Larry Smith

At Linden Market in Reservoir Hill, shelves are heaped high with miniature pies, cupcakes, and candy. Three dozen flavors of salty snacks burst from cardboard boxes. Around the corner at the Whitelock Community Farm, deep green leaves of chard fan from raised beds, cucumber vines wind up trellises and Japanese eggplants resembling glossy purple commas dangle from stalks. Beginning this week, the corner store and the farm, which are just a couple of blocks apart, will forge an unlikely partnership.

Westminster High School senior Michelle L. Smith recently won first place in the 44th annual Voice of Democracy contest sponsored by the VFW Post 467 and the Ladies Auxiliary.The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smith of Westminster, Michelle won $100 for her speech about "Democracy -- The Vanguard of Freedom."Other WHS winners were: senior April E. Taylor, first runner-up, daughter of Gary Taylor of Finksburg and Marcelene Taylor of Westminster, $50 award, and junior Laurie Rogers, daughter of Gary Rogers of Westminster, $50 award.

Baltimore's Canadian Football League franchise gets a name today. The question is whether it will stick.Jim Speros, owner of the expansion team, is expected to announce his choice of nickname and logo in a news conference this morning. His options appear to be Colts, Stallions, Bombers, Silver Colts, Fighting Colts and lawsuit.Alleging a trademark infringement, the NFL has threatened to take Speros to court if he chooses Colts. A federal court injunction could leave the team nameless for a period of time.

Moves Auto racing DALE EARNHARDT INC. (NASCAR): Reached five-year deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to continue as driver. HAAS CNC RACING (NASCAR): Named Ward Burton driver for No. 0 Pontiac. Baseball ATHLETICS: Designated P John Halama and C Mark Johnson for assignment. Claimed IF Marco Scutaro and OF Matt Watson off waivers from Mets. RANGERS: Granted unconditional release to P Tony Mounce. REDS: Activated P Luke Prokopec from 60-day DL; placed him on 40-man roster. Announced that P Mark Watson chose free agency.

In the latest twist to the bizarre saga of the Las Vegas Posse, Canadian Football League governors was to decide today whether to transfer the team to Jackson, Miss.The vote comes six days after commissioner Larry Smith announced that he was suspending the Las Vegas franchise rather than relocate it in Jackson. If the governors approve the transfer, they will cancel the dispersal draft of Posse players scheduled for 3 p.m. today.Shortly after Smith's announcement last week, Orlando, Fla., businessman Norton Herrick began negotiations to purchase the team.

Before Gov. Martin O'Malley frolics down the morally hazardous path of gerrymandering, it would be well to remember exactly why James Madison, the father of our Constitution, steered his fellow delegates away from creating a direct democracy and toward a republic. Direct democracies elect representatives in proportions that mirror the larger body politic. Each significant demographic group gets a representative whose vote it owns. Republics, on the other hand, extend "constituency spheres" that create a complex weave of countervailing interests within each sphere.

Alice Garmer, a homemaker and former mortgage department secretary at a bank, died of kidney failure Tuesday at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. The Riviera Beach resident was 63. Born Alice Marie Smith in Baltimore and raised in Brooklyn Park, she attended Brooklyn Park High School and later earned a General Educational Development certificate. She also earned a legal secretary's diploma from Strayer's Business School. She worked at the old First National Bank in the Bay Meadows section of Anne Arundel County.

Baseball Atlanta Braves -- Placed P Kent Mercker (4-3, 6 saves, 2.77 ERA) on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right side muscle. Recalled P Tony Castillo (5-6, 2.90 ERA) from Class AAA Richmond. Placed 1B Sid Bream (.285, 9 HR, 34 RBI in 61 games) on the 15-day disabled list and replaced him on the roster with C Jerry Willard (.306, 6 HR, 30 HR), who was called up from Richmond.Chicago White Sox -- Optioned P Ramon Garcia (4-3, 5.07) to Class AAA Vancouver to make room for P Wilson Alvarez on the roster.