Posts by: "Maxine Troxell"

Buck Reed

The Supermarket Gourmet

I know my fans expect big things from me. In these past few years, I have tackled the big issues in the culinary world. But who would ever believe I could get this scoop. So many times, I have heard the words “never happen.” My editor told me I would be better off teaching you how to cook a unicorn, which is now on sale at your local grocery store. But, I did it. I got Stew and Soup to put their differences behind them and do their first interview together. Enjoy!

 

Supermarket Gourmet: First of all, let me thank you both for this time.

 

Stew: As long as he can be civil.

 

Soup: I can be cool. I am usually a hot dish, but I can be cool.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: Considering how closely related you are, why don’t you get along better?

 

Stew: Clearly, I came first, and during my time we had respect for elders.

 

Soup: Let’s face it you are old hat.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: For two dishes that have so much in common, why concentrate on the differences?

 

Soup: Maybe we are just two dishes that are nothing more than a set of ingredients, cooked and served in liquid. But it is our differences that make me great.

 

Stew: There is a certain consistency to stews that people find comforting.

 

Soup: I have that comforting thing going for me as well, but I can also bring a greater variety to the table. I am young; I am happening.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: What is your greatest benefit?

 

Stew: I nourish the body and feed the soul. Stew is always the same: meat, seafood, or chicken, cooked with vegetables with a thickened broth. But, I can also be versatile by being served on rice, noodles, or potatoes.

 

Soup: I heal you when you are sick and raise your spirits when you are weary. I can be thin as a supermodel or thick as a mother’s love. I can be served piping hot or glacier cold. You can start your meal with a cup or enjoy a meal as a bowl, or even make it as a finish for dessert.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: What about chili?

 

Soup: Is he here? I am leaving if HE shows up.

 

Stew: We do agree that chili is not a stew….

 

Soup: …. or a soup. It is like comparing elephants to zebras. Sure, it is a good dish and everyone loves it, but really no skill to making it.

 

Stew: It demeans us all.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: What can we appreciate about you both?

 

Stew: Well, we both celebrate the marriage of different ingredients coming together.

 

Soup: Sometimes it is a simple combination, and sometimes it is an excess of ingredients.

 

Stew: But, it always seems to work out.

 

Supermarket Gourmet: Any final thoughts?

 

Soup: If you are in hurry and want something satisfying, throw together a soup. It’s good food.

 

Stew: If you have the time, but a limited amount of energy, make something amazing: stew. It is what people come home for.

On May 19, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., poet Marian Cannon Dornell (pictured right) will share her poetry at The Creeger House, located at 11 N. Church Street in Thurmont.

Poets and lovers of poetry are also welcome to share their original or favorite works during the open mic session that precedes Dornell’s reading.  A retired registered nurse, specializing in psychiatric/mental health nursing and hospice, Dornell lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She regularly gives poetry readings in her community, along with talks about race and society. She will read from her latest work, Unicorn in Captivity, published in 2015 by Finishing Line Press. Other works of poetry have appeared in On the Issues: The Progressive Women’s Quarterly, and in Kinfolks:  a journal of black expression. She won an honorable mention in the 2013 Concrete Wolf Chapbook Contest. Dornell has studied with PSU professor and poet Robin Becker, as well as poets Rebecca Foust, Kimiko Hahn, and Todd Davis.  “Catoctin Voices” has been meeting at The Creeger House for over two years as a venue to showcase poets from around the region. The public is invited.

Catoctin High School (CHS) is back at it again! CHS Art Teacher Laura Day’s students entered the 2017 Vans Custom Culture Contest for a second time. Last year, CHS placed in the Top 50 in this national contest, and they hope to make it again to the second round, which is the public voting stage.

Public voting is open, and you can cast your vote until May 10, at 5:00 p.m. Voting can be done by visiting the customculture.vans.com and clicking on Catoctin H.S. under the Northeast Region.

The Mount St. Mary’s University men’s basketball team took on the defending National Champion Villanova Wildcats in Buffalo, New York on March 16, 2017, during a nationally televised broadcast on CBS. The Mount trailed by just one at the half, but Villanova took over in the second session and won 76-56. The Mount’s Miles Wilson, C’20, led all scorers with 22. Although they came up short in their effort, the Mount showed the nation how they can play with the best in the country.

The Mount opened the NCAA Tournament with a 67-66 victory over the University of New Orleans on Tuesday, March 14. A combined 40 points from Junior Robinson, C’18, and Miles Wilson, C’20, was enough to allow the Mount to advance.

The team earned its automatic berth by capturing the NEC Championship with a win over Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania). It was the Mount’s fifth NEC title and first time it has clinched in front of its home fans. Junior Robinson, C’18, and Elijah Long, C’19, were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team, with Long also being named the Tournament MVP.

Last month, the Mount won the NEC regular season conference title for the first time in twenty-one years, defeating St. Francis Brooklyn 77-62.

As a result of the team’s success, the Northeast Conference named head coach Jamion Christian the Jim Phelan Coach of the Year. The award is Christian’s first, and he becomes only the second coach in the program’s history to take home the honors, behind the local legendary coach Jim Phelan, for whom the award is named.

Three players also received accolades, including guard Elijah Long, C’19 (All-NEC first team); guard Junior Robinson, C’18 (All-NEC second team); and guard Miles Wilson, C’20 (NEC All-Rookie team).

James Rada, Jr.

Emmitsburg Mayor Richard Sprankle’s remarks dedicating the VFW Memorial Community Pool in 1975 were all wet. Literally.
“At the close of the dedication ceremonies, Sprankle and new Park Commissioner Eugene Rosensteel were tossed into the new $250,000 Z-shaped pool, which has been named the ‘VFW Memorial Community Pool,’” the Frederick Post reported in 1975. The pool was named in honor of the VFW because the Emmitsburg VFW donated $40,000 to the project.

The Gettysburg Times reported that several hundred people turned out for the dedication. That first weekend the pool was open, the Frederick Post reported that it was filled to capacity, with 391 swimmers in the pool, and 49 kids in the wading area.

And every summer since then, area children and their families have been able to escape the heat of the summer in the cool waters of the community pool—except for this summer. In summer of 2017, there will be no local swimming pool. With the Emmitsburg Commissioners’ approval in February to build a new community pool, the timeline doesn’t work out for it to be open this summer.

The new pool is expected to cost around $369,500, which appears to be a bargain. The original pool cost $250,000, which is equivalent to about $1.1 million in today’s dollars. The town commissioners had initially only been planning on renovating the existing pool, but a pressure test of the plumbing showed that it needed to be replaced. Also, the beams beneath the pool were damaged and also need to be replaced.

“Once you got in there digging around, you saw where things were patched up for forty years,” Mayor Don Briggs said during an Emmitsburg town meeting.

The commissioners decided that it was worth the investment to rebuild the pool. It will be funded with the remainder of the money set aside for the renovations, money that is usually paid to a management company for the pool, and fund balances from other capital projects.

Last month, the commissioners started looking at the cost to put LED lights in the pool. They also considered a new diving board and a pool slide, but these two projects will have to wait until a future time.

The new pool is expected to be less expensive to run, primarily because water and chemicals won’t be leaking from the pool.

Makin’ Waves will be in charge of installing the new pool.

Although there will be no swimming pool this summer, the town will still be hosting three pool parties.

James Rada, Jr.

During the 1980s, Ed Metka lived in Thurmont and made the long daily commute to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. At the time, he would have appreciated a quick form of transportation to work, but the Frederick station on the MARC line hadn’t opened yet.

Ed would have used it because he has been fascinated with streetcars since he was a child. He grew up in Chicago in the 1940s. Trolleys were starting to lose ridership to cars, but they saw a temporary resurgence during WWII. The large vehicles running along streets, powered by a thin pole connected to a wire, caught Ed’s attention.

