Miss Poppy presents poppy to mayor

Miss Poppy Julia Elizabeth Snyder, daughter of Dallas and Betty Snyder, presented Sharpsburg Mayor Hal Spielman a poppy at the beginning of the Sharpsburg town meeting May 5.

The annual event pays tribute to those veterans who have died in the last 80 years and also honors the millions of Americans who have willingly served their country in eight decades.

Each nine-piece poppy is made by veterans for veterans in Auxiliary-sponsored poppy shops that supplement physical and psychological therapy needed by hospitalized and disabled veterans. The Auxiliary provides the materials and the volunteers. The veteran makes the poppy and is paid a small amount for each made flower. For some it, is his or her only income. No matter what the cost of maintaining and supplying the poppy shops, the memorial poppy is never sold, but given in exchange for a donation.

The poppy program has been part of Auxiliary programming for more than 70 years. It has been estimated that approximately 25 million Americans wear the poppy to honor America's war dead and veterans, contributing more than $2 million for rehabilitation and welfare programs. Alta Mae Crampton is chairman of this year's event.

Students plant flowers on Earth Day

Sharpsburg Elementary School first-graders spent several weeks during the month of April reading stories and learning about the earth. In an effort to make a life connection with what they were learning, they planted flowers on Earth Day in front of the school.

Steak dinner set

The Potomac Valley Fire Co. will hold a steak and shrimp dinner May 17 at the fire hall in Dargan. Tickets are on sale for $20. The meal includes a steak and 1/2 pound of shrimp plus baked beans, coleslaw and a baked potato. Tickets must be bought in advance by May 10. Call for tickets at 301-432-8377 (Trish) or call the fire house and leave a message at 301-432-2130.

Remember moms

Sharpsburg American Legion Auxiliary 236 will host a Mother's Day flower, sandwich and bake sale today and Saturday at Sharpsburg Town Square on Main Street across from the bank. Potted flowers, bedding plants and cards will be available. Chicken salad sandwiches, hot dogs and steamers and baked goods will be available at 9 a.m. There will be raffles, too. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the senior citizens' holiday dinner, Sharpsburg Elementary, local and veterans projects.

Deputy to talk

Deputy Jim Holsinger of the Washington County Sheriff's Department will speak at the Sharpsburg Community Watch meeting Monday. The meeting is from 6:45 to 8 p.m.

Holsinger will speak on "Gang Awareness" at the meeting to be held at the Sharpsburg Bible Church on the corner of Antietam and Potomac streets in Sharpsburg. For more information on this meeting and the Community Watch Program, call Kathy Muck at 301-432-6542.

Yard sale planned

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Lappans, will hold a yard sale Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church Parish Hall. Jewelry, household and miscellaneous items will be available. Snacks will be sold. Proceeds from the yard sale will benefit summer camps for youth. Call the church office at 301-582-0417 to reserve one of the six vendor tables for $10. The church is at 18313 Lappans Road, Boonsboro, near Sharpsburg Pike.

Cemetery cleanup

The annual Memorial Day cleanup begins Monday, May 19, at Mt. View Cemetery in Sharpsburg. Please remove all grave items no later than Sunday, May 18, to allow the crew to prepare for Memorial Day. New grave items may be placed in the Cemetery Friday, May 23. The Cemetery will be closed to vehicles beginning at 9 a.m. on parade day, May 24. Access continues to be available on foot throughout the day. The volunteers who maintain the cemetery find this action necessary because of folks who in the past used the cemetery as a parking lot while attending town festivities. The board of trustees continues to work to keep Mt. View Cemetery as a dignified resting place for their loved ones and yours. If you can help in this effort, please send donations to Mt. View Cemetery Nonprofit Corp., Perpetual Care Fund, P.O. Box 103, Sharpsburg, MD 21782.

Sharpsburg Lions plan for yard sale

The Sharpsburg Lions Club is plannning for the May 16-17 yard sale, the May 17 highway cleanup and many other activities for the month of May.

The Sharpsburg Lions meet the first and third Thursdays of each month at their Lions Den at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 209 W. Main St., Sharpsburg.

Sharpsburg to hold Heritage Festival

The Sharpsburg Heritage Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14. The venues will include the fire hall/Emergency Services Parking Lot, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Christ Reformed United Church of Christ and a few individually requested backyards.

Plans are being made for extra parking with a shuttle service. Activities will include two days of live music, demonstrations of Civil War-era dances, historic home tours, an agricultural display area, historic craft demonstrations, history displays and lectures by experts in local history.

For further information or to get involved, please call festival chairman Paige Phifer at 301-432-4631 or publicity chairman Delancy Catlett at 301-223-8386.

Spaghetti dinner set

Bethel United Methodist Church in Rohrersville will hold an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner Saturday, May 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. The menu will include spaghetti with sauce or meatballs, salad bar, a roll and a beverage. Tickets cost $6 for adults; $3 for children 6 to 12 and free for children younger than 5. Dessert will be available. Call Connie Slifer at 301-739-9199 with questions. The church is on the corner of Main Street and Schoolhouse Road in Rohrersville.

WyldLife gathering

WyldLife, an awesome hang-out 'club' for middle school students (sixth- through eighth-grader), will be today from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Friendship Hall near Rohrersville.

All middle school students are invited to participate in the music, entertainment, extreme games and activities at this end-of-the-school year blowout.

WyldLife is an hour of energetic fun where kids can express that teenage tendency to push the limits - but within a controlled safe environment with positive influences. For more information, call 301-432-1907 or www.younglife.org/wyldlife. Mt. Zion is off Md. 67 on Locust Grove.

Happy birthday, 'Sandy' Henson

Susan McGlaughlin wished her twin sisters, Sandy (not Susan) Henson and Shirley Cook of Sharpsburg, happy birthday on their 66th birthdays on April 20.

Information concerning churches, clubs, schools, organizations and activities in the Sharpsburg/Keedysville area may be sent to Harry Nogle at terp72@myactv.net or call 301-432-2437.