Katzen

Regarding Jay Hancock 's "Restaurants run hot and cold on Groupon deals" (June 7), it is clear that Groupon and similar programs may not be appropriate marketing tools for all businesses. At Katzen Eye Group, however, we are using social marketing tools as a community resource. Through Groupon, we are reaching uninsured patients and providing them with the opportunity to access vision care services. According to a recent CDC survey of more than 11,000 adults over the age of 40 with moderate to severe visual impairment, nearly 40 percent failed to seek treatment over the past year because of cost or lack of insurance.

Early last year, a doctor told Jack Westervelt the thick artery supplying blood to the left side of his brain was clogged with plaque. The news meant the 69-year-old was at risk for a stroke. So Westervelt, like some 200,000 people each year, had surgery to clear the vessel, which is known as the carotid artery. The surgeon made an incision "from the bottom of my earlobe to the pit of my neck," Westervelt said. "When you get cut that way, it hurts." he said. "It hurt for several months."

Talk about your fashionable fund-raiser! Tons of terrifically turned-out women turned up at Pikesville's Beth Tfiloh Congregation for lunch and a fashion show, presented by designer Dana Buchman. The 450 stylish guests didn't buy tickets to attend, however; instead each had invested in Israel Bonds.Seen among the chic minglers were Barbara Samuelson, chair of Israel Bonds of Maryland; Joy Glass, chair of Israel Bonds Women's Division; Nancy Sacks, Women's Division vice chair; Ethel Fischer, Women's Division director; Judi Finkelstein and Lee Mintz, event co-chairs; Phyllis London, Sandy Dobres, Mickey Katzen, Marilyn Pick, Marcia Yumkas, Brenda Mandel and Chaya Friedman, event committee members; Mira Dahan, event honoree; and Lillian Hackerman and Jenine Macks Fidler, Baltimore philanthropists.

On June 23, 2006, ROBERT M.; beloved husband of Phyllis Hoffman (nee Katzen); devoted father of Sandi Ronzitti, of Eldersburg, MD and Richard Hoffman, of Reisterstown, MD and the late Jan Griffin; loving father-in-law of Stacy Hoffman and Gerald Griffin; beloved brother of the late Ruth R. Garnher; loving grandfather of Jason Levy, Daniel Zuskin, Rachael Zuskin, Zachary Hoffman, Lisa Levy, Ali Hoffman and Ryan Ronzitti. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road at Mt. Wilson Lane, on Monday, June 26, at 9 A.M. Interment Har Sinai Congregation Cemetery, Garrison Forest Road.

A 70-year-old Towson woman was found bludgeoned to death in her car early yesterday morning in a slaying that stunned her quiet apartment community.Baltimore County police said Eileen Gorman Wishart of the 8400 block of Charles Valley Court was found about 2:30 a.m. She was slumped over in the front seat of her 1981 Malibu in an industrial park in the 1300 block of Bellona Avenue, about a half mile from her home."

They've been asked to cut a $3,500 check, from a budget of more than $2 billion, in the name of economic development. But the idea that the government would pay anything to help a private company train its workers has some Baltimore County Council members asking questions. And on Tuesday night, the matter will be up for a vote. The council will decide whether Katzen Eye Group should get county money, to go along with a larger state grant, to train employees on new high-technology equipment.

At first, they couldn't tell what it was. The pink blob that appeared on the television screen was too fuzzy to discern. A touch of focus, and voila: "That's Mr. Mahon's eye!" About a dozen students from the McDonogh School got a look at laser eye surgery yesterday when they witnessed their science teacher, Robert J. Mahon Jr., undergo treatment for a serious case of nearsightedness. "I've been waiting 35 years for this," said Mahon, during a pre-operation meeting with Tina Bodine, a patient consultant, at the TLC Laser Eye Center in Towson.

Lottery officials are rethinking the fun and games they've brought to nursing homes, games that promote the lottery along with lessons on how to play.The officials maintained that the games are a community service, but said they would re-evaluate the programs because of the response they received after an article in The Sun yesterday about the programs.In addition to the lottery's internal review, the attorney general's office plans to take a close look at the two programs as well.The first of the programs was "Walk-to-Win," which was started in 1992.

At the Bud Light PBA National Championship this week in Toledo, Ohio, at least five Baltimore area bowlers competed, and three of them cashed -- or finished high enough to take home some money.Jeff Harding, a Frederick guy who regularly bowls at Country Club Lanes in Middle River, finished 59th with a total pinfall of 6,996 over 32 games. That works out to a 218.625 average -- good enough for $1,500.Tim Criss of Bel Air and Jason Cooper of Reisterstown were not far behind Harding, finishing 61st and 63rd, respectively.

Steve Petusevsky got quite a surprise when he recently looked for a lost sock behind the washer and dryer. Instead of his sock, he found a pile of vegetables -- broccoli florets, carrot coins and "dry-aged" zucchini rounds."