As a teenager, ambitious Herman Benjamin Mellott volunteered to serve in World War I. But the U.S. Army told the boy he was too young to fight and sent him home to Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Disheartened, the boy known locally simply as…

Pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport in America, and the opening of a new indoor, multi-court facility on Sweeney Drive will make access to the sport much easier here in Hagerstown. Dill Dinkers, a rapidly growing…

I’ve been a lot of places. Thirty countries. Forty-nine states. Cities from Paris to Havana to Miami to Rome. The thing about all of those places is that they have something that nowhere else does. They haven’t been filtered so they’ve…

Maine has its lobster fests. In Wisconsin, the town of Ellsworth hosts the Cheese Curd Festival, and every September New Orleans celebrates Beignet Fest as visitors brush powdered sugar from their clothes and enjoy the…

It is a story as old as time itself—the spouse, the lover, a murder. And it is one James Rada, Jr., an Amazon.com bestselling author, tells in his most recent book Blood on the Badge. The book explores the…

Some places are worth the wait in line, especially among hometown bakeries and family-owned food trucks, but few local legends rise quite as high as Home Run Donuts. Parked on National Pike just shy of its…

The roots of the Valley Art Association date to 1938, and for the better part of a century the VAA has given local artists of all mediums a place to work, display, and sell their art. This year the VAA celebrates its 35th year in the…

From a rickety steam train, newly deployed Ron Twentey beheld the devastation of a war-ravaged Korea. Shellshocked survivors lived in shacks, shanties, and even cardboard boxes. Later in his deployment, the toll of the conflict would…

Boonsboro locals know where to go when they want food that’s stacked high, scratch-made, and served with genuine care: My Mini-Mart & Dream Diner. Set inside the town’s former American Legion Hall (c.1921), the diner has…

Culture and Cocktails isn’t just a lecture. It’s an immersive engagement as soon as you step through the front door of the Miller House, a pristinely restored and well-kept home dating back to the 1860s that has served as the…

The only thing constant, or so “they” say, is change. And like everything else, our annual readers’ poll has evolved. New categories, new winners—for a small city like Hagerstown and a rural county like Washington, the favorite things about our area is in a constant state of flux.

So, look on the following pages and see for yourself. What are your opinions about this year’s winners?

Hagerstown resident Jim Garrett calls Arlington National Cemetery his family cemetery. And rightfully so. His own mother and father rest there as do both sets of his grandparents and their siblings. And when he adds in relatives through marriage the…

When local officials and dignitaries gather for the dedication of the renovated Springfield Manor this month, the quiet town of Williamsport, it will be more than just the opening of another renovated historic building. It will be a symbol of renewal for the…

For more than 50 years Fort Ritchie was closely guarded by mountains, stone-turreted gates, and secrecy. The 638-acre Army installation in Washington County, tucked just beneath the Pennsylvania border, served as the World War II training site for…

This summer’s opening of Hitachi Rail’s next-gen factory brings more jobs, an expanded tax base, and yet another shot in the arm to the resurging Hagerstown and Washington County economy. “The overall economy in…

In early 2018, I asked Jay Gomberg, a former Philadelphia resident and poker buddy of mine, “Who has the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia, Pat’s or Geno’s?” His response, “Neither.” While Pat’s claims to be the…

The saying, “It takes a village,” often refers to people in a community helping children. The phrase also means the collective effort and community support of specific projects and that’s exactly the case for the…

Beyond local circles, the myth of the Snallygaster may be one of Maryland’s best-kept secrets. “I remember when I moved here and first heard about it, I was surprised,” says Ken Houldsworth, a resident of Middletown who hosts the…

In 2013 when Bill Gaertner was released from prison, he knew that he had more to give society. By 2014 he established Gatekeepers in Washington County with the goal of helping current and ex-offenders successfully transition back into…

Washington County might be best known for its abundant Civil War history sites, rolling farmland, railways, and industry, but in recent years it’s also become home to an impressive variety of international restaurants. From African fusion fare to…