Currently viewing the tag: "the catoctin banner"

From May To December

By On · Add Comment · In Arts & Entertainment

A serial fiction story for your enjoyment

written by James Rada, Jr.

6: A Job Offer

Bobby Hennessey and Peter Lawrence entered the bustling Thurmont tavern, their boots tapping against the wooden floorboards. The warm, inviting scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, mingling with the sound of glasses clinking and people chatting. Behind the bar stood Stacy, Peter’s mother. She smiled a wide smile when she spotted them and made her way over.

“What brings you two in here this evening?” she asked.

“Dinner and discussion,” Bobby replied, taking a seat at the bar.

Stacy raised an eyebrow playfully. “Oh? What’s on the menu for conversation tonight?”

“A Cherry Sprite for me,” Bobby ordered confidently.

Peter cleared his throat and straightened his back, trying to look more mature than his years. “I’ll have a beer,” he said confidently. Stacy raised an eyebrow at him, causing him to quickly add, “Root beer!” before bursting into laughter.

“Always the jokester,” Bobby remarked with an eye roll. “He’s been working on that one all the way down the mountain.”

Stacy shook her head with a fond smile and went to fetch their drinks. As she returned, she asked, “So what’s the discussion going to be about?”

“Do you enjoy working here?” Bobby asked earnestly.

“I’m grateful for the job and Kevin treats us well,” Stacy responded. Kevin Poland was the owner of the tavern and the building it occupied.

Bobby nodded thoughtfully. “Kevin’s a great guy, and he runs a friendly business, but do you truly enjoy your work? People have jobs they do for necessity and jobs they do because they love it. For example, Peter loves working on the farm while I… not so much. I mostly do it to remember my parents.”

Stacy ruffled her son’s unruly brown hair affectionately and smiled at him. “I’m glad he loves it.”

Bobby chuckled. “So, is this your ‘Bobby’ job or your ‘Peter’ job?”

Stacy shrugged, thinking. “I guess it’s my Bobby job. I don’t mind it, but it’s not my passion or what I see myself doing for years. Why are you asking?”

“You did a fantastic job with Hershey last week,” Bobby complimented her.

“How is he doing, by the way?” Stacy asked with concern.

“He’s fine,” Peter assured her. “But you were in your element helping him. You had complete control of the situation.”

“I told you I was a vet tech in Gaithersburg and grew up on a farm,” Stacy said modestly, though a hint of pride shone through.

Bobby’s face lit up with a smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, I remember. That’s why I have an offer for you.” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I want you to come manage and work my farm. Turn it into something more than it is.”

Stacy’s heart skipped a beat as she processed Bobby’s words. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had left Gaithersburg for a chance to start anew, but she hadn’t imagined that chance would be on a farm. It sounded like a dream.

“There’s even a charming cottage on the back end of the property where you and Pete can live,” Bobby added with a knowing grin.

Stacy turned to look at her son, who was beaming and nodding in agreement.

“Is this another one of your jokes?” Stacy asked incredulously, looking back at Bobby.

He shook his head earnestly. “No, it’s a serious offer.”

Stacy stepped back from the bar in disbelief, her mind racing with all the possibilities that this new opportunity presented.

“I’ve never done anything like that before,” she admitted.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t,” Bobby reassured her.

“And I can help you, Mom,” Peter chimed in eagerly.

Stacy hadn’t even thought about that aspect: being able to spend more time with her son while also pursuing a new endeavor. Ever since they moved from Gaithersburg, she had wanted a fresh start for both of them… together. But with her job at the tavern taking up most of her time, they hadn’t been able to truly bond like she had hoped.

She turned to look at Peter, his excitement infectious.

“What would you need me to do?” she asked Bobby, curiosity getting the better of her.

“Just take care of the animals and the property,” he replied. “Start getting it generating some income, even if it’s just by selling eggs at the farmer’s market in town. And maybe we could also board a few more horses or sell some crops. I am open to any ideas you might have.”

“That sounds like a lot,” Stacy pointed out, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the responsibility.

“You can take it one step at a time,” Bobby reassured her. “I just want to see the place productive again. I’ll help out whenever I can, but farming and ranching aren’t exactly my strengths.”

Stacy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This offer seemed too good to be true. “Why are you doing this? Really?” she asked, searching for any ulterior motives.

“Just like I said,” Bobby replied with a genuine smile. “I’ve owned this place for years and could have done this a long time ago, but I think it’s meant for someone like you to bring it back to life. I could have taken care of things on my own, but having Pete around showed me that having help could give me some much-needed free time.” He rested his hand on Peter’s shoulder, a gesture of appreciation and pride. “And let me tell you, this one is a hard worker.” Bobby’s tone was filled with admiration.

Stacy watched the exchange between the man and boy, wondering what kind of bond they had formed since Peter had started working for Bobby. What stories did they share? What lessons had they learned together? She couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity and admiration for their relationship.

“By the way,” Bobby continued, “my hard-working years are past. I want to enjoy things now.”

“You talk like you’re dying,” Stacy blurted out before she could stop herself.

Bobby chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. “Aren’t we all?” He paused, his expression turning serious. “But no, I’m not. I just want to savor my remaining years. That’s part of the reason why I worked so hard all the years up until now.” His voice held a tinge of regret, but also a sense of fulfillment.

Stacy couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for assuming the worst about Bobby’s health. What was she to think? He was older than her, but he didn’t look old enough to be worrying about dying. Besides, she felt a sense of warmth towards him, knowing that he wanted to enjoy his later years after all the hard work he had put in.

“So,” Bobby turned back to her with a smile, “are you interested?”

Stacy looked back and forth between Bobby and Peter, feeling a sense of gratitude for their offer. “Okay,” she said with a grateful smile.

“Observations from the Woodpile”

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

Prologue

Observations from the Woodpile” is a collection of essays bundled together and given as a birthday present for my wife, Nancy, in 1997. Twenty-seven years have passed since the collection was given. The two main subjects of the essays, my sons Justus and Jacob, have grown into men with families of their own.

Knots

I buy my firewood logs from a fellow with a small logging business. There is seldom a log that has much value as a saw log. For the most part, the logs I get are knotty or forked or have other imperfections that downgrade the value to pulpwood or firewood. That’s okay by me. I’d hate to see any wood that could be used as lumber go up in smoke.

The downside to this is the difficulty in cutting and splitting around the knots and other imperfections. Splitting a knot by hand is not easy. The grain of the wood twists itself around in every direction to where it looks like it has tied itself into some sort of a sailor’s knot. However, there are ways to get around splitting the knot.

When sawing a log into firewood lengths, I try to get as many clear, knot-free pieces as possible. The boys love to split those. They yield so easily with just a few whacks. Sometimes, I cut the log from both ends to isolate the knot somewhere in the middle. This sometimes leaves me with a short chunk that will fit into the stoves without splitting. By the time all the logs are split, I end up with about half of a pickup load of these pieces. They don’t stack as well, but they burn just fine. I usually pile them up in a corner of the barn—like lumps of coal—and burn them along with the regular wood throughout the winter.

Sometimes, the knot or fork is a little bigger. I try to split as much away from the knot as possible. This usually leaves a piece of wood that’s a little larger than the rest. I scatter these pieces through the stacks in the woodshed. Doing this makes them available every so often as I work through the stacks of wood. They tend to burn slower and are particularly good for those brutal, cold nights. 

My favorite trick is to measure out my cuts so that one of the cuts falls directly on a knot. By doing so, I have made two half-knots. Two half-knots are easier to split than one whole knot. A military history buff will recognize this trick as “defeat enemy in detail.” Napoleon was a master at the tactic. Stonewall Jackson employed it in his successful defense of the Shenandoah Valley. And there’s a little taste of victory whenever I defeat a knot.

At the end of a wood-splitting day, there’s always one or two pieces left that just aren’t going to split. I call these the Gordian knots. The solution to these is the same as Alexander the Great’s—just cut them. I don’t like doing that because it’s that much more wear and tear on the saw, but it’s the only way some wood will split. If I didn’t do that, over time, I’d end up with a pile of wood I couldn’t use.

Occasionally, I get a piece of wood that is just not worth the effort and expense. The log might be just one big, twisted knot or there might be some metal object embedded in the wood, waiting to tear my saw apart, or some other anomaly. These logs are dragged off to the corner of the property and used for campfire wood.

I don’t have much real use for campfire wood just a few hundred yards from my house. Having this derelict wood provides an excuse for a campfire, though. Some twilight winter evenings when the wind is not too brisk and cabin fever has caused the walls to close in, I’ll build a fire along an old stone wall. I tell everyone I’m burning some brush. After all, sitting around outside would be crazy. The boys usually join me after a while and poke sticks into the fire. Pyromania must be primordial.   Sometimes, we talk. Sometimes, we stare, mesmerized by the dynamics of the flames and coals. No television. No phone. No radio. Just us and our thoughts. Something about a fire nurtures contemplation.

When contemplation is about problem-solving, the solutions are not much different than handling knots. Some just need to be cut around until they are minimized away. Some need to be broken down into smaller, more manageable problems. Bigger problems need a direct approach, requiring considerably more energy and resources. They are particularly wearing, but a successful outcome is worth the effort and expense. Some problems are best left alone. Walking away is sometimes the best solution.

The wisdom and the clarity to discern what kind of problem you have is the issue. That’s the time when there’s nothing better than the hypnotic dance of a campfire to sort out the knots.

Lookin Back

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

Massive Manhunt

by James Rada, Jr

to Catch a Chicken Thief

In 1908, a crime wave hit Adams County. Residents would rush to their windows at every sound. They would peer into the dark, searching for lurking figures in the darkness. It didn’t stop until a shootout and a massive manhunt ended with the capture of Ambrose Dittenhafer.

With his crime spree ended, chickens in Adams County were once again safe.

Yes, chickens.

Dittenhafer was a chicken thief. The 53-year-old Dittenhafer had had run-ins with the law for years. Some involved animal cruelty. One was an assault on a police officer, but it was the nighttime wholesale chicken business that sent him to jail for a significant amount of time.

However, in the late fall of 1908, chickens started disappearing from hen houses around the county. No one knew who the thief was, but they had their suspicions.

On election night, Straban Township resident, Martin Harman, had to go to Hunterstown for some reason. His wife followed him later in the evening. As she headed to Hunterstown, she saw Dittenhafer walking along the road. Something about the situation and Dittenhafer made her suspicious, and she told her husband what she had seen when she met up with him.

Harman borrowed a gun, made sure it was loaded, and headed back to his farm. He passed Dittenhafer on the way back. Harman turned off the road early to mislead Dittenhafer. Then Harman tied up his horse and hurried across a field to his property. Once there, he hid in his barn to wait.

A few minutes later, someone whose identity was hidden in the shadows entered the barn.

“The dark figure selected some fat pullets roosting on the barn yard fence and hurriedly placed them in a bag which he was carrying. Next he made for a willow tree near the Harman farm watering trough. Some well fattened Spring chickens were found slumbering here and Ambrose was in the act of selecting the choicest of those when Mr. Harman commenced action,” the New Oxford Item reported.

Harman fired at the thief twice. The shots, which were probably rock salt, hit the thief. Unfortunately, Harman learned later that his shots also killed several of the chickens in the bag.

Dittenhafer shouted, “Don’t shoot again!”

As Harman approached him, Dittenhafer dropped his bag and ran off. “It is said that in his efforts to escape, Dittenhafer divested him of all his clothing possible and cast aside all unnecessary possessions,” the New Oxford Item reported.

For some reason, Harman remained at large for more than a week. Then, he entered the Lower Brother’s Store in Table Rock on Nov. 20 and was recognized. Justice of the Peace H. B. Mears issued a warrant that Constable John F. Wolf of Butler Township served on him at the store.

“With a vigorous denial he made a dash for the door, Constable Wolf hanging on to his coat and urging the men about to help him hold the man who was fast making his exit,” the Adams County News reported.

Dittenhafer grabbed the club he always carried and fled out the door. He ran across a nearby field “making decidedly uncomplimentary remarks about Constable Wolf on the way,” the Adams County News reported.

