Afl Cio

U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin, D-Md., will be the speaker for a discussion on strengthening Social Security on June 1 at 7 p.m. at United Auto Workers Local 171, 18131 Maugans Ave. The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council will host the event. For information, call the council at 301-739-9500.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council, in conjunction with United Auto Workers Local 171, is hosting a presentation to help people protect themselves against identity theft. Fred Burton, an expert on identity theft prevention, will speak at the presentation Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the UAW Local 171 Hall, 18131 Maugans Ave. It is expected to last one hour. For information, contact Bobby Fouche at 301-739-9500.

laurae@herald-mail.com A Hagerstown woman who first made a name for herself in local politics has become a lobbyist for an Annapolis-based labor organization. Susan Levitan, formerly known as Susan Tuckwell, started work two months ago for the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO. "It's going to be a new challenge," she said. Last year, Levitan managed Sue Hecht's failed campaign against Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Frederick/Washington. She also worked for Democrat Don DeArmon, who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council, in a joint effort with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 340, Utility Workers Union of America Local 102-Q and United Auto Workers Local 171, conducted a drive to collect toys for the Toys For Tots program of the Marine Corps League's Bulldog Detachment. Admission to the annual Christmas party held by the council required bringing a toy for a child up to 12 years old. Approximately 324 gifts were received, including $172 in cash.

Although federal statistics indicate that the number of on-the-job deaths in the nation fell 17 percent from 2008 to 2009,  area union supporters believe the trend toward safer workplaces could be endangered by the current economic and political climate. The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council observed Workers Memorial Day Thursday with a ceremony at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Hagerstown. Each year there are workplace disasters that command  headlines. Among the incidents noted at the ceremony were the deaths of 28 coal miners last year in a Massey Energy Co. mine in West Virginia, the deaths of 11 oil workers when a BP rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and, locally, the murder of Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove.

YOUTH LEAGUES West End Little League VFW 12, AFL-CIO 7 VFW: Aaron Barton 2 hits; Aaron Rowland 2 hits, HR. AFL-CIO: Nathan Murray 2 hits, GS. West End Minor League Western Enterprise 12, Hopewell 11 WaCo Girls Softball League Middle School Division Reliable Home Furnishings 11, Artz Trucking 9 Reliable: Katie Forsythe, Ellie Harrell, Alex Bartha, Caroline Rosenthal 2 hits each; Rosenthal...

YOUTH SOFTBALL Washington County Girls Middle School Division Ernst Market 7, FOP 1 Ernst: Brooke Hartle, Brookyln Drury, Holly Reynard, Kelsey Haines 2 hits each; Kristen Mellott, Drury combined 18 Ks. YOUTH BASEBALL Clear Spring Minor League Imagery by Andrea Red Sox 9, Orioles 8 Red Sox: Cody Uchima 3 hits; Sam Ellmore, Chris Burelson, Chris Hose, Garrett Gladhill, Julian Baker, Wyatt Abe...

GOLF SNOWSHOE, W.Va. (AP) - David Bradshaw hasn't played much competitive golf this year and toured The Raven course at Snowshoe Mountain resort for the first time only a few weeks ago. Many of the 120 players in this week's West Virginia Open aren't familiar enough with the roller coaster terrain to project confidence, so the winner could end up being someone with a combination of skill, steely nerves and local knowledge. And despite the presence of six past champions in the field, it could end up being as much a surprise as Bradshaw was last year in becoming the first amateur to win the Open since 1993.

Although federal statistics indicate that the number of on-the-job deaths in the nation fell 17 percent from 2008 to 2009,  area union supporters believe the trend toward safer workplaces could be endangered by the current economic and political climate. The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council observed Workers Memorial Day Thursday with a ceremony at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Hagerstown. Each year there are workplace disasters that command  headlines. Among the incidents noted at the ceremony were the deaths of 28 coal miners last year in a Massey Energy Co. mine in West Virginia, the deaths of 11 oil workers when a BP rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and, locally, the murder of Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove.

