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Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention and Visitors Bureau Introduces New Interactive
Website
 The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention
and Visitors Bureau has a completely re-designed website at www.marylandmemories.org.
Designed by local company DH Web, Inc., the site includes new
interactive and navigational features. The new web site includes
a complete on-line gift shop, a local hotel reservation feature,
news articles, new informational search features, maps, and more.
The CVB's website is visited by more than 100,000 unique visitors
annually. For many people interested in traveling to the area,
it is their introduction to what Washington County has to offer.
According to the Travel Industry Association of America, more
than 55-percent of travelers utilize the internet for travel
planning, either for booking their destination or gathering information.
The TIA statistics translate to more than 113-million adults
utilizing the internet for travel planning. DH Web, Inc. also
recently re-designed the NBC 25 website at www.nbc25.com.
CVB Produces
New Washington County African American Heritage Guide
 The
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau has
announced that a new Washington County African American Heritage
Guide has been produced. The brochure lists many historical sites,
and outlines the historical significance of the rich African
American history in the county. The brochure is available for
visitors and residents alike. The guide was produced with assistance
from the Washington County Historical Society, the Washington
County Free Library, the African American Historical Association,
and with photographic assistance from Ron Lytle Photography.
The guide is available at the Downtown Visitors Center and other
sites, and can also be viewed on the CVB's
web site.
U.S Airways
Express Service Continues at Hagerstown Regional Airport
 The
U.S. Department of Transportation Order for commercial passenger
service at Hagerstown was signed September 9, 2005. The Order
calls for MESA/Air Midwest (operating as U.S Airways Express)
to provide three round trips a day from Hagerstown to Pittsburgh
International Airport in Pennsylvania through September of 2007.
This is made possible through the Essential Air Service (EAS)
Program which is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation
and as such is wholly funded by the Federal Government. The Program
was designed to ensure that smaller communities retain existing
link to the national air transportation system. Hagerstown was
established as an EAS market in 1978 as a result of the Federal
Airline Deregulation Act. Since its inception Hagerstown Regional
Airport has not previously called on the EAS Program for support.
Governor
Ehrlich Awards Two Maryland State Park Rangers Medals For Valor
Maryland
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., awarded two local State Park
Rangers with medals for valor during his August visit to Western
Maryland. Ranger Al Preston, of Hagerstown, and seasonal employee
Matt Jones, of Boonsboro, were awarded the medals for rescuing
an Appalachian Trail hiker with serious health problems on July
7th.
Washington
County Arts Council Moves In The Downtown Hagerstown's Arts and
Entertainment District
 The
Washington County Arts Council has relocated to 14 West Washington
Street in downtown Hagerstown. The new space comprises a 1,200
square-foot storefront Gallery, expanded office space for the
Arts Council, and space for the editorial staff of the Antietam
Review, the literary journal published by the Arts Council since
1982. The Arts Council will mount its first exhibition in the
new Gallery opening October 15-16.
Hagerstown
Aviation Museum Opens
 The
new Hagerstown Aviation Museum officially opened its doors to
the public in July. The museum is located in an upstairs room
at Discovery Station, the recently opened educational museum
on West Washington Street. It will be a permanent display. The
exhibits include information about Giuseppi Bellanca, the man
who is credited with bringing aviation to Hagerstown and Washington
County. Other exhibits focus on Fairchild from its early days
to how it became a huge area employer. The museum has plaques
explaining some of the more prominent names in local aviation
history. There also are model airplanes, an early version of
a drone airplane made in the 1970s, corporate documents, posters
and aviation memorabilia on display. The aviation museum will
keep the same hours as Discovery Station, which are Tuesday through
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The museum's grand opening celebration coincided with the Fly-In
and Fairchild Family Reunion at Hagerstown Regional Airport.
Linda
Irvin-Craig Receives Woman Of The Year Award
The Hagerstown
Business and Professional Women's Club recently honored Linda
Irvin-Craig as Woman of the Year. Irvin-Craig is the co-chair
and a co-founder of Elvis Lives in Hagerstown, an annual fundraising
event for the planned Barbara Ingram High School for the Performing
Arts.
