Lessons in LARP
Hagerstown’s live-action Medieval role-playing game is growing in popularity
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BUSINESS & CIRCULATION
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
April Bartel
Laura Forrest-Hopfauf
Kenneth Buckler Charles Jeffries
Deborah Smith-Fiola Mike Marotte III
Lisa Gregory Crystal Schelle
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Rick Gregory
BUSINESS OFFICE
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THE BEST OF LIFE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
28 Plant Possibilities
Ilze Hays of Hagerstown sees possibilities in plants. From dandelion tea to elderberry syrup, her recipes are everything from delicious to medicinal. And you, too, can learn her ways.
36 Another Era
On Sundays Doub’s Park in Hagerstown is overrun with Medieval warriors, meek elves, and a variety of fantasy characters. It’s neither a battle nor a movie set, but a live-action role-playing group that has formed in Hagerstown and is growing in popularity with individuals and families.
Collin Alexander practices archery as part of a growing group of Hagerstown residents who have joined the live-action role-playing group called Freehold of Phoenix Hollow.
Short
Laura Forrest-Hopfauf left rural Washington County for college and exploring the world. She didn’t think she’d return, until she realized this is a great place to raise children.
Chambersburg’s Civil War history revolves around a single night in July, 1864, and this month residents will have a chance to relive it.
In a little white building on Frederick Street, Juliana Manea serves up Italian cuisine along with huge-flavor dishes from her native Romania.
Burkholder’s Bakery in Sharpsburg attracts donut and pastry lovers from all over the Hagerstown area and beyond.
Caring for lawns and gardens during the dog days of summer isn’t the easiest thing to do. But Deborah Smith-Fiola offers advice.
Yes, it’s construction season again. Here’s a satirical look at this troubling time.
HAGERSTOWN’S MOMENT IN THE SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
WHEN YOU SPEND THE MONEY, EFFORT, AND THE LIVES OF A FEW TREES TO PUBLISH A MAGAZINE, IT’S ALWAYS GRATIFYING TO KNOW PEOPLE ARE reading—not just skimming but carefully reading the articles that require so much effort to create. I know this thanks to a letter from reader Bob McKee, who pointed out my own error deep in a story in the May issue about the return of professional baseball to Hagerstown.
The article discussed the importance of pro ball to Hagerstown and how the relationship between the city and baseball has a lengthy and robust history and a social and economic impact that is undeniable. Well into the story I mentioned that Hall of Fame Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer once made a start in Hagerstown on a rehab assignment and “remains the only Hall of Famer to play in Hagerstown.”
Reading with an editor’s eye and a baseball historian’s knowledge, McKee points out that earlier in the story I had mentioned that a young Willie Mays made his professional debut in Hagerstown in 1950. Of course, Palmer was much more on his way to his Hall of Fame career than Mays as a young player fresh out of high school. Nevertheless, Mays is in the Hall of Fame, and that’s an embarrassing mistake for a guy who still has the Willie Mays baseball cards among his collection from the late 1960s.
Whether the Flying Boxcars, who began the next chapter of baseball history in Hagerstown on a rainy opening night in early May, will provide another hall of famer is yet to be seen. But hopefully the Boxcars will have many seasons for their players to chase that goal.
We will continue to bring you occasional stories about the Boxcars as they continue their journey, mixed in with all the other great content that reflects life in Washington County and beyond.
–JeffThoreson
WINNER, WINNER, SPA DAY, AND DINNER
Tracy Grenier of Hagerstown is this year’s recipient of Hagerstown Magazine’s Mom’s Day Out package. Her entry was chosen in a random drawing of all entries submitted from the publication’s May contest and will be treated to dinner at Schula’s Grill and Crabhouse as well as a day of pampering at Bella Salon and Spa. Congratulations, Tracy.
On the night professional baseball returned to the Hub City it was less-than-perfect for playing—or spectating.
Alight with History
THE 300-FOOT CLIFF OF MARYLAND HEIGHTS THAT OVERLOOKS THE POTOMAC RIVER AND HARPERS FERRY IS THICK WITH Civil War history, having been the site of the first battle between Union and Confederate troops in Maryland and the first combat between the armies on Northern soil. These days the Maryland Heights Trail is thick with hikers thanks to the spectacular scenery and historic landmarks. At dusk on a summer day Harpers Ferry, which has a history all its own, lights up like a battle scene between the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.
Photo Credit: John Bilous
This is Washington County
Strumming Away | PEOPLE
Local guitar legend Lew Palladino isn’t slowing down
IT WAS MORE THAN FIVE DECADES AGO WHEN A YOUNG guitar player named Lew Palladino was asked to sit in for a night with a band whose regular guitar player couldn’t make it. Then 14, Palladino ended up playing the entire week with that band in The Vogue Room in the Colonial Hotel in Hagerstown. The band, the Vogue Room, and the Colonial are long gone, but you’ll still find Lew Palladino out there playing today’s popular venues like Prohibition Hub, Antietam Brewery, Blue Mountain Winery, and Mountaineer Meat Smokers.
His career has now spanned 55 years and included bands like his high school group called the Fantastic Flames and then the power trio of the Rhythm Kings, whose funk, blues, and rock sound could be heard around the area from 1992 to 2022. These days he plays with Todd Haines in a duo they call The Howlers.
Anyone who has hung around the local music scene for any length of time knows Palladino, either as a performer or a guitar instructor. Others who play music on the local level do it as a side gig to their full-time job. Palladino has always made his living in music.
“Once I had a part-time job for three of four months,” he says. “I don’t even remember the name of the place. My guitar has always been my living.”
He started taking lessons when he was 8 with Odie Palmer, a local guitar legend who once played in Patsy Kline’s band.
“I loved it and started working hard at it. I still practice daily,” Palladino says. “Odie was going back on the road with another country singer, and I wound up taking all his students for him. That’s how I got into teaching. I was 18; started teaching right out of high school.”
He spent time studying accounting at Hagerstown Community College but, “I knew after two years that wasn’t what I wanted to do.”
As his career progressed, Palladino was fortunate to take a few lessons from Danny Gatton, who guitar manufacturer Gibson ranks as the 27th greatest guitar player of all time.
As a teacher, Palladino has touched hundreds of guitar players, including Grammy-nominated Billy Alexander. But his first love is playing and over the years Palladino has shared the stage with blues greats like Joe Bonnamassa, Walter Trout, and Deb Callahan and played in Hagerstown with The Coasters, The Platters, and Sammy Kershaw. With the Rhythm Kings Palladino made a number of appearances at the popular Western Maryland Blues Festival.
This month Palladino turns 70 and shows no signs of slowing down. “As long as I can get people to come see me and the clubs keep booking me, I’ll keep playing,” he says. “At this point in my life, I’m just going to teach and play until I can’t do it anymore.”
— By Charles Jeffries
“My husband was recently laid off from his company due to cutbacks. Do you have any financial suggestions or recommendations?” F.S. Middletown, MD
Expect the unexpected” sounds like a good mantra, but life can still surprise you and knock you off balance. Undoubtedly, being laid off from your job is one of those shocking surprises. Regardless of whether you’ve been contributing to an emergency fund, experiencing a sudden loss of income puts you in a difficult financial—and emotional—situation.
FIGURE OUT YOUR FINANCES
• Unemployment benefits. Applying for these benefits can take time, so that process should be at the top of your to-do list. You should be able to file online, but you can contact your state’s unemployment office if you’re having trouble.
• If your company offered you a severance package, be sure to review the terms with a human resources representative. How much will you receive, and are there any conditions attached to the payout?
• Health insurance options. Many Americans get insurance through their jobs. Your employer’s coverage will often continue through the end of the month. COBRA will allow you to continue your company’s coverage for a limited time, but it can be pricey.
Explore all your options, including coverage through your spouse’s plan, your parent’s plan (if you’re under age 26), or marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• Savings and emergency fund. Figure out how long your savings and emergency fund can sustain your current lifestyle. (If you don’t have an emergency fund, this should be a wake-up call to start building one once you can afford it). Create a realistic budget and identify non-essential expenses you can cut back on to stretch your savings.
MANAGE DEBT AND CREDIT
• Prioritize payments. Pay essential expenses first, like rent or mortgage, utilities, and groceries. Of course, it’s not ideal to leave any charges unpaid, but you may have to decide which are the most necessary.
• Negotiate bills. Call your service providers (phone, cable, internet) and explain your situation. Many companies have programs to help customers facing tough times. Don’t wait until you miss a payment to reach out; it’s best to be proactive and could save you from late fees and damage to your credit score.
• Contact your lenders. Depending on your loan type (federal student loans, etc.), you may be eligible for deferment or forbearance, which can temporarily pause your payments or decrease the amount you owe.
EXPLORE INCOME OPTIONS
Tap into your network. Don’t be shy about broadcasting the fact that you’re looking for work. Use your social media channels and reach out to former colleagues, mentors, industry contacts, friends, and family for leads.
Explore temporary work. Depending on your expertise and skill set, you can offer services like tutoring, consulting, or freelance writing, or reach out to a staffing agency for connections to open positions.
Update your job search tools. Add any new positions, skills, or certifications to your resume and LinkedIn profile since your last refresh. Practice interview skills by researching common questions and planning your answers.
Consider a pivot. Being laid off rarely feels positive in the moment, but this could be an unexpected opportunity to shift your focus, pursue a dream, or even relocate.
A Job Long Done
Brook Lane’s Gladfelter receives lifetime achievement award
NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE WORKED AT THE SAME place for 60 years. Meet Sharon Gladfelter, director of health information services at Brook Lane, where she began her career as a secretary to the medical director in 1964.
She has been promoted many times over the past six decades, taking on more responsibilities and influential roles within the organization. It is impossible to estimate how many lives she has positively impacted through her compassionate work in mental healthcare over these years.
For that dedication and hard work, Gladfelter has earned the The Maryland Daily Record’s 2024 Health Care Hero Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award honors individuals and organizations who have made an impact on the quality of health care in Maryland. The winners are selected by the publisher and editors. Gladfelter and other honorees will be recognized June 21 through an online video celebration at TheDailyRecord.com, on The Daily Record’s social media channels, and its daily email alert on that day.
Gladfelter was also presented an award at the Bridge to Hope Affair on April 27 for her 60 consecutive years at Brook Lane. The 175 attendees, donors, and supporters of Brook Lane, were celebrating Brook Lane’s 75th Anniversary at the organization’s annual fundraising event.
