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Thurmont Little League Kicks Off 73rd Season

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Alisha Yocum

Despite the weather not being particularly conducive to baseball, Thurmont Little League (TLL) families and local community members gathered for a great day of baseball at Opening Day on Saturday, April 6, to mark the beginning of the 2024 season.

The spirit of America’s beloved pastime prevailed as a large American flag flew proudly above the field, courtesy of Big Hook Crane & Rigging, setting the perfect ambiance for Opening Day.

TLL President Alex Kline led the ceremony, which included the announcement of all the baseball players, from T-ball through the Majors Divisions—a total of 252 players!

The ceremony continued with traditions like the Little League pledge; the volunteer pledge, led by Chief Armstrong from the Thurmont Police Department; the presentation of colors by the Cub Scout Pack 270; and, of course, the ceremonial first pitch.

This year, TLL selected Craig Mayne, owner of Ace Hardware, to do the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Mayne has been a huge supporter of the league; he donated first aid kits to every team this year.

As the players and families battled the blistering winds, the celebrations concluded with the singing of the National Anthem by Allie Bryant, a freshman at Catoctin High School.

Festivities continued throughout the day, with the Baltimore Orioles Bird and Keyote from the Frederick Keys stopping by to take pictures with fans. Food trucks were also on-site, as well as local community businesses and organizations.

TLL would like to thank all of the 2024 season sponsors: 10 Tavern, Acacia Lodge No.155, Ace Hardware/Cousins Hardware Inc., Amber Hill Therapy Centers, American Legion Edwin C Creeger Jr. Post 168, Catoctin Dental, Catoctin Wildlife and Preserve, Center of Life Chiropractic, CF Kerns Trucking LLC, DJ’s Glass & Mirror Inc., David W. Coblentz Trucking, Davisystems LLC, Emmitsburg Glass Company, G&S Electric, Gateway Automotive, Hessong Bridge Contractors LLC, J&B Real Estate –Elle Smith, Keilholtz Trucking Services Inc., Kelco Plumbing & Backhoe Service LLC, Kline’s Plumbing LLC, Land Care, Mick’s Plumbing & Heating, Mission Property Services LLC, Mother Seton School, PJ’s Roofing Inc., Roy Rogers, Senior Benefit Services Inc., South Mountain, Collision & Auto Center, Staub’s Custom Woodworks, Inked, T-Mobile, The Dirty Dawg, Thurmont AMVETS Post 7, Thurmont Childcare, Thurmont Kountry Kitchen, Tim’s Garage, Tommy West Memorial Fund, Tyrian Lodge 205, Vinores Financial Services, and Woodsboro Bank.

Festivities continued throughout the day, with the Baltimore Orioles Bird and Keyote from the Frederick Keys stopping by to take pictures with

Cub Scout Pack 270 presents the colors during the Thurmont Little League Opening Day.

Allie Bryant sings the National Anthem during the Thurmont Little League Opening Day Ceremony.

Town Hall Reports

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by James Rada, Jr.

Thurmont

Town Considering Adjusting Water and Sewer Rates

Chris Simms with Smart Utilities Management talked with the commissioners about the need to raise water and sewer rates in town.

The town’s water rates haven’t been adjusted since 2012, and the water system is starting to run at a deficit as the capital reserves in the enterprise fund have been used. In 2023, the fund just covered costs, and this year, it will have a $200,000 deficit.

Increasing costs due to inflation are the reason that the need to adjust the rate is happening.

Simms suggested increasing the rate by 15 percent for the fiscal year 2025, with possible increases of 15 percent in the next two years, if needed, to bring the budget back into line with where it needs to be.

A 15 percent increase to rates would increase the average home’s water bill by $10 a quarter and a $15 per quarter increase in the average sewer bill. This means that the average homeowner’s bill will increase by a total of $100 a year.

New Police And Commission Members Sworn In

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners recently swore in new Thurmont Police Officer Kevin Eyler. They also swore in new planning and zoning commission members, Grant Johnson, as a regular member, and Vincent Cover as the alternate member. Their term will end on March 5, 2029.

Town Approves New Bonds

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners voted recently to allow the town to issue bonds not to exceed $2.4 million to pay for needed infrastructure improvements.

Emmitsburg

. Water Treatment Plant Clarifier and Dam Engineering Bids Approved

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners approved a bid for the construction of a water clarifier at the water treatment plant on Crystal Fountain Road. Conewago submitted the low bid of $2,329,561. It was 7 percent lower than the town engineer’s estimate and 6.07 percent lower than the second-lowest bid.

In a somewhat related action, the commissioners also approved a bid for engineering services on the Emmitsburg dam, which is required by the Maryland Department of the Environment. After two inspections of the dam, MDE required six things that the town needed to do to bring the dam into compliance. CPJ of Silver Spring won the contract with a bid of $72,426 and will perform all the compliance items MDE requires. Town staff was impressed by the depth of the inspection that CPJ’s performed.

Two-hour Time Limit on Parking Removed and Meter Fees Increased

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners voted to remove the two-hour parking limit on Main Street, which will now allow vehicles to park for 48 hours on the street without needing to be moved.

The commissioners also voiced to increase the parking meter fee to 25 cents for a half hour and 50 cents for an hour.

Citation Box Removed

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners voted to remove the red citation box at the old town office on East Main Street. According to town staff, the box is not being used, and there are alternate ways for citations to be paid, such as using the black citation box at the town office or mailing the payment to the office.

Rainbow Lake Pump House Bridge Replacement Approved

The bridge at the Rainbow Lake pump house has been found to be structurally flawed and hazardous. According to a safety report, it is no longer straight and shakes when walked upon. This will hinder work at the pump house because it can’t be used, especially to carry heavy items across.

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners voted to hire PlasTech in Baltimore to replace the bridge with a new one made of a Fiberglass material and has a life expectancy of more than 50 years. It will also be fitted to the valve house and concrete structure of the dam. The cost of the contract is $160,959.

New Bid Approved for Depaul St. Water Line

Although the Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners approved a bid to replace 2,340 feet of an 8-inch iron water line, that contractor withdrew its bid. This required the commissioners to award the bid a second time. Besides the water line, fire hydrants will be replaced, the pavement and side will be replaced, and traffic will need to be managed.

Huntsberry Brothers was awarded the contract for $1,217,250. It will be paid for with funds from three different grants.

From the Mayor

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THURMONT

Mayor John Kinnaird

May is here, and nature is treating us to a spectacularly colorful show! I love seeing the mountain as the green leaves appear at the bottom and rise to the top over a few weeks. The amazing weather will also bring out bike riders, hikers, skateboarders, and runners. Be sure to give plenty of right-of-way for our neighbors and guests as they enjoy the great outdoors.

This month, I want to thank our community volunteers. Thurmont has several citizen commissions, including Planning & Zoning, Board of Appeals, Police Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Thurmont Addiction Commission, Ethics Commission, and Thurmont Green Team. Positions on these commissions are filled by community volunteers. Each and every one of these volunteers serves our community by sacrificing their free time to attend meetings and events, and they are deserving of our thanks and gratitude. Openings on all the commissions are advertised, and members are selected to serve for a term that averages four years. I encourage everyone to please consider applying for these positions as they are available. Being a volunteer not only helps our town, but the act of serving the community can be personally satisfying.

Recently, the Thurmont Police Commission, Woodsboro Bank, and Thurmont Police Department sponsored the Community Shred Event. The shred event is held twice a year at the Thurmont Police Department. Residents can bring as many as five boxes of personal, medical, business, financial, service, and other paper records to have securely shredded at no cost. Members of the Police Commission, Woodsboro Bank employees, and Police officers help by unloading boxes and placing the documents in the large bin before it is dumped into the shredder. Residents don’t even have to get out of their cars, but they are welcome to park and observe their papers being shredded if they desire to do so. As part of this biannual event, residents are encouraged to bring along a cash or nonperishable food donation for the Thurmont Food Bank. All the individuals helping with this event are also volunteers!