“I was five years old, and it always fascinated me to see these things come down the street on a track,” he said.

Ed would ride on the streetcars with his mother and stand next to the motorman, pretending to be driving the trolley.

As a teenager living near San Francisco, he discovered that trolley museums existed, and he joined one in the Bay Area.

“I had thought I must be the only one who liked that stuff,” Ed said.

Like other trolley museum members, he started taking pictures of streetcars and collecting books and magazines about streetcar systems.

Trolleys were a slower form of transportation, primarily designed for urban areas that provided mass transportation around a city. However, they fell victim to the same problems as trains. After WWII gas rationing had ended, people began purchasing and using automobiles, and trolley ridership declined.

Thus, by the 1950s, most of the trolley systems in the United States had gone out of business, including the old Thurmont and Frederick trolley. The cars had been junked, sent off to museums, or abandoned.

Ed worked with the City of Frederick in a failed bid to bring a streetcar line back to the city. It was around this time that he had the opportunity to purchase ten streetcars from the Philadelphia Transit System (SEPTA). He decided that he needed to buy them to help keep that vanishing era of history from disappearing entirely. He rented a railroad siding from the Maryland Midland Railroad in Union Bridge and stored his streetcars there. Then, the opportunity came to buy even more streetcars.

“Well, I couldn’t fit them all in my driveway, but by then I was retired and flexible about where I lived.”

He began searching for a suitable and affordable piece of property, and found an old coal company storage yard in Windber, Pennsylvania.

“It’s kind of amusing,” Ed recalled. “The railyard was all covered over with trees and bush, and several local Windber residents didn’t even realize there was a railyard back there.”

He had the streetcars transported on flatbed trucks to Windber to create what most people call the Windber Trolley Graveyard. Although the site has no official name, trolley graveyard seems appropriate.

The 20-acre property is filled with forty streetcars that are shells of their former selves, skeletons if you will. Some lay on their roofs, others on their sides, a few still sit upright. Indeed, most are sitting on the mile of rail track that crosses the property, although some list to the side, seemingly ready to topple over.

You can climb on the cars to explore, but you need to be careful. (You also need to have permission, because the trolley graveyard is private property.) Some of the floors are missing, and most of the windows have been broken, so there is a lot of glass on the floor.
The site is not advertised as a tourist attraction, but word of mouth has spread its reputation. Visitors come from all over the Eastern United States. They come to photograph the trolley cars and explore what is left of them.
A dozen trolleys that are in decent shape—and Ed hopes to see restored—are kept in the repair building, out of the elements. However, such a restoration project is a massive undertaking and impossible for one man. So, Ed keeps those trolleys protected in the hopes that one day they will once again run on the outdoor track.

His “hobby” of collecting streetcars is now a business. He restores the best of the trolleys, sells parts from the ones that are beyond hope, and lobbies cities to include trolley lines in their tourism and economic development plans.

The streetcars, which date from 1912 to the 1950s, come from places like Philadelphia, Boston, Kansas City, Chicago, and Cleveland. They are spread throughout the property, along more than a mile of rail track. Their windows are busted. Leaves and debris litter the interiors. Many of the cars are covered in graffiti. “Mother Nature has taken its toll, as you can well imagine, because some of these cars have been here since the mid-90s,” Ed said.

The cars sit there, seemingly forgotten, but Ed remembers. He can tell you the story behind just about every streetcar on the property. The streetcars from Boston used to run on a suburban trolley line. The ones from Chicago were part of the L-system, the elevated tracks that run through the city. Two 1912 streetcars from Grand Rapids, Michigan, had previously been used for a lakefront cabin.

Ed can tell you about the parts of some of his streetcars that wound up in trolleys in places like Dubai, Aruba, and San Francisco.  He has even sold entire streetcars to a small trolley system in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Some day, he hopes to see those trolleys running again in American cities.

The general public, as well as area business and community leaders, are invited to see, firsthand, the effectiveness of fire sprinkler protection in homes, places of work, play, and worship. A specially designed live-burn prop will be showcased in the parking lot of the Frederick County Fire-Recue Museum / National Fire Heritage Center at 300B South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg on Saturday, April 8, 2017, beginning at 1:15 p.m. There will be a “side-by-side” live-burn demonstration of two identical/typical residential dwelling living rooms—one with fire sprinkler protection and one not (see photo above).

Experts in fire sprinkler design, installation, and maintenance will be available to answer questions, while First Responders from the Vigilant Hose Company (VHC) and Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company will be participating in support of the demonstration, coordinated with the governments of the Town of Emmitsburg and Frederick County.

The demonstration is made possible by the National Fire Sprinkler Association and its Regional Chapter, the Capital Region Fire Sprinkler Association. Fire/Life Safety information, courtesy of the VHC, will also be available.

Parking in the rear of the Emmitsburg Community Center is recommended.  Following the demo, tours of the Museum and Heritage Center will be available, as will be light refreshments. Questions may be directed to Wayne Powell at 240-344-7390 or waynepowellnfhc@gmail.com.

March 2017

Emmitsburg

by James Rada, Jr.

Town Square Improvements Will Begin this Month

Maryland State Highway officials told the Emmitsburg Mayor and Commissioners that the $3.5 million improvements to the town square and Main Street will begin this month.

The project will focus on Main Street, from Creamery Road to Timbermill Run, and a block north and south from the Seton Avenue intersection with Main Street. This includes two weekends when the Seton Avenue – Main Street intersection will be closed for waterline work.

The project will build new brick sidewalks that have curb ramps, to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. New crosswalks and resurfacing of the town square intersection are also included in the project. Parking on the Square will be reconfigured. Other improvements include gutters, the traffic signal, and landscaping. The Bradford Pear trees along Main Street will be replaced with either snowgoose cherry, scarlet oak, or rotundiloba sweetgum trees.

There will be temporary road and sidewalk closures and restrictions of on-street parking while the project is ongoing. Officials will work with property owners to minimize their inconveniences.

  1. Romano Construction will be in charge of the project, which should be completed next summer.

 

Dog Park Fundraising Approved

The location for the new Emmitsburg dog park has been staked out west of the tennis courts in town. The location is relatively flat. It is an 80-foot by 200-foot site that will include a park for large dogs and one for small dogs.

The town has a $13,000 Project Open Space (POS) grant to use for construction, but the commissioners also approved a brochure that will be used to solicit donations to help fund the park amenities, such as benches, signage, water fountains, trash cans, and pick-up bags. These are things that the POS grant won’t pay for.

 

New Algae-control System Being Installed

The new algae-control system that the Town of Emmitsburg purchased last month will be installed at Rainbow Lake this month. The new system is expected to save the town money by making the filtration of the water easier.

The LG Sonic system uses ultrasound to destroy the algae, causing it to sink to the bottom of the lake. The cost of the system is $38,650, which not only pays for the system but gets it up and running. After that, the town will pay $13,000 a year for calibration, interactive monitoring to adjust the sonic waves for the different types of algae, and on-site servicing.

 

Pavilion Rental Fee Modified

Responding to concerns from citizens, the Emmitsburg Mayor and Commissioners modified their pavilion rental policy to waive the rental fee for non-profit organizations.

 

Boys and Girls Club for Emmitsburg?

Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs has been talking with the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County to get a branch open in Emmitsburg that would complement the after-school program at Emmitsburg Elementary School.

 

Thurmont

Town Enters into Mutual Aid Agreement

The Town of Thurmont entered into a mutual aid agreement recommended by the Maryland Municipal League and the Department of Homeland Security. The agreement is a formal recognition that if any municipality experiences an emergency or catastrophic event, other municipalities will respond with help as needed.

“Honestly, we probably would do that now, but this just really kind of formalizes the agreement,” Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick told the commissioners.

The agreement does not force the town to respond to another municipality’s emergency. It is left to the town to determine how to provide aid. The municipality is also indemnified from liability under the agreement.

 

Gene Long Week

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners proclaimed that March 5-11, 2017, was Gene Long Week in Thurmont. The proclamation recognized the many contributions that Long has made as a life-long resident of Thurmont. He has encouraged the preservation of agriculture in the county, volunteered with many Lions Club projects, helped create the Thurmont Trolley Trail, and proven himself a friend of Thurmont.

 

Program Open Space projects

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners are in the process of deciding on what their priorities will be as they seek Program Open Space funding this year. The state funding for parks is highly sought after among municipalities.

The commissioners decided that their two major projects will be getting additional funding for the East End Park special-needs playground, and converting the concession stand there to an ADA-compliant bathroom. The second project will be to get solar-powered lighting for the Thurmont Trolley Trail.

Another two or three projects will be added to the list before it is submitted on May 5. The representatives from the different county municipalities will meet to decide how to divide the pot of money that Frederick County gets from the state.

They do not expect to get money for all of their projects or even all of the funding for the projects that do get POS money. However, the projects that do get funding will be greatly helped.

Thurmont

Mayor John Kinnaird

The months of April and May are budget-crunching time here in Thurmont. Our department heads have submitted their department budgets and capital project requests, and our CFO has been busy organizing the requests and reviewing the recurring funding needs for the operation for the town. Beginning in April, the Board of Commissioners will be discussing our Draft FY2018 Budget, with the input of our staff and department heads. Budget workshops will be held on April 4, 11, and 18. The final budget will be introduced on May 2, with a public hearing on the tax rate and proposed budget on May 16. The tax rate and budget will be adopted on May 30. Residents are welcome to attend any or all of the budget workshops or hearings. Public comment will be welcome during the May 16 public hearing.

I am happy to announce that Frederick County is planning a dedication ceremony for the newly rebuilt Roddy Road Covered Bridge, and the vastly improved Roddy Road Park. The ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on April 17 at the Roddy Road Park. I want to thank Frederick County for stepping up and repairing our covered bridge to its original appearance. There are three covered bridges in Frederick County, all of which are maintained by the Frederick County Department of Public Works. The County has demonstrated time and time again that they are interested in maintaining these historic structures so future generations can enjoy the living history embodied in these cherished bridges. There are new truck-height warning devices installed at both ends of the bridge to warn drivers of the height limitations. There is also a new truck turnaround being placed on the South side of the bridge for those drivers not deterred by the warning signs at the intersection of Apples Church and Eyler Road. The County is also installing new signage, intended to direct truck traffic back onto Rt. 15 to help keep trucks from getting to the covered bridge.  The improvements to Roddy Road Park will bring a new appreciation to the bridge and Owens Creek. There is a new parking lot with playground, picnic facilities, and even a new restroom! Roddy Road has been moved away from Owens Creek, so visitors can walk along the creek and enjoy the view of the covered bridge without worrying about dodging traffic. I look forward to the dedication ceremony and to visiting the bridge and park for many years to come.

The nice weather will mean that our children will be spending more time outdoors in the coming weeks. Be sure to watch out for children, and remember that they may not be watching out for you. I am sure everyone remembers what it was like when we were kids and the weather improved enough that we could get out on our bikes, play ball, ride skateboards and scooters, and walk to our friend’s houses! We were not always aware of our surroundings and would occasionally cross the street without looking both ways. Please be aware of our speed limits and watch out for pedestrians in the many crosswalks in Thurmont.

As always, I welcome your phone calls, emails, and text messages! I can be reached at 301-606-9458 or jkinnaird@thurmont.com, and on my Facebook page. Enjoy the nice weather before it gets too hot!

Emmitsburg

 Mayor Don Briggs

Warm weather, blooming flowers…and then eight-plus inches of “Robin’s snow.” No alarm, instead it was a quiet respite, a beautiful settled gesture to coax a slowdown to enjoy.

On the way to the town office last week, there, at the far edge of the parking lot, was a man and woman with two goats on lead lines and a group of children. The man, as it turns out, was a dear friend, Sam Castleman of Thorpewood, and the lady was his associate, giving Head Start program children the opportunity to learn, hands-on, and to lead the goats on the grassy school grounds behind the town office. Several years ago, Sam and I were two of the three founders of the Catoctin Land Trust (CLT), a conservation group, formed to preserve land in the Catoctin Mountain area. Through CLT efforts, a green belt of over 1,300 acres surrounding Emmitsburg has been preserved.

Spring weather or not, on Saturday, April 8, at noon at the Doughboy, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and town, will conduct a service to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the United States declaring war on Germany and entering World War I. (The actual date is April 6, but the commemoration will be held on Saturday, April 8.) Please join us.

Also, on Saturday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m., the sprinkler system at the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum National Fire Heritage Center on South Seton Avenue will be dedicated. This is a celebration of the two-year private and public collaborative effort. An effort of donated sprinkler industry materials and equipment and local installers labor working with town, county, state, and national elected officials and administrators. The National Fire Sprinkler Association intends to conduct a live-burn demo, using one of their “Side-by-Side Burn Trailers.” The unit then will go on directly to New Jersey for statewide public education use there. An identical unit will shortly be donated to the Maryland State Firemen’s Association for use across Maryland. That time is of the essence is never truer then when there is a home or building fire. Sprinkler systems can provide that time that saves lives. Vigilant Hose Company Chief Chad Umbel has approved fire company apparatus and personnel being on-hand in support of the live-burn demo.

Please note that even though the pool will be closed this summer for a major makeover, the town will still be hosting the Mayor’s pool parties. The venue will be the Community Park pavilion. Please join Lib and me for free hot dogs and lemonade, a DJ, and more! The dates for the pool parties are as follows: Friday, June 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Friday, July 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and Friday, August 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

All this will be going on while the $3.5 million State-Highway-Administration-funded downtown streetscape–square revitalization and sidewalk project should be underway. At the March town meeting, the State Highway Administration (SHA) staff made a presentation and took questions from a resident-packed room. The project is scheduled to start the first week of April, with work beginning at the entrance to the Brookfield subdivision.

Renewable energy is provided using the natural sources the sun, wind, or hydrology. The town is committed to the renewal source of solar energy, now and in the future. Through this commitment, the town is doing its part not to compete with town residents for energy and driving up their energy bills. The town has twenty electric accounts. Currently, our solar production is outperforming our professional-supported expectations. By agreement, the excess is repurchased by our provider at wholesale costs, so there is a gap from our retail purchase. The gap is in the neighborhood of $1,300 a month. We have new accounts to bring on that should level this out, but we are currently not permitted to do so until after December of this year. Our goal is to provide the energy needed for the excess capacity of the state-mandated new wastewater treatment plant. Alas, growing pains.

Lent, in the past, seemed to always be attached to some form of mortification in giving something up. Today not so much; more so, it is the time to do things for those in need. In some ways, it seems to becoming the season of giving. The residents, the town, Lions, EBPA, churches, Knights, and Masons, are all contributing to the richness of the Lent and Easter season. Happy Easter.

We all have energy! Some days, we may feel so energetic that we’re ready to rule the world! Most of the time, though, the number of days that we may feel tired and ready for a nap far outnumber our energetic days.

Did you know that our body has energy centers called chakras, energy centers within the human body that help to regulate all its processes, from organ function to the immune system? A Reiki practitioner is like an electrician who fixes our body’s chakras by lightly laying hands on us in areas that are near our chakras, to help heal and cleanse them. During a Reiki session, clients may experience warm sensations, tingling, and visually “see” different colors. Everyone’s experience is different, but all will agree that Reiki is relaxing and can be healing and often life-changing.

