CVB’s
Riford Presents Annual Tourism Industry Update to Board of County
Commissioners
Thomas
B. Riford, CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and
Visitors Bureau, presented the CVB's annual tourism industry update
to the Washington County Commissioners at their May 8 meeting. Riford
said that the tourism industry is strong in Washington County. Local
hotels maintained a good occupancy pace in 2006, and revenues for
hotels were up. Visitation to local attractions increased in 2006.
Nearly 6,000 people work in Washington County’s tourism sector,
according to Maryland DLLR Leisure and Hospitality statistics. The
State tourism office reports that during last fiscal year, 1.9 million
visitors spent $237.7 million in Washington County. This was a significant
increase over the prior year.
Riford said that
2007 is shaping up to be a good year for tourism. He covered some
of the upcoming events, including the 145th anniversaries of the Civil
War Battles of South Mountain and Antietam, scheduled for Sep. 7-9.
New projects, including the Bike Tours map and brochure, the new Visitors
Guide, African American Heritage Guide, Museums Guide, Calendar of
Events, and other publications were also introduced. Riford also covered
the organization's commitment to increased advertising and marketing,
and also the increased CVB sponsorships of local events which help
tourism and create positive economic impact.
During the presentation
of the CVB's financial audit, Riford reported that the agency's
financial situation has improved during the last three years, and
the CVB remained debt-free in 2006. Riford also said that the organization
has a cash-reserve, as recommended by the County Commissioners.
The CVB President reported that the organization receives half
of the county lodging tax, which is paid by hotels, motels, B&B's,
and campgrounds with cabins that have running water and electricity.
The lodging tax makes up about 75-percent of the CVB's annual budget.
By the organization's bylaws, the CVB spends 70-percent of its
budget on marketing and operations, and only 30-percent on salaries
and administration, including the rent for the Downtown Hagerstown
Visitor Center and its administration office space.
Maryland
Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown Tours Downtown Hagerstown
 On
June 5th, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown and other elected officials toured
Downtown Hagerstown. The 25-person tour started at the CVB's Downtown
Hagerstown Visitor Welcome Center, with refreshments provided by the
CVB. Other stops included the R. Bruce Carson Jewelry Store, Duffy's
Restaurant, the new South Potomac Street Bowman Development Project,
the Washington County Free Library, the Maryland Theatre, the Washington
County Arts Council, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Potomac
Bead Company, and the Discovery Station. The tour focused on downtown
redevelopment and the Arts and Entertainment District. The tour was
lead by City of Hagerstown officials, Mayor Robert Bruchey, the Convention
and Visitors Bureau, and other local business and community leaders.
Caption: Lt. Gov. Brown, MD Delegate John Donoghue, City Administrator
Bruce Zimmermean (rear), Hagerstown Mayor Robert Bruchey, and CVB
President Tom Riford and the Downtown Hagerstown Visitor Welcome Center.
Thousands Attend 22nd Annual Salute to Independence
At Antietam National Battlefield on July 7, 2007
 The
Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Elizabeth Schulze
kicked off the MSO’s 26th Season on July 7, 2007 with the
22nd Annual Salute to Independence concert at Antietam National
Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland. This free celebration of is
one of Maryland’s signature outdoor music experiences, attracting
about 30,000 concert-goers each year. The MSO performed patriotic
favorites and CVB President Tom Riford served as Master of Ceremonies.
Hagerstown resident Michael Mogensen’s Chapter Finál
was one of the selections performed by the MSO. As always, the
thundering howitzers of the 1812 Overture and a rousing rendition
of the Stars and Stripes Forever brought the concert to a close,
along with a fireworks finale by Zambelli Internationale.
CVB's
Riford Testifies to Delegation, Bond Bill Approved to Help C&O
Canal
The
C&O Canal National Historical Park might get state money to help
fix its only broken link - a 2.7-mile impassable gap south of Williamsport.
Washington County's delegation to the General Assembly voted unanimously
to seek a $200,000 bond bill to pay for enough engineering work to
figure out a solution. The park would contribute another $140,000
and has three other sources committed to give $60,000. The total of
public and private money would be $400,000. The Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Washington County would
contribute $15,000 to the study. The nonprofit C&O Canal Association
also would give $15,000. A National Park Service grant would provide
$30,000.
Flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 demolished the towpath above
Dam 4. The National Park Service repaired and reopened the park at
Big Slackwater in 1995, but it was flooded again and was shut down.
Fixing the park at Big Slackwater has been estimated to cost $15.5
million but could cost less. The $400,000, anchored by the bond bill,
would pay for enough engineering work to figure out what needs to
be done and how much it will cost.
Safety is a big concern. A detour of five to six miles has stretches
with no shoulders. More than 30 people have been injured and taken
to the hospital in incidents connected to the detour. The full legislature
ended up approving the bond bill request, for $100,000.
