Picking the Ideal Location for your Garden

Once you have picked what garden you want, there are many other factors you need to decide before you actually get to work with your gardening tools. Mainly you need to choose its location. This is usually decided by several factors: How you will water it, how much shade it needs, etc. Some of these questions can be very important in deciding whether your garden lives or dies, so don't take them lightly. You need to take each one into special consideration.

Choosing the garden's location within your yard is one of the more important things to decide. You want to choose a location that will provide an ideal climate for the plants in your garden. I don't know what type of garden you're dealing with so I can't give you specific advice, but if you do a Google search for the plant you're dealing with then you'll find a plethora of sites informing you about the perfect conditions for its growing. After this, it's just a matter of finding the most shaded or most sunny spot in your yard.

Why Home Remedies are Popular?

Home remedies have proven time and time again that they are incredibly popular.  The major benefits that home remedies tends to offer to people means that it is possible to learn some great ways to save money, improve your health and also live a bit of a greener life.  In order to really get all of the benefits possible from home remedies it is important to understand some of the most popular reasons for choosing a home remedy.

What you might not realize is that doctors can be extremely expensive.  Starting when you are an adult you are going to be responsible for all of the doctor’s visits that you need to make.  If you are like most adults you are going to attempt to limit these visits as much as possible.  In order to do this, it is necessary to skip some visits and even potentially limit the number of times that you are actually getting sick.  Small changes such as this can make it possible to stretch your budget and substantially avoid having to mortgage your home again just to cover medical bills.

My First Gardening Experience

Ah, to this day I still remember my first gardening experience. It was such a disaster that I didn’t think I would ever want to garden again. I almost decided to turn my casual hobby into the most rage-inducing topic you could possibly bring up to me. It all started a few weeks after I moved in to my first house. I was excited just to have my own grass to mow, since I had been in apartments and condos for quite a while. In between plans to paint walls and renovate the inside to exactly how I like, I thought it would be a good idea to start a fruit garden so that I could have some fresh produce and put my yard to use. At that point I didn’t really know anything at all about gardening. But still in my spunky youthful years, I decided I didn’t need help. How hard could it be to start a garden and grow stuff? After all, it happens in nature all the time and nobody even has to do anything.

Looking for Paid Contributors to WashCo Chronicle

BOONSBORO, MD - For a while now, I've been wanting to find a way of paying independent contributors to WashCo Chronicle. As I've said before, I'm not interested in making money off WashCo Chronicle - but I'd love for my independent contributors to!

Today, Jason, who runs the DarkTechObserver Blog and YouTube, gave me a link to a website which may allow me to do just that.

Patreon is a crowdfunding website which allows you to make regular contributions to artists, writers, musicians, etc.

There are two funding models which I could implement.

The first funding model, I setup a single Patreon account for WashCo Chronicle. Then I use any contributions to pay contributors on a per-article basis.  The upside to this is, once a dedicated stream of funding is established, I could pay contributors immediately for articles I review and accept. The downside is, I wouldn't be able to accept paid articles until there's a funding stream.  This also causes some legal headaches for me, as I'd have to make each contributor a paid contractor, fill out tax forms, etc.

The second funding model, and the one I'm really leaning towards, is having each independent contributor create a Patreon account, and include a link in their articles. This could result in higher returns for independent contributors, if the community favors their articles.  This would leave the "quality" judgement in the hands of the community, instead of my own personal opinion. This would also result in contributors receiving payment monthly, instead of a per-article basis.  Independent contributors could use the same Patreon link on their own personal blogs/etc. as well.  And best of all, it removes a lot of legal headaches for me.

I really want to help empower the community, and help provide additional income to those who need it.  I believe this might be an excellent chance.

What are your thoughts? I want to hear them.  Would you be interested in becoming a paid contributor to the WashCo Chronicle?  For readers - which funding model would you prefer?

Please email me, WashCoChronicle@gmail.com

Ken Buckler is the editor of the WashCo Chronicle

Leitersburg BBQ Festival a New Local Tradition

LEITERSBURG, MD - Today was the First Ever Leitersburg BBQ Festival, and it was a huge success. So much of a success, some vendors completely sold out of food after only a couple hours of opening!

The music was great.  The food was delicious. And best of all, the event provided a family-friendly atmosphere of games, as well as community.

This was more than just a chance to try delicious BBQ and listen to great music. This was a chance to learn about little-known small businesses in our area, as well as promote agriculture in Washington County.

