Valley Mall

Two local food establishments closed their doors Sunday, one a family-owned bakery, the other a chain restaurant. Icing Bakery & Cafe, a family-owned store in downtown Boonsboro, closed Sunday, as did a Shoney's restaurant at Hagerstown's Valley Mall. The Boonsboro bakery, which opened in May 2010, was known for its baked goods and sandwiches, including a chicken salad sandwich with cranberries and walnuts, a patron said. Lacy Barnhart, owned the store with her husband Tom Barnhart, said she and husband became the parents of twin girls last year, and the arrival of Avery and Eden was one reason for the closure.

Starting Thursday, the Just Mom and Me reading and craft series gets under way at Valley Mall .  The event includes stories, songs, crafts and other activities. Story time will be held in the Macy's Court area from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. each Thursday through Aug. 9. The Just Mom and Me weekly event is free and open to those ages 2 to 8. For more information or to register, go to www.shopthevalleymall.com . Summer concerts to start at City Park The Music by the Lake summer concert series begins Saturday at Hagerstown City Park . It will continue for four consecutive Saturdays.

Washington County Antique Tractor Club will hold its spring show at Valley Mall from March 21 to 27. The club will have a large display of antique tractors and also a display from the Washington County Tractor Pullers Association. On Friday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m., an old-time rope-making demonstration will be held. On Saturday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m., a kids' pedal event for those ages 5 to 10 will be featured. Prizes will be awarded. The club awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a student who is pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Antique tractor show planned at Valley Mall An antique tractor show will be held at Valley Mall from March 19 to 25. Antique tractors and farm equipment will be on display, presented by the Washington County Antique Tractor Club. The Hagerstown area club is comprised of a group of men, women and youths interested in preserving the history of farm tractors, farm equipment and to share knowledge with anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of farming in the county.

Fashion-savvy men soon will have a retail clothing store just for them at Valley Mall. Men’s Wearhouse, a chain that specializes in tailored men’s clothing, is preparing to open at the mall, said Michele Wills, the mall’s marketing director. Although there are stores at the mall that sell men’s clothing, Men’s Wearhouse will be the first store there that is specifically for men. According to the Men’s Wearhouse corporate website, the Valley Mall store will carry a retail line of men’s clothing, and will provide tuxedo rental and tailoring.

The Mall Model Search Experience is coming to Valley Mall to coincide with the mall's fall fashion show and talent contest. The Audition America Tour will select approximately 300 local models to participate in the event. Boys, girls, men and women of all ages and sizes are invited to the audition. The program is looking for the best models, actors, singers and dancers in the area. Talent, personality, poise, appearance and self-confidence are attributes that will be considered.

The agents and staff of Prudential Bowen Realty in Hagerstown volunteered to wrap gifts for the American Red Cross at Valley Mall during the holiday season.

A two-vehicle accident Sunday at the intersection of Massey and Halfway boulevard blocked traffic near Valley Mall, according to Washington County 91 The accident happened just after 2 p.m. and was “right smack in the middle of the intersection,” a 911 dispatcher said. Traffic was blocked for at least 40 minutes, a dispatcher said. An initial report had one person being transported to the hospital, but no one was transported, according to 911.

The 24-hour Washington County Gives online fundraiser which ended at midnight Thursday raised $161,378 for four dozen county nonprofit organizations. The amount came from 1,564 contributions from 1,021 unique donors, according to tallies at washingtoncountygives.org. While the goal was to raise $300,000, Bradley N. Sell, executive director of the Community Foundation of Washington County, which spearheaded the fundraiser aimed at benefiting area nonprofits, was pleased with the inaugural results.

Grandparents of students who attend Hickory Elementary School are invited to Grandparents Day. Grandparents are invited to visit the school Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m.   Spring band concert Fifth-graders at Hickory Elementary School will participate in a spring concert Thursday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the Williamsport High School auditorium.   Deaf awareness event planned at mall May 10  Approximately 30 community organizations and businesses will be on hand to provide services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community Friday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 4  p.m. near JC Penney at Valley Mall.

