Mercantile Bank

It was a sight not usually observed in a bank: A depositor distributing envelopes containing currency to the tellers and office staff.The money was a farewell gift, a reminder of good service from a satisfied customer at the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company's oldest office, located in downtown Baltimore.When the brass lock on the branch's massive iron front door is snapped shut tomorrow afternoon, it won't be just for the weekend. Because the branch is under-used, it will be closed for good, something neither the 1904 Baltimore Fire nor the Great Depression could do.All week long, flower bouquets and cards have arrived at the city landmark at the northeast corner of Calvert and Redwood streets, the 107-year-old home of a bank that Baltimoreans often call the Merc -- a venerable institution, a symbol of old and conservative Baltimore wealth.

The government's policy of insuring all the deposits at large regional banks has contributed significantly to the financial problems of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., according to H. Furlong Baldwin, chairman and chief executive officer of Mercantile Bankshares Corp."It [the FDIC] would not be in the jam it is today," Baldwin told the bank's shareholders at the annual meeting yesterday.The government's so-called "too-big-to-fail" policy was evident at the beginning of the year when regulators took over the Bank of New England, one of the largest banks in that region.

On September 1, 2006, JACQUELINE RUTH TRINE, former resident of Homewood Nursing Home and Mariner of Forest Hill, former employee of Mercantile Bank and Trust; mother of Wendy Higgins and her husband John; grandmother of eight. Friends may call on Monday from 1 to 5 P.M. at Cremation and Funeral Alternatives, Stephen D. Lohrmann, PA, 8717 Green Pastures Drive, Towson. Interment Moreland Memorial Park.

Hospital establishes mothers hot lineHarbor Hospital Center has established a 24-hour telephone service for new and expectant mothers. The center's "Storkline" is staffed by maternity nurses who will be available to answer questions and provide information to callers.The number to call is 347-BABY (347-2229).POLICE LOG* Linthicum: Two newspaper boxes of The Sun -- one at the McDonald's in the 700 block of Nursery Road, the other at the Mercantile Bank in the 700 block of Old Hammonds Ferry Road -- were stolen between 3 a.m. Sunday and 2:20 a.m. Monday.

Geiermann selected for foundation board Annie L. Geiermann, senior vice president of the Citizens National Bank's Business Banking Group, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Columbia Foundation. The appointment was announced by Glenn L. Wilson, president of the bank. She will serve two three-year terms on the 31-member board. Geiermann replaces Joseph E. Pipetone of Citizens National, who has served on the board for five years. Citizens National, with headquarters in Laurel since 1890, is wholly-owned by Mercantile Bank Corp.

On Monday, October 31, 2005, MARY ELLEN (Mc Crone) HALE, of San Diego, CA. Mary Ellen retired from Mercantile Bank in 2003. The former Timonium resident was 69. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles H. Hale, devoted mother of Amy Simon and her husband Scott of San Diego, CA. and Richard W. Hale of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Grandmother of Aaron, Jimmy, and Joey. Friends may call at the family owned Peaceful Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Center, P.A., 2325 York Rd., Timonium on Friday from 5 P.M. until 9 P.M. where a Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 10 A.M. Interment to follow in the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

On March 29, 2005, JEAN HURLOCK REUWER, beloved mother of Linda L. Stivala, Martha S. Porter and Timothy S. Reuwer; dear sister of Catherine H. Bayly and the late Roger W. Hurlock; cherished grandmother of Elizabeth A. Cooper, Julie L. Porter, Gabriel V. Stivala, Alicia C. Stivala-Brill and the late Lisa M. Dzbynski; also survived by seven great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends in the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Rd)

Suddenly, on October 4, 2006, CHRISTOPHER O. MOUDRY, SSG US Army; devoted father of Chase and Ashton Moudry; dear step-father of Kaila Warfield; loving son of James and Marie Moudry; dear brother of Jennifer Corbin, and her husband Scott and Sharon Roof and her husband Brian; loving uncle of Victoria, Emmalee, Logan and the late Kaitlyn. Christian Wake Service at Kaczorowski Funeral Home, P.A., 1201 Dundalk Avenue, on Friday at 3:30 P.M. Funeral Mass in St. Joseph's Church, Fullerton, on Saturday at 9:30 A.M. Interment in Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

On May 6, 2003 JESSICA JEAN, devoted mother of Savanna Fay Wilson; devoted fiance of Fred B. Wilson, Jr.; devoted daughter of Richard and Donna Nagrabski; devoted sister of Brandon J. Nagrabski; devoted granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Nagrabski and Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Dilworth. Also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at E. F. Lassahn Funeral Home P.A. 11750 Belair Road (Kingsville) on Wednesday at 11 A.M. Interment Cedar Grove Methodist Church Cemetery.

On June 10, 2004, SHEILA A. HEWITT, devoted wife for over 56 years of Captain James L. Hewitt; loving mother of Sharon D. Hewitt-Adams, Lauren Hewitt Botti, Scott L. Hewitt and Janice D. Mickey; other survivers include nine grandchildren, Craig A. Shepperd, Thomas S. Adams, Ashley E. Adams, Hollis M. Botti, Carly E. Botti, Paige A. Botti, Bryan H. Botti, Shannon K. Mickey, Collin H. Mickey and three son-in-laws Thomas W. Adams, Frederick G. Botti and...