Author: Staff Reports

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – After 1,000 days of continuous planning, enrollment is now open for the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine for the fall 2025 semester. The school received conditional approval to operate in Maryland as an in-state degree-granting institution from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and pre-accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. “We started on this path to fill the critical shortage of physicians in our community, the state and the nation,” said Maulik Joshi, Meritus president and CEO. “Now, we’ve taken the steps that will create generational change.” There are not enough physicians in the United States…

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Events for the whole family will help Washington County wind up September as Citizens’ Emergency Preparedness Month. The 2024 Preparedness Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 28, sponsored by the County Office of Emergency Management and the Public Safety Training Center. This event, at 18350 Public Safety Pl., Hagerstown, will feature 35 organizations and various types of apparatus, as well as a kid’s zone with face painting and a balloon artist. Special guests include Smokey the Bear, Bob the Builder and Sparky the Fire Dog. Attendees will have the opportunity to…

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Final preparations are underway for REACH of Washington County to reopen the cold weather shelter for its 23-week season, an endeavor supported by 1,200 volunteers. The shelter, which serves the Hagerstown area from late October until early April, brings together volunteers of various faith backgrounds and socio-economic situations. “It’s really an amazing model I inherited,” Executive Director Jeannie Asbury said, describing how different houses of faith typically select a week to serve meals and undertake other volunteer responsibilities. Three weeks remain for sign-ups to fill the schedule of the 2024-25 season. Thirty-four years ago, a truck with…

CHAMBERSBURG – Tonight, Sept. 18, the Franklin County Commissioners will convene for their public board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Franklin County Administration Building, 272 N. Second St. This meeting will not include a morning session, allowing community members to engage in discussions and provide input during the evening. The agenda includes key items such as the approval of previous meeting minutes, public comments, and various consent agenda items related to county projects and agreements. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the meeting will be available online, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all interested…

Free health seminars are being offered this fall in York, Hershey and virtually by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Institute and the UMPC Hillman Cancer Center. These seminars aim to raise awareness about health conditions and provide insights into prevention, diagnosis and treatment options, organizers said.   These seminars are open to everyone, especially those at risk of heart and vascular diseases and prostate cancer, caregivers and anyone interested in learning more about the topics.  While the seminar is free, UMPC encourages attendees to register in advance to secure their spot at UPMC.com/CentralPaEvents  Seminars include:  Answering Your Questions…

WAYNESBORO – Drew Adams will host a free concert on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Church of the Apostles, UCC, 336 Barnett Ave. in Wayne Heights. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Adams is known for his diverse musical repertoire, featuring a mix of current and classic pop, rock and folk hits spanning the last six decades. His performance promises to cater to a wide range of musical tastes, making it an enjoyable experience for all attendees. The concert is part of a community…

WAYNESBORO – The historic Alexander Hamilton House, home of Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, is receiving much-needed repairs over the fall and winter, thanks to generous grants. The grants came from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Alexander Stewart, M.D. Foundation. The Alexander Hamilton House was built by architect John Bittinger in 1814. Bittinger sold the house to local wagon maker and land speculator Alexander Hamilton in 1842. The house remained in Hamilton’s family for 100 years. Then it was bequeathed to the Borough of Waynesboro for use as the town’s first…

ORRTANNA – Adams County Winery will host its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The staff will entertain crowds with a grape stomp and t-shirt staining activity, and live music will be provided by returning artist Schizophonic on the Stray Cat Stage from 1-4 p.m. Featuring a guitar-driven sound supplemented with the saxophone, Schizophonic will entertain guests with its faithful reproductions of great rock songs from artists like The Who, Talking Heads, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and more. Wine releases for this day will include Apple Pie, released previously in 2023, and Vintage…

CHAMBERSBURG – Despite news about enrollment declines across higher education, Wilson College is bucking the trend, having attained its highest total enrollment in the history of the institution. Fall figures show 1,705 enrolled students, a 10 percent increase over last year.  “We are beyond excited that now, more than any time in the college’s 156-year history, more students have the opportunity to benefit from an outstanding Wilson education,” President Wesley R. Fugate said. “Our approach to providing an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences with a strong career focus in a welcoming and supportive learning environment is…

CHAMBERSBURG –  Residents can offer their input for proposed use of the Franklin County Community Block Grant funds during a Sept. 23 public hearing set by The Franklin County Commissioners. The meeting will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at the Franklin County Administration Building, 272 N. Second St. Details on projects and the budget are available on the Franklin County website, www.franklincountypa.gov. All interested residents, groups and organizations are encouraged to attend this public hearing and will be afforded the opportunity to present oral and written comments concerning proposed projects. Details on CDBG goals and eligible activities are…