Author: Staff Reports

Hagerstown, Md. — Revised plans for the proposed Agricultural Education Center’s multipurpose indoor facility will be the topic of an Aug. 21 meeting in Boonsboro. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Washington County Agriculture Education Center’s multipurpose building, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike in Boonsboro Md. Originally scheduled for April 17, the project has been evaluated and a new site location has been proposed. The meeting will begin with a project overview followed by breakout groups with project team members. During the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest concepts for the new…

HARRISBURG — PennDOT has opened a 10-day public comment period for newly drafted guidelines for the operation of highly automated vehicles on Pennsylvania roadways. The draft guidelines establish minimum requirements for the certification and operations of HAVs operated by a driver, present in the vehicle or from a remote location, or without a driver. The draft guidelines were created in consultation with the automated vehicle industry and the Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee. The guidelines and instructions for submitting comments can be found on the PennDOT website. Pursuant to state law, the comment period will close at 5 p.m. Aug.…

CHAMBERSBURG — Gardeners and plant enthusiasts are invited to showcase their successes and challenges at a Franklin County Visitors Bureau event on Thursday, Aug. 15. Titled “Gardners, Bring Your Best: A Lunch & Learn and Show & Tell of Fresh Food,” the event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Great Room of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Participants are encouraged to bring either photographs or actual items from their gardens, including vegetables, tomatoes and flowers. This interactive “Show & Tell” format allows attendees to share their best gardening experiences, discuss lessons learned and express any…

SHIPPENSBURG — The Uprise Festival, an annual celebration of Christian music and community, is set to return to the Shippensburg Community Fairgrounds Sept. 13-14. The festival, which began in 2004, has grown into an event that attracts thousands of attendees from across the region for music and what festival officials say is an immersive experience for families and individuals. Uprise Festival 2024 will feature more than 35 renowned Christian artists and bands. Notable performers include Skillet, Switchfoot, Stryper and Tedashii, among others. The festival is known for its diverse musical offerings, spanning genres such as rock, pop, worship and contemporary…

CHAMBERSBURG — A recent achievement of the Franklin County Geographic Information Systems staff will be recognized at the regular meeting of Franklin County Commissioners at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. The meeting will be in Room 824 of the Administration Building, 272 N. Second St. The staff is headed by Director Kara Shindle, who also is serving as president of the County GIS Professionals of Pennsylvania. On behalf of her department, Shindle was given a Special Achievement Award by the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. The award noted that the staff developed a better way for county workers to request…

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — An educator, described as displaying “a passion for student success” was honored by Hagerstown Community College recently as the 2024 Faculty Member of the Year. Joseph Marschner, assistant professor of music and drama, wound up his 35-year association with HCC in June when he retired. He began his collegiate experience at HCC in 1989, where he earned an associate’s degree. Soon after, he took a job at HCC as a guitar instructor, when the music program first began. He completed a bachelor’s degree in music composition at Shepherd University in 1992 and became the theater technician at…

The workings of a collaborative network promoting and protecting the resources of South Central Pennsylvania was the topic at last week’s Waynesboro Rotary Club meeting. Katie Hess, director of the South Mountain Partnership, explained that the SMP is a collaborative network of people and organizations protecting and promoting farming, nature, history and outdoor recreation resources in Franklin, Adams, Cumberland and York counties. SMP is one of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ eight identified conservation areas. Hess is a native of Franklin County, having been born in Edenville. She also shared the Report Card on the State of…

WAYNESBORO – Three movies are in store for theater-goers Wednesday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 17, at Waynesboro Theatre, 75 W. Main St. Wednesday,10 a.m. “The Lego Movie” (PG 1:40) Emmet (Chris Pratt), an ordinary LEGO figurine who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as the Special — an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He finds himself drafted into a fellowship of strangers who are on a mission to stop an evil tyrant’s (Will Ferrell) plans to conquer the world. Unfortunately for Emmet, he is hopelessly — and hilariously — unprepared for such a task,…

CASCADE, Md.- The history of Fairchild Aircraft and aviation in the region will be on tap at 6 p.m. event on Aug. 23 at the Fort Ritchie Community Center. The 6 p.m. event will feature Kurtis Meyers, vice president and curator of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Meyers will deliver a presentation focused on Fairchild Aircraft and the rich history of aviation in the local region. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with light refreshments followed by a social hour at 7. Priced at $10, tickets can be purchased online through the Fort Ritchie Community Center’s website or…

GREENCASTLE — Biodegradable coffins for both people and pets are offered at Setas Eternal Living. This service features a product called MyCoffin, which is said to biodegrade the human body in less than three years and pets in less than two. This initiative aims to honor life while promoting environmental stewardship, Setas officials said. Setas Eternal Living is a subsidiary of Setas Mushrooms, LLC. The coffins are crafted using mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus. These mycelium-based products are designed to decompose naturally, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting new life. Unlike conventional coffins, which can take decades…