What’s cooking at the old deli?
July 23, 2008
The lights are on today in the former home of the Court Towers Deli in Towson for the first time since the end of April. A cleaning crew has been inside all day scrubbing down the place, which has been undisturbed since it closed.
The deli closing and a possible replacement have been the topic of much discussion around Towson for months. The restaurant was popular among the legal community because of the good food and location next to Baltimore County Circuit Court.
Back in April, I heard a new tenant would be in place at some point during the summer. But despite today’s cleaning, there are no signs indicating new ownership or a scheduled opening date. We’ll keep you posted.
DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentBrides-to-be bring their “A” game
July 11, 2008
The parking lots of most of the stores at Towson Marketplace are pretty empty at 7 a.m. on a Friday morning. But as I circled around the back of the complex toward Filene’s Basement for the annual “Running of the Brides”, it was mayhem.
With more than 200 cars and several television trucks, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary morning in Towson.
Over one hundred brides-to-be and their entourages lined up outside of the store as early as 4 p.m. Thursday from all over the country. Over 1,600 designer gowns were available for sale, discounted in price to between $249 - $699.
When the doors finally opened at 8 a.m., it was pandemonium.
The floor shook and many employees closed their eyes as they tried to keep the racks stable and avoid getting trampled.
Within two minutes, the racks were bare as some brides-to-be and their friends took 20 gowns to try on.
As of 3:30 p.m., store manager Bill Randall said that 200 dresses had been sold, already beating last year’s mark of 175.
The most compelling story of the day was the first person in line, Stephanie Miller of Baltimore County, who arrived at Filene’s with her mother at 4 p.m. Thursday. After she found her dress at 8:50 a.m., she left for the University of Maryland-College Park to make a 12:30 p.m. speech to undergraduates considering graduate school.
Talk about stamina.
Check out the full video from the event below.
RICHARD SIMON, Multimedia Reporter
A bird’s-eye view of Baltimore Co. development project
June 12, 2008
Wednesday marked my first time aboard a helicopter. That’s right, I’ve never been airlifted from a war zone, seen the rocks of the Grand Canyon up close, or gone down with a Black Hawk in the wilds of Somalia. And this occasion wasn’t incredibly glamorous either. We rose up, twice circled the proposed site of an office park redevelopment in Halethorpe, saw it from both sides, then touched down. It was a surprisingly smooth ride.
The occasion for my helicopter debut was some reporting I did on Hollins End Corporate Park, a warehouse redevelopment project in Baltimore County being carried out by Lutherville’s Preston Partners. Showing a development site to Realtors, businesspeople and members of media is an uncommon treat at ground-breaking ceremonies, but in the case of Hollins End, it was especially interesting because it put the project in the context of its location.
The developers are building their 1.3 million square feet of office flex and warehouse space on 51 acres between a number of major roadways — I-95, I-695, I-895 — that connect the Baltimore and Washington metro areas. It really took a trip up high to illustrate this context. We saw cars running along I-895, up to the Baltimore beltway, and beyond, in the distance, the skyline of Baltimore rose from the haze.
A media spokesperson for Baltimore County, who was sitting near me in the cramped, four-person cabin of the Bell 407, said, “Google Earth just doesn’t capture this!” I couldn’t agree more. It’s easy to see why so many action film directors choose to shoot from the open doors of a chopper. The sweeping, expansive view you get is just amazing.
Plus you get to wear some totally cool-looking headgear.
ROBBIE WHELAN, Business Writer
Lamdin case proves it: Black robe’s no bar to foot-in-mouth disease
May 14, 2008
Calling a defendant a “crackhead” might not be the worst thing ever said in a courtroom. But that comment, along with others, landed Maryland District Judge Bruce S. Lamdin in hot water when the Court of Appeals suspended him for 30 days without pay starting Monday.
The Baltimore County judge admitted to violating the Code of Judicial Conduct in 14 separate cases, where his inappropriate comments included swearing and insinuating that circuit court judges spend their afternoons drinking cocktails.
Lamdin also told a defendant that “I could give you some time to get money together to pay a fine, but then I’d punish your children and they are already punished enough by having you for a father,” the opinion states.
Lamdin isn’t the only judge who’s put his foot in his mouth. In December 2007, Clark County (Oregon) Superior Court Judge John P. Wulle was censured for comments made during a four-day juvenile drug court conference that appeared to be racially biased, homophobic and anti-Semitic.
What is the worst thing you’ve heard a judge say from the bench? Can any top Lamdin’s faux pas?
CHRISTINA DORAN, Assistant Legal Editor
Sphere: Related ContentIf the fountain’s on, can the Full Towson be far behind?
May 9, 2008
Forget the calendar. Reason No. 15 you know it’s officially springtime in Towson: the fountain in the Circuit Court plaza was turned on this week.
Reason No. 1 you know it’s springtime in the Baltimore County seat is what an editor who shall remain nameless calls “The Full Towson”: white shoes and a white belt with a summer suit, with bonus points for seersucker or white linen. The look is more common after Memorial Day, apparently, but people might be jumping the gun.
