Chemistry

Caitlyn Reese, a fourth-grader at Hancock Elementary School, listens to an answer to a quiz question from Mack the Mouse during an "Officer Phil" chemical awareness program Tuesday. Mack's assistant is Dave Carr.

I'm thoroughly convinced that my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Busey, is now a professor at the University of Maryland. I'm equally convinced that every member of the Maryland men's basketball team is in Mr. Busey's class. Because when it comes to chemistry, the Terrapins - like me 20 years ago - just don't get it. In fact, aside from their unlikely run to win the ACC Tournament in 2004, the Terps have shown little in the way of chemistry since winning the national title in 2002.

The origins of Action Products go back to the time of the Great Depression, when company founder Wilbur "Dr. Mac" McElroy was going to Chambersburg (Pa.) High School and taking a chemistry class. "I had a great teacher there. He got me interested," said McElroy, who graduated in 1932. He went on to Gettysburg (Pa.) College, Johns Hopkins, Penn State and, eventually, Purdue University, all to study chemistry. An organic chemist, he worked for several companies and helped develop products ranging from a device to analyze gun powder to a coating for printed circuit boards that were used in the first U.S. computers in space.

Hood gets grant for chemical process FREDERICK, Md. - A new technology that can separate a complex array of large and small molecules will be incorporated into Hood College chemistry classes next year thanks to a $28,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The technique, called capillary electrophoresis, or CE, can be applied to pharmaceuticals, pollutants, proteins, DNA and RNA, said Kevin Bennett, assistant professor of chemistry at Hood. "Laboratory experiments using CE will provide Hood students with practical experience in solving real-world problems, and the instrumental skills the students acquire will give them a competitive edge," Bennett said.

tarar@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - Williamsport High School French teacher Paula R. Moore said sometimes she's more like a mother and sometimes a friend to students who need someone to lean on. Moore wrote in a biographical sketch that over the last 11 year students have revealed to her "suicidal thoughts, deep secrets, abortions, abuse in their home, their own homosexuality, alcoholism, drug abuse, and dysfunctional family problems....

Hagerstown Community College recently announced that 10 faculty members have received promotions. Elaine Ashby was promoted from associate professor to professor, biology and chemistry. Richard Campbell was promoted from instructor to assistant professor, developmental mathematics. Thomas Crawford was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, mathematics and business. Joseph Mason was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, mathematics.

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. - Hans Schneider, 77, of Satellite Beach, and formerly of Waynesboro, Pa., died Monday, March 3, 2003, at Kindred Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was born Aug. 10, 1925, in Ferndorf, Germany and immigrated to the United States at the age of 4 with his parents. He graduated from high school in 1943. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in education from the Pennsylvania State University. He developed rocket fuels for the U.S. space program at the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation in California.

How do they get nonstick coatings to stick to the pans? Since even Super Glue won't adhere to the coatings, manufacturers must do something physically to the pans to make the stuff grip, according to Robert L. Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. Companies use several techniques to roughen the pan's surface so the coating will cling. Improvements in those techniques have made the coatings more durable, to the point that some dare you to use metal spatulas on the pans, Wolke said in his book, "What Einstein Didn't Know - Scientific Answers to Everyday Questions.

Maggie Wolford Clear Spring Basketball Senior What do you like best about your sport? "The adrenaline rush, the excitement, the aggressiveness. You know, diving on the floor for missed balls. The accomplishments you make from all the steals and assists. " Toughest team you have faced? "Catoctin. They were really good. " Other activities in school you are involved in? History Club Pregame rituals? "We always pray as a team and do our chant.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Seven Washington County residents were honored at Shepherd University's 61st annual Student Recognition Day April 30. Three Hagerstown residents were honored. Kevin M. Reynolds received the Outstanding Physical Educator Award and the Departmental Chair Award in Education and Professional Studies; Keri L. Snyder received the Departmental Chair Award in Education and Professional Studies; and Caitlin Berry received the Senior Graphic Design Award. Michele Dick of Keedysville received the Catherine Fix Essay Contest Award.

