Option

NEW YORK -- A federal judge in Wisconsin ordered Chevy Chase Bank to rescind loans made to some borrowers who took out so-called option adjustable-rate mortgages, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. The ruling was in a case against the Maryland-based bank brought by Susan and Bryan Andrews, who took out an option ARM in the belief that a 1.95 percent introductory rate was fixed for five years. Two months later, they received a statement showing the rate had risen to 4.375 percent, the newspaper said.

It's not too late to make New Year's resolutions that stick. By now, I expect that millions of Americans will have broken their New Year's resolutions, including the ever-popular but vague "saving more money" and "getting my finances in order." So why not start fresh and make new and specific resolutions you actually keep? Here are some ideas: Dig up your most recent checking account statement and see how much you forked over to the bank on monthly service charges, automated teller machine fees and any other charges, such as for insufficient funds (that is, bouncing checks)

Good morning -- Tiger Woods -- Never let them see you sweat? That wasn't an option yesterday.

When a 300-pound black bear breaks into your mountain cabin, eats your cookies and raids your refrigerator, you have several options.You could call state wildlife authorities and ask them to please come pick up the errant bear and carry him away to the real wilderness. Or, you could demand that they blast the burglarious bruin into the next life.But increasingly, wildlife managers and police officials are trying a third option -- turning the bear's visit into such a waking nightmare that it will forever after link people with fear, not food.

Below are insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.Medimmune Inc.Bogdan Dziurzynski, vice president, exercised an option for 157,880 shares of common at between $7.38 and $32.19 each Jan. 29 and sold 40,400 shares for between $49.37 and $50.76 each Jan. 29.David P. Wright, divisional officer, exercised an option for 13,500 shares of common at $6.25 each Jan. 29 and sold them for $49.76 each Jan. 29. He no longer holds shares in the company.

Below are insider transactions for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.AlliedSignal Inc.Larry E. Kittelberger, vice president, exercised an option for 49,000 shares of common at between $35.79 and $36.47 each Aug. 13 and sold them for $63.28 each Aug. 13. He now directly and indirectly holds 364 common.CSX Corp.Paul R. Goodwin,vice president, exercised an option for 13,428 shares at $19.91 each from Aug. 4 to Aug. 9 and sold 21,577 shares for $48.51 each from Aug. 4 to Aug. 9.Guilford Pharm.

Below are insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.Bell Atlantic Corp.Lawrence T. Babbio, president, exercised an option for 68,245 shares of common at between $25.03 and $27.84 each Jan. 20. To cover expenses of the transaction, Babbio turned in 32,459 of them for $57.25 each Jan. 20 and sold 9,742 shares in the open market for $57.25 each Jan. 20. He now directly and indirectly holds 111,002 common.

Below are insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.Becton, Dickinson & Co.Richard O. Brajer,divisional officer, purchased 2,613 shares of common stock at between $26.69 and $26.81 each Aug. 4 and now directly and indirectly holds 5,793 common.Gary Cohen,officer, exercised an option for 4,988 shares of common at $20.03 each Aug. 27 and now directly and indirectly holds 27,407 common.

Below are insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.Becton, Dickinson & Co.Henry P. Becton, director, indirectly acquired, by gift, 1,500 shares of common at an unreported price Jan. 26 and now directly and indirectly holds 335,787 shares of common.General Motors Corp.David J. Herman, vice president, exercised an option for 2,074 shares of common at $48.16 each Feb. 22. To cover expenses of the transaction, Herman turned in 1,152 of them for $86.63 each Feb. 22 and sold 2,762 shares in the open market for $87 each Feb. 22 and now directly or indirectly holds 6,795 common and 1,471 Class H common.

Below are insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for publicly held companies based in Maryland or having substantial operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock.Host Marriott Corp.Terence C. Golden,president, purchased 94,771 shares of common stock at $10.73 each March 24 and now directly holds 1,333,970 common.Procter & Gamble Co.Jorge P. Montoya,divisional officer, exercised an option for 4,000 shares of common at $28.41 each Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, and sold them for between $87 and $88 each Feb. 9 and Feb. 10. Montoya now directly and indirectly holds 141,248 common.

