Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on the campus of Lancaster History.org cordially invite you to attend their 2010 Annual Dinner Meeting featuring guest speaker Richard L. Bitner on Monday, April 19 from 6 to 9 pm. The dinner will be held at The Pressroom Restaurant, 26-28 West King Street, Lancaster, PA.

The evening begins at the Pressroom at 6 pm with a cash bar, available throughout the evening. The 6:30 dinner features choice of entrees: Chicken Piccata with Caper Wine sauce, Boursin Custard potatoes and vegetable ; Baked Boston Scrod topped with buttered bread crumbs, Boursin Custard potatoes and vegetable; or Baked Vegetable Lasagna with fresh basil marinara.
Featured speaker Richard L. Bitner, author of "Conifers for GardensAn Illustrated Encyclopedia," is a horticulturist, writer and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous national and regional magazines. A member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Gold Medal Plant Award Committee, Bitner has been a longtime instructor at Longwood Gardens in their Continuing Education and Professional Gardening programs. When not in the garden, Dr. Bitner is a practicing anesthesiologist.

Dr Bitner's lavishly illustrated talk will introduce the great diversity of shapes, textures and colors of conifers and promote integrating conifers into the landscape with other woody and herbaceous plants. Selections for both small gardens and larger landscapes will be presented. The goal is to help the beginner or the avid gardener, landscape designer, nursery tradesperson or student of horticulture make better choices. Bitner's book "Conifers for Gardensan Illustrated Encyclopedia" and some 20 other selections by varied authors will be available for purchase at a reduced rate.

Annual Dinner Cost: $35 per person. Please call Ginny Dugan at 717.371.5316 to make your reservations. Seating is limited. Free parking is available at the Central Parking Garage, 29 West Vine Street rear of the Pressroom.

The Irish are coming to town, and just in time for St. Patrick's Day. The Ulster Historical Foundation of Belfast, Northern Ireland, will make a special stop in Lancaster on Sunday, March 14 to host a Scots-Irish seminar at LancasterHistory.org , 230 N President Avenue, Lancaster, PA, from 1 to 5 pm. Dr. Brian Trainor, Director Emeritus of the Public Records of Northern Ireland, and Fintan Mullan, Executive Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation plan to present 4 sessions: 1.) Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research 2.) Researching the Farming Community in the 18th and 19th Centuries 3.) Scots-Irish Sources Available for Research by County and, time permitting, 4.) Using Land Valuation & Tithe Applotment.

Publications from the U.H.F. will be available both for purchase and for browsing throughout the afternoon; light refreshments will be served. The cost: $50 (non-members) or $45 (members). Take advantage of this special seminar scheduled between major stops in Philadelphia and Florida; made possible by LancasterHistory.org genealogist Kevin Shue and his Irish connections! Space is limited. Please call (717) 392-4633 or go to www.lancasterhistory.org to register today.

Meet President Buchanan & his Cabinet on President's Day at Wheatland
Two for the Price of One Admission

Step back in time this President's Day at Wheatland and meet with president-elect, James Buchanan and his cabinet. The year is 1857. Buchanan is preparing for his March 4 inauguration in Washington. And he is joined by several members of his cabinet, their spouses and Miss Harriet Lane, Mr. Buchanan's niece and soon-to-be First Lady.

Chat with re-enactors in period dress about the complex issues of the day that led the country toward Civil War. Discuss the latest news covering the Territorial Legislature in Kansas, the difficulties being faced by the U.S. Army in Nicaragua, as well as local gossip and challenges the Buchanan administration will encounter over the next four years.

This President's Day special celebration takes place on Monday, February 15, 2010 at Wheatland, home of our 15th President, 1120 Marietta Avenue, in Lancaster and comes with a special pricetwo for the price of one. Tours will start at 10 am; the last tour begins at 3 pm. Combinations of any admission category will be handled with the higher admission rate prevailing. Don't miss this unique opportunity.