Session

Whether Bill Largess is teaching grown-ups or kids, he finds that the basic misconception about acting is the same. "They think it's learning the lines and getting up on a stage and saying them with everybody looking at you," Largess says. Playing a character who really wants something - someone who is strongly "motivated," to use the actors' term - "is really a new idea for a lot of them." That is one of the fundamentals taught by Largess, Bruce Nelson and Peggy Yates at Rep Stage's Actors' Summer Institute at Howard Community College, where Shakespeare is the theme this summer.

Our biggest concerns about the push to expand gambling at the end of this spring's regular session of the General Assembly were that there had been insufficient public debate about all of the changes slots boosters wanted to institute and that there was too little reliable information about the performance of Maryland's existing gambling program. Gov.Martin O'Malley's announcement Monday of a work group to expanded gambling in time for a possible special session of the legislature July 9 does nothing to erase those qualms.

Registration for winter classes offered by Anne Arundel Community College is being held at the seven senior activity centers operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. Classes begin the week of Jan. 11. To obtain a class schedule, visit the senior center you wish to attend or go online at aacounty.com/aging and click on a center for its list of courses, or call 410-777-2241.

Do I understand this correctly? We, the people of Maryland, paid for hotels and meals for our representatives in Annapolis because they failed to do the job of passing a reasonable budget and had to meet in special sessions to prevent fiscal "Doomsday. " So, we reward them by treating them to hotel stays and the cost of meals and libation throughout the duration? Don't they all live in our state? Why couldn't they just drive their cars or take public transportation? Most other job holders do commute to and from work, and many bring their own lunches.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was encouraged by left-hander Zach Britton's throwing session Thursday in Sarasota, Fla. Britton, who has experienced left shoulder inflammation since he was placed on the disabled list last August, began a throwing progression Thursday with a long-toss session at the Orioles' spring training complex. Showalter said the reports from the session were all positive. “It was great,” Showalter said. “He said he didn't feel anything. It felt good.

Capitol College will hold a virtual information session on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. Students can see the campus, discover the state-of-the-art facilities available, learn more about the degree programs, meet faculty and staff, interact with Capitol's online learning platform and view on-campus housing options. More more information, go to http://www.capitol-college.edu/visit-campus/tours-and-open-houses .

The Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, which has on its plate the case of whether to discipline Sen. Ulysses Currie, met in closed session for about a hour Tesday but there was no word on what it will do about the Prince George's County Democrat.  Among the reasons given for the closing was "possible discipline of members of the General Assembly. " Legislative ethics adviser Bill Somerville  stepped out midway through the closed session. Since Somerville isn't taking part in prosecutorial matters, the panel likely moved on from confidential advisory opinions to discipline questions.

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber will hold a pre-procurement fair session, "Piloting Your Course with Small Business Offices, OSDBU'S and CORS. " The session will be presented by Mark Amtower, nationally recognized consultant and founding partner of Amtower & Company, Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. at Homewood Suites by Hilton, 8320 Benson Drive in Columbia, 21045. Learn the three steps to take before a first visit to a small business office; four questions you must ask while you are at your first meeting; and the three top things to do after your first meeting.

Maryland's powerful teachers union topped the list of special interests paying to influence the General Assembly last session, spending $1,034,000 on lobbying lawmakers. It's no surprise: One of the key issues before the legislature last session was reforming public pension systems. Others spending big bucks last session included the Maryland Retailers Association ($619,000) -- the group beat back attempts to hike amusement taxes. The amounts were reported by the Maryland State Ethics Commission, which compiles reports on lobbying in the state.

• GIANTS: Manager Bruce Bochy said RHP Brian Wilson has been exercising after doctors confirmed that the closer had nothing more than a mild strain on his left side. Wilson will attempt to play catch Wednesday, although not off the mound.   • WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy had a light throwing session Tuesday morning that left him more optimistic than two days ago when his rotator cuff tendinitis was diagnosed. Peavy threw on a back field for 5 or 6 minutes at 30 to 40 feet and reported no significant discomfort.

