Gear

Within the next two weeks, expect a blitz of television, radio, print and online advertising intended to etch the name xoutdoors.com and its cute mountain-climber logo onto every other American's psyche. At some point within that time frame, the Montana-based company - which has offices in Washington County - will launch its new outdoor gear site, expected to offer at least 80,000 items by year's end. "What we're trying to do is brand the name xoutdoors.com within a 90-day period to the outdoors enthusiast," said Eric Payne, a Maugansville resident and big game hunter who dreamed up the start-up with several fellow enthusiasts earlier this year.

Across Maryland, teenagers are grabbing their binoculars, pulling on their waterproof boots and consulting their field guides as they gear up to take part in the first round of competitions leading up to the 2008 Canon Envirothon, North America's largest and most prestigious natural resources event for high school students. Students participating in the Envirothon have been studying the state's natural resources for the past year. They have learned from the experts how to identify and categorize living resources, perform soil surveys, estimate wood yield from trees, and solve other complex natural resource issues.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - What happens after a city's core burns to the ground? Well, you grieve, no doubt, but then comes the rebirth. And that is something to celebrate. That's the tradition in Chambersburg, where residents are gearing up for ChambersFest, a two-week festival commemorating July 30, 1864 - the day Confederate soldiers torched downtown - and remembering the rebirth. The 20th annual ChambersFest will take place with several events between Friday, July 14, and Sunday, July 30. Festival highlights include "Celebrate!

Washington County soccer uniforms and gear have brightened up an Iraqi village. Jason Miller of Halfway, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, said he saw poverty in the small village of Umm al Abid in eastern Baghdad while he served in Iraq for a year. When he described the conditions to a cousin back home, she rallied support - in the form of soccer. Boonsboro AYSO, which is affiliated with the American Youth Soccer Organization, contributed about 50 jerseys and several balls, said Paul Kadin, the league's assistant regional commissioner.

Two billy goats gear up to butt heads Tuesday on a large boulder in a pasture along Reichard Road south of Hagerstown.

FUNKSTOWN -- Meeting Monday night at the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Department, the Funkstown Mayor and Town Council took the opportunity to present the fire company with their annual contribution of $5,000. Linda Kendle, assistant treasurer and member of the fire company's board of directors, said the funds couldn't have come at a better time. "We are thankful to be getting new members, but we didn't have enough gear for them," Kendle said. The shortage of emergency turnout gear could be remedied with the contribution, she said.

HALFWAY - An unattended station wagon with an 8-year-old boy inside crashed through a front window of the post office on Virginia Avenue Saturday afternoon, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Department. Mary Beth Daniel, 23, of 1061 A Noland Village, was charged with leaving an unattended vehicle and driving on a suspended Kentucky license, said Deputy Richard Peacock. The brown and dark olive green 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Estate broke through the brick foundation and shattered the window of the post office and former Eakle's Drug Store at 17520 Virginia Ave. around 2:31 p.m. Post office employee Denise Cline said she was helping a customer when she heard glass go flying.

Man charged with punching another during basketball game MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- An 18-year-old man was charged Wednesday after allegedly punching a 21-year-old man in the face during a basketball game at the Berkeley 2000 Recreation Center, according to a Martinsburg Police Department press release. Lance Washington of 109 Autumn Leaf Drive, was charged with one count of unlawful wounding after punching the victim while he wasn't looking, causing a "severe facial injury," police said.

Buyers of Class A motor homes have been able to choose a Ford chassis as an option for many years now. Ford's F53 Super Duty Stripped chassis, as it's officially known, has developed a popular following and is available on many new motor homes on the market. A new five-speed TorqShift automatic transmission highlights the chassis for the 2006 model. While the company has made other improvements over the years, adding an extra gear selection is one way to dramatically improve a rig's powertrain.

