What’s Going on in Washington County, Maryland?

Posted: July 30, 2021

Newsletter

Join us on the Washington County Ice Cream Trail this summer!

Click on the photo above or download the map here: https://bit.ly/washcoicecreamtrail2021

Journey to locally-owned ice cream shops across the County to receive a stamp on your Ice Cream Trail map. Once you have completed the trail, send us a picture of your completed map and tag or email us:

Facebook: @WashingtonCountyMD

Instagram: @washingtoncomd

Email: [email protected]

#washcoicecreamtrail

Each person that submits a completed map will be entered into a raffle. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Washington County ice cream shop of their choice. The last day to enter the raffle will be the last day of summer, September 22, 2021.

2021 World Canals Conference in Hagerstown – REGISTER TODAY!

Join this once-in-a-lifetime experience by registering for the 2021 World Canal Conference. This conference is being hosted locally in Hagerstown, Maryland from August 30th through September 2nd. Canal enthusiasts from across the world will gather together as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

Hagerstown’s historic Maryland Theatre will host the conference. Click on the photo to the right to register or receive more information.

Washington County remains committed to its fight against COVID-19. The Washington County Health Department and Meritus Health continue to administer vaccinations across the County. If you have not been vaccinated, please strongly consider getting vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, coworkers, and the surrounding community.

At this time, the Joint Information Center has been disabled. To follow statistics, please visit Maryland’s site at https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: FORT RITCHIE

Location: Fort Ritchie – Highfield-Cascade, MD 21719

On April 7th, 2021, John Krumpotich became the owner of Fort Ritchie and has expressed his plans to revive Ritchie and the Cascade community by bringing businesses, historic preservation, and housing to the former 500+/- acre Army Post. Krumpotich has stated that it is a “paramount priority” to rehabilitate the stone structures on-site to maintain its historic integrity while bringing each building back to life.”

The first phase begins with the cosmetic renovation of 58 units in a development named Whistling Ridge. Nestled at the foot of the mountains, this development is currently being renovated by Inch & Co. Construction. These homes are planned to be ready for lease come late Fall 2021. Prices for these 3–4-bedroom duplexes will begin at $1200 a month and will be managed by Inch & Co. Property Management.

Future plans for Fort Ritchie will include 250 new townhomes and 60 condominiums, as well as 103 single-family homes. If you’re looking to visit the area, lodging opportunities at Fort Ritchie will also be available. Choose from 17 of the newly renovated Barracks and check-in at the base’s well-known castle. The remaining 18 Barracks are planned to become additional retail spaces.

When it comes to building an active community, the need for work and play is within walking distance. Opportunities to kayak, paddleboard, hike, and even get married surround Fort Ritchie. Throughout the community, there will be more than 50,000 sqft of office space and more than 150,000 sqft of retail space. Talk of a local brewery is already in the works and there are plans for a local restaurant, coffee shop, art gallery, and clothing boutique. Hopes for a self-sustaining community are on the horizon and are also expected to include a medical facility, charter school, and a farmers’ market.

For more information on events and Fort Ritchie, visit www.ritchierevival.com.

Interested in buying, renting, or leasing, we’d love to hear from you. Inquiries can be sent to Heather Saylor at [email protected].

PARKS & RECREATION

Marty’s Mythical Woods

Have you visited Marty’s Mythical Woods at Marty Snook Park yet? This all-natural play area is unique to the area and is sure to bring excitement to kids of all ages.

Outdoor Exercise Equipment

While you’re at Marty Snook Park checking out Marty’s Mythical Woods or swimming at Marty Snook Pool, continue your workout at the newly installed workout equipment. It is open to the public and free to use.

August 17th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Dance Information & Registration

Wondering whether your child will enjoy dance class? Not sure what to expect from our dance programs? Don’t know which level or which class to choose? Come out to the Dance Information and Registration Night on August 17th between 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the ARCC at Hagerstown Community College. No pre-registration or fee is required to attend.

This run starts and finishes in the picturesque Pen Mark Park. Challenge yourself and your friends to this approximately 1.8-mile ascent to High Rock Overlook. Runners will compete for titles of King and Queen of the Mountain. Once runners reach the top of High Rock, they descend back to Pen Mar Park to cross the finish line and receive an official finished High Rock Mountain t-shirt. The total distance for this challenge is 3.8 miles.