Olympic
Qualifying Mountain Bike Race Attracts Hundreds
International
Elite mountain bike riders competed at Greenbrier State Park on April
29 in the hopes of securing spots for both their countries and themselves
at the 2008 Olympiad in Beijing China, the amateur and semi-pro competitors
will be racing to earn invitations to compete in their respective
classes at the U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships. The recently
published selection criteria for the US Olympic Mountain Bike Team
doubled the importance of the Men’s and Women’s UCI classes
at the Greenbrier Challenge. The Greenbrier Challenge awarded over
$10,000 in prizes and was also the Maryland State Championship race.
The top three licensed racers in every class, regardless of what state
they were from, were honored with Maryland State Championship Medals.
The host hotel for the race was the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton
- Hagerstown. The main sponsor of the race is the Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Award
Winning Jellystone Campground Park Officially Opens New Pool and
Waterslide Complex
 With
more than 300 guests, business and government VIP’s and campers
in attendance, Hagerstown’s award winning Jellystone Park’s
new splash pool and 400-foot long water slides were officially opened.
Owners Ronald and Vicki Vitkun, with their son Brett, who cut the
ribbon with huge gold scissors, were joined by other family members
in attendance. They were joined by a long line of elected officials,
other community leaders and friends, members of the Jellystone Park
Camp-Resort corporation, and Linda Profizer, CEO of the National Campground
Association, in cutting sections of the ribbon to the Jellystone’s
new Yogi Bear's Water Zone. The new water slides are called Ranger’s
Revenge and Picnic Plunge.
The
County Commissioners presented an official proclamation, which praised
the new waterpark, and the proclamation in part said: "the County Commissioners
look forward to a successful new and improved Jellystone Park –
which truly is now 'smarter than the average bear!' " Hundreds
of people lined up to enjoy the large and varied food and refreshment
selections, and to listen to music under a tent that was set up for
the occasion. After the refreshments were served, there were more
refreshing moments on hand, as the announcement was made: "Everybody
into the pool!"
500
Cyclists Riding from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh Stop In Williamsport
About
500 cyclists participating in the sixth annual Greenway Sojourn
stopped at Williamsport’s River Bottom Park on June 25 as
they traveled from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh. They set up
a temporary town in the park, where they spent their third night
on a ride from the first mile of the C&O towpath to the last
leg of the Great Allegheny Passage. After 20 years of trail building,
the Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern Pennsylvania and western
Maryland is now linked to the popular C & O Canal towpath in
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, creating
335 miles of continuous trail connecting suburban Pittsburgh to
Washington, D.C. Together these trails make up the spine of the
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Bicyclists on the trip eat
at scheduled stops along the way, and trucks carry their gear from
one campsite to the next. Cyclists enjoyed a buffet picnic-style
dinner, sponsored by the CVB.
"Key
Ingredients: America by Food" Smithsonian Exhibit Opens at
Rural Heritage Museum to the Public, Sponsored by CVB
 A
traveling Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients: America by Food"
is now open at the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum. The exhibit,
a history of American food, will be on display to the public until
Saturday, August 4th. The exhibit features artifacts and stories about
food, such as why certain foods are associated with certain regions.
It also explains how food is grown, harvested and distributed. The
exhibit includes interactive displays.
The Rural Heritage
Museum will host a series of lectures and activities and will have
displays about the local region's food history with the Smithsonian
exhibit. Visitors to the exhibit may bring recipes with local flavor
to add to the traveling exhibit, and the recipes might be added to
the exhibit's Web site.
Lectures:
• 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 - "The Heritage of the City
Farmer's Market" by market vendors Ted and Colleen Garringer
• 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18 - "Hardtack and Coffee - the
Civil War by Food" by Keven Walker, Antietam Cultural Resource
specialist
• 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 - "Fellowship and Fundraising
- community meals for profit" with Rayetta Murray, moderator
• 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1 - "Your Food - Yesterday, Today
and Tomorrow," moderated by Jeff Semler, extension educator for
the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension in Washington County
Activities during
the "Key Ingredients" exhibit include:
• Second Sunday in the Garden, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 8.
Learn about heirloom plants.
• Cookbooks, Coffee and Conversation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday,
July 10. Meet local authors and organizations that have published
cookbooks. Local cookbooks will be sold. German-themed refreshments.
Antique cookbooks on display.
• Who Wears the Apron? 7 p.m. Friday, July 13. Bring your favorite
apron and share its story.
• Who Wore the Apron? story hour, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 24.
Local residents share stories associated with their families' aprons.
Sep.
8-9 Battles of Antietam and South Mt. Reenactments Tickets Available
at CVB
Tickets
for the “September Storm” reenactment, commemorating the
145th anniversaries of the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam,
are now available from the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention
and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The event is scheduled for September 8
and 9 at the Boonsboro Town Farm on Monroe Road. Tickets can be purchased
in person at the Downtown Hagerstown Visitor Welcome Center or online
at www.marylandmemories.com with Visa or Mastercard.
