Make A Wish Foundation

From its first words, the new book by Howard County resident Erin Smedley is designed to hook the reader: " `The ... ' That was the last thing Frank Gibonsin was able to say before he died. He had not but two witnesses, and they were both children." And so the mystery, titled The ... , begins. Over the next 20 chapters, readers get to know 15-year-old twins Jesse (a boy) and Marrni (a girl) as they attempt to decipher the meaning of their grandfather's last word and find a hidden family treasure.

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation will honor Muhammad Ali and Under Armour at its annual Aspire Gala on Feb. 22, 2013 at the Waterfront Marriott, the group announced Monday. Ali and his wife, Lonnie, will be presented with the Aspire Award. Founder and CEO Kevin Plank will accept the same award on behalf of Under Armour. Robbie Callaway, former chairman of the Ripken board, will receive the Cal Sr. Award. All are being honored for their dedication to community service. Ali's humanitarian efforts are -- or should be -- well known to just about every sports fan. A news release from the foundation lauds his and Lonnie's work with soup kitchens, hospitals, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 seconds to children across the country with life-threatening illnesses. Still, the wishes usually fall into one of four categories: I wish to be; I wish to meet; I wish to have; and I wish to go. No so for 15-year-old Hunter Lyons-Stratchko. Instead, his wish was something to benefit others — a science lab for his friends at Rosedale Baptist School. For those who know Hunter best, including his parents Steven and Diana Stratchko, the uniqueness of the wish didn't come as a surprise.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 seconds to children across the country with life-threatening illnesses. Still, the wishes usually fall into one of four categories: I wish to be; I wish to meet; I wish to have; and I wish to go. No so for 15-year-old Hunter Lyons-Stratchko. Instead, his wish was something to benefit others — a science lab for his friends at Rosedale Baptist School. For those who know Hunter best, including his parents Steven and Diana Stratchko, the uniqueness of the wish didn't come as a surprise.

On August 26, 2005, AARON ISAIAH VIAUD, beloved son of Alain and Itina Viaud; dear brother of Gabriel Luke and Ian Bryce Viaud. Family will receive friends Wednesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at HARRY H. WITZKE's FAMILY FUNERAL HOME INC., 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Elliott City, where Funeral Service will be held Thursday 10 A.M. Interment St. John's Cemetery. Those who wish, in his memory, may contribute to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Melissa Rae Moody A service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, October 10 at Grace Community Church, 8200 Old Columbia Road, Fulton, MD. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be sent in Melissa's memory to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, 9475 Deereco Road, Suite 306, Timonium MD 21093.

On September 28, 2004, TIMOTHY BRIAN WALKER; loving son of Ronald G. and Cecelia A. Schanken Walker; dear brother of Mark Walker and his wife Lisa, and Laura Walker Gerben. Funeral from the Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home, P.A., 169 Riviera Drive, Pasadena, on Friday at 8 P.M. Interment private. Family requests friends call on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 P.M. Contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid Atlantic, Inc., 17 Warren Road, Baltimore, MD 21208.

On February 24, 2003, DARRELL "KEN" WATTS; devoted husband of Linda M. Watts; loving father of Keith Watts and Virginia Futrell; blessed with five grandchildren; dear brother of Richard Watts and Dale Baird. Family requests friends to call at the George J. Gonce Funeral Home, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Hwy, on Wednesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., where Services will be held at 8:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make-a-Wish Foundation.

On June 28, 2008, George J. Ramming Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Rd. (beltway exit 26), on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday at the Church of the Nativity, Ridgely Rd. at 10:00 A.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc., 10920 Connecticut Ave., Suite 1600, Kensington, MD 20895

On July 28, 2003, R. STEVE BAKER, 48, at Southern Maryland Hospital Center; a native of Baltimore and gifted keyboard artist in the Washington - Baltimore area. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Olive, of Cheltenham, MD; his parents, Randy and Rosalie Baker; his brother, Keith Baker and his two sisters, Sharon Mountan and Joanne Podzimek, all currently residing in Baltimore. Family and friends may call at the Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy (Rt 3-South) in Bowie, MD, on Saturday, August 2, 2003 from 2 to 4 P.M. where a memorial service will be held at 3 P.M. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 17 Warren Road, Suite 22A, Baltimore, MD 21208.

