Vantage Point

Witnessing the same event from different points of view is at least as old as Akira Kurosawa's 1950 Rashomon. But it's a concept that gets beaten into the ground in Vantage Point, an overly gimmicky and fatally repetitive terrorist thriller that quickly wears out its welcome. Think of it as Rashomon for the video age, as audiences get to watch the same political assassination from what seems like a hundred different vantage points (the actual number is closer to a half-dozen) around the Spanish piazza where the shooting takes place.

The villages of Columbia, the Columbia Association, the African Art Museum of Maryland and the Howard County Center of African-American Culture will sponsor "Roots of Howard County: In Celebration of African-American History" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road. The Ambassadors of Jazz, an accomplished youth jazz group, will perform. "Images of Freedom" poster contest entries will be on display, and light refreshments will be served. Those who attend can visit the African Art Museum of Maryland and enjoy a display presented by the Howard County Center of African-American Culture.

One would imagine it is something of a bittersweet triumph for an actor to endure long enough to revisit a glory moment from his youth, albeit from the vantage point of an older character. Unlike many of his classically schooled contemporaries in England, it was never in the cards for Michael Caine to ascend from playing King Lear's Edgar, say, to Lear himself. But then how many veterans of the Royal Shakespeare Company can lay claim to having done two film versions of the super-hit stage thriller Sleuth?

The Maryland/DC Anti-Car Theft Committee and the Howard County Police Department will offer free vehicle identification etching from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, weather permitting, at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Center. Those who attend can have their vehicle identification number engraved on all the major pieces of glass in the car to act as a deterrent to theft and ease the return of the vehicle to its owner if stolen. Registration in the Watch Your Car Program, a national theft-prevention program, will also be available.

The Wilde Lake High School '77-'78 30th Combined Class Reunion will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 27 at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville. Davis Deejays will provide music. Food and an open bar also are planned. The cost is $55 in advance, if paid by Oct. 15; $65 after that date. Tickets are required for guests and alumni. Checks or money orders should be made out to WLHS Class of '77 and sent to WLHS 30th Reunion, Attention: Greg Stanford, 2817 Thornbrook Road, Ellicott City 21042.

Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County Office on Aging, and the Bain Center and its council will sponsor the fourth annual Opera Preview for those ages 55 and older from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way. Tom Glenn, an authority in the field, will present musical highlights and synopses of La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Rigoletto and Tamerlano. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Information: 410-313-7281. Environment focus of discussion group The Town Center Community Association will sponsor an organizational meeting for a discussion group titled Discussions on the Environment.

The 37th Longfellow Friends of the Traditional 4th parade and ballgame will be celebrated beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, starting and ending at Longfellow Elementary School on Hesperus Drive. Participants will line up at 9:15 a.m. The parade route is about 1.8 miles, and the parade will take about an hour. The traditional softball game between the Hesperus Wrecks and the Eliots Oak Nuts will be played about noon on the field behind Harper's Choice Village Center. Information: Bob Russell, 410-730-4024.

The Columbia Association has announced the opening of the tallest and longest water slide in Howard County, an 18-foot-high, 105-foot-long slide at the Swansfield neighborhood pool. In addition to the slide, large shade umbrellas, new lounge furniture and new landscaping have been added. The pool is at 5659 Cedar Lane in Harper's Choice village. Information: 410-730-3180 or 410-312-6332. `Choose Civility' project sponsored The Howard County Library and its community partners are sponsoring a long-term initiative, "Choose Civility," to make Howard County a national model of respect, consideration, empathy and tolerance.

Atholton High School Sports Boosters will sponsor a fundraiser for the school's athletic programs -- a six-week soccer program for children ages 3 to 5. Mike Senisi, athletics and activities manager at the school, will direct and coach the program, which will cover movement with and without the ball, passing, dribbling, shooting and games in a safe environment. The program is to begin Saturday. Information: 443-474-1672. Town Center yard sale slated Town Center Community Association will hold a yard sale from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 at Vantage Point Park on Vantage Point Road.

Family Fun Fest to be held Sunday The second Family Fun Fest, sponsored by the Parent Resource Place of Jewish Family Services in Howard County and other Jewish community groups, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Congregation Beth Shalom, 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia. About 11 synagogues and Jewish organizations in Howard County will be represented. Activities are to include a magic show for families with children ages 6 and older at 11:30 a.m., followed by "Learn Magic," hands-on workshops for ages 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Sign-up well in advance is strongly advised.