February brings of host of events, including groundhog day. This is the day the groundhog emerges from his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. See February 2 below.


American Heart Month To educate the public about cardiovascular disease by learning more about risk factors, the disease’s warning signs and lifesaving emergency response techniques.

Black History Month Carter G. Woodson initiated Black History week on Feb. 12, 1926, to coincide with the birth-days of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s Bicentennial, it was expanded and became known as Black History Month.

National Children’s Dental Health Month To raise awareness of dental health for children. It began as a one-day event in Cleveland in 1941 and has expanded over the years. Local observances often include poster, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations and dental office tours.

National Wild Bird-Feeding Month The National Bird-Feeding Society wants people to make winter a little easier for wild birds by raising awareness of our feathered friends. People this month are encouraged to provide wild birds with food, water and shelter.

Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month Stray grocery carts also have a month to celebrate. Shoppers are asked to return their vagrant shopping carts to their proper homes.

National Potato-Lovers Month The potato lobby wants to remind you to love your spuds. Potato promotions on all varieties are held at local stores, and, if you look, you may even find some strange contests—dress a potato and, of course, competitions for the best potato dish.


Weekly Events in February

Feb.1–8
National Consumer Protection Week. Consumer advocates choose this week to highlight consumer protection and education efforts around the country. The consumer resource agency encourages people to become educated about protecting personal and sensitive information—online, in the office or around the home

Feb. 9–16
Big Brothers/Sisters Week. 2004 is the 100th anniversary of the Big Brother/Big Sister organization.

Feb. 14–21
National Condom Awareness Week. National Condom Awareness Day obviously is celebrated nationwide on Feb. 14. The American Social Health Awareness Association wants a whole week in which people can be informed of the benefits of using condoms.

Feb. 16–22
National Pay Your Bills Week. Here’s a day that we all probably need to pay attention to, especially as Christ-mas bills start to roll in.


Daily Events in February

Feb. 2
Groundhog Day. The day the groundhog emerges from his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If he doesn’t—the day is shadowless—it’s a sign of spring and the ground-hog stays above ground. It is a big event in Punxsutawney, Pa.

Feb. 3
Dump Your Significant Jerk Day. Why not? It still gives you 11 days to find someone new before Valentine’s Day.

Feb. 8
Laugh and Get Rich Day. Usually it works the other way around, but this day is a hope that a little giggle will get you a gaggle of bills.

Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day. Legend has it that St. Valentine was a priest in the 3rd century in Rome. He defied an order by Emperor Claudius II, who decided single men made better soldiers than married ones and outlawed marriage. Valentine defied these orders and continued performing secret marriage ceremonies. The priest was put to death but later became one of the most popular saints in history.

Feb. 16
President’s Day. Originally, the day was a commemora-tion of George Washington’s birthday. But later it includ-ed Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Washington was born on Feb. 22. Lincoln was born Feb. 12.

Feb. 25
Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the onset of the Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence. It is also known as the “Day of Ashes.” So called because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross.

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Valentines Dining & Entertaining From LILLIAN VERNON