Musical Instruments

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. ? The Morgan County Commission on Friday adopted an ordinance to stop excessive residential noise when it becomes a public nuisance. The ordinance, which goes into effect May 1, defines excessive noise levels in excess of 65 decibels occurring between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ordinance covers radios, televisions, musical instruments, parties and social events, power tools and equipment, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, and domestic animals such as barking dogs.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Twenty municipalities gathered Wednesday for the first meeting of the Franklin County Council of Governments with plans to tackle a broad range of regional issues. Franklin County Commissioner Bob Thomas, who was elected chairman of the council, said everyone was pleased with the countywide representation. Wednesday's agenda included a report on the Franklin County Drug Task Force, which each municipality financially supports, a presentation from the county Emergency Management Agency and discussion about a legislative forum this spring.

The Mountain Man is gone. After more than 40 years, the image of a West Virginia blacksmith hammering on an anvil that graced the sign promoting the Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival has been replaced by a new image showing an impressionistic mountain range. ”We wanted to update things a little bit, get a new look,” said Heather Morgan McIntyre, executive director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce which has been sponsoring the festival for 41 years. The event attracts about 7,000 patrons to a large vacant field near Harpers Ferry every June and September, McIntyre said.

HCC Foundation art benefit Paintings by R. Benjamin Jones will be on display at Hagerstown Community College Foundation's art benefit. Raffle tickets cost $20 each, and are available for a chance to win an original painting by Jones. Today, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kepler Theater, Hagerstown Community College, Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. Call Lieba Cohen at 301-790-2800, ext. 213, or send e-mail to cohenl@hcc.cc.md.us . Singer Society's Treasure Sale Thousands of new and used items including furniture, pottery, glassware, holiday goods, rugs, silver, statuary and more.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday decided against taking action on a proposed law to control excessive noise after a local audiologist said the law does not go far enough to control noise. In their proposed noise law, the commissioners are seeking to control noise that would be the equivalent of 65 decibels or louder. A small orchestra produces a noise level of about 70 decibels, said Martinsburg audiologist Michael J. Zagarella, who spoke during a public hearing on the law. Zagarella said he has examined many noise ordinances used in other areas and most of them limit noise to 45 decibels.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Some county residents believed several years ago that Jefferson County officials were going to extremes by considering a law controlling barking dogs, but other residents continue to complain about the problem, a county official said Sunday. A couple of families have written letters to the county commission recently pushing for a barking dog law in the county, according to Jefferson County Commission member Rusty Morgan. Morgan said such laws are becoming common in other areas and the commissioners again are considering passing a law that would set up a system of fines for people who let their dogs bark excessively.

The Beaver Creek School Museum opened for the season on April 1. The historic 1904 two-room school building will be open every Sunday through Nov. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum re-creates a typical old-fashioned school room. It also displays a wide variety of late 19th-century and early 20th-century items reflecting elements of life in Washington County. Highlights of the museum include a re-created workshop with a large number of tools; a cobbler's station with tools and wooden foot forms; a sleigh and several wooden children's sleds; exhibits of vintage toys and dolls; several military uniform items; women's clothing, especially hats; several musical instruments, including an 1840s hand-crank organ and a 1911 Edison record player; a large stove manufactured in Hagerstown; and a re-creation of an early 1900s parlor.

dank@herald-mail.com Hundreds of artisans and thousands of patrons came from far and wide to this weekend's 31st annual spring Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival. The festival continues today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sam Michaels' Park. "This is one of the biggest festivals," said Dennis Burcell, 49, of Salem, Mo., who has been selling wooden baskets at similar festivals for 18 years. "They have a lot of people come, and the people, they have a great appreciation for art and what you do," said Winton Eugene, 57, of Cowpens, S.C., who was selling his pottery for the sixth year at the festival.

Jamal Koram's roots as a storyteller come from many places. As a child, he would listen to the adults in his family spin yarns at the dinner table. Teachers and friends exposed him further to different cultures and traditions. A professional storyteller for almost 20 years, Koram used these influences to form his own style, which uses song, music and inflection to tell stories and morality lessons to children and adults worldwide. He makes about 100 appearances a year at concerts, festivals and by special arrangement, he said.

HAGERSTOWN -- Friday was for looking. Today is for buying. More than 100 people went to Washington County Museum of Fine Arts on Friday for a preview of today's Singer Society treasure sale. Sofas, musical instruments and games filled one room. Jewelry, neckties and scarves were in another. Vases, plates and paintings were spread and hung in a room where concerts are held. Jody Long, the Singer Society's president, promised a wealth of bargains. The Singer Society is the museum's volunteer organization.