Market House

To stay within a $150,000 budget, the Hagerstown City Council agreed Tuesday to scale back the scope of work planned at the Market House on West Church Street. The installation of a new heating system has been moved to the next fiscal year, and M.S. Johnston Inc. instead will focus on installing a new air conditioning system by next summer.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- The Martinsburg City Council on Thursday is expected to formally approve a lease agreement to bring a Mexican restaurant to the city's historic market house building downtown. A six-page agreement signed by Charlotte Zawacki of Habanero Mexican Grill Inc. and City Manager Mark Baldwin was included with the agenda for Thursday's regular meeting. The proposed lease charges the restaurant $994 per month for 1,704 square feet of first-floor space at 100 N. Queen St., in the first year of the agreement.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- By a 5-1 vote, the Martinsburg City Council on Thursday adopted an amended version of an ordinance that prohibits individuals from carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon in any building that is city-owned, leased or under the municipality's control. In addition to City Hall, the restriction applies to the historic Market House building, the city's train station and buildings in parks deeded to the city. The amendment to the ordinance only exempted the gun carrying restriction from being enforced "on any public property," to avoid any confusion about being applied to sidewalks and streets.

Hagerstown to use grant to buy radios The City of Hagerstown will use a federal grant and money from the Washington County government to purchase 62 portable radios for the city fire department. The Hagerstown City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to appropriate $173,394 to purchase the radios. The price includes accessories, vehicle chargers and installation. Hagerstown Fire Chief Gary Hawbaker said Wednesday the radios will be purchased from Motorola through Washington County Radio Communications Maintenance.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Martinsburg City Council members Thursday night voted unanimously in favor of painting a mural on the side of the city-owned Market House, bringing the project one step closer to fruition. Main Street Martinsburg members selected the mural "The Lonesome Touch" out of three proposals. The mural, to be done by Maryland artist William Cochran, will depict two violinists and a carpenter in two recessed arches on the Burke Street side of the building.

Volunteers are needed to help with trash pickup along the C&O Canal in three locations Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Locations include Fort Duncan, near Harpers Ferry, W.Va., at Pleasantville, Md.; Dam 4 near Big Slackwater; and Little Tonoloway near Hancock. Volunteers may prune vegetation and remove debris at any one of the above locations. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, dress for the weather, bring work gloves, and come prepared to get a little wet or dirty. Trash bags will be provided on site.

HAGERSTOWN -- An attempted first-degree murder charge and an attempted second-degree murder charge were dropped Thursday against Jason Scott Marquart, 34, of Hagerstown, in connection with a Sept. 22 stabbing of another man in a downtown alley to the rear of 25 W. Church St., according to Washington County District Court records. But Judge Mark D. Thomas found probable cause to send charges of first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and a dangerous weapon charge in the case to Washington County Circuit Court, according to court records.

by Ric Dugan / staff photographer see the enlargement by clicking on the image Connie McGown and her daughter, Michelle, started making crafts last year for Christmas gifts. The hobby quickly grew, and with prodding from Michelle, the Hope Avenue family decided to take it to another level this year. The Easter arts and crafts show at the Hagerstown Farmers Market on West Church Street Sunday provided the perfect opportunity for the McGowns to showcase their work for the first time.

Getting a ticket in the City of Hagerstown - and paying it - has become a point of pride for at least one city councilwoman. "The mayor and I each received a ticket and we were doing city business," Councilwoman Penny M. Nigh said Tuesday during closing comments at the council's work session. Nigh said she and Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II went to a city board of public safety meeting recently, and both were given tickets for parking at expired meters at the Market House. She noted she and Bruchey each paid their $10 tickets.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Only one of Martinsburg's five City Council ward seats on the ballot in Tuesday's municipal election is a contested race. Democrat Jason W. Baker of 735 W. John St. and Republican Dennis J. Etherington of 501 Georgia Ave. have been campaigning for the support of a little more than 2,100 registered voters in precincts 8 and 9 of Ward I. Baker, 25, said he would advocate for a farmer's market that would operate Friday through...

