At Home Places, Holiday 2022

Just

Trust the professionals

A HERALD-MAIL MEDIA PUBLICATION

Volume 10, Issue 1

MANAGING EDITOR

Glenn Garvie

DESIGN EDITOR/LAYOUT

Kathryn Biek

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jacob W. Barr, Tara Bockstanz, Mary Anne Burke, V. Craig Campbell Jr., Jennifer Fitch, Linda Harkcom, Susan Hurd, Paulette Lee, Sandie Lynch, Lisa McCoy, Roxann Miller, Sarah Nadeau, Joseph Ritacco, Crystal Schelle, Sarah Schiffres-Grove, Matthew Wedd

COPY EDITING

Joseph Ritacco

PHOTOGRAPHER

Colleen McGrath

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

Colleen McGrath

ADVERTISING DESIGN Gannett Creative Solutions

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Dawn Friedman

ADVERTISING SALES

Denise Bender, Daniel Gray, Michelle Horton, Zach Pitsenbarger

© 2022 Herald-Mail Media

AT HOME PLACES is published five times a year, featuring Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Holiday issues. Complimentary copies are available at area distribution sites. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY COPYRIGHT. Prices, specials and descriptions are accurate as of the time of publishing. This magazine or parts thereof may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the editor. Advertising information has been provided by the advertiser. Herald-Mail Media does not make any representations as to the opinions or facts contained herein. All terms and conditions subject to change. The cover, design, format and layout of this publication are trademarks of Herald-Mail Media.

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BACK IN THE

WELL+BEING

REGIONAL REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

Belle Jewelers is the area’s Largest Diamond Destination

Family business is beloved for service, integrity and attention to detail

Written by Leslie Perlmutter

BelleJewelers has been an inte gral part of the Chambersburg community for over 76 years. Owned and run by the Stinger family, the store is beloved for its personal ized service, attention to detail and integrity; it has also earned kudos for its exhaustive selection of jewelry, ranging from cutting-edge designs to more classic pieces. The family team, Gary, Lori and Cody Stinger, have developed relationships with both their customers and their community, and they take great pride in the store. With its storied history, customers know that they can trust the quality, workmanship and care they are receiving at Belle Jewelers. For their part, the Stingers take joy in watching families make memories throughout generations.

The store is the area’s largest diamond destination, and the owners and staff delight in helping customers select and design engage ment rings, anniversary bands and other items to commemorate special occasions. Cody, Lori and Gary’s son, notes, “I love seeing my clients leave with a smile on their face that shows that they are happy about their expe rience and that I helped them find the right gift for someone special.”

The level of expertise is unsur passed. According to the family, the Stingers and their staff “eat, breathe and sleep jewelry.” They have gemological training, keep up to date with professional journals, travel to trade fairs and seminars, and constantly educate themselves about the products they offer. They help each customer be an educated buyer. As authorized dealers for all the

960 Norland Ave. Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 264-9516

contactus@belle-jewelers.com www.belle-jewelers.com

Store Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am - 6pm Saturday, 10am - 4pm Sunday, Closed

many brands they carry, the Stingers have access to the latest styles and can guarantee the authenticity of each watch and piece of jewelry. They can also offer product educa tion and after-sales support.

In fact, at Belle Jewelers, the service after the sale is just as important as the service before the purchase. The staff cares about its customers and their jewelry. They offer cleaning and care and a free service where they will annually check the prongs on each ring to

ensure that no gemstones are lost.

Even though Belle Jewelers is a family-owned business, it offers exceptionally competitive pricing; the owners belong to a powerful buying group, which enables them to negotiate and pass on the value to their customers. The Stingers travel far and wide to buy diamonds from the source and choose each diamond carefully; this accounts for the unri valed level of quality control.

Lori’s favorite part of the business is helping to create custom jewelry items and fulfilling customers’ dreams. “I truly enjoy helping my clients redesign their jewelry from years ago.” In addition to redesigning family heirlooms, Lori helps people design custom engagement rings, as well as other custom designs.

The redesigned family heirlooms are a metaphor for the business itself. Belle Jewelers is an important part of the community that has been part of its customer’s lives for multiple generations. It combines the best of tradition — personal service, expertise, quality and trustworthi ness — with access to cutting edge designs and competitive pricing.

FROM THE EDITOR

Yes, it’s already November, and the holiday season has circled around once again, bringing with it the joys of celebrations, family feasts, dazzling decorations and gift-giving decisions.

In the spirit of the season, we’ve assembled an assortment of festive features that focus on the excitement of shopping, the heartwarming aspect of charity, and the sparkling sights and sounds of the holidays ahead – with a special attention to the sparkle.

If it’s lights and excitement you’re after, we present a round-up of New York City attractions that come to life during the next two months. If something closer to home is preferred, try a trip to Altoona, where the legendary Holiday Lights on the Lake offers a mega-watt drive-through experience that is unmatched. Still not close enough? Then why not have your own home decorated to perfection by professionals who string lights for a living?

And since finding the right gift can often be a challenge, we offer a reminder that the Maryland Christmas Show returns once again the Frederick County Fairgrounds. In addition, you can dig up treasure at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts’ Treasure Sale, or even support local artists who create one-of-a-kind gift opportunities, courtesy of the Gallery Shop of the Washington County Arts Council.

Though charity may begin at home, it hasn’t stopped many of our local businesses from finding ways to give back to the community. Writer Paulette Lee explores a few of these endeavors in “Gifting for Good.”

If history is your thing, the Conococheague Institute hosts their Colonial Christmas event in December, where visitors can step back in time to 1760s Pennsylvania and witness how holidays were done in days gone by.

Speaking of history, we hope you enjoy the new “Back in the Day” department that’s being intro duced in this issue. (See page 12.) In cooperation with the Washington County Historical Society, we have combed their extensive archive of vintage images in order to present a fun and nostalgic blast from the past

something we hope will ignite

each

memories of the area’s historic past, or just inspire

to learn more about our local history.

happy and healthy holiday season to all. See you in 2023.

Garvie

The last official trolley car on the Williamsport to Hagerstown line leaves the vicinity of Public Square in August 1947. Aboard the last car were Hagerstown, Williamsport, Washington County and Potomac Edison officials and members of the Citizens’ Committee who were active in getting the trolley line removed. Crew member Edward L. Koogle rides the final run.

The End of the Trolley and Beginning of Buses

Removal of Electric Cars praised as forward step in community; new Williamsport Highway is promised

With clanging bell and flying bunting, the last trolley car rumbled from the Public Square to Williamsport on Monday, August 4, 1947, ending an era of rail transportation in Hagerstown. The three antiquated cars operated on the 50-year-old Hagerstown to Williamsport route were lined up at the trolley stop on West Washington Street at the Square and, at 5:15 p.m., the cars, jammed with officials and local residents, started the last trip to Williamsport. Thousands of spectators pointing hundreds of cameras lined the route of the cars on the streets of Hagerstown and

in the rural section along Williamsport pike.

Mayor Richard Sweeney, in a special broadcast at the Public Square just prior to the departure of the last car, termed the trolley removal “...a forward step that gives every indication of the progress of our thriving city.”

– Excerpted from the Daily Mail, August 5, 1947

Originally photographed by Herald staff, this vintage image was preserved and provided courtesy of Washington County Historical Society. To enjoy hundreds more historic views from society’s collection, visit washcohistory.org

Time for MarylandChristmas Show

Among the thousands who attend, many are Santa’s elves

Written by LINDA HARKCOM

Frances Lynch founded the Maryland Christmas Show 39 years ago. Since then, the two-weekend long event at the Frederick County Fair Grounds, has turned into a hol iday season tradition many look for ward to.

“Some people come back year after year and tell us it is a tradition for them,” Lynch says, “We’ve made so many friends over the years. It has become like a big family.”

This year’s event will be held on Nov. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27. According to Lynch, about 15,000 people will come through the event over those two weekends.

Lynch said the event averages 125 to 150 vendors each year that are set up throughout seven buildings.

“We are mainly an arts and crafts

event, but we do have some merchant booths as well. We have picked up a lot of new vendors this year. Many are coming from the former Sugarloaf Show,” Lynch said.

She says there is a wide variety of vendors at the event each year includ ing wood carvers, jewelry, baskets, clothing, art, candy makers, wines, cheeses, spices, herbs, salt and even a “nice sized” local bakery.

“We put a lot of thought into place ment. We try to make sure every build ing has a nice variety,” Lynch says.

A few of the vendors do come for just one of the two weekends. Lynch said some people may choose to attend both weekends in order to see all of the vendors the event has to offer.

Sandie Phillips, owner of Enchanted Elf Images of Forest, Va., has been a vendor at the show for 30 years. She said one reason she keeps coming back is Frances Lynch and her family.

The Enchanted Elf Images booth at the Maryland Christmas Show.

An 18-inch elf crafted by Enchanted Elf Images. The elves are individually sculpted making each of them one of a kind.

“The Lynch family has just been terrific to work with. It started with Frances, and now her kids and her granddaughter are involved. They do a great job and run a tight show. I think it’s neat that it is a family business,” Phillips said.

Phillips hand-sculpts Santa figures and Christmas elves, crafting the faces and hats out of polymer clay. The bodies are created using felt and wire so that they are moveable and posable. The figures range in size from the smallest elves, that are 12 inches, up to life-size Santa Clauses standing five to six feet high.

Another reason Phillips says that she comes back year after year is for the people who come to the show.

“We have repeat customers that come back year after year. Some have come back for 26 years. They are now more like family than customers,” Phillips says.

One of those customers is Linda Miller of Middletown, Md. She and her daughter Caitlyn Miller have attended the show for 28 years. Linda Miller has collected several pieces of Phillips work over those years. She said she has purchased elves, Santa figurines, and even a special commissioned min iature toy box.

“I save my spending money all year

long in order to get one of her elves. I would say I’ve become a collector,” Miller says.

Initially, Miller says they started attending the show just to go to the craft fair.

“But then I met the nicest Santa Claus. Every year we kept going back for Santa but also for the show,” Miller says.

Lynch notes that people coming to see Santa Claus has become a tradition for many attendees.

“We are at the point after 39 years that folks who had been children are now parents, and they are bringing their own children to see Santa,” Lynch says.

While Lynch says that the original Santa who she had first met and who had been at the show for many years, has since retired. But they still have a real life Santa and Mrs. Claus at the event each year. Guests can take pic tures with Santa for free and if every one wants to get into the picture, Mrs.

The “real” Santa meets one of Enchanted Elf Images’ life sized Santas at the Maryland Christmas Show at the Frederick County Fairgrounds.

Claus would be happy to take it.

The new Santa is definitely worth visiting the show to see, Miller says.

“His suit is a little more modern than the old-world Santa they had, but he is very good. He is still a lot more authentic than your typical Santa you would see other places. He has a real beard and spectacles,” Miller says.

It is important to Lynch that the show is highly decorated, with numer ous photo opportunities for attendees.

“We put up a lot of big trees that people like to get their pictures taken in front of. We pipe and drape the whole thing in red fabric, every single building. It makes for a very attractive event,” Lynch says.

Miller enjoys looking at all of the many crafters and different vendors.

“Some come every year and there are new people every year too. So, there is always a variety and the new vendors keep it exciting,” Miller says. “We go with the intention of looking for something special. Often the new vendors will have something new and different.”

Another tradition for Miller and her daughter is having lunch at the event and enjoying fancy hot chocolate. Lynch says there is a building just for people to have lunch, as well as two entire buildings dedicated to food vendors, and even one tent that has nothing but candy.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults, $4 for children, and children 10 and under are free. Lynch said tickets will be available at the door, and they will be selling them online for the first time this year on their website www. marylandchristmasshow.com.

Santa and his workbench

A Colonial Christmas: Wassail to You!

Written by MATTHEW WEDD

Goodhealth to you at this festive time of year!

From our Colonial community at the Conococheague Institute we wish you a very happy holiday season. For many historic sites, winter is a quiet time, but CI offers yearround historic programs every Saturday so every facet of life can be demonstrated – even if it demonstrates being very cold!

