From the monthly archives: "February 2022"

It’s Time To Make The Syrup

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James Rada, Jr.

Fun Facts: Although maple trees are found on other continents, no other continent’s maples can compare in sweetness to the sugar maple trees in North America. It takes an average of 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.

As spring approaches in the area, maple sap is flowing into buckets to make maple syrup in the area. Two maple sugaring events will be held in March.

The Maple Syrup Festival is returning as an in-person event at Cunningham Falls State Park on March 12-13 and 19-20. This festival has been a staple in Frederick County for more than 50 years.

Park staff will demonstrate the traditional way of simmering sap to syrup, starting every half hour from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. each day.

“It’s the first time for a live event since 2019,” said Park Manager Mark Spurrier. “This will be a scaled-back event because we didn’t want to overplan since we don’t know what conditions will be like.”

This year’s festival will have two boiling sites and a storybook hiking trail. The trail will tell the story of how maple syrup is made and show how trees are tapped to gather sap.

Unlike previous festivals, this year’s event won’t have live music or a pancake breakfast.

“We’re going to keep it simple,” Spurrier said. “We want to get people outside and back into the park.”

Although the park will be making syrup using the old kettle method, it is only for demonstration purposes. Maryland-made maple syrup will be available for sale at the event though.

Admission to the park and event is $3.00, with the money going to support the park and the Friends of Cunningham Falls State Park. For more information, visit www.cunninghamgambrill.org/.

Just over the state line in Pennsylvania, Strawberry Hill will host the Mount Hope Maple Madness at Camp Eder on March 5. The camp is in Fairfield, Pennsylvania.

“We are giving people a chance to taste what we produce,” said Amanda Markle, environmental education manager for Strawberry Hill.

The event will feature a breakfast with all-you-can-eat pancakes and Pennsylvania maple syrup. Then you can take a guided tour through the woods to see how maple syrup is made from start to finish.

“We are hoping to tap a tree with every tour,” Markle said.

Back at the main area, visitors will also be able to visit local vendors, offering hand-made goods, nature-related items, and information about local nature organizations.

The cost for breakfast is $9.00 for adults and $7.00 for children. The tour is $7.00. You can combine the two for $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children.

Because Strawberry Hill does not want to get overcrowded due to health concerns, making a reservation for a tour is strongly recommended.

For more information on this event, visit www.strawberryhill.org/maplemadness.

Visitors to the Maple Syrup Festival watch a demonstration of how sap is boiled to make maple syrup.

Photo Courtesy of Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrills State Parks

A Tribute to Mr. Francis Smith—One of Our Own

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Deb Abraham Spalding

Mr. Francis Smith has been a beloved contributor of poetry to The Catoctin Banner for many years. On February 13, 2022, he passed away at the age of 96. As part of the Banner Team, he was creative, consistent, smart, and talented. He always offered a warm handshake in greeting and often shared a sweet smile along with his greeting.

In addition to his poetry, he was featured in The Catoctin Banner as a “Who Am I?” spotlight, a human interest feature, and in town news as Emmitsburg’s Poet Laureate.

Mr. Smith was a teacher, an artist, a poet, a man of faith, and an all-around good person. We miss you already, Mr. Smith. We will continue to publish Mr. Smith’s poems in the poetry section in his honor. Take a look at Mr. Smith’s life as described below…

Taneytown Man a Poet for 71 Years

James Rada, Jr. (published in The Catoctin Banner in 2017)

Francis Smith’s oldest dated poem, that he has, is dated 1946, more than seventy years ago. Over that time, he has penned thousands of poems.

“I enjoy words and how they sound,” Smith said from his Taneytown home, which is filled with notebooks of his poetry and more than a few loose scraps of paper with his poetry on them.

As essential a part of his life as his poetry is now, it wasn’t always that way. When he was a young man studying to be a priest in the seminary, he had a hard time catching on to what is so wonderful about poetry.

His poetry instructor was a patient Catholic priest. Each day, he would come into the classroom and begin by reading a poem. Then he would look at Smith.

“I would shake my head to tell him that I didn’t get it,” Smith said.

Day after day, poem after poem, Smith struggled to understand. Then, one day, the priest read a poem; Smith doesn’t recall what it was titled or who wrote it, but he remembers one line: “Meekly no angels fancy.”

Something about the poem touched him, and he understood. When the priest looked at him that day, Smith nodded. The priest went to his desk and picked up a large list of names and checked off Smith’s name. Apparently, Smith wasn’t the only seminarian who didn’t get poetry.

