Capital (Annapolis) back issues from December 2007:
Classes for first-time homebuyers
Dec 01, 2007 ... First Time Homebuyers classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.Wednesday, Dec, 12, 13 and 19 at the Community Action Agency, 251West St. The cost of the training is $25 per family or household. FHACompletion certificates will be issued on the last night. You may mail in your ...
You Gotta Get It!: Latest in air-blown decorations
Dec 01, 2007; ... At Home Depot, there's the Home Depot Car with a Snowman Crew($76.99). A set of trees plays a light show choreographed to themusic of four songs ($149). Santa comes to town on a three-caranimated train with a spinning tree on the second car and an elfperched on the caboose ($139). Visit ...
The quirky little triangle house
Dec 01, 2007; ... Sandwiched between College Avenue, North Street and an abandoneddriveway known as Randall Court, sits a somewhat quirky home. Built in the 1930s, the house is perched somewhat peculiarlywithin a triangular lot. The current homeowners, Jane and Joe Duffy of Severna Park, ...
Home Plan of the week: Porch welcomes visitors to home
Dec 01, 2007; ... The wide front porch extends an open invitation to Plan J-91078by Homeplans, part of Move. Highlighted by a round-topped transom, the home's entrance opensdirectly into the spacious living room, which shows off a fireplaceflanked by windows. The large adjoining dining area is ...
Summit's economic impact mixed
Dec 01, 2007; ... Downtown merchants reported mixed sales results from the MiddleEast peace conference this week, with some posting better numberswhile others took a hit. Annapolis hoteliers said they were extra busy with internationalreporters who booked rooms for the one-day conference at the ...
Vila's building, adding tool line to his resume
Dec 01, 2007; ... Remember Bob Vila? I never thought I'd be asking that question, but Mr. Vila doesn'tseem to be around much anymore. Perhaps the veteran contractor'sboat was swamped in the tidal wave of too many home-improvementshows seemingly hosted by formerly out-of-work actors. You could ...
CALENDAR
Dec 01, 2007 ... TODAY'S EVENTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, 8-11 a.m., Deale Volunteer Fire Hall, 6007Drum Point Road, Deale. 443-994-6858. FARMERS' CHRISTMAS MARKET, 8 a.m.-noon, at Riva Road and Harry STruman Parkway. OUTDOOR YARD SALE/SOUP SALE, 8 a.m.- 1 p.m., St. Andrew's ...
RELIGION NEWS
Dec 01, 2007 ... TODAY Fashion show United Methodist Women of Mt. Tabor U.M. Church, 1421 St.Stephens Church Road, Crownsville, will host a holiday fashion showat 3 p.m. at the church. Featured are after-five/formal, casual, dressy and careerfashions. Light refreshments after the ...
Our view: Editor's notebook
Dec 01, 2007 ... NASTY POLITICS - Elected officials get their share of publiccriticism - it comes with the necessity of making controversialdecisions. Given that the recent General Assembly special sessionincluded votes on taxes and slot machines - two issues guaranteed todraw voter wrath - someone ...
On the Level: A programmable thermostat worth every penny
Dec 01, 2007; ... Is it a good idea to hook up a programmable thermostat with aheat pump? Are they efficient and / or do they cause the auxiliaryunit to kick in more frequently? Placing a programmable thermostat on the heat pump is a very goodidea but not just any such device will work for you. The ...
Letters to the Editor
Dec 01, 2007 ... City committees Eric Hartley, the new face of the leaner Capital, recently tooklazy aim at Annapolis because many residents have the audacity tovolunteer their time each month without compensation to help serveon various standing committees (The Sunday Capital, Nov ....
Candlelight tour at Hammond-Harwood
Dec 01, 2007 ... The Hammond-Harwood House Candlelight Tour will be from 6 to 8p.m. Wednesday. The 18-room mansion will be transformed into a reminder ofChristmas in the 18th century and guests will be able to seecandlelit period rooms newly decorated with colonial greeneryprepared by 12 local ...
Holding an open house? Be alert for thieves
Dec 01, 2007; ... Real estate agents have standard advice for homeowners planningtheir first open house: Hire a cleaning service. Drop the pets offwith a neighbor. And lock up your valuables because you never knowwho may be stopping by. Over two recent Sundays, a pair of women posing as wealthy ...
