Celebrant

Peggy and Ellis Duffey of Hagerstown celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 5, 2013. A party was given in their honor by their children, Scott and Becky Duffey, Craig Duffey, Joel and Kathy Duffey and Sue and Robert Wolfe Jr. The party was held at Western Sizzlin' Steakhouse with family and friends attending. The Duffeys were married Feb. 5, 1953, by the Rev. Paul M. Robinson at the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren. Mrs. Duffey is the former Peggy Kight and retired from Lena Darner Boutique.

Ida Kate Grimes sat contentedly in a recliner early Saturday evening, chiming in from time to time as family and friends shared stories and memories of her life. There were plenty of volumes to share, as Grimes was celebrating her 108th birthday. Born in a house on Vermont Street in Williamsport, Grimes eventually moved to another home just across the street. Nine months ago, she moved to the West End home of Marianne Cline, 57, who has been her caregiver for nearly six years. About 20 friends and family members stopped by Cline's house throughout the day. When they lighted the candles and sang “Happy Birthday,” Grimes sang along.

Tears rolled down Maria Edmonds face as she read her original poem titled “After,” written as an outlet to her experiences as a victim of domestic abuse. The emotion on Edmonds' face, in her voice as she read - even in her breaths between words as she collected herself - was palpable. “I started writing out of desperation to heal,” said Edmonds, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Club at Hagerstown Community College. “And I just felt like writing poetry was an appropriate vehicle to express emotions that I really have a hard time containing sometimes.” As a way to raise awareness about the topic, a group of about 30 people - including men and women of all ages - gathered inside HCC's student center Thursday night to celebrate V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women.

Greencastle-Antrim High School will celebrate an important milestone Saturday when the school hosts its 25th indoor guard competition. Greencastle-Antrim's 25th annual Indoor Competition, hosted by the Keystone Indoor Drill Association, will begin at 3 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Sam Forney, high school band director, who started Greencastle's indoor guard in 1988, is hoping the community comes out to help celebrate the school's achievement. “It's very visual. There are 37 units performing on Saturday from schools all over the area,” Forney said.

Bob and Kathy Walters of Greencastle, Pa., plan to celebrate Valentine's Day by traveling to Hawaii. They also will be celebrating their one-year anniversary, and Kathy Walters, 62, described the trip, which will begin Friday, as “romantic” and a chance for them to show their love for each other. “We got married out there so it's a special place for us,” she said. The couple, who got married on Feb. 21, 2012, is heading for Kona, Hawaii, which Bob Walters, 67, said is “as close to paradise as you could get.” Not everyone is setting out for exotic places, but couples across the Tri-State area have a variety of plans for celebrating Valentine's Day, ranging from vacations to dinner and flowers.

J&M Grill on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown opened in 1973 with Jack and MaeEtta McAfee aiming to provide good wholesome food. This week the restaurant celebrated its 40th year of dishing up meals to customers, many of them regulars. City, county and state officials attended a special event at J&M Grill on Tuesday to celebrate 40 years in business as one of Hagerstown's most popular restaurants. Mayor David S. Gysberts was in attendance and reminisced about eating at the restaurant as a youngster.

Martin Lawrence Hoffman Sr., 62, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at his residence. A funeral liturgy will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, Harpers Ferry, with the Rev. John Ledford as the celebrant, assisted by Deacon David Galvin.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Volunteer Washington County partnered with the Washington County Arts Council and Washington County Public Schools to host an art contest during its second annual MLK Day of Service and Celebration.   The theme of the contest was “Celebrating Dr. King's Legacy.” The contest was open to all public, private and home school high school students.   Judges from the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts adjudicated the entries and selected the winners.