We also like to bring to life old traditions, and with the Christmas season it’s the perfect time to talk about Wassailing!

In England during the 8th century, “Waes hael” was a blessing which translates to “be

in good health.” Wassailing has always been linked to drinking and specifically cider, ale, wine and spices. By the medieval ages it turned into a way to ward off spirits and make offerings to one’s orchards. Farmers would sing songs to their apple trees and leave offerings in the form of wassail-soaked bread up in the branches in hopes that it would supply them with a bountiful harvest next fall. So why are apple trees so important? The Cider is the short answer. In the 18th century, the average person drank upwards of 36 gallons of cider annually. It was safer than water – sweet, and refreshing. People wanted to do anything they could to make their apple trees “happy.”

Matthew Wedd, Kori Taber, Sam Cathey, Jacob Davis, Amelia Craven and Mary Poscover, members of the CI team enjoy a night at the bonfire during the winter events.

Though this tradition of making offerings to trees was still practiced in certain rural places in the 18th century, wassailing in towns and cities was often associated with debauchery. Wassailers would go door to door demanding drink and hospitality and were known to get angry when people refused. One Bostonian in 1712 remarked that Christmas time was marked by “Mad Mirth, by long eating, by Hard Drinking, by Lewd gaming, by rude Reveling.” This millenia-old Wassailing tradition is still continued today in our Christmas Carols, going door-to-door spreading cheer to our neighbors.

Though Christmas in North America

was not celebrated nearly to the extent it was in England, the time around Christmas was still observed by many.

- For Anglicans, and Catholics a sermon was usually held on Christmas day.

- Presbyterian ministers realized their parishioners were going to Anglican Christmas sermons and therefore started to have their own.

- In Philadelphia in 1772, the “12 Days at Christmas” were given as a vacation to the “youth in grammar school at this institution [College of Philadelphia].”

- A meeting of the Masons in Philadelphia was postponed because it would have fallen on Christmas.

Colonial Christmas at the Conococheague Institute

Saturday, Dec. 17 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pull on your winter boots and head to the frontier of 1760s Pennsylvania to learn about the traditions of Christmas during the 18th century. See a feast prepared, try your hand at ginger bread baking in a colonial oven, experience Wassailing and its strange roots. Historic games and much more will make the holiday season come alive.

Visit www.cimlg.org for more details, or email info@cimlg.org

- For the Welsh, who mostly settled the area around the Conococheague Institute, the tradition of Plygain may have been practiced, which was a sun rise Christmas service where members of Welsh communities would sing from 3 to 6 a.m. in the morning.

So, overall you can see that Christmas was not nearly celebrated to the extent we do today, but the time surrounding Christmas still carried significance for many who called the region home.

The decorating of homes and reli gious centers with boughs of green, like holly, mountain laurel and mistletoe, was common among both Catholics and Anglicans, but the Christmas tree as we know it had yet to make its appearance – in Anglo-American communities, that is.

Matthew Wedd is executive director of The Conococheague Institute in Mercersburg.

Want to learn more and experience a Colonial Christmas? You’re in luck as we’ll be hosting a free event at the Conococheague Institute at 12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, Pa., 17236

Below: Amelia Craven prepares some gingerbread treats as part of the Colonial Christmas event at the Conococheague Institute.

One strand at a time

Written by ROXANN MILLER

Seeing beautiful holiday lights can certainly put you in a festive mood, but nothing can squash that joy like the annual chore of untangling strands of lights and find ing that one bulb that won’t work.

Ryan Ballard, owner of the Hagerstown-based We Do Christmas Lights, has a solution to this seasonal frustration. His company has been making the season bright for residents of Washington, Berkeley and Franklin counties for several years.

“We’ll help you plan your outdoor lighting, bring the lights, hang them, troubleshoot them if there are issues during the holidays, and come back and pack your lights, store them, and have them ready for you the following year,” Ballard says.

Ballard, owner of Western Maryland Solar and president of the Homebuilders Association of Washington County is no stranger to climbing ladders and maneuvering on roofs.

During his solar business’ down months of November and December, Ballard says he was looking for a “side job” that would match his skill set.

“This seemed to be the perfect fit, because me and my crew are fine with heights and being on ladders and lifts.

“I like [installing lights]. It brings a lot of joy to everybody, and when you see the houses lit up, they look beauti ful. It really makes me like the season even more than I ever have,” he says.

It’s not safe for most people to be wrestling with a strand of lights while balancing on a ladder 30 feet in the air, he says.

On average, there are about 160 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with almost half of the incidents involving falls, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In 2021, homeowner Doug Bivens, in McConnellsburg, Pa., used the premium service for the first time and will use We Do Christmas Lights again this year.

“There is definitely no hassle with putting Christmas lights up now,” Bivens says. “And with me getting older, getting up and down ladders is not for me anymore.”

Bivens and his wife Sue decked out their home with white lights last year and plan to add more lights this year.

No house is too small or large for Ballard with the

The Bivens home in McConnellsburg, Pa., is outlined in shimmering hol iday lights installed and maintained by We Do Christmas Lights.

‘We Do Christmas Lights’ makes the season bright

Any home can catch the holiday spirit with professionally installed decorative lights.

In Clear Spring, the Stoner family has their home decorated as an annual holiday tradition. smallest home being 800 square feet to the largest being several thousand square feet.

“Our service is for everyone,” he says. “We have a wide variety of customers.”

Typically, Ballard and his team start installing outdoor lighting around November first. He starts the process by providing the customer with several lighting design options. Some homeowners want only the roof line strung with lights; others want to decorate trees and fence lines with twinkling lights. “We do everything from start to finish,” he says.

Ballard notes that his company uses commercial grade lights and C9 bulbs on most houses, and mini lights on trees or pillars. All the lights are LED.

The cost of the service is based on what lighting options are chosen. Ballard says prices range from a minimum of $800, with the average cost being $1,500 to put up the lights, take them down and store them for the homeowner.

“We custom-cut everything for each particular home, put timers on them, and at the end of the year when we take down, we bin them up and keep their lights for them,” Ballard says. Maintenance is part of the service.

“Our customers are paying for a premium service, and we provide that premium service for them. If one bulb is out somewhere, and they call us all the way up until Christmas Eve, we’re coming out as fast as we can to correct that for them,” Ballard says.

Typically, the lights are disassembled after the first Monday of the year.

For Linda Stoner, in Clear Spring, seeing We Do Christmas Lights string lights on her property is an annual holiday tradition.

When her husband said he was too old to put them up anymore, Stoner sprang into action. For the 73-year-old, leaving out the outdoor lighting display was not an option.

“They are very nice and easy to work with,” Stoner sys. “In a couple of hours, the lights are up. They do a really nice job, and they put a timer on them for you – I just love my lights.”

For Ballard, it’s a labor of love.

“I like just making people happy,” he says. “Every time we are putting up someone’s lights for them, even if it’s not dark yet, they want to come out and see it. They’re very excited. It really brings joy to them and to me.”

For more information, visit wedochristmaslights.com or call 301-382-3800.

Ten Thousand Villages (Pennsylvania Ave., north of Maugans Ave., Hagerstown)

Ten Thousand Villages – which has been in Hagerstown 44 years, though not always in the current location on Pennsylvania Avenue – is part of a nationwide network of nonprofit retail stores that uses a par ticular fair-trade approach to marketing handcrafted products from around the world. These “purposeful goods and gifts crafted by hand for home and life”, as the organization describes them, are made by members of more than 100 artisan groups –mostly women – in more than 35 countries. The Hagerstown store has items from 30 countries and store manager Carolyn Raber sums up their nonprofit mission by saying, “We’re working to help people get out of and stay out of poverty.”

Representatives of the Ten Thousand Villages organization, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, visit the workshops in-coun try, interact with the artisans as they work, and provide feedback on how to improve safety and health standards. A fair wage pricing agreement, based on local cost of living, is arrived at with the artisans, who are paid pay 50 percent up front as an interest-free advance to enable them buy supplies and protect them from exploitative loans. Safe and equitable working condi tions are established and the makers are paid in full, including shipping, before they export in order to ensure they incur no financial risk.

Raber says most of her products are through Ten Thousand Villages, but not all are. She insists, though, that other suppliers meet rigorous Fair Trade Certified stan dards that ensure safe and healthy working conditions, no child or forced labor, fair compensation and environmental protec tions. She also is committed to supporting nonprofits locally, with periodic promotions whereby prices are lowered on products whose sale helps local causes. Stones with inspirational sayings from Kenya have sup ported breast cancer awareness; lip balm from Zambia and soaps from India have helped victims of domestic abuse; fair trade, imported chocolate bars have been gifted to first responders.

For some Hagerstown businesses, charities really do begin at home

Written by PAULETTE LEE hen it comes to gift-giving, we’ll typically think about the tastes and interests of the person to whom we’re giving either something we buy or make, or perhaps an experience we think the recipient will enjoy. Barring our knowledge of the recipient’s preferences, there’s always cash. However, there are ways to extend the impact of a gift by “gifting for good”— supporting an enterprise whose business model extends beyond profit-making to helping a community, from local to international.

If you’re interested in gifting luxury chocolates that do more than just being beautiful and delicious, you can do so at Brooke’s House Coffee and Chocolate shop in Hagerstown’s South End Shopping Center on Maryland Avenue. The café supports Brooke’s House, named after the late daughter of founders Kevin and Dana Simmers, which is a “communi ty-based, safe, stable, and emotionally supportive living environment for adult women in the early stages of substance abuse recovery.”

The café is staffed by program par ticipants, including program graduate Tara Goetze, who is manager of the chocolate side and has been work ing there since the facility opened in December of 2021. Goetz lived at Brooke’s House for seven months, and then went into a transitional program, and then into transitional housing, and now has her own place and more importantly, her children.

“I wasn’t in any condition to be

a parent, and I couldn’t hold a job because I was getting high or had a record. This program changed my life a lot,” Goetze shares, adding she has been “clean” now for almost two years. The café also hosts an open AA meeting for women only, Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

All the chocolates, fudge and cara mels are made and packaged on-site, and can be customized. Their coffee – plus barista training – comes from Washington County’s first and so far only high-end craft coffee roaster and retailer.

River Bottom Roasters Motto: “Better Beans, Better World”

After tasting his first “really good cup of coffee” at a coffee shop on the Eastern Shore, where his family had a dessert shop in Salisbury, and find ing out nothing had been added to it, River Bottom Roasters (RBR) owner Craig Campbell began his coffee education. Early on, he learned the differences between “first wave” cof fee – good beans (such as Robusta and Arabica) that are brewed and drunk;

Tara Goetze displays chocolate charcuterie board at Brooke’s House Coffee & Chocolate.

Ten Thousand Villages, a Hagerstown mainstay, features goods and gifts from more than 100 artisan groups.

Brooke’s House Coffee & Chocolate (South End Shopping Center, Maryland Ave., Hagerstown)

River Bottom Roasters owner Craig Campbell works the roaster.

“second wave” coffee – flavorful spe cialty drinks as introduced by Peet’s and Starbucks; and “third wave” coffee” – craft-roasted beans that RBR produces.

“We use roasting techniques that pay attention to the varietal of the bean,” Campbell explains, “how to roast it so you extract the flavored nuance of that particular bean, such as high elevation Guatemala beans, or mid-level Indonesian beans. We also pay attention to other factors, such as how fermentation, which occurs at the time the bean is harvested before it’s pulped, affects the flavor profile.”

After being a missionary in Peru, Campbell wanted to find a way to sup port impoverished regions, and “cof fee was the common denominator.”

“Farmers weren’t being paid what their coffee was worth,” he explains, “so I started working with a fair trade importer who worked with ethically sourced and environmentally friendly coffee producers. I’ve since estab lished direct relationships with farm ers and have helped them increase their profit by almost four times.”