Tickets for September
Storm are available as a one day or two day pass. Adult tickets are
$10 for one day or $18 for two days. Tickets for children, ages 5-17,
are $5 for one day or $8 for two days. Children under 5 are admitted
free of charge. There are only a limited number of tickets available
for each day and they must be purchased in advance. No tickets will
be sold at the event. "Only 500 total tickets are being sold
for each day," said organizer Chris Anders of the Western Maryland
Heritage Foundation.
“September
Storm – The War Comes To Maryland” will recreate portions
of the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Thousands of reenactors
are expected to participate in the weekend-long event, sponsored by
CVB. In addition to the “September Storm” reenactment,
commemorative events are also planned at neighboring South Mountain
State Battlefield and Antietam National Battlefield.
The Western Maryland
Heritage Foundation is working with the Town of Boonsboro, the CVB,
South Mountain State Battlefield and Antietam National Battlefield
to plan historically accurate yet safe battlefield depictions that
will serve to educate the public while honoring the veterans who served
so bravely during that tumultuous time in our Nation’s past.
The CVB is a major financial sponsor of this planned event, which
was previewed in an article by the Associated Press: "this summer's
145th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam will be America's
biggest Civil War tourism event of the year."
September Storm
Events (see:www.wmhf.org/septstorm) :
Saturday, September
8, 2007
9am Event Opens to Public
9am "The Common Soldier of 1862" - Activities Tent
11am “Path of Blood”, 33rd NY Talk - Activities Tent
1pm Ambulance Demonstration - Battlefield
2pm Battle of Fox’s Gap- South Mountain Scenario
5pm Event Closes to Spectators
Sunday, September
9, 2007
9am Event Opens to Public
9am Church Service - Battlefield
10am "Life on the Home front" Civilian Seminar - Activities
Tent
Noon Sedgewick’s Attack- Antietam Scenario
2pm Event ends
Downtown
Visitor Welcome Center to Offer Walking Tours
The
Convention and Visitors Bureau is partnering with Carrie
Capuco of Capuco Consulting Services Inc. to offer walking
tours of downtown Hagerstown. Hagerstown has a rich history
that is significant to many periods of American history. The
90-minute walking tour will introduce participants to the colonial,
civil war, and industrial aspects of the unique Maryland city.
Tours will be available for the cost of $5 and will begin at
the downtown Visitor Welcome Center at 10:30 and 1:30 p.m.
on scheduled tour dates. Those dates are July 13, 14,
20, 21, 25, 27, 28 and August 3, 11, and 17. For reservations
and tour information call 301-791-3246 ext. 10. Special
dates and times can be arranged for groups of more than 12
people.
Capuco
Consulting Services Inc. (CCS) is a woman-owned and operated
consulting firm providing superior capacity building, team
bonding services and environmental education. CCS has offices in
historic downtown Annapolis, Md., and Hagerstown, Md.
Antietam
National Cemetery Participates in "Echo Taps Worldwide"
 Antietam
National Cemetery participated in "EchoTaps Worldwide"
on Saturday, May 19, 2007, in recognition of Armed Forces Day.
"EchoTaps Worldwide" is an event where buglers play
a cascading rendition of Taps at National Cemeteries, State
Veterans Cemeteries, and American Battle Monuments Cemeteries
around the world. The event was organized by the Veterans Administration
and Bugles Across America to honor and remember American veterans.
Several
buglers, consisting of students from Boonsboro High School and
former members of the military, performed Taps starting at 11
a.m. Prior to that at 10:30 a.m., a Park Ranger led an instructional
program at the Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center
and then escorted interested visitors and members of the public
to the National Cemetery for the EchoTaps.
Antietam
National Cemetery is one of 14 National Cemeteries maintained
by the National Park Service. All 14 will serve as host sites
for "EchoTaps Worldwide." EchoTaps is dependent upon
volunteers who can play Taps on any brass instrument. EchoTaps
began in May 2005 as a tribute to the men and women who faithfully
serve in the American military defending our country in times
of war and peace.
19th
Annual National Pike Festival and Wagon Train A Success
 Washington
County celebrated its 19th year of participation in the National
Pike Festival May 18-20. It is just one of many counties throughout
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio that celebrate the 300-mile
route with authentic wagon trains and other old fashioned activities,
and the only Maryland County participating in the annual festival.
The National Pike Festival and Wagon Trail is sponsored by the
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau
and the James Shaull Wagon Train Foundation., Inc. More than
30 wagons participated in this year’s wagon train. The
May 18-20 festival was part of what's been come to be known
as the "World's Longest Festival." Stretching some
300-miles, from Ohio through Maryland, the festival celebrates
what's been called "The Road That Made The Nation."
