A4 APG News • February 6, 2020

BY THE NUMB#RS

8,517,685Virginia’s population, as of 2018, making it the 12th most populous

state.

42,774.2The number of square miles in Virginia, making it the 16th smallest

state.

5,729The height, in feet, of the highest point in Virginia, Mount Rogers.

38The number of independent cities in Virginia, an unusually high

number. The independent cities, often considered as a county-

equivalent in the state, and the general method of treating cities and

counties on par with each other is unique to Virginia; only three other

independent cities exist elsewhere in the United States, each in a

different state.

30The number of National Park Service units in Virginia, including

Great Falls Park and the Appalachian Trail, and one national park,

Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah was established in 1935

and encompasses the scenic Skyline Drive. There are also 34 state

parks and 17 state forests in Virginia.

By JON BLEIWEIS, APG News

VIRGINIAFour days after New Hampshire ratified the Articles of Confederation,

Virginia followed suit, on June 25, 1788.

Here are some facts about the Commonwealth of Virginia.

By RACHEL PONDER, APG News

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md.— Several local organizations

will mark Black History Month with events in Havre de Grace.

Many of these events will pay tribute to Harriet Tubman, a run-

away slave from Maryland, who became known as the “Moses

of Her People,” because she led hundreds of slaves to freedom.

The Cultural Center at the Opera House is currently dis-

playing artwork by noted painter Paul Collins, whose work

depicts famous African-Americans, including Tubman. The

Artists’ Emporium, located at 22 North Washington St., will

also display Collins’ work.

Slavery and the Eastern Shore On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Susquehanna Museum at the

Lockhouse will host a free presentation, “Plantations, Slav-

ery & Freedom on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” a talk by Jac-

queline Simmons Hedberg, based on her book of the same

name at the Cultural Center at the Opera House. The program

begins at 7 p.m.; Hedberg will autograph copies of her book.

A Weekend Celebrating Harriet Tubman During President’s Day weekend, Feb. 15-17, the Havre de

Grace Arts Collective, in association with St. John’s Episcopal

Church, will present a “Weekend Celebrating Harriet Tubman

and the Underground Railroad.”

On Saturday, Feb. 15, at 9:30 a.m. the Opera House will

host a story time for children, featuring books about the Under-

ground Railroad. Admission is free.

In the evening, the Opera House will host “An Evening

with Paul Collins,” starting at 7 p.m., featuring a reception for

Collins followed by a presentation about his paintings. Tick-

ets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors and active duty military.

On Sunday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church

will host several activities, including a live radio play, “Isaac

Worthington, Runaway Slave,” written by Camay Murphy,

a retired teacher and daughter of Cab Calloway, who was a

famous jazz singer and bandleader. At 5:30 p.m., the church

will serve a dinner which will feature cuisine that was popu-

lar in Maryland during the antebellum period. These events are

free; donations are accepted.

In the evening, the Opera House will also host a screen-

ing of “Harriet” at 7 p.m. “Harriet” is a biographical film

about Tubman, starring Academy Award nominee Cynthia

Erivo. Tickets are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors and active duty

military.

On Monday, Feb. 17, the festivities will continue at the

Opera House with a talk by historian Phillip Hesser about how

Tubman, Frederick Douglass and others traveled to freedom

in railroad passenger cars and steamboat cabins. The program

starts at 2 p.m.; admission is free.

Event planner Jack Hirschfeld, with the Havre de Grace

Arts Collective, said he is looking forward to hosting these

educational events for the community.

“The Underground Railroad, and especially Harriet Tub-

man, are inspiring examples of how people have fought for

freedom and how their struggles underpin our present-day cul-

ture,” he said. “Our events not only acknowledge black histo-

ry, they exemplify our admiration of the courage and sacrifice

that our forebears epitomized.”

Upcoming Underground Railroad Exhibit The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum is preparing an

exhibit about the Underground Railroad to open later this

year. Between now and then, the museum will host sever-

al free presentations on black history. For more information,

visit http://www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org/.

The Cultural Center at the Opera House is located at 121

North Union Ave. To purchase tickets, visit https://hdgoper-

ahouse.org/. St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 114

North Union Ave.

About the Havre de Grace Arts Collective The Havre de Grace Arts Collective is a nonprofit organi-

zation created to address the cultural and economic needs of

Havre de Grace and the surrounding region, including over-

sight of the Cultural Center at the Opera House, Arts and

Entertainment District (a Maryland designation offering tax

incentives and credits to attract artists to work and live in

Havre de Grace), the Arts by the Bay Gallery and the Havre

de Grace Public Art Committee. For more information, visit

www.HdgArtsCollective.org.

Black History Month Events in Havre de Grace

Artist Paul Collins stands with his painting depicting Harriet Tubman and other runaway slaves. Several of Collins’ paintings are on display at the Cultural Center at the Opera House.

Courtesy photo