Safe Place

The United Way of Washington County set its fundraising goal this year at $1.75 million during a campaign kickoff ceremony Saturday night in downtown Hagerstown. Addie Nardi, the United Way's resource development director, said she was optimistic that the organization would reach its goal by the Dec. 31 deadline, despite falling $30,000 short of its $1.65 million fundraising goal last year. “We have a lot of companies that do a lot of work to support our campaign,” she said.

Only painter's tape and carpet ready for shampooing prevent Lydia Kovach from calling her new house a home. On Sunday, Kovach ceremonially received the keys to 522 S. Main St., a house in the Borough of Chambersburg that was rehabilitated by Habitat for Humanity. Organization officials and Franklin County, Pa., dignitaries crowded into what will be her living room. Kovach's house is the 29th completed by Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County. “Without everybody pulling together, these things wouldn't happen,” said David Spang, president of the local board of directors.

Robert Priest was featured as a mentalist at an all-night Waynesboro(Pa.) Area Senior High School graduation party hosted by Communities That Care. The organization throws the party each year after graduation to ensure youths have a safe place to spend the night without alcohol or driving. Communities That Care gave away a television, mini-refrigerator, and computer and gift cards, and had swimming, a caricature artist, food, volleyball and T-shirt painting available to the 78 graduates in attendance.

Lawyers, disc jockeys, police officers, even a biker dude will be going once, going twice, going on a date. It's a bachelor auction, featuring 11 single males from the Washington County area. And the bidding war is all in the name of charity. The event will be held on Friday, April 6, at Fountain Head Country Club and will benefit Safe Place, Washington County Child Advocacy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and bidding begins at 7 p.m. A donation of $10 is requested, which will include heavy hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing and door prizes.

People appeared to be cheery as they unwrapped packets of blue ribbon Sunday at University Park in downtown Hagerstown. Youngster Lucky Brown pulled on a string, with Lacey Sellers holding the other end, turning the string of ribbon into a beautiful blue bow. Dozens of people helped make piles of bows that they then tied around parking meter poles, trees, and other poles along West and East Washington Street as a reminder that April is Child...

More than 1,000 children and their families came through the Safe Place Child Advocacy Center to receive treatment for abuse last year. Safe Place Executive Director Mooch Mutchler said the high abuse rate was one of the reasons the organization held its 6th Annual Family Evening of Comedy Saturday night at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown. He said he hoped the event, which cost $20 per ticket, would raise close to $7,500. "It helps with all kinds of operating expenses," Mutchler said.

The Top Five High school theater Three high schools present stage productions this weekend. • 'Twelve Angry Men' Boonsboro High School drama students will present “Twelve Angry Men.” 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 9. Boonsboro High School, 10 Campus Ave., Boonsboro. $5. Call 301-766-8022 or email bairmic@wcboe.k12.md.us . • 'The Wizard of Oz' A story of a good witch, a bad witch, a wizard, Munchkins, a lion, a tin woodsman, a straw man, Dorothy and her little dog, too. 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, Saturday, March 10, Monday, March 12, and Tuesday, March 13; and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10. North Hagerstown High School auditorium, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown.

1. Let the fun begin Safe Place, the Child Advocacy Center, will present its sixth annual Safe Place/Antietam Exchange Club 2012 Comedy and Magic Show from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at  The Maryland Theater, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown. Entertainers include Antje Pode, Puck and The Gizmo Guys. $20. Call 301-790-2000 or go to www.mdtheatre.org . 2. Rockin' Saturday night Big Cam & the Lifters will perform at 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Green Grove Gardens, 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, Pa. $12 in advance; $15 at the door.

Men and women dressed in their gala best checked out the 2012 denim blue Volkswagen Beetle parked at the front of the ballroom. More than 350 Hagerstown YMCA supporters had gathered Saturday night for the organization's gala fundraiser at Hager Hall, where the cheeky car was the grand prize. Ann Marie Downey of Williamsport stood out among one group of Beetle browsers. The light blue of her floral jacket matched perfectly the hue of the VW. “People were commenting on that.

The Oct. 14 Safe Place Child Abuse and Family Violence Summit at Hagerstown Community College, sponsored by the Washington County Child Advocacy Center, drew a crowd of 154 people. The summit topics included child exploitation investigations, physical child abuse identification, bite-mark recognition, investigating child sex crimes, interviewing children with disabilities and documentation caveats.   “We're proud that this summit was able to cover such a diverse range of child-abuse maltreatment topics,” said Safe Place Forensic Nurse Joyce Williams, who helped coordinate the summit.