Walnut

Always, there were those lovely old country estates and gracious manor taverns with roaring fireplaces, but in the old days fine dining was associated with the city. Not so anymore. Now, there are more compelling reasons than ever for diners to cross county lines for a good meal. The 50 best county restaurants in Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County is a mix of the old and the new, destinations for special occasions and joints for Monday night suppers, the chef-driven and crowd-pleasing.

The problem:: What can be done about a tree that pelts the neighborhood with walnuts? The back story:: The gravity definitely works in Lutherville. George Hogan can testify that the forces of nature are in effect in this Baltimore County community, as demonstrated by the black walnuts that fall from a tree adjacent to his property. The tree has been shedding its nuts since he moved into a home in the 1600 block of Division Ave. 37 years ago. But nearly four decades later, it has grown so tall that now the walnuts rain down with a lot of force, Hogan said.

A large room in our newly purchased home has beautiful walnut paneling and shelves as well as a walnut wood floor. Though it's quite elegant looking, the room is very dark. And the only furniture we have for it at present is a maroon leather sofa and a large mahogany desk. How can we give the space a lighter appearance?Starting from the bottom, you might install a wall-to-wall carpet in a light neutral color such as wheat. Such a selection will enhance the color of the paneling and lighten the overall setting.

On October 9, 2009 NEAL SPANN. On Friday, friends may call at the VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES, 5151 Balto. Nat'l Pike from 5:00-8:00 p.m. On Saturday, Mr. Spann will lie in state at Christ Deliverance Baptist Church, 711 Walnut Avenue 21229 where the family will receive friends from 11:00-11:30 a.m. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-233-2400.

I HAVE HERE a news item that alert reader Diane Moore clipped out of the Oct. 21, 2002, issue of the Pana, Ill., News-Palladium (actual motto: "Containing More News About the Pana Trade Area Than All Other Newspapers in the World"). This item consists of a grainy black-and-white photograph of two men, one in bib overalls. They're sitting at a table or bar, looking at the camera with serious, somewhat self-conscious expressions. In front of them is a white piece of paper, on which sits a small, darkish object.

It's a little-known fact that Philadelphia - the City of Brotherly Love, the Liberty Bell and a host of historical landmarks - is also a city of style. Downtown Philly, where hip young urbanites hang out, has become home to trendy boutiques and stylish retail chains over the past few years. What's more, most of them can be found on one major thoroughfare: Walnut Street. Call it Philadelphia's answer to San Francisco's Post Street or Chicago's Michigan Avenue - a string of shops that offer something for everyone.

Walnut Point Bob Ward Homes has a model open and 50 home sites available at Walnut Point, a community of single-family homes in Baltimore County. The Essex community offers water privileges that include a boat-launch ramp, boat storage and a 90-foot crabbing and fishing pier. Walnut Point has public water and sewer systems and gas heat on home sites of one-quarter to one-third of an acre. Bob Ward offers nine floor plans at the community of two-story colonials, contemporaries and ranchers.

On November 3, 2006, ETHEL HALL. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Ave., on Wednesday after 9 AM. Family will receive friends on Thursday at the Edmondson Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church, 810 Walnut Ave., at 10:30 A.M. followed by Funeral Services at 11 A.M.

On March 19, 2008, Addie Friends may call WYLIE FUNERAL HOME, P.A.; 638 N. Gilmor Street on Saturday from 11am to 2 pm. Family will receive friends on Tuesday; 10:30 am Wake and 11 am Funeral Service; Edmondson Heights SDA Church; 810 Walnut Avenue Inquiries www.wyliefuneralhome.com.

On August 9, 2008, JUSTINE. Visitation 2140 N. Fulton Avenue, Sunday, 1 to 6 P.M. Family will receive friends at Edmondson Heights 7th Day Adventist Church, 810 Walnut Avenue, Monday 10:30 A.M., funeral to follow at 11 A.M.

