Prime Outlets

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- When Joe Hamilton arrived at Kohl's last year at 2 a.m. to open the store on Black Friday, people already were huddled under blankets at the front door, awaiting the 4 a.m. opening. Hamilton, store manager for the Hagerstown Kohl's, said he expects a big crowd again this year. "Gift-giving is an important part of the holiday season," he said. "We're expecting a very busy store. " Kohl's is one of a number of area stores that will open early Friday.

The annual Toys for Tots campaign by the Marine Corps League Bulldog Detachment is under way. Boxes have been distributed throughout Washington County in which people can contribute new toys for boys and girls. Cash donation jars also are available at a number of sites. Among those locations are: o Albright Crumbacker Moul & Itell, 1100 Professional Court o Allegany Dental, 17719 Virginia Ave., 19418 Leitersburg Pike and 22109 Jefferson Blvd., Smithsburg o American Legion Post 42, Northern Avenue o American Legion Post 202, Williamsport o American Legion Post 211, Funks-town o AMVETS Post 10, Frederick Street o Associated Engineering Sciences Inc., 34 W. Franklin St. o Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council/Carpenters and Joiner Local 340, 511 E. Franklin St. (rear of Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run)

White dog reported missing near Prime Outlets Los t - White dog. Where - The dog is missing from its home in the South End near Prime Outlets. When - The dog has been missing since late last Friday. Description - The female dog is described as a white Eskimo spitz. The dog is about 4 years old. It was not wearing a collar. It answers to the name Angel. The owner said she has special needs children and they have bonded with the dog and miss Angel very much.

Prime Outlets: 495 Prime Outlets, Hagerstown: 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 Boonsboro: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 Clear Spring: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 Hagerstown: 6 to 8 p.m., Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31 Hancock: 6 to 8 p.m., Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31 Keedysville: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 Sharpsburg: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 Smithsburg: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct....

Swish! Ahhh, nothin' but net. The NBA starts its regular season Tuesday, Oct. 28, with two televised games, Cleveland at Boston at 8 p.m. and Portland at L.A. Lakers at 10:30 p.m., both on TNT. The Washington Wizards play at home at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, against the New Jersey Nets on Antietam Cable's channel 46, Comcast Sportsnet. Words to melt the heart A dramatic reading of "Love Letters" will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Washington County Musuem of Fine Arts.

Summer is here, and for those teenagers who would rather work than go to the beach, a summer job can provide work experience and spending money. Although there might be jobs available, a study of 1,100 companies conducted by snagajob.com - which connects job seekers nationwide with hourly employment - found that almost half of hiring managers contacted said they do not intend to hire any seasonal workers this year, meaning fewer teens will find jobs. Tim Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington Economic Development Commission, said that as the number of retail stores in the area increases, so do the number of jobs, and many of those jobs are filled by teenagers.

These were three words I never thought I'd hear linked: "National Tomato Crisis. " Yet there was cable news dude standing in his "Situation Room," acting all panicky, as if zombies were rising from their graves and voting Republican. Yes, I know it's the job of these folks to breathlessly make every spoiled turnip sound like a presidential assassination, but still, there was something in his voice that caught my attention. I don't know how many people have died from this crisis, but judging from the guy's tone, it must be in the thousands.

HAGERSTOWN -- A grand opening was held Thursday for a temporary welcome center that could draw more than 200,000 people off Interstate 70 and into Prime Outlets at Hagerstown. That's the number of people who visited the welcome center at Myersville, Md., each year before it closed for reconstruction work in April, said Margot A. Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. The center off I-70 near Myersville will be closed through September 2009. The center at Prime Outlets will be open while the Myersville location in closed, and Amelia said it is a destination for anyone who needs directions, brochures, maps or information about tourism in Maryland.

HAGERSTOWN - Hagerstown Economic Development Director Deborah Everhart said she invited Marjorie Garrett to speak Thursday during a meeting at City Hall to tout downtown Hagerstown's bright future. "I wanted her to speak as an outsider coming in," Everhart said. Garrett, who has lived in downtown Frederick, Md., said she plans to move with her husband to downtown Hagerstown. When she first lived in Frederick about 30 years ago, the area was run down, Garrett said. Since then, Frederick's urban core has been renovated, and it is one of the most popular places to live in the city.

HAGERSTOWN -- Hagerstown Economic Development Director Deborah Everhart said she invited Marjorie Garrett to speak during a meeting Thursday at City Hall to tout downtown Hagerstown's bright future. "I wanted her to speak as an outsider coming in," Everhart said. Garrett, who has lived in downtown Frederick, Md., said she plans to move with her husband to downtown Hagerstown. When she first lived in Frederick about 30 years ago, the area was run down, Garrett said. Since then, Frederick's urban core has been renovated, and it is one of the most popular places to live in the city.