The Thurmont Green Team sponsored its annual Greenfest with the help of the Thurmont Regional Library. Last week’s Greenfest featured 28 tabletop displays, with crafts and educational material for various ecological and conservation topics. The Greenfest had over 600 attendees and was a great success. The Town of Thurmont received our eighth straight Tree City USA award during the Greenfest. A large part of this award comes from the hard work of volunteers who help plant trees and flowers in Thurmont. Several hundred trees have been planted by volunteers, including school children, Scouts, adults, and Green Team members. You may have noticed the beautiful daffodils that sprung up around town this spring, which were also planted by Green Team volunteers! The Green Team also helps with invasive plant control and flower gardens on our Trolley Trail. Thurmont has always enjoyed a beautiful green canopy; the efforts of these volunteers will help ensure our community has trees to enjoy well into the future.

Thurmont is fortunate to have several wonderful organizations that work hard to make our community the best possible place to live in Frederick County. The Thurmont Lions Club sponsored the Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Community Park. The Lions have held this spring event for more than 80 years! The Lions Club holds many events throughout the year to raise funds for its many community projects. I attended the Thurmont Grange #409 Annual Awards ceremony, where they recognized several residents for their continued support of agriculture in the community. The Grange named the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen as business of the year for their support of local children during the pandemic and their fundraising efforts for our neighbors in need. I also attend events sponsored by Thurmont Scouting. We have an amazing Scout organization that educates children in outdoor activities, sporting events, and valuable guidance so that the Scouts grow into productive, considerate, and well-rounded community members. The Scouts also hold a yearly drive to collect toys for Toys For Tots. This joint venture with the United States Marine Corps helps provide Christmas gifts for many less fortunate children in our region.

There are many other groups and associations that work selflessly to improve the lives of our residents and make our community the best it can be.

These volunteers have many reasons for doing what they do. Every one of them helps because of a deep-seated desire to improve the lives of others. They don’t expect much in return, but we, as a community, owe all of them a great deal of gratitude for their sacrifices. Again, I would like to thank the members of the town commissions and all the members of our many community organizations for all they do for our community. You may not always be thanked for your service—and, unfortunately, there are those who are critical—but each of you should be assured that the majority of our community appreciates your hard work and commitment.

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful month of May. As always, I can be reached by phone at 301-606-9458 or by email at jkinnaird@thurmont.com.

Emmitsburg

Mayor Frank Davis

As we are halfway through the spring season, it is the time of year to work on your list of chores that have built up over the winter. You also need to take time and enjoy other activities, and May is full of things to do.

On May 3-5, we will, once again, host the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service. This will bring families from across the country to Emmitsburg as part of the healing process from losing a loved one in the line of duty. Please help me welcome our guests and make them feel at home during their visit.

The Emmitsburg Eagles PTO will be hosting a Spring Festival on May 4 at the E. Eugene Myers Community Park. There will be vendors and activities for the whole family.

The Emmitsburg Lions Club will hold a Chicken BBQ at the VHC Activities Building on Creamery Road on May 4.

The Vigilant Hose Company will hold its much-anticipated Annual Spring Fling at the Activities Building on Creamery Road on May 11.

Mount Saint Mary’s University will hold its 2024 graduation ceremony, which will bring family members of the graduates to celebrate this exciting event, on May 11.

Please check the organization’s social media sites for more details.

I am excited that we are kicking off our new Citizen Alert and Notification Application. Please visit the town website at www.emmitsburgmd.gov for more information.

Finally, I know many of you have experienced water issues during the last 30 days, and we appreciate your understanding. We have had several incidents that contributed to low pressure and brown water. The fire hydrant system was used for a fire incident, along with annual hydrant flushing and flow testing. We experienced two water main breaks and a malfunction with a pressure-reducing valve. We are taking steps to minimize these disruptions and will continue to upgrade our water system to reduce the effects to your homes and businesses.

I will be out and about walking the neighborhoods daily, and I hope to meet and chat with you to talk about your thoughts on our great little town.

Woodsboro

Burgess Heath Barnes

Greetings and happy May. This is one of my favorite months as we transition into the summer. I always personally associate the Memorial Day Holiday with the beginning of the fun summer months.

At our April 9 meeting, we were joined by the builders who are going to build nine townhouses on Second Street. He informed us that construction will begin before the end of the year, and once started, will go up rather quickly. As far as the town hall update, we are awaiting the updated rate proposal from the builder to take a vote on it with the council. We are hoping that we will have these numbers to present at the next meeting.

Our May meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m., instead of the usual second Tuesday of the month. Due to scheduling conflicts with council members and the importance of the May meeting, we moved it to accommodate. We are hopeful that at the May meeting, we will have a town hall updated bid proposal to bid on. We will present our fiscal 2025 year budget proposal to the council, which will then be voted on for approval at the June 11 meeting. Per code, the budget has to be given to the council at least 30 days before taking a vote on it, so that is why the meeting was moved to earlier in May.

Some upcoming exciting happenings are going on in Woodsboro. The first will be the artisan farmers market to be held at Trout’s Grocery Store on May 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The second will be the annual Memorial Day parade that is put on by the American Legion and will take place on Sunday, May 26, at 1:00 p.m.

Mary, our town clerk, is in negotiations with another street sweeper company since the one that we were using disappeared without notice. We have heard the concerns from residents regarding the buildup along the streets and gutters.

As always, I encourage everyone to support Glade Valley Community Services (GVCS) if you have clothes or food donations, as they are always in need of items for members of the community. For more information, please contact GVCS by email at gvcs.inc@verizon.net or by calling 301-845-0213.

If you have any questions, concerns, complaints, or compliments, please feel free to reach out to me at hbarnes@woodsboro.org or by phone at 301-401-7164.

Woodsboro town meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. In addition, planning and zoning meetings are at 6:00 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, as needed. If you have an item for the agenda, it needs to be submitted 14 days before the P&Z meeting. The current location for meetings is the St. John’s United Church of Christ, located at 8 N. 2nd Street, Woodsboro, MD 21798. The public is always invited to attend.

Emmitsburg Launches Its Own App

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James Rada, Jr.

The Town of Emmitsburg is debuting its app, My Emmitsburg, this month. You can download it from the town website or wherever you get your apps.

“This is a big thing for us,” said Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis. “We want everyone to have a way to receive alerts for emergencies or when roads are closing or just a way to get important information.”

Thurmont has also developed its own app to aid both residents and visitors. Economic Development Director Vickie Grinder introduced the app to the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners during a recent meeting.

Besides timely information, the apps include business information, the ability to pay town bills online, school information, and links to the town’s social media sites.

Davis said one of the most frequent comments they get in the town office is that residents feel like they don’t know what’s going on. The town has its website and Facebook page, but town staff have found that a lot of residents still don’t use social media.

“Our goal is to reach 80 percent of the town with the app,” Davis said.

To accomplish this, the town will be making a big push in the coming months to get the word out, so residents will be seeing the QR code to download the app on signs throughout the town.

Davis credits the Town of Taneytown for the idea of creating an app. They have been using an app for town services for months with great success. It took about a month and a half to develop Emmitsburg’s version.

Thurmont’s app was worked on for over a year, and Grinder said it is nothing like Taneytown’s app. “This was a lot of information to pull together,” she said.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird said that he was “quite surprised” at the amount of information that can be found on the app and that it is “an amazing tool.”

Davis felt so strongly that the town would benefit from having a similar app that he used money from the mayor’s discretionary fund and the contracts fund to pay for the app development.

“If that’s what it takes to reach our residents, then it’s well worth it,” Davis said.

Picture shows the home screen of the new Town of Thurmont app that will help both residents and visitors keep on top of what is happening in Thurmont.

Ike’s “Road to Gettysburg”

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The Eisenhower Farm Story

Richard D. L. Fulton

Dwight ”Ike”  D. Eisenhower was born on October 14, in Denison, Texas, the son of David D. and Elizabeth Eisenhower (the spelling of Eisenhower was changed from its original spelling of Eisenhauer, which had been the last name of his great-grandfather).

