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“I am not rich – why would I need a Trust?”
A common misconception we often hear regarding Trusts is that Trusts are only needed by people who have substantial wealth. This could not be further from the truth. If you own a home, when you are gone, your home will likely have to go through Probate, even if you don’t own anything else, before your home can be passed to your loved ones. Not only is Probate very expensive, it will also cause significant delays in the distribution of your assets to your loved ones and can cause them substantial financial uncertainty.
Probate will require your Personal Representative to go through a lot of red tape and gather a considerable amount of documen tation that must be filed with the court. From getting the Personal Representative approved and appointed, tracking down all the assets that were owned by the loved one who just passed away, and providing a detailed accounting to the court, Probate cases can last up to a year or longer and may require considerable billable time to administer the Estate. We love Probate matters. However, we feel it is our responsibility to alert and inform our clients that Probate is completely avoidable if you plan ahead and take essential, proactive steps.
One purpose of Revocable Trusts is to help your family avoid Probate. By retitling your home and assets into your Trust, your loved ones will not have to endure the lengthy legal process while they are still grieving, saving your family significant money and stress, and ensuring that your assets and belongings are distributed as you wish, in a timely manner. A Trust can also provide you additional control over your assets. You can specify detailed instructions and customize distributions to meet your individual needs which is especially useful if you have any minor beneficiaries or beneficiaries who have special needs.
Our firm will create and specifically tailor a Trust for you and your needs and provide additional instructions to ensure that your loved ones are not burdened by having to go through Probate. No matter the size of your Estate, by creating a Trust, you are protecting your loved ones from having to expend a considerable amount of time and potentially money navigating through the Probate process.
If you need help protecting your money and loved ones in the event of death or disability, call us at 301-969-9364 or self-schedule online at www.lenaclarklegal.com.
After her mother died of a rare form of cancer Zoe Schreiber took to running marathons—including this year’s Boston Marathon—to help raise awareness and raise money.
Malia Briggs is one of the top junior bowlers in the county and her social media presence is bringing awareness of the game to youngsters throughout the world.
Holly’s Place fills the gap for older residents struggling to live on their own but not ready for full-time assisted living.
Sweetsies in
Spring has finally arrived and we are enticed outside by the warm weather and blooming foliage. It’s time to plant.
MOTHER’S DAY IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE TOUGH FOR ME THIS YEAR. It will be the first time I won’t be able to visit or talk to my mother. I am not alone.
Zoe Schreiber lost her mother earlier this year, and now she’s doing something about it. She’s running in marathons—including the recent Boston Marathon—in an effort to raise awareness for cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer. Schreiber was one of 13 runners on Team TargetCancer, a foundation for research and advocacy of rare forms of cancer.
This year’s team was selected from more than 150 applicants and set the ambitious goal to raise $175,000 before they crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 20. Since 2015, the team members have raised $800,000, all of which went to the foundation to directly help patients, families, and researchers.
There are thousands of noble causes to raise money for, and we’re happy to highlight one of them that has significantly impacted our
community. We lost a great citizen. Gayle Schreiber served as a state police trooper, a social worker, a youth counselor, and worked with people suffering from addictions.
Writer Lisa Gregory sat down with Gayle and Zoe hoping to create an inspirational Mother’s Day story with a happy ending. It didn’t work out. Gayle passed away shortly after the interview. But Lisa’s story still carries an impact. It’s very much a tear-jerker.
We balance Gayle’s story with some happier profiles, like the one about Malia Briggs who is one of the best junior bowlers in the country and has developed a social media presence that is propelling the sport forward with younger generations. And Sarah Bowman who took up pickleball after her children grew up and became a top-ranked senior player.
I hope you enjoy all the content in this month’s issue.
–JeffThoreson jthoreson@hagerstownmag.com
A distant paddler navigates the serenity of the Potomac River in Washington County on a wonderful spring day. With barely a ripple beneath the hull, the water reflects the blue sky and the wisps of clouds in the distance. Those who have paddled on such a day know how each stroke of the paddle slips quietly into the water, creating a soothing rhythm that seems to slow time. On a beautiful spring day, the air carries a hint of warmth and the clean scent of water and earth. The noise of the outside world fades away, replaced by the steady glide of the canoe and the tranquil embrace of spring.
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE hosted its 27th Annual Business Awards event on February 25 at The Maryland Theatre. More than 460 community members and local businesses leaders were on hand to help honor this year’s winners.
At Your Service award: Rider Jet Center is a full-service fixed-base operator at Hagerstown Regional Airport known for its customer approach, premium amenities, and on-site jet and propeller aircraft maintenance at South Mountain Aviation.
Small Nonprofit of the Year: Hagerstown Home Store offers housing counseling and educational programs to help people navigate buying and owning homes. They offer homebuyer education, budgeting help, fair housing info, landlord/tenant guidance, and federally assisted housing resources.
Large Nonprofit of the Year: Community Rescue Service, Inc. provides essential emergency medical services to Washington County with a strong commitment to professionalism, reliability, and public safety. Through highly trained personnel, modern equipment, and coordinated response efforts, CRS ensures timely, high-quality care while maintaining a steadfast dedication to the community it serves.
Small Business of the Year: One Room Media provides video and photo production, digital marketing, and advertising services for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. It is most known for its community video series highlighting mom-and-pop restaurants and events, which are used to help raise money for various nonprofits and community efforts.
Medium Business of the Year: Bushey Feight Morin Architects, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is known for state-of-the-art design, personal service, and attention to detail. Recent community projects
of note include the HCC Bowman Family Workforce Training Center and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. BFM Architects donated full architectural services for the design and construction of the new Boys and Girls Club and Doey’s House.
Large Business of the Year: Mountain View Animal Emergency has provided compassionate emergency care for dogs and cats in the tristate area since 2008. It is one of the region’s few privately owned emergency hospitals, operating from a state-of-the-art 16,000-square-foot facility with a specialized surgical department. Mountain View Animal Emergency’s experienced team delivers personalized patient care, exceptional client service, and meaningful community support through charitable outreach.
Young Professional of the Year: Brittany Wedd is the executive director of Children in Need, Inc., where she leads one of Washington County’s largest providers of free essentials for children living in poverty. A recognized nonprofit leader, she has expanded programs, strengthened partnerships, and advanced sustainable growth while serving thousands of local families each year.
Business Person of the Year: F. Christian Wright IV, president of Wright-Gardner Insurance and a longtime civic leader in Washington County. For more than three decades, he has led the $30 million independent insurance agency while helping businesses strengthen safety, manage risk, and reinvest millions back into their operations. Deeply committed to community service, Wright has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, including Horizon Goodwill Industries, the YMCA of Hagerstown, the Community Foundation of Washington County, and local arts, education, and youth organizations.
Legacy Award: The second-ever recipient was Donald “Don” M. Bowman. What began as Bowman’s desire to drive trucks and tractor-trailers ultimately became a profound legacy here in Washington County. He is the chairman and president of the Bowman Group, LLC, which offers a wide range of services from the trucking industry to real estate development, and includes D.M. Bowman, Inc., Bowman Development Corporation, Bowman Hospitality, Bowman Truck Leasing, Bowman Trailer Leasing, and Bowman Logistics. The success of these businesses has funded the Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting capital projects in Washington County.
Bowman has had a resounding positive impact on Washington County throughout his life, and has provided many local individuals with job opportunities, as the eighth largest employer in the area.
EARLY IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE NEED FOR PRESERVATION was growing, and J.V. Jamison saw a future in the cold. He helped launch what would become the Jamison Door Company, starting a legacy that would see the transition from wooden ice-house doors to the high-tech, automated systems of the 21st century. For 120 years, Jamison has been the silent guardian of the world’s supply chains, evolving from a local workshop into a global titan.
Now, that century-plus journey is reaching a massive milestone. In a move that blends Italian innovation with Blue Ridge grit, Jamison Door and its parent company, the BMP Group, have announced they will build a new manufacturing building—a $35 million to $50 million investment in the future of Washington County.
Rising on 58 acres at the Mount Aetna Technology Park, the first phase of this ambitious project features a 355,000-square-foot facility. It is a “defining moment,” as CEO Dwight Clark puts it, for a company that has called this community home since the days of horse-drawn carriages. This new production center won’t just manufacture doors, it will serve as the unified heartbeat for six global brands, bringing BMP Group’s international operations under one expansive Maryland roof.
“This is a defining moment for Jamison Door Company,” says Clark. “After 120 years in Washington County, we are proud to invest in a future that creates opportunity for our employees, delivers greater value to our customers, and supports continued growth for our community.”
The project is the fruit of a deep-rooted partnership. The Washington County Board of County Commissioners recognized that Jamison isn’t just a business, it’s a neighbor. By approving a $2 million tax incentive, the county ensured that this 120-year-old corporate citizen would have the room to grow.
Beyond the steel and concrete there is a human story. By 2030, this expansion is set to create up to 250 quality, long-term jobs.
“This is a defining moment for Jamison Door Company. After 120 years in Washington County, we are proud to invest in a future...”
— CEO, DWIGHT CLARK
These positions represent the next chapter for local families who have, in many cases, worked at Jamison for generations. The facility is designed for more than just efficiency; it is the first step toward a comprehensive BMP Group campus that will foster collaboration and innovation for decades to come.
From the original red-brick plant on J.V. Jamison Drive to this stateof-the-art tech park, the mission remains the same—Jamison Door continues to build a gateway to the future, ensuring that while the world outside changes, the quality forged in Hagerstown remains, as the company motto claims, “Built to Last.”
