Spaghetti

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back - through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others - at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about Patrick Dennis Messina, who died Jan. 31 at the age of 63. His obituary appeared in the Feb. 1 editions of The Morning Herald and The Daily Mail. CLEAR SPRING - One day in the 1980s while Donna Shupp was working as Assistant Principal Herb Hardin's secretary at North Hagerstown High School, she looked up to see faculty member and coach Patrick Messina coming in the door.

"I found a diamond ring at a local restaurant about a month and a half ago. I know the woman who lost it probably wants it back. Call me at 240-329-4082. My name is David. I want to give it back to its rightful owner. I don't feel right keeping it. Describe it to me and I will give it back to you. I didn't turn it in to my employer because I knew he would keep it. I want to give it to the rightful owner. " - Washington County "It's time for the Bush supporters to quit gloating and the Kerry camp to stop complaining.

Children's Village of Washington County Inc. will host its 15th annual Kids Alive Fest open house/fundraiser on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Children's Village campus, 1546 Mt. Aetna Road in Hagerstown. Admission is free. The event will be held rain or shine. Activities will include an auto extrication demo 11:30 a.m. by the Maugansville Fire Department; a K-9 Demonstration at 12:30 p.m. by the Maryland Correctional Institution; a magic show at 1:30 p.m.; a car seat safety check in the Brethren Mutual Insurance parking lot)

A spaghetti dinner will be held Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Broadfording Church of the Brethren Fellowship at 14010 Greencastle Pike, Hagerstown. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $3 for those younger than 8. Proceeds benefit the church's community ministry center debt reduction. For more information, call 301-791-5432. Breakfast planned The Maugansville Ruritan Club members will hold their first pancake breakfast of the  season Saturday, Sept. 24, from 6:30 to 11 a.m. at their blue building on Maugans Avenue.

On Feb. 1, the Shook Home Auxiliary had a special surprise when Rich Alloway, candidate for the 33rd Senate District, came to The Shook Home Auxiliary spaghetti dinner to lend a helping hand. Alloway served spaghetti with a smile. Alloway lives in Chambersburg, Pa., with his wife, Shannon.

"This is Mama's spaghetti sauce," said Lorraine O'Neill. "My mother died many years ago but my father has taken over making the sauce. It is a family tradition every Thanksgiving Friday and whenever our whole clan (30 of us and growing) gathers. " Most of O'Neill's family is still in Massachusetts where she grew up, but she has lived and practiced as a physical therapist in Hagerstown since 1979. O'Neill also makes Mama's spaghetti sauce for meals with friends from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown, where she has been a member for 31 years.