Strawberry

Danielle Hill, 14, is a sophomore at Clear Spring High School. She participated in the Ag Expo almost since birth, first in the baby parade and later in cooking, gardening and art. "My grandmother began to teach me how to cook when I was fairly young," Danielle said in an email. "I used to watch her making food in the kitchen, and I basically just tried to shadow what she did until I got it right. Now, I make things on my own and even add my own spin on it. " One chore of Danielle's is to make dinner for her family - Mom, Dad, her sister and herself.

Q: I just finished reading your article on strawberry pots, and I have a few questions I hope you can answer for me. This is my first year growing strawberries. I started with four plants in a 14-inch pot. I pinched off all blossoms as they grew -- and grew more plants off the runners -- and now have a total of 18 plants. I built three of my own type of container boxes and transplanted six of the strawberry plants into each box. All are doing well. I continue to pinch off all blossoms on the plants because I read you should do this the first year to have a better crop the next year.

Three new stores, including a Men's Wearhouse, have opened at Valley Mall near Hagerstown. Women's fashion retailers Strawberry and Body Central also have opened stores. "Collectively, the three new stores, including Men's Wearhouse, Body Central, and Strawberry, have brought approximately 35 new jobs to the mall," Valley Mall spokeswoman Michele Wills said. The 5,000-square-foot Men's Wearhouse is the first of its kind in the region and features high-quality yet reasonably priced casual wear, formal wear and accessories, including suits, dress shirts, ties, shoes and sport coats, according to a Valley Mall news release.

Strawberry social WILLIAMSPORT - Includes karaoke contest, reptile show, climbing wall, dunk booth, antique car show, kids' corner, live entertainment and strawberry treats. 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Williamsport Retirement Village, 154 N. Artizan St. Free. Jazz vocals and piano Jazz vocalist Ericka Ovette and pianist Jerry Allen present jazz music. A reception follows. 2:30 p.m. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Free. Jim Jam 2008 BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va.

Vegetable farmers, do you want to have tomatoes and strawberries ready for market earlier in the spring with improved quality, too? Gardeners, do you want to start earlier in the spring and grow later into the fall season? If so, you may not want to miss the "High Tunnel Exhibit" as part of the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Open House at the CMREC Clarksville facility in Ellicott City, Md. The Sept. 30 event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine, will feature a 17-foot by 48-foot high tunnel used for organic tomato, strawberry and raspberry production.

SMITHSBURG - The second book in a series about the history of schools in Smithsburg likely will be ready in time for this year's high school reunion in October, according to Town Historian Charlie Slick. "That's the promise from our publisher at this point," Slick said. Slick said the book, which is expected to exceed 200 pages, will be larger than the first in the series. Slick also said the Smithsburg Historical Society would be presenting an ice cream social at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 at Veteran's Park.

Can you feel the excitement in the air? Do you realize that Friday is the last day of school for area students? Just half a day (technically, it's a 2 1/2-hour-early dismissal) and then school is out for the summer. The two most exciting days of the school year were the first day and the last. Please be sure to be extra cautious to be aware of bike riders, kickball games and other summer staples as you drive in the area. Perfect attendance I can think of one young student who had yet another great school year.

New bakery is a real treat To the editor: Finally Hagerstown has a pastry shop worthy of the French word "ptisserie. " Recently opened, located a block from the medical center on Robinwood Drive, Safron bakery has a display case reminiscent of a Parisian shop. You will see luscious fruit tarts filled with fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi fruit slices and Mandarin orange sections finished with a glistening sweet topping; passion fruit slices layered with passion fruit mousse; almond tartlets daintily nestled in fluted white paper cups; large crunchy almond biscotti; bear claws with a center of strawberry jam; chocolate filled croissants, not made with the soft dough fund in most stores; fraisiers, the French version of strawberry shortcake, filled with strawberry mousse and iced with almond paste; Black Forest cakes with the traditional cherry on top, all baked on the premises.

Whatever I was expecting, this wasn't it. We were bringing our horses home from where they had been boarded on a lovely, sprawling farm in Pleasant Valley, the idea being that we would be able to ride more often if we didn't have to make the 13-mile drive south every time we wanted to saddle up. I was still mulling over whether "riding more often" was a good thing or a bad thing when it was time for the move. To the degree that I thought about it at all, I'd reckoned that relocating a couple of horses would be like relocating a couple of cats, only bigger.

If the avian flu ever hits Hagerstown, we might as well activate the ole "do not resuscitate" orders posthaste, because birds have taken over our property. We like birds OK, I guess, although we did not go out of our way to create a bird sanctuary. It just turns out that Da Birds and us happen to like the same things - trees, statuary, berry-producing shrubs, bug-rich gardens, water features. We got bird baths because they were ornamental; who knew birds actually used the things?

