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