Leisure

The man who co-founded the Black Panther Party more than 40 years ago is still rabble-rousing. But nowadays, Bobby Seale is not only venting verbiage at "The Man" or "the system" or crooked politicians that conspire to keep the masses down. Among his recent targets are those who exploit and undermine the fine art of -- get this -- barbecuing. Consider this verbose Barbecue Bill of Rights that's posted on Seale's barbecuing Web site, bobbyqueseale.com: "When in the course of human development it becomes necessary for us, the citizens of the earth, to creatively improve the culinary art of barbe-que'n in our opposition to the overly commercialized bondage of `cue-be-rab' (barbecuing backwards)

As another golf season comes to a close and cooler temperatures approach, many golfers are faced with the decision of whether to hang up their clubs until spring. But for most avid golfers, the thought of not hitting the links for the entire winter is unacceptable. Mike Golder, 38, of Annapolis, manages to hit the greens even when the temperatures dip. He goes to Goodyear Golf Club in Danville, Va., where the winter temperatures are warmer than in the Baltimore area. Golder doesn't mind the almost six-hour drive to the course because he's also from the area, which is southwest of Richmond.

On December 21, 2005, RUSSELL RAY STONE; beloved husband of the late Virginia Stone (nee Gragg); devoted father of Bonnie Lou Leisure (nee Clair) and her husband Thomas; dear brother of Guy Stone; loving grandfather of Terri Taylor and her husband George and Sue Leisure; cherished great-grandfather of Lyndsey, Thomas, Chase, Evan, Sydney and Little Lindsay. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Friends may call at CONNELLY FUNERAL HOME OF DUNDALK, P.A., 7110 Sollers Point Road, Friday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday 10 A.M. Interment Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery.

The opening concert of the Annapolis Symphony's 45th anniversary season presented at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts afforded a third opportunity to assess the artistry of Jose-Luis Novo, the orchestra's newly hired conductor. There was his audition concert last fall, an oddly conceived salute to Gypsy influences in music celebrated in works by Ravel, Falla, Kodaly and Johann Strauss. Then, last May, Schubert's Unfinished and Dvorak's New World symphonies were offered at Novo's victory lap concert celebrating his ascension to the ASO post.

When Christina Sorrelle first visited Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace 16 months ago, it struck her as one of Harford County's hidden gems. Later, she called to book the facility for her wedding and reception, but was surprised to learn that the date she wanted was taken. "When I saw the vineyard and the view of the bay, I thought it was incredible," said the 27-year-old Boston resident. "I was sold on it, and having my wedding at Swan Harbor was more important to me than the date. So we scheduled our wedding on our second date choice."

BOSTON - As if it weren't bad enough to see the image of "senior citizens" transformed into "greedy geezers," now they're morphing into "lazy geezers." It seems that Social Security recipients are gradually being redefined as members of the leisure class. The plan to reform Social Security by partially privatizing accounts is going nowhere, but another idea is creeping into the public consciousness: Raise the age of retirement. This notion recently came up in the Senate, where the average age is 60 and heavy lifting consists of dialing for dollars.

The Anne Arundel County school board loses its most senior member this week, as Michael J. McNelly of Tracy's Landing attends the last of a decade's worth of meetings. The 59-year-old advocate for equitable wages often drew authority for his opinions from his life experiences as a military brat, juvenile delinquent, labor negotiator and a veteran of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Vietnam War. Now, McNelly said, he is considering what other activities he might take on to fill the 30-plus hours a week he sometimes spent on county school board business.

Natalie Weikart's annual calendar fills with meetings well before she can think about planning a vacation with her husband. When she does take time off, Weikart, coordinator of adult programming for the Howard County library system, returns to "4 million e-mails and voice messages that take 17 minutes to listen to." "It does teach you a lesson," Weikart says. The lesson is: When you take vacation, "you get so far behind" at work. As Memorial Day arrives, many hard-working Americans are likely anticipating their beach revelries long before they reach the coast.

Planes, trains and automobiles will deliver visitors to their vacation destinations this summer. For the U.S. leisure industry and investors in its stock, they can't arrive soon enough. Well-heeled baby boomers and bargain-hunting foreign tourists, it is hoped, soon will be filling hotels, cruise ships, casinos and auto-racing stands to capacity. The fly in the suntan lotion is the possibility that oil prices could spiral hopelessly out of control, calling off all bets. Nagging oil concerns have slowed leisure industry earnings this year.

For a couple in their 40s, Lola and Don Durham have built an enviable nest egg: about $325,000 in investments, a Virginia home worth $375,000 and two Navy pensions. "I grew up dirt poor and still live a pretty simple life," said Don Durham, 44, who works in human resources for a state hospital. "Our kids think we're boring. We don't go out to eat, we do our own yard work, change our own oil in the cars. You see people in our income range buying a lot more, but we never had that thought process where we had to have a lot of toys."