State Sen. Jamie Raskin likens the prospect of being called back to Annapolis for another special session to the plight of a middle school student being told on the last day of classes that he has to attend summer school. But the Montgomery County Democrat, like the 187 other Maryland lawmakers, came out of the special session on budget issues last week knowing there's a strong likelihood they will be summoned back to Annapolis in July to contend with the thorny issue of expanding gambling.

They did what they had to do, and they went home. That's the best that can be said of the special session of the Maryland General Assembly that concluded today. The tax increases, spending cuts, fund transfers and other measures lawmakers approved in 21/2 days this week protect public education, health and public safety and put the state on a path to fiscal sustainability, all while requiring a relatively minimal additional contribution from taxpayers. After a chaotic end to the regular General Assembly session, order has been restored.

Pit bull owners and other animal advocates won't get a chance to overturn a recent Court of Appeals decision labeling the breed as dangerous during the special General Assembly session now under way, but they might get their chance if the legislature reconvenes this summer to consider gambling issues. Senate PresidentThomas V. Mike Millerindicated that he's amenable to putting the issue on the agenda and encouraged people who want action before next January to make their views known to Gov.Martin O'Malley.

Republican lawmakers opened Monday's special session with a roar of protest, denouncing Gov. Martin O'Malley as a liar and vowing to fight the majority Democrats' plans to raise income taxes and shift part of the cost of teacher pensions to the counties. Several dozen GOP senators and delegates held a news conference on the first floor of the State House and directed much of their fire at the occupant of the office on the floor above. House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell, a Calvert County Republican, told of hearing on the radio on the way  to Annapolis that lawmakers were coming into session to cut an additional $600 million in spending -- an interpretation he said had come from the governor's office.

For the second time in his six years in office, Gov.Martin O'Malleyfinds it necessary to call a special session of the legislature to raise taxes and fees ("Deal set to raise taxes," May 10). Mr. O'Malley says it's necessary to raise the taxes on those making over $100,000 to prevent cuts on education, health programs and state employees and to prevent cuts in state aid to Baltimore City and Prince George's and Montgomery counties. These three subdivisions already receive, through the Thornton funding formula, an unfair share of state aid for schools compared to the other subdivisions based on the revenue they send to the state.

A Carroll County commissioner has emailed an invitation to about 850 government employees to attend a monthly prayer session, which she will lead, raising concern among some residents and watchdog groups. Commissioner Robin Bartlett Frazier drafted the invitation and had a member of her staff send it May 3, to coincide with National Day of Prayer, a day on which the president traditionally calls on the nation to pray for peace and the country's welfare. Frazier's first "time for prayer" is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 7 in the basement of the County Office Building in Westminster.

Parents of gifted and talented students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades can receive advice and materials to help their students choose high school courses and activities during a special evening session Nov. 2 at Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Ave. Counselors from Baltimore County Public Schools and representatives from the county's GT office and the Citizens Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented Education will be available during...

When state legislators returned to Annapolis in early January they were a bit frazzled after three years of marathon sessions, budget deficits and painful battles over taxes, abortion and redistricting. Yet once the adrenalin started to flow, lawmakers enacted a number of forward-looking bills before last night's adjournment. It turned out to be the most productive 90-day session of recent years.Capping this year's General Assembly meeting was yesterday's overwhelming approval of a $150 million expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center, a key economic development project.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller are making the best of the embarrassing situation caused by their failure to pass a balanced budget when the legislature adjourned in April. The special legislative session due to begin on Monday will focus only on the budget and taxes — not casino gambling or any of the other issues that were still on the table when time ran out — and will follow closely the compromise worked out by House and Senate negotiators on the regular session's final night.

Standing side by side, Gov. Martin O'Malley and the state's two top legislative leaders unveiled the broad outlines of the budget plan they hope to enact quickly during a special session next week. The plan will raise income taxes on those making more than $100,000 a year (households making more than $150K), a House-backed proposal similar to the one that budget conferees agreed to in the final hours of session. It also makes deeper cuts than the budget O'Malley initially submitted in January.