Parris Island

About 40 employees of the Omega-Arkay Co. were forced to evacuate the building in the 100 block of Shaeffer Ave. when a fire erupted in the men's room early Tuesday morning.The blaze, discovered in a closet in the restroom about 7 a.m., was extinguished by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived."The only loss was the rolls of toilet paper that burned," said Cindy Wesolowski, vice president of the firm that makes professional photographic and darkroom equipment. "The company was open as usual."

Charles C. Deaver Jr., a retired letter carrier and drummer, died Tuesday of a heart attack at St. Joseph Hospital. He was 64.He retired in 1979 from the U.S. Postal Service. The letter carrier walked his route in the Lutherville-Timonium area before it became motorized."He gave personal service," recalled his wife, the former Suki Hazzard of Grand Rapids, Mich., whom he married in 1980. "He was a great storyteller about his days as a mailman and was fond of saying that he had been chased by many dogs, received many bites and had been many times to the hospital."

Flea market tables are available for Jenkins Memorial Church's annual strawberry festival and flea market, scheduled for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9 at the church grounds on Riviera Drive in Riviera Beach. In addition to shopping, visitors will find homemade crab cakes, strawberry shortcake and ice cream, and other strawberry delights. Table rentals are $10. For reservations, call Kathy Atkinson at 410-437-0124. Military Completes basic: Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Luke C. Hogue, son of Terri L. and Matt J. Hogue of Pasadena, recently completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Hogue is a 2000 graduate of Chesapeake High School.

SEAMAN VANARSDALE COMPLETES TRAININGNavy Seaman Recruit Charles F. Vanarsdale has completed recruit training at Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill.During Vanarsdale's eight-week training cycle, his studies included seamanship, close order drill, naval history and first aid.He is a graduate of Harford Vocational Technical High School in Bel Air.WOODHOUSE FINISHES MARINE RECRUIT TRAININGPrivate John P. Woodhouse has completed recruit training at...

The General George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars will meet at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in the Officer's Club.The featured speaker is Hank Dillon, Pentagon liaison officer to the Army in Europe.Information and reservations: 465-5474 or 266-5804.DESERT STORM ANNIVERSARYThe Maryland National Guard has scheduled a one-year anniversary celebration for families of soldiers called up for Operation Desert Storm at 7 p.m. at Overlea Caterers, 6809 Belair Road.Information: 576-6188.

The Rev. Blase Wegierski, a Franciscan priest and Navy chaplain, died of cardiac arrest Wednesday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. He was 59. Born in Baltimore and raised in Fells Point, he was a 1961 graduate of Polytechnic Institute. In 1961, he entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Conventual in Ellicott City, and he professed his vows in 1962. After earning his bachelor's degree in 1966 from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Grandby, Mass.

1st Lt. Blake J. Austensen, son of Phillip and Suzanne Austensen of Woodbine, has been decorated with the Army Achievement Medal, awardedto soldiers for meritorious service, acts of courage or other outstanding accomplishments.Austensen, a 1984 graduate of Glenelg High School, is a combat engineer at Fort Benning, Ga.ELIN COMPLETES TRAININGMarine Pvt. Neil J. Elin, son of Marilyn Rooze of Mount Airy, recently completed recruit training at Parris Island, S.C.Elin is a 1988 graduate of Damascus High School.

A Marine captain from Owings Mills was killed Tuesday while serving as a communications officer in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said yesterday. Capt. Jesse Melton III, 29, was working with a team helping to train members of the Afghan National Army when a roadside bomb exploded, killing him, another Marine officer, a member of the U.S. Navy and an Afghani interpreter, said his mother, Janice Chance. "He was a man of honor and a servant leader," she said last night as their family's Owings Mills home filled with friends and relatives.

Several area servicemen recently completed training. They are:* Air National Guard Airman Bryan E. Hall, Airman Michael Cole and Airman Jonathan A. Wendricks, basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.During the six weeks of training, they studied Air Force mission,organization and customs and received special training in human relations.Hall is the son of Vernal E. and Helen I. Hall, of Street.Cole is the son of Doris A. Cole, of Havre de Grace and a 1989 graduate of Havre de Grace High School.

Midshipman Andrew DeMonte, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas DeMonte of Joppa, participated in Acceptance Day ceremonies at the U.S. Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.A 1991 graduate of John Carroll School,DeMonte was administered the academy oath with 285 other plebes.DeMonte, who was nominated to the academy by Senator Barbara Mikulski, reported with the rest of the class in July.The academy is operated by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation for training of merchant marine officers.