Indoors

Midwinter doldrums can be licked in many ways. Now that much of the snow has melted, it's time to tie on the walking shoes and hit the Western Maryland Rail Trail. The towpath is still pretty muddy, but the rail trail is clear and the trees are beginning to show signs of new growth. If you prefer something inside, but outside your home, Hancock in Motion is sponsoring a free popcorn-and-movie night, Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center. The movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2" will be shown.

Hagerstown Community College will host the international theater group, Cambridge American Stage Tour (CAST), on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the Classroom Building Auditorium (CLR-111), where CAST will perform William Shakespeare's “Macbeth.” The performance had been scheduled to take place in the HCC Alumni Amphitheater, but was moved to the indoor location due to the threat of rain. Shows will be held at 3 and 8 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Student Activities Coordinator Heather Barnhart at 301-790-2800, ext. 225, or via email at hbbarnhart@hagerstowncc.edu .

Killer Frost is lurking. He's ready to pounce and lay waste to everything delicate thing in his path. When the frost warning aired last week, I was relieved that the tender plants that will be spending the winter in the house were already potted up and ready to haul inside. Getting them inside is one thing - finding a place for all of them is yet another. Over the years, I have resigned myself to the fact these tender babies will not really flourish in the house. So my goal has become to just keep them alive.

HAGERSTOWN -- Due to inclement weather, today's City Center Jazz Nights concert will be moved indoors to Bulls and Bears, 38 S. Potomac St., the City of Hagerstown announced. Carl Filipiak and Jimi Jazz are the featured artists in the first event in the free concert series, scheduled for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Filipiak, a native of Baltimore, has released seven critically acclaimed cd's and has published a highly celebrated book called "Rock-Fusion Improvising. " Carl Filipiak and the Jimi Jazz Band's latest album, "I Got Your Mantra," features eight original songs and two classic covers.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN Larry Hershman should have been on the football field Saturday night. He should have been roaming among high school marching bands that performed during the Harvest of Bands, critiquing their visual performance. Instead, he became a spectator when the competition was moved indoors because of rain. Since the bands had to perform in South Hagerstown High School's gymnasium, they were judged only on how they sounded, not on how they looked.

John Bailey took over for Cindy Mease as Williamsport's head indoor track coach this winter and the perennial-power Wildcats showed no signs of weakness. "With Coach Mease leaving, people might have thought things would be a little shaky, but it was a really good season," Williamsport senior standout Michael Lilley said. "Coach Bailey came in and nothing changed. The rules were the same, so were the expectations. "He's just a really awesome coach. Everybody peaked at the right time.

Orange cat lost in Big Pool Lost - Orange cat. Where - The cat is missing from its home on Ernstville Road in the Big Pool area. When - The cat has been missing since Oct. 24. Description - The male cat has short hair. It has a scar on its nose. It was not wearing a collar. It answers to the name Merle. The cat is about 5 years old. It normally remains indoors. Phone number - If you have seen this cat, call 301-842-2248.

erinc@herald-mail.com When temperatures dropped recently, people reached for winter coats and bulky sweaters. While they were bracing for the season's chilliest week, area police anticipated a change in criminal activity that usually accompanies cold weather. Hagerstown Police Department Sgt. Paul Kifer said it seems that snow, rain, low temperatures and inclement weather often reduce the number of incidents to which officers respond. Hagerstown Police do not keep statistics about weather's affect on crime, and Kifer based his statements on personal observation.

Abby Duncan has been almost as unbeatable indoors as she has been outdoors on the track - as expected, at least by most. “I always set high goals, but I never expect to win,” the Boonsboro junior said. “If I expect to win, I'll get beat.” Duncan, a four-time outdoor state champ competing indoors for the first time this winter, more than lived up to expectations Friday night at the ninth annual MVAL Antietam championships at Hagerstown Community College. She won the 55-meter dash in 7.46 seconds to remain undefeated in that event this season, and she also was victorious in the 300 (43.47)

andrewm@herald-mail.com The Middletown boys have a stud high jumper. Big surprise, huh? The Knights always seem to have a star there. Boris Roslov, however, has startled the local scene this season. The Knights junior, who leaped to an area-leading 6 feet, 6 inches to easily top the Dwight Scott Invitational field last weekend, has seemingly come out of nowhere. Six-6 was the winning jump at the Maryland 2A state meet last year. Yet, you won't find Roslov's name in any state or regional results from last season or the season before.