Benefits can include a deep feeling of relaxation, reduced blood pressure, reduced anxiety, diminished migraine pain, less depression, better sleep, increased energy levels, relief from chronic pain, less arthritic discomfort, and relief from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Reiki can also help release the toxins from the artificial foods we eat in our average diet.

Sounds a bit like a hoax to some, right? Heather Heier of Thurmont has been helped by the power of Reiki. When she experienced a tragic death in her life, she went through the process of grief and it changed her to the core. She wandered to find her life’s purpose. She had her “ahha” moment while taking Reiki classes. She liked Reiki so much that she decided to become a Reiki practitioner. “Trying to find myself, I found Reiki, and when I found Reiki, I found myself.” Her purpose is to help other people, and she wants to give back. She named her Reiki business Harmony Healing. “This is what I’m meant to do.”

Heather explained, “We’re all in the middle of life—we’re stressed, we’re overstimulated, and life experiences have damaged our chakras. We feel sick, tired, and in pain. A chakra may be connected to those feelings, but we can’t see it.”

One of Heather’s clients went to the doctor several times over the course of several years. She was always told that there was nothing wrong. After trying a Reiki session, the client’s symptoms decreased, and after another session, went away entirely.

During a Reiki session, your clothes remain on, you lay face up, or sit, in a comfortable space, covered with a snuggly blanket. Heather doesn’t know, or inquire about, your health history, ailments, or symptoms. Since Reiki is divine, it is the relaying of healing energy for you from your divine light (YOUR divine energy source). The light repairs the chakra and fills the holes. Heather is the conduit for that to happen. She doesn’t claim to be a healer, but Reiki opens the power of healing. She will not manipulate your body in any physical way. There will be a lot of healing taking place that you just can’t see. After a session, you will be relaxed, and healing will have taken place. There is never an obligation to have additional sessions.

Heather describes a Reiki session as your “energy makeover.” Harmony Healing is located inside the new Center of Life Holistic Center offices on Park Lane in Thurmont. To book your session, which usually lasts about an hour, visit HarmonyHealingByHeather.com, email Heather4Heier@gmail.com, or call Heather at 301-418-8842. View Harmony Healing’s advertisement on page 40.

Anita DiGregory

On Monday, February 27, 2017,  Maryland and town of Thurmont officials proudly welcomed Playground Specialists, Inc., to the community with a grand opening celebration which included an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Playground Specialists, Inc., a full-service recreation company owned and operated by Jeff Barber, is a dynamic company, specializing in assisting clients with all commercial park and playground needs, including sales, design, and installation. At the welcome ceremony, many local leaders were on hand, including Frederick County Office of Economic Development Director Helen Propheter, Frederick County Council President Bud Otis, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner, Frederick County Councilman Kirby Delauter, Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird, Thurmont Commissioner Bill Buehrer, Thurmont Public Works Department Superintendent Butch West, and Thurmont Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick. All in attendance were happy to welcome this thriving company, and Barber and his staff, into their new headquarters on Apples Church Road.

Although Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was not in attendance at the ceremony, he stated, “Ensuring hard-working citizens in every region of the state have access to new job opportunities is a top priority of our administration. Playground Specialists is a homegrown company, and it is welcome news that they are continuing to grow and add jobs right here in Maryland.”

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner remarked, “I am delighted that Playground Specialists is growing in Frederick County. We are proud that a local company has become a major supplier in the Mid-Atlantic, and continues to add jobs for our workforce.”

Founded by Barber in 1998, Playground Specialists, Inc. has continued to grow to become one of the largest outdoor recreational furniture distributors on the East Coast. Barber began installing commercial playgrounds in 1994.  Originally employing only himself and one other installer, Barber’s staff has flourished to more than thirty employees, and he hopes to be adding more in the future.  Playground Specialists, Inc. currently serves Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

With regards to the company’s recent expansion, Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill stated, “The fact that Playground Specialists is continuing to expand its service area, and will more than double its sales, shows its tremendous potential for growth.  Playground Specialists is one of many small businesses that are choosing to expand in Maryland, and we are pleased to work with our county partners to ensure these companies remain in the state.”

At one time run from home, the company headquarters is now housed in a spacious and innovative 21,000-square-foot facility in Thurmont. In addition to accommodating a vast warehouse and offices, the newly constructed facility also houses a conference room and large training space to host presentation and training seminars. The company has more than twelve certified playground safety inspectors, an in-house design team, sales support staff, and three full-time installation crews.

With the motto “We work hard, so you can play,” Barber and his staff take pride in designing recreational areas and installing equipment to meet the needs of the community, while providing a safe, fun place to visit and play.

Working with local governments, schools, churches, recreation departments, homeowner associations, and more, Playground Specialists, Inc., has become a leader in the industry. Handling everything from start to finish in-house, the company provides state-of-the-art recreational elements, including surfacing, playground equipment, and site amenities, such as shade structures, pavilions, benches, and trash receptacles.

In Thurmont, Playground Specialists, Inc. is responsible for the 2016 Thurmont Elementary School playground, and is currently completing the East End Park Inclusive Playground. With two inclusive play specialists on staff, the company has worked with the town and the Catoctin Area Civitan Club to design and install this unique playground for children with all abilities. Features of the park include full wheelchair access, innovative structures for children of all abilities and challenges, rubber surfacing, and a shaded canopy. With the first phase nearly complete, two additional phases to the park are in the works. Playground Specialists, Inc. is very happy to play such an integral role in this innovative park, one of the first fully inclusive playgrounds in the area, and even donated two fundamental pieces to the project.

Family owned and operated, Playground Specialists, Inc. is proud to be a member of the vibrant Thurmont community. With many employees born and raised locally, the company is happy to provide jobs and support the community.  Marketing and Design Manager Amanda McGuire added, “We love Thurmont. We love to work here, live here, and give back to the community. People are like family around here.”

Gene Long is quick to share his advice for life: “never stop learning; enjoy your vocation, serve your country and community, worship your Creator, and be thankful!”

As Long celebrated his 90th birthday at a party with more than 250 family and friends from six states, laughter prevailed in the room. Harold Staley, local folk singer and songwriter, performed “The Ballad of Gene Long.” A poem about Long that had been written by Rosemarie Powell just two days before she passed away was shared.  Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird presented a Proclamation declaring March 5 through March 11, 2017, as Gene Long Week, in recognition of Long’s many years of dedication to our heritage, our community, and his fellow residents.

Long grew up with loving parents and nine siblings at their family farm in Creagerstown, and graduated from Thurmont High School in 1944.  After serving in the U.S. Army during WWII, his career involved various agricultural positions, including manager at St. Joseph’s College Farm (site of current National Fire Academy), production manager for Ideal Farms Dairy, and manager of Mid-East Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He has four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He and his wife, Shirley, live near Lewistown.

After his retirement in 1992, Long enjoyed being involved in the community. As a member of the Thurmont Lions Club, he was the leader of the Thurmont Trolley Trail Refurbishing Project. The trail was dedicated to the Town in 2007.  Raising funds for causes that he feels are important is one of his passions. He raised more than $38,000 for a handicap-accessible van for the family of an eight-year old child with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Long was instrumental in getting football into Walkersville High School in the late 1970s, and his love of sports and youth led him recently to partner with the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, to provide funding so that a national archery program could be included in the Frederick County curriculum at several schools. The program has been very successful in building self-esteem by offering an even-playing field for all, including youth who may not easily excel at other sports.

Long’s compassion is also shown in quiet ways. The men who pick up the recyclables at his home find cold beverages waiting for them; a four-year-old at his church adopted “Uncle Gene” the very first time they met; and family, friends, and neighbors all benefit from his abundant crop of lettuce each year—still producing from seeds gathered from his own father’s garden.