YOUTH SOFTBALL Washington County Girls Middle School Division Ernst Market 7, FOP 1 Ernst: Brooke Hartle, Brookyln Drury, Holly Reynard, Kelsey Haines 2 hits each; Kristen Mellott, Drury combined 18 Ks. YOUTH BASEBALL Clear Spring Minor League Imagery by Andrea Red Sox 9, Orioles 8 Red Sox: Cody Uchima 3 hits; Sam Ellmore, Chris Burelson, Chris Hose, Garrett Gladhill, Julian Baker, Wyatt Abe...

PREP TRACK & FIELD GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Maryland state champions Paige Shirk of Clear Spring and Katie Ritter of North Hagerstown both competed at Nike Outdoor Nationals on Friday. Shirk placed 17th in the girls shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 10 inches. Ritter finished 27th in the girls "emerging elite" 400-meter dash in 1:00.62. Both girls set Tri-State records in those events as juniors this past spring -- Shirk at 43-8 1/2 and Ritter at 57.08. BASEBALL Crist signs with W.Va.

DEC. 4, 1931-APRIL 21, 2009 HALFWAY - James Richard "Jim" Kelly, 77, of Halfway, Md., died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at his home. Born Dec. 4, 1931, in Emmitsburg, Md., he was the son of the late Francis Richard and Donelean Mildred Davis Kelly. He was a 1950 graduate of St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Emmitsburg. He was employed by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 692 of Baltimore from 1958 to 1982. Jim also was the past financial secretary and treasurer for Central Maryland Labor Council, past vice president of Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO and labor person of the year for 1998 central Maryland AFL-CIO Council.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council is holding its annual United Labor Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the BPO Elks Lodge on Robinwood Drive in Hagerstown. Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is scheduled to speak. The late John Crawford, a former member of the United Steelworkers union who lived in the Hagerstown area, will be honored. For more information, call 301-739-9500.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council, which covers Washington and Frederick counties, will honor fallen workers Monday on Workers Memorial Day at 10 a.m. at UAW Local 171 at 18131 Maugans Ave. Local, state and national officials have accepted invitations to attend. Workers Memorial Day pays tribute to those who suffered and died on the job. The public is invited to attend and submit names of deceased workers whom they would like to be included in the record. Those who want to submit names may call 301-739-9500 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or write to the Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council at 511 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown, MD 21740.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council, which covers Washington and Frederick counties, will honor fallen workers Monday on Workers Memorial Day at 10 a.m. at UAW Local 171 at 18131 Maugans Ave. Local, state and national officials have accepted invitations to attend. Workers Memorial Day pays tribute to those who suffered and died on the job. The public is invited to attend and submit names of deceased workers whom they would like to be included in the record. Those who want to submit names may call 301-739-9500 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or write to the Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council at 511 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown, MD 21740.

YOUTH BASEBALL American Little League Goodwill 16, Funkstown 7 Goodwill: Brendan Colbert HR; Jordan Luna 4 hits; Demetrius Edwards, Tyler Shubert, Trevion Hamlin 2 hits each. Clear Spring Little League Jason Hose Mackintosh Realty Yankees 8, R.L. Divelbiss Construction Orioles 3 Yankees: Hunter Fiddler 3 hits, HR. Conococheague Little League Wolfe's 11, Tony's Pizza 1 Wolfe's: Sinjin Shoop 2 hits, HR; Nick Williams, Dalton Condo 2 hits each; Brett Vitkun, CG, 4 Ks. Federal Little League Exchange 13, Lions 3 Exchange: Andrew Yacyk 2 hits, HR; Dalton Jobe and Crosse Barvincheck, HR each.

The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council, in a joint effort with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 340, Utility Workers Union of America Local 102-Q and United Auto Workers Local 171, conducted a drive to collect toys for the Toys For Tots program of the Marine Corps League's Bulldog Detachment. Admission to the annual Christmas party held by the council required bringing a toy for a child up to 12 years old. Approximately 324 gifts were received, including $172 in cash.