Necklace

Editor's note: After a young girl disobeys the words of a magic fish, she is turned into a fish herself and sent to live in the sea. The queen of the fishes reveals the only way she will be turned back into a girl -- by retrieving the queen's crown from an evil giant."

Two retired Navy captains injured in a car accident Saturday afternoon after a Naval Academy reunion were upgraded to stable condition yesterday at Prince George's Hospital Center.Toxey H. Califf of Alexandria, Va., and James P. Keane of Arlington, Va., both 69, were upgraded from critical condition yesterday, a hospital spokeswoman said. Califf suffered head injuries and Keane suffered multiple internal injuries in the accident at 3: 30 p.m. Saturday.The men's wives -- Martha Califf, 68, and Margaret Keane, 69 -- died at the accident scene.

I have just been appointed chief concierge of an exclusive office building in Manhattan. The good news, apart from a salary increase, is that I no longer have to wear their dumb gray uniform.Since women have not traditionally been in this job, I'm a bit short of role models.My boss suggests I wear all black. This is ideal because I use black as the basis of my wardrobe.How can I add glamour to it when I go out after work on cold winter nights? I know I'll meet many more people and get invitations to business dinners.

My mother has an old Indian necklace made of many strands of small coral beads. They can be twisted to give the necklace a different look. What's it worth?Coral necklaces were made by members of the Santo Domingo and other pueblos along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Necklaces of many strands of small stone beads are called "heishi." Contemporary necklaces of that description sell for about $300. A vintage version would be worth about $700.My great-grandmother's necklace is made of "Geneva rubies."

The Harford County sheriff's office has charged two men in the theft of money, clothes, jewelry and other items from gym lockers last fall at C. Milton Wright High School.Sgt. Edward Hopkins, the sheriff's spokesman, said last week that both men have admitted their involvement in the thefts from 18 lockers being used by members of the school's football team.Police said Melvin Bernard Burke Jr., 25, of the 1100 block of Broadmoor Court in Bel Air, was charged with 18 counts of misdemeanor theft and one count of felony theft.

POLICE* Westminster: A resident of South Center Street reported that someone known to her stole her gold necklace from her house on Sunday. She told police the man refused to return the necklace when she contacted him by telephone. She estimated the value of the necklace at $220.A Bond Street resident told police that someone knocked a trash can into his auto on Friday, causing an estimated $250 damage.A patron at Champ's Restaurant, in the first block of W. Main St., reported that someone stole her purse Friday.

A Linthicum man was pistol-whipped and his companion kicked in the face early yesterday when two men robbed them at a Linthicum motel, county police said.Sammy Hyun Paik, 21, of the 400 block of Grove Ridge Court and Carlos J. Garcia, 20, of New York had bought ice and soda about 3:30 a.m. from the lobby of the Motel 6 in the 5100 block of Raynor Ave. when two men grabbed them, police said.One of the men pointed a .22-caliber handgun at the victims and ordered them to empty their pockets.

Q: Living in Northern California, I find that leather is the most practical coat for me. I've had brown and black, but now for fall I want a change. Something really fashionable but also wearable.A: I took your question to Miuccia Prada. She's the brilliant designer who took over her Milan-based family leather business in the late '70s and has brought it to the cutting edge of fashion.She suggests a white coat that's not too shiny:"Constructed coats look new again for me, and I believe in the newness of white."

A Sykesville man went against the advice of his lawyer and pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing a gold necklace from a man sitting on a wall near the Westminster city playground in September.Marlowe Rudolph Woodyard, 20, of the 7200 block of Springfield Ave., was convicted of the theft.Judge Luke K. Burns Jr. suspended the 18-month sentence to the Department of Corrections he had given Woodyard, and placed the man on three years' unsupervised probation.Assistant State's Attorney Kathryn Brewer Poole, who will be working in Carroll for six weeks, agreed to drop the remaining assault and robbery charges.

Hand Linda Borella an earring and there's only a slim chanc it will end up on her ear. More likely, if it's a clip style she'll use it as a shoe clip, or if it's pierced she'll pop it on a jacket or hat.Ms. Borella's official title is fashion director for Monet jewelry, but sorceress of style would be more accurate. She spends much of her time traveling and making personal appearances to share the latest costume jewelry trends with consumers in stores carrying the line."The watchwords are sleek, sensuous and feminine -- anything gimmicky is out," she said recently.

