Spring

The Maryland football team is set to open five weeks of spring practice today, culminating with the annual Red-White game April 24. The Terps return 12 starters from last year's team that went 2-10, losing its last seven games. That team had a relatively small senior class - 14 players, compared with 30 the previous year - and played 24 freshmen. Maryland, which opens with Navy on Sept. 6 at M&T Bank Stadium, will practice three times a week until the spring game April 24 at 3:30 p.m. at Byrd Stadium.

The Orioles concluded their exhibition schedule Saturday, finishing the Grapefruit League with a 12-17-1 mark. It was a relatively uneventful spring with the main storylines being Miguel Tejada's transitioning from shortstop to third base; Brian Roberts playing through a herniated disk in his back; veterans Garrett Atkins, Kevin Millwood and Michael Gonzalez acclimating themselves to their new teams; and Nolan Reimold and Brad Bergesen recovering from...

Spring has been arriving earlier in recent years, but it's especially early for urban dwellers, new research shows. According to a study published in the February issue of the journal Global Change Biology , the growing season is two to three weeks longer in cities in the Chesapeake Bay region than it is in the exurbs.  After analyzing 25 years' worth of high-resolution satellite images of the mid-Atlantic region, researchers with...

Ah, spring. Baltimore and baseball go together this time of year like tulips and Sherwood Gardens, lacrosse and weekends, or peppermint sticks and lemons at the Flowermart. No matter how woeful the Orioles have performed over the past dozen years, it's difficult not to get swept up (at least a little bit) in the possibilities of a new season. Yes, yes, we will be the first to admit that the team's lackluster performance in spring training was nothing to get too excited about. Memories of last season's miserable pitching and customary fifth place division finish are still fresh.

I t is spring glorious spring (da do ron ron ron da do ron ron), and our gallant president has rallied his fractious forces against wacko demagoguery, the crocuses are up, and birds are returning from the South, preferring to raise their children here in Minnesota where we pull our pants on one leg at a time and not all at once. Some people in Washington haven't managed to get their pants on in years. Slowly, slowly, the simple fact dawns on the electorate that the Democrats have passed a moderate Republican health care reform.

The Sun is collecting high school spring schedules for publication. Athletic directors are asked to fax them to 410-783-218.

Something was missing for the Navy football team as it prepared last spring for the 2011 season. The practices were quieter, and for those on defense, a little too easy. What was missing - in retrospect, who was missing - was longtime defensive coordinator Buddy Green, who sat out spring practice after complications following gall bladder surgery. Even then, after Green returned for his 10th season, fourth-year Ken Niumatalolo knew that the Midshipmen might be in trouble defensively when the season began.

Spring isn't kind to come for just a day,When even now the snow lies in the streetAnd in her heart she knows she cannot stayBut taunts us with her beauty, incomplete;Spring is not fair to come in times like theseWhen weariness in life is manifoldAnd there is nothing showing on the treesAnd nothing in our hearts but wind and cold.How shall we gird our souls again to bearThis softened pale pink glow that lights the sky;Or taste this mellowed sweetness in the air;feel the frozen earth's awakened cry;Or even brave the morrow's frost, unharmed,Once spring has left us restless and disarmed?

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.

Everybody loves free stuff. I don't. I hate waiting in lines. I'd rather pay. But if you don't mind waiting in lines, you should know that Rita's Italian Ice is celebrating the first day of spring by scooping free ice all day. All guests who visit their local Rita's Italian Ice will receive a free Regular Ice of their choice. This is the 20th year that Rita's has celebrated the first day of spring with the free ice promotion. Here are Rita's Italian Ice stores near you.