Maritime Museum

Edward Gera cut 17 wooden arches out of slabs of basswood and placed them into a row of slots on a thick wooden base. He placed toothpicks in tiny holes drilled into the bottom of a wooden frame, and snapped clothespins at the bottom of the arches to hold the structure together until the glue dried. Ever so slowly, the model of a shallop used by Capt. John Smith in the 17th century began to take shape. "This is the most unusual boat I've ever made," said Gera, a 77-year-old model boat-building instructor.

Ask Diana Garcia and any of her classmates about Annapolis-area lighthouses and they can tick them off one by one: There's Bloody Point, Sandy Point Shoal and Thomas Point Shoal, among others. Not bad, given that Diana, an Eastport Elementary fourth-grader, had never been out on the Chesapeake Bay until a May 4 boat trip sponsored by the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Because many city youths, like Diana, have not had the opportunity to explore the bay, the museum is reaching out to schools in a pilot program that started in April.

Edward Gera cut 17 wooden arches out of slabs of basswood and placed them into a row of slots on a thick wooden base. He placed toothpicks in tiny holes drilled into the bottom of a wooden frame, and snapped clothespins at the bottom of the arches to hold the structure together until the glue dried. Ever so slowly, the model of a shallop used by Capt. John Smith in the 17th century began to take shape. "This is the most unusual boat I've ever made," said Gera, a 77-year-old model boat-building instructor.

A new visitor center will open today in Fells Point, designed primarily to capitalize on the many people who travel to the neighborhood by water, encouraging them to explore and spend money at local businesses.The $400,000 center at 808 S. Ann St. has been constructed in and around the partial shell of a house that dates from 1775 and had its second story removed in the 1930s. Designed by Swanston & Associates, the center is bright with sunlight from a raised triangular glass skylight and will serve as an orientation gallery and briefing area.

Late this month, Baltimore will begin an ambitious plan to attract more visitors to the waterfront. The plan, called the National Historic Seaport of Baltimore, involves linking sites by water taxi. Visitors will be able to see all of them for a single, discounted rate.While the undertaking is intended to help define the harbor's future, it could be haunted by a nagging question from Baltimore's recent past: Why do some museums succeed and others fail?The question is relevant because one linchpin of the Historic Seaport will be a new museum near Fells Point devoted to African-American maritime and shipbuilding history.

OysterFestOysters, a supposed aphrodisiac and "poor man's food," will be celebrated Saturday at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's 12th annual OysterFest. Visitors will enjoy learning how to grow, nipper and tong oysters from the Waterman's Wharf and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "Kids-town" will allow children to make oyster jewelry, hear stories and "tong" for prizes. Visitors may also explore the skipjack Rosie Parks and the bugeye Edna E. Lockwood or take a cruise on the museum's replica oyster buy-boat, Mister Jim. Food will be in abundance, too. Raw, fried and roasted oysters will be sold with beverages, accompanied by an Oyster Soup Cook-Off.

Like mourners at a funeral, friends and neighbors gathered at the Robert Long House Museum in Fells Point yesterday to share hugs and regrets after a morning fire tore through the second floor of the historic building.The one-alarm fire charred the second-floor offices of the house, built in 1765, and the oldest existing residence in Baltimore. The first-floor museum sustained water damage but, for the most part, was in good shape.The Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point, which purchased the house in the early 1970s, was in the midst of a project that would have linked the house with a new visitors center next door and a maritime museum.

Even as Havre de Grace officials work to make the city a magnet for tourism, a proposed waterfront restaurant is being criticized as too close to one of the oldest functioning lighthouses in the country.The two-story restaurant -- which would seat about 265 and be slightly more than 10,000 square feet -- would be built adjacent to the more-than-200-year-old Concord Point Lighthouse.But opponents want the city to buy the land -- at a cost of $1 million -- and maintain it as open space."It's a perfect location for a restaurant," said Georg Ann Pabst, a member of Friends of Concord Point, which opposes the restaurant.

For the moment, David Hammond, of Rodgers Forge, is stuck with one of the solid-bronze propellers from the ill-fated Lusitania.Measuring 18 feet from blade tip to blade tip and weighing some 22 tons, the giant propeller powered the Lusitania at a top speed of 24 knots until the luxury liner was torpedoed May 7, 1915. A U-boat got it off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, killing 1,198 people.Hammond discovered the propeller in a Welsh shipyard three years ago, purchased it and had it shipped to California, where it's on loan to a maritime museum near San Francisco.

