Balser

Shirley Balser, a rare-books and art dealer, died Monday of a pulmonary embolism at Sinai Hospital. The Pikesville resident was 80. Miss Balser was born in Baltimore and raised in Forest Park. "She was a 1946 graduate of Forest Park High School, where she was art editor of the yearbook and wrote for the school newspaper," said her sister, Trudy Kaufman of Pikesville. After earning a bachelor's degree in literature and art from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1950, she worked as a copywriter in the advertising department of the old Julius Gutman department store in downtown Baltimore.

Shirley Balser, a rare-books and art dealer, died Monday of a pulmonary embolism at Sinai Hospital. The Pikesville resident was 80. Miss Balser was born in Baltimore and raised in Forest Park. "She was a 1946 graduate of Forest Park High School, where she was art editor of the yearbook and wrote for the school newspaper," said her sister, Trudy Kaufman of Pikesville. After earning a bachelor's degree in literature and art from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1950, she worked as a copywriter in the advertising department of the old Julius Gutman department store in downtown Baltimore.

YORK, Pa.-- A lavish off-track betting parlor, one of the most well-appointed pari-mutuel facilities in the mid-Atlantic region, opened here last week and is spurring Maryland racetrack operators to accelerate efforts to open an upscale facility at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.Laurel/Pimlico president Joe De Francis said he is fielding telephone calls from local fans who are discovering the York facility.Towson attorney Mo Balser, a horse owner as well as a fan, said that after one trip to the York OTB, he is considering changing his race-going habits.

On November 4, 2006, RHONDA LYNN WOOD (nee Balser), beloved wife of Ronnie F. Wood, Sr., devoted mother of Ronnie F. Wood, Jr., and Renee' L. Wood, loving daughter of Howard and Nancy Balser, dear sister of Wayne and Doug Balser and Melissia Bolling, daughter-in-law of Davis Mayhorne, best friend of Michael Gilliam and Beverly Stefanski. A funeral service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Thursday at 10 A.M. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens.

On November 4, 2006, RHONDA LYNN WOOD (nee Balser), beloved wife of Ronnie F. Wood, Sr., devoted mother of Ronnie F. Wood, Jr., and Renee' L. Wood, loving daughter of Howard and Nancy Balser, dear sister of Wayne and Doug Balser and Melissia Bolling, daughter-in-law of Davis Mayhorne, best friend of Michael Gilliam and Beverly Stefanski. A funeral service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Thursday at 10 A.M. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens.

U.S. 40 and U.S. 1 have some of the most dangerous intersections in the county, says a county transportation study. But officials say recent construction projects have improved safety at two of these roads' intersections that are the county's very worst.The intersection of U.S. 40 and Normandy Woods Drive was listed as the worst in the county from 1990 through 1992 in a county consultant's report released last month. The report on highways was part of the county's Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Howard County's green transit buses carried 13 percent more riders last fiscal year, but the revenue gain was more than eaten up by higher fuel costs, according to Ray Ambrose, the system's administrator. "Our costs really increased rapidly last year because of the fuel issue," he said. While the system carried 80,000 more riders and took in $50,000 more in revenues, gas costs for the 27-bus system were up $80,000, Ambrose said. The problem will keep the system from adding major new services at a time when better public transportation is being discussed as a vital element in redeveloping Columbia's downtown, and to serve economic growth.

Howard County's green transit buses carried 13 percent more riders last fiscal year, but the revenue gain was more than eaten up by higher fuel costs, according to Ray Ambrose, the system's administrator. "Our costs really increased rapidly last year because of the fuel issue," he said. While the system carried 80,000 more riders and took in $50,000 more in revenue, gas costs for the 27-bus system were up $80,000, Ambrose said. The problem will keep the system from adding major new services at a time when better public transportation is being discussed as a vital element in redeveloping Columbia's downtown, and to serve economic growth.

The construction of an interchange at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Route 216 is Howard County's highest priority road project, according to a list presented at a meeting of the county's public transportation board last night.The tentative list of projects prepared by a traffic consultant hired by the county also gives high priorities to capital improvements along the U.S. 1 corridor and Roxbury Mills Road.County traffic planners said they will use the list to help them decide what projects to ask for in next year's proposed budget.

