Distribution

The Sun's recent article about breweries hit the nail on the head ("Md. breweries booming," Nov. 10). As the brewers observe, "...a change in the law - like allowing micro-breweries to self-distribute - would encourage more to get into the business. " Modifying Maryland's distribution laws would ultimately benefit consumers by providing greater choice of products made in Maryland. We consumers have been deprived far too long. James Bauernschmidt, Severna Park

An estimated 3.5 million cancer patients around the globe are in severe pain from their disease, but many get no relief. In poor countries the cost is considered too high for drugs like morphine when such opioids are often stolen, abused or not taken according to instruction. But some Johns Hopkins University scientists have been working on a solution for those patients, as well as some in the United States, that uses a flexible button-sized disk implanted under the skin that releases consistent doses of painkiller over a month.

Loch Raven Technical Academy, in partnership with the Maryland Food Bank, will be distributing food at the LRTA Food Pantry inside the school, 8101 LaSalle Road, on Saturday, Nov. 19, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program is a new outreach effort at the school. Families in need in the community are invited to come and receive food items. The food bank provides the food for the pantry only on designated dates. The next date after Nov. 19 will be in December. Loch Raven program designed to map a path for students Students in gifted and talented courses in Grades seven, eight and nine and their parents are invited to Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Avenue in Towson, on Nov. 2, at 6:45 p.m., for a presentation on the choices and challenges as they prepare for their high school and postsecondary education.

Two unidentified operators of a prescription drug clinic in Lutherville that was raided by Baltimore County narcotics officers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents Tuesday have been arrested, according to county police. One was arrested at the Healthy Life Medical Group clinic in the 1100 block of York Road, the other at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, police said. Both have been charged with conspiracy to distribute Schedule II narcotics, which include amphetamines, methamphetamines and other drugs that can be used in a medical setting but have "a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence," according to the DEA website.

Low-income Baltimore County residents will be able to receive surplus federal food at nine sites today through Sept. 25.Applesauce, canned corn, cornmeal, peanut butter, canned pork, flour and canned tomatoes will be distributed from 8:30 a.m. until supplies are gone. Distribution at the Parkton site will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.The distribution begins today at the county government building in at Wise Avenue and Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk.The other distribution dates and sites are:* Tomorrow, St. Luke's Church, 7517 North Point Road, Edgemere.

At this time of year, many fund investors' thoughts turn to capital gains. That's not surprising because funds are paying out some big ones this year, sometimes on top of losses. That kind of activity prompted several readers to ask about automatically reinvesting gains distributions, and whether it's always a good idea to plow gains back into a fund. Reinvestment is a decision every fund investor should explore before buying a fund. Funds generally reinvest distributions as a matter of course, paying gains out by check only when the customer opts out of the rollover program.

A 31-year-old Ellicott City man who police say was a key supplier ina Columbia cocaine ring pleaded guilty Monday in Circuit Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.Timothy Joseph O'Neill of the 8500 block of Spring Harvest Way was part of a local drug distribution network that did $15,000 in business a month, selling cocaine primarily in the Wilde Lake Village Center and the Lakefront area, county police said.He faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing Nov. 26 before Judge Cornelius F. Sybert Jr.Police say the case is unusual because O'Neill and others involved in the drug network are affluent, longtime county residents.

WASHINGTON -- The federal and state governments could buy childhood vaccines and distribute them free under a plan being considered by the Clinton administration to ensure virtually all U.S. children are vaccinated.At present, the government says, only 40 percent to 60 percent of preschool children get the recommended shots, and in some inner-city neighborhoods the number is just 10 percent. Health officials say the low level of immunization is one reason for outbreaks of measles and other diseases in the last few years.

WHEN HARFORD COUNTY began to attract corporations looking to build distribution facilities for their products, some scoffed at the projects as "warehouses" that offered only minimal, low-cost jobs.Whatever weight that argument held, it diminishes with each new project. The other day, Solo Cup Co. announced the final stages of acquisition of a tract near Havre de Grace to build a $20 million warehouse facility.The container-maker's intention to create 75 to 100 jobs initially, and perhaps 250 eventually, is significant in itself, but even more so against the roster of nationally known corporations that have opened similar facilities along Maryland's Interstate 95 corridor in recent years: Mercedes-Benz of North America, Pier One Imports Inc., The Gap, Proctor & Gamble, Saks Fifth Avenue, Michelin Tire Corp.