From there, his understanding of poetry multiplied, and he was soon tutoring a friend in it.

During his years at the seminary, he majored in philosophy and also taught at St. Joseph Prep School in Philadelphia. This served him well, because when he decided not to become a priest, he instead became a Carroll County teacher. Smith taught English in Sykesville High School, Taneytown High School, and Francis Scott Key High School, for forty years.

When he finally retired, Smith’s poetry and painting became his life’s pursuits. He is a cancer survivor, but it left him weak and unable to do strenuous activity. However, he can create pictures from word and paint.

“Writing and painting are my life,” Smith said.

He is regularly published in The Catoctin Banner, and some of his collected poems have also been published in limited-edition books.

Francis Edward Smith (96) Obituary

Francis Edward Smith, 96, of Emmitsburg, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2022. Born August 19, 1925, at Edlou Farm in Long Green, Maryland, he was the son of the late Francis David and Julia Elizabeth (Guelta) Smith. He was the husband of 50 years to the late Margaret Virginia (Bouey) Smith, who preceded him in death in 2015. He is survived by daughters Denise Lupp (John) of Littlestown, PA, and Marjorie Root (Steve) of Emmitsburg; grandchildren Jennifer Bolin (Andrew), Sarah Russell (Austin), and Nikolas Root; great-grandchildren Heath and Cassie Bolin; brother Leo B. Smith (Eleanor), sisters Mary Maritia Smith, SSND, Dorothy L. Feaga, and Regina E. Class (John Robert), and the late Julia H., Albert M., W. Kevin Smith, William Donahue; brother-in-law of Sally Smith. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends.

Francis graduated from Loyola High School at Blakefield in Towson, Maryland, and St. Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. He spent 40 years teaching English (and Latin) in PA and Carroll County, MD; retiring in 1990. He was honored as Maryland English Teacher of the Year in 1988 and Carroll County Teacher of the Year in 1989.

Francis was talented in poetry and painting. He self-published several booklets of poetry, frequently contributed works to The Catoctin Banner, and held the honor of Poet Laureate of Emmitsburg from 2019-2021. His artwork won ribbons in the Thurmont/Emmitsburg Community Show and Carroll County and Frederick Fairs. He gifted many paintings to friends, former students and family. Francis volunteered for the Emmitsburg Library Board, Emmitsburg Food Bank, and Emmitsburg Lifelong Learning Council. He was proud to be the oldest participant in the Run for Life in memory of Father Darin Didier at Mt. St. Mary’s University from 2011 to 2017, as well as the oldest participant at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church for several years. Francis also enjoyed traveling the United States and chaperoning high school students on trips abroad, as well as gardening and walking.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Smith’s name to Sarah’s Place Women’s Resource Center, Inc., P.O. Box 197, Sandy Hook, KY 41171, or a charity of your choice.

The New You in 2022

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BY Terry Pryor, Writer, Poet, Life Coach, and Student of the Mind

Note: This is the first month of action described in a series of motivational articles. Take some time each month to complete these action items and you’ll see a “New You” emerge. Enjoy!

About Affirmations

Affirmations are tools that declare an intention. In other words, you are making a positive statement or command intended not only to change your outlook but also to elicit the assistance of your higher self, God, the angels, or whatever you perceive to be a greater power than you. Whether you believe you are the only one hearing these words or not, the magic of affirmations declared with faith is that they work.

Remember the example of the Olympic athletes we talked about last month: The mind cannot tell the difference between an actual event and a vividly imagined one.

It is with the power of your words, your thoughts, and your intentions that the magic of change begins.

Fake It ’til You Make It

I’m sure you have heard the expression “Fake it ’til you make it.” Putting something into practice results in an empowering mental benefit. The subconscious acts predominantly on your feelings. What you feel is its fuel bringing you more of the same. It doesn’t know if you really have a job or not or if you have the perfect home. It only knows what you feel.

Whatever you desire, feel what having it will mean to you—in other words, fake it ’til you make it!

Power Action #1: Vacation

(Choose a weekday rather than a weekend day)

If you’re working at an unfulfilling job, or you don’t have a job and, therefore, don’t have money coming in, taking a day off seems ludicrous. After all, taking time off might appear to unwind into the future like a huge ball of string.

I would like to suggest otherwise.

Power Action #1: Today, you start to invent the new you, and the new you is open to a truckload of new possibilities. The new you has an open and flexible mind, willing to try anything. The new you is filled with the idea of a day totally different from any other day. I give you permission to play hooky.

