Big House

This one's for Doug Arey, Rafiki Abdul Karim and all my friends down at the state prison complex: Put this news item in your pipe and smoke it. According to a report in The New York Times, the noose around Martha Stewart may be tightening. Members of Congress are demanding she turn over records related to a stock sale involving her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. According to the Times, an investigating committee "sent a strongly worded letter to Stewart late in the afternoon (Tuesday)

Award-winning architect Sarah Susanka will share her "Not So Big" residential house design philosophy at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at Goucher College in Towson, Md. The Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will host Susanka's lecture and a book signing at the college's Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road. A special exhibit begins at 5 p.m. Susanka's 1998 book, "The Not So Big House," proposed a new way of thinking about residential design. Her "Creating The Not So Big House" (Taunton Press, 2000)

Jimmy Lee - 10 to 10:45 a.m. Buffalo Thunder - 11 to 11:45 a.m. Matters of the Heart - noon to 12:45 p.m. Big House - 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Buffalo Club - 3:20 to 4:20 p.m. David Lee Murphy - 5:15 to 6:25 p.m.

Casey's Bar and Grill 155 S. Antrim Way Greencastle, Pa. Fri. - Cumberland Highway, country 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. no cover Sat. - The Mighty Midget Men, variety 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. no cover Wayside Inn 17116 Virginia Ave. Williamsport 301-582-4402 Sat. - Big House, rock 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Cave 23 W. Antietam St. Hagerstown 301-797-9859 Sat. - "Sofa...

Devin Sims Waynesboro Track Senior What's your favorite food? Pizza Who is your favorite cartoon character? Batman What is your biggest ambition? Become a good role model and to own my own restaurant Three people I'd like to have lunch with: Halle Berry, Chris Rock, P. Diddy Who's your favorite musical group or artist? I like them all The best thing about my school is: The sports The worst thing about my school is: The construction My classmates would probably name me 'Most likely to ...': Try almost anything once One place I'd most like to visit: Italy If a genie gave you three wishes, what would they be?

This year's downtown summer concert series begins today with blues performer Duffy Kane, officials said Wednesday. The series at Hager's Row behind the Tres School for the Arts will feature 10 concerts, one each Thursday, through Sept. 11. Concerts will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., said Downtown Coordinator Karen Giffin. Performers will include blues artists 2 Blue Ensemble and the Rhythm Kings, rock bands Big House and Never Satisfied, as well as the classical Appalachian Wind Quintet, Giffin said.

This year's downtown summer concert series begins today with blues performer Duffy Kane, officials said Wednesday. The series at Hager's Row behind the Tres School for the Arts will feature 10 concerts, one each Thursday, through Sept. 11. Concerts will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., said Downtown Coordinator Karen Giffin. Performers will include blues artists 2 Blue Ensemble and the Rhythm Kings, rock bands Big House and Never Satisfied, as well as the classical Appalachian Wind Quintet, Giffin said.

andrear@herald-mail.com When it comes to custom building, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better houses. And it's all about the view, experts say. Custom building is on the rise - and people aren't waiting until they retire to build their dream homes, said national building trends expert Tony Green of Massachusetts, who holds a master's degree in planning from Harvard University's Kennedy School and served as chairman of the Neighborhood Development...

Watching March Madness on television is one thing. To experience it first hand is another. Former Clear Spring and Mercersburg Academy standout Alex Tyler will learn what the NCAA postseason frenzy is all about - on the court. Tyler's college team, Cornell University, received a No. 13 seed to the national tournament on Sunday. Last week, Tyler jokingly indicated he'd "like to go somewhere warm. " He got his wish. Tyler and Ivy League champions will fly to Anaheim, Calif.

Change is coming whether you want it or not To the editor: On several occasions, Glenn Beck has asserted that the phrase "social justice" is code for Marxist, Communist and/or Nazi. And most tea party members are in agreement. As I read and hear many of the messages coming from Beck and the tea party, I hear another phrase being used that I believe is code. That phrase is "taking America back. " My question is this: Whom, what and/or where do they want to take the country back to, or is it from?

HALFWAY -- Cheryl Flook had 567,000 reasons to have her head shaved Saturday at Valley Mall. Before the last of her freshly dyed red locks dropped to the floor outside the entrance to J.C. Penney, the 52-year-old Hagerstown foster mother made sure the motivation for her shave didn't go unnoticed. "Hey everybody, this is to raise awareness, that's there's 567,000 foster kids in the U.S., 513 in Washington County alone," Flook shouted. "If you want to be a foster parent, ask one of us. " The spectacle was Flook's idea to raise money for the Washington County League of Foster and Adopted Families and helped kick off the nonprofit organization's annual walk benefit set for June 13. While Flook routinely has kept her hair short, she said she didn't know if she wanted to see herself in a mirror after it was done.

It wasn't that long ago when ownership of a large SUV was a status symbol - at least in some quarters. Then, too, there was lots of prestige attached to the "mega house," with such glorified features as the professional kitchen and multiple gas fireplaces. But in a recessionary period like this - when frugality is considered more of a virtue than extravagance - it's a lot harder to impress your friends with any sort of SUV, even a Lexus. Likewise, it's tough to wow people with a palatial property that carries whopping mortgage payments.

Watching March Madness on television is one thing. To experience it first hand is another. Former Clear Spring and Mercersburg Academy standout Alex Tyler will learn what the NCAA postseason frenzy is all about - on the court. Tyler's college team, Cornell University, received a No. 13 seed to the national tournament on Sunday. Last week, Tyler jokingly indicated he'd "like to go somewhere warm. " He got his wish. Tyler and Ivy League champions will fly to Anaheim, Calif.

Devin Sims Waynesboro Track Senior What's your favorite food? Pizza Who is your favorite cartoon character? Batman What is your biggest ambition? Become a good role model and to own my own restaurant Three people I'd like to have lunch with: Halle Berry, Chris Rock, P. Diddy Who's your favorite musical group or artist? I like them all The best thing about my school is: The sports The worst thing about my school is: The construction My classmates would probably name me 'Most likely to ...': Try almost anything once One place I'd most like to visit: Italy If a genie gave you three wishes, what would they be?

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back - through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others - at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about John "Jay" Bressler Smith, who died Oct. 24 at the age of 62. His obituary appeared in the Oct. 26 editions of The Morning Herald and The Daily Mail. Pam Long was working at Carson's Jewelers when an interesting young man came in one day to buy some silver flatware.

The best-selling book "Friday Night Lights" chronicles the fanaticism of Texas high school football players and fans. But it also provides a revealing look into life in the oil patch. The pattern is predictable as the seasons. The price of oil skyrockets for one reason or another, touching off a tumultuous boom and an ensuing spending spree throughout the state. With more money than sense, people overbuild, overspend, overinvest and overindulge, acting as if the good times will never end. Then the bottom falls out, and those who have been to too extravagant are forced to start from scratch.

Award-winning architect Sarah Susanka will share her "Not So Big" residential house design philosophy at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at Goucher College in Towson, Md. The Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will host Susanka's lecture and a book signing at the college's Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road. A special exhibit begins at 5 p.m. Susanka's 1998 book, "The Not So Big House," proposed a new way of thinking about residential design. Her "Creating The Not So Big House" (Taunton Press, 2000)