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Author: James Snyder

Big-Name Entertainment Coming to Local Four-State Venues This Fall

Big-Name Entertainment Coming to Local Four-State Venues This Fall

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How many times has this happened to you?  You’re talking with friends about their weekend, and they drop the big bombshell “yeah we just saw [insert celebrity name here] in concert – it was great!” You, meanwhile, are thinking “Darn it!  I didn’t even know [insert celebrity name here] was in town.  I would have loved to see that show.” Don’t let that happen this year.  I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of the big-name acts coming to…

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Summer Garden Solutions: Fresh and Easy Pico de Gallo

Summer Garden Solutions: Fresh and Easy Pico de Gallo

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As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, the bounty from that backyard or patio summer garden is at its peak, and everyone is looking for ideas on what to do with all of those beautiful, fresh vegetables.  A homemade pico de gallo is an easy and tasty way to get some great use out of all those “extra” tomatoes and bell peppers. Pico de gallo (also known as salsa fresca) is basically a homemade salsa – the difference being is…

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The C&O Canal: Local Biking/Hiking in a Historic Setting

The C&O Canal: Local Biking/Hiking in a Historic Setting

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Growing up in the four-state area, we often take our local sites and attractions for granted.  They are so close and easily accessible that we often ignore them in favor of more far-flung destinations or activities.  One of the many local gems that falls victim to this mindset is the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal. Commissioned by President James Monroe and built between 1828 and 1850, the C&O Canal was intended to provide a reliable trade route from the Appalachian…

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Grocery Shopping 101: Ways to Save – Without Cutting Coupons

Grocery Shopping 101: Ways to Save – Without Cutting Coupons

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Grocery shopping.  Next to the home mortgage, it’s probably your family’s biggest monthly expense.  According to the USDA, the average family of four spends $239 a week on what they call a “moderate” cost food plan.  That’s almost $1,000 a month.  Wow, that’s a hefty sum. Is there a way to save at the market?  Well, you could diligently cut out, sort, and try to use dozens of coupons each week, but that often results in deals on items or…

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Sakura: Sushi and Sashimi Done Right

Sakura: Sushi and Sashimi Done Right

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While my wife and oldest daughter were out of town on various trips last week, my youngest and I headed out for a dinner of sushi and conversation at Sakura, located in Hagerstown, MD.  While most of my friends refer to sushi as “bait”, my daughter was up for the challenge. We ordered off of the sushi menu, selecting a variety of sushi (fish with rice), sashimi (fish without rice), and several rolls.  (Pro Tip:  There is an abundance of…

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Summer Grilling: Quick and Easy Squash/Zucchini Side Dishes

Summer Grilling: Quick and Easy Squash/Zucchini Side Dishes

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Ahhh, the summer garden.  You work and work to get those plants to thrive and prosper, making sure they are watered and relatively pest free.  You’ve seen the summer squash and zucchini grow from blossom to mature size – and now you’ve got more than you know what to do with.  They are everywhere – piling up in the kitchen window or on the porch.  You’ve given them away to family and friends, but they are still multiplying like rabbits. …

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Del Grosso’s Amusement Park: New Waterpark Additions Make It a Full-Day Adventure

Del Grosso’s Amusement Park: New Waterpark Additions Make It a Full-Day Adventure

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I recently had the opportunity to visit Del Grosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton, PA (about 120 miles northwest of Hagerstown, MD), taking along my youngest daughter and her friend for a day of fun and frolic. For those of you who may not know, Del Grosso’s (yes, the pasta sauce maker) has its own small amusement/water park, tucked into the hills of Central Pennsylvania just above Altoona.  The amusement park side consists of several re-purposed amusement park rides (all lovingly…

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Barbara Fritchie’s Broth and Noodles: More than just a bowl of soup

Barbara Fritchie’s Broth and Noodles: More than just a bowl of soup

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My youngest daughter and I recently completed a Dulles airport run (to drop off my oldest daughter and my mother for a summer trip to London) and on the way home I suggested a dinnertime stop at the Barbara Fritchie Restaurant on the western edge of Frederick, Md. “Ohh, that place with the noodle soup – and the big candy cane outside?” asked my daughter. Yes. The very same. The invitation was excitedly accepted.  As we sat in the diner…

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Gibble’s Potato Chips: The classic snack lives on!

Gibble’s Potato Chips: The classic snack lives on!

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There are some foods that instantly transport you to a specific place and time the moment you eat them.  They trigger specific memories (both good and bad) the second that familiar taste hits your tongue.  For me, one of those foods is Gibble’s potato chips. As soon as a bag is opened and I smell that heady aroma of lard and salt, I am an 11-year old kid again, sitting on my father’s front porch at a summer family reunion. …

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The Summer Carnival: A Celebration of Small Town America

The Summer Carnival: A Celebration of Small Town America

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All over the four-state area, summer means it’s time for the local carnival, an annual tradition that exemplifies small town, family entertainment.  Throughout the region, each community has its own “carnival week”, a time when the local community gets together to eat, play, raise money for various civic organizations, and mingle. This week marks the annual Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, a local entertainment institution that’s been going for over 75 years.   Generations of families have experienced what is…

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