Eisenhower married Mary “Mamie” in 1914 and would remain with her until his death at the  Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC, in 1968.  The couple had two sons: Doud “Ikky” Dwight Eisenhower (1917-1921) and John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower (1922-2013).

Eisenhower is probably best known as the World War II commander of the Allied forces in Europe, and as the two-term president of the United States from 1953 to 1961.

He may be somewhat lesser known for his command of Camp Colt, a training ground for the United States Army’s first armored tank crews, which sprawled in and around the Gettysburg battlefield in 1918—40 years before he and his wife would see and find a permanent home in Cumberland Township, just outside of the Gettysburg Borough (see “Gettysburg’s Camp Colt Birthplace of American Armor,” by Richard D. L. Fulton, January 2024 Catoctin Banner).

Regardless of the farm’s actual geographic location, it was generally always referred to as Eisenhower’s Gettysburg farm, and/or Eisenhower’s Gettysburg home.

Buying the farm was actually the idea of Eisenhower’s wife, Mamie.  In a story written, entitled “Mamie Eisenhower Says Gettysburg is Her Home,” by the Associated Press staff, and published in the September 5, 1952, edition of The Gettysburg Times, she (Mamie Eisenhower) stated in an interview that “buying the house (farm) was her idea.” 

The writer of the article stated that she said, “when she told her husband she liked that place, he had replied, ‘OK, go ahead and buy it’.”

Apparently, it did not require a lot of persistence for his wife to convince him to purchase the property. The Gettysburg Times stated in their November 20, 1950, edition, “The General was a frequent visitor… and has expressed a sentimental as well as a patriotic attachment to the Gettysburg region,” and later noted in a 1952 story that the general had (recently) stated, “I hope to rock out my last days on a comfortable porch here (in Gettysburg).”

The farm in question had been, prior to its sale to the Eisenhowers, known as the Redding Farm, owned by Allen Redding and his wife. The farm consisted of some 189 acres (also reported as 179 acres, and then again, as 188 acres), and the Eisenhowers had paid $40,000 for the farm, according to The Gettysburg Times.

The Reddings had purchased the farm from Mary Alice Hemler, wife of the deceased George Hemler, in 1934, during the Great Depression, for $15,000.

The Times reported on November 20, 1950, “Attorney Richard A. Brown said that he and John C. Bream, real estate dealer, had closed the deal (with the Eisenhowers) on November 1. And he had described the farm as a dairy farm “located on the road (Pumping Station Road) leading to the Gettysburg water works, adjoining West Confederate Avenue.” The old driveway still exists but is posted for National Park staff use only. Tourists now access the farm from Old Emmitsburg Road.

The farmhouse itself was described as a nine-room brick house. Mamie Eisenhower told the Associated Press, “Some of my friends are trying to persuade me to build a new place on one of the (farm’s) hills, but I fell in love with the old house first,” adding, “The house is mine and I love it. and all the trees around it.”

As to its proposed furnishing, she stated, “I can hardly wait to get my hands on that house and fix it up.” In response to someone suggesting that she should furnish it in Early American style, she had responded, “No, Early Eisenhower. We have picked things up wherever we have lived, and we (already) have furniture from all over the world.”

An article published in the January 1, 1951, issue of The Gettysburg Times, entitled “General ‘Ike’ goes to Europe,” noted that, according to a condition of sale, the Reddings would be permitted to remain on the farm until April 2, 1951,” adding, “It seems likely the General and Mrs. Eisenhower will eventually take up residence on the Redding farm.”

Additionally, The Times article noted that business in Europe had required the general’s attendance, to which his wife was not necessarily pleased, as it had postponed the move-in date to the farmhouse. She told the press she was disappointed at not going to the farm, that she thought she and the general were “old enough now to settle down.”

By November 1952, the Eisenhowers had still not relocated their primary residence to the farm.  The Eisenhowers’ property manager (retired Brigadier General Arthur S. Nevins, one of Eisenhower’s war-time staff officers) had described the condition of the farmhouse to The Gettysburg Times as “being in need of ‘considerable work’… before it could qualify as a presidential residence.”

In fact, after having been elected as president, and while living in the White House, the old farmhouse they would be calling “home” proved as having been a larger challenge than they had envisioned. 

According to the National Park Service, “Once Dwight and Mamie were in the White House, it was discovered that most of their Gettysburg home was in dire straits due to its advanced age and the deteriorating condition of the wooden interior,” further noting that the Eisenhowers were advised “to raze the home to the ground and start fresh.  However, Mrs. Eisenhower wished to save as much of the original home as possible, so she implemented a new plan that saved a portion of the 1800s structure.”

Presently, the effort to save that which could be saved is reflected in what tourists may see today. “That part of the home today contains the kitchen and butler’s pantry downstairs and the maid’s room upstairs. The older brick section has a rougher exterior appearance from the newer brick and is easily visible from outside the house. Because the older and newer bricks did not match, the house was painted white.” Construction began in the spring of 1953 and was finished in the spring of 1955. 

During Eisenhower’s two terms, the home was primarily used as a presidential retreat, and for meeting with and entertaining various world leaders. After leaving the White House at the end of the president’s second term, the Eisenhowers were finally able to move into their farmhouse in January 1961. The Gettysburg Times reported on January 12, 1961, “When the Eisenhowers come here on Friday (they actually didn’t arrive until January 20), they will go to their farm to rest after an arduous last day in the White House.”

On January 21, a reception and dinner were held at the Hotel Gettysburg. A “welcome home” rostrum was erected at the Town Square for general public reception, accompanied by music and a “brief welcome address,” The Times reported.

On that same morning, Eisenhower met with Oren H. Wilson, president of the board of trustees of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, to discuss matters relating to the local church. At the conclusion of their meeting, Eisenhower stepped outside, along with Wilson, and found himself confronted by reporters and photographers.

The Times reported that Eisenhower had asked the group why the people were still so interested in him. One reporter replied, because “We still like you.”

Following Eisenhower’s demise in 1969, the former president was laid to rest on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.

Former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower died in 1979, and was buried next to her husband.

As an aside, the Eisenhower property continued to function as an operating farm, primarily as a dairy farm, during the duration of their ownership. But, that alone, is yet another story…

For additional information, visit the National Park Service’s Eisenhower National Historic Site website at nps.gov/eise.

Dwight D. Eisenhower and wife Mamie at their Gettysburg farm home.

British General Bernard Montgomery and Dwight D. Eisenhower touring the Gettysburg Battlefield in 1957.

Rocky Ridge Fire Company Celebrates 75 Years

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James Rada, Jr.

May 9 marks 75 years since a group of concerned citizens formed the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in 1949. Marshall Fishpaw was the first president. Although formed to fight fires, there weren’t many fires to fight. Even into the 1960s, the company responded to less than 15 fire calls a year.

So the company was also charged with other duties in its early years. A light company formed around the same time, and the fire company maintained the street lights in Rocky Ridge. Members also took care of the pond that the fire company drew water from to fight fires.

The fledgling company also had to store its equipment in available space.

“It was housed in the garage of one of the members,” said Dennis Mathias, who has had four generations of his family serve in the fire company.

Their first fire engine wasn’t purchased until 1951. It was a 1931 Model A Ford that was purchased from the Vigilant Hose Company in Emmitsburg for $1,000.

Although there wasn’t a great demand for a fire company in those days, when it was needed, residents were glad to have a company close by to help minimize the damage from fires. They supported the company, both financially and with their labor. The fire company has become a family tradition for some families in Rocky Ridge with multiple generations of families serving their community.

Kenneth Mathias was the first generation of his family to join the Rocky Ridge Fire Company in 1954, and this past March, his great-grandson, Brody Mathias, became the fourth generation to join the fire company when he turned old enough to start riding in the engine and responding to calls. Some of his early memories were of Bingo nights at the fire hall, where family would stay after to clean up and then talk. He got so tired that he would curl up and go to sleep on the floor.