Celebrations happen in communities along 300 miles of the Historic
National Road. As organizers point out, the National Pike was
the first federally-funded road built in America.
Washington
County Museum of Fine Arts Featured in Antiques and Fine Art
Magazine
The
Board of Trustees and staff of the Washington County Museum
of Fine Arts are proud to announce that the Museum is featured
in the Summer 2007 edition of Antiques and Fine Arts magazine.
The article titled “The Gem in the Park: the Washington
County Museum of Fine Arts” highlights the Museum’s
75 year history and world-class collection. Written by Curatorial
Coordinator Meg Dameron, the article is complimented by stunning
color images of the Museum’s building and collection.
Antiques
and Fine Art is one of the most widely circulated magazines
in the art world and it is a privilege for the Museum to be
featured. In the past year the Museum and its collection have
been the subject of several articles in national fine art magazines,
including American Art Review, Fine Art Connoisseur, and now
Antiques and Fine Art Magazine.
Annaffiaré
Celebrates Grand Opening at the Grand Venice Hotel
The
city of Hagerstown celebrated the Grand Opening of
Annaffiaré on April 26, 2007. Mayor Robert
Bruchey, city officials, and associates of The Grand
Venice Hotel, participated in an official ribbon cutting
followed by food, door prizes, entertainment, and
a wine tasting at Cellar Wine & Spirits. Annaffiaré
is the new Italian and Mediterranean Restaurant located
at The Grand Venice Hotel on the Dual Highway in Hagerstown.
It opened its doors in March 2007. Popular menu items
at Annaffiaré include Veal Marsala, Lasagna
Bolognese, and beautifully prepared antipasto and
signature cocktails such as the Batta-Bing and The
Tommy Gun. All food, including breads and desserts,
is freshly made and there are both meat and vegetarian
selections available. The menu will change quarterly
and there are weekly specials so every weekend there
is something new to try.
Annaffiaré,
which had recently been a Perkins Restaurant, has
been redone to look like a view of Venice, Italy.
It includes a Piazza which allows guests to dine indoors
in an area that has an outdoor atmosphere. The restaurant
seats 250 people and has a bar area and Gentleman’s
Club called Cork Lounge. In lieu of traditional television,
the Lounge offers nightly entertainment featuring
unique piano, harp and accordion music.
Annaffiaré
is owned by Onemore Venture Inc. which also owns Quills
Catering and Designs by Rita. Quills Catering has
been around for more than two years and provides catering
services for the wedding and conference center at
The Grand Venice. They can also cater off-site and
have a history of catering large events for hundreds
of people. Designs by Rita is an on-site flower shop
providing floral designs for any occasion.
New
Body Carnival Exhibit Opens at Discovery Station
 Discovery
Station at Hagerstown has unveiled an exciting new
exhibit called Body Carnival: The Science and Fun
of Being You! The exhibit will be open until September
2007. Body Carnival encompasses 2,000 square feet
of space on the first floor of Discovery Station.
Eighteen interactive, carnival-themed displays teach
visitors about the human body while investigating
force, pressure, light, color, and more.
The
Tunnel of Blood enables young visitors to crawl through
a giant artery to see and hear the effects of plaque
build-up on blood flow. A Dizzy Tunnel tests visitors
balance as they walk through a 10-foot long tunnel
which stimulates a rotating star field. Visitors can
put on a pair of vision-distorting goggles and discover
how sight affects their ability to walk straight.
Other displays include the House of Color with different
sources of light and being able to “hear”
through bones and muscles while learning how these
body parts transmit sound.
The
Washington County Gaming Commission funded the lease
of this outstanding exhibit and the Nora Roberts Foundation
is funding the complex displays and maintenance for
three months. Body Carnival exhibits have been made
accessible to all visitors, including low vision visitors.
The exhibit includes four audio descriptor units and
a charger. These are available for use from the Discovery
Station entry desk staff.
Body
Carnival: The Science and Fun of Being You! was developed
by the Catawba Science Center in Hickory, N.C., and
The Health Adventure in Asheville, N.C. as part of
the Traveling Exhibits at Museums of Science (TEAMS)
Collaborative, with major funding from the National
Science Foundation.
Vegetarian’s
Pursuit Café Provides Healthy Lunch Options
Hagerstown
has its first ever vegetarian dining spot. The Vegetarian’s
Pursuit Café, located in the Review & Herald
Publishing Association, offers healthy vegetarian
and vegan dishes. The café prides itself on
making selections from scratch and providing generous
portions at reasonable prices. The café offers
a variety of dishes, focusing on vegetarian and vegan
cuisine. The menu changes daily and there is always
a salad bar, soup, hot and cold entrees and side dishes,
and fresh bread and baked goods.