“Washington County is proud to stand by a company that has endured and thrived for generations.” says Jonathan Horowitz, director of the Washington County Business and Economic Development Department. “As Jamison embarks on its impending expansion, Washington County will support the growth and longterm success.”
Ongoing military actions in the Middle East have increased uncertainty for investors. Global tensions like these are not new, and markets have faced many similar events over time. The key question for U.S. investors is how much these events affect the key factors that influence markets, such as job creation, inflation, economic growth, and corporate earnings.
In some cases, geopolitical events have had limited market impact. Military action in Venezuela earlier this year, for example, had little effect because it was short-lived and did not significantly affect economic conditions.
By contrast, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had more lasting consequences. The conflict disrupted global supplies of energy and agricultural goods, which contributed to a surge in inflation in the U.S. By June 2022, overall inflation was up 9 percent from the previous year. During that period, stock and bond markets struggled for the first nine months of the year before eventually reaching a low point in October.
With oil prices now rising sharply, investors are asking an important question: What should we watch going forward—and how could markets be affected?
The lack of a quick resolution to the current conflict has increased worries about oil production and global shipping routes.
The Middle East remains one of the world’s most important oilproducing regions. The longer the conflict continues, the greater the risk that global oil supplies may face significant disruption.
One particular concern is the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil. The strait has been effectively closed over the past week. This closure shifts the situation from a potential risk to a real disruption in global oil supply.
At the end of 2025, inflation had been moderating. This was an encouraging sign for investors hoping the Federal Reserve (Fed) would reduce interest rates later in the year.
However, rising oil prices have raised concerns that inflation could be accelerating again. The most recent report on producer prices—an early measure of inflation—showed that they had already increased at the start of the year, even before the jump in oil prices.
At the same time, the February employment report added another layer of concern: the economy lost 92,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 4.44 percent.
These developments have revived discussions about the risk of stagflation—a period when economic growth slows while inflation remains high. This scenario is often associated with the economic environment of the 1970s.
It is still too early to know whether the current economic outlook will change significantly. The situation in the Middle East is evolving and will continue to be closely watched.
It’s important to note that the U.S. economy is in a very different position than it was in the 1970s. The country is now largely energy independent, and our economy is less dependent on gasoline than it was in past decades. These factors could help moderate the overall impact of rising oil prices.
When markets decline, it’s natural for investors to feel anxious. That reaction is understandable—especially after several strong years for stocks.
While the reasons may differ, market pullbacks happen every year. Some are minor; some cause significantly higher volatility. Recent examples include the pandemic, the inflation surge of 2022, and tariff and trade policy announcements last year. Historically, the average annual decline in the stock market is about 14 percent.
The situation in the Middle East remains fluid. If tensions escalate further, risks could rise. However, well-diversified portfolios built around long-term goals are designed to help navigate a wide range of markets. Periods like this—when volatility increases—are exactly when that long-term approach becomes most important.
AT THE PEAK OF HIS ARTISTIC TALENTS, AMERICAN landscape painter Frederic Church was one of the most influential and popular painters in the United States. To celebrate his work and the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is presenting Kindred Spirits: Artists in the Tenth Street Studio Building, which, rather than presenting Church as a solitary genius, reveals him as a catalyst for connection.
The exhibition coincides with a year-long celebration organized by Olana, the New York State historic site that encompasses Church’s home and studio in the Hudson Valley. It runs through January 3, 2027.
The WCMFA exhibit is one of dozens of events planned by museums worldwide exploring the artist’s enduring impact. While many projects and exhibitions focus on Church’s monumental paintings, Kindred Spirits tells a broader story — one centered on collaboration, mentorship, and the vibrant network of artists who lived and worked alongside him. The exhibit is built around key works in the museum’s collection, including Church’s painting, Scene on the Catskill Creek
At the center of the exhibit’s story is the Tenth Street Studio Building, completed in 1857 in New York City at a time when artists struggled to find suitable working spaces. Painters often labored in cramped attic rooms with poor light and little professional visibility. Recognizing both the artistic and commercial needs of a growing creative class, developer
James Boorman Johnston and architect Richard Morris Hunt designed a revolutionary solution: the nation’s first purpose-built studio building to provide artists with practical workspace.
New York had become the center of the nation’s art world, and the Tenth Street Studio Building quickly emerged as its creative nucleus. Wealthy patrons attended receptions, critics visited studios, and curious audiences experienced art in immersive settings unlike anything previously available in the United States. Artists not only painted there — they built careers, forged friendships, and shaped the future of American culture.
Church was among the building’s most influential tenants. His success attracted an extraordinary community that included Heade, Albert Bierstadt, Sanford Robinson Gifford, and later Winslow Homer. Together, these artists transformed the building into what might be called the headquarters of the Hudson River School.
Visitors will also discover how artists at Tenth Street pioneered new ways of presenting art. Studios doubled as theatrical exhibition spaces, where dramatic lighting, elaborate frames, and carefully staged interiors transformed viewing paintings into cultural events. These “Great Picture Exhibitions” drew crowds that lined city streets, turning artists into public figures and redefining how audiences engaged with art.
As part of the global Frederic Church 200 initiative, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts invites visitors to experience art as Church himself understood it: not as an isolated endeavor, but as a shared pursuit shaped by dialogue, friendship, and collective imagination.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Church was best known for painting large landscapes, often depicting mountains, waterfalls, and sunsets. Church’s paintings put an emphasis on realistic detail, dramatic light, and panoramic views. He debuted some of his major works in single-painting exhibitions to a paying and often enthralled audience in New York City. In his prime, he was one of the most famous painters in the United States.
THE WOMEN’S CLUB AT HAGERSTOWN WILL HOST ITS 13TH Annual House & Garden Tour on June 13, 2026. It will feature nine beautiful properties located in downtown Hagerstown and its north end, as well as in Boonsboro and Williamsport.
This year, the tour will also include the Women’s Club itself, where a lunch spot with food trucks and restrooms will be available. Other homes on the tour include the Bell House, the Williamsport Banking Mansion, Dr. Kugler’s Greenthumb Gardens, the 1849 Artist’s Retreat, and others.
Advance tickets are $40 and $45 after May 31. They may be purchased at the Women’s Club Office, 31 South Prospect Street in Hagerstown, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or online at www.womensclubhagerstown.org
USMH CELEBRATES CREATIVITY AT 2026 HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW
The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown 2026 Washington County High School Art Show featured talented high school artists from public and private schools. Nearly 90 pieces were entered in categories including drawing, painting, photography, digital media, and 3Dsculpture/ceramics.
The Best in Show winner was Kelly Nguyen, a senior at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, for her work titled “Tower of Babel 2.0.”
Winners in the drawing competition were Han Ha a 10th grader at BISFA for “Self Portrait,” Jordyn Rezvani, a senior at BISFA for “Still Life Inside a Still Life,” and Isabella Le, a junior at Saint James School, for “Answering to a Higher Power.”
Winners in the painting competition were Minhal Imtiaz, junior BISFA for “Banana Still Life,” Cate Hensley, junior BISFA for “In the Making,” and Brittany Diaz Castro, junior BISFA for “Am I Big Now?”
Hagerstown Regional Airport broke ground on a terminal expansion project, marking a significant milestone in the county’s ongoing commitment to enhance transportation infrastructure and support economic growth.
The 4,800-square-foot expansion represents a $5.1 million investment in the future of air travel in Washington County. The project is funded through a collaborative partnership with grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Aviation Administration matching with local Washington County government and airport funds.
Winners in the photography competition were Carleigh Ouellette, junior Clear Spring, for “Snow,” Ilyana Powell, junior BISFA for “Beyond the Surface,” and Lily Rose Lietuvnikas, senior Clear Spring, for “Frogger of the Wild West.”
Winners in the digital media competition were Isabelle Coughran, junior BISFA, for “Mechanica Outlaws,” Haylee Williams, junior Clear Spring for “Look at Me,” and Rory Curry, senior BISFA for “Regrets.”
Winners in the 3D sculpture/ceramics category were Stanley Stottlemyer, senior BISFA, for “Self Portrait,” Liam Hall, senior Saint James, for “Father’s Best Friend,” and Leo Green, senior BISFA, for “Teapot.”
The USMH staff recognition awards: Drawing: Cameron Wishard, senior South Hagerstown, for “3 Staxx;” Photography: Jaedyn Cabrera, sophomore North Hagerstown, for “Fragility;” Painting: Cecilia Shao, freshman Saint James, for “Dancing Through Life.”
The project will modernize the existing terminal and improve the passenger experience by upgrading ticketing areas and replacing lobby and gate-side seats. Other new amenities will include a mother’s lactation room, a vending area, and space to lease for possible future food and beverage concessionaires. The project also includes building additional airline ticket counters and increased passenger hold-room
flow and seating capacity.
Airport officials are also looking to increase aircraft parking positions closest to the terminal building from one to two and have purchased additional ground support equipment to support narrowbody airliner service.
When was the last time you looked at your commercial lease? Not glanced at it but actually read it. For most business owners and tenants, the honest answer is probably the day they signed it.
Do you know your lease expiration date without looking it up? Do you know whether you’re paying a competitive market rate, or what your landlord is actually required to provide? Without experienced representation, business owners often renew a multi-year commitment without realizing there was room to negotiate on rate, build-out allowances, and terms that offer protection if circumstances change.
