Deb Spalding “Quality education,” “a comfortable learning environment,” and “friendly atmosphere” are some of the descriptions former students have used to reference the education they received at Sabillasville Elementary School (SES). Current student, Lillian Coles of Foxville, who experienced her first day of kindergarten at SES on August 24, said, “It’s fun and I like…

Upcoming Anniversary Events Sabillasville Elementary School’s 50th Anniversary will be honored during the opening ceremonies of the Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show on Friday, September 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the auditorium at Catoctin High School. The school’s staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to attend. It is hoped that a record crowd attends…

Melvin Henry Center and the Business of Giving Melvin Henry Center would like to thank all the volunteers and donors who have helped the organization sustain free and open access to clothes, shoes, toys, and food for Citizens of the Maryland and the West Virginia Panhandle, as volunteers create fundraising events in northern Frederick County…

The Purpose of the Community Show is to Educate, to Inspire, and to Entertain The Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show will be held at Catoctin High School on September 11-13, 2015. Visit the Community Show’s website at www.thurmontemmitsburgcommunityshow.webs.com to view the premium list for 2015 and the community show booklet. On Friday evening, September 11,…

by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg August 2015 Sign Up for Gym Usage Time is running out if you want to use the gymnasium in the Emmitsburg Community Center during the upcoming athletic season that runs October 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016. If your organization would like to use the gymnasium, you need to send…

James Rada, Jr.     The Thurmont area is perfect for growing grapes that then can be turned into fine wines, and Alicja and Voytek Fizyta have the awards to prove it. Over the past five years, the wines of Catoctin Breeze Winery have earned thirty awards at shows like the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association Wine Competition…

Annual Picnic Held in Sabillasville The annual Sabillasville Picnic was held in Sabillasville on Saturday, August 15, 2015. The Bluegrass Chapel Band strummed out old hymns and folk songs while residents relaxed, mingled, and enjoyed ice cream and other goodies. This long-time annual event is hosted by St. John’s United Church of Christ in Sabillasville,…

Deb Spalding Young Betty Jean Hixen was raised in a family of Polish and Irish descent, who were coal miners in Jordan, West Virginia. Just three miles away, her future husband, William (Bill) Meredith, lived with his family of Welsh and Irish ancestry. They were farmers. The two were destined to love, and met when…

The Catoctin-Ettes, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) competitive baton twirling, color guard, pom pom, and percussion organization from Emmitsburg, is reaching out to the community to ask for their consideration in making a tax-deductible donation to their corps. With the money that they collect, they will be able to purchase equipment and meet their operational expenses,…

Fall brings the biggest fundraiser for Boy Scouts of America: Popcorn! This fundraiser is through Trails End, who are now giving seventy-three percent back to scouting. They have increased the amount of product you receive this year, but kept the price the same. They have also added a couple of new flavors. This major fundraiser…

Randy Waesche Fifty years ago three of Thurmont’s leading citizens figured in two of the most remarkable episodes in town politics. The men were Donald L. Lewis, Roy W. Lookingbill, and Calvin G. Wilhide. Donald L. Lewis was one of Thurmont’s most-progressive mayors. Although only in office for just over five years, the effects of…

CPT David Lee Burrier, son of Lonnie and Barbara Burrier of Thurmont, recently became Company Commander of the HHC, 127th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. CPT Burrier was a 2004 graduate of Catoctin High School, and a 2008 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston,…

James Rada, Jr. Jeremy Murphy (pictured right) was born and raised in Emmitsburg, graduating from Catoctin High in 1998. He visited both Catoctin Mountain Park and Gettysburg National Military Park on field trips and summer trips, never realizing that he would grow up to become the chief law enforcement officer for the Gettysburg National Military…

Thurmont Thespians Hold Auditions for 2015 Fall Show The Thurmont Thespians are proud to announce auditions for their fall show, God’s Favorite, a comedy by Neil Simon and directed by Matthew Bannister. Auditions will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located on 15 N. Church Street in Thurmont, on Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00…

Hometown Author, Allison B. Hanson, will be signing books on Saturday, September 12, 2015, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., at the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library, located at 15055 Summit Plaza in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania. Come out to meet the author as she introduces the first book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series, When Least…

James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg Commissioner Tim O’Donnell was recently biking along the Emmitsburg Multi-User Trails, something he does multiple times a week. Whenever he meets someone on the trail whom he doesn’t know, he “puts on his commissioner hat” and stops to talk to them about where they are from and how they like the…

Grace Eyler On August 15, 2015, the U.S. Crossbow Club (USCC) celebrated its 2nd Annual Awards Banquet. Located on Tower Road in Thurmont, members from across Maryland, and as far away as Ohio, joined together to share stories of their crossbow hunting adventures, to display their mounted trophy animals, and to receive awards for their…

School Bells are Ringing Across the County James Rada, Jr. Frederick County students headed back to school on Monday, August 24. Nearly every school saw new faces among the faculty and staff. Thurmont Primary School Thurmont Primary School is the only school in the area not seeing any staffing changes this year. All of the…

Emmitsburg Baseball Celebrates 60th Anniversary   Deb Spalding In 1955, Articles of Incorporation for the Emmitsburg Little League stated the objective of the league to be, “to implant firmly in the boys of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and reverence so that they may be finer, stronger, and happier boys and…

by Valerie Nusbaum Happy September I’ve heard and read that happiness is a choice we make. According to the experts, we can wake up in the morning and choose to be happy or we can choose not to be. Apparently, it’s up to us whether we see the glass as half full or half empty.…