Vegetarian’s
Pursuit Café is open for lunch, Monday through
Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It offers seating
for 90 people. The Review and Herald Publishing Association
provides a lovely atmosphere for dining, and there’s
also the opportunity to tour the facility and visit
their bookstore. The café also offers catering
services and boxed lunches.
Anyone
wishing to tour the Review and Herald should sign
in at the front desk and obtain a visitor pass. Tours
operate Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Group tours may be scheduled in advance by calling
301-393-3000. The Review and Herald Bookstore is open
Monday through Thursday from 8:30a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
TourGLIDES
Taking Off At Antietam National Battlefield!
A
group of visitors explore and tour Antietam National
Battlefield on Segways, provided by TourGLIDES.
For more information visit www.tourglides.com.
New
"Tex-Mex" and Spanish Restaurant Welcomed
in Downtown Hagerstown
Downtown
Hagerstown has a new restaurant to add to its growing
selection of dining establishments. Durango Restaurant,
specializing in fine Tex-Mex and Spanish cuisine,
opened its doors in May and serves lunch and dinner
seven days a week. The new restaurant offers an extensive
menu with selections ranging from typical Mexican
fare to seafood, steak, and vegetarian entrees. There
is also a children’s menu and a carryout menu.
Durango Restaurant offers seating for almost 90 people
on the first floor and 50 people on the second floor,
including a private dining area. There is additional
seating at the bar.
The
new restaurant is a family venture. Freddie Canales
and his brother-in-law Rigoberto Bonilla, are co-owners
of Durango Restaurant. Canales' wife Ana also works
in this new family business. Durango Restaurant is
located at 10-12 East Washington Street. The property
was formerly Michelle’s, a well-known restaurant
in the downtown area. Hours of operation are Sunday
through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday
and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Congratulations
to CVB Members David and Judy Grier
Their
daughter, Ashley Grier, shot an 81 in the
opening round of the U.S. Women's Open
(LPGA) on June 28. David and Judy are the
owners of Yingling's Golf Center in Hagerstown.
|
 |
Welcome
New Members
The
CVB is proud to have more than 250 members!
| Capuco
Consulting Services, Inc.
Carrie Cauco
16 E. North Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
410-353-2262
www.capucoconsulting.com
|
Dimensions
Dining and Catering
Melissa Miller
132 Old National Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-733-5100
|
| Durango
Restaurant
Freddie Canales
10 E. Washington Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-733-6608
|
|
The
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors
Bureau celebrated its 10th anniversary on July 1,
2007. We’d like to recognize those members
who have been there from the very beginning and
are also celebrating their 10th anniversary of membership.
We look forward to working with you the next ten
years and beyond!
AC&T
Company
Antietam Hagerstown KOA
Antietam National Battlefield
Antietam’s Jacob Rohrbach Inn
Antique Crossroads
Atlantic Coast Trailways
Auction Square Flea Market
Beaver Creek Antique Market
Bikle’s Ski and Outdoor Shop
Black Rock Golf Course
Boonsborough Museum of History
Callas Contractors, Inc.
City of Hagerstown
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center Antietam
Creek
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Comfort Suites
Contemporary Art Gallery Fine Art & Photography
Crystal Grottoes
Days Inn Hagerstown
Family Recreation Park
Fort Frederick State Park
Four Points by Sheraton
Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex
Hagerstown Regional Airport
Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum
Hagerstown Speedway
Hagerstown Suns Baseball
Hagerstown Trust Company
Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development
Hampton Inn – Dual Highway
Hepburn Orchards Fruit Market
Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau
Homeplace Gift and Gardens
Jeff Martin Specialty Advertising
Jonathan Hager House
Keller-Stonebraker Insurance
Leiter’s Fine Catering, Inc.
|
Long & Foster
Real Estate
Marketing Solutions Now
Maryland Symphony Orchestra
McMahon’s Mill Civil War/Military & American
Museum
Miller House
Musket Ridge Golf Course
Nicholas
Nick’s Airport Inn
Old South Mountain Inn
Photography by Dale
Picket News
Plaza Hotel
Prime Outlets at Hagerstown
Quality Inn
R. Bruce Carson Jewelers
Richardson’s Restaurant
River & Trail Outfitters
Rose Hill Cemetery of Hagerstown
Rustic Retreats
Schmankerl Stube—Bavarian Restaurant
South Mountain Recreation
Super 8 – Hancock
Super 8 – Hagerstown
Susquehanna
The Grille at Park Circle
The Herald Mail
The Inn at Antietam
The Plum
The Train Room and Museum
Valley Mall
Valley Revue
Washington County Arts Council Gallery
Washington County Playhouse
Westmar Tours & Travel
Whitetail Mountain Resort
Wingrove Manor B&B
Yingling’s Golf Center
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campground |
Schedule
Announced - HCC Red, White and Blue Summer Concert Series
 The
Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association has
announced the schedule for the Red, White and Blue Summer
Concert Series. All concerts are free, open to the public
and are in HCC's Alumni Amphitheater.
