BUYER BEWARE! Pitfalls of Creating Legal Documents
Online
We understand, and share, your desire to be cost-effective. So, when you see websites that prepare Wills at a fraction of the cost of an attorney, we get the temptation. However, this is not an area where you want to be tightfisted.
Using online services for your Estate Planning needs will almost always cost you and your loved ones significantly more money and headaches down the road (if the court will accept them in the first place).
Below are some of the main reasons why you should strongly avoid preparing Estate Planning documents online, and instead hire an experienced Trusts & Estates attorney to prepare your documents.
1. Your Circumstances are Unique.
Online legal services are designed to provide “cookie-cutter” documents, but that’s not useful for most people as everyone has unique circumstances. Even if your assets are not substantial, there are many ways your circumstances affect the makeup of your documents. Those in particular who should NEVER consider creating their Estate Plans online include: 1) families with minor children/grandchildren, 2) families with loved ones who have special needs, 3) anyone looking to disinherit family members, or 4) blended families.
2. Unintended Consequences.
Families who have loved ones with special needs must take extra precaution when drafting Estate Plans, as disability benefits come with very strict rules. Your loved one may be disqualified when proper precautions are not taken. Online services almost always fail to make proper arrangements for special needs planning, by either failing to ask about them or including ineffective language.
3. Improperly Created & Unfunded Trusts.
Revocable Living Trusts are an integral part of Estate Planning to manage your assets during periods of incapacity and also avoid Probate. Your online Trust can fail if not properly funded, resulting in assets potentially being tied up in the lengthy and expensive Probate process. A knowledgeable Estate Planning attorney will learn about your unique assets, and give specific instructions to ensure your Trust is properly funded.
4. Changing Laws and Regulations
Each state has laws that require specific language - leaving that language out can result in serious consequences. To make matters worse, state and federal laws change constantly. An experienced local attorney will draft documents in accordance with current law to avoid any catastrophic mistakes.
While online documents may seem to offer savings, in reality they will almost always cost you and your loved ones far more money in the long run.
If you are a Maryland resident and would like help with protecting your assets and loved ones in the event of death or disability, please call us at 301-969-9364 or self-schedule at www.lenaclarklegal.com.
The Mellott Company has more than a century of history that includes surviving wars, the Great Depression, an ever-changing economy, and tragedy.
The
Local couple Laura and Shawn Martin have a lengthy history in dinner theater in Washington County, and they continue to keep the art alive.
Gennaro Minale and Natalia Leorda took their fine dining experience and opened the casual dining Ciao Pasta to express their passion for Italian food and provide area residents with fresh, authentic Italian flavors. 50
The Oak Ridge Family Restaurant near Funkstown offers diner-type fare in a casual and comforting setting; a place where friends and family can gather to eat.
With Hagerstown’s improving economy, excellent small-town amenities and a somewhat favorable tax situation, seniors are looking to the Hub City as a retirement spot.
62
Ah, springtime. It was a long winter and now it’s a busy time for gardners as they start growing seeds, pruning, planting, and much more. 64
A
run of bad fortune.
Books, Food and a Cozy Space—What
More Do You Need?
When the outside world’s demands and fast pace are starting to wear thin, there’s a quiet place where you can retreat and blissfully page through a book. And, unlike the public library, there’s food, coffee and tea to add to your enjoyment.
Melissa and Brian Noel opened Next Chapter Café & Book Shop three months ago and already customers are giving it rave reviews, remarking on the beauty of the restored historic building with its polished wooden floors and original hand-carved woodwork, the impressive selection of books, the array of comfortable seating that the couple created or thrifted, the tasty menu and “the wonderful woman behind the counter who was just as sweet as could be.”
Melissa believes that “books are a great way to expand your horizons. You can learn new skills and escape from reality.” She personally has “bookcases filled with books that I love and books that I want to read.” The shop is a large part of spreading her passion. “I wanted to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for everyone from all walks of life” and cater to folks who “simply like the feel and smell of a book. I have no problem with e-books; we simply want the community to read.”
The owners support local authors by carrying their books and offering them a place for readings and book signings. The store also has special events such as children’s story time, and a stage has been used by a live band, and for play readings. Private events can also be booked.
to enjoy a beverage and snack. The coffee is made from Cannon Coffee beans and there’s a selection of teas and bottled soda and water. If you’re hungry, try the homemade pizza with its crust made from a recipe that Brian’s family has passed down for generations. Bread used for sandwiches is also homemade and there’s a soup of the day, wings, fries and charcuterie boards. A selection of quiches is on the horizon, along with ice cream this spring.
Folks are encouraged to use the café as a quiet workspace, a place to visit with friends or
In addition to books, the shop also has a selection of gift options.
As one customer rightly commented after making a visit to Next Chapter Café & Book Shop, “Every downtown needs a bookstore.” Hagerstown is very lucky indeed.
SO LONG WINTER
I HATE WRITING ABOUT THE WEATHER. AS THE GREAT IRISH POET, OSCAR WILDE, ONCE OPINED: “CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WEATHER IS THE LAST RESORT OF THE UNIMAGINATIVE.”
But then O.W. never lived through a winter like the one we are now escaping. I’ve traveled in Ireland enough to recognize that the Irish weather isn‘t great, but at least it is consistent. The Irish deal with wind and rain, but the jet stream coming up from the tropics rarely lets the temperature get below freezing, and there is no summer humidity or stifling heat that lasts for weeks and sometimes even months.
So O.W. never had the opportunity to talk about the unusual arctic freeze that wrapped its cold, clammy claws around us this winter. He never had the opportunity to live through the unusualness of snow covering the ground for a month and a half when typically a week and a half is a long time.
So, forgive me O.W. for conversating about the weather for a few paragraphs, but I am happy to bid the winter of 2025-26 adieu. As we approach the end of this odd winter, I’m hanging on the words of John Gruber‘s Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack, which told us this
winter would be front-end loaded with cold and snow (a prediction appears to be more accurate than any weather app) followed by a warming trend for later winter into spring. Technically, winter is not over, but as we steer into early March, we are moving into a warming trend. Of course, historically March has been known to bring some big snowfalls.
But the nights will still be cool, so settle in with this copy of Hagerstown Magazine and read about the local couple that is keeping dinner theater alive in Washington County, or about three Hagerstown brothers who are keeping a century-old family business alive.
And as always, as we move from the cold of winter to the balmy springtime, we all start thinking about baseball. This will be the third season for our Hagerstown Flying Boxcars and the team heads toward opening day full of optimism on the field and the continued great fan experience at Meritus Park.
Enjoy.
–JeffThoreson jthoreson@hagerstownmag.com
This is Washington County
The cleansing of a good spring day is both healing and restorative. An open window and a light springtime breeze will whisk away the stale dryness of a long winter and offer hope for a new season, a new year.
The refreshing outdoor sounds of kids after school, Little Leaguers at play, people walking their dogs at a leisurely pace, stopping to chat with neighbors, it all signals a new beginning, a new hope that, as the Counting Crows once sang, “this year may be better than the last.” At this farm on Rench Road, Hyacinths bloom violet signaling that another season has begun. Photograph by Mark Youngblood
Helping the Area’s Youth for 85 Years
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2026, marking more than eight decades of service and commitment to youth across Western Maryland. The club will hold celebrations throughout the year, including honoring former Youth of the Year recipients at the annual dinner and hosting the Maryland State Youth of the Year competition. The year will end with a special 85th anniversary gala.
Founded in 1941 as the Boys Club, the organization first operated behind the Hagerstown farmer’s market, serving local boys from the city.
Honors for the Arc
THE ARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAS BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF the 2026 Best Nonprofit Workplaces by Best Companies Group, a national workplace research organization that identifies and honors outstanding nonprofit employers across the United States.
Being named a Best Nonprofit Workplace reflects the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of The Arc of Washington County’s employees, who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full, meaningful lives in the community.
It later moved to its long-term home in the former Fairchild building at 805 Pennsylvania Avenue, where the club continues to thrive today.
“Our organization has a rich and storied history, and I can’t wait to celebrate all of it this year,” says CEO Addie Nardi. “We’re planning events and celebrations all year long to highlight not only the incredible work happening today but the lasting impact this organization has made over the past 85 years.”
The Club unveiled a special 85th-anniversary logo at its Holiday Showcase in December. The design blends the organization’s current branding with elements of its original Boys Club emblem.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County is to enable all young people—especially those who need us most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The club has supported thousands of young people and today serves approximately 700 youth ages 6 to 18 each year.
McVicker Moves
This recognition highlights The Arc’s ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and mission-driven workplace culture. The Best Nonprofit Workplaces program evaluates organizations through a rigorous, data-driven process that includes an in-depth review of workplace policies, practices, and demographics, along with an independent employee engagement and satisfaction survey.
Money for Meritus
THE MERITUS SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE HAS BEEN selected as one of 11 teams to receive funding from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Transforming Lifelong Learning Through Precision Education Grant Program, a $12 million investment by the AMA to advance physician training through personalized learning and advanced technology.
MSOM will receive $1.1 million over four years to fund its project, “Opening the Doors with the Right Education for the Right Student at the Right Time: The Continuum of Precision Education in Maryland’s Newest Medical School.”
Chosen from nearly 200 applicants, MSOM distinguished itself as an innovator and leader in precision education, advancing efforts to strengthen the physician workforce and support quality patient care. It is also the only school of osteopathic medicine among the grant recipients.
LONG-TIME RESIDENTIAL REALTOR JEANINE McVicker has moved to the commercial side, joining AEK Real Estate. After almost a quarter of a century with ReMax, McVicker’s move created a buzz throughout the real estate community. She has become one of the most recognized names during her 24-year career with ReMax. Her decision to join AEK marks a bold and surprising step into the commercial sector.
“After 24 years in residential real estate, it was time to expand my expertise and step into the commercial arena,” she says. “AEK Real Estate’s reputation, market knowledge, and leadership align perfectly with the next chapter of my career.”
At AEK, McVicker will focus on commercial acquisitions, development opportunities, investment properties, and business-focused realestate strategy.
The Boys & Girls Club of Washington County opened its new facility last summer.
