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Local Eleven-Year-Old Creates Mission Project to Raise Money for Food Bank

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Eleven-year-old Emily Roberts of Thurmont recently decided to do a mission project at Weller United Methodist Church. 

Emily decided to make beaded bracelets and earrings and sell them to raise funds for the Thurmont Food Bank. She was able to raise $407, which was  phenomenal! Weller United Methodist Church is very proud of Emily for coming up with this concept all on her own!

Pictured are Pastor Sally Joyner-Giffin, Chairman of Thurmont Ministerium/Thurmont Food Bank, Emily Roberts, and Pastor Mark Eyler of Weller UMC.

Budget Public Hearing Slated for December 4

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Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater will hold a public hearing regarding fiscal year 2025 Operating and Capital Budgets and the fiscal year 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 4. The public is invited to offer their suggestions and priorities for the upcoming budget year, which begins July 1, 2024. People can participate in person, by phone, or by submitting comments online.

Attend In Person

Come to Winchester Hall, located at 12 East Church Street in Frederick. Parking is available on the street or in downtown parking decks. Transit’s fare-free buses also stop nearby. The 51 and 61 Connectors serve Market Street and Church Street, less than two blocks from Winchester Hall, and the 40, 50, 60 Connectors and the Brunswick/Jefferson and Emmitsburg/Thurmont Shuttles operate nearby. American Sign Language interpreters will be on hand.

Watch the Live Broadcast

The public hearing will be broadcast live on FCG TV, and can be viewed on the following platforms:

Cable Channels 19 and 1085. Closed captioning is available in English and Spanish.

Web-streamed from FrederickCountyMD.gov/FCGTV. Closed captioning is available in English.

Web-streamed from FrederickCountyMD.gov/BudgetPublicHearing. Live translations in multiple languages are available from this broadcast, using the “translate” button on that web page.

Listen and Comment Via Phone

To join the meeting by phone, call toll-free 855-925-2801 and enter meeting code 10042. Press *1 to listen to the meeting, press *2 to record a comment for playback during the public hearing, and press *3 to be placed in a queue to speak. You will continue to hear the meeting while you wait for your turn to speak. Comments also may be submitted online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/BudgetPublicHearing.

Additional budget listening sessions will be held in each of the county’s five council districts, beginning in January. Dates, times, and locations will be announced in December.

All meetings are open to the public. If anyone needs auxiliary aids or services for effective communication, please contact the ADA Coordinator at ADA@FrederickCountyMD.gov or by calling 301-600-1063, preferably at least three days before the meeting. To request an interpreter, please call 301-600-1208.

Catoctin FFA “Evolve” at the 96th National FFA Convention

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The National FFA convention is held every year and attracts FFA members from every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. The 96th National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from November 1-4, 2023. The convention theme was “Evolve.” 

While at the convention, 16 Catoctin FFA members joined over 72,900 other FFA members, advisors, and guests from across our nation. The National FFA Convention and Expo is one of the largest student conventions in the world, with a mission to develop, educate, and inspire. Throughout the week, members were able to participate in sessions, contests, workshops, and a career expo.

The chapter made several industry stops on the way to Indianapolis. They visited the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis Missouri. They were able to move through the self-pace museum to learn about how the arch was built and why it was built. Students were able to ride the tram 630 feet to the top (the tallest monument in the United States) to see the stunning views, stretching up to 30 miles to the east and west. Students were also able to see the Mississippi River.

They also visited Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois. The museum tour started with a short video in the bed of a massive two-and-half story Cat 797F Mining Truck.  They learned how Caterpillar is built on the foundation of innovation and customer focus. FFA members were able to test their skills on simulators to see firsthand what it is like to operate equipment the way operators do. 

At Building SS, they were able to visit the factory floor and watch Cat employees assemble, test, and paint Caterpillar’s medium and large track-type tractors, including the D7E electric-drive tractor and pipelayers. 

At the National Convention, some FFA members competed in Career Development Events/Leadership Development Events, more often referred to as CDEs and LDEs. To complete a CDE/LDE, each team or individual contestant extensively learned their subject and rehearsed their task in preparation for state convention. Every state gets to send one winning team per CDE/LDE to advance to nationals. This year, Catoctin FFA’s Agricultural Issues was eligible to compete at the National Convention. 

Agriculture Issues: The Agriculture Issues team presented a 15-minute skit.  The question they presented was: Should Agriculture Education be a Graduation Requirement in the State of Maryland? Each member of the team played a part of the skit. The team had to present the facts in an unbiased and creative way. The team had to present the skit a minimum of five times before the MD state convention. The team earned a bronze placing. Members include: Annalise Abruzzese, Kaitlynn Bentz, Alyssa Costa, Drew Potter, Carly Ridenour, and Savannah Ridenour.

American FFA Degree recipients: Less than 1 percent of FFA members receive this prestigious degree. To be eligible to receive the American FFA Degree, members must meet qualifications such as receiving a State FFA Degree, holding active membership for the past three years, completing secondary instruction in an agricultural education program, and operating an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program. This year, Catoctin FFA had one member earn and receive this highest honor: Cadin Valentine. Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone for all of the support in helping Catoctin FFA to participate in the 96th National FFA Convention. These students have gained skills and memories that will last a lifetime.

