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can check out reading material froman ever-changing selection, Gosssaid.Plenty of activities are availablefor adults as well. Just one exampleis the annual Adams County ReadsOne Book program, which includesevents centering on a volumechosen to help bring the communitytogether through reading. Forexample, in October, “What theDead Leave Behind” authorRosemary Simpson visited twolibraries to take part in discussionsof her book about her mystery set inNew York during the Gilded Age.The system has grown steadilyover the decades. The six librariesshare 43 full- and part-time staffmembers. The system boasts some30,000 card-holding members.Physical assets, including regularbooks, DVDs, and audio bookson CDs and videos, total roughly150,000. Because of digital streaming,demand for music on CDs driedup, so they are no longer offered.However, DVDs still circulateheavily, illustrating that “a lot ofpeople in Adams County don’t havecable” or internet access at home,Edmiston said. Patrons are permittedto check out as many DVDs at a timeas they wish, she said.The system operates on anannual budget of 2.8 million.Approximately half the revenuecomes from Adams County andabout one-fourth from the state,Goss said, while local fundraisingand grants account for the remainingquarter.Though much of its fundingderives from governmentalsources, the system itself is not agovernmental entity but a nonprofit,tax-exempt organization governedby a nine-member volunteer board.The Jean Barnett Trone MemorialLibrary in East Berlin library is aseparate entity working in tandemwith the Adams system.Adams Public Service LibrarianJessica Laganosky summarizedthe system’s genesis in a recentGettysburg Times column. In1939, “citizens, county librariansfrom other parts of the state, andthe Pennsylvania state librariandiscussed the possibility of acountywide system with theAdams County commissioners.After years of planning, the AdamsCounty Library System begantaking membership requests inFebruary 1945,” she wrote. A facilityopened on Carlisle Street in 1946.Operations moved to the former jailon Gettysburg’s High Street, whichis now the borough hall. “In 1992,!SY 5 FRIDAGSAVE BI!FRIDAYYREVITEMS EESEHON Tthe library system moved yet again,this time to the current GettysburgLibrary and Adams County LibrarySystem location at 140 BaltimoreSt.,” Laganosky wrote.Residents can help the systemmark this year’s anniversary bysubmitting library-related photosand memories, either by stopping inat any of the system’s libraries or atIloveMyLibrary@adamslibrary.org.“Any memory you wish toshare with others about a libraryexperience” is welcome, she wrote.“It could be a memorable storytime, or the memory of checkingout a book for the first time, or amemorable program, or even amemorable librarian. Memoriescan be anecdotal, or if you have aphotograph you are willing to share,we’d love to see that too.”Other anniversary programmingis still being worked out, Goss said,but the community can look forwardto lots of options.And, as in any year, the systemneeds the assistance of dedicatedvolunteers. Many ways to be ofservice are available. Anyoneinterested can contact Edmiston atsarae@adamslibrary.org.3 pk Stoplight PeppersDozen Donuts2 lb PacksKennie’s Signature SausageStore Made PizzaFoot Long Hoagies8 oz CABBoneless New York Strip Steaks6 pk 80% Lean FreshStore Made Patties4 ct Fresh Baked Whoopie Pies5 pk Henry’s Crab CakesRotisserie ChickenSPRING GROVE440 North Main StreetGETTYSBURG217 West Middle StreetLITTLESTOWN520 West King StreetTANEYTOWN11 Grand DriveBIGLERVILLE3463 Biglerville Road8