Pamela Forchheimer is always working with color, style and texture in her job as a make-up artist. That same creativity also applies to her own style, which she describes as "simple with an edge." "I want people to know about me. I think how you dress gives a clue," says the 41-year-old Lutherville resident. When we "Glimpsed" Forchheimer at Hotel Monaco's grand opening party, we wanted to know more. The look: Paisley-patterned silk jersey V-neck Nieves Lavi dress. Gray opaque hose.

Colleges Offense, defense make big plays in Towson scrimmage With two weeks remaining before Towson's season opener at Northwestern, coach Rob Ambrose and his staff conducted the longest and most intense scrimmage of the preseason Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium. A number of big plays highlighted the 130-play scrimmage that lasted more than two hours. At times, the offense moved the ball well. At other times, the defense dominated. The Tigers defense intercepted five passes and recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

Maggie Ferrante looks crisp and cool on a warm day at the Towson Farmers' Market. But, the 21-year-old Towson resident is quick to explain that this isn't her usual "casual and slightly funky" style. "First of all, I don't normally dress like the first lady ... I have jury duty today." However, the recent Tulane University grad is finding her style in a bit of transition. "I'm actually coming out of [doing mostly] thrift store shopping. I'm liking a cleaner, fresher look." That ought to suit her well as she heads down to Atlanta soon to start a job as a healthcare consultant.

When Bedazzled, the exhibit of jewelry from the Walters Art Museum collection, opens today, it will be more than just an interesting look at gorgeous pieces from 5,000 years ago to the early 20th century. You'll also see the antecedents of contemporary bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces that might be worn on the red carpet at the Oscars, at the next President's Inaugural Ball or at a neighbor's cocktail party. Modern jewelry makers still use many of the same techniques, materials and motifs you'll find on display at the Walters to create precious pieces that have a timeless appeal.

Sue Lynn Downes never took off the charm necklace. Never. When she was 16, her mother gave her the gold necklace with a heart-shaped charm bearing the word "Daughter." After her son was born, Downes added a tiny pair of baby shoes, and later her two children gave her a "Best Mom" charm. She wore the necklace through basic training. She wore it when she was deployed to Iraq. And the Army corporal wore it the day a land mine twisted her Humvee like a washcloth, killing two fellow soldiers and leaving her so badly injured that doctors had to amputate both her legs.

Sugar high meets high fashion. Hundreds of folks crammed the North Club Level Lounge at M&T Bank Stadium recently to sample dozens of chocolate concoctions at the Chocolate Affair fund-raiser. For floral designer Carole Langrall, the Chocolate Affair also provided an opportunity to let her creative sense of style fly high. Age: "40-something, and that's all you're going to get." Residence: Paradise, a neighborhood in Catonsville Job: Owner of A Garden of Earthly Delights Artistic Floral Design Studio Self-described style: "Ridiculous.

WANG GUANGMEI, 85 Widow of Chinese president Wang Guangmei, the widow of President Liu Shaoqi and a powerful figure in China before she was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, died Friday in Beijing. She was once widely known in China as the country's beautiful, articulate and sophisticated first lady. Her husband was president from 1959 to 1967, when he became one of the first high-level officials to be denounced as a "capitalist roader" and purged by Mao Tse-tung during the Cultural Revolution.

Baltimore County police are searching for a 26-year-old White Marsh woman who has been missing for a week. Anyone with information about Dionne Renee Saulter of the 1900 block of Ellinwood Road is asked to call 410-307- 2020. Saulter's boyfriend said she left for her job at Planned Parenthood in Towson the morning of Dec. 17. She never arrived at work, and has not contacted friends or family members, police said. Her car - a 2002 silver four-door Honda Accord with Maryland tags MYC 892 - is also missing.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Baltimore City Central District Aggravated assault: A Baltimore police officer was flagged down yesterday in the 700 block of Dolphin St. around 12:30 p.m. and directed to an unconscious woman lying face down and bleeding from her right forearm, where she had a large cut. The unidentified woman, who appeared to be in her late 30s, was taken to Maryland Shock...

A 20-year-old Laurel man reported losing a silver necklace and his customized Pontiac Grand Am to a carjacker Sunday night after stopping for cigarettes at a gas station near Laurel. Kenneth Joseph McDonald Jr. told police that he had stopped at the Citgo station on Laurel-Fort Meade Road about 9 p.m. and that a man wearing a baseball cap and holding a small black revolver approached and told him they were going for a ride. McDonald said he stood up to push the man away, and the carjacker grabbed his necklace and took off in the car - a red, four-door, 1998 model that was outfitted with 17-inch rims, tinted windows and a $1,500 stereo system.