Small Group

A survey of health insurers covering small employee groups showed that costs per employee increased 3.35 percent last year over 1995, says a report by the state Health Care Access and Cost Commission.Medical costs also increased faster than premiums, growing from 83 percent of premiums to 91.1 percent, the survey found.Because of that, "we expect more premium increases, but how extensive [they will be], we don't know yet," said John M. Colmers, the commission's executive director.The commission was established in 1993 in a state health insurance reform that created a standard benefits package for "small group" policies, those covering between 2 and 50 employees.

As members of the B'nai Israel Congregation in downtown Baltimore on Sunday discussed preparations for the start of Passover, they also reflected on President Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel. "It was a wonderful thing that the president went to Israel and showed his support for the state of Israel," said Rabbi Etan Mintz of B'nai Israel Congregation. Today begins Passover, an eight-day festival commemorating Jews' emancipation from slavery in Egypt. The holiday is celebrated with Seders, symbolic foods and the recitation of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

Carroll citizens, speaking out against the war in the Persian Gulf, added their voices to the mass of about 75,000 people who marched from the Mall to the White House in Washington on Saturday.And although county representation was small, their enthusiasm was not, participants said."Sometimes, you feel you just have to put your body there," said Westminster resident Fran Nyce. "When you're in the midst of thousands of people, it reassures you that you're not crazy, and it gives youthe support you need to keep trying to work for peace."

These groups meet regularly. 50+ Professionals - Singles social group for professionals ages 50 and older. New members are currently being accepted. Group meets for social events such as happy hours, brunches, dinners, theater, concerts, book clubs and more. 410-813-4071. Chapelgate Presbyterian Church - Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m. Free classes for adults learning English as their second language. Free child care is available for ages birth-12 years. 2600 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville.

Perhaps realizing that the state government's financial distress makes new local spending unlikely, a relatively small group of about 80 Howard County residents and officials asked County Executive James N. Robey for budget favors at last night's annual public hearing. Nearly half the group were employees or advocates of Howard Community College, who tried to preserve funding to operate a new instructional building due to open next month and to plan for another new performing arts structure for the growing campus.

A small group gathered Saturday at Baltimore Cemetery for the unveiling of a headstone for Norman "Chubby" Chaney, a child star in "The Little Rascals" whose grave had gone unmarked for 76 years. The small constellation of fans was brought together by Detroit-area rock musician Mikal C.G., who led an online fundraising drive to buy stones for Chaney and his mother. He led the low-key ceremony Saturday, giving a short speech and pulling a white sheet off markers, to coos of "beautiful!"

As members of the B'nai Israel Congregation in downtown Baltimore on Sunday discussed preparations for the start of Passover, they also reflected on President Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel. "It was a wonderful thing that the president went to Israel and showed his support for the state of Israel," said Rabbi Etan Mintz of B'nai Israel Congregation. Today begins Passover, an eight-day festival commemorating Jews' emancipation from slavery in Egypt. The holiday is celebrated with Seders, symbolic foods and the recitation of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

WHEN sportswriter Lisa Olson was sacked by a small group of football players in the New England Patriots' locker room, the question was raised about how best to handle women in a domain where men are men and women are sex objects.newspaper's special sections.

Nobutaka Shikanai, 78, founder of one of Japan's largest media conglomerates and the creator of its most famous art museum, the giant Hakone Open-Air Museum in the mountains west of Tokyo, died Sunday, his Fujisankei Communications Group said yesterday. He was one of a small group of entrepreneurs who built huge business empires from the ruins of Japan after World War II.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A small group of Orioles took early batting practice yesterday and participated in fielding drills more than four hours before last night's game. The roster expanded by four players, all of them called up from the minors. The routine, and the clubhouse, no longer seemed quite as familiar. Any break from the norm is encouraged when a team keeps losing. In this case, change isn't just good, it's almost a necessity. Orioles@Devil Rays Tonight, 7:10, MASN2, 102.7 FM Starters: Radhames Liz (0-1, 7.00)

A small group gathered Saturday at Baltimore Cemetery for the unveiling of a headstone for Norman "Chubby" Chaney, a child star in "The Little Rascals" whose grave had gone unmarked for 76 years. The small constellation of fans was brought together by Detroit-area rock musician Mikal C.G., who led an online fundraising drive to buy stones for Chaney and his mother. He led the low-key ceremony Saturday, giving a short speech and pulling a white sheet off markers, to coos of "beautiful!"