C&O
Canal Wins Top Volunteer Program Award
 Department
of the Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton recently presented volunteers
and employees of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical
Park with "Take Pride in America's" Federal Volunteer
Program award, the highest designation for a federal agency volunteer
program. Over the last year the Canal's Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP)
program grew from 1,847 volunteers to 2,396 volunteers, who contributed
an estimated value of $840,041 to the park. The Canal's VIP program
engages youth, students and seniors in volunteering for the bike
patrol program, administrative work in the visitor centers, as
campground hosts or as a living history interpreters, as docents
at lock houses, as trail maintenance volunteers, campground hosts,
resource management assistants, volunteers who conduct annual
winter bird surveys to level walkers who walk the towpath and
update park staff on conditions. "Take Pride in America"
is a national partnership program that engages, supports and
recognizes volunteers who work to improve the nation's public
lands.
Two New
Museums Coming to Washington County
The Washington
County Commissioners have authorized two local boards to move
forward with plans for a second museum at the Washington County
Agricultural Education Center on Sharpsburg Pike. The center's
board of directors and the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum
Committee are planning the approximately 7,200-square-foot building.
The building will be open to the public and will be located next
to the Rural Heritage Museum. It will house a growing collection
of large equipment and machinery that has been donated.
The Maryland
Dairy Shrine, which has proposed building a third museum to honor
the dairy industry, is almost ready to present a business plan
for the third facility to the commissioners.
Perkins
Family Restaurant Opens Its Doors In Hagerstown
 Perkins
Family Restaurant opened its doors at Hagerstown's Venice Inn
on August 1st. At the restaurant's official ribbon cutting ceremony,
Perkins owner Kemp Jayadeva said, "We have been wanting
to move to western Maryland and Hagerstown is the gem of western
Maryland. Javadeva says Perkins provides the best food. "They
start from scratch no artificial or frozen foods. Service is
excellent they train everybody very well," he said. The
new Perkins is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Hagerstown
Suns Chili Cook-off A Success
 The
Hagerstown Suns 2nd annual Chili Cook-off & Music Festival
raised nearly $18,500 for the nonprofit Washington County Arts
Council on Saturday, September 24th. The event featured 25 cook
teams, six live bands, four overheated chili judges and represented
a significant fundraiser for the Arts Council. In just two years
the Suns have helped local charities raise just over $36,500
in support of their causes from the one-day festival. In addition
to chili tasting and live music, the packed Municipal Stadium
outfield also hosted a large Kids Zone (with a reptile petting
zoo, coloring projects, climbing and bouncing inflatables) as
well as sponsor booths. The 3rd Annual Hagerstown Suns Chili
Cook-off & Music Festival is planned for Saturday, September
23rd, 2006.
Budweiser
Clydesdales in Hagerstown For First Time Since 1954
A hitch
of eight Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance in Hagerstown
in August, courtesy of Wantz Distributors on Hopewell Road. They
were booked the famous horses for the weekend to make the 72-year
history of the family-owned company, which distributes Anheuser-Busch
products. The famous Clydesdales made stops at several Hagerstown
locations such as City Park and the Municipal Stadium. They were
also at Wantz Distributors as part of an open house for the distributors'
retailers.
"Elvis
Lives" In Hagerstown
 The
fourth annual Elvis Lives in Hagerstown Music Festival was held
September 10th at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. Proceeds
from the event go to support the development of the Barbara Ingram
School for the Performing Arts, planned for a building along
South Potomac Street. Four Elvis tribute artists and the Williamsport
High School Sophisti'Cats' performed during the "Las Vegas-style
show". The artists' autographs and Elvis memorabilia were
also available as part of the event. This was the first year
the event was held indoors.
Antietam
Battlefield Opens New Trail
 Antietam National Battlefield has established a hiking
trail on recently acquired land which affords visitors access
to areas significant to the final stages of the battle and hundred
year old monuments that were previously on private land. This
new "Final Attack Trail" is 1.7 miles long and winds
through a cornfield where the day's last engagement took place.
The trail allows visitors the opportunity to experience firsthand
the 200 foot change-in-elevation that affected the outcome of
the fighting during American's bloodiest single-day battle.
Prime
Outlets Hosts 1,000 Motorcyclists
One thousand
motorcyclists descended upon Prime Outlets -Hagerstown on August
19th on their way to Arlington, Virginia. The 4th Annual America's
9/11 Ride, escorted by police, stopped at all of the 9/11 crash
sites in remembrance of September 11, 2001. Motorcyclists stopped
at Prime Outlets--Hagerstown to acquire fuel and food. The cyclists
caravanned in a solemn salute to those who lost their lives on
9/11 and all heroes who put their lives on the line to protect
us.
