Young Women

Y-ME hosts dinner for breast cancer survivors By JULIE E. GREENE / Staff Writer Every woman has heard it at some time. Advice from their doctor, teacher, family or friend to conduct monthly breast self-examinations so lumps are detected early. Gina Esposito used to check herself, but not faithfully. Then four years ago she found a lump. Esposito, 29, of Greencastle, Pa., had surgery and chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with malignant breast cancer and is today cancer-free.

Pro-life demonstrators took their message to the streets Sunday in a rally stretching along the Dual Highway. [cont. from front page ] About 500 people joined to form the eighth annual Hagerstown Life Chain, which started at the Ames Shopping Center parking lot and extended along the highway to Hagerstown Church of God. The rally was not meant to condemn women who have abortions, said Rob Smith of Hagerstown, co-coordinator of the rally. "If there are young women out there facing tough decisions, we want to let them know we are here to support them," he said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Eleven young women will compete for $2,000 worth of scholarships and other prizes at the 30th annual Miss Berkeley County Scholarship Pageant at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg. Contestants will showcase talents including singing, dancing and recitation of dramatic monologues. The winner will receive gifts including the crown, $1,000 scholarship, $500 in-kind scholarship for Shepherd University and $500 wardrobe allowance to help her prepare for her participation in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant on Friday, June 17. The pageant's first runner-up will receive a $500 scholarship and other gifts, and the second runner-up will receive a $250 scholarship, according to Shelley Franklin, the pageant's executive director.

SMITHSBURG - Marilyn Hembrock, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, has been elected president of the Delaware-Maryland Synodical Women's Organization of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Hembrock assumed her post at the annual convention, which was earlier this summer at Baltimore Lutheran High School in Towson, Md. Active for many years in the organization, Hembrock has been president of the Feeser scholarship committee for the past six years. "We give scholarships to women entering the full-time ministry," Hembrock said, noting that at least one scholarship has been awarded annually through that committee.

Kristine Bainbridge has accomplished more before the age of 30 than most young authors. The 27-year-old Williamsport resident has just released her second book. "Dark_god" is a 166-page murder mystery that prefaces the tale with an eerie tagline: "Do you know where your daughters are?" "Whenever I sat down at the computer, words and ideas just flowed," says Bainbridge. "It only took me about four months to write the novel. " "Dark_god" follows a young woman, Chloe, along with her friend Kara and sister Rory in a race against time to save Kara from a psychopath only known as dark_god, who is killing young women in a small town in a quest to gain immortality.

"Well-behaved women seldom make history. " "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. " "Eve was framed. " "A woman's place is in the House, Senate and Oval Office. " Women's rights have advanced far enough to be the topic of witty bumper stickers and T-shirts but not far enough that a month - March - isn't still needed to mark the achievements women have made throughout history. By now, women can enter just about any career field of their choice, but a local professor said challenges still exist.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Miss Shenandoah/Miss Jefferson County Scholarship competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Wright Denny Intermediate School, 209 W. Congress St. Eight young women will compete for $8,200 in scholarships, the Miss Shenadoah and Miss Jefferson County crowns and a chance to compete in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant in June in Morgantown, W.Va. Mike Martin will be the master of ceremonies for the evening of "Celebration. " Guests will include Miss West Virginia 2003 Allison Williams and Miss Shenandoah and Miss Jefferson County alumnae.

A surprised Meghan Reid was crowned queen of the Washington County Ag Expo on Saturday. "I was sitting up there thinking it was going to be two other girls," said Reid, 16, of Clear Spring. Reid said she is looking forward to her year as Ag Expo Queen, during which she will be called on to represent the Expo in radio and television spots, and several public events. She also wants to visit schools and inform children about agriculture. "Some kids think that milk just comes from a jug," Reid said.

BOONSBORO ? The Colorado sky was a blinding blue on this particular summer day. And standing atop a mountain looking down on a view that she could only describe as "breathtaking," the 20-year-old confessed to having a life-changing experience. Gone was the low self-esteem and the fear of failing. Instead, she saw a future overflowing with potential. "I felt a sense of peace," the young woman said. "I knew I could trust myself to handle any challenge that was ahead of me. " It was the opportunity to "do something different, something exciting," that drew nine residents of San Mar Children's Home to participate in Adventure Experience Inc., a program designed to challenge individuals physically, emotionally and spiritually through a variety of outdoor trials.

Happy New Year May you have a wonderful end to 2008 and an even better beginning to 2009. Cooking demonstration The Women's Club invites all members and the public to a cooking demonstration by Chef John Walla of Black Eyed Susan Restaurant on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the club at 31 S. Prospect St.  Admission is $12 and payment will be accepted at the door. Reservations can be made by calling the Women's Club at 301-739-0870. Treats will be available to sample.