Tenant representation levels the playing field. Having someone in your corner who understands the Washington County market, knows what comparable spaces are leasing for, and can identify what your landlord is contractually required to provide before you sign anything changes the outcome of a lease negotiation significantly. A good tenant representative is not just looking at the rate. They are looking at the full picture— renewal options, termination clauses, maintenance responsibilities, and whether the space will still serve your business three years into the term.
Washington County’s commercial market is drawing serious regional attention, particularly along the I-81 corridor where industrial and logistics demand has grown steadily. Vacancy rates in desirable corridors are tightening, and well-located spaces with adequate parking and modern build-outs are moving faster than they were two years ago. As a result, more businesses are competing for quality space, and landlords know it. Tenants without representation and a clear
sense of the market are at a disadvantage before the conversation even begins.
“Most tenants think they have more time than they do,” says Justin Ausherman, founder of Aushco. “Commercial space almost always requires some level of work before you move in. The more specific your needs— a strong location, a certain amount of square footage, ample parking—the more difficult it can be to find the right space. We recommend starting the conversation with a commercial real estate broker nine months to a year before your lease expires.”
Aushco Commercial Real Estate works with business owners throughout Washington County and the surrounding region, providing tenant representation, brokerage, and leasing services. “Our process starts well before a lease expires. We can review your current lease terms, assess what the market is offering, and identify options the tenant may not have considered.”
When it comes time to negotiate, Aushco brings both local market knowledge and direct experience on both sides of the commercial transaction. In a market with more competition for quality space, the tenants who come to the table prepared are the ones who end up with better terms, better space, and fewer surprises.
To schedule a free consultation or lease review, call (240) 578-4222, or visit aushco.com.
May 16-17
8-9
Hagerstown Speedway
15112 NATIONAL PIKE, HAGERSTOWN
The Bonanza Extravaganza is an annual event held on Mother’s Day weekend with two days of live music, vendors, and gaming. Massive tents holding 8,000 people cover the infield where you’ll find stages, tables, chairs and JumboTrons so you don’t miss a minute of fun. Both drawing and guest tickets provide entry into the event both days, and catered food and soda on Saturday. Big Friday Money is a give-away money for those present on Friday night. On Saturday the drawings start at noon for ticket holders where the smallest prize is a $1,000 and the biggest prize is $100,000 with a winner every five minutes. Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 301-991-4646 or www.bonanzaextravaganza.com
Washington County Agricultural Education Center
7313 SHARPSBURG PIKE, BOONSBORO
Join more than 10,000 pickle fanatics indulging in everything pickles, with included samples from more than 20 pickle vendors. Indulge in everything from pickle pizza to pickle jewelry, and for adults, perhaps pickle margaritas or pickle beer. Kids 12 and under get in free. Noon to 8 p.m. (Saturday) 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday). www.quadstatepicklefest.com
Washington County Agricultural Education Center
7313 SHARPSBURG PIKE, BOONSBORO
Explore more than 100 vendors featuring artists, crafters, and local businesses and featuring more than 130 wines, spirits, seltzers, ciders, and beers with local food trucks, live local music, karaoke, and more. Since 2014, this event has drawn thousands of attendees and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for multiple area nonprofit groups. Noon to 6 p.m. www.ifg-events.com/winefest
1, 2, 8, 9, 16, 30 & 31
Washington County Playhouse
44 NORTH POTOMAC STREET, HAGERSTOWN
In a Western territory just after the turn of the 20th century, a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys provides a colorful background for Curly, a charming cowboy, and Laurey, a feisty farm girl, to play out their love story. Their romantic journey, as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road, contrasts with the comic exploits of brazen Ado Annie and hapless Will Parker in a musical adventure embracing hope, determination, and the promise of a new land. 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. www.washingtoncountyplayhouse.com
May 5
The Swon Brothers Maryland Theatre 21 SOUTH POTOMAC STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Known for their seamlessly smooth, tight-knit sibling harmonies, The Swon Brothers were thrilling audiences long before their appearance on national television. Since releasing their major label hit “Later On,” the brothers have garnered industry honors and nominations, with nods from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the CMT Music Awards. In addition to writing and producing their own music, the duo co-wrote and performed on the title track of Blake Shelton’s album “Body Language.” Their concerts feature covers of songs made famous by the stars that inspired them, including hits like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Somewhere in San Diego,” and “Southern Draw.” 7:30 p.m. 301.790.2000 or www.mdtheatre.org
May 9
The Wizard of Oz
Maryland Theatre
21 SOUTH POTOMAC STREET, HAGERSTOWN
The Western MD City Ballet Co. and The City Ballet School present this classic like never before. Join Dorothy and her iconic friends as they journey over the rainbow and down the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Oz. The presentation features new original choreography by Danielle Horochowski with Amy Wrobleski and a score by Dmitri Shostakovich. Featuring a cast of 70 dancers, stunning costume design, and brilliant theatrical magic, this action-packed ballet is the perfect adventure for all ages. 3 p.m. 301.790.2000 or www.mdtheatre.org
16
Elizabeth Hager Parking Lot 4 NORTH POTOMAC STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Downtown Hagerstown is partnering with One Room Media aka “The Cheesesteak Guy” to host another battle to end the beef about who really has the best cheesesteak in Hagerstown. This event will feature fresh cheesesteaks from several local restaurants and food trucks, a beer garden featuring Antietam Brewery, and vibes the whole family can enjoy. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
301.766.4258 or www.mainstreethagerstown.org
May 20
Foghat & Nazareth
H. Luhrs Performing Arts Center 475 LANCASTER DRIVE, SHIPPENSBURG, PA.
The world of classic rock will ignite this spring as two of the genre’s most storied bands, Foghat and Nazareth, join forces for a co-headlining evening. This unprecedented lineup brings together decades of chart-topping hits, electrifying performances, and a combined legacy that has shaped the rock landscape across generations. Together, Foghat and Nazareth have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, earning accolades and loyal fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Nazareth’s trailblazing approach brought Scottish rock to new heights, while Foghat’s relentless touring and radio hits made them legends of the American concert circuit. 7:30 p.m. 717.477.7469 or www.luhrscenter.com
May
23
Leather and Lace: The Stevie Nicks Experience
Live at Hub City Vinyl 28 EAST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
This Stevie Nicks tribute show transports guests back in time with the queen of rock-and-roll. Their mission is to bring the intensity, glamour, and raw emotion of a Stevie Nicks concert to audiences everywhere. 7 p.m. www.liveathubcityvinyl.com
June 6-7
Western Maryland Blues Fest
Hub City Brewery
25 WEST CHURCH STREET, HAGERSTOWN
Featuring 22 blues music acts with national headliners, regional favorites, and local talent the festival is hosted by Hub City Brewery and Church Street Distilling Co. and includes dozens of local vendors, two days of music across two stages. Libations will be provided by local craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Food from restaurant favorites and food trucks, and crafts from local makers are also available. Early bird tickets are available. VIP tickets include access to private standing/seating area near the stage, early entry, and separate food and alcohol lines and access to bathroom trailers. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visit Western MD Blues Festival on Facebook
June
10
Planet K-Pop
H. Luhrs Performing Arts Center 475 LANCASTER DRIVE, SHIPPENSBURG, PA.
Experience the music of KPOP Demon Hunters, BTS, Huntr/x, BLACKPINK, and more with Planet KPOP’s unique hybrid spectacle that blends the excitement of a live concert with the immersion of a full dance experience. The choreography pushes the energy sky-high, shaping a visual feast of synchronized movement, iconic formations, and unmistakable KPOP flair. 7:30 p.m. 717.477.7469 or www.luhrscenter.com
June 19
Brave Strangers Tribute to Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Live at Hub City Vinyl
28 EAST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
This 14-piece powerhouse band brings Bob Seger’s legendary sound back to life, giving listeners a full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll experience. With an eight-piece core band, the Segerettes (three-piece female backing vocals), and the Runaway Train Horn Section, Seger’s legendary sound comes to life. Fronted by Tony Paulino, whose vocals capture Seger’s raw soul, this show is more than a tribute. It’s a full-throttle rock-and-roll experience. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. www.liveathubcityvinyl.com
June 28
The B’S: A Night of Explosive Rock with Four Legendary Musicians
Live at Hub City Vinyl
28 EAST BALTIMORE STREET, HAGERSTOWN
The evening features guitarist Brian Forsythe (KIX, Rhino Bucket), guitarist Bob Paré (KIX, Sun Dogs), bassist Brad Divens (KIX, Wrathchild America, Back Alley Gators), and drummer Shannon Larkin (Wrathchild America, Back Alley Gators, Godsmack). This group of musicians originally came together to perform shows supporting sober living in the local area. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. www.liveathubcityvinyl.com
Summer in Hagerstown is more than a season—it’s a feeling. It’s warm evenings spent outdoors, long afternoons exploring local treasures, and unforgettable moments shared with family and friends. This year’s Summer in the City campaign invites residents and visitors alike to rediscover the beauty, creativity, and energy that make Hagerstown shine. Start your adventure at Hagerstown City Park, the crown jewel of the city’s outdoor spaces. Wander through its tree-lined paths, enjoy a lakeside stroll, or settle in for a peaceful afternoon surrounded by nature. While visiting, step inside two of Hagerstown’s most beloved historic attractions: City Park Train Hub—a fascinating look into the region’s railroading past—and the Jonathan Hager House Museum, the 18th-century homestead of the city’s founder. As the sun sets, City Park comes alive with family-friendly Friday outdoor movie nights, offering a perfect way to enjoy warm summer evenings under the stars.
