House

When the Ravens visited the White House on Wednesday, four Baltimore City athletes went along for the ride. The Ravens invited city high school football players Steven Thomas (Poly) and David Owens (City), as well as girls basketball players A'Lexus Harrison (Digital Harbor) and Zyaire Lockley (Western), to join them in Washington, D.C., because President Barack Obama announced during the trip that the Ravens will be donating new uniforms for Baltimore City girls varsity basketball and varsity football teams.

As the exhibit title "Abstractions" indicates, there are various ways in which artists can leave realism behind in their artwork. This four-artist show at the Meeting House Gallery in Columbia explores some of those stylistic options. The photographs by Bob Paulding suggest how the actual landscape lends itself to abstract consideration. In "Amsterdam House," he presents what basically qualifies as a documentary shot of a white house in an urban setting. Think about how reflections from the sky can have a shimmering effect on a bright day and it'll seem like a natural thing that this house's windows look as blue as the sky above the house.

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman will host a Community Connections Day and Constituent Open House on June 26. The event will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at South River High School, 201 Central Ave. in Edgewater. County residents will be able to meet with Neuman, department heads and other government officials. Participating agencies include the county's departments of public works, inspections and permits, planning and zoning, social services, aging and disabilities, emergency management and animal control.

This weekend, June 8 and 9, Little Falls Friends Meeting in Fallston will celebrate the 275th anniversary of its founding. Speakers, tours, exhibits and printed histories will be brought together to share with the community the remarkable Quaker heritage of Harford County. Little Falls Friends Meeting is at 719 Old Fallston Road in the heart of the Fallston village. For more information, visit http://www.littlefallsfriends.org . Among the speakers will be Christopher Densmore, curator of the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College, and Charles Cherry, of Villanova University, who will speak on William Penn, Man of Peace.

The 2012-13 Ravens will be well represented Wednesday when the team travels to the White House to be honored by President Barack Obama for its 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. Linebacker Ray Lewis , who retired following his 17th season in Baltimore, and safety Ed Reed , who signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans in March after playing 11 seasons for the Ravens, are both expected to...

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised the Ravens' resilience, toughness and their commitment to the Baltimore community. However, when it came to paying homage to one of their most dominant and well-known players, Obama made it clear that he does have his limits. The president responded to Ray Lewis' challenge to mimic the retired linebacker's elaborate pre-game entrance by saying, “No, I'm not doing that dance. It caused [you] to miss most of the season.” Obama's comment drew laughter from Ravens' players and team officials who stood behind the 44th president and in the backdrop of the Lombardi Trophy.

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  Welcome to the White House.  (Applause.)  And welcome to the Super Bowl Champion -- world champion -- Baltimore Ravens.  (Applause.)  Everybody can have a seat.  That's why we set up chairs.  (Laughter.)        Now, I suspect that these guys are wondering, what kind of introduction is that?  No smoke machine.  (Laughter.)  No fire cannons.  Obama didn't even tear up chunks of turf and rub them on his suit.  (Laughter.)  That reminds me, by the way -- please don't do that on the South Lawn.  (Laughter.)

When Rep. Chris Van Hollen struck up a conversation recently with a U.S. Capitol Police officer he sees every day on his way to work, he immediately learned two things about the man: He's from Baltimore and he's a huge Ravens fan. And so the Montgomery County Democrat took a break Wednesday from the budget battles playing out in Congress to take Officer Aaron Smith to the White House, where President Barack Obama honored the Super Bowl ...

House Speaker Michael Busch began his Career Day visit at Tyler Heights Elementary School by venturing to the front of the media center with a state flag. He explained the meaning behind its colors and patterns, then gave the assembled fourth-graders a speech about how Maryland history is woven into the American fabric; how the founding fathers fought for a democratic government that is the cornerstone of the country's coveted freedoms. Moments after wrapping up his history lesson, Busch solicited questions from the navy-and-khaki-clad uniformed pupils at the Annapolis school.

Fire departments from Baltimore and Harford counties responded to a house fire Saturday evening in the Kingsville area. According to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, the call came at about 6:44 p.m. regarding a fire in the 11500 block of Sherwood Road, Kingsville. Due to a lack of fire hydrants in the area, additional fire engines with large volumes of water were requested, according to JMVFC. Firefighters used chain saws to cut the roof open, allowing the smoke and heat to escape, while personnel also searched the home for occupants, but none were found.