Raiser

marlob@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Writing out a check for a worthwhile charity satisfies the spirit and the soul but not usually the palate. Hospice of Washington County has found a way to take care of all three with The Taste of the Town. Last year the unique fund-raiser generated $32,000 when 686 people showed up at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center on Dual Highway. "We think we will exceed both of those figures this year," said Susan Taylor, executive director of Hospice.

Democratic candidate for Washington County Commissioner William C. Blair is holding a fund-raiser Friday at Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport beginning at 7 p.m. A $10 ticket covers a picnic dinner and music by a disc jockey until 10 p.m. Tickets are available at the entrance of the park or by calling 301-223-4217 or 301-223-9076. The job of Washington County Commissioner pays $20,000. The primary election is Sept. 15, where the field will be narrowed from 28 to the top five vote-getters from each party and the Independent candidate.

Blaine Window Hardware Inc. off of McDade Road in Hagerstown is hosting what may be the first of annual phone-a-thons to benefit the nonprofit Community Free Clinic at 18 W. Franklin St. in Hagerstown. Company telemarketing manager Beth Armel said volunteers will be calling local residents between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 24 and 25 asking for pledges. Armel said all proceeds will go to the free clinic, which has been in financial trouble. She said Hagerstown Police Chief Dale Jones, Washington County Commissioner R. Lee Downey, Washington County Sheriff Charles Mades, Hagerstown Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II and State Sen. Donald F. Munson will be among the volunteers manning the 12 phones.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - An estimated 800 people paid $1 each last weekend to take guided tours of the B&O Roundhouse in Martinsburg, according to a member of the group that wants to restore the property. The higher-than-expected turnout at the Roundhouse Rail Day July 3 was another signal of the community's excitement surrounding the Roundhouse restoration project, Roundhouse committee member Judy Martin said. "This wasn't a fund-raiser so much as it was a friend-raiser," Martin said.

Wearing tie-dyed shirts, go-go boots and wigs, about 130 business and community leaders attended a 1960s-themed fund-raiser at the Fountain Head Country Club to raise money for the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce and its Newspapers in Education program. "Technically, I'm working but I'm having fun," Chamber President Fred Teeter said Saturday night. Wearing an afro wig and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, he said the event was raising money for both the Chamber and the NIE program, which donates newspapers and educational materials to local schools.

Buck A Book fund-raiser kicks off WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Families gathered at the Waynesboro McDonald's Tuesday night for Winnie the Pooh stories, crafts and songs to kick off the Franklin County Literacy Council's Buck a Book fund-raiser. Buck A Book Week begins Monday and continues through Jan. 27. Participants take pledges for each book they read during the week. All proceeds help the literacy council's efforts to teach Franklin County adults to read. All participants who read at least one book and collect $1 will receive a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and french fries from McDonald's.

Habitat for Humanity holds annual fund-raiser By SCOTT BUTKI scottb@herald-mail.com About 330 people attended the annual fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity of Washington County that raised at least $19,000 Saturday night. Tickets for the eighth annual event at the Ramada Inn were $35 per person. The theme was "Planting Hope with Humanity. " The goal was to raise $20,000, which would pay for half the cost of a home. That would also mark the most money raised at the annual event, said Sherry Brown, executive director of the county chapter.

A fund-raiser for school security systems Tuesday night exceeded its $2,500 goal, according to Sam's Club Community Involvement Coordinator Lynn Bibbee. Modern Woodmen of America sponsored the event at Bingo Island, which donated proceeds from the event. Sam's Club has helped raise more than $18,000 for video cameras and recorders to be placed in all Washington County middle and high schools. On Tuesday, several principals and assistant principals volunteered at Beanie Baby and Buddy Bingo, where some 250 parents and children played games to win Beanie Babies and other prizes.

PTA puts the "fun" into "fund-raiser" By MARLO BARNHART / Staff Writer Long after the "fun" was over Saturday at the Conococheague Elementary School Fun Day, the "funds" raised will still be enjoyed. Parents, teachers and students - past, present and future - ate, played, bid on auction items and generally had a great time as the school's PTA added to its treasury. "This is a long-standing tradition," said PTA vice president Marsha Long. "All proceeds go to help the many PTA projects we sponsor.