“Back then, the fire company was the big thing to do in Rocky Ridge,” said Dennis. “It was about the only thing to do.”

While residents now have choices for things to do that are relatively close, the drawback has been fewer people are willing to volunteer for their local fire companies. Rocky Ridge has felt that need for volunteers as well, but so far, residents continue to support their fire company.

Charles Brauer moved from New Jersey, where he had helped form a fire company there, to Rocky Ridge in 1962. He joined the Rocky Ridge Fire Company, the first of three generations of his family that have served to date.

Although he was too young to answer fire calls, Charles’s son, Alan Brauer, started helping out around the company when he was just 10 years old. He would help take care of the equipment and train with the others so that he was prepared to join when he was old enough.

Today, when volunteer fire companies are struggling to stay volunteer, family connections and traditions like those in Rocky Ridge allow the fire company to stay volunteer and provide a valuable service to area residents.

“I joined to help out the community, but I also joined for the excitement,” said Dennis.

Jamison Mathias added, “Yes, there’s excitement, but there’s also pride in being a part of something.”

The Rocky Ridge Hall Association provided the company with its first fire hall on Long’s Mill Road just south of town in 1950.

The first new fire engine was purchased in 1955. It was a Dodge truck with an American Fire Apparatus body that had a 400-gallon booster tank and a 500 GPM front mount pump. The engine and the equipment for it cost $1,175.

In 1964, the fire company purchased 1.5 acres north of the town square on Motters Station Road. The land already had a house on it, which the fire company rented. Construction of a new fire hall on the land began in October 1965 and the building was dedicated a year later with Congressman Charles MacMathias and Maryland Comptroller Louis Goldstein attending.

The Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1955.

Alan remembers responding to a house fire on Christmas Day in 1968. There weren’t enough fire helmets, so he just wore his hat. At one point, he was on the hose line and water was running off the roof onto his head.

“When I got back to the building, I had to break the ice off the front of my coat,” he said.

What sticks in his mind about that fire was how poor the people were, and they lost what little they had on Christmas.

“In the fire service, you see people on some of their worst days,” Alan added.

A more recent major fire happened in 1993. According to Rocky Ridge Fire Company website, “The blizzard of 1993 took its toll on fire calls, the company had a diabetic call where the ambulance crew came on snowmobiles, and then the company had to watch a house burn down, because the road was blocked and the engines could not get there.”

Dennis remembers that call. “The roads were drifting. We were on the state road with the snow plow ahead of us. It hit a drift and went off the road, and we couldn’t make it to the call.”

The company purchased land on Motters Station Road in 1994 for $35,500. The following year, the fire company purchased a Morton building for the new hall, a 90- by 81-foot engine room and a 30- by 102-foot office area. The new fire hall’s total area was 10,350 square feet and cost $255,000.

The Rocky Ridge Fire Company now responds to nearly 300 calls a year and remains all volunteer.

Over the years, the company and its firefighters have seen many changes. It has been in four locations. Equipment has increased the safety of firefighters and has become more effective in fighting fires. It has also grown more expensive. Firefighters also go through more training.

It all comes down to the people who are willing to serve though, and Rocky Ridge has shown that it has had those people, generation after generation.

View Rocky Ridge Fire Company’s advertisement on page 19.

Rocky Ridge VFC’s first fire engine. It was a 1931 Model A Ford that was purchased from the Vigilant Hose Company in Emmitsburg in 1951. Although no longer used, it is still kept at the fire company and used in parades.

(left) Alan Brauer; his daughter, Juliann Frantz; and Gage Frantz are members of the Brauer Family, which has had three generations in the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company. Alan also holds a picture of his father, Charles, who was the first member of the family who joined the company in 1962.

Jolene Mathias, Kelsey Mathias, Jamison Mathias, Brody Mathias, Andrew Mathias, and Dennis Mathias are three generations of the Mathias Family who have served in the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company. Kenneth Mathias, deceased, was the first generation of the family to join the fire company in 1954.

Businesses Past…

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The Slagle Hotels I & II

Richard D. L. Fulton

The three-story building that was once the Slagle Hotel still stands at the Emmitsburg Town Square and presently serves as a 16-unit apartment building. Over time, the 150-year-old building has undergone several name changes.

The Slagle Hotel did have two previous names: one being the Western Maryland Hotel (since railroads apparently built a number of hotels along their lines) and the other name being Hotel Spangler. 

The (Frederick) News reported on April 10, 1899, “The Western Maryland hotel at Emmitsburg was recently purchased by Dr. C. G. Spangler… The entire hotel has been remodeled and will be known hereafter as Hotel Spangler.” The hotel was actually acquired by the doctor in 1898 for $4,000.

James A. Slagle acquired the Hotel Spangler shortly before his death from appendicitis on December 19, 1910, and had become the proprietor of the newly dubbed Slagle Hotel a short time before his demise. It was announced in the August 5, 1911, edition of The (Frederick) Daily News that Slagle “a short time ago had succeeded as proprietor of Hotel Slagle.”

Following his death, the administration of his estate was assigned to his wife, Annie M. Slagle.  In December 1912, Annie Slagle decided to sell all the furnishings of the hotel and the equipage of the attached livery. The sale included all the family’s horses and vehicles associated with the hotel. It appears that the sale was for the purpose of disposing of all unwanted items as a prelude to reestablishing the Hotel Slagle in a new soon-to-be-announced location.

The readers of the advertisement in the December 12 edition of the Daily Record and Blue Ridge Zephyr were directed to contact either Slagle or L.L. Mondorff (Lawrence L. Mondorff was Slagle’s son from her first marriage). 

Beginning sometime around April 1913, George W. Biddinger rented the Slagle Hotel while Slagle’s widow, Annie Slagle, continue to operate it, Biddinger having stated in an article published April 26, 1913, edition of The (Frederick) Daily News that “Mrs. Slagle was now conducting the Slagle Hotel, which she would run until May 1.”

The newspaper noted that the soon-to-be former Hotel Slagle had been rented by George W. Pittinger (to make matters as confusing as possible, the name is also spelled as George W. Bittinger in some news accounts), and that Annie Slagle will be quitting as manager of old Hotel Slagle and will be taking charge of the new Hotel Slagle opening at the Emmit House.

It is here that basically the story of the Slagle Hotel (at the town square) ends… somewhat.  According to the March 29, 1913, edition of the Adams County News, which reported. “The Emmit House at Emmitsburg has been leased by Lawrence L. Mondorff and that well-known hostelry will shortly become the new home of Hotel Slagle…” 

Mondorff applied for a liquor license for a saloon at the “New Slagle Hotel” in April 1913, and it appears to have opened a Pandora’s Box in the process. 

The request had immediately fueled opposition, some claiming that liquor sales at the hotel had been taking place after midnight on Saturdays into Sunday mornings, that some of the liquor that was being sold was being served to minors, and that rooms at the hotel were being used for gaming and gambling. 

The effort to secure a liquor license apparently was unsuccessful.

Annie Slagle passed away in September 1921 at age 53. According to her obituary, she still owned(?) both the buildings that had contained the old Slagle Hotel, and the building that contained the newer one (the Emmit House).

According to the August 1922 Woodsboro-Walkersville News-Journal, the end of the Slagle Hotel finally came in 1922, when the buildings containing the (newer) Slagle Hotel was sold to William Roberts, at which point in time the building was then reverted to its previous name, the Emmit House.

An advertisement for the Emmit Hotel, under the management of Roberts, appeared in the August 13, 1922, edition of The Baltimore Sun.  The final demise of the old and new Slagel Hotel had arrived.

Town of Thurmont Recognized As a Tree City USA for the Eighth Consecutive Year

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For the eighth consecutive year, the Town of Thurmont has been recognized as a Tree City USA. To become a Tree City USA, a community must have: A tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observation and proclamation. The Thurmont Green Team, Thurmont Parks and Recreation Commission, Town staff, and other community organizations hold tree-planting events throughout the year.

