Lawrence County has now obtained the "Fireworks Capital of America" trademark from the U.S. Trademark office.
The county, of course, is home to Zambelli Fireworks Internationale in New Castle, touted as the world's largest manufacturer and exhibitor of fireworks. Each year, the 114-year-old company produces more than 3,500 displays, including Super Bowl celebrations, New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square and the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
The Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency, which sought the designation, plans to use the trademark in its marketing. Among its plans, the agency hopes to create an online store to sell promotional items.
Key West center opens
Florida Keys visitors now have a way to experience the area's underwater ecosystem without getting wet: the new Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.
The 6,400-square-foot, $6 million facility opened last month on the Key West waterfront to showcase the underwater and upland habitats that characterize the Keys, emphasizing the coral reef that parallels the island chain.
Admission is free. Through interactive and touch-screen exhibits and audio and video components, visitors can explore the Keys' hardwood hammock, mangrove, patch reef, seagrass, deep shelf and Dry Tortugas environments. Exhibit highlights include a walkthrough version of the Aquarius Undersea Lab, a manned underwater research laboratory located off Key Largo. Visitors can hear recordings from the lab, take video tours of the Keys' undersea world and view indigenous fish and sea creatures through video screens shaped like portholes.
The Eco-Discovery Center is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Details at floridakeys.noaa.gov/eco_discovery.html.
Cherry Blossom Festival
It's not too early to start planning for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. It runs from March 31 to April 15 and coincides with the blooming of 3,000 cherry trees. Find out more at www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
The county, of course, is home to Zambelli Fireworks Internationale in New Castle, touted as the world's largest manufacturer and exhibitor of fireworks. Each year, the 114-year-old company produces more than 3,500 displays, including Super Bowl celebrations, New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square and the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
The Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency, which sought the designation, plans to use the trademark in its marketing. Among its plans, the agency hopes to create an online store to sell promotional items.
Key West center opens
Florida Keys visitors now have a way to experience the area's underwater ecosystem without getting wet: the new Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.
The 6,400-square-foot, $6 million facility opened last month on the Key West waterfront to showcase the underwater and upland habitats that characterize the Keys, emphasizing the coral reef that parallels the island chain.
Admission is free. Through interactive and touch-screen exhibits and audio and video components, visitors can explore the Keys' hardwood hammock, mangrove, patch reef, seagrass, deep shelf and Dry Tortugas environments. Exhibit highlights include a walkthrough version of the Aquarius Undersea Lab, a manned underwater research laboratory located off Key Largo. Visitors can hear recordings from the lab, take video tours of the Keys' undersea world and view indigenous fish and sea creatures through video screens shaped like portholes.
The Eco-Discovery Center is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Details at floridakeys.noaa.gov/eco_discovery.html.
Cherry Blossom Festival
It's not too early to start planning for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. It runs from March 31 to April 15 and coincides with the blooming of 3,000 cherry trees. Find out more at www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.