Proclamation

During the April 23 meeting of the mayor and city council in Cumberland, Mayor Brian K. Grim presented Donnell Householder, representing the Hager chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, a proclamation designating April 21 to 27 as Administrative Professionals Week and April 24 as Administrative Professionals Day. Many celebratory activities were held during Administrative Professionals Week to recognize administrative professionals...

HEDGESVILLE, W. Va. - Cider Mill House Bed and Breakfast and Willow Run Farms LLC recently were awarded a certificate of recognition from West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin for outstanding dedication and commitment to expansion, and improvement to the businesses. Cider Mill House has worked with the Small Business Development Center to become an area tourist destination. The certificate was presented to Cider Mill House owners Katherine and Ed Cimaglio by Christina Lundberg, manager of the Small Business Development Center.

The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday presented a proclamation to the Western Maryland Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. Hagerstown businesswoman Victoria "Vikki" Nelson and Linda C. Irvin-Craig, the group's executive director, accepted the proclamation. This week is Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week. Irvin-Craig told the commissioners that for the next year the organization, which was formed two years ago, will focus on problems faced by nonprofit organizations. "The dilemma they face is how much to spend on directors' and officers' insurance which is money they could have put into programs for people," she said.

The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday issued a proclamation for Veterans Day. "We should always honor our veterans for their examples of character, service, and sacrifice," a portion of the proclamation said. The proclamation was presented by the school board to veterans from several local veterans organizations. Veterans Day is Nov. 11.

Hagerstown Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II on Tuesday presented a proclamation to the Federal Little League 11-12 All-Stars. The proclamation was awarded to honor the team for earning a spot in the Little League World Series, which begins later this week in Williamsport, Pa. Mike Conrad, president of Federal Little League, accepted the proclamation, saying it was "a great honor for our league. "

Friends and family of Luella Messersmith Washabaugh didn't want her celebrating her 100th birthday without them, so they gathered in late October at an assisted living facility in Jefferson Hills near Pittsburgh. The oldest in her family, Luella, and her youngest sibling, Virginia Strine of Hagerstown, are the only survivors of the family that hailed from Jennings, Md. Luella spent most of her life in Hagerstown. A proclamation from the governor of Pennsylvania was presented at the party, announcing that Oct. 20, 2005, was Luella Washabaugh Day. Niece Linda Strine, president and CEO of Infinite Links in Denver and Washington, D.C., presented the proclamation.

The Washington County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday that the county again will pay for the county's sheriff's department to provide traffic control and emergency assistance for the annual JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon, scheduled this year for Nov. 20. Based on past years, officials expect the event to require about 88 hours of sheriff's department coverage at a cost of about $3,960, race director Mike Spinnler said. The JFK 50 is the largest, oldest and most prestigious ultramarathon in North America, said Tom Riford, president and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Washington County Commissioners by proclamation Tuesday designated April and May Chief's Challenge Month. Chief's Challenge is an annual push promoting the use of seat belts. During the push, police set up checkpoints. The proclamation was given to Maryland State Police 1st Sgt. Greg Johnston and Cpl. Morris Shank. - Scott Butki

Cover the Uninsured Week announced This week was named Cover the Uninsured Week by the Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday. Nearly 44 million Americans, including 8.5 million children, do not have health-care coverage, according to the proclamation. The proclamation states those without insurance live sicker and die younger than those who have insurance. May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month This month was proclaimed Foster Parent Appreciation Month in Washington County on Tuesday by the County Commissioners.

A former chief of the Community Rescue Service was named Washington County's Citizen of the Month for February. County Commissioner John C. Munson read the proclamation honoring Frank Murray at Tuesday's meeting. "Through his actions, Frank Murray made a great impact on the community by saving countless lives ...," the proclamation states. Murray served as CRS chief for 10 years, and served Hagerstown and Washington County for more than 20 years as a volunteer technician for CRS, the proclamation states.

During the April 23 meeting of the mayor and city council in Cumberland, Mayor Brian K. Grim presented Donnell Householder, representing the Hager chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, a proclamation designating April 21 to 27 as Administrative Professionals Week and April 24 as Administrative Professionals Day. Many celebratory activities were held during Administrative Professionals Week to recognize administrative professionals...

The Waynesboro Shade Tree Commission will host a tree-trimming workshop Saturday at 10 a.m. at 137 S. Phillips Ave. It is a hands-on demonstration open to anyone in the Waynesboro area. A Cumberland Valley Tree Service representative will teach attendees how to care for and trim trees until noon. An Arbor Day proclamation will be read by Waynesboro Mayor Richard Starliper at today's Waynesboro Borough Council meeting. The local library will have a display featuring the proclamation.

The first night of the second annual Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown was capped off Wednesday at The Maryland Theatre when Tony Mendez was awarded the festival's first Mendez Award. Thomas B. Riford, president of the film festival's board of directors, said the Mendez Award will be presented at the festival every year as the event's top film award. Mendez thrust the award in the air after it was handed to him by Riford. Mendez had been invited on stage after the screening of the movie “Argo,” which depicts Mendez's actions in 1979, when he helped six Americans escape from Iran.

No Quakers were present Thursday to support their earlier request that the Jefferson County Commission adopt a resolution calling for “all reasonable restrictions on sales of firearms.” The gun-rights side, however, was well-represented, with about 20 men and a handful of women who spoke on behalf of their “constitutional rights.” The commissioners, following their own debate after closing off public comments, voted 3-2 to drop the...

Ag preservation areas changed The Washington County Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve changes to the county’s comprehensive plan for Priority Preservation Areas — areas given priority consideration for agricultural land preservation funding. The changes modify the plan’s existing priority preservation component to address concerns raised by the Maryland Department of Planning as part of the Washington County Land Preservation Program certification in 2009, Senior Planner Jill Baker said.

March is officially American Red Cross month in the City of Hagerstown. As is done each year, Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II declared Tuesday that March will be American Red Cross month in recognition of the organization that serves and prepares citizens for and in times of disaster. "We honor the role of the Red Cross' contribution in making Hagerstown and Washington County a better place," the mayor read from the proclamation. Bruchey presented the proclamation to Julie Barr-Strasburg, executive director of the Washington County chapter.

Two Washington County delegation Republicans are trying to get Maryland to declare "Ronald Reagan Day," part of a national movement to honor the 40th president. Sunday is the 100th anniversary of Reagan's birth. He died in 2004. A bill introduced in the Maryland General Assembly would make Feb. 6 Ronald Reagan Day. It wouldn't be an official state holiday, but citizens would observe the day "in a proper manner. " Del. Michael J. Hough, R-Frederick/Washington, filed the bill in the House and Sen. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, filed it in the Senate.

The Washington County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday that the county again will pay for the county's sheriff's department to provide traffic control and emergency assistance for the annual JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon, scheduled this year for Nov. 20. Based on past years, officials expect the event to require about 88 hours of sheriff's department coverage at a cost of about $3,960, race director Mike Spinnler said. The JFK 50 is the largest, oldest and most prestigious ultramarathon in North America, said Tom Riford, president and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The staff of Berkeley County Central (911) Dispatch was honored Thursday by the Berkeley County Commission, which adopted a proclamation recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 11-17, 2010, in Berkeley County. Crystal R. Hall received a framed certificate after Central Dispatch director Mary Kackley announced she was the county's telecommunicator of the year.

The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday issued a proclamation for Veterans Day. "We should always honor our veterans for their examples of character, service, and sacrifice," a portion of the proclamation said. The proclamation was presented by the school board to veterans from several local veterans organizations. Veterans Day is Nov. 11.