Hub Labels
Donates Money To HCC Foundation for Suns' Home Runs
 On
September 9th, at the Hagerstown Suns home playoff game, the
Suns and Hub Labels presented a check to the Hagerstown Community
College Foundation for $6,150. As part of the "Swingin'
for the Fences" season-long promotion, Hub Labels donated
$50 for each Suns home run to the non-profit HCC Foundation.
The Hagerstown Suns team hit 123 home runs during the 2005 season.
The Hagerstown Community College Foundation, Inc. raises funds
in support of the programs and activities at HCC. Annually, and
per semester, the Foundation provides financial support to HCC
students through scholarship funds that have been established
over the years by generous supporters of the College - individuals,
businesses, corporations, foundations, alumni, employees, and
retirees of the College.
Rose Hill
Cemetery Seeking Geneaological Information on Burials
Rose Hill
Cemetery in Hagerstown is looking to update its genealogy records
of local descendants that are buried at Rose Hill from 1866 to
1966. The cemetery is seeking correct spellings, full names,
next of kin, and other information. Rose Hill is the site of
the Washington Confederate Cemetery, the final resting place
of 2,447 unidentified and 346 identified Confederate soldiers
from the Battles at Antietam, South Mountain, Gettysburg and
Hagerstown.
Boonsboro
Hosts Historic Civil War Reenactments
 Two often overlooked Civil War battles
were re-enacted in Boonsboro the last weekend in August. The
Battle of Cedar Mountain, one of Stonewall Jackson's greatest
victories, and the Battle of Second Manassas. About 1,500 re-enactors
and 50 horses were on hand for the event. Festivities included
several talks about life during the Civil War. The event was
organized by the Western Maryland Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit
foundation based in Boonsboro that works to preserve and interpret
history so future generations can appreciate it more. Half of
the event's proceeds were to be given to Friends of South Mountain
Battlefield for interpretive markers at Fox's Gap. The other
half will be used for a variety of preservation causes.
Cloak
And Cupboard Antique Store Opens Downtown Hagerstown
 The
Cloak and Cupboard store officially opened on the square in Downtown
Hagerstown in August. The store offers a premium collection of
investment-quality antiques along with an eclectic variety of
elegant home furnishing accessories and décor items. The
new store is located at 20 Public Square, across the street from
the Visitor Welcome Center.
Antietam
Review - Call for Submissions
Antietam
Review, the award-winning literary and photography magazine published
annually by the Washington County Arts Council is seeking fiction
and poetry for its 2006 issue. The deadline for submissions is
December 1, 2005. Electronic submissions are NOT accepted. For
more information and complete guidelines go to www.washingtoncountyarts.com.
Prime
Outlets Welcomes New Stores
 Prime Outlets has expanded its offerings
with the addition of two new stores. Gymboree Outlet, known for
its collection of durable, yet fashionable children's clothing
and accessories, has opened a 2,404-square-foot store. The Gymboree
Corporation is an international family of specialty retail brands
that provide unique, high-quality merchandise for children ages
newborn to 12 years. Treza Woman, known for its plus-size women's
collection of top designer names, including Jones New York, Nine
West, Anne Klein, Kasper, Bandolino and Gloria Vanderbilt, has
opened a 2,404-square-foot store at its Prime Outlets-Hagerstown
location.
Calvin
Klein, known for its line of women's and men's clothing, fragrances
and accessories, has opened in a 4,838-square-foot store. The
Calvin Klein store offers a variety of men's and women's apparel
and will feature a jeans and sportswear clothing section. The
store will carry its signature women's intimates and men's underwear,
as well as its fragrance line. A variety of accessories will
also be available, including leather goods, eyewear, watches
and handbags.
Easy Spirit,
known for its footwear which accomplishes the perfect marriage
of beauty and style with luxurious comfort, has opened a 2,396-square-foot
store at its Prime Outlets-- Hagerstown. Easy Spirit footwear
makes simple silhouettes sophisticated with splashes of color
and elegant embellishments. Jones Apparel, Group, Inc., the parent
group for Easy Spirit , is a leader in the apparel and footwear
industry.
Ann Taylor
Factory Stores has opened a store at Prime Outlets Hagerstown.
The 6,530-square-foot-store specializes in women's business and
casual wear. It opened July 1.
