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SPEAK UP!SPEAK UP!SPEAK UP!SPEAK UP! JUNE 2016

15TH

Year Anniversary Issue “Serving in the Four-State area since 2001”

Speak Up Community News promotes the Culture, Health and Success of the community. Subscription is free. Articles and remarks are welcomed. Contact: Brothers Who Care, 131 W. North Avenue, Martin Luther King Community Center, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Phone (301) 393-9290. Download a full-color copy of this news publication at: www.brotherswhocare.org

CULTURE

2016 WESTERN MARYLAND BLUES FEST THURSDAY, June 2

nd Blues Prelude

This is the “Lawn chairs and blanket” style opening of the annual Western Maryland Blues Fest and this FREE gathering is held at the University Plaza on 50 W. Washington Street in downtown Hagerstown from 5pm to 7pm. This year’s featured performance will be given by the Mary Ann Redmond Band. FRIDAY, June 3

rd Lotta Blues Kickoff

Friday’s performances on the East/”Warehouse” Stage on the City Center Lot. Scheduled performances by Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos; Albert Castiglia and Mike Zito and the Wheel. The Lotta Blues kickoff includes the Blues Fest opening ceremonies. $20 in advance and $30 at the gate with children 12 and under FREE! Gates open at 5pm (enter on N. Potomac Street). Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos (photo on left) are fantastic and you don’t want to miss them!

SATURDAY June 4

th Downtown House Party

The Downtown House Party will include a special treat from the “Ron Holloway Band”. Ron (pictured above left) is a legendary saxophone artist. Another performance that day will include the incredible next generation blues sound of “Selwyn Birchwood” (photo above right). Other music artists in the line up for the Saturday performances are : The Original Booze Brothers; Amy Helm & the Handsome Strangers; Mingo Fishtrap; Quinn Sullivan; Albert Cummings and the sizzling hot guitarist Ana Popovic. Gates open at 11am starting off with the music at 12noon. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. For more information visit the Western Maryland Blues Fest website: http:// https://blues-fest.org/ or you can call: 301-739-8577 ext. 116. You can see the Western Maryland Blues Fest for FREE when you serve as a volunteer!

SUNDAY June 5th

Family Blues Picnic

The Family Blues Picnic is one of my favorite parts of the Blues Fest. This family day event has free admission. The park is filled with activities for children (Magic Shows, Storytelling, Music workshops, free barrel rides and fun games). Performances this year will include local singing talent Curtis “Kurky” Mason performing with the East Coast Stroke band. Also providing music that day in the line up is Rudy & The Bluefish; Jeff Fetterman Band and Hamilton Loomis.

HEALTH Faith based locations sought to hold Town Hall discussion on Preventing Youth Access to Tobacco

We reported last month that discussions are being held to include all levels of interest to address the problems with minors’ access to tobacco since Maryland’s compliance for tobacco sales has come under concern. These public discussions include legislators, tobacco retailers, health officials, community organizations and the public. Brothers Who Care is looking for locations to hold Faith Based Town Hall Discussions on Preventing Youth Access to Tobacco. We recognize that churches frequently see more people than most community based organizations and with their help we can raise awareness to the problem of minors purchasing tobacco and how to encourage and assist licensed tobacco retailers to be more responsible. We have reports that a retailer in Washington County, Maryland has failed compliance checks each time one was conducted and this is the type of problem that needs to be resolved immediately. Young people deserve the chance to be better protected from merchants who fail to comply and we should all be responsible

not to expose our youth to the dangers of tobacco products. Brothers Who Care will provide compensation to the organization(s) providing a location to host these Town Hall gatherings. Please contact our office by phone 301-393-9290 or email: speakup@brotherswhocare.org soon, we would like to hold as many of these discussions as possible within the month of June 2016. The Washington County Health Department is hosting another of their Town Hall meetings to discuss Preventing Youth Access to tobacco and their next meeting is on Wednesday June 8, 2016 from 12pm to 1:30pm in the Bethel Gardens Community Center located at 325 Henry Avenue in Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.

June 2016 HEALTH BYTE by Erien Frazier* Happy June to all! Summer is right around the corner and many have their gardens planted and are expecting produce in a few weeks. My patio garden has already produced wonderful lettuce, kale, collard greens, and sweet peas. As I have been considering other foods to plant suited for the summer heat, my attention has been drawn to the need to provide the soil with additional nutrients to enable growing plants to be healthy. I like using organic fertilizer. There are many on the market to choose from. I have been using Protogrow which is a fish based fertilizer. My garden has responded very well to it. There is another organic fertilizer that I want to use for my watermelons. It's called Sea-mazing. The science behind this particular one is interesting. Researchers have found that certain ocean water is high in nutrients necessary for plant growth and development. This is

important because a healthy plant means less pests and higher nutritional content for our consumption. The more nutritional our garden food is the better our health will be. So don't forget to nourish the soil where your food is growing. Also, research what foods you want to grow because some plants are heavier feeders than others. Corn, watermelon, greens are considered heavy feeders. They need to be planted with a sufficient amount of fertilizer to keep them going or fed at least every two weeks. Until next month, keep planting and growing and hopefully you will receive a rich harvest!