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Designing WomanBody & SoulSilversmithStory By JENNIE DILLON PHOTOS COURTESY OF BODY & SOUL SILVERSMITHNot Fine Jewelry, Fine Work!Fine work is how artist, sculptorand gemologist Marcia Fowlerdescribes her creations. Marciaand her husband, Fred, are theproprietors of Body and SoulSilversmith located at 461 BaltimoreSt., Gettysburg, next to the RuppHouse. The couple opened theirshop doors April 4, 2019. Prior tothe incarnation of the Gettysburgbusiness, Fred, a retired graphicarts and photography teacher,and Marcia, an artist and sculptor,owned and operated an enterprise inNew Oxford for 19 years.Marcia attended art school inher native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,where she majored in sculpting.After college, Marcia sold her largesculptures with great success ingalleries in Brazil. Invited to exhibitin a show in the United States, shefound it harder to find an audiencefor her art. For the first time in hercareer Marcia struggled as an artist.She worked odd jobs to pay the billsuntil her work finally began to sell.As the years passed, Marcia’s focuson sculpting evolved into jewelry.Marcia, who immigrated here,went back to school to become agemologist because of her desire toincorporate gems into her works ofart. Each of her pieces is handcraftedfrom the heart. She has now beenselling sculptures and jewelry for 35years.Fred, who retired two yearsago from teaching school in NewOxford, hails from Apalachin, asmall town near Binghamton inNew York. But Fred wasn’t alwaysa teacher. Relocating to Gettysburgmany years ago he taught collegebefore moving on to a communitycollege in Virginia where he workedas a consultant, which led tomanagement with several differentprinting companies. After endinghis printing career with SheridanPress in Hanover, Fred returnedto his pedagogical pursuits,ultimately teaching graphic arts andphotography.Fred and Marcia began their lifejourney together 26 years ago whenthey met at a children’s party. “Themost beautiful day of my life” ishow Marcia describes it still, after 19years of marriage.Relocating the shop fromNew Oxford to Gettysburgwas inevitable. Marcia felt theopportunity to open a storefront inGettysburg was beneficial because itoffered a larger artistic communityto showcase her talents. She alsoloves the diversity and history thatcome with this town. “The icingon the cake,” Marcia says, was thebuilding. The light in the studioand the shop are inspiring, makingher feel “delighted to be here.”With renovations, the second floorContinued On Page 1110

became their home. Living above theshop has its advantages for Marcia.It enables her to work wheneverthe muse strikes, which could beany time of day, or night. Don’t besurprised to drive by late at nightand see the lights on. Creativitycomes at all hours. As much as Fredand Marcia love being in Gettysburgand their beautiful home, both aregrateful for the years they spentoperating their shop in New Oxford.When listening to Marcia talkabout how her life has unfolded,passion and gratitude resonate inher voice. That very same fervoris shown in every piece of jewelryshe creates. Jewelry is personal,typically handpicked and notcasually bought. Along with all ofMarcia’s regular work, she also doescustom orders. Making an emotionalconnection is very important toMarcia; she hopes her customerscan feel her energy pass througheach piece of metal. Unlike bigbox jewelry stores that carry thesame items and can re-order from acatalog, Marcia’s pieces are one-ofa-kind and no two pieces will lookalike. Marcia’s jewelry are pieces ofart created through her heart, spirit,passion and hands.Fred is the behind-the-scenesperson. He takes care of thepaperwork and business dealings,which allows Marcia to focus onher art. Sharing the behind-thescenes venue are their two beautifuldogs, Maya and Nelie. The move toGettysburg has been very peacefulfor the dogs. Fred and Marcia enjoybeing able to take them for walksalong the streets of Gettysburg. Asmuch as the move to Gettysburghas been fulfilling for Fred, Marciaand the dogs, customers areappreciative, too. Upon enteringthe Baltimore Street shop, on onewall is a large white board whichreads “Friends of Body and Soul.”Folks, be they from near or far, areencouraged to write upon the boardabout their visit to the shop. Myriadwell-wishers have scribbled theirsentiments. One wrote “Whoeversays diamonds are a girl’s bestfriend has not bought a piece of artfrom Marcia.” Another wrote, “Yourart has inspired me as well as youramazing personality. I love yourenergy.”Body and Soul is open sevendays a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,with some abbreviated hours forholidays. Visit the store’s website,www.bodyandsoulgettysburg.com,to check the hours and for a look atthe on-line catalog.11

