Port City Java

April is National Poetry Month and Washington County Free Library, in partnership with Port City Java, is sponsoring a Poetry Reading Night Tuesday, April 25, at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center. The library held a poetry workshop with Crystal Brown on April 8, and the participants in the workshop are invited to come and read their poetry at Port City Java. Poetry reading will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is open for anyone who wishes to share poetry appropriate for a family setting.

Port City Java will host open-mic music with Tommy Lancaster from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the shop at Long Meadow Shopping Center, Hagerstown. Call 301-790-5040.

Singers ages 15 to 19 are invited to audition for the 2012 Washington County Free Library Teen Idol Competition. Auditions will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center, off Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown. Auditions will also be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at in the Bon-Town court, Valley Mall, Valley Mall Road, Halfway. Visit Teens@Washington County Free Library for audition rule and guidelines at www.washcolibrary.org . For more information, call 301-739-3250, ext. 126.

Noon concert Wing & a Prayer will perform. Noon Thursday. University Plaza, downtown Hagerstown. Free. For information call 301-791-31332 or go to www.washingtoncountyarts.com . Open-mic music Tommy Lancaster will host an open-mic night for acoustic instruments and vocals. All ages welcome. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Port City Java, 1551 Potomac Ave., Longmeadow Shopping Center, Hagerstown. 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' Maryland Shakespeare Festival will present "The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Cary Smith, 15, has gone from stepping up to the mic with others in 2006 to performing solo sets, singing and playing guitar. Guitarist Brooks Binau, 19, and drummer Doug Grove, 23, released their first independent album, The Latte Roasted EP, last November and are playing a New York City bar this month. Cary and Binau have both gotten experience performing regularly in front of a crowd at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center, in Hagerstown's North End. Ever since the coffeehouse opened in October 2004, it has helped local amateur musicians get some experience in front of a mic and a crowd, says owner Vivienne Smith, who is not related to Cary Smith.

Port City Java Port City Java, a specialty coffee and espresso chain based in North Carolina, has announced the opening of its first full-service Maryland franchise in Hagerstown. The caf will be in the Long Meadow Shopping Center and is expected to open in early September. Port City Java offers artisan-roasted espresso as well as a wide variety of international coffees roasted daily at its North Carolina roastery. It also offers fruit smoothies, frappes, shakes and premium teas The caf also offers food items, including authentic Panini grilled sandwiches, wraps, fresh baked goods and salads.

Young singers will step to the microphone Saturday for the third annual Washington County Teen Idol competition. The event will start at 7 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. First prize is $1,000. The runner-up will receive $500. Ruth Curry, who is helping with the event, said 20 singers ages 15 to 19 will perform. The final group was chosen from 45 contestants at auditions at Valley Mall and Port City Java. "We believe we have some good talent," Curry said. Tickets are $10 apiece.

Singers ages 15 to 19 are invited to audition for the 2012 Washington County Free Library Teen Idol Competition. Auditions will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center, off Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown. Auditions will also be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at in the Bon-Town court, Valley Mall, Valley Mall Road, Halfway. Visit Teens@Washington County Free Library for audition rule and guidelines at www.washcolibrary.org . For more information, call 301-739-3250, ext. 126.

Singers ages 15 to 19 are invited to audition for the 2012 Washington County Free Library Teen Idol Competition. The Teen Idol Competition will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown. Tickets cost $10. Two auditions will be held. The first audition will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center, Leitersburg Pike, Hagerstown. The second audition will be at Valley Mall in the courtyard in front of The Bon Ton from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. For complete audition guidelines, go to www.washcolibrary.org or call 301-739-3250, ext. 126.

Happy Mother's Day Whatever your plans are this weekend, be sure to let your wife, mom, sister or auntie know how much you love them. And to my mom, aunties, sister and friends who are moms or "like" moms, I am wishing you a happy Mother's Day that is blessed beyond measure. Much love to you all. Still champion Youth wrestler Aaron Brooks won the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Association's Eastern National Championship on April 30 by pinning everyone in the first period on his way to the finals, which he won by a score of 7-0. Aaron did not give up any points in any of his matches.

Young singers will step to the microphone Saturday for the third annual Washington County Teen Idol competition. The event will start at 7 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. First prize is $1,000. The runner-up will receive $500. Ruth Curry, who is helping with the event, said 20 singers ages 15 to 19 will perform. The final group was chosen from 45 contestants at auditions at Valley Mall and Port City Java. "We believe we have some good talent," Curry said. Tickets are $10 apiece.

This is a partial list of upcoming entertainment at Tri-State-area bars and nightclubs that are open to the public. Private service organizations are not included. To be included, bands and clubs may send live music information at least one week in advance to Night Life, The Herald-Mail, P.O. Box 439, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or fax 301-714-0245; or send e-mail to sharons@herald-mail.com . Crisp, clear high-resolution photos are welcome. Today Open mic night 8 p.m. to midnight, Log Cabin Steakhouse Bar & Grill, 7536 Millstone Road, Hancock.

Disappearing signs In politics, just like in baseball, stealing signs is seen as out of bounds. Theft and vandalism have been happening lately in Washington County, people with the two major political parties said last week. Liz Jones, chairwoman of the Washington County for John McCain Campaign, said she knew of one large McCain sign set on fire, one stolen and one slashed to pieces. Those were 4-by-8-foot signs that cost $18 apiece, she said. Lawn signs, which cost $1.15 each, also were being stolen, said Jones, treasurer of the Washington County Republican Club.

Cary Smith, 15, has gone from stepping up to the mic with others in 2006 to performing solo sets, singing and playing guitar. Guitarist Brooks Binau, 19, and drummer Doug Grove, 23, released their first independent album, The Latte Roasted EP, last November and are playing a New York City bar this month. Cary and Binau have both gotten experience performing regularly in front of a crowd at Port City Java in Long Meadow Shopping Center, in Hagerstown's North End. Ever since the coffeehouse opened in October 2004, it has helped local amateur musicians get some experience in front of a mic and a crowd, says owner Vivienne Smith, who is not related to Cary Smith.

Why ban youths' musical activity? To the editor: So, what's a problem here in Hagerstown? A problem so iniquitous and urgent for action to be taken to stop it instantaneously and indefinitely? Apparently, it's providing a place for musicians of every age to gather and perform. Port City Java, a coffee house in the Long Meadow Shopping Center, has long been a common meeting spot of local musicians and music lovers on Thursday nights. "Well, not anymore," says the management of the shopping center, ceasing the weekly free concerts.

HAGERSTOWN - Complaints from some Long Meadow Shopping Center merchants about teenagers loitering outside Port City Java's open mic night have forced the coffee shop to pull the plug on its Thursday music program. "We've had some problems there with kids congregating Thursday night on shopping center property, banging on other store's windows ... It's gotten a little out of hand," Port City Java owner Vivienne Smith said. The shopping center's management on Tuesday asked Smith to "immediately" discontinue her shop's open mic night, which ran from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays.