Early Bird

The Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks Department is hosting the 10th anniversary of the Early Bird Men's Slow Pitch Softball Tournament, April 6 and 7 at Upton Softball Park in Severn. Entry is $80 and cutoff date is April 1. For entry information, call Jeff Porter at 222-3600 or 222-6255.

All you can eat breakfast will be served this Saturday, April 13, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Harmony Lodge, Tome Highway, Port Deposit. Events supports the scholarship fund. The second annual Cody G. Richardson Relentless Run 5K and 3K fun walk will be June 1 at Perryville Middle School. The event benefits the Cody G. Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration and packet pick up starts at 8 a.m. with the runners taking off at 9 a.m. and walkers at 9:05. There will be a cash prize for the first place male and female finishers.

The trout are biting, the woodchucks are out in droves and we have the annual Early Bird Fishing Tournament under our belts. It must be spring in Carroll County!Reasonable weather, which isn't always a sure thing when the Early Bird Fishing Tournament holds court each year at Piney Run Park, helped pull anglers from around the area to participate this popular event.The top prize winner was Robert Nichell's 17.75-pound, 37 1/8 -inch striped bass, which netted him $700 in prize money. Nichell's fish was caught from a boat, but Patrick Heilman's 14-inch, 1.46-pound catfish (worth $600)

Submitting sports notices The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Monday. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). Questions? Call 410-332-6578. Baseball Atholton Youth Recreation Association spring 2013 baseball registration is open. Register by Feb. 22 to receive the early bird discount. The season runs from April 1 until the end of the school year. AYRA provides a youth baseball program central to Clarksville, Columbia, Fulton, Maple Lawn, North Laurel, Savage and Simpsonville communities.

The United Way of Central Maryland expects to begin its campaign Sept. 3 with about 10 percent of its goal pledged, compared with 5 percent last year, because of heavier than usual summertime fund raising.So far, 76 "Early Bird" companies have begun drives, triple the number last summer, said Leigh Ann Ruggles, manager of the summer drive. Last year, the 24 that started early raised $1.6 million."This has a ripple effect," Ruggles said. "Not only will we raise much more money this summer -- four companies didn't give at all last year -- we'll be able to inform other companies in the fall about the successful practices of these early companies."

It was 650 hardy and hopeful fishermen against the fish, and for themost part, the fish won. And a few anglers inadvertently joined themin the drink.That's how things went at the 10th annual Early Bird Fishing Tournament at Piney Run Reservoir last Sunday. A few anglers walked away with a lot of money, but most departed chilled, withoutany fish, and some were wet.Without a doubt it was the worst weather for fishing in the competition's history. Northwest winds whipped across the 300-acre lake with gusts topping 30 knots, forcing most contestants to call it quits in midday.

Birding at Cylburn Where: Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. When: 8:30 a.m. every Sunday in May Why: Because the early bird gets the worm, or at least can watch the early bird get the worm. Take binoculars, a field guidebook and good walking shoes for a bird walk. Information: Call 410-367-2217 or visit www.cylburnassociation.org.

The United States (A) will (B) probably will or (C) might defend Taiwan against attack, depending on which presidential interview you read. The burden on taxpayers will increase and services to them decrease as proof of the city's revitalization. Paleontologists found a feathered fossil in China and can't decide whether it was an early bird or dinosaur in drag. The Frederick Madam is an American success story.

Koinonia Fellowship Ministries will hold its first Ganovia holiday bazaar Sat., Nov. 26 at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road. Ganovia gift packets along with early bird discounted coupons and codes given for that Black Friday sales. For more information call KFMinistries, 301-323-8124 or go to http://www.kfministries.org .

All you can eat breakfast will be served this Saturday, April 13, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Harmony Lodge, Tome Highway, Port Deposit. Events supports the scholarship fund. The second annual Cody G. Richardson Relentless Run 5K and 3K fun walk will be June 1 at Perryville Middle School. The event benefits the Cody G. Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration and packet pick up starts at 8 a.m. with the runners taking off at 9 a.m. and walkers at 9:05. There will be a cash prize for the first place male and female finishers.

