Deal

Greg Cantori plans to downsize when he retires. Really, really downsize. His retirement home is 238 square feet — one-tenth the size of the average new American house — and sits in his Anne Arundel County yard. He and wife Renee can hitch it to a truck and take it with them wherever they go. "It's so cheap — that's what's so cool about this," said Cantori, 52, who envisions a surf-and-turf future, alternating between the house and a sailboat. "We bought the house for $19,000.

It's been cause for celebration for some in the Joppa area for a couple of weeks, or least since the Harford County government announced that it had abandoned its controversial plans to build a trash transfer station in the community. At the most recent Joppa Community Council meeting, there were congratulations all around after the county government announced it had reached an agreement with Baltimore County to allow Harford County trash to be taken to White Marsh. That agreement eliminates the need for a trash transfer station to be built on the former 22-acre Plecker property on Route 7 near its intersection with Route 152. Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie received the most praise from the group for the work he did on behalf of his home community to fight the proposal.

If you're a big fan, you already knew what was coming in the season finale. But it didn't make it any easier -- or less heartbreaking -- to watch. The majority of the Season 3 "Downton" finale, or the "Christmas special" as its called in the U.K., took place in Scotland, where the whole family (minus Branson) visits the Highlands home of the Dowager's niece, Susan, and her husband, Shrimpy. Most of the trip included bagpipes, hunting, more bagpipes and Scottish reel dancing. But more on that later (and more on O'Brien meeting her Scottish lady's maid doppelganger)

Hunt Valley-based Tessco Technologies Inc. said Wednesday that revenue and profits both fell about 18 percent in its most recent quarter compared with a year earlier, driven by its exit from a high-revenue business it considered too low margin. The provider of products for wireless broadband systems produced $2.9 million in net income in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended March 31. That's down from about $3.5 million in the year-earlier quarter. Revenue fell to about $158 million from almost $195 million a year earlier, while earnings fell to 35 cents a share from 43 cents.

Always, there were those lovely old country estates and gracious manor taverns with roaring fireplaces, but in the old days fine dining was associated with the city. Not so anymore. Now, there are more compelling reasons than ever for diners to cross county lines for a good meal. The 50 best county restaurants in Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County is a mix of the old and the new, destinations for special occasions and joints for Monday night suppers, the chef-driven and crowd-pleasing.

Now the branch signs are changed. Now the ATMs sport the NationsBank logo, instead of Maryland National's. And now the operators have stopped greeting callers with, "Maryland National-soon-to-be-NationsBank, may I help you?"A year after its parent was purchased by the Charlotte, N.C., banking company, Maryland National Bank is now NationsBank.The company has become part of the nation's fourth-largest bank, an institution that has grown phenomenally in the past five years based on two driving forces: a strategy, borrowed from the fast-food industry, of efficiency through nationwide standardization; and the ego and vision of the company's chairman, Hugh L. McColl Jr.But despite a statewide advertising campaign launched this month, many Marylanders can be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

Merry-Go-Round Enterprises Inc. captured the Chess King men's clothing chain yesterday in a gambit that will expand its empire by almost 50 percent.The Joppa-based retailer announced that it had reached a definitive agreement with Chess King's parent, Melville Corp., to acquire the 476-store division for an undisclosed amount. The companies said the deal was expected to be closed by the end of May.Merry-Go-Round, which operates 990 men's and women's clothing stores in 38 states, said it would integrate Chess King into its Merry-Go-Round and Menz divisions.

I am interested in a new-home community (non-gated) in Leesburg, Fla., and would like some advice on what procedures should be taken to negotiate a good deal (including getting top perks and upgrades, or price) on a new-construction home in that area with current market conditions. I also want to avoid potential problems and protect myself legally. I'm wondering what should be included in a contract, and how should I negotiate changes to a new construction contract. Should I do a background check on the builder?

It would have appeared to be pretty much of a no-brainer for Rony Seikaly. A deal had been made to send him to the Utah Jazz, a team that last year extended the Chicago Bulls to six games in the NBA Finals. Playing alongside Karl Malone and John Stockton, Seikaly -- who was not going to the playoffs with the Orlando Magic -- was as close to a title as he would ever realize.But the deal fell apart Wednesday. The Jazz said that Seikaly and his agent failed to communicate with the team. Seikaly -- perhaps in an attempt at spin control -- said on Friday that Utah was scared off by the deal because of a stress fracture in his foot that could keep him out for four weeks.

New Year's Eve 'Golden Ticket' at Harrah's What's the deal? This New Year's Eve, just about every casino in Atlantic City is offering parties open to the public - not just those on the casinos' invitation lists like it used to be. At Harrah's Atlantic City, you can get the "2010 Golden Ticket" package, which includes a Waterfront Tower premium room, two tickets to a celebration in the resort's lush indoor-pool area, three-hour open bar and...

