Santoni

On August 12, 2003, JOSEPHINE C. WELSH (nee Matarazzo), loving wife of the late John Edward Welsh, devoted mother of Timothy E. Welsh, and the late Joanne Ruffini, beloved sister of Rita D'Adamo, Mary Santoni and Leo Matarazzo, and the late sisters, Frances Ciotola, Victoria Matarazzo, Rose Tzortzakis, and the late brothers Mario, Joseph, Tony, and John Matarazzo. Also survived by four grandchildren, the late Richard Lissau and four great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends may call at the Loudon Park Funeral Home, 3620 Wilkens Ave., Baltimore, MD. On Wednesday and Thursday from 4-8 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Benedicts Catholic Church, 2612 Wilkens Ave., Baltimore, MD., on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment to follow at Lorraine Park Cemetery.

TUESDAY'S primary election was an extraordinary day for three members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church: Sheila Dixon won the Democratic nomination for City Council president, Joan M. Pratt was effectively re-elected as city comptroller and Catherine E. Pugh rallied to a 4th District council victory.In a city where political talent is in short supply, these three are up-and-comers to watch.They are ambitious, and they have the support of a powerful pastor, who also backed Martin O'Malley.

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Baltimore city and county.Northeastern DistrictStolen car: A 1993 white four-door Subaru Impreza was stolen about 10 p.m. Saturday from the 4300 block of Plainfield Ave.Southwestern DistrictTheft: A video camera, microphones, a television and dishes, all valued at $2,550, were stolen from Mount Calvary Holy Temple Church in the 1900 block of Bloomingdale Road between 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.Woodlawn PrecinctRobbery: A 27-year-old man was robbed of $120 Saturday when another man, armed with a small automatic handgun, walked into his office in the 6400 block of Windsor Mill Road shortly after 5 p.m. and demanded money.

You might not have paid attention to the fierce yearlong battle between merchants and banks over debit cards, but you'll likely notice last week's outcome in your wallet. The dispute was over the debit card interchange fee — the payment merchants make to banks to process customer transactions. Last year's Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act law required that the Federal Reserve ensure that the fee was "reasonable. " Last week, the Fed announced it was cutting the fee — but not by nearly as much as merchants wanted.

We've all been there: The utility or appliance dealer says you must be home within some large window of time on a certain day for its employees to come hook up your phone or deliver your refrigerator. Then they don't show up. When that happened to Baltimore County lawyer Joseph T. Williams, he called Sears Roebuck & Co. to complain. He learned that no one could have come to fix his washing machine during most of the four-hour span he was told to be home because Sears technicians were in a regularly scheduled staff meeting.

Decrying the scarcity of supermarkets in Baltimore, a City Council panel resolved yesterday to appoint a task force to grapple with one of the city's most pressing needs. After senior citizens, industry representatives and city government officials spoke on the matter yesterday at a Labor and Economic Development subcommittee hearing, 4th District Councilwoman Catherine E. Pugh said appointing a retail task force is in order. It will be composed of government, business and community leaders, and be in place by the end of the year, she said.

City grocers are asking officials to repeal a 2-cent tax on bottled beverages, saying that sales have dropped since the tariff was imposed four months ago. Rob Santoni, who lobbied against the bottle tax when it was considered by the City Council, said year-over-year sales at his East Baltimore store have fallen 3 percent since the tax was first collected in late July, and 600 fewer customers are entering each week. "They've taken away that competitive edge," Santoni said Thursday at a news conference in the beverage aisle of the store that bears his name.

Esskay Quality Meat Co.'s parent has agreed to donate its primary local manufacturing plant to a nonprofit affiliate of the Essex Community College, nearly two years after the discovery of structural problems forced the closing of the East Baltimore Street facility.Under a tentative plan being negotiated between the Essex Community College Foundation, Smithfield Foods Inc. and city economic development officials, Essex would assume control of the 13.6-acre property early next year.Although the foundation has not determined the ultimate use for the former meatpacking operation, it is considering redeveloping the site as either housing for the elderly, townhouses or light manufacturing.

Convenience stores, fast-food chains and other Baltimore businesses that stay open past midnight would be required to get a license from the city and address concerns raised by nearby residents under a bill introduced yesterday in the City Council. The legislation - which would not apply to bars and restaurants that sell liquor - would give the city more authority to intervene when residents complain about noise, loitering and crime taking place near late-night businesses, supporters said.

Alyson Nachman's boys couldn't wait for the man in the green and white grocery truck to pull up to their Owings Mills house - and neither could she. Among the first in the Baltimore area to order her groceries over the Internet from a company called Peapod by Giant, Nachman stood by as the driver brought red peppers, milk and other everyday supplies to her kitchen counter. Instead of tearing through the aisles of a local Giant, sons Jason, 4, and Alex, 2, quietly ogled the truck and the neat green totes full of groceries.