Easter

Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting a communitywide Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at 13611 Laurel Bowie Road. 301-776-7670.

Downtown's Howard Street was jammed on the Saturday before Easter, and Diana Kane was busy with her new modeling agency. That was five decades ago. Back then, as a black woman, she was a pioneer: She founded a business on what was then Baltimore's principal shopping street at a time when few African-Americans could shop in the fashion houses there. Within a few years, Kane saw results. The glossy department store catalogs started showing African-American models. It was the 1960s, and their appearance was something of a first for Baltimore.

I saw the Easter Bunny Saturday at the Perryville Outlets with several members of the Perryville Lions Club. Lioness Peggy Morrison advised that you can have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny at the Outlets in Store 19 on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $5 and your donation supports Lions Club projects in our community. Speedy recovery to Margaret Cifaldo, Perryville, as she has been on the sick list lately. Happy birthday to Sarah Bryanne Stanley, daughter of Steve and Michelle Stanley of Conowingo, as she celebrated March 31. Mike Lowe, North Main Street, enjoyed birthday greetings April 1. And his cousins, Jim Sice and Alice Sice, celebrated their birthdays April 2. The Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 8185 sponsored the quarterly dinner meeting of the District 10 Ladies Auxiliary on April 3. Post 8185 Auxiliary President Janet Mortus welcomed District President Dee Russo of Earlville along with the other officers of District 10. Following the dinner and short business meeting, the election of officers was held for 2012.

You can start your Easter Sunday dining at 7:15 a.m. at Slainte in Fells Point , while watching a Scottish Premier League game (Hibernian vs. Motherwell) and finish up with a late-night dinner at the Prime Rib. Easter isn't just for brunch. Aldo's -- The Little Italy restaurant is opening early (3 p.m.-8 p.m.) for an Easter dinner featuring the full a la carte menu along with a special $55 four-course menu prepared by chef-owner Aldo Vitale. Highlights of the Easter menu include a truffled asparagus risotto, a wood-grilled Porterhouse of Vermont lamb and Vitello alla Cacciatora, hunter's style veal with Yukon Gold potatoes, white wine and herbs.

Easter options are plentiful this year, and a few are lavish. The offerings at The Capital Grille (500 E. Pratt St., 443-703-4064, thecapitalgrille.com) include a carving station, raw bar, and breakfast station with scrambled eggs, French toast and roasted Kona tenderloin. Wit & Wisdom (200 International Drive, 410-576-5800, witandwisdombaltimore.com) at the Four Seasons Hotel is serving a three-course brunch with featuring chicory-glazed ham and, for dessert, a banana cream puff with chocolate, coconut tapioca and hazelnut sherbet.

State health officials are warning Marylanders that baby rabbits, turtles, chicks, ducklings and other animals popular around the Easter holiday can spread salmonella and other harmful bacteria to people. Since September 2001, six people in Maryland have contracted bacterial infections from baby turtles, or those with shells less than four inches wide, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Five of the cases required hospitalizations. U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules don't allow the sale of baby turtles, but in three of the cases the turtles were bought from a neighborhood baby turtle vendor.

When Irene Smith took over Baltimore's Woman's Industrial Kitchen last fall, she was determined to return it to its rightful place as a lunchroom where American home cooking is celebrated. What better way to do that, she thought, than to restore the classic deviled egg to the menu? "Deviled eggs," she said, "are so integrated into American iconography that every maker of fine china also makes a deviled egg plate. "Even the hot dog doesn't have its own plate. " The deviled egg, a staple on the Easter menu — what else are you going to do with all those hard-boiled eggs?

Area churches, community centers, clubs and others, in Baltimore county and city are sponsoring egg hunts and Easter-related activities for children, offering plenty of opportunities to hop on over to one near you. Arbutus Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Violetville United Methodist Church, 3648 Coolidge Ave., Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Eggstra" special fare, bake sale and carryout items. 410-525-3191. Lansdowne Easter Bunny Breakfast, Lansdowne Volunteer Fire Department, 140 Laverne Ave. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, coffee, tea, juice and hot chocolate.

This will not sit well with many Oriole Fans. In the past, Opening Day was on the Monday after Easter Sunday. Good Friday was a solemn day for Christians to head to church. Where was the needed sensitivity that would have avoided this? What I don't want to hear is "The League, after personal deep prayer and reflection, made us do this?" Nonsense! Since when did our owner lack power behind the scene to accomplish what he wanted? Where will our loyalty be at 3 p.m. on Good Friday?

The United Methodist Church of Savage is hosting Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Saturday, March 24 from 8 to 11 a.m. at 9050 Baltimore St., in Savage. Cost is $3 for one pancake, scoop of eggs and sausage; $6 for two pancakes, two scoops of eggs and two sausages. Beverages included. Bring your camera for pictures with the Easter Bunny. Call the office, 301-725-7630, with questions.