On November 25, 2009, IRENE HELEN CAMPBELL of Abingdon, MD. Beloved wife of the late Bernard Leroy Campbell. Devoted mother of Chester Francis Campbell, Bernie Campbell, Daniel Mark Campbell, M. Christine Lieu, Deborah Lynn Sergi and Barbara Irene Kusner. One of ten children, she was the loving grandma of six grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Abingdon, MD, on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 10 A.M. Interment will be in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Abingdon, MD, on Sunday, November 29, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Deer Park Center, 9475 Deereco Road, Suite 306, Timonium, MD, 21093 or the American Cancer Society, P.O.Box 572, Bel Air, MD, 21014.

Melissa Rae Moody A service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, October 10 at Grace Community Church, 8200 Old Columbia Road, Fulton, MD. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be sent in Melissa's memory to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, 9475 Deereco Road, Suite 306, Timonium MD 21093.

On June 28, 2008, George J. Ramming Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Rd. (beltway exit 26), on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday at the Church of the Nativity, Ridgely Rd. at 10:00 A.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc., 10920 Connecticut Ave., Suite 1600, Kensington, MD 20895

From its first words, the new book by Howard County resident Erin Smedley is designed to hook the reader: " `The ... ' That was the last thing Frank Gibonsin was able to say before he died. He had not but two witnesses, and they were both children." And so the mystery, titled The ... , begins. Over the next 20 chapters, readers get to know 15-year-old twins Jesse (a boy) and Marrni (a girl) as they attempt to decipher the meaning of their grandfather's last word and find a hidden family treasure.

On August 26, 2005, AARON ISAIAH VIAUD, beloved son of Alain and Itina Viaud; dear brother of Gabriel Luke and Ian Bryce Viaud. Family will receive friends Wednesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at HARRY H. WITZKE's FAMILY FUNERAL HOME INC., 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Elliott City, where Funeral Service will be held Thursday 10 A.M. Interment St. John's Cemetery. Those who wish, in his memory, may contribute to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

On March 9, 2005, ROBERT BRUCE SMITH of New Oxford, PA, and formerly of Sykesville, beloved husband of Elizabeth "Betty" Howes Smith and the late Olive Mary Smith; devoted father of Alison Smith Hennessy and Jennifer Anne Evans and her husband John, dear stepfather of Sharon Hart, Richard Howes, Judy Taylor and Alison Kram; loving grandfather of Melissa and Kyle Hennessy. Also survived by nine step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his son-in-law Melvin Edward Hennessy Jr. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday at 2 P.M. from Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, Rt. 32 near Eldersburg.

On March 9, 2005, ROBERT BRUCE SMITH of New Oxford, PA, and formerly of Sykesville, beloved husband of Elizabeth "Betty" Howes Smith and the late Olive Mary Smith; devoted father of Alison Smith Hennessy and Jennifer Anne Evans and her husband John, dear stepfather of Sharon Hart, Richard Howes, Judy Taylor and Alison Kram; loving grandfather of Melissa and Kyle Hennessy. Also survived by nine step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his son-in-law Melvin Edward Hennessy Jr. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday at 2 P.M. from Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, Rt. 32 near Eldersburg.

Phelps' mother to speak at Boys and Girls Club's annual dinner on Oct. 21 Debbie Phelps, the mother of Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, will be a speaker at the Boys and Girls Club of Harford County's 15th annual Steak and Burger Dinner, starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Phelps is a two-time Maryland Teacher of the Year. The youth speaker will be Bryant Stewart, a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Harford County. He worked the past two summers in his club's Leaders-in-Training program.

On September 28, 2004, TIMOTHY BRIAN WALKER; loving son of Ronald G. and Cecelia A. Schanken Walker; dear brother of Mark Walker and his wife Lisa, and Laura Walker Gerben. Funeral from the Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home, P.A., 169 Riviera Drive, Pasadena, on Friday at 8 P.M. Interment private. Family requests friends call on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 P.M. Contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid Atlantic, Inc., 17 Warren Road, Baltimore, MD 21208.