Rock Music

The little spotted dog sat shivering in his cage, the floor still wet from being hosed out a half an hour before. Just a double handful of fur, he did not whine or yelp like the others barracked there. Instead, he kept his head bowed and his eyes looking up, like a child in the schoolyard trying to stand very still, in hopes that he won't attract the attention of the class bully. We took him home. On the way home, I cradled him in my arms. Disoriented by the motion of the moving car, he struggled and scratched my arms in a frantic attempt to escape.

"I don't have any proof, but there's no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the problems in the Gulf, the tornadoes in Oklahoma, and more than likely, the torpedoing of a South Korean ship by North Korea, is the Bush administration's fault. No doubt in my mind. " - Hagerstown "Republicans are always screeching about how they want to take 'their' country back. Good for them. Democrats, however, want to move 'our' country forward. " - Waynesboro, Pa. "Washington County Roads Department, take the 30 mph sign on Eastern Boulevard at the turn near the Y, and the 'No turn' sign on Chartridge, and put them someplace where you have intelligent people that know what they mean.

Faced with a large price tag on a government mandate, the town of Williamsport is trying to raise money through an all-day rock concert. Counties and municipalities across the state are trying to figure out how to pay for a new state Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) to help protect the Chesapeake Bay by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus discharges. The plan is expected to cost Washington County and its municipalities $1.1 billion in the next 13 years in stormwater, wastewater and septic measures.

chrisc@herald-mail.com The story is an American fairy tale. Good girl meets bad boy. Girl and boy fall in love, grapple with social obstacles, learn to overcome. Finally, they live happily ever after. The story is "Grease," a musical story of growing up in the 1950s in suburban America. The stage and movie versions have been popular for 32 years, since the stage show debuted in a tiny community theater in Chicago. The current Phoenix Productions national tour of "Grease" follows up its revival on Broadway.

British Sea Power, 'Do You Like Rock Music?' Until now, British Sea Power has been better-known for its famous eccentricities - a love of bird-watching, shows with a guy in a 10-foot bear suit onstage, reported fisticuffs with bands they were collaborating with - than the band's actual music. So when Sea Power's latest album asks the musical question "Do You Like Rock Music?" (Rough Trade), it's tempting to react the way New Yorkers react to all those Times Square hawkers who clog the sidewalks annoyingly asking, "Do you like comedy?"

Picture yourself with your favorite band playing at your birthday party. Now imagine that all you had to do was message them on their MySpace page, and they would come to your house to play for you, just because you said that their music was inspiring. Wouldn't that be awesome? That's what happened to one fan of Shiny Toy Guns. According to a news story I heard, a girl said that she sent a message to the new band via MySpace, and the next day, they traveled across the country to play on her front porch at a party she was having.

1. Anti-fracking music festival Stop the Kaboom benefit music and arts festival seeks to raise awareness about mountaintop removal and hydraulic fracturing. The weekend will include 30 bands, including Secondhand, shown, G-13, Segway and After Destiny. Noon Thursday, June 13, through Sunday, June 16. Rainbow Bills, Michael Chapel Road, off W.Va. 9, between Hedgesville, W.Va., and Berkeley Springs, W.Va. $40 in advance; $50 at the gate, camping included. Single-day passes, $20 per day. Go to www.stopthekaboom.com . 2. Advice from the coach Sommelier, author, TV personality and comedian Laurie Forster, the “Wine Coach,” will speak.

The following students were named Students of the Month at Washington County Technical High School: Ashley Willingham: Early Childhood Professions Ashley is enrolled in early childhood professions, honors English 11, honors physics, honors world history and psychology. Ashley is a class representative for SkillsUSA/Student Government. Ashley placed at the Maryland SkillsUSA competition for preschool teaching. Ashley plays varsity basketball and soccer at Williamsport High School.

Teen to compete in pageant Ashlee Renee Brewer, 15, of Hagerstown, will compete for the title of Miss Maryland Teen USA 2007 on Friday, Nov. 3; Saturday, Nov. 4; and Sunday, Nov. 5; at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center in North Bethesda, Md. Ashlee is the daughter of James and Roseanna Brewer. She attends South Hagerstown High School and her activities/hobbies are reading, studying, volunteer work and sports. Last year she was on the distinguished honor roll for three semesters in a row and the honor roll for four.

WEPM/WKMZ buys country station MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The company that owns WEPM/WKMZ will be adding a country music station to the fold with the purchase of WYII in Williamsport. "We have signed an agreement for purchase, pending FCC approval," said Yogi Yoder, the general manager at WEPM/WKMZ. He said he expects the approval within about three months. "It's a pretty complementary format," Yoder said of the purchase of WYII. The station will add a country format for Prettyman Broadcasting Co., with WEPM broadcasting sports and sports talk shows on the AM dial and WKMZ playing adult contemporary rock music on FM. He said WYII, 95.9 on the FM dial, is in its 25th year and is owned by Kenneth Smith.