Potomac

Potomac Heights Elementary School saluted 12 students in December for exemplifying the character traits of caring students. The students were rewarded with lunch, including ice cream sundaes, at the “Golden Table” with counselor Jacklyn Kinzer. Honored students included Chloe McArthur, Owen McChesney, Thomas Hudak, Hayden Winnings-Hall, Ava Hainline, Anna Boyer, Brooke Keller, Katie Getz, Hunter Keller, Lexi Cabrera, Annie Goble and Alyssa Hines.

Julie M. Barr-Strasburg, community chapter executive of the Washington and Western Potomac Edison chapters of the American Red Cross, Chesapeake Region, presented David Kline, external affairs manager for Potomac Edison, with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of outstanding financial support to assist with efforts to aid Marylanders affected by Hurricane Sandy. The FirstEnergy Foundation contributed $10,000 to the Red Cross of the Chesapeake Region. The foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp., parent company of Potomac Edison.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will offer a special winter program for children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Yankauer Nature Preserve in Berkeley County, W.Va. The event will be for children ages 6 to 9. The program, called "Winter Dens," will help youngsters learn how animals stay warm in winter. The cost is $5 per child. Enrollment is limited to ensure that all children receive personal attention. To register or for more information go to the PVAS website at www.potomacaudubon.org or contact Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739 or ellen@potomacaudubon.org .

Potomac Heights Elementary School recently honored 12 students for exemplifying the character traits of a good citizen. The students were rewarded with an ice cream sundae session with counselor Jacklyn Kinzer.

Potomac Edison residential customers in Maryland have until next week to ask for energy conservation kits that include energy-saving light bulbs, surge protectors and other items. Todd Meyers, a Potomac Edison spokesman, said Tuesday that the utility company has sent out about 120,000 of the kits since the Potomac Edison Energy Conservation Kit Program started in 2011. The final day to claim one of the kits is Dec. 18. “These things can save hundreds of dollars,” he said.

The Hagerstown Fire Marshal's office is continuing its investigation of a fire in a commercial building Wednesday evening along South Potomac Street, City of Hagerstown spokeswoman Erin Wolfe said Thursday. Investigators returned to the scene at 441 S. Potomac Street on Thursday morning to examine the building and they were also interviewing witnesses to the blaze, Wolfe said in a news release. Hagerstown Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven said Thursday night that investigators still had not determined the cause of the fire, which was reported just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fire broke out in a commercial building on South Potomac Street on Wednesday night, causing thick, blinding smoke to spread through the neighborhood and around the intersection of South Potomac Street and Memorial Boulevard, a fire official said. When firefighters arrived, heavy fire was coming out one side of the building that faces Memorial Boulevard, said Hagerstown Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven. Fire fighters battled the fire from the exterior and were able to eventually enter the building to extinguish the blaze, which was reported just before 6:30 p.m., DeHaven said.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a bird walk at Harpers Ferry on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. in the parking area on Shenandoah Street just below the intersection with U.S. 340. The walk will be free and anyone with an interest is welcome to come along, regardless of their birding skills. Children are welcome. About three miles of level walking will be involved. A portion of the walk will be along a railroad track. Advance registration is required.

Potomac Heights Elementary School named 12 students for exemplifying the Character Counts! trait of trustworthiness. Honored were Brady Kohler, Rebekah Feight, Eva Jovel, Anna Smith, Gianna Scibilia, Rishi Bhat, Ayden Morningstar, Katie Keckler, Josie Allshouse, Hannah Nance, Boden Reisinger and Ana Mooney.

As part of the annual United Way of Washington County's Day of Caring, volunteers from Citicorp and Potomac Edison worked on the grounds of Potomac Center, off Marshall Street in Hagerstown. The volunteers trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, raked leaves, installed a volleyball net, cleaned out rain spouts and did other jobs. Potomac Center officials said they were grateful to the United Way and the volunteers for their service to the community.