Campbell works with coffee-grow ing cooperatives in Peru, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Sumatra (Indonesia) and Colombia and insists that his

Robert (Bob) Travis, owner of Simply Blessed Treasures, has plans to turn his new store into more than just a gift shop.

products be ethically sourced as per USDA Organic, or UTZ (now part of the Rainforest Alliance) certification. In addition to helping coffee produc ers internationally, Campbell also gives a “good portion” of his proceeds to supporting the local community, through fundraising, sponsorships and volunteerism.

Starting out four years ago with a small roaster in the garage of his Williamsport home, and sharing his coffee with friends and neighbors to rave reviews, Campbell expanded into having four employees in 400 square feet of co-located space in a warehouse-type building on South Mulberry Avenue and Washington Street in Hagerstown. A big expan sion step is in the works: construction is underway on a 4-thousand square facility in Williamsport, slated to open in early 2023.

Simply Blessed Treasures (Village Green, Longmeadow and Leitersburg Pike, Hagerstown)

While Campbell is looking forward to “upsizing,” Dee Biller down sized. The former owner of “D&J Treasures” that she and her late hus band owned in Waynesboro, moved the store into much smaller quarters

in Hagerstown, re-named it, and then sold it to her daughter, who in turn sold it earlier this year (2022) to one of their vendors, Robert (Bob) Travis.

Travis has a larger picture in mind than “just” a retail gift shop. For him, it’s an opportunity to showcase and support local vendors by selling their hand-made creations, products, and repurposed upscale items. With currently 20 vendors in limited space, including the well-known McCutchen apple products of Frederick, there’s a wide variety of products, all sourced locally. Travis hopes to focus on crafts and expand into mostly hand made items, and he’s always willing to see what creators have to offer: “I like that stuff…that people take the time to make.”

When you learn a little more about Travis, it’s no surprise that he is open to people, creativity and being welcoming. Recently widowed, he is now a single father of 15 children – 11 of whom he and his late wife adopted – with six still at home, the youngest being only six years old. This, all the while he still works full-time in addition to being the new owner of a store where you can buy gift for good by supporting local crafters and producers.

PAULETTE LEE

PREPARED FINANCIALLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, ALL YEAR LONG

Written by JACOB W. BARR

As the holiday season arrives, there might be many things that we may be planning to do. Between the gift shopping, decorations, food preparations, traveling and other seasonal purchases, it can be quite easy to let the holiday spending get a bit out of control.

One way to stay ahead of the expenses is to start to plan early, and be thoughtful, prepared, and have a plan in place before you start shopping this holiday season.

The first and best place to start when getting your finances ready for the holidays is to establish a budget, before the holiday season gets into full swing. Start by making a list of all the essential holiday expenses you will have, and remember to be as specific as possible. Often, the smaller extra expenses can get overlooked, such as stamps for those holiday cards, wrapping paper, bows and name tags. While they may seem like small expenses, they can add up quickly when you have other expenses that you already budgeted for.

As the holiday season progresses, be mindful and stick to the budget you have, it can be easy to get caught up in the cheer and festivities of the season. Having a plan in place can help you avoid being caught up in last-minute purchases.

When it comes to spending during the holidays, a great way to have money set aside already is to start saving well in advance. Saving just a small amount

each week can result is building a good safety net to have for the holiday season. For example, if you save $40 a week over the course of a year, that would result in $2,080 put aside by December. Starting to save early for the holiday season can be a helpful way to avoid the pressure and stress of wondering if you are able to afford what you planned on doing for the holidays. Also, by starting to save early, you can minimize your use of credit cards. While credit cards can be a convenient way to cover some of the holiday expenses, it is very important to not get carried away and overuse them or max them out. The amount of credit you use affects your credit score, so be mindful, and not use them to a point where you can potentially harm your credit score. It is also wise to set a limit on the amount of credit that is dedicated to holiday expenses, and when possible, pay cash by utilizing a savings plan and a budget that you have established well before the season arrives.

When it comes to gifts for the holidays, do not forget about the personal touch of a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, homemade gift. While it is often more convenient and easier to purchase a gift for everyone, it can be just as meaningful and thoughtful to craft a homemade gift.

Just because a gift comes from a store does not make it any less valuable. The thought and care behind the gift are truly what gives it a special meaning. When you give someone a gift, you are showing them that you care about them, so whether you buy a gift, make one, or just make some time to spend with them during a very busy time of year, you are showing that you care about and value them, and that is what truly matters.

Lastly, if you plan on doing some traveling for the holiday season, you are not alone. From plane tickets, rental cars and hotel stays, the expenses of travel during the holidays can add up quickly, especially since the travel industry tends to raise prices around the holidays. The sooner you plan and make your travel arrangements, the more you can potentially save. Try looking well in advance to book that flight, rental car or hotel you will need for holiday travel. Waiting until the last minute will result in higher costs.

The holidays are a busy and fun time, filled with excitement and joy, and it can be easy to lose track of your spending. But, with some thoughtful planning and budgeting beforehand, you can make a meaningful step toward getting through the end of the year and help keep your finances intact.

Jacob W. Barr, AAMS, is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services, 140 Paul Smith Blvd. in Hagerstown.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Jacob Barr and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Ark Financial Advisors is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services

Making Your Own

Written by LISA MCCOY

f you are hosting a large holiday gathering or a simple family get-together, go with a latest trend and create a charcuterie board to impress your guests. So what is a charcuterie board? Charcuterie is a French word that describes a shop that sells cured meats (pork, salami, ham). Traditional charcuterie boards often include deli meats, a variety of cheeses, olives, nuts, dried fruits and other condiments. There are no rules to follow so you can create your own that fits your style. Some helpful tips as you create are to use an odd number of items and make it colorful by spacing out foods with the same color so you do not have all the red-colored foods in one place on the board (unless it is part of your design).

Here are step-by-step directions to create a traditional charcuterie board.

Select a board Select a board that will be the base for your spread. There is no limit to what you can use such as serving trays, cutting boards, large piece of wood or marble. Keep in mind that most of the board is covered with food. Collect some small bowls and plates that will hold smaller items with spoons or scoops. You can create a color theme or mix and match your favorite pieces.

Make a shopping list of items to include:

Decide what you want to include on your board, keeping your budget and your guests preferences in mind. Some items to consider include cheeses, deli meats, olives, nuts, fruit, dried fruit, crackers, small slices of bread, condiments such as mustard, jelly, jam or sweet and savory dips.

Anchor the board with bigger objects first.

This may include a round of cheese or small bowls containing condiments. Place your largest piece near the center, but not directly in the center and place other items evenly around the board. Now you are ready to fill in with the other items.

Cheeses

Start with the cheeses, maybe two or three different types including hard and soft cheeses. Serve cheeses in different shapes, like cubes and triangles, so they are easy to pick up. Consider topping a soft cheese like Brie or cream cheese with a spicy or sweet jelly.

Meats

Next you can add the meats. Choose a variety of meats from the local deli as well as cured meats like salami, sausages and pepperoni. You can pair

certain meats and cheeses together that go well together. Be creative in your display like fanning the meat slices or rolling them into tubes.

Fruits and Vegetables

Now it is time to add fruits and vegetables to your board. Select easy-toeat fruits like raspberries, blueberries and grapes, or cut other fruits like pineapple chunks and apple slices. Use dried fruits as well to add different textures and flavors. Add some sweet pepper slices, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, cucumber slices and marinated artichoke hearts.

Fresh herbs

Some fresh herb sprigs on your board adds some color and texture and also fragrance.

Olives, pickles and nuts

It is time to fill in spaces on your charcuterie board with olives, nuts and pickles. Many local supermarkets have olive bars that gives you a variety of choices. Select a variety of nuts to include as well as sweet and sour pickles. It may be best to avoid peanuts since peanut allergies are common.

Bread and Crackers

The final touch are bread and crackers. Offer a variety of crackers in different flavors, shapes and

colors to add interest to your display. Remember to be creative in how you display them by fanning them out or stacking different varieties and shapes together. Perhaps buy long thin bread sticks and serve in a small vase. Look for unusual crackers in the deli sections as well as the cracker aisle. Thinly slice some baguettes or other fresh bread from a local bakery. Crackers and breads can be arranged on the board or place in a basket or other container on either side of the board to make it easier for guests.

Do not forget the serving tools

Place forks, spoons and toothpicks around the board so guests can easily serve themselves without touching the food. If you have a lazy Susan, use it to hold your charcuterie board so it is easy to turn and serve. Place a trash can nearby for napkins and other disposables.

You may want to make a drawing of your charcuterie board before you begin placing items. Once it is finished, look it over and move things so you have different heights, textures and colors. You want your guests coming back for more, so offer a variety of flavors including sweet, savory and spicy. If arranging a large charcuterie board is overwhelming, try with a more simplified one shown in the boxes like meat and cheese, breakfast or others.

Other Charcuterie inspirations

Dips and Spreads

are some ideas to include on this

board

/ Spreads

dip

hummus

guacamole

queso

brie

veggie dip

Breads / Crackers

potato chips

pita chips

tortilla chips

crackers

broccoli, cauliflower, celery

Fruit and Cheese

a fruit and cheese tray with a touch of sweetness. Here are some ideas but customize it to your own tastes and budget.

cheddar cheese

swiss cheese

munster cheese

brie

jack cheese

strawberries

blueberries

chocolate truffles

Board

family will enjoy a variety of

for breakfast with the following

waffles

links or patties

strips

quiches

small cups or bowls for syrup,

topping, fruit, granola and yogurt.

Christmas charcuterie

Assemble your meats, cheese and crackers into the shape of a Christmas tree. Include some sweets like chocolate truffles or green cornflake wreaths. Spring some cranberries around for a holiday touch.

Fondue charcuteries

Cheese fondue served with

bread cubes

pretzel sticks

apples

assorted crackers

fondue served with

strawberries

bananas

pretzels

marshmallows

graham cracker sticks

animal crackers.

Children’s party charcuterie

Lay a large piece of butcher paper on your table or counter. Fill it with kidfriendly foods including

fruit

veggies & dip

mini donuts

mini sandwiches cut into shapes

popcorn

cheese cubes

crackers

juice boxes

It is easy to serve and the kids will love it.

Lisa McCoy is a registered dietitian at the University of Maryland Extension

in anCarolyne Crosby created Harambee 54, a company specializing in African cuisine.

Written by PAULETTE LEE

ccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, five per cent of the 155,000 pop ulation in Maryland’s Washington County is foreign-born. Although, that may not seem like a lot of people — in fact, it is lower than the national average of 14 percent — it still amounts to nearly 8,000 people, all of whom are members of our community. To whatever degree they have assimilated into, or indeed changed the culture here, one thing is inarguable: they all have “comfort food” from their countries of origin.

Even though you can find freshly prepared baklava at Safron (with one “f”) Café on Eastern Avenue in Hagerstown, that’s about the only item that’s traditionally Moroccan, which is interesting given that owner, pastry chef and restaurateur Albert (“Al”) Elmerraji, didn’t come to the U.S. from his native Marrakesh, Morocco, until he was 21. While the café offers break fast and lunch items, it’s the French and Italian pastries for which it’s best known, and which Elmerraji says draws in his internationally diverse clientele.

“People come here from all four cor ners of the world, and they all say the same thing,” he laughs. “They all say, ‘This looks like…’, or ‘Oh, we have the same things in…’ or ‘We call this…’”.

For Elmerraji, “comfort food”, though, is still Moroccan: couscous and tagine (a rich stew with meat, chicken or fish, plus vegetables and/ or fruit, traditionally cooked in a clay pot with a coned lid), but he doesn’t make it.

“I feel like Moroccan food is a very involved culinary style that I never really had a chance to master,” he says, noting that at home he had four sisters and a mother who was a very good cook. He says his American wife, Hilary, who was raised in France and teaches French locally, is better at

Artist-blacksmith Dmitrii Volkov uses a cezve, the traditional long-handled metal pot used to make “Turkish” coffee.

cooking Moroccan food than he is.

Carolyne Crosby, born in Nairobi, Kenya, will cater just about any cui sine, but her go-to food, “Ugali sukuma wiki”, is simple enough to make: she mixes cornmeal and water; then sau tés onions in oil and adds the kale or

collard greens she’ll buy (in Chantilly, Virginia), or grows herself. She’s active in the Hagerstown Community Garden (she had to wait two years to get in!), where she not only grows greens for herself, but exchanges seeds or plants with other African Washington County residents in order to grow more African native vegetation.

