Opening day for the Orioles may have been last week, but parents allover Glen Burnie know that the real ball playing starts this Saturday when we pop a cartridge in the camcorder, slather on the sunscreen and prepare for three months of second-guessing the coach.
Oh yes,it's time for Little League, and this can be a wonderful experience for both the child and the parent if you understand the rules going in.
1. Boys wearing uniforms with white pants are required to slide into home every time -- even if the base runner is walked in. It's a "guy" thing.
2. T-ball is a way of weeding out those of us who don't have the right stuff to become serious Little League parents. We'retalking about five innings of watching little kids swing 11 times ata ball perched atop a stick right in front of their faces, then finally make contact only to discover the entire infield is distracted, trying to persuade the left fielder to eat the Gummy Bear he found in the grass.
3. The only person on the field who is fair game to pick on is theumpire. After all he is the only one getting paid. But tryto be creative and not cruel; that could be my husband out their wearing the blue and gray.
4. The official Little League snack is anything packaged by Little Debbie and green Gatorade (not orange, yellow or red).
Let's play ball, Glen Burnie.
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With schedules being what they are, how often do you get the opportunity to enjoy pleasant scenery, exercise and make a valuable contribution to a worthy cause? Not too often? So what are you doing a week from Sunday?
TheGlen Burnie Lions and Lioness Clubs have scheduled their sixth annual "Walk For Sight" walkathon for 10 a.m. April 28 starting at the Harundale Mall. The route has been changed this year to take advantage of the safety and the natural beauty of the Baltimore-Annapolis Trail.
George Hopkins is this year's chairman of the event, and Elaine Hutchko is the co-chair. Hutchko originated the idea of a walkathon asa fund-raiser for the Glen Burnie chapter six years ago. It has since become a national project for the Lions Club.
"Every year the Glen Burnie Lions Club spends thousands of dollars on children in the community for eye exams and glasses," explained Hopkins. "This is a major fund-raiser to help pay for that. In the past we held the walkathon in the fall. This is the first time we're having it in spring, andwe would like to see an increase in the number of walkers this year."
The course is 10 miles long with three checkpoints at the one-, three- and five-mile marks. At the five-mile checkpoint, the walker will turn back and finish the walkat the mall. There is an abbreviated2-mile walk for the less-adventurous.
Everybody is invited to participate, either as a walker or as a sponsor. Sponsors can pledge money for the number of miles walked. Sponsor sheets can be obtained at the Bank of Glen Burnie, Crain Highway and 1st Street; Wholesale AutoParts, 1012 Crain Highway, S.W.; Blockbuster Video, Crain Highway and Hospital Drive, and Jumpers Hole Road and Ritchie Highway; Lenscrafters, Marley Station Mall; and the North County Library.
Information: 761-8233.
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Entertainment by the Notables, a singing group affiliated with the Linthicum chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons, will be the highlight of Grandparent's Day at Richard Henry Lee Elementary School.
Grandparents of students at the school are invited to enjoy the activities from 9:30 to noon Tuesday, April 23. Registration will begin at 9:10 a.m. in the media center. From 9:30 to 10 a.m. the students will welcome the grandparents into their classrooms.
"They will share some special things," said Lauralee Whitmore, principal of Richard Henry Lee. "Perhaps something they've written -- a poem or a letter."
The Notables are scheduled to perform for the children and their grandparents at 10:10 a.m. Charles Heslup has coordinated the visit for the group.
Information: 766-0278.
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If you suddenly get an urge this Saturday to get your car washed, eat a cupcake or two, and then negotiate the deal of a lifetime, perhaps you could stop by Messiah Methodist Church, 7401 Furnace Branch Road, for their car wash-bake sale-flea market.
The community is invited to hit the flea market early when it opens at 7:30 a.m. and continue browsing until 2 p.m. Home-baked treats will be sold from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the car wash will operate from 9 a.m. to 2p.m.
