Luminaries -- in and on Annapolis Waters

My Saturday ambitions were modest enough – get downtown Annapolis early to secure a parking place and my favorite stool for the Army-Navy game.  (Preference is Philadelphia, but next best is perching in my favorite City Dock watering hole, just a block from the Academy gate.)

I hadn’t counted on two things – it was the day of the annual Parade of Lights in Annapolis harbor and also North Baltimore Aquatic Club’s Holiday Tournament at Lejeune Hall. The Parade of Lights is always a tourist magnet, but Michael Phelps in his Speedo promised extra wattage to the glittering galaxy.  Both the parking space and unobstructed view of the flatscreen were going to be difficult.

The Parade of Lights is living proof there can be Peace on Earth (or at least Annapolis harbor) between sailors and boaters. In this maritime community, the two rarely have kind words for each other. (“Blowhards!” growl one side.“Stinkpotters!” snipe the other.)   They even have separate boat shows to keep them apart.

But for the Parade of Lights, they set aside their differences and decorate their crafts with elaborate illuminated displays in celebration of the season. For several hours they glide together through the harbor and down Ego Alley as crowds cheer them from the dock and the sea walls.

Of course, the weather can be brutal ,so many crews convene a few hour early to fortifiy against the elements.   I learned, somewhere during the second quarter, that my personal viewing section was the official meet-up for several contingents.

Seems this has been an annual tradition for at least 10 years, I was told by someone with a blinking elf hat passing the first of many trays of Oyster Shooters.

Note: Oyster Shooters are known for their nutritional value.  Their beer chaser doesn’t insulate against cold. For those holiday spirits, they rely on someone called "Captain."

Anyway, the merry mariners sang Christmas carols during commercials and cheerfully rooted for Navy during the action. When they were as illuminated as their vessels, it was time to ship out and relinquish their stools for the next invasion – pool parents.

This was a great opportunity for me to learn first hand about the phenomenon Terry talks about – youth sports. Particularly the growing interest in swimming, and the support network provided by the families who travel with their kids to tournaments like these.

The parents perched next to me were affiliated with the host club – North Baltimore, aka Meadowbrook, aka Michael Phelps’ personal pond. Their kids (three boys for one, three girls for the other) had been swimming and competing for years.

The most interesting thing, though, is that both dads had themselves been swimmers through college, and they married swimmers – producing tadpoles who themselves took up the sport. Second interesting thing — they continued a lifelong practice of recreational swimming as a fitness regimen and a chance to stay competitive.

Both dads were wearing shirts from the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, the 4.4 mile open water challenge between Sandy Point and the Eastern Shore they did every year. As we talked about Maryland being the new epicenter of competitive swimming (thanks to You Know Who) they complained that the Bay Swim got little attention from the press because it is considered a fund raiser rather than a recognized sports event.

In truth, the Bay Swim draws open water swimmers from all over the country because of the challenging conditions and the training it provides. So we’ll have to work on getting that perception across. The Bay Swim is one of those hidden jewels in Maryland Team Terry needs to publicize more.

Back to the Holiday Classic, though. I learned from these parents that it has become a family tradition to spend the full weekend in Annapolis, even though they live only as far away as Baltimore County. One family stayed at the Weston, the other rented a townhouse for the duration. With hundreds of families coming from some distance, you can do the math on economic impact.

Funny thing is — they’ve been doing this in Annapolis for eight years and it’s the first time I heard about it. Which brings me to the next point — the Michael Phelps effect.

Yes, the media interest was on the presence of Michael Phelps, who was competing along with everyone else. If you’re wondering why an Olympic superstar was sharing lanes with club swimmers, the answer is fairly simple.

First, Michael Phelps grew up with North Baltimore Aquatic Club and did this event for many years. Second, Michael and his coach now own the facility, and are determined to make Maryland the focus of the competitive swimming world. (The mom in the conversation told me of a family who moved from Connecticut just so their son could train there.) Third, Michael Phelps, like any other athlete, needs to stay in condition and work on his technique. Competitive swimming on any level helps him do this, while providing tremendous inspiration to the new generation of swimmers who are thrilled to be in the same pool as he.

By this time, Navy had pulled sufficiently ahead and I felt almost safe leaving them to their own devices. Besides, the third wave of the invasion had begun – Parade of Light spectators.

It is estimated that 30,000 people came to Annapolis to view the Parade. When at least half of them passed between me and the flatscreen, it was time to go.