“Over the course of her tenure with Brook Lane, Sharon has worked collaboratively with seven CEOs, seven CFOs, five CNOs, and six CMOs in the successful expansion of services and programs. Her engagement and focus on safety, accountability, and compliance has directly influenced and supported patient safety, patient rights, and the health and well-being of the organization overall,” says Jeffery D. O’Neal, Brook Lane CEO. “Sharon’s relentless pursuit of excellence in the delivery of behavioral health services, and her ability to hold others accountable to the same standards, has systematically served to create a legacy at Brook Lane,” says O’Neal.
Brook Lane is western Maryland’s largest, non-profit mental health system. Its main campus in Hagerstown is home to the second largest freestanding psychiatric hospital in Maryland, serving children, adolescents, and adults.
Chamber Revamps and Expands Annual Business Awards
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS REWORKED its annual Business Awards event celebrating the businesses and nonprofits throughout Washington County. The community can expect to see the changes reflected at the next Business Awards event, taking place at The Maryland Theatre on February 26, 2025.
“Having been involved in this event for 23 years, it’s exciting to see the changes we’ve made in the past and present,” said Donna Mitchell, director of operations at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve added new categories, revamped the judging process, and improved how the community can nominate a business or person.”
Several categories have been added to provide greater inclusivity of the variety of businesses and nonprofits in Washington County. The community has grown and evolved over the years, and the new award categories aim to reflect that.
There will now be two nonprofit awards, a Small Nonprofit of the Year and a Large Nonprofit of the Year award. Additionally, there will be three different categories for businesses: Small Business of the Year, Medium Business of the Year, and Large Business of the Year.
The At Your Service Award, Young Professional of the Year, and Business Person of the Year award categories will remain as well, for a total of eight awards to be presented.
Sharon Gladfelter receives the lifetime achievement for 60 years at Brook Lane.
Historic Chambersburg: Businesses of the Past
THIS MONTH “TIME TRAVELER” MIKE MAROTTE III TAKES US TO Chambersburg to view some of the memorable businesses of the past. Many individuals from the tri-state area shopped in these stores for years. I refer to them as “Chambersburg Snapshots.” Small-town shops don’t last forever, and, unfortunately, these businesses were once cornerstones of downtown. Maybe you or someone you know remembers the past in Chambersburg.
P. Nicklas Sons sold furniture, carpet, and home furnishings and was an anchor in Chambersburg’s business district for more than a century. Peter Nicklas bought the carpet weaving shop of his uncle, George, in 1860. This photograph shows the company’s delivery wagon circa 1900. The store at 37-39 South Main Street was bought and renamed in 1984.
This wonderful view of Chambersburg’s Memorial Square was taken circa 1970 looking north toward the businesses including One Hour Cleaners, Culp’s Stationary, Palmer’s Drug Store, Uptown Sales, and the Chambersburg Trust Company. These businesses have all gone away, the buildings in the foreground to the right from Memorial Square to East King Street have all been torn down.
Travelers were always looking for a worthy place to stop overnight and enjoy a fine meal or perhaps a stay of a few days for business or vacation. The Washington House was ideal. It was built circa 1870 and was a famous landmark for many years until a fire destroyed a major section of the structure in October 1998. Today, only the empty lot remains at the corner of Lincoln Way East and South Second Street.
Gale Diehl Sporting Goods business that was located at 54 Lincoln Way West and was operated for more than 40 years by Tom and Don Diehl. It was announced in September 1987 that the store would remain open until their inventory was sold.
A Tiny Little Fat Cat for the Aviation Museum
By Crystal Schelle
GIUSEPPE BELLANCA IS A DEMANDING COWORKER. HE ALWAYS wants to be fed, likes to nap at the desk, tends to play more than get his work done, and expects someone else to clean up his messes. But this funny cat will more than make up for his antics by bribing people with his purrs and snuggles.
Giuseppe is the Hagerstown Aviation Museum’s on-campus mascot and has been capturing hearts since he was discovered last year. Karen Hemenway, the donor engagement and event coordinator for the museum, is Giuseppe’s handler.
Last October, four kittens were discovered in a drainage pipe in a museum storage unit by executive director John Seburn and curator Kurtis Meyers. They took them to the Humane Society of Washington County and named them all with reference to people of flight: Sherman for Sherman Fairchild who started Fairchild Aircraft; PT after the PT-19 aircraft; Bickle for Helen Bickle who is referred to as “the flying schoolmarm,” and Giuseppe for Giuseppe Bellanca, an Italian engineer who designed two planes for the Maryland Pressed Steel Company of Hagerstown.
Unfortunately, two of the kittens passed away soon after. The other two needed more care. Hemenway took them home but kept them apart from the
family’s older cats. Although the third kitten put up a valiant fight, that one, too, passed away.
But the fourth one, Giuseppe, thrived. As he grew, he began to socialize with humans. When he got big enough, she says, they started putting him in a vest so he could be in a harness. But with her older cats already at home, Hemenway decided that the best place for Giuseppe was at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum as a mascot. And the staff were more than willing to accept him.
“You know how there’s always this trope that men don’t like cats? That doesn’t exist over here (at the museum),” she says.
Hemenway says the mostly male staff and board have cats at home and love to stop in and say hi to Guiseppe.
Volunteer Jack Seburn, the father of the executive director, helps Hemenway tend to Guiseppe.
“The fact that he’s so well-loved by all of the staff and volunteers, it just made it seem like the perfect home for him,” she says.
The cat’s schedule begins when Hemenway arrives at work at 8 a.m. She usually has to wake him.
“And he’ll yell at me and say hi and give me approximately two minutes of purring, and that’s it. That’s all I get for the day,” she says laughingly.
Then he likes to roughhouse for about 15 minutes with either herself or Jack Seburn, and then he gets to work wandering around the museum. He loves to hang out at the boardroom table to show he is the Head Kitty-in-Charge. He’ll continue to play and act like, well, a kitten before he has to nap to get recharged.
Hemenway has a special camera set up so she can check in and see how he’s doing every night. She makes sure the automatic feeder is working, his water is filled, and the litter box is cleaned.
She says Giuseppe has a hilarious personality and makes days at the museum brighter. When the museum is closed, Guiseppe goes home with Hemenway.
“There are a lot of people who come specifically just to see him,” she says. Recently, a couple visited the museum specifically to see Guiseppe. He’s become a local celebrity and even has his own Facebook page.
Jack Seburn says he was delighted when Giuseppe became the museum’s mascot. He enjoys playing and roughhousing with the cat who he says is “still is a little kitteny.”
Giuseppe in the cockpit of an airplane on display at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum.
“He’s a great purrer,” Seburn says. “You can hear him from some distance.” And, he says, you can always tell where Giuseppe has been because “there’s always at least 10 cat toys laying around. He just moves toys from one place to the next.”
After Giuseppe wears himself out, Jack says the cat climbs up on his workspace to stretch out and purrs. “I’ve just learned to work around him,” he says with a laugh.
Hemenway says Giuseppe will continue to help market the museum and, hopefully, attract visitors who love cats.
“I really am just surprised about how well received he’s been here at the museum,” she says. “Overall, he’s just a lot of fun to have.”
History Keeps Rolling
The Washington County Free Library introduces sleek new bookmobile
WHEN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY DECIDED IT needed a way to get books to residents throughout the county and not just in Hagerstown, it was ahead of its time, and in 1905 it established the first bookmobile in the United States.
A horse-drawn cart to deliver books to rural areas was the idea of Mary Titcomb, the first WCFL’s first librarian. She had established a successful program of sending boxes of books to general stores and post offices in rural towns. But she wanted to make it easier for rural residents to get books. She sketched out a “library wagon,” got the idea approved by the board of directors and began interviewing wagon makers who could build her concept of shelves for books on the outside of the wagon.
The finished wagon took to the streets in April 1905, driven by Joshua Thomas, who covered many miles of county roads to get books directly to remote houses. It was a rousing success.
Titcomb wrote: “Any account of this first book wagon work, the first in the United States, would be incomplete without the statement that
this method of rural library extension has been adopted in many states in the Union, and that new book wagons are being put in operation each year.”
In August 1910 the book wagon was ripped to shreds when it was hit by a freight train while crossing the Norfolk and Western Railroad tracks near St. James. In 1912 WCFL introduced the first motorized book wagon, beginning a long history of bookmobiles in Washington County. In May, WCFL dedicated its newest bookmobile.
The new bookmobile allows for carts of books to be taken off the vehicle so books can be taken into community centers, schools, daycares, senior care facilities, and homes for patrons to access even more easily.
“Our library holds the unique distinction of having introduced the very first bookmobile in the country,” WCFL executive director Jenny Bakos said at the dedication ceremony. “Today, we reignite that pioneering spirit, reaffirming our commitment to innovation and accessibility. This new bookmobile symbolizes more than just a vehicle. It represents our dedication to ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live in our county, has access to the wealth of knowledge and resources our library offers.”
Serving the Cumberland Valley and surrounding areas since 1898, WCFL is building on that legacy of innovation with the new, sleek, smaller bookmobile that can access stops the bus-size bookmobile can’t. This version of the bookmobile— the WCFL’s first new one in 20 years, adorned in a wrap created by the library’s in-house graphic designer Laura Tietz, showcasing one of the county’s iconic stone bridges and its southern border.
“Here’s too many more miles of knowledge, discovery, and connection,” Bakos said.
| OF NOTE
Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition and Awards
ARTIST RHONDA SMITH OF KEEDYSVILLE CREDITS HER WINNING the Cumberland Valley Artists exhibition to the beauty and history of the national park near her home. Smith’s linocut “Roulette Farm” depicts the historic farm and landscape at Antietam National Battlefield.
Her work is included among 65 pieces of art by 62 artists in this year’s juried exhibition, an annual tradition since the 1930s. The exhibition showcases local artists. The exhibition runs through Aug. 26 at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.
“The Cumberland Valley exhibitions are a terrific way to learn about and support the artists in our region,” said Sarah Hall, executive director of the WCMFA. “We are very proud of this 90-plus year tradition.”
Smith has been greatly impacted by her almost daily walks through the battlefield, so much so that “Roulette Farm” is part of a series “Antietam Encounter.”
“Over the years, I have found the natural beauty of the landscape, the memory of the battles fought, the lives lost, and the lives forever altered to be a recurring inspiration,” she said. “I always look for the textures, the surprises that the familiar affords. The play of light and the contrast of surfaces are the subjects of my work. Walking a place, returning over and over, gazing upon the same landscape year after year, I notice the changes that occur throughout the year, the month, the day.”
Smith, a retired professor of printmaking at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is a veteran of Cumberland Valley Artists. Her work has appeared in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2022, her work was awarded second place, and in 2018, she received the Washington County Arts Council Award.
