Business Owners

Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. accused a state Democratic Party employee of "inappropriate" behavior Thursday when the worker directed a question at the former governor while monitoring a campaign event. Isaac Salazar, communications director for the Maryland Democratic Party, was not allowed to finish a question about unemployment benefits and Ehrlich ignored his subsequent interview attempts as a lunchtime session with about 30 small-business owners at a Howard County restaurant broke up. "It's a no-class move to do what he did," Ehrlich said.

Palestinians want a prosperous nation. Israel wants a permanent peace ("Israelis debate ground invasion," Nov. 20). Non-government sponsored businesses make profit from peace and free trade, regardless of the ideology of their owners. The owners will therefore tend to vote for peace and free trade, which will increase profit for their businesses. Israeli and Palestinian business owners and leaders should vote first, based on number of employees and tax revenue. Pass this vote to the people in the general elections, pointing out that these are the experts on creating jobs and prosperity.

Saying their survival is important to the growth of new jobs in Maryland, owners of small businesses from across the state appealed to lawmakers in Annapolis yesterday to lower taxes and offer relief from regulations they view as overly burdensome.Business owners delivered their message during an annual lobbying day organized by the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's largest small business advocacy group."We really want less government," said Vaughn Foxwell Jr., owner of the Capital KOA Campground franchise and Heritage Tours in Millersville.

The Carroll County Department of Economic Development is working with the Maryland Department of Economic Development to assess the county's business losses related to Hurricane Sandy, late last month. Carroll County business owners who suffered any losses in the storm are asked to call the Carroll County Department of Economic Development to report the loss as soon as possible. The department is gathering contact information and type of loss, along with a cost estimate, and will forward the data to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, as well as the Maryland Emergency Management Association (MEMA)

With its Page 3 headline in the Real Estate Section about the sale of retired Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis' Florida home, The Sun continues to laud a professional athlete who leaves damaged business owners in his wake ("Live like Ray? It'll cost about $5 million," March 17)? Mr. Lewis' failed MVP Lanes in Hunt Valley got him favorable coverage in the paper twice, while contractors were so damaged that the proceeds from the sale of his home may not even cover their losses. Dennis R. McCartney, Dundalk Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

With legislation to legalize same-sex marriage expected in the General Assembly, Maryland's Roman Catholic bishops are calling on parishioners to act against the proposal and other measures that they say threaten "religious liberty. " In a 16-page statement sent to parishes throughout the state, the bishops say a same-sex marriage law would lead to violations of First Amendment rights. "Religious liberty and the right of conscience will be further eroded unless the Catholic community stays informed about the challenges these rights face and the reasons why they are integral to a just society," said the statement, entitled "The Most Sacred of All Property: Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland.

A Hampden restaurant owner's decision to disassemble an oversized flamingo rather than pay a newly imposed annual tax is being lamented by many in the business district where the big bird hung overhead for seven years. But others call the controversy a silly distraction. Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting, working with the artist who constructed the bird from bedsheets and wire, removed the flamingo from her fire escape before dawn Tuesday, several weeks after the city Department of General Services assessed her $800 in annual charges.

The state's highest court will review a Baltimore judge's declaration that contracts at the heart of the long-planned State Center redevelopment are void. Maryland's Court of Appeals granted the review on Tuesday. The decision means the case will skip the state's intermediate appellate court. In January, Judge Althea M. Handy voided the development contracts that set up a framework for a mixed-use overhaul of a 28-acre site in midtown Baltimore that houses several state agencies.

Being a nice guy almost drove Frank Mendicina out of business.Three years ago, customers of Southern California-based Select Copy Systems, owed him about $450,000, and half of his accounts re- ceivable were 90 days late."

At Liam Flynn's Ale House in Baltimore's Station North Arts and Entertainment District, two George Washingtons will get you a can of Natty Boh. But a single Baltimore BNote, with an image of Frederick Douglass on one side and an oriole on the other, will get you the same beer at half price. It's a special the bar's proprietors use to promote the circulation of the local currency. "It's a deal - and people take advantage of it every day," said Liam Flynn. "Usually it's about 20 BNotes a day. " The BNote recently turned 2 years old and is now accepted at more than 200 local businesses.