Black Eye

A cyclist participating in the Carrollton Bank Cycle Across Maryland Tour was injured Tuesday morning when her bicycle hit metal grating on the Sideling Creek Bridge on the border of Allegany and Washington counties, according to Maryland State Police. Gail Guers, 45, of Harrisburg, Pa., was in serious condition at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore this morning, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Guers tore a flap of skin from her temple to her forehead in the wreck, said Walter Maddux of the Hancock Rescue Co. She also had a black eye, a scraped elbow and may have broken her shoulder, Maddux said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A West Virginia University pathologist testified Wednesday during the trial of a Hedgesville, W.Va., woman charged in her son's death that there were "signs of abuse" to the 7-month-old boy who died Aug. 19, 2008. Matrina Schmidt, who performed the autopsy on Skylar Boggs, testified in Berkeley County Circuit Court that fractures and bruises, along with trauma-induced brain hemorrhaging, led her to rule the boy's death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a man found Friday night in his pickup truck in a commuter parking lot at the Falling Waters, W.Va., exit for Interstate 81. The man was identified as Clarence Oscar "C.J. " Green Jr., 38, of Frederick County, Md. "The cause of death is still under investigation and this is being treated as a homicide until a ruling from the (West Virginia) Medical Examiner's Office in Charleston ... " Sheriff's Department Deputy Lt. Gary Harmison said Monday in a press release.

Voting only encourages them To the editor: I won't be voting on Nov. 6. I consider it my patriotic duty. The Declaration of Independence says that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Well, I hereby withdraw my consent. Both sides have tried to frighten me into voting. “If the other guy wins, bad thing will happen!” they say. Both are right. Experience has shown that no matter who wins, bad things will happen. GWU law professor Jonathan Turley says, “…our political system is fundamentally broken, it's unresponsive.” I agree.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a man found Friday night in his pickup truck in a commuter parking lot at the Falling Waters, W.Va., exit for Interstate 81. The man was identified as Clarence Oscar "C.J. " Green Jr., 38, of Frederick County, Md. "The cause of death is still under investigation and this is being treated as a homicide until a ruling from the (West Virginia) Medical Examiner's Office in Charleston ... " Sheriff's Department Deputy Lt. Gary Harmison said Monday in a press release.

In yet another example of a lobby group's grab for a quick headline, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste has trashed the federal fruit research station in Kearneysville, W.Va. Like many of these groups, the council raises an alarm without considering the alternative to spending money in this way. For example, if fruit production in the United States becomes unaffordable, then it follows that Americans will have to import more from countries which may or may not have the same concerns about consumers' health, or the environment in general.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- After a jury in Texas decides whether convicted killer Paul Devoe will be sentenced to death or to life in prison, the former handyman will be closer to returning to Franklin County, Pa. "It would be our intent to bring him back, no matter what his sentence is in Texas," Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Angela Krom said. Devoe, 46, is accused of killing Betty Jane Dehart, 81, in her State Line, Pa., home in August 2007. Prosecutors allege he stole Dehart's 2006 Hyundai and $8 as he fled Texas for New York.

Early this morning, I stopped by to see my wife JoAnn while she was at work at Washington County Hospital. While, I waited for her, I decided to sit in the waiting area and watch the world go by. An older man caught my eye. Poor guy. He looked like he had walked in front of Randy Moss' car, or was practicing the latest Tony Hawk skateboard moves on gravel. He sported a long, white beard and a cane. He was bruised and scratched and his shirt was tattered. I couldn't help but notice the "2002" tattooed on his arm. He staggered over and grabbed a seat next to a baby which couldn't have been more than a couple of days old. The kid was cute, bundled in his diaper and yawning from his nap. There, on his little chest, was a birthmark that looked like an "'03.

daniels@herald-mail.com Mayor Richard F. Trump cited irreconcilable differences between his vision for the City of Hagerstown and that of the city council as his reason for resigning Wednesday, dismissing rumors as well as assertions that he and the council had begun to move beyond the friction that plagued the early months of his administration. "When we ran for city government, we understood the tremendous opportunity that stood before Hagerstown, with the tremendous growth we have, people coming over the mountain, the strengthening economy," Trump said Thursday in a telephone interview.

Though my father has been dead for more than 15 years, I sometimes have dreams in which he is alive and we are talking together, about politics or something else. Then, even as I dream, I realize that he is dead. And at that point, although I can still see him, it's as if I'm watching things unfold from somewhere outside the scene. This is part of growing up, I guess. If you dream that an alligator is chasing you, it does not seem as real as it did when you were a child. That's good, because when you wake up, there is no strong father there to pat you on the head and tell you things are going to be all right.

