Extended Family

Saying "life is priceless," a man convicted of killing his landlady and her daughter-in-law in 2002 told an Anne Arundel County judge who is considering sentencing him to death: "I'm just sorry for everyone's losses today." Speaking for a few seconds, Kenneth Ernest Abend neither specifically addressed killing his landlady, Laverne M. Browning, and Tamie C. Browning, nor sought mercy. His lawyer said he was remorseful. But Debbie Browning, Laverne Browning's daughter, was not swayed. "I don't call that an apology," she said.

Lisa and Eric Grevin's southern Anne Arundel County home bustles with activity, with six children playing, doing homework and getting ready for dinner. With three adopted children and three foster children, it's not exactly what the Grevins pictured when they decided to start a family — but now they say they couldn't imagine life any other way. "It changed our lives," said Eric Grevin, 41, of the couple's decision to serve as foster parents. "It made our lives richer and fuller, and I'm so glad we did it. " The Grevins recently were named Foster Parents of the Year for Anne Arundel County and will be honored at a reception with Maryland first lady Katie O'Malley at Government House in Annapolis in June.

SCOTRUN, Pa. -- A few years ago, Stephen Bowe was always quick to brag to his friends at Bushwick High in Brooklyn, N.Y., whenever Riddick Bowe's name made the papers."

At great political peril, George Ryan did the right thing. Not to canonize the man. After all, the then-governor of Illinois was later imprisoned on corruption charges. But that doesn't change the fact that, in 2000, stung that 13 inmates had been exonerated and freed from death row in the previous 23 years, Mr. Ryan committed an act of profound moral courage, imposing a moratorium on capital punishment. In 2003, in the waning days of his term, he one-upped himself, commuting every death sentence in his state.

In a small, red-shuttered house in Prince George's County, a family is in mourning. Relatives of Chelliah Johnson -- a husband, father and brother who was killed Sunday evening in a hit-and-run in Laurel -- gathered yesterday to grieve the loss of their loved one and wonder that someone could be so reckless about human life. Police have no suspects in the incident, in which witnesses saw two cars racing along Route 198, one of which struck Johnson and sped away. "They took his life just to win a stupid race," James Johnson, 12, the victim's son, said yesterday as friends and extended family gathered at their Riverdale home to support the widow, Annamma Johnson, and her two sons.

Six died that day. Another life was lost last week. And early yesterday morning, just hours before her father, her two young sons and her nephew were finally laid to rest after a rousing church service, Deneen Thomas died in her hospital bed. Now it is eight. Eight dead in one of the worst fires in Baltimore. In minutes, the May 22 blaze ripped through the East Baltimore rowhouse at 1903 Cecil Ave., where at least 13 people lived - part of a large extended family that included four generations.

Quietly, unassumingly, Riley Hawkins has tried to change the world with karate -- one child at a time. And if you ask some of the 7,000 or so people he has taught, it's working.It started with a few city youths in 1965 and a vision of creating a community. Now, 32 years later, the 53-year-old black belt has not just a community, but an extended family -- a large one because many never left once they experienced Hawkins' distinctive brand of instruction.First, he grabbed the children's attention with Shorin-Ryu, a style of karate that emphasizes hand techniques.

On Thursday, February 13, 2003; EUGENE P. SELTZER, of Baltimore, MD. Beloved husband of Eleanor Seltzer; devoted father of Eugene and Kirk. Also, survived by two grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and extended family. Interment private.

On March 30, 2006, at his home in North Edwards, CA, in the care of his loving family, KENNETH Mc CARTIN, JR., born February 11, 1927, in Lansdowne, MD. He is survived by his wife Irene and and extended family. Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, April 4, at 11 A.M. at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster, CA.

On June 1, 2003 BEVERLY SANFORD GEITZ, daughter of the late Frederick Geitz and Bertha (nee Sanford). Also survived by a loving cousin, Stephen Sanford and her extended family at Gallagher Services. A Memorial service in Beverly's memory will be celebrated at a later date. Interment private.

