Crab Cakes

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - On a recent bitterly cold night, the warm and cozy atmosphere inside Heatherfields Restaurant and Lounge was enough to make the trip worthwhile - the quality of the fare seemed almost like a bonus ... almost. Soft music, subtle lighting (not to be confused with dim) and attentive service greeted my companion and I as we were led to our table. Attendance was sparse, which suited us fine. We were treated royally. Checking out the menu, my companion noted a lengthy page of early-bird specials for $10.99 if ordered between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Inquiring if we had made the time cutoff, our server assured us that we had a minute or two to spare.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The 38th annual Greencastle-Antrim Sidewalk Days will take place in downtown Greencastle today from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event has more than 80 different vendors participating in the two-day event. Craft, food and merchant vendors will fill the square and both sides of East Baltimore Street, up to the intersection with Washington Street. South Carlisle Street will be closed from the square to Franklin Street with vendors lined up in parking spaces, both sides of the street.

A dark yellow dog panted as it "stayed" for its owner Thursday afternoon during the Washington County Ag Expo's Dog Show. The yellow lab-husky mix, named Sadie, also weaved through two volunteers in a figure-eight pattern and followed the commands of her owner as the Dog Show supervisor ordered "left turn" and "about turn. " For their efforts, Sadie and her owner, Sara Angle, 13, won a blue ribbon for showmanship. Five dogs participated in Thursday's show. Dairy goats ready for show to go on Local 4-H students led their goats out of the livestock barn and into the main show ring Thursday night for the Dairy Goat Show at the Washington County Ag Expo.

MONT ALTO, Pa. - A ribbon stretched across the new fairgrounds buildings will be ceremoniously cut on the first day of the Mont Alto Fire Department Carnival. The Friday ceremony will kick off the 33rd annual carnival, which continues through June 21 and raises money for the fire department. Charlie Baker hopes to clean up on the last night, lock the doors of the new buildings and go home to relax. That's in contrast to the massive, equipment-heavy efforts that cleared out the Quincy Township, Pa., area the department used to rent every year.

This writer has never taken a course in marine biology and plumbing to her is a mystery best left to experts. She does know that she likes seafood and she likes it clean, abundant and affordable. She knows that some of the best come - or should be coming - from the Chesapeake Bay. Today's bay crabs are priced like solid gold. Moreover, it's sad to see so many oystermen on the Eastern Shore dropping into poverty because their harvest levels have been poor. Seafood people with long history of livelihood (and taxpaying)

Just like The Landing's use of a lighthouse its logo, the flashing green open sign is a welcome sign to those who enter. Formerly Richardson's Restaurant, The Landing continues the tradition of serving Hagerstown locals and travelers passing through on Dual Highway. Located in a long one-story brick building with lots of windows, the new owners have opened and lightened up the space while keeping approximately the same floor plan. Outside there is ample parking. Inside there are about six to eight sections that flow into each other.

karenh@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Don't tell Ron Thomas the Miss Washington County-Miss Western Maryland Scholarship program is a pageant. It's a scholarship program, says Thomas, who sits on the foundation's board of directors. Sunday, the program was about food. The foundation's Taste of Washington County at Plaza Hotel raised about $2,000 toward scholarships, Miss Washington County Executive Director Denise Apple said Sunday. "Everybody likes food, I know I like food.

GREENCASTLE, PA. -- Crammed with 80 vendors and hundreds of shoppers, downtown Greencastle traded construction for commodities Friday during its 42nd annual Sidewalk Days. The Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce kicked off the two-day event with early bird hours at its open-air street sale. As early as 8:30 a.m. shoppers were browsing deals and tasting the fare. "There is something for everyone," said Jim Statler of Chambersburg, Pa. Baltimore and Carlisle streets were "busy, busy, busy" with shoppers hoping to find something special after they savored one of the many food options, said Bonnie Wetzel of Greencastle.

kristinw@herald-mail.com WILLIAMSPORT - For 28 years, C&O Canal Days has drawn crowds to Williamsport. This weekend, the community festival continues bringing craft vendors, Civil War re-enactors and music performers to Byron Memorial Park and Cushwa Basin. Members of the National Park Service will talk about the history of the canal and demonstrate how the lock system works. C&O Canal Days "is about all the people and organizations that make up the town of Williamsport," says Elissa Slayman, chairwoman of the event.

HAGERSTOWN erinc@herald-mail.com When the large blue fish was removed this week, it was one of the first steps to transform what was Barracuda Surf Bar and Andrew's Steak & Seafood into a country western bar and a restaurant. The buildings were leased from Clarion Hotel on Dual Highway by West Inc., a Glen Burnie, Md.-based business, said one of the owners, Joseph Rouse. Cancun Cantina West, a country western bar, will replace what was Barracuda Surf Bar at 901 Dual Highway in Hagerstown.