Tri State Area

In Germany, St. Nicholas visits children Dec. 6, accompanied by Krampus to take away those who were bad. Charles Sekula, 67, who grew up just outside Munich, Germany, was taken away when he was 5. “Krampus takes away the bad children until they promise to be good,” Sekula said. “He takes you downstairs and around the corner and lets you out, but at that point you don't know where you are, and you just run until you find your way home.” Sekula, who has lived in Hagerstown for 42 years and practices the common holiday traditions in the United States, said parents contacted people ahead of time to play Krampus and St. Nicholas.

Name of business: Richards Orthopaedic Center and Sports Medicine Owner: Dr. Robert N. Richards Jr. Address: 144 S. Eighth St., Suite 107, Chambersburg, Pa. Opening date: Sept. 4, 2012 Products and services: Specializing in patient-friendly, expert total orthopedic care, including total joints (hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, hand, etc.), foot and ankle specialists, trauma, wound care, sports medicine, in-office physical therapy and X-rays. The practice provides team physicians for Shippensburg (Pa.)

West Virginia University Hospitals-East's City Hospital Foundation recently donated $10,000 to HealthNet VIII to purchase a GlideScope for the Martinsburg-based air ambulance helicopter, according to a news release. The GlideScope is a device used by flight nurses and paramedics to insert breathing tubes in patients who have suffered severe trauma or to treat patients who have a difficult airway and are not breathing on their own. This video scope has a high-resolution digital camera that is connected to a high-resolution LCD monitor, which assists the flight staff in establishing an airway.

Pastor Stephanie Steele of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hagerstown and Church Council President Carol Gregg thought the church was too quiet during the week. It was just what they were looking for when two preschool teachers approached Gregg and asked if she would consider the use of the church for a new preschool. As a result, Spread Your Wings Learning Center will open Wednesday, Jan. 2.  Steele said she strongly believes in the importance of education and outreach the preschool will provide in the Tri-State area.

Thumbs up to the volleyball teams from North Hagerstown (Class 3A), Smithsburg (Class 1A) and Williamsport (Class 2A) high schools that brought state titles home to Washington County in grand fashion in the past week. All three schools completed three-game sweeps in the championship matches, making Washington County the first county in state history to win volleyball titles in three classifications in the same season. Thumbs up to the various churches and community groups around the Tri-State area that hosted free Thanksgiving meals for the less fortunate among us so they, too, could enjoy the bounty of the holiday season.

“Thanks, Herald-Mail, reporting the Tri-State area about the state of the economy. I hope Washington County and our elected officials in the county, city and the state read that. Why is Franklin County, Berkeley and Jefferson, exceeding us in job creation and development? Especially on these good jobs like the tractor-trailers and trains and everything else. We're missing the boat here somewhere. Where's our economic development?” - Leitersburg “I have a question I wish someone would answer.

Hancock United Methodist Church, 168 W. Main St., Hancock, will offer a free chicken dinner from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, to any veteran and a guest from the Tri-State area.  For more information, call 301-678-6440.

Dates for area trick-or-treat listings. All take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 • Halfway • Greencastle, Pa. • Waynesboro, Pa. Friday, Oct. 26 • Maugansville Saturday, Oct. 27 • Hancock Wednesday, Oct. 31 • Chambersburg, Pa. • Hagerstown • Martinsburg, W.Va. • Shepherdstown, W.Va. • Smithsburg • Williamsport