Sass

I cannot understand what passes through the minds of people at The Sun when it comes to taxes and government spending. A recent front page headline declared that "Millions slip away from city as condo values set too low" (April 29). But how can a condo that was never sold owe "full taxes" even though it is not a significant drain on government resources? There is no trash, mail, sewer, education or medical demands from a unit that has never had an owner beyond the builder, and for which basic fire and police service needs are also minimal.

Ocean Pines Golf & Country Club is something of an enigma in the picture of Ocean City area golf. It is an excellent course, designed by perhaps the best-known modern course architect, Robert Trent Jones. But it is primarily a private club; the only way you can play it is to be a member at another club and ask for reciprocal privileges, or play as a guest of an Ocean Pines member.Although Mr. Jones once told me that it was not one of his best efforts, the members seem to like the Ocean Pines course, and it is crowded most of the time.

Filmed in Baltimore two years ago, The Salon sets out to be Barbershop, only with women. But it turns out to be Barbershop lite, a chance for a bunch of gals to sass one another within an inch of coming to blows, safe in the knowledge that everything will turn out OK. Vivica A. Fox plays the Ice Cube role; her Jenny owns the salon, and naturally, she has assembled quite the Cast of Characters: There's big, sassy Lashaunna (Kym Whitley), who's quick with the putdown; tough-talking Trina (Taral Hicks)

Maryland taxpayers actually gain in the "budget mess" recently created by the General Assembly in failing to agree on a fiscal 2013 spending plan. Let's be clear, if Maryland had set the new budget at the level of the 2009 budget, we would be in significant surplus! Why is it that our high-paid legislators think they can go after taxpayers when they decide more money will be spent? If I want to spend more money next year, I can not tell my boss, "This is the increase you will pay me. " Wise up, legislators and The Sun. I am a taxpayer and I am mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore!

David Cordish seems to have set up a winner with the Maryland Live! casino in Arundel Mills ("Maryland Live! casino opens its doors," June 7), but the name that comes to my mind is much older: Millard Tawes. He was a governor, like many, the state would have been much better without. His "I know what is good for people" attitude took slot machines away from Maryland in the mid '60s, so instead of being the East Coast leader in allowing people to enjoy gaming, the state became a terrible also ran. Steven Sass, Baltimore

Off-hand, it is hard to name a more charming, funny and endearing film about a son's devotion to his mother than German director Wolfgang Becker's comedy Good bye, Lenin! Lenin is narrated by Alex (Daniel Bruhl), a young man whose childhood is defined by the departure of his father, a physician, for the West and the mental breakdown his mother suffers as a result. His mother's recovery has a great deal to do with her devotion to the socialist German Democratic Republic, and she relishes her positions as leader of the Young Pioneers.

AdvertisingSass names Dawson, Smith senior account executivesSass & Associates appointed Jennifer Dawson and Jeff Smith as senior account executives.Dawson, formerly of Eisner & Associates, is a Towson University graduate and lives in Annapolis. Smith, an Easton resident, was head of sales for Oxford Yacht Agency before joining the Annapolis advertising and marketing agency.Delgado, Cabrera join Campbell GroupThe Campbell Group, the Baltimore marketing communications firm, added Patricia Delgado and Miguel Cabrera to its account services staff to assist with its increase in Latin American clientele.

Maryland's highest court has overturned the most controversial part of the state's new ground rent law, throwing out the section that takes ownership of ground leases away from owners who fail to register them with the state. The General Assembly enacted ground rent changes in 2007 after a series of articles in The Baltimore Sun and legislative testimony that depicted people losing their homes for failing to pay a pittance in ground rent. In a 5-2 decision issued Tuesday, the Court of Appeals held that the provision that took away ground leases that were not registered violates state constitutional rights.

Severna Park Chamber elects 1995 officersThe Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce recently elected officers and directors for 1995.Elizabeth Butler of the Gardiner Group is the new president; Pat Coulter of the Capital-Gazette is first vice president; Barbara Baumgartner of Side Street Framers is second vice president; Jim Curtis of E. L. Bert & Co. is treasurer; and Cheryl Schmidt of Chesapeake Academy is the new secretary.The 1995 board of directors will include Dr. Carl Rogge of Severna Park Veterinary Hospital; Grace Johnson of Travel Unlimited; Jean Zemo of Teerttotter Ltd; and George Moran of George T. Moran Inc.The 1994 president, Penny S. Hopkins, will serve as the 1995 chairman of the board.

Action is heating up in the Toyota/B. J.'s Ocean City Challenge Cup, a summer-long tournament in which two pros from each of the six local clubs compete in a 10-match schedule at better-ball match play, with three points up for grabs each round.Golfers who would like to see some excellent shot-making should contact any of the clubs below for dates and times of future matches.In the fourth round of play, the Ocean Pines team opened up a two-point lead in first, having lost only three of the possible 12 points so far. This time out, they blanked River Run, 3-0, knocking the river men into the basement with only four points.