Photos

Name of business: Michelle Masser Photography Owner: Michelle Masser Address: 13110 Orchid Drive, Hagerstown (home-based office and studio) Opening date: March 15 Products and services: Custom lifestyle portraits, gallery wrap canvases, fine art photography prints, coffee table albums, custom-designed proof boxes and display accordion books. Market area: Anyone desiring to have their unique life story captured through the medium of photography.

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The opening of an exhibit of photos by Sterling "Rip" Smith was held Jan. 16 at the Contemporary School of the Arts and Gallery Inc. in downtown Hagerstown. He has won numerous awards in the region for his photography.

Bears, foxes and raccoons are cute, but, wisely, these Tri-State-area photographers snapped them from a distance. Wild animals are not tame pets. We frequently feature readers' photos on this weekly photo page. So we're looking for the best recent photographs from the Tri-State area. This is a chance for amateur photographers to share their best images. Send us a variety of subjects. Avoid family portraits, posed scenes or news photos. And please help us avoid repetition.

Sitting on Santa's lap and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle might just make Christmas that much more special for some area boys and girls this holiday season. A $5 donation to the Community Rescue Service child safety-seat program will result in just such an opportunity Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Denny's Restaurant, 1630 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. A photograph, which will be in a holiday frame, can be taken with either Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus on the Harley of the donor's choice.

Click here to view and/or purchase photos from the Home Town Guide .

Skyla and Janai Heise of Hagerstown are shown with their photos that won ribbons at the Maryland State Fair. The girls are members of SunLight 4-H. Skyla won a junior champion ribbon. She also captured a fourth-place ribbon with another photo. Janai won a first-place ribbon and a third-place ribbon for her photos.

Meritus Medical Center officials say they will discuss concerns over a ban on photographing and videotaping deliveries with the committees that helped create the policy. Meritus spokeswoman Mary Rizk said Thursday that decision was the outcome of a meeting between staff members from the Women and Children's Services Center and two women from Cascade who started an online petition challenging the hospital's policy. The policy permits photos and video only after the delivery, once the medical team has determined it to be safe.

Photos from Church of the Apostles during the Pa. primary election.