Around Hancock

November 20, 2008|By ANNE WEATHERHOLT / 301-678-6888

Variety show a hit at Community Center

The Hancock Community Center stage was the scene of a wonderful variety show last Friday evening. Who knew we had such a terrific variety of talent in our midst? Teenagers and adults, tap dancers and belly dancers, drums and strings, singing and poetry - all were part of the program. The crowd enjoyed fresh gingerbread and cider at intermission, and many donated $5 and even more per person for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of entertainment. The variety show was sponsored by the Hancock Arts Council. Coming in December, the Arts Council will be sponsoring a concert of Christmas music and hopefully will once again host its ever popular Winter Festival in February.

Chamber Web site promotes businesses

The Hancock Chamber of Commerce is continuing its push to bring new businesses to Hancock and strengthen existing ones. Their Web site will offer the possibility of listing commercial property at no cost to the owner, thus increasing the chance that those who are seeking property will see the offerings. To list your commercial property in Hancock, contact Lou Close at louis@hancockmd.com. At a recent meeting, the chamber approved a new $500 scholarship to be offered to a high school senior who is planning to attend college.

Frostburg choir to perform Friday

The 25-voice Chamber Choir of Frostburg State University will offer a free concert in Hancock Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. St. Thomas' Episcopal Church will host the event at the church at Church and High streets. The Chamber Choir traveled to China last March, performing at universities and several other sites in the country which hosted the Summer Olympics. Karen Soderberg Sarnaker, chair of the music department at Frostburg, directs the group and always elicits the very best performance from her students. Oh, and as an added bonus, the program will also feature organ selections by FSU music graduate Daniel Weatherholt, who will perform on St. Thomas' recently restored M.P. Moller pipe organ.

Hancock churches plan Thanksgiving Eve Service

The Hancock Churches' Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service will be Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Hancock United Methodist Church, 170 W. Main St. Host Pastor the Rev. Duane Jensen will deliver the sermon, and the Rev. Barbara Suffecool will direct the music. Area clergy will all take part as our community comes together in Thanksgiving.

A local citizen has written a book that she hopes will save lives.

"Breaking the Silence: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence," is a guidebook for anyone to learn more about this insidious and much too prevalent yet hidden problem in our society.

The church has often been blamed either for promulgating beliefs that discourage those who are abused from seeking help, or for ignoring the existence of domestic violence among members, their family and friends.

This book contains chapters that help to teach the cycle of violence, and explores the historical and behavioral factors which can be overcome by people of faith who want to help teach the dynamics of healthy behavior to young people, as well as help those who find themselves trapped in unhealthy and even dangerous relationships.

The final chapters contain suggestions for easy and active responses, as well as a list of resources.

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church hosted a book signing for the author, the Rev. Anne O. Weatherholt, on Nov. 9. Her book is available online at Amazon.com and from the publisher, Morehouse Publishing online at www.churchpublishing.com. Copies cost $16.

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