Three days later, a report came in that Dittenhafer was going to return to his home.

Detective Charles Wilson, County Deputy Fred Kappes, and Constable Morrison of Straban Township surrounded Dittenhafer’s house and remained in hiding through the night when they thought they saw him sneak into the house.

“Detective Wilson at once rushed in and was confronted by the man’s wife who had a shot gun leveled at him. Not dismayed he hurried through the various rooms after the man, being met in one of them by one of Dittenhafer’s sons armed with a gun. No harm was done,” the Adams County News reported.

However, Dittenhafer wasn’t found. He had managed to escape into the foggy night.

The law officers then organized a large posse of citizens and set off on Dittenhafer’s trail. They followed him for three miles through the fog, only rarely catching sight of him. When he was seen, the posse would fire shots at him, apparently without hitting Dittenhafer. He managed to double back and he returned to his house. After six hours of pursuit, the posse managed to surround him.

“Here the man realizing that his chances for escape were rather slim made a desperate fight and armed with a razor and his “big stick” was ready for a hand to hand combat. Shot after shot fired into his hiding place and he finally emerged to be met by Detective Wilson whose pistol was pointing straight at his head. Realizing that all was up he surrendered,” the Adams County News reported.

Dittenhafer begged to be let go. He said that he would leave the county if Wilson let him go. Wilson’s answer was to handcuff him and transport him to the county jail.

On February 1, 1909, Dittenhafer pled guilty of “larceny of chickens.” Dittenhafer said that he would leave the county if the judge wouldn’t sentence him to jail time. Instead, Judge Swope sentenced him to one year in Eastern State Penitentiary. Rebecca Dittenhafer pleaded that her husband be allowed to serve out his time in the county jail.

Swope was unmoved. He told her, “If you were to stay here she might feel that she ought to bring some food to you at the county prison and thus spend some of her energy which will be necessary for the support of the family while you are serving your sentence,” the Gettysburg Times reported.

Dittenhafer behaved well in the penitentiary and was released a couple months early. Things did not improve for Dittenhafer as a free man.

“Nobody will give me any work and I do not have sufficient money to support my family,” Dittenhafer told the Adams County News. “It is right in the middle of the Winter and I cannot raise any produce with which to earn a living. No one will give me a job or lend me money, and there you are. If I steal, down the road I go. I want to lead an honest and honorable life now but it’s pretty hard times.”

During his time in prison, his wife and children had been living in the county poor house. Dittenhafer had gotten a new suit and $10 on his release from prison. The money disappeared quickly, though. He had $3 stolen from him after he paid for car fare home from prison, and with the remainder, he bought his son, George, a new set of clothes.

By March, it was reported that Dittenhafer had finally not only left the county, but the state. He was said to be managing a farm in Maryland.

The Crazy Plant Lady

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

“Helping You Find Plants That Work”

by Ana Morlier

Come One, Come All, to L’Hôtel Des Insectes!

Bonjour, and welcome to L’Hôtel Des Insectes! At this hotel, we have first-class service for some of the least valued workers in the world: bugs! Find solace in its many rooms. You can try the temperate brick room, the rustic twig room, the soft hay room, or the shielding bark room. Dine on the finest dried leaves, the freshest larvae, and perfectly aged plant matter. Rooms are free, as long as you, my guest, continue pollinating and munching away at other harmful creatures. A vacation you needed from the hustle and bustle of urban development.

All descriptors aside, bug hotels provide permanent residences to some of the most important insects and pollinators, such as bees (not all live in beehives), spiders, beetles, and ladybugs, all coexisting to get rid of pests. Now, are you ready to provide these guests with a luxury suite?

Bug Hotel

Base/building: This will hold all the shelves, plant matter, and your guests. Try reusing materials such as:

Birdhouses (reuse if possible!);

Flowerpot(s);

Thick picture frame;

Drawer;

Gallon Jug;

Large soda bottle (can serve as one room);

Palettes (make a brick base and pile palettes on top).

For more handy gardeners, you can make your own by making a shadowbox out of untreated wood. Glue or drill four-foot-long boards (width: 4+ inches.). Add a backplate, drill in some shelves, and you have a shadowbox!

Rooms

Next, you want to add in rooms:

Flowerpots;

Cardboard rolls;

Bricks/cinder blocks;

Porcelain/tiles;

Layered palettes;

Untreated wood.

Interior Design

Now that your hotel has been constructed, it’s time for some interior design! There is lots of plant matter for you to choose from to attract different insects. Please make sure all plant matter is untreated by chemicals. Here’s the insect guestbook as to “room” preference:

Bees: Bamboo/Reeds, Logs with holes drilled in;

Beetles and centipedes: Logs/bark;

Rove beetles (get rid of slugs!): Twigs;

Spiders: Any material;

Ladybugs love: Leaves, stems.

Other materials possible:

Hay;

Ripped-up cardboard;

Bricks (holes facing out);

Broken pottery, such as from flower pots;

Pinecones.

Overall Tips

Do not paint; your guests just adore the natural decor (and it is healthier for the ecosystem).

If placed on the ground, put a layer of bricks under your hotel first. It is ideal to hang or post bug hotels further up on trees or posts (but isn’t the easiest to employ).

Ensure your hotel is protected from hazards such as rain, wind, children, and pets.

Other ideal conditions include a warm spot near flowers and other flora. Also, don’t make your guests complain about the sounds and smells of the highway! Make sure to place the hotel at least ten feet away from the road.

If you haven’t already, make a (non-painted) sign to name your hotel, so your guests know what to look up in GPS.

Finally, bug hotels do not require much maintenance, as you do not want to disturb your insect guests. So, let the “cash” (aka improved garden conditions) flow in and enjoy!

once upon a time…

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

May 1924, 100 Years Ago

Thurmont Light Plant Cleared $38.01 in Year

That the financial condition of Thurmont is sound and on a firm basis is shown by the following statement of receipts and expenditures including the condition of the corporation finances and the municipal electric light system. The corporation statement is for the fiscal year ending April 15 while the municipal election light statement is for the fiscal year ending April 1.

The cash on hand for the electric light system totaled $38.01.

                                – Frederick Daily News, May 18, 1924

Gets Road Job

The contract to construct nine-tenths mile of State highway east toward Rocky Ridge was awarded to L. R. Waesche & Son, of Thurmont, on Thursday by the State Roads Commission. The bid was $29,770. This stretch of highway was among those recommended by the County Commissioners to be constructed by the State.

                                – Frederick Daily News, May 23, 1924

May 1949, 75 Years Ago

Roads Commission to Correct Seton Ave. Curve

After many months of negotiating by both the State Roads Commission and St. Joseph’s

Catholic Church, correction of the dangerous curve in front of the church on N. Seton Ave. is about to be accomplished. Recently the church donated a strip of its land 9 feet wide and 182 feet long to the State for the purpose of diminishing that traffic impediment.

A major factor in accomplishing this project was the work of Mayor Thornton Rodgers and a committee of church members who have been dickering with the Commission for a lengthy time…

…The chief engineer indicated the approximate cost of the job to be $2,700.

                                – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 6, 1949

Pinball Machcines Expected to Bring $10,000 to County

Revenue from the Alexander pinball machine licensing bill which becomes effective in Frederick County June is expected to produce in excess of $10.000 per year. The fund, under provisions of the bill, is to be divided equally between capital improvements at Emergency Hospital and the county general fund….

Mr. Alexander estimates there are at least 250 machines at present in operation in the county each of which must be licensed at a fee of $50 per annum. A $500 license fee is imposed by the new law on operators who are described as persons owning three or more such machines. At present, Mr. Alexander says, it is believed that at least four operators fall within the bill’s category.  

                                – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 13, 1949

May 1974, 50 Years Ago

Mandel Speaks At Mt. St. Mary’s

A crowd of about 200 were on hand to greet Maryland Governor Marvin Mandel when his helicopter landed on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s College at noon Monday. Governor Mandel was on campus for an informal question-and-answer session open to the public as well as Mount Saint Mary’s students and faculty.

The governor answered a variety of questions ranging from President Nixon to taxes to state aid to higher education. Asked his reaction to the conviction of Dale Anderson and the investigation of corrupt practices among other state officials, Mandel said, “There is no investigation as far as this administration is concerned. We’re not involved in investigations in any way, shape or form. A great disservice has been done to the State of Maryland by the news media who use the State of Maryland in connection with the investigations.”

                                – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 9, 1974

Scouts Complete Inner Tube Trip

“We all made it”, said the seventeen member contingent of Emmitsburg’s Boy Scout

Troop 284. In spite of cool weather, slow water currents and other natural hazards, the scouts completed an 8 mile trip down the Monocacy River in inner tubes, on Saturday,

May 25. “It was a strange looking crew that assembled at Mumma Ford Bridge”, just south of Emmitsburg, said Scoutmaster Jay Dickinson.

Inner tubes of various sizes, covered with canvas, life preservers, and canoe paddles, were all the equipment that was taken on the trip. Lunches were packed in plastic bags to help keep the Monoccacy River where it belonged.

Only one inner tube went down. The unfortunate scoutjoined another on his inner tube to complete the journey.

                                – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 30, 1974

May 1999, 25 Years Ago

Emmitsburg Town Deputies

Emmitsburg has a new deputy in town: Officer Willie 011ie. Deputy 011ie will be working with Deputy John Chance to patrol our town. The deputies are concerned about traffic enforcement and the juvenile problem Emmitsburg is having. With warm weather upon us the deputies have been working on plans to curtail curfew violators and vandals.

Emmitsburg has a Dupties Willie 011ie (I) and John Chance juvenile curfew that is in effect from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.(Ordinance .12.040). The deputies have also been working with radar to slow some of the speeders through town.

                                – The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, May 1999

Flowers for Main Street

The Town of Emmitsburg and Silver Fancy Garden Club will be planting flowers in the Bradford Pear tree wells along Main Street on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This is a tremendous undertaking and we need many volunteers.

We will meet in front of the town office at 8:45 a.m., give  explanations of what, where, and how to plant, and allocate areas. The town crew will help with additional dirt and mulch. Each volunteer should bring gloves, clippers, shovel, and a trowel. If you do not have these please come and the necessary items will be provided.

            – The Emmitsburg Regional, Dispatch, May 1999

“The Old Adage” From The Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 1, 1972

The Supermarket Gourmet

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

by Buck Reed

Old Bay…It’s a Maryland Thang, Hon

Maryland and, more importantly, the Chesapeake Bay has firmly established itself as a kingdom of seafood. We are known for our oysters, shrimp, and, of course, our Maryland crabs. And, what real Marylander doesn’t know that crabs are firmly linked to Old Bay seasoning? I would wager that every local home that boasts a real cook in the house will also have a can of this spice blend in the kitchen. Let’s face it, the stuff is a Maryland staple.

It all started in the late 1930s when a German immigrant, named Gustav Brunn, came to Baltimore with the clothes on his back and a spice grinder under his arm. Being a spice merchant before the politics of his homeland forced him out, he quickly established himself as a good business man and secured a loan to open a spice shop in the Market Place in Baltimore, which was a hub for purchasing fresh seafood. The Baltimore Spice Company was ideally situated with plenty of German customers, and they introduced a blend of 18 spices that was dubbed Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning. It took some time and persuasion, but Gustav was finally able to convince one crab monger to try his spice. Once they did, it took off like wildfire. Suddenly, everyone wanted it for their home kitchen. Later, it changed its name for a passenger ship that traveled from Baltimore to Norfolk, called the Old Bay Line, which was a shorter name and eventually became a household brand.

As most Maryland cooks know, this spice blend is great on crabs, shrimp, and most any seafood. Yet, we also understand that this product can go on just about anything, and most likely will.

Roasted chicken is one of my favorites, and if you are ordering wings, there is almost always an Old Bay option on the menu. I would also say it is a pretty good substitute for a steak blend that comes from Montreal. You can season hash browns or roasted potatoes with it, and more than a few vegetables are pretty tasty with this stuff. Think grilled corn on the cob with Old Bay.

Using it to flavor a compound butter or mayonnaise might also step up your game. Also try it on fresh popcorn or French fries. It will also add some zing to your Bloody Mary, or if you dare, order your next Martini with Old Bay.