The Washington County Department of Business Development was on site to promote farming in Washington County, and help encourage purchasing food from local farm markets. Educational children's activities were also provided to help them learn about farming. Everyone who stopped by received a bag of goodies, including all natural soybean oil based grill cleaner. I couldn't think of a better freebie for a BBQ festival than that.

The Washington County Fire and Rescue Association was also present to encourage volunteers to sign up. There's no better way to help serve your community than volunteer - even if you don't want to become a firefighter or EMT, there are plenty other volunteer positions available, including administrative, fund raising, and maintenance positions.

CASA of Washington County Maryland was on site to help promote awareness of their services. If you or someone you know is an abusive environment, contact CASA today for help.

And finally, The Downtown Movement was also present, to promote their next pop-up shop event, which will take place during Blues Fest. 

Of course, in addition to delicious food, there were several arts and crafts vendors available. A full list of all the vendors is available at the Leitersburg BBQ Festival web site. A lot of the food vendors I had never heard of before, and I will be visiting their business locations in the future, especially the CharColes Hot Sauce Store!

My wishlist for the next iteration of this event is very short. I loved this event, and
1) There was plenty of BBQ pork and beef, but not very much BBQ chicken. Perhaps get Smithsburg Market to bring in some of their famous fried chicken for next year?
2) Many vendors could only accept cash. I would strongly encourage vendors in future events to consider a mobile payment processing system such as Square. Unfortunately, many people don't carry cash anymore.
3) Consider reducing the admission fee, or make it a "donation requested" entrance fee. For a family of four on a budget, $28 ($7/person) is a bit high, considering food was not included in the price of admission.

It is my hope that this BBQ Festival becomes an annual tradition of Washington County - and based upon the overwhelming turnout, I suspect we'll be seeing it again next year.

Ken Buckler is the editor of the WashCo Chronicle

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN HONOR & REMEMBRANCE OF BROOK SIMMERS

The W House is truly saddened to hear about the loss of Brooke Simmers. Our sincerest condolences to her family and friends go beyond words.

We will be holding a Candlelight Vigil to honor Brooke at The W House, 519 N. Locust Street, on Friday evening starting at 7PM. We will also be conducting pre-screens at this time for any females seeking immediate treatment.

Resources for men and those seeking treatment elsewhere will also be available.

The disease of addiction has claimed another life, something that this cunning, baffling and powerful disease aims to do.  She will never be forgotten and will be celebrated at the candlelight vigil.  Any contributions to our facility will be in her honor and to help other women who are struggling with addiction.

More information about The W House can be found on their website: http://www.thewhouse.org/

"Soup with Santa" to Benefit Local 11 Year Old with Brain Cancer

MAUGANSVILLE, MD - Modern Woodmen of America Chapter 6118 members from Hagerstown, MD and Martinsburg, WV will sponsor their 2nd Soup with Santa fundraiser on December 6th, 2014 to benefit Joseph Henson, a local 11 year old who is fighting brain cancer.

Joe Henson is a local 11 year old boy fighting brain cancer. Joe and his mother Angela have been at Johns Hopkins hospital since June 26 when he was airlifted from Meritus Hospital. Joe had surgery just three days later to remove as much of the tumor as they could. He has undergone six weeks of radiation therapy and currently continues chemotherapy. Joe has had a really hard time post-op and still has not regained many functions you and I take for granted. Joe misses his brother and sisters, who are staying with his grandmother in Williamsport. It's been a tough road the past few years, as Joe lost his father Chris 3 years ago to a car accident.

Plans for the fundraiser include: Soups (by Dustin Dumire), a sandwich, chips, a dessert, a drink, and a visit and e-photo with Santa Claus (with your camera or by Photographer Mike Frevert). The Modern Woodmen will also have Silent Auction items to bid on, and Raffle ticket sales.

The event will run from 1 AM to 3PM, on Saturday, December 6th at the Maugansville Ruritan Club located at 180 7 Maugans Ave., Maugansville, MD 21740.

For more information, please visit the Facebook event page.

"Giving Tuesday" - A New Holiday Tradition

HAGERSTOWN, MD - You know the drill. Every holiday season, Thanksgiving kicks off an extended weekend of eating, sleeping, and shopping.

• Thursday - eat, watch Football.
• Friday - go shopping!
• Saturday - go shopping at local businesses!
• Sunday - rest!
• Monday - go shopping online!

But this year, why not start a new holiday tradition?

On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

The event is called #GivingTuesday. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.

If you're looking for a suggestion on where to give, giving local is best. One recommended charity is the Discovery Station in Hagerstown, MD. The Discovery Station is a local non-profit dedicated to science and technology education.

