Hagerstown

Washington College has announced that Maria Noelle Queen, daughter of Roy W. Queen of Hagerstown, is one of five finalists for the Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation, this year valued at more than $58,000. Queen is a humanities major and creative writing minor. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she submitted 18 pages of poetry to the Sophie Kerr Committee, much of it focused on the relationship between a daughter and her parents. “Her poetry is at times very funny and at times very sad, and it manages to be both extremely personal and yet objective about how she sees herself in the world," one committee member said.

The City Ballet School and the Western Maryland City Ballet Company presented the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” on Sunday afternoon at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown. The production, under the artistic direction of Danielle Horochowski, featured guest artists and International Ballet Competition winners Brooklyn Mack of the Washington Ballet and partner Jennifer Mendoza, as well as ballet mistress Amy Wrobleski. The City Ballet School, which is based in Hagerstown, attracts students from the Tri-State area.

Unity of Hagerstown is offering a Mindfulness Workshop, at 1 p.m. Sunday Feb. 24. Studies have shown that mindfulness skills are effective at reducing depression, chronic pain and stress. Mindfulness is the ability to become aware of one's thoughts, emotions and physical presence in the present moment, without judgment. Participants will learn to focus more fully on the present moment, recognize and focus on thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, and learn how to separate thoughts from emotions.

The Hagerstown Fire Department responded to a minor fire Tuesday about 1:30 p.m. at 134 Ray St., a Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher said. No further information was immediately available.

The City of Hagerstown will flush hydrants in the Halfway and Hagerstown areas from Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17. Hydrants will be flushed in areas along Virginia Avenue bordered on the north by Halfway Boulevard from the Valley Mall to Downsville Pike including such areas as Halfway Manor, Marbern Road, York Road and Rench Road. City officials caution water customers in those areas to check their water supply for discolored water that might occur because of this work, particularly those using automatic washing machines.

Name of business: Glass Doctor of Washington County Owners: Kevin and Jennifer Cuozzo Address: 806 Frederick St., Hagerstown Opening date: May 1, 2011 Products and services: Full-service glass company (residential, commercial and automotive) Target ¿ market: Homeowners, business owners and vehicle owners How did you get into your business, and what motivated you to start it? We have a location in Frederick, Md., that has been servicing Washington County for the past year.

City officials said hydrant flushing in Hagerstown will begin today and continue through Friday, June 15, in the following neighborhoods:   The area bordered on the north by Wayside and Maple avenues, on the south by Church Street, on the east by North Mulberry Street and on the west by North Prospect Street. That includes such streets as Broadway, North and Randolph avenues, and Locust, Jonathan and North Potomac streets.  Water customers in those areas, especially those using automatic washing machines, should frequently check their water supply for discolored water, which may occur because of the work, officials said.

To raise funds for and awareness of global hunger, Joseph Henry plans to run more than 500 miles. Henry and his team plan to run more than 30 miles per day for 17 consecutive days from Feb. 9 through 25. His route from Washington to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, will pass through Hagerstown. He will run from Frederick, Md., to Hagerstown on U.S. 40, pass through Public Square, then run north on Pennsylvania Avenue. The team invites area runners to raise money and run with them. Henry’s goal is to raise $100,000 to donate to the United Nations World Food Program and World Food Program USA. To donate or register to run, go to www.hunger500.

A Hagerstown man charged with raping a woman last month at an apartment complex off Security Road has been ordered held at the Washington County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. The bond for Montague Stephan Sutherland, 25, of 61 E. Franklin St., was set by a visiting judge during a hearing Friday at Washington County District Court. Sutherland appeared for the bond-review hearing via a closed-circuit television feed between the Detention Center and District Court. Before bond was set, Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Michele Hansen told the court that Sutherland had an extensive criminal background that included assault and burglary charges.

Hagerstown native and celebrity chef Justin Warner will appear at Washington County Community Mediation Center's "Come to the Table" event from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at LJ's and the Kat Lounge, 1130 Conrad Court in Hagerstown. The event a fundraiser for the mediation center and to raise awareness about the importance of mediation and the work of WCCMC in the community.  The cooking school-style event features an appearance by Warner. There will be live cooking demonstrations and lessons, as well as a silent auction, live auction and raffle of high-quality, food-related and as well as locally donated items.