Apple

You might not know it, but you live in the fruit belt. Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland; Hampshire, Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia; Frederick County, Va.; and Adams County, Pa., account for the vast majority of the tree fruit grown in the mid-Atlantic area. I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy some juicy local peaches. If not, hurry because peach harvest is winding down. Apple harvest is moving into full swing. Varieties such as Ginger Gold, Gala and Honey Crisp are being harvested now, and will be followed by a vast array of other favorites.

Beverly Faith had been baking since she was a child; her family was her greatest influence for her baking talents everything from the teaching to swapping recipes and making each one her own. Faith says her reason for baking is simple. She loves baking and gets joy from seeing people's faces react when taking a bite of her goods, knowing than that it's alright. Faith and her husband, Reuben, have been vendors at the City Farmers' Market for more than eight years. Their stand is called R & B Baked Goods & Crafts.

Members of the Academy of Finance program at South Hagerstown High School recently visited the business district in New York City.   The tour began at the Grand Central Terminal, a transportation hub for commuters and a destination for tourists like the academy students, who had the opportunity to marvel at its history and architecture, and to enjoy the local cuisine.  Other attractions visited included Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ground Zero, Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty and the observatory deck of the Empire State Building.

Even though the fall harvest apples are not in season, this wonderfully delicious dessert is easy to prepare from store bought apples. The addition of the Gewurztraminer gives a really nice, sweet note to the dish without added sugar. If you choose sweet apples, be sure to cut back on the sugar since you will have less of a tart taste. — Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and Chef Ambassador to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

Apple Valley Waste will take over trash collection for Funkstown beginning in July, Town Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Haynes said Monday night. The Funkstown Town Council voted 4-0 Monday night to award the one-year waste collection contract to Apple Valley Waste, which had the lowest bid at $54,661. Council members John Phillips III and Richard L. Gaver were absent during the vote. Gaver showed up late to the meeting due to a Boy Scouts commitment. Apple Valley held the contract during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

I wanted something bright, fresh and crisp for the upcoming summer season, and this salad hit the mark. It has a nice crispness, delightful flavor and delicious crunch.   Try a variety of your favorite apples and mix up the sharpness of cheddar if you wish. The sky is the limit, so mix up this delightful summer dish and enjoy. — Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and Chef Ambassador to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The Washington County Board of Education Tuesday night presented members of Clear Spring High School's state championship bocce team and its coach, Aline Novak, with a Golden Apple award. The sport was new this school year, part of a unified sports program offering athletic competitions for students with disabilities. The sport teams up disabled athletes with able-bodied partners. Clear Spring won the first state championship in March. "Winning a state championship is a big deal," School board President Wayne Ridenour told the team during Tuesday night's board meeting at the central office off Commonwealth Avenue.

Several educators and a Habitat for Humanity official were presented with Golden Apple awards at last week’s Washington County Board of Education meeting. Golden Apple awards were given to Kathy Powderly, development director of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County; Darlene Teach, retired principal/project coordinator for the Women Build Educators’ House; and Kathy Stiles, Rockland Woods Elementary principal and participant in the Women Build Educators’ House, according to the Feb. 15 board meeting agenda.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Three Berkeley Springs women representing three Morgan County historical organizations were selected to serve as grand marshals for the 37th annual Apple Butter Festival parade on Saturday, Oct. 9. "The parade committee decided to make Marching through Morgan County History the parade theme," Beth Curtin, festival coordinator, said in a press release. "It seemed appropriate to have the local history groups provide the grand marshal. " The parade starts Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. The three women who are scheduled to ride in the parade as grand marshals are Betty Lou Harmison, representing the Museum of the Berkeley Springs; Julia Linaweaver, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

HANCOCK -- Julia Miner is a passionate evangelist for apples. She eats them almost daily, bakes them in pies and extols their healthy benefits. So it's no surprise that she found time Saturday to attend the Hancock Lions Club's 34th annual Canal-Apple Days. The Warfordsburg, Pa., resident was among thousands of people who lined Main Street for a parade and then headed to Widmeyer Park for the festival. The event continues Sunday. Among the offerings are arts and crafts, an antique tractor display, music and food, including apples.