Magic Show

HAGERSTOWN _ To follow Dean Burkett's sleight of hand, you almost needed a GPS. Rubber balls vanished within ripples of colorful cloths. Loose change appeared inside Coke bottles and a little abracadabra produced a rope out of thin air. It was a Saturday morning of magic at the Contemporary School of the Arts and Gallery in downtown Hagerstown --and it was difficult to tell who was having more fun, the children or the adults. The local magician invited members of the audience to participate in most of the illusions, which ranged from card tricks to pulling a rabbit out of a hat. In this case, the rabbit wasn't real, but was wooden.

Eight-year-old Noah Horton looked a bit nervous when entertainer Doc Swan asked him to come on stage to help with his next trick. Swan, who has performed professionally as a comedian, magician and musician for about 37 years, asked Noah to place his arm into a contraption with a large blade that looked like it could cut his hand off. On cue, Swan slammed the lever on the device down quickly, slicing several pieces of raw carrots that...

Two events were held recently at Contemporary School for the Arts and Gallery in Hagerstown. On Dec. 5, the gallery hosted an art reception for Mount Aetna Adventist Elementary School. The exhibit featured more than 20 pieces of art from young artists in a variety of mediums. James Pride, a seventh-grader, won the Best of Show award for his etching of a zebra. Second prize was awarded to Jeongsu Hong for his mosaic. Third prize went to Aubrey Benton for her painting of a clown.

Eric Buss has something up his sleeve. It's part of his job as a magician. But there's more to Buss than meets the eye. He's also an actor and comedian and admits to be pretty handy with power tools. Put all these talents together and - abracadabra! - you have a high-energy show of illusion, music, comedy and zany inventions. One minute, Buss will display an intriguing sleight of hand, and the next he will show off his Elvis impersonator skills or get laughs with a homemade stage prop.

Magic show to benefit Jordy By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Fourteen-year-old Ashley Bruneske isn't revealing the secret of how she conjures up a globe of light out of thin air. The amateur magician does tricks with the light, skills she's learned over years of practice that began when she was in the first grade and an aunt gave her a magic kit for a Christmas present. She kept her skills a secret until a couple of years ago, when she won the grand prize at a school talent show.

HAGERSTOWN - The magic was gone. One wanted to work it out, the other was not interested. And so in 1994, it ended. Charlie James said the local magic group, the King Magic Ring, had performed for years at The Maryland Theatre. "When the theater changed hands, they weren't interested in having us back," said James, a member of the group. Until this year, that is, when Brian Sullivan became executive director of The Maryland Theatre, and reignited the relationship. So it seemed almost poetic that Saturday's show, Festival of Magic, opened with a simulated bang of dynamite as part of the act. "We are very pleased to be back," James said.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - When the spotlight in Chambersburg's newly renovated Capitol Theatre fell on animated illusionist Ardan James, he appeared to be a mannequin. As he began to move, he looked more like a robot than a human. His jerky movements to perfectly synchronized music and his black-tie-and-tails gave his performance an air of unreality. Without speaking a word, James held the audience rapt throughout his act, the final one in the 16th Annual Comedy and Magic Spectacular.

Magic means money this weekend for two organizations in the Tri-State region. Proceeds from a touring magic show - with stops in Hagerstown and Chambersburg, Pa. - will go to the Washington County Child Advocacy Center, known as Safe Place, and the Chambersburg Exchange Club, said R.G. Smith, the show's producer and master of ceremonies. The two-hour show will be at The Maryland Theatre on Friday night; there will be two performances at The Capitol Theatre on Saturday. The featured magicians are: · Tony Chapek, who specializes in high-tech magic and comedy he calls "interactive media magic.

Washington County Recreation is hosting a Super Hero Party from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at Hagerstown Community College's Athletic, Recreation and Community Center gymnasium, off Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown. Children ages 9 and younger are invited to don costumes of their favorite superheroes. Highlights include a magic show, spending tokens in the "Bat Cave" and temporary superhero tattoos. Tickets cost $5 for 9 and younger; $2 for 10 and older. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Nickole Turner said the seventh annual Family Evening of Comedy & Magic at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown was a nice way to spend a Saturday night with her family. But the entertainment wasn't the only reason the mother of four attended the event. “I like that it sponsors Safe Place,” Turner said. All proceeds from the magic show benefited Safe Place, the Washington County Child Advocacy Center - an organization at 24 N. Walnut St. that investigates more than 200 cases of child sex abuse each year.