Maryland crab soup must include Old Bay, as should crab cakes. I would also add it to any chowder that is found in New England. Salads also work well with this spice, and not just the ones with seafood.

There really isn’t much that you cannot use Old Bay in or on. Can you imagine that there are a couple of Old Bay ice cream products out there? If you cannot find them, just sprinkle some Old Bay onto your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Today, Old Bay is owned and produced by the McCormick Spice Company, with the same recipe as the first day it was sold. Yet, it doesn’t really matter who is selling it or where it is sold, Old Bay will always find a home in the Maryland pantry.

Taste of the Past

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

by Maxine Troxell

Got a ham bone leftover from the holidays? Lucky you. Put it to good use in this comforting ham and bean soup. The soup was one of my favorites. My mom used to make this soup with rivels. She always made it in a pot on the stove. This recipe uses a slow cooker, which makes it easier to make.

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped

2-3 stalks of celery, chopped

2 tbsp. margarine

1 ham bone

2 (32 ounce) cans Great Northern beans

For Rivels

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 raw egg

1 pinch salt

Directions

In a large pot (stock pot), a little more than half full of water, add 1 large chopped onion, 2 or 3 stalks of chopped celery, and the ham bone.

Cook until celery is cooked down.

Remove ham from the bone, discard fat, and return ham to pot.

Add both cans of Great Northern beans.

Bring to a boil.

Turn heat down to medium and let it boil until the broth does not look watery, stirring often to prevent sticking (1-2 hours).

Combine the flour, raw egg, and salt in a small bowl.

Stir together till crumbly with a fork (may have to use your fingers).

Take parts of mixture and crumble over bean mixture in pot with fingers, stirring a little after each.

Dump any loose leftover flour from mixture into the beans to help thicken broth and stir well.

If you want more rivels, repeat the steps for making them.

      Lower the heat to simmer, uncovered, about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

                Cover and cook 5 minutes more.

Veteran Spotlight

By On · Add Comment · In Columns, Veteran Spotlight

Larry Thomas Brent

Died in Vietnam

by Richard D. L. Fulton

Larry Thomas Brent was born on May 10, 1946, in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, to parents Logan Brent and Susan Moore Brent.

Brent had seven brothers and five sisters “surviving” him at the time of his death, according to an obituary published in the January 18, 1968, The York Dispatch. 

Brent graduated from Gettysburg High School as a member of the Class of 1965. Subsequently, he served for six months in the National Guard before entering the Army in June 1966. Brent undertook his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Brent, who had achieved the designation of SP4 (Specialist 4) was assigned to the 6th Battalion, 77th Artillery.  According to 77fa.org, on October 15, 1966, the “6th Battalion, 77th Artillery was activated at Fort Irwin, California, as a towed-105mm howitzer battalion.”

“Towed” 105mm howitzers are lightweight field artillery that can be towed by another vehicle into action.  According to historynet.com, the “105MM howitzer was the mainstay of every firebase and used in nearly every major battle of the Vietnam War.” The gun-type generally employed a crew of six for operating it.

The battalion, along with Brent, arrived in Vietnam on May 22, 1967, and “was assigned to the II Field Force, the 6/77th Artillery, and was attached to the 25th Division and based at Cu Chi,” 77fa.org stated.

During October 1967, Vietnam was subject to severe rain and storms.  “By the end of September and during the first weeks of October, the monsoon season had made for rough combat conditions,” according to vietnamwar50th.com. 

October saw more than attacks from a fanatical enemy. On the home front, while the American soldiers weathered the storms, both in the form of lightning from the tempests and the bullets and incoming rounds from their artillery of the enemy, the “first national demonstration” against the war had been launched in opposition to the war, which included the Pentagon Riot of October 21, 1967.

Nevertheless, combat continued, despite supply lines having been disrupted by the severe weather. It was during the October deluge that Brent had been hit by enemy fire.

The York Dispatch reported in a story published on January 19, 1968, that Brent had been previously hospitalized during October 1967, in Vietnam, as the result of his having sustained a shrapnel wound. The newspaper noted that, after his recovery, “He returned to duty before Christmas with Battery A, Sixth Battalion, Seventy-Seventh Artillery.”

The Gettysburg Times reported on January 18, 1968, that “recovering from the October wound, he was given a rest and recreation leave over Christmas and then returned to duty.”

Regardless of when he had returned to duty, Brent was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of his injury. His mother was informed of his having received the medal in November.

Nothing out of the ordinary seemed to have made its way into the media or the public eye until the New Year, when, on January 18, 1968, The Gettysburg Times published a story under the headline, “Larry T. Brent Dies in Action Tuesday (January 16) in VN.” 

According to the story, Brent “has been killed in action in Vietnam…  Officers from the Army ROTC unit at Gettysburg College conveyed the message to the mother Wednesday evening.” 

The York Dispatch also reported on January 19 that Brent had been “killed in action (on January 16).”

However, military records seem to dispute the claim that Brent was “killed in action.” His cause of death is listed in U.S., Vietnam War Military Casualties, 1956-1998, as having been classified as “Non-Hostile – Died of Other Causes.” 

SP4 Larry Thomas Brent was laid to rest on January 24 in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The Gettysburg Times reported that, “An honor guard and pallbearers were provided by a military unit from the Carlisle Barracks.” The newspaper also noted that Brent was buried “with full military honors.”

SP 4 Larry Thomas Brent

health Matters

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

What Is An Aneurysm?

by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center

An aneurysm is a weak or expanded part of an artery, like a bulge in a balloon. Your arteries are large blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from your heart to other parts of your body. If an area in an artery wall weakens, the force of blood pumping through can result in a bulge or aneurysm.

Aneurysms usually aren’t painful. You might not know you have one unless it ruptures or bursts. If it does, it can be very dangerous or even fatal.

Different Types of Aneurysms

An aneurysm can form in any of the arteries in your body. Aneurysms can occur in your heart, abdomen, brain, or legs. The location determines the type of aneurysm.

Aortic aneurysms are by far the most common. They form in your aorta, your body’s largest artery. Your aorta carries blood out of your heart. Aneurysms that develop in arteries other than your aorta are called peripheral aneurysms.

Types of aneurysms include:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): These aneurysms may form where your aorta carries blood into your abdomen (belly).

Cerebral aneurysms: Also called brain aneurysms, these aneurysms affect an artery in your brain. A saccular (or berry) aneurysm is the most common type of cerebral aneurysm. It forms as a sack of blood attached to an artery. It looks like a round berry attached to the artery.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm: These aneurysms form in the upper part of your aorta, in your chest.

Carotid aneurysm: These aneurysms form in your carotid arteries. These blood vessels bring blood to your brain, neck, and face. Carotid aneurysms are rare.

Popliteal aneurysm: These develop in the artery that runs behind your knees.

Mesenteric artery aneurysm: This type of aneurysm forms in the artery that brings blood to your intestine.

Splenic artery aneurysm: These aneurysms develop in an artery in your spleen.

How Common Are Aneurysms?

Unruptured brain aneurysms affect 2 to 5 percent of healthy people, and about 25 percent of them have multiple aneurysms. Most brain aneurysms develop in adulthood—but they can also occur in children—with a mean age of detection around 50 years in adults. Many brain aneurysms don’t rupture.

Aortic aneurysms become more prevalent with age.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are four to six times more common in males than females.

Who Is At Risk of An Aneurysm?

Different types of aneurysms affect different groups. Brain aneurysms affect females more than males. Aortic aneurysms more often affect males.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur most often in people who are:

Male.

Over the age of 60.

Smokers.

White, although they affect people of any race.

What Are the Symptoms of An Aneurysm?

In many cases, people don’t know they have an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures (bursts), it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or someone you’re with shows signs of a ruptured aneurysm.

Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm come on suddenly. You may feel:

Lightheaded.

Rapid heartbeat.

Sudden, severe pain in your head, chest, abdomen, or back.

Sudden loss of consciousness following a severe headache.

   When an aneurysm causes symptoms, the signs depend on its location. You might notice signs of shock, such as a drop in blood pressure, feeling clammy and “out of it,” and having a pounding heart. Other symptoms of an aneurysm can include:

Confusion or dizziness.

Difficulty swallowing.

Fatigue.

Headache.

Nausea or vomiting.

Pain in your abdomen, chest, or back.

Pulsating abdominal mass or swelling in your neck.

Rapid heart rate.

Vision changes.

What Are the Complications of An Aneurysm?

If an aneurysm ruptures, it causes internal bleeding. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, a rupture can be very dangerous or life-threatening.

An aneurysm in your neck can cause a blood clot that travels to your brain. If the clot cuts off blood flow to your brain, it causes a stroke.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Some people call this type of stroke a brain bleed. Typically, people have what they call the worst headache of their life and then develop other symptoms like limb weakness, headache, and trouble speaking.

What Causes An Aneurysm?

In some cases, people are born with aneurysms. They can also develop at any point during your life. Although the cause of an aneurysm is often unknown, some possible causes include:

Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).

Family history of aneurysms.

High blood pressure.

Injury to your aorta.

How Is An Aneurysm Diagnosed?

Many aneurysms develop without causing symptoms. Your healthcare provider may discover it by accident during a routine checkup or other screening.

If you have symptoms that may indicate an aneurysm, your provider will do imaging tests. Imaging tests that can find and help diagnose an aneurysm include CT scan, CT or MRI angiography, and Ultrasound.

How Will My Healthcare Provider Classify An Aneurysm?

Your provider will classify an aneurysm by how large it is and how it forms. The different classifications include:

Fusiform aneurysm bulges out on all sides of your artery.

Saccular aneurysm causes just one side of your artery to bulge.

Mycotic aneurysm develops after an infection (typically in your heart valves) has weakened an artery wall.

Pseudoaneurysm or false aneurysm occurs when just the outer layer of your artery wall expands. This can occur after injury to the inner layer of your artery called dissection.

How Is An Aneurysm Treated?

If your provider discovers that you have an unruptured aneurysm, they’ll monitor your condition closely. The goal of treatment is to prevent the aneurysm from bursting.

Depending on the aneurysm’s type, location, and size, treatment can include medication or surgery. Your provider may prescribe medications to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, or control cholesterol. These treatments can help slow aneurysm growth and reduce pressure on the artery wall.

Large aneurysms at risk of bursting may require surgery. You’ll also need surgery if an aneurysm bursts.

How Can I Prevent An Aneurysm?

Unruptured aneurysms are common. You can’t always prevent them. But you can reduce your risk of developing an aneurysm by maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

Eat a heart-healthy diet.

Exercise regularly.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Avoid or quit smoking.

What Is the Prognosis for People With An Aneurysm?

Ruptured aneurysms are a life-threatening emergency. Without immediate treatment, it can be fatal. If you get treatment right away, the outcomes vary. Many people recover well with rehabilitation and other care.

If you are struggling with health issues, call the Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center at 240-651-1650 for a free consultation. Dr. Lo uses Nutritional Response Testing® to analyze the body to determine the underlying causes of ill or non-optimum health.

The office is located at 7310 Grove Road #107, Frederick, MD. Check out the website at www.doctorlo.com.

Thurmont Senior Center

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

Spring has sprung, and all of the April showers certainly brought the May flowers. I hope you all are taking the time to enjoy the beautiful weather and beautiful scenery we have all around us. We would love for you to stop into the Thurmont Senior Center for a visit just to see what we have going on.

Did you know that we have provided 4,269 meals, with 1,578 of those being delivered this fiscal year July 2023-March 2024? We are excited about the number of meals that we have been serving at our center and delivering. Did you know that we offer free delivery within six miles of the center? You can also pick up a lunch if you are not able to eat here with us. We really are blessed to have the fantastic restaurants in Thurmont providing our meals. We really have a fun time sharing meals together. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, we could always use delivery people or someone to drive seniors to the center or to appointments. Please feel free to reach out to see where you can help. We love our volunteers.

May is full of activities. Take the opportunity to take a look at the calendar of events we have scheduled. You can find our calendar on the website at thurmontseniorcenter.org, on Facebook, or come into the center and ask for one. We will happily get you one.

