Ice Rink

gregs@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Under a new proposal, the City of Hagerstown would have more control over the financially troubled Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex. The proposal is to be presented to the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday and could be adopted as early as Oct. 27. John Budesky, the city's director of administrative services, said Friday that the proposal would mean, at least in the foreseeable future, that the city would spend more money annually on the rink.

shappell@herald-mail.com The Hagerstown Sports and Ice Foundation took no action against Hagerstown Sports & Ice Complex General Manager Carl Langford following its meeting Wednesday. Langford was convicted last week on a second-degree assault charge. Board member Barbara Martin said Langford's conviction, in connection with kissing a juvenile employee, was discussed during a closed portion of the foundation's Wednesday meeting. Martin deferred all other comments to board Chairwoman Kristy Pottol.

shappell@herald-mail.com The general manager of the Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex was found guilty Wednesday in Washington County District Court on one of two assault charges stemming from allegations he inappropriately touched a 17-year-old female employee. Carl F. Langford, 41, of 10831 Clinton Ave. in Hagerstown, was found guilty on a misdemeanor count of second-degree assault in connection with a Feb. 23 incident at the rink by Washington County District Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr., court records say. Long sentenced Langford to probation before judgment, fined him $300 and placed him on 18 months unsupervised probation, effective Jan. 21, records say. Langford was found not guilty Wednesday on a second misdemeanor count of second-degree assault in connection with an incident involving the same girl in late 2003.

"I think putting tolls on Interstate 81 is a bad idea. They say they want to put them on the two entrances into Maryland, which is Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Those residents already paid their taxes to widen 81, now the Maryland government wants to do is have the Pennsylvanians and West Virginians pay for the Maryland's widening of I-81 also. " "Not all the teachers at Fountain Rock are unhappy. My child has had a wonderful experience this year. Her teacher has done many fun activities, but those activities had been tied to the county curriculum.

andrear@herald-mail.com Spring fever takes a back burner to winter festivities this weekend during Winterfest 2004 at the Hagers-town Ice & Sports Complex. The three-day celebration from Friday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, Feb. 29, will feature figure skating and synchronized skating exhibitions, public skating sessions and ice hockey games - including a match-up between former Philadelphia Flyers hockey players and local adult hockey team all-stars. "This is a chance for people to quit shoveling snow and ice and enjoy it," said Ginger Pembroke, marketing director at the ice rink.

gregs@herald-mail.com Tchaikovsky played over the loudspeakers as the youthful dancers skated and twirled over the ice Saturday evening at the Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex. The troupe of skaters performed the holiday favorite, "The Nutcracker," while parents and friends watched and tried to stay warm. "I think it's great. My little granddaughter is in it," said Patricia Brown, 49, of Hagerstown. Brown was among dozens who had come to the rink to watch the 50-minute show, featuring 16 skaters who portrayed sugar plum fairies, snowflakes, princes, princesses, dolls and clowns in Tchaikovsky's winter classic put to ice. "I just love ice skating ... It's so graceful.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com ZULLINGER, Pa. - The building housing the former Doris I. Billow Ice Arena will get new life Dec. 1 when it reopens as an indoor tennis court. William H. Wissinger of Chambersburg, Pa., has leased the 38,000-square-foot building at 4880 Buchanan Trail East, Pa. 16, from two area businessmen, Joseph Tice, a certified public accountant, and Chris Lombardozzi, owner of a stair-making and millworking shop, who bought it at a July public auction for $400,000.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Six years ago, the Doris I. Billow Ice Arena west of Waynesboro, Pa., opened at a cost of $2.8 million, including a $500,000 bequest and $250,000 in state tax money. On Wednesday, the building at 4880 Buchanan Trail East, an empty shell since May 2000, was sold at public auction for $400,000. The two Chambersburg, Pa., businessmen who bought it - Joseph Tice, a certified public accountant, and Chris Lombardozzi, owner of a stair-making and millworking shop - said they have no immediate plans for the property.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A Zullinger, Pa., businessman who was defeated in his bid for a Washington Township Supervisor seat in the May primary, asked the supervisors Monday to consider bidding on the Doris I. Billow Ice Arena building when it comes up for auction next month for use as a new municipal office building. Jeff Zody, who also lives in Zullinger, told the supervisors that the auction may present the township with a chance to get the property at a good price.