The opening ceremonies of the 63rd annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show were held on Friday evening, September 6 at Catoctin High School.
Three community organizations were honored for their milestone anniversaries and each organization had several honorees who were recognized. These organizations were The 50th anniversary of the Seton Center in Emmitsburg, the 100th anniversary of American Legions in America with Veterans from Posts 121 in Emmitsburg and 168 in Thurmont honored, and the 50th anniversary of the Elower-Sicilia Dance Studio in Thurmont.
What began as a day care center to meet the needs of local pre-school children and their families has grown into a community landmark for area residents who are seeking a way to improve their lives.
In 1969, a small band of mothers advocated for a safe place to send their pre-school-aged children where they would be nurtured and given the opportunity to learn about God and caring for one another in the community. The Daughters of Charity answered the call. Over the years, the center grew to accommodate a thrift store and outreach office. For 50 years, the mission has stayed the same: for The Seton Center to work with its neighbors to build a hopeful future in the spirit of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Saint Vincent de Paul.
The Seton Center’s Honorees were: Kenneth Droneburg, Manager; Melissa Miller, Program Coordinator; Kelly Overholtzer, Case Manager and Program Coordinator; and Sister Roberta Treppa, Daughter of Charity, The Seton Center’s smile-maker and coordinator for the DePaul Dental Health Program.
The American Legion organization was founded in 1919 by Veterans returning from Europe after World War I. It was later chartered as an official American patriotic society and carries on the tradition to support Veterans, families, and their community. The Legion continues to volunteer in patriotic service of mutual help to our country’s Veterans and has touched virtually every facet of American life. Even to this day, American Legion members carry on their objective to serve their community, state, and nation.
Honored Veterans representing the Francis X. Elder American Legion Post 121 of Emmitsburg were: Kevin Cogan, Thomas E. Hoke, Edward E. “Gene” Lingg, Sanford “Mac” McGuire, Paul J. Sutton, and Martin R. Williams.
Honored Veterans representing the Edwin C. Creeger, Jr. American Legion Post 168 of Thurmont were: the late Kenneth Allen, Robert H. Brennan, Edward Gravatt, Rick L. Hall, Alvin L. Hatcher, Raymond A. Long, James “Buzz” Mackley, and Sidney A. Wolf.
See next month’s issue for a more detailed article about these local Veterans in The Catoctin Banner.
Emmitsburg’s The Seton Center’s 50th Anniversary Honorees
Pictured from left are: (front row) Paige Riley – 2019-20 Catoctin FFA Ambassador; Seton Center Director Sister Martha Beaudoin – Daughter of Charity; Seton Center Honorees: Kenneth Droneburg, Sister Roberta Treppa – Daughter of Charity, Kelly Overholtzer, Jennifer Clements – Catoctin High School Principal; (not pictured) Honoree Melissa Miller; (back row) Andrea Mannix, Community Show Committee Member; Amy Poffenberger, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Daniel Myers, Community Show Committee Member; C. Rodman Myers, Community Show Committee President; Cathy Little, Community Show Committee Assistant Treasurer; Jennifer Martin, Community Show Committee Secretary; Dr. Theresa Alban, Frederick County Superintendent of Schools; Barry Burch, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Dave Harman, Community Show Committee Member; and Cheryl Lenhart, Community Show Committee Member.
Francis X. Elder American Legion Post #121 Honorees
Pictured from left are: (front row) Paige Riley – 2019-20 Catoctin FFA Ambassador; Emmitsburg’s Francis X. Elder American Legion Post #121 Honorees: Martin Williams, Sanford “Mac” McGuire, Paul Sutton, Thomas Hoke, Edward “Gene” Lingg, Kevin Cogan; (back row) Andrea Mannix, Community Show Committee Member; Amy Poffenberger, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Daniel Myers, Community Show Committee Member; C. Rodman Myers, Community Show Committee President; Cathy Little, Community Show Committee Assistant Treasurer; Jennifer Martin, Community Show Committee Secretary, Dr. Theresa Alban, Frederick County Superintendent of Schools; Jennifer Clements, Catoctin High School Principal; Barry Burch, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Dave Harman, Community Show Committee Member; and Cheryl Lenhart, Community Show Committee Member.
Edwin C. Creeger, Jr. American Legion Post #168 Honorees
Pictured from left are: (front row) Paige Riley – 2019-20 Catoctin FFA Ambassador; Thurmont’s Edwin C. Creeger, Jr. American Legion Post #168 Honorees: Alvin L. Hatcher, Raymond A. Long, Robert L. Brennan, Edward Gravatt, James “Buzz” Mackley, Rick L. Hall, and (not pictured) Sidney A. Wolf. Also honored was deceased member Kenneth Allen; (back row) Andrea Mannix, Community Show Committee Member; Amy Poffenberger, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Daniel Myers, Community Show Committee Member; C. Rodman Myers, Community Show Committee President; Cathy Little, Community Show Committee Assistant Treasurer; Jennifer Martin, Community Show Committee Secretary, Dr. Theresa Alban, Frederick County Superintendent of Schools; Jennifer Clements, Catoctin High School Principal; Barry Burch, Catoctin FFA Advisor; Dave Harman, Community Show Committee Member; and Cheryl Lenhart, Community Show Committee Member.
Elower Sicilia Dance Studio Honoree
Linda Elower Sicilia, Owner of ESP Productions in Thurmont, with C. Rodman Myers, Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show President, presenting the Community Show’s Certificate of Appreciation, and a Proclamation from Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner.
