Kane

The fate of a planned 300-acre regional park in Columbia might not be decided for at least 11 months under a ruling yesterday by a Howard County judge.Circuit Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. postponed trial of a lawsuit that has held up development of the land, which the county and state jointly purchased in August 1998 with the goal of creating baseball and soccer fields. Unless Kane throws out the suit, the next trial date would be November 2000 at the earliest.His decision yesterday surprised both sides in the suit, brought by a friend of the late Elizabeth C. "Nancy" Smith, who owned the land straddling Route 175 in the heart of Columbia.

A Howard County Circuit judge has ruled that the owners of a home for the elderly in Columbia violated neighborhood covenant regulations, a decision that will eventually force the home to close.The latest action comes as residents across the state continue to battle a growing number of assisted-living facilities, ranging in size from two-story houses to larger facilities accommodating 100 or more senior citizens. How this case will affect those projects is unclear, but it could bolster an already powerful tool -- covenants.

After hearing emotional appeals from a former Columbia village manager, her husband, her son, friends and former village board members, a Howard Circuit Court judge sentenced Anne S. Darrin to 18 months in jail yesterday for embezzling about $65,000 in village funds.Darrin, 50, wept and her husband leapt from his seat and began pacing around the courtroom when Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. explained the reason for his sentence -- to deter others thinking about stealing money from their employers.

After the shooting, city needs calm, reflective healingThe recent shooting death of a Baltimore resident by a Baltimore police officer is terribly troubling and should concern the entire community. A life has been lost, and many lives have been shattered by the events which culminated on Barclay Street.At this time, the city does not need irresponsible, inciteful rhetoric. It does need a thorough, impartial investigation of the matter and a more comprehensive examination of the conditions which make such incidents almost inevitable.

An attorney for the owners of an assisted-living home in Columbia says they were surprised by a judge's ruling that will eventually close the facility.Brian Wallach also said the owners might appeal the opinion filed last week by Howard County Circuit Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr."We are considering our options, which obviously includes the possibility of appeal," Wallach said. "We're disappointed with the decision."Kane ruled that the owners of the assisted-living home violated a neighborhood covenant.

Teen-agers strolled along the wharf, ducks paddled in the harbor, banners waved, music blared and a homeless man in a filthy T-shirt cursed at his shoes.It was a normal spring day on the Inner Harbor yesterday except for one thing: For the first time in nearly a quarter century, a "closed" sign hung across the bridge to the paddle boat dock.The owner of the business, Ed Kane, said he chained up his 52 boats Sunday because of a legal fight over whether the city has the right to kick him out and replace him with a group that promises to pay the city more rent.

Howard County Circuit Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. will run for re-election this fall, hoping to keep the seat on the bench that he has held for the past 16 years.By law, circuit judges must run for re-election the first year after they are appointed and then every 15 years.Kane, 59, who is also the county's administrative judge, was appointed to the circuit bench under the administration of former Gov. Harry R. Hughes. Previously, Kane served five years as a District Court judge in Howard County.

LOVERS OF jazz take note.The Fuzzy Kane Trio will perform at this year's Holiday Jazz Club Social Dec. 3 at the African Art Museum of Maryland.The museum is in Historic Oakland on Vantage Point Road in Town Center.The Jazz Club, an in-house program of the museum, was founded four years ago by Columbia resident Claude Ligon."American jazz has its roots in African-American music," said Ligon, who is also chairman of the Baltimore-Washington Jazz Fest.Fuzzy Kane is a Baltimore native. He has been playing piano in jazz clubs for more than 40 years.

A Columbia man who plotted to kill his wife by hiring a hit man was given five years in prison yesterday, a sentence that disappointed prosecutors and distressed his intended target.The sentence means Mark Cordero, 43, will be eligible for parole in the fall."She's worried," said David Harvis, who represents Regina Cordero in a bitter divorce and custody battle with her estranged husband, "that the sentence will not give her the security she hoped for."Cordero, who wanted his wife killed while he was in Central America on a scuba trip, could have faced up to life in prison when he was sentenced yesterday by Howard Circuit Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr. Prosecutors asked for a prison sentence of 20 years -- well above state guidelines of four to nine years for the solicitation of murder charge.