To cut costs and improve profitability in response to widening losses, Fila USA said yesterday that it will outsource its distribution capabilities to Ryder Integrated Logistics Inc. in Miami.The Sparks-based footwear and clothing company said it expects the restructuring, which will take effect in May, to save the company about $10 million over five years.About 85 Fila employees and an additional 85 temporary employees work at the company's two distribution warehouses in Point Breeze and Brandon Woods.

A cocaine trafficking ring that for years distributed "vast amounts" of Honduran cocaine throughout the mid-Atlantic region has been busted, and three Maryland residents and 25 Virginia residents involved have been arrested, according to federal prosecutors. The drug ring, based in Northern Virginia, routinely paid couriers to fly into the United States from Honduras with cocaine stashed in shoes, decorative wooden frames and other "innocuous items" that would blend in with their luggage, according to a statement on the bust released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

There will be a free food and clothing distribution event Saturday, May 19 at First United Methodist Church of Laurel, 424 Main St. The clothing distribution, sponsored by Grace Community Church, will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The food distribution is sponsored by Priority Partners and the Capital Area Food Bank, and will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Pick up free food and learn about getting no- and low-cost health care benefits for...

Three people were arrested and more than a dozen guns were seized Thursday in the culmination of a two-month investigation into a gun distribution ring. "They got a major gun dealer off the streets," said Det. Donny Moses, a spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department. Ronald Van Price Jr., 37, Keith James, 34, and Jessica Correa, 24, were arrested and are expected to be charged by federal authorities, who assisted with the inquiry, Moses said. Maryland's U.S. Attorney's Office had not released the exact charges by 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

I began the day with a blog about the Ravens' plan to upgrade their wide receiving corps and that's how I'm going to end it. Both General Manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh discussed the matter today and their comments indicate that the Ravens are absolutely considering picking a wide receiver early in the draft while it is unlikely that the team will make a big splash and sign one of the celebrated free agent wideouts. The group of free agent receivers could include Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston among others.

A woman who grew up rescuing lost critters has launched an effort to help pets and their owners survive financial crises together. Lynn Molnar is operating Thankful Paws, a food bank for pets, out of her White Marsh home. "The idea is to keep people and their pets together even in the most trying situations," she said. "Often in hard times, the pet is the cut that people have to make. " The seeds for the nonprofit organization sprung from the parade of stray cats, dogs and other assorted critters that found shelter in Molnar's childhood home, and from her mother, who nurtured a "spirit for animals" in her daughter.

Michael Davis has been named Chief Executive Officer of G. Cefalu Bro. and Capital Seaboard, in Jessup, and will begin to oversee the operations of both companies. Davis brings more than 20 years of experience in high growth foodservice and distribution. He previously served as CEO of Cal Atlantic; Senior Vice President and Partner of Coastal Sunbelt Produce; was a member of the Maryland Restaurant Association Board of Directors; and was the Vice President of Capital Seaboard.

Baltimore County and the Community Assistance Network will be distributing federal surplus foods today through June 26. Butter, flour, peanut butter, canned pork, raisins and canned tomatoes will be among the foodstuffs distributed.Distribution sites will open at 8:30 a.m. Closing time will be determined on the day of distribution. The Parkton American Legion Post will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Recipients must be county residents and must receive their food at the site that services their postal ZIP code.

The expanded Random House Inc. facility on the edge of Westminster is poised to become the sole national distribution center for all of its titles by mid-2000."

A Gambrills man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the distribution of child pornography, police said. Robert J. Hudson 2nd, 24, of the 1000 block of Christmas Lane has been charged with two counts of distributing pornographic images of children, according to a statement by Maryland State Police. On Tuesday, an undercover state trooper was surveilling an online file-sharing network "known for distributing child pornography," the statement said. The trooper engaged in an online chat with another person and they agreed to meet to exchange computer files containing child pornography, police said.

The Sun's recent article about breweries hit the nail on the head ("Md. breweries booming," Nov. 10). As the brewers observe, "...a change in the law - like allowing micro-breweries to self-distribute - would encourage more to get into the business. " Modifying Maryland's distribution laws would ultimately benefit consumers by providing greater choice of products made in Maryland. We consumers have been deprived far too long. James Bauernschmidt, Severna Park