HAGERSTOWN --The first 1,000 fans to arrive at the Hagerstown Suns' July 24 home game will receive a bobblehead of Little Heiskell, the German soldier weathervane figure that has become a symbol of Hagerstown, officials said Monday morning. The bobblehead giveaway, sponsored by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the fifth in a series that has featured Gen. George Washington, author Nora Roberts, MSO Music Director Elizabeth Schulze and Gen. Abner Doubleday.

HAGERSTOWN -- An attempted first-degree murder charge and an attempted second-degree murder charge were dropped Thursday against Jason Scott Marquart, 34, of Hagerstown, in connection with a Sept. 22 stabbing of another man in a downtown alley to the rear of 25 W. Church St., according to Washington County District Court records. But Judge Mark D. Thomas found probable cause to send charges of first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and a dangerous weapon charge in the case to Washington County Circuit Court, according to court records.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The side of a brick building in downtown Martinsburg that was the focal point of a mural controversy six years ago is being considered for another art project this summer. For the five Friday nights in July, the side of 124 S. Queen St. might serve as the backdrop for bands playing and movie watching if Main Street Martinsburg receives final approval from City Council and others involved in the project, Main Street Executive Director Randy Lewis said Monday.

Hagerstown to use grant to buy radios The City of Hagerstown will use a federal grant and money from the Washington County government to purchase 62 portable radios for the city fire department. The Hagerstown City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to appropriate $173,394 to purchase the radios. The price includes accessories, vehicle chargers and installation. Hagerstown Fire Chief Gary Hawbaker said Wednesday the radios will be purchased from Motorola through Washington County Radio Communications Maintenance.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- By a 5-1 vote, the Martinsburg City Council on Thursday adopted an amended version of an ordinance that prohibits individuals from carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon in any building that is city-owned, leased or under the municipality's control. In addition to City Hall, the restriction applies to the historic Market House building, the city's train station and buildings in parks deeded to the city. The amendment to the ordinance only exempted the gun carrying restriction from being enforced "on any public property," to avoid any confusion about being applied to sidewalks and streets.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- The Martinsburg City Council on Thursday is expected to formally approve a lease agreement to bring a Mexican restaurant to the city's historic market house building downtown. A six-page agreement signed by Charlotte Zawacki of Habanero Mexican Grill Inc. and City Manager Mark Baldwin was included with the agenda for Thursday's regular meeting. The proposed lease charges the restaurant $994 per month for 1,704 square feet of first-floor space at 100 N. Queen St., in the first year of the agreement.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Only one of Martinsburg's five City Council ward seats on the ballot in Tuesday's municipal election is a contested race. Democrat Jason W. Baker of 735 W. John St. and Republican Dennis J. Etherington of 501 Georgia Ave. have been campaigning for the support of a little more than 2,100 registered voters in precincts 8 and 9 of Ward I. Baker, 25, said he would advocate for a farmer's market that would operate Friday through...

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- Only one of Martinsburg's five City Council ward seats on the ballot in Tuesday's municipal election is a contested race. Democrat Jason W. Baker of 735 W. John St. and Republican Dennis J. Etherington of 501 Georgia Ave. have been campaigning for the support of a little more than 2,100 registered voters in precincts 8 and 9 of Ward I. Baker, 25, said he would advocate for a farmer's market that would operate Friday through Sunday between the Easter and Thanksgiving holidays, more police bicycle patrols through neighborhoods, recreational use of the water-filled quarry off West Martin Street known as Lake Thomas, and completion of other ongoing projects, such as the Raleigh Street Extension.

To stay within a $150,000 budget, the Hagerstown City Council agreed Tuesday to scale back the scope of work planned at the Market House on West Church Street. The installation of a new heating system has been moved to the next fiscal year, and M.S. Johnston Inc. instead will focus on installing a new air conditioning system by next summer.