Hallmark

On May 7, 2004, SHIRLEY M. (nee Martin) HALLMARK, beloved wife of Murray Fusee, devoted mother of Alison K. Hallmark, loving daughter of Graydon and the late Alice Martin, stepmother of Tammy Merritt, Nick Fusee, Randy Fusee and Renee Lamont, dear sister of Patricia Conover, Linda Slater, Donald, Glen and Ronald Martin and the late Arlene Freeman. Also survived by seven grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, 4 P.M. at HARRY H. WITZKE'S FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City.

When most people think about Creamsicles, they probably picture the fruity frozen dessert. Monica Williams, however, envisioned a cookie. Williams, who owns the baking operation From Momma's Kitchen, has made a second career out of concocting decadent desserts. The 43-year-old former principal of Celebration Christian Academy in Columbia has been experimenting with cookies ever since she started baking at just 8 years old in her mom's kitchen in Philadelphia. “I added M&M's to the first batch of chocolate chip cookies I made,” she remembers.

Hallmark Builders has announced that Manon Weymouth has been appointed sales manager of Howard County.Weymouth was the 1990 Rookie ofthe Year for New Homes Sales from the Sales & Marketing Council of the Home Builders Association of Maryland.MADD ELECTS OFFICERSThe Howard County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivingnewofficers are:They include: Debbie Derwart, president; Bonnie Cook, first vice president; Fred Chaney, second vice president; Harvey Major, treasurer; Becky Rendell, secretary; Angie Beltram, state organization representative; Jack Derwart, state organization alternate.

Ronald Etue, an Ellicott City resident and retired educator, has had many jobs in education since graduating from college in 1967. The 67-year-old continues to keep busy by volunteering throughout the area and has an admirable philosophy of life. Etue elaborates on these topics in his Five Questions. You've had a long career in education both in Maryland and across the country. How did your career progress after college? I am a retired elementary school principal and have spent almost my entire career (35 years)

Second-ranked St. Mary's never trailed en route to a 10-6 victory over No. 3 Annapolis in the marquee game of Severn's annual Betty Hallmark Girls Lacrosse tournament yesterday.The Saints' (4-0) defense, led by Kristen Hagert and Megan Lewis, upset the Panthers' attack and forced a lot of bad shots. After scoring on three of their first four shots, the Panthers (2-1) hit only three of 16 the rest of the game."The defense was spectacular," said Saints goalie Jen Corradini, who finished with eight saves.

Being named to a Hall of Fame is the crowning achievement for most coaches and ex-players. To be so honored three times in your life is extraordinary.Betty Jean Hallmark of Severna Park is just that.For a third time, Hallmark is going into be inducted into a Hall of Fame. And this time, she goes into the Hall of the school she calls her "second home," Anne Arundel Community College.Hallmark, whohas been a teacher and coach at Anne Arundel for 21 years, will be inducted into the Pioneers' Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the school's annual bull roast.

Melissa Hallmark put her body and soul into last Sunday's Baltimore Bud Light Triathlon. In fact, the Severna Park graduate said, "I think I left a lot of skin on the pavement."Shortly after completing the 1.5-kilometer swim (.93 miles) in the Gunpowder River, she crashed hard against a roadway while cycling her way to the Inner Harbor."It was about an eighth of a mile after the transition when my tire hit these vertical ruts in the road. I was between two other guys,and one guy wiped out with me," said Hallmark, who is training for Hawaii's annual Iron Man Triathlon on Oct. 19."

Continuing its strategy of building a strong foothold region by region, Towson-based Hallmark Senior Communities LLC said yesterday that it has acquired five more assisted-living facilities, bringing its total to 15 and increasing its capacity by 57 percent.Two of the newly acquired facilities are in Hazelton, Pa.; one is in Altoona, Pa.; one is in Lebanon County, Pa.; and the fifth is in central New Jersey.The acquisitions, which together cost $22 million, bring the company's holdings to 14 facilities in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey with a residential capacity of 1,760 and boost the privately held company's annual revenue to $19 million, said Daniel A. Hirschfeld, chairman, chief executive and president.

The USA Network announced its new season lineup this week, including two drama series based on popular movies and 20 made-for-television films, part of a $175 million investment in original programming for the country's highest-rated cable channel.In addition, the network, which operates both the USA and Sci-Fi channels, is bringing in Hallmark Entertainment to develop four original films to air between April 1997 and March 1998.The new drama series, both to air on USA, are offshoots of films that were neither incredibly popular nor major disappointments.

