Proclamation

Application for fee exemption approved Washington County residents facing financial hardships might receive a break from the Maryland Bay Restoration Fund Fee. The County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an application to the state to establish a Bay Fee Exemption Program in the county, including the City of Hagerstown. The Washington County Community Action Council (CAC) would administer the program, if approved. Applicants would have to meet two of the following requirements to be eligible for the exemption: receive energy assistance through CAC, household is at or below poverty income guidelines for Maryland per the Energy Assistance Office, receive supplemental security income (SSI)

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.

October was named Domestic Violence and Disabilities Awareness Month on Tuesday by the Washington County Commissioners. The County Commissioners recognized the Washington County Family Violence Council and CASA (Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused Inc.) in the proclamation. Family violence "respects no racial, religious class or geographic boundaries and, in fact, has reached epidemic proportion in nearly all regions of our nation. It is the mission of the Family Violence Council for the forthcoming year to promote awareness of the silent victims of family violence, our children," according to the proclamation.