A Train of Thought
JOHNNY GRAHAM SPENDS A LOT OF TIME ON TRAINS.
That’s the nature of his job as a conductor and engineer with CSX Railroad. He used to spend a lot of time on social media. When he realized just how much of his life was consumed by scrolling various feeds, it was a life-changing moment.
“It made me think about how I could better use my downtime and train-riding time,” says Graham, a native New Yorker who moved to Hagerstown in 2000. “I wanted to do something that incorporated my friends—both those I have lost and those still here—and do something no one else had ever done.”
He thought the answer was to create a comic book based on his friends, and he wrote five stories. While searching for an illustrator, he had another revelation, and this one has turned into a multifaceted business.
“I thought of another type of story I could write—horror,” he says. “I put the comic book aside and soon new ideas began coming to me constantly. The horror stories grew quickly, and I included my deceased friends in a major way. I gave each of them a business that reflected their nickname or something they loved.”
His friend Ant Rat became owner of a pest control company. His friend Kidco, who loved motorcycles and dirt bikes, became a cycle shop owner. He included friends who already own real-life businesses as well.
“The first book begins with me and 14 of my living friends being killed,” Graham says. “As the killer, and others, move through the story, they pass through the stores and businesses I created. The ending of the first book leads directly into the second, continuing through book seven.
“Book seven begins with two rookie police officers. Each chapter revisits events from books one through six, but from the officers’ perspective. Everything that happened in the earlier books is now seen from another side, while the two cops also have their own storyline.”
From the series Graham created Crime Magazine to give readers a deeper look into the killers featured in the stories and to fully explain every business that appears in the books. The magazine includes store ads for both fictional businesses from the stories and real local businesses.
Then he created Harlem Horror Stories Kids.
“Despite the name, these stories are far from horror and are not even truly spooky,” he says. “The idea came to me while visiting my daughters and grandchildren in New York. My grandson Ryan said, “Pop-Pop, why don’t you put a puzzle in your books for kids?” That comment stuck with me. On my drive back to Hagerstown, I came up with the idea for a children’s spooky storybook series.
In all, he has created 21 books across three series, 21 magazines, and six children’s books. All of the books are published through his own publishing company, Graham Family Publishing.
Along with a friend, Charlie Amis, Graham has created music for a soundtrack connected to the series. Some of this music is available on streaming services or can be heard on social media platforms. Some new music is scheduled to be released in the coming weeks.
He also offers shirts, sweaters, jackets, cups, and mugs that feature logos from the series. Graham designs everything with his artists Demetrius and Michelle Bullock. His wife, Lacie, handles illustrations and formatting, and his childhood friend, Idris Davidson, is his business partner.
“My long-term vision is to turn my books into a movie and television series,” he says. “I also plan to open a horror-themed retail store in the near future to showcase and sell all of my merchandise.”
Hagerstown resident and author Johnny Graham.
How Income Taxes Work
Taxpayers and businesses spend an estimated 7.1 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements, which is worth $388 billion in economic value just to comply with tax regulations.
As complex as the details of taxes can be, the income tax process is fairly straightforward. However, the majority of Americans would rather not spend time with the process, which explains why half hire a tax professional to assist in their annual filing.
Remember, this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult a professional with tax or legal experience for specific information regarding your individual situation.
Getting Started
The tax process starts with income, and generally, most income received is taxable. A taxpayer’s gross income includes income from work, investments, interest, pensions, as well as other sources. The income from all these sources is added together to arrive at the taxpayer’s gross income
What’s not considered income?
Gifts, inheritances, workers’ compensation benefits, welfare benefits, or cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer.
From gross income, adjustments are subtracted. These adjustments may include retirement plan contributions, half of self-employment, and other items.
The result is the adjusted gross income.
From adjusted gross income, deductions are subtracted. With deductions, taxpayers have two choices: the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The standard deduction amount varies based on filing status, as shown on this chart:
Chart Source: IRS.gov, 2025
Itemized deductions can include state and local taxes, charitable contributions, the interest on a home mortgage, and certain unreimbursed job expenses, among other things. Keep in mind that there are limits on the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted.
Once deductions have been subtracted, the result is taxable income. Taxable income leads to gross tax liability
But it’s not over yet.
Any tax credits are then subtracted from the gross tax liability. Taxpayers may receive credits for a variety of items, including energy-saving improvements.
The result is the taxpayer’s net tax
Understanding how the tax process works is one thing. Doing the work is quite another.
1. TaxFoundation.org, August 27, 2025
2. IRS.gov, 2025
3. The tax code allows an individual to gift up to $19,000 per person in 2026 without triggering any gift or estate taxes. An individual can give
away up to $15,000,000 without owing any federal tax. Couples can leave up to $30,000,000 without owing any federal tax. Also, keep in mind that some states may have their own estate tax regulations. This material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult a professional with tax or legal experience for specific information regarding your individual situation.
4. The mortgage interest deduction is the first $750,000 of the loan for a home and the state and local income taxes deduction is capped at $40,400 for 2026.
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.
Works of Scandinavian Art
THE SECOND NORTH AMERICAN PRESENTATION
examining how Nordic artists celebrated the concept of home, national identity, and personal expression is on view until May 17 at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.
The exhibition, first shown at The Frick Pittsburgh Museum, features work drawn from the private collection of Dr. David and Susan Werner as well as the public collections to which they have donated works. Paintings, textiles, ceramics, furniture, silver, and other decorative arts illuminate the region’s commitment to individual creativity, local craftsmanship, and national pride.
A central unifying metaphor for the exhibition is a concept of home that encompasses not only an individual’s household, but their hometown and homeland—an expansive definition that includes the communities that influence individual development, reflecting a larger vision of social and cultural identity.
In Scandinavian countries around the turn of the 20th century, artists and artisans began rejecting the formulaic instruction in favor of personal expression, integrating local landscapes, folk tales, and mythological motifs into their work. Artistic practices flourished across social classes, exemplified by rural families who created decorative furniture, textiles, and household objects.
As in many areas impacted by the growth of cities and the industrial revolution, particular craft traditions became a source of national pride. Reform movements and organizations mobilized women to preserve and elevate these traditions, reinforcing a sense of shared cultural heritage and social responsibility.
The exhibition takes on particular significance in Hagerstown because museum founders, artist William Henry Singer, Jr. and his wife, Anna Brugh Singer, built a home in Olden, Norway. His deep
connection to the dramatic Norwegian landscape was expressed in many of his paintings featuring snowcapped mountains, rushing rivers, and villages tucked into snowy drifts.
The Hagerstown presentation will be supplemented with works from the museum’s collection, including examples of Swedish glass and etchings by internationally acclaimed Swedish artist Anders Zorn (1860-1920).
“This is a rich and fascinating exhibition that dovetails beautifully with the story of our founders and their attraction to life in Norway,” says executive director Sarah Hall. “I had the pleasure of seeing much of this collection in the Werners’ home some years ago, and I am absolutely delighted that we are able to bring these works and the story they tell to Hagerstown.”
The exhibition includes more than 80 objects and is organized into thematic sections: Norwegian Revival, An Artist’s Home/Art Nouveau, Vitalism in Finland and Denmark, Symbolist Experimentation, Rural Craft Traditions, Interiors, and History of Landscape.
The entry gallery immerses visitors in the Norwegian Rival—with works inspired by medieval history and folk traditions. The tapestries of Gerhard Munthe (Norwegian, 1849-1929) and the furniture of Lars Kinsarvik (Norwegian, 1846-1925) embody a tradition populated by princesses, trolls, dragons, and magic.
On display is Munthe’s work The Suitors, which depicts a fairytale of Munthe’s own invention in which three young men, transformed into polar bears, enter the chambers of the daughters of the Northern Lights to court them. The tapestries garnered international attention at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, as did Kinsarvik’s furniture, which uses colors derived from regional peasant decoration, which is also on display.
“The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see Scandinavian art in dialogue with the local history of our museum,” says Linda Johnson, Agnita M. Stine Schreiber curator at the museum. “Visitors can explore how international developments in Nordic art connect to our museum’s founders and their deep engagement with Norway’s landscape and culture.”
A lithograph work by Edvard Munch (Norwegian, 1863–1944) Omega’s Flight, 1908-1909.
A 1906 wool and linen tapestry by Gerhard Munthe (Norwegian, 1849-1929) The Suitors, 1906.
The oil on canvas work of Otto Hesselbom (Swedish, 1848–1913) Sunset in Varmland, c. 1900.
OF NOTE |
Youth Orchestra Gives Inaugural Performance
THE MARYLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTED THE first concert of the Maryland Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) in February, marking a significant new chapter in the organization’s commitment to music education and youth development in the region.
The inaugural performance featured a group of dedicated young musicians who spent months preparing a program of engaging and expressive orchestral music. Under the direction of conductor Dr. Britney Alcine, the ensemble was made up of students from across the area who share a serious commitment to musical growth, collaboration, and artistic excellence.
The Maryland Symphony Youth Orchestra was created to provide students with meaningful opportunities to study and perform at a high level while learning directly from professional musicians. Through rehearsals, mentorship, and performance, participants develop technical skill, musical confidence, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of an orchestra.
“This first concert represents months of focused work and steady progress,” says Alcine. “These students have grown tremendously, not only as musicians, but as collaborators and leaders. Their dedication is evident in every rehearsal, and this performance is a reflection of that commitment.”
MORE PHYSICAL THERAPY Rehab 2 Perform, a fitness-forward, physical therapy and sports rehab company which provides a personalized and modern approach to healthcare, will hold its grand opening March 5. R2P began welcoming clients in October of 2025. The facility works with active adults, competitive athletes, and those
looking to be more active through exercise and movement-based physical therapy.
Led by Dr. Matthew Mannick, DPT, ATC, a Williamsport native, R2P helps clients move freely, live confidently, and stay active for life.
“It’s a full-circle moment,” he says. “I’m proud to bring a model of PT that focuses on movement, empowerment, and lifelong strength to the community I call home.”
R2P is at 10312 Governor Lane Boulevard, Suite 500 in Williamsport.