From there, follow the vibrant, art-filled Hagerstown Cultural Trail, where creativity meets movement. Whether you’re admiring large-scale installations or discovering interactive sculptures, the trail delivers an inspiring blend of nature, culture, and storytelling that transforms an ordinary walk into a memorable experience.
Just steps away, University Plaza sets the rhythm of summer with the beloved MDWK Music & Market series. Each Wednesday in July and August, the plaza fills with live music and local vendors, and neighbors gathering to enjoy that midweek spark that only downtown Hagerstown can provide.
Of course, no visit is complete without losing yourself in the charm of downtown shops and restaurants. Explore local boutiques offering everything from curated fashion to handmade goods. Treat yourself to family-owned eateries, craft coffee shops and breweries, and flavors from around the world. With patios, sidewalk seating, and open-air vibes, downtown becomes the social heartbeat of summer—perfect for date nights, family outings, or spontaneous Saturday adventures.
This season, let Summer in the City be your invitation to celebrate everything Hagerstown has to offer. From outdoor museums and music to art trails and downtown delights, there’s no better time to explore, experience, and fall in love with the city all over again.
Rohrersville woman climbing to new heights as a senior pickleball player
When Sarah Bowman found herself with free time after going through a divorce and having her daughter step back from her own intense sporting schedule, she thought she’d try pickleball one night a week for fun. She had seen an ad for evening classes in a local recreation department catalog, so she gave it a try.
That one ad and first night has turned into a new passion for Bowman. She not only enjoyed the game, she quickly excelled at it. Now Bowman plays professionally in both singles and doubles in the U.S. Legends 35+ Pro League for the Hagerstown Hit Squad team. She finished 2025 ranked No. 7 in women’s senior pro singles and No. 54 in senior pro mixed doubles while competing in the Legends Pro League 50+. She also serves as the USA Pickleball Ambassador for Washington County and as a pickleball coach in the area.
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
The game hooked her quickly. In her youth, Bowman, who lives in Rohrersville, was a nationally ranked junior tennis player and played varsity tennis for four years at Princeton University. After trying pickleball, she realized she still had that same competitive drive and energy that led her to become a college tennis player, and pickleball was a game that could
Local businesspeople Jason David, John Braun, Elly McCarthy, and Brian Miller have bought a team in the U.S. Legends Pickleball League 35-and-over division. The Hagerstown Hit Squad went 7-1 in the first two match weekends, losing only to the Bat City Bangers from Austin, Texas. Championship weekend is May 15-17 in Robinsville, New Jersey.
Players representing Hagerstown are Hisami Bergeron, Robert Bixler, Sarah Bowman, Katherine Gillis, Vince Ha, Yuki Kim, Tim Law, Justin Lui, Arjun Mahajan, Sara Maher, Waymon Peet, James (Jimbo) Peterson, Rachel Rhoney, and Heidi Sung. The players were selected from a tryout weekend in Richmond, Virginia, in February.
reignite that aspect of her life. She set a goal to play professionally as a senior and worked to make that happen. After a very competitive combine tryout weekend, she was drafted by Northern Virginia Supernovas owned by Dani Mackey and began her professional pickleball career before coming to Hagerstown Hit Squad where she’s still pushing to get better.
“I’m working hard on and off the court to improve my game with new shots and strategies, and I plan to try out again for the U.S. Legends 50+ Pro League later this year. I am also striving to improve my game for better results and rankings in APP Senior Pro,” Bowman, 56, says.
Rankings aside, pickleball has been special for Bowman, who recently turned 56, for a variety of reasons that go far beyond playing professionally.
“I appreciate how at this age and stage in my life pickleball has given me the opportunity to rekindle my competitive drive, set new personal goals, train hard, and have an outlet for this passion,” she says. “I love traveling around the country to play, and I love meeting people through pickleball who are friendly, hard-working, and competitive too. As much as I love playing and competing, I also love coaching and teaching pickleball. I have taken students from recreational levels to advanced competitive levels, and I feel as proud and excited about their progress
in their pickleball journeys as they do. It is intoxicating to be able to share my passion for this sport with other players and see that light bulb go off for them when I figure out exactly what adjustment to make in their game and how to explain it.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, pickleball has surged in popularity and that has been true in Washington County as well with courts being added into the facilities of parks across the county along with Hagerstown Field House hosting classes and adult leagues, and the addition of Dill Dinkers Pickleball in Hagerstown. There is a wide array of opportunities in the area for seasoned players and newcomers to play the sport that has given Bowman so much in this stage of her life.
“There is space within pickleball for everybody. That’s what’s so wonderful about this sport. There is an extremely low barrier to entry. You don’t need to be fit and active. You don’t need to be athletic and coordinated. You
don’t need to be rich in order to buy expensive equipment. You literally just need to get off the couch and go to the park with a pair of sneakers and a cheap starter paddle from Walmart or Amazon,” Bowman says.
Pickleball players seem to be friendly and welcoming. Once you learn the rules and the basics of the game, you can show up to local courts as a single and be welcomed into the rotation of play. Pickleball games are short and you only have to run a few steps at a time. You don’t have to be in great condition to play it, and it will help you get in good shape. All kinds of people are drawn to the game, and courts are a big mix of ages, socio-economic levels, and athletic backgrounds.
“You can show up alone knowing no one, and everyone feels welcomed and included. After a while, the lonely guy has new friends. The out of shape woman feels active and fit. The empty nester who feels no personal purpose after her kids grew up feels a sense of excitement for new goals. And the guy who used to love competitive sports back in school feels challenged and fulfilled again,” Bowman says as if describing herself.
With her children grown, it’s easy to tell Bowman has found her new passion in life. Seeing her love for the game, it’s easy to believe pickleball has something to offer everyone who gives it a try.
Zoe Schreiber is Running the Boston Marathon to Raise Funds for Rare Cancer Research
By Lisa Gregory
Photography by Rick Gregory
ayle Schreiber fought to the very end. “She didn’t want to leave us,” says her daughter Zoe Schreiber. “She didn’t want to leave her family.”
Gayle, a Hagerstown resident who was once a potential Olympic swimmer, former Maryland State Police trooper and dedicated social worker,
died in March after a twoand-a-half-year battle with cancer. Her second struggle with the disease.
But Zoe chooses to remember the fight and not the end. She made a decision months before she lost her mother to run in the Boston Marathon this spring in honor of her mother and her fighting spirit.
“I’ve never been a runner,” says 28-year-old Zoe, who works as a cardiac nurse for the University of Maryland Medical Center. But she is a talented athlete who led her high school volleyball team to a state championship.
Zoe was drawn to the idea of running because of the opportunity to help raise funds and bring awareness to rare cancers. Having beaten kidney cancer, Gayle was then diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer, cholangiocarcinoma. The bile duct cancer can occur within or outside the liver and is diagnosed in only 8,000 people in the United States each year.
A couple of weeks before she died, Gayle sat down with Zoe by her side to talk about her disease and her love for her family. “I think about all I am going to miss,” says Gayle, her eyes brimming with tears.
Gayle was first diagnosed in 2018 with kidney cancer. “I had knee replacement,” she says. “I was off for six weeks from work and when I went back, I was having trouble breathing.”
The doctor was concerned she might have a blockage in a lung artery. “They told me, ‘You don’t have a pulmonary embolism, but we have found out that you have kidney cancer,’” she says.
The cancer had been caught early. She had surgery which removed a portion of the kidney and she underwent chemotherapy. Gayle did well and continued seeing the doctor for follow-ups. In fact, she had been cancer-free for five years when she saw her doctor in 2023. “He said everything looked good,” said Gayle. “We went out and celebrated.”
But on her way home, she got a notification on her phone through her patient portal. “I thought I was going to pass out,” she said. “It said that the kidney cancer had now metastasized and was now in my liver.” Adding, “It was Labor Day weekend, so I couldn’t call anyone.”
After the long weekend, she went to see the doctor. She was told that she did in fact have cancer again. “The radiologist probably saw it,” she says. “The doctor was just looking at the kidneys at that point.”
Initially it was thought that the cancer had spread but “it was
Credit: Schreiber Family
just a whole new primary cancer,” says Zoe.
So began another journey. Another fight. This one against cholangiocarcinoma would be different, however. “After doing the research I was kind of like, ‘Oh boy.’” says Zoe. “My mom was very realistic about it also. It was hard for her to be hopeful at points just because she knew ultimately there’s not a bunch of treatment options for this cancer. It’s so rare.”
However, because Gayle had been diagnosed so early, treatment could begin sooner than later. Not always the case with cholangiocarcinoma. “Usually there are no symptoms until it is too late,” says Zoe. “Most people when they find out only have a month or two to live.”
Gayle was scheduled for surgery, but there were complications. “They realized the tumor was in a spot where it was in the middle of her vasculature system,” says Zoe of the blood vessels in the liver. “It’s not really something that you want to mess with in terms of
bleeding. You could bleed out very easily if something in your liver is nicked. It was a greater risk as opposed to a reward.”
Instead, the surgeon opted for a microwave ablation, which destroys cancer cells through the use of heat. Gayle would also undergo more than 50 rounds of chemotherapy throughout treatment. “She was on and off of chemo for the whole two and a half years,” says Zoe.
During this time, Zoe began to think about her own health. “I didn’t have healthy habits,” she says. “I told my mom that I was going to do everything I could to be the healthiest version of myself for her.”
Zoe decided to take up running and this past November she participated in her first marathon in New York City. “It was so much fun,” she says. “And I love New York anyway.” She FaceTimed her parents as she crossed the finish line.