Spaces are still available for the flea market at $10 a space. For registration call Carol Sterling, 760-4592.
The proceeds from the daylong fund-raiser will be used to help kick off the church'snew "Mother's Day Out," a drop-in baby-sitting service for preschoolchildren, ages 2 to 5. The program will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday starting April 22 and continuing through July 29. There is a $5 charge per child per session.
Tracy Brockenbroughand Sterling will coordinate the program.
"We plan to some structured play, learning activities and story time," said Sterling. "This will be a non-denominational Christian experience."
Pre-registration will be available at the flea market on Saturday. Reservations arerequested but not required.
Information: Brockenbrough, 553-6123.
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For 24 years the Knights of Columbus Council 3413 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church has been host to a charity ball. This year the festivities will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Columbian Center, 335 N. Ritchie Highway. The $15 ticket price will include a four-course dinner, beer, set-ups and dancing to the music of The BrassEdge. Dinner will be served from 8 to 9 p.m.
For ticket information call the Columbian Center, 647-3413.
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County Councilman Ed Middlebrook will be host at a round tablediscussion with representatives from community associations in the 2nd District at 8 p.m. April 24 in his council office on the fifth floor of the Arundel Center North.
For more information call 222-1401 or 222-6890.
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The beat of Tony, Toni, Tone (or maybe it's Tony Bennett, I'm not sure) willreverberate through the halls at the Country Club Estates RecreationAssociation hall this Friday when DJ Tim Konig kicks off another Friday night dance for teen-agers 15 and younger.
The fun starts at 7p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. with dance contests and lip sync competitions. Cash prizes will be awarded.
Admission is $2 per person and can be purchased at the door. Adult chaperones are always welcome.
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Bargain hunters in the Marley communities can enjoy a dayof shopping at two flea markets on Saturday.
Marley Middle Schoolis having a flea market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday throughout the inside of the school, 7730 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. Tables can be rented for $25 each, and spaces alone can be rented for $20.
To reserve a space call Carolyn Anderson, 761-0934.
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Just downthe street at Marley United Methodist Church, 30 Marley Neck Road, another flea market will offer shoppers a chance to stretch the pocketbook.
The doors open at 8 a.m., and shoppers are welcome until 1 p.m. A light lunch and refreshments will be served.
Tables can be reserved inside and outside for $7 each.
Information: 768-0569.
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Glen Burnie Golf and Games will be host to the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce's monthly Thursday Night Tarry from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 25. Members are invited to practice theirputting for the upcoming chamber tournament.
Tickets are $6 in advance and $10 at the door. Reservations must be made by April 23.
Information: 766-8282.
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The Rev. Doru Popa will address the congregation of Granite Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Sunday in the sanctuary, 7823 Oakwood Road. A pastor of a large independent Baptist churchin Arad, Romania, Popa will discuss the recent political revolution and the religious conditions in post-revolutionary Romania.
Information: Church office, 761-1352.
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Fifth-grade student Greg Skipper and third-grader Tiffany Bryant will represent Marley Elementary School in next month's countywide science fair at Shipley's Choice Elementary School. Greg and Tiffany's projects were selected from 160 submitted by the students.
Other winners include: Grade 5 -- Greg Skipper, 1st; Billy Happel, 2nd; Jaime Minnick, 3rd.
Grade 4 -- Melonie Truslow, 1st; Jennifer Stevens, 2nd; Andy Gardner, 3rd.
Grade 3 -- Tiffany Bryant, 1st; Doug Diffenderfer, 2nd; Gabby Manross, 3rd.
Grade 2 -- James Wells, 1st; Tony Smith, 2nd; Timmy Stevens, 3rd.
Grade 1 -- Mike Beckman, 1st; Timmy Parris, 2nd; Erica Gull, 3rd.
Kindergarten -- Collen Dasch, 1st; Miranda Floer, 2nd; Russell Howerter, 3rd.