ROSS NAMED TO BOARD Stacy Ross, M.D., director of the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program, was recently named to the board of the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD). Ross is one of five physicians elected to the board and one of two member-at-large directors for the more than 30-year-old organization whose aim is to support family medicine residency directors and related personnel.
“It is an honor to be elected to serve on the AFMRD Board of Directors to support residency leaders nationally and to represent Meritus in this role,” Ross says.
Brad Miller, D.O., associate dean for graduate medical education at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM), congratulated Ross.
“AFMRD is the preeminent national organization representing family medicine residency leadership,” he says. “Serving on the AFMRD board reflects national recognition of Dr. Ross’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to the future of family medicine education.”
The Maryland Symphony Youth Orchestra performing.
CALENDAR
march to april
March 28
March 14
Quad State Whiskey & Beer Fest: ShamRocked
Washington County Agricultural Education Center
7313 SHARPSBURG PIKE, BOONSBORO
The biggest St. Patrick’s Day Party and Total Whiskey & Beer Fest around. Live Music by South of Sobriety and Six Whiskey Revival. There will be more than 30 regional breweries and 10 distilleries. More than 120 craft beers, scores of whiskeys, plus ciders and wine. There will also be dozens of vendors, great food, wild games, and more. All attendees must be 21 years old or move. 1 p.m. www.ifg-events.com/shamrocked
Dirty Deeds – The AC/DC Experience
Maryland Theatre
21 SOUTH POTOMAC STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Reminiscent of the legendary Australian rockers, Dirty Deeds, captures the essence of the band that defined a genre. Channeling the electrifying guitar riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young, Dirty Deeds, recreates their chemistry and signature stage moves paying a fitting tribute to the rock ‘n’ roll band that ignited a global musical revolution. Dirty Deeds creates an immersive, authentic, and interactive AC/DC experience, transporting fans back to the glory days of classic rock. 7:30 p.m. 301.790.2000 or www.mdtheatre.org
April 11
Trisha Yearwood
Luhrs Performing Arts Center
475 LANCASTER DRIVE, SHIPPENSBURG, PA
Three-time Grammy winner Trisha Yearwood returns to the stage to celebrate the release of her acclaimed new album, The Mirror She will be joined by friends and fellow songwriters Leslie Satcher and Bridgette Tatum for an intimate acoustic evening of stories and songs. With her powerful voice and heartfelt storytelling, Yearwood brings The Mirror to life alongside the timeless hits that have defined her career. 7:30 p.m. 717.477.7469 or www.luhrscenter.com
March 7
Paul Reed Smith’s Eightlock on Stage
Live at Hub City Vinyl
28 EAST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Legendary guitar maker Paul Reed Smith’s Eightlock is a band performing a new kind of groove, with its roots in Baltimore funk, DC go-go and New Orleans swing. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. www.liveathubcityvinyl.com
March 13
Irish Happy Hour
Capitol Theatre
159 SOUTH MAIN STREET, CHAMBERSBURG, PA
The Capitol Theatre brings back this annual party in the Wood Center, celebrating the biggest holiday in March: St Patrick’s Day. With live music from Across the Pond, this will be the Celtic-jamboree you won’t want to miss. It will feature delicious Irish foods, Irish drinks, and much more. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 717.263.0202 or www.thecapitoltheatre.org
March 14
St. Parick’s Day Run Fest
Downtown Hagerstown
25 WEST CHURCH STREET, HAGERSTOWN
The St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest is a community fitness event for all ages. The event consists of four running events: the Clover Kids Race, One Mile Run/Walk, a 5K Run, and 8K Run. Join us for this great running event and the spirited after party in downtown Hagerstown to begin your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Costumes and St. Patrick’s Day attire are appropriate and highly encouraged for the St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest and Celebration. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 14-15
30th Annual HCC Alumni Flower and Garden Show
Hagerstown Community College ARCC 20175 SCHOLAR DRIVE, HAGERSTOWN
More than 125 exhibitors and vendors will take part in the tri-state area’s largest floral event, and will include nurseries, distributors of lawn and garden equipment, pottery, statuary, landscaping, tree services, water ponds, stone products, herbs, violets, spring flowers, house plants, outdoor furniture, florists, wild bird products, gifts, gourmet foods, and natural gifts from the garden. March 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 240.500.2346 or www.hagerstowncc.edu
March 26-29
Maryland International Film Festival
DOWNTOWN HAGERSTOWN
The 14th Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown will include the showing of more than 100 films. The four-day event covers six venues in downtown Hagerstown. This festival has been praised as being a Movie Magazine’s “Top 50 film festivals worth the entry fee.” The festival has been securing the finest films from around the world. All venues are in the middle of the Arts and Entertainment District. After the films, there will be great after-parties with fantastic food and drinks. This is a great opportunity for directors and producers to get their work showcased. There are often investors and production companies who attend the festival looking for new talent, and we have seen many of the movies screened go on to be successful projects. 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
www.marylandiff.org
March 26
James Garner’s Tribute to Johnny Cash
Capitol Theatre
159 S MAIN STREET, CHAMBERSBURG, PA.
For the past 18 years, Garner and his band have faithfully recreated Cash’s biggest hits with stunning accuracy in this not-to-be-missed musical event. From special concert airings on PBS stations to shows at Folsom and San Quentin prisons, it’s easy to see why this is the premier tribute to the “Man in Black.” The show is a fun, toe-tapping trip down memory lane honoring Johnny Cash’s life and music, and the boom-chicka-boom sound of his longtime backing band, the Tennessee Three. Enjoy the hits of the Man in Black all over again: “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and more. 7 p.m. 717.263.0202 or www.thecapitoltheatre.org
Irish Happy Hour
30th Annual HCC Alumni Flower and Garden Show
march to april
March 29
Hub City Half Marathon
Meritus Park
50 WEST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
The Hub City Half Marathon will be part of the Washington County Running Festival. Runners are invited to take part in this community event that celebrates health, wellness, and the revitalization of downtown Hagerstown. (This race was previously scheduled for April 12.) 8 a.m. to noon. www.runsignup.com
April 11
Hudson River Line: The Music of Billy Joel
Live at Hub City Vinyl
28 EAST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Hudson River Line is dedicated to performing the music of Billy Joel, one of this generation’s greatest songwriters and performers. The band includes veteran musicians who not only play Billy’s music but replicate the energy and emotion of seeing him live in concert. It’s a little bit of Madison Square Garden brought to Hagerstown. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. www.liveathubcityvinyl.com
Hudson River Line
April
11
Philadelphia Freedom: A Tribute to Elton John
Capitol Theatre
159 SOUTH MAIN STREET, CHAMBERSBURG, PA
Philadelphia Freedom brings a youthful and exceptionally energetic portrayal of Elton John and his legendary band. Doug Delescavage is Elton John as he was in his 20s with his awe-inspiring piano abilities, captivating voice, and inventive fashion sense. Doug and his top-notch band rival no one but Mr. Captain Fantastic himself performing hits such as: “Rocket Man,” “Crocodile Rock,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and of course “Philadelphia Freedom.” Fans are sure to be transported back to Elton’s heyday of the 1970s. 7 p.m. 717.263.0202 or www.thecapitoltheatre.org
April
26
United States Navy Concert Band
Luhrs Performing Arts Center
475 LANCASTER DRIVE, SHIPPENSBURG, PA
The United States Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, presents a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions, and modern wind ensemble repertoire. As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Concert Band has been performing public concerts and participating in high-profile events for more than 95 years. 3 p.m. 717.477.7469 or www.luhrscenter.com
United States Navy Band Concert
New Hopes in Season Three
After two disappointing seasons on the field, the Boxcars move forward with optimism and solid fan support
The Hagerstown Flying Boxcars soar into their third season with a new manager, a new schedule structure, and new hopes to shed the expansion team label and offer fans a competitive team in the Atlantic League.
The Boxcars struggled on the field their first two seasons, but local support has remained high, largely due to the excellent experience fans encounter at Meritus Park. As minor league ballparks go, Meritus ranks among the best, having been given the Atlantic League’s Ballpark of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025.
“Our goal from day one was to make Meritus Park feel like home to as many people as possible, whether they are baseball fans or not,” says Boxcars general manager David Blenckstone. “Our staff has done an amazing job of attracting many community events beyond baseball that positively impact the community. From high school and college baseball games, the Donut Drop, charity running events, and many more, the impact of a new downtown ballpark has been significant.”
By Charles Jeffries Photography by Bill Kamenjar
But the team’s struggles on the field have been apparent. Last year, the Boxcars finished the first half at 14-49, 25 games behind the York Revolution in the North Division. They fared only marginally better in the second half, winning 17 games but finishing 23 games behind the
Lancaster Stormers. Their overall 31-95 record was more than 40 games out of first place and 21 losses more than the next-worst team.
The Flying Boxcars scored the fewest runs (497) in the 10-team Atlantic League, a whopping 147 runs behind ninth-place Charleston Dirty Birds (644) and were one of only two teams to give up more than 800 runs (861).
Suffice it to say the 2026 version of the Boxcars needs improvement offensively and defensively. That task falls to new manager Mark Minicozzi, a five-year veteran of the Atlantic League. He managed the Charleston Dirty Birds in 2021, the Lexington, Kentucky team in 2022 and the Frederick Spire City team in 2023 before leading the Staten Island Ferry Hawks for the last two years.
“I’m beyond excited to join the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars,” Minicozzi said upon taking the job. “Having visited as an opponent, I’ve seen firsthand the beautiful ballpark, met so many incredible fans, and witnesses an organization that takes great pride everything it does on and off the field.”
Minicozzi’s right-hand-man will be bench coach Shane Turner, who stepped in last year mid-season to manage the team after Mark Mason was let go. Turner has three World Series rings (2010, 2012, and 2014) as a member of the San Francisco Giants front office. After being drafted by the New York Yankees in 1985, Shane spent time in the Major Leagues with the Phillies, Orioles, and Mariners.
“Mark knows Hagerstown and Meritus Park well, and he’s very excited about the opportunity to lead the Flying Boxcars,” Blenckstone says. “Potential players have heard great things about playing in Hagerstown, from the facility to the great fan base, so we are optimistic that our roster will be very competitive on ‘26.”
