Studio

As an artisan, Judy Williamson needs only to look outside her window for inspiration. From her house sitting majestically atop a hill, she has a direct view of South Mountain and the Washington Monument and is surrounded by a rural canvas painted this time of year in burnished golds, browns and reds. It's a setting that offers few distractions, making her creativity seem effortlessly achieved. It helps, of course, that she loves what's she's doing. And for Williamson, that love is working with her hands.

The fall season hasn't even officially started yet, and already a show has been canceled. The WB has pulled the plug on its unscripted/game-show hybrid "Studio 7" after, appropriately enough, seven episodes. Thursday's episode will be the show's last. "Studio 7" debuted to a miniscule 1.65 million viewers in late July, and its ratings in the 9 p.m. Thursday spot haven't budged since. The WB also says it's moving the premiere of "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" back a few weeks, to Oct. 7. The show, which combines improv comedy with computer animation, had been scheduled to debut Sept.

Cumberland Valley School of Music recently opened a new studio at 32 W. Main St., Waynesboro. Lessons and classes are available for students of all ages, with more to be added based on interest and demand. CVSM will also continue to teach some lessons at St. Andrew School in Waynesboro, as it has done for several years. While CVSM has been offering lessons at churches in Waynesboro in the past, this marks their first presence in their own dedicated studio in the downtown area, near the square.

By KATE COLEMAN / Staff Writer New Censation is playing Hagerstown's Venice Lounge through Saturday night, but that's really nothing new. The Baltimore-based band has been playing in the hotel's cocktail lounge since 1981 or 1982, according to Roy Wallman, who along with his wife, Cyndi Wallman, founded the group in 1981. This week is the third Venice gig this year. [cont. from lifestyle ] Roy Wallman plays guitar and Cyndi Wallman plays keyboard.

TNT Gymnastics and Cheer will host an open house from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at its studio, 930 Eldridge Drive, Hagerstown.  For more information, call 301-766-4411.

Walker Performing Arts/Hagerstown Children's Theater will hold auditions for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today and Oct. 26, at its Hagerstown studio at 806 Frederick St. The auditions are open to children ages 3 through third grade. Rehearsals will begin in November and the performance in January 2010. Reservations for an audition time are required. Call 301-991-0611 or go to www.mytheaterarts.com . The organization charges tuition for programming.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- The new Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building at Shepherd University was dedicated Thursday afternoon. About 200 people attended the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Phase I, the first one completed of the three buildings planned. The building is on West Campus Drive. "We are showing you today an incomplete masterpiece," said Dow Benedict, Shepherd University's dean of arts and humanities. The building has been open since February and has faculty offices and 10 classrooms, including a digital photo processing studio, a painting studio and a printmaking studio "that is nontoxic and environmentally friendly," said Doug Moss of Holzman Moss, the architectural firm that designed the building.

Frederick hosts parade FREDERICK, Md. - The Kris Kringle Procession postponed by last week's snow and ice storm, will be slightly different than originally planned. The parade begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the corner of Patrick and East streets instead of Everedy Square. Participants will line up on South East Street between Patrick and All Saints streets between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Drop off parking will be available in Delaplaine Visual Arts Center parking lot. The procession will march to Baker Park and conclude with closing ceremonies, caroling and lighting of the official city tree.

Longoria to cheer 'Housewives' cast NEW YORK (AP) - "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria says she'll be at the Golden Globes next month to cheer for her fellow cast members. Her ABC co-stars Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman were nominated Monday for best actress in a TV musical or comedy series, and Nicollette Sheridan was nominated for best supporting actress in a miniseries, movie or series. "They have all paid their dues and are so awesome to work with.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Tuesday marks a new milestone in Jefferson County education -- the opening of a second high school. Washington High School along Huyett Road south of downtown Charles Town was built to relieve overcrowded conditions at Jefferson High School, which has been the county's sole high school since 1972. The roughly $40 million high school, which took a little more than three years to construct, sports a distinctive design that includes a dome over the front of the school that is meant to reflect classic designs of other schools and the general feel of the county's history, Principal Judy Marcus said.