Shortly after that marathon, she announced that she would be running in the Boston Marathon. This
time it would be for a purpose. Zoe would be running with Team TargetCancer and raising funds for those like her mother. The TargetCancer Foundation works to advance research for rare cancers. “The founder’s husband died of cholangiocarcinoma,” says Zoe.
The selection process to be chosen for Team TargetCancer was stringent. “They pick 12 out of thousands,” says Zoe of TargetCancer. “These applications are like super detailed. It’s not just a name, address, date of birth. It’s more ‘Tell us your story. Why do you want to run?’ I had to do an interview with them. I had to write an essay.”
As part of her agreement with TargetCancer, Zoe was required to raise at least $10,000. She raised $10,000 in the first 48 hours through her GoFundMe. By mid-April her total was over $50,000. “I really hope this money will help open doors for new clinical trials and different research options on how to treat cholangiocarcinoma,” she says. “I would like to see
better first-line treatments, early detections, screenings and even genetic testing.”
“Overall, I pray there is a cure for all cancer. That would be my ultimate goal,” Zoe says.
Training can be challenging. “You have one long run each week,” says Zoe, whose brother Zach is also a marathon runner. “I run like seven miles and then the next week 14 miles,” she says. “My training program goal is all the way up to 20 miles.”
But she never falters in her efforts no matter how difficult. “Every time I think I can’t do it, I think of my mother and all that she has gone through,” she says.
Running a marathon seems a natural extension of her love for her mother. After all, Gayle, who had been a competitive swimmer and a candidate for the Olympic trials before breaking her wrist, was a great sports mom to her three kids. Zoe has two older brothers, Zane and Zach.
Mother and daughter bonded on their many trips to
volleyball games and practices and work outs. Gayle looked back on those days fondly. “She traveled a lot, a lot of tournaments and stuff,” she said. “We spent a lot of one-on-one time together.”
Gayle was a constant presence for her sons and their athletic endeavors, as well. Zach played football at Liberty University in Virginia, and Zane played in the Little League World Series.
“She would do anything for her kids,” says Zoe.
And Gayle instilled in her children her fighting spirit. Gayle was not a quitter. In fact, cancer wasn’t the only serious medical challenge she faced during her lifetime. Gayle had been a Maryland State Police trooper from 1985 to 1990 and suffered a horrific accident while on duty.
“She was on the beltway outside of her car,” says Zoe. “The road was closed off. And then a person driving another car had a seizure and went onto the closed road and hit my mom. She flew the length of a tractor trailer.”
Gayle was flown to Shock Trauma and would have to undergo a number of surgeries. “People who saw that accident thought she was dead,” says Zoe.
Gayle recovered and would go on to choose a different career path, albeit one that still helped people. She became a social worker. At the time of her death, she was working for Franklin County Children and Youth in Pennsylvania and was director of CAMEO House of Washington County, a substance abuse treatment center. And she was dedicated to her work right up until the end. She gave her two-week notice two weeks before she died.
“Going to work helped normalize her life,” says Zoe. Until it became too difficult. “Walking up just a few steps is very hard,” she said at the time.
By January of this past year, the prognosis was not good. Gayle began to experience ascites, which is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen causing a bloated stomach and requiring draining. Then she began to go into kidney failure, according to Zoe.
And on March 5, while in the hospital, the end came. “It all happened so quickly,” says Zoe. “I think it happened so quickly because she never really led us to believe how sick she truly was. We knew it was serious, but I think she put on a really good front.”
That evening, after spending the day with her children and her husband Ed, Gayle passed away with Ed and Zoe at her bedside. She died just six days before her 63rd birthday.
“The house is so empty without her in it,” says Zoe of her parents’ home. “She filled it up.”
After her mother’s death, some who knew Zoe wondered if she would still run in the Boston Marathon. After all, she was grieving the loss of “my best friend,” she says. For Zoe, there was no doubt that she would run. She feels that it is what her mother would have wanted her to do.
“She was trying so hard to make it to the date and that was my biggest hope,” says Zoe. “But in the back of my mind, I wasn’t sure if she would.”
However, Zoe says she knows she will not be running alone. “She will be there.”
Zoe Schreiber completed the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20th in a time of 6:00:08. She raised $58,316 for the TargetCancer Foundation.
Credit: Schreiber Family
Franklin County bowling star ignites the sport’s social media presence
By Jennifer Mellace
Malia Briggs may be graduating from Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School this month, but she leaves with much more than an impressive 4.0 gradepoint average and an athletic scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans. She is one of the top junior bowlers in the
for nationally ranked
after throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game.
country and has parlayed that into a social media presence so massive it surpasses the reach of professional bowling’s top governing bodies. Her digital influence spreads across multiple platforms with more than 368,000 YouTube subscribers, 325,000 Instagram followers. Nearly 60,000 people follow her on Facebook, and she has a growing presence on TikTok. She is one of the sports’ most visible ambassadors, capable of generating thousands of interactions within hours of a posting.
Her content blends competitive highlights with relatable, day-in-the-life storytelling that resonates with both serious athletes and casual fans. She has essentially humanized the sport of bowling, making it not only accessible but trendy for the younger generation.
Briggs’ social media prowess has translated into significant opportunities within the sport, including her role as a junior national staff member for equipment manufacturer Storm Products, Inc., an ambassador for Go Bowling, and an appearance on Fox & Friends on National Bowling Day. Outside the sport she has facilitated high-profile appearances like serving as the grand marshal at Watkins Glen International NASCAR race weekend and throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game.
Through all her early life success, Malia understands the responsibility that comes with it as she travels the country for tournaments. She has bowled in 27 different states, and young girls flock to her at tournaments seeking photos and autographs.
“The goal [of social media] was always to grow the sport of bowling, she says. “I started posting so colleges could see me. I never knew it would go viral. When a little girl comes up to me and says she admires me, it means so much. I see myself in them.”
up in the 2025 High School Nationals, and second-place finisher in the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Girls Singles State Championship. Last month she won the Professional Bowlers Association Junior KR Strikeforce South Region title. Additionally, she has won two Tough Shot Tour Titles in North Carolina, seven Storm Youth Championship silver medals, a Pennsylvania Junior Bowlers Tour Girls Only Scratch and Beast of the East titles. Briggs also competed in the USA National Team Bowling Championships.
She practices almost daily—roughly six games per day—all while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average (4.6 weighted) at the Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School. She played guard on her middle school basketball team. Yet this talented young woman remains humble and focused on her game, finding balance and her future.
So, staying grounded is a big part of Malia’s journey.
“When I need to relax, I just smile,” says the 18-year-old phenom. “My dad taught me that.”
From maintaining a 4.6 weighted GPA to practicing six games nearly every day, while also growing her impressive social media following, Malia has more than a full plate.
Bowling since the age of 10, this Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, native carries a 230 average and has amassed a host of titles, including the 2024 Pennsylvania High School Girls Singles State Champion, runner
“It’s a lot of time management skills,” she says. “My parents always said academics come first. I don’t like to procrastinate. I don’t like to feel that weight on my shoulders. I like to get it done. I would always say I wanted to be good, and my dad would say, ‘You can’t just want to be good. You have to put in the work to be good.’ So, I’ve always been like this.”
Malia’s father, Michael Briggs, points out that Malia has always been grounded. “She had gym class and they were playing volleyball and she told her teacher that she needed to be careful because she didn’t want to hurt her wrist because she was bowling for the team. She never told the teacher or her class [how good she was]. They never knew. She’s very humble. When she talks to people, she doesn’t mention all her [social media] followers.”
Her coach, Will Clark, has also played a key role in Malia’s rise. He met her a couple of years ago on a trip
to Maryland and has been helping her ever since. He works with bowlers across the country who video their practice sessions and send them to him. Clark then provides analysis and offers practice drills and tips. With Malia, he takes the extra step of helping her grow comfortable in the spotlight. With her national notoriety he works on keeping her grounded.
Physically, he wants to make sure she stays free and loose with her arm swing to consistently get her hand through the ball. “Malia is one of the hardest working bowlers I’ve worked with,” he says. But in the end, “The smile she has coming off the lane following a good shot is more of who she really is.”
Malia’s parents, Michael and Carrie, are both bowlers and included Malia and her brother, Keegan, in the game from an early age.
“I bowled when I met my wife Carrie, and we’ve been bowling together since 2000,” says Michael. “We bowled league with my dad and my step mom, and our team was called All in the Family.”
Malia was at one of the league nights and a lane next to her parents was open. The owner of the facility said any kids could bowl for a $1. “That was cheaper than a babysitter,” Michael says.
“At first, Malia was pretty bad, bowling gutter balls. But she would always smile. I was bowling in a doubles tournament and she said, ‘Dad, I can hook the ball like you.’”
Sure enough, Malia started hooking the ball like her dad. “Around 12 she started showing real talent,” Michael says. “She has always had a really good work ethic and has been driven from a very young age.”
Eventually Malia started beating her father.
Malia has had coaches throughout her career, including Del Warren early on, Joe Halula—a local coach who helped her with timing, and currently, Clark, a Chicago-area coach who critiques videos of her practices every day after school.
Malia credits her parents for her success. “My dad and mom were always there, traveling to tournaments, coaching me,” she says.
At the 2025 U.S. National High School Bowling Championships, Malia Briggs was runner-up in girl’s singles.
The family car gathered more than 200,000 miles driving to and from competitions. Many of the miles were filled with conversation. “My dad and I spent so much time talking so I could keep him awake. I’ll miss that the most when I go away to college.”
While Malia hopes to join the Professional Women’s Bowling Association one day and eventually own her own bowling center, she’s first looking toward college.