Voting only encourages them To the editor: I won't be voting on Nov. 6. I consider it my patriotic duty. The Declaration of Independence says that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Well, I hereby withdraw my consent. Both sides have tried to frighten me into voting. “If the other guy wins, bad thing will happen!” they say. Both are right. Experience has shown that no matter who wins, bad things will happen. GWU law professor Jonathan Turley says, “…our political system is fundamentally broken, it's unresponsive.” I agree.

The county liquor board will allow the owner of the Black Eyed Susan restaurant in Halfway to transfer his liquor license to a new restaurant north of Hagerstown. John Walla told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County on Wednesday that he will use the license to serve alcohol when he opens a second Black Eyed Susan in mid-April at 18727 North Pointe Drive. The new site was the former location of Beef 'O' Brady's. He said he will stop selling alcohol at the existing restaurant at 17102 Virginia Ave. The current Black Eyed Susan will serve diner-style food, while the new location will offer more sophisticated fare, Walla said.

The owner of a popular restaurant between Halfway and Williamsport told county liquor officials Wednesday that he is contemplating moving the business to a larger building north of Hagerstown. John Walla, owner of Black Eyed Susan at 17102 Virginia Ave., said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that he wanted to move the restaurant to the former Beef 'O' Brady's site on North Pointe Drive near the Volvo Powertrain plant. “We're running out of space,” Walla said before the hearing.

Certainly the words "Bon Apetit" written in script over the red door of Black Eyed Susan Restaurant suggested that good food would be found within. We were welcomed quickly and graciously by Julia, our waitress who led us from the main room to the long side room to the south. A warm, flower-scented breeze came through the new windows and past the cream-colored cafe curtains. The end-of-the-day sun warmed our wintry hearts and we felt happy. We were reminded that summer would come soon and so would the blooming of Maryland's state flower -- the black-eyed Susan.

Certainly the words "Bon Apetit" written in script over the red door of Black Eyed Susan Restaurant suggested that good food would be found within. We were welcomed quickly and graciously by Julia, our waitress who led us from the main room to the long side room to the south. A warm, flower-scented breeze came through the new windows and past the cream-colored cafe curtains. The end-of-the-day sun warmed our wintry hearts and we felt happy. We were reminded that summer would come soon and so would the blooming of Maryland's state flower - the black-eyed Susan.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- After a jury in Texas decides whether convicted killer Paul Devoe will be sentenced to death or to life in prison, the former handyman will be closer to returning to Franklin County, Pa. "It would be our intent to bring him back, no matter what his sentence is in Texas," Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Angela Krom said. Devoe, 46, is accused of killing Betty Jane Dehart, 81, in her State Line, Pa., home in August 2007. Prosecutors allege he stole Dehart's 2006 Hyundai and $8 as he fled Texas for New York.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A West Virginia University pathologist testified Wednesday during the trial of a Hedgesville, W.Va., woman charged in her son's death that there were "signs of abuse" to the 7-month-old boy who died Aug. 19, 2008. Matrina Schmidt, who performed the autopsy on Skylar Boggs, testified in Berkeley County Circuit Court that fractures and bruises, along with trauma-induced brain hemorrhaging, led her to rule the boy's death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

3 medium-sized red peppers 1 small red onion 4 10-ounce to 15-ounce cans of black-eyed peas Two 10-ounce packages of frozen peas, thawed 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil 2 teaspoons sugar 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper 2 large tomatoes At least 3 1/2 hours before serving: Dice the red peppers. Chop the onion and rinse the black-eyed peas. Drain well.

It takes talent to make a good Reuben. The emphasis here is on the word "good. " I've had plenty of so-so Reubens and more really bad Reubens than I care to think about. I remember the really good ones. The one I had recently at Black Eyed Susan is definitely going into my "good" category. It might even make it into the "great" category. Open for about a month, this small restaurant on Virginia Avenue offers lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a man found Friday night in his pickup truck in a commuter parking lot at the Falling Waters, W.Va., exit for Interstate 81. The man was identified as Clarence Oscar "C.J. " Green Jr., 38, of Frederick County, Md. "The cause of death is still under investigation and this is being treated as a homicide until a ruling from the (West Virginia) Medical Examiner's Office in Charleston ... " Sheriff's Department Deputy Lt. Gary Harmison said Monday in a press release.