I fell in behind the parade of pool parents and hoofed to the Academy next door. Getting to see Michael Phelps was only as difficult as waving my ID to the Academy guard and walking into Lejeune Hall. Getting to the front of the gallery required a little slithering on my part, but I haven’t lost my touch.

I was amazed to see the natatorium completed filled with fans. Not just family and friends, but real fans. They may have come to see Michael Phelps, but it was obvious there is a genuine interest in this sport, particularly in Maryland.

I left after Michael won his heat (his form looked fine to me.) Bells rang on the Yard, proclaiming Navy’s victory, and the Chapel carillon chimed a seasonal refrain. As I walked towards the dock, the boats magically illuminated and the procession began.

All was well with the world.  And I was able to beat the traffic home.

Die Fledermaus

No, not the farcical Strauss operetta, but an enteraining tale nonetheless.  At its heart is a humble mammal with some pretty savvy advocates and powerful opponents.  And so far, Die Fledermaus has defied them all.

As you recall, several months ago I was lamenting the delay in incorporating the old Indigo Tunnel that passes under the mountains near Hancock into the Western Maryland Rail Trail.  The mile-long tunnel and the bridge over the Potomac would provide a breathtaking experience for the many thousand hikers and bikers already attracted to the Maryland mountainside for outdoor recreation.

Unfortunately, the Indigo Tunnel has some very influential squatters -- a colony of bats who have adapted it as their winter quarters.  Among their ranks is the well-connected Indiana Bat, who roosts very prominently on the Endangered Species List.  And you don't mess with anyone on the Endangered Species list, as the Snail Darter (who stopped the $100 million Tellico Dam) will attest.

The feds are still exploring a compromise over tunnel use, where bats and bikers share custody by dividing months of use.  However, the Indiana Bat and its delicate status have now weighed in on a bigger (and more controversial) environmental issue -- wind farms in Garrett County.

A federal judge has just ruled that the operation of wind turbines would sustain heavy Indiana bat casualties.  (I guess their sonar isn't as good as claimed.)  Maryland Daily Record had the story about the decision Tuesday  (the first in federal court)  that a wind power project violates the federal Endangered Species Act.   U.S. District Judge Roger Titus's opinion could have implications for other wind projects in the United States.

(This begs the question --  if these Hoosier bats are so at risk in Maryland, why don't they go back to Indiana?  Maybe it's the same lousy sonar that lures them into wind turbines.)

In any case, the recent news reminds me that I want to check with the Western Maryland Rail Trail folks to see how they're doing in their negotiations with the Feds to share the tunnel.    It's also makes me realize that if I ever get in a jam, I should get the same legal representation as the bats.

Terry Trolls for Treasure

While most of us are in the holiday swing (or planning our bowl-watching schedule) Terry is in the hunt for more sports events and tournaments to bring home to Maryland.

This week he is attending the invitation-only meeting of the US Sports Congress, which is an annual conclave of sports commissions, destinations, event rights-holders, facility managers and sports sponsors.  This is where associations and promoters go to shop for desirable venues.  Because registration is limited, the ratio of events to desinations is even, and Terry has already had some very productive meeting with governing bodies who are interested in Maryland facilities.

Terry will give us a better idea about potential events and activities we could be hosting when he returns.  We have every confidence he'll bag the limit on this particular hunting trip.

Fantastic Mr. Fox -- Trotting in Taneytown

My aunt is member of the Mayberry Hunt Club, an association of fox chasing enthusiasts based outside Taneytown. Aunt Jean doesn't ride, but her farm is part of the countryside where this Maryland tradition is still avidly pursued, with rituals dating to pre-colonial days.

(Note: Mayberry will never be mistaken for Middleburg. Nor are there squires or nobility in their ranks. However, they do follow the same time honored rituals and have every bit as much fun as the worthies of Warrenton.)

Fox chasing (not"hunting," because that version doesn't end well for the redhead) is still popular in horse country, although development makes it increasingly difficult to find wide expanses necessary for the field of horses, packs of hounds and hilltoppers (spectators with the flasks and other goodies,) and their quarries, who delight in leading them far afield. Fortunately, Carroll County still has connecting farms with ample acreage, making it a fine place to hunt on horseback.


Two long-standing clubs where I grew up were Iron Bridge, outside of Laurel, and Marlborough, in lower Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties. Both are active today. (Marborough Hunt Club sponsors the popular Roedown steeplechase race every April.)