We would love for you to join us for a free balance and strength exercise session on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, beginning at 11:00 a.m. We play pinochle on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. We have Bunko on the second Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m., and Farkle on the fourth Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Thursdays are for dominoes at 12:30 p.m. We also play Bingo every first and third Wednesday of the month. If we have a fifth Wednesday, we hold a Special Bingo. It is always a fun time, full of laughter and special homemade treats for halftime.

I can’t forget to mention coffee—we are told it is the best! So, come in and have a cup with us. On Fridays, we have Zumba. We also offer Poker and 500.

Just a reminder that while some activities may have a minimal cost, joining the center is absolutely free.

Just to let you know, we have a whole corner dedicated to exercise. We have two treadmills, a stair climber, and a recumbent bicycle for use during our hours, 9:00-3:00 p.m.—there is no charge to use this equipment

We had two different rentals last month. There was a baby shower and a two-year-old’s birthday celebrated here. Each person said how much they enjoyed the facility. Call the Thurmont Senior Center to rent for different activities, such as a baby shower, a birthday party, or a bridal shower.

As always, if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call the Thurmont Senior Center at 301-271-7911.

CLASSIFIEDS

By On · Add Comment · In Classifieds

classified and display ads

To place a classified ad, submit and pay online at www.TheCatoctinBanner.com under the ‘Classifieds’ tab. A classified ad costs $20 and includes up to 200 characters in the For Sale, For Rent, Help Wanted, Yard Sales,  and Wanted categories. Classifieds under the Services category require a paid display ad. When purchasing a paid display ad, you may place a classified ad for free in the months you advertise. Also, continuous advertisers who have regular customer walk-in hours at their brick-n-mortar business location get an additional ad in the Town section. This is to encourage the quick reference reader to visit your business.

Wanted

Antiques & Collectibles like crocks, jugs, postcards, photographs, advertising items, old signs, old dolls, toys & trains (pre-1965), quilts, political items, guns, old holiday decorations, hunting & fishing items, jewelry, and coins; gold, sterling, coin collections, etc. Will buy one item or collection. 301-514-2631.

We buy gold & silver. Call 301-788-2626.

For RENT

HALL RENTAL: Weddings, Banquets, Events of any kind. Call the Thurmont American Legion at 301-271-4411 between 9 and 11 a.m.

Looking for a place for a meeting, reunion, reception, picnic, or party? St. John’s Church in Sabillasville rents its pavilion or parish hall. Contact Megan Doolittle at 301-514-3115 or stjohnsrc21780@gmail.com.

Looking for a storage solution? Storage units available for rent in Emmitsburg. Call Dan 301-788-2626.

Help Wanted

Rouzerville Church of the Brethren is searching for a pianist or organist, Sunday Mornings from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Please call 240-439-7061.

D&J Auto Enterprises, located at 12440A Creagerstown Road in Thurmont, is hiring for a skilled auto body tech and mechanic. Stop in and apply. www.newbillsautobody.com.

McDonald’s is Hiring! Minimum starting salary $13.25/hr. and above for Crew; $14.25/hr. (Thurmont & Walkersville) for Maintenance. Apply in person at your local McDonald’s or text 38000 and enter location code. Also hiring Managers!

Ott House, 5 W. Main Street, Emmitsburg. Hiring cooks, servers, and crew. 301-447-2625.

E Plus in Emmitsburg is Hiring! Full-time position. Looking for someone who is friendly, hard-working, motivated, and willing to learn. General knowledge of Microsoft & Adobe Acrobat programs; great phone skills and typesetting are a must. Mon.-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Competitive pay. Email art@epluspromotes.com or call 301-447-2804.

Camps Louise and Airy are hiring! We are looking for security guards (must be 18) & drivers (must be 21), If intertested email tallman@airylouise.org or visit airylouise.org

Camps Louise and Airy are hiring – Dining hall staff, dishwashers, housekeepers, inventory. If intertested email joanna@airylouise.org or visit airylouise.org.

Pondscapes in Thurmont is hiring additional crew members. Call (301) 271-4550.

Yard Sales

Guardian Hose Co. Yard Sale: Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Carnival Grounds, E. Main Street, Thurmont. Rain or shine. Breakfast & lunch available for purchase. Want a spot? $10 (12×14 space); you provide table. Contact Bev at 301-271-4289.

Graceham Moravian Church Yard Sale: May 7 & 8, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., 8231 Rocky Ridge Road, Thurmont.

Apples Church Yard Sale, May 10 & 11, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., 7908 Apples Church Rd, Thurmont.

Huge Yard Sale: May 16, 17 & 18, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. 16143 Kelbaugh Rd., Thurmont, Lots of great goodies, many outdoor treasures, kitchenware, home decor. Something for everyone!

Services

Web Design/Development/Web Maintenance/Data Entry Services.  Reasonable rates.Contact mtroxell1@verizon.net.

Septic tank pumping, Reliable Service and Reasonable Rates. Serving Frederick County and surrounding areas. Staley’s Onsite Services 301-788-3636 or email staleysonsite@gmail.com.

Asphalt paving and seal coating by Frederick County Paving. Call 301-662-2820 for a free estimate or email frederickcountypaving@comcast.net.

Visit Quality Tire in Emmitsburg for super tire service at 17650 Creamery Road in Emmitsburg. Call 301-447-2909.

Accounting services and tax management and filing with Melissa Wetzel in Emmitsburg. Schedule your appointment today at 301-447-3797.

Maryland Potomac Edison residential or commercial customers are eligible for a Maryland Quick Home Energy Check (QHEC) performed by Perry Joy, a BPI-Certified Home Energy Professional. It is FREE and you receive $150 worth of energy-saving products. Eligible customers sign up online at www.energyauditinfo.com or call Perry Joy at 443-974-7966 for info.

Affordable Lawn Care and Handyman Service gives free estimates and there’s no job too small. Call 240-651-4248 for mowing, trimming, edging, mulching, home repairs, and maintenance.

High tensile, board & post fence repair and replacement. Property maintenance, exterior painting, house cleanouts, junk removal, hauling, and weeding. Also bush hogging and skid loader service. Call Mike at 240-285-6648.

Community Calendar

By On · Add Comment · In Calendar

Event Advertisements

You may advertise an event in our calendar for free by submitting an entry under the ‘Calendar’ tab at www.TheCatoctinBanner.com. For a more detailed listing (details, contact information, ticket information, and web address), please sign up for a paid display ad under the Calendar tab and reference the Advertisement Rates tab for costs and contract. Paid display ads come with a detailed calendar listing and a write-up in the Around Town section that references your ad page. Calendar listings will be listed only in the calendar month in which they take place.

May Community Calendar

1….. Catoctin Youth Ass. Football & Cheer Registration Open. Deadline: June 30. Flag football; tackle football; cheerleading. Register: www.cyafootballcheer.com.

1…… Women’s Bible Study (every Wednesday), Thurmont UMC, 13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 9:30 a.m. Meet in the Church Social Hall.

1…… Queen of Hearts Drawing (every Wednesday), American Legion Post 168, 8 Park Ln., Thurmont. 7:30 p.m.

1…… Cornhole Tournament (every Wednesday), American Legion Post 168, 8 Park Ln., Thurmont. 7 p.m.

1…… Teen De-Stress with W.A.G.S Therapy Dogs, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4 p.m.

2…… 3-D Archery Shoots, Indian Lookout Conservation Club, 17107 Riffle Rd., Emmitsburg. Every Thursday, 5 p.m. until dark. Everyone welcome.

2…… Bingo (every Thursday), American Legion Post 168, 8 Park Ln., Thurmont. 7 p.m.

2…… Line Dancing (every Thursday), American Legion Post 168, 8 Park Ln., Thurmont. 7 p.m.

2…… Piano Citizens in Concert, Paul Recital Hall, 210 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA. 6:30 p.m.

2…… Over 40 Self-Defense Classes (every Thursday), Thurmont UMC,  13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 7-8:30 p.m. With Master Pete Golden. Call 301-991-7839.

2…… Taekwondo Classes for Youth (every Thursday), Thurmont UMC,  13880 Long Rd., Thurmont.   5 p.m. With Master Pete Golden. Call 301-991-7839.

2-9… Early Voting – Primary 2024, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. All day.

3…… Bingo (every Friday night), Thurmont Event Complex, 13716 Strafford Dr., Thurmont. Doors open 5 p.m.; Bingo 6:45 p.m. Tip jars; food; jackpot up to $1,000. Benefits Thurmont Community Amb. Srv. www.thurmonteventcomplex.com.

3-5… Memory Lab Appointment, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont.

4…… First Baptist Church’s Spring Fling, Thurmont Community Park, 21 Frederick Rd., Thurmont. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free food, games, prizes, crafts, puppets, moonbounce, face painting, live music by 5.5 Band. www.fbcthurmont.org.

4…… Emmitsburg Community Chorus Spring Concert, Lewistown United Methodist Church, 11032 Hessong Bridge Rd., Thurmont. 3 p.m. All invited. Free-will offering benefits the chorus. Light refreshments follow the concert.

4 ….. Guardian Hose Co.’s Yard Sale, Thurmont Carnival Grounds, 123 E. Main St., Thurmont. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. $10 (12×14 space; you provide table). Bev 301-271-4289. Breakfast & lunch available.

4…… May Yard Sale, Fort Ritchie Community Center 14421 Lake Royer Dr., Cascade. 8 a.m.

4…… Spring Festival, E. Eugene Myers Community Park, 201 W. Lincoln Ave., Emmitsburg. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

4…… Vigilant Hose Company at Jubilee in Emmitsburg. Noon-2 p.m.,Bring the kids to check out the fire truck, get some goodies & meet some of our local heroes.

4…… Sensory Friendly Prom, Frederick Parks & Recreation, Scott Key Community Center, 1050 Rocky Springs Rd., Frederick. 6-9 p.m. Ages 16+. $20/person. DJ, light refreshments, photo booth, all in sensory friendly environment w/quieter music. Event geared toward individuals w/disabilities. Advanced registration required: www.recreater.com/register or 301-600-2936.

4…… Monthly Craft Class w/Tanya, Thurmont UMC, 13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 10 a.m.-noon. Info.: 240-344-7349.

4…… Parent’s Night Out Party, Thurmont UMC,  13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Get some time away from the kiddies. Contact Brittany 301-514-6162 or email brittanypclark3@gmail.com.

4…… Bingo, St. Anthony’s Upper Hall, 16150 St.  Anthony Rd, Emmitsburg. Doors open 5 p.m.; games 6:30 p.m. Tip jars, 50/50, raffles & great food.

4…… Stuffed Animal Storytime, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 11 a.m.

4…… Asia on the Creek, Carroll Creek Linear Park, Market St., Frederick. Noon-5 p.m.

4-5… Stuffed Animal Sleep Over, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont.

5…… Shotgun Shoots (12 gauge & 410), Indian Lookout Conservation Club, 17107 Riffle Rd., Emmitsburg. Last shoot. Registration noon; shoots 1 p.m. Tip jars available. Everyone welcome.

5…… Cinco de Mayo w/ Beth Ohler & Co. of J&B Real Estate, Inc. at Thurmont Community Park. Free community event.

5…… Emmitsburg Community Chorus Spring Concert, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 8619 Blacks Mill Rd., Creagerstown. 3 p.m.

6…… Served With Grace Free Dinner, Graceham Moravian Church, 8231-A Rocky Ridge Rd., Thurmont. 5:30-7 p.m. www.gracehammoravian.org.

6…… Community Clothes Closet, Thurmont UMC, 13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 6-7:30 p.m. Free clothing for men, women & children.

6-10…….. An Ole Time Baptist Camp Meeting, 15231 Foxville Church Rd., Sabillasville. 7 p.m. Gospel singing & preaching. Speakers: Pastor Tom Fry, Evangelist Larry Gibbs & more. 301-620-PRAY (7729). Sponsored by Ambassador Baptist Church.

7…… Yoga (every Tuesday), American Legion Post 168, 8 Park Ln., Thurmont. 5:30-6:30 p.m.