•
Monday, July 9 - The U.S. Navy's Country Current, a
country band, 6 p.m.
•
Sunday, Aug. 19 - The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters Choral
Group, 3:30 p.m.
•
Sunday, Sept. 9 - The U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers'
Chorus, 3:30 p.m.
The
events are co-sponsored by the HCC Alumni Association,
Joint Veterans Council of Washington County, Club Association
of Washington County, 40/8 Voiture Locale 651, VFW Post
1936 and AMVETS Department of Maryland Inc. The HCC
Alumni Association will sell concessions at the concerts.
For information, contact HCC Alumni Coordinator Lisa
Stewart at 301-790-2800, ext. 346.
WCMFA
Photographic Display Through July 29th, Norwegian
Photos
An
international friendship kindled 75 years ago is being
warmly renewed now through July as the Washington
County Museum of Fine Arts showcases the works of
an acclaimed Norwegian photographer. The exhibit,
sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, features
40 of Asle Svarverud's large-format photos of Nordic
mountains, fjords, forests and lakes. As much as it
celebrates the landscape, the exhibit celebrates the
bond between Norway and the museum, opened in late
1931 through the backing of American artist William
Singer Jr. and his wife, Anna, who left significant
footprints in Norway as both artists and benefactors.
The
embassy chose the works of photographer Svarverud
to help the museum celebrate its 75th year. Svarverud,
56, who attended the exhibition opening, said he is
intrigued by landscapes, especially of Norway's Lofoten
Islands to which he is drawn again and again at different
times of the year.
To
capture his images, he uses a tripod and an old-fashioned
camera, with an 8-inch-by-10-inch negative, with bellows
and the hood he ducks under to focus. The large negative
gives his photos immense detail. The exhibition, which
features some Svarverud works normally on display
at the Norwegian embassy in Washington as well as
others flown here from Norway, will be on display
through July 29.
Advancing
the Legacy: Gifts in Honor of the 75th
In
1931, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Singer, Jr. founded
the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts and bestowed
upon it many works from their great collection of
American, European and Asian fine and decorative arts.
To honor the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Museum,
art collectors, art foundations, and artists from
the Mid-Atlantic area and across the United States
have followed the example of the Singers by presenting
an impressive array of artistic treasures. These donors
continue the tradition of outstanding local and national
support for the Museum’s collection and their
generosity sets an inspiring example for the future.
This exhibit gathers these works, many not previously
displayed to the public, in the Museum’s Groh
Gallery.
The
Museum is best known for its collection of American
art, particularly nineteenth-century paintings. Mr.
and Mrs. Lee Stine of Sharpsburg, Maryland, have made
a charming addition to this collection with the1882
painting The Dilettante by John George Brown (1831-1913).
The Museum has received important American nineteenth-century
prints by Thomas Moran (1837-1926) including the spectacular
chromolithograph Grand Canyon of Arizona from Hermit
Rim Road, given by Spence and Cinda Perry of Hagerstown,
Maryland. Many major additions have bolstered the
Museum’s collection of modern and contemporary
American and European graphic art, including works
by such famous artists as the Russian Wassily Kandinsky
(1866-1944), and Americans John Sloan (1871-1951)
and Larry Rivers (1923-2002), all gifts of the Perrys.
Abstract
prints, a painting and a sculpture by American modernist
Reuben Kadish (1913-1992) have come through the Reuben
Kadish Foundation, New York, New York and the Florence
Graff Art Fund. Artists from both the Mid-Atlantic
area and other parts of the country, such as Ski Holm
of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and David Sharpe of
New York, have generously given their own works.
Three
elegant glass vases by the Czech firm Loetz, given
by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Merson of Baltimore, Maryland,
are among the newly given decorative pieces adding
beauty to the museum’s collection of glass,
ceramics and furniture from America and Europe. The
Museum’s choice selection of Japanese prints
has been augmented by a pair of exquisite woodcuts
by the Japanese master Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865),
gift of H. Tom and Virginia Seely of Berkeley Springs,
West Virginia. The Seelys have also given a beautiful
Old Master painting by the French artist Pierre Mignard
(1612-1695).
Early
European sculptures that have arrived include a sixteenth-century
carved and painted Christ Crucified, donated by Eleanor
Lakin of Boonsboro, Maryland.
Maryland
Symphony Orchestra announces its "Magical"
26th season
 The Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Music Director
Elizabeth Schulze have revealed the programming for
their 26th annual season, “The Magic of the
MSO.” The power of musical magic is the focus
of the 2007-2008 season, which includes five MasterWorks
concerts, a weekend of Christmas favorites with MSO
Home for the Holidays, music from some of the world’s
best-loved movies at the MSO Pops! concert and the
annual Family Concert. Performances are held at the
historic Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown;
MasterWorks concerts begin at 8:00 pm on Saturdays
and 3:00 pm on Sundays.