What other local charities are you interested in donating to this #GivingTuesday? Please feel free to share!

Hagerstown TEA Party Member's Meeting - Thursday, Oct 30

WHEN: October 30, 2014 from 7:00-8:30pm

WHERE: Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, MD 21740

SPEAKER: Stephen C. Coughlin,

TOPIC: Jihad, Sharia, and National Security

COST: Freewill donation

LINK TO REGISTER: http://www.eventbrite.com/reports?filterby=all,365808571&rid=h&eid=13637850177

Registration is not required, but strongly recommended, because seating is limited.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Opinion: I can't wait until November 5th

I can't wait until November 5th. This has been an extremely ugly election year, with personal attacks in multiple campaigns, and some candidates refusing to focus on the real issues that affect Washington County and the rest of Maryland.

At the end of the day, it is my hope that any candidate running for a public office is doing so because they care about the community. As such, once the dust has settled from the elections, maybe we can actually get some real improvements and changes for Washington County by working with our elected officials.

I started WashCo Chronicle to make a difference in this community, and help give the community a voice. Unfortunately, as with many elections, the voice of the community is drowned out by the sound of the election war drums. Once the elections are over, we'll have almost a solid two years to get some real work done.

Here's my list of topics which need to be discussed with elected officials after the November elections.

• Public Transportation - What can we do to help improve public transit within Hagerstown and Washington County, as well as public transit to surrounding communities, including Washington DC?
• Crime - When gangs have shootouts in Downtown Hagerstown in broad daylight, there's a problem - and this is a problem which should concern all of Washington County, not just Hagerstown. We must take control of the situation and eliminate the gang presence within our community. Community members cannot simply sit around and wait for someone else to address the problem. There are steps we as citizens can take to help with this issue.
• Growing Washington County Economy - On October 18, yet another local business is closing - the Cearfoss Emporium. We need to bring businesses back to Washington County and provide good paying jobs for local residents. Hagerstown needs to start promoting and taking advantage of its HUBZone status to bring in small business Federal contracting companies.

Working together, we as a community can ensure the growth and success of Washington County. Please join me and share your thoughts with our local elected officials on how our county can improve.

Would you like to have your voice heard? Please email your letters, guest articles, and thoughts to WashCoChronicle@gmail.com. Together, we can make a difference.

Article by Ken Buckler, Editor

Whats Cooking in Hagerstown Cookbook Now Available!

HAGERSTOWN, MD - Whats Going on in Hagerstown and WashCo Chronicle are happy to announce the first edition of the Whats Cooking in Hagerstown Cookbook!

This cookbook has been a month long, joint venture between Whats Going on in Hagerstown and WashCo Chronicle. All recipes and photos have been submitted by members of Whats Going on in Hagerstown, and the cookbook assembled and hosted by WashCo Chronicle's editor.

This is a 100% FREE community cookbook (eBook). This cookbook is available at NO CHARGE as an electronic download. This download is licensed so that it can be taken to a print shop such as Staples and be printed by anyone who wishes to use it. (see the cookbook for license details). All submitters receive full attribution for their recipes and photos.

You can download the cookbook under the Downloads section of Whats Cooking in Hagerstown: http://whatscooking.washcochronicle.com/downloads

Ken Buckler is the Editor of the WashCo Chronicle

Whats COOKING in Hagerstown?

Whats going on in Hagerstown and the WashCo Chronicle have partnered to create 100% FREE community cookbook (eBook). This cookbook will be made available at NO CHARGE as an electronic download. This download will be licensed so that it can be taken to a print shop such as Staples and be printed by anyone who wishes to use it. (see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ for license details). All submitters will receive full attribution for their recipes and photos.

How you can contribute - Post in this thread at Whats Going on in Hagerstown your ORIGINAL family recipes and/or photos for inclusion in the cookbook.


Use the following template for recipes, in this thread only:
-Recipe Name: NAME
-Category: Appetizer/Entree/Side/Dessert/Sauce/Etc
-Submitted by: Your Name + City, State
-Ingredients: (ingredients list)
-Cooking Instructions: (prep instructions, cook time, etc.)

For photos, please post the photo here as a comment, as well as the following template:
-Photo Description: Description
-Submitted By: Your Name + City, State
In order to be included in the first edition of the cookbook, all submissions must be made by August 31, 2014.

