A fire that started in a basement kitchen caused $250,000 in damage to a Carroll County home Wednesday night, authorities said yesterday. Investigators from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's office said the blaze was started by unattended cooking in the duplex in the 3600 block of Route 27, Taylorsville. The home is owned by Albert M. Jr. and Chrissie J. Thompson. The two-alarm fire took about a half-hour to bring under control, authorities said. A passer-by discovered the fire. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the fire marshal's office at 410-552-0154.
Ellie Baublitz
Baltimore: O'Donnell Square
St. Pat's celebration to shut several streets
Streets in Southeast Baltimore's O'Donnell Square will be closed starting today for a St. Patrick's Day celebration. The city Department of Transportation said the square, from Linwood Avenue to Potomac Street, will be closed to all traffic from 3 p.m. today to 7 a.m. on Sunday. Drivers headed east on Boston Street will be detoured onto Conkling and O'Donnell streets. Westbound O'Donnell traffic will also be detoured onto Conkling, Boston and back onto O'Donnell.
Religion
Interfaith Institute to be held Monday
Representatives from three faith communities will discuss their issues Monday as part of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation's 47th Interfaith Institute. The event, "Building Bridges over Troubled Waters -- Muslims, Christians and Jews Reaching Out to One Another," costs $10 and includes lunch. It will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the synagogue, 7401 Park Heights Ave. The congregation's sisterhood and the Ralph A. Brunn Peace Fund are sponsoring the talk. Registration: 410-764-1587, Ext. 270.
Education
Notre Dame to offer information session
The College of Notre Dame of Maryland will hold an information session for its Accelerated College and Weekend College tomorrow in Fourier Hall on the campus, 4701 N. Charles St. Information or reservations: 410-532-5500, or www.ndm.edu.