7…… Elementary Afternoon: Open STEM Lab, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4:15 p.m.

7-8… Annual Spring Yard Sale, Graceham Moravian Church, 8231-A Rocky Ridge Rd., Thurmont. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

8…… Teen Open Craft Hour, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4 p.m.

9…… Tween Trivia Night, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 6 p.m.

10…. Elementary Youth Group, Thurmont UMC,  13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 6-7 p.m. Info.: 301-712-3373.

10…. Livestock Sale, Legacy Livestock Auctions, 137 Emmitsburg Rd., Thurmont. 6 p.m.

10-11…… Huge Yard Sale, Apples UCC, 7908 Apples Church Rd., Thurmont. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tons of great stuff for sale. Awesome hot dogs & baked goods available.

11…. Bingo, Rocky Ridge Vol. Fire Co., 13516 Motters Station Rd., Rocky Ridge. Doors open 5 p.m.; games 7 p.m. Food available for purchase.

11…. Vigilant Hose Co.’s Spring Fling, 17701 Creamery Rd., Emmitsburg. Gates open 10:30 a.m. Drawings begin noon. Rain or shine. No payout less than $500. $100/ticket (good for two people, food & drink). Bring your own tents, canopies & lawn chairs. www.vhc6.com.

11…. Mother’s Day Tea, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Hall, 103 N. Church St., Thurmont. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $12/person. Coffee, tea, light sandwiches, cupcakes, & scones. Small silent auction. Benefits Haiti Sister Parish.

11…. Mother’s Day Plant Sale on the Plaza, Blue Ridge Summit Free Library, 13676 Monterey Ln., Blue Ridge Summit, PA. 8 a.m.-noon.

11…. Concert on the Hill – Featuring the Down East Boys, Tom’s Creek UMC at the Promised Land, 10918 Taneytown Pike, Emmitsburg. Free concert & Free meal. Meal 4:30 p.m.; concert 6 p.m. All welcome. Bring your lawn chairs & enjoy music. Free-will offering. www.tomscreekumc.com.

11…. Community Yard Sale, Grace “Rocky Hill” Lutheran Church, 10825 Coppermine Rd., Woodsboro. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

12…. Mother’s Day Country Breakfast, Union Bridge Fire Hall, 8 W Locust St., Union Bridge. 7 a.m.-11 a.m.

15…. Teen Tiny Painting, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4 p.m.

17…. Thurmont Main Street’s Art & Wine Stroll, Thurmont Main St., Thurmont. 5-8 p.m. Sample wine from local vineyards, handcrafted beers from local breweries & spirits from local distilleries, meet local artists/artisans, pick from three food trucks & enjoy musical entertainment. Wear your best Preakness Hat; judging contest at 10Tavern 8:30 p.m. (prizes for top five hats). www.thurmontmainstreet.com.

18…. Big Money Cash Bash, Thurmont Event Complex, 13716 Strafford Dr., Thurmont. Gates open 10 a.m. $20/person. Food, beer, wine coolers, soda included 12-5 p.m. Drawing begins 11:45 a.m. Winner every 5 min. Tickets: 301-748-5359 or 301-271-3820.

18…. Indoor Yard & Bake Sale, Germantown Church of God, 16924 Raven Rock Rd., Cascade. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

18…. Strawberry Festival, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 17015 Sabillasville Rd., Sabillasville. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Homemade soups & sandwiches, strawberry pies/sundaes/shortcake, variety of baked goods. www.stmarkssabillasville.org. 301-241-3287.

18-19…… Visit Historic Harriet Chapel During the Maryland Iron Festival, 12625 Catoctin Furnace Rd., Thurmont. May 18: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; May 19: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Both days: enjoy free Docent-led Tours of beautiful historic stone building. Sat. only: food, baked goods, free crafts for kids. www.harrietchapel.org. 301-271-4554.

19…. Paint With Nancy, Weller UMC, 101 N. Altamont Ave., Thurmont. 2-4 p.m. Free Handed or Predrawn Canvas/Fan Blade. Painting is a sunflower. $30/person. RSVP by May 10: 240-674-4944.

21…. Community Clothes Closet, Thurmont UMC, 13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Free clothing for men, women & children.

22…. Teen Sphero Racing, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4 p.m.

23…. Tween Evening: Book Safes, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 6 p.m.

23…. Thurmont Grange Roy Rogers Fundraiser and Bake Sale Night, Roy Rogers, 203 Frederick Rd., Thurmont. 4:30-8 p.m.

24-27…… Garage Sale, 3607 Bull Frog Rd., Taneytown. 9 a.m.

25…. Horse & Tack Sale, Legacy Livestock Auctions, 137 Emmitsburg Rd., Thurmont. Starting at Noon for Tack & 3 p.m. for Horses. 240-440-4841.

25…. Thurmont Lions Club’s Sandwich Sales, Bell Hill Farm, Rt. 15, Thurmont. 9 a.m.-sold out. Pit beef, pork, ham & turkey sandwiches.

27…. Community Clothes Closet, Thurmont UMC, 13880 Long Rd., Thurmont. 6-7:30 p.m. Free clothing for men, women & children.

28…. (thru June 1) Thurmont Comm. Amb. Co.’s Carnival, Thurmont Event Complex, 13716 Strafford Dr., Thurmont. Nightly entertainment, homemade food, fireworks (May 31), rides, games, raffles & more. Pre-sale ride tickets avail.: Event Complex; Woodsboro Bank (Thurmont); Kountry Kitchen; Weis Markets; Direct To You Gas Station. www.thurmonteventcomplex.com.

29…. (thru June 1) 39th Annual Carnival, Mother Seton School, 100 Creamery Rd., Emmitsburg. Rides, live music, games, food & more. 6-10 p.m.

29…. Teen Sand Art, Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Rd., Thurmont. 4 p.m.

30-31     Union Bridge Fire Company Carnival, Union Bridge Carnival Grounds, 8 W. Locust St.,  Union Bridge. 6-10 p.m.

AROUND town

By On · Add Comment · In Around Town

Vigilant Hose Company’s Spring Fling

Vigilant Hose Company’s much-anticipated annual Spring Fling will be held on Saturday, May 11, at the Activities Building on Creamery Road in Emmitsburg. Ticket cost is $100 per ticket and is good for two people; ticket price includes food, drink, entertainment, and chances on drawings. Bring your own tents, canopies, and lawn chairs. Grand prize is $10,000! No payouts less than $500! Purchase and return your tickets by March 1 for two chances at a $1,000 early bird drawing prize. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. View the advertisement on page 31 for information on how to purchase your tickets today!

Thurmont Community Amb. Company’s Carnival

Mark your calendars now for Thurmont Community Ambulance Company’s Carnival on May 28 through June 1, at the Thurmont Event Complex on Strafford Drive in Thurmont. Come out one night or every night for nightly platters, live music, rides, games, fireworks (May 31), raffles, and much more! Get your pre-sale ride tickets now, and ride from 6:00-10:00 p.m. for $20.00! View advertisement on page 5 for more details and information on how to get your tickets today!

Legacy Livestock Auctions

Legacy Livestock Auction LLC, at 137 Emmitsburg Road in Thurmont, is holding a Livestock Sale on May 10, starting at 6:00 p.m. The Horse & Tack Sale will be held on May 25, starting at 12:00 p.m. for Tack and 3:00 p.m. for Horses. View the advertisement on page 43 for more information.

Graceham Moravian Church’s Spring Yard Sale

Graceham Moravian Church is holding its Annual Spring Yard Sale on May 7-8, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The church is located at 8231-A Rocky Ridge Road in Thurmont. View the advertisement on page 42 for more information.

Tom’s Creek UMC Events

Join Tom’s Creek UMC at The Promised Land, 10918 Taneytown Pike in Emmitsburg, for a free Concert on the Hill, featuring Down East Boys, on May 11 at 6:00 p.m., with a free dinner at 4:45-5:45 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music! Free-will offering. All are welcome. Mark your calendars for two not-to-be-missed upcoming events: July 6—BBQ Fundraiser (dine in/carry-out); July 27—The Hyssongs Concert on the Hill at 6:00 p.m., with a free dinner at 4:30 p.m. Need mulch? Tom’s Creek United Methodist Church, Emmitsburg, is hosting a “MULCH” FUNDRAISER beginning May 1: $5.00/3-cubic ft. bag Brown Hardwood Mulch or $4.00/20 bags or more. Orders can be picked up at Baughman Farm, 12120 Harney Road in Taneytown.  Contact Curtis Baughman at 443-336-5269 to order mulch or if you have any questions. The mulch can be delivered to you for a goodwill donation. View the advertisement on page 49 for more information.

Bingo — Every Friday Night

The Thurmont Community Ambulance hosts its Friday Night Bingo every Friday! Come out to the Thurmont Event Complex every Friday night to play bingo! Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Bingo starts at 7:00 p.m. Bingo also features tip jars, food, and a jackpot up to $1,500! Proceeds benefit Thurmont Community Ambulance. View the advertisement on page 7.

Indian Lookout Shotgun Shoots

Indian Lookout Conservation Club in Emmitsburg will hold its last Shotgun Shoots (12 gauge & 410) on May 5. Registration begins at noon; shoots start at 1:00 p.m. The 3-D Archery Shoots are held Thursday evenings, starting at 5:00 p.m.. View the advertisement on page 30 for more information.

Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Bingo

Enjoy an evening of Bingo at the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in Rocky Ridge on Saturday, May 11. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with games starting at 7:00 p.m. Come hungry! Food is available for purchase. View the advertisement on page 36 for more information.

2024 BIG MONEY Cash Bash

Save the date for the 2024 Big Money Cash Bash on Saturday, May 18, at the Thurmont Event Complex on Strafford Drive in Thurmont, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. Bring your lawn chairs and canopy! Food, beer, wine coolers, and soda is included. No coolers are allowed. No one under 18 years of age; ID required. No carryouts allowed. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Drawing begins at 11:45 a.m., with a winner every 5 minutes! Ticket holder can win multiple prizes! View the advertisement on page 20 for more details and information on how to purchase your tickets today!

Mighty Tikes Triathlon

Frederick County Parks & Recreation is holding a Mighty Tikes Triathlon (ages 3-5) on Saturday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at Ballenger Creek Park. Pedal your way through the bike course, then on to the running portion, and finish with water obstacle course! Registration is required: www.recreater.com. View the advertisement on page 7 for more information.

Thurmont Lions Club’s 2024 Sandwich Sales

It’s back! The Thurmont Lions Club is holding its popular sandwich sale at Bell Hill Farm on Rt. 15 in Thurmont on Saturday, May 25, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (or until sold out). The popular sale features pit beef, pork, ham, and turkey sandwiches. View the advertisement on page 10 for more information and for future sale dates.

Mother Seton School’s 39th Annual Carnival

The Mother Seton School’s Carnival is Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, at 100 Creamery Road in Emmitsburg. The carnival opens at 6:00 p.m., with rides, food, live music, games, and more! View the advertisement on page 13 for more information.

Mt. Tabor Church Park Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these not-to-be-missed upcoming events at Mt. Tabor Church Park in Rocky Ridge: June 8, 3:00-8:00 p.m.—Taylor Brown’s ELVIS and Yard Sale (Friday and Saturday); July 20, 3:00-8:00 p.m.—Music by Honky Tonk Twins and Yard Sale (Friday and Saturday); August 10, 2:00-8:00 p.m.—Baby Show, music by Tall in the Saddle, plus tractor ride; August 12-17—Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Carnival; October 11-13, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.—Ridgefest. View the advertisement on page 19 for more information.

Mother’s Day Tea

Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Thurmont is hosting a Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, May 11, at the Parish Hall,  from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Enjoy coffee, tea, cupcakes, scones, light sandwiches, and a small silent auction. Linens and jewelry will be on sale. Admission is $12.00 per person and makes a wonderful Mother’s Day gift!  View the advertisement on page 16 for more information.

Catoctin Youth Association Football & Cheer Registration

Registration for Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) programs for grades K-8—Flag Football, Tackle Football, and Cheerleading—is open. Registration deadline is June 30: www.cyafootballcheer.com. View the advertisement on page 24.

