Martin S West

The ballroom at Martin's West was all a bustle, as some 1,100 guests poured in for the 21st Annual Fullwood Foundation Benefit and Recognition Breakfast. The foundation's founder, the late Harlow Fullwood Jr., was known for his unceasing energy. He had been gone for a little over a year, but his energy was continuing as an army of volunteers everyone and everything moving. That meant shepherding almost 50 honorees and awardees and 20 Fullwood Foundation scholarship recipients through a maze of tables.

The ballroom at Martin's West was all a bustle, as some 1,100 guests poured in for the 21st Annual Fullwood Foundation Benefit and Recognition Breakfast. The foundation's founder, the late Harlow Fullwood Jr., was known for his unceasing energy. He had been gone for a little over a year, but his energy was continuing as an army of volunteers everyone and everything moving. That meant shepherding almost 50 honorees and awardees and 20 Fullwood Foundation scholarship recipients through a maze of tables.

Those who know Maryland's official hostess Hilda Mae Snoops say that she has never liked surprises. And that's why they were a little edgy Tuesday evening when several hundred of her friends gathered outside the mansion.Ms. Snoops was in the receiving line at the door of the mansion with Dr. Jim D'Orta, who agreed to be the decoy honoree. When her children, Dorothy, Craig and Larry, walked in carrying signs that said, "This is Your Special Night, Hilda Mae," she finally realized that it was her party.

Last issue's Flashback: Congratulations to UniSun readers who recognized former Baltimore Bullets player Earl Monroe (left) as the man signing autographs for young fans at the 30th-year reunion of the Washington (formerly Baltimore) Bullets at Martin's West in 1995. This issue's Flashback: Who is this prominent civil-rights leader? Write to unisun@baltsun.com or UniSun Flashback, Features Department, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278.

ANNAPOLISProm: May 28, 7 p.m., Martin's WestGraduation: June 5, 7:30 p.m. Capital CentreARUNDELProm: May 15, 7:30 p.m., Martin's WestGraduation: June 6, 10 a.m., UMBCBROADNECKProm: May 22, 7:30 p.m., Michael's 8th AvenueGraduation: June 6, 99 a.m., school stadiumCHESAPEAKEProm: May 29, 7 p.m., Martin's WestGraduation: June 6, 10 a.m., school stadiumGLEN BURNIEProm: May 22, 7 p.m., BWI Marriott HotelGraduation: June 6, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., school auditoriumMEADEProm: May...

Reading time, two minutes:RAISE the student activity fee at Towson State $100 to underwrite the football team? Let the students vote on that one.* Retort to National League types who have been razing American Leaguers for years about the designated hitter: At least the AL plays on weekends.* Some team player Bernard King is for the Bullets, starting a contract squabble a year ahead of time with the club in dire straits even before the regular season begins.* After spending so much of his life in baseball, Red Sox manager Joe Morgan should have a better idea of what constitutes a No. 3 hitter.

Evers Burns didn't waste any time showing University of Maryland basketball fans what he's capable of doing this season.Burns led the Terps with 25 points and 11 rebounds in an 104-63 exhibition win this week over Akrides Haarlem of the Netherlands, backing up what coach Gary Williams is telling everyone as Maryland prepares for its official opener at home Dec. 1 against UMBC."

Legislators arrive in Annapolis today fully engaged in a favorite political game: having it both ways.We do not like the keno lottery game or gambling of any kind, many of them say, but we like cutting social service programs even less.Gov. William Donald Schaefer continues to challenge keno-busters to say how they would balance the budget in keno's absence.Without it, the state will be obliged to find at least $50 million more in budget cuts this year and $100 million next year -- or raise taxes.

The area's top high school lacrosse players will be honored Sunday night as U.S. Lacrosse plays host to its third annual High School Awards Banquet at Martin's West. One boy and one girl from each league in the metro area, including the MIAA, the IAAM, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County, will be honored. One outstanding player, who is also an outstanding citizen and student, will receive the Peggy Boutilier Award. The presentation honors the former All-Metro Roland Park player, who went on to become a two-time national defensive Player of the Year at Virginia and the 1998 NCAA Woman of the Year.

Morning, afternoon and evening events have kept social calendars busy recently. Several thousand people gathered at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to hear singers including Regina Belle and Stephanie Mills at the December gala for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Last month, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson delivered the keynote address at the 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Turner Auditorium.