“I’m looking to major in marketing and double in communications. After college I want to consider bowling professionally. The season is actually pretty short and not all year, so I can do both my career and bowling.”
Asked if she has any advice for those little girls who watch her and dream of following in her footsteps, she says, “Always have fun and try to stay positive. Make room for practice and put in the work and good things will happen. Just take it one frame at a time.”
Shalom Dutchfest 2026
The festivities kickoff Friday at the Franklin County Fair Grounds/Chambersburg Rod and Gun Club from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with food concessions (featuring our delicious pork BBQ sandwiches and homestyle Dutch foods), the craft show, and children’s activities open. The fun continues Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with the annual SCA 5K, Children’s Fun Walk, and Chicken BBQ. Free admission and free parking.
Downtown Waynesboro’s Spring Fest 2026 includes more than 10 food trucks, 150 retail vendors, inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses, a beer garden, live music, and much more. Free admission and free parking.
Greencastle-Antrim Craft Beer, Wine & Spirits Festival
The 12th Annual Craft Beer, Wine, & Spirits Festival is presented by M&T Bank and includes an afternoon of local craft beers, wines, and distilled spirits. Talk with the brewers, vintners, and distillers about their product. Visit with friends, play small games of chance, grab some food and snacks at our food trucks, and listen to great music. General admission tickets are $35.
Mercersburg Springfest
This lively celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. brings together more than 80 local artisans, crafters, and businesses for a day filled with shopping, entertainment, and community spirit. Discover an array of handcrafted goods, delicious treats, and one-of-akind treasures. Enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the day, indulge in tasty festival foods from local vendors, and participate in exciting activities and attractions.
May 30-31 &
June 6-7
Veronica Blather is a sweet little old lady who spends her days quilting and solving murders—most of which, inconveniently, seem to happen wherever she goes. As a result, she has a hard time finding a place to live. When her niece, Dr. Lydecker, invites her to stay at a retirement home for elderly quilters, it sounds like the perfect solution... until one of the residents dies after drinking a suspicious batch of punch. Adults $28; seniors (60 and up) and children (5-12) $26.
Dracula’s Kitchen offers fun and flavor while clearing up the historical record of one of history’s most notorious characters
There’s a certain thrill in stepping through the doors of Dracula’s Kitchen & Bar, a place where gleaming red neon, sleek design, and centuries-old storytelling meet. Despite the name and playful nod to one of history’s most notorious figures, this Hagerstown newcomer is less about myth and more about meaning. It’s a restaurant grounded in heritage, hospitality, and the quiet pride of two seasoned entrepreneurs who built a life in Washington County.
Daniel and Nicoleta Pribag, the husband-and-wife team behind Dracula’s Kitchen, are no strangers to the restaurant world. With multiple ventures under their belt, they bring both experience and intention to their latest concept. Originally from Romania, Daniel explains the creative process. “We wanted to present the real story of Dracula...It is a very well-known tale,” however embellished.
By April and Andrew Bartel
Many folks equate Romania with Gothic castles, mythic monsters, and blood-thirsty counts, a la Bram Stoker’s classic novel. However, the inspiration behind the fantasy is Vlad
Țepeș III or “Vlad the Impaler,” a real 15th-century ruler of Wallachia. While his brutal methods have long fueled legends, he is also remembered in Romania as a defender of his people and a leader who protected villagers against outside threats.
The name “Drăculea” itself comes from his father, Vlad “Dracul,” Vlad the Dragon; making
“Dracula” the son of the dragon. It is a fitting title for a warrior and an interesting entree into this rich and varied culture. His story is detailed at the restaurant with life-sized statues and a mural.
The Pribags immigrated to America in 2002, joining family members who have lived here since 1965. “It is the best place to be on
Earth,” says Daniel. He and Nicoleta are now citizens. “I have visited so many places, but there is nothing compared to the United States.”
For its owners, Dracula’s Kitchen & Bar represents a playful blend of new American favorites and classic Romanian fare. Rather than leaning into kitsch or seasonal novelty, the Pribags created a space that feels contemporary and polished. Diners gush about the space’s minimalist lines and glowing red accents, saying that it feels more like a big-city concept than a small-town eatery.
“We don’t want people to think this place is just for Halloween,” Daniel says. “It is something to enjoy all year round.”
The experience unfolds gradually. On certain nights, guests can expect themed movie screenings (like classic black-and-white Dracula films), live music, or even karaoke. Since the restaurant only opened in January, the owners are keen for feedback on the events calendar and menu. Weekends bring energy and crowds, while weekday evenings hint at what’s to come, including expanded entertainment and patio dining as the weather warms.
The atmosphere is remarkable, but the lifeblood of Dracula’s Kitchen is food you can sink your teeth into. “We’re trying to offer something unique to Hagerstown. We want to make a difference,” Daniel says.
He credits Nicoleta, the chef behind the Romanian offerings, for bringing traditional recipes to life with care and authenticity. One of the most popular meals is Countess Nicole’s Sarmale. Their version of Romania’s national dish, sarmale are slow-cooked cabbage rolls filled with a savory blend of beef and pork, served with bread and sour cream. Another
doughnuts are made with cheese and topped with sour cream and fruit preserves.
“We wanted to present the real story of Dracula... It is a very wellknown tale.”
— DANIEL PRIBAG
standout is Vlad’s Impaler Mici (or mititei). These tasty bites are skinless sausages grilled until caramelized and juicy, seasoned with garlic and spices, then served with mustard and a side of fries.
Look out for the Papanași, too. An occasional special, these traditional Romanian
These dishes, rich in flavor and history, are meant to introduce diners to a cuisine that is both rustic and refined. Romanian food often centers around comfort; slow-cooked meats, fermented vegetables, and layered flavors that reflect centuries of international trade across Eastern Europe.
Early visitors praise everything from the house-made sauces to the attentive service and the owners’ pride in sharing a taste of
Romanian heritage. They note both the quality of the food and the warmth of the experience. What makes the menu especially inviting is its balance. There are plenty of familiar favorites. Branded burgers are among the restaurant’s top sellers, including creations like the Sunrise Slayer, topped with bacon jam and a fried egg. Their pizza has a strong
following among guests, alongside creamy Alfredo pasta, fresh salads, crabcakes, and wraps designed for quick weekday lunches. Diners seem to love eating like renaissance kings, too, as they heft a smoked turkey drumstick known here as the Castle Feast Leg.
First Bite appetizers align with Romania’s convivial “tapas” style gustări, snacks and light meals with catchy names like Bat Wings (chicken wings), Castle Carpathian Rolls (pepperoni rolls), and Transylvanian tenders. Their calamari and spanakopita each get high marks from diners.
“We want to make sure everybody can come and eat,” Daniel says. “It’s nothing too crazy.”
That philosophy extends to the bar, where playful, themed cocktails like “Dracula’s Kiss” (a mix of vodka, strawberry purée, and lemonade) add a touch of fun. The Golden Fang pairs pineapple juice with tequila while the Burning Castle is a creamy concoction with vanilla vodka, Bailey’s chocolate liqueur and a Graham cracker rim garnished with torched marshmallow.
Plans are underway to expand offerings with imported Romanian wines and spirits, further deepening the cultural experience.
Still, for all its thematic flair, Dracula’s Kitchen never loses sight of its purpose. It is, at its core, a neighborhood restaurant that happens to tell a story. More than vampire myth, food becomes a bridge connecting a family’s journey from Romania to Hagerstown. And it sets one historic record straight in a most delicious way.
The sweet treats of a throwback oasis have become a reliable staple in Clear Spring
On warm afternoons along the historic National Pike in Clear Spring, the rhythm of summer feels refreshingly unchanged. Especially at Sweetsies Eats & Treats where families drift between picnic tables and children clutch melting cones.
As leaves rustle overhead, the scent of something fried…and something sweet…hangs seductively in the air. An oasis of sorts, Sweetsies Eats & Treats owner Penny Hose has created a place that feels as much like a hometown ritual as it does a roadside stop.
By April Bartel
Hose is a lifelong Washington County resident with deep roots in the area, and her connection to this stretch of road runs back decades. Long before she owned the business, she was a kid pedaling her bike down what was then Ridge Road, stopping at a long-ago gas
Visitors can wander from an ice cream cone to shelves stocked with aged cheeses, farm products, and oldfashioned candies, then back again for a second treat.
station to fill a small can for her family’s mower. That same spot, transformed over time into an ice cream stand, is now Sweetsies and it carries her imprint, shaped by heartfelt memories and an abiding sense of community.
Hose took over Sweetsies in 2018, drawn to build something of her own. Since then, the menu has expanded well beyond ice cream. Today, it reads like a greatest hits list of comfort food: custom-made hot dogs, burgers, subs, fried favorites like cheese curds, and a rotating cast of seasonal meals and homemade soups. In cooler months, those soups, made in-house from October through March, draw hungry locals who know exactly when to show up.
Among all this nostalgia and food, the hot dogs have earned a following. Special-ordered in bulk and known for their distinctive plump juiciness, they’re a year-round staple that Sweetsies sells in droves when the weather turns warm. Hose places sizeable orders, usually between 500 and 1,000 pounds at a time.
Alongside the tasty dogs are regional classics like steamers. Created in Washington County and beloved by locals, these soft, steamy sandwiches are served on Martin’s potato rolls. Customers can dress them up with mustard, onions, or ketchup, though purists keep things simple.