For the relief process of “Roulette Farm,” she cut into a piece of linoleum to create the landscape images. The remaining raised areas of the linoleum are covered with water-based ink and transferred to a sheet of paper. The process is a one-to-one transfer. The final print is the same size as the linoleum from which the image was cut.
“I am not the first to document this historic place, nor the first to feel the pull of history and timeless quality that persists among these rolling hills,” Smith said. “I celebrate this place and strive to contribute to the immortal story the landscape reveals. My art is a kind of homage to the land and its stories, as a way of preserving memories.”
The exhibition is supported by Hugh and Marty Talton, Conservit Inc., Delaplaine Foundation, and Washington County Arts Council.
2024 Winners
First Place Juror’s Award, $1,000: Rhonda Smith, Keedysville for “Roulette Farm” linocut
Second Place Juror’s Award, $500: Jayne Gaskins, Reston, Virginia, for “The Commuter” fiber art
Third place Juror’s Award, $250: Sage Chandler of Lovettsville, Virginia, for “Feather Earrings” oil on canvas
Washington County Arts Council Inc. Award, $250: Jamie Hardges of Hagerstown for “By Another Name” clay sculpture.
The Valley Art Association Award, $250: Virginia Hair and Carol B. Lovell – Susan Shalowitz of Rockville, Maryland, for “Sonata” oil on canvas. This award honors present and previous members whose love of art and whose contributions to the association have enriched the organization and the community. Clyde H. Roberts Memorial Award for Best Watercolor, $250: Patricia Boyst of Hagerstown for “Time to Circle Around” watercolor. Sponsored by the children of Clyde H. Roberts.
The “Roulette Farm” by Rhonda Smith of Keedysville won first place in the Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition.
d’Vinci Interactive Celebrates 30 Years: RIVER
D’VINCI INTERACTIVE, THE AWARD-WINNING custom eLearning and training solutions company based in Hagerstown is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since 1994, the team has partnered with clients to develop educational websites, resource libraries, games, and animations to engage public audiences, improve access to information, and positively influence behavior.
The company started on the Hagerstown Community College Campus at the Technical Innovation Center, and returned to HCC’s campus in 2022, occupying a suite at the David W. Fletcher Incubator + Labs in the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Studies. The company is able to better meet its business needs and focus on mentorship for businesses in the Washington County community with their suite at the campus.
Washington County Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Frey presented a citation at an anniversary celebration event hosted by d’Vinci Interactive at the CBES building in May. Linda Spence, business specialist of the Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development also recognized the company for its success and contributions to Washington County.
‘The House on Jonathan Street’ Wins Telly Award: 3 ROADS COMMUNICATIONS, INC., WON four prestigious Telly Awards for documentaries, TV series, and nonprofit videos they produced last year, including one for its Hagerstown documentary “The House on Jonathan Street.”
“The diversity of the projects that we won the awards for are a testament to the range and skill of our staff,” said Russ Hodge, president of 3 Roads, which is based in Frederick. “Our winning projects ranged from a PBS Pledge program filmed at Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) in England with The Sicilian Tenors to a one-hour documentary about African-American history in Hagerstown, MD; to a video advocating for a limb loss registry.”
Brook Lane Adopts a New Electronic Health Records System: BROOK LANE, WESTERN Maryland’s largest non-profit mental health system, has converted its electronic health records software to Epic. A strategic technology partnership with Meritus Health, through their Epic Community Connect program, this will enable Brook Lane to leverage the number one EHR system in the country and its many benefits.
Epic has a comprehensive suite of patient-friendly tools, such as MyChart, the patient portal available on any internet web browser and Android/Apple mobile devices. Using MyChart, patients can communicate directly with providers and their staff, request medication refills, schedule appointments, pay bills, view lab and test results as soon as they are available, join telehealth visits, and much more.
CALENDAR
july to august
JULY
13-20
WASHINGTON COUNTY AG EXPO AND FAIR
Washington County Agricultural Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro
The Washington County Ag Expo and Fair offers a variety of events and activities for the whole family. Gate admission passes provide access to exhibits, shows, live bands, machinery displays, and more. Carnival rides not included. Noon to 9 p.m www.agexpoandfair.org.
10th
AUGUST
10
QUAD STATE FLAVOR FEST
Washington County Agricultural Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro
Immerse yourself in the offerings of over 75 regional flavor fanatical vendors, from seafood, to BBQ, to desserts, to an impressive array of regional beer, wine and spirits. Enjoy outstanding live music from Brickyard Road (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute), Leggz - A Tribute to ZZ Top, and another band TBA. Contests and games. This is an all-weather event. Kids 12 and under get in free. Noon-8 p.m. www.ifg-events.com.
AUGUST 18
AUGUSTOBERFEST
Washingon County Agricultural Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro
The festival pays tribute to the area’s rich German heritage while raising scholarship money for students in the Hagerstown Wesel Sister City foreign exchange program. It also raises money for foundational endowments for additional non-profits within Washington County. The foundation’s board is comprised of local business leaders who volunteer their time. The most authentic German festival in the area caters to all ages, including an all-free kids’ area for tons of fun. 11 a.m. Email augustoberfest@gmail.com.
JULY 4
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
Fairgrounds Park, 351 N Cleveland Ave., Hagerstown
The City of Hagerstown’s Parks & Recreation Division will set the stage for yet another dazzling pyrotechnic spectacle, as the annual fireworks display celebrates Independence Day with a barrage of brilliant colors bursting above the city. The 2024 Fireworks at Fairgrounds Park event is produced by Starfire Corporation. 9:30 p.m. www.hagerstownmd.org.
JULY 13
BACKLOT BLAST
Capitol Theatre, 159 S Main St., Chambersburg, Pa.
Live music, food trucks, concessions as well as craft, specialty, and domestic beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks make for an unforgettable evening. Draft brews will be provided by some familiar local brewers: GearHouse Brewing Co., Liquid Art Brewing Co., and Michaux Brew Co. Music by The Reagan Years. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 717-263-0202 or www. thecapitoltheatre.org.
JULY 16
HAGERSTOWN SPRINT TRIATHLON
Halfway Park, 17901 Halfway Blvd., Hagerstown
Designed for all levels, the Hagerstown Sprint and Youth Triathlon is staged at Halfway Park in Hagerstown. Just 25 minutes from Frederick and 90 minutes from Baltimore and Washington. D.C., this is a great course for the beginner or the experienced triathlete. 12 p.m. www.ripitevents.com/hag erstowntriathlon.
4th 16th
JULY 20
OPEN AIRPLANE DAY
Hagerstown Aviation Museum, 18450 Showalter Road, Bldg. 8, Hagerstown
Bring the family to the historical Fairchild Dome Hangar and climb aboard museum aircraft and exhibits. Follow event signage. See exhibits detailing artifacts and stories of local men and women who made the Hagerstown aviation industry boom. Experience the thrill of open cockpit flying in a 1943 Fairchild PT-19 Primary Trainer by making a $200 donation. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.hagerstownaviationmuseum.org.
JULY 21
VHS EXPO: VHS & VINYL CONVENTION
Wacohu Grange #415, 16412 National Pike, Hagerstown
A physical media paradise and the vintage market you’ve been waiting for—your one-stop shop for horror, wrestling, and just plain weird VHS. Plus, all of the hard-tofind laserdiscs, books, and vinyl records you can handle, not to mention copious amounts of heavy metal and rock ‘n roll memorabilia, horror movie inspired artwork and pins, nostalgic apparel, and vintage goods. There will even be audio cassettes, CDs, DVDs, 8-tracks, CEDs, and movie theater snacks…but NOT at movie theater prices. Come and experience the one and only VHS EXPO. Free admission for all ages. Noon to 4 p.m. www.facebook.com/ captainadamsvhspirateship.
AUGUST 2-18
JERSEY BOYS
Totem Pole Playhouse, 9555 Golf Course Road, Fayetteville, Pa. The international phenomenon that takes you behind the scenes—and behind the music—of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They had a look, an attitude, and a sound like no other. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 717-352-2164. www. totempoleplayhouse.org.
AUGUST 10-11
LEITERSBURG RURITAN PEACH FESTIVAL
Leitersburg Ruritan Park, 21427 Leiter St., Hagerstown
Celebrate the Peach Agricultural Heritage of Washington County’s orchards at the festival that includes 110 local craft vendors selling arts and crafts, jewelry, baskets, metal work, woodwork, pottery, spices, honey, peanuts, candles, knives, lotions, and much more. There will be live music, peach pies, peach ice cream, peach cobbler, and more. Free parking and admission. Fun activities for the family. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 240-628-5920 or www.leitersburgruritan.org.
10th
AUGUST 11
KRUMPE’S DONUT ALLEY RALLY 5K
Krumpe’s Do-Nut Shop, 912 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown
This is a 5K run/walk in Hagerstown sponsored by Krumpe’s Donuts Shop. The event is held on the second Friday night of August at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit The Wounded Warrior Project. Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. 7 p.m. www.krumpesdonuts.com.
AUGUST 17
END OF SUMMER BASH
Big Cork Vineyards, 4236 Main St, Rohrersville
There will be live music by The Reagan Years, Starlight Anthem, and Groovalicious. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 301-302-8032 or www.bigcorkvineyards.com.
AUGUST 24
TIKI TROT 5K & BEER MILE
Bowman Business Park, 10212 Governor Lane Blvd., Williamsport
The races will start and finish in the parking lot area between the two breweries, Cushwa Brewing Co. and Interchange Tiki Bar Brewing. The event will include a kids’ .75-mile fun run, a 5K road race (runners, walkers, families invited), and a 21-and-older Beer Mile. At the conclusion there will be an after-party that will start at 12:00 p.m. and end around 3 p.m. Participants have the option to sign up for both the 5K and Beer Mile races as the events do not overlap. www.findarace.com.
WEDNESDAYS
IN
JULY & AUGUST MDWK MUSIC & MARKET
University Plaza 50 West Washington Street, Hagerstown MDWK (short for midweek) Music and Market is the newest addition to Downtown Hagerstown’s music and arts programming. The summer 2024 series will be held Wednesdays from July until late August, and will feature live music, artisan vendors, food vendors, and a beer garden. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
24th
national parks in Utah.
Home, Like Me
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
A writer, traveler, explorer comes home to raise her family in the area where she grew up
Igrew up in Washington County. More specifically I graduated from Boonsboro High School. More specifically than that, I was raised in Sharpsburg. From there we can drill down to Dargan. And if you want to get to the real nitty gritty that even native Washington County residents might have never heard of, I’m from Frog Hollar—home of legendary moonshine.
