Taking Care

ASA HILLIARD BELIEVES that taking care of America's children is everyone's job -- childless folks, parents and grandparents. He also believes that the responsibility extends to institutions as well as to individuals.And when Hilliard, an Atlanta educator, talks about care, he means more than meeting a child's physical and educational needs. He means giving every child identity, values, spirituality and sense of community."When I see a child, I see my own children. And if that's so, I cannot allow him to fall between the cracks," Hilliard told the nearly 600 child care workers and teachers attending Mayor Kurt Schmoke's Third Annual Child Care Conference Saturday at the Convention Center.

Why is anyone surprised that Congress acted so quickly to rescind the air traffic controllers' furloughs? Business travelers and the 1 percent are where the airlines make their money - and also where politicians get their campaign donations. Hank Bullwinkel, Upper Falls Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

BEFORE THE ERA of two-income families, the job of caring for the elderly fell mostly to relatives. Families were bigger, so siblings were available to help share the burden from time to time.Today, many households depend on outside sources for help with their elderly. In the Baltimore region, where the number of old people is growing, public services for the elderly are extremely popular. They cannot, however, be a priority for cash-strapped local governments, which are having a hard-enough time meeting demand for police and schools.

I watched Ray Lewis do his final dance as a player on the field at M&T Bank Stadium immediately after the final play of the game ("Ray's day," Jan. 7). That was great to see. He is leaving the game on his own terms. I hope his head and his heart are in the right place, and that 20-plus years of hard-hitting football has left his brain in reasonably good condition. Baltimore's fans, individually and collectively, need to be aware of warning signs of ill health and be prepared to take better care of Ray Lewis than San Diego took care of our retired star linebacker, Junior Seau.

Tip--Soot removal-- To remove soot from walls, use a vacuum cleaner with a wand attachment, taking care not to touch the soot. -- University of Florida

Lisa M. Berlin, president of the Columbia-based firm, Taking Care ofBusiness, was the featured speaker on business plans at the October meeting of the Health Promotion Association in Rockville.She willalso be the speaker at the February 8 convention of Creative Memories, a company that sells photographic preservation programs.Taking Care of Business specializes in improving business profitability and the financial status of individuals.

Coppin State's Terquin Mott said his decision in May to declare for the NBA draft was more a product of "financial stress" than a burning desire to play professional basketball.It also had a lot to do with guilt."My sister [Teresa] was struggling, taking care of my little brothers and taking care of my mom while she was sick. And I just felt like I wasn't doing anything but worrying about myself here. I felt kind of selfish," he said."I just didn't want to be in school anymore. I wanted to be home with my family, whether I had to work or do whatever.

The death of a toddler last week in Severn has been ruled a homicide, and Anne Arundel County police said charges against the man who was taking care of the youngster are pending. Police said Charles Michael Brandley, 3, reportedly fell down stairs Aug. 7 at a home in the 8200 block of Tomlinson Court and was taken to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center. But then he was flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital in critical condition, where doctors told police that the child's injuries did not match those of a tumble down the stairs.

DURHAM, N.C. - Eldora Mitchell is nearly as old as the century, and for her it has been a life of love and service, starting at the age of 12, when she went to work scrubbing white people's floors to help her family.Later, she cleaned hospital rooms to feed her own children and cared for her grandchildren while their parents were working. In her 60s, she nursed her dying husband and her elderly mother.Now, at 95, frail and slowly going blind, it is Mitchell's turn. Four years ago, she moved across town to her retirement home - a bedroom in her son Charles' house here, with bright green curtains and her large-print Bible on the nightstand.

A GRANDPARENT who saw a need for a program to support grandparents and other caregivers of children other than their own is celebrating a landmark.The YWCA-sponsored summer Kindership Care program at Park Elementary School has developed into a full-scale, year-round program. The YWCA started the program a year ago in Annapolis and West County. A branch opened last April at the Harundale Presbyterian Church, and a new one is starting in Freetown.Frances Hullett, a former addiction counselor at North County Hospital, leads the program at Park.

