Towson

Derrick Brown scored 20 points, and C.J. Anderson added 13 as No. 16 Xavier (12-2, 1-0) rolled to a 70-44 victory over visiting Saint Louis (9-6, 0-1) last night in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. No. 20 Arizona State 69, Oregon State 38: : James Harden scored 22 points and the host Sun Devils (13-2, 2-1) won their ninth in the past 10. The Beavers fell to 6-7, 1-2. No. 21 Butler 64, Wright State 48: : Matt Howard scored 14 to lead the host Bulldogs (13-1, 4-0 Horizon League) to their fifth straight victory.

THE PROBLEM: A tree has been leaning over power lines in Towson for years. THE BACKSTORY: Stan Kluckowski has been watching the trees grow with more and more trepidation each year. The Towson resident said he began calling about a leaning tree with branches that hang over the power lines on the utility pole in his backyard, which borders the Goucher College campus. He said he called Goucher and that staff there told him the tree lay within Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s utility right of way. He called BGE, and someone told him the pole belonged to Verizon.

Simona Petronyte hit a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to bring Towson within one, but no closer, as the Tigers fell to visiting William and Mary, 61-60, yesterday. Towson (8-3, 0-1 Colonial Athletic Association) missed four free throws in the final 20 seconds. The Tribe (8-4, 1-0) ended Towson's six-game home winning streak and extended its winning streak to three. William and Mary has won five of the past seven at Towson. The opening half featured three ties in the first 16 minutes.

Baltimore County's list of requests for this year's General Assembly is focused on education and public safety, County Executive James T. Smith Jr. told state legislators at a meeting yesterday in Towson. Despite reduced state revenue projections and the impact of the national economic collapse, he urged lawmakers to continue to support the legislature's $325 million commitment to a statewide public-school construction program for fiscal year 2010. County public schools have requested $84.5 million in state funds for construction and renovations, he said, including projects at Parkville High School, Catonsville High and Milford Mill Academy that would account for $20.4 million.

The smell of strawberries was strong on Allegheny Avenue yesterday. Farther down the block, past the fresh bread, summer squash and cut flowers, a grill was fired up in preparation for the lunch crowd. However, at the opening day of the Towson Farmers' Market, not all of the treats were for people. Lisa Lindsey-Davis stood behind her table, selling all-natural dog biscuits in vegetable and peanut butter-oatmeal flavors. "Its something good for the pups out there," she said. Lindsey-Davis' stand was among the new sights at the Farmers' Market, which started its 28th season yesterday in the Baltimore County seat.

On July 11, 2007, RAUL M. BUFILL. Beloved son of the late Jose E. Bufill and Esther Queral Bufill; loving brother of Dr. Jose A. Bufill and his wife Olga L. Bufill of Arlington, VA, Esther M. Becker, and Olga B. Ennis; loving uncle of Kiki T. Broderick and her husband John C. Broderick, Lourdes M. Sperling of McLean, VA, Tracey A. Becker of Guerneville, CA, Dr. Jose A. Bufill of South Bend, IN, and the late M. Richard Becker; dear grand uncle of Nicole...

John Edward Hamilton Bailey, a retired insurance attorney and pension consultant, died of pneumonia Friday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Towson resident was 86. Born in Baltimore and raised in Charles Village, he attended St. Ann's Parochial School and was a 1939 Loyola High School graduate. He attended Loyola College and received his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1942, the year he was admitted to the Maryland bar. Known as Ham, he joined the Army in 1942 and worked in counterintelligence in the Philippines.

Landscape architect Roland Oehme's dream is modest: He wants to be able to bike from his home in West Towson to the center of the Baltimore County seat without risking his life. So far, it's easier said than done. On a recent bike ride into the heart of town, he said, he barely avoided a wreck on Bosley Avenue -- a "treacherous" mix of six lanes of cars whizzing past at 50 mph, impatient drivers and traffic lights that don't allow walkers or bikers enough time to cross. Over the past week, Oehme's cautionary tale mingled with concerns and suggestions from about 150 residents and business owners, spawning a series of recommendations that would make Towson more pedestrian- and bike-friendly -- and more attractive for shops and outdoor dining.

Stanley Plummer Earp, a retired Aberdeen Proving Ground ammunition expert, died of pneumonia Jan. 11 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The longtime Towson resident was 84. Mr. Earp was born in Baltimore and raised on Dixie Drive in Towson. He was a 1941 graduate of Towson High School and joined the Navy in 1943. He served in the Pacific theater as a gunner on a PBY Catalina flying boat. After the war, he briefly attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, then went to sea after joining the U.S. merchant marine.

