Clients

After 15 years and more than 23,000 personal training sessions trained, I've had great clients and not-so-great clients. What I've found is that my most successful clients have had very different attitudes and habits than their lesser successful counterparts. If you are currently working with or planning to work with a personal trainer, adopting these good practices will help you get the most from your experience. Come ready to train Come to your session 100 percent ready for the day's training.

When a state-run center in Allegany County, Md., for people with disabilities closes this year, some clients might be moved to the Potomac Center, a similar facility in Hagerstown. Gov. Martin O'Malley's fiscal 2012 state budget proposal includes shutting down the Joseph D. Brandenburg Center near Cumberland. The number of clients there has dwindled in recent years. In fiscal 2000, there were 43. As of Tuesday, there were five, said Cathy Marshall, the director of both the Brandenburg Center and the Potomac Center.

With markers at the ready, about 200 people had heads bent, eyeballing grids of bingo cards, often six, sometimes 18 cards per person. During games, the room was remarkably quiet Sunday afternoon, except for letter-number combos being called out and the occasional “bingo.” The fundraiser, held at Elks Lodge 378 east of Hagerstown for the benefit of the Easter Seals’ Adult Day Services, was sold out, Easter Seals Interim Director Deb Lauricella said. The nonprofit started holding an annual fundraiser in 2009 to supplement funding from Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, private pay, grants and donations, Lauricella said.

Name of business: BalmShell Beauty Owner: Shelly Bayko Address: 38 W. Baltimore St., Funkstown (business is inside Blondy and Co.) Opening date: Jan. 19 Products and services: Using Aquage, Bioelements and OPI products. Hair and spa services offered: haircuts, color, foils, including styles, updos and makeup for special occasions; natural nail manicures, pedicures, body waxing and facials. Market area: People who need a smile How did you get into your business, or what motivated you to start it?

The percentage of Franklin County, Pa., prisoners released and rearrested within three years is markedly less than the national average, county criminal justice officials said Thursday. Kim Eaton, director of the Franklin County Day Reporting Center, shared statistics about her center and the adult probation department with the county commissioners at their morning meeting. The information was gathered as part of a study conducted through Shippensburg (Pa.) University and a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.-- There's room for a lot more clients at the Berkeley/Jefferson Day Report Center, a program that saves tax money by keeping those charged with crimes out of jail, its director said this week. The center, at 406 S. Raleigh St., opened in October 2009 with the capacity to handle up to 45 adults charged with nonviolent felony and misdemeanor offenses, said Joseph P. Sacchet, who runs the facility. "Right now, we have 18 clients," Sacchet said. "I've got room for 45. We need the community and the courts to know we're here.

HALFWAY -- The suspension of Halfway fire company's chief has been extended, the fire company's deputy chief said Tuesday. Jeff Ringer, chief of the Volunteer Fire Co. of Halfway, Md. Inc., was placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days, effective May 3, and would have returned to work this week, Deputy Chief Ed Ernst said. Ernst said company President James G. Kimble told the fire company's Executive Board last week that Ringer's suspension was being extended. The board, of which Ernst is a member, did not get to vote on the matter, he said.

Haugh & Associates LLC Certified Public Accountants Owner: Damian Haugh, CPA, MBA Address: 22124 Whitestone Court, Smithsburg, MD 21783 Opening date: July 2009 Products and services: "We provide a variety of accounting, tax and financial management services to meet the needs of our clients. We are a small firm that focuses on providing expert, personalized, quality service. Primarily focusing on small businesses and individuals gives us the flexibility to provide specialized attention you're not used to getting at larger firms.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. -- Two years ago, East Ridge Health Systems, in a time of financial straits, closed the Jefferson Center, a sheltered workshop for mentally and physically disabled adults on South Mildred Street in Ranson, W.Va. The workshop's closing caused hardships for parents like Tammy Spiker and Libby Nester, and their children who went there. Two days a week, a Medicaid-provided bus drove the Jefferson County clients to the Grove Center, a sheltered workshop on Cumbo Road in Hedgesville, W.Va.

Horizon Goodwill Industries presented awards during its annual Power of Work Awards dinner Wednesday evening. Awards were presented to clients and graduates for personal achievements; to businesses or organizations that were instrumental in helping Goodwill carry out its mission; and to retiring board members. Goodwill, with corporate headquarters in Hagerstown, provides or is developing services throughout 17 counties in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia.