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Thurmont Grange Hosts Community Citizen Dinner & Announces Citizen of the Year Award

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On Monday, April 10, Thurmont Grange No. 409 hosted its annual Community Citizen Dinner. Each year, the Grange recognizes an individual or group who strives to make a difference by giving back to our community. This year, Jon Barton, general manager of Roy Rogers in Thurmont, was the honoree.

 Although Jon is not from Thurmont, he has made this town his home.  Jon grew up in the small town of Hinsdale, New York, and went on to graduate from Mercyhurst University for Business Management. It was at a job fair hosted by Mercyhurst University that he first heard of Roy Rogers. They offered him an assistant manager position, and he moved to Maryland to start his career. Jon has now been with the company for 17 years, spending most of that time at the Thurmont location, where for the last 8 years, he has been the general manager. 

Jon epitomizes Roy Rogers’ mission to give back to the community. In the last year alone, Jon, along with the amazing Thurmont Roy Rogers’ staff, has helped 35 local organizations raise $35,596.42. Not only does Roy’s donate 25 percent of sales to organizations during their fundraiser nights, Jon also allows organizations to display their current fundraiser and event information, have bake sales, and hold meetings and sign-up events. Jon takes it a step further by freezing leftover food and donating it to the Thurmont Food Bank. This is vital to those whose living situation may only provide them with access to a microwave or their physical condition makes it difficult for them to cook for themselves. Even on a personal level, Jon is giving back to the community by being a manager, coach, and board member for the Thurmont Little League. 

Representatives from several organizations who have benefited from Jon’s generosity, including the Thurmont Food Bank, Thurmont Little League, Catoctin Safe and Sane, and The Thurmont Senior Center, spoke about all the wonderful things Jon has done to support them. In addition, Jon’s family, local Roy Rogers staff members, and those from the cooperate office also had so many great things to say about him. It is obvious that Jon Barton has made a positive difference in our community, and he is well-deserving of Thurmont Grange’s Community Citizen of the Year Award.

Jon Barton is pictured with Thurmont Grange President Niki Eyler.

Spring Season Updates

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Ryan Tokar, Thurmont Little League  

It’s been a fairly mild winter thus far, yet it’s still hard to believe that the spring season will begin in just a few short weeks. The registration period for our Thurmont Little League (TLL) baseball and softball programs will close on February 11. A special in-person registration and fundraising night will take place at Roy Rogers on Wednesday, February 1, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., with 25 percent of proceeds from all orders going to the league. Come on out for a great meal to support TLL and get your players registered.

Speaking of fundraisers, we are once again selling discount cards, which are always a popular item. For $20.00 you can purchase a card for unlimited usage at many of your favorite local businesses, everything from a free drink to 10 percent off your order. Please contact the league on Facebook or by email at thetllnetwork@gmail.com for more information. You may also pick one up at several of the participating restaurants.

There is still a lot of other work to be done before the season starts. Evaluations for the Minor and Major divisions will be held at Catoctin High School on Sunday, February 12, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., with a draft for each age group taking place the following weekend. After that, practices should start up in late February or early March, weather permitting. Plans are being made for our opening day celebration on April 1, which will, once again, be split into two ceremonies based on division level. There will be lots of fun activities, great prizes to be won, and maybe even appearances from a mascot or two! We have several food trucks tentatively lined up, with The Sauced Savage BBQ and Glamourview Dairy Bar returning as fan favorites. New this year will be Coco’s Grill serving up gyros, cheesesteaks, burgers, and other goodies. Fundraising efforts have already begun, with the league beginning to accept donations for the annual basket raffles.

As always, volunteers are welcomed and appreciated by the league. As most know, umpires and other officials are in short supply across the country. If you are interested in getting involved, MD District 2 Little League will be hosting an umpire clinic at Brunswick High School on February 19. The best part is that this is free for MD District 2 Umpires. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and door prizes will be given away throughout the day. Please reach out to us on Facebook or by email if you are interested in learning more.

Be sure to check out next month’s issue for even more details about our opening day festivities and all the other events going on to kickstart our 2023 season!

THURMONT Senior Center

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by Teresa Kempisty

Hello, to everyone. I miss you all so very much. I want you to know that I appreciate and miss each and every one of you. Many of you have asked, “Do you think we will ever be open again?” And the answer is a definite, “YES!” My guess would be not until spring, but it will be when Gov. Hogan allows senior centers to reopen. For your information, with the rise in COVID-19 cases, we have decided not to rent out the Thurmont Senior Center to any groups until we reopen. 

Unfortunately, we aren’t able to have our Christmas Party this year, but we want to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas.