Eric Buss has something up his sleeve. It's part of his job as a magician. But there's more to Buss than meets the eye. He's also an actor and comedian and admits to be pretty handy with power tools. Put all these talents together and - abracadabra! - you have a high-energy show of illusion, music, comedy and zany inventions. One minute, Buss will display an intriguing sleight of hand, and the next he will show off his Elvis impersonator skills or get laughs with a homemade stage prop.

Homecoming weekend in Hancock is this weekend and the Panthers football team plays Friday at 7 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear their Panthers spirit buttons and Panthers bracelets (available at the school until Friday).  The Homecoming court will be announced at halftime and the queen, king and Alsatia princess will be crowned.  The homecoming dance, “A Sweet Night,” takes place Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m. Dress is semi-formal - ties and jackets for boys (no jeans) and gowns for girls.

1. John Brown's trial onstage in W.Va. "The Anvil: The Trial of John Brown"  will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept.  21, and Saturday, Sept. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at The Charles Town Courthouse, 100 E. Washington St., Charles Town, W.Va. Julia Davis' play of John Brown's trial will be presented at the site of the actual trial. Tickets are $15; $12 for those older than 60 years and younger than 20 years. Seating is limited. For reservations, call 304-876-1825. Email anviltickets@gmail.com . 2. Rockin' out with The Reagan Years Discovery Station HangarFest will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

The Hancock Fire Co. has an ongoing book sale on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Jim's Game Room on Main Street, across from Susquehanna Bank. Proceeds will support the fire company. Dance classes A new session of dance classes began at the Hancock Community Center Sept. 7. Classes continue Friday and each Friday thereafter. Two sessions are offered, including East Coast swing and country two-step from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and foxtrot and waltz (American Social)

The award-winning Hancock High School Panther Band is busily gearing up for the fall marching season. The band will take to the field to perform at half-time for upcoming home football games on both Friday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 21. The latter date is homecoming weekend. Look for the young musicians to lead the way to Widmeyer Park as they help launch Hancock's 36th Annual Canal-Apple Days Festival on Saturday morning, Sept. 29. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and proceeds west along Main Street to the park where two days of festivities are planned.

Waynesboro, Pa. A Fourth of July flag-raising ceremony will kick off Summer Jubilee in Waynesboro for the first time this year. The 9:30 a.m. ceremony will include patriotic songs performed by Waynesboro youth Hannah Richardson, according to Darrell Swart, a Summer Jubilee board member. Summer Jubilee, held on the field across from Waynesboro Hospital, also will feature a craft show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., a magic show, inflatable games and contests. About 600 people are expected for a one-mile children's fun run and Firecracker 5K, Swart said.

Final numbers are being tabulated for the 17th annual home show, but Eastern Panhandle Home Builders Association Executive Director David Hartley said he feels crowds were similar to those in past years. Organizers expected 55,000 visitors over the course of the weekend at the Martinsburg Mall. Hartley said the guests seemed to be motivated buyers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “I talked to a lot of the vendors, and they feel positive about the interest they got and the opportunities to do business,” he said.

Saturday Plus Nancy Robinson will present “Juliet Lowe” in honor of the Girl Scouts' 100th anniversary. 2 p.m. today. Discovery Station, 101 W. Washington St., downtown Hagerstown. Free with admission of $5 to $7; free for ages 3 and younger. Call 301-790-0076 or go to www.discoverystation.org . Home show Vendors and demonstrations dealing with home building. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday . Hagerstown Community College's Athletic Recreational Community Center, 11400 Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown.

More than 1,000 children and their families came through the Safe Place Child Advocacy Center to receive treatment for abuse last year. Safe Place Executive Director Mooch Mutchler said the high abuse rate was one of the reasons the organization held its 6th Annual Family Evening of Comedy Saturday night at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown. He said he hoped the event, which cost $20 per ticket, would raise close to $7,500. "It helps with all kinds of operating expenses," Mutchler said.