Graceham Moravian Church’s Served With Grace Free Dinner

Graceham Moravian Church, located at 8231-A Rocky Ridge Road in Thurmont, will hold its Served With Grace Free Dinner on Monday, May 6, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. View the advertisement on page 42 for more information.

Weller UMC Special Events

Weller UMC in Thurmont is holding Paint With Nancy on May 19, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Painting is a sunflower. Vacation Bible School is June 21, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., for grades K-5. Lunch is provided. A Thurmont Kountry Kitchen Fundraiser is on June 1, from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Twenty-five percent of all sales go to Weller UMC. View the advertisement on page 61 for more information, as well as for regular Service times.

Seton Center Upcoming Events

The Seton Center on East Lincoln Avenue in Emmitsburg is holding a Father’s Day Raffle, featuring Thurmont’s own “Wait, What?” Sauce and gifts. On June 15, join the Seton Center for a free cookie decorating, sponsored by Awesome Shortbread Cookies. The Seton Center is looking for donations of men’s clothing, especially summerwear. View the advertisement on page 45 for more information.

Good Soil Farms Summer Barn Dance Series

Get ready for some fun and come out to Good Soil Farms in Emmitsburg for its Summer Barn Dance Series, on June 8, July 13, August 31, and September 28, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. View the advertisement on page 17 for more information.

Huge Yard Sale at Apples UCC

Apples United Church of Christ in Thurmont is holding a Huge Yard Sale on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11, from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tons of great stuff of sale! Hot dogs and baked goods will be available. View the advertisement on page 3 for more information.

St. Mark’s Strawberry Festival

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sabillasville is holding its Strawberry Festival on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Come and enjoy homemade soups and sandwiches, strawberry pies/sundaes/shortcake, plus a variety of baked goods. View the advertisement on page 21 for more information.

Cinco de Mayo

Join Beth Ohler & Co. of J&B Real Estate on Sunday, May 5, Cinco De Mayo, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., at Thurmont Community Park for a free community event. View the advertisement on page 24.

Thurmont Main Street’s Art & Wine Stroll

Enjoy an evening strolling through Thurmont Main Street on Friday, May 17, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., and meet local artists and artisans; sample wine from local vineyards, handcrafted beer from local breweries , and spirits from distilleries; pick from three food trucks; and enjoy musical entertainment. You won’t want to miss it! And, it’s Preakness Hat Night, so wear your best Preakness Hat while you stroll the streets of Thurmont! A Preakness Hat Judging Contest will be held at 8:30 p.m. at 10Tavern—prizes will be awarded for the top five hats/headpieces! View the advertisement on page 40 for more information.

Thurmont United Methodist Church Programs

Thurmont United Methodist Church (UMC) is holding self-defense classes (for ages 40 and over) on Thursdays, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Work on both your mental and physical health and learn practical self-defense techniques. Call the church to register for Parents Night Out on the first Saturday of every month, from 4:30-8:30 p.m., where parents get a break while their kids get entertained! Drop off your gently used donations to the Thurmont UMC Community Clothes Closet, which provides free clothing to the public. All Thurmont UMC services and programs are open and free to the community. View the advertisement on page 51 for more information on these programs, as well as the Sunday Services schedule.

Visit Historic Harriet Chapel During Maryland Iron Festival

Make sure to visit Harriet Chapel, located at 12625 Catoctin Furnace Road in Thurmont, during the Maryland Iron Festival on May 18, from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and May 19, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. On both days, enjoy free Docent-led Tours of its beautiful and historic stone building. On Saturday only, enjoy delicious food, yummy baked goods, and free crafts for the kids. View the advertisement on page 25 for more information.

St. Anthony’s Bingo

St. Anthony’s Shrine in Emmitsburg is holding a Bingo on Saturday, May 4, in St. Anthony’s Upper Hall. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with games starting at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy 50/50, tip jars, raffles, and great food! View the advertisement on page 16 for more information.

Vigilant Hose Fire Truck at Jubilee

The Vigilant Hose Company will be at Jubilee in Emmitsburg on Saturday, May 4, from 12:00-2:00 p.m., with the fire truck! Bring the kids to check out the truck, get some goodies, and meet some of our local heroes. View the advertisement on page 64 for more information.

Thurmont First Baptist Church Spring Fling

Bring the whole family out to Thurmont First Baptist Church Spring Fling at Thurmont Community Park on Saturday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Enjoy music by 5.5 Men, plus free food, moon bounce, face painting, crafts, giveaways, and more! View the advertisement on page 8 for more information.

Learning for Life Program Setting Students Up for Success

By On · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

Alisha Yocum

As you enter the Learning for Life (L4L) classroom at Catoctin High School (CHS), the smiles and laughter are contagious, and you can’t help but feel the love being spread by students and staff alike.

On the day I visited, students were in the middle of a lesson about vegetables. The students were planting seeds, which they hope will yield a harvest in the future with the help of the Science Department down the hall. Students were sharing their likes and dislikes of the vegetables pictured on the box of seeds—many of whom were not fond of beets. 

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) offers the L4L Program for students with a variety of developmental and cognitive disabilities. Through small class settings, students learn functional academic and life skills as they work to earn a High School Certificate of Completion. All ten high schools in the county have a L4L program, as well as Crestwood, Middletown, Oakdale, Walkersville, and West Frederick Middle Schools, and Glade, Monocacy, Orchard Grove, and Twin Ridge Elementary Schools.

This is the first year that the L4L program is being offered at CHS, with six students currently enrolled. Jessica Coblentz, a former L4L teacher at Monocacy Middle and a Special Education teacher at Thurmont Middle School, jumped at the opportunity to teach the L4L program when it became available. She currently leads the classroom along with Special Education Assistants, Brenda Triantis, Lacey Littleton, and Lizzie Dougherty. 

A typical day for L4L students at CHS includes a mixture of academics and life skills. Students have jobs that teach them skills to become more independent after high school. Two students help in CHS’s pre-school program, while the others go

off campus to the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve. There, students help with jobs like wiping down tables, setting up and preparing for upcoming events, and general cleaning.

Ashlyn Riggles, Relationship Visibility Champion, at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve said they love when the L4L students come to the preserve. “As the kids began coming, they got more excited and more comfortable with our staff. They began asking questions about animals and opening up about themselves.”

It is clear that the L4L students enjoy coming to school every day. When asked what they like about school, the word “Everything” was blurted out without hesitation from student Riley Elias. Although, when taking a minute to think about it, the parade seemed to be a crowd favorite. The L4L Program decorated and rode a float through the Homecoming Parade in the fall. The group came up with a theme and made the decorations themselves. Animals were another crowd favorite, from the animals they see at the zoo to the class pets and a new project, incubating eggs, which they are eagerly awaiting to hatch.

Another student, Josh Ramos, explained the black folders that are also part of their daily routines. Prior to coming to L4L, students relied on teachers to communicate with parents. As part of this program, students write in their folders every day and share what they did for the day and what activities they have coming up to learn responsibility.

Coblentz says she loves the flexibility the program offers to get the students what they need. If academics aren’t working in the morning, then they have the flexibility to adjust their schedule, and if things aren’t working, they can pause and have grace. Through this flexibility, Coblentz says she can see the growth in all the students from the beginning of the year.

Triantis, who they call Mrs. T, said that she is rewarded every day she comes to work. “It is especially rewarding seeing them go out on jobs and learning skills that will make a difference in their life.”

The L4L also has an open-door policy and encourages non-L4L students to visit the classroom frequently. Jacob Hemler, a CHS student who helps out in the L4L classroom in the afternoons, clearly has developed a great relationship with the L4L students. As he entered the classroom on the day of my visit, students were quick to acknowledge him, and a little bantering began in good fun. Coblentz says CHS is a great place for the L4L program. Students and the community are so open and welcoming, and this atmosphere allows the L4L students to thrive as they interact in the hallways and help with jobs around school.

As I left the L4L classroom that day I certainly couldn’t help but feel uplifted by the students who had put a smile on my face from the moment I walked into their classroom. I can’t wait to check back and hear about all the success this program will bring to current and future L4L students in the Catoctin community.     

Catoctin High School Learning for Life teacher, Jessica Coblentz, with her students.


Students from the Learning for Life Program help at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve with general cleaning duties and upcoming events.

Learning for Life students plant seedlings in the greenhouse.

Town Hall Report

By On · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

by James Rada, Jr.

Thurmont

Parking Option Explored

Parking in downtown Thurmont has become a problem, with the municipal parking lot regularly filled to capacity. Thurmont Economic Development Director Vickie Grinder and Commissioner Bill Blakeslee investigated possible solutions to the problem and came up with a promising solution.

They reached an agreement in principle with the American Legion to turn the empty field beside the Legion hall into a parking lot. The town would develop and maintain the parking lot, which would create an additional 40 to 50 parking spaces. The Legion would still own the land and carry the liability insurance for the parking lot. The lots would then be available for both as a municipal lot and for Legion activities.

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners believe the solution is worth pursuing. They directed Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick to get estimates on what it would cost to build the parking lot.

Commissioners Take Action On Sidewalk Obstructions

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners voted to revise the municipal code to stop homeowners from allowing the sidewalks on their property to be obstructed without a special permit from the town. Failure to do so will now result in a civil fine. The issue arose because a home in town kept scaffolding up for an extended period of time, forcing people, including school students, to walk in the street to get around the property.

The changes also make the property responsible for keeping the sidewalk in reasonable repair. Failure to do so will also be a civil infraction and fined.

YMCA Bringing Programs to Thurmont

Interest in bringing the Frederick County YMCA to Thurmont began in 2019, and it looked like it would happen in 2020, but then COVID hit and shut down just about everything. Since then, the YMCA has had to rethink how it delivers programming to underserved areas of the county. They developed a program called “Y on the Fly,” which is a mobile program that can bring equipment into an area and essentially create a pop-up YMCA.

In the coming months, the YMCA has a set of programs coming to Thurmont. A painting and drawing class will be held at the Thurmont Regional Library. A running club for children 7-12 years old will be held in the Community Park. A health class that talks about not only exercise, but also sleep and cardiovascular health, will be held in the library. In addition, the YMCA will also sponsor a one-day basketball skills clinic for children, ages 8-14.

The feedback from these classes will help the YMCA staff evaluate the need for and types of programming in Thurmont.

Sludge Pumps for the Wastewater Treatment Plant

Thurmont’s wastewater treatment plant has aging sludge pumps, one of which failed recently. At the request of Superintendent Randy Eyler, the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners voted to authorize $30,000 for the purchase of two new pumps for the plant.

Contract Awarded

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners awarded a $147,500 contract to Clean Cuts Lawn Care of Cavetown to cut the grass on town property for 2024 and 2025.

They also awarded Superior Facilities Management Services in Gaithersburg a $141,898.25 contract to replace the Community Park tennis courts.

Emmitsburg.

Town Receives Clean Audit

Michelle Mills and Addie Blickenstaff, CPAs with Deleon and Stang, presented the results of the annual independent audit of Emmitsburg’s financial statements for Fiscal Year 2023. They gave the town an unmodified or clean opinion, which is the highest rating that can be given.

However, the auditors did note some adjustments that needed to be done with the reports.

The material adjustments needed were in the capital projects, sewer, and water funds. This was because money paid with grant funds is not requested for reimbursement until the project is complete. Because of the time delay, it causes a mismatch sometimes between grant revenues and expenditures. The auditors recommended that the town review its policies to see if a more timely billing for grants can be done.

Two other adjustments were needed with the sewer fund that the auditors identified as an oversight during the financial close process.

Depaul Street Waterline Replacement Contract Awarded

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners awarded a contract to replace 2,340 feet of 8-inch waterline, replace the fire hydrants and copper water services, restore the asphalt pavement and concrete sidewalks, and traffic control along DePaul Street to W.F. Delauter & Son. Theirs was the low bid of $849,220.63. The project will be paid for with funds from three different grants.

