Ward Museum

GOVERNOR William Donald Schaefer and the Maryland General Assembly will be honored by Maryland Citizens for the Arts Inc., the statewide advocacy group, in a special program, "Arts Salute", on Monday, May 20, at Center Stage.The "Arts Salute" reception will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a visual arts exhibit. Tribute performances from arts organizations across the state will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.The reason for the celebration is the 10 percent increase in Maryland State Arts Council funding instigated by Gov. Schaefer and the General Assembly.

Wiley McPherson Baxter III, a retired Baltimore businessman and wildfowl carver, died of cancer Thursday at Roland Park Place. He was 82. Mr. Baxter was born in Baltimore and raised in Roland Park. He left Gilman School in 1943 to enlist in the Navy. Mr. Baxter served as a signalman aboard the destroyer USS Barton in the Pacific. After the war, Mr. Baxter earned his General Educational Development certificate and went to work for the Baxter Paper Co., a family-owned business that had been established by his grandfather.

John Taylor's wildlife paintings are being presented at the Ward Museum of Wildlife Art's Changing Gallery in Salisbury through March 14.Taylor, of Edgewater, is one of the Chesapeake Bay's best-known wildlife artists. All of the original paintings on display are featured in his best-selling book, "Birds of the Chesapeake Bay," published by Johns Hopkins Press."We managed to collect 35 of the 40 original paintings contained in the book for the showing," Taylor said during last week's ceremony conducted by the sponsoring Ward Foundation.

For several years, fans of pro basketball and Major League Baseball have had opportunities to attend fantasy camps in which they work out with and learn from the professionals.Now, Bobby Wilson, a South Carolina pro angler, has put together a similar program for bass fishermen. Called Camp Fish-N-Fun, Wilson's fantasy camp is suited to all fishermen over the age of 12, but is aimed at those who follow the professional bass fishing circuits.Wilson has lined up 26 bass pros to eat and fish with campers, and to teach shoreside seminars.

So you just can't get enough of George Washington? In honor of his birthday, Old Town Alexandria, Va., is celebrating for days on end.Saturday, an 18th-century-style banquet and ball will be held at Gadsby's Tavern, commemorating the 199th anniversary of the first ball there, and at the adjoining museum. The fun begins at 5: 30 p.m. Tickets are $40; call for reservations.On Sunday, you can go to war -- the Revolutionary War, that is -- during an encampment at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road.

Busy weekend in Ocean CityThis weekend, visitors to Ocean City can meet world-class wildfowl carvers and artists at the Convention Center, then head for the beach between 9th and Caroline streets, where the sky will be filled with a kaleidoscope of colors at the Maryland International Kite Festival. Showcasing a cast of international kite-fliers, the colorful festival includes giant air-filled creatures, huge walk-through spinners, flight routines choreographed to music, demonstrations by professional fliers, free lessons, musical entertainment and a parade.

The World of Rachel CarsonLearn the story of a woman's love for the natural world and her fight to defend it when the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art presents the play "A Sense of Wonder," featuring film, television and Broadway actress Kaiulani Lee Saturday at Parkside High School in Salisbury. After the play walk across the street to the museum to attend a reception and opening of the exhibit "Witness for Nature: The World of Rachel Carson."Museum admission of $7 includes the play, reception and exhibit.

Amos Francis "Moose" Hutchins Jr., a retired insurance manager and waterfowl decoy collector, died of kidney failure Jan. 11 at the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del. The former Ruxton resident, who lived in Bethany Beach, Del., was 77. Born in Baltimore and raised in Arnold and on Calvert Street, he was a 1946 graduate of Gilman School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. He joined Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. as a salesman and went on to manage its Baltimore office in the Blaustein Building in downtown Baltimore.

Arts groups throughout the state found themselves a little richer yesterday, as Gov. Parris N. Glendening announced more than $8.5 million in matching grants to be distributed among 264 organizations throughout the state."

George H. Stram's house is full of wooden ducks, which have provided him with a hobby, a little extra cash and a world championship ribbon.Mr. Stram of Forest Hill took first place recently at the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City with his carving of a red-breasted merganser duck. The championship is an international event at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury."I'm not the greatest carver in the world," Mr. Stram said. "I do pretty well though."About 1,000 carvers from seven countries went to Ocean City to compete in five different carving classes: youth, novice, intermediate, open and world.