Yellow caution tape encircled half of the sidewalk in front of the Rosedale Best Buy Wednesday evening, blocking off a space for the tents and folding chairs of shoppers dedicated to the cause of getting a deal. "Occupy Best Buy," shouted Edgewood resident Christina Johnson, who was huddled under blankets and enshrouded by a hood to keep off the cold. "This is our one opportunity to get a flat-screen TV. … We've been waiting all year. " Johnson and her husband, Shaka, were the second of four groups in line at the store by 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Stop me if you've heard this. A man walks into a Packers bar in Millersville. No, wait, that's no joke. There really is a Green Bay Packers bar in Millersville: Bullseye Sports Bar and Grill, tucked between motels catering to long-haul truckers and home of a Super Bowl $10 All-You-Can-Eat Bratwurst Buffet. The walls are devoted to everything Green Bay: photos, news clippings, jerseys, even a figurine at the end of the bar dressed in green and gold and wearing a cheesehead.

Maryland schools with only a small group of students who can't pass state tests will no longer be labeled as failing and be forced to make draconian changes under a plan approved yesterday by the U.S. Department of Education. Maryland was one of six states given permission to use a new way of classifying their schools when they don't meet No Child Left Behind standards. The highly technical changes are likely to have sweeping ramifications for schools in the state that don't meet standards, particularly as the standards rise in the coming years until the school year 2013-2014, when all children in the nation will be expected to pass the tests.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A small group of Orioles took early batting practice yesterday and participated in fielding drills more than four hours before last night's game. The roster expanded by four players, all of them called up from the minors. The routine, and the clubhouse, no longer seemed quite as familiar. Any break from the norm is encouraged when a team keeps losing. In this case, change isn't just good, it's almost a necessity. Orioles@Devil Rays Tonight, 7:10, MASN2, 102.7 FM Starters: Radhames Liz (0-1, 7.00)

In an upper room at Clayton's Tavern in Federal Hill, a small group of young people gathered in the dim light to talk about God. The assembly represents one element of a four-year effort by the Archdiocese of Baltimore to invigorate Roman Catholic parishes and to revive the faith of people who might be years removed from formal religious education. Starting this week, small gatherings from about a third of the archdiocese's 151 parishes will use a program called "Why Catholic?" to discuss Catholic beliefs, guided by the catechism and Scripture.

WASHINGTON -- Breaking with calls for a peaceful solution to his country's political crisis, exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide yesterday said he would support a "surgical strike" on his nation by international forces to remove a "small group of thugs" in command."

Voters have indicated in any number of recent polls that they are fed up with the way things are done in Washington, but some members of Congress don't seem to get the message.The decision by a small group of House members to possibly jeopardize the urban-aid bill and the future solvency of the Social Security system over perceived inequity in benefit payments to a small group of retirees clearly illustrates why the American people are so riled up.The issue concerns the so-called "Notch Babies" -- retirees who were born between 1917 and 1921 -- and a perceived disparity in their benefits.

ATLANTA -- Last week, Ralph Reed, once the golden boy of hard-core religious conservatives, was defeated in Georgia's Republican primary for lieutenant governor, his first attempt at elective office. Because he rose to prominence as the cherubic face of the Christian Coalition, his political remains have been autopsied by pundits nationwide, some of whom are speculating that the cause of death was the more general demise of America's theocrats. But they're wrong. Mr. Reed lost because his hypocrisy on the issue of gambling became too glaring for his ultraconservative constituents to ignore.

I work for a company with about 100 employees. Health insurance is a contentious issue because of the high costs and few options. The company offers two plans, which cost the same. (One bills $200 per employee weekly, the other $800 a month.) The company pays one-third of the amount, and we pay the rest. I pay the equivalent of one-quarter of my take-home pay under either plan. Do we, as employees, have any rights here, or are we stuck with the high cost of health care? When you begin with the fact that employers don't have to offer health insurance, it's easy to understand that they have a wide latitude in choosing what to offer and how much to charge you for it. "There is no requirement that the contributions required from employees be reasonable or affordable," said New York employment attorney Richard Kass.