As Maryland coach Mark Turgeon searched for positives in his team's 61-46 win over South Carolina State on Saturday, he couldn't hide his distaste at what he had just watched. "It wasn't really a fun game to be a part of, to be honest with you," Turgeon said. "We didn't make shots, shots we've been making. " In an increasingly familiar story at Comcast Center, it was hard to pinpoint a single hero in Maryland's victory. Ten players scored, only one in double figures, as the Terps (8-1)

Keli Smith Puzo ran out of options early last month. Her 9-month-old son, Ian, had a highly contagious virus, and her babysitter was incapacitated with the stomach flu. More than 2,000 miles from friends and family, the U.S. women's field hockey forward had no one else to take care of her two young boys. For the first time during her four-month stay in San Diego training with the national team, she would have to miss practice. It was a trying day for the 33-year-old Smith Puzo.

When do I put down grub killer in the spring? Spring grubs are big, but they are barely eating now and not damaging your lawn. Don't waste your money on these grubs. Also, applying grub killer in spring sickens wasps that are predators of grubs. You've probably seen these beneficial wasps hovering over your lawn, looking for grubs to attack. Natural controls usually keep grub populations under control. A few grubs are normal and keep the predators around. Rarely is lawn damage caused by grubs.

Your article "Some pet owners fight poor treatment by vets" (April 7) is an important reminder that we can never be too careful when entrusting our beloved animal companions to others - even those who are supposed to heal them. Just as parents would never neglect to check a babysitter's references, guardians of animal companions should contact their local Better Business Bureau and state veterinary board to check for complaints before choosing a veterinarian. Always insist upon your right to stay with your animal at all times - if the vet refuses to allow you in the "back room," don't hesitate to take your animal and leave.

The Manor Tavern sits in the in the thick of beautiful Monkton, where the land is big but the community is tight, and folks know the names of their neighbors' ancestors, children, horses and hunting dogs. Change, when it comes here, comes slowly, which makes the Manor Tavern an interesting case study. The 250-year-old Baltimore County property, in the thick of world-famous horse country, was purchased last summer by two teams of experienced restaurateurs. William and John Mitcherling own Towson's An Poitin Stil, and Patrick Russell and Bill Irvin operate businesses in Fells Point, including Kooper's Tavern, Slainte and the Chowhound Burger Wagon.

When William and Freddi Vaughn tied the knot seven years ago, they desired a home that would merge their lives as two mature adults finding love anew. "We'd both lived on our own for quite awhile," says Freddi Vaughn, who is in her late 50s; her husband is 66. "But after coming together, we wanted a house that was ours. " Today, the couple has happily settled into married life in their three-level villa in Pikesville. With a manicured lawn and pretty landscaping, the Vaughns' end-of-group home appears deceptively compact from the outside.

Child care providers throughout Maryland have a new toll-free hot line where they can receive help taking care of children.Friends of the Family Inc., a nonprofit statewide network of 27 family support centers, has scheduled a trained child care specialist to answer questions about children's behavior, working with parents and recommending solutions to problems.The service is available from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at 888-341-CARE (2273). For more information about the agency, at 1001 Eastern Ave., call 410-659-7701.

A U2 concert Nancy Fleming didn't attend, a boat she doesn't own, jewelry she doesn't have.Those are some of the things Anne Arundel County prosecutors say Fleming, who is disabled, paid for.But, prosecutors say, the beneficiary was the woman who was supposed to be taking care of Fleming but who stole her savings instead.Today, Circuit Judge Clayton R. Greene is to decide if defendant Romy T. Gresham, 28, of Pasadena can withdraw the guilty plea her lawyer, Michael S. Pappafotis, says was made a year ago because prosecutors misled him.Gresham's plea to the theft charge occurred last April 28, when she acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to convict her but she did not admit responsibility for a crime.

More than 20 million Americans are living with diabetes, and another 40 million are in the early stages of the disease. Managing diabetes can be a challenge all year long, but the holidays can pose special problems. All those extra treats, meals and drinks can add up to extra pounds and higher glucose levels. But a little planning, and will power, can keep diabetes in check, according to Susan Steinweg, a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She's also the coordinator of Carroll Hospital Center's Diabetes Center.

If Drake's brand of hyper-detailed rap-meets-loverboy-R&B turns you cold, it's time to step away from the Internet for the rest of the month. Late last night - hours after Drake hosted a two-hour radio stint on his hometown's Flow 93.5 and premiered his collaboration with the Weeknd, "Crew Love" - "Take Care" leaked, almost in its entirety. (We still don't have the closer "The Ride" or all of the bonus tracks.) But it's safe to start dissecting the record as a whole, or at least as a substantial preview to the retail version.