Wednesday, Jan. 1 and Friday, Jan. 3-Sunday, Jan. 5 

Garden In Lights 

6-9 p.m

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
13480 Dowell Road

Dowell, MD 20629
410-326-4640

Sunday, Jan. 5
Aqua-thon

Noon-3 p.m.
Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center
130 Auto Drive

Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-414-8350

Saturday, Jan. 11

Kids! Jukebox Sock Hop

2-3 p.m.
Bayside History Museum
4025 4th St.

North Beach, MD 20714
301-855-4028

Saturday, Jan. 18

Artist's Access Days
6:45-9 a.m.

Flag Ponds Nature Park
1525 Flag Ponds Parkway

Lusby, MD 20657
410-535-5327

Saturday, Jan. 18 through Saturday, Feb. 8

Digital Photography Workshop
10:30 a.m.-noon

Northeast Community Center
4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave.

Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
410-257-2554

Saturday, Jan. 18-Sunday,
Jan. 19

Wild Winter Wibit Weekends!
1-4 p.m.

Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center
130 Auto Drive

Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-414-8350

Sunday, Jan. 19
War of 1812: A Legacy of Division speaker series presents "Tecumseh and Conflicting Native Views on the War of 1812"

3 p.m.
The College of Southern Maryland Auditorium
115 J.W. Williams Road

Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-326-2042

www.calvertmarinemuseum.com

Saturday, Jan. 25
Vine Vindicator Work Day

10 a.m.-1 p.m.
American Chestnut Land Trust North Side Trailhead
676 Double Oak Road

Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-414-3400

Saturday, Jan. 25
Kids! Oyster Gardens

2-3 p.m.
Bayside History Museum

4025 4th Street

North Beach, MD 20732
301-855-4028

Wednesday, Jan. 29
School's Out Fun Day
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Southern Community Center
20 Appeal Lane

Lusby, MD 20657
410-586-1101

Thursday, Jan. 30
Winter Extravaganza Comedy Night

Southern District Parks and Recreation

6-9:30 p.m.
Jake & Al's Chophouse
258 Town Square Dr., Lusby
410-394-6694

A Garden Grows in Calvert County

Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
Is a World-Class Arts Space

Francis and Ann Marie Koenig first came to Calvert County in 1955 seeking a retreat from the pace of life in Washington, DC. They quickly fell in love with the area and in 1956 built a home in Long Beach overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Soon they became avid sailors and could often be found heading out of Flag Harbor Marina on their sailboat, Annmarie. They shared their love for the area with their family, taking their grandchildren for walks through the American Chestnut Land Trust on Parkers Creek.

The couple purchased 30 acres of land in Solomons in 1960 as an investment opportunity. After three decades and many offers from developers, Francis began to see his investment as a unique opportunity to give something back to an area he loved. In 1991, the Koenigs donated the property to Calvert County with the intention that it be developed into a sculpture park. Named after Mrs. Koenig, the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center has grown into a world-class arts space that continues to dazzle with thought-provoking exhibits and family-friendly events.

MLK Days: Message in a Bottle

Each year, Annmarie invites guests to help create a community art installation in honor of a dream. Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a community art activity Jan. 18-20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

This year's MLK Days event is Message in a Bottle. Through January, visitors will be able to reflect on King's "I Have a Dream" speech, write their own dream for the world and enclose it in a colorful bottle for display along the trails of the sculpture garden. This project will run through March, but participation will be free during the MLK Days event.

Reservations are not required. Children are encouraged to just drop in and join the fun, meet new people and make friends! 

In Season: Public Lands Offer Great Hunting

Polar Bear Plunge: A Nippy New Year Tradition

The annual Polar Bear Plunge in North Beach is most definitely the COOLEST event of the year! Held every Jan. 1 at 1 p.m., the plunge features hundreds of brave souls taking a quick dip, splash or swim in the frigid Chesapeake Bay. Some feel the plunge is a unique way to welcome the new year while others may have just lost a bet!

Hang out after the plunge and enjoy hot cocoa and roast marshmallows around a warm bonfire.

This exciting event draws thousands of spectators. To plunge, each participant must sign a waiver. There is no fee to plunge, but for $25 you will receive a participation certificate and a custom plunge T-shirt. For the 2014 Polar Bear Plunge, the net proceeds will go to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Are you brave enough to take the plunge?

Chris Haley Lecture to Honor King's Legacy

Chris Haley, nephew of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley, will discuss our shared heritage and engage with the history of slavery in the United States and the struggle for freedom during a lecture Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m. at the North Beach Town Hall.

Haley is the director of the Study of Slavery in Maryland at the Maryland State Archives research center. He has worked as a genealogist, actor, singer, writer, historian, producer, director, motivational speaker and radio talk show host. Haley has also promoted the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural program to explore the legacy of the Underground Railroad using primary documents available at the Maryland State Archives and to discover unknown "heroes" of slave flight and resistance.

The lecture is sponsored by the Bayside History Museum and Calvert Library. For more information, contact Bayside History Museum at 410-610-5970 or Calvert Library, at 410-535-0291.

 Gourmands Rejoice

Restaurant Week Returns

Calvert County's eclectic restaurants will showcase their creative cuisine and offer delicious deals during Calvert County Restaurant Week Feb.  21- March 2, 2014.

Whether you love local seafood, Italian cuisine or anything in between, Restaurant Week has something to satisfy any taste. Restauranteurs are offering lunch and dinner specials along with their regular menus. Stay tuned for details and a full listing of participating restaurants.