Habitat

Habitat for Humanity of Washington County Thursday announced the hiring of Executive Director Sherry Brown, the first paid staff member in the local affiliate's history. Board President Annie LeMarie also pledged to build 20 new homes in the next five years, including four houses for which a ground-breaking is scheduled Saturday. The goal represents the group's growth. "It's a big step for an organization that has only been building two houses for the last four years," LeMarie said.

These are supposed to be his golden years, filled with well-earned leisure and relaxation. But most days, you'll find him behind a desk preparing financial reports, making sure state and federal requirements are met and serving as a troubleshooter for various projects. So, why does David Fisher work so hard? It's partly because he has worked hard most of his life as a certified public accountant. But it's also because the Hagerstown resident believes in service to others.

HAGERSTOWN -- Wedding gowns, tennis rackets and a guitar signed by country music star Martina McBride were among the items that were up for bid Saturday during Habitat for Humanity of Washington County's 16th annual dinner auction. Sherry Brown Cooper, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, said 450 people paid $45 each to attend the event, which was at Hagerstown Community College's Athletic, Recreation and Community Center. Officials said they hoped to raise $70,000.

Hempen Hill BBQ Bar & Grill hosted a benefit night July 16 in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Washington County - Women Build program. The donation totaled $119.34 and was a result of 15 percent donation of all food sales from the Habitat for Humanity group during lunch and dinner that day. This most recent benefit brings Hempen Hill BBQ's year to date donations to a total of $2,575.96 all given to local charity/organizations in Hagerstown. Hempen Hill BBQ Bar & Grill is at 13208 Fountainhead Plaza and can be reached at 301-797-4455 or online at www.HempenHillBBQ.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington County has been awarded $75,962, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build one home (including land) in 2009 through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' Thrivent Builds program. The Thrivent Builds house will be built by area volunteers, of whom at least one-half will be Lutheran and one-fourth will be Thrivent Financial members. The Habitat partner family will also invest hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" helping to build their home. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held April 4, and construction is expected to begin in late April.

HAGERSTOWN -- Most days, you can count on finding Ed Ruos at ReStore, the newly opened venture of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. Every once in a while, though, his wife reminds him he has a "honey do" list at home and he spends the day tackling projects there. ReStore is housed in the old Coca-Cola Distribution building at 100 Charles St. in Hagerstown, along with the Habitat for Humanity of Washington County offices. Business has been good since the grand opening in June, despite the closing of Jonathan Street for construction, those involved said.

CLEAR SPRING - It was an afternoon of leisure and decorum. Women donned white gloves, high heels and hats, and nattered while nibbling scones and sipping tea. Polite young girls in party dresses presented dainty desserts on silver trays. While the scene resembled one from a Merchant Ivory film, it took place Saturday in the basement of St. Paul's Reformed Church in Clear Spring. High Tea was the church missions committee fundraiser to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Washington County.

alician@herald-mail.com "It makes your heart jump a beat ... lots of warm fuzzies when you walk into an event like this," Sherry Brown Cooper said. Cooper, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, had gone to the pancake breakfast fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 28, at First Christian Church in Hagerstown. Cooper said Habitat for Humanity invites churches to make covenant agreements to help provide affordable housing by raising money and assembling volunteers.

scottb@herald-mail.com Freddie Gardin expects life will get easier - and he will become more independent - after he moves into the first handicapped-accessible house built by Habitat for Humanity. The home is being dedicated today. Later this month, Gardin, 34, will move from a second-floor apartment off Jonathan Street to the one-floor house on York Road in Halfway. In his new home, he will no longer have to wait for friends to hoist him and his wheelchair up and down the stairs.

andrear@herald-mail.com Lynn and Jackie Shaw's historic Smithsburg-area home has served as a gristmill, whiskey distillery, fruit packing plant, rabbit hutch, publishing house, photography studio and artists' retreat. And for the past decade, the Shaws' abode has been the creative center for a local charity's biggest annual fund-raiser. Artist Jackie Shaw has coordinated the design and creation of hand-painted centerpieces for Habitat for Humanity of Washington County's annual dinner auction since the event started in 1994.