Annapolis

The Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will pick a replacement for former Alderman Richard E. Israel on Tuesday night. Three men have applied to replace Israel, who resigned from the City Council earlier this month because he is moving to an assisted living facility that's outside of the ward he represented. Israel has Parkinson's disease. The replacement alderman will serve the remainder of Israel's term, which runs through this fall's city elections. The applicants seeking to finish Israel's term are Joe Budge, Paul Clar and Thomas McCarthy.

The newest alderman on the Annapolis City Council will be downtown resident and activist Joe Budge. The Annapolis Democratic Central Committee selected Budge on Tuesday night to replace former Alderman Richard Israel, who resigned earlier this month. Budge is a retiree and a 10-year resident of Annapolis who has frequently appeared before the City Council representing the Ward One Residents Asscociation. Budge earned votes from five of the nine members of the central committee.

A vacant building in a prime location at Annapolis City Dock is about to be sold. An investment group led by Mark Ordan, CEO of Sunrise Senior Living, has signed a deal to buy the former Fawcett Boat Supplies building at 110 Compromise St. The building sits in a key spot in downtown Annapolis and will figure into the city's plans to redevelop the City Dock area. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, and Ordan said it won't be final until the proposal passes a five-month study period "to make sure we have the support and cooperation of the city and the various constituents.

A proposal to reshape City Dock in Annapolis is drawing criticism from traditionalists, who say taller buildings and other ideas to spur economic development could spoil the Colonial-era character and Chesapeake Bay views of the historic waterfront. The dock is among the most prized pieces of real estate in Annapolis. But as the city considers the draft master plan for the area, the question of how to blend its past with the present-day desire for economic vitality is sparking controversy.

Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin recently hosted an event in Annapolis to discuss the national debt and how it relates to businesses in the state. It was refreshing to finally hear a member of Congress talk about the need for politicians to work toward a bipartisan solution rather than make absolute statements that feed the flames of partisanship. Senator Cardin's leadership in addressing the issue should be applauded. At the event, which attracted dozens of concerned citizens, Mr. Cardin spoke highly of the Bowles-Simpson Commission's plan and criticized Congress for the missed opportunity of not giving it an up-or-down vote.

A $1.5 million federal grant will help pay for rebuilding the downtown Annapolis City Dock, including upgrades to stormwater management controls to reduce frequent flooding. "City Dock is arguably the city's most important asset, and first and foremost, we need to be responsible stewards of the assets we have," said Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen. An overall $12.5 million rehabilitation project for the dock involves stabilizing and rebuilding 700 linear feet of City Dock's bulkhead, as well as the stormwater measures and upgrading slips used by transient boaters who visit Annapolis.

Even as an experienced sailor, Peter McChesney said that racing the J/70 gives him a different kind of thrill. The 223/4-foot boat, the newest design of Rhode Island-based J/Boats, which began building its line in the late 1970s, will be the most popular entry in the prestigious Annapolis National Offshore One-Design (NOOD) Regatta Series, which will be held Friday through next Sunday. The third leg of the six-race series is expected to attract an estimated 1,000 sailors, with the top prize being a trip to the Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Championship in the British Virgin Islands in November.

Don Backe never won the America's Cup or any other world-class sailing event, but he probably had more of an impact on the sport around the Chesapeake Bay than any champion. A segment of the local sailing community - the physically and emotionally disabled as well as those who couldn't afford to sail - are deeply indebted to Backe, who helped found Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) in 1991, four years after a car accident left him a paraplegic. While mourning his death on April 12 at age 77 after a prolonged illness, those who knew Backe are also celebrating his life - particularly the last 22 years of it. A memorial service is being planned for June in Annapolis, where Backe's nonprofit was based.

As a Maryland taxpayer, I am appalled at the back room deal made by advocates of the Towson University men's baseball program and the response by Comptroller Peter Franchot ("Franchot calls on president of Towson University to resign," April 18). The taxpayers should be outraged that for the next two years, they are forced to fund (to the tune of $300,000 per year) a program that has already been determined to be unsustainable. Towson University President Maravene Loeschke was brave to make such a difficult decision in the face of the obviously powerful "sports lobbyists," and she should be applauded.

Et cetera Annapolis women lose in finals at USTA League 6.0 Super Senior National Championships A women's team from Annapolis represented the Mid-Atlantic Section at the USTA League 6.0 Super Senior National Championships on Sunday and placed second. The Annapolis women defeated a team from Yakima, Wash., in the semifinals, 2-1, before losing to a team from York, Pa., in the championship match, 2-1. The team consists of Eileen Gilkey Covert , Linda Daniels , captain Judy Harrison , Tori Matton , Heidi Salvesen , Sue Sherrill , Margaret Singh , and Susan Thompson . College track and field: Navy junior Teronda Brown was honored as the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week, while Mids senior Brigid Byrne was the Track Athlete of the Week.