Georgia

"The Georgia that is in the news these days is not - I repeat - is not our state of Georgia in the U.S. The Georgia in the news is a small, independent country that shares one of its borders with the country of Russia. " - Boonsboro Oh. That's very different. Never mind ... "This is to the caller who said about the Russian troops invading Georgia. They need to learn their geography. It's not the state of Georgia. It's the country of Georgia, in Europe. " - Hagerstown OK, but they sure had a lot of nerve, naming their country after our state, don't you think?

AUG. 18, 1922-JULY 1, 2009 Howard Wilmer Poffenberger, 86, of Hagerstown, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at his home. Born on Aug. 18, 1922, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Alexander Brown and Myrtle May (Grams) Poffenberger. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He retired after many years with the City of Hagerstown. Howard was a member of the Funkstown American Legion Post No. 211 and the Hagerstown VFW Post No. 10. He is survived by a daughter, Donna L. Beard of Hagerstown; a brother, Gerald D. Poffenberger and wife Polly of Williamsport; a granddaughter, Kelly L. Garvin of Hagerstown; a grandson, Scott Poffenberger of Georgia; four great-grandchildren, Alex G. Garvin and Sydney M. Garvin, both of Hagerstown, Samantha Poffenberger and Andrew Poffenberger, both of Georgia; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Laura Geraldine (Jerry) Magaha, 80, of Hagerstown, Md., died Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at her home.   Born May 28, 1931 in Mapleville, Md., she was the daughter of the late Roy Ralph and Etta Bogner Summers Beard. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald V. Magaha. She was previously employed with B.F. Goodrich, Rohr Industries, and Fairchild Aircraft. She was a member of Greenbrier Baptist Church. She was a member of the Red Feather Council 59, Williamsport, and American Legion Post 202 Auxiliary, Williamsport.

Peter "Pete" Moller Daniels' middle name is a clue to his longtime connection to Hagerstown.  As the grandson of Mathias Peter M.P.Moller, founder of M.P. Moller Inc. pipe organ company, Peter grew up with the workings of the renowned pipe organ company not only in name, but in his blood. Pete's mother, Martha Moller, was M.P.'s daughter. She married Wilson Riley Daniels II. Their son's natural inclinations as a tinkerer and his love for electronics and gadgetry were a good fit as he rose through the ranks of the company.

A chief Frederick County, Md., planner will become Washington County's director of planning and community development. The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday hired Michael C. Thompson to fill the position, formerly held by Robert Arch. Arch fell ill last summer. Thompson, who lives in Hagerstown, is Frederick County's chief of planning for the Division of Permitting and Development Review. He has a master's degree from the University of Georgia and a bachelor's degree from Eisenhower College at Seneca Falls, N.Y., according to a written statement from the county.

Francine Phyllis Lenjoski, 51, of Hagerstown, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer. Born March 3, 1960, in Newark, N.J., she was the daughter of Frank and Jean (Marano) Zarrello. Francine was a 1977 graduate of Elizabeth High School. She was briefly employed at Martin's grocery store in Hagerstown. She also worked at Pulaski Savings and Alfredo's Italian Deli in New Jersey before moving to Maryland in 2010. She was a member of the Big Boyz Toyz Truck Club in Central New Jersey and the Linden New Jersey Elks No. 289 MC. Fran was an avid heavy-metal fan but loved all types of music.

Last week you might remember my topic was the relevance of Extension in modern times. I mentioned the history, as well as the evolutionary change of programming since 1914. What I failed to mention is that the heart of the program is unchanged, that is providing unbiased university research-based information. In short, we are not selling anything; our information is free or inexpensive. As you read this column, another role of Extension has just played out: that of sharing our Extension education system with others from around the world.

-DEC. 22, 2009 VININGS, Ga. - Robert (Bob) T. Maynard, 94, of Brighton Gardens of Vinings, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at Hospice Atlanta. After serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he married Margaret V. Fiek on Oct. 14, 1944, in Washington D.C. He retired from Grove Manufacturing Co. in Shady Grove, Pa., as president of international sales. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret (Peggy); his three children, Barbara (and Bick)

OCT. 29, 1938-FEB. 7, 2011 Mona Jane Thatcher, 72, of 55 E. Washington St., Hagerstown, Md., died Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, at Julia Manor Nursing Home. Born Oct. 29, 1938, in Atwater, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Lester L. and Effie Canfield Birkheimer. She was a member of West End Baptist Chapel. Mona served as a foster mother for numerous children. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, David L. Thatcher; three daughters, Brenda J. Taylor of Hagerstown, Trina R. Wright of Waynesboro, Pa., and Tammy N. Thatcher of Williamsport, Md.; two sons, Tim Thatcher of Washington state and David Lee Thatcher of Hagerstown; one sister, Linda Birkheimer of Ohio; two brothers, Leo Birkheimer of Georgia and Glenn Birkheimer of Vermont; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

On May 10, 2013, Georgia Franks of Washington, D.C. Beloved daughter of the late Peter and Christina Franks; sister of Mary F. Schmidt, Artemis F. Ely (Marvin), Kathryn F. Tiches. Preceded in death by Xantippe F. Liakos, Stephen Franks and Thomas Franks. Loved by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to call Joseph Gawler's Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 13, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m., with prayers at 7 p.m. Services will be held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815 36th St. NW, Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Md.  Memorial donations may be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen of Washington, D.C., Building Fund.