Local Woman Receives County and State Awards For Volunteerism

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Nancy L. Rice of Thurmont was one of 23 honorees inducted into The Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (MSCHF) for the year 2023.

The induction ceremony and luncheon were held on October 19, at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, Maryland. Each inductee received a membership certificate, an MSHF lapel pin, and a copy of the “Blue Book” that includes the name, picture, and a brief summary of volunteer service for each of the honorees. A copy of the book is kept in the archives at the Langsdale Library, University of Baltimore.

The Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, Inc. is a private, all-volunteer organization that has been functioning since 1987. Their sole purpose is to publicly recognize and honor, each year, individual senior citizens aged 65 and over. Nominees must live in Maryland and have performed outstanding service in their communities.

Rice was the only recipient of the award for Frederick County. She also received one of only three GERI awards for outstanding volunteer work in the State of Maryland. “My heart is filled with gratitude,” expressed Rice.

It was stated that Rice is a hardworking, devoted, caring, and compassionate volunteer. For the past five years, she has filled nearly every hour of each day doing volunteer work, with the desire to make the world a better place.

Her church pastor describes her as a pillar of the Weller United Methodist Church. He noted that, in her desire for the church to flourish, Rice serves as head of the Altar Guild and works to bring beauty to the sanctuary. She is also a gifted singer who participates regularly in a music team. Rice keeps busy serving as secretary to the Board of Trustees, co-chairperson of the History Committee, treasurer of Weller Cemetery, and co-chairperson of the Weller Care Team. Rice stated that her heart and soul are with the Care Team. She prepares and delivers hot meals with dessert, each week, to shut-ins who no longer cook. She also sees to other needs someone may have. For instance, she handmade a footstool (in her late husband’s workshop) for a lady to help elevate her legs. Rice also regularly visits church members in their homes or nursing facilities. She is described as a go-getter and serves wherever she is needed.

The Thurmont Senior Center reports that their center has benefited from Rice’s inspiration for many years. She serves on the board of directors. In addition, she spends countless hours raising funds for the center. She wore out her new electric stove after five years from all the desserts she bakes each month for the center’s benefit. She bakes approximately 500 apple dumplings a year, which are sold at their monthly bake sale. In addition, her peach dumplings, whoopie pies, chocolate bark candy, caramel popcorn, and various kinds of cookies are very popular and can be found at the bake sale as well.

Nancy Rice is further described as a strong woman of faith, filled with love for others. Mentioning her name during conversations with others is said to put a smile on their faces as they think about the wonderful things she has done for them and others. Congratulations, Nancy Rice!

Nancy is pictured after accepting the GERI Award Plaque for outstanding volunteer work in Maryland. Only three inductees received this honor.

Nancy Rice accepts the Frederick County Award of Distinction from the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (MSCHF): (from left) Parker Koons, President MSCHF; Carmel Rogues, Secretary of Aging, Maryland Department of Aging; Todd Sullivan, Associate Executive Director of Oakcrest Senior Living.

Courtesy Photos

Frederick County Announces Date & Tips for Its Fall Household Hazardous Waste Event

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Saturday, November 4, has been announced by the Frederick County Division of Solid Waste as its next Residential Household Hazardous Waste event. This bi-annual event is the preferred disposal method of household hazardous wastes generated from Frederick County’s residences. Residents can drop off, at no cost, items like fluorescent bulbs (compact and tube), old gasoline, mixed oil/gasoline, brake fluid, thermometers, lithium-ion batteries, button batteries, solvents, pool chemicals, photo chemicals, and road flares, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., at 21 Stadium Drive, also known as the upper parking lot of Harry Grove Stadium.

To prepare for this event, organizers encourage residents to plan by anticipating some time to wait in line, having items organized, separated by type, accessible inside their vehicle, and following all signs and directions. As a courtesy to other residents, residents must access this event via a right turn only; please enter the stadium parking lot via New Design Road, not Market Street.  Further, for safety purposes, walk-ups to this event will be prohibited, and items will not be accepted from cars parked along Stadium Drive. This event is not open to commercial entities. Commercial entities needing advice for disposing of their hazardous waste should call 301-600-2960.

For a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items, please visit www.frederickcountymd.gov/3958/Household-Hazardous-Wastes. There, you can also sign up for other resources, announcements, and reminders via the Recycle Coach app or sign up for reminders via text message.

The Frederick County Division of Solid Waste and Recycling provides integrated waste management for the County and its residents with waste reduction, recycling, and disposal programs. More information on these and associated events can be found by calling 301-600-2960 and online at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov under “Departments.”

Work on North Church Street in Thurmont Begins

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The Town of Thurmont will be replacing the water and sewer mains along North Church Street in Thurmont, from Boundary Avenue to Catoctin High School. 

The project will began on October 18, and is expected to take six to nine months to complete. Contractors will be working Monday through Thursday each week, from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If the project requires any work outside of these weekdays, notifications will be posted on the town’s Facebook page, website (www.Thurmont.com), and local Comcast cable channel 99.   

Single lane closures and flagging operations will be in place, and drivers should expect delays or consider alternative routes. The town will continue to work with the contractor to reduce impacts as much as possible, while still maintaining the construction schedule. Drivers are asked to use caution in the construction zone and pay close attention to flaggers and workers.