MARK CUNNINGHAM has always been fascinated by his grandfather's tales of flying fighter planes during World War II.The 11-year-old Friendship Valley Elementary student has checked out loads of library books about historic battles, aircraft carriers, fighters, bombers and torpedo planes.Last February, he helped his mother, Beth Trescott, sift through letters his grandfather sent home when he was a young, proud pilot.Stamped on the outside of each envelope were anchors, military emblems, the names of different carriers and the word FREE, indicating free postage.

HAR-CO names Lisa Taylor HR manager HAR-CO Maryland Federal Credit Union has named Lisa Taylor its human resources manager/compliance officer. She has more than 10 years experience in human resources in the service industry. Her responsibilities will include staff recruitment and training, benefits administration, policy development, compliance and employee relations. She will work out of HAR-CO's Bel Air headquarters. Maritime Museum The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum's What Knots gift shop offers a variety of items for the holidays and special occasions year-round.

Maritime museum celebrates renovation The Annapolis Maritime Museum will celebrate the renovation of the historic McNasby Oyster Co. building with a grand reopening ceremony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at 723 Second St., Annapolis. The $1.2 million project was funded by the state, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and the City of Annapolis, along with corporate and private donations, plus fundraisers. The 7,000-square-foot building features an assembly hall, caterer's kitchen and a large exhibition gallery.

On July 31, 2008 LARIE "FROG" TAYLOR of Baltimore survived by one daughter and a host of relatives and friends. Memorial service will be held at the Frederick Douglas Isaac Myers Museum, in the Maritime Museum, 1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD (Inner Harbor) Saturday, August 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Professional services entrusted to The William C. Brown Community Funeral Home, 1206 W. North Avenue.

History is coming to life at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum next weekend. A crew member on a replica of the shallop used during Captain John Smith's Chesapeake voyages 400 years ago will be on hand to discuss life on the boats, and living-history interpreters will portray a Nanticoke tribe member, a sailor from Colonial times, and villagers. They will answer questions about their characters' daily lives and demonstrate early customs. "People think that times are hard now," said Brenda Dorr Guldenzopf, executive director of the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.

The oyster plant that once employed thousands in the waterfront community of Eastport, and then briefly housed a museum, is now a ghost of a place. Seven thousand square feet of concrete floor are barren, still dank from the previous evening's high tide. Stripped cinder- block walls bear scars from the pounding delivered in 2003 by Tropical Storm Isabel. "When you go through a disaster like that, you're in a state of shock," said Jeff Holland, executive director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

On December 3, 2007, HARRY CHARLES GLOVER, Sr., of Joppatowne, MD. Beloved husband of Vivian J. May Glover. Devoted father of Harry C. Glover, Jr., and his wife Sandy, David A. Glover and his wife Karen D. McFaul, Peter J. Glover, Sr., and his wife Juanita, Lee Ann Edmond and Gail Glover. Also survived by 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Maritime Museum/Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School, 100 Lafayette Street, Havre de Grace, MD, 21078.

President Bush's weekend excursions in Maryland are typically limited to bicycle rides in Beltsville or an overnight stay at Camp David. But Saturday, the president will spend some time on the Eastern Shore, with a scheduled visit to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels followed by lunch at the nearby vacation home of Vice President Dick Cheney. The White House announced the trip yesterday when it released a schedule of the president's public events for the next five days.

Marketing focus of tech discussion The Anne Arundel Tech Council will hold a panel discussion, "TechFocus - Marketing for Tech Companies," at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. first-floor training room, 2660 Riva Road. The panel will focus on creating effective and meaningful marketing campaigns through writing, branding and advertising. The cost is $20 for members; $35 for nonmembers at the door. Information: 410-222-7410, ext. 124. Businesswomen's group to meet The Maryland Capital chapter of the American Business Women's Association will hold its monthly membership meeting from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sheraton Barcelo, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis.

The Annapolis Business Association and the city of Annapolis will present the eighth annual TasteBuds, a culinary event to raise funds for the hanging flower baskets and container gardens that adorn downtown Annapolis. TasteBuds will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Westin Annapolis Hotel, 100 Westgate Circle. Tickets go on sale Sept. 14. Information: 410-956-0182. Maritime Museum benefit set for Sept. 15 The Boatyard Bar and Grill will host its annual Boatyard Beach Party to benefit the Annapolis Maritime Museum from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept.

Martial arts studio seeks school supplies Balanced Life Skills martial arts studio, Office Depot and the Junior League of Annapolis ask the community to help in its collection of school supplies for 1,000 students in Anne Arundel County. Specifically, 3-inch binders are needed, but all school supplies are welcome. The martial arts studio, 133 Gibralter Ave., Annapolis, is accepting donations until Aug. 22. Information: 410-263-0050. Podiatrist joins medical center Podiatrist Damian P. Roussel has joined the medical staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center.