Financial Support

The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that a lower court erred in ordering a Brooklyn Park man to pay child support for teen-age twins even though the man and his ex-wife agree that he did not father the children. Maryland's highest court ordered Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to rehear the case, saying the lower court incorrectly declared - without blood tests - that the man was not the father and that it should have focused on the key issue of financial support, not paternity, in making its decision.

As a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University some years ago, I feel called upon to remind this august body that the motto of the school is, or was, veritas vos liberabit , or, the truth shall make you free. Obviously the present administration does not know that, or, if they do, does not subscribe to it. A few years ago, I ceased all financial support of the school because I felt that it no longer represented the views of myself or many of my fellow graduates. I think that in the current actions of Hopkins, this was a good, but sad decision.

USA Swimming said late last night that it has decided to suspend Michael Phelps from competition for the next three months as punishment for a photo that was published in a British tabloid over the weekend that appeared to show him smoking marijuana. The organization's board of directors voted on the decision, saying the intent was to send Phelps a "strong message" that it did not approve of his behavior. USA Swimming also said it is withdrawing financial support from Phelps during the suspension, a mostly symbolic punishment.

Who among us has done something of which we are not particularly proud? Why does one misdeed overshadow the goodness of an individual? I have known the Whalen family for over 30 years and have seen their goodness and the contributions they have made to the Catonsville community. First and foremost, Mr. Whalen has provided thousands of jobs for Catonsville and Baltimore area workers — from construction folks and office workers to those who keep parking lots swept of snow.

THERE'S A "TRUTH SQUAD" nipping at Dr. Robert C. Gallo's heels. At the moment, its four members are pressing furiously to stir up a hornet's nest in the state legislature about the famed scientist's Center for Human Virology, set to open in January. But these critics are confusing scientific etiquette with economic development. Their dispute with Dr. Gallo has little to do with the world-class institute he plans to run, with state and city financial support, in Baltimore.Dr. Gallo, generally regarded as the co-discoverer of the AIDS virus, says these critics are on a "witch hunt."

THE ISSUE: Even as Howard Community College prepares to open its $20 million visual and performing arts center, the Columbia Association's board has turned down a proposal to donate $200,000 to the facility. Some board members were concerned about adding to the association's debt, though they stressed the importance of close ties between the college and the community, and the importance of the arts. What formal role, if any, do you think the Columbia Association should have in relation to the community college's arts programs?

As a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University some years ago, I feel called upon to remind this august body that the motto of the school is, or was, veritas vos liberabit , or, the truth shall make you free. Obviously the present administration does not know that, or, if they do, does not subscribe to it. A few years ago, I ceased all financial support of the school because I felt that it no longer represented the views of myself or many of my fellow graduates. I think that in the current actions of Hopkins, this was a good, but sad decision.

ICAT Logistics breaks ground for building ICAT Logistics Inc. broke ground last month for its 20,646- square-foot building on Douglas Legum Drive in Elkridge. The company, near Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, provides expedited transportation and logistics services. The company, which has outgrown its quarters, organizes and guarantees delivery of critical freight such as medical products, rollouts for retailers, hazardous and biological waste, trade-show booths and displays, airplane engines, helicopter blades, automotive parts and other items.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland approved a new residency policy for students yesterday, closing a loophole that was opened by a Court of Appeals decision this month. The new policy states that anyone who is in Maryland solely to attend school is not considered a state resident, and those who receive the majority of financial support from an out-of-state parent will be considered non-residents unless they can prove otherwise. The Court of Appeals threw out the previous policy that automatically gave out-of-state status to students receiving the bulk of their support from out-of-state parents, ruling that regulation "arbitrarily and irrationally discriminates against many bona fide Maryland residents."

From: Linda A. CollinsTreasurer, MADDWestminsterThe Carroll County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving was chartered in April of this year.Since our charter, the chapter has given $500 to the local high schools for their substance-free after-prom parties, (served as) host to six informational booths across the county, established a Victims Impact Panel that will begin operation in October, established a toll-free telephone number -- (800) 427-8484 -- for victims within the state of Maryland and begun the first victim's quilt to remember the people who have been maimed or killed by drunken drivers within the state.

The Bel Air High School After Prom Party committee would like to thank the following area businesses and/or individuals for their generous donations, which helped to make our after prom party, held at the Bel Air Athletic Club April 28 -  29 a success. Three hundred and seventy seniors and guests were entertained in a safe, chemical-free environment, thanks to: Applebee's, The Arena Club, Aruba Tanning, Bel Air Athletic Club and Spa, The Baltimore Ravens, Bella Amici Salon, Bellissimo Seafood Bar & Grill, Bertucci's, Best Buy, Blue Ridge Mountain Cookery, Inc., Dianne Bowen, Boyle Buick, Doris Brown, Brian Bunce Barbers, Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Chili's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Churchville Golf, Color Lounge Salon & Spa, Commercial Ware Washing Services, LLC, Costco Warehouse, Curves, Melanie Desilets, Dick's Sporting Goods, Edible Arrangements, Einstein Bros.

Howard County Fairgrounds is hosting a traveling show of sorrow, fear, and pain this week. A circus that uses exotic animals as "entertainment" is coming to town. I urge all Maryland residents to say "no" to financially supporting circuses that use wild animals. Please ask you congressperson to support HR 3359, the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, and help end the use of exotic animals in traveling circuses. Jennifer Jones Columbia

Mark Helman, the founder of Bill's Carpet Fair who appeared in scores of zany television commercials and was a donor to many charities, died of leukemia July 12 at his Pikesville home. He was 80. Born Morris Helman in Philadelphia, he graduated from Olney High School in 1948. He moved to Baltimore and became a "tin man," a salesman for Air-Tite aluminum windows, doors and siding. When he learned that carpet weavers were selling 12-foot-wide lengths at prices middle-class buyers could afford, he embraced wall-to-wall carpet sales.

- Greece won a major pledge of financial support from the other countries that use the euro and the International Monetary Fund in a deal that aims to halt a government debt crisis undermining confidence in Europe's currency union. The joint eurozone and IMF bailout program comes with strict conditions and makes no money available right now. It could be tapped only if Greece or other financially troubled eurozone members cannot raise funds from financial markets. It would require the unanimous agreement of the 16 eurozone countries to release the loan funds.

As Maryland weighs painful cuts in its struggle to achieve a balanced budget, how can the state justify providing financial support for Maryland's 18 private colleges and universities? That's the question raised by recent critics. Their question deserves an answer. State support for independent institutions reaches back as far as the 18th century. Known in its current form as the Sellinger program - after the Rev. Joseph A. Sellinger, longtime president of Loyola College - this funding has been evaluated and endorsed time and again by various state study commissions, by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (of which I am the chairman)

USA Swimming said late last night that it has decided to suspend Michael Phelps from competition for the next three months as punishment for a photo that was published in a British tabloid over the weekend that appeared to show him smoking marijuana. The organization's board of directors voted on the decision, saying the intent was to send Phelps a "strong message" that it did not approve of his behavior. USA Swimming also said it is withdrawing financial support from Phelps during the suspension, a mostly symbolic punishment.

Keisha Hogan, 28, of Columbia said that without a scholarship to Howard Community College, she would have to work more hours, which would be difficult to balance with classes, studying and caring for two children. "Every little bit [of scholarship money] works towards something, because college costs," said Hogan, who has a 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. "Scholarships allow us to free up the time to go to school." Last week, Hogan and more than 80 other students had an opportunity to express their appreciation in person to the sources of their financial support at HCC's student/donor reception on the Columbia campus.