Peiffer

On April 15, 2005 RALPH H. son of Martha K. and the late Herbert Peiffer; husband of Mandy Zarriello Peiffer; father of Jill Miller, Tammy and Daniel Peiffer; stepfather of Stephanie, Wally and Wade Zarriello; brother of Jesse and Janice Peiffer; three grandchildren and one step-granddaughter. Services Monday 7 p.m. at MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, 91 Willis St., Westminster. Burial private. Friends may call 5 p.m. until time of service. Contributions to either ALS-Muscular Dystrophy Assoc.

Our view: What Ronald Peiffer, the deputy state superintendent, said he could not conceive of just nine years ago has happened. Forty-six states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands all agreed, at least conceptually, that classrooms ought to be teaching toward the same set of high standards. For nearly the past decade, the country has been trying to ensure that every child got a minimum education. Now it appears we are moving to recognize that the minimum is not enough and that we have to raise our expectations if we are going to compete with foreign countries.

South Carroll senior Dan Peiffer has found a way to combine two of his favorite things -- wrestling and electronics -- with mixed reviews.The wrestling he has down pat. He's 9-1 and recently moved to fifth on the school's all-time win list with 66.The electronics? He's still working on that."He likes to do light shows for the introductions before our matches," said South Carroll coach Pete Olson. "Strobe lights, stereo -- the works. But every time, something different seems to go wrong."The last incident came earlier this season against Wilde Lake when he accidentally turned off the main power switch to the gym."

On September 14, 2005, FILOMENA R. POLLINA, beloved mother of Nicholas Pollina and Mary Antoinette Knab, loving sister of Josephine Calpin and Mary Mangano, predeceased by brothers Benny Lauri and Sam Lauri. Cherished grandmother of Janine Pollina, Cheryl Davis, Brenda Peiffer and Dominic Pollina. Also survived by two great granddaughters, Carolyn Davis and Claire Peiffer. Friends may call at family owned Henry W. Jenkins and Sons Funeral Home, 16924 York Rd, (Hereford/Monkton) on Saturday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. with a Prayer Service taking place at 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to Stella Maris, 2300 Dulaney Valley Rd., Timonium, MD. 21093.

Catonsville Community College center halfback Tammy Peiffer often pushes her teammates. Now, she hopes to push them to a national championship.Peiffer, a 1991 South Carroll graduate, is a key reason for Catonsville Community College's second straight trip to the NJCAA national tournament. Catonsville goes to Mercer County Community College [N.J.] to play SUNY-Farmingdale at noon Thursday.The tournament is double-elimination, and Catonsville needs three victories for the title. Essex Community College, which defeated Catonsville, 1-0, for the Region XX title last week, could only play them again in the national title game.

Maryland education officials said yesterday they are confident real gains are being made in state pupils' reading skills, and that their scores on the latest national reading assessment test were not inflated by excluding more special education students from taking it."Our reading gains are modest, but we believe that they are real," said Ronald A. Peiffer, assistant superintendent for the Maryland Department of Education, noting the state's reading tests show similar gains.The average score for Maryland fourth-graders taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

On September 14, 2005, FILOMENA R. POLLINA, beloved mother of Nicholas Pollina and Mary Antoinette Knab, loving sister of Josephine Calpin and Mary Mangano, predeceased by brothers Benny Lauri and Sam Lauri. Cherished grandmother of Janine Pollina, Cheryl Davis, Brenda Peiffer and Dominic Pollina. Also survived by two great granddaughters, Carolyn Davis and Claire Peiffer. Friends may call at family owned Henry W. Jenkins and Sons Funeral Home, 16924 York Rd, (Hereford/Monkton) on Saturday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. with a Prayer Service taking place at 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to Stella Maris, 2300 Dulaney Valley Rd., Timonium, MD. 21093.

On June 29, 2004, GEORGE T. CURTIS, 87, of Hanover, and formerly of Howard County, MD. He was the husband of Catherine R. (Strong) Curtis. A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M, Saturday, August 7 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7474 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge, MD, with Rev. John Steiner IV, officiating. Interment will be in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery at Peiffer's Corner, Waterloo Road, Ellicott City, MD.

People always return to Blue Ridge Summit. They come at first because they need to leave the civilized world for a day or two. They return because they find something special here.The town sits 2,000 feet above sea level and straddles the Maryland/Pennsylvania line at Frederick and Washington counties. Once you're in town, follow the winding Buena Vista Road to the top of the mountain and you'll find only a few homes, a small chapel, a winding stone wall, an open field and some of the most breathtaking scenery you've spied in some time.

