Guides

ANNAPOLIS - Want to know where you can buy locally-grown, farm-fresh sweet corn and tomatoes this summer? Would you rather pick your own berries straight from the farm? What about catching a watermelon-eating contest and a sheep-herding competition right in your own county? Guides and directories for some of the summer's most anticipated and enjoyable activities are now available through the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This year's Maryland Farmers' Market Directory, Maryland Agricultural Fairs and Shows Guide, and Maryland Direct Farm Market and Pick Your Own Directory can be obtained through MDA's Marketing Division at 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis or by phone at 410-841-5770.

For great Christmas gift ideas, explore this season's Holiday guides:        

The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau has just released the newest versions of its local Dining Guide and Shopping Guide. The guides, designed by High Rock Interactive Inc., are fold-out brochures with an address, telephone number and Web site, if applicable, for each CVB member business included. Both brochures include a map of Washington County and downtown Hagerstown, with the businesses marked. "These entirely new brochures are important for visitors and residents alike," said Tom Riford, CVB president.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently released the newest versions of its local dining and shopping guides. The guides, designed by High Rock Interactive Inc., are fold-out brochures with an address, telephone number and Web site, if applicable, for each CVB member business included. Both brochures include a map of Washington County and downtown Hagerstown, with the businesses marked on the map. The shopping guide includes listings for antique shops, art galleries, bookstores, farmer's markets, jewelers, shopping centers and specialty shops.

One of the most popular outdoors-related activities during the winter months is attending one of the many sport shows that are held nearly every weekend. Some of the shows are focused on a particular audience, such as fly fishermen; other shows are much more general and varied. One of the biggest and best is the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pa. This year the show will be held Feb. 3-11. This show has just about anything related to outdoors recreations and, in addition to the various manufacturers that attend, also features events with a lot of spectator appeal such as turkey, duck, goose and elk calling contests.

For the second straight year, Greencastle-Antrim softball coach Jamie Richardson has guided the Blue Devils to unseen heights. No wonder Richardson is The Herald-Mail's 2009 All-Area Softball Coach of the Year for the second straight year. On Friday, Greencastle defeated Bethlehem Catholic 1-0 in nine innings for the PIAA Class AAA state title at Shippensburg University -- the first state title in the Blue Devils' history. That came on the heels of their second straight District 3-AAA championship.

A motorist guides his car through standing water Tuesday afternoon as he crosses a bridge on Beaver Creek Road near Cool Hollow Road southeast of Hagerstown.

The Jonathan Hager Houseand Museum staff is seeking a wide range of volunteers for its new "friends" program. Volunteer opportunities include gardening, guest service, special event guides and costumed guides for its Autumn arts festival, as well as many other opportunities to become involved with the original home of Hagerstown's founder. If any of these opportunities sound interesting to you, or you would like more information, please contact Historic Sites Facilitator John Bryan, at the Hager House.

Remember CliffsNotes? It's OK. No one's watching you nod your head. Besides, they won't know you're admitting to using the popular study shortcut. Er, study guide. After all, who had time to finish every word of every college or high school reading assignment? Even the purists among us might admit that the little yellow-and-black-striped books were handy for review. What's that you say? You pull them out every once in a while to help your kids with their homework?

Downtown Live! seeks visual artists Visual artists are invited to participate in the Downtown Live! Artists' Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The Artists' Fair will be held in conjunction with the Downtown Live! music festival. The Downtown Live Artists' Fair will be set up on the first block of West Washington Street in front of the Washington County Arts Council. The music portion of Downtown Live! will be set up at public square and the first block of South Potomac Street.

The Fort Loudon Historical Society is sponsoring a self-guided tour of local cemeteries Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors are asked to come to the Patton House Museum at the fort site to pick up a brochure and map, and partake of light refreshments. The tour is free and begins at the Stenger Hill Cemetery on Main Street/Old U.S. 30, then proceeds to the lower cemetery (Fort Loudon Graveyard Association).  Next, the tour moves to the Old German Reformed Church Cemetery on Mill Street in the center of the village.