But back to Taneytown.  If you look towards the Catoctins when you hear yelping on a Sunday morning,  you'll see the dogs and riders pop over the hill and survey the farm below. The hounds whoop some more and take off again, being guided by the outriders (known as "whips" ) who keep the stragglers in formation.


In addition to the farm (and sometimes hosting the hunt breakfast afterwards) my aunt plays an important role in the social order of the Mayberry Hunt, because a den of red foxes also call Pipe Creek home. They're far enough away from her chicken coop to permit peaceful coexistance, and their participation is key.


Not all hunts can field this player. In places where foxes are scarce, a fake scent is dragged to direct the hounds. Not exactly GPS, but it keeps the procession on course, although lacking a certain spontanaity. This method is also used to train rookie hounds and horses (a practice called "cubbing.") You've heard "red herring" used to describe a false lead or irrelevant piece of information. It originates from the smoked fish used to train hounds not to follow the wrong scent.


Anyway, the fun begins when a real fox -- or a tag team of foxes -- decides to get in the game. The folks in the undisclosed location have been at this for generations and know just what to do. (There must be a vulpine version of cubbing, because these guys are very creative.)


One Sunday morning I was visiting the farm and heard a loud commotion. Far in the distance, hounds were running in circles. The riders waited patiently for them to figure out where to go. Every hound had a different opinion and they took off in every direction (one was headed to Gettysburg) before being herded back by the whips.


Looking out the other window, I beheld a curious sight. Sitting on his haunches at the top of another hill, observing the action with amusement, was the star of the show. It wasn't until the hounds finally figured his route and started his way that he scampered off.

My uncle explained that the fox was waiting for them to catch up because he wasn't ready to call it a day. After getting his cardio workout, the fox (and possibly an accomplice) hops into the nearby stream. The pack loses the scent, the chase ends, and everyone goes home to their den, barn, kennel, or flatscreen.


When hunters see the fox, it's called a "view." and riders tip their hats. (I don't know if it's a salute or a signal, but it's part of the ritual.)


I'm not sure what it's called when the fox leisurely surveys his pursuers, but the Taneytown trickser seemed to savor the moment. I can just envision Mr. Fox relating the hilarity of those hounds chasing their tails (in a George Clooney voice, of course) to his kits as he relaxes in his den under the tree.

Another Area Arena

Yes, it's snowing hard in Baltimore, but I seriously doubt it will interfere with the new arena opening at Coppin a few hours from now. Hades will freeze before the Eagles are denied the chance to flaunt their new crib for crosstown rival Morgan State. Really looking forward to seeing happy faces when the fans get their first look at this hardwood palace.

A few zip codes away, another arena opens today. Howard County officials will cut the ribbon on a public indoor sports facility, the latest phase of Meadowbrook Park near the intersection of routes 29 and 100 in Ellicott City.

Meadowbrook Park arena features volleyball and basketball courts, but can accommodate other games and activities. The 33,000 square-foot recreation facility completes an $8.5 million project.

The 77-acre park features three baseball fields; an open-play area; a large playground; two tennis courts; two basketball courts; two picnic pavilions; and approximately 2.5 miles of sidewalks and pathways, plus a 2.5-mile loop circling the park, parking, landscape, and restroom facilities.

(We hope there's sledding hills, because they'd come in handy today.)

Congratulations to these two communities, who will greatly enjoy these newest additions to the Maryland sports and recreation scene.

Dodging the Duckpins

Much as I love the folks I work with, I always find a way to duck the annual office bowling party. Duck is the operative word here. These aren't Big Labowski bowling bashes (and no White Russians participate, either.) They are held -- in classic, old Baltimore style -- at a neighborhood alley in Highlandtown known as Patterson Bowling Center.

They roll duckpins. That's right, duckpins. A version developed here in Maryland that remains a part of our heritage. Little bitty balls on one end and dinky, spindly pins on the other. Between the two are wide gutters where my balls seek refuge almost as soon as they leave my hand.

In fairness, I'm not much better at tenpins (big balls, bigger pins, same gutters.) Some hand eye coordination is definitely missing. But chasing duckpins -- three balls at time -- is painfully humiliating, particularly in front of one's colleagues.

Since I can't relate the delightful experience, fun and comraderie that these bowling outings provide (and everyone has a good time) I can tell you this history of duckpins and its unique ties to Maryland, and the Baltimore Orioles of all things.

Around the turn of the century, the old Baltimore Orioles had a player named John McGraw -- who would later enjoy great fame managing the New York Giants.  He and a teammate owned Diamond Alleys on Howard Street. One of the oddball games played at the time involved small balls that were used to pick off specific tenpin pattterns.

