Family Day

AUGUST, traditionally a time for vacations, is a good month to implement an American Family Day. A foundation for the day already exists: In Arizona and Michigan, statutes have been enacted for that purpose, and Kiwanis International has recognized a Family Day each year.From historic and practical standpoints, a Family Day is appropriate. That's what Anna Jarvis had in mind at the turn of the 20th century, when she successfully sought legislation establishing a Mother's Day. Miss Jarvis envisioned a celebration that was family-centered, low-key, religious and personal.

For those looking to get outdoors before going indoors to watch the Orioles and Ravens on television Sunday, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy wants you. As part of the National Public Lands Day, the ATC Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., is hosting its second-annual Family Hiking Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday. Admission is free. According to Javier Folgar, marketing and communications manager for the ATC, the activity in Harpers Ferry grew out of the national event.

Of the many special events planned throughout the year at the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Del., Family Day on Saturday ranks high in popularity. Now in its fourth year, it offers a full day of activity for all ages from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Since the museum stands on the original site of the du Pont black powder mills that flourished during the 19th century, many of the events relate to that era.On Blacksmith Hill, the Hagley's 19th century workers' community, visitors can enjoy a Punch and Judy show, enter wheelbarrow races, participate in school classes or watch interpreters perform daily chores.

Sunday, Jan. 23 'Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands' Exhibit from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation is on display through Feb. 18 in St. John's College's Mitchell Gallery, 60 College Ave., Annapolis. Exhibit hours and information: 410-626-2556. Monday, Jan. 24 Blacksmith group The Chesapeake Forge Blacksmith Guild meets at 7 p.m. at Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville. Members learn new techniques while working on projects. No gate fees.

Celebrate the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa on Sunday at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The museum's free Kwanzaa Family Day takes place on the first day of the holiday, which runs each year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Created in 1966 by California State University at Long Beach professor Maulana Karenga, the nonreligious holiday of Kwanzaa celebrates family and community. Patterned after African harvest festivals, the holiday highlights a different principle each day and features a candle-lighting, a feast and often a gift exchange.

Do you ever wish you could travel back in time?What if it were possible to step into a forebear's shoes and experience what life was like on a typical day some 100 years ago?The Carroll County Farm Museum extends an invitation to do just that as it presents "Family Day" from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.Imagine you've piled your spouse and the kids into the buggy and set "OleSally" on a course toward Westminster. Once there, turn in at the country lane, hitch Sally close to the watering trough, and purchase a ticket from Jean Scott at the Country Store.

Perched on a tall chair in her floral-print Hawaiian dress, Vida Reimel looks down and smiles at her friends. Her feet bounce in the air as she begins to belt out "The Star-Spangled Banner." Sure, some of the words get mixed up, and "rockets" sounds like "rompoms," but for a 4-year-old, she pretty much nails it. After the song, she hops down and scurries over to the snack table, hoping to grab one of the few remaining Rice Krispie treats. "My favorite part is when I get to sing my own song," Vida said, smiling.

For the third time in 50 years, the National Security Agency played host to "family day" yesterday, an event that for many decades-long employees signaled the first time their relatives were allowed to see where they work. But far from the average bring-your-child-to-work day, the event attracted more than 16,000 curious relatives who lined up early in the morning for a chance to look behind the gates of the nation's most secret spy agency. After being asked to leave all cameras, phones, pagers, electronic equipment and "incendiary devices" at the gate, many family members had their first peeks at a relative's desk and cubicle, and took their first small tours of the facility at Fort Meade in Odenton.

New York. -- Perhaps it was inevitable, but the latest minority to join the plethora of ethnic, sexual and cultural groups now seeking the status of victimhood are, yes, witches.According to the Anti-Bias Curriculum, a publication of the National Association for the Education of Young Children that is gaining prestige in teachers' colleges, they have suffered too long from disparaging prejudice. The book advises teachers to explain that Halloween witches are not evil hags who like to eat children, like the one in Hansel and Gretel, but actually good women who use herbal remedies to ''really help people.

William Paca's 261st birthday Put on your red, white and blue and celebrate the birthday of one of our nation's founding fathers - William Paca - Sunday at the William Paca House. Paca, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a three-time Maryland governor, would have celebrated his 261st birthday. Visitors of all ages can tour the Paca House and have their picture taken with a life-size model of Paca. Children can create and decorate party hats, play Colonial games and sign a birthday card.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-- --The father and son enjoyed the most American of moments yesterday, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at a ballgame, wearing matching Orioles warm-up jackets and basking in the South Florida sun. The son pointed around the diamond, identifying the players in their pristine uniforms before the first pitch of the Grapefruit League season. When the son got to new Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, he explained to his dad that the 22-year-old had a lot of talent, a lot of upside.