After Saturday, life may never be the same for Antonio Jenifer. Right now, it's pretty good, but it may only get better. Jenifer and the Hagerstown Community College men's basketball team will face ASA College in the NJCAA District III playoff Saturday at 7 p.m. at the HCC athletic complex. At stake is a trip to the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. That puts Jenifer on the doorstep to meet the world - especially if the Hawks win. “It is a big part of my life,” the 6-foot-8 sophomore said.

Sometimes, dads have big feet. When traditions and heritage are in question, a father's footsteps may seem like size 22 EEE to a son. The imprint is huge and hard to fill. But then, there's the approach Nate Naylor takes when he travels in the same circles as his father Kevin. Nate follows the path Kevin has left behind, and rubs it out along the way. That's the kind of relationship the Naylors have. They are father and son, and colleagues who work in the same profession.

A canine member of a Frederick County, Md., family is enjoying puppyhood with treats, walks and massages, but he will someday have a big job as a service dog. The McCauleys brought Gibson, a black Labrador, home about 10 months ago. He is their third dog through Guiding Eyes for the Blind. “He's been the easiest to work with,” Jim McCauley said. “He's very connected with people.” Guiding Eyes for the Blind is seeking new puppy raisers in Frederick and Washington counties in Maryland, as well as Southcentral Pennsylvania.

Hagerstown-born and raised educator and author Sarah Anne “Sallie” Shope has announced the publication of “Global TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages: An Orientation Guide,” released by Globalalis Trendek on Oct. 26. The book is an orientation for individuals from any walk of life into the profession of TESOL, and a practical guide to developing and teaching courses and lessons for English language learners anywhere across...

The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau has created an interactive sports venue and facilities guide. The online database can be searched, and is set up to assist sports teams and tournaments in their search for sites. Betsy De Vore, director of sales for the CVB, said the CVB worked with Washington County's Department of Parks and Facilities, the city of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College, Washington County Public Schools, local national and state parks, several private facilities, the state's Office of Sports Marketing, DH Web Inc. on web design, and also with Washington County Commissioner Ruth Anne Callaham.

A self-guided walking tour map of Hagerstown Civil War history is now available. The map is a result of a partnership between Rose Hill Cemetery and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.  The comprehensive guide is comprised of two maps: one that portrays 19th-century Hagerstown with the locations of 50 designated Civil War historical markers and other notable Civil War sites; the other lays out the final resting places of more than 70 Civil War notables as well as past Hagers-town mayors and other figures of historical significance in Rose Hill Cemetery.

A guided bus tour, Lee's Retreat from Gettysburg to Williamsport and the Wagon Trail of Wounded, is Friday, July 13. The tour is led by author and Civil War historian Steve French. The bus leaves from Springfield Barn, 6 Springfield Lane, at 2 p.m., and returns at 6:30 p.m. Touring areas include Gettysburg, Pa., Fairfield, Pa., Greencastle, Pa., Cearfoss, Pinestump Road, Marion, Pa., Cunningham Crossroads, Battle site in Williamsport July 6, 1863, Confederate Pontoon Crossing Site, site of Michigan Cavalry charge, where the Medal of Honor was won and where Gen. Pettigrew fell in battle.

Fort Frederick State Park invites the community to a guided bike ride along the Western Maryland Rail Trail Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bikers will follow a naturalist to discover and learn about the area's natural wonders. The guided tour will last about four hours, covering nearly 24 miles round trip. The ride is on a mostly paved, flat surface. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request with advance notice. Bicycle rentals and snacks are available at the bicycle shop along the Western Maryland Rail Trail and the Chesapeake & 0hio Canal National Historic Park in Hancock.

A global ratings agency has praised Meritus Health for its dominant market position and improved operating performance in a financial ratings report released this month. The report from Fitch Ratings gave the health system a “BBB” rating with a stable outlook. Meritus Health, formerly Washington County Health System, has maintained the BBB rating since it was first rated by Fitch in January 2008, Fitch Ratings Senior Director Eva Thein said. Their rating matches that of Standard & Poors, which also recently affirmed Meritus Health's “BBB” long-term rating with an outlook of stable.