baltimoreans will go to the polls to elect a mayor. Yet neither primary nominee has bothered to lay out a blueprint for how he will govern this city over the next four years.In a city where Democrats hold a 9-1 registration edge over Republicans, the odds heavily favor Democratic incumbent Kurt Schmoke over Republican Samuel Culotta. But just because he won the primary, Mr. Schmoke should not expect an automatic coronation Nov. 5. Now is the time for each nominee to lay out his agenda for Baltimore in the 1990s.

City Council candidates in the 3rd District, take notice: Sandra and Oscar Tapp want someone to do something about cars speeding down Northwood Drive.City Council candidates in the 1st District, hear this: Sam Culotta (the barber, not the politician) wants someone to clean the street outside his shop in Locust Point.Lofty issues? Not exactly. But typical of people's concerns as candidates for mayor and City Council campaign for Baltimore's Sept. 12 primary election.Interviews across the city, most with people relaxing in the shade on their steps or porches, support the truism that most voters, or potential voters, define their issues from the narrow view out their front doors.

As Sam Culotta faces the most important day of his political life this Friday, his televised debate with Mayor Schmoke, he is sure of only one thing."I am going to wear a blue shirt," Culotta said. "Or maybe a white one."Culotta is the Republican nominee for mayor and Schmoke is the Democratic nominee in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 9-1.Though both men won their primary elections in September, Culotta got around 1,500 votes and Schmoke got around 62,000.Even if you gave Culotta all the Democratic votes that were cast against Schmoke, plus all the Republican votes cast for all the Republican candidates, that would still not add up to Schmoke's 62,000.

City-wide Candidates (Republican primary for mayor only)Comptroller! Joseph L. LandersMayorKurt L. Schmoke (D)` Samuel Culotta (R)Council President! No RecommendationCouncil Candidates (Only primaries are Democratic)1st District:John CainNicholas C. D'Adamo Jr.Perry Sfikas2nd District:Anthony J. AmbridgePeter BeilensonBeatrice Gaddy3rd District:Linda C. JaneyKevin O'KeeffeMartin O'Malley4th DistrictLawrence BellSheila DixonAgnes Welch5th DistrictVera P. HallIris Reeves& Rochelle Rikki Spector6th District:Arlene B. FisherEdward L ReisingerMelvin L. Stukes

It isn't easy being Baltimore native Gino Culotta, a senior linebacker and running back at the International School of Brussels in search of a Division I football scholarship. When he approaches a college coach, the conversation goes something like this: "Hi, I'd like to talk to you about a football scholarship," Culotta says. "Where are you from?" the coach asks. "Baltimore." "Where do you go to school?" "Brussels." "I've never heard of Brussels, Md." "No. Brussels, Belgium." The coach pauses.

I still think about Saipan because it was the worst one," recalled Samuel A. Culotta, a Baltimore lawyer and frequent Republican candidate, who spent World War II in the Pacific as a Navy corpsman. Culotta, 84, was a veteran of nine island landings that stretched from Makin Atoll to Kwaajalein, Eniwetok, Okinawa and the Philippines. The hellish memories of five days on Saipan in the Mariana Islands are as fresh as they were 65 years ago, Culotta said. He likened the June 15, 1944, invasion, to an almost "forgotten D-Day," with 3,500 Americans killed and thousands wounded.

Sam Culotta helped keep his family warm during winter by salvaging firewood from the houses being torn down for an extra tunnel the Pennsylvania Railroad was then constructing under Hoffman Street. "It was a poor community," said Sam, an attorney who went on to serve in World War II and run for mayor as a Republican. He recalled those Decembers when he pulled a little wagon around the streets of Baltimore's Middle East neighborhood that is now being rebuilt as part of the Johns Hopkins medical campus expansion along Wolfe and Washington streets.

On April 27, 2008, ROSALIE K. (nee Noto), SCHIMINSKY, beloved wife of the late George Schiminsky, devoted mother of Stanley Schiminsky, dear sister of the late Margaret Culotta, Jeanette Weitzel and Vince Noto. Also survived by loving relatives and friends. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Brigid's Church, 911 S. Ellwood Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224 on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7 P.M. Arrangements by Lilly and Zeiler, Inc. Funeral Home.

Samuel A. Culotta, a Baltimore lawyer and perennial Republican mayoral candidate, said he's supporting Sen. John McCain. "I love Rudy, but I'm for McCain. He's a leader and has the background, knowledge, experience and courage to be president," Culotta, 83, said in an interview. Culotta, a Northeast Baltimore resident who has practiced law since 1951, served in the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin when he was mayor and governor, and was a state delegate from 1954 to 1959.

On August, 30, 2006, JOSEPH SAMUEL CULOTTA, formerly of East Baltimore; dear uncle of Karen Davis-Harryman and Carlotta Davis Hubbard; dear brother of the late Rose C. Davis. Also surviving is one great-nephew, Matthew Hubbard. Friends may call at the family owned Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, P.A., 421 Crain Hwy S.E. Glen Burnie, MD on Friday, from 3-5 & 7-9 P.M. Services will be held on Saturday, 10:00 A.M. at the Old Otterbein United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Lorraine Park Cemetery.

On April 7, 2006, ANTHONY P., beloved husband of Florence (nee Arnold) Culotta and loving father of Anthony C. Culotta and wife Kathleen, Joseph T. Culotta and wife Christina, Thomas M. Culotta and Donna Archambault and husband Shawn; devoted grandfather of John, Marissa, Joseph and Jessica Culotta, Alex, Becca, Rick and Adam Archambault; dear brother of Samuel Culotta and wife Leah and the late Joseph and Peter Culotta. Also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews. A Visitation will be held at the family owned JOSEPH N. ZANNINO, JR. FUNERAL HOME, 263 South Conkling Street (at Gough)

Julia Culotta -- North Harford, outfielder -- The All-Metro senior batted .561 with 18 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs and 19 runs scored last season. Amanda Fefel -- Catonsville, pitcher --Last season, Baltimore County's Player of the Year led the Comets to their second county title in three years by going 14-2 on the mound and .444 at the plate. Allison Kuchar -- C. Milton Wright, shortstop -- Last season as a freshman, Kuchar enjoyed a timely hitting spree - including a deciding two-run homer in the Class 3A North title game - to lead the Mustangs to the state final.

3 Matches that the C. Milton Wright wrestling team won on the mat against Parkville. The Mustangs also won three matches by forfeit, but still suffered a 43-30 loss to the Baltimore County school. 5 Players who scored for the Bel Air girls basketball team in its 65-56 victory over Joppatowne. 45 Points that North Harford's Corey Donohoe (17), Emily Gibson (16) and Julia Culotta (12) combined for in last Thursday's 51-33 win over Aberdeen.

Julia Culotta, North Harford SPORT BASKETBALL GIRLS STATS -- Culotta played a major role in the Hawks' 64-55 win over Joppatowne last week. She was nearly unstoppable inside, as she scored 21 points and had eight rebounds. This is her third year on the varsity. SIDELINES -- Culotta is headed to the University of Tennessee next year to play softball for the Volunteers. In basketball, she's grown into a dominating presence inside, as teams have had problems figuring out how to get around a 6-foot-2 forward/center.