Pride

If you're a big fan, you already knew what was coming in the season finale. But it didn't make it any easier -- or less heartbreaking -- to watch. The majority of the Season 3 "Downton" finale, or the "Christmas special" as its called in the U.K., took place in Scotland, where the whole family (minus Branson) visits the Highlands home of the Dowager's niece, Susan, and her husband, Shrimpy. Most of the trip included bagpipes, hunting, more bagpipes and Scottish reel dancing. But more on that later (and more on O'Brien meeting her Scottish lady's maid doppelganger)

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will preside over a mass wedding of same-sex couples at this year's Baltimore Pride Celebration, with the event drawing interest from couples as far away as Atlanta, according to organizers. In November, Maryland became one of the first states to have same-sex marriage approved by voters in a referendum. "After doing so much work on this — on the ballot initiative — we thought, how do we really celebrate this?" said organizer Carrietta Hiers, who plans to marry her partner of nearly 13 years, Tonya Cook, at the ceremony.

On Thursday, the day the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare, a 47-year-old Baltimore woman went to the drugstore, and pulled out her debit card to pay for a prescription refill. But she didn't have enough money in the account to cover the $425 charge. So she asked the pharmacist and staff for a favor. "I asked them to break up the prescription to give me one-third," says the woman, who would not allow her name to be published because she didn't want to disclose her medical conditions.

Even the most jaded observer must acknowledge there's something admirable about the desire of so many living on Smith Island to see their community survive and prosper. Residents of this marshy (and shrinking in both population and real estate) archipelago on the lower Eastern Shore have had to overcome much in recent years, particularly as their chief means of livelihood, harvesting the seafood bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, has declined. But it's one thing to admire the hard work, independence and faith of Smith Island's residents - who number a mere 276, according to the 2010 Census - and it's another to deny the reality of their circumstances.

That Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blakewould respond to a letter from constituent Jada Pinkett Smith expressing concern about the welfare of circus elephants with a complaint that the actress had not returned the mayor's earlier calls, demonstrates an upside down understanding of public service ("SRB miffed that Pinkett Smith hasn't returned city's calls," March 8). The mayor works for Ms. Pinkett Smith and the rest of us, not vice versa. When a citizen calls the police for help, the 911 operator doesn't respond, "What have you done for us lately?"

With all of the attention being given to the new uniforms of the University of Maryland football team, has anyone considered the fact that Maryland's state flag is the only one in the country based on the coat of arms of a state's founding families? The black and gold represents the Calverts, while the red and white represents the Crossland family. Leonard Calvert married Alicia Crossland. As the grandmother of two Calvert descendants, I know they are proud of their heritage, and there are many Calverts in Maryland who might also be dismayed by the criticism of the team's uniform.

I am responding to a letter to the editor("Social Security employees deserve a pay cut or two. " March 9). I have been employed by the Social Security Administration for the past several years. Prior to that, I spent over 15 years in private industry. In both sectors I have witnessed employees who do not do their fair share of work. However, the vast majority of individuals at SSA are hard working folks who take pride in their role of public servants and know that the work they do helps make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.

Baltimore County government this week unveiled a little hometown pride - and its sports preference - when it turned Towson's Historic Courthouse signature dome purple on Friday, Jan. 6. County officials said the gesture is meant to support the Baltimore Ravens march to this year's Super Bowl, and also make it clear that the county considers the Ravens its team because of the franchise's headquarters in the county. "We are very proud that the Ravens corporate headquarters are located in Owings Mills," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz in a press release about the courthouse tribute.  "While we are delighted to share 'our' team with the entire region, we take special pride in knowing that the Ravens call Baltimore County home.

On Friday, February 3, 2006, RALPH Mc KERNEY, JR., departed this life. Beloved and devoted husband of Priscilla Pride, loving son of Earline Pride and the late Ralph Pride, Sr., adored brother of Jennifer Stockton and the late Vicki Lynn Jackson. Services where held on Wednesday February 8, 2006 in Baltimore, MD.

A decade ago, it was wildly popular for real estate experts, elected government officials and professional opinionists to claim that homeownership was patriotic. Today, post-housing bubble, claims that renting a place to live is the smarter value have become just as popular. The problem with the current home ownership conversation, it seems, is that everyone wants to talk about houses only in financial terms: good investment, bad investment. Haven't we gotten over that yet? What we need to consider is not whether home ownership or renting a home is a better financial move, but how a well-maintained, well-loved home contributes to the civic good.

