Hunt Valley

In the rolling hills of Hunt Valley, development is once again a hot issue. Neighbors have launched a petition drive, fired off a flurry of letters and promised a prolonged court battle over plans for a pristine 26-acre tract.The object of such unholy wrath? A church.The Archdiocese of Baltimore's plans for a 600-seat church on the east side of Cuba Road just north of Shawan Road has some residents in the surrounding communities wondering whether their neighborhood should be home to a house of God."

It's been eight years since the Maryland Chapter of Chaine des Rotisseurs, the international gourmet club, had its gourmet dinner at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, but all members agreed it was worth the wait. Hunt Valley hosts Andrew Schiavone (director of catering), Ralph Carotenuto (food and beverage director), Roger Valentine (executive chef) and Guy Davidson (maitre d') put on an impressive show for the guests.Only hours after I had arrived in Baltimore from an Orlando vacation, I was doing what I least needed to do -- eating.

Arthur and Natalie Goldberg consider themselves fortunate to have found the home of their dreams - twice in a lifetime. Nine months ago they decided to downsize and sell their 5-bedroom home in Potomac to move closer to their son, Richard, and his family, including two young grandchildren, in Cockeysville. Not only were they leaving 36 years of happy memories behind, but they were faced with the daunting task of going through 43 years of "stuff" for their move to northern Baltimore County.

John Haines was the head professional at Goose Creek Country Club and Bill Ward was one of the members when the two first met nearly 30 years ago.The friendship flourished during Haines' 10 years at the club in Leesburg, Va., and 17 more as the head professional at Hunt Valley Golf Club.About six weeks ago, Ward called Haines, who was between positions, and told him he was part of a group that had just bought Teton Pines Golf Club in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and how would Haines like to be the golf professional?

WHILE I WAS away enjoying the balmy Florida weather, I understand you were also treated to springlike weather, much to the delight of those involved with the 27th annual Hunt Valley Antiques Show. The warm temps gave antiques buffs even more reason to get out of the house and enjoy "Garden Style Antiques," the theme of this year's show.More than 350 people attended the gala preview party at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, where they browsed through the exhibits while a trio played background music, and food and drinks were served.

R.H. Macy & Co. Inc. announced yesterday that it will shut its 200-worker Hunt Valley Mall store by Aug. 1, raising fears about the survival of other retailers in the troubled mall.The New York-based retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late January, said it was also closing seven other stores nationwide, affecting 1,850 workers.The Hunt Valley store will be the second Macy-owned department store to be shuttered in Maryland this year. The debt-laden company has said it will close its I. Magnin store at White Flint Mall in Kensington on June 7.Macy's employees at Hunt Valley said they learned of the closure in a letter yesterday and were told they would receive four weeks of severance plus earned vacation pay. Macy also said it would help employees explore other job prospects in the company.

The 4.5-mile extension of the Central Light Rail Line will open to Hunt Valley tomorrow, promising an easier commute for area workers and a boost for the 35-year-old corporate center.With the center rebounding from defense cuts and a $45 million expansion planned for the Hunt Valley Mall, business leaders hope the rail link will bring additional workers and provide a bonus to traveling executives.But even as area businesses welcome the five-stop extension, they are stepping up security as a precaution against the crime that has plagued some other light rail stops.

Since Gerard Cecci became the Hunt Valley Mall manager last month, he has visited many of the shopping center's 135 merchants to get a feel for what they like and don't like about the Baltimore area's third-largest place to shop."

If you work in Hunt Valley and sat in your car long enough to read this article on the way to work today, you're the person Bill McDonnell wants to help.The 63-year-old longtime land planning consultant and civic activist is the new executive director of the Greater Hunt Valley Transportation Management Association, a newly organized group of nine area businesses dedicated to cutting traffic congestion in the northern suburbs' biggest job center.The group -- which includes such big corporations as Westinghouse, PHH, Noxell and McCormick -- plans to do that by encouraging mass transit and smaller-scale programs such as van pools and staggered work schedules that will make rush hour less of a Hunt Valley headache.

AAI Corp. of Hunt Valley has sold a weather systems business that accounted for at least a fifth of the company's overall profits.The 83 people who work for the weather subsidiary will keep their jobs and continue to work in Hunt Valley, said AAI President and Chief Executive Officer Richard R. Erkeneff.All Weather Inc., a holding company formed by two capital investment firms and the subsidiary's management, is buying the unit for about $21 million.AAI decided last year to focus on a core mission of defense-related work, and, Erkeneff said, the weather business did not fit the plans.