Citi

Citi of Hagerstown shone as the Mason Dixon Heart and Stroke Walk's top team and top sponsor. With 195 registered walkers, Citi was named top team of the 2012 Mason Dixon Heart and Stroke Walk, held Sept. 23 in Greencastle, Pa. Citi's $21,792 walker income represented 19 percent of the overall event's walker income. The company also led the way as the event's top sponsor. The American Heart Association recognized the top fundraisers for the Mason Dixon Heart and Stroke Walk. Top walkers who earned status as $1,000 VIP Club members included event top walker Jean Ellis, $6,583)

LJ's & The Kat Lounge LJ's & The Kat Lounge was named a winner of OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards for the top 100 restaurants in the United States that specialize in American food. The list of winners is derived from more than 10 million reviews submitted by Open-Table diners for more than 12,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Five Maryland restaurants made the list, including Volt in Frederick, Md., and three in Baltimore. Based on feedback collected from OpenTable diners between November 2010 and October 2011, the 100 award-winning restaurants received the highest scores.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Citigroup, still partly owned by the government after a rescue during the financial meltdown, is giving raises to top executives that could amount to millions of dollars. CEO Vikram Pandit, who is drawing a salary of $1 for the second year in a row, did not get a raise, but the chairman of the bank hinted it plans a big payout for him next year. The announcement Friday by Citi, which remains weaker than most of the large American banks two years after the meltdown, raised questions among experts on corporate governance.

The Boys & Girls Club will hold Fun Night Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Hancock High School cafeteria. Activities include obstacle course, basketball spot shot, physical fitness challenge, miniature golf, coloring contest and financial fitness challenge. Refreshments and prizes will be provided. The first 25 participants will receive a T-shirt. The event is sponsored by Citi as part of its Global Community Day initiative. For more information, call 301-733-5422.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Many extra hands put a fresh coat of caring on Washington County this year. Volunteerism was up more than 15 percent Wednesday, this year's Day of Caring, according to Jenny Fleming, the community impact director for United Way of Washington County. About 700 people helped with fix-it-up projects throughout the county, compared to 600 last year, she said. After gathering in the morning for breakfast at Hagerstown Community College, individuals and 33 teams scattered to 60 sites to work.

At the annual Habitat for Humanity dinner auction, the competition to eat first stimulates the flow of fundraising revenue. A $45 ticket was enough to get in the door this year at Hagerstown Community College's Athletic, Recreation, and Community Center. But those who wanted to get their buffet-style meals before everyone else paid extra for the privilege. The winning bid was in the $600 range. The right to be second, third and fourth added a total of $1,400 more to Habitat's proceeds for the evening.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- The United Way of Washington County might not have made its monetary fundraising goal for 2008, but in a time of scarce resources and record need, generosity cannot be measured in dollars, organizers said at a celebration luncheon Friday. Instead, organizers focused on the energy and creativity volunteers used to collect $1,631,326, or about 81 percent of United Way's $2 million goal. "If I could do one thing differently this year, it would be our measures of success," United Way Executive Director Leah Gayman said.

SMITHSBURG -- Several years ago, Brian and Renee Goodwin learned something about themselves. First, they discovered they could master construction skills. But more importantly, they found they could use those skills to help change lives. Over the past few years, the Goodwins have volunteered with fellow employees at Citi to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. Saturday morning, they volunteered again. "This is important to us," Renee Goodwin said.

SMITHSBURG - Several years ago, Brian and Renee Goodwin learned something about themselves. First, they discovered they could master construction skills. But more importantly, they found they could use those skills to help change lives. Over the past few years, the Goodwins have volunteered with fellow employees at Citi to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. Saturday morning, they volunteered again. "This is important to us," Renee Goodwin said.

On Feb. 13, the United Way of Washington County will officially wrap up its 2008 campaign short of its $2 million goal. But that doesn't mean the volunteers and staff have thrown in the towel. "As of Feb. 3, we are at 78 percent of goal," said Addie Staebler, United Way campaign director. That translates to $1,565,000. Staebler said she is proud of the incredible support the 2008 campaign has received despite the bleak economic climate both locally and globally. News of layoffs at two major companies with significant employee-driven United Way campaigns - Citi and Volvo Powertrain - didn't escape United Way's attention.

