First Presbyterian Church

Vacation Bible school at Friendship Baptist Friendship Baptist Church, 1391 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, will offer a one-week sports-themed vacation Bible school from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 8-12 at the church. Youngsters will participate in activities related to the theme "Game Day Central," a sports metaphor for a religious and moral life. A kick-off rally, with food, games and entertainment, is planned for 6 p.m. July 8. Drivers from the Junior Dragster League will show their race cars and talk about how life as a dragster is similar to life in Christ.

On March 28, 2007, MARLENE MACK. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City. Beloved wife of Charles P. Mack; loving daughter of the late Kenneth and Margaret McDonough; devoted mother of the late Catherine M. Freburger; dear sister of Ann Paolino, Joan Smith, Helen Most, Marjie Bonnic

On February 6, 2007, FELICIA GUNN PENNINGTON of Annapolis, loving wife of the late W. Donald Pennington, and caring aunt to many nieces and nephews. Devoted "Mom" to may "adopted" children and a multitude of friends. Services will be held at 2 P.M., in the First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Contributions in lieu of flowers, may be made to First Presbyterian Church. She will be dearly missed by those who were lucky enough to know and love her. Arrangements by the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, MD.

John Edward Starr was not a showy person -- except when he was singing.He had a rich, full, booming baritone that he displayed in choruses and choirs in the Annapolis area for about three decades.The Annapolis resident died Tuesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 84.Mr. Starr sang for many years with the Annapolis Choral Society and was one of the original members of the Annapolis Chorale in 1974. He also sang with a barbershop quartet in the late 1950s and for his church choir.

When people who live here think of Baltimore, they naturally think of Mount Vernon Place and the Washington Monument.It is that vista, that wonderful 19th-century compilation of houses and institutions, that greets the eye and piques the interest of the visitor and city dweller alike.Its image adorns postcards and visitors record their visits to Baltimore by posing their families in the shadow of the Washington Monument.Charles Street's northern advance is bisected by architect Robert Mills' elegant monument to George Washington.

They probably were the worst-looking "tramps" that ever trod a wintry street in Baltimore. The fat snowflakes that made such beautiful bouquets and necklaces for the park shrubs and trees only melted soppily on their unpleasant rags.A big brass safety pin tried pitifully hard to hide a great rent in one's coat pocket; it only gave the rag a fantastic loop. Their overlarge trousers draped them in sodden folds and were patched. Their shoes were too big or ripped at the toes; one wore tennis shoes of canvas and rubber.

Police logEllicott City: 4200 block of Montgomery Road: Someone stole a tractor from Bethel Baptist Church between 5 p.m. Thursday and 7: 30 a.m. Friday after prying open a door and removing the lock.Ellicott City: 6100 block of Meadowridge Road: Someone smashed in a glass panel of a door with a concrete block and stole cash Saturday from a convenience mart.Ellicott City: 9300 block of Old Annapolis Road: Someone stole a lawn mower between 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday from a shed at First Presbyterian Church.

A man stole a purse from a Wilde Lake village woman Sunday afternoon as she walked home from The Mall in Columbia, police said.Sharon Paulman, 41, was walking on a path between the mall and her home in the 5000 block of Green Mountain Circle at about 2: 50 p.m. when a man grabbed her purse from her shoulder, said Sgt. Steven Keller of the Howard County Police Department. Paulman was not injured.The man is described as about 18 years old with a small build, wearing dark blue pants and a blue shirt.

Janet C. Preston, 91, deacon, church historianJanet C. Preston, a lifelong member of First and Franklin Presbyterian Church, whose history she helped record, died Aug. 14 of pneumonia at Keswick Multi-Care Center. She was 91 and lived in Roland Park.She was a member of First Presbyterian Church when it merged with Franklin Street Presbyterian Church in 1980. She was ordained a deacon in 1960 and a ruling elder in 1971.She had served as the church's historian since the 1940s. Many of her articles were published in the church bulletin and, in 1995, they were collected and presented to her in recognition of her devotion to the church.

