Appreciation

Smithsburg Mayor Mildred "Mickey" Myers presented the following certificates of appreciation to four people during a town council meeting Tuesday night:     Donald "Chris" Murray honored for his consistent help with the town's annual spring cleanup day. Don Bradburn for faithfully raising an American flag every day for many years at the town's former library at 20 E. Water St. The building now houses the Smithsburg Historical Society....

HALFWAY -- By attending Veterans Day ceremonies, citizens can thank members of the military who served and sacrificed, Fred L. Shinbur, the chairman of the Maryland Veterans Commission, said Tuesday. Shinbur, of Funkstown, spoke at an annual ceremony held by the Washington County Joint Veterans Council at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway. After the ceremony, Shinbur said he wanted to convey in his speech the importance of acknowledging the debt the United States owes to its veterans.

HAGERSTOWN -- Even without lifting his baton, Marvin Hurley had dozens of his former orchestra musicians sounding the same note on Saturday -- a note of appreciation. They returned to North Hagerstown High School to celebrate the 70th birthday of a man some credit with giving music a foothold in the school system about 40 years ago. "Marvin brought, basically, orchestral music to this county in a big way," said Todd Medcalf, a 1969 North High graduate and Hurley's first concertmaster, or first chair in the first violin section.

City Hospital, a West Virginia University Hospitals-East facility, recognized its 140 auxilians, volunteers and chaplains by hosting an appreciation luncheon on Monday at the Holiday Inn. The event was in recognition of National Volunteer Week, which is April 21-27. Members of the City Hospital auxiliary were celebrated for their 2012 fundraising efforts which resulted in $10,000 being donated to patient care services at the hospital. Thirteen volunteer clergy were recognized for their efforts on behalf of the hospital's chaplaincy program.

Cindy Pellegrino, CEO of Western Maryland Hospital Center, presents a token of appreciation to Millie Fiery for her 50 years of service as a member of the WMHC Auxiliary. Auxiliary President Barb Jacob looks on at right. WMHC opened its doors in 1957 and the 92-year-old Fiery was a charter member of the volunteer organization.

Cindy Pellegrino, CEO of Western Maryland Hospital Center, presents a token of appreciation to Millie Fiery for her 50 years of service as a member of the WMHC Auxiliary. Auxiliary President Barb Jacob looks on at right. WMHC opened its doors in 1957 and the 92-year-old Fiery was a charter member of the volunteer organization.

The Maryland Theatre staff presented comedian Ron White with a flask, cigar holder, cigar cutter and lighter in a maple box in appreciation of his October performance. The box was engraved with "Maryland Theatre 10/24/09 Sold Out. "

Western Maryland Regional Library's historic Web site, www.whilbr.org , based in Hagerstown, recently received two accolades during Black History Month: 1.) "Maryland Friday Night Facts," the bi-weekly newsletter from the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives featured Whilbr's "African American History of Allegany County" educational collection; 2.) On Feb. 16, this collection, as well as the Web site's "Historic Women of Allegany County," were awarded the 2008 Humanitarian Service Award by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Allegany County Chapter.

Residents and staff members of The Shook Home bid Rev. Paul B. Baker a farewell as he retires from his position on March 31 as the retirement community's chaplain. Rev. Baker has served as chaplain since Jan. 1, 2002. He also served as a Shook Home Board of Directors member prior to his position as chaplain. The staff collected money to purchase an honorary gift brick to be placed on the front porch of the facility at 55 S. Second St., Chambersburg, Pa. Refreshments were served as stories and words of appreciation were expressed to Rev. Baker.

Six pairs competed Friday, Oct. 9, in the annual club appreciation pairs game during a meeting of the Little Heiskell Duplicate Bridge Club. Dick and Lois Taylor finished first in Flight A with a 63-percent game. Elaine Rowe and Cathy Goss were second in Flight A with 62 percent, and Scott and Debbie Kiser finished first in Flight B with a 44-percent game. The club will hold the annual club appreciation team game on Friday, Oct. 23. Gold masterpoints will be awarded. The Little Heiskell Duplicate Bridge Club meets at 7 p.m. Fridays at American Legion Post 42 on Northern Avenue.

