Marketing Director

HANCOCK -- The Town of Hancock recently hired a part-time marketing director, Mayor Daniel A. Murphy announced at Wednesday's Hancock Town Council meeting. T.R. Weaver will serve as the town's economic development and promotions specialist. Weaver's hiring was the result of work done by a town committee looking into the revitalization of the town. "We needed to hire a pro to help us with the marketing of the Town of Hancock," Murphy said. Weaver, who lived in Hagerstown until moving to Berkeley County, W.Va.

Aéropostale Inc. will open its newest children's store, P.S. from Aéropostale, on Friday at Valley Mall. The store will be between Radio Shack and Justice, Valley Mall marketing director Michele Wills said Thursday. P.S. from Aéropostale offers clothing and accessories for girls and boys ages 4 to 12, and has 72 stores in 21 states, according to a press release from the company.

Area residents can take their pets to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus at two area malls. Valley Mall will hold pet night with Santa on Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., according to Julie Simmons, marketing director. Those who participate will get a digital 8-by-11 inch color picture of Santa Claus with their pet that night, Simmons said. The costs begin at $10.95 with other offers available. "Half of that goes to the Washington County SPCA, which will be on hand to talk with people about adopting pets," Simmons said.

In the top photo, from left, Bill and Rosalyn Suffecool and Shirley Logue are shown at the Lawrence Welk Resort in San Diego. During their stay, they saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum at Balboa Park. The scrolls are ancient biblical manuscripts that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet, Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. They are more than 1,000 years older than any previously known copies of the Hebrew Bible.

By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Bill Bork Jr. has racing in his blood. Bork started last week as the new marketing director for Charles Town Races. His father is president of Penn National, the track's new owner. Like his father, Bork, 28, has spent his life around horse tracks up and down the East Coast. "I remember being put on a horse in a winner's circle when I was 5," Bork said. Race tracks are a different sort of place, Bork said.

Julie Simmons and Bill Ross have joined the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County. Simmons, marketing director of Valley Mall, will serve on the resource development and marketing committee. Ross, director of distribution for Staples in the mid-Atlantic region, will serve on the resource development and marketing committee. Buck Browning, director of operations, recently completed the National Training Associates program for Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Atlanta and will serve as a consultant for other clubs.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The coins finally began to jingle Saturday afternoon at the Charles Town Races after an electrical problem last week temporarily delayed implementation of the new coin-operated slot machines. The first set of 65 of the new slot machines went operational at noon Saturday, three days later than planned. All of the electrical problems that cropped up on Dec. 1 have been resolved, according to Bill Bork Jr., marketing director at the racetrack. A grand opening ceremony is planned when the racetrack's temporary slot facility with 500 more machines is opened, Bork said.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission's marketing director and its administrator say they are leaving their jobs, but for different reasons. Tom Riford, the commission's marketing director, is leaving to become a chief operating officer of Register-Free, a Hagerstown-based subsidiary of Name Engine Inc, an Internet domain name registration company based in New York City. His last day with the county is May 5. Meanwhile, Corey Stottlemyer, the commission administrator, is leaving the county job in July to pursue a master's degree at Johns Hopkins University.

The Herald-Mail embarked on two projects in May that use new technology and take advantage of our relationship with our sister company in Hagerstown, Antietam Cable. We have begun a new publication introduced in the South County-Boonsboro-Sharpsburg area called Washington County Living (WCL). It's available for free at dozens of retail outlets in southern Washington County, and delivered to nonsubscribers of The Herald-Mail in that area. It is accompanied by a Web site by the same name - washingtoncountyliving.

Washington County hit a record low jobless rate of 2.6 percent in November 1999, according to Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation figures released Friday. The low rate - a decline of two-tenths of a percentage point from October 1999 - mainly reflects strong seasonal retail hiring and few layoffs in the construction industry thanks to mild weather, said Bruce Massey, unemployment insurance supervisor at the labor department's Hagerstown office. The county's jobless rate was 3.4 percent in November 1998, according to labor department figures.