Trash Contract Awarded

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners awarded a three-year trash service contract to Republic Services of Frederick. Republic will collect trash from approximately 1,142 units in town, weekly, and dispose of it in the landfill. In addition to curbside pick-up, Republic will also provide bulk-item curbside pickup twice a year and a roll-off dumpster for yard waste and discarded Christmas trees. The cost of the contract was $117,252, annually.

Change In Plan for New Park Restroom/Concession Stand

Upon recommendation from town staff, the Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners rejected the bids received for building a pre-fab restroom/concession stand building at E. Eugene Myers Park. It was found that if the town purchased the building directly from Smith Midland, it could save the town around $70,000. Although the town still needs to bid for the site work, the submitted bids included a mark-up from the bidders. This is roughly the amount the town will save by working directly with the manufacturer.

The commissioners voted to spend $217,124 to purchase the building from Smith Midland. They also voted to request bids for the site work, which is expected to cost around $50,000.

“Frog Eyes”

By On · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

Pennsylvania’s State Fossil

Richard D. L. Fulton

Some 350 million years ago, “Frog Eyes” plowed through the mud and silt on the floor of an ancient sea that had then covered much of the area that would someday become the State of Pennsylvania.

Based upon the discovery of the fossilized gut contents of a related creature that once foraged the sea bottom in the Czech Republic, “Frog Eyes” likely sought out such morsels of food such as that provided by the presence of small, nearly microscopic, crustaceans. It’s likely that small soft-bodied sea creatures were on “Frog Eyes”’ menu as well.

While “Frog Eyes” became extinct some 300 million years ago, the creature’s “legacy” lives on as Pennsylvania’s state fossil… sort of.

Specifically, “Frog Eyes” was a sea creature presently known as a trilobite (derived from the fact that the shell, or carapace, of these animals was divided into three sections or lobes). Scientifically, “Frog Eyes” was given the name Phacops rana in 1832 by paleontologist Jacob Green.

Phacops rana literally translates into “frog eyes,” rana being Latin for frog, while phacops is Greek for lenses (referring to the eyes, which were comprised of many lenses, like that of a bee’s).

The fossils of Phacops rana are plentiful in Pennsylvania, where they lived during a period of time known as the Middle Devonian, the rocks of which in Pennsylvania are comprised of layers of dark shale and siltstones. Adults can range in size from about 3.5 inches to 5 inches.

Phacops rana was designated as being the state fossil of Pennsylvania by an act of the state General Assembly of the Commonwealth on December 5, 1988, a decree which stated, “Fossils of Phacops rana are found in many parts of Pennsylvania, and, therefore, the Phacops rana is selected, designated and adopted as the official State fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania…”

 Seems straight forward enough, right? Maryland thought so back in 1984, when the Maryland General Assembly designated a prehistoric snail, Ecphora quadricostata, as the state fossil. Three years later, it was discovered they had designated the incorrect species of Ecphora as their state fossil, resulting in the state General Assembly having to redesignate the proper species, Ecphora gardnerae, as being the state fossil.

Presently, Pennsylvania’s state fossil is faced with the same enigma. Since Phacops rana was designated as Pennsylvania’s state fossil, it was subsequently discovered that the species is not even a member of the genus Phacops, but instead is a member of the genus Eldredgeops, which was named for paleontologist, Niles Eldredge.

Apparently, Phacops only occurred in Africa during the Devonian Period, and Eldredgeops is the proper generic name for the species that lived in the oceans that covered the Americas. As a result, Pennsylvania’s state fossil, Phacops rana then became known as Eldredgeops rana, which also resulted in the old name of “Frog Eyes” then becoming “Eldredge’s Frog.”

The name change reportedly occurred in the 1990s, when paleontologists evaluated the genus Phacops and Eldredgeops.

Apparently, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly didn’t get the memo. Unlike Maryland, the name change has yet to be reflected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the erroneous name, Phacops rana, is still indicated as being the current state fossil on Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources website.

If the reader might be interested in trying to find a specimen or so of Pennsylvania’s state fossil, a couple of references might prove to be of assistance in the quest (neither are in print, but both can be found online): Fossil collecting in Pennsylvania by Donald M. Hoskins, Jon D. Inners, and John A. Harper (the writer of ‘Frog Eyes’ – Pennsylvania’s State Fossil served as a consultant for this book, as indicated in the acknowledgments), and Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Mahantango Formation in South-Central Pennsylvania by R. L. Ellison.

Robert Seton

By On · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

Grandson of an American Saint

Richard D. L. Fulton

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized) declared a saint by the Catholic Church), which was achieved on September 14, 1975, under the auspices of Pope Paul VI.

Seton, who resided in Emmitsburg from 1809 up until the time of her death from tuberculosis on January 4, 1821, at age 46. Her remains are presently interred within the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

The story of her life is legend—documented in many written accounts and books as such that it not be elaborated further upon herein—but perhaps a great deal less has been written about her descendants. This story is about one of her descendants, grandson Robert Seton.

Elizabeth Seton was born Elizabeth Bayley on August 28, 1774, in New York City, to parents Dr. Richard Bayley and his wife, Catherine Charlton Bayley.

She married William Magee Seton, a wealthy New York shipping entrepreneur on January 25, 1794, and the couple had five children: Anna Maria, William, Richard, Catherine, and Rebecca. William Seton subsequently died from tuberculosis on December 27, 1803, in Italy.

Prior to William Seton’s death, his health had declined due to the pressures resulting from the stress of his having suffered financial ruin in New York, and the family had moved to Italy, according to the Maryland State Archives.

Elizabeth Seton’s son, William, and his wife, Emily Seton, had nine children, one of whom was Robert Seton, who was born in Livorno, Provincia di Livorno, Toscana, Italy, on August 28, 1839. Robert Seton was one of seven of William and Emily Seton’s nine children who survived into adulthood.

Seton spent his childhood at his parent’s 51-acre estate, “Cragdon,” in Westchester County, New York. The estate was acquired by Emily Seton in 1840 upon the death of her father, Nathaniel Prime. The couple soon converted the estate into a working farm, according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Today, much of the estate is preserved within Seton Falls Park. The “falls” was actually constructed by William and Emily Seton.

In 1850, Robert Seton enrolled at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg. According to encyclopedia.com, he studied at the Mount for two years before departing with his parents to Pau in southern France “where he continued his schooling.”

After his mother, Emily Seton, died in France in 1854, he continued his studies in Europe, and in 1857, studied theology and Canon law in Rome, graduating in 1867 with honors from the Accademia Ecclesiastical (also known as the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy). In 1865. Seton was ordained under the title of patrimony (ordained clerk).

In 1866 Seton was advanced to the rank of private chamberlain to Pope Pius IX, and in 1867 he was honored with the title of prothonotary apostolic. As a result, Seton became the first individual from the United States named to these two titles.

After securing his Doctor of Divinity degree from the Roman University of Sapienza, Seton returned to the United States, where he served, beginning in 1876, as the rector of Saint Joseph’s Church in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Seton returned to Rome in 1901 and was subsequently appointed Archbishop of the titular See of Heliopolis in Phoenicia by Pope Leo XIII in 1903.

In 1914, Seton returned to Emmitsburg to the former home and burial place of his grandmother (in Emmitsburg) and other family members (in the nearby cemetery at Mountain Saint Mary’s). The (Baltimore) Sun reported in their October 14, 1914, edition, “Archbishop Seton… came to (Emmitsburg) Maryland, as he said, to die and be gathered with his people.” The newspaper further noted that, upon his arrival in Emmitsburg, “(Seton) has established a headquarters at Mount Saint Mary’s College.”

However, he was not to die in Emmitsburg. Instead, less than a year later, he told The Sun (published in their August 18, 1915, issue) that he had decided to move to France “to spend the remainder of his life,” and to be buried where his parents had been buried in France. He stated that one of the main reasons for returning to France was to “try to alleviate the sufferings of the soldiers brought back from the fighting…”

Seton still did not achieve his final objective of passing away in Emmitsburg. Upon retiring in 1921 overseas, he returned to the United States and died in 1927 at the College of Saint Elizabeth, Morris Township, New Jersey, and was buried in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Newark.


Sketch of Archbishop Robert Seton (1839-1927); Source: National Cyclopaedia of American Biography,1893.

Beth Ohler & Co. Opens as a New Team of J&B Real Estate

By On · Add Comment · In Business News

Alisha Yocum

Beth Ohler & Co. recently started as a new team of J&B Real Estate. Ohler, who has been an agent for J&B Real Estate for seven years now leads her team out of the company’s office in Walkersville. Ohler says opening her new company allows her to maximize the team’s reach and allows for more flexibility in providing all the great services they offer!

Ohler’s team will include three additional agents and an administrative/marketing assistant. Combined, the team has over 14 years of experience.

Whether you are looking to sell or looking to buy your first home, a farm, land, or a townhouse, Ohler says she is ready to help you. The company even offers discounts for first responders!

When asked what advice Ohler had for the current real estate market, she advises sellers to use someone local who knows the market, so they can develop a strategy to maximize your sale. For buyers, she had similar advice: Don’t wait. Contact a realtor as soon as possible, even as much as a year out, so you can make sure everything is in order for when you are ready to buy.

Ohler resides on her farm in Thurmont with her husband, David, and two daughters, Madison and Jordyn.

When not selling real estate, you will find her around town at the softball fields or showing livestock her family raised on their farm. Ohler is also known for her support of the local community.

In December, Ohler connected with her parents at Kelco Plumbing and brother at Bulletproof Roofing to provide a Santa’s Workshop event for the community. Ohler says she hopes to do more events like this in the future, as giving back to the community is an important part of her business.

For more information about Beth Ohler & Co., view the advertisement on page 24.

The YMCA of Frederick County Brings Programs to Thurmont

By On · Add Comment · In Business News, Community News

Beginning mid-April, the YMCA of Frederick County, working with the Town of Thurmont, is bringing several six- to eight-week-long classes to the town of Thurmont, as well as a one-day youth basketball clinic.

The YMCA of Frederick County has two branches and seven locations (including Camp West Mar in Sabillasville), but provides programs and services out of about 40 locations throughout the county, including before/after school care in 25 elementary schools and 8 Head Start classrooms. And, now, they are bringing programs to Thurmont, using Thurmont Regional Library and Thurmont Community Park. Programs will include:

Painting and Drawing, Mondays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Thurmont Regional Library.

Youth Run Club, Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Thurmont Community Park.

Let’s Get Healthy, Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Thurmont Regional Library.

Flying Cows Basketball Skills Clinic, May 14, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (incl before/after care), Thurmont Community Park.

This is not the first time the YMCA has brought programs to Thurmont, but it is the first time in about two years. During COVID, the YMCA offered some one-day, family-friendly events outside at Thurmont Regional Park, but this is the first time the YMCA is bringing full-session, long programs, spanning a variety of program departments, including Arts & Humanities, Youth Sports, and Healthy Living.

The YMCA has been working with the Town of Thurmont to approve programs, find locations, and market the upcoming services. They recently attended the Thurmont town meeting and presented about the YMCA and the offered programs.

“We are so excited to be working in collaboration with the YMCA of Frederick County to bring the “Y On The Fly” programs to Northern Frederick County. The programs being offered for the spring session cover a wide range of interests for all ages. There is something for everyone,” says Vicki Grinder, economic development manager for the Town of Thurmont.

As part of its strategic plan, the YMCA is focusing on “offering vital Y programs and services throughout Frederick County by expanding programming.” The YMCA has hired Jon Watkins as director of Community Outreach to build and expand relationships with local governments and other organizations and nonprofits.

“Our mission is to provide critical services to those in underserved communities. We are excited about re-engaging in the town of Thurmont and look forward to learning more about the needs and interests of Thurmont residents,” says Chris Colville, president and CEO of the YMCA of Frederick County.

The YMCA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and provides programs to build a healthy body, mind, and spirit for all. Through their annual campaign, they provide financial assistance, ensuring everyone has access to programs and services to learn, grow, and thrive. To learn more about financial assistance or programs and services offered, please visit frederickymca.org.

Emmitsburg New Business and Development Briefs

By On · Add Comment · In Business News

The following are the statuses of new businesses and development coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report:

Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of US 15) — Under construction.