Help Shape the Future of Emmitsburg

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Be a part of Emmitsburg’s public visioning workshop for the town’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan by attending a workshop and sharing your unique perspective. Planning session 1A was held October 30. Planning session 1B will be held November 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Emmitsburg Town Office, located at 300 South Seton Avenue. To participate, email nahsan@emmitsburgmd.gov. Include your name, your organization (if applicable), the number of years you’ve called Emmitsburg home, and any other information you would like to share. There is also a survey available at https://forms.office.com/r/jvWeK2PWUW where you can submit your information and vision.

Don’t miss your chance to make a difference and create a brighter future for Emmitsburg!

Annual Scouting for Food

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Scouts in Thurmont placed sticky notes on the doors of houses on October 28 for the annual Scouting for Food Drive. The Scouts will return on November 4 to pick up your donations for the local food bank.

Please leave your donations in bags on your front porch, and the Scouts will come by and pick them up. All donations will be brought to the Thurmont Food Bank.

Canned and non-perishable goods are needed. Also needed are hygiene products, including baby items and pet food items.

Toys for Tots

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The annual Toys for Tots drive, hosted by Cub Scout Pack 270 and Venturing Crew 270, is getting underway. 

Donation boxes can be found at Mountain Gate Restaurant, ACE Hardware, the American Legion Post 168, and Thurmont Conservation and Sportsman’s Club (other locations will be added). 

The Drive will end on December 3, and the USMC will attend the Cub Scout Pack 270 pack meeting on December 4 to pick up the donations. 

Please consider helping the children in Frederick County by donating a new, unwrapped toy to make their Christmas special.

Deadwood 1846

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BSA Troops 270B and 270G, along with Webelos and AOL’s from Cub Scout Pack 270, recently attended a Wizard Safari in York, Pennsylvania, on September 29 through October 1.

The camporee is held once every four years and is based on Deadwood, South Dakota, 1846. Old-time games, costumes, falconry, black smithing, bee keeping, trains, branding, trapping, archery, shooting sports, horses, Leave No Trace, the Tenderfoot Saloon, the mercantile, spar pole climbing, and more had the Scouts busy and having fun while learning history.

Brayden, Mason, Jonathan, and Griffin learn how to make a triangle dinner bell with the blacksmith.

Courtesy Photo

FCSO Welcomes Three Newly Trained K-9s to the Agency

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Fully Skilled in Narcotics Detection, Apprehension, Search, and Tracking

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) recently invested in three new dogs, specifically trained for law enforcement work, that have hit the streets with their handlers as highly trained and effective teams to serve the county.

The new K-9’s and their deputy handlers are: Deputy 1st Class (DFC) Jeremy Slodki and his partner K-9 Fetty, a 1.5-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd cross; DFC Douglas Story and his partner K-9 Jax, a 1.5-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd cross; and DFC Miller Yackovich and his partner K-9 Triglav, a 1.5-year-old Belgian Malinois.

K-9’s Triglav and Jax recently completed a 16-week patrol school in Montgomery County, where the dogs received training in obedience, article searches, tracking, agility, and apprehension work. Upon completion of the school, the K-9’s received certifications in all aspects of their training.

K-9’s Triglav, Jax, and Fetty then completed an 8-week narcotics detection school that the agency hosted. The dogs received training and certifications to detect cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines.

K-9 Edy, with Corporal Steve Kocevar as his handler, already assigned to the agency as a narcotics detection dog, also completed training at the patrol school in Montgomery County, with certification in article search, tracking, and apprehension.

“Edy, Jax, and Triglav are dual-purpose K-9’s assigned to the agency, and Fetty is a single-purpose K-9 certified in narcotics detection,” said Kocevar. “Along with K-9 Odin, assigned to DFC Tara Shriver, all five K-9’s are vital assets to the agency.”

The K-9’s do not have specific patrol team assignments, instead the dogs have assignments to each rotation and have developed a schedule that makes them available during the times of highest K-9 call volumes.

Along with the FCSO calls for service, and since the beginning of 2022, FCSO K-9’s assisted on 208 calls for service for other police agencies, and so far in 2023, assisted on 72 calls for service for other agencies.

“History demonstrates that K-9’s are very effective in drug scans on traffic stops, allowing deputies to locate and seize illegal drugs from vehicles, which on many occasions has also led to the location and seizure of illegally possessed firearms. Our five K-9 teams are an important tool in combating the trafficking of illegal narcotics in and through Frederick County,” said FCSO Sheriff Chuck Jenkins. “The police K-9 has attributes in searching for items and/or persons that can quickly facilitate their location. Thus, we can better manage resources in a more efficient and effective manner. They, along with their trained handlers, help keep the more than 280,000 citizens of Frederick County safe.”

The three new K-9’s replaced DFC Yackovich’s last partner, Eikel, DFC Story’s last partner, Azor, and DFC Phelps’ partner, Taz. Those three dogs are now retired and live at home with their handlers as household members.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is a full-service law enforcement agency, an arm of the court, and a keeper of offenders. In this regard, it exists to serve the more than 280,000 citizens of Frederick County with respect, fairness, and compassion. FCSO is committed to the prevention of crime; the protection of life and property; the preservation of peace and order; the enforcement of laws and ordinances; the safeguarding of constitutional guarantees; and the safekeeping of prisoners. The men, women, and officers of this office nurture public trust by holding themselves to the highest standards of performance and ethics.