I’ve seen a little seersucker in my travels, but have yet to spot a white suit a la Tom Wolfe or even a linen suit, let alone the elusive FT. If you or someone you know is sporting any or all of these looks, please alert me immediately. Or at least take a picture.
DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentDogged pursuits
April 30, 2008
From the Department of Good Intentions But Bad Timing:
At 5:10 p.m. Tuesday I received an e-mail from Baltimore County warning me that if I did not have a license for my cat and/or dog after Thursday, May 1, I could receive a $100 fine for violating a new ordinance.
Six minutes later, I received another e-mail from Baltimore County – about a cat and dog adopt-a-thon at the county’s Animal Shelter on Saturday.
Sounds like someone is a little too anxious to test the new law…
DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentAn hour with Judge Cicone
April 29, 2008
Many lawyers in Baltimore County believe retired Judge Frank E. Cicone can see the future. In a half-century at Baltimore County Circuit Court — 18 handling settlement conferences and 35 on the bench — he’s seen and heard it all, so his opinion on the potential outcome of a trial is highly valued.
I learned this Tuesday morning, having arrived unannounced at the courthouse settlement office to find out if I could sit in on a conference. I was surprised when Cicone invited me into the room and we chatted for a minute before the conference began. As long as the lawyers don’t mind you here, he said, I’m fine with it. (They did not.)
The case ended up being about a woman who injured herself three years ago when she fell in a county shopping center. Lawyers on both sides outlined the basic facts and previewed their arguments.
Cicone then talked with each side separately, estimating a dollar figure he felt was a fair compromise, giving an opinion on how the jury might rule and answering questions. But he also took the time to praise both lawyers, tell stories and chat with a young defense lawyer about how he liked his job. The whole hour was one-half business, one-quarter casual conversation and one-quarter story time.
Neither side appeared ready to settle at the conference’s conclusion, but everyone involved clearly enjoyed their time with Cicone and intended to take his recommendations into consideration.
I’ve seen lawyers deferential to judges, but not like this. “Stay here and learn,” one of the defense lawyers said to me as he left.
Anyone else have a Judge Cicone story?
DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentSpecial education–public or private?
September 7, 2007
For parents of disabled children in Maryland, it has to seem like there’s no good choice for their children’s education.
After reading this afternoon that more than 30 Baltimore city school bus drivers are refusing to work because their paychecks bounced, I happened upon an AP story that, for a moment, had me thinking privatization may be the answer.
Former social worker Mark Claypool entered the world of private, for-profit special education schools in 1999. Now his company, Educational Services of America, operates more than 120 schools in 16 states (none in Maryland). The company generated $75 million in revenue this year.
ESA, based in Nashville, Tenn., partnered with a private equity firm in 2004. It also receives funding from vouchers, state contracts and, of course, tuition, which ranges from $8K to $49K per year, depending upon the student’s needs.
One of ESA’s competitors is Baltimore-based Alternatives Unlimited, founded by Dr. Stuart Berger, who served as superintendent of both Baltimore County’s and Frederick County’s school systems. Berger also received a law degree from the University of Maryland.
But Berger’s company doesn’t operate any schools in Maryland. Although the company Web site says Berger “conceived Alternatives Unlimited because of his deep concern about the number of students who ‘fall through the cracks’ in public education, especially in urban school districts,” the nearest A.U. schools are in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
Maybe that’s because of the controversy surrounding his tenure in Baltimore Co., including his “inclusion” program that reassigned many disabled students to mainstream schools.
How about it? Who should (and can) serve Maryland special education students best: private companies (any takers?) or the public system?
-JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor
Baltimore County (finally) takes zoning online
August 27, 2007
Baltimore County is trying to make things easier for those requesting changes to their zoning as part of the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process. They’re doing this by putting it all online.
The every-four-year event usually meant mountains of paperwork for the planning office and several treks down to Towson for those who forgot something like their tax number.
The new system will let you apply and track progress online.
If it’s as easy as going online, will that encourage you to make much-desired or needed zoning changes to your commercial property or home? Let us know.
We’d also like to hear from those of you who’ve been through a CZMP before. Tell us your horror stories or let us know if it was painless.
-LOUIS LLOVIO, Daily Record Business Writer
Sphere: Related Content-
Business
Business postsLaw
Law postsRecent Posts
- In the market for a (used) car?
- DNA: What are the odds?
- Three Restaurant Weeks ahead
- Can the city support an NBA or NHL team?
- What’s in a name?
- A foot-stompin’ good time
Recent Comments
- Anonymous: Yes - Harry Johnson!
- Jeff: Of course it can’t. NBA ticket prices are outrageous, and the NHL isn’t any better. (Plus, it...
- Publicus: No.
- Aequitas: There are certainly many types of cases where some (but not necessarily all) people would...
- Anonymous: I think the recent rise in wine festivals is due to ever-increasing alcohol abuse. For some reason,...