U-Bild Project: Make this work bench your first DIY project
Dec 01, 2007; ... The foundation piece of any well-equipped shop, a hand-craftedwoodworking bench is much more than a simple work surface. A well-made workbench also is a fine measuring tool,incorporating precise angles and a level top that serve as gaugesfor other projects. In fact, the ...
Marylanders among least depressed people in nation
Dec 01, 2007; ... Maryland is one of the least depressed states in the country,with the lowest suicide rates and highest expenditures on mentalhealth services, according to a new study. The results were released this week in Mental Health America'sreport, "Ranking America's Mental Health: An ...
Man guilty of solicitation of murder
Dec 01, 2007 ... TOWSON (AP) - A man was found guilty of trying to hire aBaltimore County jail inmate to kill a real estate developer andtorch the house of a woman. But Michael B. Martin, 46, of Lutherville, was acquitted ofplotting to kill a lawyer who prosecuted him for sex abuse of ...
Bush marks World AIDS Day at Maryland church
Dec 01, 2007 ... MOUNT AIRY (AP) - President Bush urged Congress yesterday toapprove an additional $30 billion for the global fight against AIDSover the next five years, and announced he would visit Africa earlynext year to further highlight the need and his administration'sefforts. "We dedicate ...
Mayor: Probe finds evidence of cheating on Baltimore fire exam
Dec 01, 2007 ... BALTIMORE (AP) - Investigators found strong evidence supportingallegations that some black firefighters cheated on a promotionalexam, Mayor Sheila Dixon said yesterday. The investigation found that the five top-scoring firefighterswho took the test in July studied from a 2001 exam, ...
Scientists taking look at vaccinations
Dec 02, 2007; ... Vaccines have drawn an intense spotlight in recent years, and astudy published recently raised a new question in the debate: DoAmericans overvaccinate? Scientists writing in the New England Journal of Medicine foundthat immunity lasts far longer than previously believed, ...
Covering the bases: Skilled care differs from custodial care
Dec 02, 2007; ... What is the difference in custodial care and skilled care? Thenursing home where my mother is receiving rehabilitation keepsreferring to these terms, and I'm not sure I fully understand. Custodial care is nonskilled personal care to help withactivities of daily living, such as help ...
How stuff works: Make your mortgage payments ... or else
Dec 02, 2007; ... Foreclosure is one of those words that every homeowner dreads.But it is in the news all the time right now, as thousands of homesin the United States are being foreclosed on each day. What causes aforeclosure to happen? Can it be stopped? Is there anything you cando to prevent ...
Years ago...from our pages
Dec 02, 2007 ... 25 years ago this week Dec. 4, 1982: A Page One story warns shopkeepers to watch for"paperhangers" - people passing bad checks. County police report atwofold increase in cases of stolen checks, forged money orders andcredit card fraud. In Annapolis, police armed with shotguns ...
Caregivers' Corner: Aunt's care proves frustrating
Dec 02, 2007; ... DEAR MARY: I need help. I have taken in an elderly aunt who waskicked out of a long-term residential facility in Florida. She is evasive about dates and names of places, and has bathedonly twice since arriving in May. She has delusions and also lies,although I am not sure if she is ...
Savvy Senior: Social Security benefits and Medicare premiums up in '08
Dec 02, 2007; ... DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you give me a full rundown on the SocialSecurity and Medicare increases for 2008? - LOOKING AHEAD DEAR LOOKING: Come January, you and nearly 50 million otherAmericans receiving Social Security benefits will get a 2.3 percentraise, the smallest increase in ...
Toyota shows new driving simulator for testing car safety
Dec 02, 2007 ... SUSONO, Japan (AP) - A driver in Toyota's new safety testingsimulator gets a 360-degree, synchronized view of the road andlandscape, signs, pedestrians, street-side stores and faraway MountFuji. But the drive is only make-believe. The simulator has a Lexus inside a 15-foot ...
New ruling could create competition
Dec 02, 2007; ... Funeral businesses in Anne Arundel County could see newcompetition from corporations after a federal judge struck down akey law in October that had been on the books since the 1940s. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett in Baltimore ruled Oct.17 that a law preventing ...
