Fiore

On March 11, 2003, CONCETTA (nee Lento), beloved wife of the late Erico Fiore, devoted mother of Vittoria Rocca, Anthony and Michael Fiore; also survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mark's Church, Fallston, on Thursday at 11 A.M., with viewing at the Church from 10 to 11 A.M. Interment Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

It's a great year for Maryland wineries. While grain farmers bemoan the damage to their corn and soybean crops from the prolonged drought, grape growers and winemakers are celebrating. "Dry weather, like this year, produces smaller grapes, but the flavor is more concentrated, they are sweeter and they make a better wine," said Rose Fiore, secretary and treasurer of Fiore Winery, near Pylesville in northern Harford County. "We will get less wine this year," she said, "but it will be a better quality."

Mike Fiore cuddled a cluster of golden Chardonnay grapes in his hand and with a slight Italian accent exclaimed: "So pretty. That's a blessing from God." The president of Fiore Winery, near Pylesville in northern Harford County, said the weather has been nearly ideal for growing grapes for wine this year. "The grain farmers could use a little more rain," he said, "but it was a great year for grape growers." He examined a single grape with a refractor meter, an instrument that looks something like a compact telescope, and then exclaimed: "Twenty to 21 percent sugar content.

It's hard to decide what comes through most clearly in "Backstage" -- the power of hip-hop or the anger underlying it. Filmed during last year's Hard Knock Life Tour, an all-star traveling rap and hip-hop festival featuring acts from Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam records, "Backstage" captures energetic performances from DMX, Method Man, Red- man, Ja Rule, Beanie Sigel and Amil. But the movie catches serious fire when Jay-Z commandeers the stage, working the crowd and talking about what's happening.

Bacchus - the Roman god of wine - must have smiled on Harford County's newest vineyard yesterday. After a burst of morning rain, the sun peeked through as Mike Fiore of Fiore Winery, Harford County Executive James M. Harkins and others planted a ceremonial grapevine to celebrate the addition of a vineyard to county-owned Swan Harbor Farm near Havre de Grace. While winemaking and government may seem like an odd pairing, county officials say they want to build on the agricultural legacy of the farm, and the county.

Wine, jazz and artsTaste award-winning wines and sample international food, tour the winery and test your skills in a grape-stomping contest, listen to live jazz and admire crafts at the annual Fiore Wine, Jazz & Art Festival. It's Saturday, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6:30 p.m., at Fiore Winery, 3026 Whiteford Road (Route 136) in Pylesville. Music will be provided by the Kenny Wright Band and the Jazz Caravan. Adult tickets are $7 in advance and $8 at the gate and include a commemorative glass and six wine samples.

After nearly a year's delay, the new Westminster post office opened yesterday, promising shorter lines, quicker service and more than enough parking.Postal employees, spit-polished in pressed shirts and ties, stood at the entrance to the building at 345 Woodward Road in Englar Business Park and greeted customers. Many patrons looked a little wide-eyed and lost as they walked into the $2.7 million facility.That is understandable -- it is not the post office they once knew.For starters, the new building has 64 parking spaces out front.

GREENBELT -- When Jim Garvin was a senior at Brown University in 1978, the Viking 2 lander was still snapping pictures of the rock-stubbled Martian surface. Planetary scientists were electrified, and anxious to get there to see for themselves. But just reaching Mars with life-support equipment would be hard. ,, Getting back, impossible.So, some suggested, why not assemble a band of kamikaze geologists and send them there on a one-way ticket? Garvin, a 20-year-old who had taken one of the first courses ever offered in Martian geology, seized on the idea.

Frederic and Marjorie Bowers' friends and family will travel from as far as California, Michigan and New Jersey to help harvest wine grapes in the couple's small vineyard near Westminster this weekend and next.They'll cut bunches of grapes among vines hung with grape-decorated flags and bright bird-frightening balloons, and in the evening they'll share a large meal and a campfire.The couple expects a good time. But their crop will be off about 20 percent -- the fault of Maryland's unusual 1994 weather.

A 37-year-old Westminster man who is accused of threatening to kill his 3-year-old nephew after breaking into the child's home was held on $75,000 bail after his arrest yesterday.Douglas Miller Jones of the first block of Liberty St. was charged with assault with intent to kill burglary of his sister's home, breaking and entering and child abuse. Additional charges include malicious destruction of property and battery.District Court charging papers filed by the child's father, Francis Fiore, said Mr. Jones came to the Fiore house in the 400 block of Barnes Ave. about 8:45 a.m. July 26, broke in and struck Ryan Mathew Fiore, 3, five times on the back of his head.