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The Washington County Economic Summit, featuring economic forecaster Anirban Basu, will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown. Basu will discuss economic trends, what's expected in the future and how economic factors will affect local businesses, according to a Chamber news release. Basu is chief executive officer of Optimal Solutions Group in Baltimore and teaches international economics at Towson University. He applies economic and public policy theory to issues facing business, government and nonprofit organizations.

U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg recently sentenced Robert Gene Harris, 29, of Chambersburg, Pa., to 10 1/2 years in prison for conspiracy to commit armed robberies of a bank and pharmacies, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Legg also ordered Harris to be under supervised release for three years after his prison term and to pay restitution of $14,925. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore City State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III. The news release cited the plea agreements of Harris and his co-conspirators - Ernest Widener, Freddie Douglas Widener, Richard Adams and Lacy Varner.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- After a bank south of Hagerstown was robbed Friday, police were hunting for a gray sport-utility vehicle. The SUV that Washington County Sheriff Douglas W. Mullendore stopped turned out to be the right one, police said. Two men were in the vehicle -- one who allegedly stole money and one who allegedly drove them away from the scene, Maryland State Police Trooper 1st Class Scott Bare said. The men were identified as Juan Jamal Johnson, 37, of 236 Rubens Circle, Martinsburg, W.Va.

Accused armed robber Anthony John Holliman told police he targeted the M&T Bank in Clear Spring Tuesday because he needed money to pay off New York drug dealers who were threatening him, Washington County District Court records said. Holliman, 24, of no fixed address, was being held at the Washington County Detention Center Wednesday night in lieu of $250,000 bond. Moments after the 10:30 a.m. robbery, the suspect's vehicle was pursued by a citizen and then police who apprehended him after forcing the car to crash near the Interstate 70/81 interchange.

M&T Bank Scott W. Clark , administrative vice president at M&T Bank, has been named M&T securities market manager for Maryland. Clark, who joined M&T in 1994, will be responsible for the Maryland securities markets in addition to the Pennsylvania markets he already managed. He will work closely with the retail regional managers to ensure a consistent approach to the investment and insurance sales process throughout the mid-Atlantic markets. Clark, who will manage more than 140 licensed securities brokers working throughout M&T's Maryland and Pennsylvania branch network, has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.

HAGERSTOWN -- Ruth Bikle was dancing up the aisle Friday night at the Cabin Fever Blues Bash, a fundraiser and a preview to this spring's Western Maryland Blues Fest. Bikle was with her fiancé, Michael Keefer, at the bash, held from 8 to 10 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. Keefer loves the blues, and goes to all the Blues Fests, he said. "It's the chance to enjoy yourself and let yourself loose," Keefer said. The 13th annual Western Maryland Blues Fest is scheduled for May 30 to June 1. "People love a good party," said Carl Disque, Blues Fest founder and event chair.

Thanks to all who assisted with festival To the editor: Despite a soggy start to the 29th Annual Mercersburg (Pa.) Townfest, the sun came out, more than 5,000 people attended and enjoyed the vendors lining East and West Seminary Street, the family entertainment, games, and pony rides at Kids Corner, local bluegrass band Hickory Ridge in the square and the Fall Festival at First United Methodist Church. Thank you to everyone who facilitated this success: Event Sponsor - M&T Bank, Entertainment Sponsors - F&M Trust and First National Bank of Mercersburg and Community Sponsors - Franklin County Visitors Bureau, First United Methodist Church, Waste Management, Bell Insurance, D.L. Martin Co., Carl D. Pedersen, D.D.S.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - M&T Bank recently presented a $2,500 check to Renfrew Institute in support of the institute's farmstead interpretive program "Four Squares: The Pennsylvania German Garden. " During this two-hour program, students are introduced to the four-square garden and its importance in the lives of the Pennsylvania Germans of the 1800s. They also learn the significance of the four-square garden design. Hands-on activities involve students in seasonal garden tasks, including planting, watering, sorting and harvesting.

The Hagerstown Police Department is looking for a man who robbed the M&T Bank at 32 N. Potomac St. Friday afternoon. Hagerstown Police Sgt. Rebecca Fetchu said a man, believed to be unarmed, entered the bank at about 2:55 p.m. Friday and demanded money. After being given an undisclosed amount of money, the man fled on foot, Fetchu said. No weapon was used by the man, and he did not make any threats to use one, she said. Officers from the Hagerstown Police Department, the Maryland Division of Correction, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and a Maryland State Police trooper were on the scene.

A man robbed the M&T Bank branch at 10721 Fairway Lane near Hagerstown on Saturday morning, Sgt. Chris Howard of the Washington County Sheriff's Department said. The robbery occurred at 10:30 a.m., Howard said. There were no customers in the bank at the time and no employees were injured, he said. The man presented a note to employees demanding money, then fled on foot toward a housing development behind the bank, Howard said. The robber, who did not display a weapon, took an undisclosed amount of cash, Howard said.