Spring

The story of a 24-year-old Georgia graduate student fighting a flesh-eating disease has prompted a microbiologist with the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System to speak out about the infection. Aimee Copeland lost most of her left leg after the flesh-eating bacteria necrotizing faciitis is believed to have entered a cut on her leg, according to the Associated Press, which reports she may also have to have her fingers amputated. The waterborne bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila is believed to have caused the infection.

Et cetera Pimlico wagering up 9 percent from 2011 The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its spring meeting at Pimlico Race Course last weekend, posting average wagering figures that were 9 percent higher than those at the 2011 spring meet. The average daily handle went from $4.72 million to $5.17 million. The stand featured 29 live racing dates and 21 simulcast days. "We finished strong as betting was up in May on nine of 11 days of live racing," Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said.

If the Black Eyed Susan were a race horse, it would be a sprinter. It makes one strong move, then fades quickly. The strong move occurs this weekend when the cocktail will be in demand at Pamlico Race Track, during both the running of the Black Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday and the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Over these two days, about 25,000 servings of the libation, poured into commemorative glasses, will be sold at $8 apiece, track officials say. But as soon as Preakness weekend ends, so does the does the local thirst for the Susan.

Overcooking is what kills asparagus for most people. Memories of gray, limp and pungent spears follow wary eaters like ghosts from a nightmare. But when treated right, asparagus is a versatile and complex vegetable. Its flavor profile can switch from green and grassy to sweet and nutty just depending on how it's cooked. That's why so many chefs love to put this "grande dame of spring" on their menus. Ben Simpkins, the executive chef at Richardson Farms in White Marsh, makes an asparagus "cappuccino," in which a cup half-filled with hot asparagus soup is topped with cold asparagus foam made by shooting the cold soup through a whipped-cream gun. "I love asparagus, and this is my favorite dish," says Simpkins.

Former Orioles outfielder Al Bumbry , the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year, will headline the annual Ripken Academy Spring Break Camp as an instructor. The camp will take place April 1-3 at the Ripken youth baseball academy in Aberdeen. For information, call 866-RIP-KEN1 or go to ripkencamps.com.

On Thursday, my iPad said the temperature was 75.  Daffodils and crocuses all over Baltimore bloomed. Ditto Okame cherry trees. The buds on Yoshinos cherry trees swelled, but they did not open to create the pink ballerina tutus that make Yoshinos famous.   That is a good thing. The current warm-up continued a warmer than usual winter. Much warmer than usual. So warm that for the first time since I started using Dracaena plants at the center of my summer annual containers, they did not die back in winter.

The Longfellow Elementary School Springtastic Spring Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 1 at the school, 5470 Hesperus Drive in Columbia. There will be games, a silent auction, dunk tank, food and more. Admission is free. Information: 410-313-6879.

An afternoon of fun, featuring crafts, games, children's activities, food and more, will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at the Laurel Museum, 817 Main St. Cost is $5 per child, free for parents. Reservations required. Call 301-725-7975 or go to laurelhistoricalsociety.org.

To celebrate 40 years of service, Amtrak is letting kids ride free on trips booked before May 6th for travel through June 9th. Click here for all the details. Almost makes me wish I had kids; almost.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman wants to throw more strikes, he wants to pitch more scoreless innings and he wants to keep himself in contention for a spot in the rotation. After Friday's 3-1 exhibition victory against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in which Tillman allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings, the 23-year-old right-hander called his spring a "work in progress. " But Orioles manager Buck Showalter was a little more effusive about Tillman, who has allowed just three runs in 8 1/3 innings in three spring games.

Two copper-theft suspects arrested Tuesday on the Spring Grove Hospital Center campus in Catonsville have been charged with burglary, theft and destruction of property, according to Maryland State Police. Police have also recovered more than 130 pounds of copper pipe the pair had collected before their arrests, which state police said would be worth about $400 if sold as scrap. Charged were Dennis W. Dyer, 43, of the 8100 block of Mild Haven Road in Dundalk, and Matthew R. Blizzard, 29, who police believe lives in the Baltimore County men's homeless shelter off Wade Ave. on the psychiatric hospital's campus.

