Landscaping

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back -- through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others -- at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about Rupert Cuneen, who died June 14 at the age of 84. His obituary was published in the June 16 edition of The Herald-Mail. When World War II ended, Rupert "Rupe" Cuneen boarded a train with every intention of returning to his Wisconsin home.

Tonya Racanelli and Scott Shade of Shepherdstown, W.Va., finish landscaping at Shepherd University just before the rain falls Tuesday afternoon.

A series of workshops to help homeowners learn to design their own landscapes will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 13 through April 2. The workshops are taught by Franklin County Master Gardeners. They will all be held at the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in the basement meeting rooms at 181 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg, Pa. The cost is $40 for the series. Stop by the extension office to register or call 717-263-9226 to reserve your spot in the workshops.

Company to install radio equipment BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Custom Computers and Communications will provide and install radio equipment to improve emergency communications in Morgan County after the county commission unanimously approved its bid for the project at Friday's commission meeting. Two homeland security grants totaling more than $460,000 recently were awarded to the county for the improvements. The Augusta, W.Va., firm will receive $251,822 for radio equipment and installation for nonlaw-enforcement agencies such as OES, the 911 Center, Emergency Medical Services and fire departments.

Acrylic landscape painting classes will be held at Contemporary School of the Arts & Gallery Inc. on Saturdays, Dec. 15 and Dec. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class will be taught by Lou Murray. The class costs $15 per session and will be held at the gallery at 4 W. Franklin St. in Hagerstown. For more information, call 301-791-6191 or e-mail ronlytle3@netzero.net .

HAGERSTOWN - Hagerstown officials want to beautify four high-traffic areas across town to send a positive message to motorists entering the city. The matter is scheduled to be discussed this afternoon during the Hagerstown City Council's work session. Cindy Blackstock, city community development coordinator, said city staff will propose landscaping Prospect Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue, three traffic islands on Eastern Boulevard near Potomac Avenue, East Franklin Street at Cannon Avenue and two traffic islands at Virginia Avenue and Wilson Boulevard.

A new course focusing on a successful plan for growing woody ornamental trees and shrubs will be held at Hagerstown Community College on Mondays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sandy Scott, a retired Washington County horticulture consultant and educator, will instruct students on the proper planning, selecting and caring for woody ornamental trees and shrubs. Scott will help students plan for a beautiful landscape with the right foundation of plants and shrubs. Cost for the course is $35. To learn more and to register, call HCC's Center for Continuing Education at 301-790-2800, ext. 236.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - The view from the milking parlor at Valentia Farm does not mirror the view of the dairy farm itself: Vast grass fields speckled with lazy cattle are offset by three silos, a red barn, a modest house and a truck that kicks up dust as it rolls slowly past the tidy supply buildings. There was a day when farmer Earl Grove could look out on a similar landscape as he prepared to milk his cattle. But for more than 10 years, the view from his milking parlor has been Cross Creek Development, a cluster of nearly 200 two-story houses with siding and decks.

Name of business: Family Tree Re-Wholesale Nursery Owner: Becky Evans Address: 9915 Garis Shop Road, Hagerstown, Opening date: March 21 Products and services: "We will provide quality plant material at reasonable prices, including a large selection of dwarf flowering trees, long-blooming shrubs and hardy evergreen screening plants. We will also carry perennials, planting supplies and mulch. "Customers will benefit from free plantscaping design services and, if desired, fast plant installation services by some of the area's finest family-owned landscaping companies.