Brian Boston, chef at the Milton Inn in Sparks, and Larry Wilhelm, owner and president of Friendly Farm Restaurant in Upperco, were recognized by Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz on June 27 for their achievements in Maryland’s restaurant industry.
Brian Boston, chef at the Milton Inn in Sparks, and Larry Wilhelm, owner and president of Friendly Farm Restaurant in Upperco, were recognized by Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz on June 27 for their achievements in Maryland’s restaurant industry.
In May, the Restaurant Association of Maryland held its 57th annual Stars of the Industry Awards. Boston was named Chef of the Year. Wilhelm received the Brice and Shirley Phillips Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, named for the founders of Phillips Seafood Restaurant. It is awarded to a person who exemplifies sound business principles and impeccable character.
By Pat van den Beemt
‘Willy Wonka, Jr.’ next up for summer drama program
Seventh District Recreation Council’s summer drama program will present “Willie Wonka, Jr.” on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30 at Hereford High School’s auditorium.
The production features 42 local children ages 8 through 16. The kids have been creating the stage sets and props, as well as making their own costumes during the two-week camp that began July 18. They also have daily singing practice, acting classes and choreography lessons, said Diana Woltereck, the program director.
The drama program also performed “Alice in Wonderland” during its first session, which ended July 15.
“Willie Wonka, Jr.” runs two hours and refreshments are available during intermission.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on July 29, and 6 p.m. on July 30. Tickets in advance are available at Hereford Recreation Office, 410-887-1938.
Hereford High School is located at 17301 York Road.
By Pat van den Beemt
Cardiologist’s license revoked over stent accusations
The Maryland Board of Physicians last week revoked the medical license of Dr. Mark Midei, saying the Towson cardiologist falsified patient records to justify unnecessary cardiac stent procedures.
“Dr. Midei’s violations were repeated and serious,” board members wrote in an 11-page order. “They unnecessarily exposed his patients to the risk of harm. They increased the cost of the patients’ medical care.”
The findings cap two years of inquiry into Midei’s work atSt. Joseph Medical Center.
The allegations tarnished Midei’s career, pushed the hospital to enter into a multimillion-dollar settlement with the federal government and led the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to open an investigation into the doctor’s relationship with stent makers.
The revocation “validates what we’ve been saying all along, which is that Dr. Midei was engaged in egregious malpractice and fraud,” said Andrew Slutkin, a Baltimore attorney who has filed nearly 20 patient lawsuits against Midei.
One of Midei’s attorneys, Stephen Snyder, said “political pressure” to revoke Midei’s license was too great for the board to ignore.
The board ruled Midei violated five provisions of the state’s Medical Practice Act while working at St. Joseph through unprofessional conduct, false reports, overutilization of health care services, standards of care violations and failure to keep adequate medical records.
Specifically, the board found he inserted cardiac stents into arteries that weren’t clogged enough to need them — likely because of “pressure to produce.”
“Dr. Midei testified that he understood that he was a big generator of business for the hospital, that the hospital had lost many patients to competition and that its goal was to hold onto the stent business that it saw slipping away,” board members wrote, noting that Midei was hired to run St. Joseph’s cardiac catheterization lab at a seven-figure salary that was triple his prior earnings.
Snyder said the board’s decision was not “supported by the evidence.”
“Unfortunately, I think a fine doctor is being put out to pasture and that the community receives a disservice by him not being able to continue to save lives,” Snyder said.
He said he will discuss an appeal with Midei.
Midei has filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph, claiming he was made a scapegoat by hospital administrators who were trying to deflect attention from a kickback scandal. St. Joseph paid the federal government $22 million to settle the kickback claims, as well as to repay Medicare funds received for some of Midei’s stents.
In a statement, the hospital said it respects the board’s decision on Midei.
Midei can reapply for his license in two years.
— Tricia Bishop, Baltimore Sun
Students entering new school in fall urged to register early
Parents or guardians who must register children for the 2011-12 school year should do so as soon as possible.
Students must be registered if they are:
*enrolling for the first time in a Baltimore County school.
* recently moved to Baltimore County from another county.
* changed residences within Baltimore County since last school year and will attend a new school as a result of that move.
* entering the sixth grade or ninth grade this school year.
* do not reside in Baltimore County but may be allowed to attend a county school.
Early registration is requested so that families have time to provide proper documentation.
Parents should visit the school their child will attend to register for the upcoming school year.
All county public schools are open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, throughout the summer.
Parents or guardians should contact their local schools to schedule appointments.
If students need English language support, parents or guardians must contact the Office of World Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Programs.
For more information, go to http://www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules or call the Office of Pupil Personnel Services(410-887-0404).
Staff reports
Final session on school board selection is July 25 in Towson
The task force formed by the county’s legislativedelegation to Annapolis to study the selection process for the Board of Education — formally dubbed the Task Force on the Selection Process, Accountability and Professionalism of the Baltimore County Board of Education — will host the final of three public hearings next week in Towson.
The session will be held Monday, July 25, at Towson Library, 320 York Road, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Two other sessions were held early this month in Reisterstown andEssex.
Currently, county school board members are appointed by the governor. But in recent years, the issue has arisen whether members should be elected by district; or whether the board should be composed of elected and appointed members — a “hybrid” scenario.
The task force is meeting over the summer, then will make recommendations in time for the General Assembly session in early 2012.
The task force is chaired by state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier and Del. Steve Lafferty. Klausmeier is also accepting testimony through July 25. Address comments to Baltimore County School Board Task Force, and send email to katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us.
The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee this week announced the schedule of 12 public hearings in the process to draft a recommended plan for the State’s legislative and congressional redistricting.
Two hearings will be held in the Baltimore area:
* Friday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m., at the Morgan State University Student Center, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore.
* Saturday, Aug. 27, 2 p.m., Towson University, Stephens Hall Theater, 8000 York Road, Towson.
(For the list of all 12 hearing dates and times, go to http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com.)
Advance sign-up is required by email, and must be received by noon the day before the hearing. People interested in speaking can sign up at Planning.Maryland.gov/Redistricting.
People with special needs requiring accommodations may submit a request five days before the hearing to Redistricting2011@mdp.state.md.us, or call 410-767-4490; fax 410-767-4480, or access the Maryland Relay Internet.
Using results of the 2010 Census and input from the hearings, the committee will submit a legislative redistricting plan to Gov.Martin O’Malley.
O’Malley will then review that plan and prepare a proposal to be introduced to the General Assembly in January.
The assembly will have 45 days to approve the governor’s plan or pass an alternative one. If no plan passes in 45 days, the governor’s plan becomes law.
The committee will also make recommendations for the redistricting of Maryland’s eight congressional districts. The assembly may consider that congressional plan at a special session that’s already scheduled for Oct. 17.
Fundraiser for Jacksonville volunteers slated
Chops Restaurant in Jacksonville is holding an all-you-can-eat steamed crab fundraiser for the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department on Aug. 15 and 16.
The restaurant, in the Manor Shopping Center, will offer crabs at a discounted price of $30 per person starting at 5 p.m. both days. Chops will also have giveaways like hats and T-shirts for customers and complimentary snowballs.
“We’d like to sell out both nights so we can give these guys a nice check,” said Chris Lambros, one of the restaurant owners.
Reservations are required by calling Chops at 410-628-2467.