Since 2014, the Town of Thurmont has planted over 1,200 trees. In addition to the Tree City USA recognition, Thurmont is also recognized for achieving the Growth Award for the fourth consecutive year. Thurmont is among a small group of cities (less than 15 percent of all Tree Cities) that earned a Growth Award for going above and beyond the four standards of Tree City USA this year.

“This recognition is a huge testament to the exceptional efforts put forth by our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick.

The town is currently working on tree-planting projects that are affiliated with the 5 Million Trees Program, sponsored by the Maryland Forest Service. A community tree-planting project at East End Park scheduled for April 4 was canceled due to weather. A future date will be scheduled. Visit www.thurmont.com.

Business Briefs

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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. The planning commission approved the plan unanimously.

Emmitsburg Distillery (East Emmitsburg Industrial Park II Lot 4) — The Town Engineer and Staff had more comments regarding the updated Improvement Plan, especially regarding the size of the water pipe line and associated flow and pressure. Staff and Town Engineer met with the developer to clarify Town requirements.

Christ Community Church (Creamery Road) — The site plan for review has been approved. The improvement plan is pending.

Mount St. Mary’s University E Wing Improvements (South Seton Avenue) — The applicant has yet to satisfy all the conditions of approval. The town received updated plans on March 26.

St. Joseph Church (North Seton Avenue) — The planning commission unanimously approved the improvement plan for the installation of a ramp that meets ADA standards.

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 — The town engineer and town staff are reviewing the submitted sketch plat.

Rainbow Lake Parking Lot — The project engineer has yet to satisfy the town engineer and staff comments.

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

Community Difference Maker

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Phyllis Kelly

Nominated by: Sarah Jacobson

Phyllis Kelly ‘s dedication to to helping serve those in need was learned from her father, John Chatlos, who served as a minister for the Daughters of Charity and the Religious Coalition. He started the Emmitsburg Food Bank after seeing a need in the community back in 1985. When her father started the Food Bank, it was just a small closet. Now, 39 years later, it is housed in a much larger building.

Kelly has been managing the Food Bank for the last 25 years. Kelly volunteers over 20 hours a month, from managing donations, stocking shelves, and assisting families during the hours of operation. While she joked that her husband is ready for her to retire, she said it is something she really enjoys doing.

Sarah Jacobson nominated Kelly because of her dedication to the Food Bank over the years.

“She kept working for others even when she was going through cancer treatment. Not only does she do all this, she is someone people can look up to in the community,” expressed Jacobson.

Kelly’s humble nature was quick to point out that she couldn’t do this without the many volunteers that help keep things going. The Food Bank currently has about 35 volunteers that she manages. She says Emmitsburg has such a wonderful community that supports them as well. They receive donations from many local organizations and businesses. In the years that she has been volunteering, she says whenever there has been a need, God has always provided.

Of course, with the current economy, the Food Bank has seen an increase in need. Currently, they are serving about 75 families a month, which is up from 50 families in previous years.

If you wish to make a donation, items can be dropped off at their building at 130 S. Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg during their hours of operation, which are Monday: 7:00-8:00 p.m.; Wednesday: 7:00-8:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Thank you Phyllis for being a Community Difference Maker and carrying on your father’s legacy all these years later as you continue to serve those in need! Our community thrives because of the many volunteers who dedicate their time to help others or to make our a community a better place. Know someone making a difference in our community? Send nominations to news@thecatoctinbanner.com.

Local Artist and Chaplain Steve Burdette: A Life of Service and Creativity

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Alisha Yocum

Steve Burdette’s journey from his childhood on a farm in Browningsville, Maryland, to becoming a beloved figure in the Blue Ridge Summit community, is one marked by a deep love for both art and people.

Growing up surrounded by farmland, Burdette’s passion for rural scenes and landscapes developed early on. His artistic talents blossomed at the age of 13, and by 14, he was already the youngest student in a private oil art class. This early start laid the foundation for a lifelong love of art.

In 2007, Burdette opened an Art Gallery at Tracey’s Corner, offering various items and art classes that quickly gained popularity. The following year, he and his family made the move to Blue Ridge Summit. Though they didn’t have family in the area, the warm embrace of the community made it feel like home, with friends becoming like family.

But Burdette’s contributions extended far beyond the art world. Recently appointed as Chaplain for the Blue Ridge Fire Company, Burdette had already been ministering to many first responders in the area. He had accompanied enforcement agencies on domestic or suicide calls before his health issues intervened.

Burdette even held church services at his gallery. His wife, Kathy, says “Many people came looking for comfort, guidance, or to learn of God’s Word. He worked with gang members, homeless individuals, drug addicts, suicidal persons… the list could go on. He felt nobody was beyond God’s Grace & Love.” 

On January 27, 2024, Steve Burdette passed away peacefully in his home, leaving behind a legacy of service, compassion, and artistic excellence—a testament to a life dedicated to enriching the lives of others through both his art and his unwavering commitment to community.
An art show will be held on Saturday June 1 at the Blue Ridge Summit Fire Hall with all profits going to his funeral expenses.

Steve Burdette was a local artist and chaplain, who left behind a legacy of service and commitment to the Blue Ridge Summit Community.

Fairfield Resident Writes First Book

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Linda Calhoun of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, has always considered herself a Christian writer and photographer with a love of the outdoors, but her first book came from an unexpected visitor: a monarch butterfly.

Calhoun said that while she was outside one day, the butterfly landed on her hand and stayed for almost an hour. A week later, the butterfly re-appeared, and Calhoun put her hand out again, and, once again, the butterfly walked onto her hand. 

“I want readers to have an appreciation for all of God’s creatures given unto us to enjoy, but most important, respect nature; therefore, the second half of my book is packed full of wildlife pictures from my property.”

Calhoun originally began writing after the passing of her husband 35 years ago, and she has not stopped since. After completing her first book, Calhoun has now started on a second about heavenly visits. Look for her books on Amazon!

Clothes Closet Reopens After Renovation Enhancing Accessibility and Community Support

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Alisha Yocum

The Clothes Closet, operated by Thurmont United Methodist Church, recently reopened following a renovation. The remodeling involved removing walls to expand the space, creating a more open layout for the 50-75 individuals it serves monthly. Additionally, the building now features a designated area for church information, prayer requests for their prayer shawl ministry, and Bibles. To enhance accessibility, all signage has been translated into Spanish, but an interpreter is also available.

Established 55 years ago to address needs within the congregation, the Clothes Closet has grown steadily and now fills its current space. The Clothes Closet offers clothes, shoes, coats, bedding, and other necessities to those in the surrounding areas free of charge. The Clothes Closet is supported through donations from the congregation and the community. At Christmas, the Clothes Closet even hosts a Christmas Open House, where families can fill a bag with toys. While this only happens once a year, the organization takes donations of gently used toys for this event all year long.

Volunteers from the congregation, combined, put in over 40 hours a week to the ministry between sorting, filling racks, and assisting customers during hours of operation.

If you are interested in donating clothes, a donation drop-off box is located outside on the property (just follow the signs). If you are in need of assistance, the Clothes Closet is open the first and fourth Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 p.m., and the third Tuesday from 10:00-11:30 a.m., and is located at 13880 Long Road in Thurmont.

Follow the church’s Facebook page for updates and donation needs. For more details, view the advertisement on page 51.

Volunteers stand in the recently remodeled Clothes Closet (from left): Tanya Jense, Denise Bentley, Sandy Moser, Debbie Kennedy, Julie Zebroski, Estella Motley, Ricky Motley, and Rev. Ken Fizer.

Scouts Enjoy Visiting Museums

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SA Scout Troop 270B and 270G didn’t let a campout with bad weather dampen their adventures. They spent the day at the National Security Agencies Cryptologic Museum (pictured above), where they learned how codes started way back in Egypt and have manifested throughout the years and how wars were fought and prevented with codes. Did you know that the Navajo Code Talkers played an instrumental role in the allied victory of World War II? Did you know that women were some of the first code breakers? 