The FCSO is located at 110 Airport Drive East in Frederick. Visit www.frederickcosheriff.com for more information.  

Mount St. Mary’s University #1 in State Economic Diversity

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Richard D. L. Fulton

Photo Courtesy of MSMU

Mount St. Mary’s University was recently cited as one of the most beautiful campuses.

Mount St. Mary’s University (MSMU) was ranked as No. 1 among Maryland colleges and universities based on the percentage of full-time freshmen receiving Pell Grants.

Pell Grants are federal grants awarded to students from low and/or moderate-income families.

Additionally, MSMU was ranked as No. 28 in the top 10 percent of the 286 private and public colleges and universities accessed nationwide in the New York Times College-Access Index, according to Donna Klinger, executive director of Communications, Office of University Marketing & Communications.

The New York Times Magazine noted in their September 7 issue that the New York Times College-Access Index had ranked 286 “selective” colleges and universities in producing the scoring system, which included both private and public institutions. Those selected to be ranked collectively educate about 2.7 million undergraduates, according to the magazine.

Klinger stated that the index revealed that MSMU had enrolled 34 percent of first-year Pell Grant students in 2020-21, compared to the national average of 21 percent. Between 2011 and 2021, the Mount’s share of Pell students had increased by 6 percentage points, while the overall average decreased by 2 percentage points.

The increase resulted in the Mount ranking 23rd in the country for having the largest increase in Pell students.

MSMU President Timothy Trainor stated, “The New York Times study shows the economic diversity of the Mount student body among an elite group of colleges and universities. Our doors are open to students of all backgrounds, and our diversity is a valued part of the Mount experience,” adding, “The Mount has a long history of graduating ethical leaders who roll up their sleeves and excel academically before ultimately leading lives of significance in service to God and others.”

The College-Access Index measured economic diversity by analyzing the share of students receiving Pell Grants, using data reported by universities to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. The list compared 286 of the most selective colleges in the country, defined by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges and other metrics.

The New York Times Magazine stated, “Studying these numbers is particularly important in the wake of two important developments this year in higher education: the Supreme Court’s decision to do away with race-based affirmative action, and the decision by some schools to abandon or reduce legacy admissions.”

Klinger said that the College-Access Index “is one of several recent rankings received by Mount St. Mary’s, including several that measure value and social mobility, further noting that the university placed in the U.S. News & World Report rankings “as among the top regional universities in the North, as well as a best value school, a top performer on social mobility, and a best college for Veterans.”

Additionally, MSMU has been recognized as the sixth most beautiful college campus in the United States by College RoverTM, an online college information guide. The study looked at Yelp and TripAdvisor pages for the top ten colleges in each state, and then analyzed the number of reviews using the word “beautiful” and compared it to the total number of campus reviews. Sixty-six percent of the Mount’s reviewers mentioned the university’s “beauty,” according to Klinger.

In other MSMU news, the Mount executive director of Communications reported that Caroline Purcell has returned as Mount Saint Mary’s University Seminary’s ES coordinator from a year-long English Language Fellowship. Purcell spent her year-long U.S. Department of State fellowship “teaching undergraduate students and designing and selecting curricula and materials in the English department at An-Najah National University (ANNU) in Nablus, Palestinian Territories,” Klinger stated

Klinger said, “Connecting with, and actively listening to, her students and colleagues allowed English Language Fellow Purcell to explore new teaching and professional development opportunities.”

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Second Annual Thurmont Great Pumpkin Pick Up

The Thurmont Green Team will be sponsoring the Second Annual Great Pumpkin Pick Up for the residents of Thurmont on Saturday, November 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Residents should place their Halloween and Thanksgiving pumpkins on the curb by 8:30 a.m. that morning for pick up by volunteers. Please, no rotten pumpkins.

Last year, volunteers from the Green Team and community organizations and businesses traveled the streets of Thurmont, collecting between 600-700 pumpkins, saving them from the landfill and providing food and fun for the animals at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and area farms.

Households are no longer displaying just one or two pumpkins on their porch—many now decorate with up to 10 pumpkins of varying colors and sizes. Each year, more than one billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away in the United States, making their way to landfills, where they take a long time to decompose, emitting methane which is 80 percent more potent or powerful than carbon dioxide and is ultimately linked to climate change. The EPA reports that food waste contributes to 22 percent of landfill waste. Organic waste, including pumpkins, which are 90 percent water, does not properly break down in oxygen-deprived landfills. Pumpkin waste is great for our soil, but not for our landfills.

If you do not live within the Thurmont town limits, please think about starting a pumpkin pick up for your town or at the very least find a way to compost your pumpkin and other food waste or drop your pumpkin off at the bin in front of the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve. The animals and the earth will thank you.

This year’s event hopes to top 1,000 pumpkins, so make sure to save your pumpkins from the trash and place them on the curb on November 25. Remember, No Pumpkin Left Behind! We’ll publish the results of this year’s pick up in the December issue.

