New Board

By MARLO BARNHART Staff Writer A seed was planted years ago when a young man took a group of handicapped children to the Hagerstown City Park to watch others play...but only to watch. "We as a society had let these children down," said Mary Pearson, one of the originators of MiHi. Seems impossible but this year, MiHi is 10 years old. From humble beginnings, the organization has made amazing strides toward providing playground and picnic equipment that is accessible to all - children, the elderly and everyone in between.

laurae@herald-mail.com Strong opposition is threatening to sink the Washington County Delegation's proposed overhaul of the PenMar Development Corp. PenMar board members are urging residents to fight the legislation, which they said could hamper efforts to redevelop the former Fort Ritchie U.S. Army base. Delegation Chairman Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, said he's determined to move forward with the shake-up, which he and other local lawmakers deem critical to the future of the Cascade base that closed in 1998.

New tourism director says county's potential is unlimited By JULIE E. GREENE Staff Writer After almost losing his job shortly after being hired in June as head of Washington County's tourism office, Executive Director Ben R. Hart has settled in and is excited about local tourism's future. "I honestly believe our potential is so great it could almost be unlimited," said Hart, sitting in his 16 Public Square office on Friday afternoon. So as not to limit that potential, Hart and his employees at the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau have created a new tourism logo, which includes the slogan "Making Maryland Memories.

As the Washington County's General Assembly delegation and the board of PenMar Development Corp. battle over whether some of PenMar's newer members will be removed, one important player has been reduced to sitting on the sidelines. Lerner Enterprises, which has been in negotiation to be the "master developer" of the old Fort Ritchie Army base, has never been contacted by state officials about how the bill would affect ongoing talks. So said Kevin Rogers, the chief operating officer of Oak Hill Properties and an employee of Lerner, a 50-year-old company that has developed a ton a projects in the metropolitan Washington area.

Two years ago, when Walter Dill challenged Hagerstown to open an ice rink before one opened in nearby Waynesboro, Pa., he predicted this area could not support multiple rinks. "The first one that opens is going to be successful. The rest are going to crash," he said at the time. --cont from news -- Hagerstown opened last August, four months before the Waynesboro rink. But today it is Hagerstown's rink - not the one in Waynesboro - that has shaky finances. Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex is expected to lose roughly $100,000 in its first year, said Gary Wright, president of the nonprofit board that runs the rink.

Iraq, Inc. To the editor: I present some thoughts on a course of action that would benefit Iraq and, consequentially, the United States. I propose that, in the near future, a corporation be formed in Iraq that will, on the date of incorporation, assume ownership of all items pertaining to oil, including, but not limited to, production, transportation, refining, distribution and sales. And that it will assume responsibility for debt outstanding on that date. I further propose that on that date, at high noon, every living native-born Iraqi 18 years of age, or older, shall be eligible for one share of stock in the corporation and thereafter, every Iraqi attaining the age of 18 years shall be eligible for one share of stock.

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has announced its new Board of Trustees. The following new members have been elected to serve on the board: Gordon Cooley, regional president of PNC Bank, Western Maryland, based in Frederick, Md.; Jean Cushwa of Williamsport; John League, editor and publisher, The Herald- Mail Co.; Mary Anne Kamas of Hagerstown; Dr. William G. Plavcan of Hagerstown; Jeannette Rinehart of Hagerstown and Lee Stine of...

The Washington County Commissioners have appointed John F. Barr, president of Ellsworth Electric Inc., to the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission board of directors. As a representative from the City of Hagerstown, Barr's term will expire June 30, 2004. "His experience in construction and project management will bring a valuable skill set and perspective to our commission," EDC Executive Director Timothy R. Troxell said. "Plus, John (Barr) has firsthand knowledge of the importance and strength of our community's work force development programs.

Washington County Board of Education member Wayne Ridenour said he abstained from voting on personnel changes Tuesday night because he didn't think the School Board should have an attorney on staff. Ridenour was asked after the School Board's meeting why he abstained from voting on staff changes. The staff changes included appointing an assistant to the School Board's chief legal counsel, according to a School Board document. The position is a support position to the School Board's staff attorney, Ridenour said.

To the editor: For the past 13 years, Children's Village of Washington County Inc. has addressed safety issues in the community by providing a free life-safety education program for all second-grade students in Washington County. Students attending Children's Village come from public, private and home schools. Our program has been responsible for many success stories. To date, there have been 12 documented cases where children saved themselves or others using skills they learned at Children's Village.