He didn't get down on one knee, but Christopher Lee wooed his wife with a skyscraping crane she literally could call her own at the dedication of the port of Baltimore's berth capable of handling the world's largest cargo ships. As founder of Highstar Capital, the Ruxton resident provided the financial backing for a $105 million expansion at Seagirt Marine Terminal to make Baltimore one of only two East Coast ports — the other is Norfolk, Va. — ready to handle the larger ships that could pass through the widened Panama Canal in 2015.

Only three years ago, Baltimore and Maryland were all but out of the TV and film production business. After the glory years of “Homicide,” “The Corner,” “The Wire” and tens of millions of HBO dollars spent here on Maryland crews and materials, state funding for incentives had ended, and Hollywood had left Baltimore in its rear view mirror for what looked like good. But last Monday, Media Rights Capital and Netflix were back in town with stars like Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright and all those big, white Haddad's trucks to start filming season two of “House of Cards,” a series that last year had an economic impact of $140 million on the area, according to the Maryland Film Office.

Each week, The Baltimore Sun publishes a Q&A with a college lacrosse player or coach to get you more acquainted with the player and his/her team. Today's guest is Johns Hopkins sophomore attackman Wells Stanwick, who leads the team in assists with 22 and points with 45. The Baltimore native and Boys' Latin graduate entered the week ranked fourth in Division I in shooting percentage (.500). After Saturday's 8-4 loss to then-No. 7 Loyola, the No. 13 Blue Jays (8-5) are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1971, the debut of the event.

Two of the city's top three elected officials are criticizing what they believe is an over-reliance on consultants within city government. Both City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Comptroller Joan M. Pratt voted against a $27 million on-call consulting agreement with three firms and the city's Department of Public Works. The city's Board of Estimates, which is controlled by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, approved the deal by a 3-2 vote Wednesday.  "It appears that the city is continuing to outsource," Pratt said.

SEATTLE - Playing against the Orioles has to be viewed as just another game, Seattle Mariners infielder Robert Andino said before the teams' three-game series at Safeco Field kicked off. And then, Monday night, Andino went out and played a key role in beating his old team - hitting an RBI single to give the Mariners a lead they never lost and handling nine balls for outs while starting at second base in Seattle's 6-2 victory. Make no mistake: Andino, whom the Orioles traded to the Mariners this offseason for minor league outfielder Trayvon Robinson, wanted to remind his former organization what it gave up. But you'll never hear him say that.

Jefferson Bancorp Inc., parent of Lutherville-based Bay Bank, said Monday it had completed its acquisition of Carrollton Bancorp, the holding company of Columbia-based Carrollton Bank. The $25 million stock-cash deal included the repayment of $9.1 million from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, a federal program created more than four years ago to support banks during the financial crisis. The combined bank operations have total assets of about $480 million and a dozen branches. Under the merged operations, Carrollton's former 10 branches - from Anne Arundel County to Harford County - now bear the name of Bay Bank.

This time last year, the Orioles were stuck in trade rumor central while seeking upgrades for their playoff run. No kidding. Ultimately, they swapped mediocre outfielders with the Arizona Diamondbacks while orchestrating one of the ugliest collapses of recent times. This year, there will be no teases; they are already resting comfortably in their customary fourth-place spot in the American League East. Again, they're linked to trade rumors, this time primarily as a seller. They would like to unload Javy Lopez, Kevin Millar, Jeff Conine, Rodrigo Lopez and LaTroy Hawkins for major league-ready players.

Orioles reliever Mark Hendrickson's signing of a one-year, $1.2 million deal likely will not be officially announced until Monday. He completed his physical Friday and there weren't thought to be any problems. Transactions are not made official on weekends because Major League Baseball's offices are closed. - Dan Connolly

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating whether the body of a man that washed up against a homeowner's pier in southern Anne Arundel County on Thursday is that of a crew member who went missing from a commercial container ship late last year. Officials with the state's Department of Natural Resources Police alerted the Coast Guard of the body, which was found in Deale, about 7:40 p.m. Thursday, said Lt. Peter Francisco, a Coast Guard marine investigator. "Whenever there is a body recovered, that's cross-referenced against all missing people that the Coast Guard has searches for," Francisco said.

Venture capitalists poured $286.3 million into 30 deals in Maryland, Washington and Northern Virginia during the first quarter, compared with $219.7 million invested in 45 deals a year ago, according to the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Much of the quarter's increase, though, was attributed to $110 million in venture funding for Washington-based LivingSocial Inc., a daily deal website. Unlike the country overall, the region that includes Maryland saw an increase in investment dollars from the fourth quarter, said Brad Phillips, director of PricewaterhouseCoopers' emerging company services.