Steam

Ben Rivers monitors a steam hose along Virginia Ave. Monday. He works with a crew that is lining old sewer lines with a flexible fiber tube. The steam is forced into the tube to trigger a reaction to bond the new tube to the old sewer line.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - More than 600 middle school students in Mercersburg have missed classes since Monday, when James Buchanan Middle School's heating system broke down and spewed hot steam into parts of the 45-year-old building, creating an asbestos hazard in eight classrooms. cont. from news page Schools Superintendent William T. Konzal will explain the situation to parents at 6:30 p.m. today in the James Buchanan High School cafeteria. He expects the students to resume classes Friday in three separate facilities in the community.

ST. THOMAS, Pa. - A downpour at an antique engine show near Chambersburg on Saturday primed the outdoor event for a 33-acre mud bog. But the mid-afternoon rain at the C.V. Antique Engine and Machinery Association Inc.'s 17th annual steam and gas show didn't dampen the spirits of guests and participants - many of whom were farmers. "You won't hear me complain. I don't mind getting a little bit wet," said farmer Bob Brindle, of St. Thomas. "I wish it would've started raining like this a couple months ago. " Brindle and most of the several thousand people in attendance huddled under tin sheds, tents and vendor overhangs during the 20-minute shower, which marked the end of the event's popular tractor parade.

bonnieb@herald-mail.com MERCERSBURG, Pa. Todd and Trevor Meyers caused some heads to turn at the Two Top Ruritan Steam and Craft Show this weekend. The blond, 11-year-old twins carefully and slowly piloted two unusual, bright orange tractors along a dirt path beside a display of about 250 antique tractors and equipment. Leading the way was Todd, driving a 1949 Case VAC, one of only 63 made. The medium-sized tractor has a slow ground speed and was sold on the East Coast for truck farming, according to the boys' grandfather, Richard Hoffman.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Thousands of people braved rain, mud and heat to attend the Cumberland Valley Antique Engine & Machinery Association's 21st annual Steam and Gas Show this weekend. Glen Shatzer of Edenville, Pa., brought three vintage tractors to the show at Twin Bridges Campground west of Chambersburg. Shatzer said the show is "a rare thing. " "They claim this is the biggest one in this section of the eastern U.S.," he said. The frequent showers during Friday's and Saturday's shows did not seem to hurt attendance.

The two-day event featured music, food and the making of apple butter and cider in addition to plenty of steam engines and other antique tractors and equipment.

New museum to be a tribute to Waynesboro's industrial giants By RICHARD F. BELISLE / Staff Writer WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A museum dedicated to the memory of Waynesboro's four giants of industry opens in a former church building here next month. The 235 Philadelphia Ave. building, until last year the Reformed Menonnite church, is now home to the Waynesboro Area Industrial Heritage Trust. The Trust, which acquired the church building for a nominal sum, is turning it into a museum to hold artifacts from Waynesboro's industrial past along with examples of its current industrial life.

It's not called Hub City for its hubcaps or bicycles. The sights and sounds of steam and later diesel locomotives were probably most prevalent in Hagerstown's West End, as tracks running from Cumberland, Md., to Baltimore lined Foundry and Walnut streets. One sign of the times was the dark soot from coal-fired steam locomotives that would sully laundry hanging out to dry in the West End, says Bill Knode, publicity director for the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum. Another sign was the frustation shown by drivers waiting for long trains to pass so they could head west.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV visited Berkeley County on Saturday to help kick off the state's Little League tournament and tour Hedgesville (W.Va.) High School. Rockefeller spent time later in the day mingling with people at Roundhouse Rail Days in Martinsburg. During the event, he discussed America's Better Classrooms Act, a $25.2 billion program that is designed to provide funding nationwide for school repairs and renovations. According to the senator's office, the legislation, which he is sponsoring, would provide $170 million in tax-exempt bonds to West Virginia.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com The Frick Co., a giant of Waynesboro's industrial history, is celebrating 150 years of continuous operation Saturday with an open house for employees, their families and the public at the plant at 100 Cumberland Valley Ave. Saturday's celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the first three hours for employees and their families only, said John Ansbro, director of marketing. The public is invited to come to the plant at 1 p.m. The Frick Co. was bought in 1988 by York International.

The Boonsboro indoor track and field teams will be fueled by momentum on their trip to the Maryland state championships later this month. The Warriors convincingly swept the boys and girls team titles Saturday at the Class 1A West region meet at Hagerstown Community College, just 15 days after they captured both titles at the Washington County championships. “I'm thrilled with how everyone performed,” said Boonsboro coach Becky Walter, whose girls won states last year while her boys were second.