By JULIE E. GREENE Staff Writer SHARPSBURG - People can wrap themselves in local history to keep warm this winter. Burnside Bridge, the Maryland Monument and the Grove House are among the Sharpsburg-area landmarks that have made their way onto a throw blanket being sold by the Sharpsburg Lions Club for a fund-raiser. "This is more than a fund-raiser. It's a piece of history," said Roger Moore, 70, chairman for this fund-raiser and a past president of the local Lions Club.

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. You could: A. Heat up frozen pizza or TV dinners and watch the inauguration events on your favorite news channel. B. Invite over six or eight friends, buy chips, dips and drinks, and watch the evening's festivities on your favorite TV cable channel. C. Throw an honest-to-goodness party, an event to mark the inauguration of the first black American to be elected U.S. president.

Uno Chicago Grill at 17734 Garland Groh Blvd. will host a three-day fundraiser March 21-23 called a "Dough Raiser" for the Humane Society of Washington County. Every diner who presents the Dough Raiser certificate with the Humane Society name on it will be helping the shelter while dining with 15 percent to 20 percent of the bill donated. To date, UNOs has donated more than $2 million to deserving organizations. Certificates are available at the Humane Society on Maugansville Road and on its Web site at www.hswcmd.

FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. - The Pen-Mar Regional Association of Realtors presented donations to several area organizations at the association's October luncheon meeting at the Penn National Golf Club. A $2,000 check from the Maryland Association of Realtors went to the Hagerstown Home Store. The money will aid the Home Store's "Smart Move" program, which provides funds for home rehabilitation in target areas of downtown Hagerstown. Washington County Habitat for Humanity received $4,500 raised at the PMRAR golf tournament plus $2,500 from the Maryland Association of Realtors and $5,000 from First Horizon Home Loans.

University System of Maryland at Hagerstown officials on Wednesday announced that their first fund-raiser for the new downtown campus, which will be held on April 22. Campus Associate Director JoEllen Barnhart said the fund-raiser, which is being billed as the grand opening celebration, is the first effort to start a scholarship fund for the campus. Barnhart said officials hope to net $40,000 from the $125-per-ticket event. The money will help push officials toward their $250,000 fund-raising goal for the year, but campus officials hope to broaden their fund-raising efforts later, Barnhart said.

trishr@herald-mail.com BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Jenna Hansroth said she was eating a doughnut at Dunkin' Donuts when she came up with the name Dunkin' Diabetes for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament she is organizing to raise funds to fight diabetes. The tournament, the brainchild of the Morgan County 12-year-old, will be April 16 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Warm Springs Middle School on Warm Springs Way in Berkeley Springs. Proceeds will go toward diabetes research. Hansroth, a sixth-grade student at Warm Springs, was diagnosed last September with Type 1 diabetes.

Club meetings Hagerstown Garden Club Wednesday, March 23, 10 a.m., Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Carrie Engle will present "Container Gardening. " A luncheon will follow at noon. Tri-State Singles Wednesday, March 23, 6 p.m., Western Sizzlin Steakhouse, Halfway Boulevard and York Road, Hagerstown. For ages 55 and older. Call Sharon, 1-717-762-4524; Virginia, 301-739-8990; or Dick, 301-824-5200. Winchester Toastmasters WINCHESTER, Va. - Wednesday, March 23, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant.

tarar@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Last year, they were off to see the wizard. This year, they sent in the clowns. Habitat for Humanity of Washington County turned the ballroom at Clarion Inn and Conference Center Antietam Creek into a three-ring fund-raiser on Saturday. The event, "Under the Big Top with Habitat," featured silent and live auctions, raffles and other games, a buffet dinner and decorations bearing circus themes. Some of the 190 items donated for the auction included a pool table, paintings, a diamond pendant necklace, pearls and tools.

charlestown@herald-mail.com SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. - Sometimes, it doesn't matter what the right answer is during the annual Brain Games competition at Shepherd University. Take one of the questions in Sunday's installment of the games. The question was: What animal call is the loudest sound made by a living creature? Ann Portrey's answer was a woman in labor. Not quite. The sound is actually attributed to the humpback whale. It didn't matter. The women who made up the "Ph Divas" team were having fun. "Ours is much better," Ph Divas member Lyn Widmyer said of the group's answer to the question.