LOCATION: Pen Mark Park – 14600 Pen Mar Rd, Highfield-Cascade, MD 21719

DATE: Sunday, August 29, 2021

TIME: 8-10:00 AM

REGISTRATION: To attend this event, please register at www.washcorecfit.com

(Program 230815-A)

FEE: $15 per participant (pre-register)

$20 for day-of registration

ALL AGES WELCOME! Please join us for this exciting running event!

Join us for Everybody’s Day at Pen Mar Park! This free event, like the title, says, is for EVERYBODY! There will be dancing, magic shows, children’s games, Jitterbug and Waltz contests, concessions, and music provided by Jim and Fay Powers.

WHEN: August 29, 2021

WHERE: Pen Mar Park – 14600 Pen Mar High Rock Rd., Cascade, MD 21719

TIME: Noon to 5 PM

FEE: FREE

Bring the family and your dancing shoes for a great day at the park!

TINY ALL-STARS

Begins September 15th

Get your tiny all-star outdoors for this fun 6-week program. This program will introduce youth, ages 3-4 and 5-7, to the basics of sports (throwing, kicking, shooting, etc.). They will also play a variety of skilled activities (obstacle courses, tag games, and much more!). Please be sure your all-star is wearing comfortable clothes, sneakers and brings a water bottle. This will be held on Wednesday’s 9/15/21-10/20/21 at Ruth Ann Elem.

ADULT CO-REC VOLLEYBALL

Begins September 12th

Located at the Hagerstown Community College ARCC Gymnasium on Sunday Evenings from 9/12/21 to 10/24/21. You must register with a team and teams must contain males and females.

FitLot Outdoor Fitness Intro Program

Wednesday, Sept 8th @ 10:00 AM

Friday, Sept 10th @ 10:00 AM

Community FitLot Program

Now that your community has a new outdoor fitness park, we want to make sure you know how to use it! Join us for an intro class, a one-hour circuit training workout, or an 8-week series to get into a regular active routine. All FitLot classes are 100% free to attend and led by certified fitness professionals.

Friday, October 1st

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Princess Party

Join us for this popular event! The party activity includes: Fairy Dust Creations, Photo Scene, coloring, dancing, a play zone, and much more. This event is suited best for pre-school and elementary school-aged children. Tickets are required for everyone and will not be sold the night of the event at the doors. Tickets are $7.00 for those 12 & under. 13 and over tickets are free.

Black Rock Golf Course

Saturdays; Begins October 2nd

Youth Golf Clinic

This clinic is hosted at Black Rock Golf Course for students in grades 3-8 . Students will work on all aspects of golf such as driving, chipping, pitching, and putting. Participants will also learn the proper rules of the game.

Washington County Ag Center

Friday, October 15th

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Park at Dark

The Park at Dark Event is an age-appropriate activity suited best for pre-school and elementary school-aged children. This family event will host Halloween-themed activities including games, prizes, hayrides, coloring contests, costume contests, scooter rides, and much more. Everyone is required to have tickets for this event. No tickets will be sold at the event gates. Tickets are $7.00 for those 12 & Under. 13 and over tickets are free.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Grant Funding Issued to Washington County Businesses

Below is a breakdown of the Rise Up Relief and Recovery funding totals from 2020 and 2021. The grand total of funds distributed since June 1, 2020 totals $12,985,448.16 awarding grants to 1,157 businesses.

Expansion of Enterprise Zone

The expansion of the Hagerstown/Washington County, MD Enterprise Zone was recently approved by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

The Enterprise Zone is an economic development incentive tool administered by the DBD and is used to attract new jobs and businesses to the area. This program provides qualifying businesses with State Income tax credits and local real property tax credits in return for job creation and capital investments made in the designated Enterprise Zone. The newly approved Hagerstown/Washington County, MD Enterprise Zone encompasses Census Tract 10.01 which includes parcels on Sweeney Drive as well as the property on Oak Ridge Drive formally known as the Review and Herald. This new approval adds 328.85 acres to the economic development zone now creating a total land area of 4,409.82 acres across Washington County, MD, and Hagerstown, MD.

Eggs & Issues

On June 2, 2021, Director of the Washington County Department of Business Development Susan Grimes delivered a presentation providing an update of economic development progress and upcoming projects in Washington County, Maryland. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting this great event!

Hospitality & Tourism Roundtable

Washington County Government hosted July’s Hospitality & Tourism Roundtable at the Washington County Agriculture Education Center. Youth participating in the 2021 Ag Expo and Fair were the featured speakers followed by a personalized tour of the 2021 Ag Expo and Fair.