Despite many hardships, including the death of an adult child, heart stents and by-pass surgery, abdominal aneurysm, amputated fingers, twelve broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken shoulder, etc., he enjoys life and approaches each day with the desire to make that day better for someone else. At ninety years YOUNG, he remains active by playing golf, bowling, playing cards, hunting, tending the garden, and woodworking.

When asked his secret to longevity, he replied, “Learning right from wrong at an early age, finding ways to fully enjoy life in spite of hardships along the way, and good strong genes from the best parents anyone could ever have.”

On Saturday, April 15, 2017, in honor of a fallen comrade, Army Specialist Erik W. Hayes, the ) Monocacy Valley VFW Memorial Post 6918 (Harney) will host the dedication of the Monocacy River Bridge, located on Maryland Route 140, bordering Frederick and Carroll Counties.

Erik was killed when an IED detonated near his military vehicle on November 29, 2004, in Miqdadiyah, Iraq, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Erik was twenty-four years old at the time of his death. He grew up in Thurmont, and in Harney in Carroll County. Erik is the son of Douglas Hayes of Harney and Debbie Reckley of Thurmont.

In conjunction with the Maryland State Highway Administration, The Harney VFW and elected officials of Carroll and Frederick Counties will join family and friends of Erik in the unveiling of the sign in Erik Hayes memory at 11:00 a.m.

Following the dedication, light refreshments for those in attendance will be served at the Monocacy Valley Memorial VFW Post 6918, located at 5801 Conover Road in Harney. Should adverse weather occur, Saturday, May 6 will be the rain date.

For additional information, contact Frank M. Rauschenberg at 240-367-6110 or fm32@erols.com.

On Sunday, April 30, 2017, starting around 9:30 a.m., Veterans and military from around the nation bike from Arlington, Virginia, to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as a way to show support for those wounded in military service to our nation. Some of the riders were wounded in service and have specialty bikes that allow them to bike, even though they have no arms or legs. Tom’s Creek UMC started cheering them on a couple of years ago as they passed by on Sunday morning. Last year, the event organizers asked Tom’s Creek UMC if they would be willing to take a deeper step into helping the riders on their long journey. They wanted to know if they could use their property, and if they would be willing to provide the volunteers to help feed and care for the riders, as a rest stop along the route. This was the best rest stop on their entire journey, so after last year, Tom’s Creek UMC is considered a sponsor of the event. This means they are canceling Sunday School and worship on that day, so they can support the riders and cheer them on. Tom’s Creek will also have a blue grass/gospel band, coming from Calvert County, to play patriotic music as part of the rest stop. They would like as many people from the surrounding communities as possible, to come and cheer on these brave warriors that have protected our nation and now need a boost to let them know their nation appreciates them!

So, come out on April 30 to Tom’s Creek UMC Promised Land property, off of Rt.140, at 10918 Taneytown Pike in Emmitsburg.

For more information about the bike ride organization, visit www.worldteamsports.org/events/face-of-america/.

Stephen K. Heine has joined Woodsboro Bank as president and CEO, effective immediately, following the announcement of the retirement of C. Richard Miller, Jr. late last year. Mr. Heine has thirty-five years of banking experience, most recently as a group vice president for M&T Bank, where he was responsible for ninety-six branches in Central and Western Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Prior to M&T, he held various management positions that included executive vice-president of Farmers and Mechanics Bank in Frederick, and executive vice president of Consumer and Business Banking, Provident Bank, Baltimore.

Mr. Heine, who resides in Frederick with his wife, Carole, and four children, is active in the Frederick community, where he serves as the YMCA of Frederick County, chair-elect; St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church, Corporator; and the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek. He is on the Alfred University Board of Trustees. His past board affiliations include Frederick County Chamber of Commerce; American Red Cross of Frederick County; and The Maryland Science Center, Baltimore.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Albany and a Bachelor of Science from Alfred University. He is a graduate of Leadership Frederick in Frederick, and Leadership Capital District, Albany, New York.

Natalie McSherry, chair of the Board of Directors of Woodsboro Bank, said that the Board was pleased with the number of highly qualified candidates who had indicated an interest in the position, and that the Bank was extremely pleased that Mr. Heine would be leading the Bank going forward.

View their advertisement on page 29.

The Guardian Hose Company, Inc. (GHC) hosted its annual awards banquet at their Activities Building on East Main Street in Thurmont on Saturday, March 4, 2017. GHC President Wayne Stackhouse welcomed attendees and thanked GT’s Catering for catering the evening’s meal. GHC Vice President Terry Frushour introduced several special guests.

GHC’s Chaplain, Reverend James Hamrick, gave the invocation and memorial service. GHC lost two members in 2016: Roy Clabaugh and Frank Shriner. Roy Clabaugh died Monday, January 25, 2016, at the age of ninety-three. He was the loving husband of Gloria Weddle Clabaugh; they were married sixty-eight years. He joined GHC on May 2, 1945. Frank Shriner died on Friday, November 4, 2016, at the age of seventy-one, husband of Alice Shriner for nearly fifty-three years. He joined GHC on October 7, 1964.

Chief Tom Owens with the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services said, “This is a company that still does it the old-fashioned way. One hundred percent volunteer, they work hard for the community and have great support by the community. This is the formula it takes to be successful.”

Wayne Stackhouse thanked William “Bill” Sanders for doing the accounting work for the GHC. “It’s good to see all of the old-timers. For the young people, my goodness gracious, I challenge all of the young people to lean forward because volunteerism in America has to go forward. Without you young people, volunteerism will not be present tomorrow,” expressed Bill.

GHC’s Chief Chris Kinnaird gave the 2016 Chief’s Report, reviewing that the company had a busy year, with 551 alarms. Fire loss was pretty low, considering that there were four fires. GHC saw an increase in vehicle entrapment, vehicle fatalities, and high-angle mountain rescues in 2016. At the end of the year, weather played a role in two mountain fires that consumed 21 acres in a two-day period. The GHC is raising funds to replace engine tanker 104 with a $650,000 tanker.

Chief Kinnaird extended praise to the company’s volunteers. Kinnaird expressed that he knows the impact the company has on the community. He receives compliments often, and said, “Everyone should be proud of that; I know I am.”

The Top Ten Responders were: Terry Frushour (370 alarms), Brad Weddle (316), Brian Donovan (285), Chad Brown (250), Jared Snyder (216), Steve Strickhouser (196), Mike Double (179), Christopher Kinnaird (154), Larry Double (144), and Brandon Boyle (139).

Chief Kinnaird closed out his report by talking about the historic Hoke Furniture Fire on October 18, 1986. In doing some research on that fire, he found a letter from Lloyd Hoke to then GHC Chief Mackley, dated December 1986, in which the company was commended. Chief Mackley made reference in other logs about making sure all of the fire equipment was put away after the fire before going out to get pizza. Chief Kinnaird said that things were totally different thirty years ago in how fires were fought, and that manpower (the number of volunteer firefighters) was four times greater. There were sometimes thirty-nine or forty volunteers going out on a call.

President Wayne Stackhouse followed Chief Kinnaird and recalled “rackin’ them and packin’ them,” referencing the great number of volunteer firefighters who rode on the firetrucks to a call.

Stackhouse presented Service Awards: (5 Years) Tina Yingling; (15 Years) Linda Davis, Pam Fraley, Trina Wiltrout, Joseph Wehage, Stacie Stackhouse; (20 Years) Dana Due, Charles “Brad” Weddle, Robert Myers; (35 Years—some were founders of the Ladies Auxillary in 1981) Michelle Wivell, Glenna Wilhide, Anna Mae Valentine, Georgette Stitely, Beatrice Bentz, Gloria Clabaugh, Irene Matthews, Priscilla Portner, Darlene Rickard, Candy Zentz, Bev Frushour; and (70 Years) M. William “Bill” Rice. Life Membership Awards were presented to Keith Donnelly, Joseph F. Moser, and Tina M. Ohler.