Someone suggested it might be challenging to use the small balls on a set of small pins. So they took a set of tenpins to a local woodturner, who produced a mini version. When the ball hit them, they scattered in all directions. McGraw, who also enjoyed hunting, likened them to a flock of ducks.

So it was here in Baltimore "duckpins" was born. It became a popular pastime as leagues were developed and entire social orders were built around the teams and tournaments. 

Does anyone else remember Stu Kerr and "Duckpins for Dollars"? That was a local TV show where local bowlers competed on the air for cash prizes. It was popular when I was growing up and only added to my teenage angst that I could never get the ball anywhere near those little pins.  I mean if housewives from Hampden could do it, why was I such an awkward klutz?

(Bowling was the rage among my junior high classmates in Laurel. Trust me, acne is not the worst experience of adolescence.  I still have nightmares about those Sunday afternoons at Fairlanes.)

Duckpin bowling has since declined as a mainstream form of the sport. But here in Maryland, particularly in Baltimore, it is a cherished part of our history. Patterson Bowling Center is actually the oldest operating duckpin bowling alley, having opened in 1927. (It was a favored hangout of the old Baltimore Colts.) There is even a picture of Babe Ruth bowling duckpins on the wall.

Bowling duckpins is still a great time. I remember the fun my officemates had. It's hard to resist going because it is such a hoot. But lest I forget, I keep the booby prize I was awarded for the lowest score that day. It's a miniature of Wild Turkey. No, I've never been tempted to drink it, but if I EVER have to go bowling again, believe me, I will.

Wheels and Water – Terry Tours St. Mary’s

Terry returned from an all day visit to St. Mary’s County, brimming with excitement about all the beautiful facilities (and potential events for them) in Southern Maryland.

This was a particularly rewarding itinerary because it included officials from the County departments of Economic Development and Recreation, eager to learn how they can parlay the resources they have into more tourism and showcase events. But that was only part of the day.

St. Mary’s County has long been the holy grail of high octane set. Within what is now billed as the “Motorsports Corridor” there is Maryland International Raceway, Potomac Speedway, and the legendary Budds Creek, which has hosted international motocross competitions.

Working its way to the starting line is another exciting venture – Tatton Park.

As currently planned, Tatton Park will feature two road courses, an off-road and rally facility, clubhouse, bike trails and a nature preserve. Tatton Park will be available to automobile clubs, and for the holding of national and regional events hosted by organizations including SCCA, NASA, SVRA and CCS Racing.

Tatton Park will also serve community and security needs as a training facility for driver education, accident avoidance and military security. It will feature off-road activities, rally cross, drifting, autocross, karting, and recreational facilities for families and spectators.

In other words, this will be a full service motorsports park in a region already revved. (I’m told the locals are still recovering from the impact of 75,000 visitors swarming Budds Creek in 2007.)

Terry had a good look at some of the superb facilities the county manages, like the Nicole skatepark (one of the best he’s ever seen) Wicomico golf course and Chapitico sports park (which boasts a BMX course as well as multi-use playing fields)

Terry visited the new Hot Shots Disc Golf Course at John G. Lancaster Park, part of the redeveloped Lexington Manor military housing. The 18-hole course sits where the old flattops used to be and offers a great space for outdoor recreation in addition to this emerging sport. Disc Golf uses plastic discs and elevated basket targets. The course at Lancaster, which opened in October, is free to the public from sunrise to sunset.

After seeing these private and public resources, Terry ventured to the College of St. Mary’s where he saw first hand the relationship between the school and the natural resources of Maryland. The sweeping shoreline of the campus offers access to the waterways of the state, which is why the small school is so renown in the sailing and rowing communities. (St. Mary’s organizes the popular Governor’s Cup regatta, an annual overnight race down the Bay from Annapolis.)

The sailing facilities are wonderful, but we have to get in a word for Terry’s special interest – the natatorium. St. Mary’s has a beautiful natatorium, as befitting a college which enjoys such a close relationship with the water.

Terry wants to express special thanks to Carolyn Laray, of Economic Development, and Phil Rollins of Recreation and Parks, who showed him so much of what the County has to offer. Shoutouts to Hans Welch and Bob Schaller who also participated in his adventure, and to those representatives from the hospitality industry who came to hear Terry tell them how important sports tourism is to the economy and how much potential Maryland has in this growing market.

St. Mary’s is a gem, for Maryland history, natural beauty, and high energy fun.Next time, invite me!