The cookbook will also be available online at http://whatscooking.washcochronicle.com/
Thank you for participating, and we can't wait to see the final result of this exciting project! We do ask that you please keep non-recipe or photo comments to a minimum. Please note we reserve the right not to include inappropriate recipes or photos. Thank you!

Shepherd Hosting "Shred It and Forget It" Document Shredding Event

On Saturday, August 9, Shepherd University in Martinsburg will host a "Shred It and Forget It" Open House. This event will allow area residents to protect themselves from identity theft by safely and securely disposing of documents or electronic media with personal information.

Congressman Delaney Addresses Western Maryland Flooding

The following is a letter from Congressman John Delaney to Maryland Voters.  It has been re-published here with his staff's permission. Many thanks to Congressman Delaney for working to help flood victims in Washington and Allegany counties.

On June 12, 2014, heavy rain in Western Maryland produced severe flooding in Washington and Allegany County. Many residents saw their homes damaged or destroyed, businesses were flooded, and millions of dollars in damages were incurred. The damage was especially severe in Cresaptown, Bowling Green, and Clear Spring, where the flooding reached historic levels. Unfortunately, the State of Maryland has decided not to apply for federal disaster relief. Last week, I wrote to Governor O`Malley urging him to reconsider. After more than a month of displacement and loss, our flood victims deserve assistance.

In the storm’s aftermath, I was proud to see our communities show incredible strength and compassion, as area churches, neighboring communities and the Red Cross worked together to shelter and feed those victims who lost their homes. Neighbors donated to neighbors, friends and families came together, and hundreds of people came forward and asked “how can I help?” As the rebuild continues, I’m going to fight for federal assistance for Allegany and Washington County.

As your Member of Congress, I’ve urged Maryland’s state government to submit a formal request for federal assistance. State action is required as the first step for Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) aid to be delivered. Altogether, affected communities sustained $3.6 million dollars in losses and over 200 buildings were damaged.

When the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) originally assessed whether flooded areas qualified for aid, the state agency estimated that flooding in Western Maryland did not meet federal standards. However, while the raw totals for damaged buildings fall short of federal standards for assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) can also consider the economic hardship of the communities affected, the number of flood victims without insurance, the concentration of the damages, and the depth of local resources. My letter to the state called attention to these factors, which I believe greatly increase our odds of securing assistance.

Although the Administration has missed the date to submit a request, it may still be possible to receive an extension to apply for assistance. In my letter to Governor O’Malley, I requested that MEMA file an extension for federal aid and offered whatever support my office can provide. I also believe that the FEMA standards need to be revised, because clearly they are not accurate when it comes to assessing disasters in environments like Western Maryland. Local families and businesses have suffered devastating losses as a result of the recent flood, and as elected officials we must remain committed to helping affected areas make a full recovery.

While I am concerned that Maryland’s state government never submitted a formal request for FEMA’s assistance, I was happy to see the Administration request relief through disaster loan programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). On July 25, 2014, Governor O’Malley wrote a letter to the SBA asking that the agency issue a disaster declaration to make low-interest loans available to impacted residents and businesses. With so many families and business owners still struggling to rebuild, we have a responsibility to explore every avenue to recovery, and I was pleased to see the Administration do their part advocating for affected communities.

As our district works to repair damaged areas and move displaced families back into their homes, I will continue to act as a voice for those flood victims who have not received the help they deserve. If you or a friend of family member was impacted by the June floods, please contact my office.

Sincerely,

John

Fibromyalgia "The Invisible Illness"

Stock Photo. Photos courtesy of and copyright
 Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

The following is a guest post from Cheri McBurnette, an independent contributor to the WashCo Chronicle.

The term fibromyalgia derives from, fibro-, meaning "fibrous tissue", myo-,"muscle", and algos-, "pain". Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread body pain. Other characteristics of this horrible illness is fatigue, sleep disturbances, joint stiffness, numbness and tingling in the body, are some just to name a few. Fibromyalgia affects 2 out of 4 percent of the population, with a female radio of 9 to 1.

Fibromyalgia is not a stand alone illness. Most sufferers are plagued by other illnesses as well, which are as equally as painful. Most fibromyalgia sufferers have a tendency to isolate do to lack of understanding and belief. To understand fibromyalgia, one must have had sufferered with this,  otherwise it's inexplicable. It is called the invisible illness by sufferers because it's not seen by the naked eye. Extensive tests must be done in order to get a definitive diagnosis, otherwise it's difficult to diagnose.

As a sufferer of fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses, it's a struggle daily. Some of the ways that we get through each day is by prescribed pain medications. In addition, we take Epsom salt baths to relax the muscles and joints. Pain patches and herbal rubs gives a little relief.