The events include a breakfast at Martin's West, a shrimp feast at the Hawks Pleasure Club in Essex and a $1,000-a-head VIP reception at the Holiday Inn in Timonium. For members of the Baltimore County Council, the campaign to win re-election might have ended in November. But the next campaign -- perhaps for a higher office, say, county executive -- has begun. Council Chairman Stephen G. Samuel Moxley launched the fundraising season this month with the breakfast at Martin's West, where the Catonsville Democrat estimates he raised as much as $25,000.

Jessica Nichol Cornett, daughter of Mark and Becky Hicks of Pasadena, Maryland and John Matthew Hackmann, son of Jay and the late Linda Hackmann of Pasadena, Maryland, were married on Saturday, January 14, 2006. The wedding took place at Jenkins Memorial Church in Pasadena with Rev. Robert Douglas officiating. A reception followed at Martin's West in Baltimore. Given in marriage by her mother, the Bride was attended by Allyssa Cornett as Maid of Honor and Angela Caputo as her Bridesmaid.

Heartfest 2006 Enjoy an evening of gourmet dining, live music and health education at Heartfest 2006, a benefit event taking place Saturday at Martin's West. Sit down to a meal of heart-healthy cuisine prepared by Baltimore restaurants and caterers, gather educational information about heart-disease prevention and enjoy musical entertainment by Stevie V and the Heart Attackers, a band of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and other health-care workers. This year, honorees will include actor John Astin, Dr. Victor McKusick and Hopkins benefactors Joe and Ozzie Cowan for their support of heart-disease prevention.

He says what you think. - a "Re-elect Schaefer" campaign bumper sticker William Donald Schaefer is outrageous - like a fox. He knows what some people, critics and supporters, are saying: "They'll have to take him out feet first." The statement is a tribute. He won't quit and he can't lose. So what does he say? They're right. That's what he says. He acted the whole thing out during his recent fundraiser at Martin's West. "People say to me, `Don't you think it's time for you to retire?

Morning, afternoon and evening events have kept social calendars busy recently. Several thousand people gathered at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to hear singers including Regina Belle and Stephanie Mills at the December gala for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Last month, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson delivered the keynote address at the 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Turner Auditorium.

In Baltimore City Man found dead in car set on fire behind apartments The badly burned body of an unidentified man was found early yesterday in the trunk of a car that had been set ablaze behind a West Baltimore apartment complex. City police Detective Carol Opher said firefighters responding to a 911 call about 5:10 a.m. quickly extinguished the vehicle blaze in the rear parking lot of the Winchester Apartments in the 2400 block of Winchester St. Opening the trunk, they found the body of a black male that - like the car - appeared to have been doused with a flammable liquid and set ablaze, she said.

The fifth annual Baltimore's Best Affair is on tap for Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel. There has been so much in the news about abused children that this is a perfect time to support a fund-raiser for the Child Abuse Prevention Center of Maryland.This could be an "affair" to remember, especially for singles. Baltimore Mag will have an ISO (in search of) booth at the party. For $5, you get a number to wear at the party, then you check back at the booth during the party for messages, which cost a dollar to leave.

It's more than a collection of football players in front of a huge banquet audience. This is about children, the kind that can't help themselves and have been abused physically, sexually and emotionally. For them it's despair and dejection, and there is attendant pain for responsible citizens even remotely conversant with their plight.But once more the Ed Block Courage Awards has held another gathering, its 17th in a series of annual fund-raising dinners at Martin's West where the man who conceived of the idea, one Sam Lamantia, has a sincerity and quiet drive that allows him to inspire others to contribute to one of the most critical of humane causes.

It was a kid's dream: All the hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, french fries, spaghetti, tossed salad, fried chicken, punch and ice cream one could eat or drink. And it had Taishay Williams, 9, hankering for more. The would-be pediatrician, a fourth-grader at Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary School in West Baltimore, said she plans to work even harder to be invited back next year to a lunch for successful pupils at Martin's West in Baltimore County. "I think I can do a little bit better than what I did, and maybe I'll get to come here next year if my report card is good," Taishay said.

The area's top high school lacrosse players will be honored Sunday night as U.S. Lacrosse plays host to its third annual High School Awards Banquet at Martin's West. One boy and one girl from each league in the metro area, including the MIAA, the IAAM, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County, will be honored. One outstanding player, who is also an outstanding citizen and student, will receive the Peggy Boutilier Award. The presentation honors the former All-Metro Roland Park player, who went on to become a two-time national defensive Player of the Year at Virginia and the 1998 NCAA Woman of the Year.