Authorities responded to St. Maria Goretti High School on Oak Hill Avenue on Thursday afternoon to help the school dispose of old chemicals that were found there, a Hagerstown Fire Department spokesman said. A couple ounces of chemicals were found at the school Thursday and school officials contacted authorities about how to dispose of the chemicals, said Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Russell Grim. “This is the best way to take care of it,” Grim said at the school.

Hagerstown Community College professor Elaine Ashby recently worked as a consultant for the National Institute on Drug Abuse website.   Ashby, a professor of biology and chemistry who helped to create HCC's pharmacy technician program, was part of a consulting team that helped to plan, build and edit the new website, which can be viewed at www.easyread.drugabuse.gov .  According to the National Institutes of Health, the goal of the site...

Katherine Lynne Stamper and Joshua Paul Fiedler were married May 14, 2011, in Cambridge, Md. The outdoor ceremony and reception took place at a waterfront estate. The two met eight years ago during their freshman year at college. The surprise proposal came in December of 2009, on the roof of the Rockefeller Center during a trip to New York City for the bride's birthday. The bride was given in marriage by her parents, Andy and Pamela Stamper of Hagerstown. She wore a strapless A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-cathedral train.

Wilbur Renfrew McElroy (Dr. Mac) died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. Born in Fayetteville, Pa., on Aug. 20, 1914, he was the son of Beulah Renfrew McElroy and Frank Wilbur McElroy. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Margaret Olaru McElroy; one son, Benedict Renfrew McElroy and wife, Judy, born to his former wife, Helen Bellringer Benedict McElroy; one granddaughter, Mistie Marie McElroy Witt and husband, Thomas; and two grandsons, Thomas McElroy Witt and William Oliver Witt. Dr. McElroy is the holder of 16 patents (foreign and domestic)

Hagerstown Community College recently announced that 10 faculty members have received promotions. Elaine Ashby was promoted from associate professor to professor, biology and chemistry. Richard Campbell was promoted from instructor to assistant professor, developmental mathematics. Thomas Crawford was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, mathematics and business. Joseph Mason was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, mathematics.

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath won the 2009 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for atom-by-atom mapping of the protein-making factories within cells. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said their work on ribosomes has been fundamental to the scientific understanding of life and has helped researchers develop antibiotics. Yonath is the fourth woman to win the Nobel chemistry prize and the first since 1964, when Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin of Britain received the award.

The United States Achievement Academy has announced that Madison Vida of Hagerstown has been recognized for academic achievement as a United States National Honor Student Award winner. Madison attends Williamsport High School. Her name will appear in the academy's official yearbook, which is published nationally. She is the daughter of Kevin and Shawna Vida of Hagerstown and the granddaughter of Joan Joans of Elkins, W.Va., and Paul and Brawyn Vida of Weirton, W.Va. On May 6, Ashley Nichole Bockstanz received a certificate of achievement from Hagerstown Elks Lodge 378 for being named Teenager of the Year for 2008-09.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Seven Washington County residents were honored at Shepherd University's 61st annual Student Recognition Day April 30. Three Hagerstown residents were honored. Kevin M. Reynolds received the Outstanding Physical Educator Award and the Departmental Chair Award in Education and Professional Studies; Keri L. Snyder received the Departmental Chair Award in Education and Professional Studies; and Caitlin Berry received the Senior Graphic Design Award. Michele Dick of Keedysville received the Catherine Fix Essay Contest Award.

Six months later, Bill Abeles still has a hard time believing he helped guide the Federal Little League 11-12 All-Stars to the 2008 Little League World Series. "I'm still amazed," Abeles said. "I'm sitting here in my office looking at a poster my wife bought for me and it says at the top, 'Little League World Series,' and it has me standing there with my hairy mug. I walk into my office and wonder, 'Did it really happen?' It seems like just yesterday that it all happened. " The memories will come flooding back to Abeles -- the team's manager -- and coach Doug Hornbecker on Saturday, when they are honored as the Amateur Coaches of the Year by the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches during a banquet at the warehouse next to Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.