Helen Rushing, the secretary of the Savage Historical Society, would like to encourage community members to join the SHS. The group preserves the historic foundation of our community and gives members a perspective of "where we came from" and "where we used to be."

The next meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Faith and Ministry Center of the Savage United Methodist Church (please use side entrance off Foundry Street).

Galen R. Menne, president of the SHS, will speak on the topic of "What Life was like in Savage before the Mill Closed."

As a person who grew up in our small town, I can attest to the many changes from the "way it used to be" to the "way it is today." Although our town has changed in many ways, it still has some of those quaint, small town qualities that so many families look for when trying to determine where they want to settle down.

In some ways, everybody in out town knows something about someone living here! The SHS is free and open to the public. This association is a great way to get to know the history of our community and a great way to meet some of our long time community members.

If you have questions about the SHS, call Helen at 301-725-1241.

The Savage Branch Library, as part of its family community night series, is inviting parents and teens to meet together to discuss risky online behavior, how to prevent it and what to do if something happens to your family. This workshop, Cyber Safety and Civility, will be held Feb. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., preceded by a free dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are preferred. Call 410-880-5975.

The Historic Savage Mill is hosting a special event Saturday, Feb. 14 for those who like to draw. Camellia Blackwell is inviting everyone to try their hand at painting and drawing. Blackwell holds a doctorate in fine art education and wants to show how you can learn to draw and paint by developing hand and eye coordination through the use of left brain/right brain exercises. She will be teaching this class from 2 to 3 p.m. in the International Center for Artistic Development.

There is a fee of $20 per person, which includes the instruction and supplies. For information about this event, call Blackwell at 301-604-4484 or go to her Web site at www.camelliablackwell.com.

Happy Valentine's Day! Saturday is the day that traditionally men and women everywhere think about that special someone, their very own "sweetheart" and try to come up with a special gift that shows their love. Whatever the gift may be, remember it is the thought that counts, not the amount of the package or date.

I mentioned above that Valentine's Day is traditionally thought of as a day for "sweethearts" and "lovers," but many households are now including children in the gift-giving and Valentine card exchange. Annually, there were more than 180 million Valentine cards exchanged, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged children's valentines for classroom exchanges.)

As history has it, Americans began exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s. Did you know that as far as legends have it, Valentine's Day originated to commemorate the anniversary of the death of St. Valentine?

St. Valentine was a Roman clergyman who was executed Feb. 14, about 270 A.D., for secretly marrying couples in defiance of the emperor (young lovers were defying the odds back in 270 A.D.).

According to another legend, the holiday began as a Roman fertility festival. Oh, and what about some of those romantic U.S. cities, such as Valentine, Neb., Valentine, Texas, Loveland, Colo., Love's Park, Ill., Love Valley, N.C. and others.

When it comes to love, it may not just be your "sweetheart," it may be a child or other family member, or a place that brings a special feeling to your heart. Whatever it is, happy Valentine's Day!

I want to wish all of my readers who will be celebrating either a birthday or an anniversary during the upcoming week, a very special one.

I also want to wish my husband, Jay, a very special happy anniversary. We will celebrate 33 years of marriage on Valentine's Day! Happy anniversary, Jay!

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