Still, Sweetsies is as much about indulgence as it is tradition. Their inventive ice
cream “nachos” are a treat. Servers start with waffle cone chips that are piled with the scoops of ice cream and toppings. They are heralded in the summertime, when soft serve arrives multiple times a week to keep pace with insatiable demand. Newer additions like “dirty sodas,” bursting boba teas, and even glitter sodas (complete with edible shimmer) add a playful twist that delights visitors young and old.
What sets the place apart, though, is its commitment to local sourcing. Hose buys beef from nearby processors and supports the Washington County 4-H program by purchasing livestock raised by local youth, including her own family members. In summer, homegrown corn, tomatoes, and lettuce find their way into the kitchen, while even the eggs— sometimes in shades of brown, white, or pale green—come from her granddaughter’s flock.
Just steps behind Sweetsies sits Wilson’s Store, another piece of local history that Hose acquired more recently. Together, the two cre-
ate a kind of micro-village experience. Visitors can wander from an ice cream cone to shelves stocked with aged cheeses, farm products, and old-fashioned candies, then back again for a second treat. It’s not uncommon to see people moving between the two, stretching out an afternoon into something slower and
more deliberate.
That sense of place will take center stage this summer as the property becomes part of a larger community celebration. On June 27, the site will host a daylong event marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, complete with live music, food, pony rides, and family friendly activities. It’s exactly the kind of gathering that feels at home here—unpretentious, welcoming, and rooted in shared experience.
For all its evolving menu and growing popularity, Sweetsies remains, at its core, a simple idea done well. Picnic tables invite people to linger. The atmosphere stays relaxed. And the connection between past and present—between a childhood memory and a thriving local business—feels tangible in every detail.
In a world that often moves too quickly, this small corner of Clear Spring offers something else entirely: a place to slow down, walk a few steps between neighbors, and savor the familiar.
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. $–$$
BISTRO 11
13208 Fountain Head Plaza, Hagerstown, 301.733.2222
Relaxed and refined cuisine. Full menu of specialties, steaks, and seafood. $$–$$$
BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE
17318 Valley Mall Road, Suite C, Hagerstown, 240.513.4040
Handcrafted beer, Chicago-style pizza with a Southern California twist, and Pizookies. $$-$$$
BLACK ROCK BAR & GRILL
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, 240.850.3365
An award-winning steakhouse specializing in Certified Angus Beef steaks served and cooked to perfection by you on a 755-degree volcanic sizzling rock. $$-$$$
BONNIE’S AT THE RED BYRD
19409 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, 301.432.5822
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are covered with a wide selection of sandwiches and entrees. $–$$
THE BROAD AXE
28 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown, 301.733.8454
Daily specials featuring top-notch pub fare and a quickly rotating tap list. $–$$
BROTHER’S PIZZA
75 Eastern Blvd. N., Hagerstown, 240.625.9215
Fresh, fast, and affordable pizza, sandwiches, and Italian classics. $–$$
CACIQUE
1101 Opal Court, Hagerstown, 301.739.7207
Fresh, creative, and classic Mexican, Spanish, and Latin American cuisine. $$
CAFÉ DEL SOL
1481 Salem Ave., Suite 1, Hagerstown, 301.739.3072
Gourmet pizza, flatbreads, and pasta with a California twist. $$–$$$
CAFÉ ITALIA
935 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown, 240.420.6677
Classic Italian dishes, and they offer one of the biggest pizzas in town. $–$$
CHIC’S SEAFOOD
300 Summit Ave., Hagerstown, 301.739.8220
Daily specials featuring some of the freshest seafood around. $–$$$
COLONIAL SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
14130 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown, 240.203.6206
The best game-day food at the best prices around. $–$$
DRACULA’S KITCHEN AND BAR
20131 Professional Blvd., Hagerstown, 240.382.1102
Centuries old elegance meets culinary artistry in this unforgettable gothic sanctuary. $$-$$$
DISTRICT PROVISION & SUPPLY CO.
6 Rochester Place, Hagerstown, 301.791.1717
Open for breakfast and lunch, featuring gourmet sandwiches, salads, and soups. $
DOLCE PIZZA GOURMET
792 Frederick St., Hagerstown, 301.745.6300
Italian flavors complemented by Eastern European dishes. $–$$
EL CASTILLO PIZZERIA & TEX MEX
15616 National Pike, Hagerstown, 301.582.4727
15731 Pennsylvania Ave., State Line, PA, 717.597.1819
Pizza, salads, lunch specials, and a spicy array of Tex Mex. $–$$
EL RANCHERO MEXICAN RESTAURANT
1481 Wesel Blvd., Hagerstown, 240.420.2842
1715 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, 301.797.7589
Fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine using the highest-quality ingredients available. $$
FAJITA GRANDE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
12818 Shank Farm Way, Hagerstown, 240.707.6333
Where the fiesta never ends. $
FOSTER’S ON THE POINT
1437 Salem Ave., Hagerstown, 301.739.7182
Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a rotating list of entrées and specials offered in an inviting rustic atmosphere. $$–$$$
FRATELLI PIZZERIA AND GRILL
120 E. Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, 301.393.8733
Italian specialties like pasta, pizza, in addition to Mexican options. $–$$
FREE RANGE CAFÉ
520 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, 240.513.6070
Food that makes you feel good! $-$$
FUJI ASIAN FOOD & SUSHI BAR
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Suite 205, Hagerstown, 301.393.9099
Authentic traditional Chinese cuisine options and sushi. $–$$
GIO’S PIZZERIA
18117 Maugan’s Ave., #200, Hagerstown, 240.698.0905
By combining our passion for pizza with our commitment to community service, we strive to be more than just a pizzeria. $$
Traditional American dining with a quiet and relaxing view of the airstrip. $–$$
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. $–$$
LOS AMIGOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT
29 N. Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown, 240.420.8000
18330 Spark Dr., Hagerstown, 240.707.6250
The finest authentic Mexican food prepared just the way you like it. $
11205 John F. Kennedy Drive, Suite 201, Hagerstown, 240.707.6220 Experience the flavors of India and Thailand with daily lunch buffet deals. $$
MISSION BBQ
17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, 443.491.8777
Authentic, mouth-watering all-American food that’s done right. $$
NICK’S AIRPORT INN
14548 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown 301.733.8560
More than 50 years of serving quality cuisine from scrumptious seafood to delectable desserts. $$
NIKKO JAPANESE STEAK & SEAFOOD
1580 Wesel Blvd., Suite F, Hagerstown, 301.714.0005
Bento combo box lunches, tons of a la carte sushi options, and hibachi lunch and dinner options. $–$$
PHO VIET
1441 Wesel Blvd, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 301.745.5030
Dine in and carry out Vietnamese cuisine. Small venue but the portions are authentic and large. $
POKÉ & SUSHI
11347 Robinwood Dr. Hagerstown, 301.393.8833
Refreshing Asian alternative. Choose your own ingredients for soups, Poké, rice bowls and sushi. Boba (bubble) tea. $$.
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. $$-$$$
The senior population of Hagerstown has grown by more than 20 percent during the last two decades, a shift that is placing new demands on the city’s social fabric. As this demographic continues to expand, there is an increasing need for a more robust network of financially accessible assisted living options for seniors not yet in need of a nursing home but increasingly unable to live on their own. Since 1988, Holly Place has served as a vital safety net for seniors who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional support systems. Managed by Senior Living Alternatives, this non-profit sanctuary offers an affordable bridge for low-income residents in the delicate transition between independent living and full-time institutional care. By tailoring fees to individual income, Holly Place provides more than just a roof; it offers a dignified, comfortable lifestyle and a secure home in the heart of downtown for those with few or perhaps no other options.
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
“The mission of Senior Living Alternatives, Inc. (SLA) and Holly Place is to provide affordable housing and supportive services in an environment that promotes independence and
dignity,” says Melanie J. Davis, executive director of SLA and Holly Place.
A true non-profit, Holly Place, licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was facilitated by the State of Maryland, the Washington County commissioners, the Homeowners Foundation Fund, and private citizens and is led by a private board of directors. Donations fund Holly Place along with several fundraisers and a matching grant campaign that happens several times a year. Every dollar that is given helps keep Holly Place open and thriving.
“Holly Place was one of two pilot programs in the State of Maryland. Today Holly Place is the only facility that takes everyone for what they can afford to pay based on their income,” says Davis. “It hasn’t been easy. Over the years funding has been cut and changed…so we rely heavily on donations to keep our doors open.”
Holly Place is a warm environment on South Potomac Street that strives to be as home-like as possible for its residents. Home cooked meals are provided daily and served in
a common dining area. Activities such as bingo, music, word games, and spiritual get-togethers are regular occurrences. Several local churches invite residents to luncheons and provide meals. In-house services are provided as is transportation to medical appointments in Washington County.
“The mission of Senior Living Alternatives, Inc. (SLA) and Holly Place is to provide affordable housing and supportive services in an environment that promotes independence and dignity.”
— MELANIE J. DAVIS
With 15 residents, everyone is seen and taken care of daily. Relationships are formed among the small group and a sense of family is created at a time when such interaction is desperately needed for many of the residents.
“Holly Place has become home to many people over the years, and we try to keep it as home-like as possible,” Davis says. “We provide our residents with a clean, well-kept home-like haven. We provide them with three nutritious meals every day; assist with their bathing needs, transport them to doctor appointments, do their laundry and most importantly, provide them with love and support in their late years. We give them comfort when they cry to go home and there is no home to go to. We try to give them a sense of family and belonging; a sense of self-worth.”