When I was 18 and about to leave for college halfway across the country if you would have told me that I would end up coming back to raise my family in the same area where I was born, I would have told you that you were crazy, and that there was a great big wide world and I needed to see it all. I couldn’t just stay here.
But here I am, and I haven’t seen the whole world. Though truth be told, I made a valiant effort.
The author in Arches National Park and in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, both
In my life I’ve managed to get to 30 countries and all but one state. I’ve snorkeled above octopus, backpacked across a Caribbean Island, canoed through the Everglades, hiked alongside Grizzlies, and done a bunch of other things that stressed out my mother.
When I travel, I really like to feel that I’ve come to know a place. Just seeing it has never been enough for me. I’m somebody who has to turn things over, hold them in my hands, and break them open. I have to understand things to a point that feels uncomfortable for them, and maybe even for me.
I can’t just see the Grand Canyon. I’ve got to go inside. I’ve got to sweat while the sun beats down like it’s somehow come closer. I’ve got to dip water out of little crevices a park ranger told me about before I left for my hike and drink it. I have to leave my tent behind and sleep wide open on red dirt under the stars because to do anything less makes me feel like I missed it. Like I was there, but I wasn’t.
Even as child, I was like this. My parents could not keep me in their yard, try as they might. I grew up in the countryside along the C&O
Canal, and I was constantly traipsing through the woods that surrounded our house, through my neighbor’s woods, and their neighbor’s woods, looking for God only knows what, but for something. I found long forgotten Plymouths wedged between trees on an angle that made me stumble, forts with holes I could stick my whole arm through that I assume were pockets for rifles from the Civil War, and so many old glass bottles in a full rainbow of colors that they stopped being exciting. But I came to feel like I understood those woods, that I knew them.
And once I knew them, I felt like I should move on. That there was someplace else I needed to know. Somewhere else I had to understand.
But as I traveled and as I grew, I realized that I can’t come to know a place without time. In the time I’ve been away from the Grand Canyon, it has dug itself deeper. Since I canoed the Everglades, the mangroves have grown and changed the channels I passed through. The island I hiked in the Caribbean suffered through a hurricane that erased paths I climbed. Nothing stays put. Everything is always changing.
Knowing a place, knowing anything, requires building a relationship. And relationships require time. Once I stop spending time in a place, our relationship is paused at that moment, and pretty soon I start to wonder if I still understand it, if I still know that place. Or if it’s changed so much in my absence that we’ve become strangers yet again.
In some ways, I think that’s why I came back to Washington County, why I’m raising my family here. Because it’s a place that’s changing more than we realize. Because it’s a place that isn’t as easy to know as it may seem. But it’s worth knowing. It’s worth taking the time to build our relationship into the next generation. Because I may know Washington County like the back of my hand, but there is still so much that I don’t know.
Frog Hollar isn’t like Sharpsburg, isn’t like Boonsboro, isn’t like Smithsburg, isn’t like Hagerstown, isn’t like Clear Spring. There are treasures and gems and heroes and wild spaces hidden in each one. Sometimes, it can take a lifetime to find those, to know them, and in that lifetime, you’re no longer a traveler. You’re home, like me.
The author hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas.
Plants Possibilities in
Drawing from nature, a ‘plant nerd’ helps others discover the wonders of natural living
By Lisa Gregory
Photography by Turner Photography Studio
Ilze Hays of Hagerstown doesn’t just see a plant but all the possibilities that plant may hold.
Like dandelions. “The dandelion is one of my favorites,” says Hays, who shares her knowledge of plants on her Facebook page Herbtastic. “You can make syrup with dandelion flowers and put that on pancakes. You also can make pancakes with dandelion flowers. And dandelions are full of nutrients.”
Hays developed an appreciation of the natural world around her and what it could provide early on. “I was born in Latvia, which is a country that loves nature,” she says.
Growing up during the Soviet Union era, “meant there was nothing in the stores. So, we needed to figure out how we could do for ourselves,” she says.
Hays learned much from her mother and grandmother. “We would go in the woods and pick berries,” says Hays, who moved to Hagerstown 15 years ago when she married her husband. “We would pick mushrooms. People would bring out baskets and baskets of mushrooms. It was a tradition and our culture.”
Her Herbtastic Facebook page, which she began a year ago, is a wealth of information with instructions on how to create one’s own body butter, cleaning solution, infused teas, dandelion soda, and even a natural toothpaste, among many other items.
Hays, a self-described plant nerd, also offers activities such as Foraging for Kids for those 8 years and older, as well as edible plant walking tours and salve making and syrup making workshops, just to name a few. The activities, which charge a fee, often fill up quickly.
Not surprising. Those like Melissa Rodman of Frederick are eager to learn.
“I’ve always been interested in learning more about plants and learning more about how to use them,” says Rodman. “I know nothing. I’m actually from New York. I’m a city girl, and I live out here now.”
A favorite learning experience of Rodman’s was the class Hays offered on how to make elderberry syrup, which can be helpful for treating colds and the flu. “It can be very expensive to buy
sometimes,” says Rodman of the syrup. “But I found out how to make it. With all the colds and everything going around in the winter, I can make a big batch of it now.”
And Hays, the mother of two, is happy to start the learning process early. During Foraging with Kids, “we walk around, and I point out plants, and we talk about the plant,” she says. “I show them how to recognize it as well as what are the bad lookalikes–the ones we need to be careful around.”
Youngsters learn about plants like chickweed, hairy bittercress, garlic mustard, speedwell, and cattail. Hays explains how to harvest them and then how to use them. Chickweed, for example, is considered a wild spinach and “will make great greens for egg salad for your sandwich,” she says. “You can also make pesto to add in pasta or on pizza or try it in a salad.”
She says cattail pollen makes great muffins, breads, and other baked goods.
Hays, who often takes classes to improve her knowledge about plants and their uses, including studying clinical herbalism, looks forward to continuing to pass on her knowledge. In many ways, it is a labor of love for her.
“What I think is really nice about her is she’s not trying to overcharge you and make you keep coming back,” says Rodman. “She gives you the recipe. She charges a reasonable rate for the event. It feels like she really just wants to get her knowledge out there. That’s so nice to see.”
“It’s a wonderful skill set to have. So, why not share it?” says Hays.
Ilze Hays moved to Hagerstown from Latvia and started a small business to teach local residents about the wonders of wild plants.
day tr ipper
Franklin County, PA
Re-enactment: The Burning of Chambersburg
EXPERIENCE THE HISTORIC CIVIL WAR DESTRUCTION OF JULY 30, 1864
ON JULY 26, 1864, GEN. JUBAL EARLY ORDERED GEN. “TIGER” JOHN MCCAUSLAND TO PROCEED TO CHAMBERSBURG AND DELIVER A RANSOM DEMAND.
“At Chambersburg levy $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Northern Money to pay for the houses of Andrew Hunter, Alexander R. Boteler and Edmund I. Lee of Jefferson Co. Va., which were burned by order of the Federal military authorities and if the money is not paid, burn the entire town as a retaliation for the burning of these…”
McCausland used the same route as J.E.B. Stuart when he raided the southern border of Pennsylvania in 1862, crossing at McCoy’s Ferry Ford and moving northward into Mercersburg and then to Chambersburg. In all, the raiders totaled about 2,800 mounted calvary and four cannons.
The Confederates rang the courthouse bell to gather citizens and read the ransom demand.
Even if the citizens of Chambersburg wanted to meet the demand, they could not. With Stuart’s raid in 1862 and the invasion of Robert E. Lee and the Army of
Northern Virginia in 1863, residents shipped their valuables out of town. Banks also transported their money to safer places. As soon as McCausland realized the ransom demand would not be paid, he gave the order to burn the town.
Detachments were sent to different parts of the town. Firing the buildings on the square commenced. Houses were opened, furniture was broken, piled in heaps, and set on fire. Sometimes the fire was started in closets or bureaus with clothing. The Confederates moved quickly and fired building after building. It was a horrific and startling scene.
Jacob Hoke, a Chambersburg merchant, wrote an eyewitness account in The Great Invasion: “The conflagration at its height was a scene of surpassing grandeur and terror. As building after building was fired, or caught from others, column after column of smoke rose black, straight, and single; first one, then another, and another. Each of these then, like huge serpents, writhed and twisted into a thousand fantastic shapes, until all finally blended and commingled, and formed one vast and livid column of smoke and flame which rose perpendicularly to the sky, and then spread out into a huge crown of sackcloth. It was heaven’s shield mercifully drawn over the scene to shelter from the blazing sun the homeless and unsheltered ones that had fled to the fields and cemeteries
The smoke grows denser as more buildings are set a fire. The women gathered near the Courthouse watch in disbelief and anguish.
The 2nd United States Sharpshooters (USSS) helped to unveil the Civil War Trails sign on Furnace Road, added to the multi-state trail in mid-May 2024.
1863 RETREAT FROM GETTYSBURG: BATTLE OF MONTEREY PASS
The Confederacy evacuated Gettysburg in a 20-mile wagon train to make a treacherous retreat across South Mountain and cross the Potomac River as quickly as possible. It was hard journey.
During the late hours of July 4, Confederate and Union troops clashed at Monterey Pass. Chaotic fighting spilled over into the early hours of July 5 in total darkness and a raging thunderstorm. The weight of the wagons and the mud made conditions so bad that Confederate soldiers called the area Mount Misery. The retreat resulted in the second largest battle in Pennsylvania. All together more than 10,000 Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in Adams and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania and Washington and Frederick Counties, Maryland.
The Battle of Monterey Pass is part of the Civil War Trails. The story of the retreat and Franklin County Civil War history is the centerpiece of Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum and Park. The park contains more than 125-acres of trails with a breathtaking view from Monterey Pass Overlook.
around the town, where they in silence and sadness sat and looked upon the destruction of their homes and the accumulations of a lifetime.”
Chambersburg was founded 1764 and was burned 1864. History comes to life on July 20, 2024, as today’s
Actual photo of the Bank of Chambersburg after the Confederate firing of July 30, 1864. The bank was rebuilt as the National Bank of Chambersburg and is now the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center.
community celebrates the rebirth of Chambersburg from the destruction of July 30, 1864. 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg is a living history portrayal, using lights and atmospheric effects so realistic, the town seems ablaze.
Re-enactment begins at dusk and is best viewed from the Memorial Square. Bring a lawn chair. Come early. Enjoy Old Market Day street festival, beginning at 9 a.m. At 7 p.m., the final round of A Cappella & Unplugged begins and leads into 1864 portrayal. For more details, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or contact 866.646.8060. the rebirth of the town, which courageously rose from the ashes of war.
1864 living history portrayal with lights and atmospheric effects brings history to life.
The audience is literally surrounded by the center of town ablaze.