Two alleged copper thieves were arrested at Spring Grove Hospital Center on Tuesday, one after hiding for hours in the attic of an abandoned building on the Catonsville campus while police surrounded him. Dennis W. Dyer, 43, of the 8100 block of Mild Haven Road in Dundalk, climbed out of a porthole in the roof of the psychiatric hospital's Hamilton Building, which was closed and condemned in 1974, and handed himself over to state police troopers...

Principio UMC, on Route 7 in Perryville, will hold a Spring Craft Show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase a unique Mothers Day gift from gifted crafters. Good food for sale by the Principio ladies. For info call Barb, 443-350-7961. A crab feast at Ripken Stadium Aug. 10 will start at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50 per person with Dennis Bolen of Havre de Grace. He has made a challenge for the Class of 1970 – come on our let's see how many of our alumni will make this event.

Boys lacrosse Standings (as of May 8) Glenelg, 11-0 league, 13-1 overall Marriotts Ridge, 10-1, 12-2 Howard, 9-2, 10-4 Atholton, 7-4, 9-5 Centennial, 7-4, 7-5 Mt. Hebron, 7-4, 7-7 Wilde Lake, 4-7, 7-7 Reservoir, 4-7, 5-9 River Hill, 4-7, 5-9 Hammond, 2-9, 2-9 Oakland Mills, 1-10, 2-12 Long Reach, 0-11, 2-11 Glenelg Country*, 1-9, 2-9 Chapelgate#, 5-7, 6-8...

Flowermart, the official start of spring in Baltimore, is as much about food as it is about flowers. So it makes sense that among the women wearing hats covered in blooms there would be a guy dressed as a slice of pizza. Antoine Hays of Baltimore — he was a slice of pepperoni — was at Mount Vernon on Friday to promote an online food delivery service, as another edition of the century-old city tradition got under way. Even the plants eat at Flowermart. Carnivorous Plant Nursery, located inf Derwood in Montgomery County, was featuring a hanging basket of tropical pitcher plants that are guaranteed to attract, trap and eat your stink bugs.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo as St. Mary of the Mills School hosts its annual Spring Gala Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Pallotti High School, 113 St. Mary's Place. Enjoy food, lively music and an opportunity to bid on an array of themed gift baskets and silent auction items. Tickets are on sale now, and advertising opportunities are also available. Contact Dana Harzer, dharzer@stmaryofthemills.org or 301-498-1433 or Diana Guzman at dguzman@stmaryofthemills.org .

Springtime in Baltimore brings two things dear to my heart: The beginning of the Orioles' season and the beginning of our coed spring football season. We've been playing SOBO Football for about four seasons and it's been a blast. Sobo Sports is a Baltimore-based sports and social club offering coed sports, social events and activities to members. After graduating from college, I was worried that the fun would end and that the "greatest time of my life" was over. Fortunately, I learned that fun after college was possible, and that SOBO Sports was one way to continue the fun. Jay Rendin and his staff are easy-going but efficient and they work hard to make SOBO Sports a great experience for all who participate.

Alright, I've been hoping for the death of the maxi dress for quite some time, so I was a little shocked to see its cousin will be joining it this spring. Enter, the maxi skirt. So, my main issues are: I'm short, and well, I kind of like short skirts too. I kind of like showing off my legs. I said it. I also don't get the point of a wearing a big drapey cloth on a spring day. Maybe I can be convinced. I ask you, dear readers, what do you think of the maxi skirt?

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake climbed into a cherry picker Wednesday morning, rising above Harford Road to install a new surveillance camera in Northeast Baltimore, one of 33 the city is adding to a network that has grown to nearly 600. The new cameras, which have been installed along East North Avenue and will eventually spring up along Harford and Belair roads around Clifton Park, are funded by federal and local grants. Rawlings-Blake has overseen the addition of 100 cameras to the network since taking office.

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.