Ma

The British composer John Tavener's conversion in 1977 to the Russian Orthodox Church had profound consequences for his music, which began to take on altogether more transcendental and austere qualities. Although Tavener is Western-trained, in some respects he now most resembles such Eastern European "minimalists" as Henryk Gorecki and Alfred Schnittke.His best-known work, "The Protecting Veil," was composed in 1987 at the suggestion of the brilliant, young British cellist Steven Isserlis that Tavener write a piece for cello and strings.

After missing two of the previous three seasons because of a torn right Achilles tendon in 2009 and a shoulder injury in 2011, Ma'ake Kemoeatu played in 15 games in the regular season, making 13 starts. The 10-year veteran, who started in the Ravens' 24-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's AFC wild-card game, finished the regular season with 29 tackles, two batted passes and one sack (his first since 2005) in the team's regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma returned to Meyerhoff Hall last night for a reprise of the concerto the late Stephen Albert wrote for him three years ago.Albert, who died in an automobile crash in December, was one of our best and most honest composers. Though there are nods in the directions of other pieces from other times -- late Romantic concertos in the first and third movements, a little Shostakovich in the skittish second movement and some middle-period Stravinsky in the final one -- there is not a cheap note in this piece.

Three defensive starters return to practice In addition to the return of nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu and cornerback Jimmy Smith, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata practiced Thursday, according to an injury report released by the Ravens. Ngata, who did not participate in Wednesday's session and was absent during the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, is trying to overcome a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and an injured right shoulder suffered in Sunday's 31-29 win against the Dallas Cowboys.

It's been voted "Baltimore's Best" for its shredded pork barbecue sauce. But to locals, Ma's Kettle in Savage is the place to go for talk."Hell is six inches of ice covering the land," waitress Metta Lash says to no one in particular.It's the kind of free-flowing talk that characterizes the old restaurant off Baltimore Street across from Savage Guilford Road."It's a slice of home in an otherwise inhuman world," says Pete Dykstra, a Crownsville resident who stops in at least twice a week."People talk to each other here," he said.

On August 30, 2003, BABETTE, of Peabody, MA, beloved wife of Barry Poretsky, of Peabody, MA; devoted mother of Abbie Stanton, and her husband Kenneth, of Peabody, MA, and Andrew Poretsky, and his wife Elizabeth, of Danvers, MA; dear sister of David Wise and his wife Carolyn, of Pikesville, MD; and loving grandmother of Jessica, Jillian, and Andrew, Jr. Services were held at Temple Beth Shalom, 489 Lowell Street, Peabody, on Sunday, August 31. Interment Danvers,...

On April 21, 2003, JAMES T. KNEAFSEY of Chestnut Hill, MA, beloved husband of Patricia Otis Kneafsey; brother of John P. Kneafsey of Baltimore MD; also survived by several nieces and nephews. Family Graveside Services were held in Newton, MA. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. Donations, in his memory, may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. O'Donnell Funeral Homes, Boston MA 866-577-0055.

WESTFORD, MA- JAHDE K. (Klepinska) COLLINS, of Westford, MA, died December 26, 2003 in Nashua, NH at the age of 86. Born and educated in Louisville, KY on January 6, 1917, she was a daughter of the late Stefan and Mary Frances (Granger) Klepinska. She was a retired administrative assistant for M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA and a member of the First Parish Church United in Westford, MA. Survived by two nieces, Stephanie Graef of Georgia and Julie Graef of California, one nephew, Robert Graef of Oregon, and her former husband Charles L. Collins of Westford.

1919-2003On Monday, September 1, 2003, MILTON E. BAUVER, 83, of Northampton, MA died. He leaves his wife of 56 years Anna (Schoen) Bauver of Northampton, MA; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gerald Kessler of Baltimore, MD, a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Robin Bauver of Long Island, NY; a sister and brother-in-law, Bernyce and Gerald Grant of Northampton, MA; five grandchildren, Wren, Dylan, Lacey, Brandy and Cassidy. The Funeral was held Tuesday in Northampton, MA. The Harold R. Ascher & Son Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

On December 21, 2004 ALICE BERGER (Davidson) of Salem, MA formerly of Baltimore, entered into rest. Beloved wife of Larry Berger; dear daughter of the late David and Esther Davidson; devoted mother of Ruth Berger Frasca and her husband Philip Frasca of Beverly, MA, Julie and her husband Michael Halstead of Beverly, MA; loving sister of Mayer Davidson of Los Angeles, CA; cherished grandmother of Aliyah and Jordan Frasca. Services at the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin St., Salem, MA on Thursday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Memorial Observance at her late residence through Sunday.

