Ara

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Blair Major's stakes-winning gelding Ara Russell, assigned top weight of 121 pounds, heads a field of six sprinters scheduled to go in tonight's 6 1/2 -furlong handicap feature at the Charles Town Races.The race, the 10th on the card, is the first in a series of five handicaps for 3-year-olds and upward to be run during the summer meet at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles.

Four weeks after his concessions deal with ARA fell apart, CFL Colts owner Jim Speros got a check he could take to the bank."This one is a real check," Speros said yesterday, announcing a five-year contract with Fine Host Corporation at a news conference on the playing field at Memorial Stadium. "It goes to the bank. It has a signature on it."On a day when Speros' CFL bank account got a shot in the arm, even he could joke about the failed deal that left him without a concessionaire. On April 18, he was presented a mock check for $1 million by ARA-Martin's.

Jim Speros wined and dined Baltimore business leaders yesterday, launching a campaign for corporate sponsorship that had an immediate return.During a kickoff luncheon at Martin's West, the owner of the Canadian Football League Colts announced he had selected ARA-Martin's as concessionaire for Memorial Stadium. Exhibit A was a giant mock check for $1 million presented to Speros by Martin Resnick, chairman of the board of Martin's West, and Hugh Gallagher, president of the concessions division of ARA in Philadelphia.

On April 18, at a luncheon for local business leaders, CFL Colts owner Jim Speros held up an enlarged, mock check for $1 million. The occasion heralded Speros' partnership with ARA-Martin's as concessionaire at Memorial Stadium.Two weeks later, the real check still hasn't arrived, and now ARA is no longer in the picture -- at the request of the Orioles. Peter Angelos, Orioles owner, yesterday acknowledged his involvement in ARA's decision to withdraw from the concessions deal with the Canadian Football League team.

On April 18, at a luncheon for local business leaders, CFL Colts owner Jim Speros held up an enlarged, mock check for $1 million. The occasion heralded Speros' partnership with ARA-Martin's as concessionaire at Memorial Stadium.Two weeks later, the real check still hasn't arrived, and now ARA is no longer in the picture -- at the request of the Orioles. Peter Angelos, Orioles owner, yesterday acknowledged his involvement in ARA's decision to withdraw from the concessions deal with the Canadian Football League team.

When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opens in April, baseball fans will be able to buy mixed drinks and take them back to their seats -- a departure from the common practice at Memorial Stadium.The stadium concessionaire, ARA Leisure Services Inc., plans to sell gin and tonics, rum and Cokes and other mixed drinks from four new "deli-bars" located at strategic points in the stadium and the former B&O warehouse next to it."We've tried hard to develop some spaces for the little guy," said Joe Costa, regional general manager for ARA.Mixed drinks will also be available from bartenders in the members-only lounge and stocked refrigerators in the luxury skyboxes at Camden Yards, but ARA wanted to create attractive bars for the ordinary fan who cannot afford a skybox.

The concessionaire for Oriole Park at Camden Yards wants to hire more than 400 people to sell food and drinks at the new downtown ballpark and will start taking applications at Memorial Stadium from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today.ARA Leisure Services Inc. will also hold "open houses" at Memorial Stadium's Hit & Run Club from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday."This is new for us. We don't know how many people to expect," said ARA personnel manager Debbie Wyda. "We'll be here until midnight if we need to to accommodate the people who come in."

The concessionaire for Oriole Park at Camden Yards wants to hire more than 400 people to sell food and drinks at the new downtown ballpark and will start taking applications at Memorial Stadium from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today.ARA Leisure Services Inc. will also hold "open houses" at Memorial Stadium's Hit & Run Club from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday."This is new for us. We don't know how many people to expect," said ARA personnel manager Debbie Wyda. "We'll be here until midnight if we need to to accommodate the people who come in."

Dear Doctor:Considering the quality of food provided by ARA-Martin's through the years, wouldn't it be nice to have some locals have their own booths? This could provide a tremendous variety from folks with a reputation to uphold, thereby guaranteeing quality.I'm sure it could be arranged that ARA received compensation while not having to provide the food. That would be a win for everyone.Sig SeidenmanOwings MillsDear Sig Seidenman:Thank you for your letter, which arrived just before lunch time.

Four weeks after his concessions deal with ARA fell apart, CFL Colts owner Jim Speros got a check he could take to the bank."This one is a real check," Speros said yesterday, announcing a five-year contract with Fine Host Corporation at a news conference on the playing field at Memorial Stadium. "It goes to the bank. It has a signature on it."On a day when Speros' CFL bank account got a shot in the arm, even he could joke about the failed deal that left him without a concessionaire. On April 18, he was presented a mock check for $1 million by ARA-Martin's.