St. John's United Church of Christ in Clear Spring will host an indoor yard sale and bake sale during National Pike Days Saturday, May 18, from 7 a.m. to noon.  All proceeds will support the middle school youth group's fall fellowship conference. Car wash Also on Saturday, May 18, the Clear Spring High School girls soccer team will hold a car wash at the Clear Spring Creamery from noon to 4 p.m.  Vacation Bible school The Clear Spring Community Vacation Bible School will be held at St. John's United Church of Christ from June 10 to 14 for those ages 3 through eighth grade.  It will run from 9 to 11:45 a.m. each day with a picnic lunch on the final day.  To register, call the church at 301-842-2500.  Garden Club The Clear Spring Garden Club is sponsoring a backyard, self-guided garden tour of five homes Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The homes are on Cumberland Street.

Big surprise, Boonsboro's Becky Walter is The Herald-Mail's Washington County Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year again, earning the honor for the third straight year. She and her Warriors just continue to find ways to win. Boonsboro swept the boys and girls team titles at both the county and Maryland Class 1A West region championship meets. The girls went on to win their second straight state title, while the boys were state runners-up for the second straight year. The girls managed to prevail without star sprinter Abby Duncan, who was sidelined all winter with an injury.

Emily Ward spread her arms out high over her head and smiled gloriously as she reached the finish line a safe distance ahead of those pursuing her. The North Hagerstown junior finally was a state champion, and she couldn't have been more thrilled - or more relieved. After finishing a disappointing third at the Maryland Class 3A state meet on Feb. 19 in the 1,600-meter run - in a race in which she tripped, crashed to the track and had to fight her way back for bronze - Ward returned to the track later that evening for the 800-meter run. And she wasn't about to be denied this time, as she blasted away from the field in the second half of the race to capture her first state title in a personal-best time of 2:23.51.

It might seem like Boonsboro senior Josh Testa came out of nowhere in indoor track this year. In some ways, he did - just ask the Williamsport Wildcats. Testa overcame a seemingly insurmountable deficit on the final lap of the 800-meter run at the Washington County championships on Jan. 18 as he edged Williamsport's Cody Grams at the finish line for the victory. It was a four-point swing in a meet Boonsboro ultimately won by three points, 154-151, over the heavily favored Wildcats.

Fresh off their second straight Maryland Class 1A indoor track and field state title, the Boonsboro girls have their sights set on a third straight outdoor state title this spring. “We go into each season with pretty high expectations,” Warriors coach Becky Walter said. “We know what we want, and the only way to keep improving is to work toward that goal. “Just about everybody who competed for us at states indoors is back this spring,” she added. “And we have a few other new bodies who have some potential.” Boonsboro managed to prevail indoors without star sprinter Abby Duncan, who suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during soccer season early last fall.

Hagerstown Communtiy College sophomore Grant Smith won a national title in the shot put on Friday at the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Texas Tech University. Smith - who has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the shot put all season - threw the shot 56 feet, 10 3/4 inches to win the title by more than a foot. Coffeyville's Deondra Canaday finished second in 55-10 1/4. “I really didn't know what to do. I was at a loss for words,” said Smith. “The coaches were congratulating me and I was in total shock.

The Boonsboro boys had a solid showing Monday at the Maryland State Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex, winning Class 1A titles in three events and second- or third-place medals in seven others. However, the Warriors, who'd seemed poised to win their first team title, finished second for the second straight year. Pikesville defied pre-meet projections, holding off Boonsboro 110-103, while Smithsburg, last year's champion, finished third (54)

While North Hagerstown only had two athletes who qualified to compete at the Maryland Class 3A State Indoor Track & Field Championships, Emily Ward and Jason White clearly weren't just happy to be there Tuesday at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex. Both Hubs won state titles with personal-best performances - Ward in the girls 800-meter run and White in the boys pole vault. “Words don't describe it,” said Ward, who won in 2:23.51. “I'm so happy, I can't believe it, I can't believe I'm state champ.

Another state meet, another team title. The Boonsboro girls just keep on rolling. The Warriors successfully defended their Class 1A crown Monday at the Maryland State Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex, holding off runner-up Western Tech 111.5 to 94. The Boonsboro girls also are the two-time defending state champs in outdoor track. “It feels pretty good. They all feel good,” Boonsboro coach Becky Walter said. “Just doing it each year with different kids, it makes each one special.

Greencastle-Antrim High School will celebrate an important milestone Saturday when the school hosts its 25th indoor guard competition. Greencastle-Antrim's 25th annual Indoor Competition, hosted by the Keystone Indoor Drill Association, will begin at 3 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Sam Forney, high school band director, who started Greencastle's indoor guard in 1988, is hoping the community comes out to help celebrate the school's achievement. “It's very visual. There are 37 units performing on Saturday from schools all over the area,” Forney said.