Because of incorrect information supplied to The Sun, the family picnic after the Towson Fourth of July Parade was incorrectly listed as a public event in Thursday's Live section. The event is open only to members of the Loch Raven Area Community.

The public is, however, invited to the parade, beginning at 10: 30 a.m. at Towsontown Boulevard, as well as to a fireworks display at dusk from the hill at Loch Raven Boulevard and Cromwell Bridge Road.

The Sun regrets the errors

When spectacular fireworks illuminate the sky over Baltimore's Inner Harbor Saturday night, Luther Horine will be at the controls on a barge below, setting off each blast in concert with patriotic music. But when the crowd oohs and aahs, few will realize just how many hours of hard work go into orchestrating the 18-minute pyrotechnic production.

Days of planning, hauling heavy equipment and setting up more than three tons of explosives literally blow up in smoke in less than half an hour. Horine doesn't mind though. The roar of the crowd is more than music to his ears. It's a personal thrill.

"That's what it is all about, creating excitement, putting smiles on people's faces . . . making them happy," he says. "It brings me back year after year."

Horine, 58, has been a part-time pyrotechnician ever since serving an apprenticeship in his early teens with his father. And for more than 25 years, he has been entertaining Baltimore crowds with his craftsmanship as a Maryland region representative for Zambelli Internationale Fireworks Manufacturing Company Inc.

"We were doing fireworks when the inner harbor was still a working harbor and Harborplace was only in the planning stages," says Horine. "We used to set up the shells near the railroad tracks on Pier 2 -- now the World Trade Center."

With the changing looks of the harbor, the fireworks technology also advanced.

The standard booms that were set off individually by hand still exist, but in recent years firework designers have been using more whistle and crackle effects and the skies are being painted with more geometric shapes.

"Bow-ties, hearts and five-pointed stars have become popular patterns," says Horine.

He adds that while small displays are still lit by hand, today's computer or electronic ignition is more accurate. And when the production is choreographed to music, the detonation sequence imprinted on computer tape among the musical signals.

After hours of planning discussions with the Baltimore Office of Promotions, the organizers of the annual fireworks display, Horine started setting up yesterday for this year's event, and he'll be working right through Sunday when it's time for cleaning up.

Beginning at 9: 30 p.m. Saturday, Horine will send shells soaring into the sky from a 175-foot barge floating in the outer yacht basin midway between Allied Chemical and Proctor & Gamble. Low-level aerials will be set off from a smaller barge in the inner yacht basin at Harborplace.

Being a pyrotechnician is not without danger, but adhering to the utmost safety standards greatly reduces the risks, explains Horine, adding that except for occasional burns to his hands, he's never been injured.

"Safety is foremost on my mind," says Horine.

While the anticipated 175,000 to 200,000 spectators glance skyward, he and his crew keep a watchful eye on the tubes that launch the projectiles, making sure everything is set up properly to ensure everyone's safety.

And when the colorful bombs burst into air in the grand finale and the awe-struck crowd answers with a great "WOW," Horine knows it's another job well done.

Read on for a sampling of Fourth of July activities scheduled in and around the Baltimore area. Unless specified, events take place Saturday.

Annapolis fireworks. Watch fireworks over the harbor from the U.S. Navel Academy. No parking. Free. Call 410-263-7940.

Charles Carroll House of Annapolis, 107 Duke of Gloucester St. Tours of the house and garden from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patriotic lecture at 4 p.m. Gates reopen at 5: 30 p.m. for an 18th century feast featuring a roasted pig with all the trimmings. Celtic music by Maggie Sansone, Amy White and Al Petteway. Waterfront lawn seating for fireworks over harbor. $30, $25 members, $15 ages 6-11, 5 and under free. Free parking. 410-269-1737.

Severna Park. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at St. Martin's in the Field Episcopal and Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Benfield Road, ending at the Park Plaza Shopping Center. Registration for decorated bike contest for children from 9: 15 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Winkelmeyer Building, 540 B&A; Blvd. Festival, featuring food, games, parade awards ceremony, from 10 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. at Park Plaza. After the festival, open house and free swim from 1: 30 p.m. to 4: 30 p.m. at Community Center at Woods. Call 410-647-3900.

Harborplace. Free activities through Sunday at the amphitheatre. Today: Noon to 2 p.m. Harborplace 18th Birthday Celebration with cupcake giveaways; street performer Mardene presents physical feats from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tomorrow: 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Once Rush rock band; 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Alborado, New Age folk music from the Andes. Saturday: noon to 6 p.m. Oscar Mayer Talent Search at Rash Field; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Antique and Classic Vehicle Rally at the Inner Harbor's west shore park. 1 p.m.-2: 30 p.m. U.S. Air Force Band Silver Wings; 8 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. U.S. Navy Concert Band and Sea Chanters; 9: 30 p.m. musically choreographed fireworks, tune radio to MIX 106.5 for simulcast. Sunday: 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Maryland Community Band. Rain date July 5.

Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. Bring picnic supper and enjoy fireworks at waterfront pavilion. Free hot dogs and soda with admission. Free parking. $20, $10 ages 6-18; museum members and volunteers, $15, $10 ages 6-18. Call 410-727-4808.

