Happy Retreat

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The body of a Shannondale, W.Va., man was pulled from the Blackwater River on Monday morning, a day after he died in a kayaking accident. The body of Timothy Christopher "Tim" Gavin, 37, was pulled from the river about two miles south of Blackwater Falls near Davis, W.Va. Gavin's sister, Sally Jackson, and a brother, John Gavin, were at the river as his friends, fellow kayakers, and fire and rescue volunteers recovered the body. "(Jackson) said he looked extremely peaceful," said brother Michael Gavin, who spoke to his sister afterward.

The Top Five An Evening with Randy Travis Randy Travis performs. 8 p.m. H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, Pa. Tickets cost $45 to $65. Call 717-477-7469 or go to http://www.luhrscenter.com . Auto racing Small Car Nationals Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18. Late model sportsmen, pure stocks and a powder-puff race. 7:30 p.m. Hagerstown Speedway, 15112 National Pike, west of Hagerstown.

By TERI JOHNSON Staff Writer George Washington slept here. You've seen those words on signs, brochures and billboards and heard them on commercials. The phrase has been repeated so many times that you probably wonder if our Founding Father ever was awake. Washington wore many hats - surveyor, Virginia planter, commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, first president of the United States, and husband of Martha, to name a few. He was born Feb. 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Va. This year we celebrate his birthday and that of Abraham Lincoln Monday, Feb. 17. Washington was a traveling man who sometimes was on the road for weeks at a time.

Thumbs up to members of the Hagerstown City Council and the Washington County Commissioners who served on the 2-plus-2 committee that worked out an agreement that led to Gov. Robert Ehrlich's pledge of $6 million toward the upgrading of the Edgewood Drive/U.S. 40 intersection. Good things come to those who put their time into finding solutions. Thumbs up to Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature, for finally agreeing on a bill to provide property tax relief to citizens with money from slot machines and other sources.

Heritage festival The Charles Town Heritage Festival features re-enactments from the Civil and Revolutionary wars, entertainment, period games for children, craft demonstrations, Burr Farm living history presentation, and 30 craft and business vendors. Today and Sunday. Downtown Charles Town, W.Va. Parking is free at Happy Retreat and at the Jefferson County Board of Education. Free shuttle provided from both parking areas. Free admission; some activity fees. Call the Charles Town Visitors Center at 304-535-1813.

Home Builders Association of Washington County Dennis Swope, president of the Home Builders Association of Washington County, presented a $5,000 check to Teresa Thorn, program director of Safe Place Child Advocacy Center, at the association's March 27 general membership meeting. The check represents the net proceeds from the benefit concert and auction the association held in conjunction with its annual Home Show. To date, the association has presented Safe Place with more than $18,000 from the annual benefits, and publicity from the event has resulted in other donations being made to the center.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - An exhibit on George Washington won't be at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library until 2003, but a full slate of activities is already planned. cont. from news page Most notably, author and journalist Jim Lehrer and his wife, Kate, also an author, have promised to take part, according to Martinsburg young adult librarian and exhibit coordinator Jane Levitan. The Lehrers live in Charles Town, W.Va. - named after George Washington's brother Charles - in a house that once belonged to the Washington family.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Jefferson County's Public Service District, facing multimillion-dollar water and sewer projects, ended up with a new board member Thursday following a 3-2 vote by the Jefferson County Commissioners. The commissioners split when Jim Surkamp, Frances Morgan and Lyn Widmyer chose Peter Appignani of Gap View Village over P. Michael Chapman of Rippon to serve the six-year term.   Commissioners Dale Manuel and Patsy Noland voted for Chapman. Appignani will replace Kack Lantzy, a certified public accountant and treasurer of the PSD who chose not to seek another term.