Cumberland Valley

Retirement for Andrew Sussman is not an end, but a beginning. Sussman, 61, of Waynesboro, Pa., will retire from his position as executive director of the Cumberland Valley School of Music in Chambersburg. The last day of his 18-year career with the school is Friday, Aug. 31. Sussman's path to becoming the executive director of the CVSM was a journey. Growing up, he always loved music and learning to play new instruments. After graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, he spent six years traveling abroad visiting more than 50 countries including South Africa, Denmark, Ireland, India and Pakistan.

The Cumberland Valley School of Music soon will be getting a new maestro. Andrew Sussman, who has led the Cumberland Valley School of Music as executive director for the past 18 years, will be retiring from that position effective Sept. 1, according to a news release from the school. Paula Hepfer, co-founder and current program director at the school, has been named as his successor. In announcing his resignation, Sussman confirmed his ongoing support for the school and its mission and his satisfaction in watching its students as they grow and become enthused with the possibilities that music has to offer.

Cumberland Valley School of Music presented the CVSM Awards Concert on Sunday, April 22, at Thomson Alumnae Chapel, Wilson College, Chambersburg. The recital featured the winners of CVSM's merit scholarship competition, which was held on March 31, as well as graduating seniors who are going on to pursue careers in music and the winner of this year's Benjamin Rhine Scholarship. In the Merit Awards Competition, students vied for awards in instrumental, piano and vocal categories.

It's a given that when there's a conflict in the world, a group of people in Franklin County, Pa., is rallying to support those in need. The Cumberland Valley Relief Center, the local humanitarian organization at 4225 Molly Pitcher Highway, comes in after a civil conflict, war or natural disaster to provide humanitarian aid and build peace. The relief center, in conjunction with the Mennonite Central Committee, is focusing its latest efforts on the ongoing violence in Syria and preparing for a humanitarian crisis in the region.

The staff at the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter has become accustomed to juggling. While trying to operate its current shelter at 2325 Country Road in Chambersburg, the shelter also is raising money to build a new shelter at 5051 Letterkenny Road West. Now in the third and final phase of construction, the new home for the shelter is close to being completed, but time is critical because the current facility is overflowing with cats and dogs in need of new homes. “The (current)

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown announces the call for entries for its 79th Annual Cumberland Valley Photographic Salon, a juried photography exhibition open to both professional and amateur photographers. The juror will be Bruce Katsiff. More than $1,000 in prizes is available. All entries must be received by 4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2. Judging takes place in December, and the show will open on Feb. 12. Entrants may submit up to four unframed photographs, each mounted on a 16-inch-by-20-inch rigid board.

The gathering was energized and poignant, raw and emotional. People were laughing and crying Saturday as they danced and spun on the gym floor at the Hagerstown Community College Athletic Recreation and Community Center. Roughly 1,200 people had gathered to acknowledge loss, to celebrate life and to ignite motivation for the fight against breast cancer at the Breast Cancer Awareness of Cumberland Valley's Step 'n' Stride fundraiser. Agency Executive Director Joan Fell said the event has nearly quadrupled in size since she became involved with it 20 years ago. What began as about 300 people doing aerobics in the gym has swollen to droves of zumba dancers shimmying across the floor and walkers striding a five-mile course around campus.

St. Maria Goretti High School announced that the school is partnering with Cumberland Valley School of Music to offer musical arts classes at Goretti this school year. Students can take introduction to music, musical theater and choir. Music history, different styles of music and improvisation are a couple of the topics students will study. CVSM Executive Director Andrew Sussman emphasized how students can benefit from musical arts. “The classes provide an incentive and enthusiasm for students to explore music more, and it makes a real statement about what's important for education,” Sussman said.