Too many companies lack succession plans
Dec 02, 2007; ... It's a basic rule of management, yet one that more and morecorporate directors and chief executives seem to be ignoring. Onlyabout half of public and private corporate boards have CEO-succession plans in place, according to a survey by the Center forBoard Leadership with Mercer Delta ...
Building blocks
Dec 02, 2007 ... Building strong bones takes a combination of calcium, vitamin Dand exercise starting in childhood. Here are guidelines on how muchyoungsters need: Young children should consume about 800 milligrams of calcium aday. But between ages 9 and 18, when bone growth speeds up, ...
Letters to the Editor
Dec 02, 2007 ... Stormwater fee On Monday, the County Council will decide on a property taxincrease disguised as a "charge" exempt from the Anne Arundel Countyproperty tax cap. The charge is the same for all residential properties, regardlessof size or value. The initial amount is not great, ...
Too little of these 3 things is bad for kids' bones
Dec 02, 2007; ... Too little milk, sunshine and exercise: It's an anti-bonetrifecta. And for some kids, shockingly, it's leading to rickets,the soft-bone scourge of the 19th century. But cases of full-blown rickets are just the red flag: Bonespecialists say possibly millions of seemingly healthy ...
SNIFFLING?SNEEZING?WHEEZING?
Dec 02, 2007; ... McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE What's green and festive and makes you sneeze? It might be your Christmas tree. Allergists have long suspected live Christmas trees are theculprits behind some folks' runny, itchy noses during the holidays -and now one doctor believes he has ...
Midnight Madness back with new big draws
Dec 02, 2007; ... The city's twin Midnight Madness shopping events will return toAnnapolis this month with new holiday promotions and discounts thatorganizers expect to rake in the sales. The downtown events are considered a holiday tradition withhundreds of shoppers staying out late to buy ...
AACC building closing for year
Dec 01, 2007; ... Anne Arundel Community College will soon close its largestclassroom building for a year-long renovation. That means thousands of students at the Arnold campus will takeclasses in temporary buildings in coming months. The three-story, 136,000-square-foot Careers Center ...
REGIONAL DIGEST
Dec 01, 2007 ... Army brings ship to Navy game BALTIMORE- Army is turning the tables on Navy, bringing a ship ofits own to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for this year's annual clashwith the Naval Academy. The Army's newly commissioned ship, the Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls,will be berthed just blocks ...
OBITUARIES
Dec 01, 2007 ... Samantha Durant Samantha Nicole Durant, 18, of Stevensville, died Nov. 29 as aresult of a motor vehicle accident on Route 50 near Queenstown. Astory ran in the Nov. 30 edition of The Capital. Born on July 17, 1989 at Fort Huachuca Military Hospital inArizona, the youngest ...
Federal jury gets Andrews AFB security guard case
Dec 01, 2007 ... GREENBELT (AP) - Federal jurors began deliberations yesterday inthe case of a former Andrews Air Force Base security guard accusedof failing to include his Muslim name on a background check to hidehis ties to a controversial imam. Darrick Michael Jackson is charged with making a ...
Hagerstown Airport gets new runway
Dec 01, 2007 ... HAGERSTOWN (AP) - Federal officials cut the ribbon yesterday on anew $62 million runway at Hagerstown Regional Airport and vowed tocontinue seeking subsidies for air service to the western Marylanddestination. "Why would this administration fund a new runway, only to standin the ...
Bill has fender-bender while hiding from Army pranksters
Dec 01, 2007; ... A sly attempt to hide Bill the Goat from Army pranksters lastnight drew police attention when the mascot's handlers ran into aparked car while backing into a space at an Annapolis parkinggarage. The man - decked out in head-to-toe Navy garb - and woman incharge of protecting the ...
China rejects third Navy ship visit to Hong Kong
Dec 01, 2007 ... WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - The Chinese rejection of U.S. ship visitsinto Hong Kong is broader than initially reported, the Pentagon saidyesterday, revealing for the first time that a third incident hadoccurred last week. According to a defense official, a request for the USS ...
Packers say Favre won't miss start
Dec 01, 2007 ... GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Packers quarterback Brett Favre isexpected to start against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 9 and keepalive his record streak for consecutive starts. "Just to quote the medical staff, his streak is not in danger.He'll be OK," coach Mike McCarthy said yesterday, ...
