There are two more excellent films to be shown in Thurmont this autumn, at both the Regional Library and the Main Street Center. The library itself, as everyone knows, is a great resource for our community, with multiple creative activities and books and movies to engage our minds, as well as internet access. The Main Street Center on Water Street is a marvel to enter, with art work by local artists, as well as the history of this area. We are blessed to have both of these wonderful features here in Thurmont, which is increasingly becoming a reservoir of culture, along with many local businesses.

This fall, we are fortunate to have two films sponsored by the Town’s Green Team and the Sierra Club, and everyone is welcome to attend, free of charge. The films, places, and times are as follows:

Before the Flood, a thought-provoking documentary with Leonardo Dicaprio, taking us on a tour around the world, showing us the ravages of pollution, corporate destruction of rainforests, and climate disruption. It also examines positive ways that we can help rectify the problems. A must see! Showing : Saturday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m., Thurmont Main Street Center, 11 Water Street.

Bag It, a playful, yet serious, examination depicting the current problems we are are having with plastics in our environment and our food. Excellent!

Showings: Thursday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m., Thurmont Regional Library; Friday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m., Thurmont Main Street Center, 11 Water Street.

Both of these films are good for adults, as well as middle school and high school students. There will be discussions following the film, along with healthy food to snack on. Hope to see you there! For more information, write Christine at [email protected].

Priscilla Rall of Rocky Ridge finished her cookbook, and it has been printed. “This has been a labor of love and a long time in the making. It includes a chapter (with my illustrations) on open hearth cooking, its tools, ingredients, methods, etc. Then, there are 178 recipes, including ones for hoe cakes, all kinds of steamed puddings (like fig, hasty, and pease), ginger cake, homemade yeast, beaten biscuits, apple fritters,schnitz un knepp, venison, broiled eels, squirrel, blackbird pie, shad, pickled peppers, sauerkraut, cranberry ketchup, horse cake, green tomato pie, my great grandmother’s kaffee kuchen, corn and locust beer, elder and dandelion wine and much more!” Rall said. “My book is profusely illustrated with vintage botanical illustrations, my own photos, Uncle Wiggely (remember him?), and lots of nursery rhymes. There are some old fashioned remedies, also. It has a spiral binding, so you can open it up flat—the better to read it by.

Learn the history behind our ancestors’ cooking, what they ate, and how they prepared it. This isn’t your Monticello or Mt. Vernon cookbook, but one with seldom seen recipes for everyday folk. Also invaluable for the living history reinactor.

The price for this cookbook is $36.00. “Wish it was lower, but I had to have it printed privately, so no room for wholesale pricing,” explained Rall.

Rall will be scheduling an open hearth cooking workshop this winter, just looking for a nice venue. If interested, let her know at 301-271-2868.

Sabillasville Cookbook Available

A cookbook named “Kitchen Help” will be available in November. The book is from St. John’s United Church of Christ in Sabillasville and honors its Ladies’ Guild. The Guild was in existence seventy-five years, from 1932-2007.

Inside the book, you will find a story of the first twenty years of the Guild’s existence taken from their minutes, two pictures of Guild members, helpful hints, and many recipes from Sabillasville and surrounding communities. This book would make a great gift. The book was compiled by Joan Bittner Fry and printed by E+ Copy Center in Emmitsburg.

To order a book, contact [email protected] or call the church at 301-241-3488 and leave a message with your name and number. Someone will get back to you. The price of the book is $17.50 each or two for $30.00.

Poetry by Francis Smith

It is a pinto sunset

like spotted steeds

the cloudlets race

across this fall’s horizon.

Some say

it’s Indian Summer

the last blast

of our sunny season.

The real reason why the clouds

send us a peachy sky

where eternal blue

yields its coolness

is our atmosphere

anticipates the autumn

grandeur of painted

and falling leaves

while Canadian geese

in famed formation

and chorus strong

flap their wings

and honk their song

in their way

to warmer pastures

Theresa Dardanell

Because first impressions are important, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) encourages all schools to demonstrate “curb appeal”—a clean, well-maintained and welcoming appearance.

This year, Thurmont Elementary School (TES) and Thurmont Middle School (TMS) earned an award for “Outstanding Curb Appeal.”  Although maintenance of the interior of the buildings is just as important, the focus of this award is the exterior: what students and parents see when they first arrive at school.

Award criteria included maintenance of grass, trees, bushes and flowerbeds; condition of the building, fences, walkways, curbs, and parking lots; playgrounds that are ready for the students; and signs updated with current information.  Vince Bentz, lead custodian at TMS, and Brenda Martins, lead custodian at TES, both said that teamwork is essential and that everyone on their crew works well together.  They work very hard, not just during the summer, but all year long.

John Carnahan, FCPS custodial services manager, said “…TES and TMS are examples of the awesome things that our teams do each and every day in support of students, staff, and their communities.”

Thurmont Middle School

Pictured from left: Paul Lebo (FCPS Central Office), John Carnahan (FCPS Central Office), Mike Frushour (Custodian), Cindy Frock (Custodian), Richard White (Custodian), Gayle Smith (Custodian), Vince Bentz (Lead Custodian), Anita Shank (Assistant Principal), and Daniel Enck (Principal). Missing from photo: Robert Welsh (Assistant Lead Custodian) and Dan VanFossen (Custodian).

Courtesy Photo

Thurmont Elementary School

Pictured from left: Custodian Matt Claggett, Principal Christina McKeever, Custodian Susie Cool, Lead Custodian Brenda Martins, and Custodian Wanda Frye.

Photo by Theresa Dardanell

The Catoctin High School (CHS) Sports Boosters will hold its 9^th Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., in the CHS Cafeteria.

Cougar apparel, blankets, stadium seats, hats, and miscellaneous novelty items will be available for your Christmas shopping. There will be light refreshments.  Payment may be made by cash, check, or credit card for Sports Boosters items. Organizations within CHS and sports teams will be invited to have their current fundraisers available for your Holiday purchases (cash or check will be accepted by each individual group or team).

For more information, please contact Bob Marlow at 443-829-3809.

On October the 18, 2017, the 1955 graduating class of Thurmont High School celebrated each of their 80^th birthdays at The Carriage House in Emmitsburg.

Ernest Rice spoke on their friendships lasting over the years, and of the loss of their friend and class president Robert Stitely a few days earlier. Class members attending were: Lela Angleberger Weaver, Raymond Bentz, Jim Bostian, Nancy Carback Riffle, Janice Dubel Zapkie, Patricia Eyler Raymond, Jenna Lea Harbaugh Ott, Barbara Jackson Diffenbaugh, Grace May Blickenstaff, Juaniata Myers Bowers, Phyllis Moser Schell, Louise Null Humerick, Ernest Rice, Doris Smith Rippeon, Peggy Wachter Laster, and Betty Willard Kunkel.

Following the luncheon, prizes were awarded for the following: the member coming the longest distance—Janice Dubel Zabkie from Arizona; the oldest female member—Patricia Eyler Raymond; the oldest male member—Ernest Rice; the youngest female member—Phyllis Moser Schell; the youngest male member—Jim Bostian.

“The years at Thurmont High School gave us many fond memories,” said Lela Angleberger Weaver.

After much discussion about their days, a list of questions was presented to each member. Louise Null Humerick answered over 50 percent correctly and received a prize. A good time was had by all. They all look forward to meeting again in June at the Thurmont High School Alumni Banquet.