Despite concerns about the financial health of Edison Schools Inc., Maryland school officials say they are confident the for-profit company will continue running three Baltimore schools in the fall. In a telephone conversation yesterday, Edison Chief Executive Officer H. Christopher Whittle assured State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick "that the commitment to the three Maryland schools was not at risk," said Ronald A. Peiffer, an assistant state superintendent. Edison, the largest private company running public schools in the nation, has 74,000 children and 7,000 teachers and has just entered into an agreement to take on 20 more schools in Philadelphia next school year.

On April 15, 2005 RALPH H. son of Martha K. and the late Herbert Peiffer; husband of Mandy Zarriello Peiffer; father of Jill Miller, Tammy and Daniel Peiffer; stepfather of Stephanie, Wally and Wade Zarriello; brother of Jesse and Janice Peiffer; three grandchildren and one step-granddaughter. Services Monday 7 p.m. at MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, 91 Willis St., Westminster. Burial private. Friends may call 5 p.m. until time of service. Contributions to either ALS-Muscular Dystrophy Assoc.

On June 29, 2004, GEORGE T. CURTIS, 87, of Hanover, and formerly of Howard County, MD. He was the husband of Catherine R. (Strong) Curtis. A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M, Saturday, August 7 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 7474 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge, MD, with Rev. John Steiner IV, officiating. Interment will be in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery at Peiffer's Corner, Waterloo Road, Ellicott City, MD.

Despite concerns about the financial health of Edison Schools Inc., Maryland school officials say they are confident the for-profit company will continue running three Baltimore schools in the fall. In a telephone conversation yesterday, Edison Chief Executive Officer H. Christopher Whittle assured State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick "that the commitment to the three Maryland schools was not at risk," said Ronald A. Peiffer, an assistant state superintendent. Edison, the largest private company running public schools in the nation, has 74,000 children and 7,000 teachers and has just entered into an agreement to take on 20 more schools in Philadelphia next school year.

Baltimore County schools will have to pay $115,000 to reimburse the state for rewriting the Maryland Functional Test in math after an east-side school lost four test booklets. State officials had to throw out the version of the statewide test that was given last spring after exam questions went missing from Stemmers Run Middle School in Essex. The breach of security means 77 new questions have to be written for the test, which is typically reused in a later year. The test is given in middle school, but passing is a requirement for high school graduation.

City and state education officials are continuing to negotiate a contract that would put southern Baltimore's troubled Westport Elementary and Middle School under the management of a small New York-based company beginning this summer. Carmen V. Russo, chief executive officer for city schools, had sought the state's approval last week to enter into a contract with Victory Schools, but the state education board did not immediately sign off on the agreement. "We're still involved in discussions with the city," Ronald A. Peiffer, an assistant state superintendent, said yesterday.

Maryland education officials said yesterday they are confident real gains are being made in state pupils' reading skills, and that their scores on the latest national reading assessment test were not inflated by excluding more special education students from taking it."Our reading gains are modest, but we believe that they are real," said Ronald A. Peiffer, assistant superintendent for the Maryland Department of Education, noting the state's reading tests show similar gains.The average score for Maryland fourth-graders taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Baltimore County schools will have to pay $115,000 to reimburse the state for rewriting the Maryland Functional Test in math after an east-side school lost four test booklets. State officials had to throw out the version of the statewide test that was given last spring after exam questions went missing from Stemmers Run Middle School in Essex. The breach of security means 77 new questions have to be written for the test, which is typically reused in a later year. The test is given in middle school, but passing is a requirement for high school graduation.

City and state education officials are continuing to negotiate a contract that would put southern Baltimore's troubled Westport Elementary and Middle School under the management of a small New York-based company beginning this summer. Carmen V. Russo, chief executive officer for city schools, had sought the state's approval last week to enter into a contract with Victory Schools, but the state education board did not immediately sign off on the agreement. "We're still involved in discussions with the city," Ronald A. Peiffer, an assistant state superintendent, said yesterday.

With plans to curb school violence and dropout rates and bolster salaries for some administrators, the Maryland State Board of Education has approved a $3 billion budget proposal and a still-incomplete wish list worth about $30 million more.Though warned of a possible state budget deficit, the board, which met yesterday and Monday in Baltimore, expanded its 1997-1998 wish list by $3 million and four projects. It also authorized department officials to draw up two more items, including one that would raise the salary scale for about 300 employees at the central offices.

Eighth-ranked South Carroll finished strongly against Northern of Calvert yesterday. The host Cavaliers scored victories in three of the final four bouts -- all by pins.The problem, however, was what happened during the rest of the match.Northern won seven of the first nine bouts -- five by pins -- to take a big early lead, and the Patriots rolled to a 41-28 victory over South Carroll in a Class 3A-4A dual-meet state semifinal yesterday.Northern (16-2), the defending 3A-4A individual tournament champion, followed this victory with a 46-21 decision over Quince Orchard, in the state championship match.