The state attorney general's office is challenging a Howard County circuit judge's decision upholding a controversial plea bargain made in the 1990 murder of Maryland State Police Cpl. Theodore Wolf.The appeal of Judge Raymond J. Kane Jr.'s January decision means the fight by law enforcement officials and Wolf's widow to send Francisco Rodriguez to prison for life will continue."As long as there is something else to be done to fix the mess that was created here seven years ago, no matter how hard it is, I have to pursue it," Ginni Wolf, the victim's widow, said yesterday.

On February 3, 2009 PHILIP B. KANE beloved husband of Doris L. Kane. On Wednesday, friends may call at the VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES, 5151 Balto. Nat'l Pike from 4:00-8:00 p.m. On Thursday, Mr. Kane will lie in state at Morning Star Baptist Church, 154 Winters Lane, where the family will receive friends from 10:00-10:30 a.m. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-233-2400.

On February 3, 2009, PHILIP B. KANE. On Wednesday friends may call at the VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES, 5151 Balto. Nat'l Pike from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. On Thursday, Mr. Kane will lie instate at Morning Star Baptist Church, 154 Winters Lane, where the family will receive friends from 11:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-233-2400.

On October 18, 2008, CHARLOTTE YORKSHIRE KANE, 98 of Catonsville, passed away at St. Joseph Nursing Home. She was born in Baltimore, MD to Eddie and Bertha Yorkshire. She was preceded in death by her husbands Carroll Kane and Joe Kane, and sister Ethel Yorkshire Bressler. Mass will be held Thursday, November 13, at 9 A.M. at St. Joseph Nursing Home. Contributions in her memory may be sent to St. Joseph Nursing Home, 1222 Tugwell Dr., Catonsville, MD 21228.

On May 12, 2008 RUTH M. KANE (nee Lauer), beloved wife of the late Warren Opfer, lost to WWII and the late Edward C. Kane, Sr. Devoted mother of Edward C. Kane, Jr. and his wife Rose and the late Steven B. Kane. Loving grandmother of Jason A. Kane and Melinda R. Kane. Dear sister of Bernice Edell, the late Alvera Muth, Virginia Opfer, Rhoda Fabiszewski, Theodore Lauer, Robert Lauer, the late John Lauer and the late Frederick Lauer. A funeral service will be held at the family owned Leonard J. Ruck Inc. Funeral Home, 5303 Harford Rd. (at Echodale)

On March 23, 2008, JOHN JAMES KANE SR., beloved husband of Lucy H. Kane; devoted father of Janet D. Watson, Lucy H. Hearn, John J. Kane, Jr., Jean L. Miskimon and Kelly A. Hoyle. Also survived by nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; one brother and one sister. A Catholic Burial Service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Friday, at 9 A.M. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Garrison Forest. Friends may call on Thursday from 7-9 P.M. In honor of his wife, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Baltimore Central Maryland Chapter, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093.

On November 17, 2007, MARY A. KANE; beloved sister of Helen A. Kane. Friends are invited to call at the Burgee-Henss-Seitz Funeral Home Inc., 3631 Falls Road, on Monday, from 3 to 5 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at S.S. Philip and James Church, 2801 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 on Tuesday at 10 A.M. Interment in New Cathedral Cemetery.

Find Gregory Kane's column archive at baltimoresun.com/kane

Amid criticism from legislative leaders and environmentalists, Maryland's secretary of state has agreed to scrap her wording of a ballot question on whether to amend the state constitution to restrict state land sales. Instead, Secretary of State Mary D. Kane said she would use the wording of the amendment as approved by the General Assembly. "We didn't want to have a fight over something we didn't intend to have a fight over," said Kane, who was appointed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Democrats in the legislature and several environmental groups had complained that Kane, a Republican, had adopted language that was intentionally confusing and could prejudice voters against the amendment.

On Wednesday, August 30, 2006, DOROTHY M. WEIDOW, 66, of Montgomery, PA, died at her residence. She is survived by her husband Dennis, three children and eight grandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Kane, PA, at a later date. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the American Cancer Society. The Cummings Funeral Home, Inc., in Kane is in charge of arrangements.

Mental illness isn't linked to violence The Sun's article "Hospitals face intrusion of violent world into facilities" (July 17) highlighted a violent event that took place in the Howard County General Hospital's Emergency Department. The article suggests a link between violent incidents and people with mental illness, despite the fact that there are no indications that those involved in the violence are or were mentally ill. As a forensic psychiatrist and former director of the psychiatric emergency service at University of Maryland Medical System, I recognize that one must always be concerned about the risk posed by individuals with cognitive, mood or psychotic disorders, especially in an emergency setting where little may be known about the patient.