After cracking the codes of their minds, they headed to NASA Goddard Space Museum and went to outer space, leaning about weather, planets, and it impacts us.  Have you heard of the Webb Telescope?  Have you seen the pictures it can take? Wow!

Interested in Scouting? Look for more information at Troop270.com.

Scouts Conduct Annual Trolley Trail Cleanup

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Scouts BSA Troop 270B and 270G did their annual Trolley Trail cleanup in April. Tires, lots of plastic bags, sheets of rusted metal, washing machine tubs, and more were weeded out and brought to the landfill.

The Trolley Trail is sponsored by the Thurmont Lions Club. If you would like more information on Scouting, check out the website at troop270.com or visit them on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. at 26 Elm Street in Thurmont.

Scouts Learn About Morse Code

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Scouts BSA Troop 270B and 270G hosted retired USA Intelligence Officer Claybaugh to come teach them about Morse code. What is it? Where in history did it start and why? Is it still used today? How do you do Morse Code? All answers and more were learned, practiced, transmitted, and deciphered between Scouts with Mr. Claybaugh’s help.

The Scouts had a fun and educational night and extend a big “Thank You” to Mr. Claybaugh for teaching the class.

Night at the Races Event for Rex Davis

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Anyone who knows Rex Davis will remember the horrific accident he suffered on November 26, 2022. He is paralyzed from the chest down from the accident. He was in shock trauma and rehab for months. He is now home recovering, undergoing a lot of physical therapy, and seeing many doctors and specialists. We are praying he regains use of everything once his nerves heal. He had two back surgeries, a broken sternum, broken ribs, pneumonia, sepsis, punctured lungs, and many bruised internal organs; the thoracic spine area was completely rebuilt from T2-12.

We are so grateful for the overwhelming support of our community. We both work at St. Anthony Shrine/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Our parish community has been wonderful to us, as well as many other churches, and even people we don’t know!

Our wonderful niece, Laken Brashears, really brainstormed and planned months, with Tahler, Tracy, Stacy, Shoey, and Sandi, and got everyone they knew to help, and suddenly the whole community pitched in to help with a horse racing event at the Thurmont AMVETS! It overwhelmed us—ALL the baskets, drawings, donations, food, and help. We simply can’t begin to thank each and every person because there were just so many, BUT with all your help—and you know who are—we are able to purchase both pieces of equipment, so Rex can do therapy at home and save a trip to Westminster and copay a day. Our great community and wonderful people with HUGE hearts are just the best! We want to thank everyone who helped, cleaned up, set up, worked it, and for the food donations, baked goods, etc.

We are so lucky to live in such a loving heartwarming community!

~ Our Heartfelt Thanks, Karen Davis

Rex Davis Event Donor and Sponsors

Thank You All So Much

AMVETS Post 7; Emmitsburg Lions Club; Tracy’s Auto Repair, Inc.; Tina Sweeney; Cliff Sweeney; Anita Stoner; Stacy Kelly; Angi Grossnickle; Mountain View Lawn Service; Tommy West Memorial Fund; St. Anthony’s Bingo team; Kelco Plumbing & Backhoe; 1 Sold by Sandi; Matt Weddle; Beth Ohler of Beth Ohler & Co.; J&B Real Estate; Rocky’s Pizza Thurmont; D&J Auto Enterprises; Wolfe’s Deer Shop; BulletpRoof Exteriors; Fairfield Marriott Cumberland; Weis Markets Thurmont; Maple Run Golf Course; Furnace Bar & Grille; Thurmont Kountry Kitchen; Fratelli’s Pizza; Tracy Grossnickle & Anna Dawson; Los Amigos Thurmont; Simply Asia; Gateway Candy Land; Dave & Jane’s Crab House; The Carriage House Inn; The Palms Restaurant; Carleo Italian Pizza & Subs; Beckley’s Camping Center; Dr. Bonita Portier; Barry Humerick; Becky Flohr; Crumble Cookie of Frederick; Applebee’s of Waynesboro; Hickory Bridge Farms; Liberty Road Seafood; Hoss’s Steak House; Pete & Donna Miller; Tif & David Cagle; Gateway Automotive; Rubes Crab Shack; Advance Auto Parts; Diane Kelly; Lisa White; Bonnie Tracey; Chris & Laken Brashears; Bruce Baust; Ruthie & Kirk Simmel; Michelle Norris; The Staff of Tracy’s Auto Repair Inc.; Deb Eyler; Rachel Misner; Cherrie Dubree; Emmitsburg VFW; Dixie Diner; Jamie & Johnny West; Tammy Kerns Shilling; ABC Creations – Billy Stottlemyer; Chris & Tiffany Kelly; Tony Kelly, Jr.; Ken & Karen Simundson; Jim & Sandi Burns;

Wait, What? Sauce Co.; Cronwell Tools – Kevin Gribble; Jen & Matt Myers; Wayne “Colonel” & Stacey Kerns; Densie Hurley; Ronnie & Shelley Springer; Bollinger’s Restaurant; Corn Crib Boutique; Gateway Flower Shop; Tristin & Chris Stouter; Donna West; Pat Krietz; Panny Moser; Rose Bartlett; Tahler Moxley; Colby Ruffner; Heather Fritz; Jess Weddle; Wanda & Ron Reed; Isaac Dodoson; AJ Moxley; Ralph Bruner; Mackenzie Brashears; Natasha Willard; Connie Cissle; Chris Bosley; Brooke Webb; Collin Willard; Tom Davis; Rocky Gap Casino; Elanor Putman; Leo Krietz; All Trimmed Up Lawn Care; Jodi Wisner; Thresea Davis; Cynthia Hendrickson; Rae Lynn Shafer; Ronnie Wivel; Candy Jones; Mike & Mary Mahoney; Catoctin Labs; Catoctin Colorfest Association; Emmitsburg American Legion; Gene’s Towing; Woodsboro Bank; Melissa Whetzel; Robert & Sandy Seidel; Buddy & Nena Eyler; Hearts of MD Sackette Unit 30; Thurmont AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary; Dawn & Dave Weddle; Cheryl “nan” Murtaugh; Mountain Gate Family Restaurant; Melanie Burkett; Lisa Reed; Karl Schopper.

Frederick County Fire and Rescue Museum Open for Season

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Chip Jewell

The Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum, located at 300B South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, just north of the National Fire Academy, is now open for the 2024 season. 

Several new items will be on display, including the “Junior Defender” uniform manikin and the historic original “tin type’ of an actual “Junior Defender.” Also on display from the Junior Fire Co. No. 2,  just added last year, is the restored Silsby hand-drawn hose reel, believed to be the original hose reel for the Juniors 1876 Silsby steam pumper, the first steam pumper in Frederick.

Additionally, the 1919 Ahrens-Fox, originally purchased for the United Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 3 and now owned by the Gladhill family, is still on display.

Other early fire apparatus on display include “Romeo,” the beautiful 1893 Independent Hose Co. NO. 1  hosecarriage; the circa 1848 hand-pumper “Old Lady,” used by both the United Fire Company and Libertytown; and the fully restored Badger chemical engine of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company and Willy’s Jeep formerly  owned by the Lewistown District Volunteer Fire Department.

The museum also features a memorial display honoring all the fire and rescue personnel in Frederick County who have died in the line of duty, with individual pictures and a brief description of each fallen hero.

The Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum has free admission and is staffed by local fire and rescue volunteers.

Visit the website at frederickmdfiremuseum.org for hours of operation.

1919 Ahrens-Fox fire engine, originally in service at the United Fire Company in Frederick and now owned by Maurice Gladhill of Gladhill Tractor, who has graciously allowed the museum to display this historic piece of Fredrick County firefighting history.