If you would like to volunteer or receive more information about organizing a Pumpkin Pick Up for your town, please contact the Town of Thurmont at 301-271-7313.

Pick-up truck load of pumpkins from 2022.

Annual Alice Rush McKeon Fund Tree Planting Event Held

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The Federated Garden Club of Maryland (FGCMD) hosted the annual Alice Rush McKeon Fund Tree Planting event on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Gilmore C. Trout Memorial Park in Walkersville. This year, in her memory, District V of FGCMD was awarded funds to plant trees and chose several sites in Frederick County. Gilmore C. Trout Memorial Park in Walkersville, FCPS Earth Space and Science Lab Arboretum in downtown Frederick, and a park in Thurmont were the chosen locations.

Following a demonstration of the correct way to plant a tree, 24 fifteen-gallon bucket trees were planted by garden club members, Boy Scout Troop 1011, and Walkersville and Frederick County community volunteers. Also participating were representatives from Frederick County Forest Conservancy Board and the Maryland Forestry Service.

The Maryland Forestry Service included this project as part of their Five Million Tree Initiative to plant 5 million trees in Maryland by 2031. To celebrate the morning’s accomplishment, a reception was held at nearby Heritage Farm Park in Walkersville.

Alice Rush McKeon was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who died in February 1979, at the age of 95. McKeon had led a remarkable life. She served twice as president of the Federated Garden Club of Maryland (FGCMD). She was a pioneer in the conservation and environment movement. She instrumented several programs that generated national attention. McKeon published The Litterbug Family in 1931, containing poems and illustrations about the problem of roadside litter. She is credited with coining the term “litterbug.”

On WBAL during WWII, McKeon started a radio program, “Garden Clubs of the Air,” with the idea of growing a Victory Garden in your backyard. In 1935, she wrote poetry titled “Sonnets for the Scenic Ease.” From the proceeds of her poetry, her son established the Alice Rush McKeon Tree Planting Fund. The FGCMD manages these funds to plant trees throughout Maryland. This is an event that passes sequentially to each of the five districts of FGCMD. Mason Carter, Frederick County Council; Diana Bonner, Past FGCMD President; Patty Kettlestrings, District V Civic Improvement Chair; Anna O’Kelly, Past FGCMD President; Susie Middleton, FGCMD President; Shelley Johnson, Director District V FGCMD, Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis, Walkersville Commissioner, Chad Weddle, Walkersville Burgess; Mary Ann Simmons, Taskers Chance Garden Club; Sonia Demiray, Chair, Frederick County Forestry Conservancy Board; and Anna Twigg, Tree Planting Specialist, MD Forest Service, MD Department of Natural Resources

Frederick County Launches Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring Network

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The Frederick County Division of Energy & Environment (DEE) has introduced a network of air quality monitors to be stationed around the County. The new system will provide real-time assessments of fine particulate matter concentrations in our air; for example, microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are small enough to be inhaled and go deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious health problems. The DEE has initiated this project to track local air pollution, especially in high-risk regions and where people may not be able to respond to air quality problems.

Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain and her staff recently visited one of Frederick County’s new air quality monitoring sites. “It was great to host Secretary McIlwain and highlight how Frederick County is working to tackle environmental justice issues. I am proud of the work the DEE is doing to collect and share data to address health and environmental disparities in our community,” said County Executive Jessica Fitzwater.

Air quality concerns can vary significantly within a region. To protect those most exposed to poor air quality, the county intends to place at least five of the twelve new air monitors in areas with low-income or disadvantaged populations. These residents are more likely to be affected by air quality issues and may have fewer resources to address them.

According to Frederick County Sustainability Program Administrator Tiara Lester, “Last summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed our region and briefly drew many people’s attention to the issue of air quality. But many people experience similar air quality issues most or all the time.” Neighborhoods bordering industrial operations can be continually exposed to particulates in the air. And those who live or work near busy roads may breathe in many different pollutants regularly.

A key goal of this project is to better understand the air quality of specific areas in Frederick County and make that information accessible to the public. The manufacturer of the air sensors provides an interactive online map that allows the public to easily access air quality data, allowing users to zoom out and view the big picture of air quality in our region or zoom in for readings from a single air quality monitor.

Two monitoring stations have been installed in Frederick County, one at the County Division of Housing’s facility on Sagner Avenue and one at the City of Brunswick’s Milton E. Frech, Jr. Operations Center.

“We are honored to lead the way in Frederick County by being the first municipality to join the air quality monitoring network,” said Brunswick Assistant City Administrator Jeremy Mose. “This program will help us track and reduce the sources of air pollution that threaten our health and environment.”

The project provides the opportunity for collaboration among Frederick County government agencies and external community-based organizations. Project partners include the City of Brunswick, the City of Frederick, the Frederick County Sustainability Commission, Mobilize Frederick, the Frederick County Health Department, and the Frederick County Family Services Division. The Frederick County Division of Energy and Environment is committed to creating a healthier, sustainable, and more equitable community for all. For more information on their other projects and programs, please visit their website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/DEE or follow @SustainableFCMD on Facebook and Instagram

Frederick County Public Schools Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants Over Youth Mental Health Concerns

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Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) filed a lawsuit in October against Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap Inc. FCPS is joining forces with other school districts across the nation and in Maryland, such as Anne Arundel County, Harford County, and Howard County, in contending that excessive social media usage and addiction are exacerbating the mental health struggles of students. Students have faced a myriad of challenges, including heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, and body image issues, among others.

