20th Anniversary

The 20th anniversary celebration of the Columbia Festival of the Arts began over the weekend with LakeFest, which featured free performances, exhibitions and activities at Columbia Town Center. The three-day outdoor event featured live music from more than 20 bands, a kinetic art parade, a crafts mart and fireworks displays.

Just minutes after the gates opened at Camden Yards, the new Roof Deck had its first customer -- Romeo Santos of Pigtown. "My goal was to be the first one up on this deck and grab a beer. " Roof Deck is open to Oriole Park ticket-holders at every game, a fact that seemed to impress even a Baltimore City police officer, who was overhead expressing his approval of the covered center-field bar and viewing platform. Variations of the Roof Deck have become popular mixing areas in other stadiums, especially for restless fans who want to keep half an eye on the game as they move around the park.

Baseball: Tomorrow at 1 p.m., Fox (WBFF/Channel 45 and WTTG/Channel 5) televises the New York Yankees at the Washington Nationals. Why should you watch? Just to hate both teams. Hockey: Tomorrow could be the last NHL game for, oh, a few weeks. Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals airs at 8 p.m. on NBC (WBAL/Channel 11 and WRC/Channel 4). Basketball: On Monday, Comcast SportsNet will present a look back at Len Bias on the 20th anniversary of his death, presented during the 10 p.m. SportsNite.

Results of our Earth Day weekend telephone survey suggest that at least some Baltimore area residents have become more dedicated recyclers in the last year.Sixty percent of the 386 Evening Sun readers and other callers to SUNDIAL indicated they have changed their recycling habits in the year following the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Forty percent, or 153 callers, indicated they have not changed their recycling habits."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

Folk trio Helicon, featuring Ken Kolodner, Chris Norman and Robin Bullock, returns to Maryland for its 20th anniversary Winter Solstice Concert. The group, which originated in Baltimore, will perform a variety of holiday music selections from countries all over the world. Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson, will host shows at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $25 at the door and $22 in advance and can be ordered by calling 410-243-7254 or visiting kenkolodner.

In celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards' 20th year anniversary, the club debuted the above infographic that details the ballpark's impact on Baltimore and Major League Baseball.

The Historical Electronics Museum in Linthicum has announced the establishment of the Robert L. Dwight Science Scholarship, in honor of the museum's founder, who lives on Gibson Island. The scholarship was announced at a recent reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the museum at 1745 West Nursery Road. Details on the annual award of at least $1,500, which will go to a high school senior taking up studies in science and engineering at an accredited college or university, are to be announced next year, said the museum board's president, Allan L. Spencer.

The Goldseker Foundation awarded $2.1 million in 1995 to 55 nonprofit Baltimore-area institutions, including 20 past recipients who received $10,000 each in honor of the foundation's 20th anniversary this year.Foundation President Timothy D. Armbruster said the 20 were chosen for "special recognition" from among 269 past recipients.The 20 included Action for the Homeless, Advocates for Children and Youth, Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust, Citizens Planning and Housing Agency, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Corp.

Basement Waterproofing Nationwide of Edgewood was recently given the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland's Torch Award for Outstanding Ethics in the Market Place for the second time. The company also recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It won this award the first time in 1997. Stephen Taylor is chief executive officer of the business, which has nearly 100 employees. Christmas parade participants sought The Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission is soliciting participants for the town's 2007 Christmas parade, set for Dec. 2. Floats, mobile units, antique cars, marching units and color guards are among the entrants sought.

If you're a fan of Maryland horseracing, you'll want to be at the Maryland Million at Laurel Park on Saturday. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the racing event, which is restricted to the offspring of Maryland stallions. Racing fans will see Maryland horses compete in 12 races, with purses totaling nearly $1.5 million. In addition to watching the races, visitors can attend an autograph-signing by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, watch musical performances by the Marine Corps Marching Band and see the Maryland Million Horse Fair.