Nova

TODAY I WANT TO tell you about an exciting innovation in television programming from the Czech Republic.By way of background, I should explain that the Czech Republic is a nation that very few Americans visit because they're not sure how to spell "Czech." This is a shame, because the Czech Republic is a fascinating place where many historic things occurred in the past. The Hapsburg Monarchy is only one example. Until 1993, the Czech Republic was connected with Slovakia; together they went by the name "Hungary."

The Chicago Cubs glowed like a super nova -- winning 10 straight games to climb to the top of the National League Central standings -- and raised the question again.Are they good enough to get to the World Series for the first time since 1945?The answer is not clear. The Cubs were a popular dark-horse pick in the preseason because of the off-season acquisition of several key veteran players. They would appear to be an even more popular pick now, since the emergence of pitching phenom Kerry Wood and the re-emergence of veteran Steve Trachsel have solidified a pretty good starting rotation.

The Sun's Reading by 9 project, which focuses on improving how children are taught to read, won first place for public service in this year's National Headliner Awards, a competition sponsored by the Press Club of Atlantic City, N.J.The Sun's long-term project began with a four-part series in November that highlighted the failure of children to learn how to read adequately by the third grade. It has continued with additional articles focusing on two Baltimore schools, teacher training and other reading issues.

Seven people, including a 3-year-old girl, were injured yesterday morning in a multivehicle crash along Route 140 in northwestern Baltimore County that closed the road for nearly three hours, police said.Witnesses told police that an orange Nova sped north along the road near its intersection with Interstate 795 about 8: 30 a.m., weaving in and out of traffic. The Nova rear-ended a white passenger van, sending it into the air and across the median, where it collided with an oncoming green pickup truck.

Police logOakland Mills: 9600 block of White Acre Road: A 1993 gray Dodge Caravan, Maryland license plate 934508M, was stolen Tuesday or Wednesday.Owen Brown: 7000 block of Cradlerock Way: A brown, two-door 1986 Nissan Sentra, Maryland license plate 837 ANR, was stolen Monday or Tuesday.Long Reach: 9100 block of Emerson's Reach: Someone attempted to steal a 1986 Chevrolet Nova on Monday.Pub Date: 1/03/97

Robert E. Schiller will waste no time getting his arms around the problems confronting Baltimore's public schools. But then, that's his reputation.Named yesterday as interim chief executive officer by the new school board, Schiller will meet with key school officials all day today, before reporting to work full time Monday. He plans to meet with union representatives in the next week to assess negotiation possibilities and begin meeting with staff to start getting ready for school openings in the fall.

You think modern construction workers have it tough? Check out PBS tonight."Beverly Hills, 90210" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Things seem to be going swimmingly for Brandon and Tracy, until she finds an engagement ring he'd bought for Kelly. Is this any way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Fox."Nova" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- In the second half of "Secrets of Lost Empires," a fascinating four-part look at the construction of some of the ancient world's most impressive wonders, you get to watch a team of modern archaeologists and designers struggle to duplicate the achievements of their ancestors.

Quite a lineup on PBS tonight.First, "Nova" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) opens its 24th season by following Dr. Jam Ghajar, a neurosurgeon who uses a controversial method of treating head injuries. In tonight's documentary, the doctor monitors a New York City boy, from arrival in the emergency room to resolution of his case.Then "Frontline" (9 p.m.-10 p.m.) opens its 16th season premiere as Peter Boyer traces the personal finances of Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton. "Our purpose," he says, "is to tell the story in its Arkansas context.

"The Universal Donor," by Craig Nova. Houghton Mifflin 250pages. $23.Early in "The Universal Donor," Craig Nova's ninth novel, a woman is bitten by a deadly snake. The victim, a snake specialist, has been bitten many times before. This bite is different."The taipan was a brownish snake with neat rows of scales. Near the head and along its side, it had some markings that were the color of nicotine. Its head was pointed and sleek, and the snake seemed to have an expression of intense, yet unfriendly curiosity."

State police at the Westminster barracks are asking residents for help in solving nine daytime burglaries that have occurred in the past week in northern Carroll County.Tfc. John Reininger said the burglars have concentrated on stealing guns from rural homes in an area north of Route 140, between Route 194 and Route 97."We have received reports from Pennsylvania State Police of similar crimes being committed recently in the Gettysburg area," he said.The suspects, believed to be a man and a woman or two men and a woman, typically select homes set back or hidden from the road.