In our community, Holly Place stands as a beacon for what can be accomplished and who can be cared for when we work together to take care of each other. Over the years, Holly Place has cared for more than 200 people who have suffered from everything from broken
hips to strokes to Alzheimer’s to diabetes that would have nowhere to go without its open doors and welcoming hearts.
“We always have a waiting list due to the fact that we take people based on their income. Without Holly Place people with low-income cannot afford to go to the higher cost assisted living homes. They cannot afford to have someone stay with them, yet they do not qualify for nursing home care, which puts these people in quite a dangerous position,” Davis says.
Holly Place provides a sanctuary for these residents that extends beyond just a safe place to stay. They strive to provide love, grace, and community at a time of extreme vulnerability for their residents. A simple smile, a touch, or a gentle helping hand builds bridges that let their residents feel welcome during what may be the most difficult time in their lives. Holly Place actively works to make the world a more beautiful place through the work its staff does day-in and day-out for nothing more than the smiles that their residents give them.
Davis says, “Holly Place is one of the most home-like facilities in the state and although we struggle financially to keep our doors open, we treat all of our residents like family. We serve good home-cooked meals, and most of all we treat everyone with respect and dignity.”
Every Wednesday
CONTEMPORARY RETIREMENT
9:06 a.m. to 10 a.m., WJEJ Radio
Tune in for topical discussions on issues affecting retirees.
Wednesdays, May 6 and June 3
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, May 5 and June 2
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Somerford Place
Hosted by Somerford Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care. For more information, call 301.791.9221.
Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26 and June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
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, May 7 and June 4
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 Linda at 301.790.8606 or visit www.hagerstownparkinsonsupport.org.
Mondays, May 11 and June 8
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, May 11 and June 8
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
7 p.m., Breast Cancer Awareness — Cumberland Valley, 12916 Conamar Dr., Suite 201, Hagerstown Call 301.791.5843 or visit www.bcacv.org.
Mondays, May 18 and June 15
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, May 19 and June 16
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, May 19 and June 16
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, May 7 and June 4
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
6 p.m. to 7 p.m Brookdale Senior Living, 20009 Rosebank Way, Hagerstown
Family and friends of those suffering from dementia are invited to network with others who are experiencing similar situations in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Call 301.733.3353.
Tuesdays, May 26 and June 23 55 UP
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Cortland Mansion 19411 Cortland Drive, Hagerstown Lunch and educational seminar for people ages 55 and UP. $13. Call 301.790.8907.
It’s May! We’re enticed outside by warm temperatures and flowers and lawnmowers buzzing. It’s time to plant.
Spring plant shopping is hard. So many plants, so many choices. Consider shopping with a goal that allows wiggle room for something new, like a giant allium in the perennial border, moonflower by your patio, or hanging patio planters. I planted sesame last season and loved it.
Read plant tags to narrow down choices by maintenance requirements (water, deadheading spent blossoms, pruning) and pest potential (including rabbits and deer). Follow up with Google. Select healthy plants with buds—not blooming flowers. Otherwise, trim off any flowers once you get home. Brutal, yes, but this helps roots establish better.
I’m often asked why lilacs didn’t bloom. Besides overfertilizing, a key reason is too much shade. Lilacs need at least eight hours of sun for good bloom. Sometimes a late-spring frost kills flower buds. But the number one culprit is pruning at the wrong time. Lilacs initiate flowers for next spring shortly after blooming. Therefore, if pruned late last summer or fall, all this year’s blooms were pruned off. Consequentially, the best time to prune lilac is right after flowering (by late May or early June). This same pruning rule— pruning right after flowering—goes for other spring flowering shrubs, too, including azalea, rhododendron, deutzia, mockorange, ninebark, spirea, and viburnum.
Are you hesitating to plant vegetables because it’s too shady? Many salad greens can actually be planted in shade. Full shade? No. But part-shade of 3.5 to 6 hours of sun per day supports lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard, kale, and mustard. An added benefit is sweeter taste. Similarly, cilantro and parsley also perform okay in the shade, as do radish and beets grown for greens.
Providing shade in less than 80 degrees for all cool-season crops will delay bolting (thereby extending harvest). Even warm season crops benefit from shade. For example, commercial growers get better growth
By Deborah Smith Fiola
using 30 percent 40 percent shade cloth on tomatoes and peppers.
Speaking of shade, not many ‘shade’ perennials can handle dry shade beneath large trees. Only a few can tolerate low light and drought conditions. Yet a few tough perennials—beyond pachysandra—can handle full or part dry shade, including:
Red Barrenwort, a tough 12-inch groundcover with heart-shaped leaves that appear red tinged in spring and fall. Tiny rosy flower clusters appear in April or May and slowly spread to 20 inches. It is not invasive.
Wild Geranium is a robust native perennial with purple-pink June flowers that grow 12inches to 18 inches, sprawling to 24 inches. Bevan’s Variety has dark purple blooms; ‘White Ness’ has pure white flowers.
Coral Bells are a cultivar with fuzzy, coarse, or ruffled foliage for dry partly shaded areas. Consider varieties like Caramel, Chocolate Ruffles, or Fire Alarm, which are all 12 inches to 18 inches.
Christmas fern is a native perennial woodland fern that forms two feet to three feet tall with clumps that remain green year-round.
Holly-leaved Hellebore is exceptionally dry shade tolerant species of Lenten Rose with large, nodding pale green flowers that grow two feet to three feet tall and about two-and-a-half feet wide.
Pale purple coneflower is a three-foot native species with a taproot to tolerate drought. Its pink or purple three-inch drooping flowers appear in June, attracting butterflies and pollinators.
It is important to add organic matter when planting and water these plants weekly the first year. They are drought tolerant once established. Keep beds mulched.
Deborah Smith Fiola is a professional horticultural consultant who lives in Keedysville. A former university professor/Extension agent, she has a B.S. in horticulture and an M.S. in entomology/pest management (from the University of Maryland). Email your questions to: landscapeipm@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: Theinformationpresentedinthiscolumnmaycontainculturalandpesticiderecommendationsthataresubjecttochangeatanytime.Theserecommendationsareprovidedonlyasaguide. Itisthereader’sresponsibilitybylawtoreadandfollowalllabeldirectionsforanyspecificpesticideorproductbeing used. Duetoconstantlychanginglabelsandproductregistrations,ifanyinformationhereindisagreeswiththelabel,therecommendationsmustbedisregarded. TheuseofbrandnamesandanymentionorlistingofcommercialproductsorservicesinthiscolumndoesnotimplyendorsementbyLandscapeIPMEnterprises, nordiscriminationagainstsimilarproductsorservicesnotmentioned. LandscapeIPMEnterprisesassumesnoliabilityfromtheuseoftheserecommendations.
I’m not going to lie to you and say the river doesn’t change. I’ve heard that. I’ve heard people say it all my life. I disagree. In my lifetime, I think the river will change probably just as much as I will, if not more. I might not see it easily with my own eye, but I know over my 35 years the curves have dug themselves deeper and wider; the islands that dot the center here and there have eroded along their edges; the eel population has gone down and the snakehead population has changed its ecology. I know when I look at pictures of the river from the 1800s, it’s similar, but it’s not the same.
The Potomac is not the same in all seasons either. I’ve seen it frozen solid as smooth as a skating rink. I’ve seen it jammed with ice like an accident on the Beltway. The summer of ’99 it was low enough that I almost walked across the whole thing from Maryland to West Virginia and back again right above the confluence at Harpers Ferry. I only had to swim a stretch that couldn’t have been more than 10 feet where my toes couldn’t touch the bottom. In ’96 I saw it angry enough to shake the bridge that runs from Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown when it flooded so high it covered the canal whole, painted it right over with such ferocity I would have believed you if you told me the towpath had never even been there. I’ve seen it still as a mirror, like a sleeping giant.
I’ve gone to the river at different times and thought it looked mad, peaceful, sad, full, and everything in between.
To me that’s the thing that’s special about the Potomac. Whatever iteration of itself it is in, whatever form the water takes that day, that hour, that moment, whatever its mood, it’s there. The Potomac is there for what sometimes feels like just me. Like all day, all week, all year, it was waiting for me to walk
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
down and stand along its banks and see it. Just be there and see it.
There’s something really special about that. I’m part of a population that throws trash into the river. I’m part of the sewage that sometimes leaks in from upstream. I’ve lost fishing line, fishing lures. Shoot, I’ve even lost shoes in the river. For all it’s done for me, I’ve mostly abused it, taken advantage of it, missed what it was telling me, and it’s still there. It’s still there for me every single time I walk down the path I wore my footsteps into when I was a kid, a teenager, a young adult, a woman. It’s not the same. The river never is. It changes every flood, every drought, every single season. But it keeps on being the river. It keeps on flowing. It never turns away or stops no matter what comes its way, what we do to it, what the weather inflicts on it. There’s not a lot of places like that, not a lot of people like that either.
And maybe I sound like a hippie. But I think if I could learn a little something from the river, if I could find a way to be a little more like the Potomac every day, I might just turn into the person I’ve always wanted to be.
So this is my love letter to the Potomac. Egypt can keep the Nile. The Midwest can hold onto the Mississippi. Peru can twist the Amazon right on through its forests. But me? Give me the Potomac tidal water to skinny water and every little bit in between. Give me my favorite spot where I’ve stood over so many years and learned so many things a couple miles upstream from Dargan boat ramp at a turn in the current, a downed log, a long broken-off fishing line that hangs high from a tree to the north, and a rock I like to stand on in the water that’s usually just out of reach until the dog days of summer. There, that’s the grandest river in the world to me.
