The Jackson and Johnson Memorial Unit, Post 263 of the American Legion, sponsored a Christmas Needy Families Food Basket Drive during the holidays, with the cooperation and participation of the American Legion and the Sons of the Legion.

Monetary donations enabled Comrade Theodore "Fee Fee" Fields and Auxiliary First Vice President Hilda Bouldin to purchase hams and breakfast foods (bacon, eggs, cheese, orange juice, bread, etc.) that were included in boxes of assorted canned goods and non-perishable items delivered to four families in the Catonsville area on Christmas Eve.

In addition, on Dec. 29, Comrade Fields and Commander Charles Randall, Sons of the Legion, delivered a second box of food to the families and also stocked a local church's food pantry with three boxes of canned goods.

Yvonne Rhone, president, and the members of the auxiliary thank everyone who assisted in this successful food basket drive, and wish all a Happy New Year.

>The sons and grandson of Colonel James and Mrs. Pennington - sons Steve and Wayne Sr., and grandson Wayne Kevin Jr. - surprised the couple with a 49th wedding anniversary celebration at their home on Old Frederick Road on Jan. 26.

The Pennington anniversary date is really Jan. 29, but the celebration date was ideal because of the availability of family and friends. Guests included: Mr. & Mrs. Douglass Boone; Mr. & Mrs. Richard Johnson; Mr. & Mrs. Benny Hill; Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fleming; Mr. & Mrs. Freddie LaBoo; Mrs. Mentora Thompson and guest; Mrs. Audrey Coe; Mrs. Romaine Jeffers; Mr. Charles Taylor; Ms. Lisa Schwartz; Mrs. Hester Mangrum, and many other well wishers.

>The Concerned Citizens of Catonsville will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Banneker Community Center. Local officials will be in attendance, and parking on Roberts Avenue will be discussed.

>I'm extremely pleased to announce the publication of my fifth book, which documents the history of seven African American communities in Baltimore County: Halethorpe, Relay, Oella, Granite and three historic communities in Randallstown - Church Lane, Oakland Park Road and Winands Road.

The book, "Surviving In America," is full of beautiful old photographs, interviews and histories of the communities. It will be available on and after Feb. 1, and can be purchased by contacting me, or the Catonsville Public Library. Cost of the book is $23.95 (plus 5% state tax). In addition, I will be lecturing on all of my books on the following dates:

*Feb. 1, 10:15 a.m. at the Pikesville Senior Center;

*Feb. 2, 2 p.m. in the Poe Room at the Central Pratt Library. Here, several of my photos are on display in "Patapsco: Portrait of a Valley," an exhibit running through March 9;

*Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., at the Granite Historical Society, Granite;

*Feb. 21, noon, at the Woodlawn/Westview Rotary Club at the Holiday Inn next to Martin's West;

*Feb. 21, 7 p.m., at the Woodlawn Public Library in Woodlawn; and

*Feb. 23, 2 p.m., at the Catonsville Public Library in Catonsville.

In addition, Feb. 8-10, my entire photo display will be exhibited in Center Court of Security Square Mall, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and on Feb. 16, the same display will be exhibited at Owings Mills Mall.

At most of these engagements, I will have a portion of my photo display, and all of the photographs collected from my fifth book.

This column appears each month in the Times. Residents of the Winters Lane community are urged to submit items of interest. To submit an item, call Louis Diggs at 410-747-6812, write 1114 Arunah Ave., Catonsville, Md. 21228, e-mail lsdiggs@bcpl.net, or fax 410-747-0649.