Celebrant

Q: I haven't heard anything yet this year about Small Business Month at either national, state or local levels. Are there any events planned? A : According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the signature National Small Business Week will be June 17 to 21. This year's events will take place across the country and will feature exciting and informative events designed to help small businesses start, grow and succeed. Locally, area residents are encouraged to participate in SCORE Hagerstown's Small Business Community Awareness Program, principally during the months of April and May. Scheduled events include: • Educational workshops at Hagerstown Community College.

Twice a month, a group of 29 minority students in grades six through 12 meets at the Hagerstown YMCA for support and encouragement to achieve education and career goals. Through interest-related cluster groups, featured speakers and field trips, the young people learn to make “wise decisions,” Deborah Phillips said. Phillips, Achiever program director for the Hagerstown YMCA, said last year, all four of the program's graduating seniors went on to college. “We track our students and keep in touch with their families,” she said.

This week we continue with the different types of muffuletta. This is a mouth-watering version without scooping out the delicious soft innards of bread. Allow the olive salad and extra virgin olive oil to drench every nook and cranny to give you deep flavor and delicious combinations. This recipe will also lend itself to my spicier side of life. I enjoy a little heat in my sandwich and this recipe will showcase just that. To me, heat is a wonderful addition to anything I create but to many my level of heat is often way too hot for others to handle.  In any case, experiment a little to see what heat index is right for you and begin to build from there.

Robert and Patsy (Warner) Kretzer of Hagerstown celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends on Dec. 8, 2012, at the Leitersburg Community Center. The celebration was hosted by the couples four children and their spouses, Bobbi and Ken Wivell of Smithsburg; Tina King of Hagerstown, and her friend, Adam Flood of Waynesboro, Pa.; Eric and Danielle Kretzer of Hagerstown; and Blane and Elizabeth Kretzer of Corbin, Ky. The Kretzers have 11 grandchildren and six great-grandsons.

With twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling, an arena that normally hosts athletic events was transformed Friday night into a venue of celebration for generosity and philanthropy to higher education in Washington County. Billed as one of the largest fundraisers in the county, about 750 people came together inside the Athletic, Recreation and Community Center at Hagerstown Community College for an annual event put on by the HCC Foundation and the HCC Booster Club. “I think this is the premiere event annually in Washington County in regard to raising funds for a terrific cause,” HCC President Guy Altieri said of the 14th annual fundraiser.

Harry “Buck” Cline of Williamsport turns 90 years old Thursday. Cline is a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army 475th Infantry Group in the Pacific Theatre -   China, Burma and India - under Gen. George Stillwell. Pvt. Cline was awarded a commendation medal from the Republic of China for his service to that nation. He came home from the war, married his childhood sweetheart, Elaine, and raised four children. He worked two jobs, including part time at Harold's Sunoco on Potomac Street in Hagerstown and 35 years at Pangborn Corp.

Religions blended Sunday when a United Church of Christ congregation hosted a Jewish-Christian seder to mark Passover. Pastor Michael Cromer from Church of the Apostles told the 30 people gathered to pay attention to the instructions about when and how to eat, drink and pray. “That's one of the important messages of the Exodus story - following God's orders,” he said, telling the crowd that “seder” means “order.” Cromer said he tried to retain much from the traditional Jewish observance, but a section at the end of the seder talked about Jesus.

Patricia Ann McCarthy, 70, of Charles Town, W.Va., died Saturday, March 23, 2013, at her home. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. A Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday at 9 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, Charles Town, with the Very Rev. John Ledford as celebrant.

Volvo Construction Equipment celebrated its $100 million investment in its new national headquarters in Shippensburg during a day-long ceremony Thursday. The company also unveiled its first U.S.-built wheel loaders as they rolled off the assembly line at the Franklin County plant Thursday. “This should serve as a very clear signal that Volvo CE is committed to this market and in a better position than ever before to offer our customers products that are made by Americans, for Americans,” Volvo Construction Equipment President Pat Olney said in a statement.