Ice Cream

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” (Opening line of George Orwell's “1984”). Everyone needs and should have medical insurance. Just how and when that should occur is open for serious debate. I stopped by for a coffee at the local BP the other day and Mr. Smith was there and he said, “You know Pete, one day government will require us to eat broccoli.” Are you serious? I don't really like broccoli. But maybe he had a point.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Big Pool will hold a homemade ice cream festival   Saturday, July 14, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $5 per person.  In addition to ice cream, hot dogs, steamers and a cake walk will be available.  Teacher to lead library program Dream big at the Leonard P. Snyder Memorial Library in Clear Spring.  Science teacher Jeff Byard will lead science experiments at the library from July 10...

“If the paper has to check the facts about the story they print, they should do the same for Mail Call. Stories about the county commissioners cutting funds from the nursing program just doesn't seem factual. The BOE and health department should be budgeting that into the budgets each year, since it's state mandated. I think if the county paid for it, then the BOE and health department should have a surplus, instead of spending that extra money. So where is the money, health department leaders?

1. Tickling ivory Pianist Thomas Pandolfi will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Selections including Two Sonatas, D Minor, L. 413 and E Major, L. 23, by Domenico Scarlatti and Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2, by Frederick Chopin. $5; free for members and children ages 12 and younger. Call 301-739-5727. 2. Classic  kitchen Denny Warrenfeltz will demonstrate how early settlers prepared picnic food on the open hearth, plus Bowman pottery and house tours from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Boonsboro Historical Society, 323 N. Main St., Boonsboro.

John Herbst remembers the early Ringgold Ruritan Strawberry Festivals more than 50 years ago. A charter member of the club, Herbst, 89, and his wife Betty, 90, used to take their children with them to the old schoolhouse to make homemade strawberry ice cream. Right up through last year, Herbst dipped ice cream at the fundraiser. This year, he decided to pass on the scoop. “I finished it. My son does it now,” he said. The elder Herbsts owned and operated Smithsburg's Misty Meadow Farms.

Jean A. Johnson, 74, of Upper Strasburg, Pa., and formerly of Hagerstown, Md., went to be with our Lord and Savior on May 15, 2012. She was the daughter of the late John R. and Ethel M. (Rhoads) Johnson. She was a graduate of the 1958 class at Washington County School of Nursing. She was a member of the American Legion women's auxiliary in St. Thomas, Pa. Besides spending time with her family and friends, she enjoyed eating ice cream, shopping for jewelry and driving her Corvette.

The Unilever ice cream plant in Hagerstown will close its doors for good on July 27, leaving 391 hourly and salaried employees without jobs, a company spokesman said Tuesday. Jeff Graubard said news of the closure was no surprise. “They've known about this beforehand,” he said. Unilever officials told employees in 2009 that the plant at 1100 Frederick St. would close around the end of 2011, but that date was delayed. Then, in September 2011, the company announced plans to close the plant in August 2013.

Council candidate urges residents to vote To the editor: I would like to thank everyone who has encouraged me to run for re-election to the Boonsboro Town Council. During my first four-year term, I have met challenges head-on and have always tried to represent the interests of all of the people of the town when making decisions. I promise to continue to speak out for more open, more accountable and more responsive government. Please be sure to vote on Tuesday, May 8, in the Boonsboro Town election at the Community Center in Shafer Park.