Subscriptions
for “The Magic of the MSO,” the Maryland
Symphony Orchestra’s 26th annual season, are
available at the MSO office at 30 West Washington
Street in Hagerstown, or by calling 301-797-4000.
Season subscribers enjoy benefits such as priority
seating, free ticket replacement and flexible ticket
exchanges, while receiving significant savings off
of regular single ticket prices. New subscribers can
also take advantage of the MSO’s first time
subscribers discount and receive the full MasterWorks
Series of five concerts for as little as $53.00; a
“Welcome Back” discount provides year
two savings to subscribers who renew after their first
year. Group discounts and student rates are also available
– please call the MSO Box Office for details.
Single tickets will go on sale on August 15.
Now
in its 26th season, The Maryland Symphony Orchestra,
under the direction of Elizabeth Schulze, is the area’s
premiere professional orchestra, dedicated to providing
musical performances and programs that educate and
entertain while enhancing the cultural environment
of Western Maryland and the surrounding region.
Around
Washington County Tourism |
New Dining Map and Guide Helps to Attract More Bus Groups to Downtown
Hagerstown
 The
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
has a new guide to help people choose amongst downtown Hagerstown’s
dining options. A single-page Downtown Hagerstown Dining Guide provides
information such as the location, hours of operation, type of cuisine,
and price range for each dining establishment. The guide was created
to assist tour bus groups, so passengers could explore the downtown
area and could plan where to dine, as well as to easily locate chosen
restaurants.
Several
new dining establishments have come to downtown Hagerstown in the
past year. Duffy’s on Potomac, Laila’s Kitchen, and
Moose’s American Bistro are some of the downtown area’s
newest restaurants. They join longtime favorites such as the Schmankerl
Stube Bavarian Restaurant , the Gourmet Goat, which recently moved
to a new location, and The Plum. A dozen restaurants are featured
in the map and guide.
The
Downtown Hagerstown Dining Guide was designed by High Rock Interactive.
It was created so that it can either be professionally printed or
e-mailed as an attachment to tour bus operators. The guide incorporates
a map of the downtown area to help people navigate the city streets
and find parking. The guide is also available on-line at: http://www.marylandmemories.org/downtowndining.
Antietam
Battlefield Guides Enhance Visitor Experience
There
are many ways to tour Antietam Battlefield, but undoubtedly one of
the best ways is with a battlefield guide. For many years there was
an informal guide service at Antietam. Now the Western Maryland Interpretive
Association (WMIA), the cooperating association of Antietam National
Battlefield, has an official Antietam Battlefield Guide service with
approximately 10 guides available for tours. Battlefield tours can
take place anytime during regular park hours. They can be scheduled
for weeks in advance and in some instances, guides who live close
to the park are available for walk-ups. Typical tours last for two
hours and cover the Battle of Antietam and the Maryland Campaign of
1862.
Last
year, the Battlefield Guide service conducted approximately 350 guided
tours. On an average summer day, guides gave several tours to small
groups of one to six people. Though the guide service is not as busy
during the winter months, business pick ups in the warmer months as
visitation increases. September 17, 2007, marks the 145th anniversary
of the Battle of Antietam. A variety of special events are planned
locally and at the battlefield to commemorate the anniversary. Park
officials expect to see an increase in visitation and peaked interest
in the battle. Park guides plan to be busier as well.
Anyone
interested in hiring a battlefield guide can call WMIA at 301-432-4329
during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., seven days
a week, or go to www.antietammuseumstore.com to schedule a tour. A
typical two hour tour costs $50 for one to six people and goes up
to $150 for a large group of 40 or more people.
900
People Attend July 4-8 Chevy Convention in Hagerstown
 The
33rd Annual Classic Chevy International and Worldwide Camaro
Club Convention was held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference
Center Antietam Creek, July 4-8, 2007. Approximately 900 club
members gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic
1957 Chevy and the 40th Anniversary of the introduction of the
Camaro. The convention attracted owners and aficionados of 1955-1972
Chevys and 1967-2002 Camaros. It was hosted by the Heart of Maryland
Classic Chevy Club and sponsored by Eckler’s Classic Chevy
International and Worldwide Camaro Club. The Clarion hosted the
convention, and the Best Western Grand Venice, Days Inn, and
the Quality Inn, all located along the Dual Highway, provided
additional hotel rooms for the convention attendees.
 Convention
highlights included a 1,000 point judging of cars, bus trips and "cruises" around
the Hagerstown area, as well as technical seminars. The convention
kicked off with BBQ party at Marty Snook Park. Attendees also toured
several historic sites in Washington County, including Antietam
National Battlefield.
Previous
conventions have been held in Hampton, Va.; Cincinnati, Ohio;
Springfield, Mo.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Baltimore, Md.; and Orlando,
Fl. This was the first time the convention was held in Hagerstown.
