Advisory Board

Advisory board to be formed in Berkeley County By BOB PARTLOW / Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Berkeley County residents soon will be able to sound off about the county sheriff's department's operations to a new community advisory board, according to Sheriff Randy Smith. Smith told the Berkeley County Commission last week he plans to establish a community relations and advisory board to solicit feedback from the community. He proposed the advisory board should have no more than 16 members, and meet four times a year and whenever specific issues arise that need review.

A retiring judge received accolades Thursday from other professionals in the criminal justice field. Franklin County (Pa.) Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Walsh will be retiring at the end of the year. The county's criminal justice advisory board, which Walsh has led for years, recognized him with an award, scrapbook and remarks. Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel joined a roomful of people in thanking Walsh for his 15 years on the bench, specifically highlighting the judge's work with the criminal justice advisory board.

The Academy of Finance at South Hagerstown High School was the recipient of a $3,000 sponsorship from the local Citicorp Credit Services facility. Funding will help provide activities that enhance the curriculum, support college readiness and prepare students for the world of work. From left, holding the check, Ronald Brezler, Centra Bank advisory board chairman; and Cassandra Latimer, Citi Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Middle row, JoAnne Knode, Academy of Finance teacher; Sharon Chirgott, Academy director; Myra Newbraugh, Academy of Finance teacher; Glen Weaver, Citi Site vice president and advisory board member.

Hagerstown Junior College is planning to expand its business leadership programs. The college has offered business leadership courses in areas such as leadership style, team building and goal setting, said Ann Shipway, director of continuing education and training at the college. The courses have been popular and now the school is forming an advisory board to further explore the need for the business leadership courses in the community, said Shipway.

Lawmakers need to tighten their belts like the rest of us To the editor: Thank God the Maryland General Assembly is finished for the year. They did enough damage for one year. At a time when Marylanders are tightening their belts because of high unemployment or underemployment, the government is proposing to spend $1.4 billion more in fiscal year 2012 than in 2011. With family income down, the state government is putting the squeeze on the taxpayers for more money.

shappell@herald-mail.com Three Washington County commissioners and the Washington County Agricultural Advisory Board met informally for close to three hours Wednesday to discuss suggestions to improve the county's plans for rural rezoning and preserving farmland. Washington County Commissioner James F. Kercheval described the meeting as an informal brainstorming session to help the commissioners get ideas to refine the rural rezoning program, especially where it relates to farmland preservation.

Model railroad competition planned MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Model railroad displays are a common sight in homes around Christmastime. This holiday season, shoppers in downtown Martinsburg will be treated to some top-notch displays in Main Street Martinsburg's Christmas Model Railroad Showcase Competition, the group's executive director told the Martinsburg City Council on Thursday night. The competition will be held about three weeks before Christmas, said Tracie B. Ford.

New officers were elected during the fall meeting of the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH) Advisory Board. John League moved up from his position as vice-chair to accept the position of chair. He replaces Jim Piern. Gaye McGovern was elected to fill the vice-chair position. During the meeting, USMH Executive Director C. David Warner, Ed.D., gave board members a tour of the newly equipped nursing labs and introduced them to the 16 students enrolled in Towson University's nursing program at USMH.

The Salvation Army held its annual civic dinner April 8 in recognition of volunteers and staff members who assisted people in need throughout Washington County in 2007. Majs. Robert and Karen Lyle, commanding officers of the Hagerstown Corps, hosted the event attended by 160 people at Next Dimension Restaurant near Funkstown. The evening was directed by master of ceremonies Ward Childerston with remarks by Christine Henry, outgoing chairman of the advisory board, who expressed her thanks for the tireless work by volunteers and members of the advisory board.

Memorial Recreation Center is seeking coaches and sponsors for the Ruth Monroe Summer Basketball League in Wheaton Park. The league is looking for 10 sponsors each for the junior division (ages 10 to 13) and the senior division (ages 14 to 18). The sponsorships cost $500 per team. The fee includes expenses for two referees per game, T-shirts with the sponsor logo and name for a roster of 10 to 12 players and trophies. It also includes contributions to the banquet dinner at the end of the season.