It was a few hours after the first snow flurry of the year, dusk was falling and Kyle Burke was walking north along U.S. 1 in Howard County, near Whiskey Bottom Road, trying to find a ride home to Columbia from his first day at a new job. His sister had given him a lift in the morning, but wasn't able to take him home. He'd just missed one bus that would have taken him halfway toward home, and another bus that passed wasn't headed his way. He was going to have to shell out $10 for a cab. "If you got to come this way, it's difficult," said Burke, whose car blew out its engine in August.

Howard County's green transit buses carried 13 percent more riders last fiscal year, but the revenue gain was more than eaten up by higher fuel costs, according to Ray Ambrose, the system's administrator. "Our costs really increased rapidly last year because of the fuel issue," he said. While the system carried 80,000 more riders and took in $50,000 more in revenues, gas costs for the 27-bus system were up $80,000, Ambrose said. The problem will keep the system from adding major new services at a time when better public transportation is being discussed as a vital element in redeveloping Columbia's downtown, and to serve economic growth.

Howard County's green transit buses carried 13 percent more riders last fiscal year, but the revenue gain was more than eaten up by higher fuel costs, according to Ray Ambrose, the system's administrator. "Our costs really increased rapidly last year because of the fuel issue," he said. While the system carried 80,000 more riders and took in $50,000 more in revenue, gas costs for the 27-bus system were up $80,000, Ambrose said. The problem will keep the system from adding major new services at a time when better public transportation is being discussed as a vital element in redeveloping Columbia's downtown, and to serve economic growth.

When a Maryland Transit Administration commuter bus that runs from Columbia to Baltimore discontinues all its neighborhood stops in a week, Howard County buses will pick up the slack. County Executive James N. Robey has decided to spend the roughly $42,000 a year needed to send two Howard Transit vehicles to the same general areas where the No. 310 commuter bus has traveled, though with about half as many pickup points. Faced with a budget crunch, the MTA decided this month to eliminate the 20 or so stops in Oakland Mills and Long Reach villages.

It was a few hours after the first snow flurry of the year, dusk was falling and Kyle Burke was walking north along U.S. 1 in Howard County, near Whiskey Bottom Road, trying to find a ride home to Columbia from his first day at a new job. His sister had given him a lift in the morning, but wasn't able to take him home. He'd just missed one bus that would have taken him halfway toward home, and another bus that passed wasn't headed his way. He was going to have to shell out $10 for a cab. "If you got to come this way, it's difficult," said Burke, whose car blew out its engine in August.

If Howard County transportation officials have their way, there could soon be a new evening bus route between residential and employment centers, a reduction in waiting time for riders and a resumption of service in the western county.Those were some of the services officials said they could offer if the state provides a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in transportation funding to the county for the fiscal year that begins July 1.Officials of Corridor Transportation Corp. are cautiously optimistic the county will get the money.

The Howard County Public Transportation Board unanimously agreed last night to approve a proposal for an express bus route between The Mall in Columbia and the Savage MARC commuter train station."

The Howard County Public Transportation Board unanimously agreed last night to approve a proposal for an express bus route between The Mall in Columbia and the Savage MARC commuter train station."

When a Maryland Transit Administration commuter bus that runs from Columbia to Baltimore discontinues all its neighborhood stops in a week, Howard County buses will pick up the slack. County Executive James N. Robey has decided to spend the roughly $42,000 a year needed to send two Howard Transit vehicles to the same general areas where the No. 310 commuter bus has traveled, though with about half as many pickup points. Faced with a budget crunch, the MTA decided this month to eliminate the 20 or so stops in Oakland Mills and Long Reach villages.

YORK, Pa.-- A lavish off-track betting parlor, one of the most well-appointed pari-mutuel facilities in the mid-Atlantic region, opened here last week and is spurring Maryland racetrack operators to accelerate efforts to open an upscale facility at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.Laurel/Pimlico president Joe De Francis said he is fielding telephone calls from local fans who are discovering the York facility.Towson attorney Mo Balser, a horse owner as well as a fan, said that after one trip to the York OTB, he is considering changing his race-going habits.

The construction of an interchange at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Route 216 is Howard County's highest priority road project, according to a list presented at a meeting of the county's public transportation board last night.The tentative list of projects prepared by a traffic consultant hired by the county also gives high priorities to capital improvements along the U.S. 1 corridor and Roxbury Mills Road.County traffic planners said they will use the list to help them decide what projects to ask for in next year's proposed budget.