Home Economics

OCT. 2, 1927-MARCH 21, 2011 Gwendolyn Elizabeth Kendle Roulette, 83, a resident of Ravenwood Lutheran Village in Hagerstown, Md., and formerly of Sharpsburg, died on Monday, March 21, 2011, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born in Hagerstown on Oct. 2, 1927, she was the daughter of Elvin Roy and Rhoda May Sprecher Kendle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Frederick Roulette, in 1989. She grew up in Williamsport, Md. She was an alumna of Williamsport High School in 1945.

Teacher provides directions for life By TARA REILLY tarar@herald-mail.com Editor's Note: The Herald-Mail is featuring one middle-school teacher each month through May. The eight-part series highlights excellent educators on the first Monday of each month. Coming in April: Springfield Middle School. There's more to Linda Nairn's family and consumer science class than just sewing and learning how to cook. Students at Smithsburg Middle School enhance reading skills, learn how to follow directions and are taught a curriculum that will help them develop the knowledge and abilities necessary for the real world.

JULY 21, 1919-DEC. 27, 2009 WILLIAMSPORT - Catherine Elizabeth (Kay) Lang, 90, of Williamsport, Md., died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at home under the care of Hospice. Kay was born July 21, 1919, in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in eastern Ohio and State College, Pa. She graduated from State College High School and later from Penn State University in 1940 in home economics with a major in early childhood development. She subsequently obtained a master's degree in education from Penn State.

The flavors of Italy are in the words as well as the foods of Edda and Aldo Della Mea of Hagerstown. In beautifully accented English in their home in Hagerstown's North End, the couple shared their story of emigrating from their homes in northeastern Italy - first to Toronto, Canada, later to Maryland. The couple, who married in 1964, met in Canada. Their families knew each other in Italy, but the pair did not, Edda Della Mea said. Their four children - daughters Georgina and Francesca and sons Carlo and Victor - were born in Toronto.

How you feelin'? Hot, hot, hot? How about your mouth? Eaten any spicy food lately? A member of our staff recently asked: [cont. from lifestyle ] "I love hot, spicy food. But sometimes it burns so much I wonder if I'm doing some kind of damage to my taste buds. Any chance of that?" When you think of hot, spicy food, hot peppers are among the first things that come to mind. What makes them hot? It's capsaicin, a whitish powder that is soluble in alcohol.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Wright Denny Elementary School auditorium in Charles Town, W.Va., will be named for former teacher Betty Roper during a 2 p.m. ceremony Sunday. Roper taught for 41 years, mostly in Jefferson County. A program of music, speakers and the unveiling of a portrait is planned for the auditorium dedication ceremony. Roper was born Betty Daniels in Elkins, W.Va. She graduated in 1946 from Storer College in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., with a degree in Home Economics and began her teaching career in Mineral County, W.Va.

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. - A fire that broke out in Friday morning in a home economics classroom at Jefferson High School's ninth-grade complex caused about $20,000 in damages, but no injuries, Independent Fire Co. Lt. Jason Gore said. Students and school staff had evacuated the approximately 80,000-square foot building by the time firefighters responded to the 10:05 a.m. call, he said. Gore said the fire, which was ruled accidental, began when an electric burner left burning in the classroom ignited an object on the electric stove.

I am constantly amazed between what I think people know and what they actually know. This reality manifests itself in many ways. Just the other day I heard a radio trivia contest and the question was in what city is Independence Hall? The answer given was “Harrisburg, Pa.” I am thinking, really? Then I think about my job and how people have no idea that Extension or 4-H is connected to the University of Maryland, let alone the land grant university system. I know I have stated on other occasions that I am a product of the land grant system.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. - It's not your same old home economics class, which is one reason Chambersburg Area Senior High School's Jo Anne Eyer recently received a 2006-07 Outstanding Teacher Award from the Shippensburg (Pa.) University School Study Council. "I started out here in this room right after I graduated from college" filling in for another teacher on sabbatical, said Eyer, who now heads the district's Family and Consumer Science Department. She was one of more than two dozen teachers from as many districts in south central Pennsylvania recognized by the council for their hard work, dedication, creativity and passion for teaching.

The Class of 1944 of Hagerstown High School held its 63rd-year anniversary reunion at the Four Points Sheraton, Hagerstown, on Thursday, June 7. This was the actual anniversary date of the commencement exercises held June 7, 1944. The class graduated 265 students. There were 50 classmates and guests in attendance, from Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The welcome was extended by I. Joseph Palkovitz, class president. Following the meal, a moment of silent prayer was observed in remembrance of deceased classmates.