Brett Hill, a lifelong Chicago Bears fan from Shippensburg, Pa., represented his favorite team on the podium in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, calling out its pick, Khaseem Greene, after winning a trip to the draft through an online sweepstakes. “It was pretty incredible,” the 45-year-old said. “Just for an NFL fan there's nothing like it other than a game.” Hill, who is the director of security for AlliedBarton Security Services at Valley Mall in Hagerstown, won an all-expense paid trip to the draft and was taken to New York City with his girlfriend in a Limo that picked them up at his house.

The Community Foundation of Washington County will sponsor a 24-hour web-based, social-media-driven fundraiser called washingtoncountygives.org on Thursday, May 2. The goal is to get local residents to support their favorite Washington County charity by raising funds in a 24-hour period. From midnight to 11:59 p.m., a share of each donation made to local nonprofits will be matched with a pool of $30,000 in funds provided by the major sponsors and the Community Foundation of Washington County.

Two local food establishments closed their doors Sunday, one a family-owned bakery, the other a chain restaurant. Icing Bakery & Cafe, a family-owned store in downtown Boonsboro, closed Sunday, as did a Shoney's restaurant at Hagerstown's Valley Mall. The Boonsboro bakery, which opened in May 2010, was known for its baked goods and sandwiches, including a chicken salad sandwich with cranberries and walnuts, a patron said. Lacy Barnhart, owned the store with her husband Tom Barnhart, said she and husband became the parents of twin girls last year, and the arrival of Avery and Eden was one reason for the closure.

A pancake breakfast will be Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph's Church Parrish, 17630 Virginia Avenue. Ample parking is available. For details, contact 301-797-9445.   Neighborhood watch start-up meeting set A start-up meeting for a neighborhood watch in the Halfway area will be held Wednesday at Western Sizzlin' Steak House. The meeting will be in the back room of the restaurant at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kelly at 240-291-6050. Recital is planned at county museum The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, will be hosting a recital on Sunday.

The Jacobs Brothers, a gospel trio from Dillsburg, Pa., will sing Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m. at Virginia Avenue Baptist Church, 17426 Virginia Ave.  The group has specialized in traditional and sacred music since forming in 1962. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information, call Barb Hose at 301-733-0326.   Musical performance A musical preview is planned at Valley Mall on Saturday, April 13.  “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” presented by the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the food court.

The Easter Bunny made the first full pull March 17 at the Washington County Farm Bureau Pedal Tractor Pull at Valley Mall.  In the 4-7 age group, Matthew Baker took first place, followed by Darby Bittle, Kaleb Long and Madalyn Hutzell. Age group 8-11 winners were, tied for first place, Mikinzie Smallwood, Camden McCall, Nathan Baker and Raimondo Schianodicola, followed by Benjamin Rivera, Matthew Hutzell and Billy Weigle. Thanks to Theron Reed, Chris Baker and Eli Galyor for their help.  Another tractor pull will be held in July at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center.  For more information about the Washington County Farm Bureau, call David Herbst at 240-527-9622 or send an email to dlh21783@hotmail.com.

A cake and pie contest and auction is Friday, March 15, at Valley Mall stage at the food court, 17301 Valley Mall Road, Halfway. Cakes and pies may be entered at 6 p.m.; judging is at 6:30 p.m.; and the auction is at 7:30 p.m. There are two age groups: ages 18 and younger, and ages 19 and older. Entrants can enter more than once and in cake and pie categories; cake or pie must be on disposable plate or pie plate; refrigeration will not be available; and entries must be wrapped in foil.

The Easter Bunny arrives Saturday at 11 a.m. at Center Court at Valley Mall. Each child visiting the Bunny will receive an Easter coloring storybook. The first 100 people who purchase a photo package will receive a cuddly, plush, angel bunny. Bunny hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, March 30. SHHS Alumni to meet Thursday, March 14 The South Hagerstown High School Alumni Association will meet Thursday, March 14, in the media center at 7 p.m. at South Hagerstown High School.