CVB Producing
New Services Guide
The new
Hagerstown-Washington County Services Guide is being designed
and produced by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Members who
are "services" (designers, dentists, doctors, engineers,
attorneys, caterers, wholesalers, etc.) are eligible to be in
the new guide. Tens of thousands of the new guides will be distributed
to hotels, restaurants, malls, and to other locations. If you'd
like to be included in the Services Guide, please contact the
CVB today, and speak with Director of Operations Jolene Thomas.
Let Us
Promote Specials For You!
Want to
get the word out about special offers and packages? Let us know
about it, and we'll add your business to our web site's pages
promoting savings and specials! Contact Jolene today at jolenet@marylandmemories.com
 Members Spotlight
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Hagerstown
Suns Games Get Better Attendance |
The Hagerstown
Suns finished the 2005 regular season with a final total attendance
of 153,675 fans. That achievement marks the Suns best annual
attendance amount since 1991 and represents an increase of nearly
20% from the 2004 total season attendance of 128,508. Over the
past two seasons, Suns attendance has now increased just over
52% from the 100,865 number of fans that came to a Suns game
during the 2003 season.
Aladdin
Awards & Gifts, Inc.
Russell
Neff
1075-c Sherman Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-739-1466
www.aladdinawards.com
Cortland
Mansion
Liz Hopkinson
19411 Cortland Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-824-3549
www.cortlandmansion.com
Deafnet Association,
Inc.
551 Jefferson
Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-791-9025
www.deafnetmd.org
Hagerstown
Paint and Glass
Tim Palkovitz
18136 Oak Ridge Dr.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-739-4300
www.hpg-ohd.com
Hagerstown Magazine
Kate
Rader
2053 Day Rd. - Suite 800
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-416-8033
www.hagerstownmagazine.com
Homewood
Suites
Coming
in 2006!
Doug Anstine
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Perkins Family
Restaurant
Misty
Jett
431 Dual Highway
Hagerstown, MD 21740
240-625-9084
Roy Rogers
Peter
Plamondon, Jr.
100 North Burhan's Blvd
Hagerstown, MD
301-739-5755
www.royrogersrestaurants.com
Roy Rogers
Peter
Plamondon, Jr.
1730 Massey Blvd
Hagerstown, MD
301-797-8300
www.royrogersrestaurants.com
Spring Hill Suites
by Marriott
Coming
in 2006!
Peter Plamondon, Jr.
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Calendar of Events
Visit
the CVB's online Calendar or Events for a complete list of events
being held in Washington County. If you would like to receive
a supply of the brochure-version, contact the Visitor Center
at 301-791-3246. Click
Here For the Calendar.
Maryland Symphony Orchestra Opens
MasterWorks Series
 The
Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Elizabeth Schulze
opened the 24th season on October 15 at the historic Maryland
Theater in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland. Violinist Rachel Barton-Pine
performed Dvorak's lovely Violin Concerto, followed by Brahms
magnificent Symphony Number 4. The concert was the first of five
MasterWorks Series performances during the Maryland Symphony
Orchestra's "Vintage" season, which features timeless
masterpieces performed by today's rising stars.
Tickets for the remainder of the season can be purchased at the
MSO Box Office located at 13 S. Potomac Street in Hagerstown,
Maryland, or by calling 301-797-4000. Season subscriptions are
also available.
Third Annual Taste of Washington
County Planned
The 3rd
Annual Taste of Washington County is scheduled for Sunday, November
6, 2005, at the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom from 12:30 p.m.
- 3:30 p.m. Twelve area restaurants will be serving special treats
and fare. This event is sponsored by the Miss Washington County
/ Miss Western Maryland Scholarship Foundation. Tickets are $25
and can be purchased from any foundation board member, or by
calling (301) 991-2641. A silent auction, held throughout the
afternoon, will include a four-night, oceanfront getaway in Myrtle
Beach, SC.
