No conflict with law in proposed cigar rule
Proposed city regulations banning the sale of individual cigars would not conflict with state law, according to an opinion issued yesterday by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler. The proposed city rule would require stores to sell cigars in packs of five, making them more expensive and therefore more difficult for youth to afford. City Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein said the cigars - which are sold for 40 cents each at corner liquor stores - are eclipsing cigarettes in popularity and present a health risk.
Annie Linskey
County to fine farmer for pig wrestling event
Baltimore County health officials said yesterday they plan to fine the owner of an Upperco farm who staged a pig mud wrestling contest last month. "Fines will be issued," said Monique Lyle, a spokeswoman for the county Health Department. The event held on Sept. 27 at Spring Meadow Farms was videotaped by county animal control officials. "We still haven't made a decision on what citations will be issued," Lyle said. "We will know that after all the necessary parties review the tape." Stan Dabkowski, owner of the farm, said yesterday that he had been told by the county only of a possibility of fines for staging the event, which drew protests from animal rights groups. He said that he will appeal any fine levied against him. Dabkowski canceled three additional contests, concerned that the county might fine him up to $2,000 - $100 for each of the 20 pigs used in the first event.
Joe Burris
5 architects on jury panel for UB law center design
Five nationally prominent architects have been selected to serve on the jury for a competition the University of Baltimore is holding this fall to choose designers for a $107 million law center at the intersection of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue. The jurors are New York architects James Stewart Polshek and Frances Halsband; Boston architects Andrea Leers and Robert Campbell, and Seattle architect David Miller. The competitors include Foster + Partners of Britain; Behnisch Architekten of Germany; Dominique Perrault Architecture of France; Moshe Safdie and Associates of Somerville, Mass.; and the SmithGroup of Washington. Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos has pledged $5 million toward construction of the project, and the Abell Foundation is providing $150,000 for the competition. A winner will be announced next month and the building is expected to open in 2012.