Local Matters.
CNB Bank prides itself on its three pillars of Experience, Intelligence, and Customized Solutions. Founded in Berkeley Springs, WV in 1934, CNB Bank is celebrating it’s 90 th year of being a trusted, local, community bank. Over the years, CNB Bank has expanded its services to include locations in Hagerstown, MD, Hancock, MD, Berkeley County, WV, and Berkeley Springs, WV.
At CNB Bank, more than 100 experienced, local bankers provide reliable advice without trying to sell products. Instead, the Bank offers solutions and establishes lasting partnerships founded on prudent financial guidance.
With a strong desire to foster prosperity in the community, CNB Bank’s team members support many local endeavors by sponsoring youth sports, serving on local non-profit boards, attending local events, and so much more. Mark Harrell, President/CEO, said “We sit alongside you at the little league game, we attend church with you, we shop at the same local grocery store. We’re vested in our communities and in their success. Local matters!”
In addition to its trust and local knowledge, CNB Bank is becoming known for its modern capabilities and innovative services. In 2023, the Bank concluded its most significant technological upgrade in its history, affecting every customer and every employee. Harrell stated, “For a hometown bank, our systems are exceptionally modern. We’re proud to offer the products and services of a large, regional bank but at CNB Bank, you also get a local banker who will customize a solution just for you”.
No matter how customers choose to bank, whether in person or digitally, they can expect consistent familiarity and reliability. To round out the Bank’s locations in Hagerstown, MD, CNB Bank’s newest location on Virginia Avenue opened its doors in June 2024. This location is staffed with local bankers and equipped with the latest in banking technology.
After more than a decade on the CNB Bank team, Harrell continues to prioritize the customer journey and the local communities. “Not only are we here today, but for many years to come,” he concludes, “At CNB Bank, we’re right here.”
Collin Alexander sharpened his archery skills for the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow.
ADVENTURE TIME
Hagerstown’s live-action, roll-playing group celebrates the imagination during Sundays in the park
photography
by lisa gregory
by
rick gregory
On Sundays, Doub’s Woods Park in Hagerstown becomes a magical place with warriors and elves and battles and quests. This is all part of the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow, a local group and chapter of Amtgard, a live-action role-play (LARP) game using safe, foam-padded replicas of medieval weaponry in a sword and sorcery fantasy setting.
“Kind of like a live-action Dungeons and Dragons,” says Chris Jones, who leads the Hagerstown group. “But instead of sitting at a tabletop and throwing dice, we actually make swords and go fight it out.”
Amtgard began 40 years ago in Texas and has since spread across the nation and around the world, including to countries like Canada, Germany, Croatia, and South Korea. “Because of military people traveling and starting groups on military bases, we actually for about two weeks had a group on a naval ship somewhere in the Artic,” says Jones.
According to Jones, Amtgard has existed in Hagerstown for quite a number of years. But recently, some members moved to another area. For those who wanted to remain in Hagerstown, the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow was formed a few months ago. At gatherings, the group can have as many as 50 participants and its Facebook page has nearly 200 members.
With the influence of video games such as Skyrim and Elden Ring and books, movies, and television series such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, more and more people are embracing LARP.
“Kids that sit at home and play these games, when they find out there is something out there where they can dress up and become this character, most of them are all in for it,” says Jones. “It’s a great way to get those kids that would otherwise sit at home all day and play those video games to go out and do something physical and creative.”
For those participating in Amtgard, “The national game is organized more like a sport,” says Jones. “You are playing a fantasy-based character and the object in a battle game is to divide your players into two teams and there’s a way to score a point, an objective to complete.”
Games can simulate certain sports like hurling or soccer. “The object is to move a ball or another item like a treasure chest through enemy defense,” says Jones. Or, quest games involve “searching the woods
for some vile monster that has been harassing merchants,” says Jones.
However, for the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow, the story is the thing. “Why are you invading this area? Why is there chaos?” says Jones. “We’re trying to bring it more into a game that tells a story and less of a sport. This team is the enemy team, and there’s a reason for it. There’s a Chaos Lord destroying your town and you defend your town.”
Each person with the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow is free to create their own story, says Jones, who plays the character of Lord Yogi. “And other players will interact with them along those lines,” he says. “Right now, we are running a central story where I’m playing the bad guy, and it happens to be a Chaos Lord trying to destroy everything in his wake. And all of our players’ characters are trying to stop me and my monstrous minions.”
Adding, “I’ve got an 11-year-old kid who is just starting, and he wants to be a heroic character, and we’re going to find a way to give him a chance to be that hero.”
Besides storytelling the group encourages other forms of creativity. “We are a crafting group, as well,” says Jones. “In a general day at our meets,
Chris Jones (center) and Robb Bird (right).
you could find people working on crochet, needlepoint, paintings, chain Maille, and blacksmithing.”
This part of Amtgard is considered the arts and sciences. Both sports/fighting competitions and the arts and sciences have tournaments where groups can compete against each other.
Jones, for example learned the skill of leathermaking in order to create Lord Yogi’s armor. He learned the craft, he says, out of necessity. In creating his armor and costume he came to the realization that purchasing the items would be too costly. “I’m never going to be able to afford it,” he says. “So, I went out and bought two cow hides of leather.”
A machinist by trade, Jones would spend his breaks working on the leather. Then through competition with others in the arts and sciences, he further
honed his craft. “I was able to take that information and improve a little bit here and there,” he says.
His current costume is quite elaborate and a bit intimidating with its fur cloak, horned hat, and leather armor weighing up to 70 pounds.
Sandy Gilmer, who participates along with her two children, busies herself on the sidelines on Sundays crocheting and creating fantastical creatures through yarn, such as griffons and dragons. “Just things I never thought you could do with crochet,” says Jones with a bit of awe in his voice.
For Gilmer, whose character is a fairy, it is a labor of love. She says she is thankful for the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow and how it has embraced her children. Her 19-year-old daughter, Ahja experiences crippling anxiety and her 16-year-old son Will is on the autism spectrum and has ADHD. Both struggle in social settings. Ahja, for example, was bullied in school. “Social anxiety is one of her biggest problems,” says Gilmer. “And everybody here has been so kind and welcoming, and they’ve helped her get through it. And Chris has been her rock.”
“They’re really starting to flourish within this game and make friends and come out of their shells,” adds Jones. Ahja has even found a boyfriend within the group.
Ahja’s character, Kirari Nightwave, is a moon elf who is developing skills as an archer. Will’s character, Redstone, is a human farm boy who has had his
Wesley Dickerson, pictured left.
Chris Jones and Joseph Swan of the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow engage in mock battle with padded weapons.
home destroyed by demons and is learning to be a fighter so that he can seek revenge.
“We want to get them involved and give them a good experience,” says Jones of the young people attending. “And we do that by letting them let their imaginations run wild and be that hero who they don’t really get to be in today’s world.”
And during a recent Sunday more than one young person and a parent wandered over to the group asking for more information. Kaitlynn Mading, who stopped by with her mother, signed up on the spot and even got a practice combat drill with Lord Yogi himself. Asked why she was interested in joining the group, the 14-year-old replied, “I like dragons, and I like hitting people.”
Jones can relate. Sundays with the group are a great way, he says, to let go of the stress of the week.
“I can go out and hit people with a foam sword and just enjoy myself all day,” he says with a chuckle. “It
Being creative with crafts is part of the Freehold of Phoenix Hollow society. Here Sandy Gilmer offers dream catchers.
keeps me sane when work is driving me nuts. I get to be somebody different and do something just for the sake of having fun.”
It may be fun, but Jones will be the first to tell you, safety is the name of the game. Not only are the weapons foam-covered, but they are checked thoroughly prior to each event to prevent mishaps with a faulty weapon.
“We have dedicated people who check each weapon for safety before it’s used on the field every day,” says Jones. “We check to make sure the foam isn’t breaking down and that the tips of swords are big enough that they won’t go into an eye socket if you accidentally hit someone in the face.”
The focus on safety and looking out for one another reflects the community the group created. And, everyone is welcome.
“We are absolutely inclusive,” says Jones. “We accept everybody, and we accept them for who they are. We have players who range from those on the spectrum to the LGBTQ community to a backwoods Pennsylvania country boy like me.”
And they then are free to create the persona they want. While the group has the feel of the medieval era, “If somebody wants to come out dressed in more like steampunk style, that’s cool with us,” says Jones. “Or if they want to do Lord of the Rings elves, that’s cool with us. And if they want to do medieval, that’s cool with us, too. As long as you’re creating some kind of character and participating.”
As such it is easy to understand why one is drawn to the experience even many years later. Angel Roman, who recently underwent a heart procedure, was leaning up against his automobile and observing the activities from the sidelines on a recent Sunday. He has been involved with Amtgard since 1999. That day watching and not taking part in battles or quests was not easy for him. When asked if he was eager to return to action, he breaks into a big smile and says, “Well, let me put it this way. My gear is in the trunk.”
Both he and Jones as well as other members of the group are well aware that not everyone understands the idea of LARP and why one would want to spend a weekend in a fantasy world.
“Sometimes we have people drive by and shout out, ‘Nerds!’” says Jones with a grin.
But after a Sunday spent in the midst of community, creativity, and boundless imagination, Jones has the perfect answer for those who question his activities. “Well, what did you do with your weekend?”
A Medieval battle about to engage in Doub’s Woods Park in Hagerstown.
Bun Venit
By April Bartel
Dolce Eastern European
Restaurant & Pizza offers guests a warm welcome and lengthy menu
Pull into Dolce’s tiny parking lot at 792 Frederick Street in Hagerstown and the first thing you’ll notice is a sign with founder Iuliana “Julia” Manea peeking out of the window and an emblazed greeting, “Welcome to my house!” That’s about right. The equally diminutive structure has been home to the full-service restaurant since April of 2007.
Julia Manea learned a passion for food from her parents and began cooking professionally in her native Romania, including working at some high-end restaurants. She refined her repertoire and techniques over 40 years, continuing to ply her trade after moving to the United States in 1999. By 2001 she was working at Tony’s Pizza in Smithsburg, but customers were intrigued at what was on her own plate during meal breaks.
Dolce chef and owner Juliana Manea shows off one of her traditional Romanian dishes.
Julia’s son, Ciprian Manea, is now a chef at Dolce, too, although green card issues kept mother and son apart for nearly a decade. He recalls hearing how people would ask about his mother’s off-menu repasts, “So, what kind of food are you eating?” She would explain, sharing information about her cultural background and homestyle recipes. Ciprian beams, “They were like, ‘Wow! Why don’t you open a place for yourself?’”