America's hoity-toitiest toilet might be right here in Baltimore. The high-ceilinged, marble-and-columned ladies' restroom in the Tremont Grand has made it to the top 10 in the America's Best Restroom contest sponsored by Cintas Corp. of Cincinnati, a uniform and bathroom supply company. Jenny Fordham, marketing manager for the conference and banquet facility in the 200 block of N. Charles St., said Tremont officials were notified last week of the distinction, which was made public Monday.

Two specials on the real world premiere tonight, and they both have Maryland ties. There's a cheap motel in Laurel, according to author James Bamford, where some of the Sept. 11 hijackers stayed. You can almost see it from the headquarters of the National Security Agency. And that's the point of "The Spy Factory," a Nova report tonight on PBS. The NSA knew about the men who would hijack the planes, but couldn't - or wouldn't - release the information to the FBI. Some of the charges and revelations have appeared before.

On Saturday, September 27, 2008, BERYL A. LANTERMAN, 78, of Hunt Valley. Beloved husband of Joan Lanterman; loving father of Christina Lynn Cadwalader, Gregory Curtis Lanterman, and Pamela Louise Morgan; dear grandfather of 12 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the family-owned Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, P.A., 2325 York Road, Timonium on Saturday October 11, 2008 from 1 to 2 P.M. with a Memorial Service beginning at 2 P.M. Interment will be private.

Space Cadets! If you missed Thursday's flyover by the International Space Station, you can get make-up credit tonight. The station's course is the same, flying from high over New Orleans to Baltimore and Nova Scotia. Look southwest at 8:39 p.m. Have the kids watch for a bright "star" climbing quickly toward the zenith. It will pass between Saturn and Mars before reaching its highest altitude at 8:42 p.m. Then see it cruise off toward the Big Dipper, disappearing in the northeast at 8:45 p.m.

On December 29, 2007 NOVA LYNOLA THOMAS devoted mother of Belinda Thomas Wright and Sylvester Thomas, Jr. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Friday after 8:30 a.m. The family will receive friends at Martin Luther King Jr. U.M.C., 5114 Windsor Mill Road on Saturday 10:30 a.m. Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment King Memorial Park. Send condolences to www.marchfh.com.

Anniebell Stewart made a plea last week for information that might help police figure out who killed her teenage nephew, whose burning body was found in August in a Baltimore County park. Afterward, county police received several anonymous calls with information. And by yesterday, three Baltimore men had been charged with murder and were being held without bail in the death of 17-year-old Glen Michael Stewart. "That's what solved this - the cooperation of the family, the media and the public working with police," said Cpl. Michael Hill, a county police spokesman.

New rules are needed to avoid power shortages, PSC says But it rules out re-regulation Maryland residents could face power shortages and higher electric rates unless the state moves to reimpose some regulation on the industry, the state Public Service Commission concluded in a preliminary report to lawmakers. The commission, however, stopped short of recommending full re-regulation of the power industry. BCSB delays stock offering Baltimore County Savings Bank, struggling to drum up investor interest in its stock sale amid a market that is wary of financial companies, plans to delay the offering for three months while it seeks a new appraisal of the bank's value.

Three Maryland mutual fund companies rose triumphantly from out of the 2000-2002 stock disaster. Baltimore rivals Legg Mason and T. Rowe Price did it the old-fashioned way: by excelling at the fundamentals of stock picking that 1990s investors had forgotten. Rockville-based Rydex Investments took another path. As most mutual-fund firms were getting back to basics, Rydex stayed exotic. As most funds tried to discourage short-term trading, Rydex promoted it. As index funds lost favor, Rydex piled on more of them.

On April 28, 2007, CATHERINE MARTHA BUTLER, beloved wife of 50 years to John Carroll Butler Sr; loving mother of John (and wife Cindy), Shawn (and wife Dawn), Tim, and Mike (and wife Nova) Butler; also survived by 13 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and her brothers Frank and Gerry Mayorshi; she was a wonderful person, she will truly be missed. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Philip Neary Catholic Church, Wednesday May 2 at 9 A.M. Immediately following will be a gathering to celebrate her life at the Arbutus Social Club.

Eric Buarque hears it all the time: He looks just like that actor from those Die Hard films. You know, Bruce Willis. "One time I was traveling, I can't remember what airport it was, I had a bunch of young girls who were literally trembling who came up to me," the Columbia resident says. "I had my picture taken with them; it kind of made their day. As far as they know, they had their picture taken with Bruce Willis. They were happy." This week, Buarque has turned his resemblance to the rich and famous into a profit-making enterprise, landing a job as the actor's stand-in during the Baltimore shoot of the fourth Die Hard film, Live Free or Die Hard, which pits Willis' NYPD Detective John McClane against terrorists looking to wreak havoc on America via the Internet.