Citi

HAGERSTOWN -- Five young singers from Girls Inc. were swaying to the beat of three popular Christmas carols Friday at the annual United Way of Washington County Rally on the Square. They also were trying to keep warm. The indicator on the campaign thermometer displayed in the northeast corner of the square went from 40 percent to 52 percent Friday, bringing the campaign total to $1,044,378. That warmed the hearts of the United Way volunteers and staff who attended the rally.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Strategic Plan unveiled Saturday at The Maryland Theatre has scores of recommendations distributed through 80 pages, a lot to digest in one sitting for those who attended the presentation. Not all of the report's recommendations are likely to be acted upon, County Commissioner William B. McKinley said. “We're going to have to try to come up with the really important points of things that are doable ... and take it from there,” McKinley said.

BOONSBORO -- Hundreds of beef lovers stampeded Thursday to San Mar Children's Home to help raise money to pay for the facility's operating costs. Franklin P. Erck III, a member of San Mar's Board of Directors, said the San Mar Children's Home Bull Roast & Open House began in the 1980s, but was canceled six years ago because it didn't make money. He said the event was resurrected this year after several people asked for its return. "We're feeling good," Erck said. "We sold about 450 tickets.

To the editor: Wow! Thank you Hagerstown! Blues Fest 2007 was one marvelous hoedown that this community presented together over the weekend of June 1. Help me remember: Did the publisher of the world's largest blues publication really say from our Sunday stage that Blues Fest was the best city-run blues festival in the country - or was it in the world? Either way, Hagerstown, that's some pretty rarified air you are breathing! Blues Fest's success really reflects the broad community participation turning out to lend time, money or just a helping hand toward our event, so deservedly pat yourselves on the back.

An Ellicott City, Md., man died Sunday at a Virginia hospital after participating in the Tough Mudder endurance series in Berkeley County on Saturday, police said. Avishek Sengupta, 28, was pronounced dead at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., Berkeley County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Ted Snyder said Monday. Sengupta's death was ruled accidental by the Virginia medical examiner's office in Manassas, Va., which said Monday afternoon that drowning was the cause of death. Sengupta had to be removed from a fairly deep pool at the “Walk the Plank” aquatic obstacle where it appears he was submerged for too long, according to Snyder.

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.

HFStival 2010 featuring Third Eye Blind, Billy Idol, Everclear, Ed Kowalczyk, Presidents of the United States of America, Lit, Fuel, and more 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 Merriweather Post Pavilion 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets cost $35 to $50 plus service charge and are available at Ticketfly.com . Golden Dragon Acrobats from China 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 Filene Center Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. Tickets cost $15 and $38, plus service charge and are available at Tickets.