The Ravens practiced for the first time since learning that inside linebacker Ray Lewis (torn right triceps) and cornerback Lardarius Webb (torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee) will be out for the remainder of the season, and there were a few more absences on defense. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu and cornerback Jimmy Smith were not present during the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday afternoon. Ngata suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and an injured right shoulder in the team's 31-29 win against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Ravens confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the team practiced without three defensive starters in defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu and cornerback Jimmy Smith. Ngata suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and an injured right shoulder in the Sunday's 31-29 win against the Dallas Cowboys. Kemoeatu is also dealing with a right knee injury, and Smith injured his groin Sunday. Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie participated on a limited basis due to a thigh injury.

In his first and last season as a full-time starter with the Ravens, nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu made a career-best 70 tackles (including 44 solo), one sack and one fumble recovery in 2005. Since then, Kemoeatu (pronounced mah-AH-kay key-moy-AH-too) has played for the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins, but has never been able to replicate those numbers as he has battled ineffectiveness and injuries. In his first preseason with the organization that signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2002, the 6-foot-5, 345-pound Kemoeatu has evoked memories of the “Kemo” of old. “I do feel like that way because the last time I was at this weight is the last time I was here in 2005,” he said after Tuesday's practice at the team's training complex in Owings Mills.

Not too long ago, Ma'ake Kemoeatu had a knack for swallowing up opposing blockers and running backs with remarkable efficiency. But then the nose tackle was beset by injuries, sitting out two of the last three seasons. Kemoeatu, 33, is eager to revive memories of his past, and his comeback has begun with the Ravens, who signed the free agent on May 2. “I'm trying to prove that I can still play football,” he said after Friday's training camp practice at the team's complex in Owings Mills.

A small, defunct railroad that still has a big following will be the focus of presentations at the Old Line Museum in Delta, Pa. each Sunday in June from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Baldwin resident Jerome Murphy started the Ma & Pa Railroad Month in 1976. The first meetings were held at the Peach bottom railroad station. The Maryland and Pennsylvania railroad line, know as the Ma & Pa, formed in 1901 and ran a 77-mile route from Baltimore to York, Pa. There were 27 station stops, including Towson, Baldwin, Long Green, Glen Arm, Bel Air and Forest Hill.

Last summer, when the paving trucks showed up, fans of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad deservedly got a little nervous. The object of their veneration is a sliver of railroad track that bisects North Charles Street in the Woodbrook neighborhood of Baltimore County. Thousands of drivers who pass over the track every day probably have no idea what it was and where it went. It is left over from the days when the Ma & Pa zigzagged for 77.2 miles across the Maryland countryside from Baltimore to York, Pa. That track, which was left unpaved, is where a head-on collision shattered the tranquillity of a late-spring Saturday afternoon.

CHARLES, 102, of South Yarmouth, MA, died December 26, 2005. Former Assistant Construction Accountant for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. Husband of the late Adeline I. (Archibald) Straut. He is survived by one nephew and five nieces. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2006 at Thirwood Place, 237 North Main St., South Yarmouth, MA. Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund, First Lutheran Church, 1663 Main St., West Barnstable, MA 02668. Arrangements by Hallett Funeral Home, South Yarmouth, MA (www.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Zizic of Ruxton, MD are proud to announce the marriage of their daughter Kristine Michelle Zizic to Matthew William Murphy of Southport, CT, on September 16, 2006 on Nantucket, MA. Following a Mediterranean cruise, the couple resides in Boston, MA.

MaGerk's in Federal Hill has a reputation. If we're being charitable, we could say it's a sports bar for young people. More accurately, it can be referred to as meat-heat central - especially upstairs. But that reputation obscures the fact that MaGerk's is, above all, a highly accommodating sports bar, with lots of flat-screens and several specials just on game days. And, it should also be noted that MaGerk's is not just for Ravens fans. They're also a proud Eagles bar. On Sundays, the sound is split in the building so that fans of each teams can hear their games.

In the late 19th century, the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad helped define life in the dozens of towns along its twisting route between Baltimore & York, Pa. Once again this June, the Old Line Museum in Delta, Pa., is presenting another series of its popular Ma & Pa Railroad heritage programs, every Sunday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the museum, 602 Main St. in Delta. Visitors are encouraged to bring photographs or other Ma & Pa memorabilia to share with fellow enthusiasts, Jerome E. Murphy of Baldwin, who has an extensive collection of photographs and other artifacts, said.