Smith Named Finalist for the Washington Post’s Principal of the Year

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Alisha Yocum

On April 23, Principal Janine Smith was surprised as she entered the Thurmont Middle School (TMS) Gym to be applauded by students, staff, and family for the recent announcement that she was a finalist for the Washington Post Principal of the Year.

In its 41st year, the Washington Post Principal of the Year Award aims to acknowledge principals who are determined to enrich their schools in all aspects of education.

Dr. Markoe, Deputy Superintendient of Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) led the celebration and presented Smith with her award. Board of Education President, Karen Yoho, and other FCPS staff were also on hand to acknowledge the accomplishment.

Smith started out as a Middle School Teacher before becoming Assistant Principal at Windsor Knolls Middle from 2016-18. Later she became Assistant Principal at TMS before taking on her most recent position as Principal.

Assistant Principal Anita Shank nominated Smith for the award. The two have known each other for over 20 years. Shank thought her colleague was deserving of the recognition because of the change she has brought to the school. In fact, the school motto has become ‘Be the change”. Shank says she has really made students feel like they have a voice and makes sure everyone feels welcome.

Smith’s husband, also a FCPS Teacher, said his wife being a finalist confirms her hard work and dedication to ensuring that her students strive for excellence.

While still in shock from the surprise, Smith said she is so proud and grateful to be the Principal at TMS and she thanked her staff. “Without you [the staff] we could not do the amazing things we do here at TMS”.

Dr. Dr. Zadia Gadsden of Takoma Park Elementary School was named the winner of this year’s Washington Post Principal of the Year Award.

Janine Smith, a finalist for the Washington Post’s Principal of the Year, poses for a picture with her

Catoctin High School PTSA  Needs Your Help

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The Catoctin High School (CHS) PTSA needs your help! The CHS Parent Teacher Student Association exists to help support all of our kids and the professional staff that works so hard on their behalf. They want to continue that level of support, and they are looking for volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can send an email to CatoctinPTSA@gmail.com.

CHS PTSA meetings are held monthly via Google Meet from your home. All are welcome to attend! The next upcoming date for the meeting is May 14 at 4:00 p.m. To join the video meeting, go to https://meet.google.com/vqc-zgfr-zkh. Otherwise, to join by phone, dial 1-402-282-0447 and enter PIN: 952 544 193#.

Lewistown Elementary School Teacher Becomes Finalist for FCPS Teacher of the Year

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Alisha Yocum

Brandy Baptiste didn’t necessarily set out to become a teacher. In fact, it wasn’t until after college when she was working for a company that specialized in Autism that she found her calling to become a teacher while working at a summer camp.

“I absolutely loved everything about it. I loved the kids, the different personalities, everything. I knew then that I needed to go back to school and get my Master’s in Special Education,” Baptiste said.

Now, sixteen years after taking her first teaching job with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) as a Special Education Teacher at Centerville Elementary, Baptiste was selected as one of five finalists in the running for FCPS Teacher of the Year.

Baptiste currently is a teacher in the Pyramid Program at Lewistown Elementary and has students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.

The Pyramid Program is a specialized program for students with significant social and emotional needs, allowing them to get special education and therapeutic services in a small classroom setting.

Building relationships with her students is what motivates Baptiste every day. She knows that those relationships build a sense of safety that allows her students to grow and take risks in the classroom. 

Although Baptiste is extremely proud to be a finalist for the Teacher of the Year, what she wants most from her nomination is to be a platform for all the great things happening with the Pyramid Program and at Lewistown Elementary.

“ I have found at Lewistown, we have some of the most hardworking and dedicated people I know. I cannot speak more highly of the staff and students I work with daily. They consistently go above and beyond what is expected of them,” said Baptiste.

“We are so pleased to have Ms. Baptiste representing Lewistown Elementary in this way. She is a committed and innovative educator who prioritizes her students’ needs each and every day,” said Principal Melissa Burton.

When not in the classroom, you will find Baptiste spending time outdoors. She especially enjoys hiking and riding her ATV at her camp in Pennsylvania (PA). Being from Pittsburgh, she is also a diehard Steelers fan and frequently goes back to PA to catch a game!

AnnaClaire Ayoub of Brunswick Elementary, Rebecca Delp of Lincoln Elementary, Heather O’Brien of Urbana High, and Ivette Taboas of Urbana Elementary are the four other finalists for 2024.

The winner of the FCPS Teacher of the Year will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Brandy Baptiste, teacher at Lewistown Elementary, is a finalist for Fredrick County Public School’s Teacher of the Year.

Catoctin Youth Lacrosse Is Back, Stronger Than Ever

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Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) Lacrosse is on an incredible upswing this season! Despite the formidable challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, the program is coming back stronger than ever, thanks to the steadfast dedication of new board members. Their selfless commitment ensures that young boys and girls have the opportunity to engage in this exhilarating sport.

While there’s still plenty of work ahead in the rebuilding process, each passing season brings remarkable growth and improvement. This year, the combined first- through fourth-grade team has returned to the field with unparalleled vigor, boasting an impressive undefeated record of 5-0.

According to Bryan Smith, the head coach of the combined first- through fourth-grade team, “The unwavering dedication and effort displayed by these young athletes, both on and off the field, fill us coaches with immense pride.”

The coaching staff places a strong emphasis on the fundamentals and cultivates a culture of good sportsmanship among its players. This focus is evident in the resilience shown by the older seventh- and eighth-grade team throughout their season’s challenges. Their camaraderie has blossomed into a tight-knit family unit that extends beyond the field and into the Catoctin High School lacrosse program. It’s truly heartwarming to see high school players generously sharing their expertise with youth players, fostering a positive and nurturing environment for our budding athletes.

Chris Doll, the varsity head coach for Catoctin Men’s Lacrosse, affirms that “without a CYA program, you can’t have a successful high school team,” a sentiment echoed by their own successful seasons.

In addition to their competitive teams, CYA is home to the Scoopers—a group of younger children diligently focused on mastering the basics of the game. This program serves as a crucial steppingstone, and CYA Lacrosse is thrilled to announce its plans for further expansion next season, including the introduction of a girls first- through fourth-grade team.

According to Amber Reaver, board secretary, “The future of CYA Lacrosse is promising, and we are excited to embark on this path of growth and success together!”

You can learn more about Catoctin Youth Lacrosse by following its social media pages or by visiting the website at tshq.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1326268.

SPORTS TALK

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with Michael Betteridge

Memo to Catoctin Athletics: Do NOT schedule any baseball or softball games at Boonsboro next year!

Last year, two remarkable Catoctin teams—baseball and softball—rode the bus all the way down to the tiny little town founded by Daniel Boone’s cousin, William Boone. That little Washington County town of Boonsboro was the scene of two historic battles during the Civil War: The Battle of South Mountain in 1862 and the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg a year later.

Catoctin baseball strutted into Boonsboro, riding a 13-game win streak last year, while their Lady Cougar’s compatriots just 200 yards away faced Boonsboro on the softball diamond, riding an equally impressive 6-game streak on their way eventually to the 1A State Championship. After the dust settled, both teams experienced unexplainable defeats at the hands of Boonsboro. Was that a peculiar twist of events? One would think so.  Both teams had beaten Boonsboro at home. Should we just chalk it up to a coincidence or bad juju? Maybe the bus driver made a wrong turn and went through Burkittsville on their way to Boonsboro. All of that would have been easily dismissed were it not for last month’s 2024 return visit to Boonsboro. This time, our guy and gal Cougars were not so cocky. There was no swagger or boasting on the bus. But, the results were the same. The Lady Cougars were pounded 11-1 in a five-inning mercy rule game, and the guys went down 5-2 against what many believed was an inferior team.  Both baseball teams are hovering right around .500, but Catoctin has faced much better competition than Boonsboro. On paper, they are better.  But, once again, the Catoctin baseball and softball teams had a quiet ride home on the team bus.

