Gift

May. 18, Post Time: 10:45AM Entries and comments provided by the Maryland Jockey Club First - Purse $55,000, AOC $25,000-$20,000, 3 yo's & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles Post, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds 1 Aussi Austin, Rosario, R.Rodriguez, 3-1 2 Bob's Gone Wild, Vargas, J.Lopez, 20-1 3 Jarrod's Commando, Karamanos, C.Garcia, 10-1 4 Warrensburg, Boyce, D.Barr, 20-1 5 Benny Or Local, Cruise, D.Kobiskie,...

Baltimore City public schools will not achieve the kind of excellence that will attract and keep families in the city until all schools in the system provide an education that will help every student reach her or his full potential. That is, every student including those with learning differences, English language learners, advanced learners, and those who fall squarely in the middle. Words used in The Sun editorial ("Education for everyone," April 29) such as "cream of the crop" and "elite" are divisive.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently received a gag gift of protective headgear after she suffered a concussion and blood clot near her brain after a fall. While Clinton can now make light of the injuries, a blood clot can be a serious health risk that can lead to death. Dr. James L. Frazier, III, a neurosurgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, talks about the dangers. What causes a blood clot to form in the brain? A blood clot or thrombus can form in the arteries that supply blood to the brain.

While my wedding and bridal showers are still a ways away I can't help but think of them often. One of the things that has constantly been on my mind is all the attention I will be receiving. I am fine with this on my wedding day because I know I will be sharing the spotlight with my husband-to-be. However, when it comes to the bridal shower all eyes are on me and the thought of this terrifies me. I am a shy person and don't usually enjoy being the center of attention. I am comfortable and outgoing around close friends and relatives so if the shower is on the smaller side it should be fine but if it ends up being a good amount of people it makes me nervous.

Young or old, rabid or casual, Baltimore Orioles fans are a little poorer today with the announcement of the death of longtime Sun staffer James Bready ("James Hall Bready," Nov. 1). A true Renaissance man, Mr. Bready brought his remarkable talents to bear in the compilation of two indelible histories of the local nine, "The Home Team" and "Baseball in Baltimore. " Just as Brooks Robinson's artistry in the field and at bat inspired the remark that he must have been sent down from a higher league, Jim Bready's mix of wit, passion, drama and love for the game, as reflected in his singular prose, likewise proved he had no equal.

I too have had less than stellar success with the "new, improved" recycling ("Single-stream recycling isn't for us," Readers respond, Feb. 22). Home Depot told me I'd have to buy a $68 recycling container. My recycling was not collected several times when I put it out. Why can't we just put both paper and cans in blue bags out together? Why must they be in a special container? I too have pretty much decided to just not recycle if I have to gift wrap it. Leslie Johnston, Baltimore County Send letters to the editor to talkback@baltimoresun.

The ARC Northern Chesapeake Region accepted a check for $8,000 from The Aberdeen Rotary Club, proceeds from the rotary's annual bull, shrimp and oyster roast.

This deal expires tonight but can save you a lot of money if you were looking at Lowes for appliances, flooring, etc. Just visit Lowes.com and buy any gift card $500 or more. On March 18th they will automatically add an extra 10% to that card's value. So the card you paid $500 for will now be worth $550 in Lowes merchandise. It also works just like cash so is stackable with any other deal you can find at Lowes.

Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant , the year-round eatery down at Camden Yards, is holding a "Gift for Kids" drive this week. Starting Wednesday and continuing through Sunday, diners who bring in a gift for a child between the ages of 6 to 13 will receive a coupon for a free appetizer. All collected gifts will be distributed to the St. Vincent's Villa, the Baltimore Ravens' Courage House . Dempsey's is located in the Camden Yards warehouse, so you can drop off your donation on your way to the Ravens game.

Most people who haven't finished their shopping are starting to worry about what gifts to give a friend, relative or spouse. Quick, what did you give or receive last year? How about two years ago? Most of us can't remember, unless it was a big-ticket item. What if you could give a gift that mattered -- one that literally kept on giving and improved the life of another person? Would you buy that gift? Two years ago, I bought two gifts for people I have never met. One was a goat and the other a sewing class.