* Erien Frazier is a health enthusiast and former owner of the Black Manna Café. She enjoys traveling abroad

and sport bike riding. Erien can be reached through our news publication or email: erinfrazier@gmail.com

SUCCESS JOB POSTINGS: Court Reporter – Full Time – Grade 18 Pays: $20.84 - $32.63 Company: Franklin County, Pennsylvania Court Administration Requirements include: High school diploma or equivalent, plus 2-year degree in court reporting training and certification from a NCRA or equivalent school; computer skills required. 1-2 years experience in legal environment. Machine and software will be provided. Click on the link below to download an application: http://franklincountypa.gov/ckeditorfiles/files/HR/hr_Franklin-County-Employment-Application-Form.pdf Completed applications must be submitted to the Human Resources department by 4:30 pm on the date listed below. Applications can be submitted using any of the following methods:

Mail or drop off: Human Resources, 425 Franklin Farm Lane,Chambersburg, PA 17202 Email: hr@franklincountypa.gov Fax: (717) 261-3156

Franklin County Human Resources can be reached by phone at (717) 261-3150. Date Posted: 05-27-2016 Expire Date: 06-14-2016

Compass Group, a leader in food service management and support services, is hiring. Click link below to apply online using the job descriptions below:

https://hourlyjobs.compassgroupcareers.com/

Cook (Full-Time) - 2 positions The Village at Robinwood, 19800 Tranquility Cir, Hagerstown Cook (Full-Time) Ravenwood Lutheran Village, 1183 Luther Dr, Hagerstown Cook (Full-Time) 1 Western Maryland Parkway, Hagerstown Food Service Utility (Part-Time) - 2 positions 19800 Tranquility Cir, Hagerstown Waiter/Waitress (Part-Time) - 5 positions 19800 Tranquility Cir, Hagerstown Positions available in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well Harris Teeter* is hiring for their new location opening in Bethesda, MD and would love for you to apply! They are holding an invite only hiring event on June 9th. Once your full application is received, you will be contacted if the hiring managers would like to schedule you for an interview! To submit an application, please click the following link: http://www.snagajob.com/job-search/s-maryland/l-bethesda/c-harris+teeter/w-20814/q-harris+teeter+-+hiring+event?sort=distance&radius=5 The Hiring Event is for the following location: Store #404 - 4805 Battery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814

*The Harris Teeter job notification was provided to us by faithful Speak Up Community News reader Kathleen Watts.

Winchester Main Street Foundation Speak Up Community News sat down with John “David” Smith the president of the Winchester Main Street Foundation in a meeting discussing the Hispanic Festival held in Old Town Winchester. Out of this meeting, that included Winchester City Councilman John Hill and minister Victor Fowlkes, I came away with the knowledge of a wonderful foundation that supports the growing diverse culture in Old Town Winchester (see:

www.winchestermainstreetfoundation.org). David Smith who came to Winchester near the end of 2002 has engaged himself immensely in contributing to community development in the historic town. Not only has David been successful in establishing businesses of his own (the Village Square Restaurant with the V2 Piano Bar and Lounge; Village Market & Bistro) on the Loudoun Street pedestrian mall, he has also helped his foundation take the lead with the First Fridays monthly event in Old Town Winchester. The Winchester Main Street Foundation has managed to provide help and resources without taking on Federal or State funding. In fact, as far as I know the only interest in government that David has expressed is his run for Mayor of the City of Winchester (see: www.davidsmithformayor.com). The foundation’s website list that it “Strives to bring quality, family-friendly community events to Old Town Winchester and among those host of events include: The Rally in the Alley – Block Party in Indian Alley; Celebración of Winchester; Brunch In Brazil; Sip & Savor Soiree; Restaurant Week and of course First Fridays. The foundation also supports other organizations helping the community and will provide assistance as well as accept your donations, help and volunteering. You can contact them for more information by email: wmsfoundation8@gmail.com or by mail: PO Box 828, Winchester, VA 22601.

SPEAK UP PHOTO GALLERY NEWS Crew photos by Brother Andy, Carissa Jade Smith & John Williams

2016 Neighborhood Day of Hope

Forecast for heavy storms that only produced light rain pushed the event indoors for the very first time since the event was established years ago. Yet still more than 20 agencies and businesses provided services to approximately 100 guests who passed through the event that included presentations from vocalist Marco Mendoza and Reggae Dance Hall band “2Raw”.

Cultural presentations were given by Kasandra’s Cultural Center (above left) and The Golden Starlets Dance group.

There were plenty of free services and agencies providing outreach at the annual Neighborhood Day. The event had one

retail vendor (Katrina Lowry “By Katie Did”) and one food (Carl Booker “Soul Food Ministries”)

Drawings were held and guests won cash prizes. Others enjoyed drumming with the Tri-State Drum Circle including

Hagerstown Mayor David Gysberts. Another big hit at the event was the health activities provided by the group from

Maryland’s Physicians Care – Healthy Groove team who also led an interactive dance session during a DJ music break.

To see more photos or articles of this and other events we cover, visit us at: www.facebook.com/speakupnews