Hallmark

In spite of rumors to the contrary, e-mail, political correctness, working mothers and the 33-cent stamp aren't killing off the holiday card. But the times are changing the reasons we send cards and the kinds of cards we're sending."

What do the Intel Corp., Hallmark Cards, the Secret Service, the University of Michigan, the South Carolina motor vehicle administration, CBS SportsLine and a company that gives away free computers have in common?If you're into conspiracy theories, you could proably come up with a doozie involving this bunch. But if you're merely concerned about electronic privacy, they've all been involved in recent controversies that illustrate how easy it is for people to collect information about you and me in an age of instant, computer-based communication.

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.

Holiday time can be emotionally difficult for those not sharing in the festive mood. The weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday -- an acknowledged American holiday -- are no exception. A look inside one holiday-depression sufferer's diary:Monday, Jan. 12Bad morning. Immediate world festive as NFL playoffs end, Super Bowl countdown begins. Yet, inner gloom prevails. Joyous holiday spirit somehow proves elusive.Super Sunday holiday depression danger signal: writing clipped sentences omitting prepositions, articles.

ARMONK, N.Y. -- International Business Machines Corp.'s stock dropped 5.9 percent yesterday as investors worried that lagging sales of IBM's mainframes and related products will hurt profits in coming quarters.The decline, by $10 to $158, came in the wake of fourth-quarter earnings and sales that trailed expectations. Without IBM's drop, the Dow Jones industrial average would have set another record.IBM shares had surged to nine-year highs on optimism for strong growth in all its businesses.

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.

PASADENA, Calif. -- It's Sunday afternoon tea at the posh Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and an elderly German couple on holiday are chatting casually over the gentle clink of fine china when Charles "Roc" Dutton arrives, looks in the lounge area and then hurries off, accompanied by his publicist and an assistant."

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. A lot of their attack couldn't do much. The defense was just on -- denying passes, letting them only get eight-meters," said Saints goalie Jen Corradini, who finished with eight saves.

LAS VEGAS -- Only seven months ago, before his first heavyweight title fight with Mike Tyson, ring critics were ready to relegate Evander Holyfield to -- in the vernacular of boxing -- the ranks of "shot fighters."Holyfield fell victim to fatigue in losing his rubber match with Riddick Bowe in 1995, and then looked quite ordinary in whipping a flabby Bobby Czyz 13 months ago.The question was whether Holyfield really had heart problems or had simply waged too many tough fights. Even his manager, Shelly Finkel, and former trainer, Lou Duva, urged him to retire.

Happy Diamond Jubilee, William Donald Schaefer.In a manner befitting the House of Windsor or perhaps a former governor and Baltimore mayor with a penchant for public celebration, you have been feted with birthday cakes for a week. You have literally blown out candles at breakfast, lunch and dinner.Although today is your 75th birthday, the celebrations truly reach a climax tomorrow when hundreds of invited well-wishers will gather at City Hall to honor your life and accomplishments.As you bask in adulation, could it be that you, the irascible, quirky, aggravating, workaholic, theatrical, impatient, outspoken city cheerleader, have found a measure of happiness?

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)

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.

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."

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. / / Families and happiness -- the two don't always go together. That's certainly true in the plays at the 16th annual Contemporary American Theater Festival. Edginess has always been a hallmark of Shepherdstown's new-play festival, and this year, that edginess extends from a 4-year-old's fantasies to father-son rivalry. CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATER FESTIVAL / / Through July 30 / / Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, W. Va. / / 800-999-2283 or catf.org

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.

A feature in which Sun writers and critics sound off about the movies. Daily Variety's John Dempsey reports that when Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions issued press material for the Jan. 29 CBS presentation of Pat Conroy's The Water is Wide, Hallmark never referred to Conrack (1974) - the first adaptation of Conroy's literary debut, still the best adaptation of a Conroy book, and the most engaging and penetrating American movie about teaching. Based on Conroy's 1972 memoir of instructing impoverished schoolkids on South Carolina's remote Yamacraw Island, Conrack featured Jon Voight's zingiest star acting in the title role (the kids called Conroy "Conrack")

The downtown of the 21st century distinguishes itself by its in-town residents - by the very fact that they exist. Unlike 50 years ago, when people mainly worked and shopped downtown, today's city centers are becoming the place to live, and by that measure, Baltimore rates. It's happening here and elsewhere to such an extent that a recent Brookings Institution study cites the increase in downtown residents as a hallmark of downtown America's evolution. And Baltimore is on the right track.

Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered that she had turned into the wrong person. She was 53 years old by then - a grandmother. With these words, Baltimore author Anne Tyler began her 2001 novel, Back When We Were Grownups, which the Hallmark Hall of Fame lovingly brings to the screen tonight at 9 on CBS (WJZ, Channel 13) with Blythe Danner as a Baltimore woman in late-midlife crisis who sets out to rediscover who she is. It is the third novel by Tyler to become a Hallmark movie, and once again, just as with Breathing Lessons in 1994 and Saint Maybe in 1998, television is enriched by the marriage.

For the 14th consecutive year, Johns Hopkins Hospital has been named the country's top-rated medical institution in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings. The East Baltimore hospital ranked first in three of 17 major specialties, including gynecology, urology and otolaryngology, which deals with problems of the ears, nose and throat. It was second or third in 11 other categories, ranging from neurosurgery to pediatrics. "It is a worthy acknowledgment of the innovative and compassionate patient care that is Hopkins' hallmark - and of the people who make that kind of care possible," Dr. Edward D. Miller, Johns Hopkins Medicine dean and CEO, and Ronald R. Peterson, the hospital president, wrote in a letter to employees announcing the rankings.

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.