Editor: I have always enjoyed [Matt Button's] photos but HAD TO take the time and tell you how very much I felt, actually felt, the photo of Phil Vellines dancing with his daughter in [Wednesday's] Pp&t . This might be the finest picture I've ever seen. You captured love on film. BRAVO Matt Button! Thank you for sharing your gift for all these years. Terrie Perry Street

Salisbury University announced Thursday the receipt of an $8 million donation - tied for the largest in its history - from the Guerrieri Family Foundation. The funds will help develop a new Academic Commons area on the Eastern Shore campus. The $116 million project, which includes a new library and Delmarva research center, will be named after Patricia R. Guerrieri, a Salisbury alumna who studied elementary education in the 1950s. She died in 2010. Her family ran Showell Farms, a poultry processing business with five plants in four states, for decades until Perdue Farms acquired the company in 1995.

John Jenkins knows the heartache of losing a child. But he and six other families have learned firsthand that such tragic deaths needn't be in vain. Jenkins, 56, lost his 20-year-old son 18 years ago to a motorcycle accident. But when 21-year old Joshua L. Aversano died after being struck by a car last year, Jenkins was one of six people whose lives were dramatically changed by the tragedy. Jenkins had been waiting more than two years for a new heart. Doctors were able to harvest not just Aversano's heart, but his liver, kidneys, pancreas and a lung, which also went to waiting patients.

When it comes to spring color, Washington knows how to put on a show. The National Cherry Blossom Festival blossoms each year to commemorate the gift of some 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo to the nation's capital in 1912. While the festival had modest beginnings, the event has since evolved into a springtime celebration that attracts millions of visitors from around the world. "It's truly amazing how a gift from over 100 years ago has now reached so many people," says Diana Mayhew, the festival's president.

The former principal of the Coppin Academy High School pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $10,000 from a student activity fund and using the money to pay wedding and other expenses. William L. Howard II, 37, entered his plea in Baltimore Circuit Court and received probation before judgment. He was sentenced to serve four years probation and 150 hours community service and to pay back the money, which he did on the spot. Howard's case was pursued by the office of the state prosecutor, which investigates corruption and public misdeeds.

I read Gina Eichman's letter praising parents' and teachers' commitment to their children's musical pursuits and in particular praising the efforts and ingenuity of the Howard County Gifted and Talented (GT) High School Orchestra. I second her praise and am an avid music supporter, as are my children. Unfortunately, the opportunity she references is not available to all young musicians in the county: Those students who attend private schools are prohibited from joining the county GT group.

Bridesmaids gifts are tricky. Getting your bridesmaids accessories to wear for the wedding (which seems to be customary) is a nice gesture but can come off as controlling. You've already (most likely) picked out their dress, given notes on hair and make up, and told them which shoes to buy. Gifting them matching jewelry to be worn on the day of could be met with a complicated mix of gratitude and attitude. I've been struggling with what to give my bridesmaids, and my research inspired me to come up with a list of suggestions for other brides.

The Carroll Hospital Center Foundation said it has received $5 million towards a an effort to raise $22 million to benefit medical services. The Taneytown-based Kahlert Foundation donated the money to be used to support improvement efforts at  Carroll Hospital Center and Carroll Hospice. It is the first multi-million dollar gift the hospital has received in its 50-year history. The fundraising effort, “Campaign to Cure & Comfort, Always,” will support five key areas: the cancer center, a community education and wellness center, emerging technology, endowment funds and cardiovascular and stroke prevention and treatment.

  Arts and crafts retailer Michaels will give out more than $100,000 in gift cards Sunday at its stores in honor of "Random Acts of Kindness Day. " The Irving, Texas, -based chain, which has 1,100 stores in the U.S. and Canada, handed out the freebies at random last year too, in hopes of encouraging customers to "craft it forward" with their own random act of kindness. The store asks customers to visit Michaels Facebook page this week and share acts of kindness. And they can check Michaels Random Acts of Kindness Pinterest board for ideas for craft projects to give to others.

There is joy in Charm City. The Baltimore Ravens are the champions of the football world. Tuesday, upon the Ravens' return from the Super Bowl in New Orleans, hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets of Baltimore and filled the football stadium. The city was euphoric and the fan base ecstatic. For the second time in this new century, Baltimore's Ravens are the best team in football. And yet, if not for one man, none of this would have been possible. If not for one man, there would be no Ravens football team.