Matt Harsh, co-owner and operator of Chesley Vegetable Farms, a 45-acre fruit and vegetable farm in Washington County, was appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley as one of five new members of the Young Farmers Advisory Board. The board is comprised of representatives from different commodity groups who provide the agriculture secretary with information and recommendations on policies and issues facing the agriculture industry. Members serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms.

Memorial Recreation Center is seeking coaches and sponsors for the Ruth Monroe Summer Basketball League in Wheaton Park. The league is looking for 10 sponsors each for the junior division (ages 10 to 13) and the senior division (ages 14 to 18). The sponsorships cost $500 per team. The fee includes expenses for two referees per game, T-shirts with the sponsor logo and name for a roster of 10 to 12 players and trophies. It also includes contributions to the banquet dinner at the end of the season.

A retiring judge received accolades Thursday from other professionals in the criminal justice field. Franklin County (Pa.) Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Walsh will be retiring at the end of the year. The county's criminal justice advisory board, which Walsh has led for years, recognized him with an award, scrapbook and remarks. Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel joined a roomful of people in thanking Walsh for his 15 years on the bench, specifically highlighting the judge's work with the criminal justice advisory board.

The Young Farmers Advisory Board is seeking nominations to fill four positions on the board.  Those interested must have direct experience in agriculture. The board promotes agriculture as a positive contributor to Maryland's economy, environment and scenic landscape; and makes recommendations to the secretary of agriculture related to economic development and legislative and policy issues that will assist young and beginning farmers, and other related businesses in creating and continuing profitable agriculture throughout the state.

The city of Hagerstown is still seeking applicants to serve on its board of traffic and parking. Mary King, city communications manager, said in an email that there are three available positions on the five-member advisory board, which reviews issues pertaining to parking and traffic in Hagerstown. The deadline to submit an application is Aug. 22, King said. The board meets the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at City Hall in the engineering office, and meetings generally last about an hour, she said.

It's not Disney World or Washington, D.C., but Franklin County, Pa., has raked in its share of tourism dollars. In 2007, more than $390 million was spent on travel in Franklin County, according to a Global Insight study. The Franklin County Visitors Bureau broke off from the larger Hershey/Harrisburg Visitors Bureau in 2005 and launched its website in 2007. "We were often thought of as a bedroom community for the Gettysburg experience, the Hershey experience, even the Lancaster experience," said Janet Pollard, director of tourism for the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.

It was the sight of a lone Salvation Army bell ringer standing in the cold in downtown Hagerstown years ago that prompted James "Jim" Shifler to make a financial contribution to the organization. He was then asked to be on the board, said yes and has never looked back. "There's nothin' like 'em. They can't be beat as far as I'm concerned," said Shifler, who is one of 24 Salvation Army board members. Shifler might be remembered as the Nationwide insurance agent in the stone house on Alternate U.S. 40 at Boonsboro.

Lawmakers need to tighten their belts like the rest of us To the editor: Thank God the Maryland General Assembly is finished for the year. They did enough damage for one year. At a time when Marylanders are tightening their belts because of high unemployment or underemployment, the government is proposing to spend $1.4 billion more in fiscal year 2012 than in 2011. With family income down, the state government is putting the squeeze on the taxpayers for more money.

The Academy of Finance at South Hagerstown High School was the recipient of a $3,000 sponsorship from the local Citicorp Credit Services facility. Funding will help provide activities that enhance the curriculum, support college readiness and prepare students for the world of work. From left, holding the check, Ronald Brezler, Centra Bank advisory board chairman; and Cassandra Latimer, Citi Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Middle row, JoAnne Knode, Academy of Finance teacher; Sharon Chirgott, Academy director; Myra Newbraugh, Academy of Finance teacher; Glen Weaver, Citi Site vice president and advisory board member.

The recently formed Historic City Park Neighborhoods 1st Group's first fundraiser ended short of its goal, but group member Heather Holman says members will continue to work to spruce up the park and raise awareness of safety and other issues in their neighborhood. The group's fundraiser, which ended this week, brought in about $450, short of the goal of $1,000, Holman said in an e-mail. The money raised will go toward the group's goals for the neighborhood around city park and the park itself.