This month, I want you to do things that you may not have done in a long time.

On this first Day of Power, you are to get away from anything that remotely looks like a routine. Whatever your job is or was, it probably consisted of, in part, a regimented daily schedule.

When was the last time you went to a matinee movie? Go see one.

Take a long hike through town or your own neighborhood, which you may not have done in a while—or ever.

Go for a bike ride. Go to the zoo.

Have lunch at that great little restaurant you haven’t visited since before COVID that serves those gigantic Reuben sandwiches or have one of those terrific pizzas the local pub serves up. Try that new restaurant you’ve been intending to check out.

I want to suggest that you spend at least four or five hours out there in your city or town—your own backyard, so to speak.

I want you to do this alone. Don’t take anyone along, even if someone offers to go.

This is a play day for you, and only you.

If you have lost your job or have not found the perfect one yet, or if life does not look fun or positive anymore, it’s possible that you will experience moments of complete mind-numbing fear today, moments where you wonder what the heck just happened to your life and what are you doing at an afternoon movie on a Tuesday. When that happens, push those thoughts away. Know that in the very near future, you are going to begin accomplishing great things.

For now, have fun. That energy is very important.

From The Mayor

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Thurmont

 Mayor John Kinnaird

In light of the recent decline in COVID-19 cases in Frederick County, County Executive Gardner has rescinded the mask order for public places. Many businesses and restaurants may still require you to wear a mask in their establishment.

COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots are available on Monday evenings, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Thurmont Regional Library on Moser Road. COVID-19 tests are available on Friday evenings, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the Thurmont Town Office at 615 East Main Street in Thurmont. The tests are free and do not require a doctor’s note or an appointment.

Spring is headed our way, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for winter weather. I just want to remind everyone that if you can get your cars off the street, it makes for a better job of clearing snow from our streets. Please do not clear the end of your driveway until our trucks have plowed to the curb. Chances are the plowed snow may block the end of your driveway, and I don’t want you to have to clear your driveaway more than once, if possible.  Also, be aware of snowplows as they work to clear the streets. Give all snow plows ample space as they are working or as you drive past them. These trucks are wide!

Speaking of spring, the Thurmont Farmers Market will be open on Saturday, March 26, at 21 East Main Street in Thurmont. The early indoor market was a big success last year and this year will be no different. The indoor market will be open Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. until noon, through May 7. The indoor market will feature mushrooms, locally made sauces and rubs, baked goods, organic greens, and much more! Bantam Coffee Roasters will be at every Farmer Market with their trailer, serving up freshly roasted coffee, lattes, espresso, and more. The Farmers Market will then move to its new outdoor location in the Thurmont Community Park on Frederick Road. The outdoor market will be open Saturdays, 9:00 am until noon, beginning Saturday, May 14.

Cunningham Falls State Park is a great recreational resource right on our doorstep. There are plenty of trails to hike; streams for fishing; campsites; a beautiful lake for swimming, fishing, and canoeing; the beautiful Cunningham Falls, and tons of history! Be sure to visit the Maple Syrup Festival at Cuningham Falls State Park, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., on March 12-13 and March 19-20. There will be two boil sites, the fresh syrup will be for sale, and there will be hot beverages and light fare available.

The Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission has wrapped up the Master Plan Update and Comprehensive Rezoning. Both are now in the hands of the board of commissioners and will be the topic of a public hearing in the near future. If you are interested in the Master Plan and Comprehensive Rezoning, please watch for the board of commissioners’ public hearing dates.

Please contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns at 301-606-9458 or by email at jkinnaird@thurmont.com. I hope everyone has a very nice March!

Emmitsburg

Mayor Don Briggs

With spring almost here and months of talking about the new businesses and major town improvements, here are some things about people.

Over the last year, unimpeded by COVID variations, the Frederick County Health Department, partnering with Dr. Portier, has conducted a sample group program of 40 patients to enhance self-care blood pressure care and awareness. Forty (40) “cuffs,” medical parlance for the wide band you put around your bicep and squeeze a rubber ball kits, were distributed to the patients. The intent is to develop patient motivation in using cuffs, provide literature, and a more than “one and done” follow-up support system to keep blood pressure in a healthier range. It is my understanding that the program is still being tweaked before being opened to the public. Preventive medicine at work.

Providentially, with spring comes another restaurant option on the Square. The vacated Stavros space is occupied again. Tuscany’s Pizzeria held its grand opening on February 23. Please welcome them with a visit. 