The thought took hold, but opening Dolce didn’t happen overnight. Ciprian, once professional footballer in Romania, says that it took Julia about two-and-a-half years to find and transform the space, formerly a locksmith shop, into what it is today. “We had to knock down walls and change a lot of things,” he says. “It took a lot of patience, a lot of nerves, and work. Luckily, the landlord worked with us.”
Now, the place has 10 tables and can seat about 34 people. The tiny kitchen churns out plenty of to-go and catering orders as well. They are known for pizza with freshly made dough, chewy and browned to perfection, loaded with inventive combinations. Customers rave
Chef Juliana at work in the tiny Dolce kitchen.
about the generous toppings on their “Special” pizza. It’s a colorful riot of pepperoni and sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and banana peppers staged on melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
“Julia’s” pizza features sweet shrimp, broccoli, fresh garlic, parsley, and cheddar with mozzarella and parmesan. The understated Margarita pizza, the original pie or pies, sports tender tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil with cheeses.
Dolce’s calzones and strombolis are equally savored. We spied one of their vegetarian calzones being served during our visit and it was as long as an arm, loaded with fresh vegetables and cheese, served with a huge bowl of slow-simmered sauce for dipping. There are versions with steak or chicken or ham and salami. And Ciprian assures us that everything is made to order so it can be customized if a guest wants to add or subtract ingredients.
Of course, there is also meaty lasagna, served with a drape of browned and bubbling cheese on a piping hot platter or stout stuffed shells in bright tomato sauce and more cheese. The everyday menu boasts popular choices like manicotti, eggplant parmesan, chicken cacciatore, and fettuccine Alfredo, along with mozzarella sticks, antipasto, and good old American-style chicken wings or cheese fries as appetizers. Dinners come with a garden salad and the diners’ choice of garlic bread or dinner rolls made in-house.
While many guests equate Mediterranean food with Italy or Greece, the Manea family’s menu draws from a broader area. Crispy Wiener Schnitzel with mashed potatoes and layered Moussaka make the cut, as well as many classic Romanian recipes.
Tochitura Moldoveneasca is a robust dish that features slowly stewed chunks
One of Dolce’s pizzas with its eclectic toppings.
Hagerstown.
of pork loin, flavored with sausages, chicken liver, tomato, and garlic. Dolce serves it alongside creamy Mămăligă (soft-boiled corn Polenta) with egg and feta cheese.
Ciprian says while regional cuisines share many of the same ingredients, the preparations and seasonings make the difference, reflecting this small country’s diverse influences as a crossroads of culture.
One of Romania’s most iconic dishes is known as sarmale. It is the country’s version of soured cabbage rolls that are stuffed with meat, rice, and spices. Julia’s version blends ground beef and
pork and is garnished with fresh herbs and sour cream. The intensive process is a labor of love, according to Ciprian.
“From the beginning to the end, for us, it’s like six or seven hours to make.” Mom Julia and the kitchen crew start making them during the morning shift.
Ciprian’s personal favorite? “Moldavian Chicken or Rice Chicken.” Each starts with a base of sweet onions, carrots, and earthy parsley with slight variations of tomato, potato, or rice added.
There’s always a list of daily specials and tempting desserts, too. Eat-in
guests get a special treat. Meals end with a delightful finale of warm fried dough batons dusted with powdered sugar, akin to American donut bites or mini-Italian zeppoles–on the house.
With selections that range from cozy and familiar to enticingly novel, there’s plenty of room for exploration at Dolce. Ciprian advises, “Take a chance on something new, even if you don’t know the name of the dish. Come and try. I’m sure you’re going to like it.”
You just might find a new favorite.
Its small size belies the big flavor of the food at Dolce on Frederick Street in
Before my brother passed away, he told me I was the Executor in his Will. What do I do now?
We’re sorry for your loss. As the Executor of your brother’s Estate, you have several responsibilities to ensure his affairs are settled according to the law and his wishes. In Maryland, we use the term “Personal Representative” instead of “Executor”. If your brother named you as his Personal Representative, that means he trusted you immensely and knew you would be the best person to manage his hard-earned money, possessions, and legacy.
Ask yourself these TOP 5 questions:
1. Can you locate his original Will? It is extremely important to have the original Will and any original codicils or amendments, not just a copy.
2. Can you obtain a Death Certificate? Death certificates are required for the Probate process and ensure the Court has important details about a person’s death and any surviving heirs.
3. Are you familiar with Probate? Probate is the judicial process of distributing a deceased person’s assets. A Probate Estate must be opened if your brother owned property in his sole name without a surviving beneficiary or if he jointly owned property without rights of survivorship. As Personal Representative, you are responsible for identifying, collecting, valuing, and eventually distributing his assets. You must also complete and file numerous court forms, tax returns, and may be required to attend court hearings.
4. Have you consulted a Probate attorney? Although you were nominated to be Personal Representative in the Will, you must still petition the Court to be officially appointed. You should meet with an experienced Probate attorney to assess the scope of the Estate and the next steps to take. The law firm you hire can then monitor deadlines, complete and file all paperwork, and represent you if anyone sues the Estate. Attorney Clark has been working on Probate matters for 20 years, and we will be happy to help you.
5. Do you have any information about your brother’s assets and if they had beneficiaries? Consider his bank accounts, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, houses, vehicles, and personal property, among other things. It is normal not to have much information immediately after his passing, but you should not let that stop you from meeting with a Probate attorney.
It is great that your brother had a Will, but if he created a Revocable Living Trust, his Estate may not have gone through Probate. It’s not too late for you to create a Trust for yourself to help your family avoid Probate after you are gone. Our office handles Estate Planning and Probate matters exclusively. We help families protect money and loved ones in the event of death or disability.
Confection Connection
By April Bartel
Burkholder’s Baked Goods rolls into 30 years with new owners and old recipes and traditions
Call it Burkholder’s Baked Goods, Burkholder’s Bakery, or The Way 2 Burkholder’s, this Sharpsburg icon is known for supplying the sweetest indulgences since 1995. Ruth Burkholder, along with daughters Julia and Susan, started churning out cookies, then fresh bread, pies, and more from their farmhouse kitchen.
Papa Nathan Burkholder hauled the goodies to the former Amoco station parking lot in town and sold them out of the family’s van. Word spread. Lines grew. And by 1999, the family needed a place that could be home, hearth, and business.
Sandra Maxwell, one of the new owners of Burkholder’s Bakery in Sharpsburg, shows off a cherry pie.
They found a corner lot a few blocks off the main drag that fit the bill. It was a cozy home with an already converted two-car garage that quartered a local plumbing company. By early 2000, the fully outfitted bakery was steaming along, just steps from the Burkholder’s new back door. The minimal “commute” made it perfect for a profession that requires notoriously early hours. Nathan nods for emphasis, “My wife got up for work at 1 a.m.”
Now he starts bake days at 3 a.m, joined by new owner and budding baker Sandra Maxwell. She and her partner/childhood friend, Damien Tapocik, took over from second owner Jennifer Ryan in May of this year.
“Damien wanted to do a bagel shop in honor of his grandfather who was a baker for the Navy during World War II,” she says.
Like the Burkholders, the duo started as cottage bakers, offering homemade bagels via Facebook. Maxwell is a nurse-turned-entrepreneur. She says, “I have been baking since I was a kid. I was the one who made the family birthday cakes. Granted, then it was boxed cakes. As I got older, I started making stuff from scratch because I enjoyed it.”
Nathan’s wife taught him to bake. When she retired at 75, he chose to stay on to ensure that the business would continue to thrive under the next owner. “What else am I going to do?” He shrugs self-depreciatingly and says, “I will stay to help as long as I am in good health.” That’s good news for longtime fans who appreciate the bakery’s signature items and accommodating service.
SWEET SUCCESS
The shop is known for fresh, fluffy donuts, glazed apple fritters, sweet and savory breads made without preservatives, an array of handmade pies, and
People drive from miles away to experience Burkholder’s donuts, and other sweet treats like cherry pies are culinary delights as well.
plentiful cookies, including the colorfully decorated butter cookies that are in demand all year round.
Maxwell offers high praise. “Nathan’s dinner rolls are his best-kept secret. The texture and flavor are fantastic.”
She and Burkholder share a hunger for experimentation in the kitchen, perfecting recipes and searching for new items to delight customers. The place has a reputation for being responsive to requests, whether that means adding extra seeds to the freshbaked rye bread or customizing their
popular cheese bread with bacon and onion. When special orders come in, they bake a few extra for the sales case. Maxwell and Burkholder converse amiably about what’s on the menu, tips of the trade, and ideas for working with other local businesses, like Nutter’s Ice Cream shop down the street or The Savory Spoon caterer in Boonsboro.
“Did you hear about the burger donuts?” asks Burkholder. Those were a short-lived trial based on a customer’s suggestion. (You can still make your own burgers at home and wedge them between Burkholder’s glazed donuts in place of buns.)
During our visit, we spotted rows of whimsically decorated cherry and blueberry pies lined up for baking and a tempting pair of special-order chocolate peanut butter pies; but the donut trays were wiped out. Those are always big sellers, and for good reason. There’s no factory conveyer belt for these pillowy bites of sweetness.
They are handmade, tender inside with a crisp exterior, usually loaded
with a wide variety of fillings or tempting toppings. Folks from as far away as Ohio, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. plan their travel routes so they can grab a few dozen. And wedding couples eschew traditional cakes for Burkholder’s donut towers.
The difference is in the technique, not the baking mix. On a typical Saturday, for example, they crank out about 60 dozen donuts, not counting fritters and twists. The sticky dough is precisely rested, then fried fully submerged, instead of turning them halfway through as is customary. The result is a delicately textured treat that soaks up less oil.
MORE TO LOVE
Eventually, the bakery will add chewy New York-style bagels into the mix. Maxwell admits it is a complicated dance to have everything ready for the morning rush since baking so many different items requires precision and masterful timing.
She laughs, “We are so busy with what
we’ve got. I might be working seven days a week to make bagels happen.”
In the meantime, visitors can grab classic West Virginia-style pepperoni rolls or inventive mini pizzas (made with donut dough), whoopie pies, and apple dumplings to sate their cravings. The self-service fridge holds more breads and cakes, packages of bacon, and dozens of farm-fresh eggs. Whole creamline milk is available from Deliteful Dairy, along with heavy cream and small-batch cheeses. The dairy produces and bottles its milk on the farm within a day or so of being on Burkholder’s shelves.
Maxwell and Tapocik are excited to continue Burkholder’s traditions, even while making the place their own. They are blending new vigor with sage experience to keep this beloved bakery charming customers for years to come. For sweet lovers, the proof is in the pudding.