For two seasons, the Boonsboro football team moved mountains. On Friday, though, the Warriors had trouble moving the ball. And it happened at the worst of times. Brunswick, a team known for its wide-open offense, made a bigger statement with its defense by shutting down the Warriors and shocking them for a 39-16 upset in the Maryland Class 1A West semifinals. The Railroaders (7-4) stopped the top-seeded Warriors (8-3) cold and scored the final 19 points of the game to win going away.

More than 75 antique farm tractors covered half the lot, while concessions and 100-plus craft vendors claimed the other half Saturday at the Smithsburg Community Volunteer Fire Co. carnival grounds. Among them as sort of guests of honor were four steam engines and other steam-powered tool displays, rounding out the attractions at the Smithsburg Steam Engine and Craft Show. Now in its 38th year, the show is sponsored by and benefits the Smithsburg High School Athletic Boosters. Event chairman Daniel Rishell said the boosters was established by a committee including his father, George Rishell, years ago in response to a lack of funding for girls' sports.

The Brunswick girls basketball team went on a roll to open the second half, but by the middle of the fourth quarter, the Railroaders were toast. Boonsboro exploded for 42 second-half points - behind the hot shooting of Ashlyn Hawbaker and Kim Seabright - on Tuesday to collect a 60-43 MVAL Antietam victory. Trailing by three at the half, the Railroaders (4-10, 4-6) reeled off six straight points to claim a 21-18 advantage, but it was all Boonsboro after that. Hawbaker and Seabright scored five points each in the last six minutes of the third period as the Warriors (10-9, 7-6)

This recipe for steamed shrimp came from my paternal grandmother, Emma C. Potter Fitz Baker. Emma was born in 1890 and died in 1962, and our family loves her steamed shrimp recipe still today. This recipe can be adjusted for a small dinner or a large gathering. This recipe was created before Old Bay seasoning was in existence. In fact, I think this recipe is better than any Old Bay recipe. - Dawn Fitz Lowenhaupt is a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church hand bell choir Steamed shrimp For each pound of uncooked shrimp add: 1 heaping tablespoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 teaspoon celery seed 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 cans of beer Black pepper Uncooked shrimp Mix together all ingredients except shrimp in a pot. Add shrimp, stir and cover mixture with black pepper.

Chugging out a rhythm punctuated by the occasional "pop," Emily Kline's small 1920 gas Hercules shuddered, but kept on running. Compared to the 13.5-ton J.I Case steam tractor chewing through mature trees in a matter of seconds at the bottom of the hill, Emily's horse-and-a-half-powered engine seemed a dwarf among giants Saturday at the Smithsburg Steam Engine & Craft Show. Yet over the screams of steam whistles, the buzz of belt-driven saws and the chatter of about a thousand people, every few minutes Emily's little engine would fill the carnival grounds behind the Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Co. with a clear "pop!"

Is there anything better than a pot of freshly steamed crabs? I venture to say yes, and that would be some freshly cooked soft shell crabs. Now this recipe is a spiced up version of the good old favorite, so be sure to serve a favorite beverage or two to cut the heat. - Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Soft shell crabs 8 small soft shell crabs, cleaned 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon blackened seasoning 1/4 cup grapeseed oil 2 fresh chili peppers, seeded and sliced 6 scallions, sliced and chopped Coarse sea salt 1 cup shredded cabbage 1/4 cup shredded jicama 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage 6 ounces sweet chili sauce Take the crabs and make sure that the face has been cut off and that the gills have been removed, pat dry with paper towel.

Coming out of its 17th year, organizers of Smithsburg Pride Days feared the event was losing steam. Tonya Meadows, general coordinator of Pride Days, said vendors were reporting slow sales. With the event traditionally held the third weekend in July, they blamed not only the struggling economy, but heat. “A lot of the vendors said if it was so hot, they would not come back,” Meadows said. The Pride Days committee responded by surveying vendors and community members about participation.

Asparagus is spring's most luxurious vegetable. It was once cultivated for medicinal purposes as a natural remedy for blood cleansing and diuretic properties. Botanically, asparagus is a member of the lily family, closely related to onions and leeks, though it bears no resemblance to them in appearance or flavor. Asparagus comes in a variety of colors including white, violet-green, pink and purple. Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food, which in high in folic acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin.

To some in the Hub City, nothing says Christmas like "choo-choo," explained Bill Knode, co-chair and collaborator for this year's "Trains of Christmas" exhibit at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum. After all, the Hub City wouldn't be the Hub City were it not for its railroad legacy. Now celebrating its 20th year, "Trains of Christmas" is the Roundhouse Museum's Christmas-themed train layout. The exhibit will be up through February. This year's exhibit doesn't scrimp on the details.