White
German Shepherd International Dog Show In Hagerstown June 22-24
The
White German Shepherd Dog Club International, Inc. (WGSDCII™)
held its 2007 National Specialty Show and Convention at the Hagerstown
Sleep Inn & Suites, June 22-24. Approximately 15 people and
25 dogs from across the United States gathered for the three-day
event. The show and convention included dog shows, a member picnic
and awards presentation, and the 35th National Specialty Show.
The
WGSDCII™ is an international organization whose purpose is
to protect and preserve the heritage and integrity of the white-coated
German Shepherd Dog. The Club is dedicated to promoting the interests
of this dog by educating the public. The WGSDCII™ is the largest
and oldest organization serving owners, breeders and fanciers of
the white German shepherd. The Club encourages and promotes quality
breeding of the white German shepherd by collecting and distributing
information pertinent to all white GSD owners through its publications
and special programs.
Model T Ford Enthusiasts Gather in Hagerstown
More than
125 people and 62 Model T Ford’s from across the United
States and Canada gathered in Hagerstown for the Model T Ford
Club of America’s (MTFCA) 2007 Eastern National Tour, June
17-22. The Eastern National Tour is held annually and hosted by
different Chapters. This year's host was the Blue and Grey T Club,
a Maryland chapter of the MTFCA. The chapter was formed with 18
members from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia
and then officially chartered in April, 1980.
Throughout
the week participants went on tours each day, showcasing various
sites throughout the region. Local tour stops included Fort Frederick
State Park, Antietam National Battlefield, the C&O Canal,
the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum and Mack Powertrain.
The Four Points Sheraton was the host hotel for the Tour and several
others, such as the Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, and Quality Inn,
provided overflow rooms. This was the third time the Blue and
Grey Chapter of MTFCA hosted the Eastern National Tour in Hagerstown.
The last time was in 2000. Next year the MTFCA will host a Centennial
Party for the 100th anniversary of the Model T Ford. The MTFCA
takes pride in calling itself the world’s largest Model
T Ford Club.
More
Than 200 Professional Bowlers Compete in Hagerstown Over Memorial
Day Weekend
The
4th Annual Frank Turner Pro Classic was held in Hagerstown, May
25-27, 2007. Frank Turner and the Long Meadow Bowl hosted the
second stop on the Duckpin Professional Bowlers Association (DPBA)
Tour. During the three-day tournament 215 male bowlers from throughout
the United States and Canada will competed for cash prizes, including
a first place prize of $10,000. Competitors bowled in shifts on
Friday and Saturday, then the top 42 finishers competed head to
head on Sunday. The host hotel for the Memorial Day Weekend tournament
was the Hampton Inn on the Dual Highway, although bowlers also
stayed at other hotels.
Independent
Order of Odd Fellows Convene In Hagerstown
Members
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows held their annual statewide
convention at the Best Western Grand Venice in Hagerstown, May
20-23, 2007. Approximately 150 members and their spouses attended.
The conference attendees were from lodges throughout Maryland,
from Westernport to Easton. The convention consisted of business
meetings for the organization, the installation of new officers,
a memorial to recognize members who have died, and a banquet,
at the Best Western Grand Venice. Attendees also had the opportunity
to visit Washington County attractions such as Prime Outlets and
Antietam National Battlefield.
The
Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal organization derived
from English Odd Fellows orders of the mid-1700’s. Several
unofficial lodges existed in New York City, but American Odd Fellowship
is regarded as being founded in Baltimore in 1819, by Thomas Wildey,
and the following year affiliated with the Manchester Unity. Within
a few years the new American separated from the English Orders
and formed the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Odd Fellows
pride themselves in caring for the sick and educating orphans.
Members are involved with the Maryland Eye Bank, Children’s
Hospital, and the Arthritis Foundation.
On
The Road With Betsy DeVore
Pictured
left to right is the CVB’s Betsy DeVore,
Maryalice Giroux, General Manager of the Tidewater Inn, and Debbie
Dodson, Executive Director of Talbot County Tourism. The photo
was taken at the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives
(GWSAE) Springtime in the Park trade show on June 14, 2007 in
Washington, D.C.
MORE (Maryland On the Road) - Sales
Blitz to tour operators in North Carolina
July 8-12, 2007
Greater Hagerstown New Teacher's Reception - Hagerstown, MD (Tom
Riford attending)
August 7, 2007
MD Association of Counties - Ocean City (Tom Riford also attending)
August 15-17, 2007
AAA Western PA/East Ohio - Group Leader Show
August 22 & 23, 2007
Affordable Meetings - Washington DC
Sept. 4-6, 2007
Mini-MORE - Sales Blitz to tour operators in Central PA
Sept. 18-20, 2007
 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 charissas@marylandmemories.com
or fax to 301-791-2601 to be included in the next edition!
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