President Stackhouse expressed special thanks to neighboring fire departments; the Town of Thurmont staff members for their timely support; Wachter Enterprises for ongoing support; Terry Frushour for spearheading the golf tournament, scholarship, and sponsorship letters; Mike Duble for maintenance on vehicles and fleet support; administrative officers for keeping him going; Chief Kinnaird and his operating officers for all they do; Tisha Miller for taking on the detailed and time-consuming job of LOSAP Chairman; the activities committee for helping not only the fire company, but for executing their own fundraising activities; and Chad Brown for setting up GHC’s website.

GHC thanked Mountain Gate Restaurant, Rocky’s Pizza, Keilholtz Trucking, Pennwood Shows, Hillside Turkey Farm, Wachter Enterprises, Gateway Farm Market, Catoctin Mountain Orchard, The Town of Thurmont and entire staff, and Catoctin Colorfest for their annual support of the company.

GHC events include sportsman drawings, annual carnival, flower sale/chicken BBQ, fall festival, James Mackley Golf Tournament, Holiday Bazaar, and new Fall Cash Bash. Terry Frushour, coordinator of the golf tournament, thanked neighboring fire departments, Criswell Chevrolet, Mountain View Lawn Service, Tom’s Creek Incorporated, and Wolfsville Fire Department for their sponsorship of the tournament. Two thousand dollars in scholarships are awarded each year.

Stackhouse recognized Russell Schantz for serving as the GHC treasurer for the past twenty-eight years. Schantz has decided to step down. Being a multi-million dollar organization, the job of treasurer is a large responsibility. Schantz was presented with a plaque in recognition of his excellence in performing the office of treasurer.

Robert Jacobs, with the Maryland State Fireman’s Association, installed 2017 GHC officers. Administrative Officers include: Wayne Stackhouse—President; Don Stitely—President Emeritus; Terry Frushour—Vice President; Lori Brown—Secretary; Tisha Miller—Assistant Secretary; Bev Frushour—Treasurer; Russ Schantz—Assistant Treasurer; and Brian Donovan, Jody Miller, Steve Yingling, Chad Brown, Joe Ohler—Trustees. Operational Officers include: Chris Kinnaird—Chief; Carroll Brown—Assistant Chief; Blaine Schildt—Captain; Sean Donovan and Will Due—Lieutenants.

For more information about The Guardian Hose Company, visit their website at www.guardianhose.org.

2017 Administrative Officers

2017 Operational Officers

James Rada, Jr.

Rifle use has been known to cause hearing damage, but Thomas Worthington’s Armstrong rifle once helped restore Worthington’s son’s hearing.

Worthington, who lives in Sabillasville, was born and raised in Annapolis. His family lived with his grandparents, because a month after Worthington was born, in September 1929, the stock market crashed, heralding the start of The Great Depression.

“We were in bad shape financially, so we all lived together,” Worthington said.

As his family struggled to make ends meet, Worthington’s world was the streets of Annapolis.

His father enjoyed reading outdoor magazines. Once, when Worthington was looking for something to do, he found one of the magazines. The cover showed a man fishing in a beautiful mountain stream.

“I’d never seen anything like it before,” Worthington said. “It was just gorgeous. I’d never seen a mountain before then because I had never been out of Annapolis.”

Worthington decided that he wanted to learn to fly fish like the man in the picture. He asked his father to help him. His father didn’t know how, but he did find a man who was a customer of his insurance business. The man agreed to have the eight-year-old Worthington come to his house twice a month on a Saturday morning. Worthington began to learn to tie flies, cast, and fish.

Once Worthington had learned the skills, the man took him fishing in Frederick County.

“We rode in a Model A,” recalled Worthington. “It took us about four hours. There were no superhighways or anything like that. We rattled along at 35 miles per hour, and usually, there’d be a flat somewhere along the line.”

They went to a spot on Big Hunting Creek at the base of McAfee Falls. They waded into the water, and Worthington started trying to cast where his instructor told him to. The problem was that he kept pulling the fly back before it hit the water. The instructor told him to let the fly land.

“No sooner did the fly hit the water, then the brook trout hit the fly,” said Worthington.

He remembers that his first fish was so red that he thought it was bleeding, but he learned that it meant the trout was a spawning male.

The trip to Frederick County began an annual trip that Worthington would make with the man.

Back in Annapolis, he soon discovered another passion.

Often, he would run errands for people to make a little extra money. Two of the men who he ran errands for were Confederate Civil War Veterans. He would do chores for them and listen to their stories.

At some point, said Worthington, the Veterans “decided to teach me to shoot a musket, in case they had trouble with the Yankees again.”

So they pulled out their old weapons and began instructing the young boy on how to care for them, load them, and fire them. Not that they could fire the weapons in the city, though. For that part of the instruction, the Veterans and Worthington traveled to a farm owned by Worthington’s uncle.

“I was too small to shoot, really,” said Worthington. “I had to stand on a kitchen chair to load the musket.”

Using a reduced charge, the young boy was allowed to fire at a target. He discovered that not only was he good at shooting, but he also loved it. On his fishing trip, he told his instructor about the thrill of shooting a rifle.

Instead of going to Hunting Creek that year, they went to visit the instructor’s friend, who lived in Emmitsburg. They fished on the man’s property. When the man learned of Worthington’s interest in shooting, he told the boy that he thought he had an old muzzleloader in his attic that he would be willing to sell him.

Worthington agreed, and he returned to Annapolis on a mission. He spent the next year running more errands and saving his nickels and dimes. By the time the next year rolled around, he had saved $24.00.

After fishing up in Emmitsburg, the man brought out not one, but two old rifles. One was a flintlock, and the other used a percussion cap. They were covered with soot and years of coal dust. The man offered to sell the percussion cap rifle for $10.00 and the flintlock for $8.00. Worthington agreed and had purchased his first rifles at ten years old.

“They were so long, we couldn’t fit them in the Model A,” Worthington said. “We had to put some sacking on them and put them in the rumble seat.”

When they got back to Annapolis, Worthington and his fishing instructor began cleaning the rifles, exposing the wood curves and metal inlays. They also discovered that the barrels had been filled with beef tallow to keep them from rusting. They held the rifles with the barrels pointed down over a hot stove so that the tallow melted and drained out, leaving the barrels clean and rust free.

In examining the rifles, they determined that Emmitsburg gunsmith John Armstrong made the flintlock. Melchior Fordney, a Lancaster gunsmith, had made the percussion cap rifle.

Worthington held onto his treasures. He never hunted with them, but he did shoot them in competitions. When he was in his late twenties and married with two children, one of his sons had a traumatic hearing loss. He was told that it could be treated, but it would cost $18,000, which was a huge sum in the mid-1950s. He wasn’t sure what he would do until the doctor’s medical partner, heard about Worthington’s rifles.

Worthington showed him the rifles and told him their story. The doctor offered him $4,500 for each one, on the condition that he never tell anyone who the doctor was or the farmer that sold him the rifles. Apparently, there was some bad blood between the families.

Worthington accepted the offer, and he never saw the rifles again. However, with half of the money for the operation raised, the bank was willing to loan the family the rest. The operation was a success, and Worthington’s son’s hearing was restored.

“I’ve always missed that Armstrong rifle, though,” expressed Worthington. “It was such a beauty.”

In fact, he missed it so much that he commissioned a copy to be made that he has hanging in his living room.

 

Thomas Worthington and his Armstrong rifle replica.

 

by Theresa Dardanell

The Guardian Hose Company, Inc.