Name of business: Balance Yoga and Wellness Studio Owner: Tricia Murray, registered yoga teacher Address: 11 N. Carlisle St., Greencastle, Pa. Opening date: Jan 2, 2013 Products and services: Yoga, fitness and wellness classes, including jazz fusion, an adult dance and fitness class, and Masala Bhangra, an Indian dance fitness class; massage and Reiki services Target market: Women, but there are classes for...

Scott Cawood peered closely at his sculpture - the figure of a woman - and tinkered with the elbow. He looked intent, focused. "This is about the third assemblage I've had on her elbow," he said. "I've taken two of them off. I didn't like them. " Cawood, 59, a sculptor who works in metal, is working on a commission - oversize figures of a man and a woman lifting up a baby. The figures are lifelike and muscular, but semi-mechanical. They're intended to show a synthesis of natural and mechanical parts.

The next time you watch Pixar's Golden Globe-winning animated film “Brave,” you might want to pay close attention to the scenes with hundreds of characters in the background. Hagerstown native Hemagiri “Hemu” Arumugam might have had a hand in putting them in there. Arumugam, a 2006 graduate of North Hagerstown High School, estimates there are about 60 scenes in “Brave” in which he dropped animated characters into the background. He even had his favorite. “There was short, stout, kind-of-fat guy. I always tried to put him in as much as I could because I really liked him,” Arumugam, 24, said during a telephone interview from Pixar Studios in Emeryville, Calif.

As an artisan, Judy Williamson needs only to look outside her window for inspiration. From her house sitting majestically atop a hill, she has a direct view of South Mountain and the Washington Monument and is surrounded by a rural canvas painted this time of year in burnished golds, browns and reds. It's a setting that offers few distractions, making her creativity seem effortlessly achieved. It helps, of course, that she loves what's she's doing. And for Williamson, that love is working with her hands.

Robert Anders of Silver Spring, Md., still has the business card from when he was someone else 32 years ago - Robert L. Baker, production manager, Studio Six Productions of Los Angeles. It was part of a ruse created by then-CIA agent Tony Mendez. Through the new movie “Argo,” the public is learning about the CIA's successful 1980 rescue of six Americans - including Anders - in Iran, three months after the U.S. embassy was overrun. Another 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days.

TNT Gymnastics and Cheer will host an open house from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at its studio, 930 Eldridge Drive, Hagerstown.  For more information, call 301-766-4411.

Dancin' Time Studios will host its fall registration from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at its studio, 927 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown. Register for classes in hip-hop, boys hip-hop, jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical and specialized combination classes for students ages 3 to 7. Dance classes start Monday, Aug. 27. For more information, contact Kelly Moreland at 301-797-5696 or dancintimestudios@verizon.net .

Name of business: Joyful Arts Studio - Susan Shaffer Art Owner: Susan Shaffer Address: 55 W. Baltimore St., Greencastle, Pa. Opening date: March 9, 2012 Products and services: We offer a variety of art classes for anyone wishing to explore their creativity, something for every level of experience. Target market: I am targeting individuals with a desire to create. It does not matter if they have artistic ability; we can teach them how to create.

Some subjects are so interesting, or so important or so entertaining, that you just want to keep talking about them. We developed a new program around that concept, and you can get a sneak peek at the show on our website. We're introducing the new show on Cable Channel 30 on Friday, Feb. 17. Called HM Newsmakers, the show will air on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day.  You can see the premier edition of HM Newsmakers on our website now at www.herald-mail.com.

Linda Sue Renner, owner of Universal Hair Studios, is hosting Cuttin' for Critters to benefit the Humane Society of Washington County.   Universal Hair Studios will donate 100 percent of its proceeds from the two-day event, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, to the shelter. The salon is at 1826 Dual Highway, and its hours for the event are Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday from noon to 7 p.m. "I love animals and wanted to celebrate the anniversary of my business's grand opening in conjunction with the HSWC's 90th birthday," Renner said.