Haddock

REINVENTION is everything, nothing is what it seems. Take Valentine's Day, without which Hallmark, Whitman's Samplers, and 1-800-Flowers would have faded, melted and wilted long ago. The annual cuddle-fest grew to what it is today from a yearly Feb. 15 footrace in ancient Rome, part of something called the Feast of Lupercalia (from the Latin "lupus," ironically enough, for "wolf.") Latter-day Roman-rooted troubadour Francis Albert Sinatra would have ended his days hawking haddock in Hoboken had he ever attempted to work his windpipe witchcraft around "My Funny Lupercalia," which lilts less like a love ballad than a contemporary commercial for something to apply as directed for psoriasis.

It's going to be hard not to root for Jeff Gordon once the Chase starts. He has been almost too good through the first 25 races of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. After tonight's race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, Gordon will be one of the favorites to win the Chase. At worst, he will be 20 points behind the leader in the Cup standings. At best, he will be tied for the lead. He deserves better. This season, Gordon has been by far the best driver in the Nextel Cup Series.

QUESTION: I've heard there are outdated laws about sexual behaviors - such as being arrested for oral sex - in certain states. Is this true?ANSWER: Many of the old, sex-related laws remain on the books in some states, according to Robert Wayne Pelton, author of "Loony Sex Laws That You Never Knew You Were Breaking" (Walker Publishing Co., 1992, $9.95). Here are some examples listed by state, according to his book.* Illinois. In the city of Oblong, it's against the law to make love while hunting or fishing on your wedding day.* Ohio and Indiana.

Sherry Bower of Jeannette, Pa., requested a recipe for Poor Man's Lobster. "I had one but lost it. The main ingredient is cod. I hope you can find it," she wrote. Alice Nulle of Woodstock, Ill., responded with tester Laura Reiley's choice. Poor Man's Lobster Serves 4 1 1/2 to 2 pounds frozen cod or haddock fillets, partially thawed approximately 4 cups water, divided use 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons seafood seasoning or paprika 3 tablespoons white vinegar melted butter or margarine lemon wedges Cut fillets in 2-inch-by-2-inch pieces; place in a skillet.

On November 1, 2006, BETTY L. NICHOLS; beloved wife of Clint J. Nichols; devoted mother of Leonard H. (Inahi M.) Nichols, Phyllis D. (Richard C.) Stevens and Joseph W. (Dorothy S.) Nichols; loving grandmother of Ronald L. Duvall, Jr., Richard W. Stevens and Clint W. Stevens; dear sister of Floyd J. Brown, Jr., Samuel W. Brown, Donald G. Brown, Dorothy C. Haddock, Wanda G. (Winnie) Schwartzbeck. Also survived by five great-grandchildren, many loving relatives and friends. Family will receive friends Sunday, 2 to 5 and 7 t o 9 P.M. at HARRY H. WITZKE'S FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, where a funeral service will be held Monday, 11 A.M. Interment Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens.

GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- At daybreak they gather, more than a dozen bleary-eyed men with their cups of coffee, orange rubber gloves and cell phones, for a ritual that might just save the fishing industry here.The Seafood Display Auction -- on this as on any day -- begins at 6 a.m. sharp. And before anyone has had time to visit the coffee pot for a refill, Louis Linquata, veteran buyer for Northcoast Seafoods of Boston, has outbid everybody to win dibs on 5,452 pounds of fresh, wet haddock."Ours!

The latest healthy recipe comes from nutritionist Joy Bauer. The Baked Tilapia With Spicy Tomato-Pineapple Relish is an easy dinnertime meal. It can also be made with other white fish such as haddock or cod, Bauer says on her website. The entire dish takes just about 20 minutes to prepare. If you have healthy recipes you would like to share send them to me at andrea.walker@baltsun.com INGREDIENTS 4 fish, tilapia, (6-ounce) fillets 1/4 teaspoon salt, Kosher 1/2 cup(s)

Some home-grown heavy hitters are joining the line-up Oriole Park. For the 20th Anniversary season at Camden Yards, the Orioles and its second-year concessionaire, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, have powered up the local presence at the yard. The new 3-4-5 hitters are Gino's Burgers and Chicken, Stuggy's and Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant, named for and partly owned by Rick Dempsey. Word that Gino's Burgers and Chicken was coming to the Oriole Park leaked out in January . But the news about the addition of Stuggy's, a maker of specialty sausage and hot dogs based in Fells Point , has been simmerlingly quietly in management's steam pan. And although there had been word of a new brew-pub moving into the Camden Yard warehouse, fans are only learning Monday that the joint will be named for the lovable longtime Oriole Rick Dempsey.

George J. Gibmeyer Sr., a retired Anne Arundel County police sergeant, died Thursday of complications from a stroke at a nursing home in Vero Beach, Fla. The former Glen Burnie resident was 71. He had moved to Vero Beach in 1991, when he retired from the county police force. During his 26-year career, he had assignments on patrol in the Northern District and working in the 911 Center in Millersville. Born in Baltimore and raised on North Belnord Avenue, Mr. Gibmeyer was a 1948 graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School.

Lately Fell's Point Corner Theatre seems to have a knack for giving audiences what they need. A couple of months ago, when we thought summer would never come, the theater produced "110 in the Shade."Now that summer arrived without giving spring a chance, the theater has a swimming pool on stage. OK, not a full-fledged pool. Just one corner of a pool.But since the entire stage is about the size of a wading pool, this is a considerable accomplishment. And it's an essential one for Terrence McNally's 1991 play, "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," which has been staged with skill and sensitivity by Terry J. Long.