2021 Ag Expo & Fair

Thousands of people gathered at the Washington County Agriculture Education Center to support the 2021 Ag Expo & Fair. Activities ranged from 4-H/FFA market sales, agricultural showcases and demonstrations, tractor pulls, and various other activities.

Visit a local Farmers Market – click below to find one close to you!

Did you know SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted at Washington County Farmers Markets? A special program is underway called Maryland Market Money. When you spend $10 using your SNAP/EBT, we match up to $10 for free. What do you need to do?

Maryland Market Money is a state-wide currency distributed to shoppers at select farmers markets who participate in the following federal nutrition benefits programs:

Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
eWIC (Women, Infant, and Children Fruit & Vegetable Benefit)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT formerly known as Food Stamps)

Shoppers who spend these benefits at participating farmers markets can receive additional Maryland Market Money in the form of dollar-value tokens (typically $10 per shopper per market day). These tokens can be spent on any SNAP-eligible foods at any participating market in Maryland, helping to increase customers’ food budgets for purchasing fresh, healthy, local foods at farmers markets while also directly supporting local growers and producers.

Examples of SNAP-eligible items include: non-hot food items (fruits, veggies, meat, milk, eggs, etc.) and seeds or plants that produce food.

Examples of ineligible items include: beer, wine, liquor, vitamins or supplements, prepared foods fit for immediate consumption, and hot foods.

To view the schedule for the VFF Mobile Farmers Market, please click here.

Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings

Mountain Top Ice Cream Shop

Fort Ritchie

Cascade, MD

Behind the Old Fire Station, by sport field

ACT Black Box Studio

43 South Potomac Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

www.actforall.org/act-black-box

[email protected]

301-491-7228

Ship Simply, LLC

19918 Jefferson Blvd

Hagerstown, MD 21742

www.shipsimply.com

[email protected]

240-225-0868

Smithsburg Farmers Market

22 N Main Street

Smithsburg, MD

[email protected]

240-313-2284

Masonic Temple

54 South Potomac Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

www.bowmandevelopment.com

301-582-1555

Adkins Automotive

21036 National Pike

Boonsboro, MD 21713

www.adkinsauto.com

240-347-4383

VOLVO Vehicle Propulsion Lab

13302 Pennsylvania Avenue

Hagerstown, MD 21742

www.volvotrucks.com

301-790-5400

Scott Powell State Farm

816 Virginia Ave

Hagerstown, MD 21740

www.savewithscottsf.com

240-420-2886

Chipotle

1739 Dual Highway

Hagerstown, MD 21740

www.chipotle.com

McCleary Hill

Hagerstown, MD 21740

www.hagerstownha.com/mccleary-hill/

301-733-6911

Amanda Kaplan State Farm

10228 Governor Lane Blvd

Unit 3001

Williamsport, MD 21795

www.kaplancares.com

240-366-4131

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Leave YOUR Legacy – Public Safety Training Center Fundraising Campaign

The Public Safety Training Center is taking shape at its location off Sharpsburg Pike. Walls are going up and the project timeline is still on track to be completed in the spring of 2022. Stay tuned as sponsorship opportunities and naming rights will be introduced to the public on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Make plans to leave a lasting legacy in this new facility!

Firefighter Academy – Recruit Class #1

On May 14^th, the Division of Emergency Services graduated its first firefighter recruit training academy, Recruit Class #1. This is a historic milestone and has created a foundation that allowed the placement of 41 full-time firefighters and 14 full-time firefighter/paramedics in multiple fire stations throughout the County.

New Water Rescue Boats

With the addition of the new career firefighters, the Division of Emergency Services was also able to place in service 2 additional water rescue boats, making the number of water rescue boats available now at 4. These boats all now have dedicated staffing available for responses. Previously, the County only had 2 water rescue boats available for these types of incidents.

Public Safety Training Awards

Congratulations to the Washington County Division Of Emergency Services and Washington County Special Operations for receiving the Unit Achieve Award: Fire/EMS for Insterstate 81 Heavy Rescue Operation at the 2021 Public Safety Training Awards hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

DES Staff Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Playhouse Event

Washington County’s Division of Emergency Services sent a team to build a playhouse for Habitat for Humanity of Washington County! Their team consisted of several full-time employees (including some night-shift employees who had just gotten off work!) and some recruits currently enrolled in the Emergency Communications Academy.

The playhouse built by this amazing team was sent to Jen, a mother of three undergoing treatments for Stage 4 breast cancer, and her two boys Shane and Wyatt, who love baseball, especially the player Manny Machado, #13. Thank you to our Emergency Services team for their contribution to our community!