Traveling "Art of Music"
Exhibit In Hagerstown
 The Washington County Museum of Fine
Arts will present The Art of Music from the Baltimore Museum
of Art from September 30 through November 20, 2005. An opening
reception for the exhibition will be held on Sunday, October
2 between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m., where the public will have an opportunity
to tour the gallery and enjoy some light refreshments. The exhibition
is generously sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
US Air Force Jazz Band To Perform
In Hagerstown
 The United States Air Force "Rhythm
in Blue" Jazz Ensemble will give a free concert at the Maryland
Theatre on Saturday, November 19th at 7:00pm. The performance
is sponsored by the Washington County Arts Council. The USAF
Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble, formed in 1953, is a throwback
to the swing era when big bands toured and entertained audiences
around the world. Today's big bands have a definite heritage
going back to the traditional sounds of Air Force Major Glenn
Miller. The performance is open to the public but will require
advance tickets. For ticket information, call (301) 791-3132,
or email kevinm@washingtoncountyarts.com
Around
Washington County Tourism |
Summer
2005 Great for Tourism!
Hotels
and motels reported occupancy rates around 80 percent in June
and July. Occupancy rates for the year have exceeded last year's
totals at this time. Washington County has more hotel rooms,
and more of them are full, than ever before. Visits to the local
tourism welcome center are increasing, and tourism-related employment
numbers are significantly higher.
Hagerstown's
Comfort Suites Receives Gold Hospitality Award
 The
Comfort Suites Hagerstown, located on the Dual Highway, recently
received the Gold Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International,
franchiser of the Comfort Suites hotel brand. The Gold Hospitality
Award is presented annually to hotels that exceed Choice's rigid
quality assurance standards. To qualify, a hotel must undergo
a series of rigorous inspections that evaluate each operating
department. Departments are rated according to criteria including
staff knowledge, attitude and professionalism; training, safety
and security; maintenance and energy conservation; and physical
conditions. The Comfort Suites Hagerstown, owned and operated
by Krishna Enterprises, LLC, features 75 rooms with refrigerator,
microwave, remote-control cable television, voicemail, high-speed
Internet access, iron and ironing board, and hairdryer.
Hotel features include meeting room, pool, exercise room, guest
laundry, and business center. Room rates include a complimentary
deluxe continental breakfast and complimentary USA TODAY newspaper
for Choice Privileges members.
Hampton
Inn Hagerstown-Maugansville Expanding
 The
Hampton Inn next to I-81 has begun construction of 41 additional
rooms. According to hotel owner Randy Morral, area hotels have
been so busy that the expansion of the Hampton Inn is necessary.
When completed, the expanded hotel is expected to add more than
20 new full-time positions. The Hampton Inn Maugansville, which
opened in 2000, currently has 77 rooms. The new 41 rooms will
include six new suites, including a pair of two-room honeymoon
suites. We also are adding meeting space to accommodate 100 people.
The expansion is under way, and the new rooms are expected to
be open by June of 2006.
 CVB
Participates in Chamber Fair Business Expo
The CVB
had the opportunity to locally promote its members and services
at the 5th Annual Chamber Fair Business Expo at Valley Mall on
October 6th. Kathy Reed and Bob Tracey, of the Visitor Welcome
Center,manned the booth and distributed Visitor Guides, Calendar
of Events, and Shopping and Dining Guides. The CVB attends shows
and exhibitions throughout the East Coast, attending more than
15 out-of-area sales and marketing events annually.
Recent
Travel
 Betsy
DeVore attended the recent GLAMER (Group Leaders of America)
trade show in Buffalo New York, on August 22nd s part of a statewide
initiative called "Team Maryland". Team Maryland is
composed of tourism partners from across the state who each agree
to exhibit at one GLAMER show, and in doing so, each partner
receives the leads obtained from every GLAMER show. While there
she met with over 80 group leaders from the Buffalo area and
promoted Hagerstown as a destination for their next bus tour.
On September 7th and 8th, Betsy attended HSMAI's Affordable Meetings
trade show in Washington DC. Over 40 corporate, government and
social meeting and event planners visited our booth and requested
further information about holding meetings in Washington County.
The Four Points and the Clarion were guests of the CVB at the
show.
Betsy also participated in a tour operator sales blitz, Mini-MORE,
in which several CVB's and other tourism partners from the state
of Maryland meet with bus companies to promote their county or
product. Appointments were held with nearly 20 tour operators
from Southern New Jersey.
Betsy DeVore recently made a presentation to a class of Sports
and Recreation students at Shepard University. The class, "Travel
and Tourism in the 21st Century" learned about Convention
and Visitors Bureaus and how we impact our local communities.
Jean Carbaugh of the Visitor Center presented some visitor statistics
to the group as well.
 Extra! Extra!
Want to
see your business or organization featured in the next newsletter?
Do you have news to share, special events, staff changes or promotions?
Contact Charissa Stanton, Newsletter Editor at charissa@marylandmemories.org
or fax to 301-791-2601 to be included in the next edition!
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