The tasty pepperoni rolls at Burkholder’s Bakery.
DINING GUIDE
28 SOUTH
28 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 240.347.4932
Locally sourced contemporary American fare. $–$$$
ALEKOS 2 GO
511 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, 240.313.4976
Freshly prepared and cooked Greek food made daily. $
AMERICAN PIE PIZZERIA
17520 Virginia Ave., Hagerstown, 301.582.6281
Family run business that serves not only pizza but several authentic Italian dishes as well. $$
BENNY’S PUB
49 Eastern Blvd. N., Hagerstown, 301.791.5915
Relaxed venue serving specialty burgers and other pub grub, plus bespoke beers in convivial surrounds. $–$$
BISTRO 11
13208 Fountain Head Plaza, Hagerstown, 301.733.2222
Relaxed and refined cuisine. Full menu of specialties, steaks, and seafood. $$–$$$
BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE
17318 Valley Mall Road, Suite C, Hagerstown, 240.513.4040
Handcrafted beer, Chicago-style pizza with a Southern California twist, and Pizookies. $$-$$$
BLACK ROCK BAR & GRILL
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, 240.850.3365
An award-winning steakhouse specializing in Certified Angus Beef steaks served and cooked to perfection by you on a 755-degree volcanic sizzling rock. $$-$$$
BONNIE’S AT THE RED BYRD
19409 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, 301.432.5822
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are covered with a wide selection of sandwiches and entrees. $–$$
THE BROAD AXE
28 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown, 301.733.8454
Daily specials featuring top-notch pub fare and a quickly rotating tap list. $–$$
BROTHER’S PIZZA
75 Eastern Blvd. N., Hagerstown, 240.625.9215
Fresh, fast, and affordable pizza, sandwiches, and Italian classics. $–$$
BULLS & BEARS
38 S. Potomac St., Suite 1, Hagerstown, 301.791.0370
American cuisine in a New York style atmosphere. $$–$$$
CACIQUE
1101 Opal Court, Hagerstown, 301.739.7207
Fresh, creative, and classic Mexican, Spanish, and Latin American cuisine. $$
CAFÉ DEL SOL
1481 Salem Ave., Suite 1, Hagerstown, 301.739.3072
Gourmet pizza, flatbreads, and pasta with a California twist. $$–$$$
CAFÉ ITALIA
935 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown, 240.420.6677
Classic Italian dishes, and they offer one of the biggest pizzas in town. $–$$
CHIC’S SEAFOOD
300 Summit Ave., Hagerstown, 301.739.8220
Daily specials featuring some of the freshest seafood around. $–$$$
COLONIAL SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
14130 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown, 240.203.6206
The best game-day food at the best prices around. $–$$
THE DOG HOUSE CAFÉ
53 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 240.850.2883
Family-owned and operated restaurant that specializes in dozens of unique hot dog creations, great fries, and more. $
DISTRICT PROVISION & SUPPLY CO.
6 Rochester Place, Hagerstown, 301.791.1717
Open for breakfast and lunch, featuring gourmet sandwiches, salads, and soups. $
DOLCE PIZZA GOURMET
792 Frederick St., Hagerstown, 301.745.6300
Italian flavors complemented by Eastern European dishes. $–$$
EL CASTELLO PIZZERIA & TEX MEX
15616 National Pike, Hagerstown, 301.582.4727
Pizza, salads, lunch specials, and a spicy array of Tex Mex. $–$$
EL RANCHERO MEXICAN
RESTAURANT
1481 Wesel Blvd., Hagerstown, 240.420.2842
1715 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.797.7589
Fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine using the highest-quality ingredients available. $$
FAJITA GRANDE MEXICAN
RESTAURANT
12818 Shank Farm Way, Hagerstown, 240.707.6333
Where the fiesta never ends. $
FOSTER’S ON THE POINT
1437 Salem Ave., Hagerstown, 301.739.7182
Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a rotating list of entrées and specials offered in an inviting rustic atmosphere. $$–$$$
FRATELLI PIZZERIA AND GRILL
120 E. Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, 301.393.8733
Italian specialties like pasta, pizza, in addition to Mexican options. $–$$
FREE RANGE CAFÉ
520 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, 240.513.6070
Food that makes you feel good! $-$$
FUJI ASIAN FOOD & SUSHI BAR
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Suite 205, Hagerstown, 301.393.9099
Authentic traditional Chinese cuisine options and sushi. $–$$
GREENLEE’S FIRESIDE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
1716 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, 301.733.4800
A full menu of steaks, seafood, and other American specialties. $$–$$$
THE GRILLE AT RUNWAYS
18421 Henson Blvd., Hagerstown, 240.707.6996
Traditional American dining with a quiet and relaxing view of the airstrip. $–$$
HAGERSTOWN FAMILY DINER
431 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 240.707.6330
Great hidden gem of Hagerstown. $
HOFFMAN’S ALL AMERICAN GRILL
18203 Mason Dixon Road, Hagerstown, 240.707.6600
Casual dining at its finest featuring burgers, steaks, salads, and seafood. $$–$$$
HONG KONG CHINESE RESTAURANT
1075 Virginia Ave., Hagerstown, 301.733.1292
Veteran eatery serving familiar Chinese dishes in an informal setting. $$
HOUSE OF KOBE
757 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.797.6979
Fine dining featuring sushi and hibachi cooking right in front of you. $$–$$$
HUB CITY DINER
190 Railway Ln., Hagerstown, 240.707.6638
Comfort food served hot and fresh in a family friendly atmosphere. $
HUMMUS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
11205 John F. Kennedy Dr., Unit 108A, Hagerstown, 240.513.6020
A blend of authentic Mediterranean recipes with modern flavors. $–$$
J’S DINER
43 Eastern Blvd N, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 301.745.3091
Innovative breakfast destination for those in search of an unpretentious place to begin the day. Everything they offer is made from scratch, so you can feel good about what you’re eating. $$
LEDO PIZZA
1423 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.766.4900
Creative flavor combinations and lots of sandwich and gluten-free options. $–$$
LOS AMIGOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT
29 N. Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown, 240.420.8000
18330 Spark Dr., Hagerstown, 240.707.6250
The finest authentic Mexican food prepared just the way you like it. $
LOTUS MOON CAFÉ
16 Conococheague St., Williamsport, 240.366.1335 Unique sandwich and salad creations to please any taste. $-$$
MANGO GRILL INDIAN & THAI CUISINE
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Suite 201, Hagerstown, 240.707.6220 Experience the flavors of India and Thailand with daily lunch buffet deals. $$
MISSION BBQ
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, 443.491.8777
Authentic, mouth-watering all-American food that’s done right. $$
NICK’S AIRPORT INN
14548 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown 301.733.8560
More than 50 years of serving quality cuisine from scrumptious seafood to delectable desserts. $$
NIKKO JAPANESE STEAK & SEAFOOD
1580 Wesel Blvd., Suite F, Hagerstown, 301.714.0005
Bento combo box lunches, tons of a la carte sushi options, and hibachi lunch and dinner options. $–$$
PHO VIET
1441 Wesel Blvd, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 301.745.5030
Dine in and carry out Vietnamese cuisine. Small venue but the portions are authentic and large. $
POKÉ & SUSHI
11347 Robinwood Dr. Hagerstown, 301.393.8833
Refreshing Asian alternative. Choose your own ingredients for soups, Poké, rice bowls and sushi. Boba (bubble) tea. $$.
PRETZEL & PIZZA CREATIONS
20 W. Washington St., Hagerstown, 301.733.7795
Calzones, sandwiches, hot dogs, and of course pizza featuring pretzel dough as the star. $–$$
PRIMANTI BROS.
17301 Valley Mall, Hagerstown, 301.228.0933
High-piled sandwiches equipped to quell the heartiest of hungers. $
PURA VIDA COFFEE
14035 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown, 240.707.6540
Costa Rican inspired coffee shop/restaurant featuring craft coffees/teas, onsite baked goods, breakfasts, and lunches. $
RAD PIES
10210 Governor Lane Blvd., Williamsport, 240.366.8634
Unique, wood-fired pizza options for the adventurous. $$
REAL DEAL JAMAICAN RESTAURANT
71 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown, 240.513.6393
A concise menu of classic Jamaican comfort foods & soft drinks amid casual digs. $
RHUBARB HOUSE
12 Public Square, Hagerstown, 301.733.4399
Sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, and soups with a unique touch. $–$$
RICE THAI DINING
40 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 301.766.9559
A taste of authentic Thailand, without needing a passport $$-$$$
RIK’S CAFE
1065 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown, 301.302.7541
California-inspired contemporary American cuisine featuring sandwiches, hearty soups, small plates, and salads. $$–$$$
ROCKY’S NEW YORK PIZZA
907 S. Potomac St., Suite 1, Hagerstown, 301.791.6810
Great pizza in addition to other classic Italian fare. $–$$
ROCKY’S PIZZA ROBINWOOD
11351 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, 301.790.3853
Delicious Italian cuisine at an affordable price $-$$
ROOSTER MOON COFFEEHOUSE
Longmeadow Shopping Center, 1551 Potomac Ave., Hagerstown, 301.790.5040
Fine coffee, espresso drinks, organic teas, with a full breakfast and lunch menu. $
SAKURA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
102 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 301.393.8680
Part Japanese steakhouse, part sushi bar, featuring hibachi dining. $$–$$$
SARDI’S POLLO A LA BRASA
100 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 240.382.1214
Casual Peruvian chain serving charbroiled chicken, ceviche, and other traditional dishes. $–$$$
SCHMANKERL STUBE
58 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 301.797.3354
Old World-style Bavarian dining with an emphasis on German traditions. $$$
SCHULA’S GRILL AND CRAB HOUSE
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Hagerstown, 301.714.1397
Seafood and sandwiches are served in a casual setting with polished wood tables and a bar. $$–$$$
SILK THAI RESTAURANT AND BAR
1580 Wesel Blvd. K, Hagerstown, 240.267.2142
Spreading good vibes of Thai culture by introducing the wonderful food and scenery of the land of smiles. $$–$$$
SITAR OF INDIA
110 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 301.733.8223
A contemporary atmosphere that complements their traditional Northern Indian specialties. $-$$
STADIUM TAVERN
401 S. Cannon Ave., Hagerstown, 301.714.0849
Crabs and steam buckets, shrimp, and oysters, and don’t forget the wings. $–$$
TACOS CARLITOS
Food Court, Valley Mall, Hagerstown, 240.452.1888
100% authentic genuine Mexican food – the best in town! Daily specials and delivery available. $
TASTE OF REGGAE
40 E Washington St, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 240.513.1101
Authentic Jamaican restaurant specializing in made-to-order Caribbean and Jamaican food. Packed with flavor and cooked the way it is done in Jamaica. $$
TAQUERIA JALISCO AUTHENTIC MEXICAN GRILL
1037 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown, 301.797.2000
Authentic Mexican cuisine with the experience of being in Mexico. $
THE CRAB 99
116 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 240.452.1937
Tasty seafood dishes with a wide range of flavors. Make your own seafood combinations. $$
SENIOR LIVING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Every Wednesday
CONTEMPORARY RETIREMENT
9:06 a.m. to 10 a.m., WJEJ Radio
Tune in for topical discussions on issues affecting retirees.