The Boxcars roster won’t be filled out until Major League spring training gets underway in March, but typically the quality of baseball across the league is high. More than 1,400 players from the league have gone on to play in the Major Leagues, and about 40 percent of players in the league have MLB experience.
Hagerstown will open its season away with a three-game set against the Long Island Ducks and then will come home for three games against the York Revolution. But then the league’s new schedule format kicks in and the rest of the season will be six-game series. The Boxcars will play at home Tuesday through Sunday against one team and then go away for a six-game series against another team.
“Our clubs favored six-game series due to the benefits of reduced travel and less player fatigue throughout the season,” says Atlantic League president Rick White.
With an expansive footprint, the Atlantic League reaches from Long Island to Kentucky and south into North Carolina. The new format will result in nearly 20 percent less travel for clubs in 2026.
“Each team will average about a 1,600-mile
savings in travel next year,” White says.
The six-game home stands mean the weekly promotions will happen on a regular schedule. Tuesdays will feature LIFE Financial Baseball Bingo where fans match plays on the field to a bingo card and Homewood Living Williamsport Silver Slugger night. Wednesday is Hearty Pet Bark in the Park and CNB Bank Community Heroes Night. The return of the popular Central City Liquors Thirsty Thursdays with deals that include draft beer specials and Friday Fireworks will again be fan favorites. And the Friday pregame happy hour at the Mich Ultra Power Alley Pub returns.
On Saturdays and Sundays, the Boxcars will offer premium giveaways and appearances, with Sunday also boasting Sunday Funday promos like pregame catch on the field, players signing autographs, kids running the bases, and YMCA of Hagerstown Boxcar Buddy days. Boxcar Buddy plans are available to kids aged 12 and under and offer one ticket to each Sunday home game.
There will also be three Antietam Broadband weekends during which verified Antietam customers can purchase tickets to Sunday home games for $6.
“Our season ticket base and groups sales increased from 2024, so that was very telling,” Blenckstone says. “People enjoyed their ballpark experience year one and we were excited to come back year two. We look forward to building on that excitement this season.”
Paul Mellott Jr.
A STORY OF
RESILIENCE
Through the Great Depression, wars, and tragedy, the Mellott Company has built a legacy of excellence for future generations
BY JENNIFER MELLACE
Brothers Brian, Paul, Jr., and Herman Mellott.
Mellott quarry near Archibald, Pennsylvania.
Finished crushed stone being piled in the Mellott quarry.
Rock being crushed into stone at a Mellott quarry.
As a teenager, ambitious Herman Benjamin Mellott volunteered to serve in World War I. But the U.S. Army told the boy he was too young to fight and sent him home to Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Disheartened, the boy known locally simply as H.B., funneled his energy into other passions.
In 1920 the young Mellott had a vision and lots of gumption, and he embarked on a business venture that, sadly, he would not live to see turn into an enormous success. Now more than a century later, the Mellott Company remains family owned and has likely become much more than H.B. could have ever imagined.
The story of the Mellott Company, H.B. Mellott, and his sons and grandsons who have grown the company is one of humble beginnings, continual reinvention, pivoting to meet new demands—and tragedy.
Just out of his teens, H.B. Mellott started a lumber business. He purchased a World War I Liberty Army surplus truck and a small sawmill. Two years later, he married Amy Barnett Clevenger. The couple had two of their four children before the Great Depression, and H.B. expanded his business to 13 sawmills. The Depression slowed H.B.’s lumber business, but the young entrepreneur saw other opportunities, reinventing the business for the future.
While lumber was still needed for the building seasons, H.B. recognized that coal was now the primary way to heat homes. So, he started a delivery service, thus leveling his business cycles during the winter. The next big pivot came when he recognized an opportunity in the aggregate business, which entailed extracting, processing, and supplying crushed stone, sand, and gravel for use in construction
“The Pennsylvania Turnpike started construction just 29 miles from my grandfather, and he recognized the opportunity to get into the stone business,” says Paul Mellott, Jr., the former chairman of Mellott Company. “He started an aggregate operation in 1936 to provide material for the construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.”
In 1939, H.B. acquired a lease on a quarry in Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, which today—more than eight decades later—is still a working quarry and has become the main business campus for Mellott Company.
Then came 1941—the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into World War II. Construction on the turnpike halted as the focus turned to producing war materials. H.B. again adapted to the business environment and focused on the coal venture, investing in a coal property in Hazelton, Pennsylvania.
By the end of the war, H.B. operated two quarries, 13 sawmills, numerous coal mines, and had more than
200 employees on his payroll, including his eldest son, H.B. Jr., a war veteran and recent college graduate.
THEN COMES TRAGEDY
On July 16, 1948, a small plane carrying H.B., a geologist for Mellott and the pilot flew from Bedford, Pennsylvania, to Charleston, West Virginia, to pick up H.B. Jr. On the return flight, shortly after takeoff, the plane ran into a severe thunderstorm and crashed near Newberg, West Virginia. All four aboard were killed.
At a time when the company was seeing great success, the loss of H.B. and his eldest son was compounded by the fact that H.B. didn’t have a will in place, leaving his wife Amy in a tough position.
“Without a will, my dad [Paul Clifford, “P.C.”] and his mother had to find a way to pay the inheritance tax. They had to let go of more than half of their 200 employees and spent the next three years selling equipment,” says Paul, Jr. Fortunately, they were able to keep the two quarries—Warfordsburg and Big Cove Tannery.
“My dad went to college, but after his second year he quit and came home to help my grandmother. At the time, Interstate 70 was being built right next to the Warfordsburg quarry. That was when ready-mixed concrete started to take off, so they installed a readymixed plant and hired more people. When Route 81 was being built my dad and uncle [Forrest Mellott] started the contract crushing business. They then got the idea to have people drive the crushed stone to sites and the business started to grow.”
AFTER MAKING CRUSHING EQUIPMENT FOR OURSELVES, WE KNEW WE HAD TO BUILD THESE FOR OTHER PEOPLE “ “
—Paul Mellott, Jr.
THE NEXT GENERATION
The Depression, wars, deaths—things kept changing, but the Mellott family pivoted to keep up. P.C. and
his brother took a business that had been through so much tribulation and brought it back, turning it into a respectful aggregate companies in the industry, and their sons took up the mantle.
Growing up, Paul Jr. and his brothers, Brian and Herman, always worked for the company.
“I graduated from college in 1974 and went to work full-time at the company,” says Paul, Jr. “As sons of the owner, we had a lot of pressure on us. I was the oldest brother, and everyone expected me to get it right. I learned a lot about people and using values that mom and dad taught me as a kid, and my brothers and I learned all about rock and crushing rock. We spent many, many years in the quarry and learned everything we needed to know.”
Brian agrees. “I spent summers and weekends working in the shop and went full-time as soon as I graduated from Mercersburg Academy.”
Steadily, the family continued to grow the contract crushing business with 22 crushing plants from Indianapolis to Arkansas to Florida to New York and New Jersey. In the 1980s they began making their own conveyors and in 1992 they got into the manufacturing business. By 2007, they expanded the manufacturing and equipment division into Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.
“After making crushing equipment for ourselves, we knew we had to build these for other people,” says Paul, Jr. “We started building all the parts around the crusher, allowing the crusher to be portable. We got really good engineers and people and became the largest company that does crushing, design, and service.
Today, Mellott employees travel the world to service the equipment, and people from all over the world come to see the Mellott campus that opened in Warfordsburg in 1993.
“The fact that we do so many different aspects of the aggregate business, from selling equipment, building and manufacturing systems, selling parts, contract crushing, and service, means that we are wholeheartedly in the aggregate industry and that is what we support,” says Brian.
LEADERSHIP WITH A FAMILY FEEL
Celebrating 106 years is quite an achievement. So how have they balanced a century-old family business while keeping that family culture and maintaining a forward-looking, innovative approach to the industry?
In 2005, Paul Jr. and his brothers recognized that they wouldn’t be around forever, and they wanted to imprint their legacy on the way the business should be identified and operated. So, they got the leadership team together to discuss a leadership style that they believe would have a significant impact on the company.
“When I was 53, I knew that my brothers and I wouldn’t be around forever,” says Paul Jr. “My friend Charlie Luck [president and CEO of Luck Companies] said ‘you need to do a values-based leadership.’ That’s what we did, and it changed everything.”
Value-based leadership is a style that focuses on a set of values specifically identified by the company as a system that the Mellott Family wants to live and work under. The values they live by are safety, integrity, commitment, respect, and excellence. This system guides decision making and is lived out in every aspect of the business.
“The Mellott family is from a Southcentral Pennsylvania farm community—nothing flashy, just hardworking, get-the-job-done, salt-of-
the-earth people,” says Jeff Rowland, director of human resources. “Our values culture is important and make us special. But the more important piece is the culture and respect for community and our employees.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
From the very beginning, H.B. was supportive of the community that buoyed his success, and that community support didn’t end with him. It continued with his sons, grandsons, and into the current culture of the Mellott Company.
In 1993, during an aggregate association summer board meeting, Paul Jr. heard a talk given by Don Thomey, the general manager at Maryland Materials, Inc., in North East, Maryland, about his efforts to help local schools. Part of this effort included the adoption of a senior class and the process of educating the youth about the aggregate industry.
“During this meeting a lot of people said that I need to adopt a school and get involved,” Paul Jr. recalls. “So, I went back and asked my dad and uncle if I could have the time to do this and they agreed.”
Mellott quarry near Somerville, New Jersey.
Paul, Jr. went to the superintendent of Southern Fulton High School and asked how the Mellott Company could get involved with the school to help inform students that their education was really important. That’s when he started his lecture series.
“Every two weeks, from 1993 to 2000, I would invite friends from our industry, K-9 policemen with dogs, nurses, and medical people who would tell the eighth graders about the value of school, studying, and listening,” says Paul, Jr. “In 2000, some of our employees would come talk, and in 2002 we started doing mock interviews with students.”
