Salvation

On July 25, 2006, ESTELLA A. HARMIS (nee Keilholtz) of Baltimore, MD. Beloved wife of the late Warren E. Harmis, Sr; loving mother of Warren E. Harmis, Jr. and his wife Vickie L., and Linda L. Morris; devoted grandmother of Karen M. Odachowski and her husband Wayne and Gregory W. Harmis; great grandmother of Jonathan, Nicholas, Benjamin, Zachary, Lauren, Katie and Christopher. She is also survived by nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to call at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Emondson Ave., Catonsville on Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 P.M. where services will begin at 1:00 P.M. Interment Crestlawn Memorial Gardens.

There was one last basketball game in the gym, one last round of soda and cheese pizza in the game room, and one last turn of the lock on the front door. After 60 years of sports and cultural activities, there was silence at the Highlandtown Boys and Girls Club, where some of Baltimore's sports, business and political leaders say they learned much more than how to run a pigskin down the field or throw a fastball. "It wasn't just an athletic club," said Ted Venetoulis, who in the 1950s was a regular at what was then called the Red Shield Boys Club and who was later elected Baltimore County executive.

Saving the World By Julia Alvarez Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill / 366 pages / $24.95 Evaluated by the standards of sheer entertainment value, Saving the World, Julia Alvarez's sixth novel, has much to recommend it - a relatively fast pace (especially in the second half), a couple of big action scenes, a through-line of up-to-the-moment ecopolitics, considerable injections of tragedy and sadness, and a reaffirming resolution. Starring Alma, a 50-year-old Latina writer with more than a passing resemblance to Alvarez, and featuring a novel-within-a-novel, Saving the World tells the story of what happens when Alma's husband travels to the Dominican Republic (Alma's birthplace)

Maj. Jim Arrowood Occupation Commanding officer of the Salvation Army Baltimore Area Command. He oversees the organization's 12 facilities, a summer camp and other programs serving the needy in Baltimore City and in Baltimore, Carroll, Howard and northern Anne Arundel counties. In the news The Salvation Army's Baltimore office is forecasting a $450,000 budget shortfall because of a decline in donations for local programs, which might force cuts if the funds aren't raised by the end of May. Career highlights Both of Arrowood's parents were Salvation Army officers, and he grew up in Florida, Texas, the Carolinas and Tennessee.

The greater Baltimore chapter of the Salvation Army says contributions for local programs have dropped sharply, chiefly because of an outpouring of donations to Hurricane Katrina victims. For the fiscal year that will end in September, the chapter expects the 2005-2006 budget to fall short by about $450,000, meaning possible cuts in programs that have been valuable to some of the community's neediest people for decades, said Maj. Jim Arrowood, the Salvation Army's Baltimore-area commanding officer.

The man, in his late 30s perhaps, slowly made his way to the entrance of the Food Lion. He stopped before going in, leaned heavily on the crutch he had under his left arm and reached into his wallet for a few dollars to place in the red kettle. He had one leg. The young mother put a coin in her toddler's hand, picked her up out of the shopping cart and coaxed her into dropping the shiny quarter in. Both smiled after the mission was completed. A well-dressed woman said outside a craft store that she did not shop at the nearby mall because its stores were too pricey.

Meeting tonight on teen parties HC DrugFree, a Howard County nonprofit organization focused on helping teenagers avoid alcohol and other drugs, will present a program for parents and teens, "Teen Parties: Everything You Need to Know to Keep You and Your Teen Safe," at 7 p.m. today at Centennial High School. The program will include tips on planning drug-free parties and how to prepare your child for difficult party situations. Also discussed will be parents' liability if they allow a party at their home and alcohol or other drugs are consumed.

On November 29, 2005, ELLEN EMMA REINER, loving sister of Raymond M. Reiner, Mildred R. Reiner and the late Frederick W. Reiner Jr, and Charles P. Reiner. Cherished Aunt of Catherine Martin, Steve Reiner and Ruth Brisson. Friends may call at the family owned Leonard J. Ruck Inc., Funeral Home 5305 Harford Rd. (at Echodale) on Friday, 10 to 11 A.M. with the funeral service to follow at 11 A.M. Interment Baltimore Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army 1400 Fuselage Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21220.

A mean gumbo, turkey with fixings and a couple of toys can go a long way toward healing homesickness and holiday blues. That's what Baltimore Salvation Army administrators figured in organizing yesterday's holiday giveaway for Maryland's Hurricane Katrina evacuees. About 100 families passed through the organization's warehouse in Baltimore to pick up $50 debit cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and $100 Wal-Mart gift cards for Christmas presents. Families with children also could choose gifts from two long tables loaded with donated stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars, tea sets, footballs and other juvenile delights.