Managing fibromyalgia is not easy. Because hot water relaxes the muscles and joints, taking aquatic  exercise classes in a heated pool always works well for sufferers. Any kind of resistance training always helps the cardiovascular. Tai chi, yoga and meditation can also give sufferers relief. Because it's not easily believed, some fibromyalgia patients suffer a great deal of stress. Speaking with a therapist can help ease some of the stress and worry associated with fibromyalgia. The following three medications have been approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia. Pregabalin, was approved in June of 2007, duloxetine, was approved in June of 2008 and milnacipran was in January 2009.

If you know someone with a chronic illness, being understanding and sympathetic would greatly aid in the sufferers daily processes of survival.

If you need support for fibromyalgia, you can go to People Living with Fibromyalgia Pain, on Facebook.
                                              
Many thanks to Cheri for sharing her story and guidance.

Miss Out on the #ShareACoke Event? Print Your Own Label!

Unfortunately a few people at the #ShareACoke event in Boonsboro got left out, and they closed the machines while people were still waiting in line. However, instead of turning this into a negative event, let's turn it into a positive one.

Were you still waiting in line? Did you miss the event completely? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

While unfortunately you won't have the same font which is used by the Coke cans, you'll be able to customize it to whatever you want (you won't be limited to just your name), and you'll have three fonts to pick from!

Over at the site imgflip.com, we've uploaded a plain red image for you to generate your own label.

The steps to generate the label are easy.  Just go to this link and follow the step by step picture guide below.

Once your label is generated, you just right click on it, and save it to your local computer.

Then all you have to do is put the file on a CD or USB thumb drive, and take it to somewhere like Staples. Ask them to print the image(s) on sticker paper. They can print it whatever size you want, so if you've got a larger drink you'd like to put it on, such as a 2 liter, feel free!

Local Author Looks to Tackle Bullying Through Childrens Book

Photo Courtesy of Stacy Einfalt

HAGERSTOWN, MD - Local author Stacy Einfalt, who lives in Hagerstown with her husband and numerous family pets, looks to tackle the subject of bullying with her book "The Horse That Looked Different".

Stacy encourages children to understand the problems with bullying through relating to animals.

In the book, the Brown family instantly fell in love with and welcomed Starlit, a spotted Appaloosa horse, to their farm. The family's three chestnut Quarter horses weren't as easily willing to accept him because he looked different from them. Until one day when the four horses went on a wild adventure and got lost. They soon begin to realize Starlit's unique qualities aren't so bad after all.

The book, which uses horses to address the issue of bullying, is dedicated to Stacy's horse Gotcha, who passed away two years ago while she was working on the story.

"I use horses to bring across the message to children that they should not judge or bully someone for being different, but rather accept and appreciate them for who they are. Children need to begin learning from a very young age that it is important for them to respect and accept one another rather than choose to bully. I feel my book could be a valuable tool to help teach children that lesson." says Stacy.

Stacy has been visiting elementary schools, daycare centers, Head Start centers, and Boys and Girls Clubs reading her story to pre-k and kindergarten aged children. She recently participated as a guest reader with her book in the Community Literacy Night event at the Hagerstown Public Library.

Nationally recognized literacy and anti-bullying organizations have given her book positive reviews and are also trying to help her spread the word about the story and its' message. Stacy has self published her book and it is available for sale in both paperback and kindle version on amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/The-Horse-That-Looked-Different/dp/1496192087). It is also available for sale on createspace.com (https://www.createspace.com/4707541) and at Turn The Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, MD.

"My brother was bullied in school and still at times gets picked on due to his lack of self esteem. Bullying has increasingly become worse in this day and age. It breaks my heart when I hear about a young person taking their own life or others due to them having been bullied. Children need to begin learning from a very young age that it is important for them to respect and accept one another rather than choose to bully." according to Stacy.

More information about the Stacy's book can be found at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thehorsethatlookeddifferent

This story contains contributions from:
Stacy Einfalt, Author
Othalia Hamilton, Independent Contibutor
Ken Buckler, Editor

Freestate Daylily Society to hold Annual Bloom Show

The following is a guest post by Helen Allinson, a member of the Freestate Daylily Society.

This Sunday July 13 from Noon till 4pm at the Cylburn Arboretum the Freestate Daylily Society will be holding their Bloom Show.

This is a great opportunity to see lots a newer and more unique daylilies.

There will also be fans available to purchase and information about joining this club and their other events.