Ravens Notes: Pats' defense weighs heavy on Ravens
Dec 01, 2007; ... OWINGS MILLS - The Baltimore Ravens' offensive line is bracingfor a hefty challenge, squaring off Monday night with a New EnglandPatriots defense overshadowed by their glittery offensivecounterparts. The Patriots' third-ranked defense literally represents a heavyload to move off ...
Balanced attack carries AACS
Dec 01, 2007 ... Christian Parker scored 15 points to lead four Annapolis AreaChristian School players in double figures as the hosts won theirseason opener, 69-61, over Sts. Peter & Paul in the first round ofthe Eagle Classic last night. Sean Kelley, Matt Gierl and Andre Hilliard added 10 points ...
Playoff-bound Cowboys keeping eyes on bigger prize
Dec 01, 2007 ... IRVING, Texas (AP) - Jerry Jones has been known for theoccasional crazy Super Bowl prediction for his Dallas Cowboys. Thisseason, the owner's hunch certainly seems more realistic. Barring a collapse, the Cowboys could be two home playoffvictories from their first Super Bowl in 12 ...
2nd shooting in city in 2 days
Dec 01, 2007; ... A 32-year-old man was shot last night while riding his bicycle ona sidewalk in the Robinwood community. It was the second shooting in an Annapolis public housingcommunity in as many days. Garrison Johnson, of an unknown address, was riding on the 1300block of Tyler Avenue ...
Four mids branching out with their uniform patches
Dec 01, 2007; ... It's tradition for players in the Army-Navy game to wear jerseypatches sent to them by servicemen around the world. Of course, Army players sew on patches representing infantry,artillery and tank units while their Navy counterparts sport patcheshonoring ships, flight squadrons and ...
Swimming: Phelps doesn't miss a beat in return
Dec 01, 2007 ... Wins 200-yard freestyle at short course championships ATLANTA (AP) - Michael Phelps won his first competitive racesince breaking a bone in his wrist in October, taking the 200-yardfreestyle at the U.S. short course national championships lastnight. He later led off the ...
Arrests made in Taylor shooting
Dec 01, 2007 ... MIAMI (AP) - The Miami-Dade Police Department arrested fourpeople yesterday and charged them with murder in connection with thefatal shooting of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor. Police spokeswoman Linda O'Brien identified the men as: Venjah K.Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; ...
NHL: Hurricanes blanket hard-luck Capitals
Dec 01, 2007 ... RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes finally played likedivision leaders against last-place Washington. It still wasn'tenough to satisfy Rod Brind'Amour. The Carolina captain scored two goals to lead the Hurricanes pastthe Capitals 4-3 last night. "The other night I ...
McNabb listed as doubtful
Dec 01, 2007 ... PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Donovan McNabb is doubtful for thePhiladelphia Eagles' game against Seattle tomorrow after missingpractice again yesterday. The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback has been sidelined sincespraining his right ankle and injuring his thumb in a win over theMiami ...
Women's Basketball: Langhorne leads Terps past No. 19 Ohio State
Dec 01, 2007 ... COLLEGE PARK (AP) - If Maryland keeps playing like this, it won'tbe long before the Terrapins again find themselves becoming a hottopic of conversation. Crystal Langhorne scored 17 points, Marissa Coleman added 14 andNo. 3 Maryland beat 19th-ranked Ohio State 77-53 last night in ...
Auto Racing: Johnson collects his due
Dec 01, 2007 ... NEW YORK (AP) - The only time the smile has left Jimmie Johnson'sface this week is when somebody mentioned his upcoming appearance onstage last night at NASCAR's annual awards ceremony. There hasn't been much else to frown about for Johnson in 2007, aseason in which he improved on ...
NBA: Poor-shooting 76ers still edge Wizards
Dec 01, 2007 ... PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A historically bad shooting night couldn'tstop the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers tied a dubious franchise record set Feb. 22, 1988, atHouston, by missing all 14 of their 3-pointers. Andre Iguodalamisfired on 16 straight shots and wound up 3-for-19 from the ...
