Generation

This is a four-generation photo of the Shumakers, a local family from Boonsboro.

By SHEILA HOTCHKIN / Staff Writer Ciro Schianodicola says his infant daughter, Gabriella, is nothing like the average 4-month-old. As his parents smiled indulgently, the 19-year-old Hagerstown resident raved about his firstborn, calling her "the prettiest baby in the world" - always smiling and laughing. But, he said, there is one other thing that makes his little girl different. "Gabriella's grandma has a great-grandma," he explained. --cont. from front page -- That makes Gabriella the sixth living generation of her father's family, an unbroken line that began in the Sleepy Creek area of Berkeley County, W.Va.

Some of her students have thoughts of publishing their personal memoirs, but most want to write them for their children and grandchildren, says Myrtle Haldeman, who teaches "Writing Your Personal Memoirs and Experiences" at Hagerstown Community College's Institute for Learning in Retirement. [cont. from lifestyle ] Haldeman also started to write her memoirs for her family's next generations - five children and 10 grandchildren. But that story now is a book, "Thy Kingdom Come: A Journey of Faith.

chrisc@herald-mail.com For little Sam and Julia Wright, their parents' business was like a second home. They spent evenings at Tri-State Printing with their father and mother, Peter and Karen Wright, doing homework, cleaning up, helping out where their parents needed them to do. "We pretty much grew up in the business," Sam Wright said. "That's where we went after school. My parents needed cheap labor. " Now Sam Wright, 25, is general manager of Tri-State; Julia Wright, 23, is treasurer.

Cris Elkins and Gene Hannold walked into Washington County Circuit Court together on Wednesday afternoon as a same-sex couple of nearly 39 years, waiting for their chance at equality. After picking up their marriage license, Elkins, 68, and Hannold, 80, officially became spouses during a brief ceremony administered by Deputy Clerk of Courts Rebecca Rishell inside the small marriage room at the courthouse. Earlier Wednesday, the first same-sex couple in the county - two women from the Williamsport area who asked to remain anonymous - also was married at the courthouse.

Allegheny Energy Supply, the unregulated energy generation arm of Hagerstown-based Allegheny Energy, has gotten the go-ahead to sell electrical power to customers across Maryland, a company spokeswoman said Thursday. On April 5, the Maryland Public Service Commission granted the company a supplier license, allowing it to compete in the state's looming unregulated power generation market, according to Allegheny Energy Supply spokeswoman Janice Lantz. The company, based in Greensburg, Pa., can market power to residential, commercial and industrial customers in all parts of the state except the delivery area of Allegheny Energy's Allegheny Power subsidiary, Lantz said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - On what he called the "most important day of the year," U.S. Army Col. Monty Warner asked for veterans and others to pass on their legacy to the younger generation. cont. from news page "Freedom is not free. ... Our history is written in the blood ... (of) the more than 1 million patriots," said Warner, who spoke during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Berkeley County War Memorial Park in Martinsburg. "We must pass on this legacy to the next generation," Warner said.

Study candidates to make informed decisions To the editor: Challenges. Most people's lives have many diverse challenges. For a school child it might involve being successful in school. For a young couple it might be balancing everything involved in starting careers and/or a family. At times middle age years might involve dealing with health issues. Mature years can bring many challenges. It is often said it is not that you have challenges, but how you deal with those challenges that demonstrates your character.

A young idealist reminds us that every child does matter Elsewhere on this page is a letter from Alaina J. Rowe, the student representative on the board of education, who provides us with a perspective on redistricting that we haven't heard much - that of the students involved. Oh yes, we've heard from parents of those who would be affected by the shifting boundary lines, but with a few exceptions, not much from students themselves. In her letter, Rowe says that what students are interested in is a quality education, and that the biggest factor in how comfortable students are with change is whether they see their parents embrace it fully.

Five generations A local family recently gathered five generations of their family. Great-great-grandmother Martha Crist holds her great-great-grandson, Joshua Runk; seated beside her is grandmother Dianna Runk; standing behind her is father, Brandon Runk; next to him is great-grandfather, Buck Crist.

Beginning in July, owners of buildings used primarily for state governmental, educational, charitable or religious purposes in Berkeley County will be billed for a fire service fee after long being exempt. Officials have identified 239 properties that the Berkeley County Fire Service Board believes are “billable” and those property owners will receive advance notice that they will start receiving a bill, board chairman Greg Rhoe told Berkeley County Council on Thursday. The additional accounts are expected to generate in the neighborhood of $95,000 to $100,000, Rhoe said.

Four generations of a local family gathered March 8 to celebrate Patricia Wieland Robinson's 80th birthday. Front row, from left, are Patricia Wieland Robinson, holding Carsyn Moger. Back row, from left, are Mary Pat Robinson-Fortney and Ashley Moger.