On September 1, 2009, Terry, Visitation at Calvin B. Scruggs Funeral Home, 1412 East Preston Street on Tuesday, September 8th from 3 to 7 P.M. and Wednesday 12 to 4 P.M. Family will receive friends on Wednesday at Cookleys Community Baptist Church, 1208 Walnut Avenue from 6:30 to 7 P.M. at which time funeral service will begin. Interment Thursday 10 A.M. Garrison Forest Veteran Cemetery.

On April 26, 2009, MARGARET ANN NIXON. On today, a public viewing will be held at Edmondson Heights Seven Day Adventist, 810 Walnut Avenue at 3 P.M. On Wednesday, Mrs. Nixon will lie in state at the church, where the family will receive friends from 11 A.M to 12 P.M with services to follow. Inquiries to (410) 233-2400.

On April 5, 2009, CLEO DAVIS. On Friday, friends may call Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services (EAST), 4905 York Road, where the family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 P.M. On Saturday, services will be held at Greater St. John Baptist Church, 209 Walnut Avenue, where the family will receive friends from 10:00-10:30 A.M. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-433-7500.

One gaze from the back porch of this Owings Mills home toward a grove of trees is the clue to the property's name, Walnutwood. There are more than 2 acres of walnut trees where the ground slopes away from the house toward a spring-fed pond. "The library was built from the walnut trees on this property," said Helen Rockwell, who, with husband Steven Rockwell, owns the home. The room, part of a decades-old addition to the main house, features paneling, bookcases and beams hewn from walnut timber from the rolling property.

On August 9, 2008, JUSTINE. Visitation 2140 N. Fulton Avenue, Sunday, 1 to 6 P.M. Family will receive friends at Edmondson Heights 7th Day Adventist Church, 810 Walnut Avenue, Monday 10:30 A.M., funeral to follow at 11 A.M.

On March 19, 2008, Addie Friends may call WYLIE FUNERAL HOME, P.A.; 638 N. Gilmor Street on Saturday from 11am to 2 pm. Family will receive friends on Tuesday; 10:30 am Wake and 11 am Funeral Service; Edmondson Heights SDA Church; 810 Walnut Avenue Inquiries www.wyliefuneralhome.com.

On February 19, 2007, WILBERT NATHAN. Friends amy call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Ave., on Wednesday after 8:30 A.M. The family will receive friends on Thursday at Christ Deliverance Baptist Church, 711 Walnut Ave., at 10:00 followed by Funeral Services at 10:30.

WHEN YOU THINK of pumpkin, you probably think of pumpkin pies. However, pumpkin can be used in everything from soups to breads to cheesecakes.Pumpkin can be boiled, sauteed or steamed; battered and deep-fried; grilled or baked. In addition, it can be pureed for soup, eaten raw, or used as filling.Canned pumpkin can be stored up to two years, if kept in a cool, dry place.Pumpkin CheesecakeGinger-walnut crust (recipe follows)3 8-ounce packages cream cheese softened1/2 cup sugarOne 16-ounce can pumpkin3 eggs1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground ginger1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 teaspoon grated lemon rindWhipped creamWalnut halvesLemon rind twistsMake ginger-walnut crumb crust; set aside.

On September 12, 2007, RALPH COOK. The family will receive friends at Howell Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Avenue on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 from 3 to 7 P.M. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday in the sanctuary of Cookey's Community Baptist Church, 1200 Walnut Avenue. Family hour 10 to 10:30 A.M. Service will follow. Interment King Memorial Park.

Olga Valmarino of Sebastopol, Calif., was looking for a recipe that a co-worker had given her some years ago for a spice cake that was made with mayonnaise and had a coconut frosting. Virginia Provost of Hamilton, N.J., sent in her recipe for an "Amazin' Raisin Cake" that she thought came close to what Valmarino was trying to find. It has all the ingredients, including mayonnaise, raisins, apples, nuts and spices, that were in the cake Valmarino was looking to make. While Provost's recipe did not provide specific instructions for a coconut frosting, she does recommend frosting the cake with a cream-cheese frosting topped with coconut.