When to call 9-1-1?

The Division of Emergency Services has created an information sheet to assist citizens with knowing when to call 9-1-1 and when to not call. The purpose of this sheet is to eliminate calls to the Communications Center that is not an immediate emergency. Click on the photo to the left to learn more.

ENGINEERING

Board of Elections New Facility

The Board of Elections recently moved to their new facility, located at 17718 Virginia Ave, Hagerstown, MD. A portion of the facility was renovated and opened for the Early Voting Center in November 2020. The office area renovations were completed and staff moved into their offices late this spring.

Public Safety Training Center

The Public Safety Training Center continues to progress at its location off Sharpsburg Pike. Walls are up, the joists for the ceiling are in progress, and the project timeline is still on track to be completed in the spring of 2022. Stay tuned for sponsorship and naming rights opportunities for you to leave a lasting legacy in this new facility!

HUMAN RESOURCES

Washington County Government is hiring!

Washington County Human Resources invites those seeking employment to visit www.washco-md.net/jobs. The County has various job openings where you could find your future career! We are offering both full-time and part-time opportunities across different departments and divisions.

PLAN REVIEW & PERMITTING

Lobby Opens to Public

The lobby at Washington County Annex Building at 80 W. Baltimore Street is open to the public. Permit applications are still only submitted by drop-off or email but the lobby is open for personal drop-off and taking one-on-one questions. The hours of the lobby remain 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday (except holidays).

PLANNING & ZONING

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

Find us at MACo!

Washington County Government will be in attendance at the 2021 Maryland Association of Counties conference in Ocean City, MD from August 18-21. Stop by booth #632 in the exhibit hall to see what’s going on in Wash Co!

2021 United Way Day of Caring

Washington County Government is excited to participate in this year’s Day of Caring on Thursday, September 16, 2021. The County has over 60 staff registered for this day of service. Stay tuned for the October newsletter that will feature photos from different project sites!

Celebrating with YOU

Are you a business owner in Washington County? We want to celebrate YOU. Submit your business anniversary so we can congratulate, thank you, and give a special shoutout on our social media.

STAY INFORMED

Commissioner Meetings

The Board of County Commissioners holds public meetings on Tuesdays usually at 10:00 AM. All meetings can be viewed on Washington County Government Facebook page and YouTube channel. Citizens are welcome to participate in person.

The meeting schedule can be located here.

Sign-Up for Email Notifications

Stay informed with what’s happening around the County.

Click here to sign-up for email notifications and choose what information you would like to receive. Your email address will be kept strictly confidential.

Download the Wash Co Govt App!

Get the latest updates at your fingertips by downloading the Washington County Government App on your smartphone.

The app can be downloaded by iPhone users on the App Store and Android users on Google Play.

Download today and find local events and the latest news from Washington County Government.

Washington County Government Offices Closed

HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT (HGR)

HGR Welcomes New Director

Hagerstown Regional Airport welcomes Rick Johnson as the new Airport Director. Johnson comes to Washington County with extensive experience in airport management. He was the Airport Manager of the Frederick Municipal Airport since 2013 and has worked for The City of Frederick for more than 21 years in various key project management roles.

Mr. Johnson’s extensive aviation experience draws from 32 years of military service, including two overseas deployments to Afghanistan and one recently in Iraq. He presently serves in the US Air Force Reserves as Air Freight Flight Chief of the 69th Aerial Port Squadron at Joint Base Andrews and has attained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. Additionally, he is recognized as a Certified Member (C.M.) with the American Association of Airport Executives and is a student pilot.

As the Airport Director, Johnson is responsible for ensuring that the airport complies with federal and state regulations. He will also be working with local jurisdictions to continue the development of the airport and to accommodate growth and future needs.

Dates Extended for Flights to St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida

Allegiant has extended the dates of flights offered from Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) to St. Pete-Clearwater, FL (PIE) from November 18, 2021 – February 13, 2022. Flights are available for booking at allegiantair.com.

2021 Wings and Wheels Expo

BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE

Black Rock Hosts Chamber B.A.S.H.

Black Rock Golf Course hosted June’s Chamber B.A.S.H. Thank you to everyone that attended and got to see the beauty we have to offer at Black Rock.

PRO SHOP – Get the latest gear!

Stop by the Pro Shop at Black Rock Golf Course to purchase the latest golf gear and try out the new simulator. Don’t forget to book your tee time today at blackrockgolfcourse.com.