Author: Robb Helfrick

During America’s infancy, war was both an inevitable and too-common occurrence. The Revolutionary War was required to win independence, the War of 1812 fought to remind Britain that the United States remained a sovereign nation. With a clear-cut national enemy, America’s citizens rallied behind the flag and honored the service of its military. Early journalists and artists helped foster that sense of unity and national pride. But media from that era often created visual and written works that sometimes romanticized the causes or downplayed the realities of war. America’s earliest military leaders benefited from those nationalistic efforts. Courageous George Washington…

Local News 1 recently held a Q&A session with Helen Wintle, owner of Waynesboro’s Wee Scot Book Shoppe. ___________________________________________________________________________________ LN1: How did your background teaching English influence your entry into the bookstore business? Helen: I didn’t go into teaching until I was 38, but books have always been a part of my life. When I left teaching, I always thought it would be cool to open a book shop, but it wasn’t a lifelong dream. But one day I decided that was what I wanted to do. LN1: How did you find this charming retail space and what was required…

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts opens a fascinating new art display on November 11th, 2023. Titled “Picasso on Paper: The Artist as Printmaker”, the exhibition will feature 62 etchings, lithographs, and linocuts from the world-renowned artist. This is the first major showing of Pablo Picasso’s work at WCMFA since 1972. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was born in Spain but spent most of his adult life creating works in France. He is considered one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. Picasso was known for co-founding the Cubist Movement which included his paintings with unusual and highly creative perspectives. But…

In every town, citizens routinely travel local streets, or mention them in everyday conversations. But they often don’t consider the cultural and geographic stories behind their street’s names. Named streets serve a practical purpose. They ease navigation and provide a semblance of order to a community. These names stamp each city grid with a unique fingerprint, unmatched by any other American town. But these avenues also tell historic tales. At first glance, Waynesboro’s street names don’t stray far from the norm. When compared to Pennsylvania’s top ten most popular street names, the Borough has six of them (Second, Third, Park,…

The future operation of South Mountain Golf Course, a scenic 9-hole mountain course, is in jeopardy. The Quincy Township sporting venue leases a 47-acre tract from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that is located within the boundaries of Michaux State Forest. On December 31, 2025, the golf course’s lease will expire. DCNR recently notified course ownership that their lease will not be renewed. The golf course acreage in question became part of state forest land in 1964. In 1968, the first lease was signed and the South Mountain Golf Course (SMGC) opened. Subsequent ten-year leases with the…

Architecture is created and sustained by successive eras of people. Each generation leaves behindunique brick-and-mortar buildings where citizens slept, worked, worshiped, and played. Intowns that plan for a prosperous future- without forgetting their past- these structures arecarefully tended and preserved for posterity, serving as cherished ambassadors of local history. The prime specimens of most community’s architecture are typically concentrated in downtownbusiness districts. Proper use and ongoing care of these buildings signals civic spirit and vitality.On Waynesboro’s Main Street, the town earns a high grade for its balance of architectural varietyand thoughtful preservation. A walking tour along this nostalgic street reveals…

October has arrived and during this month the annual hunt commences for autumn trees’ most vibrant reds, fiery oranges, and bright yellows. Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil only makes winter predictions. So, we humans must ponder the yearly why-when-what-where questions for how to best pursue this fall spectacle. The first answer of that four-part W-series is the easiest- it’s based on scientific facts. The when-what-where questions are more elusive and ultimately decided by intangible meteorological/topographical conditions and individual preferences. WHY do leaves change color? In fact, they don’t really change. Around this time of year, deciduous trees cease chlorophyll production, in…

Pottery is of one of humanity’s first inventions, and surviving pieces are evidence of our earliest civilizations. The oldest known samples were found in China, dating back to 18,000 BC. Other key pottery discoveries have turned up in Africa, the Middle East, and South America, ranging from 6000 BC to 14,000 BC time periods. Pottery’s historic story spans the globe. Today, ceramic artifacts give modern archeologists detailed clues how ancient societies were shaped by past social, economic, and industrial influences. In its infancy, pottery was primarily used as utilitarian vessels for cooking, eating, or other everyday chores. But as more…

My childhood idol was Brooks Robinson. He was a professional baseball player- a third baseman who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles. At age nine, I watched Brooks perform spectacular feats during the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Orioles won that championship on Brooks’ shoulders as he wowed with both his defensive and offensive skills. Brooks Robinson died September 26th at 86 years of age. He played his last professional game in 1977- so why does his passing provoke sadness and nostalgia 46 years later? Because, unlike many so-called sports legends who come and go…

Eons before humans explored the Appalachians, powerful geologic forces sculpted that storied mountain chain. Massive collisions between ancient continents caused rocks to be uplifted and folded under tremendous pressure, creating unique mountain features. This remarkable construction process began more than a billion years ago. During the Cambrian period, most of modern-day Maryland was under water. But in future years, as colossal land masses continuously shifted and oceans diverted elsewhere, the Appalachians began asserting dominance over a drier landscape. Some geologists estimate their peaks were once twice as tall as the Himalayans. Imagine a 50,000-foot-tall mountain in western Maryland. Despite the…