War

The Top Five Make Me Laugh Comedy Tour Hosted by Chad Beadle and featuring C.J. Burney, Stacey Carver and Jennifer Nelson. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Majestic Restaurant, 908 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. $15 at the door. Call 240-367-5052. Go to www.makemelaughchad.com . Squeeze the Bag A bagpipe concert with E.J. Jones, Ivan Goff, Ian Lawther and Matt and Shannon Heaton, featuring music of various types of bagpipes. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Shepherd University's Reynolds Hall, King Street, Shepherdstown, W.Va.

When a young man or woman makes a decision to enter military service, they do so for a lot of reasons. They know, however, that this commitment means protecting American freedoms like many generations before them have done. Some of them might sacrifice their lives; some might experience lifetime injuries; and some might suffer mental scars. Thirty years ago, while working at a prison south of Hagerstown, I met a correctional officer named Jack E. Padgett. Jack was a tall, lanky and likeable fellow from South Carolina.

If Scott Bragunier has his way, cannon tubes that sat for more than a century on Doubleday Hill, a spot in Riverview Cemetery named for Union Gen. Abner Doubleday, will be returned to the same spot by spring. The cannon tubes - the barrels of a cannon - were procured for the town in 1896 to honor local men who fought and died in the Civil War. They were dedicated on Doubleday Hill on July 4, 1897, said Bragunier, a Williamsport native and local firefighter who has spent a lot of time studying local Civil War history.

Age: 54 City in which you reside: Smithsburg Day job: Web developer, High Rock Studios, Hagerstown Book title: "Rare Images of Antietam and the Photographers Who Took Them" Genre: Historical nonfiction, Civil War Synopsis of book: "Rare Images of Antietam" is the beginning of my attempt to document, organize and interpret, in a comprehensive fashion, the historical photographs and photographers associated with...

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?

The American Civil War has been very good for a Charles Town author who, in the last six years, has been researching the area's history for material for historical novels based on real people and real situations connected with that conflict. Bob O'Connor has just finished his fifth novel, “The Return of Catesby,” the story of a slave who was born in Jefferson County. The latest is a sequel to “Catesby: Eyewitness to the Civil War,” which O'Connor published in 2008. The new book comes out in January.

Submitted photo World War II veterans and a number of others attended a Roundtable Christmas party were dressed in uniform in honor of the occasion. The Potomac Highlands World War II Roundtable held its fourth annual Christmas Party honoring World War II veterans Dec. 5 at the Robinhood Retirement Community in Hagerstown. Fifty-three guests attended, including 14 WWII Army, Air Corps and Navy veterans, and those who served in Korea and Vietnam. Family members and friends of veterans also celebrated the dinner and entertainment.

Folksinger Jennie Avila is bringing the past back to life in her second album of Civil War songs. Avila tells intimate stories about the lives of real people in the Civil War, many of the stories found right here in Washington County. “I'm approaching a big event, the whole Civil War, from a very intimate perspective,” Avila said. “I hope people realize how people can solve problems other than through war. It was very difficult - starvation, disease, death through killing, and fear, and all those sorts of things.” Avila's album, “Love and Lore of the Civil War,” is scheduled to be launched at a release party Saturday night at Georgia Boy at Park Circle in Hagerstown.

In his acceptance speech for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination, Walter Mondale made a bold promise: He would raise Americans' taxes and cut the federal deficit. His justification: “These deficits hike interest rates, clobber exports, stunt investment, kill jobs, undermine growth, cheat our kids and shrink our future.” That year, the deficit was $185.4 billion  and the national debt was $1.57 trillion - quaint numbers compared to today's $1.1 trillion  and $16.2 trillion.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is holding open auditions for the fifth show in its 15th anniversary season, "Finally Heard: Feminine Heroes of an Uncivil War. " Auditions are at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at the theater, 31 W. Patrick St., downtown Frederick, Md. Maryland Ensemble Theatre is seeking actresses only, 18 and older, and there are two roles that specifically require black actresses. Auditions will consist of readings from the script which will be provided at the audition.