Crosby, a recent graduate of Leadership Washington County, has created Harambee 54, a com pany whose mission is to share the “African spirit,” doesn’t think small. “Harambee” means “all pull together” in Swahili, and her goal is to create events that feature the food and varied cultures of Africa’s 54 countries. Her first step has been to join Hagerstown Community College’s new culinary incubator.

“We get so much support here and we learn so much about running a business,” Crosby says. “They give us mentorship, business resources, com munity connections, and information on marketing, production and pack aging.” Creating a pan-African menu, though, can be challenging.

Pastry chef Albert (“Al”) Elmerraji, owner of Safron Cafe in Hagerstown, offers breakfast and lunch, but especially the pastries.

Sila Alegret-Bartel, of International Corporate Training & Marketing in Hagerstown, names chicken soup as one of her standby comfort foods.

“African cuisine is heavy on the starches, especially rice and fresh vegetables and fruit,” Crosby explains. “Although the staples are the same or similar from country to country, it’s the spices and preparation methods that are different.” And while chicken is universal, she jokingly notes that the chickens in sub-Saharan Africa are too scrawny for American tastes, so she works with a local farm to provide more “suitable” poultry.

Sila Alegret-Bartel, founder and president of International Corporate Training & Marketing in Hagerstown, also loves good, fresh chicken. She came to the U.S. from Cuba as a young adult shortly after Fidel Castro took over, but her comfort food isn’t spe cifically Cuban; it’s chicken soup, which she jokes has to be in her genes. Believing all her life she was Catholic of Spanish descent, she only recently learned from a familial DNA test that she’s actually 70% Jewish of Spanish descent! She’s fine with her new-found Jewish heritage, but she’s not about to give up her pork product heritage.

What she often makes for outdoor gatherings are Cuban sandwiches.

“The key is to use Cuban bread,” Alegret-Bartel points out. “But because

Jen Volkov offers up some homemade pie and sweet treats made from many ingredi ents grown on their property.

it’s difficult to find in this area, I use an Italian bread – not French! – that I can find at Walmart. The consistency is very similar. Then I spread yellow mustard on a piece of bread, then add a slice of ham – I like the plain boiled ham – then pork cooked Cuban style (she marinades country pork ribs in mojo sauce, then slices the meat very thin after cooking), then Swiss cheese, and then a little more mustard on the cheese, then add the second slide of bread, butter both outer sides of the bread and grill it so the cheese melts. I have a sandwich grill, but you can also just do it in a frying pan, pushing down on the bread.”

Alegret-Bartel may be good with adapting cookware to her native recipes, but Dmitrii Volkov is abso lutely adamant about how to make coffee – which he says is his comfort “food” (along with cigarettes, he jokes), because it’s how he made it for his mother, growing up in St. Petersburg, Russia. The artist-blacksmith, who lives with his wife and son in Cascade, where he also has his studio, has won numerous awards for his public and exhibit artworks both in Russia, from where he emigrated four years ago, and in the U.S.

Not only does Volkov insist on using traditional blacksmith methods to fabricate his pieces, he also insists on using a cezve (pronounced “chez-veh” or “shez-veh”), the traditional long-han dled metal pot used to make “Turkish” coffee — a method favored in the Middle East, as well as in the Ukraine. Water is placed in the pot (and sugar, if desired) and brought to a boil; very finely ground, strong coffee is added to the water, then brought to a boil again…and then often a third time.

Another favorite in the Volkov home is mochoniye yabloki, fermented (or “sour”) apples. It wasn’t so much because of their popularity that the Volkovs first decided to make them, but rather because one autumn they bought too many apples at a local farmers’ market and had to do something with them. They decided to look up how apples were tradition ally preserved in Russia before there was refrigeration. However, they’ve substituted a wide-mouthed jar for an impractical oak barrel.

A particular northern Russian treat is varenye – a whole fruit preserve that Jen makes by cutting up pieces of fruit and boiling them in sugar water (ratio of fruit to sugar is 1:1) – small “heaven apples” that are cooked in sugar water (apple:sugar ratio = 1:1) in a copper bowl, left for a day, boiled for five min utes, left for three days, then sealed in a jar. It’s so sweet it has to be hidden from the children! Now Jen uses a vari ety of fruits to make the sweet treat – as well as pies – including the gooseber ries that are among the many vegeta bles, herbs and fruit trees the Volkovs lovingly grow on their property.

For those who don’t grow their own food, or who need some commercial assistance, fortunately Washington County has many grocery stores that cater to traditional international pal ates, and offer halal products – those that follow Muslim (and indeed Jewish Kosher) dietary laws. That’s a good thing, because as with most of us, home (cooking) is where the heart is.

Nancy is probably the nicest Real Estate Professional that we have ever met. A profoundly patient agent which does whatever it takes to get the job done. Nancy was working with my wife and I after 11 PM at night to get our offer fnalized and accepted...can’t tell you the number of evening and weekend calls that we had with Nancy during the process - numerous to be sure. We certainly will refer our friends, family & Washington County business associates to Nancy. Can’t say enough good things about Nancy “she is awesome” and she will work very hard for you.

highly

personal service in preparing our home

sale. She was readily available for our questions and concerns. Offering expert advice.

will recommend her as a top-notch Realtor.

The beginning of the holiday season brings with it a slew of annual traditions. Perhaps it’s time to hang those festive lights on the house, or bake those yummy sugar cookies, or find the ugly sweater that is always such a big hit at holiday parties? Don’t forget to add a trip to the local brewery to your holiday to-do list this year, as many establishments offer seasonable favorites throughout November and December to enhance the holiday spirit. The following are just a few of the unique and nearby offerings you can enjoy.

DARK SHADOWS

INGREDIENTS: Pale crystal, and specialty dark malts

Dark Shadows is a 7.7% Imperial Porter that Antietam Brewery is barrel aging in Whisky barrels from McClintock and Tenth Ward Distilleries, both located in Frederick. The beer is brewed using a blend of pale, crystal, and specialty dark malts that after aging will have a malty, smooth complexity layered with whisky and oak notes from the casks. This beer is designed to bring us into the colder, longer nights and would be perfect for sipping on next to a nice fire. Dark Shadows will be available throughout November and December.

ANTIETAM BREWERY

140 Western Maryland Parkway Hagerstown, Md. 240-513-4490

EARTHLY RICHES

INGREDIENTS: Base and specialty malts, hops, grain and yeast Adding to its catalog of dark lagers, Cushwa introduces to you Earthly Riches. Brewed to be as traditional to style as possible, this Czech Dark Lager features a bready, sweet aroma with a slight hint of chocolate. The flavor follows with toasted bread and toffee. This beer is clean and smooth to create a high drinkability factor.

CUSHWA BREWING COMPANY 10210 Governor Lane Boulevard Suite# 2010, Williamsport, Md. 301-223-3434

RUDOLPH’S MULE

INGREDIENTS: Peppermint schnapps, vodka and ginger beer

A winter classic, Rudolph’s Mule will definitely leave you jolly and red nosed with its minty but tart flavor.

PROHIBITION HUB

28 S Potomac St., Level B Hagerstown, Md. 240-513-6032

COURTESY OF PROHIBITION HUB

COURTESY OF CUSHWA BREWING COMPANY

COURTESY OF ANTIETAM BREWERY

A Gift of Giving: Beyond the Beans

Written by V. CRAIG CAMPBELL JR.

Everyone is looking for a pickme-up, especially around the holidays. From gifting coffee to those you love to serving the tastiest beans on a family-filled gather ing at dessert, River Bottom Roasters has crafted the perfect blend to keep everyone happy.

While we’re talking gifts, our RBR Crew Subscription (coffee delivered every month at the frequency you choose) or a hearty gift card can easily do the trick for a fun stocking stuffer. With more blends and single origin roasts in the works every year, there is no time like the present to become a fan of our coffee. Even better, grab one of our Roasters Sampler packs and get my personal picks to give our beans a taste. Brewing at home really has never been easier – or tastier.

River Bottom Roasters beans may be the perfect holiday gift, but did you know you can even support our craft roasts by purchasing at local small businesses? From Maryland to West Virginia to Pennsylvania, smaller cof fee shops are using our roasts in their delicious craft coffees, so supporting them is truly supporting us!

In Maryland, Frederick Coffee Company is serving up our beans in their craft lattes, or head to Middletown’s Main Cup and grab a cup and a bag of our beans to go. Hagerstown delights with our roasts in drip or craft coffee at Free Range Café & Coffee Co, JP Mino, and Brooke’s House, just to name a few. And, in downtown Boonsboro, you can find us at Stone Werks.

West Virginia boasts A.M. Brews in Martinsburg – a quaint coffee spot delivering power-packed lattes and cold

brew. Just a short drive away, catch our beans at The Grind in Ripley, or H.B. Snalleygaster’s in Harpers Ferry. Greencastle, Pa., brings you to down town’s The Bean & Biscuit Coffeehouse or a short hop and a skip to Lotus Bowls & Juicery in Chambersburg where our cold brew is on deck.

Sometimes the holiday season is not so much about promoting how you can help our singular small business, but how helping several can come full circle. We encourage you to shop small and keep it local as you venture out to find that perfect gift.

Craig Campbell Jr. is the head roaster/ owner at River Bottom Roasters.

The Bean & Biscuit Coffeehouse in Greencastle, Pa.

Frederick Coffee Company

H.B. Snalleygaster’s in Harpers Ferry

PHOTOS

Don’t Forget the

Pennland Pure is Hancock’s award-winning local cheesemaker

Written by LINDA HARKCOM

In 2016 Lanco-Pennland Quality

Milk Producers began produc ing cheese at the Co-op’s cheese plant, Pennland Pure, located near Hancock, Md.

Since then, Pennland Pure Cheeses have developed a reputation as high-quality products both locally and nationally. Recently, the cheeses produced by the Lanco-Pennland Co-op have won awards in two national contests where they competed against the elite cheesemakers from across the country.

“We wish to collaborate this accom plishment with our local community and dairy farmer owners,” Kurt Williams, Lanco-Pennland’s general

manager, states in a press release. “This achievement is a testament to our incredibly dedicated staff. The passion to produce excellence can be found in all our products, and every employee contributes to these achievements.”

Pennland Pure cheeses earned mul tiple awards at the American Cheese Society 2022 Judging & Competition. The cheese competition is designed to allow cheesemakers to showcase their talents and work as leaders within the industry. This year, the judging event was held May 19 and 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium, which is the University of Minnesota’s Football Stadium.

This was the 39th year for the com petition, which was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pennland Pure’s cheese are a popular item at local and national food stores.

The Pennland Pure cheeses include:

Pennland Pure placed in several cat egories the last time the competition was held in 2019.

Rachel Perez, Judging and Competition Committee Chairperson for the American Cheese Society Judging and Competition, said that this year there were 206 companies with 1,396 entries.

“We focus on an evaluation of each cheese and each cheese is judged on its own merit,” Perez says.

Cheeses are evaluated on appear ance, aroma, texture and flavor, Perez explains.

“You look. You smell. You touch. You taste,” Perez says.

Cheeses get two scores. One for Technical score. This part of the completion is judged by someone with a dairy science background and pro vides feedback on how they make their cheese.

The Aesthetic score is determined by industry experts in the area of sales and marketing such as cheese mongers, cheese distributors, cheese writers and cheese importers.

“These judges focus on how your cheese will sell in the marketplace,” Perez says.

There are first, second and third place awards given for each category. Perez said if multiple cheeses have the same scores, there can be more than one first, second, or third place award given out.

Pennland Pure’s Sharpsburg Cheddar placed 2nd in the Aged Cheddar category, positioning them 2nd to Cabot Creamery and above Tillamook. Their Sharpsburg Cheddar was named after the historic town of

Sharpsburg, Md.

