Thumbs up - Thumbs down

November 30, 1999

Thumbs Up - To the late William L. "Bill" Mason, for his many years of public service, first as a Washington County Sheriff's deputy and later as personnel director of the City of Hagerstown. He'll be missed.

Thumbs Down -To the Maryland Health Care Commission, for eliminating the requirement that small businesses that offer health insurance include prescription durg plans. About 450,000 citizens could lose such coverage.

Thumbs Up - To Larry Iseminger, president of the Funkstown Volunter Fire Co. and a 36-year volunteer, for writing a company history to celebrate its 75th anniverary. Copies cost $22 at the fire station, or by mail at Funkstown VFD, P.O. Box 670, Funkstown, MD 21734.

Thumbs Up - To the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, for its new program that could give prospective homebuyers up to $15,000 toward the purchase of a home. It's badly needed.

Thumbs Up - To Hagerstown's Grace United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army and Rescue Mission, for serving hundreds of Thanksgiving meals to the needy and the lonely.

Thumbs Up - To Mark and Jane Metcalfe of Lemasters, Pa., for serving free Thanksgiving meals to 190 people, many at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Mercersburg, Pa., and others to shut-ins whose food was delivered.

Thumbs Up - To the late Raymond Schmidt, a Washington County native who died when a Port Arthur, Texas, porch collapased on him during an attempt to help families hurt by Hurricane Katrina. His father called him "a commited person."

Thumbs Up - To the Williamsport High School women's volleyball team, for winning the Maryland Class 1A championship. It's the fourth state title in a row for this team. Congratulations on the win; you've earned it.

Thumbs Up - To the Smithsburg High School women's soccer team, for the hard work they did to win the Maryland Class 1A state title. The win follows a series of heartbreaking state finals losses in prior years.

Thumbs Up - To Toni Smith, 18, daughter of Andy Smith, president of Brothers United Who Dare to Care, for joining the group to serve as its outreach coordinator. This is a family tradition anyone should be proud to carry on.

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