Tax season is officially here, with the Internal Revenue Service and state of Maryland starting Tuesday to accept electronically filed returns. This is a good year for procrastinators. April 15 — the traditional due date for returns — falls on a Sunday and the following Monday is Emancipation Day, a holiday celebrated in Washington. This pushes the deadline to April 17. But this is also a leap year, so Feb. 29 gives us one more day to ponder our taxes. Many filers could use the extra time.

Koinonia Fellowship Ministries will hold its first Ganovia holiday bazaar Sat., Nov. 26 at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road. Ganovia gift packets along with early bird discounted coupons and codes given for that Black Friday sales. For more information call KFMinistries, 301-323-8124 or go to http://www.kfministries.org .

Wednesday  when I was housecleaning, the phone rang. It was a woman from Meadowbrook   thinking my name was something different, but she had the right membership number. She’d called to say I’d paid my membership fee for next winter, but not for this summer.   I didn’t believe her. I always take advantage of the “early bird” special. I’ve done it for years, even decades. I pay the twice-yearly membership fee for swimming at Meadowbrook months in advance to save a little.

The spring thaw — if we ever get one — will likely come with a good helping of mud. The Pennsylvania Dutch are counting on it. The segue between the seasons is when the Amish and Mennonite communities launch their annual mud sales in Lancaster County. No, they're not selling dirt. The sales are actually auctions featuring anything from tools and furniture to toys and livestock — and a whole lot in between. The events benefit the region's local fire companies.

The last two "Fridays after Five" discounts in honor of the National Aquarium in Baltimore 's 30th anniversary are tonight, March 18 and next Friday, March 25. As we've told you before , buy a ticket to enter after 5 p.m. and pay only $8 per person; dolphin shows cost an additional $4. And tonight is the Target Family Fun Night at Port Discovery , with $2 admission from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. You'll also be able to...

The Ravens have the No. 26 pick in the NFL draft April 25, which isn't enviable, but Eric DeCosta, the team's director of player personnel, wouldn't mind being in that spot every year. A low position in the first round is an indication of success the previous season. The Ravens also like to point out that the last time they were in this position, they selected a middle linebacker out of the University of Miami named Ray Lewis in 1996. The rest is Hall of Fame history. "I don't know if there has ever been a No. 26 pick in the history of the league as good as Ray Lewis," DeCosta said Wednesday.

The last two "Fridays after Five" discounts in honor of the National Aquarium in Baltimore 's 30th anniversary are tonight, March 18 and next Friday, March 25. As we've told you before , buy a ticket to enter after 5 p.m. and pay only $8 per person; dolphin shows cost an additional $4. And tonight is the Target Family Fun Night at Port Discovery , with $2 admission from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. You'll also be able to...

Where -- 2900 Hillsdale Rd., Baltimore Phone -- 410-448-4653 Online data -- www.bmgcgolf.com Course description -- 18 holes, par-71. Built in 1924. Eighty percent poa annua grass, 20 percent ryegrass. No water in play. Tees -- Blue, 6,127 yards; white, 5,815; yellow, 5,330; red, 4,874. Tee time spacing -- 8 minutes. Cost -- Year-round rates: Weekdays, $23; weekends and holidays, $26. Seniors (62 and over), $23, juniors (under 17), $6. Twilight (four phases, times vary), $20, $17, $14, $11. Early bird (back nine)

The sun wasn't up and the streets were empty when I left the house. Dundalk Joe was waiting in a car parked by the corner, and I hopped in. It was just after 6 a.m., and we were a little giddy from anticipation and lack of sleep. Our destination? Hogan's Alley, an old-school South Baltimore bar on Fort Avenue. The early-morning bar hop had begun. There are more than a few bars around town that close at 2 a.m. and reopen at 6 a.m. But who starts drinking before the sun comes up? Alcoholics?

Scholastic Corp., the distributor of the Harry Potter books in the United States, said yesterday that it will take legal action against two Illinois companies that sold and shipped copies of the final novel in the series to some customers several days before the book's scheduled worldwide release date. Scholastic, based in New York, said in a prepared statement that Chicago-based book distributor Levy Home Entertainment and seller DeepDiscount.com in Itasca, Ill., violated an agreement to hold back copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.