Pennland Pure placed 2nd with their Provolone in the Pasta Filata Types, and in the Monterey Jack category placed 3rd with their own Pennland Pure Monterey Jack.

The awards were presented on July 21 at the American Cheese Society Annual Conference held in Portland, Oregon.

“Winning an award is kind of a benchmark for a quality product within that category in the American Marketplace,” Perez says. “A lot of buyers use our competition guide as a resource of what cheeses to choose.”

Pennland Pure’s Sharpsburg Cheddar also recently took third place honors in the Aged Cheddar category at the 2022 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest.

The World Dairy Expo (WDE) Championship Dairy Product Contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn., received a record number 1,560 entries for cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, sour cream, sherbet, cultured milk, sour cream dips, whipping cream, whey and creative/innova tive products from dairy processors throughout North America.

“This year’s contest was a recordbreaker, reflecting how much dairy processors have come to embrace this unique and special event,” Brad Legreid, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, says in a press release. “Winning companies parlay their success into unprecedented marketing and retail sales opportunities, while other companies receive valuable insights

from the fifty highly-trained sensory experts whom judge their products.”

Judging for the WDE Championship was held on Aug. 23 through 25 at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Culinary Arts School in Madison, Wi. Awards will be presented on Oct. 4 at the World Dairy Expo, scheduled to be held at the Alliant Energy building’s Exhibition Hall in Madison, Wi.

Pennland Pure products are avail able at Mr. Hardware in Hancock, Md., Horst Meats, Hagerstown, and Battleview Market located in Sharpsburg, Md. Wholesale customers include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Dietz & Watson and Weiss Markets Deli.

Sherry Canfield, a cashier at Battleview Market in Sharpsburg, Md., says the cheeses are a popular item at their store.

“We have regular customers that wait weekly for it to come in just so they can get it,” Canfield says.

The store has carried the Pennland Pure cheeses for a little over a year, and Canfield says the cheeses sell out pretty much every time a shipment comes in. She says the most popular item is the Sharpsburg Cheddar.

“It’s just an excellent cheese. It’s got a great taste,” Canfield says.

Among Pennland Pure’s awards is one from the American Cheese Society 2022 Judging & Competition for their Sharpsburg Cheddar, their Provolone, and their Monterey Jack.

‘The Letter Carrier’ Delivers Harrowing Story of Survival

Written by JENNIFER FITCH

For Laurie “L.C.” Lewis, a 2016 encounter in a peaceful, Sharpsburg setting provided the first anecdotes about horrific, traumatizing events that impacted one woman and the whole world.

Lewis was visiting her mother in an assisted-living community when she met Michelle (Naget) Rogers. She

realized Michelle was French and shared information about the book she had recently published. By fall, Lewis had secured Michelle’s trust and was conducting regular interviews with her, learning about Michelle’s World War II experiences that included living with Nazi commanders quartered in her family home.

Lewis recently authored “The Letter Carrier” to tell Michelle’s life story.

“It’s a real story of what can happen

and how quickly freedom can be lost,” Lewis says.

Beatrice Kiss, of Myersville, helped to fill in gaps in her mother’s memory and translated family documents for Lewis. Michelle died in January at age 93.

“The Letter Carrier” details how Michelle tried to stay invisible to the Nazi occupiers in her beloved village of Braquis. A deeply religious person throughout her life, Michelle

COURTESY OF LAURIE LEWIS

Michelle (Naget) Rogers at 16.

Sketch of Michelle made by a U.S. Soldier

encouraged friends and family throughout the war. She was tasked with carrying messages and goods on a bicycle across the region.

“It definitely impacted my mom severely,” Kiss says. “She was traumatized.”

After 1956, Michelle lived in Germany and the United States. She continued to struggle in areas of her life but remained faithful and resourceful, according to her daughter.

“She lived for others, not herself,” Kiss says.

Kiss heard her mother’s childhood stories time and time again, asking questions when she had opportunities to do so. Most stories contained painful, emotional details, but one about Michelle unknowingly walking into a room and meeting Gen. George S. Patton Jr. made her daughter laugh.

That story and others are incorporated into Lewis’ self-published “The Letter Carrier,” which is available from Amazon and other major booksellers.

“The major events in the book are my mom’s life story,” Kiss says.

Using a number of resources, including a compilation of eyewitness accounts that featured Michelle’s brother’s own words, Lewis connected the major events in a book that is as such advertised as a fictional account. Lewis remained mindful of only asking a few questions each time she met with Michelle to not tire her. Michelle last visited France 16 years ago.

Kiss likes that the book accurately portrays her mother as a child of God and a witness for Him.

“One lesson I got from meeting Michelle is hard things don’t have

to make you hard,” Lewis says, saying she appreciated that Michelle remained a gentle peacemaker despite soul-crushing circumstances.

“The Letter Carrier” is Lewis’ 14th published novel under the pen names Laurie Lewis and L.C. Lewis. She said she hopes to see this book stocked in school libraries to preserve the personal accounts from World War II.

Kiss lived with her mother for many years, and Lewis speaks fondly of their shared character traits.

“She’s got her mom’s resourcefulness, and her family is incredibly patriotic,” says Lewis, who now lives in Utah herself.

Kiss said her mother spent her life pushing back against prejudice.

“My mother’s legacy is love for other people,” Kiss says. “She was a selfless, giving person.”

The Naget home in Braquis, France, as it looks today.

Author Laurie “L.C.” Lewis

The exterior and interior (at right) of the Église St-Georges church in Braquis, in northwest France, the hometown of Michelle (Naget) Rogers.

The Miller House in downtown Hagerstown is the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society.

Steadfast Homestead

Miller House Museum acquires artifacts that made an 1800s house

home

Written by Paulette Lee

BY COLLEEEN

PHOTO S BY PAULETTE LEE

No electricity, no natural gas. No air conditioning, no window screens. No indoor plumbing. No radio, no TV, and definitely no internet.

Making a house a home in the 1800s might seem a hardship to us today, and even back then it had its chal lenges. However, as in most eras, if people had the financial means, home life was not only tolerable, but it could be gracious.

So it was for the well-to-do families who lived in what is now known as the Miller House Museum, home to the Washington County Historical Society. The stately brick neoclassical townhouse sits at 135 W. Washington St. along what used to be called “Lawyers’ Row” in Hagerstown, because of its proximity to the courthouse.

The original site for the Bell family of potters in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the house was built in 1825 by William Price, a prominent Hagerstown attorney who served in the Maryland legislature and was appointed U.S. District Attorney by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1844, Price sold the home to the Neill family who lived there for three generations, and then, in 1912, the property was purchased by local physician Dr. Victor Davis Miller Jr. and his wife. The Millers expanded the home a few years later to accommodate the doc tor’s medical practice, and eventually their heirs donated the building to the historical society in 1966, more than 50 years after the society was formed.

The rooms on the first level at the front of the house, which opens to Washington Street, were used by Price as his law office and a reception room, “for the ladies who weren’t part of the business discussions,” said Washington County Historical Society Executive Director Robyn Sumner. The museum still has the doors that were closed between the two rooms, but they remain in stor age, since the rooms are now used for members only, as well as open-to-

Washington County Historical Society

Executive Director Robyn Sumner explains the rather ingenious way baked goods were stored when there was no refrigeration and no screens on windows that had to be kept open in warmer weather. If flies got in while the doors were open, they could get out through the holes on the inside of the tin door panels, but they couldn’t get in when the doors were closed because the panels had pierced openings on the outside that would cut their wings.

In the background, a sideboard holds a candle mold on the top shelf. From Belinda Springs Farm, an early 19th-cen tury resort, this sideboard is believed to be the oldest piece of furniture in Washington County. In the foreground on the pine kitchen table are kitchen and dining implements, including a sugar cone, paper fan, spice container, and mortar and pestle. The cookie presses are often used in the Miller House’s free, weekly “Family Fun Activities” (adults must accompany children), from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. On the right are a (nonworking) fireplace for cooking and an iron stove from J.R. Jones Foundry in Hagerstown.

Made of pine (popular because it was inexpensive and readily available), the dough box, when closed, trapped heat and facilitated yeast action, and the top could be used for kneading dough.

FACTS

THE MILLER HOUSE

• William Price, a prominent attorney in Hagerstown, built the Miller House in 1825.

• The Miller House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

• The home contains more than thirty rooms, from the basement to the attic.

• The town house features sixover-six windows, with six panes of glass in both the upper and lower sash; this is typical of Federal-style townhouses.

• The parlor features two fireplaces made of Potomac marble, a mixture of limestone and quartz; Potomac marble was a favorite building material of Benjamin Latrobe, designer of the U.S. Capitol building and second Architect of the Capitol.

• An elegant cantilevered staircase reaches from the foyer to the attic.

• An addition to the town house was added after 1844, used as attorney and physician offices.

• The Neill family installed the Miller House’s first telephone in 1904.

Sumner shows how the foot doorbell placed at the Miller House’s side main door would be placed under the rug in the entry, ringing when it was stepped on so people downstairs could hear that someone entered the building.

the-public gatherings, presenta tions and special events. The actual entrance to the home, though, was on the side, opening into a foyer, to the left of which is a formal dining room that continues into the heart of every home: the kitchen. Today, the kitchen is a combination of modern conve niences and 19th-century artifacts that reveal a great deal about what it was like to be at home long ago.

More items illustrative of home life in early 19th-century Washington County are being prepared as part of an upcoming exhibit of recent dona tions from the California descendants of Michael Seibert of Clear Spring. Included among the artifacts will be a Steinsteffer tall case (“grandfather”) clock, and hundreds of documents, including an atypical family Bible containing slaves’ names.

Sugar came in a large cylindrical cone for easier transport. Guests could tell the degree to which they were held in the hostess’ esteem by the size of the piece of sugar she clipped off for them at the dining table. It was a servant’s job (there’s no determination as to whether the household had slaves in the early to mid-1800s) to stand at the table, wav ing a paper fan to keep away flies and other pests that entered the room from open windows. Imported spices were expensive, so they were kept in the small drawers, and then ground by hand with a mortar and pestle.

Examples of the famed “Shenandoahstyle” pottery, perfected by Peter Bell and his sons in the 19th century, are on display upstairs in the Miller House.

Let us help

by NCUA

Written by LINDA HARKCOM

ew York City is a popular tourist destination and, since it is only a little over a four-hour drive from the Hagerstown area, people can choose to go for the day, a weekend or longer. But no time of the year attracts people more to the Big Apple than when it is decked out for the holidays.

“A visit to New York City during the holidays is a spectacular and special way to celebrate one of the most joyful times of the year. The holiday season is an ideal time to take part in New York City’s beloved and iconic annual events and to explore the many new experiences offered across the five boroughs,” says NYC & Company Executive Vice President of Global Communications Tiffany Townsend.

Garry Kline, owner of Kline Tours in Greencastle, Pa., says his company offers one-day trips to New York City, monthly from April through December.

“We go to New York City and stay for about eight hours. You are on your own, to do as you please. Shop, take in a show,

day trip to New York

this holiday season

or see the sights. It’s a way to pop over and spend the day in the city to do as you choose,” Kline says.

For the holidays, Kline’s company offers weekly trips beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving through Christmas. The $93 per seat tours leave from

Hagerstown at 6 a.m. and return around midnight.

“The number one reason people go on our bus trips is to go shopping, and during the holidays they want to see the lights and the decorations. They also want to go to see a Broadway show or Radio City,” Kline says.

For people who really wish to spend more time seeing the sites, Belinda Stull, owner of Travel Leaders in Hagerstown, recommends going for more than one day.

“Christmas in one of the busiest, if not the busiest time of the year to go,” Stull says.” I recommend clients consider a two to four-day trip. One day to see the sites,

COURTESY

NYC & COMPANY

one to go to Radio City and one to see a Broadway show or The Nutcracker.”

Stull recommends her clients take the train to travel to New York City. Trains leave out of Harrisburg, Pa., Union Sta tion in Washington, D. C., and from Penn Station and Baltimore/Washington Inter national Thurgood Marshall Airport, both in Baltimore, Md. There are paid park ing garages available at every one of those sites.