Wednesdays, July 3 and August 7
NEW TO MEDICARE WORKSHOP
1 p.m.–3 p.m., 6 p.m-8 p.m. 535 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown
Hosted by the Washington County Commission on Aging. To register call 301.790.0275.
Tuesdays, July 2 and August 6
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
4:30–5:30 p.m., Somerford Place
Hosted by Somerford Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care. For more information, call 301.791.9221.
Tuesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 and August 6, 13, 20 & 27
HEALTH MATTERS RADIO SHOW
9:30–10 a.m., WJEJ radio (1240 am)
Tune in for information on health topics that matter. Call 301.739.2323 during broadcast times with your health questions.
Thursdays, August 1
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP
11:45 a.m.–3 p.m., Western Sizzlin Steakhouse, 17567 York Road, Hagerstown
Parkinson’s Disease patients and caregivers meet to hear a variety of speakers and enjoy lunch and conversation. Call Judy Fiery at 301.797.7373 or visit www.hagerstownparkinsonsupport.org.
Mondays, July 8 and August 12
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
2–3 p.m., LIFE Lutheran Services, 840 Fifth Ave., Chambersburg, Pa.
Covers a new topic each week. Free; light refreshments served. Call 717.709.2342.
Mondays, July 8 and August 12
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
7 p.m., Breast Cancer Awareness — Cumberland Valley, 12916 Conamar Dr., Suite 201, Hagerstown Call 301.791.5843 or visit www.bcacv.org.
Mondays, July 15 and August 19
SPINAL CORD INJURY SUPPORT
3–4 p.m., Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 201
Education and support for those who have suffered a spinal cord injury and are now adjusting to their disabilities. Call 301.714.4070.
Tuesdays, July 16 and August 20 SMART SENIORS
11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Diakon Senior Living — Robinwood Campus
Educational forum about topics of interest to older adults; sit-down meal served. $9. For reservations, call 240.420.4119.
Tuesdays, July 16 and August 20
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA
6 p.m., Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 129
Open to those affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, MDS, or myeloma. Call 301.665.4650.
Thursdays, July 11 and August 8
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
6–7 p.m Brookdale Senior Living, 20009 Rosebank Way, Hagerstown
Family and friends of those suffering from dementia are invited to network with others who are experiencing similar situations in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Call 301.733.3353.
Tuesdays, July 30 and August 27 55 UP
11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Cortland Mansion 19411 Cortland Drive, Hagerstown
Lunch and educational seminar for people ages 55 and UP. $13. Call 301.790.8907.
grow-it-all
Fight drought conditions with innovative watering systems like drip hoses.
Deborah Smith Fiola is a professional horticultural consultant who lives in Keedysville. A former university professor/ Extension agent, she has a B.S. in horticulture and an M.S. in entomology/ pest management (from the University of Maryland). Email your questions to: landscapeipm@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: Theinformationpresentedinthiscolumn maycontainculturalandpesticiderecommendations thataresubjecttochangeatanytime.Theserecommendationsareprovidedonlyasaguide. Itisthereader’sresponsibilitybylawtoreadand followalllabeldirectionsforanyspecificpesticide orproductbeingused. Duetoconstantlychanging labelsandproductregistrations,ifanyinformation hereindisagreeswiththelabel,therecommendations mustbedisregarded. Theuseofbrandnamesand anymentionorlistingofcommercialproductsor servicesinthiscolumndoesnotimplyendorsementby LandscapeIPMEnterprises,nordiscriminationagainst similarproductsorservicesnotmentioned. Landscape IPMEnterprisesassumesnoliabilityfromtheuseof theserecommendations.
Dog Days and Garden Health
The hot, dry Dog Days of summer are underway. Savvy gardeners beat the heat by tackling garden chores in early morning or in the evening. Fortunately, these are also the best times of day to water.
Early morning irrigation not only avoids diseases spread by overnight standing water but helps plants better endure afternoon heat. Yet watering before dusk (5 p.m. until about 7:30 p.m.) offers an alternative bang for your watering buck, as there’s less evaporation and roots rehydrate all night if the foliage dries before dark (to avoid disease).
Healthy, hydrated plants are less prone to most pests. For vegetables, consistent watering is what prevents tomato/pepper blossom end rot and fruit cracking. For mature trees and shrubs, noticing wilted foliage scorched at the margins–especially dogwood, maples, and linden–means irrigate immediately. Keep an eye on other drought sensitive plants like azalea, rhododendron, cherry, elm, and redbud.
The rule of thumb under summer heat and drought (defined as less than one inch of rain per week) is to water annuals, vegetables, and newly planted perennials at least twice a week, slowly and deeply. Irrigate newly planted trees and shrubs at least once a week if there is no rain. Allow lawns to go dormant.
Watering slowly and deeply does not mean sprinkling lightly with a hose. Doing so promotes shallow roots, that quickly dry out. A friend of mine watered her new perennial garden this way, then went on vacation. She returned to dead plants.
Lesson learned. She bought soaker hoses. These “ooze tubes” are wound around the canopy perimeter of plants/alongside garden rows, then covered with mulch. Connect hoses to an automatic timer connected to a spigot. Alternatively, consider a drip irrigation system with emitters (this works great for container gardens or berms).
How long to irrigate? Run the drip/soaker hose for an hour. For lawns, set out a shallow container and run sprinklers as long as it takes to collect half-an-inch of water. Afterwards, dig an adjacent small hole with a trowel. Your goal is to find moist soil at six inches to eight inches (the root system target). However long this takes determines your irrigation timing. (BTW, remember when watering to dump out standing water in any empty containers to prevent mosquitoes.)
Meanwhile, the invading Spotted Lanternflies (SLFs) sure bring back memories of Marmorated stinkbugs. While SLFs can kill plants like grapes and black walnut, in the landscape they primarily attack roses, river birch, red and silver maples, and willow. Ominously, SLFs can further weaken drought stressed and diseased plants.
Currently immatures look like quarter-inch red/black/spotted beetles, but by August half-inch winged grey adults appear. When adults fly you can see their pretty red underwings. Both stages are a nuisance, not just from the multitudes congregating and jumping, but from the sticky honeydew they secrete (that drops on cars, patios, etc.) as they suck plant sap. If that’s not annoying enough, it attracts ants and wasps, accompanied by ugly black sooty mold that reduces plant vigor. Not positive talking points during a patio dinner party.
Although insecticidal soaps or neem somewhat kill immature SLFs, consider using traps to catch them as they climb up trees. Save the insecticides for the coming adults if needed.
ELDER LIFE
Navigating Your Life’s Next Chapter
COMING THIS FALL
Welcome to ELDER LIFE, your ultimate guide to navigating the exciting next chapter of your life!
ELDER LIFE is more than just a publication, it’s your trusted companion as you embark on new adventures and opportunities. Whether you’re exploring healthcare options, considering living arrangements, or seeking out social activities, we’ve got you covered!
We’re all about making life easier for you and your loved ones. Say goodbye to decision overwhelm— ELDER LIFE simplifies the process so you can focus on what matters most: living life to the fullest!
But wait, there’s more! We’re not just here to provide information; we’re here to build a vibrant community. Get ready to dive into local events, discover exciting services, and connect with likeminded individuals. Let’s turn the page together and embrace the joy of community engagement, social interaction, and endless possibilities!
This is your audience! Space is limited – call today to reserve your ad space. Hagerstown Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 2415, Hagerstown, MD 21741 cboteler@hagerstownmag.com | 301.662.8171 x115 | hagerstownmagazine.com
a dose of satire
Each issue Kenneth Buckler offers a satirical look at some aspect of Washington County. This time he looks at summer construction in Hagerstown.
HAGERSTOWN’S SUMMER TRAFFIC JAM EXTRAVAGANZA
It’s that time of year again, when the City of Hagerstown celebrates its annual Summer Traffic Jam Extravaganza! The follow-up event to Hagerstown’s Winter Pothole Parade, this year’s Traffic Jam Extravaganza is not to be missed.
To make this year’s event more interesting and less predictable, the City of Hagerstown will be closing traffic lanes at random on West Washington Street and Franklin Street. These closures will claim to be for utility work, but are in fact part of a grand social experiment being conducted in coordination with several Maryland universities to better understand human behavior when exposed to unexpected traffic pattern modifications.
But beyond the social experiment, this year the City of Hagerstown is striving to turn the Traffic Jam Extravaganza into the Olympics of traffic jams with multiple competitions. The Olympics mat begin with the lighting of the torch, but the TJE will begin with the synchronized lighting of all traffic lights to red.
In the timed parallel parking competition, competitors must execute perfect parallel parking maneuvers within a tight time limit, with extra points for style and efficiency. What makes this event even more predictable is the fact that the time allotment is set based upon the patience of the driver behind the competitor. If the driver hits their horn in frustration, time has expired and the competitor is disqualified.
For those who prefer events which require mental and physical tests, the parking lot labyrinth will be sure to please. In this event, drivers will start at a specific point in Hagerstown’s central parking lot, then be required to navigate a series of turns and dead-ends to find their way out. Drivers will also face obstacles such as pedestrians who are paying attention to their phone and not their surroundings, as well as the occasional lost duck from Hagerstown City Park.
In the traffic cone slalom, drivers must navigate through a course filled with strategically placed traffic cones, aiming for speed and accuracy without hitting any cones. For added difficulty, bicycle riders and pedestrians may randomly move the cones as they travel through downtown Hagerstown, resulting in no competitor facing exactly the same course.
All of these events will then, of course, culminate in the grand finale, the synchronized horn honking competition. In this competition, drivers will use their car horns to create musical compositions, judged on creativity, harmony, and originality. Bonus points will be awarded for successful “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” renditions on days when the Flying Boxcars are playing at home. But please, no Rick Astley, the judges will never give up points for that, sorry if that lets you down.
We look forward to this amazing event which is sure to rival the Paris Olympics in both entertainment and competitiveness.
No drivers experienced road rage while writing the article. This is a satire article by Ken Buckler.