American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. view museum exhibitions; 10 a.m. to noon, Visionary Pet Parade; noon-2 p.m., Black Cherry Puppet Theater performance, art cars on display, balloon animals, bubble-making machine; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Didjiridu Workshop and concert with Big Blow and The Bushwackers; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Zydeco Music by Gumbo Junyard; 9: 30 p.m., watch fireworks from the museum. Some events free, admission to others. Call 410-244-1900.

Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & 1812 Museum, 844 E. Pratt St. "Celebrate the Fourth on the Fifth." Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Sip cool lemonade and listen to patriotic tales. Francis Scott Key reads the Declaration of Independence. $4, $3 seniors, $2 children. Call 410-837-1793.

Federal Hill Stars and Stripes Parade. Saturday at 10: 30 a.m., from 800 block of William Street to Montgomery Street to Battery Avenue around Federal Hill Park and back to William Street for refreshments. Free. Call 410-625-2255.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Star-Spangled Spectacular, Oregon Ridge. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, patriotic favorites followed by fireworks. Park opens at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday, rain date Sunday. Free shuttle bus from Hunt Valley Mall; permit parking at park $5 in advance. Concert tickets $13 advance, $14 at the gate, $7 children. Call 410-783-8000.

Catonsville. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Frederick Road and Catonsville High School. Children's games and races at 9 a.m. at high school; parade at 3 p.m. on Frederick Road; concert followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. at high school. Call 410-744-7042.

Heritage Fair, Dundalk Village. Noon-9: 30 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Heritage Park. Continuous entertainment from three stages, arts and crafts, kiddie rides, petting zoo, ethnic food. Parade, featuring 150 units, starting at 8: 30 a.m. Saturday from Logan Village through Old Dundalk to Heritage Park. Fireworks at 9: 15 p.m. at North Point Government Center. Call 410-284-4022.

Kingsville Parade. Pre-parade music and celebration at 10 a.m. at Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, Bellvue Avenue. Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Fire Company and proceeds on Bradshaw Road to Jerusalem Road, ending at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Call 410-592-7385.

Parade, family picnic, fireworks, Towson. Parade begins at 10: 30 a.m. on Towsontown Boulevard, continuing through Towson. At 5 p.m., family picnic on Sherwood House lawn at Cromwell Valley park, Cromwell Bridge Road. Games, hayrides followed by fireworks. $5 per car. Call 410-665-4322 or 410-661-8249.

Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster. Noon to 11 p.m. Bring a picnic or purchase food, entertainment, arts and crafts, museum tours; fireworks at 9: 30 p.m. $3, $2 ages 7-18 and seniors, 6 and under free. Call 410-848-7775 or 800-654-4645.

Field of Dreams Concert, Sykesville. Live concert featuring local singers and songwriters, carnival rides, arts and crafts, games, Civil War re-enactment, outdoor laser show. Noon to 11 p.m. at Freedom Firehall, Freedom Avenue and Route 32 N. $10. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Call 410-481-SEAT.

Bel Air. All-day activities start with flag-raising ceremony at 6: 45 a.m. at Bel Air Middle School, followed by pancake breakfast until 10: 30 a.m.; horseshoe pitching at 9 a.m. at Bel Air High School; hamster racing 9 a.m.; turtle derby 9: 30 a.m.; frog jumping 11 a.m.; patriotic costume contest at 9 a.m. at Hays House, Kenmore Avenue; "Uncle Sam Says" at 11 a.m. at the middle school, bicycle rodeo at noon; watermelon-eating contest 1 p.m.; electronic model car championship at 1: 30 p.m. Parade starts at 6 p.m. at Baltimore Pike and Atwood Road and proceeds to Kenmore Avenue, South Main Street, ending at Idlewild Street; patriotic concert after parade at Bel Air High School complex. Fireworks at 9: 30 p.m. Call 410-893-4444.

Havre de Grace. Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday along Union Avenue. Concert at 7: 15 p.m. Sunday at Tydings Park, followed by fireworks with music at 9: 15 p.m. Also carnival at Tydings Park today-Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight at Tydings Park. Call 410-939-4362.

Lake Kittamaqundi, Columbia. Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Columbia. Live music starts at 2 p.m.; also face-painting, food. Fireworks begin at 9: 30 p.m. Parking at Lakefront lots, the Mall and Merriweather Post Pavilion. Call 410-740-4545.

Fourth of July Fireworks Jubilee, beach, boardwalk, downtown. Free concert on the beach at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks over the ocean at 9: 30 p.m. Call 410-250-0125.

Fourth of July Jamboree at the Park. Northside Park at 125th Street. Noon to 10 p.m. music, arts and crafts, food, family games. Fireworks at 9: 30 p.m. Call 410-250-0125.

Independence Day Celebration. Various locations. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with music, dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence and a demonstration of Colonial military maneuvers on the Constitution Avenue steps, National Archives. Parade starts at noon down Constitution Avenue, past historic monuments on the Mall. 5 p.m.-9: 15 p.m. free entertainment at the Sylvan Theatre on the Washington Monument grounds. At 8 p.m. the National Symphony Orchestra performs a star-studded concert on the west steps of the Capitol Building. Fireworks at 9: 20 p.m. over the Washington Monument. Free. Call 202-619-7222.

Pub Date: 7/02/98