The Orioles announced Thursday that they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million option for the 2010 season, an expected move that will likely end the tenure of one of their most productive and popular players over the past decade. The team could try to re-sign him for less, but that appears unlikely with Mora coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career and both sides seemingly ready to head in different directions. "We'll see how the offseason unfolds," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said.

* The Orioles say they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million option for the 2010 season, an expected move that will likely end his 9 1/2-year tenure with the club. "I'll never close my doors to the Orioles," Mora said. PG 8 * Former Indians coach Jeff Datz is named bench coach, replacing Dave Jauss. PG 8

Get out your sharpest crayons and get ready to color outside the lines, if you like. The National Park Service is looking for guidance on how to transform the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from an act of Congress into the nation's first national park with liquid rather than dirt trails. Getting there won't be easy. There are no models for something this sweeping. "This is larger than Yellowstone," says superintendent John Maounis of his 3,000-mile water park that touches three states and the District of Columbia.

As discouraging as it was to watch certain members of the Senate Finance Committee treat the concept of affordable health insurance coverage as America's own Bolshevik Revolution last week, hope for a modicum of common sense in the U.S. Congress springs eternal. The battle over the public option isn't over yet, as there is at least one more card to play. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already promised, no matter what comes out of the full Senate, the health care reform bill approved by the House of Representatives will contain the public option.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley was aware of what had happened the last two times he was given a vote of confidence by president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail: the worst loss in Orioles history in 2007 and one of the most embarrassing innings in recent memory in 2008. So, when MacPhail told Trembley on Friday afternoon that his option for 2010 was being picked up, the elephant in the room rumbled onto the field at Camden Yards. "When I was up in Andy's office, that topic was brought up," Trembley said.

Social services should be applauded, not shunned I really appreciated the thoughtful article about the 'Beans and Bread' controversy in Fells Point. As an eight-year resident of the neighborhood I am aware of the tensions that exist between the various community demographics. (particularly the homeless community) I think we all want to live in a safe, healthy environment. Anything that threatens our sense of security is a concern to the community. However, I think you asked the core question in your article: "The homeless aren't about to go away.

Even if the Orioles' second-half swoon continues, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Friday, manager Dave Trembley's job is secure through the end of the 2009 season. "I have no intention of making any changes in-season," MacPhail said. "We'll address the option when the year ends." Trembley, whose club is 155-212 since he took the helm of the Orioles on an interim basis in June 2007, has a club option for 2010. MacPhail said a decision probably won't be made for six or seven weeks on whether to exercise it. "It's like I said months ago, whatever we decide, it will be toward the end of the year," MacPhail said.

More than two years after he was given his long-awaited opportunity to manage in the major leagues, Dave Trembley is still guiding the Orioles amid the perception that he's simply holding down the job for somebody else. Trembley rid himself of the "interim" tag during the 2007 season on the same day the Orioles suffered one of the most humiliating losses in team sports history, a 30-3 clobbering at the hands of the Texas Rangers. Still, the notion that he's a transitional manager, in charge until the Orioles are ready to emerge from the rebuilding process and become a playoff contender, has never quite left.

Baltimore money manager Legg Mason Inc. reported Monday that Chief Executive Officer Mark R. Fetting's total compensation for fiscal 2009 was $6.5 million during a year when the company reported a huge loss and struggled with weak performance of its flagship mutual funds. Fetting's pay for the year ending March 31 includes a $500,000 base salary, according to a proxy filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fetting was named chief executive in January 2008 and became the company chairman in December.

The decision to option Matt Albers to Triple-A Norfolk to open a roster spot for Adam Eaton was not only a difficult one for the Orioles to make, but it was also a hard one to deliver. Orioles president Andy MacPhail, manager Dave Trembley and pitching coach Rick Kranitz met with Albers late Saturday night, and Kranitz said the pitcher didn't take the news very well. "But that's OK," Kranitz said. "He knows he's a big league pitcher, and we know he's a big league pitcher. It was very difficult, but it is a business thing.