Christmas Music

Leslie Hanks Computer resource teacher Family: Husband, George; two sons, Brian, 23, and Justin, 21. Education: Bachelor of arts from Wilson College, masters in education from Shippensburg University. Mentor: Bill Ford. Favorite part of the job: "Being in the schools and working with teachers. " Biggest challenges of your job: "Keeping up with the changing technologies. " Favorite music: Show Tunes, easy listening, classical and Christmas music. My favorite musician is Fernando Ortega.

The Broadfording Christian Academy secondary choir took time during the school day recently to sing in the entranceway of the school. Several faculty and staff members and students stopped to listen to the sounds as music teacher Pam Smith led the group in the school's entranceway. The choir group has been selected at perform at the National Christmas Tree music program in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 9.

o Read more Darylene Mowen columns at washingtoncountyliving.com Christmas music Bethel United Methodist Church will present "Christmas Joy, an Evening of Christmas Music" Sunday at 7 p.m. The public is invited. The church is at 21006 Twin Springs Drive in Smithsburg. Senior site Smithsburg senior site calendar: Today - Dominoes, 10 a.m. Thursday - Birthday luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21 - Christmas program with Day of Caring group, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22 - UNO, 10 a.m. Cascade Elementary The Boys & Girls Club of Cascade will collect canned foods through Friday to give to needy families in the area.

WILLIAMSPORT - Hundreds of people lined the streets of Williamsport on Sunday to watch the town's annual Christmas parade despite chilly temperatures and light rainfall. For many, watching the parade is a tradition that is followed by walking to Byron Memorial Park to see the town's holiday light display. "It's a Williamsport tradition," said Mayor James G. McCleaf II. "And it's very important to everyone in the town. " While Santa Claus waved to children from the rear of the parade, many said he wasn't the crowd favorite.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church, at 30 S. Martin St. in Clear Spring, invites the community to its Christmas Eve candlelight worship service at 10 p.m. The service will include Christmas music by organist Lisa Shives, pianist Judy Haines, vocal solos by Jeff Cook and Katrina Petryka, and a quartet of Emily Myers, Gavin Myers, Sam Myers and Beth Smith. Legion dance set for Friday Clear Spring American Legion Post 222 will hold Motown Night Friday from 9 p.m. to midnight.

It's time to put the finishing touches on your home decorations and get together your luminarias for Friday evening's Old Tyme Christmas celebration in Funkstown. Additional kits are available at Town Hall if you are missing yours.  Invite the neighbors in for some holiday cheer and save time for a wagon ride through town.  Be sure to visit Town Hall and St. Paul Church in town for Christmas music to set the mood.  Santa will make his appearance at Town Hall at 7 p.m., depending on the cross winds and Rudolph's speed.

Wednesday, Nov. 24 8 p.m. on NBC "Tim McGraw: Here and Now" A musical special from the chart-topping country artist will include a duet with his wife, Faith Hill, an appearance by Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, and a performance by McGraw and Nelly of their hit, "Over and Over. " 8 p.m. on the WB "A Walk to Remember" Thrown together by circumstances, North Carolina teens (Shane West and Mandy Moore) become an unlikely couple.

1. Festival of lights Cedar Lawn Memorial Park luminaria ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 17636 W. Washington St., Hagerstown. Rain date is Sunday, Dec. 11. Call 301-733-6682. 2. Band plays on Rohrersville Cornet Band will present its Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Rohrersville Cornet Band Hall, Main Street, across from the post office in Rohrersville. Concert features marches, show tunes, season favorites and a carol sing-along.

Live bagpipe music will echo across grounds glowing with 8,000 luminarias during Rest Haven Cemetery's 17th annual Festival of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 18. Bagpiper Rich Conrad will walk through the Hagerstown cemetery playing medleys of Christmas music, military hymns and "Amazing Grace" from 4 to 5 p.m. as up to 75 volunteers light the candles in memory of deceased loved ones, said Charles Brown, owner of Rest Haven Cemetery. As a prelude to the festival, the Appalachian Wind Quintet - Barbara Spicher on flute, Ed Stanley on oboe, Rick Mogensen on clarinet, Scott Cassada on bassoon and Ed Schupp on French horn - will present a free concert at 3 p.m. in Rest Haven Chapel.

Family holiday concert SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The concert will feature the Shepherd University choral and instrumental ensembles and a visit from Santa Claus. 3 p.m. today. Shepherd University's Frank Arts Center Theater. $10; $5 ages 18 and younger; free for Shepherd students and Friends of Music MAC cardholders. Call 304-876-5555 or go to www.sufom.org. Community Christmas concert Music for organ, piano and handbells performed by area musicians. 4 p.m. today.