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Governor's choices add to budget woes Gov. Martin O'Malley is showing that he is not capable of leading the state of Maryland during a recession ("Budget blues," editorial, Dec. 21). First, he holds a special legislative session to raise taxes and get slots approved to prevent a budget disaster, but new spending in the same special session cancels out some of the revenue gains. Then he furloughs state employees to save roughly $34 million. Now he proposes to cut education by $38 million ("State may cut $38 million to local school districts," Dec. 20)

Henry L. Rocklin Jr., who practiced law in Baltimore for more than 40 years and for a time was a law partner of former Gov. Marvin Mandel, died Friday of coronary artery disease at his home in Pikesville. He was 76.Born and raised in Baltimore, Mr. Rocklin dropped out of high school and moved from job to job as a young man -- including work as a bowling alley pin boy, soda jerk and chauffeur. He played drums with jazz musician Louis Prima for a week before leaving to join the Army in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, said his wife of 13 years, the former Dolores Sigmon.

The Independence Day festivities in the Inner Harbor were marred by two incidents of violence Monday night, the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old man after an argument and the wounding of a 4-year-old boy by an apparent stray bullet. But before people start condemning Baltimore as unsafe and irredeemable, some caution — and perhaps context — is in order. That's not in any way to excuse these reprehensible actions. The stabbing victim — Joseph Calo, 26, of Opelika, Ala. — couldn't have merited his fate in the midst of what was supposed to be a joyful celebration of this nation’s founding.

Fifty years ago this month, two Italian immigrants, Joseph Canzani and Sabatino Luperini, pooled their modest resources to open a small, family-style restaurant in a rowhouse in Little Italy. Next week, Canzani's 60-year-old nephew, Vince Culotta, now co-owner of Sabatino's Italian restaurant, will preside over a golden anniversary celebration that captures the qualities that have long made the place a Baltimore landmark. Culotta and Renato Rotondo, his chef and co-owner, won't just be offering every customer a souvenir replica of one of Sabatino's menus from the 1950s.

Current zoning law allows electronic message boards "as long as they are on a cycle of no less than five seconds." Councilman Jamie Benoit said he believes the billboards are illegal; he hopes to clarify a law already on the books. The county has seven or eight of these signs, according to the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. Of that, only a couple appear to have moving video or text that would conflict with Benoit's bill, said Bob Burdon, the chamber's president and chief executive officer.

FREDERICK -- Frederick's Board of Aldermen will consider removing from City Hall a bronze bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision affirming slavery. The statue of Taney, who lived about 20 years in Frederick, "does not belong in front of the city center," Democratic Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak said Thursday. Four of the five aldermen agreed to start the discussion by asking the city staff to investigate the possible removal of the bust from the spot it has occupied in front of City Hall for 75 years.

I am a 56-year-old woman, 5 feet 6 and 138 pounds. I am in good condition and walk 2 miles a day, but I need an effective exercise for my abs. What can you recommend? We posed your question to Jeffrey W. Brandes, certified personal trainer at Merritt Downtown Athletic Club in Baltimore, who says you should start with basic floor crunches. When your abdominal muscles become stronger, Brandes says you can begin incorporating single and double leg movements, and twists to work the obliques.

Coming into this season, Catonsville volleyball coach Dorothy Gill thought her team might challenge Baltimore County powers Towson and Dulaney. The Comets proved her right Friday night with a sweep of then-No. 6 Towson, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19. Lija Glemza, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, led the Comets with 21 kills and setter Amanda Perry dished out 22 assists. Teresa Daley added eight kills. "I did see this as a possibility, but I'm not going to pretend I wasn't nervous going into the match," said Gill, in her first season as head coach.

On November 8, 2002 RICHARD WARREN SR., beloved husband of Sylvia Annette Carter (nee Jearmon); devoted father of Richard Warren Carter Jr., Kevin Iran Carter, Melissa Annette Carter and Christopher Ian Carter; devoted brother of Victor D. Carter, Wayne A. Carter and Roger E. Carter. Also survived by eleven grandchildren. Friends may call at the family owned Leonard J. Ruck Inc. Funeral Home, 5305 Harford Rd. (at Echodale) on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Mr. Carter will lie in state at The Cedonia Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses on Friday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. the Funeral Hour.