Cylburn Arboretum
4915 Greenspring Avenue
Baltimore, Md

More information can be found at their website.

Grassroots Effort Wants to "Heal" Local Problems - Healing Hagerstown

The following is a guest post by Jamie Rowland, founder of the grassroots campaign "Healing Hagerstown".

In April 2014, after the City Council positioned itself to vote for a temporary moratorium on the relocation and/or expansion of ambulatory clinics in the downtown vicinity, it became clear to me just how out of touch many elected city officials and city administrators are with the needs of the community. It also became glaringly obvious to me, just how out of touch I personally was with the state of the City and the political climate of the community. I took for granted my awareness of the scope of various issues facing vulnerable individuals in our community, shaped largely by my professional work. After watching countless hours of City Council meetings, and reading copious amounts of City documentation available for public consumption on the Hagerstown City website, it became even more clear that the current state of the City is the result of decades of missteps at both the leadership and residential levels. Regardless of my professional commitment to help people in this community, my personal commitment to work toward mending the seen and unseen damage in this community, is arguably much more important. Everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to fix what's broken and in many ways, for those of us who were born and raised in this community, it's as if the torch was never passed from our parents and grandparents to us. If the torch was passed, we have failed to take that torch and carry it toward a hopeful future. 

It was from this idea that my vision the group Healing Hagerstown was formed and as my involvement with various community Facebook pages has increased, so too has the outpouring of others' interests to do something to improve our community.

This group is intended to be an easy to access forum for concerned and motivated citizens of Hagerstown and the surrounding areas in Washington County, MD. The vision of the group's creator is simple. Hagerstown is a broken city and it is not going to fix itself. This is evident by the variety of undesirable qualities which the community has acquired over multiple decades. Our city, once known for it's small town coziness has lost its soul. Healing Hagerstown is intended to be representative of the community's journey from despair to prosperity and crime-ridden to charming. This journey, to seek and expect better for this town, can never end. Healing Hagerstown must start from within. Meaning, from within the hearts and minds of the residents who live here and who are willing and motivated to put actions into words. 

Besides a responsibility to adhere to Facebook rules, the group rules are simple. If you would like to share information that can or could help heal this community in any way please do so. These posts may include everything from organizing neighborhood clean ups to posting fact-based information about substance use risks and the dangers of overdose. If it's relevant to improving our city and our citizens' quality of life, than post it for others to share. Disrespectful and/or negative posts and comments will not be tolerated and will be removed and acceptance into this group may also be revoked. Group rules are subject to change as the group evolves.

You can join this grassroots movement and contribute your thoughts, ideas, and solutions at their Facebook group, "Healing Hagerstown". The group is a closed group representative of a grassroots movement to facilitate positive changes at all levels in the Hagerstown community.

Discovery Station Teaches Kids Science, Technology, Culture, and Local History

The following is a guest post from Brittany Wedd, Operations Manager of the Discovery Station.

One of the greatest pleasures that I find in my work at Discovery Station is the responses that we receive from inquisitive children. In case you're not familiar with Discovery Station at Hagerstown, Inc.,  we are a private, non-profit organization (501) (c) (3)  who's mission is to promote informal learning about science, technology, culture and local history. We are able to fullfill our mission through exhibits and programs that are both educational and entertaining. 

The museum is intergenerational and we receive just as many questions, compliments and pure unadulterated awe from parents and grandparents as from anyone. But to receive these from children is what truly fills me with a sense of purpose. When all is said and done, it will be and has forever been the next generation that will enlighten and further our society in the upcoming times.

Discovery Station is encouraging kids to think outside the box with exhibits like "Space and Beyond".  We encourage children to travel the world in our International Gallery and to learn about technological marvels with our Fairchild and Aviation Exhibit!



As a non-profit organization, Discovery Station goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the community and to enhance the lives of everyone walking through the doors. But we need your help. If I may be honest here, it costs the museum over $250,000 to operate each year. One can only imagine how difficult this figure is to meet. We ask the community for their continued support through tax-deductible contributions to benefit the costs associated with operations, program development and exhibit expansions. It is through your support, that Discovery Station can continue reach out into the community and touch the hearts of our visitors to provide a legacy of lasting betterment.



Thank you for your continued support and for adventuring into Discovery!  Please take a moment of your time to visit Discovery Station's online fundraiser at: http://www.gofundme.com/DiscoveryStation

Sincerely,
Brittany Wedd
Operations Manager
Discovery Station at Hagerstown, Inc.
101 West Washington Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740