As I am writing this, it is 75 degrees outside, so to be wishing you season’s greetings seems surreal.  Living in Maryland, as we all know, the weather can change rapidly, so who knows, maybe we will have a White Christmas after all!  I know some of you are thinking, Hush, Teresa, but I really do like the snow! 

If you can, please come through the drive-thru at Roy Rogers in Thurmont on Thursday, December 10, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Mention the Thurmont Senior Center for our fundraiser night, and we will receive 25 percent of the total sales. Due to COVID-19 regulations, it is drive-thru only at this time, but it will always be the second Thursday of each month, same time and place.  Thank you.

A huge thank you goes out to all of our Veterans, to those presently serving, and to all their families for their service and sacrifices. Every one of you is a hero for selflessly serving to protect us and our country. We hope you had a Happy Veterans Day, and we hope to be able to have our Veteran’s Day open house next fall or in 2022. We were supposed to have the open house this fall, but couldn’t due to COVID.

Congratulations to Barbara Ritenour (second-prize winner) and Caythee Ruby (first-prize winner) of the free Halloween Basket Raffle. Carol Long put together the raffle using names of people on the sign-in sheets and volunteer sign-in sheets from 2020.  More free drawings will be coming.

Another big thank you goes out to Winterbrook Farms, who donated treats that we were able to distribute to seniors and our volunteers.

If you have a birthday coming up and you are registered with the Thurmont Senior Center, don’t be surprised when you get a call and visit from the “Birthday Quackers.”  

We had our last Drive-by Greetings Parade on November 5, and it was the longest one yet at 2 hours and 22 minutes. We are stopping for the winter. We really enjoyed seeing our senior friends in Rocky Ridge, Keymar, Woodsboro, and Thurmont. 

In closing, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year! 

Take care, and if you need to call the center, the phone number is 301-271-7911.

Photo by John Kempisty

Ron and Marie Free all dressed up for the Drive-by Greeting Parade on November 5, 2020.

THURMONT Senior Center

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by Teresa Kempisty

Photos by Teresa Kempisty

President John Dowling & Board Member Kathy Dowling drive in the Drive-By Greetings Parade on October 14, 2020, waving to over 36 seniors

Jim and Joan Leo are visited during the October 14th Drive-By Greetings Parade.

Helen Deluca waves to the participants in the October 14th Drive-By Greetings Parade.

Hi, there! Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

Even in these difficult COVID times, we can all find much to be thankful for. If you can’t find anything to be thankful for, try reaching out to a friend or neighbor in need. It always helps us when we help others. Please wear your masks and social distance, and keep your hands washed and away from your face when you are with others. 

I have observed something that troubles me about mask-wearing.  I have noticed that not all people are wearing masks over their nose and mouth. If your mask is to be protective of you and others, you must have both your nose and mouth covered. I know it’s a bother, and it causes glasses to fog up, but it is a simple bother if it keeps you and others well. 

Several of you have called the Thurmont Senior Center (TSC) regarding meeting with Ellie (Jenkins) Williams about Medicare prescription coverage during the open season, but the Department of Aging (now called Senior Services Division) is not meeting with anyone in person. They are taking appointments to talk on the phone or virtually. To make an appointment, call the Senior Services Division at 301-600-1234. 

Beginning back on October 8 (monthly now), we held our Fundraiser Night again at Roy Rogers in Thurmont (always on the second Thursday night of each month), from 5:00-8:00 p.m. However, it will now be drive-thru only. Please specify when you order that it’s for the Thurmont Senior Center fundraiser. The drive-thru stipulation is due to the restaurant only being able to have 50 percent capacity inside. Also, we are not having our bake sale at this time, but it will resume sometime in the future. Every bit helps, so thanks to all who participate and thanks to future participants. We receive a donation of 25 percent of the total sales between 5:00-8:00 p.m. on our Fundraiser Night at Roy Rogers, which for November is Thursday, November 12.

We had another successful Drive-By Greeting Parade (our fourth) to some town areas through Woodland Park and Jermae and up Rt. 77 and 550, to visit seniors in these areas who frequent the Thurmont Senior Center. Thanks to all who participated. The last parade for 2020 will be on Thursday, November 5, with a rain date of Friday, November 6. We will be driving to a few more residents in town areas, then out to Rocky Ridge, Keymar, and Woodsboro. The Thurmont Senior Center serves a very large area, and we miss everyone! Also, thanks again to the “Birthday Quakers” who are still bringing birthday treats to those seniors who are signed up with TSC, considering we are still closed and can’t have our monthly birthday parties. 

I will leave you with some Thanksgiving quotes to make you smile.

“The thing that I’m most thankful for right now is elastic waistbands.”—author unknown

“May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump, may your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump, may your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs.”—anonymous 

“What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?”—Erma Bombeck 

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”—John F. Kennedy