Staff Members

Kevin Cowherd Bengals 21, Ravens 17 Ravens are still banged up with nothing to play for except momentum going into the playoffs. Same situation for Bengals, but they're at home. Edward Lee Bengals 21, Ravens 20 Only the Ravens have something to play for - a remote chance to move up to the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. But they haven't dispelled their history of lackadaisical showings on the road, and Cincinnati Bengals are an emerging team that is still rolling from knocking the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the postseason.

Aileen Riley was selected as Carroll Hospital Center's Associate of the Month for March. A staff member at the hospital for six years, Riley was nominated for her high attention to detail to her work in the food services department. "Aileen is a spectacular team player and true asset to our department. " said Marcea Cotter, director of support services in a release. "She always goes above and beyond what is expected to ensure our team succeeds. " Each month, Carroll Hospital Center recognizes a member of its staff through its Associate WOW Service Awards.

Three staff members at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital have retired, less than two weeks after a man with a lengthy criminal history killed a fellow patient and hospital officials launched an investigation of the incident. El Soudani El-Wahhabi, 50, was charged with first-degree murder after video surveillance showed him entering the room of Susan Sachs about 10 p.m. Sept. 25 and leaving 10 minutes later, apparently undetected by staff members. Sachs' roommate discovered her the next morning lying facedown on the bed with a shoelace tied around her neck.

Liberty Tax is offering free tax preparation services for first-time customers only who serve and assist local communities in the Laurel area. The following Appreciation Weeks are scheduled at the two Liberty Tax Service offices in Laurel. March 11 to 17: Hospital Appreciation Week, for nurses, doctors, therapists and all hospital staff. March 18 to 24: Healthy Living Appreciation Week, for all gym staff members, personal trainers, dietitians and recreational centers staff.

The Daily Record Co., a news and printing company that was sold three months ago, has lost about a half-dozen management and editorial employees in recent weeks, including the company's former president and its legal affairs editor.The departures started about a month ago when former president Robert Dawson, whose title was changed to vice president soon after the company was sold in May, announced he would leave to become publisher of the Real Estate Review, a publication of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors.

Jan Kiphart is the new registrar at Western Maryland College and will start this semester, along with other staff members in development and student affairs. As registrar, she will oversee the production and maintenance of academic records for all undergraduate and graduate students. The registrar's office also reports and posts grades, produces class schedules, certifies graduation requirements and processes transcript requests. Kiphart earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University.

WASHINGTON -- The Secret Service stepped up drug testing on 21 White House staff members two years ago after they revealed experiences far more extensive than an experimental puff of marijuana in college, a White House spokeswoman said yesterday.In answers to questionnaires needed to obtain permanent White House passes, the staff members disclosed that they had smoked marijuana or taken stronger drugs at least once within the past year -- or more frequently in years past.The Bush administration imposed a random drug-testing policy at the White House in 1991, a policy that continues.

An interview with Sue Portney, media specialist at Gorman Crossing Elementary School and facilitator of the Gorman Crossing Book Club. Why did you decide to start this club? I lead a book club for fourth- and fifth-graders at lunch time and I thought about doing it with the staff, as well. A lot of us sit around at lunch and talk, sometimes about books. The idea came up that we should formalize this and start a club. How long has the club been meeting? We started meeting in October. We have 10 to 15 staff members who come, and we meet every six to eight weeks.

WASHINGTON - Steroid use by players in the National Football League may be more widespread than tests have indicated, according to congressional staff members investigating the league's drug-testing program. The House Government Reform Committee has been conducting interviews with "credible insiders" as part of an investigation leading to tomorrow's hearing on the league's steroid policy. As a result of those interviews - along with the recent report that three Carolina Panthers purchased steroids before the Super Bowl in 2004 - committee staff members say they are concerned that steroid testing may understate the problem.

A week after the Baltimore liquor board imposed a mandatory eight-hour workday for liquor inspectors, five members of the inspection staff have filed for leave from their jobs because of stress or illness. Chief liquor inspector Samuel T. Daniels Jr. confirmed yesterday that several inspectors had requested leave, but he would not identify them. He said the requests started coming in several days after he imposed the new eight-hour workday policy, which went into effect Sept. 12. The new policy was introduced in an effort to ensure that inspectors were putting in 40 hours a week.

