Birthday Party

BOONSBORO -- With patriotic music in the air and hot dogs on the grill, it was time to have a birthday party for America on Friday. Hundreds of people spread out across Boonsboro's Shafer Memorial Park for the town's annual Independence Day Celebration. Dozens of blankets and lawn chairs covered the field, as spectators scoped out prime spots for the after-dusk fireworks show. Before the sun set, there was plenty of time for relaxing, socializing and even napping while people waited.

WAYNESBORO, Pa., - An 8-year-old Waynesboro girl attending a birthday party at a pool Friday evening in Waynesboro was taken to Waynesboro Hospital after she began choking under water, Waynesboro police said. The girl's condition was not known Friday night, said Waynesboro Police Officer C. Shoap. He declined to provide the girl's name. Employees at the YMCA at 810 E. Main St. said officials were called about 6:15 p.m. because the girl appeared to be drowning. Shoap said a lifeguard found the girl at the bottom of a pool and pulled her out. He said when paramedics arrived she was breathing but still coughing up water.

By ANNE CHOVEY Special to The Herald-Mail The website for Fratelli Italian Pizzeria & Grill states, "Fratelli Restaurant is here to serve good food in a family atmosphere. " That sounded like a good invitation to me, so my friend Pap Ricka and I stopped in for dinner. Fratelli's has a cheerful exterior in one of the units in the South Pointe Shopping Center, on Oak Ridge Drive in Hagerstown. To the left of the front door is an outdoor eating area with tables and chairs under umbrellas.

Picture yourself with your favorite band playing at your birthday party. Now imagine that all you had to do was message them on their MySpace page, and they would come to your house to play for you, just because you said that their music was inspiring. Wouldn't that be awesome? That's what happened to one fan of Shiny Toy Guns. According to a news story I heard, a girl said that she sent a message to the new band via MySpace, and the next day, they traveled across the country to play on her front porch at a party she was having.

marlob@herald-mail.com Not one for a lot of hoopla, Mary Shank thought she was going to observe her 103rd birthday quietly Thursday evening at the Hagerstown Elks Lodge No. 378 Bargain Bingo night. But she had to "work" for her cake and ice cream - she called the first bingo game for the room full of players, friends and family. "I come here once a week to play," Mary said. "And I also play in Clear Spring - they had a party for me there, too, last weekend. " Mary insists she plays bingo strictly for fun but she did win a $500 prize recently in Clear Spring.

By RICHARD F. BELISLE Staff Writer FAIRPLAY - It was quite a birthday party for Mabel Miller, who turned 80 Saturday. The location was perfect - the Manor Church of the Brethren, where Miller has worshiped for most of her life. The church is just down the road from the Manor Church Road home she has lived in for 58 years. Dozens of guests showed up, including her brothers, her children, some of her 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, plus close friends. Dorothy Petre was there, too. Decades ago, Petre was Miller's teacher at the one-room Center Hill School on the Downsville Pike.

shappell@herald-mail.com Shania Shockey is coming home to Hagerstown in time for the holidays and her sixth birthday. Shockey's father said the girl continues to recover at a Baltimore rehabilitation center from injuries she sustained when she was run over by a van last summer. Bill Heise said his daughter is scheduled to be released from the Kennedy Krieger Institute and brought back to her 50 E. Baltimore St. home on Nov. 20. She will turn 6 years old on Nov. 27, Thanksgiving Day. "Her birthday plus Thanksgiving, that means a lot," Heise said.

Unless it's a birthday party, don't surprise your boss, especially if he or she is an elected official. It's a lesson we've seen government staffers learn repeatedly, and the latest to get educated in that way was Karen Luther, Washington County's purchasing agent. During the commissioners' April 20 meeting, Luther got them to approve a $2.8 million contract to bring their payroll and other computer systems into Year 2000 compliance. Though the package was reviewed by a staff committee and a consultant, Commissioner John Schnebly voted against it, saying he wanted cost estimates from the six other proposals.

WILLIAMSPORT -- If there is a secret to living to be 105 years old, Dorothy "Dot" Carlisle is keeping it to herself. At least that's what she told everyone Wednesday at her birthday party at Homewood at Williamsport. "I have lived here for 20 years ... 20 happy years," Dot said. "New friends and true friends are here, and I hope all of you find as much comfort as I have. " Aided only by a walker, Dot entered the festive community room where cake, ice cream and punch awaited.

Have a Twitter account? Tag your tweets with " #mdblues " and they'll appear on our special section. View all of the photos for purchase! HAGERSTOWN -- A sea of umbrellas bobbed and pulsed to the music Saturday evening in Hagerstown's City Central Lot as drizzly weather failed to dampen the spirits of fans at Western Maryland Blues Fest's Downtown House Party. "What rain?" Greg Nusser, 50, of Hagerstown, asked as his shirt became increasingly soaked.