Hagerstown

HAGERSTOWN -- Two rare paintings by early Baltimorean Joshua Johnson, who is recognized as the country's first black portraitist, and whose work is now being marketed for as much as $850,000, have been donated to a small art museum here.The early 19th-century portraits of a Baltimore family that later moved to Hagerstown were donated to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts by a 93-year-old great-great-grandson of the man who commissioned the portraits.Neither the donor, Hagerstown resident F. Sydney Cushwa, nor the museum would comment on the paintings' worth.

HAGERSTOWN -- Ground was broken yesterday for a $200 million waste-paper recycling plant heralded as the largest capital project in the history of this Western Maryland city.The 200,000-square-foot plant, billed as state-of-the-art, is being built by the Black Clawson Co. of New York and will produce high-quality recycled paper pulp when it is completed in about 18 months, said Carl Landegger, company chairman."We are building a paper recycling plant on the cutting edge of scientific technology.

Hagerstown was the nation's 63rd most affordable housing market during the second quarter of 1996, according to the Housing Opportunity Index compiled by the National Association of Home Builders. Baltimore ranked 92nd on the housing affordability chart.The Housing Opportunity Index measures the proportion of homes sold in a specific market that a family earning the median income in that market could afford to buy. The survey also takes into account the differences in property tax rates and the cost of property insurance.

A 48-year-old Hagerstown man, who was pinned in his car for more than a half-hour yesterday after it was struck head-on by a loaded dump truck, was in critical condition at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.Harold Bible of Hagerstown was flown to the hospital by state police helicopter after the crash, which occurred at 8:15 a.m. on Route 140 just west of the Monocacy River in Frederick County. His son is Westminster city Officer Michael Bible.Tfc. Dennis Delp, of the Frederick barracks, said Martin Mayne, 28, of Libertytown was driving a dump truck west on Route 140 and failed to negotiate a curve after crossing the river.

IT APPEARS THAT some residents and officials in Hagerstown are concerned that in the wake of the nasty squashing of every last attempt to name something after Willie Mays, the city will be portrayed around the country in an unflattering light. Can't see that happening. There probably won't be a single suggestion to name the city stadium after a baseball figure more reflective of Hagerstown's attitudes -- like John Rocker or Ty Cobb. Or to name a street "Not Willie Mays Or Anyone That Looks Like Him Boulevard."

Arthur H. Katz, a Hagerstown civic activist and owner of several Western Maryland and Pennsylvania restaurants, died Friday of a heart attack at a hospital in Lebanon, Pa. He was 83. A Baltimore native, Mr. Katz grew up in Reservoir Hill and Park Heights. He opened his first restaurant, the White Coffee Pot, in 1958 in Hagerstown, where he and his wife became active in the Boy Scouts, Big Brothers and Sisters, and other charitable organizations. "He was always leading the parade to raise funds," said Jack Costa, a longtime friend.

Left-hander Kevin Hickey, who was released by the Baltimore Orioles last week, has agreed to a minor-league contract with the club and will join the Class AA Hagerstown Suns."

Hagerstown Mayor William M. Breichner is pitching an alternative tribute to Willie Mays, saying he wants to name the field at Municipal Stadium after the baseball great who made his minor league debut there. Rebuffed in his attempt to rename a city street - Memorial Boulevard - in Mays' honor, the mayor asked the City Council on Tuesday night to consider naming the ball field after the legendary center fielder. Local veterans had angrily opposed changing Memorial Boulevard's name because it is the only tribute to them in town.

Hagerstown Suns owner Peter Kirk said he is confident the city will acquire another minor-league baseball franchise when the Class AA Eastern League team suspends operations after the 1992 season.And he apparently believes the Baltimore Orioles will continue their affiliation with the city, although at the lower Class A level.Kirk is seeking a franchise in the Class A South Atlantic League, which expanded to 14 teams last year and encountered scheduling problems with that number. So, the league is hoping to expand to 16 members and create two eight-team divisions split by geography.

While other cities struggle with stadium refurbishing and construction problems, Hagerstown is plowing forward with vigor.By the opening of next season, the Single-A Suns will havrenovated home and visiting clubhouses and offices, upgraded restroom facilities, a redesigned outfield and various other improvements.More than $500,000 has been committed by the city and the cluto bring Municipal Stadium in compliance with the standards set by Major League Baseball."We've been real happy to see the approach of the city," said owner Winston Blenckstone, the Baltimore native who moved his Myrtle Beach (S.C.