Office Manager

Meghan Leather, a fourth-grader at Grace Academy, recently completed a "Heart to Serve" project that was developed to help the homeless animals at the Humane Society of Washington County. Her classmates in Marilyn Ruth's class as well as fourth-graders in Ellen Brown's class participated in the project which raised $73 for the shelter. The project was organized by Meghan, who took up a collection to help the animals. The staff at Grace Academy was very impressed with Meghan's initiative.

Health department names employee of the month Virginia Emerson has been named the Washington County Health Department's Employee of the Month for December. Emerson is a registered nurse who has been employed at the health department since 1977. She developed the Community Home Care Program, which provides personal care to homebound Department of Social Services clients. Subsequent to that, she participated in the Adult Evaluation and Review Services program, assessing the needs of elderly citizens with the intent of maximizing their independence and then transferred to the Home Health program, providing direct health care to clients in residential settings.

FAIRFIELD, PA. chambersburg@herald-mail.com A Fairfield woman who died Sunday after scuba diving off the coast of South Carolina was an avid and experienced diver who was dedicated to her family and career, her husband said Wednesday. Beth Ann Palmer Moore, 40, of 15 Polly Trail, collapsed Sunday afternoon after a dive about 38 miles off the coast, according to The Associated Press. Tamara Willard, a deputy corner in Horry County, S.C., told The Associated Press that Moore collapsed after the dive and was airlifted to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she was pronounced dead.

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers will have a grand opening Saturday for its new restaurant at 1719 Massey Blvd. in Hagerstown. The event is from noon to 4 p.m. and will include pony rides, face painting, a clown and a rock-climbing wall. The restaurant is managed by Mary Harshman, a 20-year veteran manager of Roy Rogers. Her team will include two managers and more than 20 associates. The Family Heritage Trust Co. Individuals, families, business owners, civic groups, charitable organizations and independent investment advisers in Washington County now have another option for trust and investment services.

Bell-ringers with buckets brought in thousands of dollars for Salvation Army chapters in the area this holiday season. The Hagerstown chapter raised more than $57,000, according to commanding officer Maj. Robert Henderson. That's 5 percent more than the group's $54,000 goal and about $7,000 more than last year. "We're really happy," Henderson said. "We're thankful to the Lord, our donors, the stores, churches, clubs, businesses and individuals for helping us ring that bell.

By JULIE E. GREENE Staff Writer Maryland Theatre officials have decided to hire an office manager and part-time technical director instead of another managing director, the theater board's president said Wednesday. The theater's managing director, Don Wiswell, resigned on April 11 after about a month on the job. Wiswell, who was part-owner of the Washington County Playhouse, resigned after becoming sole owner. After Wiswell resigned, board officials re-evaluated the theater's staffing needs and decided a part-time technical director was needed to help with large shows at the historic South Potomac Street theater, said Patricia Wolford, board president.

Charles "Chuck" Frederick Ford, 86, formerly of Fry Avenue in Hagerstown, passed from this life Tuesday, April 24, 2012, while in the loving care of NMS Healthcare. Born March 12, 1926 in Charles Town, W.Va., he was the son of the late Samuel R. and Zeluska Z. (Palmer) Ford. Chuck was a 1944 graduate of Hagerstown High School, after which he received an appointment to the United States Marine Cadet Corps. Following his basic training at Henderson Point in Mississippi, he was assigned aboard the SS Lacrosse for a six-month tour of duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean war zones.

Two historic Charles Town landmarks - the Old Opera House, a community theater, and the Spirit of Jefferson and Farmer's Advocate, a weekly newspaper - crossed paths recently in a property transfer. The theater company, at 204 and 206 N. George St., bought the newspaper building at 210 N. George St. When renovations are complete in the fall, the theater will have more space for stage productions, plus dance, music and acting education programs. There will be ample room for costume, prop and scenery storage, said Steven Brewer, managing and artistic director.

Each fall, 10th-graders across the country take the PLAN test, which is basically a precursor to the American College Test (ACT). The PLAN test measures skills and abilities related to high school course work in English, mathematics, reading and science. As I was recently reviewing my son's test scores, I was intrigued by a section on the score report titled "Your Career Possibilities. " A World-of-Work Map presented 26 career areas for students to consider. The "map" is set up as a wheel with four compass points:  Working with data  Working with things  Working with ideas  Working with people The areas between each point blend a mix of two skill areas.

Vanessa Hines of Fairplay has been appointed director of the Washington County Gaming Commission. Hines, 47, has been employed by the county since January 1990. She has worked as the office manager for the States' Attorney's Office since August 1995. She previously worked as an office associate for the Washington County Sanitary Authority. "I think she is going to do a fine job," said Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook. The County Commissioners made the appointment Tuesday.