Potomac Avenue

NOV. 19, 1936-SEPT. 30, 2009 Roland Thomas "Buck" Crabtree, 72, of Potomac Avenue, Hagerstown, died Sept. 30, 2009, at his home. Born Nov. 19, 1936, in Oldtown, Md., he was the son of the late Lee Arthur and Mary Ellen Gillium Crabtree. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962. He was previously employed with North Bay Distributors, and more recently with Turner Transportation and Miller Transportation. He is survived by two daughters, Diane M. Kline of Hagerstown and Serena J. Johnikin of Keedysville; three sons, Brian L. Crabtree of Fairfield, Pa., Steven L. Crabtree of Williamsport and Roland T. "RT" Crabtree Jr. of Boonsboro; one sister, Betty Smoke Hoffman of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

HAGERSTOWN -- The owner of the Longmeadow Shopping Center on the north end of Hagerstown plans to renovate the property over the course of the next three years, City Development Review Planner Stephen Bockmiller said. Bockmiller said the project is to start within the next year. The plan calls for, among other things, building a row of stores on the first floor of the former Sears building. He said the upper floor will be mothballed. "It's quite an impressive plan," Bockmiller said.

The following animals recently were found and taken to the Humane Society of Washington County. These animals may be made available for adoption after five days. Call 301-733-2060 for more information. Dogs Adult silky terrier, gray and beige, found on Potomac Avenue. Adult Shih Tsu, black and white, found in Clear Spring. Cats Adult DSH, gray and white, found on Potomac Avenue. Adult tortoiseshell, black and brown, found on Sharpsburg Pike.

The City of Hagerstown is planning to resurface five roads in the summer of 2006 and five more the following summer, according to a plan shown to the mayor and Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday. The 2006 projects are: Frederick Street from East Memorial Boulevard to Willow Circle North Prospect Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Church Street Virginia Avenue from West Howard Street to Park Circle West Wilson Boulevard from South Potomac Street to Summit Avenue Oak Hill Avenue from the CSX railroad tracks to Northern Avenue The 2007 projects are: Northern Avenue from Fountain Head Road to Potomac Avenue Westside Avenue from West Franklin Street to Salem Avenue North Locust Street from East Washington Street to Broadway East Antietam Street from South Cannon Avenue to South Cleveland Avenue Mitchell Avenue from Salem Avenue to North Burhans Boulevard City Engineer Rodney Tissue said the expected cost is $425,000 for the 2006 work and $275,000 for the 2007 work.

North End neighbors won a battle against development Tuesday when Hagerstown City Council members voted unanimously not to rezone land in that neighborhood for commercial use. GEMCO Development wants to rezone 14.5 acres at the northeast corner of Eastern Boulevard and Potomac Avenue that are zoned agriculture. About 40 neighbors attended a public hearing on Oct. 27 to oppose the rezoning. No private citizens testified in favor of it. Councilwoman Susan Saum-Wicklein said there was some illogic in saying the land isn't appropriate for commercial use since it is a small parcel next to a large parcel outside city limits that is zoned for commercial use. Still, Saum-Wicklein said she voted against rezoning the land to represent her constituents who were "unnerved" by the possibility of commercial development on that corner.

The annual milling and paving of Hagerstown roads will begin Monday, a week later than expected, said City Engineer Bruce Johnston. The contractor, L.W. Wolfe Enterprises Inc., was finishing another project, Johnston said. Only one lane may be open at times on the 14 streets to be paved, Johnston said. The work is expected to be done within four weeks. The contractor will mill all or parts of six roads first, including Potomac Avenue from the railroad tracks near Manila Avenue to Northern Avenue, city officials said.