Chambersburg Mall

A call went out for a fire with one person injured at the Chambersburg Mall Sunday evening, but the exercise was just a drill, according to officials at the scene just off Pa. 997. Units from seven Chambersburg-area fire departments responded to the simulated emergency, which was called a training exercise by Bill Wishard, fire chief of the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department. Near the area of the Burlington Coat Factory, firefighters pulled hoses and practiced proper techniques for attacking a fire in a large structure like a mall.

State Rep. Rob Kauffman hosted his annual senior fair at the Chambersburg Mall on Friday. Representatives from 80 state agencies, local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations were on hand to provide information and answer questions important to seniors. “It's a clearinghouse for information and services for our senior community,” said Kauffman, R-Franklin/Cumberland. With an aging population in Pennsylvania, it's important to make sure seniors have all the information about the government and services that are available for them as well as private groups who want to be of benefit to them, Kauffman said.

By LISA GRAYBEAL Staff Writer, Chambersburg CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Chambersburg Mall officials announced Thursday that a policy requiring young people to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on Friday and Saturday nights will go into effect on March 6. "We're anticipating March 6 as the start date if everything comes together," said Ron Formosa, Chambersburg Mall's general manager. Under the policy, unaccompanied youngsters age 16 and under will not be allowed in the mall from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Chambersburg Mall recently ranked high among "America's Most Endangered Malls" in U.S. News & World Report. The mall at exit 20 off Interstate 81 earned the classification by having a reported occupancy rate of 62 percent and sales of $234 per square foot. The article stated that malls with sales of $250 per square foot or lower are struggling. Chambersburg Mall, which measures 454,000 square feet, opened 27 years ago and is owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, Regional Marketing Director Caroline D. Quinn said in an e-mail.

By RICHARD F. BELISLE Staff Writer CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The downtown's loss is about to be the Chambersburg Mall's gain. The mall, which opened 15 years ago this week, will celebrate its anniversary Saturday with the grand opening of a new J.C. Penney store that's moving from downtown Chambersburg. Kenneth Hartman, J.C. Penney manager, said the store is moving from its downtown location, where it had been since 1969, to space at the mall made vacant in late 1995 when Hess's department store moved out. Ron Formosa, senior regional general manager of the mall, said Hess's was one of two original anchor stores when the mall opened in 1982 with nine specialty stores.

A 10-year-old boy hit by a car last week in Greene Township, Pa., has died. Dustin Farner died at Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman. She did not know the date of his death. Dustin was a fifth-grader at Scotland Elementary School in the Chambersburg (Pa.) Area School District. Pennsylvania State Police said previously the boy started to cross the street April 17 when he was hit by a 2003 Honda Accord at 2048 Black Gap Road. A helicopter flew him from Chambersburg Hospital to Hershey Medical Center for treatment.

A Hispanic business forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the community room at Chambersburg Mall. The free workshop for current and aspiring business owners will feature discussions on the legal, accounting and insurance aspects of operating a business. For more information, contact Will Ortiz at 717-446-3253 or send an email to wortiz@ohl.com; or Sila Alegret-Bartel at 240-420-0803 or send an email to sila@ictmllc.com.

A Greencastle, Pa., man has been charged with stealing almost $5,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store at Chambersburg Mall, Pennsylvania State Police said. Jeffrey Lynn Smith, 20, was charged with theft for allegedly stealing $4,747 worth of jewelry from Kay Jewelers, according to a state police news release. Troopers said Smith stole the jewelry from June 1 to July 31 while he was an employee at the store.

bonnieb@herald-mail.com The second annual Franklin County Truck Convoy benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Franklin County, sponsored by the Cumberland Valley Dental Society, will be held Saturday, June 5, at Chambersburg Mall in Scotland, Pa. Rich Bell of Chambersburg, the director of the convoy, said $7,000 was raised in last year's event, which drew 12 big rigs. So far this year, 20 truckers have registered. Bell said his goal is to have more than 30. Truckers pay a $50 fee to register, then raise pledges.

Eighty-five vendors lined the hallways of Chambersburg Mall on Thursday for the third annual Here to Help job fair. About a thousand people stopped at an information table to pick up fliers designed for job seekers, according to Pennsylvania state Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Franklin/Adams/York. Alloway sponsored the event in cooperation with PA CareerLink of Franklin County and the Franklin County Area Development Corp. “The turnout has been tremendous,” Alloway said.

State Sen. Richard Alloway II, in partnership with PA CareerLink Franklin County and the Franklin County Area Development Corp., will host the third annual “Here To Help” Job Fair on Thursday. The job fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chambersburg Mall, 3055 Black Gap Road north of Chambersburg, Pa. The mall can be accessed from exit 20 off Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania. The event will feature businesses from a variety of employment sectors and representatives from human- services organizations that offer assistance to unemployed individuals.

1. Tuba much fun Erik Jones will conduct the Shepherds-town TubaChristmas on Saturday, Dec. 22. Tuba and euphonium players of any skill level can participate. 10 a.m. player registration, $5; 10:30 a.m. practice. 1 p.m. performance. Practice in Reynolds Hall; performance on the steps of McMurran Hall. Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, W.Va. Call 304-876-5318 or email kcorpus@shepherd.edu . Go to www.tubachristmas.com . 2. A contest to take a bite out of "Food Fight on 11/30" holiday cookie contest Wednesday, Dec. 19. To participate, bring a batch of your favorite homemade cookies to the mall between 1:30 and 2 p.m. on the day of the contest or drop off at Franklin County Visitors Bureau, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa., by 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18. Contest 2 to 7 p.m. Chambersburg Mall, 3055 Black Gap Road, Chambersburg, Pa. Go to www.explorefranklincountypa.com . 3. A bluegrass Christmas Speakeasy Boys and Frost Mountain Revival will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Tom Geiman of Chambersburg knows what it's like to pick up a book and not be able to read it. He was 44 before he learned to read. Geiman was one of about 14 percent of U.S. adults who can't read. But now, Geiman, 61, not only is reading at college-level, but he helped coordinate Saturday's Ride to Read event in Chambersburg. The 61.4-mile motorcycle trek around Franklin County, celebrating the Franklin-Fulton READS program, began at M&S Harley-Davidson in Chambersburg, continued to Mount Holly Springs, Pa., and ended at Chambersburg Mall in Scotland, Pa. Saturday's event was one of many activities in the two-month community reading celebration to promote reading and literacy through the area, said Sally Herritt, treasurer of the Franklin-Fulton County READS program.

Police seek information on Purdy Creek Store robbery SCOTLAND, Pa. - Franklin County (Pa.) Crime Solvers are seeking information about a robbery from a store Tuesday at Chambersburg Mall. Pennsylvania State Police said one person requested assistance from an employee at Purdy Creek Store at about 3:45 p.m., while two other suspects removed cash from the cash register. “Suspect one physically stopped the employee from going towards the cash register,” police wrote in a news release.

A Hispanic business forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the community room at Chambersburg Mall. The free workshop for current and aspiring business owners will feature discussions on the legal, accounting and insurance aspects of operating a business. For more information, contact Will Ortiz at 717-446-3253 or send an email to wortiz@ohl.com; or Sila Alegret-Bartel at 240-420-0803 or send an email to sila@ictmllc.com.

A Greencastle, Pa., man has been charged with stealing almost $5,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store at Chambersburg Mall, Pennsylvania State Police said. Jeffrey Lynn Smith, 20, was charged with theft for allegedly stealing $4,747 worth of jewelry from Kay Jewelers, according to a state police news release. Troopers said Smith stole the jewelry from June 1 to July 31 while he was an employee at the store.

State Rep. Rob Kauffman hosted his annual senior fair at the Chambersburg Mall on Friday. Representatives from 80 state agencies, local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations were on hand to provide information and answer questions important to seniors. “It's a clearinghouse for information and services for our senior community,” said Kauffman, R-Franklin/Cumberland. With an aging population in Pennsylvania, it's important to make sure seniors have all the information about the government and services that are available for them as well as private groups who want to be of benefit to them, Kauffman said.

A 10-year-old boy hit by a car last week in Greene Township, Pa., has died. Dustin Farner died at Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman. She did not know the date of his death. Dustin was a fifth-grader at Scotland Elementary School in the Chambersburg (Pa.) Area School District. Pennsylvania State Police said previously the boy started to cross the street April 17 when he was hit by a 2003 Honda Accord at 2048 Black Gap Road. A helicopter flew him from Chambersburg Hospital to Hershey Medical Center for treatment.

For Friday through Sunday Movie times listed are those provided as of noon Wednesday and may be revised by theaters at any time. MARYLAND LEITERSBURG CINEMAS 20145 Leitersburg Pike, Hagerstown 240-329-2093 www.leitersburgcinemas.com American Reunion (R) - Fri. - 2, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 p.m.; Sat. - 10:45 a.m., 12:55, 3:20, 5:35, 7:55, 10:10 p.m.; Sun. - 2, 4:30, 7:15 p.m. Cabin in the Woods (R) - Fri. - 1:30, 3:40, 5:45, 7:50, 10 p.m.; Sat. - 10:50 a.m., 1, 3:10, 5:25, 7:40, 9:55 p.m.; Sun. - 1:30, 3:40, 5:45, 7:50 p.m. The Hunger Games (PG-13)