As a result of this ongoing addiction crisis, FCPS is facing the challenge of providing adequate mental health resources and proactive social media education for their students. Through this lawsuit, FCPS aims to curtail the exploitation of young social media users and secure funds from those responsible to address the crisis.

“Students in our district and throughout the nation are grappling with a mounting mental health crisis,” said FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson. “Our primary objective with this lawsuit is to safeguard the well-being of our students and provide them with the best learning environment possible.”

Frederick County Public Schools has retained legal representation from the firms Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico of Maryland and Delaware, as well as Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, Co-Lead Counsel in the nationwide Multi-District Litigation against these companies. These firms are working on a contingency basis, ensuring there will be no financial burden on taxpayers.

For questions or to receive a copy of the complaint, please reach out to Matthew Legg at mlegg@bmbfclaw.com.

Diabetes Awareness Walk Big Success

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Forty-five Lions from 7 Lions Clubs and 17 Leos from Century High School participated in the Diabetes Awareness Walk on Sunday, October 22, at Krimgold Park in Woodbine.

The event raised $1,850 for the American Diabetes Association. November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent health problems associated with diabetes. Because diabetes can cause vision loss and blindness, the Lions of the world have adopted diabetes as a global cause.

Pictured are Lions from the South Carroll, Taylorsville-Winfield, Freedom District, Libertytown-Unionville, Roaring Run, Terra Rubra, Westminster, and Emmitsburg Lions Clubs, and Leos from the Century High School Leo Club. Among the Lions present were Lion Tom Harney and Lion Diane Walbrecker, Diabetes Awareness and Action Co-Chairs for District 22W (the five most-western counties of Maryland).

Courtesy Photo

Kenneth D. Fraley Completes 49 Years of Dedicated Service to the Catoctin Medical Center

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Submitted by the Catoctin Medical Center Board of Directors

The Catoctin Medical Center Board of Directors wishes to recognize Ken Fraley’s many years of dedicated service to our organization. As a direct result of Ken’s participation and leadership during the past 49 years, our non-profit organization has been able to construct and maintain a local medical facility for the citizens of our Catoctin Community so that they have access to a variety of healthcare professionals.

In 1975, after several years of effort, a founding committee of local citizens was able to attract two young doctors (Steven Pickert, M.D. and William Harper, M.D.) to establish their practice in Thurmont. At that time, Ken was an elected commissioner (elected in November of 1974) on the Thurmont Board of Commissioners and served as the town’s liaison in assisting the founding committee’s efforts to locate medical support and raise funds to build a permanent medical facility.

On May 23, 1975, the State of Maryland approved the Catoctin Medical Center’s Articles of Incorporation. Ken was listed as one of the three “subscribers” in the Articles who applied for the creation of the organization. Following on June 17, 1975, the Catoctin Medical Center’s Board of Directors held its first meeting, and Ken was one of the five original members. To this day, the board of directors consists of local citizens who volunteer their services without pay to ensure that the Catoctin Medical Center continues to be a vital resource in supporting the medical needs of our local citizens.

In June 1975, the board of directors authorized the purchase of a modular home to serve as a temporary medical facility for our community. A groundbreaking ceremony was held along the Town of Thurmont’s parking lot on South Center Street, with Ken participating in the event. On July 21, 1975, Drs. Pickert and Harper opened their family medicine practice in this temporary facility.

After a few years of fundraising, donations from local citizens and organizations made it possible to begin construction of the Catoctin Medical Center at 100 South Center Street in Thurmont. Ken served as a co-chair for the public fundraising committee.   A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 31, 1977, with Ken participating in the event. Incredibly, construction of the permanent medical facility was completed in 1978.  Through Ken’s participation and leadership since 1978, available leased space in the facility for healthcare providers has never been vacant.

Under the stewardship of the board of directors, the Catoctin Medical Center facility continues to be maintained and improved. Since 2003, until stepping down in June of this year, Ken served as the president of the board of directors.

Under Ken’s leadership, significant upgrades were made to the facility.  With funding assistance from the Town of Thurmont and the State of Maryland, Ken oversaw the replacement of all the facility’s exterior doors used by patients and visitors with automatic doors that are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. As a final project under Ken’s leadership, plans are underway with funding assistance from the Town of Thurmont and the Ausherman Family Foundation to construct a handicapped-accessible ramp at the front entrance of the facility.    

Next time you see Ken, be sure to thank him for the immeasurable contributions he has made to the Catoctin Medical Center over the years to ensure that the citizens of our Catoctin Community have access to local medical care.

June 1975: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the temporary medical facility. Pictured from left: Raymond Creager, Kenneth Fraley, Lloyd Hoke, Calvin Sayler, Mayor James Black, and Ralph Stottlemyer.