The Glenwood Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, will sponsor a Family Fitness Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Those who attend will learn about the center's fitness and wellness classes and facilities, including "Step Up to Health" activities for mind, body and spirit. The event for all ages is free. The center is offering a "New Year's Resolution" fitness promotion through Jan. 25: admission passes for 25, 50 or 100 visits. The passes have no expiration date and there are no additional monthly fees.

Charles Preslipsky, who helped run a family-owned day care center in Odenton for 50 years, died of heart failure Dec. 15 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie. The Odenton resident was 87. Born in Sarver, Pa., Mr. Preslipsky graduated from Tarentum High School in 1939. After graduation, he worked for two years in the Sun coal mines in western Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh -- the same mines that his father and older brother had worked. With his brother, he joined the Army in 1943 and served as an X-ray technician during World War II at the hospital at Fort Meade.

Karron Alston held back at first, eyeing the dance instructor as she twirled through the air with her colorful scarf. When it came time for her to emulate the moves, Karron took a few steps forward, saw everyone watching, and went right back to the corner. But with a little prompting, the 2-year-old made another try, holding the scarf over her head as she began moving across the floor. Suddenly, she smiled. And for the rest of the session she stayed in the middle of room, dancing. Hundreds of families came to the Baltimore School for the Arts yesterday for the second annual Artreach Family Day, created to engage children in the arts - from letting them bang on drums and play trombones to walking them through the basics of ballet.

Perched on a tall chair in her floral-print Hawaiian dress, Vida Reimel looks down and smiles at her friends. Her feet bounce in the air as she begins to belt out "The Star-Spangled Banner." Sure, some of the words get mixed up, and "rockets" sounds like "rompoms," but for a 4-year-old, she pretty much nails it. After the song, she hops down and scurries over to the snack table, hoping to grab one of the few remaining Rice Krispie treats. "My favorite part is when I get to sing my own song," Vida said, smiling.

TODAY FAMILY PROGRAM -- The Jewish Museum of Maryland will present "Mambo Mania in Miami," a Christmas Day family-oriented program, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for member families and $10 for nonmember families. The museum is at 15 Lloyd St. 410-732-6400. TOMORROW HOLIDAY TRAIN GARDEN -- The Fire Museum of Maryland's annual Holiday Train Garden will be presented from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Saturday. Admission for adults is $7. The museum is at 1301 York Road, Lutherville.

WHEN JEFF Woolford graduated from Westminster High School nearly 10 years ago, his social studies teacher, Carol Richardson, gave him a four-leaf clover that she received from her father at her college graduation."

TODAY VETERANS ISSUES -- A town hall meeting on veterans issues will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the MCVET Center, 301 N. High St. The meeting, organized by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, will include information on how veterans can obtain job training. TRAFFIC MEETING -- The Task Force on Traffic Capacity Across the Chesapeake Bay will hold its final meeting at 7 p.m. at Tidewater Inn, 101 E. Dover St., Easton. Topics will include steps to decide on a new crossing. 410-537-1016. WEDNESDAY SCHOOL FACILITIES FORUM -- A citywide public forum to discuss construction, renovation and consolidation of Baltimore public schools over the next five years will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Edmondson High School, 501 Athol Ave. 410-396-8670.

LED stoplights may save city $1 million a year Baltimore's City Hall is giving the green light to a new breed of traffic signals that officials said yesterday will save taxpayers nearly $1 million a year once they are installed at the city's 1,300 lighted intersections. Baltimore will spend $6.5 million to replace the city's incandescent traffic signals with LED - or light emitting diode - signals, which last up to 10 times longer, require less maintenance, use less electricity and are brighter.

Hundreds turned out at West Baltimore's sun-splashed Cloverdale Courts yesterday as NBA star Carmelo Anthony returned to host a youth tournament and family day in the park where he played growing up. The Denver Nuggets forward cheered participants in his three-on-three basketball tournament from a folding chair under the backboard and cut up with old friends after arriving on a tour bus. Later, he softly answered questions from the dozen or so local and...