'Jewish Times' Has Three Bidders for Monday Auction

An auction of Alter Communications will take place Monday morning at Tydings & Rosenberg law firm in Baltimore, according to a Baltimore Jewish Times report.

Three bidders made the March 29 deadline, the report states. Bidding will begin at $450,000.

The bidders are, according to the report:

• Dr. Scott Rifkin’s Baltimore Community Publishing, LLC, which owns Press Box, a local sports publication
• Route 95 Publications, LLC, owner of Washington Jewish Week
• H.G. Roebuck & Son, Inc., whose lawsuit against Alter began the process that led to bankruptcy and sale

According to a Baltimore Sun report, Alter's current CEO, Andrew Alter Buerger, said it would "... be a real tragic end to this company," if Roebuck, its key creditor, buys it.

Judge Nancy V. Alquist will review and confirm the sale April 5, according to another Jewish Times report. Anyone who opposes the deal will then have 14 days to file an objection.

Last spring, Rifkin's Timonium-based company, Mid-Atlantic Health Care, announced that it planned to buy in Pikesville.

That did not occur, though, a member of the community's marketing department has said.

In 2006 Rifkin ran against Bobby Zirkin for the state Senate in the 2006 Democratic Primary election. Rifkin's brother is a member of the lobbying/law firm Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan and Silver.

Who do you think wants to buy The Jewish Times more? Who would do the best job? What changes do you think a new owner would/should make?