The Rohrersville Ruritan Club will hold its annual strawberry festival June 8 and 9 in the community park. The festival committee invites craft vendors, specialty sales people and yard sale individuals to reserve spaces. Spaces are by donation. Show tractors, cars and trucks are welcome. To reserve a space, call J.R. Smith at 240-818-1038 or send an email to lumpymck@myactv.net.   Samples Manor to hold spring revival  Samples Manor Church of God, at 2128 Harpers Ferry Road near Dargan, will hold a spring revival from Sunday to Sunday, April 14, featuring the following preachers and musicans: Sunday - 7 p.m., the Rev. Dave Wilburn, preaching and singing Monday - 7:30 p.m., the Rev. Bobby Hill with church musicians and choir Tuesday - 7:30 p.m., the Rev. Chuck Donivan with the Amos Shifflett Family Wednesday - 7:30 p.m., Pastor Kenny Johnson with church musicians and choir Thursday - 7:30 p.m., Ron Neff and Scott Sturdivant Friday - 7:30 p.m., Pastor Vaughn Fitzgerald and Richard and Mary Fox Saturday - 7:30 p.m., the Rev. Jeff Dissmore, preaching and singing Sunday - 7 p.m., the Rev. Fred Lowman, preaching and singing For more information call Johnson at 304-616-1437.

Danielle Hill, 14, is a sophomore at Clear Spring High School. She participated in the Ag Expo almost since birth, first in the baby parade and later in cooking, gardening and art. "My grandmother began to teach me how to cook when I was fairly young," Danielle said in an email. "I used to watch her making food in the kitchen, and I basically just tried to shadow what she did until I got it right. Now, I make things on my own and even add my own spin on it. " One chore of Danielle's is to make dinner for her family - Mom, Dad, her sister and herself.

Last week I gave you the recipes for two foundations for making summery drinks - simple syrup and sour mix (if you missed them go to www.herald-mail.com/lifestyle  and look for my column). This week we're building on that by blending the ingredients to bring out the summer goodness in fresh fruit. Don't take my word for it, try the recipes for yourself and then add a favorite blend of your own fresh fruit to give the drink a whole new twist. S cott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and Chef Ambassador to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

John Herbst remembers the early Ringgold Ruritan Strawberry Festivals more than 50 years ago. A charter member of the club, Herbst, 89, and his wife Betty, 90, used to take their children with them to the old schoolhouse to make homemade strawberry ice cream. Right up through last year, Herbst dipped ice cream at the fundraiser. This year, he decided to pass on the scoop. “I finished it. My son does it now,” he said. The elder Herbsts owned and operated Smithsburg's Misty Meadow Farms.

You'd think strawberries would take center stage at a festival named in their honor, but Saturday's 20th Annual Strawberry Fest literally went to the dogs.  For at least two hours of the festival at Lions Community Park in Mercersburg, all eyes were transfixed on the “Westminster Kennel Club-esque” ring of the Fun Dog Show.  Master of Ceremonies Thomas B. Riford, president and chief executive officer of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, kept the crowd entertained with his doggy quips.

Can you feel the excitement in the air? Do you realize that Friday is the last day of school for area students? Just half a day (technically, it's a 2 1/2-hour-early dismissal) and then school is out for the summer. The two most exciting days of the school year were the first day and the last. Please be sure to be extra cautious to be aware of bike riders, kickball games and other summer staples as you drive in the area. Perfect attendance I can think of one young student who had yet another great school year.

Three new stores, including a Men's Wearhouse, have opened at Valley Mall near Hagerstown. Women's fashion retailers Strawberry and Body Central also have opened stores. "Collectively, the three new stores, including Men's Wearhouse, Body Central, and Strawberry, have brought approximately 35 new jobs to the mall," Valley Mall spokeswoman Michele Wills said. The 5,000-square-foot Men's Wearhouse is the first of its kind in the region and features high-quality yet reasonably priced casual wear, formal wear and accessories, including suits, dress shirts, ties, shoes and sport coats, according to a Valley Mall news release.

Robert Null used to satisfy his hankering for strawberries by growing his own. But he ran into some problems. "I wasn't getting a good crop. The birds would eat them up," Null said. "I'd even cover them with netting, but the birds would still get 'em. " Finally, Null, 71, of Boonsboro, gave up. "I decided to buy 'em. It's easier," he said. Saturday, Null discovered a sort of strawberry oasis where he could indulge his appetite for the juicy, sweet-smelling fruit at the Ringgold Ruritan's Ringgold Strawberry Festival.

The Top Five Market on the Square Flower, craft and food vendors will sell their wares from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Public Square in downtown Hagerstown. Call 301-739-8577, ext. 190. Go to www.hagerstownmd.org . ‘The Tempest’ Prospero flees from his rival to a deserted island with his young daughter and becomes a wizard in this Shakespeare play; then he conjures a storm to bring his rival to the island. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Boonsboro High School, 10 Campus Ave., Boonsboro.