Frank Bond Sr., a retired Maryland Transit Administration bus driver and neighborhood activist who believed in the value of education, died Monday of colon cancer at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. "Frank was a wonderful man who treasured education even though he was not an educated man," said W. Byron Forbush II, who retired in 1998 after 38 years as headmaster of Friends School. "His three children went to Friends as well as two grandchildren," said Mr. Forbush. "He was so devoted and proud that his family was part of that institution.

Alice Colbert, who lived to 104 and cooked and cut her own grass until 10 years ago, died of respiratory failure Sunday at her West Baltimore home. Born Alice Sealy on Aug. 3, 1906, in West Baltimore, she was orphaned as a young child and was raised by her father's mother, whom she called Grandma Sealy. "Alice knew and often visited her mother's family. She especially loved going to see her maternal grandma, Victoria Butler, who worked as a domestic housekeeper for several families in Towson," said her granddaughter, Paula Law of Chester, Va. "Alice was especially fond of Grandma Butler, who would visit with her every Thursday and bring her a whole nickel if she had been good that week.

Orioles outfielder Felix Pie said he immediately felt a deep sadness when he heard about Tuesday's catastrophic earthquake that rocked Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. His emotions quickly turned to worry for his extended family, many of whom live in the Caribbean nation that is considered the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. "It's very sad, and you start, like, worrying. I know my mom has family in Haiti and my pop, too," Pie said. "But my mom called me and told me not to worry, that my family over there is OK. And my pop called me to tell me the same thing."

Family, fans: These are few of celebs' favorite things Even with wealth and fame, celebrities still take stock of their blessings. The Associated Press has gathered some together: * Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers: "I think we want to be, most of all, thankful for the fans. This year, they've been always sticking around for us, always been there for us. ... And we can't thank them enough." * Singer Barry Manilow: "Health. It's all about health. My health. My loved ones' health. We're all here.

Wilmington, Del. - The glue that holds George and Deann Verdier together is made up of wet potters' clay and whisper-thin shards of spun metal, of paintbrush bristles and dabs of artisanal honey. For more than three decades, the Verdiers have worked side by side nurturing the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals that they founded in 1975 in Montgomery County. Today, the fairs attract 350,000 customers and generate about $20 million in sales annually. Shows are held each year in 17 cities in the Midwest and along the East Coast, including Timonium, where Sugarloaf stops this weekend.

After reading a second Susan Reimer column denigrating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, I just had to write ("Hard to choose sides in the Mommy Wars," Sept. 8). Ever since the introduction of Mrs. Palin as Sen. John McCain's running mate, it has become painfully obvious to me that Ms. Reimer and many other liberal women in the media really aren't for women's rights unless the woman in question is a liberal women. What they don't understand is what people see in Mrs. Palin - a real person, a woman who is obviously intelligent and accomplished and freely admits she is able to do all she does with the help of her husband and extended family.

Robert B. Hill doesn't deny that almost half of black American families are headed by single women, or that most of those women's children live in poverty, or that those facts are cause for concern.But Hill says black families -- including many low-income ones headed by single women -- often have strengths that are seldom noticed: a solid work ethic; high aspirations for their children; broad kinship support networks, and a strong religious foundation."I'm not advocating the single-parent household.

On Thursday, October 23, 2003, CHARLES JOSEPH HAYES; devoted father of Sharon Hayes; loving brother of Helen Chlada and her husband George Kenneth Chlada, Mary Olson and her husband Larry Olson. Survived by loving nephews, family and friends, especially his extended family from Porter Dialysis, White Marsh. Memorial Service to be scheduled at a later date. Those desiring may make contributions to the National Kidney Foundation.

No matter what profession you choose in life, if you like your job, at some point your co-workers start to feel less like the people whose desks abut yours and more like a part of your extended family. You share countless lunches, they get invited to your wedding, and they stand in your kitchen with a smile, a drink in hand, the first time you celebrate the fact that you scraped together enough money to buy your first house. The Sun lost a member of its extended family last weekend, and though he was probably just a byline to many of you who follow the sports section, Christian Ewell will be remembered by many of us as one of the most genuine, kind, loyal and fun individuals most of us ever had the privilege to call a friend.