Frederick County Company 10

Hopefully, you will never need to be rescued due to an accident at Catoctin Mountain National Park or Cunningham Falls State Park; but if you do, the Guardian Hose Company provides fire and rescue services to an 84-square mile area that includes the parks.  I recently met with Company President Wayne Stackhouse and Fire Chief Chris Kinnaird and watched a training session at the Guardian Hose Company, during which several members practiced setting up a Z Rig, an arrangement of ropes and pulleys used for a rescue.  The rigging gets its name because, when completed, it looks like the letter Z.  Monthly trainings help members keep their skills up-to-date so that they are prepared for any emergency. One previous training provided a refresher on the self-contained breathing apparatus that is needed for firefighters to enter smoke-filled buildings.

The Guardian Hose Company was organized in 1887, and started with hand-drawn fire apparatus and a bell on top of the town hall that was rung to alert the firefighters.  The first fire hall, built in 1890, was located in a garage under the town hall. It was replaced in 1950 and then again in 2007. Currently, the company has two engines, an engine tanker to carry additional water, a rescue squad vehicle, two  brush trucks, a quick response vehicle, and a special air unit, which is a trailer where the self-contained breathing apparatus can be refilled so that firefighters don’t have to leave the scene to refill their air tanks.

The one hundred percent volunteer organization has 225 members who serve in one or more of the membership categories:  active administration, active emergency operations, social, or junior membership. Current officers are Wayne Stackhouse—President; Terry Frushour—Vice President; Lori Brown—Secretary; Tisha Miller—Assistant Secretary; Beverly Frushour—Treasurer; Russell Schantz—Assistant Treasurer; Chris Kinnaird—Fire Chief; Carroll Brown—Assistant Chief; Blaine Schildt—Captain; Will Gue and Sean Donovan—Lieutenants; Chad Brown and Brian Donovan—Sergeants. Trustees are Chad Brown, Brian Donovan, Jody Miller, Joseph Ohler, and Steven Yingling.

The company has lots of family ties; there are members who are brothers, mothers and sons, fathers and sons, or husbands and wives. According to Wayne Stackhouse, many began as junior members and almost forty percent of the members also belong to the ambulance company. They all have different jobs, but they all work together, not only during an emergency, but also during the fundraisers. The biggest events are, of course, Colorfest, the carnival, and the fall festival.

Fire Chief Kinnaird said that Fire Safety Education is an important part of the job. School groups and scout troops learn about emergency situations and when to call 911, as well as escape plans and first aid.  When the children go to the fire station, they get to see the fire trucks and the firefighter’s gear close up.  They can even try on the gear. Promoting fire safety in the home is also encouraged. Contact your local fire department to request a home inspection of your smoke detectors.

The dedicated members of the Guardian Hose Company work hard to fulfill their mission, “to assist in protecting the lives and property of the people of Thurmont and vicinity, and to assist in rescuing persons and conveying them to a place of safety; to extinguish fire and prevent its spreading to adjacent property; in case of collapsed buildings, to rescue all persons and bodies; to clear debris and to remove all weak or dangerous parts of the building.”

Brian Donovan, Chad Brown, Daniel Myers, Brandon Boyle, and Ray Snyder practice setting up a Z Rig during a training session at the Guardian Hose Fire Station.

The Thurmont Lions Club continues to recognize the hard and diligent work of the Boy Scouts. The Club has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 270 since 1932. On February 8, 2017, the Club hosted Boy Scout Troop 270 and their scout leaders for their outstanding volunteer service.

The scout leaders honored were Sean Young, Brian Seiss, Walt Ellenberg, Leo Coolidge, Dave Place, Dwayne Snyder, Julie Bostian, and Norm Feldser.

Three Eagle Scouts were also honored: Taylor Ellenberg, Phillip Norris, and Dominque Nield. Due to other commitments, the Eagle Scouts were not present to accept their awards.

Scout Leader Julie Bostian presented the Ross Smith Sr. Scout Award to Scout Keegan Coolidge. Keegan has worked on many outstanding projects/events to be awarded this prestige honor. He has lead/tracked hours and taught how to do brick work on the new Thurmont Community Ambulance complex (146 hours); he has worked on the building, alone, for a total of 768 hours. Scout Keegan planned and built a shed for the CYA lacrosse program as his Eagle Scout project at Eyler Field, and he will be doing future fundraising for the project. He is scribe and assistant senior patrol leader for Troop 270, is secretary for Crew 270, and is planning and mapping the philemon trek that Troop  270, Troop 1011, and Crew 270 will be going on in the future. Scout Keegan has helped to plant trees at the Thurmont Community Ambulance complex for an Eagle Scout project by Devin Stafford; helped with the trolley trail cleanup; helped with an Eagle Scout project, building poster boards and hanging them at Camp Green Top by Dalton Wine; has volunteered for cub days at the airport for a week as a helper with sling shots; and is helping his fellow scouts with rank advancement and teaching first aid skills.

In addition, Scout Keegan is assisting in planning the 2018 camporee with a theme of Mountain Man, which will be held at the Thurmont Hunting and Sportsman Club in Lewistown.  Scout Keegan plans to run for patrol leader and scribe again in the future.  He has joined the Thurmont Ambulance Company to further his knowledge in MS, to follow his dreams of becoming a flight medic. This outstanding scout has received the Volunteer of the Year for Crew 270, multiple merit badges, and two religious awards.

Scouts in Troop 270 have taken several camping trips and have helped with various events: Klondike Derby camping; Freeze Out camping; Water Shed camping; Poplar Grove; Camp Palawan for summer camp for a week; camp for shooting; Aviation camporee; Lock in at scout hour; first-aid competition held every year in March; USS North Carolina and USS Yorktown trips, where they stayed on the Yorktown and slept where all the Navy personnel slept, and also toured the Yorktown submarine and destroyer.

The troop has helped and supported so many events and activities in the community. They are totally committed in helping one another in leadership, first-aid, camping, and hiking skills. Such outstanding achievements show the diligence, leadership skills, and dedication of these scouts, encouraged by their parents and scout leaders. The Thurmont Lions Club wishes to welcome these youth leaders into our club someday.  Congratulations to Scout Troop 270.

Pictured from left are Troop 270 Scout Leader Julie Bostian, Scout Keegan Coolidge, and Lion Ross Smith, Jr.

Theresa Dardanell

Every Friday at Catoctin High School, students get a “dose of positivity.” That’s how teacher and coach Michael Franklin describes Fired Up Friday. This weekly event provides an opportunity for students and staff to share positive experiences, encourage others through difficult times, acknowledge good deeds, and become motivated to be better citizens.

It all started in 2012 after the Sandy Hook School shootings. Mike Franklin, along with the physical education department staff—Dana Brashear, Doug Williams, and Amy Entwhistle—wanted to acknowledge positive instead of negative news.  A special event every Friday was created to recognize random acts of kindness. Students are encouraged to “catch” classmates doing something good, no matter how big or small.  One student saw someone drop a $10 bill in the hall. He picked it up and took it to him in his classroom.  Another student raised hundreds of dollars to donate to a charity.  Several students held a fundraiser for a classmate with a serious illness.  Another gave a special treat to all of the cafeteria workers and custodians to thank them for their hard work.  These students are only a few who have been recognized in the past five years. Along with the recognition they receive during the event, they get a special T-shirt. Andrew Franklin from Norris Auto has donated at least fifty T-shirts every year for this program.

This popular program has grown to include motivational speakers, who share their stories. Jason Polanski, a former CHS student who is blind,  talked about how he overcame hardships and how he faces his obstacles. Paratriathlete Scot Seiss shared his experiences.  Every year, during the special Friday college program, CHS alumni return and talk about the pressures they encounter and how to deal with them. Former CHS students, who are now police officers in Frederick County, were recently honored during one of the programs.

Some of the Friday events feature inspirational videos about topics that include random acts of kindness, leadership, teamwork, and awareness of disabilities. After the videos, students and staff have the opportunity to discuss what is presented and share their own personal experiences. A message in one of the videos sums up the program: “You can contribute. You have Value. You can serve others.”