Jim Speros wined and dined Baltimore business leaders yesterday, launching a campaign for corporate sponsorship that had an immediate return.During a kickoff luncheon at Martin's West, the owner of the Canadian Football League Colts announced he had selected ARA-Martin's as concessionaire for Memorial Stadium. Exhibit A was a giant mock check for $1 million presented to Speros by Martin Resnick, chairman of the board of Martin's West, and Hugh Gallagher, president of the concessions division of ARA in Philadelphia.

Letters, calls and the roar of the crowd:Jeffrey Tallman, Lubbock, Texas: Your recent column graphically illustrates your ignorance on the gays in the military issue.In the military, personnel can be punished for taking part in "high risk" activities that may cause harm to them or others. Some of these high risk activities include: failing to wear seat belts on base, failing to protect oneself from sunburn, and refusing to get a flu shot.This protects the investment the military has made in its personnel to insure a viable fighting force.

Fans filled the ballpark game after game, racking up 5 straight sellouts and a stunning season's attendance of 3,567,819.Downtown bustled with activity as visitors to the ballpark detoured past the Inner Harbor on the way to their extra-roomy, Camden green seats.Even the Orioles did their part, staying in the divisional race about six months longer than even the most optimistic rooter might have predicted.Was it a good year for baseball in Baltimore?Maybe the best.On the season's final day, it's time to take a look back at the inaugural year at Camden Yards, analyzing every ticket stub, parking space and Italian sausage.

When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opens in April, baseball fans will be able to buy mixed drinks and take them back to their seats -- a departure from the common practice at Memorial Stadium.The stadium concessionaire, ARA Leisure Services Inc., plans to sell gin and tonics, rum and Cokes and other mixed drinks from four new "deli-bars" located at strategic points in the stadium and the former B&O warehouse next to it."We've tried hard to develop some spaces for the little guy," said Joe Costa, regional general manager for ARA.Mixed drinks will also be available from bartenders in the members-only lounge and stocked refrigerators in the luxury skyboxes at Camden Yards, but ARA wanted to create attractive bars for the ordinary fan who cannot afford a skybox.

The concessionaire for Oriole Park at Camden Yards wants to hire more than 400 people to sell food and drinks at the new downtown ballpark and will start taking applications at Memorial Stadium from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today.ARA Leisure Services Inc. will also hold "open houses" at Memorial Stadium's Hit & Run Club from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday."This is new for us. We don't know how many people to expect," said ARA personnel manager Debbie Wyda. "We'll be here until midnight if we need to to accommodate the people who come in."

The concessionaire for Oriole Park at Camden Yards wants to hire more than 400 people to sell food and drinks at the new downtown ballpark and will start taking applications at Memorial Stadium from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today.ARA Leisure Services Inc. will also hold "open houses" at Memorial Stadium's Hit & Run Club from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday."This is new for us. We don't know how many people to expect," said ARA personnel manager Debbie Wyda. "We'll be here until midnight if we need to to accommodate the people who come in."

In civilian life, Andrew D. Levy is a Baltimore lawyer who works in an office several blocks from the new downtown ballpark.But there are other days and, for Levy, other roles. Yesterday morning he was rolling his wheelchair through the hallways of the unfinished Baltimore Orioles park, offering suggestions about everything from the height of food-stand counter tops to the gentle pitch of exit ramps.Levy joined a group of about a dozen Orioles fans who looked over the ballpark yesterday as guests of the team and ARA-Martin's, the caterers who feed fans at Memorial Stadium and who will continue next year at the downtown location.

Letters, calls and the roar of the crowd:Jeffrey Tallman, Lubbock, Texas: Your recent column graphically illustrates your ignorance on the gays in the military issue.In the military, personnel can be punished for taking part in "high risk" activities that may cause harm to them or others. Some of these high risk activities include: failing to wear seat belts on base, failing to protect oneself from sunburn, and refusing to get a flu shot.This protects the investment the military has made in its personnel to insure a viable fighting force.

Dear Doctor:Considering the quality of food provided by ARA-Martin's through the years, wouldn't it be nice to have some locals have their own booths? This could provide a tremendous variety from folks with a reputation to uphold, thereby guaranteeing quality.I'm sure it could be arranged that ARA received compensation while not having to provide the food. That would be a win for everyone.Sig SeidenmanOwings MillsDear Sig Seidenman:Thank you for your letter, which arrived just before lunch time.

In civilian life, Andrew D. Levy is a Baltimore lawyer who works in an office several blocks from the new downtown ballpark.But there are other days and, for Levy, other roles. Yesterday morning he was rolling his wheelchair through the hallways of the unfinished Baltimore Orioles park, offering suggestions about everything from the height of food-stand counter tops to the gentle pitch of exit ramps.Levy joined a group of about a dozen Orioles fans who looked over the ballpark yesterday as guests of the team and ARA-Martin's, the caterers who feed fans at Memorial Stadium and who will continue next year at the downtown location.