Hagerstown officials confirmed this week that the city's existing contract with hundreds of city workers has been extended for six months. The current labor contract had been set to expire June 30, which could have left city workers in four unions without agreements that govern their working conditions, salary structure, vacation time and general labor conditions. “I can confirm that the contract has been extended for six months as a result of the executive session on Tuesday at City Hall,” Councilman Kristin B. Aleshire said Friday.

The city of Martinsburg announced Friday that it will sponsor a Fourth of July fireworks display next month. Set to begin at 9:30 p.m., the fireworks show will be launched from the same location near War Memorial Park as previous years. But the park will close at dusk, and no special music or entertainment is planned there for the holiday, city officials said. The park's amenities, including public swimming, mini-golf and concessions, will be open on July 4, but the pool area will not be available for viewing the fireworks display as in previous years, officials said.

With a section of the city's firearm regulations requiring repeal because it is superseded by state law, the Hagerstown police chief wants to take the opportunity to “close a gap” in current restrictions by making it unlawful to possess and transport weapons on city streets unless they are unloaded and enclosed in a case.  Police Chief Mark Holtzman told the mayor and five-member city council Tuesday during a work session at City Hall that...

A group of remote-controlled model sailboats raced around a marked course on the lake in Hagerstown's City Park Wednesday as members of area model yacht clubs tested the waters for future regattas. Seven skippers from the White Rose Model Yacht Club in York, Pa., the State College Model Yacht Club in State College, Pa., and the Maryland Model Yacht Club in Columbia, showed up to see if the lake could be used for races. “We are in Region 2 of the American Model Yachting Association, and we need a nice-sized venue that would be available to hold championship regattas,” said Mike Cavanaugh, event organizer and a White Rose Model Yacht Club member.

The Hagerstown City Council Tuesday will discuss the proposed sale of several Public Square properties owned by the city, including one that houses a longtime City Center restaurant. City officials have suggested that Mayor David S. Gysberts and the five-member council move forward with the proposed sale of 11, 12, 15 and 16 Public Square to a private developer, according to a memorandum from city Downtown Manager Andrew Sargent. Sargent said Monday that the city received two purchase proposals for the three-story, red-brick-front properties next to High Rock Studios, where North Potomac and East Washington streets intersect.

A couple of Hager's Crossing development residents spoke in favor of the proposed “West City” elementary school, slated to be built in the housing development after approval of zoning modifications, and none spoke against it Wednesday during a public hearing at the Hagerstown Planning Commission meeting. The proposed school property in the development behind Walmart in Hagerstown's West End is zoned R2, or residential, with a Planned Unit Development overlay for mixed-density residential.

The south end of Hagerstown's City Park was full of the sounds of love and heartbreak Sunday afternoon as the Hub Opera Ensemble performed excerpts from an upcoming performance of “Don Giovanni.” The performance was the first in a new series of events, to be held at 1 p.m. in the park every other Sunday through September, called “Arts in the Park.” The events are being produced by a partnership between Historic City Park Neighborhoods 1st...

Kids couldn't get enough Sunday of a 59-foot-long inflatable train at Railroad Heritage Days. Going through the bouncy train time after time, kids were smiling whether they were stepping, crawling or falling out of the opening in the locomotive's face. “He loves trains,” said Hagerstown resident Eddie Oliver, 31, of his son, Zac, 5. Zac said his favorite part of the inflatable train was the slide. After going through the train nine times, Zac was raring to go for another trip, or two, or three.

Police responded to a panic alarm at City Hall, at 1 E. Franklin St. The alarm was set off accidentally on Monday afternoon, according to a patrol clerk for the Hagerstown Police Department. Police responded to the alarm at 2:58 p.m.

A market analysis study that looks at the economic sustainability of a multiuse stadium in Fredericksburg, Va., was unveiled Monday, and concludes that there is a demand for such a facility there, according to a Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority member. “It showed that we have a very strong market,” EDA member Bob Carter said Monday afternoon. Richard Tremblay, Fredericksburg's assistant director for economic development, said representatives of the firm gave a 20-minute presentation of its report to EDA members Monday morning before fielding questions.