Through the years, this program has expanded to include not only mock job interviews, but also field trips to places like Antietam Battlefield, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian Institute, a senior class project designed around the Mellott Company values, and scholarships that are awarded annually.
“We’ve talked to schools all over this area and those near our quarries,” says Paul, Jr. “I was recently at Southern Fulton High School, and a teacher asked if I would like to eat lunch with the seventh graders. She said, ‘it’s the best meal of the year; Thanksgiving dinner.’
The students were so excited, and they were all around me asking questions. They just love having someone come in from outside and take interest in them.”
The family’s generosity doesn’t end in Fulton County. Other communities and organizations have bene-
fitted, including initiatives at Hagerstown Community College, the donation of crushed stone to help build a roadway and parking lot at the Hagerstown YMCA, help in building the Hagerstown Soccer Complex, and the donation of equipment to help build two Little League ballfields at Kirkwood Park outside Hancock.
The Washington County connection stems back to when the company owned quarries and concrete plants—Beaver Creek and Rockdale—on the east and west sides of Hagerstown. In addition, Paul Jr., Brian, and Herman all live in the area and have had considerable involvement with Fountain Head Country Club just north of Hagerstown. In fact, Paul, Jr. is the club historian for the 102-year-old establishment.
“We’ve always been asked to support different communities, and we always try to help,” says Brian. “It’s about helping young kids before they’re out of high school, so they get a real job interview and learn real life skills. It’s about helping individuals improve themselves.”
THE FUTURE OF MELLOTT COMPANY
While the Mellott family has a long history of community service and a strong foundation in caring for their employees, they didn’t just stop there. In 2016, Mellott University was created to address a critical shortage of technically skilled workers in the aggregate industry. It has become an investment in the fu-
The Mellott Company campus near Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania.
“ “
WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO HELP.
—Brian Mellott
ture of Mellott Company and the industry as a whole.
“We hire local high school students, one of which is Hagerstown, and they go through two semesters, fall and spring,” says Rowland. “They’re still in high school, but they come to us from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We do two hours of training in the classroom where they learn about the industry, Mellott Company, and safety and then two hours of hands-on training. They are paid for this time, and at the end of the second semester they are offered a full-time job in service, crushing, fabrication, welding, or mechanics.
“We have a true curriculum led by an industrial tech program director from HCC,” Rowland says. “These kids come to us with a certain set of skills and a strong
interest, are paid to attend while still in high school, receive college credit from Blue Ridge Community, and then are offered a full-time position. This is an incredible start to a young person’s career.”
There are generally six to 10 students per year. “We try to adjust based on our needs so we can offer placement at the end,” says Rowland, who also admits that the real struggle is to get young people who want to stay. “Some have other interests, lives, etc. They’re young and open to anything, so it’s a challenge to keep them. But we do have a few who have stayed long term.”
Evidence of this came in 2024 when nine of the 10 students stayed to work at Mellott Company.
“Mellott University is the future of our company and the industry,” says Paul, Jr. “We have service techs who don’t want to travel anymore, but the young kids coming up are eager to travel—they want to get out of Warfordsburg.
“Everything in our company is designed to think about the future. You have to commit to a long-term perspective—that’s what we’re all about. Our employees are the most important asset. If you get people who want to work for a company; who want to be here and feel part of the family, then they want to stay.”
The Mellott Company currently has 360 employees working throughout all their locations. “This is the most we’ve ever had in our 106-year history,” says Rowland. “I expect we’ll be at 400 before long.”
Equipment manufactured at Mellott Company’s main campus.
The Mellott parts warehouse.
Kiersten King and Jeremy Bossom in The Sound of Music.
The ancient art of dinner theater has struggled at times, but it’s alive and well in Hagerstown
By Erin Jones
The opening of Oklahoma on April 11 at Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theater, marks a special milestone for owners Laura and Shawn Martin. The last time the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic graced the stage of the Hagerstown theater in 2008, Laura and Shawn starred as leading couple, Laurey and Curly.
Now, nearly two decades later, the couple not only owns the theater, but recently acquired Frederick’s Way Off Broadway Dinner Theater. As newly elected president of the National Dinner Theater Association, Laura Martin has a front row seat to the treasured pastime and the theaters working around the country to preserve and carry on the art form.
Like a hidden portal to a world of make believe, Washington County Playhouse is tucked away behind City Hall in Cramer Alley. Red arrows and the signage with the bright red circle and white star point the way to the front door. Inside, the bustling entryway greets visitors with bright posters of shows past and present. Through the magic of theater and hospitality, the space appears paradoxically larger than the exterior would suggest, somehow playing the dual role of both restaurant and theater.
“I love that it is all in one, that dinner and show,” Laura says. “It’s a whole evening experience.”
The Martins purchased the playhouse in 2015, but they are the fifth family of owners since the theater’s opening in 1985. The couple met at the theater, during a production of A Christmas Carol. Shawn was on stage, and Laura off stage as a make-up artist. They would take the stage together the following year in leading roles of Oklahoma.
But a bigger dream was formulating that would take shape over the next few years.
“Shawn and I had always talked
Washington County Playhouse owners Laura and Shawn Martin.
about how cool it would be to have our own theater,” Laura says. “The playhouse, of course, meant so much to him, and to both of us, but he had a deeper history with it.”
By 2014, the couple, who by then had married, found themselves on the precipice of a new opportunity. Laura had made the decision to leave her job as a schoolteacher, and the couple was presented with the opportunity of purchasing the theater.
Shawn suggested they seriously consider it, imagining the playhouse as their legacy.
Shortly after purchasing the theater 2015, Shawn lost his corporate job, raising the stakes for the couple to make the theater a success. They added programming like Theater for Young Audiences, which typically features adult actors performing for children as the audience, as well as Children’s Theater, which gives children the opportunity to perform, through their summer theater camps and educational programming.
West and Megan DiFalco in The Sound of Music.
Once the transition in ownership was finalized, the Martins were intentional about reaching out to audiences and patrons, introducing themselves at shows and inviting season pass holders into the theater’s next chapter. As a result, some current season pass holders have patronized the theater across ownerships, decades, and generations.
“For some season pass holders, their parents had season passes and now they have season passes. Now they bring their kids and grandkids, and that’s so special,” Laura says. “Lots of memories have been made.”
Washington County Playhouse is non-union but professional. The performers are paid a stipend per performance and also have the option to double as the restaurant staff, to the delight of the patrons.
“Not all dinner theaters still do that,” Laura says. “We feel like that’s something that makes it really special. Our patrons love seeing our people in different roles.
The actors aren’t the only ones to blend hospitality and entertainment. In creating the menu for the buffet meal, Shawn draws inspiration as much as possible
from each show. For Grease, for example, the inspiration was 1950s TV dinner with meatloaf and mashed potatoes. For Sweeney Todd, naturally, meat pies. If a food is mentioned in a show, it is likely to make an appearance on the menu.
Food is prepared in house. Shawn handles the kitchen and bar elements, supported by staff. He also handles show selection and negotiation of the rights and contracts that are necessary for each show.
In addition to the Martins, the theater is supported by a team of staff who cover roles like marketing and education. One staff member, Logan Connor, now the director of the Theater for Young Audiences and Theater Education, has been doing shows with the Playhouse since the age of 10.
This year, the WCP enters a chapter that is not so much new as it is a return to its roots. In purchasing Frederick’s Way Off Broadway Theater, the Martins are rejoining a connection that the dinner theaters once had. Washington County Playhouse was founded in 1985 by Bruce Levin in partnership with Don
Megan
Wiswell, who then founded Keynote Dinner Theater in 1990, renamed as Way Off Broadway in 1995.
“It’s really cool for us to bring them back as sister theaters being owned under the same family again,” Laura says. “Our physical presence will be more at Way Off Broadway this year as we establish all of those systems and everything. But so far, everything is transferring beautifully.”
The Martins became close with Way Off Broadway’s previous owners, Bill and Deb Kiska, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the industry to a halt. The shutdown ended up becoming a valuable time for sharing insights and experiences, while the theater was closed for eight months.
“If we made it through COVID, we can make it through anything.” Laura says. “The playhouse has rebuilt to what we call ‘before times’ busy.”
Laura is more familiar than most with the resilience and camaraderie of the dinner theater industry. Last year, she was elected president of the National Dinner Theater Association. This October, Way Off Broadway and Washington County Playhouse will host the organization’s national conference.
“We share what shows are working, what shows we’re planning, what shows maybe aren’t selling as well.” Laura says. “It’s a very supportive organization. Dinner theater is alive and well, and it’s growing. There’s lots of exciting things happening in dinner theaters all around the country.”
Theaters like Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse
in Rock Island, Illinois, and Candlelight Dinner Theater in Johnston, Colorado, are examples of growth and expansion nationwide. Meanwhile, closer to home in Columbia, Maryland, construction is underway for a New Performing Arts Center that will be the new home of Toby’s Dinner Theater.
Meanwhile, in Cramer Alley, the freezing temperatures this winter were met inside the theater in the make-believe world of Frozen, which runs from through March 8. The playhouse is proud to have been among the first theaters in the area to be granted the rights to the show, and it will open under Shawn’s direction in Way Off Broadway on March 28, as the two theaters settle into a new season and bright future reunited.
“I love what we do, and I love offering that experience. It’s all about the customer experience and offering them an opportunity to make memories with their family…that’s our vision and our mission at the playhouse and Way Off Broadway.” Laura says. “It’s an incredible honor. Shawn and I take that very much to heart that it’s an honor.”
Rylee Carter, Logan Conner, Devan Strain, Ryan Smetzer, and Tyler Miller in Footloose.
Jeannie Milito and Kevin Gross in Neil Simon's California Suite.
Comfort Classics from Italy
With their roots in the Old World and a passion for food, Ciao Pasta brings Italian authenticity to Hagerstown
“When Italians speak, we speak with passion,” says Gennaro Minale. Some of his favorite topics are food and family. Ciao Pasta, the fast-casual Italian eatery that he owns with his wife, Natalia Leorda, is the intersection of both. Their exuberance is distilled into an evolving menu that is deliberately restrained, focused on simplicity and tradition; a belief that nourishment comes from quality, not excess.