“That’s the easiest way to get there. It brings them right into Penn Station in New York City,” Stull says.

For those who choose to drive to the city, Stull warns that parking in the city is quite an experience, but can be done.

“Parking can cost $60 a day or more, and you have to find an available space. I would make sure you choose a hotel that has parking available,” Stull says.

To avoid parking in the city, Stull notes some people drive to Newark, N.J., and take the train into the city from either Newark Airport or Penn Station.

Stull’s agency offers packages that include a hotel stay and show tickets, and they can tailor the packages to the client’s needs.

“I would talk with the client about what their budget is, as well as what they want to see, what they want to do and what their mobility issues may be since when you are in New York City, there is a lot of walking,” Stull says.

Once in the city, there are many things to see and do, especially around the hol iday season. NYC & Company is the offi cial destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City. They offer several suggestions on events and things to do in the city around the holidays.

The Christmas Spectacular, starring the Radio City Rockettes, runs from Nov. 18 through Jan. 2, in Midtown Manhattan. The holiday tradition at Radio City Music Hall is a musical stage show for audiences of all ages. It is known for its incredible costumes, festive songs and synchronized high kicks.

“It’s such an incredible show,” Kline says. “Probably one of the most popular

Rockefeller Center is renowned for its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the end of November.

Historic South Street Seaport, along the Hudson River in lower Manhattan, offers a variety of shops, dining and holiday festivities.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a New York City holiday tradition for 96 years.

shows of all time.”

Kline’s company offers a special package to see the Rockettes on Nov. 28. The package includes the bus ride and a ticket to the show for $199.

With more than 360 lanterns representing nearly 90 animal and plant species, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, running November 18 through January 8, is a walk-through, holiday lights festival that connects visitors with real wildlife. The park comes to life with immersive light displays, large, custom-designed animal lanterns and animated light shows that shine across the zoo. There are also seasonal treats, holiday music and other entertainment.

Stull says there are many light displays throughout the city, and some tour companies offer trips to see them. One of the bigger light displays she mentioned was the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Display in Brooklyn. This light display begins the day after Thanksgiving and run through New Year’s Eve.

Broadway will also offer up some holiday entertainment with the One Man Show: ‘A Christmas Carol.’ The show has a limited run from Nov. 21 through Jan. 1, at the Nederlander Theater in Midtown Manhattan. In this special adaptation, Tony Award-winning actor Jefferson Mays tackles more than 50 roles.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held Nov. 24 in Manhattan. This is the 96th year for the holiday tradition that features larger-than-life helium balloons, fantasy floats, clowns, performance groups, Broadway’s best musicals, celebrity appearances and more.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place Nov.30 at Rockefeller Plaza, in Midtown Manhattan.

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, located in Fordham, the Bronx, will run from Nov. 30 through Jan. 16. The model trains run through a display of more than 190 famous New York landmarks, all recreated from natural materials such as birchbark, lotus pods and cinnamon sticks.

COUNTDOWN TO 2023

Times Square is known throughout the world as one of the top destinations to ring in the new year.

“Witnessing the Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball drop is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a fun way to ring in the New Year,” says Tiffany Townsend, NYC & Company Executive Vice President of Global Communications. According to www.nycgo.com, roughly 1 million people pack Times Square, in Manhattan, to ring in the new year each Dec. 31.

Townsend says she recommends attendees bundle up and dress in warm layers in case of colder temperatures. She also suggests they bring snacks or eat beforehand.

“And be sure to plan the trip ahead of time before arriving at Times Square—we recommend taking the train,” Townsend says.

Belinda Stull, owner of Travel Leaders in Hagerstown, says those going to view the ball drop from the street, must follow the rules, like staying in the corral because there is a lot of security present.

“Book well in advance, unless you are going to be very wild and crazy and drive in for the event and drive out. I think even finding space in New Jersey is difficult,” Stull says.

Stull notes that it is more comfortable to watch the ball drop from a hotel. But, she adds, there are very few options available, and the cost is very expensive per night.

“Rooms can sell out a year in advance or more,” Stull says. “Packages include a party, you get to see the ball drop, and you usually get a meal. You usually have to stay a certain number of nights to be able to get these packages.”

– LINDA HARKCOM

Times Square provides the ultimate New Year’s Eve experience.

City Cruises Holiday Themed Cruises leave from Manhattan through out the holiday season. These dining cruises feature festive decor, meals, and stunning views of the city while sailing across the East and Hudson Rivers from the glass-enclosed deck.

Stull recommends The Ride NYC sightseeing tour, where participants take a 4.2-mile bus ride and see a 75-minute show along the way on the streets of New York City.

“You sit sideways, theater-style, on the bus. They tell corny jokes and at all of the stops there are staged performances where Santa is there, or caroler appear and sing or dancers show up and per form,” Stull says.

Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebra tion will be held at The Apollo Theater on Dec. 30 in Harlem, Manhattan. This annual event features Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater in a power evening of music, percussion, and modern and African dance.

Stull also says people enjoy shopping and taking in the specially designed holi day windows.

“There are craft markets all around the city including Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbia Circle. Grand Central Sta tion has a huge Christmas market there and it’s indoors,” Stull says.

For more information on Kline Tour’s bus trips, call 717-597-5997 or visit www.klinetours.net. To get further details on booking a trip through Travel Leaders in Hagerstown, call 301-739-4600 or email hagerstown@travelleaders.com. For more information about visiting New York City, visit www.nycgo.com.

Midtown Manhattan’s Bryant Park is all aglow throughout December.

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx

Within its late 19th-century architecture, Carnegie Hall is one the nation’s premier concert halls and offer a several programs of holiday music during the season.

PHOTOS

COURTESY OF NYC & COMPANY

Part of the glimmering ride Holiday Lights on the Lake at Lakemont Park is the intricately designed "Avenue of Trees."

YES, YOU MAY, SPEND THE DAY, IN NEARBY PA, FOR THE HOLIDAY

Celebrate your holiday season in Altoona, Pa., with a getaway visit full of family fun and nostalgia. Located within the heart of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania, Altoona/Blair County is the home of the renowned Holiday Lights on the Lake at Lakemont Park, cele-

brating its 26th anniversary. Visitors will experience the magic of the holidays within the 51-acre drive-through holiday display featuring more than one million festive lights. Each year, the park’s maintenance crew begins the setup as early as mid-August to be ready for

the November opening. During the months-long installation, electricians install a series of temporary electrical panels along the route and painstakingly check or replace every single bulb used in the displays. The cost is $15 per vehicle to tour the route.

PARK

Perhaps the most popular section for touring is the “Avenue of Trees,” which requires special attention to detail. A single lighting designer dedi cates from three-to-five days stringing the lights – per tree – and always with new strands of lights, in hopes of mak ing that section just as dazzling, if not more, than the year before.

At Lights on the Lake, you may also watch operating model trains in dif ferent scales make their way through scenic vistas of the age of railroading, all courtesy of the Alto Model Train Association’s free exhibit. Don’t leave without exploring Santa’s Village, located at the end of the route. It is a perfect spot to find holiday gifts and enjoy tasty treats, including cinnamon roasted nuts and kettle corn, and per haps get your picture taken with Santa himself.

Other Nearby Attractions

If a scenic train ride gets you in the holiday spirit, try a trip to nearby Hollidaysburg, Pa., for a ride on Santa’s Express with the Everett Railroad. Children of all ages will enjoy a scenic steam-powered ride, plus a visit with Santa. Hot cocoa and cookies are pro vided, and all children receive a small gift. Departing from the vintage train

depot in Hollidaysburg, the excursion will journeys through the winter countryside to Brookes Mills, returning approximately one hour later.

For the more active kids, a visit to Blair County will not be complete without some indoor family recreation and entertainment at the newly expanded Slinky Action Zone in Duncansville, Pa., as well as the Tilt Studio and Urban Air Adventure Park, both in Altoona, Pa. Themed around the iconic Slinky and housing the World’s Largest Slinky as its entrance, Slinky Action Zone offers two-tier laser tag action, newly installed duck pin bowling, an arcade with futur istic virtual reality, soft play and more. Tilt Studio features mini bowling, mini golf, an exclusive bobsled ride and over

100 arcade games. Urban Air attractions include climbing walls, ropes course, Battle Beam, Skyrider, Tubes Playground and trampolines.

Top everything off with unique specialty shopping and a variety of dining choices including unique chef-inspired culinary experiences, newly opened breweries, pubs and other eateries, as well as your favorite national chain restaurants. If more than one day is needed to check everything off your holiday to-do list, stay overnight at one of Altoona’s award-win ning hotels.

Explore Altoona this holiday season, and all year-round; you will wonder why you hadn’t done so before.

The 51-acre drive-through holiday display features more than one million festive lights.

No boarding ticket is necessary to enjoy the festive model train exhib it on display at Lakemont Park.

A display is prepped with new bulbs before installation.

The lakeside roundabout display is just one of the many sites along the route.

Feast or festive?

Written by SANDIE LYNCH

Weight gain or regain is a concern for many during the holiday season. Although holidays can bring lots of fun and connection, they can bring more stress as well, with more things to do within an already packed schedule. Everything seems to pull us away from our normal routine. So here are a few strategies to hold onto to assist with maintaining weight.

Best ways to maintain weight:

Eat mostly quality unprocessed foods

Processed and fast food, along with sugary beverages, results in the most weight re-gain; therefore, make meals and snacks with whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. This helps keep hunger at bay and may reduce the urge to grab too many cookies off the counter.

Eat earlier

Food is energy, so eating later just to go to bed on a full belly is only going to fuel weight gain. Eating larger meals for breakfast and lunch with a small dinner, especially when eaten before 5 p.m., ensures the energy is used as fuel for activities instead of being stored.

Get plenty of rest

Don’t let the list of “to-dos” drive you to burn the mid night oil. Not getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep on a regular basis contributes to elevated levels of the stress hor mone cortisol. Cortisol increases hunger and the ability to store fat around the middle. Individuals who keep a regular bedtime ritual maintain their weight better than individu als who stay up late.

Do these things to avoid weight re-gain

Keep an exercise routine

Regular exercise uses food to fuel the muscles and entire body with energy, especially the brain. This helps reduce stress and anxiety and builds resilience to stress. Exercise also lowers the stress hormone cortisol and helps burn fat instead of storing it.

Don’t skip meals

Skipping meals can cause a drop in blood sugar leading to feeling “hangry” (hungry and angry). Going too long without eating leads to overeating and poor choices. The holidays tend to have an excess of high-calorie sweets around to choose from, therefore, it’s best to keep the belly satisfied with healthy food to avoid the temptations. Using a meal replacement protein drink is an effective strategy to assist with weight maintenance since they are quick and easy with no prep required, especially when there is no time to stop for a healthy meal.

Drink more water

Making a habit of drinking your calories with sug ar-sweetened beverages, especially when mixed with alco hol, is one of the biggest contributors to weight gain. These calories can add up quickly overwhelming the body with too much sugar just to be stored as fat. Instead, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and if drinking alcohol, have one drink and then turn to water for the rest of the evening. Make it festive by infusing it with holiday fruits such as pomegranate seeds or orange slices and adding some fresh mint, yum!

Keep protein to one quarter of your plate

Individuals who eat higher amounts of animal protein have a higher weight and BMI (body mass index) than indi viduals who don’t. Studies show individuals maintain their

weight better, even after weight loss, when they consume less animal protein. When eating meat, choose lean meats such as skinless chicken and fish, and keep it to one-quarter of the plate, filling the rest of the plate with colorful fruits and vegetables. You may be surprised how full you feel.

Eat more fiber

Individuals who eat fewer processed foods and refined carbohydrates maintain their weight better, even after weight loss. Choose whole plant foods that are naturally high in fiber such as beans, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Eat nuts and seeds sparingly – though high in fiber, they have lots of calories and fat, and can lead to weight regain when in excess.

Mindful eating

Be intentional about choices and portion sizes. Chew thoroughly and slow down. This helps reduce intake and assist with weight maintenance. By slowing down during a meal, the body has time to register fullness. It takes about 20 minutes for satiety hormones to notify the brain that the stomach has had enough. Rushing through a meal leads to overeating and feeling bloated.

