Rotary Club

T he new year doesn't start for some folks until they attend the Rotary Club of Baltimore's annual oyster roast. This year, about 1,800 people flooded the 5th Regiment Armory to eat, drink, play blackjack or one of the wheels, and catch up with old friends. As soon as the doors opened, lines formed at 10 oyster-shucker stations. The scene was eye-opening for Damien Pastor, a Johns Hopkins University student and Rotary Ambassador Scholar from France. "This is amazing.

The Laurel Rotary will offer music, art and wine tasting at its annual fundraising Spring Potpourri, Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at the club house at Patuxent Greens, 14415 Greenview Drive. Artists will have their works on display and for sale, and local musician Bobby Walters and Laurel pianist Mack Statham will both perform. Wine and cheese will be served. Admission is $25, which can be paid at the door. The Spring Potpourri is one way the Laurel Rotary raises funds for projects such as the Outstanding Student scholarships, awarded each quarter to a student from Laurel High and a student from St. Vincent Pallotti High.

One could call it the "imperfect storm. " The weather is colder at the same time that the troubled economy has altered the living conditions of many area families, causing greater needs in many communities. The Rotary Club of Hunt Valley and two financial services firms, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and UBS, have combined to make the winter months more bearable for area children. Through a program known as Operation Warm, they have banded together to purchase new coats that will be given to needy children before the onset of another harsh winter.

Sunday, April 8 Theater performance The Colonial Players' production of "The Spitfire Grill" runs through April 21 at 108 East St. in Annapolis. Tickets are $15 and $20. For tickets, showtimes and more information, call 410-268-7373 or go to thecolonialplayers.org. Tuesday, April 10 Lecture Architect Chip Bohl will deliver a lecture, "Richard Neutra's Mellon Hall at St. John's College," at 7:30 p.m. in Mellon Hall, 60 College Ave. in Annapolis. Neutra, a modernist architect, designed Mellon Hall and Bohl is the architect of the building's renovations.

A half-hour before the 5th Regiment Armory doors opened, the vestibule was packed with folks, noses pressed against inner door windows. Inside the huge hall, rows of meat slicers and mountains of bread loaves stood at the ready. Getting a head start, a flank of oyster shuckers pried open the gnarled shells revealing a treasure trove of glistening gastronomic jewels ripe for plunder. At noon, the Rotary Club of Baltimore's annual oyster roast officially opened and the charge began. Some 2,750 folks poured into the armory -- arming themselves with shellfish, pit-beef sandwiches and buckets of beer.

"I can't believe you didn't go with them," she chided. "This could be the only vacation your family takes this summer and you stay in Glen Burnie!"My friend couldn't understand why I decided not to travel with my husband and children to visit his family in West Virginia."Mountains, rivers, fresh air. What a wonderful place to visit," she continued.I backed into the kitchen, concerned she would break into a refrain of John Denver's "Country Roads" at any minute.It's not that I dislike West Virginia.

Annapolis Elementary School and Annapolis Rotary Club are sponsoring a poster contest to help elementary students explore the issue of "Is It Fair?" The Rotary Four Way Test will be the theme of the contest.The elements of the Four Way Test will be covered: Is it truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and friendship? Will it benefit all concerned?At a kick-off assembly at 1: 15 p.m. Friday, students will learn about the Four Way Test through a series of skits presented by Rotary members and Annapolis Elementary school teachers and staff.

The Rotary Club of Westminster recently honored four Westminster High School graduates.Jessica Laine Steelberg and Luv Ram Javia received the Rotary Award, which has been given since 1927.Nicholas Clark Ashbaugh and Erica Tracey Boyce received the Sherman E. Flanagan Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The $1,500 scholarships and the Rotary Award are given annually for academic achievement and community service.POLICE* Westminster: A Long Valley Road resident reported someone stole an $835 bicycle from his garage Monday.

THIS MONTH, Rotary Club of Annapolis is planning its biggest annual fund-raising event: its 56th Crab Feast, to be held Aug. 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Last year, the event raised enough to enable the group to award $42,000 in grants to benefit the community. The group expects 2,400 people to attend its party. To feed so many guests, members arrange for 360 bushels of crabs, 3,600 ears of corn, 75 gallons of crab soup, 2,000 hot dogs and 150 pounds of beef barbecue. New to the event is the "Share-A-Crab" conservation policy to help reduce waste while still supporting fisheries.

One could call it the "imperfect storm. " The weather is colder at the same time that the troubled economy has altered the living conditions of many area families, causing greater needs in many communities. The Rotary Club of Hunt Valley and two financial services firms, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and UBS, have combined to make the winter months more bearable for area children. Through a program known as Operation Warm, they have banded together to purchase new coats that will be given to needy children before the onset of another harsh winter.

Baysox tickets The Bowie Baysox offers a "Home For The Holidays" ticket package that features eight undated box seat tickets and a free Zach Britton bobblehead. Package is available at baysoxshop.com until Jan. 6 for $88 and an additional $5.95 for shipping and handling. To guarantee delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed by Wednesday, Dec. 14. (Those who wish to pick up their package at Prince George's Stadium will not be charged shipping and handling). Information: 301-464-4880.