By April Bartel
by Mark Youngblood
Opened September 25, 2025, Ciao Pasta, on Spark Drive near the exit for Sharpsburg Pike off Interstate 70, is built on a lifetime of fine-dining experience and the couple’s shared journey as immigrants from Italy. Minale grew up in Naples; Leorda was raised in Rome. They met after emigrating to New York, attended culinary school, and worked together in fine-dining kitchens, with Leorda also cooking professionally in Rome.
While Minale gravitated toward front-of-house management, at one point overseeing
Photography
CREDIT:
CIAO
PASTA
a restaurant with “300 labels of wine,” both learned the discipline, precision, and respect that fine dining demands.
“My aspiration was always to open a place of my own, to work for myself,” Minale says. That dream took time. After moving to West
Virginia just before the pandemic, the couple navigated new parenthood, job uncertainty, and a steep entrepreneurial learning curve. Along the way, Minale worked at several family-owned restaurants, including three years at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, where
he says the experience helped him build lasting community connections.
Those years, and their growing brood, shaped the vision for Ciao Pasta. “It is a family business,” Minale says simply. “We have three kids and they are here with us all the time.”
On any given day, it’s not unusual to see the children playing quietly as pasta dough is mixed, extruded, and cut in full view of customers.
The heart of the menu is fresh pasta, made several times a day using unbleached semolina flours imported from Italy. “Ninety percent of our products, they come shipped from Italy,” Minale says.
Pasta shapes—spaghetti, fettuccine, casarecce, fusilloni, and creste di gallo—are chosen for flair and ability to pair with specific sauces. There’s also a gluten-free fusilli option made in house. Customers who are unsure which to pick can always opt for “chef’s choice.”
“The menu tells a story,” Minale says. “Every recipe is full of history,” even the simplest dish: fresh pasta with tomato sauce, al sugo, the Italian for “with sauce.” For $8.95, guests receive a generous 180-gram portion (about five to six ounces), made to order.
“Italian food is poor food but with quality ingredients,” Minale says. “You don’t need a bunch of ingredients. You just need three basic, quality items.”
Ciao Pasta starts with classic recipes and family favorites that guests can enjoy as is. Each portion is made to order, so ingredients are ultimately customizable. Craving grilled chicken alongside luscious Alfredo? Hold the
Owners Gennaro Minale and Natalia Leorda.
anchovies? Kick up the heat with spicy olive oil? You got it.
Signage details each dish, but Minale is happy to explain unique ingredients and terms. Puttanesca, for example, (one of Minale’s favorites) is boldly seasoned tomato sauce with olives and capers that originated in Naples. Calabrian Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork salume that is melted into a piquant red sauce. And ciliegino refers to sweet Sicilian cherry tomatoes. One of the most popular selections is Ciao Pasta’s velvety pink “rosa” sauce, combining tomato and cream. Pair it with languidly curving casarecce (meaning, “homemade”) pasta, a short, gently twisted shape that holds sauce well.
“We want to do something different,” says Minale, invoking how variety is the spice of life.
Customers have noticed. Annie Schulz, who lived in Italy, says her expectations were modest when she first walked in.
“When I got here and learned they are
Fresh ingredients and pasta made in house several times a day keep dishes at Ciao Pasta delicious.
Gennaro Minale cooks up Italian specialties at Ciao Pasta.
Italian, I realized this is a serious place,” she says. “This is the real thing. I have never tried pasta like this outside of Italy.”
Schulz now greets Leorda and Minale in their native tongue and is one of many who have become friends. She recommends indulging in the filled croissants. Typically eaten for breakfast in Italy, these flaky pastries can be stuffed with fluffy cream, pistachio, or Nutella.
“It is a piece of Italy,” she says. “The secret is that they put a little bit of lemon zest in the dough.”
Ciao Pasta’s format reflects modern realities to complement its traditional food. Ordering is done through self-service kiosks, which allow guests to customize dishes and see prices instantly.
“It is for transparency,” Minale says. “There are no surprises or miscommunication.” Online ordering is also available, and the restaurant does not charge credit card fees. A rewards program offers one point per dollar spent, with a free dish earned at 100 points.
For Minale and Leorda, accessibility matters. “Not many people can afford fine dining these days,” he says. “This is a family business that is also family friendly. Anybody can come here.”
“This is the real thing. I have never tried pasta like this outside of Italy.”
— ANNIE SCHULZ
Combo options, catering services, a casual atmosphere, and scratch-made items, like tender meatballs, reinforce that goal.
The couple is keen to grow the business once their rhythm is perfected, including hosting an official grand opening later this spring. In the meantime, folks can get a taste of authentic Italian cuisine and some of the freshest pasta around.
“We take pride in our work, and we are grateful for our customers,” says Minale, joking that “Ciao Pasta saves people the cost of plane fare to Italy.”
Natalia Leorda puts the finishing touches on a pasta dinner.
Cannoli’s from Ciao Pasta. Credit: Ciao Pasta
Comfort, Consistency, Community
At Oak Ridge Family Restaurant near Funkstown, American comfort food is served in exactly that—comfort
By April Bartel
In a busy retail plaza near Funkstown, a familiar rhythm is taking shape at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant. It is the hum of conversation, the clink of plates, and the steady flow of neighbors coming in for a meal. It all feels both reliable and welcoming.
Since opening its doors last August, the restaurant has established itself as a place where classic American comfort food and a genuinely homey atmosphere go hand in hand.
“We’re a family restaurant, and we want people to feel at home,” says co-owner Dale Krahling, speaking on behalf of his partners, his wife, Maxima Krahling, along with another married couple, Mario Cabreras and Jozell Stoner. The partnership itself is a family affair. An experienced chef, Cabreras is Krahling’s nephew.
Photography by Mark Youngblood
Oak Ridge Family Restaurant’s popular Reuben sandwich.
OAK RIDGE FAMILY RESTAURANT
120 East Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 900, Hagerstown
www.oakridgefamily restaurant.com
240-347-4652
Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cabreras and Stoner also own Bon Appetit, a restaurant specializing in pizza and subs that opened earlier in 2025. When the couple was ready to expand, the Oak Ridge Drive location felt like the right fit.
“They came to us with the opportunity,” Krahling says. “And we looked at it and thought, yeah, this would be a good idea.”
The 1,800-square-foot space, formerly home to Fratelli Italian Pizzeria and Grill, underwent a hands-on transformation.
“We did all the painting, fixed the walls, and updated the kitchen equipment,” Krahling says.
That collaborative approach continues behind the scenes. Krahling brings decades of management and construction experience, while Cabrera
leads the kitchen and Stoner oversees front-ofhouse operations.
The result is a menu designed to please a broad range of tastes, from breakfast lovers to dinner regulars. Breakfast is available all day here, a delight for brunchers, late sleepers, and anyone who loves breakfast for dinner.
“One of the things that we sell a lot for break-
The main dining room at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant.
Breakfast is always popular at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant.
fast is chipped beef casserole,” Krahling says. This standout morning dish features made-to-order layers of perfectly crisp potato chunks smothered in a delicate cream sauce that is speckled with fine bits of dried beef and topped with a blanket of scrambled eggs and shredded cheese.
Lunches and dinners lean into classic American fare like burgers, subs, wraps, and even a stir fry. Top sellers include Oak Ridge’s open-faced roast beef and turkey sandwiches, chopped steak, quesadillas, and seafood dishes, each prepared with quality and consistency in mind.
“Mario is very particular about the food that comes out of the kitchen,” Krahling says of Cabreras. The family wants returning customers to get their favorite meal exactly as expected, time and again.
Krahling’s choice: “My favorite thing is the grilled chicken quesadilla with red and green peppers and lots of gooey cheese.”
Menu highlights include their hefty Nutella French Toast combo. That comes with three golden slices of custard-dipped Texas toast that is topped with indulgent Nutella, fresh strawberries and bananas, then finished with chocolate syrup and a dollop of whipped cream.
Brekkie runs the gamut from Belgian waffles, pancakes, and crepes to egg sandwiches and a jumbo breakfast platter with eggs, diner’s choice of home fries, grits, or tots and a meat option. Everyday favorites on the sandwich menu include grilled chicken, turkey clubs and Rubens alongside Philly cheesesteaks and crispy Monte Cristos. And don’t forget the wings, bone in or boneless.
Dinners and daily specials may include their beer battered haddock with chips or seafood alfredo. Recent specials have featured a New York strip steak paired with shrimp, pork and sauerkraut, and lasagna.
Craving something sweet? Guests can roll up for a jumbo banana split or freshly made cakes and pies. The peanut butter-chocolate cake is always a winner, as is the classic carrot cake, which is heavily laden with walnuts, bits of carrot and warming spices, topped with a neat flourish of cream cheese frosting.
Beyond the menu, the restaurant’s welcoming spirit is reflected in its service. Krahling says, “I think we give reasonable portions at a decent price. We really try to please the customer.” That flexibility extends to accommodating guests with dietary preferences or special requests.
Oak Ridge Family Restaurant also serves as a gathering place. Currently, it can host small private groups. “As of now, we have parties and reservations with up to 15 to 20 people,” Krahling says, noting that they’ve hosted groups as large as 25.
A patio facing the South Pointe Center’s decorative fountain provides seasonal seating, and the expansive parking lot opens the door to future community events.
“We’ll host cruise-ins when the weather is warm,” Krahling says. (A photo of one patron’s classic car graces the back dining nook.)
As the restaurant continues to settle in, the owners are already thinking ahead.
“As we mature, we’ll do some other decorative things and renovations and upgrades,” Krahling says.
For now, the focus remains on giving customers what they want, whether that’s breakfast at dinnertime, a casual takeout meal, or a table full of familiar faces.
“I like to ask everyone who eats here, “How was the meal?” says Krahling. “Most of the time they tell me, ‘We’ll be back.’”
For a new restaurant hoping to build its legacy, that is the highest compliment.
Three of the Oak Ridge Family Restaurant’s favorites: the open-face roast beef sandwich with fries, Texas stir fry, and seafood alfredo.