2 hospital companies mergingCommunity Health Systems Inc. will buy Hallmark Healthcare Corp. in a $175 million stock and debt deal that merges two of the nation's largest owners of rural and suburban hospitals.Community Health will exchange 0.97 shares of its common stock for each share of Hallmark's common stock. In addition, Community Health will exchange 5.4 shares of its common stock for each share of Hallmark's preferred stock.The merger also calls for Houston-based Community Health to assume $87.6 million of Hallmark's debt.

Two years ago, when Cat's Eye Pub owner Tony Cushing died, Fells Point bar lovers wondered what would become of the classic Thames Street haunt. The Cat's Eye stood for all that was great about historic Fells Point: the mix of rough-and-tough old-timers and yuppies, the daily lineup of sharp bar bands and the snug, wipe-but-don't-scrub decor. Cushing's son, Tony, who had moved back to Baltimore to pitch in with the pub several years before his father died, stepped up and became a co-owner.

Series Cops:: In the 750th episode, Florida officers catch a pair of suspects siphoning gasoline from a car and find out they've been doing cocaine, while in Washington state, police use a helicopter to search for a guy who threatened to kill his girlfriend. (8 p.m., WBFF-Channel 45) Movies Plainsong: : This 2004 Hallmark Hall of Fame version of Kent Haruf's novel stars Aidan Quinn as a Colorado teacher who raises his two sons alone after his wife leaves him. (9 p.m., Hallmark) Knocked Up:: Seth Rogen stars as a party animal whose one-night stand with a TV journalist (Katherine Heigl)

Hours after Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted on charges of theft, perjury and misuse of office, she headed to the industrial-chic offices of her lead defense attorney, where dozens of reporters and photographers had gathered. Instead of perfunctory statements of innocence and a caution to wait for a trial, the public heard a full-throated response to the unseemly allegations that have swirled around Dixon as a nearly three-year probe of City Hall corruption plodded along. The star was not Dixon, who read a short statement, but her lawyer: Arnold M. Weiner, veteran defender of indicted politicians, including former Maryland Gov. Marvin Mandel.

A Kiss at Midnight, a holiday movie on the Hallmark Channel, points the way to New Year's Eve, with romance befitting Valentine's Day. Tomorrow night, Faith Ford stars as the owner of a personalized matchmaking service who sets out to discredit a rival operation: an automated, computer-dating Web site whose owner (Cameron Daddo) turns out to be her perfect match, to their mutual astonishment. Will these two wary competitors resolve their business quibbles by midnight Dec. 31? (9 p.m. tomorrow, Hallmark Channel)

Back at the dawn of Baltimore television, when the Sunpapers owned the first station here, a 25-year-old Evening Sun reporter named Jim McManus agreed to work in front of the camera for $65 a week. It was 1947. The station, WMAR-TV, had to fill hours upon hours with original programming. So its crews did remote telecasts, running from the races at Pimlico to supermarket openings to professional wrestling matches at the old Baltimore Coliseum. McManus, a reporter and announcer, didn't care for the pro wrestling assignment.

There's always something new from Hallmark, the sappy, greeting-card people, and this year is no exception. This year's ground-breaking innovation is: Mother's Day cards that let you record a 10-second message to Mom and play a clip of the song that's apparently become synonymous with motherhood, Tag Team's "Whoomp! There It Is." OK, maybe you're thinking: Gee, I didn't know that song was big with mothers. Well, neither did I. In fact, I seem to recall lyrics about shaking derrieres and swilling gin and juice and puff- ing something stronger than a Marlboro Light.

On June 16, 2006 MAYRENE ELIZABETH (Hallmark) SLACK, of Ithaca, NY. Beloved wife of the late Samuel T. Slack. Loving mother of Teresa Ellen Hargett and her husband Dan, Cherished grandmother of Lindsay Beth, Caitlin Leigh and Chelsea Rae Hargett. Sister of the late Robert Bruce Hallmark. Ms. Slack is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Friends may call at the family owned Slack Funeral Home, P.A., 3871 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD on Saturday from 10 -11 A.M. at which time services will be held.

Recent news stories have convinced me it's time for another Janet's World Current Events Poetry Column, where I attempt to make sense of what's being reported on the local and national scene through meticulously crafted verse with snappy end-rhymes. But first, let me say that I understand your discomfort when you hear the word "poetry." Like me, you probably think, "But I spent a week reading T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock in high school, and I still don't know what in the blazes it means."

Robert Jeffrey Forbes, an artist who used the name Peter Keating to sign his works of farm buildings and landscapes, died of a heart attack Nov. 18 at his home in Campbellsville, Ky. The former Reisterstown resident was 57. Born in Baltimore and raised in Reisterstown, he was a 1967 McDonogh School graduate. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and the Maryland Institute College of Art. "He always loved nature. He loved Maryland, the cloudy weather and cool, damp days," said his mother, Helen McKee Forbes of Glyndon.