City Hospital, a West Virginia University Hospitals-East facility, recognized its 140 auxilians, volunteers and chaplains by hosting an appreciation luncheon on Monday at the Holiday Inn. The event was in recognition of National Volunteer Week, which is April 21-27. Members of the City Hospital auxiliary were celebrated for their 2012 fundraising efforts which resulted in $10,000 being donated to patient care services at the hospital. Thirteen volunteer clergy were recognized for their efforts on behalf of the hospital's chaplaincy program.

At The Salvation Army of Washington County's annual appreciation dinner Thursday night, keynote speaker  Lt. Colonel Jack T. Waters called the nonprofit an organization of “second chances.” But Hagerstown resident Peggy Huff had her first chance to accept the volunteer of the year award after 36 years of service. “I didn't know I was getting this, I thought he was talking about somebody else. It kind of brought tears to my eyes,” said Huff, who started volunteering at the age of 23 and is now 60, after receiving her award.

The resignation last week of longtime Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority members Clarence E. “CEM” Martin III and his wife, Judy, led to an unusual split vote by Berkeley County Council on Thursday whether to send the couple a letter of appreciation. County Council President Anthony J. “Tony” Petrucci and Council member James “Jim” Whitacre said they voted against sending the letter to the Martins because they did not want to see them resign from the board. The Martins had served on the Roundhouse Authority since it was created by an act of the state Legislature in 1999.  Council member Elaine C. Mauck made the motion to send the letter, thanking the Martins for their efforts on the board, which was formed to restore and redevelop the 19th Baltimore & Ohio Railroad roundhouse and shop building complex in Martinsburg.

As part of Pet Appreciation Week, Tractor Supply Co. will award two customers at each store a $200 gift card or a $100 vet services rebate from Hills Science Diet.  Also, one online grand prize winner will be the owner of a new Ford F-150 King Ranch pickup truck and a one-year supply of Purina pet food from Nestle-Purina.  The promotion is going on through Sunday, with the main event in stores Saturday.  For more information, go to ...

Nora Ephron - journalist, essayist, novelist, blogger, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, producer, director, playwright, world-class cook and world-class friend - died June 26. I am so sad. In the month since Ephron's passing, I have spent hours on the Internet, reading and watching everything about her I could find. There were obituaries and columns, touching tributes by some of her legion of friends. (Eight hundred, including entertainment, media, politics and publishing luminaries, attended the invitation-only memorial service she'd planned herself.)

Crowds of area residents turned out Wednesday for Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day in Hagerstown, braving hectic traffic and lines of hungry customers to support the restaurant's values and the business' freedom to express its opinions. In Martinsburg, W.Va., Chick-Fil-A was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after reportedly receiving a bomb threat that later was determined to be a hoax, the Martinsburg Police Department said. The day of appreciation was suggested by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as a way to counteract boycotts sparked by company President Dan Cathy's statement that he and Chick-fil-A are “guilty as charged” in opposition to gay marriage.

U.S. Army Lt. Lawrence Angle II, born and raised in Hagerstown, made a life-changing decision in July 2008. At age 38, Angle, who was a real estate lawyer in Washington and Frederick counties, left all that he had known behind and shipped out to basic training in the military. “I was tired of being on the sidelines,” Angle said. “We're at war, and I felt like I should do my part.” Deployed with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, known as “Tropic Lightning” based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, Angle carried the flags of Maryland, Washington County and the city of Hagerstown for the duration of his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

A veterans appreciation day will be held Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Thomas American Legion, 7966 Lincoln Way West. The event includes guest speakers, DJ, Two Nuts and a Bolt, refreshments and a flag-retirement ceremony. The event is hosted by the 22nd District Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion family. For more information, call Robert Stouffer at 717-816-2419.

Appreciating the history of Washington County is more than a passing hobby for some. It is a passion. Roger Fairbourn, 52, shares his passion for the architecture and historic landmarks of Washington County with the community while serving as the president of the Board of Directors at the Washington County Historical Society. Fairbourn's interest in the history of the county began at a young age. As a child growing up in Hagers-town, he said his parents always inspired him to be involved.

Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher William King said it's nice to get a thank you. The 11-year dispatching veteran recently was recognized as Washington County's Telecommunicator of the Year by the Maryland Emergency Number Systems Board, an organization that coordinates the installation and enhancement of 911 emergency telephone  services systems. "It felt good. It's nice to get a thank you," King said of the award that he received last month during a ceremony in Anne Arundel County.