DINING GUIDE
ALEKOS 2 GO
511 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, 240.313.4976
Freshly prepared and cooked Greek food made daily. $
AMERICAN PIE PIZZERIA
17520 Virginia Ave., Hagerstown, 301.582.6281
Family run business that serves not only pizza but several authentic Italian dishes as well. $$
BAILE CASK AND KETTLE
53 W. Washington St., Hagerstown, 301.358.3800
Classic Irish-inspired pub fare, house-brewed craft beers and freshly baked New York-style bagels. $$
BENNY’S PUB
49 Eastern Blvd. N., Hagerstown, 301.791.5915
Relaxed venue serving specialty burgers and other pub grub, plus bespoke beers in convivial surrounds. $–$$
BISTRO 11
13208 Fountain Head Plaza, Hagerstown, 301.733.2222
Relaxed and refined cuisine. Full menu of specialties, steaks, and seafood. $$–$$$
BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE
17318 Valley Mall Road, Suite C, Hagerstown, 240.513.4040
Handcrafted beer, Chicago-style pizza with a Southern California twist, and Pizookies. $$-$$$
BLACK ROCK BAR & GRILL
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, 240.850.3365
An award-winning steakhouse specializing in Certified Angus Beef steaks served and cooked to perfection by you on a 755-degree volcanic sizzling rock. $$-$$$
By combining our passion for pizza with our commitment to community service, we strive to be more than just a pizzeria. $$
A
Traditional American dining with a quiet and relaxing view of the airstrip. $–$$
HAGERSTOWN FAMILY DINER 431 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 240.707.6330
Great hidden gem of Hagerstown. $
HOFFMAN’S ALL AMERICAN GRILL
18203 Mason Dixon Road, Hagerstown, 240.707.6600 Casual dining at its finest featuring burgers, steaks, salads, and seafood. $$–$$$
HONG KONG CHINESE
Veteran eatery serving familiar Chinese dishes in an informal setting. $$
HOUSE OF KOBE
757 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.797.6979
Fine dining featuring sushi and hibachi cooking right in front of you. $$–$$$
HUB CITY DINER
190 Railway Ln., Hagerstown, 240.707.6638
Comfort food served hot and fresh in a family friendly atmosphere. $
HUMMUS MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
11205 John F. Kennedy Dr., Unit 108A, Hagerstown, 240.513.6020
A blend of authentic Mediterranean recipes with modern flavors. $–$$
J’S DINER
43 Eastern Blvd N, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 301.745.3091
Innovative breakfast destination for those in search of an unpretentious place to begin the day. Everything they offer is made from scratch, so you can feel good about what you’re eating. $$
JUNIPER CAFÉ
41 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 240.267.2897
Get a taste of Philly with one of the best genuine cheesesteaks you’ll find in Washington County. Plenty of other great selections too! $$
LEDO PIZZA
1423 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.766.4900
Creative flavor combinations and lots of sandwich and gluten-free options. $–$$
LOS AMIGOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT
29 N. Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown, 240.420.8000
18330 Spark Dr., Hagerstown, 240.707.6250
The finest authentic Mexican food prepared just the way you like it. $
MANGO GRILL INDIAN & THAI CUISINE
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Suite 201, Hagerstown, 240.707.6220 Experience the flavors of India and Thailand with daily lunch buffet deals. $$
Dine in and carry out Vietnamese cuisine. Small venue but the portions are authentic and large. $
POKÉ & SUSHI
11347 Robinwood Dr. Hagerstown, 301.393.8833
Refreshing Asian alternative. Choose your own ingredients for soups, Poké, rice bowls and sushi. Boba (bubble) tea. $$.
PRIMANTI BROS.
17301 Valley Mall, Hagerstown, 301.228.0933
High-piled sandwiches equipped to quell the heartiest of hungers. $
RAD PIES
10210 Governor Lane Blvd., Williamsport, 240.366.8634
Unique, wood-fired pizza options for the adventurous. $$
REAL DEAL JAMAICAN RESTAURANT
71 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown, 240.513.6393
A concise menu of classic Jamaican comfort foods & soft drinks amid casual digs. $
RHUBARB HOUSE
12 Public Square, Hagerstown, 301.733.4399
Sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, and soups with a unique touch. $–$$
RICE THAI DINING
40 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 301.766.9559
A taste of authentic Thailand, without needing a passport $$-$$$
RIK’S CAFE
1065 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown, 301.302.7541
California-inspired contemporary American cuisine featuring sandwiches, hearty soups, small plates, and salads. $$–$$$
ROCKY’S NEW YORK PIZZA
907 S. Potomac St., Suite 1, Hagerstown, 301.791.6810
Great pizza in addition to other classic Italian fare. $–$$
ROCKY’S PIZZA ROBINWOOD
11351 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, 301.790.3853
Delicious Italian cuisine at an affordable price $-$$
ROOSTER MOON COFFEEHOUSE
Longmeadow Shopping Center, 1551 Potomac Ave., Hagerstown, 301.790.5040
Fine coffee, espresso drinks, organic teas, with a full breakfast and lunch menu. $
SAKURA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
102 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 301.393.8680
Part Japanese steakhouse, part sushi bar, featuring hibachi dining. $$–$$$
SARDI’S POLLO A LA BRASA
100 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 240.382.1214
Casual Peruvian chain serving charbroiled chicken, ceviche, and other traditional dishes. $–$$$
SCHMANKERL STUBE
58 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 301.797.3354
Old World-style Bavarian dining with an emphasis on German traditions. $$$
SCHULA’S GRILL AND CRAB HOUSE
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Hagerstown, 301.714.1397
Seafood and sandwiches are served in a casual setting with polished wood tables and a bar. $$–$$$
SILK THAI RESTAURANT AND BAR
1580 Wesel Blvd. K, Hagerstown, 240.267.2142
Spreading good vibes of Thai culture by introducing the wonderful food and scenery of the land of smiles. $$–$$$
SITAR OF INDIA
110 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 301.733.8223
A contemporary atmosphere that complements their traditional Northern Indian specialties. $-$$
STADIUM TAVERN
401 S. Cannon Ave., Hagerstown, 301.714.0849
Crabs and steam buckets, shrimp, and oysters, and don’t forget the wings. $–$$
TASTE OF REGGAE
40 E Washington St, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 240.513.1101
Authentic Jamaican restaurant specializing in made-to-order Caribbean and Jamaican food. Packed with flavor and cooked the way it is done in Jamaica. $$
TAQUERIA JALISCO AUTHENTIC
MEXICAN GRILL
1037 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown, 301.797.2000
Authentic Mexican cuisine with the experience of being in Mexico. $
THE CRAB 99
116 Railway Lane, Hagerstown, 240.452.1937
Tasty seafood dishes with a wide range of flavors. Make your own seafood combinations. $$
VEVA’S ON POTOMAC
38 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, 301.791.0370
Italian fare; Maryland soul. $$-$$$
A New Spin for Hub City?
With a changing economy and a lot of new amenities, Hagerstown appears to be becoming a sought-after retirement spot
Retirees aren’t just seeking the sunny beaches of Florida anymore to relax throughout their golden years. Hagerstown is quickly becoming a popular up-and-coming location for retirees to land even without the promise of 75 degrees and sunny throughout the winter months. The town’s diversity, location, natural beauty, seasons, and amenities are all coming together to make the Hub City a versatile, safe, and comfortable place to retire.
For those looking to retire closer to a larger metropolitan area without actually being in a big city, Hagerstown has found a way to hit a middle ground that’s becoming increasingly intriguing not just for locals, but for outsiders as well. With interstates 81 and 70 acting as a gateway to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, but with a cost of living that’s lower than the national average, it’s a way for retirees to have the best of both worlds while being able to stretch their savings and income.
Add in easy access to higher-end facilities and a variety of entertainment options from sports like the Hagerstown Boxcars to the wide offerings of The Maryland Theatre along with the comfort and calm of a less busy lifestyle, Hagerstown is becoming a location that’s hard to beat.
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
“Hagerstown is a small town with large city amenities,” says Jill Thompson, director of planning and economic development for the City of Hagerstown. “Our community’s arts,
With an improving historic downtown area, affordable housing, quality health care at places like Meritus Medical Center and financial institutions like Truist embedded in the community, Hagerstown has become attractive to retirees.
entertainment, and cultural attractions create a great place to live for all, including retirees.”
For the active senior in Washington County alone there are five national parks, eight state parks, and 22 city parks, not counting the individual town parks across the county like Boonsboro’s Shafer Park or Williamsport’s Bryon Memorial Park. Together they offer a plethora of outdoor opportunities ranging from hiking and biking to boating and birding. Active seniors can take on anything from the challenge of the Appalachian Trail to serene walking paths around Hagerstown City Park.
For those who count golf as their ultimate passion, Dan Spedden, president and CEO of Hagerstown and Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau says, “there are multiple public and semi-private courses in the area, such as Black Rock Gold Course and Hagerstown Municipal Golf course which offer senior rates and leagues.”
The ever-growing senior-popular game of pickleball has been expanding in Hagerstown with the opening of Dill Dinkers indoor facility adding courts to those at the YMCA and Hagerstown Field House as well as outdoor opportu-
With its centralized location, easy access to mountains, beaches, and major cities as well as world-class culture, dining, and entertainment, Maryland has become a good location for adventurous retirees.
The state experiences all four seasons, although none to excess. Maryland doesn’t get the long, steamy summers of Florida or the long, cold winters of the Northeast, while the spring and fall can be spectacular.
nities at Marty Snook Park, Pangborn Park, and Washington County Regional Park.
The state is also very retirement-advantageous for tax benefits. Maryland exempts Social Security from state income taxes and provides an exclusion for other types of retirement income, including pension payments and 401(k) withdrawals. However, it fully taxes other types of income, such as withdrawals from an IRA. Maryland is the only state in the country with both an estate and an inheritance tax.
History and culture also abound in the county. Antietam Battlefield is an obvious respite for the history buff, but there is also the Jonathan Hager House Musuem, the Washington County Historical Society, and the Miller House. All of these locations provide not just a spot to learn about history but also an active community for discussion and socialization.