Seton Village — The applicant is seeking planning commission approval of a subdivision plat to convert two condominium units into two recorded lots. Town staff met with the applicant to discuss the forest conservation requirements.

Emmitsburg Distillery (East Emmitsburg Industrial Park II Lot 4) — Update plans have been received, and town staff is reviewing them.

Christ Community Church (Creamery Road) — The applicant has resubmitted site plan for review. A landscape plan stamped by licensed landscape architect and a final review of the lighting plan are still pending.

Mount St. Mary’s University E Wing Improvements (South Seton Avenue) — The planning commission conditionally approved the plan, and staff provided additional comments for the applicant to address. The applicant has yet to satisfy all the conditions of approval, particularly regarding the lighting plan.

St. Joseph Church (North Seton Avenue) — Applicant summited an improvement plant for the installation of a ramp that meets ADA standards. Staff is currently reviewing it.

Development Pipeline/Applicant Interest

Frailey Property Annexation — A potential developer is interested in developing the portion of the property within the town boundary before annexing and developing the rest of the property.

Emmit Ridge — Town Staff will meet with the DRB Group regarding a sketch plat.

Rodney McNair Property Annexation — Town staff is awaiting an annexation application.

When Continents Collide

By On · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

The Catoctin Mountain Story

Some things are taken for granted:   for example, Catoctin Mountain. The mountain has not always been there, and it will not remain there forever.  This is the mountain’s story.

The Catoctin Mountain shares its origins with that of the actual mountain chain of which they are a member: the Appalachian Mountain Chain. 

The Time Before Catoctin

In the beginning, there were no mountains where they presently exist. Their birth can be traced back to a period over one billion years ago, when there was only one supercontinent. Today, there are a few areas of the Appalachian Mountains where the billion-year-old remnants of this supercontinent can still be observed, one being near to an area where southwestern Maryland borders Virginia.

Around 750 million years ago, this supercontinent began to pull apart, resulting in the creation of subcontinents (which, incidentally, bore no resemblance to the continents as they exist today). As a result of this continental breakup, the land upon which the Catoctin Mountain is presently located was inundated by the ocean around 500 million years ago, as was most of what would ultimately become the Americas several hundreds of millions of years later.

From some 500 million years ago to about 358 million years ago, oceans covered much of what would later

become land. These oceans spanned several periods of time, including the Cambrian Period (541 million to 485.4 million years ago), the Ordovician Period (485.4 to 443.8 million years ago), the Silurian Period (443.8 to  419.2 million years ago), and the Devonian Period (419.2 to 358 million years ago).

During the course of time in which the oceans predominated, from 541 to 358 million years ago, the seas would witness the rise of the first major life forms during the Cambrian Period. Many of these life forms were so alien that paleontologists of today have not yet been able to determine where they should actually fit within the animal kingdom, due to the fact that they did not survive the Cambrian to be capable of providing any living examples with which to compare them.

On the upside, however, the ancient ancestors of virtually every modern form of life arose and survived, appeared in the Cambrian Period, and the explosion of life on Earth thus commenced with a vengeance.

But the sea floor from which the Catoctin Mountain was to arise was about to come to a cataclysmic event, setting the state for the formation of the Catoctin Mountain.

The continents of the earth, whether they be supercontinents or subcontinents, sit upon portions of solidified crust, which had formed into plates. These plates “drift” about on the surface of the Earth in almost imperceptible slow motion.

 As these plates drift about, they might break up into smaller plates or collide with other plates, thereby, becoming adhered to them. This geologic phenomenon is known as continental drift (also known as plate tectonics).

The Continents Collide

Around 335 million years ago, two continental plates—one referred to as the African Plate and the other called the North American Plate—began to move toward each other, like an irresistible force colliding with an immovable object, on a grand scale. 

The collision of the two continental plates was so violent that not only did their convergence form a new continent, which geologists have dubbed “Pangaea,” but as the North American Plate buckled from being rammed by the African Plate, the Appalachian Mountains (Catoctin Mountain included) were created.

Geologists have been able to identify three supercontinents that have existed over time on the Earth, according to Live Science, Future USA Inc.

The oldest was Columbia (also called Nuna), which existed from around 1.7 billion years ago to 1.45 billion years ago, during a period of time referred to as the Precambrian Period. A second supercontinent, called Rodinia, existed from a billion years ago to about 700 million years ago, also during the Precambrian. 

Pangaea became the third supercontinent and, to date, the last. But the Earth’s plates are still in motion, and someday in the future, there could be a fourth.

The Appalachian Mountains, along with the Catoctin Mountain, are mere remnants of the Appalachian Mountains of 300 million years ago. As the collision subsided, the Appalachian Mountains were as high as the modern-day Himalayas, and the entire mountain chain ranged from Newfoundland to Alabama. 

In Alabama, the Appalachians (on a section of the North American plate that had apparently slumped) were subsequently submerged beneath, and buried by the sediments that were deposited by oceans that covered much of the state, some 145 to 40 million years ago.

In addition to mountain building, the collision also transformed rocks that had lain beneath the surface before the continents collided, which were altered into new forms of rock.

The rock layers that had formed from the sediments that had been deposited by the overlying oceans before the great collision were comprised mostly of shale (which had formed from mud) and sandstone (which had formed from sand).  Among them were layers of lava (deposited by active volcanoes).

The force of the collision was such that even the crystalline nature of these basic rocks was altered, resulting in shale being converted into phyllite and meta-schist, sandstone being converted into quartzite, and lava being converted into metabasalt. Other basic rocks had also undergone extreme alteration, according to the National Park Service.

Catoctin Mountain Today

Catoctin Mountain as it exists today represents a mere remnant of the mountain it once was. So much of the former Catoctin Mountain has been eroded over the millions of years since its formation, that much of the soil of the fields to the sand at the beaches in Maryland originated as rocks in the primordial mountain. 

Even the dinosaurs of Maryland foraged and hunted on land that was generated by the once-commanding heights on the Appalachian Mountains; while, today, farmers can plow and beachgoers can build sandcastles out of the material generated by a dying mountain.

For those interested in collecting remnants of ancient Pangaea still preserved in Catoctin Mountain, restrict your quest to private land (with permission), public roadway roadcuts (where there are safe pull-offs to accommodate a vehicle), and quarries (with permission). However, stay away from federal and/or state lands.

Recommended equipment should include goggles (if one doesn’t already wear glasses), heavy-lined work gloves, a crack hammer (also called a hand sledge), and/or a rock pick, and a variety of cold steel chisels, as well as newspapers and a knapsack for containing specimens. It’s also advisable to label finds as to where they were specifically collected.

For additional reading, the following is suggested: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ website article, Maryland Rocks: Amateur mineral hunters find treasure, and the howtofindrocks.com website.

Someday, there will be no Appalachian Mountains…unless or until the continents collide once again.

In the 1930’s, after years of making charcoal to fuel the iron furnace, mountain farming, and harvesting of trees for timber, land was purchased to be transformed into a productive recreation area; helping to put people back to work during the great depression. Beginning in 1935, the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was under construction by both the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Fisherman tries his luck in a Catoctin Mountain stream.

Rock specimen: Catoctin Mountain metabasalt, which had been transformed from basalt (hardened lava) as the result of the impact of the continent.

County Equestrian Park Moving Forward

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Work Could Begin Spring/Summer 2024

James Rada, Jr.

The Richard W. Kanode Farm Park, a new county park that will focus on agricultural and equestrian pursuits, is moving closer to reality. The Frederick County Planning Commission voted in February that the Kanode Park Master Plan is consistent with the Frederick County Comprehensive Plan. It is now moving on to Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater for review, which should be finished this spring.

Richard W. Kanode donated a 183-acre parcel to the county in 2017 to be used as a park “for the use and enjoyment of the general public, containing agricultural, equestrian, educational, and recreational facilities consistent with the terms of the Agricultural Preservation Easement,” according to Kanode’s agreement with the county. He also donated $1 million to the Community Foundation of Frederick County to establish an endowment fund for the park.

The proposed park would include an obstacle course, a western riding arena, an outdoor practice arena, three miles of riding trails, and an enclosed arena for barrel racing and jumping. There will also be lawn parking for horse trailers, tent space for events, and a manure storage bay.

The park would include 64 acres for active farming, 6 acres for a managed meadow or orchard, a 10-acre native plant arboretum, and smaller garden plots for agricultural research and demonstrations.

Although the Frederick County Planning Commission is moving the park plan forward, it is not without detractors. Horse riders support it, but local farmers do not so much. Many of them feel the park will attract too many people for events.

If the project continues moving forward, the county has set aside $5.6 million in the FY2025 Capital Improvement Program to develop Phase 1 of the park over five years.

The park would seem to be a good fit with Frederick County. The preliminary plan pointed out that Frederick County “has a long horse history, starting with Frederick as a main stop on the National Highway with horses transporting goods from Baltimore to the West. The county has been the setting for large draft horse breeding operations. There have also been large horse racing farms.”

The Maryland Horse Census, compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, found that the county has 7,850 horses, making it the third largest county horse population-wise in Maryland, only trailing Baltimore and Montgomery counties.

Horses are kept in 1,600 places throughout the county, totaling 21,400 acres. All equine assets in the county total $442 million in value.

The county also has four Horse Discovery Centers. These are farms that have similar programs to what Kanode Park would offer, although Kanode might offer even a greater variety. The horse discovery centers are: Good Intentions Farm in Keymar, Foxie G Thoroughbred Rescue in Libertytown, Paradise Stables in New Market, and Silverado Frederick County 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program in Thurmont.

Phase 1 of the park development can begin shortly after the project receives the final approval from the county, which could be spring or summer of this year.

Grand Opening of Playground at Eyler Park

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Amanda Barber-McGuire (pictured above), president of Playground Specialist, Inc., cuts the ribbon for the grand opening of the cougar-themed playground at Eyler Park in Thurmont, which she designed.

Also in attendance were Thurmont Town Commissioners, President of Catoctin Youth Association John Steiner, Catoctin High School Principal Jennifer Clements, and several local kids.

Foxville Road Work Still Ongoing

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

The Maryland State Highway Administration closed MD 77 (Foxville Road) between Pryor Road and Park Central Road in January to assist Maryland Environmental Services with the renovation and replacement of a sewer line that runs under the road.

The Maryland Environmental Services is excavating the underground pipes, removing the sewer line, and installing a new one. Once this is done, the State Highway Administration will resurface the road.

The closure affects about two miles of the road on Catoctin Mountain, and it is expected to remain closed through May, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration website.

The closure was estimated to affect about 3,665 vehicle trips each day, and those vehicles are getting detoured using MD 77 to Route 15 to MD 550 to Foxville Deerfield Road and back to MD 77. Trucks and other large vehicles use MD 77 to MD 550 to MD 491 to MD 64. The detour routes are far longer than the original route.

For more information about the project, please contact Mr. Luke Page, Project Manager, at lpage@menv.com or (410) 729-8537.

Wags for Hope and Thurmont Police Department Announce Partnership

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Alisha Yocum

On March 19, the chairs in the Thurmont Town Meeting were filling up quickly, but not by who you may expect.

In attendance at the meeting were several four-legged friends, who were there to help the volunteers from Wags for Hope and the Thurmont Police Department announce their new partnership.

Wags for Hope is a local non-profit that provides volunteers with their pets to bring joy to the lives of others. During the meeting, Meghan Padhi, co-president of the organization, gave a brief presentation about the organization to the Thurmont Commissioners. During the presentation, she announced that they would now be partnering with the Thurmont Police Department and will use their dogs to bring stress-relief to the community through attending outreach events, visiting the police department staff, and helping in cases where community members, especially children, have experienced trauma.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird expressed that when Kristi Woods, a Town of Thurmont employee and volunteer at Wags for Hope, brought her dog to visit him in the hospital, it really made a difference.

You may have already seen Wags for Hope volunteers and their furry friends around town, as they often visit schools and have a partnership with Frederick County Public Libraries, where children are able to read to the dogs, inspiring them to learn to read because an animal is non-judgmental and reading then becomes fun for them. The goal behind the R.E.A.D.® Program is to improve literacy skills and give children a positive association with reading.