Shots were fired at Fort Frederick Saturday morning. But the only casualties were some steel targets and possibly a few egos among the French and Indian War period re-enactors participating. The shoot was part of the American Longrifle Association gathering Fort Frederick State Park, near Big Pool. Scott Allen, of Fairplay, a member of the group and president of Friends of Fort Frederick, organized the weekend event. Roughly 30 members came from around the eastern United States to participate.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission will host two farmers market workshops Monday, May 13, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Washington County Agriculture Education Center front conference room. The free workshops are open to new vendors interested in learning how they can market and sell their items at county farmers markets. Presentations by Leslie Hart, Washington County agricultural business development specialist, will cover topics including farmers market etiquette, customer service, up selling and merchandising.

They giggled before naming the instrument once known as a sackbutt and fidgeted when racing to mentally simplify two times the square root of 28 in simplest radical form. It was game day for public school students from across Washington County who had been meeting weekly and studying daily to prepare for the 17th annual High School Academic Team Competition on Saturday at Springfield Middle School. Contestants readily answered what Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost - an arm - but came up short when asked which writer penned “Beloved Infidel” about her relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald - Sheila Graham.

Kevin Hartman was finally able to exhale early in the fourth quarter. The North Hagerstown boys basketball coach watched his club struggle against a pesky Smithsburg zone defense for three quarters. The fortunes changed when Isaiah Keyes managed to knock down North's first 3-pointer of the game with 7:14 remaining, propelling the Hubs to a 61-56 MVAL Antietam victory Thursday night. “We practice against a zone every day,” said Hartman. “I'm not upset with our shot selection.

In an era where traditional methods of education funding are strained, volunteers and donors with the Waynesboro Area Business Education Community (WABEC) Foundation are finding ways to funnel private contributions into innovative programs for students. The organization seeks to increase community involvement in education, and support student learning and achievement within the Waynesboro Area School District. WABEC President Greg Ochoa became involved in the foundation about a year ago. “I really liked the idea that this was a group doing work to support the needs of the students in the school district,” Ochoa said, noting that work is tangible and visible in schools.

Door-busters, bargains and sales - oh my! Black Friday is just hours away and area retailers - including most stores at the Valley Mall and Hagerstown Premium Outlets - are gearing up for midnight openings on the biggest holiday shopping day of the year. But some will be opening up even earlier, operating with extended hours on Thanksgiving Day as a direct result of the tendencies and demand seen in recent years from shoppers eager to find the best deals on holiday gifts, according to some area retail officials.

Washington County Free Library is sponsoring its 26th Battle of the Books competition. The program was begun by librarians Donna Parks and Jeff Ridgeway in 1986 to bring children and books together and to reward children who like to read.  The program has evolved over the years, but its goal remains the same - to pair great kids with great books.  Ridgeway, from the library's Children's Department, and his staff have selected a set of...

Last year, Jefferson County Community Ministries spent more than $150,000 serving more that 4,600 needy families with food, clothing, help with utilities, rent and even gasoline to drive to medical appointments. In the first six months of 2012, the agency at 238 W. Washington St. served 2,500 families, including 1,500 who received 110,000 pounds of food and 1,400 more who received clothes. Some 6,000 individuals were also served, said Robert L. Shefner, the ministry's executive director.

 When you hear the word poultry, what comes to mind? The dictionary defines poultry as a category of domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of eggs, or meat and/or feathers. And when you hear the word chicken, you probably have yet another perception. Chickens are one of those animals that folks either love or hate. Yet, recently there has been a country-wide resurgence of backyard chickens. While for many this seems new, it is actually back to the future. In Colonial America, almost every household, whether urban or rural, had a chicken house in the backyard.

First-time campers may borrow gear as part of a Pennsylvania program involving Caledonia State Park and 18 other parks. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is partnering with Gander Mountain to provide first-time campers with needed gear and a reservation for two nights at a participating state park for $20, according to a news release. “You can't beat this offer as far as the cost (and) the opportunity to enjoy many other activities at our state parks such as hiking and fishing.

Democratic Party leaders in Berkeley County will elect 46 delegates to represent the county at the party's state convention in June, said Niles Bernick, chairman of the county's Democratic Executive Committee. The county's convention, which is open to all registered Democrats who also are county residents, is slated to begin April 14 at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley County Courthouse at 100 W. King St. “We encourage all registered Democrats who are residents of Berkeley County, to get involved in the Democratic process and attend this important event,” Bernick said in a news release.