How can this be? Maybe, it’s the crowd or their fields at Boonsboro.  Maybe, it was that terrible music they were playing from the announcer’s table. I mean, who plays John Fogerty, Johnny Cash, and Allanah Morrisette all in the same break?

Like the Confederates did in 1863, Catoctin should blow the retreat bugle now before they even look at a return to Boonsboro next year. Or, maybe they should bring the Boonsboro Warriors a better mix tape for their games?

If you subtract that trip to Boonsboro from the season, things are looking pretty good. The boys have a good pitching rotation going with Worth, Watkins, Koenig, and Morlan. They come at you from a bunch of different angles. Green, Shipton, Grable, and Bell all have hot bats, and how about that Urbana game?  Facing the team they tied last year for the CMC baseball championship and the #1 team in the county this year, they were down 7-3 for most of the game. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Cougars rallied at 2 outs with consecutive hits from Grable, Bell, Morlan, and Ferrell. Castellow drove in the winning run 8-7, with a clutch blooper past the mound that he beat out at first. The biggest win so far this year for our baseball team! Watkins struggled against Urbana for four innings, giving up 7 runs. But Urbana is one of the best-hitting teams in the county, that shakes up pitchers with lightning-quick runners who can steal bases at will. Three of Urbana’s runs came off overthrows on runner steals, alone. Catoctin showed real guts, grit, and determination in that game. This is a team that won’t quit, no matter what.

The Lady Cougars softball team chemistry was completely altered with the loss of ace pitcher Taylor Smith.  Taylor isn’t just missed in the circle but at the plate, too. Coach Valentine adjusted the pitching rotation with Aubrey Courtney and Kassidy Kreitz in the circle. And just like their baseball counterparts, the Lady Cougars faced their CMC softball championship rivals from 2023, the Urbana Hawks, once again, back in mid-April. They dispatched the Lady Hawks easily, 10-0 in 5 innings. 

Without Taylor Smith’s dominating pitching, they no longer have the luxury of holding opponents to 2 or 3 runs. Taylor had a smokin’ rise ball that was unhittable. Now, they must rely on run production, and that is exactly what they have been doing. In their first four games of the season, they outscored opponents 56-11. That’s an average of 14 runs per game! Bralyn West is leading the county in hitting, batting .684.  Kassidy Kreitz is leading Frederick County in home runs and RBIs.  Kassidy is a double threat, hitting and pitching. She has an ERA of .51 and averages 10 strikeouts per game.  Abigail Shives and Raegan Miller are right behind her, batting in the 500s. And what can I say about Meghan Gray, the senior and University of Maryland-bound catcher for the Lady Cougars? She has stepped in to continue as a leader of this team and fill the void in the absence of her co-captain, friend, and teammate. My advice is that we erase Boonsboro from our memories and just think of it as an annual bad dream, at least for now. Oh, but I forgot, there is a strong possibility our baseball and softball teams could end up back at Boonsboro in the playoffs. That playoff journey begins on Thursday, May 9. Don’t worry… I’ll talk to the bus driver personally.

The Best Time to Start a Financial Plan is Now

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by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®, Partner, Bestgate Advisors

Gone are the days when a pension was the golden ticket to a secure future. With the evolving landscape of employment and the diminishing prevalence of pensions, the responsibility for retirement savings has shifted to the individual. One of the most common ways for individuals to save is through their employer 401(k) plan.

Understanding The Basics

In a 401(k) plan, you decide how much of your earnings you want to set aside for retirement, and your employer takes care of moving that money straight into your 401(k) account. It’s like having your own personal piggy bank, but with rules—like you can’t dip into it until you reach retirement age without facing penalties, though there are some exceptions.

The best part? You’re in control of how your money grows over time. Within your 401(k) account, you’ll find a menu of investment options to choose from and pick the right mix of stocks and bonds, ensuring you have some stocks for growth but the appropriate amount of bonds for stability. Typically, younger people will have a higher stock allocation and those closer to retirement will have a more balanced stock-to-bond ratio. You get to tailor your investment strategy to suit your goals and risk tolerance.

Most employers also provide a matching or profit-sharing contribution. This is money from your employer, so not out of your paycheck, that gets put into your 401(k) account. It’s like getting a bonus with every paycheck, except this bonus goes straight into your future. Typically, there are vesting schedules before the employer contribution is considered yours, meaning you’ll have to work at the company for a certain number of years before you can run with the money.

Now, if your company matches, you’ll want to make sure you’re putting enough of your own contributions in to get the full match. If you don’t, you’re leaving free money on the table. Most plans will auto-enroll you in a 3% match. But, if for example, your company offers a 5% match, you’ll want to be sure to update your contribution to 5%. Be sure to discuss with your employer what your options are so that you’re getting your full benefits. Some plans allow you to change your contribution percentage at any time while others may restrict it to one to two times a year.

Planning note: You’re not restricted to only the matching level in your 401(k) either. While it’s a great start, if you can work your way up to setting aside 10-15% by steadily increasing your contribution by 1% to 2% a year, you’ll have saved what is typically needed for a successful retirement. Just don’t go over the maximum limits you can contribute to your 401(k). For 2024, the contribution limits are $23,000 for those under 50 and $30,500 if age 50 or older. This does not include employer contributions.

Taxes: Roth vs. Traditional

You used to only have a Traditional 401(k) option, but in today’s increasingly complex world, there is both a Traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). The difference between the two is how they’re treated for tax purposes. Below are the highlights.

Traditional 401(k)

When you make a contribution, it reduces your taxable wages by the contribution amount.

   In retirement, when you make a withdrawal, the withdrawal amount is fully taxable.

   You can take penalty-free distributions after age 59 ½.

Roth 401(k)

When you make a contribution, it does NOT reduce your taxable wages.

   In retirement, when you make a withdrawal, the withdrawal is tax-free, mostly (see five-year rule below).

   You can take penalty-free and tax-free distributions after age 59 ½, as long as you’ve had the account for at least 5 years. If you do not meet the 5-year rule, then earnings in the account will be considered taxable.

Making the Decision: Factors to Consider

Which plan is right for you? Everyone’s favorite answer: it depends. Determining which type of 401(k) plan is best suited to your needs involves a degree of crystal-ball gazing. Considerations such as current income tax rates, projected retirement income, and future tax legislation all play a role in the decision-making process.

Age and Career Stage: Younger individuals and those early in their careers may opt for Roth contributions, anticipating future income growth and potentially higher tax rates. Conversely, individuals nearing retirement or at the peak of their earning potential may lean towards Traditional contributions to capitalize on immediate tax savings.

Tax Diversification: Just as diversification is key to a well-rounded investment portfolio, spreading retirement savings across both Roth and Traditional accounts can provide flexibility and hedge against future tax uncertainties. This is a great option for those individuals who are in the middle of their careers and unsure if tax rates will be higher or lower in the future.

Employer Contributions: It’s worth noting that employer matching contributions are typically made to Traditional 401(k) accounts. As such, individuals may choose to allocate their own contributions to a Roth account to achieve tax diversification. Although, be sure to check with your employer; recent legislation has allowed employers to also make Roth contributions.

Seeking Professional Guidance

While the decision between Roth and Traditional 401(k) plans may seem daunting, it’s not one that needs to be made alone. Consulting with a financial advisor can provide valuable insights tailored to your individual circumstances and financial goals. An advisor can help navigate the complexities of retirement planning, ensuring that your chosen strategy aligns with your long-term objectives.

Conclusion: Building Your Retirement Future

In closing, the choice between Roth and Traditional 401(k) plans represents a pivotal decision in the journey toward retirement security. By understanding the nuances of each option and considering factors such as current and future tax implications, individuals can make informed choices that optimize their retirement savings strategy. Whether you opt for immediate tax savings with a Traditional 401(k) or prioritize tax-free withdrawals with a Roth account, the most important step is to start saving early and consistently. Remember, the key to a comfortable retirement lies in proactive planning and disciplined saving. So, seize the opportunity to invest in your future self today, and embark on the path towards a financially secure retirement.