College Football: No. 1 Missouri plays biggest game ever
Dec 01, 2007 ... SAN ANTONIO (AP) - What a wild and wonderful week for Missouri. The Big 12 North champions are ranked No. 1, their quarterback isgetting serious talk about the Heisman Trophy and if the Tigers canbeat No. 9 Oklahoma in the league title game tonight, they'll playfor the national ...
Tennis: Blake's victory gives U.S. 2-0 lead in Davis Cup
Dec 01, 2007 ... PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - James Blake held off feisty Mikhail Youzhny6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3) last night to give the United Statesa 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup final. Blake's victory got the U.S. within one win of its first DavisCup title since 1995. Earlier, Andy ...
BUSINESS NOTES
Dec 02, 2007 ... The Anne Arundel Tech Council recently appointed a new board ofdirectors and officers with terms beginning Jan. 1. The group oftechnology executives will help guide the council in its new role asthe Chesapeake Regional Tech Council. Michael Ryan, president and chief executive ...
GOOD QUESTION
Dec 02, 2007 ... I'm decorating my house for the holidays, but I'm concerned aboutmy electric bill. What can I do? With energy prices at record highs, many people may think twicebefore decking their halls with electricity-draining Christmaslights. Energy-conscious consumers can now choose from a ...
The Truth About Money: Should grandparents fund college-savings plans?
Dec 02, 2007; ... Unlike parents of a generation ago, today's parents know theimportance of saving for college while their children areyoungsters. The problem is that they often lack the ability to save,what with the other costs of child-rearing and household expenses. Fortunately, grandparents are ...
CALENDAR
Dec 02, 2007 ... TODAY'S EVENTS HANUKKAH GIFT SHOP, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Congregation Kneseth IsraelSynagogue, 1125 Spa Road. 410-268-8500. HOLIDAY ART SHOW, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Bay Ridge Marina Club House, 80East Lake Drive. 410-991-6445. JINGLE BELL JUBILEE, by Junior League of Annapolis Inc., ...
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Dec 02, 2007 ... The Annapolis law firm Hyatt & Weber, P.A., has reThe Annapolis law firm Hyatt & Weber, P.A., has recently addedanother attorney to its practice. Kenneth W. Courter Jr. has joinedthe firm's transactional practice group. Mr. Courter had worked as a law clerk in the Maryland ...
U.S. virtually unscathed by hurricanes in 2007
Dec 02, 2007 ... MIAMI (AP) - Despite alarming predictions, the U.S. came througha second straight hurricane season virtually unscathed, raisingfears among emergency planners that they will be fighting publicapathy and overconfidence when they warn people to prepare for nextyear. Friday marked ...
Editor's Desk: Peace conference a surreal interlude for a local newspaper
Dec 02, 2007; ... If you have any doubt about the fame bestowed on the city lastweek, Google the name "Annapolis." A search garners 26 million hits -Santa Claus gets only 8 million. The city was like a set for a remake of Italian director FedericoFellini's "81/2," a 1963 film in which fantasy and ...
A tough nut to crack
Dec 02, 2007 ... The Ballet Theatre of Maryland has taken its original"Nutcracker" tale and turned it into a fun-filled, whodunitadventure. "The Case of the Missing Nutcracker" will be performed at7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, but thepublic is invited to crack the mystery before ...
Experts: Congress unlikely to resurrect Fort Monmouth
Dec 02, 2007; ... WASHINGTON - The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure plan wassigned into law two years ago this month, launching a sweepingseries of changes nationwide that is expected to bring 45,000-60,000 new jobs to Maryland. And while Maryland has been crowing about and planning for ...
Pathogens & People: Are we too clean for our own health? It's possible
Dec 02, 2007; ... Did Charlie Brown's friend, Pigpen, know something the rest ofthe Peanuts' gang didn't know? Pigpen may have repelled his friends with his personal dustcloud, but that dirty shield also may have protected him fromallergies and asthma. Without realizing it, Pigpen may have ...
Work starts on Walgreens at former Southview center
Dec 02, 2007; ... It's going to be a while longer before demolition of the oldSouthview Shopping Center in Brooklyn Park gets under way. There were signs of progress at the deserted complex Tuesday.Workers started grading the parking area for a new Walgreenspharmacy, which will share the site at the ...