On August 6, 2007, ELLEN M. WARD (nee Weppler). Beloved wife of the late John S. Ward; devoted mother of Mary Ellen Ensor; grandmother of Sue Ensor Todhunter and William W. Ensor, Jr.; great-grandmother of James P. Ensor and Thomas M. Ensor. Funeral services will be held at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Road (beltway exit 26A), on Thursday at 11 A.M. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Friends may call Wednesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gilchrist Center, 555 W. Towsontown Blvd.

After falling short in the Class 3A state championship game last season, the players for No. 6 Towson's volleyball team understand the difficulty of playing that deep into the season, and they have managed to stay focused on the game in front of them. That focus was on full display Wednesday night in the Baltimore County championship game as the Generals dominated No. 13 Hereford, 25-15, 25-13, 25-12. The Generals moved to 14-0 and are playing their best volleyball heading into the regional playoffs.

On September 25, 2009, John "Jack" R. Gray, A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Towson, 8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Towson, MD 21286. Internment following at Parkwood Cemetery, 3310 Taylor Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21234. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Peg Massey A memorial service will be held in her honor at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Divinity Lutheran Church, 1220 Providence Road, Towson, MD 21286.

Today's state games Morgan State (5-1) at Delaware State (1-5) Time: 1 p.m. Radio: 88.9 FM Series record: Morgan leads 30-22 Last meeting: Morgan won, 20-3, on Oct. 25, 2008 What's at stake: The Bears may be 5-1, but they've yet to be challenged. The teams Morgan has played are 10-26 overall, and today marks the end of that cushy schedule. The last four games will test Morgan's mettle in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but for now, figure the Bears to beat Delaware State. The Hornets, fresh off a 63-6 licking by Michigan, have a flimsy defense that is allowing 495 yards per game.

On October 19, 2009 Mary L. Raver Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 York Road (beltway exit 26) on Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM where a Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 11:00 AM. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Mary's name may be made to The Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Radiation Oncology Center; 7601 Osler Dr.; Towson, MD 21204 or Providence UMC; 1320 Providence Rd.; Towson, MD 21286 or Loch Raven Baptist Church; 8600 Loch Raven Blvd.

On October 14, 2009, Lorna J. Harvey Services private. Arrangements by the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., www.RuckFuneralHomes.com.

C. Robert Varndell, a former partner of the Baltimore engineering firm of Rummel, Klepper and Kahl, died of cancer Tuesday at the Hospice of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. The former longtime Catonsville resident was 85. Mr. Varndell, the son of an accountant and a school teacher, was born in Uniontown, Pa., and raised in Scenery Hill, Pa. After graduating fron Uniontown High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1946 from the...

Edwin M. Talbott Jr., who held a variety of occupations during his lifetime and was a founder of the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, died Sunday from complications of dementia at the Edenwald retirement community in Towson. He was 86. Mr. Talbott was born in Baltimore and raised in Hamilton. He was a 1941 graduate of Polytechnic Institute and earned a degree in electrical engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 1944. From 1944 until being discharged with the rank of lieutenant junior grade in 1945, he served in the Navy aboard submarines in the Atlantic Theater of operations.

Delaware (4-2) at Towson (2-3) Time: 3:30 p.m. Radio: 1570 AM Series record: Delaware leads 6-4 Last meeting: Delaware won, 31-21, on Nov. 8, 2008 What's at stake: Guess who scheduled a ringer for homecoming? The Tigers are underdogs to a much-improved Blue Hens team that matched its 2008 victory total last week with a 43-27 upset of then-12th-ranked Massachusetts. The win thrust Delaware into the Top 25 (the Blue Hens are ranked No. 23), which gives Towson more cause to knock off a team it hasn't beaten in three years.

Towson quarterback Peter Athens threw for one touchdown and ran for the game-winning score while directing the host Tigers to a 36-28 victory over Rhode Island on Saturday. The win ended a 13-game road losing streak for the Tigers. It also ended a six-game slide for the Tigers (2-3) against Colonial Athletic Association opponents as Towson improved to 1-1 in the league. Rhode Island (1-4 overall) dropped to 0-2 in the CAA. A wild first quarter resulted in a 20-0 Towson lead before the Rams could get started.