THERE ARE MANY who would tell you that in getting a job, or getting something done, it isn't what you know, it's who you know, that being familiar with the players is as important as knowing the rules.Those who make their living as lobbyists know that both kinds of knowledge are important. They have to know who to get to, and how to reach them. One doesn't have to be a professional lobbyist, however, to get things accomplished in the corridors of power.The League of Women Voters of Maryland invites you to learn the rules, and the players, in a six-hour workshop Nov. 18 at the Legislative Services Building, 90 State Circle in Annapolis.

On July 26, 2009, Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Friday, July 31, 2009 at 10 A.M. Interment will be in Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery, Forest Hill, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Thursday, July 30, 2009 from 6 to 9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery Fund, 2100 Rock Spring Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at mccomasfuneralhome.

The Rev. Richard Wise Shreffler, who had pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air for more than 30 years and was also active in Baltimore homeless and AIDS ministries, died May 1 of pneumonia at his home in San Antonio, Texas. He was 88. Mr. Shreffler was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. After earning a bachelor's degree in 1942 from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, he entered Naval Training School at Annapolis. Commissioned as an officer in 1943, he participated in the D-Day invasion and was later assigned to the Pacific theater of operations.

On April 21, 2008, Betty Jane "BJ" Laven A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Friday April 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at: mccomasfuneralhome.com

On February 1, 2008, MILDRED S. THOMAS of Bel Air, MD, beloved wife of James A. Thomas, devoted mother of Gary Thomas and the late Allen D. Thomas, loving sister of Charles W. St. Clair. Also survived by three grandchildren, Matthew T. Thomas, Mitchell L. Thomas, and Megan E. Thomas. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6-9p.

On January 28, 2008, HAROLD "Bud" MASTER of Bel Air, MD; beloved husband of Elizabeth Bond Butler Master; devoted father of Christine P. Master, Thomas B. Master and Mark G. Master; loving brother of Virginia M. Donaldson. Also survived by three grandchildren, Thomas B. Master, Jr., Justin Tyler Master and Jordan A. Meadley. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Gel Air, MD on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 11 A.M. Inurnment will be in Emmanuel Episcopal Columbarium.

Vacation Bible school at Friendship Baptist Friendship Baptist Church, 1391 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, will offer a one-week sports-themed vacation Bible school from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 8-12 at the church. Youngsters will participate in activities related to the theme "Game Day Central," a sports metaphor for a religious and moral life. A kick-off rally, with food, games and entertainment, is planned for 6 p.m. July 8. Drivers from the Junior Dragster League will show their race cars and talk about how life as a dragster is similar to life in Christ.

On March 28, 2007, MARLENE MACK. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City. Beloved wife of Charles P. Mack; loving daughter of the late Kenneth and Margaret McDonough; devoted mother of the late Catherine M. Freburger; dear sister of Ann Paolino, Joan Smith, Helen Most, Marjie Bonnic

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Henry Francis Gredlein and Imgard Moennich Gredlein. Dr. Gredlein retired from the administrative position of Director of Special Projects at Piedmont Technical College in 2004, after suffering a disabling stroke. Dr. Gredlein was employed by Greenwood School District 50 from 1975 until 1994 as principal of Emerald Junior High and Director of Secondary Education. Dr. Gredlein received his undergraduate degree in history and social studies from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurienburg, NC, Masters of Education, Education Specialist degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Secondary School Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Henry Francis Gredlein and Imgard Moennich Gredlein. Dr. Gredlein retired from the administrative position of Director of Special Projects at Piedmont Technical College in 2004, after suffering a disabling stroke. Dr. Gredlein was employed by Greenwood School District 50 from 1975 until 1994 as principal of Emerald Junior High and Director of Secondary Education. Dr. Gredlein received his undergraduate degree in history and social studies from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurienburg, NC, Masters of Education, Education Specialist degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Secondary School Administration from the University of South Carolina.

On February 6, 2007, FELICIA GUNN PENNINGTON of Annapolis, loving wife of the late W. Donald Pennington, and caring aunt to many nieces and nephews. Devoted "Mom" to may "adopted" children and a multitude of friends. Services will be held at 2 P.M., in the First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Contributions in lieu of flowers, may be made to First Presbyterian Church. She will be dearly missed by those who were lucky enough to know and love her. Arrangements by the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, MD.