Park Place

A Las Vegas-based casino company says it has long had a deal to run a slot machine operation at Maryland's Rosecroft Raceway should state legislators decide to legalize such gambling, according to court papers. The claim is at the heart of a lawsuit that the company, Park Place Entertainment, has filed against the owners of Rosecroft for allegedly trying to renege on the agreement. The suit, which seeks $100 million in damages, illustrates the keen interest in getting the right to open a slots emporium at Rosecroft.

At noon yesterday, the Rotunda bells chimed, and a group of white-haired, determined regulars began a sidewalk peace vigil across the street from the North Baltimore shopping center at West 40th Street and Elm Avenue. They first gathered there in spring as war began in Iraq and Saddam Hussein was being ousted by U.S. forces. They continued the hourlong Friday ritual at the same time and place through the heat and rain of a Baltimore summer and as autumn winds led to winter overcoat weather.

The Motor Vehicle Administration calls it the "skills test" because it gauges many of the skills that drivers need to master before they're allowed to motor off alone in traffic. But many novices lined up nervously in their automobiles at the MVA's Glen Burnie office will tell you that there's only one part of the test that stands between them and a license: parallel parking. It is the most common reason people flunk. And it worried Darlarene Morgan, 26, of Baltimore, who practiced parallel parking 15 times before the state examiner climbed into the passenger seat of her mother's car with his clipboard one recent morning.

Eleanor N. Lewis, a community volunteer and housewife, died Saturday of congestive heart failure at Roland Park Place, where she had resided for 12 years. She was 89 and had lived in Roland Park for many years. Born Eleanor Nelson in Pottsville, Pa., she was raised in Roland Park and was a 1932 graduate of Roland Park Country School. She earned a degree in English at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In 1938, she married H.H. Walker Lewis, an attorney and author. He died in 1999. She was a volunteer at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the city Department of Social Services.

The Historic District Commission of Howard County will hear testimony at the end of its meeting tomorrow on proposed revisions to operating procedures and the zoning code pertaining to the commission. Since Howard's first historic district was established in 1974, the commission has been charged with protecting the character of the historic districts in Ellicott City and Lawyers Hill in Elkridge. The commission must review and grant approvals before construction, demolition or alterations to the exteriors of properties in the district can take place.

On July 24, 2003, EDITH VIRGINIAWALKER, a resident of Roland Park Place, Baltimore, MD, beloved daughter of the late M. May Walker. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 A.M. in the Roland Park Place Auditorium on Wednesday, July 30. Interment private. Memorial contributions may be made to The Wesley Home, 2211 W. Rogers Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209 or to Roland Park Health Center, 830 W. 40th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211 or the Govans-Boundary U. Methodist Church, 5210 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212.

On July 12, 2003, Miss ANNE M. at Roland Park Place. Anne is survived by many cousins and friends. A Graveside Service will be held at the Meadowbranch Cemetery, Westminster on Saturday, July 26, at 10 A.M. A Memorial Service will follow at 2 P.M. at Roland Park Place. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne's memory may be made to The Building Fund, Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40th St. #21211, or the Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 10 E. Mt. Vernon Place, #21202. Arrangements by the Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, Inc., 410-377-8300.

Margy B. Robbins, a homemaker, volunteer and avid bridge player, died of a stroke Saturday at Roland Park Place. She was 82. Born Margy Bank in Baltimore, she was a daughter of Joseph A. Bank, the men's clothing manufacturer. She was raised near Druid Hill Park and graduated from Western High School. After earning her bachelor's degree in history in 1942 from Goucher College, she taught briefly in Baltimore public schools. In 1943, she married Dr. Martin A. Robbins, who later was chief of urology at Sinai Hospital.