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Cover StoryBollinger Gunsmithing& SalesThe Art of Gunsmithing Steps Into the New MilleniumStory AND PHOTOS By D.K. Thomas, Night EditorAs the gunsmith’s art has evolvedthroughout the centuries, so toohas life changed for Robert andBrandi Bollinger, owners of anever-growing, Maryland-basedgunsmith business. What beganin an 1830’s barn is now a multifaceted endeavor at a downtownTaneytown, Maryland, storefront.Owning a business wasn’toriginally part of the plan forRobert. “I started as a policeofficer out of high school,” he said.Robert joined the SWAT team, andeventually armored some of thedepartment’s weapons. “That’show I got into it, firearms ingeneral,” he said. Along the way,he met Brandi and they wed in2004.As time passed, Robert andBrandi’s family grew with thebirths of their two daughters,Natali and Nicole, and twoAmerican Bulldogs, Dozer andTank, affectionately referred toas the “shop greeters,” joined thehousehold. In the meantime, Roberttook a gunsmithing course, andeventually a business was born.“Before I knew it, we werein business, no customers, noinventory, just the basic handtools,” Robert said, noting he hadtinkered with the trade since theturn of the millennium, but onlymade the entrepreneurial leap adecade later, in 2010.Although there was no specificlicense, per se, necessary for aperson to work as a gunsmith,to operate a business makingand selling guns was anothermatter, requiring Robert to jumpthrough myriad state and federalhoops, which he successfullyaccomplished, allowing him toopen Bollinger Gunsmithing &Sales in the family’s barn.Robert, ever humble, made lightof his skill for the art saying, “Gunsare just machines. You have tools totake them apart and put them backtogether. You learn the nuances ofthe different manufacturers andthe rest is taking apart and puttingtogether.”In the early centuries of gunmaking, each piece was made byhand, “cut and filed” with handtools, he said, but nowadays a“CNC machine” does the work.CNC is computer numericalcontrol, which allows machinetools to be controlled by computer.“You draw it on the computer. Thecomputer cuts it out and you fit ittogether,” said Robert, making itsound a lot easier than it actuallyContinued On Page 1514