Monitor intake, movement and weight

Individuals who monitor intake, movement and weight are more likely to maintain lost weight. It’s OK to have small portions of favorite foods during the holidays, just fit them into your daily calorie allotment in order to maintain weight. Monitoring your weight at least once a week is a fan tastic way to stay on track. Weight maintenance is consid ered a fluctuation of no more than 3 percent of weight either up or down. Use a scale and other tools such as a movement tracker to assist with eating and moving for your best.

Habits help you feel your best

Remember, holidays are for celebrating and connecting. Don’t let it be a time of disconnecting from your best. Put your self on your “to-do” list and maintain the routines that help you feel energized and joyful throughout the holidays. If you want support or accountability to help you maintain your weight over the holidays, please call Sandie Lynch at 240-439-9927.

Sandie Lynch is a registered dietician, fitness trainer, wellness and lifestyle medicine pro fessional coach, and owner of ATP Wellbeing Consultants LLC. Attain Top Performance (ATP) in Life with health, fitness and spiritual connection. Contact her for a free 60-minute consultation session for three powerful steps toward greater sleep and health at Sandie@ ATPHealthandFitness.com or 240-439-9927.

Endoscopy

LIVES

Colonoscopy

Ahmed, M.D.,

C.P. Choudari, M.D., M.R.C.P. (UK),

Enam, M.D., FACG Rashid Hanif, M.D.,

Lewis, M.D.

Letting Go of Guilt and Shame

Written by SARAH SCHIFFRES-GROVE

Shame is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable emotions you may experience. We’ve all been there. No other emotion has the ability to make you feel like you’ve been shrunken down to half your size and just want to disappear. Shame is a common reaction to guilt. Research professor Brene Brown says, “Guilt is adaptive and helpful – it’s holding something we’ve done, or failed to do, up against our values, and feeling psychological discomfort.” The anecdote for guilt is to stop engaging in the behavior that led to those guilty feelings, make amends and work on forgiving ourselves.

Because guilt can be transformative, you might conclude that shame can

also be healthy. Think of this – socio paths are notorious for being so cutoff from the experience of shame that they hurt people again and again, seemingly without batting an eye. Behaving this way is not sustainable, though, if we prefer living in a society where our basic needs for safety are met.

When shame becomes unhealthy (or toxic) however, it is no longer beneficial and can lead to many prob lems. Toxic shame is an emotion that occurs in reaction to a perception of self-defectiveness. If we believe, “I did something bad, therefore the core of my being is bad,” that’s toxic shame. Depressed? Always anxious? Low self-esteem? That’s likely toxic shame. As a mental health therapist, I spend a lot of my time helping people learn to untangle from years of toxic shame.

Root Causes of Toxic Shame

Adverse childhood experiences. This might mean having a primary attachment figure, who relied heavily on shaming/verbal abuse as a means of modifying unwanted behaviors. Children are self-centered by their very nature. They absorb all external stimuli like a sponge, including hurtful messages from caregivers, especially if not balanced out by healthy doses of reassurance, unconditional love and caregivers taking accountability for their behaviors. I’m a mother of three. I’ll be the first to admit that at times I’ve been short-tempered or said something hurtful in a moment of frustration. At the same time, I make it a point to tell my children when I’ve messed up, normalize imperfection and encourage them to do the same.

Physical or sexual abuse. Children often believe, “If only I was a better kid, these bad things wouldn’t happen to me.” Similarly, adults in abusive relationships might come to internalize their partner’s behaviors and fault themselves. Often those in abusive adult relationships are products of early childhood abuse, so there’s an abuse/shame cycle that takes a great deal of work to break.

Modeling by caregivers. If we had a parent who was unnecessarily hard on themselves and displayed toxic shame as the norm, it’s easy to find ourselves doing the same. Or, if we witnessed domestic violence in our formative years, often toxic shame is being modeled in that dynamic as well.

The influence of societal mes sages. We live in a culture that empha sizes winning and success above all else. I see it starting with my youngest clients, who feel pressure in school to be in higher level classes - talented and gifted, magnet, AP, etc. For some youth, this leads to feeling like a fail ure if they’re not at the top of their class (or sports team).

Individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. There is a societal belief that able bodied/minded people are “better.” The aging population is more susceptible to unhealthy shame, since our society is one that often views the elderly as disposable. Some LGBTQIA individuals face stigma from their family and religious com munities and this can lead to toxic shame. And then there’s mental health and substance use disorders, where long-standing stigmas abound and often create barriers to treatment and limit individual support due to family shame.

Survivors of suicide. When some one chooses to end their life, it often leaves a gaping hole, full of questions for their loved ones. Many are inclined

to turn inward, looking for answers, and will often ruminate about what they could’ve/should’ve done differ ently to prevent the tragedy. It is very important to remember that under no circumstances does the onus fall on anyone other than the individual who chose to end their life. Support groups and a compassionate therapist can be hugely beneficial for those enduring this type of loss.

The Anecdote for Toxic Shame

While there is no one formula for “curing” unhealthy shame, a combina tion of self-compassion work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a warm, therapeutic relationship can be a good starting point.

Being able to share your experiences with a nonjudgmental therapist can help you start to peel away the layers of shame you’ve developed over the course of your life. Mindfulness can also be a wonderful practice in the context of self-compassion work. It is the process of learning to observe your thoughts and feelings, in real time, without judgment. Two wonderful and free resources on this subject are Kristin Neff’s self-compassion.org and Tara Brach’s tarabrach.com.

CBT helps you question the

validity of your thoughts. We often assume, “I feel it/think it, so it must be true.” Speaker and author Byron Katie poses the Four Liberating Questions: 1) Is what I’m believing true? 2) Can I absolutely know that it is true? 3) How do I react when I believe that thought? and 4) Who would I be without the thought? This can be a useful exercise for examin ing if what we are feeling is actually guilt or toxic shame.

Engaging in activities that empower us and promote feelings of well-being and purpose can help to alleviate unhealthy shame. Simply modeling a gentler, more compas sionate relationship with ourselves can help to reinforce a new way of thinking and foster the same in oth ers. No matter how out of touch the idea of seeing ourselves as worthy may be, the reality is that the major ity of us possess an innate goodness that deserves to be celebrated and nurtured.

Sarah Schiffres-Grove is a licensed clinical social worker at Brook Lane’s North Village outpatient office. She counsels individuals and families with a variety of concerns ranging from mood and anxiety disorders, to trauma, substance use and family conflict. Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salisbury University, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Jewish communal service from Baltimore Hebrew University. She has been in the field of social work since 2005.

“Engaging in activities that empower us and promote feelings of well-being and purpose can help to alleviate unhealthy shame.”

Written by SUSAN HURD

It’s that time of year again when everyone with traditional Medicare needs to take time to review their 2023 Medicare Part D plan. Remember, Part D helps pay for prescriptions. Is last year’s option still the best plan for you? Medicare Part D open enrollment runs annually from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Did you know that looking at this plan annu ally can potentially save Medicare recipients thousands of dollars? Think about what a thousand dollars can do for you or your loved ones. If you are comfortable navigating the web on your own, then please visit www.myMedicare.gov and input the requested information as prompted.

Does using the web on your own raise your blood pressure just a little bit? Don’t worry, we have great news for you, the Washington County of Commission on Aging offers planning assistance through one of its Senior Health Insurance Programs. Simply give us a call and we can help you set up a telephone appointment with one of our dedicated staff members. During your appointment, our staff will help you navigate which Medicare Part D plan best fits your budget or

situation. Our staff will then walk you through the process of comparing plans and complete your enrollment in the 2023 Medicare Part D plan of your choice. Interested in additional help to review your Medicare Part D plan? Call us today at 301-790-0275.

Do you just want to learn more about Medicare? No problem, the Commission on Aging staff will walk you through the “Art of Medicare” on the second Wednesday each month from 1 to 3 p.m., pre-registration required. For more information, please contact us at info@wccoaging.org or call 301-790-0275.

There are a variety of informational and educational offerings that are available to support you and your loved ones. Check out our Website at www.wcoaging.org or visit our Facebook page for details at www.face book.com/WCCOAging.

These are just two programs of over 50 programs the Washington County Commission on Aging, Inc. provides for the community. Our mission is to assist in putting resources back into the hands and pockets of our community and your loved ones. The Washington County Commission on Aging understands that funds are lim ited, and we want our aging commu nity to have access to vital programs and resources. Call us today to find out how we can help you!

Providing these life-sustaining resources comes at a great cost. Please consider the Washington County Commission on Aging as your first choice to make a charitable contribu tion. Your generosity will aid to fill the gaps in funding and many cases enable us to apply for grants that we would not normally have the matching funds to receive. If you have questions about how to make a charitable contribution, please call us at 301-790-0275 or visit our website at www.wccoaging.org.

Susan Hurd is an RSVP Project Manager, Guardianship Care Manager and Community Educator for the Washington County Commission on Aging in Hagerstown.

Been There, Done That

Written by PAULETTE LEE

Over the course of the 36 years

I spent with my late husband – who had custody of his two children – I planned and executed about 150 holiday meals or observances (that would be Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter, not count ing parties, birthdays and anniversaries), many of which included extended family or “orphaned” friends, and many of which included hauling everyone out of town to visit relatives. In our family, the holidays were often fraught with stress, as they involved shar ing with the children’s birth mother, requiring my stepchildren to take round trip flights solo to California from wherever we were living, and then returning with the atten dant emotional baggage of a difficult custody arrangement.

Frankly, once the children had passed into puberty, Christmas was more drudgery than any thing else, and the best Christmas was when my husband and I “escaped” together to New Orleans. Once there were grand children, there was a return of delight in family

gatherings – though famil ial emotional scars always threatened to resurface.

And then, once my husband passed in 2010, I became the “orphan.”

There was a decided shift in family dynamics and I increasingly found myself alone for the holidays.

Some I’ve spent traveling abroad, some I’ve spent with friends or extended family whose kindness I appreciated (though I’d actually rather be with them when it’s not a holiday), and several I’ve spent alone, just ignoring that it’s supposed to be a “holiday.” It’s been those that I’ve liked the most, because there’s no pres sure, no stress, no reason to succumb to the demand to “Buy, buy, buy,” no feeling out of place in someone else’s family situation, where I really don’t belong.

Of course, I understand that for many older adults, the holidays are great times to get together with and enjoy family or close friends, especially this post-COVID year, but for those who may be alone, there are some good options.

Personally, I think the

week between Christmas and New Year’s is a perfect time to travel: the prices are down, and the entire Southern Hemisphere is weath er-friendly. If you don’t mind the cold, the color ful Christmas markets in Europe – especially France, Germany and Belgium – are a lot of fun. While I’m a fan of independent, solo travel, there are a myriad of tours and cruises geared to senior singles. There are also community activ ities in which you can get engaged and that can help you sail through. It’s also a good time to get caught up on those online courses you’ve been meaning to take, or that project or book you’ve wanted to tackle…that foreign lan guage or new skill you’ve been wanting to learn… that home improvement

chore just made for win ter…that museum you’ve been wanting to visit…or the memoir you’ve been putting off writing.

As for the day itself, if you’re home alone and everything is closed, why not just enjoy your own company (or that of your favorite streaming network)? You know, after all, it really is just another day.

Paulette Lee is a former award-win ning broadcast journalist and retired nonprofit and international development com munications consultant. She lives in Hagerstown, MD and hosts the weekly audio podcast, “WomanWorthy: Real Talk About Real Issues for Women Over 60” online at womanwor thy.podbean.com, or on most podcast apps.