(right) 1975: Catoctin Medical Center (temporary facility), 101 South Center Street, Thurmont. This modular home served as the temporary medical facility from 1975-1978. It was located on the upper (north) side of the Town of Thurmont’s parking lot, along South Center Street, behind the present-day location of the PNC Bank. Donald and Freda Lewis subsequently purchased and relocated the building to use as their retirement home. The building still stands in its relocated place across from the southbound U.S. 15 ramp on West Main Street. It is currently owned by the National Park Service.

Rother House Blessed Opens

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First Seminarians Arrive

Richard D. L. Fulton

The Rother House, located within the Saint Joseph House on the Emmitsburg campus of the Daughters of Charity, was officially opened in late-August as an extension of Mount Saint Mary’s seminary.

The Rother House is located in the C-wing of the Saint Joseph House. The Saint Joseph House was originally built in 1964 to serve as the home to hundreds of Daughters of Charity. 

The Daughters generously leased this space to the seminary. Many of the Daughters received their initial phase in their religious life in the C-wing.

The new facility will be employed in housing seminarians who will be serving their initial year of their induction into the priesthood, also known as the “propaedeutic stage.”

According to the Reverend Daniel Hanely, coordinator of the seminary’s Propaedeutic Stage Program, “The propaedeutic stage is an initial year that all U.S. seminarians will complete, one focused less on academics, more on growing in community and service, and cultivating virtue and a deep prayer life.”

Hanely further noted that the propaedeutic stage “lays a strong foundation for the more intense academics and formation in seminary.”

Regarding the Daughters of Charity’s offer to permit the Seminary to establish the Rother House in the Saint Joseph House, Monsignor Andrew Baker stated, “We continue the legacy of the Daughters of Charity, their love for formation and education, and look into the future of the Church as we prepare these seminarians for further priestly formation. We could not have established Rother House without the support of the Daughters of Charity, to whom we are deeply indebted.”

Donna Klinger, Mount Saint Mary’s University’s (MSMU) executive director of communications, reported that the seminary held a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on August 22, in which Archbishop of Baltimore William E. Lori blessed every room in the building with Holy Water. The event, appropriately held on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, included Mass in the Rother House’s Mary, Mother of the Fairest Love Chapel.

Archbishop Lori, who served as celebrant for the Mass and is chair of the Seminary Board, stated that a (propaedeutic stage) program being inaugurated on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, named for Blessed Stanley Rother and located at the former home of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, is certain to succeed.”  Other concelebrants included Bishop of Richmond Barry C. Knestout, Monsignor Baker, Father Daniel Hanley, and Monsignor Charles Mangan, Rother House confessor. 

Klinger stated that 29 men who have been called to seminary have moved into the Blessed Stanley Rother House of Formation, also known as the Rother House, for the new propaedeutic stage of priestly formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.

“We’re just so grateful for the immense support Monsignor Andrew Baker, the Mount community, and the Daughters of Charity have shown,” exclaimed Hanley, adding, “We’re thrilled to welcome young men to Rother House.”

Klinger noted that Hanley is “particularly qualified to oversee the creation of Rother House. Before joining Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in January, he worked for the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), helping put together the latest edition of the ‘Program for Priestly Formation.’ As coordinator, he is in charge of mapping out the course of the propaedeutic stage for Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.”

A typical day starts early with quiet meditation, morning prayer, Mass, and breakfast. Midmorning, a few simple classes are held, mostly focused on spirituality, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and scripture. Lunch and dinner are eaten together, with afternoons spent in service to the wider community.

“We’ll have partnerships with a few local places, such as the National Shrine Grotto and a farm, and the seminarians in Rother House will do their own cleaning. Adoration will come before dinner, and then recreation until night prayer,” Hanley noted. The farmwork will be done at Good Soil Farm, owned by Stephen and Casey-Mae McGinley, both graduates of the Mount. Stephen McGinley is also a lecturer of philosophy.

Seminarians in Rother House are expected to mostly forego the use of phones, televisions, and computers, and spend their days getting to know each other, themselves, and God better, getting the chance to further discern their calling before the later rigors of seminary.

Clerical attendees at Rother House ribbon-cutting.

A Catholic High School Returns to Emmitsburg

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James Rada, Jr.

For 55 years, Emmitsburg has not had a high school for its children. That has changed this year with the opening of the Chesterston Academy of the Annunciation.

The school had a soft launch this year at St. Anthony’s Parish, with just a handful of students in the 9th and 10th grades. It is a time to work out the bugs and get the word out about the new Catholic high school. Next year will see the school have its hard launch, offering all high school grades.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the school, from Gettysburg to Gaithersburg,” said Kristin Crook, vice president of the school’s board of directors.

This new Catholic high school follows the classical high school model. It is approved as a Maryland non-public school. It is also part of a network of dozens of Chesterton Schools throughout the country. The nearest school in the network is the Chesterton Academy of Annapolis.

Crook said a lot of parents are interested in the classical education model because it teaches students critical thinking and the Socratic Method. The school also helps teach students how to choose to be joyful in adversity.

Importantly, the school is teaching students the value of face-to-face communication and of being able to express their thoughts, even if they are in disagreement with someone else.

“We want to teach them the crucial skill of communication and to feel comfortable disagreeing if they have a different opinion,” Crook said.

