Bargaining

ANNAPOLIS (AP) - Lawmakers took aim Tuesday at Gov. Parris Glendening's collective bargaining bill, with complaints about possible disruptions in government services. Administration officials told the House Appropriations Committee the bill prohibits strikes or lockouts. But Del. Howard "Pete" Rawlings, a Baltimore Democrat who heads the committee, suggested that workers could collectively call in sick in protest, like pilots at American Airlines. Among those at the hearing in Annapolis were state workers from Washington County.

laurae@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - As her stroller filled up with books, 3-year-old Zera Haurin sat quietly under a folding table paging through a colorful Winnie the Pooh book. Her mother, Eileen Haurin of Hagerstown, found a number of treasures for the family Wednesday on the opening day of the American Association of University Women's annual Used Book Sale. Among them was the complete works of poet Lord Byron. "I enjoy this book sale because there's such a selection," Haurin said.

laurae@herald-mail.com Mom, apple pie and ... yard sales? Thousands of people on Friday took part in the all-American pastime of hunting for bargains at the 24th annual Mile-Long Yard Sale. "If you want to sell something, this is the spot," said Lloyd Martz, 30, of Williamsport. In past years, Martz avoided the mega-yard sale, held every July 4 in several adjoining neighborhoods north of Hagerstown. But after 11 years of marriage, two children and homeownership, Martz had accumulated a front lawn's worth of belongings he no longer needed.

WASHINGTON COUNTY ? Area retail stores opened before dawn, but lines of shoppers already were waiting, eager to take advantage of early-bird specials and "doorbuster" deals. Best Buy on Garland Groh Boulevard opened at 5 a.m., but customers had lined up long before the opening, general manager Johnny Arias said. Some of those at the front of the line said they had been there since Thursday afternoon. That hardy bunch waited throughout the night, when temperatures dipped into the 30s. Officers with the Hagerstown Police Department greeted shoppers at the front door.

In its 27th year, the Mile-Long Yard Sale north of Hagerstown drew thousands of bargain hunters Tuesday. Read the full story in Wednesday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

Last week the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Washington County announced that they would partner to pick a "Nonprofit of the Year. " Leaders of both groups said they hoped to raise awareness about philanthropy and what the agencies give to the community. But nonprofits should also be honored because they provide services that citizens would otherwise have to pay for through their taxes. For example: - What would it cost to house the homeless - or jail them for vagrancy - if there weren't a network of volunteers operating the REACH cold-weather shelter?

The Treasure Sale at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts plays out like a roller coaster ride of a high-end flea market. Buyers begin excited, expectant and a little guarded, and end up unfurled, grinning and shrieking with delight. The annual fundraiser sale is hosted by the Singer Society, the museum's volunteer association. Area businesses and individuals donate new and used items for the event. The Treasure Sale opens each year with a Friday night preview. For $10, attendees get to scope out items of interest over food and drink.

tarar@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - While Black Friday brought out crowds of shoppers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in some Hagerstown-area businesses, Juanita Vanderpool said she has seen far worse. "Have you been to northern Virginia?" Vanderpool asked while taking a break from shopping at Prime Outlets of Hagerstown. "This is not a crowd. " Vanderpool and her daughters make an annual trip from Manassas, Va., to Hagerstown, where they say they can shop in leisure and find good sales.

Judge rejects challenge to collective bargaining A Washington County Circuit judge has dismissed a challenge to Maryland's collective bargaining process. Judge Frederick C. Wright III on Friday threw out a suit filed last June by the Maryland Classified Employees Association. In the suit, the union had asked for an injunction against implementation of four election results in which another union won the right to represent state employees. The MCEA argued that the state did not provide a level playing field when it set up the collective bargaining process.