Max Bingman earns a “Fired Up Friday” T-shirt for bringing every cafeteria worker and custodian a candy bar to show appreciation.

Leo Avie Hopcraft of the Catoctin High School (CHS) Leo Club has been awarded CHS Leo of the Year 2017, in recognition of her commitment to serving the Thurmont-Emmitsburg community as a high school student since her freshman year. Currently in her junior year, she has served over seventy hours as a Leo, with another ninety service hours for other activities and programs. She has held true to the “Leo Motto” for Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity.

Leo Avie was presented with the award during a ceremony held on March 8, 2017, during the Thurmont Lions Club “Youth Night.”  She has been a member of the CHS Leo Club, which is sponsored by the Thurmont Lions Club, for three years, beginning in her freshman year. She has participated in various club projects, including raising money and providing food donations for Thurmont Food Bank, volunteering for various community activities and events in Thurmont, and joining Thurmont Lions to support major fundraisers held in the area.

“It is very rewarding to help fulfill community needs, and it is a great honor to be presented with this award,” said Avie.

The CHS Leo Club has twenty-nine members and meets on the second Thursday of each month at Catoctin High School. Thurmont Lion Wendy Candela is the current Leo Club advisor, joined by Kathy Herrmann as the CHS faculty advisor. Young people enrolled at CHS who would like more information about the CHS Leo Club can contact Kathy Herrmann or Lion Advisor Wendy Candela at catoctinleoclub@gmail.com.  Visit their website at www.e-leoclubhouse.org/sites/catoctin for more information. Like the Leo Club on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Lions clubs sponsor approximately 5,800 Leo clubs in 140 countries. While helping others in their community, Leos develop leadership skills and experience teamwork in action. For more information about the Leo Club Program, visit the Youth Programs section of the Lions website at www.lionsclubs.org.

 

The Emmitsburg High School Alumni would like to make sure that any class members who did not graduate but would like to come to the banquet are invited. If you know of anyone who attended Emmitsburg School at any time, please send his/her name, graduating class year, and mailing information, to the following address: Emmitsburg High School Alumni Association, c/o Sam Valentine, 11203 Keysville Road, Taneytown, MD 21787-1127 or by Email at csamv46@gmail.com. The next reunion banquet will be held in October 2017.

It is time to recognize the special teacher who has made an impact on your child’s life and on your school community. Do you know a teacher who goes beyond what is expected? You can let this teacher know how important he/she has been to you by nominating him/her for the Thurmont Lions’ Teacher of the Year award. Anyone can nominate a teacher—parents, students, fellow teachers, and administrators.

This award is open to Pre-K through Grade 12, full-time teachers, in the Catoctin feeder school system: Catoctin High School, Thurmont Middle School, Thurmont Primary School, Thurmont Elementary School, Lewistown Elementary School, Emmitsburg Elementary School, Sabillasville Elementary School, and Mother Seton School.

All nominees will be recognized at a reception to be held on May 1, 2017, at the Thurmont Elementary School. The Teacher of the Year will be selected from these finalists by a committee of community leaders and will be announced at the Thurmont Lions’ Education Night on May 10, 2017.

Nomination forms are available at www.thurmontlionsclub.com and at the Thurmont Regional Library. You may also pick up a form at your child’s school. Nomination forms (which include all the information necessary for submitting) are due no later than April 7, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact Lion Joyce Anthony at jananny@comcast.net or 240-288-8748.

March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday, has been designated Read Across America Day to promote childhood literacy. Last year, Mother Seton School held its first Read Across America Day at school with great success, and this year, the tradition continued at Mother Seton School.

Invited guests to this year’s event included Dr. Tim Trainor, president of Mount St. Mary’s University; Carla Brown, executive director of St. Joseph’s Ministries; Ned Remavege, private wealth fund manager and MSS alum; Deb Spalding, publisher of The Catoctin Banner newspaper; Lauren Schwarzmann, MSM Women’s Lacrosse coach; athletes from the Mount; and other area business and parish leaders. Each guest was assigned to a classroom and read a favorite Dr. Seuss book to students.

In addition to reading selected stories, guests answered questions and talked a little with each class. Dr. Trainor, who read Oh! The Places You’ll Go! to the eighth-grade class, spoke about his own diverse background and gave a motivational speech about the future the soon-to-be middle-school graduates had before them.

Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputies Theodore Mostoller and Louis Whitehead answered many excited questions about their jobs. “Not only were the kids great listeners, but they also asked really good questions at the end,” said Deputy Mostoller. Deputy Whitehouse agreed. “I believe the more positive interaction kids can get with the police, the better. For us (the police), specifically, this is a valuable opportunity for the police to build trust and have a fun thirty-minute interaction with a class,” he said. The students felt the same way. Middle School Language Arts teacher Amy Rarrick said her seventh graders loved the event. “They delighted in having a sheriff read to them, and appreciated the time he took to answer their questions about his career, education, and life experiences.”

Lauren Schwarzmann, who read Hunches in Bunches to one of the fourth-grade classes, said participating in the Read Across America event was a rewarding experience. “The opportunity to give back through reading, while empowering the students to dream big and follow their dreams, is something I will cherish,” she said. Tammy Wivell, who read Fox in Socks to her granddaughter’s Kindergarten class, was also grateful for her experience. “I really enjoyed being part of this event. MSS has been a part of my life for the past twenty-five years, and the day was extra special because I was able to share my love of reading with granddaughter, Lexi, and her friends.”

“Our Read Across America event is a wonderful opportunity to bring our students together with community and business leaders to explore careers and goal setting, as well as being enriched and having fun with our favorite childhood books by Dr. Seuss,” said Sister Brenda Monahan, D.C., MSS principal. “It’s important for our school to provide opportunities like this to encourage our students to build a love for reading and to demonstrate that we are all life-long learners, no matter the path we take in life.”

Mother Seton School invited area business and civic leaders to participate in their second annual Read Across America event on March 2, 2017. Pictured from left are: Theodore Mostoller, Frederick County Deputy Sheriff; Louis Whitehead, Frederick County Deputy Sheriff; Sister Brenda Monahan, D.C., MSS Principal; Terri Ziegler, retired MSS Learning Center Director; Katie Davis, PNC Bank; Lauren Schwarzmann, MSM Women’s Lacrosse Coach; Tammy Wivell, MSS grandparent; Sister Joan Corcoran, D.C., MSS Vice Principal; Ned Remavege, MSS ’61 and Private Wealth Fund Manager; (back) Mike Miller, Coordinator, SMAC Youth Group; Carla Brown, Executive Director St. Joseph’s Ministries; George Brenton, Campus Coordinator, Daughters of Charity; Bridget Bassler, Programs Coordinator, Seton Shrine; Dr. Tim Trainor, MSM President; Father Robert Malageski, Pastor, St. Mary’s Fairfield; Chase Boyle, MSM Track and Field Athlete; Kelly Maloney, MSM Lacrosse Athlete; and Deb Spalding, Publisher, The Catoctin Banner.

The Distinguished Graduate Organization of Catoctin High School (CHS) is accepting nominations for the 2017 awards. Community members are invited to nominate their choice of any CHS graduate (any year) who they feel is deserving of recognition in any of the five categories: academics, arts and humanities, athletics, business, and service. The community can also nominate a former CHS staff member (cafeteria worker, custodian, instructional aide, secretary, teacher, or administrator) to be recognized.

Nomination forms can be picked up in the front office of CHS or be downloaded online at http://education.fcps.org/chs and submitted by May 1, 2017. Nominees will then be provided with an application form.

Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2017, and award recipients will be selected and notified by June 15. The 2017 Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. during the school day on November 21, 2017.