Quality

Leadership Washington County hosts educational retreat

Written by TARA BOCKSTANZ

The Leadership Washington County Class of 2023 - #36 participated in their Opening Retreat at Rocky Gap Resort on Sept. 16 and 17. The retreat provides the opportunity for the unique group of individuals who live or work in Washington County to come together. The class is able to form connections and bonds that will benefit them throughout the course of the year as they learn about our county and how they can take pride, take part and take the lead in Washington County. The Opening Retreat was led by LWC Executive Director,

Tara Sargent and Facilitator, Griff Hall, who has been a Senior Professional Instructor in leadership and strategy at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business MBA program for 20+ years. During the retreat, the class participated in several team building, tem perament types and conflict style exercises. The class will engage in nine educational program days that explore poverty and the Human Service agencies that support those in need; Education & Workforce Development opportuni ties; the five regions of our county; State Government; and Board Governance; The first program day for LWC Class 36 was on October 7.

Fort Ritchie was the site for the first graduate member-only event.

For the 2022-2023 Leadership Washington County program year the Graduate Events will mirror the Class Program Days, utilizing the regional model. With this model, LWC graduates will visit all five regions of Washington County. The first graduate member-only event featured the Cascade/Smithsburg Region of Washington County and was held at Fort Ritchie. Graduate members learned about the economic re-development of the former U.S. military base from owner, John Krumpotich. Following the presentation, graduates had the opportunity to tour the property and see firsthand the development and opportu nity available in this area of Washington County.

Our second Graduate event was a unique opportunity to participate in a global village experience at Shepherd Spring Retreat & Conference Center located in Sharpsburg, Md. Participants chose from a global village in Guatemala, Thailand or Kenya and walked through daily life challenges that are present in these cultures. Graduates worked in small teams and took on a family member role as they pre pared their own lunch from one of these villages. During the process teams encountered challenges that they had to overcome in order to successfully prepare lunch for their team/family. After lunch the teams debriefed and discussed the challenges, communication and how they successfully

overcame. The goal of the program was to enlighten grad uates on poverty and food scarcity throughout the world by bringing in a new perspective of lifestyles in different cultures at home and abroad while promoting collaboration and communication.

Back for this program year is our Best Lunch Ever series. Graduates will have the opportunity to explore the changes coming to downtown Hagerstown. On Nov. 9, HagerstownWashington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF) will sponsor a luncheon in the Schindel-Rohrer Ballroom catered by 28 South. This Best Lunch Ever will spotlight an economic development roundtable discussion centered on the Multi-Use Sports & Event Center (MUSEC) scheduled to break ground in October 2022. The luncheon will feature special guests Greg Snook of CHIEF, MUSEC Coordinator Linda Ebersole and Atlantic League Team owners Blackie Bowen and Jim Holzapfel. We are very excited for a full year of graduate programming with many educational opportu nities for our graduate members.

Tara Bockstanz is the Director of Graduate Engagement at Leadership Washington County.

The Class of 2023 - #36 attends their Opening Retreat at Rocky Gap Resort in Flintstone, Md.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Resources for Your New Year’s Resolutions

Written by SARAH NADEAU

Anew year is a fresh start, a clean slate, an opportu nity to reflect on all that’s changed in the past 365 days and what you hope to accom plish in the next 364. It’s a time to post that adorable NYE selfie with #NewYearNewMe! That “new me” might have a renewed focus on life style changes for health and wellness, personal development and strength ening relationships, or specific educa tional or professional goals.

Some of those resolutions pan out better than others once the realities of post-holiday busy-ness set in despite our best intentions. The ball has dropped in Times Square but that doesn’t mean you have to drop the ball in 2023. Your library is here to help support you on your way to creating intentional and meaningful change all year long.

I’m finally going to focus on my health this year!

Your wellness journey is personal. Whatever getting healthier means to you, the library has a variety of resources for your information needs. Use your library card to access our health databases, like

MedlinePlus and Magill’s Medical Guide, to learn about medical news, medicines, biology, procedures, and beyond from trusted sources. Borrow cookbooks and exercise guides to help establish new habits. Find guided meditations and more on demand with eLibrary services. Enjoy our StoryWalk in City Park with your kids or grandkids to get active together.

I want to learn more about my family and myself!

A lot of people utilize family genealogical research to better understand their families’ journeys, and, along the way, they learn more about themselves than expected. Family research is also a great way to connect with family members near and far as you share interesting stories from a shared past. If you want to learn more about yourself, getting engaged in the community

and meeting new people at library programs is also a great way to do so.

If you want to learn even more about yourself as a citizen of the world, you can even get a passport at the Fletcher Branch Library.

I want to learn new skills! What do you want to learn? You can learn it here. Practice a new language, build a business plan as you earn a Grow With Google cer tification, take practice exams for a specialty license, and more. Check out DVDs of historical lectures or baking tutorials. Attend meetings to learn about what’s happening in the community. Get hands-on learning experience with crafting library programs, technology assistance appointments, or financial literacy classes, to name a few.

You can do whatever you set your mind to, and Washington County Free Library is here to support you along the way. Happy new year! See you soon!

Sarah Nadeau is the community partnerships librarian at the Washington County Free Library.

Digging up Treasure TREASURE SALE

atthe

(Above) Shoppers gather in Washington County Museum of Fine Arts atrium for the Treasure Sale. After being online for two years, the Treasure Sale returns to in-person in the atrium this year. (Right) Singer Society volunteers Lola Mosby, left, and Joan Selby sort through jewelry donations.

Ihave always loved a good flea market, antique shop, tag sale, or even yard sale.

Something is exciting about rescuing an item that has been tossed aside and giving it a new home.

But none of those can compare to the Treasure Sale, a fundraiser for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Community members donate high-quality items that are then resold over four days in November. Monies raised go back into helping the museum con tinue with its mission of making art accessible to everyone.

The first time I attended the Treasure Sale at the Washington County Museum, I lived across Virginia Avenue at Moller Apartments. I had written stories for the newspaper about the event but never had the chance to go. It was a beautiful November day, and I thought I’d stroll over to the park and see what was there. It’s not that far of a walk, and I figured I could easily carry a few bags back to my third-floor walk-up apartment without any problems.

PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL

Written by CRYSTAL SCHELLE

What: Treasure Sale

When: Nov. 4-6, Nov. 8

Where: Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown

Cost: Ticketed preview reception $30: Friday, Nov. 4, 5 to 8 p.m. Free admission for the following days: Saturday, Nov. 5., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 6, 1 to 3 p.m. (fill a bag for $25), and Tuesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 pm. (fill a bag for $15).

Contact: To register for the Friday event, call Donna Rastelli at 301-739-5727 or drastelli@wcmfa.org.

When I got there, a high-back chair immediately caught my eye. The cushion and back were covered in burnt orange velvet with wooden arms. It leaned more ‘70s, but I loved it. I looked at the clock and realized I didn’t have time to return to my apartment to get my car. I sat in the chair again, feeling the cushiony velvet against my back. At that moment, it didn’t matter that I would have to schlep the chair the whole way around the large lake, across the busy road, and up three flights of stairs — it would be worth it.

By the time I got the chair into my apart ment, I was sweating. I wiped my brow and found a perfect spot beside the balcony doors. My two cats quickly christened the chair for naps. After that first purchase, I was hooked on the Treasure Sale.

The following year, I asked my sisters to go with me. The Treasure Sale has since been a family tradition. We’ve snagged a little bit of everything — Christmas orna ments both modern and vintage, glass ware, a fondue set, a Cuisinart ice cream maker, handmade pottery, artwork, and, of course, furniture.

Our personal plans for the Treasure Sale will be different this year, as I’ll be on the other side of the aisle, so to speak, and be totally envious of those early-bird pickers.

This year the Treasure Sale returns in-person at the museum (after two years online). Friday’s ticketed preview event from 5 to 8 p.m. lets patrons get a sneak peek at the Treasure Sale’s offerings. With a $30 admission fee, shoppers pay for the opportunity to purchase items early, before doors open to the general public. Those wanting to attend the Friday event must register by contacting Donna Rastelli at 301-739-5727 or drastelli@ wcmfa.org.

For the next three days, admission is free: Saturday, Nov. 5., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 6, 1 to 3 p.m., patrons can fill a bag for $25; and Tuesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. where for $15 shoppers fill a bag.

The days when shoppers can fill bags are probably the most fun because people get pretty creative on how many items they can stuff in the provided bag. Two large frames, two mugs, a game and two

ornaments? Sure, no problem!

The Singer Society, a group of museum volunteers, has spent months preparing for the Treasure Sale. They have been working out of a former storefront in the North End of Hagerstown. For months, they painstakingly unbox, clean, research, organize and assign prices to the items before photographing a special few and then moving all those items to the museum.

When I visited their satellite site this summer, they weren’t even halfway through the process. When I walked in, I admit it gave me a little bit of anxiety because it felt so overwhelming. There were boxes stacked everywhere filled with treasures that still needed to be unpacked, tabletops were covered with items that needed to be priced or needed further research, also the large pieces of furni ture and framed artwork stacked lined two of the walls.

I could see their progress as empty boxes were stacked to one side, but I also could see the many boxes that still had items in them — and that didn’t even include the donations still coming in. The Singers do so much to help us continue our mission, and at that moment I was never so thankful for their hard work and dedication.

Some of the items they had uncovered were interesting, such as a purse in the shape of a dog, a replica Titanic poster, a grandfather clock and glittering heaps of jewelry.

Those of you who are on the search for a good bargain, make a point to join us for the Treasure Sale. If you’re on Instagram, tag the museum @wcmfa and use the hashtag #HagerstownTreasureSale to let us see what you’ve discovered!

Crystal Schelle is director of marketing and communi cations for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Go to www.wcmfa. org for more information.

Arts Council’s Gallery Shop Offers Original Gift Ideas

Written by MARY ANNE BURKE

Did you know (in 2021), 27% of holiday shoppers planned to begin buying gifts before the end of September, according to a survey by CreditCards.com. That includes 13% who started, or planned to start, in August.

The Gallery Shop of the Washington County Arts Council believes it is not too early to think about the holidays. We have invited Shop artists to consider refresh ing or adding to their inventory. New items are rolling in for your gift-giving pleasure. Holiday shopping should not be stressful and we can help.

“Find Something That Says Something” has been the motto of the Washington County Arts Council (WCAC) Gallery Shop. Currently 168 artists consign their handcrafted works in the gallery to make your shopping easy and in one location. With over 3,800 indi vidual, unique items one is sure to find that perfect gift, unique and affordable. The range of items includes glass, jew elry, pottery, textiles, books, wood, visual arts, music, ornaments, creams and soaps, all lovingly crafted by local artists.

In addition, tickets to stage perfor mances both professional and amateur at local theaters; music and books from local authors and musicians; plus selected pieces from Washington County Arts Council’s December art exhibition, “Annual Juried Community Art Show: The Best Local Art of 2022,” all offer unique gift ideas.

And, holiday promotions are back again with shop discounts and a “Holiday Gift” from restaurants 28 South and Bulls & Bears. What better enticement to bring you to Downtown Hagerstown?

The 2022 Community Art Show

Jurors are well-known artists, Toby Mendez and Mark Schwenk. Antonio Tobias (Toby) Mendez is a nationally recognized Maryland based sculptor, with over 30 years experience creating significant works of art. Mark Schwenk has been a Gallery artist for 40 years as a photographer, and over 20 years as a metal sculptor.

Artists working in many mediums will have submitted their best new works for this popular juried community art exhibit which will be on display virtually and in the Gallery from Dec. 8, 2022, through Jan. 3, 2023. Prizes have been sponsored by the Hagerstown Arts and Entertainment District with support from the City of Hagerstown.

Finally! Another favorite gift this holiday season will be tickets to “The Art of Cooking 2023,” an opportunity to see local guest chefs demonstrate

their favorite recipes prepared by Todd Reynolds, Executive Chef at Fountain Head Country Club.

A full-course dinner will be accom panied by selected wine pairings. Do plan to join Jamie Gruzsak, Sarah Hall, Stuart Kelman, Vicki Willey, Curt Miller, Herb Smith, Jim Pierné, George Pierné, David Shuster and Mac Shuster. These Celebrity Chefs will entertain you with their culinary skills, all while having fun and helping fundraise for the Arts Council.

Mary Anne Burke is the executive director of the Washington County Arts Council.

Sited

Hall

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a gated community. Could be

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