Theme

Old-fashioned family fun is the theme for Brook Lane's Scoops & Wickets fundraiser scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Brook Lane, 13218 Brook Lane Drive northeast of Hagerstown. There will be activities for all ages. The event will feature a children's croquet court, several regulation-size courts and a special challenge course that requires players to follow a track around trees, over rocks and hopefully not in the brook. There will be entertainment, children's games and face painting.

Christ Community Church, 8916 Mapleville Road, Hagerstown, every Sunday from 9 to 10:10 a.m. through Aug. 30. Ages 2 through sixth grade. Theme is "Outrigger Island," a place where children will develop the stability to face a world of shifting sands and wavering opinions. Children will know, speak and live God's truth, Aloha style. Manor Church of the Brethren, 18511 Manor Church Road, Boonsboro, six Wednesdays through Aug. 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All age groups from 3 to adult.

United Way of Washington County will hold its annual report to the community, A Black and White Affair, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Fountain Head Country Club, Hagerstown. The event will begin with a business meeting, followed by dinner and the program. This year's program will be emceed by local professional speaker Julie Gaver. The keynote speaker will be Alexander Sanchez, senior vice president of Community Impact at United Way of America. The theme A Black and White Affair has several meanings.

Carson Charlton, at left, and Shannon Quinones, right, lead the line of 5- to 6-year-old Junior Campers as they perform the Philippine Bamboo Stick Dance as part of "Around the World in Five Days" theme week at Antietam Recreation day camp. The interational theme lets campers learn about five countries through exotic foods in baking, multicultural crafts and unique games and dance from all over the world.

Ravens Roost No. 7 of Hagerstown recently won a trophy. Its entry into the Ravens Roost Parade took third place in the theme division. The parade was May 30 in Ocean City, Md. The van is a 1977 Chevy Sport Van wrapped in a Ravens theme. The van is owned by Tom Moser and Matt Livelsberger. Moser, originally from Hagerstown, lives in Fayetteville, Pa. Livelsberger, who once lived in Smithsburg, now lives in Frederick, Md.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington County celebrated its 20th annual Habitat Dinner Auction on Saturday at Hagerstown Community College's Athletic, Recreation and Community Center. Habitat Development Director Becca Burford said the group chose a theme of “Revive the Roaring '20s” to “tie in” the 20th anniversary of the event. About 400 people paid $45 per ticket to attend the casually festive fundraiser. Burford said she hoped it would raise around $60,000. Though many attendees opted not to dress befitting the theme, those who did went full-tilt '20s.

Washington County Health Department will recognize National Public Health Week, which runs Monday, April 1,  through Sunday, April 7. This year's theme is "Public Health is ROI (return on investment): Save Lives, Save Money. " The idea is that supporting evidence-based public health programs will result in healthier communities and reduce cost in treating diseases. For more information, contact Rod MacRae at 240-313-3250.

I have to admit that it was a great decision to release a movie called "Warm Bodies" in February. The title makes for a terrific invitation to get out of the cold and into a theater. If the film were called "Warm Bodies Wrapped up in Snuggly Blankets and Drinking Rich Hot Cocoa," it would really be unstoppable. Maybe if there's a sequel. The film tells the story of a former human who falls in love with a current human. The former human is a zombie called R (Nicholas Hoult), and when we meet him he has nothing better to do than be a zombie all day. His daily activities include staggering around an airport, occasionally grunting to his friend M (Rob Corddry)

Salem Reformed Church Youth will sponsor a western-themed dinner with entertainment Saturday, Jan. 19. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Gad-Abouts Square Dance Club. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $8. The church is at 13182 Salem Church Road, off Cearfoss Pike. The snow date is Sunday, Jan. 20. at noon. Proceeds will benefit the youth mission trip. VA officer to visit Hagerstown Jan. 17 Veterans of the U.S. armed forces are eligible for programs and services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Age: 79 City in which you reside: Hagerstown Day job: Retired Book title: "Drummer Boy for the Bonnie Blue" Genre: Children/adolescents, for ages 9 to 16 Synopsis of book: The Civil War experienced through the eyes of a boy, Thad. His adventures as a drummer boy and the war's impact. Publisher: White Mane Kids, Shippensburg, Pa. Price: $12.95 What inspired you to write the book? The 150th (sesquicentennial) anniversary of the Civil War, with desire to have young students be informed/knowledgeable of the real war. Why did you want to tell the story with young readers in mind?

Name: Robin Murphy Age: 49 City in which you reside: Sharpsburg Day job: Administrative associate in the Graduate Studies & Continuing Education Division, Shepherd University Book title: "Secret of the Big Easy" Genre: Paranormal Mystery Publisher: Self-published Price: $12.95 Synopsis of book: Dr. Marie Bartek struggles to gain control over the new psychic abilities she experiences while...

The Victor Daniel Mills reunion was held July 14 at Red Run Park in Waynesboro. The reunion was named after the siblings' late father. The theme was “Cherish the Moment.” The family originally had 18 siblings and three half siblings, and originated from Williamsport. There are eight remaining siblings, including Elmer Mills of Glenville, W.Va.;  Edith Beeler, Hilda Crilly and Lloyd Mills, all of Hagerstown; Peggy Ressler of Waynesboro; William Mills of Williamsport; Eddie Mills of Chambersburg, Pa.; and Floyd Mills of Frederick, Md. The reunion opened with a moment of silence for all those family members who have died and a prayer over the food.

A summer children's event called “Babylon” will be hosted at Hagerstown Seventh-day Adventist Church nightly from Sunday, July 22, to Thursday, July 26. Children will step back in time at Babylon, exploring Daniel's adventures as a captive in a foreign land. Children will participate in a Bible-times marketplace, sing songs, play teamwork-building games, have Bible-times snacks, visit Daniel and collect Bible memory makers to remind them of God's word. Plus, everyone will learn to look for evidence of God all around them through something called “God Sightings.” Each day concludes at celebration, a time of upbeat worship that gets everyone involved.

Splotched with fake blood, green and white paint and torn clothes, friends Sean Shearer and Jacob Pauley say they dress in costume every chance they get. But the “Zombie Attack” Friday at Martinsburg South Middle School was no ordinary opportunity. They were among more than 140 people to be screened in the first 20 minutes of the Berkeley County Health Department's zombie-themed, disaster-training exercise, incident commander Vickie Greenfield said. About one third of the people screened were first responders who then treated the gorily-dressed volunteers who took part in the emergency drill, organizers said.

“Between the Covers” is the theme for this year's Adult Summer Reading Club at the branches of the Washington County Free Library. The club is open to adults ages 18 and older and runs through Aug. 24. Pick up a club kit and sign up at any branch library. Each “Between the Covers” kit includes a registration form, program instruction sheet, book review forms and various pencil games. Kits are available at all branch libraries. Complete the games and place the game sheet in the appropriate contest entry box located at any branch library by the date listed to enter that game's prize drawing.