A Gywnns Falls Elementary School staff member was assaulted as she entered the building early Tuesday, according to a Baltimore City public schools spokeswoman. The staff member was assaulted by an unknown assailant at 6 a.m. at the school's main entrance. The attacker left the scene, and the staff member was taken to the hospital. Spokeswoman Molly Rath said she could not release any information regarding the staff member's occupation, her injuries or what hospital she was transported to. No students or other staff members were present for the assault, Rath said, and parents were notified about the incident via a phone call and letter.

The residents and employees of Oak Crest retirement community in Parkville wanted to do their part to cheer on the Ravens before the Baltimore team plays in the Super Bowl this Sunday. What would be the best way to get their message out? YouTube, of course. The 90-second video called "Super Dreams" released Wednesday, captures the thrill of being introduced before the big game through the eyes of Gene Miller, a 71-year old resident of Oak Crest.  Miller roots for the Ravens with his fellow residents and then shows off his dance steps in the big moment, ala a certain future Hall of Famer middle linebacker.

Kevin Cowherd Patriots 30, Ravens 21 The Ravens go into this game with enormous confidence. But Tom Brady to Wes Welker is a tough combination to beat, especially at Gillette Stadium. And now the Pats actually have a running game with Stevan Ridley (1,263 yards rushing in the regular season) and Shane Vereen. The Ravens will need more than emotion from Ray Lewis' "last ride" to neutralize Vince Wilfork in the middle of the Patriots D-line, too. Edward Lee Patriots 24, Ravens 20 The Ravens are the only defense that has forced Tom Brady into more interceptions than touchdown passes, but the New England Patriots quarterback is 5-2 against the Ravens.

Courtney Watson's commentary regarding cyberbullying ("Cyberbullying requires a stronger response," Jan. 3) makes some excellent points about the intense need to develop mechanisms to address the dramatically increasing problem of cyberbullying. However, the implication that the Maryland Safe Schools Acts have resulted in widespread vigilance among teachers who intervene to stop bullying is simply not true. Student surveys indicate that a great deal of training, among staff and students, is needed in order to make schools safe for students, especially those who stand out as different.

Multiple students at Old Mill High School in Anne Arundel County were interviewed by administrators and school police Monday after an unsubstantiated rumor began spreading through the hallways that a shooting was planned there Friday. Those interviewing the students found "nothing credible" about the rumor, but Principal James Todd sent a letter home to parents - and sent out emails and a robocall message - alerting them to the troubling chatter. "We have interviewed every student whose name was brought to our attention and pursued every piece of information we have been given," Todd wrote in the letter.

Right now Rick Abbruzzese works at a desk a few feet from Gov. Martin O'Malley's office in the State House. In two weeks, he'll report a few blocks away to the Annapolis law firm Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan and Silver LLC, where he will likely lobby his soon-to-be former boss. Ditto for Joseph C. Bryce, a State House staffer for nearly two decades and O'Malley's influential chief legislative officer for the past six years. Last month he announced his departure and has moved into a new office at Manis, Canning and Associates where he'll cajole, pressure and maneuver on behalf of corporate clients.

It's been 23 years since Patuxent Valley Middle School principal David Oaks has been in the classroom as a teacher.But today, the former math and science instructor will be teaching a class of Patuxent Valley eighth-graders about Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."Mr. Oaks' turn as a teacher is part of Patuxent Valley's "Trading Places" day, in which school staff members switch jobs with a colleague for one day.The plan was developed by the school's Human Relations Committee."The whole idea is to get the staff talking to one another, understanding one another and to see what everybody does in the classroom," said Bonnie Ritchie, the committee's chairwoman.

Several buildings at the U.S. Naval Academy were evacuated for nearly two hours Thursday afternoon after a suspicious package was found just outside of the downtown Annapolis campus, according to a Naval Academy spokeswoman. The package was found outside of Gate 3 on Maryland Avenue about 1:30 p.m., according to Judy Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Naval Academy. Four buildings were evacuated, including administrative offices and the Naval Academy Club. Staff were allowed to return to their offices shortly after 3 p.m. The Naval Academy Police assisted Annapolis Police in the investigation.