is.While there are people who stilldo custom work, the time involvedmakes the end product costprohibitive, he said.“You can’t get people to pay fora custom stock,” Robert said. Ittakes some 60 or so hours to carvea gun stock by hand, making thecost skyrocket. “I could probablyremodel a kitchen for what itwould cost” to handcraft a gun. “Ittakes about three hours if it’s doneby a CNC machine, and it’s stillcompletely custom work,” he said.For years, the “checkering” onmajor manufacturers’ gun stockshas been done by hand, buteven that practice is fast fading.Checkering is the carved crosshatch diamond design whichallows for a better grip. “Therewere a group of women out westwho checkered for the majormanufacturers,” Robert said,noting that art is dying because acomputer-operated machine can doin 10 minutes what it would takea person an hour or more to do byhand.As the art has stepped intothe 21st century, gunsmithing,machine work and computer skillshave become intertwined. “Somemachinists do awesome work,”said Robert. “A machinist makesthe parts and a gunsmith makes theparts work.”Robert says he’s not technicallya machinist, but his workshop isfilled with the tools of that trade,which he routinely uses. “I didn’tgo to school to be a machinist, butI use machinist’s tool every day,”from etchings to checkering tocutting barrels.While Bollinger’s can handlecustom-made stocks, gun barrelsare a mainstay. “We mostly dobarrels. We machine new barrelsand put them on,” said Robert.Making sure all the parts workwell together to shoot accuratelyis key in competitive shooting.“Accurizing” the firearm is whatpeople “want for competition,” tomake sure the projectile hits thetarget precisely.At 41, Robert said he is theyoungest gunsmith he knows;many are now senior citizens,ready to retire and pass the mantleto a younger generation. “It takesa lot of money to get into.” Robertand Brandi grew their businessover several years, adding newmachines as finances allowed andincreasing their customer base,until they were finally able to moveout of their barn into their current19 W. Baltimore St., Taneytown,location.“From 2010 to 2013, it was parttime. We went from having oneto two customers a week, to 70to 80 after the (2012) Newtownshooting,” Robert said.By the end of 2017, it was time fora change for the growing business,which prompted the purchase ofthe main street store, allowing forgrowth of services the Bollingersare able to offer, and expansion ofretail sales.“We now have a customer baseof 2,500 to 3,000 throughout theyear. I think we are successfulbecause of our versatility; we havethe retail plus the gunsmith andcustom services. And every timethe government talks regulations,sales go up,” Robert said.The shop also boasts a conferenceroom for training classes. “Weteach basic handgun” classes,Robert said, noting the differencein requirements for handgunownership between Maryland andPennsylvania, with Maryland beingmore stringent requiring an HQL(Handgun Quality License) beforea handgun may be purchased. Thatclass is one day for four hours.Two-day concealed carry classes,which include the HQL, are alsoavailable. The shop also offerspassport photography, live scanfingerprinting and notary work.With its computerizedequipment, Bollinger’s also offerscustomized wood and metal work,everything from creating memorialplaques to decorating the handlesof fabric shears. Recently the gunshop also added a new dimensionin a “black room” on its secondfloor where folks, especiallyyoungsters, can play with Nerfguns.Bollinger Gunsmithing &Sales LLC, 19 W. Baltimore St.,Taneytown, Md. 21787, phone,410-756-5454, is open Mondaysthrough Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, andclosed on Sundays15

Personality ProfileConnie Woodruff:Always more to do servingthe American Cancer SocietyStory By D.K. Thomas, Night Editor PHOTOS BY DARRYL WHEELERWhat began as a volunteer effort tohelp others in need has grown intoa years’ long, award-winning careerfor a Gettysburg native daughter.Connie Woodruff was recentlyrecognized with the American CancerSociety Regions Club Award. Connieis an American Cancer Society (ACS)community development managerserving Adams and Franklincounties, where she oversees theRelay for Life events, which are nearand dear to her heart. The AmericanCancer Society Regions Club Awardbestowed upon Connie recognizesher exceptional accomplishmentson behalf of the ACS. The honor isgiven to an employee who espousesthe society’s cultural beliefs and corevalues while fulfilling ACS’s mission.“Many, many years ago I did thedoor-to-door crusade,” Connie saidof her initiation into dedicating herlife to serving the American CancerSociety.In years’ past, ACS conductedneighborhood fundraisers withConnie Woodruff was recently recognized withthe American Cancer Society Regions Club Award.volunteers, called crusaders workingunder a community captain, goingabout the areas in which theylived asking friends and family fordonations for the cancer society. Thecrusaders collected contributions andoffered information. Connie, at thetime a young mother, began whatwould eventually become her life’swork as such a volunteer, going doorto door in her neighborhood to raisefunds annually for the society.“We don’t do that anymore. It’sa different world now,” Conniereminisced, noting the many changesthroughout the years, both personaland professional.Connie graduated from GettysburgHigh School in 1974. She wenton to earn a bachelor’s degree inpsychology at Juniata College inHuntingdon, Pa., followed by amaster’s degree from Bucknell, afterwhich she became a certified schoolpsychologist working at the shelteredworkshop, now the Hart Center, as avocational evaluator. She married hersweetheart Gene during her seniorContinued On Page 1716

year of college; they’ve now shared42 years of marriage. Connie andGene had two children who are nowgrown, a daughter who is a teacherand a son who is a police officer.After the birth of their second child,Connie opted to stay home to care forher children, but volunteered withthe annual ACS campaign.“Then a staff position opened up.I’d been home with the children, butthought I might get back involved,”Connie s

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