Lake George

As the lyrics say: "It's fun to stay at the YMCA." No, really. Far from the urban recreation centers or all-male dormitories that many Americans think of, a handful of year-round historic YMCA resorts that once catered to summering families and religious retreats have become today's little-known outdoor gems. Though most of the 2,663 U.S. branches of the YMCA, or Young Men's Christian Association, are local community centers that focus on providing after-school activities and fitness facilities for members, several Y's are lodge-based camps in coveted vacation spots such as the Colorado Rockies and Keanae, along the winding coast road to Hana on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

100 Years Ago An article in the Aug. 5, 1911, edition of The Argus reported on some hardy residents' ambitious plans for a summer vacation adventure in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York . Messrs . Benjamin Whitely and Harold Phillips of Catonsville, and Mr. Frederick R. Huber , of Baltimore, left last Friday for a month's canoeing in the lakes of Northern New York, and from accounts of their previous experiences...

Donald P. MaleyUM professorDonald P. Maley, professor emeritus of industrial technology education at the University of Maryland in College Park, died Feb. 20 after a heart attack at his home in Crownsville.Dr. Maley, who was 75, retired as a full-time faculty member in 1987 but continued to teach until shortly before his death, giving him 47 years of teaching at UM.He earned his master's degree and doctorate in industrial arts education at UM. He wrote four books and 160 articles for professional journals.

I live in Pikesville, and my family recently visited Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. The Fort, which is located at the southern tip of Lake Champlain and northern tip of Lake George and dates back to Revolutionary times, played a pivotal role when the French and British were fighting for strategic control of waterways to the north - the St. Lawrence River - and to the south - the Hudson River. We visited late in the day as a fife and drum corps in period costume played taps and lowered the flags that fly over the Fort.

Blake Warner is an artist with an eye for twigs and branches. Warner makes rustic garden ornaments and furniture for a growing number of enthusiastic clients in the Seattle area. He's one of a great many artisans across the continent contributing to the strong revival of "nature's twisted treasures."Since at least the 17th century, people have been putting together tables, benches, gates and gazebos using branches and lots of imagination.It's not just an American craft. In the late 18th century, well-to-do Europeans began to replace the classical temples and sculptures in their gardens with rustic bridges and other structures made of materials found in woods and copses.

On April 27, 2003, DAWN THERESA HOLLINGSWORTH (nee Kirby), loving mother of William Patrick Williams, Jr. of Crystal Lake, IL., George Scott Williams of Glen Burnie, MD and Theresa Marie Blaksley of Chandler, AZ. Blessed with five grandchildren. Family request friends to call at the George J. Gonce Funeral Home, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway on Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Services will be held at Jenkins Memorial Church on Thursday 11 A.M. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, Eckstein Center, Palliative Care Center, 9494 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale, Az. 85260

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. -- The tour boat that sank Sunday, killing 20 passengers, should not have been carrying 48 people even though it was licensed to sail with that number, the lead investigator into the tragedy said yesterday. Stability tests of a virtually identical sister vessel, de Champlain, failed to meet Coast Guard safety standards when officials loaded its deck with water-filled barrels yesterday. "We had to stop the test at three drums," said Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Services for John George Hoffman Jr., a retired truck driver from the Eastern Shore, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Henry W. Jenkins and Sons funeral establishment, 4905 York Road.Mr. Hoffman, who was 69, died of complications from pneumonia on Christmas Day at his Eastern Shore home.A resident of Marion, in Somerset County, Mr. Hoffman drove 18-wheelers for Weber and Republic Van Lines in Baltimore for many years. He retired from Republic in 1970 but later worked for the Arundel Construction Co. until he stopped working because of a medical disability in 1980.

Richard M. Catania Sr., retired director of security for the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel and former Baltimore City police lieutenant, died of cancer Dec. 9 at his Linthicum home. He was 64.He was director of security for the Sheraton from 1985 until he retired last year.The former resident of Morrell Park in South Baltimore joined the Police Department in 1955 and retired in 1985. He received 16 official commendations during his career.In 1965, he received a special commendation after he and another officer raced into a burning West Baltimore rowhouse and rescued three children.

TripAdvisor this week announced the winners of its first Travelers Choice Family award-winning best destinations. The travel guide has divded the winners into two groups: Top 10 Great Places to Discover and Top 10 Amusement Parks and Boardwalks. Ocean City comes in at No. 8 on the list of best family amusements and boardwalks. Anaheim, Calif., home of super-amusement park Disneyland, came in on top. Other Mid-Atlantic favorites to make the list include Wildwood in New Jersey and Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.