According to the website Census Reporter, 14.6 percent of Hagerstown’s 43,490 residents are 65 or older and 34 percent are seniors (50 and older).
with an iPhone. There are also smaller local businesses and non-profits working to support the senior community such as Plant the Seeds of Maryland Homecare, Golden Girls Assisted Living, Holly’s Place, and Meals on Wheels.
For art there is Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, the Maryland Theater, along with The Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theater. Downtown Hagerstown itself has recently undergone an art revitalization and provides a wide variety of opportunities for artists as well. Thompson and Emily Conrad, economic development coordinator for the City of Hagerstown, highlight that “Washington County is proudly home to more museums and historical sites than any other county in the state.”
The senior community is also active and well in Hagerstown with centers and facilities focused just for and on elders. The Washington County Commission on Aging strives to help seniors stay independent and provides services and program to work to do that while also fighting to protect the rights of all seniors.
The Senior Center provides a variety of programs and activities that are available to everyone over the age of 55 that range from fitness classes to music instruction to help
Perhaps most important to many seniors is the local medical facilities that help maintain a high quality of life throughout aging of which Hagerstown and Washington County have many trusted and reliable options.
“The area is served by the Meritus Health system, which includes the state-of-the-art Meritus Medical Center. They offer specialized senior care, a senior-specific primary care practice, and numerous outpatient services,” Spedden says. “Of course, for highly specialized needs, you’re within a reasonable drive of renowned medical centers in Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Bethesda.”
It’s easy to see how Hagerstown has become a desirable place for retirement for locals and relocatees alike.
Thompson and Conrad say, “Hagerstown and Washington County provide a balanced retirement lifestyle: economical yet enriching, serene yet connected. It is a top spot for retirees with its tranquility and value. Though winters can be chilly the natural beauty yearround is unmatched.”
SENIOR LIVING CALENDAR
Every Wednesday
OF EVENTS
CONTEMPORARY RETIREMENT
9:06 a.m. to 10 a.m., WJEJ Radio
Tune in for topical discussions on issues affecting retirees.
Wednesdays, March 4, and April 1
NEW TO MEDICARE WORKSHOP
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 6 p.m to 8 p.m. 535 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown
Hosted by the Washington County Commission on Aging. To register call 301.790.0275.
Tuesdays, March 3, and April 7
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Somerford Place
Hosted by Somerford Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care. For more information, call 301.791.9221.
Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 and April 7, 14, 21 & 28
HEALTH MATTERS RADIO SHOW
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., WJEJ radio (1240 am)
Tune in for information on health topics that matter. Call 301.739.2323 during broadcast times with your health questions.
Thursdays, March 5, and April 2
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP
11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., Western Sizzlin Steakhouse, 17567 York Road, Hagerstown
Parkinson’s Disease patients and caregivers meet to hear a variety of speakers and enjoy lunch and conversation. Call Judy Fiery at 301.797.7373 or visit www.hagerstownparkinsonsupport.org.
Mondays, March 2, and April 6
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
2 p.m. to 3 p.m., LIFE Lutheran Services, 840 Fifth Ave., Chambersburg, Pa.
Covers a new topic each week. Free; light refreshments served. Call 717.709.2342.
Mondays, March 9, and April 13 BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
7 p.m., Breast Cancer Awareness Cumberland Valley, 12916 Conamar Drive, Suite 201, Hagerstown Call 301.791.5843 or visit www.bcacv.org.
Mondays, March 16, and April 20 SPINAL CORD INJURY SUPPORT
3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 201
Education and support for those who have suffered a spinal cord injury and are now adjusting to their disabilities. Call 301.714.4070.
Tuesdays, March 17, and April 21 SMART SENIORS
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Diakon Senior Living, Robinwood Campus
Educational forum about topics of interest to older adults; sit-down meal served. $9. For reservations, call 240.420.4119.
Tuesdays, March 17, and April 21 LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA
6 p.m., Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 129
Open to those affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, MDS, or myeloma. Call 301.665.4650.
Thursdays, March 12, and April 9 ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
Family and friends of those suffering from dementia are invited to network with others who are experiencing similar situations in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Call 301.733.3353.
Lunch and educational seminar for people ages 55 and up. $13. Call 301.790.8907.
| HAGERSTOWN
GROW IT ALL
BUSY TIME FOR GARDENERS
The cusp of spring is a busy time for starting seeds, pruning, planting, building planting beds, and so much more.
Besides planting ornamental trees and shrubs (especially conifers that should be planted now, not the fall), spring is a great time to plant fruit trees and berries. I highly recommend planting red raspberries for a low-maintenance, high-yield backyard crop.
Look for a “primocane” type (Caroline, Autumn Bliss, Heritage, etc.), which doesn’t need complicated pruning. Simply raise your lawn mower to its highest setting and mow down the overwintered canes. New growth will fill in, and you’ll enjoy fresh berries from late summer through frost. (Note: mowing only works on primocane types, not on other raspberry types.)
Early season vegetables can soon be directly seeded outdoors. Although almanacs, frost charts, and historical data are useful to get a general sense of calendar timing, they aren’t 100 percent accurate due to weather patterns. Given that, I advocate seeding cool-season vegetables using a soil thermometer. Why? Because I learned the hard way that a calendar date doesn’t mean the soil is warm enough (or dry enough) for seeds to germinate in early spring.
Having to re-seed afterwards multiple times is inconvenient, kills time, and is expensive. Plus, research shows that cool-season seeds actually germinate 50 percent faster at 50-degree soil temps (measured at two inches deep) than at 40 degrees. Therefore, I wait until the soil is 45 degrees in mid- to late-March or early April to get 70 percent germination seeding lettuce, peas, radish, and spinach. Once the soil is 50
By Deborah Smith Fiola
degrees, I sow arugula, beets, broccoli, and kale. Come early to mid-April (50-degree to 65-degree soil), I’ll sow seeds of cabbage, carrots, leeks and onions.
Skip all this by pre-warming the soil (solarization). This enables you to seed early-season vegetables about two weeks earlier outdoors to jumpstart the growing season. Simply cover unmulched beds with clear plastic to let in sunlight and trap heat, allowing soil to warm up. Research shows doing so can relatively quickly warm the soil five to10 degrees within four to seven sunny days. For even more season extension, cover freshly seeded beds with row cover fabric.
Raised beds naturally allow for earlier seeding. Their elevated, loose soil warms up faster in the spring. However, the flip side is that these soils dry out quickly, so an irrigation system is a must, ideally with a timer. Make sure your raised bed is at least 12 inches deep (16 inches deep if the soil below is compact or growing root crops, like carrots or sweet potatoes). This means six-inch decking planks on top of the soil are not deep enough for plant roots.
Raised beds are expensive. Besides the cost of the frame (or kit), bags of special raised bed soil are pricey. For example, a four-foot-by-six-foot bed requires about 25 one-cubic foot bags to fill it 12 inches deep. You can cut costs by blending one-third of the raised bed bag with one-third native soil, and one-third compost. Alternatively, DIY your bed with a one-to-one-to-one blend of topsoil, compost, and either coconut coir or shredded bark. For a four-foot-by-six-foot bed volume, use five cubic feet of each (about five wheelbarrow loads of each). Blend together well when filling.
Deborah Smith Fiola is a professional horticultural consultant who lives in Keedysville. A former university professor/Extension agent, she has a B.S. in horticulture and an M.S. in entomology/pest management (from the University of Maryland). Email your questions to: landscapeipm@gmail.com.
I’ve been having a day. And by a day I mean a week. And by a week I mean a month. And by a month I mean the last six months. Anything small that could go wrong has gone wrong at the absolute worst time. There has been sickness, moves, things that got lost in the mail and will probably never be found, a case of the flu over Christmas, cups of spilt milk, fingers burnt by hot pans, full body rashes, another case of the flu over the New Year, missed vacations, ripped pants, and Walmart stopped carrying my lunch time staple so now I’m always hungry. My life has been a series of unfortunate events that have kept stringing themselves together in record fashion.
Based on my recent record I can almost guarantee you that if I come over and you offer me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I will somehow manage to drop it and as it is falling the bread will separate just enough that it will be able to land so that peanut butter and jelly shoot all over your floor, and knowing my recent luck that floor is mostly likely going to be a brand new white rug, but not a regular white rug, a shag one so that the peanut butter and the jelly can really get down there.
So the next thing I know, instead of sitting down, eating lunch, and having a nice conversation, I’ll be on my hands and knees scrubbing at a carpet that isn’t even mine trying to remove a stain that came from me but doesn’t totally feel like my fault. I don’t believe the universe is out to get me. I don’t believe it’s out to get anyone. But sometimes it darn well feels like it.
I’d like to say that I’ve taken this recent series of events with my chin held high, with a skip in my step, with a perpetual smile, and an oh-shucks attitude, but I would be lying. For the majority of this recent bad ride I’ve acted like a boxer taking a punch with anger and my hands up ready to strike back or as a petulant child crying when things don’t go my way.
I’ve got to tell you, neither option is very attractive.
I switched tactics after thinking I looked like a dumb jerk too many times and tried to hold onto the hope that things would just stop going wrong.
That hope, though still there, has had to fight to survive like a flower through the snow while my bad day has strung into a bad week into a bad month into a bad six months. You get the picture.
I want to say that I learned something magnificent from all of this. That I’m a better, stronger, kinder, smarter person. To be honest, I’m not sure I am.
But I have been humbled and maybe that’s what I needed.
No matter how much I want to believe I can control the world, my circumstances, my life, that being self-sufficient and strong will keep me safe, it’s just not true. It’s like going canoeing and telling myself I’m in charge of a river when all I am actually in control of is paddling my own canoe. The river is going to go where the river is going to go, no matter how hard I paddle.
Life is going to go where life is going to go and the truth is all I can control is my attitude, my actions and reactions, and my hope. Unfortunately, that’s been the kind of lesson that’s required quite a few knockouts over a long time for me to accept. Perhaps that’s why my bad day has turned into a bad half-year.
When things go wrong, and they most certainly will, life will move on, and I’ve learned that so will I, even if there’s still some peanut butter and jelly stuck in the carpet.