Robert E. Bruchey II, the former mayor of Hagerstown, has been hired by the Hagerstown Suns as Director of Sales, Marketing and Community Affairs, a team official confirmed Monday. “(Bruchey) comes from an extensive sales background and brings a vast knowledge of the local business community,” Suns general manager Bill Farley said in an email. “We expect him to help increase revenues in both sponsorships and company/group outings. We are looking forward to a great 2013 season.” Bruchey, a vocal supporter of the club and champion of a proposal to build a multiuse stadium to house the team in downtown Hagerstown during his final year in office, served as mayor from 2006 until he was ousted in the 2012 election by current Mayor David S. Gysberts.

Aéropostale Inc. will open its newest children's store, P.S. from Aéropostale, on Friday at Valley Mall. The store will be between Radio Shack and Justice, Valley Mall marketing director Michele Wills said Thursday. P.S. from Aéropostale offers clothing and accessories for girls and boys ages 4 to 12, and has 72 stores in 21 states, according to a press release from the company.

The second annual Birthday Ball will be hosted locally by the Marine Corps League on Saturday, Nov. 5, at AMVETS Post 10 on Frederick Street in Hagerstown. The guest speaker will be Maj. Stewart Hickey USMC (Ret.), a 22-year veteran who recently became the national executive director of AMVETS in Washington, D.C. Activities will include a banquet, cake cutting and awards presentation. Music will be provided by The Holders.   Tickets cost $16 per person or $30 per couple.

Valley Mall Michele Wills has joined Valley Mall as marketing director. Wills will oversee all marketing operations for the mall, including events, promotions, advertising and public relations. Before joining Valley Mall, Wills served as marketing director/vice president for The Herald-Mail Co. She also has served as program director of the Washington County Commission on Aging, program director of the American Heart Association and executive director of the Homebuilders Association of Washington County.

Hancock to hold town pride and cleanup day HANCOCK -- Hancock will hold a "Hancock Pride and Cleanup Day" on May 9 as part of its community revitalization effort, the town's marketing director, T.R. Weaver Sr., said Wednesday. Weaver said he would try to arrange to have a trash bin in one of the town's centrally located alleys and make a power sprayer available. The event would last from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., he said. If nothing else, he said he hoped property owners would take the opportunity to take some window cleaner and paper towels and clean their storefront windows.

HANCOCK -- The Town of Hancock recently hired a part-time marketing director, Mayor Daniel A. Murphy announced at Wednesday's Hancock Town Council meeting. T.R. Weaver will serve as the town's economic development and promotions specialist. Weaver's hiring was the result of work done by a town committee looking into the revitalization of the town. "We needed to hire a pro to help us with the marketing of the Town of Hancock," Murphy said. Weaver, who lived in Hagerstown until moving to Berkeley County, W.Va.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Mary Anne Burke has been appointed executive director of the Washington County Arts Council, Donna Newcomer, president of the board of directors, said Monday in a prepared release. Burke has served as the interim director since October, replacing former Executive Director Kevin Moriarty. Burke's fundraising and leadership experience has included the Maryland Symphony Orchestra; the Washington County Free Library; the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts; Leadership Washington County; and Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley, the release says.

The Herald-Mail embarked on two projects in May that use new technology and take advantage of our relationship with our sister company in Hagerstown, Antietam Cable. We have begun a new publication introduced in the South County-Boonsboro-Sharpsburg area called Washington County Living (WCL). It's available for free at dozens of retail outlets in southern Washington County, and delivered to nonsubscribers of The Herald-Mail in that area. It is accompanied by a Web site by the same name - washingtoncountyliving.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) announced Wednesday that Burlington Coat Factory has signed an agreement to open a 70,000-square-foot store at Chambersburg Mall in Scotland, Pa. Construction has begun in the space formerly occupied by Value City, and the new retailer is scheduled to open in late August, according to a news release. Burlington Coat Factory operates more than 394 stores in 44 states, and sells coats, apparel, shoes, and accessories for the entire family.