Washington County

Washington County Gives online fundraiser kicked off at midnight, and by 3 p.m. had raised $71,199. That amount came from 614 unique donors who made 863 total donations, according to tallies at the website at washingtoncountygives.org . “It's really exciting to see how fast it's growing,” Bradley N. Sell, executive director of the Community Foundation of Washington County, said Thursday morning. Sell said he expects the biggest period of giving will be this evening after people start getting home from work.

TRIAD of Washington County is hosting a free seminar, "Where There's a Will - That's the Way," from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at Western Maryland Hospital Center Auditorium, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. The speaker is Jason A. Malott, Register of Wills for Washington County. He will talk about who needs a will, if you have to register your will, what does the Register of Wills do and whether both spouses need a will. A discussion about new legislation about wills will also be held.

Washington County lawmaker Christopher Shank moved to the Maryland Senate from the House of Delegates, where he had a well-earned reputation as a partisan bomb thrower. Shank maintained that he was just doing his job in his role with the minority leadership. But whatever the reason, this act didn't play well among the Annapolis majority leaders who, like them or not, decide who wins and who loses in the state capital. The results were self-evident. Shank struggled to pass bills and his grandstanding against state budgets - and his loud votes against them - gave the state leadership no reason to grant many Washington County funding requests.

The owner of a popular Hagerstown restaurant and lounge who failed to renew his liquor license on time said he had to close for dinner Wednesday before the issue was resolved. Alexander Tiches, owner and general manager of LJ's and the Kat Lounge at 1130 Conrad Court, said he was told by Washington County liquor officials that he would have to reapply for the liquor license because he paid the renewal fee on May 1 - a day after the April 30 deadline. As a result, he said he made the decision to cancel dinner service Wednesday evening.

The Museum Ramble, a self-guided tour including 24 museums and historic sites from Clear Spring to Smithsburg, will be Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. Some museums will be open only one day. A printed guide and map to participating sites are available at the Visitor Welcome Center in downtown Hagerstown. Most of the participating museums are open free of charge, and many have special events planned for the weekend. For a complete guide and map, go to museumramble.marylandmemories.org . • Antietam National Battlefield (301-432-5124)

The band played, many of the students wore Boonsboro Warrior blue and white, and dignitaries, including the state superintendent of schools, praised the young people for their academic, athletic, and extracurricular accomplishments. Maryland State Schools Superintendent Lillian M. Lowery visited Boonsboro High School on Thursday morning to applaud its students and staff for the school being recognized as a Maryland Blue Ribbon School. Boonsboro High was one of six Maryland schools, and one of two high schools, to receive the 2013 designation in December.

An armed robbery was reported at Universal Spirits at 33 E. Franklin St., Thursday night, according to a Washington County 911 spokesman. The robbery was reported at 10:36 p.m. and Hagerstown Police Department officers were investigating the incident, the spokesman said.

They have prominent red eyes, make alarmingly loud noises, and are expected to swarm on the East Coast this summer. After maturing underground for 17 years, millions of periodic cicadas are expected to emerge from the Carolinas up to New Jersey beginning in the middle of May, but they are not expected to hit Washington County, said Annette Ipsan, extension educator for horticulture and the Master Gardener program in Washington County for the University...

Chef Joe Fleischman's plan worked out perfectly Wednesday when children in attendance of Family Fit Night flocked to the self-serve fruit and yogurt parfait line he had cunningly prepared. “Brightly colored food usually is good for you, and kids go for it,” said Fleischman, of Meritus Medical Center, gesturing to the table stocked with mangos, strawberries, blueberries and peaches. Little did the giddy group know, Fleischman's snack was not only healthy, but also fewer than 200 calories, he said.  Hosted by Washington County nonprofit HEAL - an organization aimed at fighting obesity by promoting Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles (HEAL)

The economic development goals accepted by Washington County officials Tuesday have been well-received and provide a workable framework for future growth, according to some community leaders reached for comment Wednesday. “We're grateful for the economic development commission for reaching out to us and other stakeholders in the community,” said Brien Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission's top priorities include an assessment of current infrastructure needs, workforce development, Hagerstown's City Center, a countywide marketing plan and leaving the EDC as the lead agency for economic development efforts within the county.