As part of a way to facilitate this, students are not allowed to use cell phones in the school. Because they can’t text their friends, they have to learn to express their thoughts verbally.

While the Chesterton Academy is small now, it has the potential for growth, and as it grows, it can tap into the experience of larger Chesterston Schools for how to add classes, programs, and sports. It is also connecting with Mother Seton School in order to offer students both a primary and secondary education.

Emmitsburg High School graduated its last class in June 1968. In the middle of the following school year, it was merged with Thurmont High School to become Catoctin High School. Since then, local students have only been able to get an elementary education at Emmitsburg Elementary or Mother Seton School and a middle school education at Mother Seton School.

“We chose Emmitsburg after a lot of prayer, and the Lord apparently wanted Catholic secondary education back in Emmitsburg,” Crook said.

With the opening of the Chesterton Academy, students can now receive a Catholic education from elementary school through college, all in Emmitsburg.

Crook added that the location is within a half-hour drive or so from many parishes in the area, which makes it relatively convenient for parents who will need to get their children to the school. The school also needed to be close to a church in order to have daily Mass.

The academy plans to move into a site in Emmitsburg next year. The board of directors has a location in mind, but they are still working to finalize the plan.

For more information about the school, you can visit the school’s website, which is under development, at www.chestertonannunciation.org. 

Dr. Raymond Ediger Talks About His New Book at Lewistown Ruritan Club

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Dr. Raymond Ediger, local veterinarian and Lewistown Ruritan Club member, was the guest speaker at the September Ruritan meeting. He talked about the stories in his new book entitled, Living, Loving and Laughing with Animals. It has been known for quite a while that Ray is an excellent storyteller. In fact, his daughter, Lynnelle, who has always enjoyed his stories, hoped that one day he would write a book about his many stories. According to Ray, storytelling is an art form. He started telling these “life-learning” stories many years ago, and the Lewistown Ruritan Club members were very entertained with these interesting events in his life. His book is now available for sale.

Pictured from left are Harold Staley, Program Committee; Loberta Staley, Program Committee; Ray Ediger, guest speaker; and Frank Warner, Lewistown Ruritan President.

Vigilant Hose Company’s Six of Hearts Finally Has a Lucky Winner

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The Vigilant Hose Company’s Six of Hearts finally had a JACKPOT winner! After 268 days of the Six of Hearts board being up, the winning number was finally picked on Monday, September 25. Craig Mayne had his very lucky ticket pulled, revealing number 52 and the Six of Hearts, winning the company’s biggest Six of Hearts jackpot ever at $1.46 million! 

A brand new board is now up for the next drawing on Monday, October 2. The jackpot will start at $6,000. Tickets are still available daily, from 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., for only $5.00 each. There are no online sales.

Lewistown Ruritan Hands Out Miniature U.S. Flags in Remembrance of 9/11

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In remembrance of 9/11, the Lewistown Ruritan presented miniature U.S. flags to customers purchasing BBQ chicken at the September 10th BBQ.  Many customers expressed appreciation for the recognition by the Ruritan members for this tragic day when over 3,000 innocent people lost their lives.

 The Lewistown Ruritan members start early in the morning on BBQ days to have the chicken ready to sell to the community by 10:00 a.m. This is quite a team effort that helps to provide funds from the BBQs for community projects.

Ruritan members listed in no particular order: Sam Roop, Ron Gartrell, Jeff Barber, Dick Baseley, Ben Tilley, Norm Lambert, Doug Baseley, Patricia Goff, Steve Moser, Loberta Staley, Harold Staley, Chuck Jenkins, Rich Rippeon, Ron Demory, Jim Brown, and Frank Warner.

County Awarded Two Grants to Combat the Opioid Epidemic

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Frederick County has been awarded two grants, totaling almost $2 million, to help Frederick County combat the opioid epidemic.

A 2023 First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) Grant comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $1.8 million over the next four years.

The second grant awarded was from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), worth $150,000 to be utilized over the next two years.

These grants will expand the Division of Fire and Rescue Service’s (DFRS) partnership with the Frederick County Health Department, as they continue to operate the Community Outreach And Support Team (COAST). “We are very proud of our partnership with DFRS that has created a program with effective interventions and positive outcomes,” said Andrea Walker, director, Behavioral Health Services Division and Local Behavioral Health Authority.

COAST is a collaborative initiative that launched in 2021 to provide enhanced access to substance use treatment and recovery resources through the on-scene response of both a Community Paramedic and a Peer Recovery Specialist.

The SAMHSA grant funds will allow the COAST initiative to increase the hours they are available per week, as well as increase the scope of care that can be provided by their team. Both grants support educating first responders and community partners, working directly with those in need, on opioid emergency identification and response, reducing overdose fatalities. In addition, the grants allow the county to continue strengthening a regional network of care for those with behavioral and drug-related conditions and increase access to critically needed treatment and recovery services.

“These grant funds will provide meaningful, effective, and purpose-driven support towards the opioid epidemic that we continue to battle,” said Fire Chief Tom Coe. “This funding is an enormous step towards increasing Frederick County’s capacity in providing the right resources to members of our community in their time of need.”

For more information about COAST, please contact COAST Program staff at COAST@FrederickCountyMD.gov.