Comings & Goings: Sober living home expanding to offer outpatient counseling
Brooke's House remodeling former Hallmark store into counseling center
A former gift shop in Hagerstown's South End is being remodeled into an outpatient counseling center operated by Brooke's House.
Kevin Simmers, executive director of the adult women sober living home named for his daughter, said last week that the organization's latest enterprise will offer counseling for those battling addiction, but who don't want the residential treatment component.
But unlike Brooke's house, the outpatient center will serve men, women and adolescents.
"Anybody that needs counseling can come in and get counseling," Simmers said.
There are not many outpatient addiction counseling services in Hagerstown and Washington County, he said, and he knows help focused on adolescents is in short supply.
"There's a definite need for it," he said.
Comings and goings: Landmark store in South End closes; pharmacy opens at Meritus
The store at 1019 Maryland Ave. in the South End Shopping Center was home to Fahrney's Hallmark, which closed in April after more than 50 years in business.
Remodeling work was permitted in mid-January, according to Hagerstown city records. Simmers said the plan had been to open by May, but that could change.
The office will have two counselors and an administrator to start. In the future, Simmers said he hopes to host Narcotics Anonymous meetings there and provide space for community activities.
The location is in the same shopping center as two other Brooke's House social enterprises — Brooke's House Coffee & Chocolates and Brooke's House Thrift Store — that give participants in the treatment program work experience and training.
More:New coffee, chocolates shop part of a brighter future for women battling substance abuse
The location also has easy access to a bus stop, Simmers said.
"Transportation won’t be an object for people," he said.
AT&T turns on new 5G site in Big Pool
AT&T recently announced that it had expanded its 5G network in Maryland, giving a boost in its wireless connectivity.
The company added a mobile broadband site in Big Pool, according to a news release. The new site will improve coverage and capacity around Gehr Road and near Indian Springs and Big Pool.
The 5G network brings connectivity to more than 285 million people in more than 22,000 cities and towns nationwide, the company states. The expansion in Big Pool also brings Band 14 spectrum to the area. Band 14 is nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the government specifically for FirstNet.
"We look at Band 14 as public safety’s VIP lane," the news release states. "In an emergency, this band — or lane — can be cleared and locked just for FirstNet subscribers. When not in use by FirstNet subscribers, AT&T customers can enjoy Band 14’s added coverage and capacity. "
The company says that, from 2019 to 2021, it invested more than $700 million in its networks in Maryland meant to boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents, visitors and businesses.
Bowman Development wins Power Broker Award
CoStar Group Inc., a provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces, announced recently that the leasing team of Bowman Development had been named one of the recipients of the 2022 CoStar Power Broker Award, according to a news release.
The awards recognize professionals and firms that closed the highest transaction volume in commercial real estate deals in their respective markets, the release from CoStar states.
In the Washington, D.C., market area, the Bowman was recognized as the most active local dealmakers with the industry award.
"It takes more than myself and Justin Anderson of the leasing team, but all of our team members from accounting, legal, engineering, design, construction and maintenance to provide the high quality type of property development and tenant support customers and the community expect from Bowman," Bowman Development President Rob Ferree said in the release.
Hagerstown Fire Battalion Chief Adam Hopkins accepted into fire service executive development program
The International Association of Fire Chiefs recently announced that Battalion Chief Adam Hopkins of the Hagerstown Fire Department has been accepted into the Fire Service Executive Development Institute, according to a news release from the city.
Hopkins competed with new fire chiefs and chief officers from across the country and Canada to become a member of the 2023 cohort program.
Hopkins has served with the department since January 2004. During his tenure, he has served as a fire apparatus operator and captain. He's been a battalion chief for the last 7 1/2 years. In addition to other duties he performs, he has also served as the fire department's training officer since March 2009.
Hopkins is also credentialed as a chief fire officer and chief training officer with the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Additionally, he is currently enrolled as an active student in the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy in Emmittsburg, Md.
The Fire Service Executive Development Institute is a year-long leadership-development program. It was created and implemented by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures.
Wilson College president named in list of top 100 influential educators
Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate was recently named to the City & State 2023 Higher Education Power 100, according to a news release from the school in Chambersburg, Pa.
This accolade recognizes him as “one of the most powerful individuals in Pennsylvania education,” according to the release. The 100 leaders profiled “have helped their institutions not just survive but thrive.”
“Recognition such as this reflects the excellent work of our faculty and staff,” Fugate said in the news release. “They are the people deserving of such high praise, as they are working day in and day out to transform the lives of our students. I am honored to represent them through inclusion on this prestigious list of higher education leaders.”
Fugate was chosen for his success in launching a series of affordable online degree programs, increasing the first-year retention rate to 93%, and growing the college’s unrestricted fund by nearly 75%, according to the release.
Opening? Moving? Got a new hire or promotion? Let us know
If you have details on a business coming or going in Washington County, Md., or Franklin County, Pa., email us at news@herald-mail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown's Brooke's House plans outpatient counseling center