A Georgia woman apprehended late last year in connection to a 1995 shooting death in Franklin County, Pa., pleaded not guilty to criminal homicide Wednesday. Tonya N. Dice, 39, is charged with criminal homicide and hindering apprehension or prosecution. On July 14, 1999, former magisterial district judge Larry K. Meminger issued an arrest warrant for Dice based on the Pennsylvania State Police investigation into the 1995 shooting death of Freddie Brumfield in Greene Township. A bench warrant had already been issued for Dice after she failed to appear in court in July 1995 in an unrelated drug case.

Martinsburg police shot and killed a woman Friday morning after she called police saying another woman was holding her at gunpoint. Tiffany Lee Overholser, 45, of 108 S. Georgia Ave., was taken to Martinsburg City Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Martinsburg Police Department said in a news release. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday in Morgantown, W.Va., police said. The incident began at about 3 a.m. when police received a call through Central Dispatch about a woman at 108 S. Georgia Ave., who said another female was pointing a gun at her, police said.

Two new signs were dedicated Friday at Fox's Gap at South Mountain Battlefield to add information to the North Carolina South Mountain Monument, according to Boonsboro Town Council member Sean Haardt. “They built the monument, but there wasn't much literature to read on it,” Haardt said. “This is a way to keep people educated about what happened.” The dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. was held by Fox's Gap Reno Monument Road, The Living History Association of Mecklenburg Inc. and The Central Maryland Heritage League.

O. Georgia Franks Catlett, 83, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Friday, June 15, 2012, at Berkeley Springs (W.Va.) Rehab and Nursing. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Central Chapel Church. The service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the church, with Pastor Greg Alderman officiating. Burial will be in Central Chapel Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.

Laura Geraldine (Jerry) Magaha, 80, of Hagerstown, Md., died Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at her home.   Born May 28, 1931 in Mapleville, Md., she was the daughter of the late Roy Ralph and Etta Bogner Summers Beard. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald V. Magaha. She was previously employed with B.F. Goodrich, Rohr Industries, and Fairchild Aircraft. She was a member of Greenbrier Baptist Church. She was a member of the Red Feather Council 59, Williamsport, and American Legion Post 202 Auxiliary, Williamsport.

Georgia Ann Boyd, 59, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at her home. Born Sunday, Nov. 2, 1952, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of William Lionel Gelwicks and Geraldine Doloris Gelwicks of Hagerstown. She was a 1970 graduate of South Hagerstown High School. She was a member of Grace Bible Church in Greencastle, Pa. Besides her parents, she is survived by her husband of 35 years, Charles Hunter Boyd of Hagerstown; sister, Donna Resh of Waynesboro, Pa.; and brothers, William Gelwicks of Arizona, John Wayne Gelwicks of Hagerstown, Gary Gelwicks of Smithsburg, Md., and Terry Gelwicks.

Editor's note: This is the first in an occasional series of stories interviewing local chefs. Ron Holman, who heads the kitchen at Georgia Boy Cafe at Park Circle in Hagerstown, does not think of himself as a chef. "I don't like to be called a chef. I'm a cook," he said. "I don't have any formal training as a chef. I just want to satisfy that (homestyle) customer. " Holman and business partner Montez Dorsey opened Georgia Boy Cafe at Park Circle about two years ago. The place has found a steady clientele serving homestyle, Southern dishes such as fried chicken, fried catfish, collard greens and barbecued chicken wings.

Francine Phyllis Lenjoski, 51, of Hagerstown, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer. Born March 3, 1960, in Newark, N.J., she was the daughter of Frank and Jean (Marano) Zarrello. Francine was a 1977 graduate of Elizabeth High School. She was briefly employed at Martin's grocery store in Hagerstown. She also worked at Pulaski Savings and Alfredo's Italian Deli in New Jersey before moving to Maryland in 2010. She was a member of the Big Boyz Toyz Truck Club in Central New Jersey and the Linden New Jersey Elks No. 289 MC. Fran was an avid heavy-metal fan but loved all types of music.

Mary Hemple and Thomas Barrett of Ranson, W.Va., announce the birth of a daughter, Georgia Rayne Barrett , July 25, 2011. Maternal grandparent Vicki and Carl Sunde of Kearneysville, W.Va.