I was happy to see Steve Kilar's article on the BNote ("Baltimore's local currency, the BNote, is 2 years old," May 7). Baltimore has been an increasingly exciting place to live over the last few years for those familiar with recent grassroots projects like the BNote and other programs sponsored by the nonprofit Fusion Partnerships. Without waiting for government, citizens are organizing and embracing innovative and inspirational community approaches to contemporary challenges, and this leads to a new sense of what is possible here.

Rarely does a literary classic transfer from page to stage as eloquently as Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" does in the current production by the Annapolis Shakespeare Company at Bowie Playhouse. Everything works beautifully, beginning with Jon Jory's engaging stage adaptation, which is faithful to Austen's prose and yet holds its relevance to contemporary audiences. Sally Boyett-D'Angelo's smart direction of the dream cast she has assembled creates exciting theater, where every actor fully delivers.

The Havre de Grace High School Warrior Pride Marching Band was chosen to perform in the prestigious Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 13. The marching band auditioned for the parade for the first time and was selected to be a part of a special All-Star Maryland marching band. The Warriors band will be combined with the Westminster High School marching band and the two will have the privilege of leading off the parade, band director Rick Hauf said. The parade travels down Constitution Avenue from the Washington Monument to the White House and is televised live in the D.C. market.

"When we say 'turtle,' you say 'power,'" Jamie Trost called out to a group of eighth-graders. And when the students from St. Jane Frances School in Pasadena hollered "power," they pulled hard on the ropes, hoisting the sails of the Pride of Baltimore II. It was the first part of a lesson, teaching the teens you can't give strong, coordinated tugs without a good grunt, and also how privateers during the War of 1812 got their sleek ships moving...

Hofstra owns a 24-18 lead against its Colonial Athletic Association rival, but Towson ended a four-game losing skid with a 10-9 decision in double overtime last year. The No. 19 Pride (6-3, 1-1 in the CAA) have quality wins against No. 1 Notre Dame and Fairfield, but they have also dropped two of their last three contests. Exhaustion could also be a concern for Hofstra, which has played four games in 11 days. The Tigers (5-5, 1-0) have rebounded from a 0-3 start. Thomas DeNapoli has recorded nine goals and five assists in the team's last four contests, and the junior attackman ranks 15th in Division I with 2.7 goals per game.

Towson coach Shawn Nadelen knew the sort of team he had in the preseason. The defense was inexperienced and certainly wasn't deep. And so the Tigers needed to rely upon goalie Andrew Wascavage perhaps more than even he realized. The senior continued to pass the test Saturday, stopping a season-high 19 shots as Towson edged No. 19 Hofstra, 7-6, before 1,429 at Johnny Unitas Stadium. "Whether he knew it or not [before the season], he's been extremely impressive," Nadelen said.

The Corner Bistro & Wine Bar in Ridgely's Delight is observing the 30th anniversary of the University of North Carolina's NCAA basketball championship with a three-course "March to Wine Madness" menu. No, you haven't been re-routed to the Daily Tar Heel. Ridgely's Delight, and the Corner Bistro, are right here in the Old Line State. It's a free country. The menu includes "tip-off" appetizers, a "full-court press" house salad, "3-point play" entrees and "highlight jam" desserts.

On December 13, 2004, JOHN E. PRIDE, SR.; devoted father of Bernetta Wright, Sandra, Joy and John Pride, Jr.; loving son of Anna B. Rhyne; dear brother of Barbara Harrison and Maxine Bond-Johnson. He is also survived by five grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. On Sunday, friends may call at the VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICE, 5151 Balto. Nat'l Pike, from 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. On Monday, the family will receive friends from 12:00 to 12:30 P.M., with services to follow.

I can hear 'em now. "He's a good guy"; "He's a family man"; "He'll govern like a moderate"; "It will be so good for the country"; "He's post-partisan. " That the election of a mixed-race candidate for president sent positive messages about America around the world is without question; that the election occurred less than 50 years after the end of Jim Crow was stunning - and spoke volumes about how far we have progressed on race and politics. Yet, the entire post-partisan narrative was quite a stretch (and silly to boot)

With her latest production, Annapolis Shakespeare Company founder and artistic director Sally Boyett-D'Angelo is expanding the young company's horizons, both artistically and physically. At a recent rehearsal of Jon Jory's adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," Boyett-D'Angelo announced the company will soon move to recently acquired space for rehearsals, offices, a costume shop and a performance studio, at 111 Chinquapin Round Road. It's the latest advancement under Boyett-D'Angelo's guidance.