Darrin

They hope their vegetable lasagna and whole-leaf teas will coax Internet junkies out of isolation and into a place where the real and the virtual mingle.At the Strand, a new "cybercafe" in downtown Baltimore opening tomorrow, customers can order grilled sandwiches, soup, bean dip and a trip around the World Wide Web for $8 an hour.Owner Joshua Darrin, who knows computers, and manager Mark Asch, who knows coffee, are betting on an emerging idea that links two of the late '90s hottest trends -- coffeehouses and the Internet.

A police investigation of possible embezzlement from a Columbia village center is raising questions about the way the planned community has been governed since it began 30 years ago.Anne Darrin resigned Feb. 27 after 10 years as the Dorsey's Search village manager after a Columbia Association audit showed that about $100,000 may have been misappropriated from Dorsey's Search over several years, according to sources familiar with the document.The allegations -- the first in Columbia since a CA treasurer was convicted of embezzling 20 years ago -- bring to light the fact that the CA knows little about what happens to the $1.3 million it gives annually to the 10 village centers.

On July 23, 2004, GRETCHEL A. HALL (nee Walton), beloved wife of the late Lynwood A. Hall, Jr., dear sister of Maxine Ciesielski and James Walton, devoted aunt of Victoria A. Ciesielski, Michael F. Ciesielski, Veronica A. Riehl, and Dolly A. Walton, great-aunt of Rachel L. Munshi, Stevie L. Gregory, Stephanie M. Ciesielski, Taylor M. Kizina, Bridget D. Walton and Elizabeth L. Wood, cousin of Susan Archer, special friend of Darrin Sprouse and Tom L....

Less than a year after she was sentenced to spend 18 months in jail for embezzling about $65,000 from her Columbia village association, former Dorsey's Search manager Anne S. Darrin was back in court yesterday to ask a Howard County Circuit Court judge to wipe her criminal record clean. Judge Raymond Kane said no. "I don't believe that is an appropriate disposition," Kane told Darrin's attorneys during a brief sentencing reconsideration hearing. Her lawyers had asked Kane to strike the theft conviction and replace it with probation before judgment.

BASEBALL American League* BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Sent Mike Oquist, Richie Lewis and Arthur Rhodes, pitchers, to their minor league camp for reassignment.* CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- Sent Greg Perschke and Rich Scheid, pitchers; Norberto Martin, infielder, to Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League. Sent Johnny Ruffin, pitcher, to Birmingham, of the Southern League. Sent Rodney Bolton and Mike Dunne, pitchers; Clemente Alvarez, Darrin Campbell and Rogelio Nunez, catchers; Chris Cron, Joe Hall, Ever Magellanes and Mike Robertson, infielders; Shawn Jeter and Brad Komminsk, outfielders, to their minor league camp for reassignment.

The Columbia Council is considering a proposal to remove financial autonomy from Columbia's 10 village centers amid questions of possible financial mismanagement at one center and an audit that is examining the books at all centers.Anne Darrin, village manager of Dorsey's Search, resigned Feb. 27, a few weeks after the Columbia Association launched an audit of her center's records, according to Pam Mack, a CA spokeswoman.In a written statement, Darrin, who had been the center's manager since 1989, said, "The village ran very well under my management, and the results all support this."

Quote: "I had never hit lefty before, and it felt awkward. It was like throwing a ball left-handed."Ray Durham of the White Sox, on learning to switch-hit. It's a fact: All 10 of Jose Canseco's homers this season have come as a designated hitter. Last year, the Devil Rays got only 16 homers from the DH position.Who's hot: The Blue Jays' Darrin Fletcher has 14 RBIs this month, nine more than he had last April, when he went hitless in his first 18 at-bats.Who's not: The Yankees' Scott Brosius, who is expected to come off the disabled list tomorrow, is hitting .125.

Moves Baseball GIANTS: Recalled P Brad Hennessey from Triple-A Fresno. Optioned P Scott Munter to Fresno. MARLINS: Placed P Guillermo Mota on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 24, with inflammation in right elbow. Recalled P Travis Smith from Triple-A Albuquerque. RANGERS: Placed P Carlos Almanzar on 15-day DL. Activated P Joaquin Benoit. REDS: Activated P Ramon Ortiz from 15-day DL. Optioned P Todd Coffey to Triple-A Louisville. RED SOX: Signed 1B John Olerud to minor league contract.