OXFORD - The homes of the Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, known as the Father of American Beekeeping, and the pioneer Zachariah DeWitt will be remembered May 10 with Ohio historical markers.

They will be unveiled in front of the brick Langstroth Cottage, 303 Patterson Ave. on the campus of Miami University, and the DeWitt Log Homestead, at the homestead site on Ohio 73, east of Oxford.

The Langstroth marker will be dedicated at 2 p.m. May 10; DeWitt's at 4 p.m.

"Langstroth Cottage is unchanged externally from the days when the family lived there," said Marna Evans, a spokeswoman. "It's a real treasure."

From 1858 to 1887, Langstroth lived in the simple two-story Greek Revival cottage with his wife, Anne, and their three children. In his garden he experimented with hives and established an apiary on 10 surrounding acres. He shipped Italian queen bees across the United States and the world.

The cottage was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1982.

The log house of DeWitt and his wife, Elizabeth, is the oldest remaining building in Oxford Township. It was built in 1805. A $120,000 restoration project is nearing completion.

DeWitt built a sawmill and became an important citizen of the village of Oxford in its early days. His home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is leased and maintained by the Oxford Museum Association.

After the marker is dedicated, the association will conduct tours of the house. Dr. Phillip Shriver, a historian and Miami's president emeritus, will recount the life of the DeWitts.

BATAVIA - Clermont County's judges, lawyers and students participated in a legal bicentennial event this week.

While the Supreme Court convened in special session in Chillicothe, the state's first capital, Judge Thomas Herman of Clermont Muncipal Court hosted an event in his courtroom at 270 Main St. He was joined by a representative of the county bar association and students from Batavia High School.

The purpose of the meeting was to celebrate Ohio's 200th birthday and the law that has ruled us.

Herman addressed Ohio's heritage based on an early landmark case, discussed the role of lawyers and judges in Ohio history, and allowed the students to recap county history and explain how that history will shape the county's future.

SPRINGBORO - Springboro's Freedom Festival on May 17-18 will feature re-enactors portraying runaway slaves, bounty hunters, Underground Railroad conductors, Union soldiers and townspeople.

It will be the first event to host Warren County's newly cast bicentennial bell. Vistors can ring the bell in Springboro's historic district from noon to 4 p.m. May 17. They can also sign the Warren County Bicentennial Scroll, which will travel with the bell. The scroll will be buried in the county time capsule, to be opened in 2053.

The Freedom Festival will celebrate the community's Underground Railroad past with horse-drawn carriages, music on the sidewalks, a street dance of squares and reels, and guided tours in the historic district.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 17; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18. The street dance is from 7-9 p.m. May 17.

Information: 937-748-0074.

More than 500 volunteers are expected to help clean up Cincinnati's parks from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today - the 19th annual Green Up Day.

They will spread mulch, pick up litter, paint, trim and plant. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and refreshments.

Today's work will be in Burnet Woods, Eden Park, Glenway Park, Inwood Park, Kennedy Heights Park, Magrish Riverlands Preserve, Martin Luther King Park and Washington Park.

If you're busy today, you may participate in the May 10 clean-up at Mount Echo, Martin Luther King and Seasongood Square parks, or on May 17 at Drake Park, Mount Airy Forest and Rapid Run Park.

To volunteer, call Cindi at 861-8970, ext. 26.

ST. CLAIR TWP. - Jim Borgman, editorial cartoonist for The Enquirer, will create a promotional poster for Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum's first art fair.

It will be held Oct. 10-12 at the park, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, near Hamilton.

Borgman, a winner of the Pulitizer Prize, toured the 265-acre Butler County park in March and said it was a magical place, "a gift to our part of the world."

The art fair will bring together artists, collectors and art lovers.

Information: 868-8336. Or: www.pyramidhill.org.

Randy McNutt's community column appears on Saturday. Contact him at the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: Rmcnutt@enquirer.com.