So who is Father Gene? He is the gentle octogenarian, who walks several miles every day and has run 15 marathons. Besides being a very spiritual parish priest at St. Joseph’s Church, he is an ardent Auburn Tigers fan. In his earlier days, he was pastor at Auburn University. His number of marathons run is impressive and noteworthy, posing possibly a challenge to Bridget McCarthy in marathons, but I do not think so. Included in his marathons run is the Marine Corps. Marathon in Washington D.C. I ran it in 1980, followed a year later by the one notable initiates of the club Libby ran (an hour faster than me). 

 So, where are we with the Change for Food program, the donations placed in those little jars throughout town retail checkouts? The initiative to raise money for Emmitsburg Food Bank was started ten years ago by Bob and Jean Rosensteel and has been maintained by them and the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association (EBPA). The latest tabulation is $54,056 raised. To add to that, the EBPA college scholarship assistance fund, administered by the Frederick County Community Foundation, now exceeds $27,000. Well done business community.

 There is a Catoctin High student program known as “Family, Community, and Career Leaders of America” (FCCLA). A school-sponsored club whose mission is “Leading Others to a Better Tomorrow,” and whose motto is “Caring and Sharing.” The goal is, by performing services for the community, students learn and develop leadership skills. Notable initiates of the club include “adopting” area elderly and Thurmont Primary School students for engagement in activities throughout the school year. Well done.

 If you want to be nudged in an intellectual way, consider the Mount’s Alumni Symposium, sponsored by the Mount St. Mary’s University College of Liberal Arts. Now in the third year of fall and spring sessions, this may be the one for you. The overseer of the program is Dr. Peter Dorsey. You do not have to be a Mount grad to join in person or by zoom. For the 2022 spring session, in January, Drs. Elizabeth and Charles Strauss led a discussion on Catholics and Jews after the Holocaust. Followed in February by Fr. Jim Donohue, “The Hospitality of God: A Reading of Luke’s Gospel.” March will be Dr. Carol Hind, “Sanctification of the Ordinary in Mark Salzman’s Lying Awake.” In April, Dr. John Hershey: “Star Wars and the Force of Philosophy.” In May, Dr. Jack Dudley: “The Everyday Life of the Priesthood, The Short Stories of J.F. Powers.” The symposium sessions are held at the Mount Frederick campus one evening a month. There is a fee that includes reading materials and dinner. Contact the College of Liberal Arts for information on the 2022 fall semester.

We mourn the loss of Francis G. Smith, 96 years young. He was a wonderful person and renowned area artist and poet. In 2019, he was recognized as the town of Emmitsburg Poet Laureate for 2019-2021. From his poem, “The Poet’s Fantasy”:

Pent-up within the bounds of my humanity,

My restless spirit, ever straining upward,

Thrills to harmony.

Not so much giving up something but rather do something special for others during Lent.  

Town Hall Report

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by James Rada, Jr.

Thurmont

Town Reinstates Commissioner Liaisons to Public Works

Although Thurmont used to have commissioner liaisons to the town’s public works departments, the assignments have stopped being made at some point in the past. At Mayor John Kinnaird’s suggestion and with the approval of the commissioners, this has been reinstated. The following liaison assignments were made to the commissioners: Water—Wayne Hooper, Wastewater—Bill Blakeslee, Electric—Bill Buehrer, Streets and Parks—Wes Hamrick.

Part of Trolley Trail to be Dedicated In Memory of Former Employee

At the suggestion of a town employee, the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners agreed to dedicate the section of the Thurmont Trolley Trail from East Moser Road to the wastewater treatment plant pond entrance to Jeff Kilby. Kilby was a town employee in the wastewater department who died unexpectedly in October 2020. A bench with a plaque on it will be placed on the trail to note the dedication.

Armstrong Named Thurmont Police Officer Of The Year

The Thurmont Lions Club named Sgt. Dave Armstrong as the Thurmont Police Officer of the Year. He joined the Thurmont Police Department in 2012 after he retired from the Frederick Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant in 2018. Besides his work as a police officer, he helped the town youth organize themselves to get the new Thurmont Skatepark built.

Jonathan Hamrick with the Thurmont Lions Club presented Armstrong with a certificate and gift certificate for a local restaurant. His name will be added to a plaque of other Thurmont Police Officers of the Year, and the Lions Club will make a $400 donation in his name to the Thurmont Boy Scouts.

Wood Named Thurmont Police Civilian Employee Of The Year

Code Enforcement Officer Kristi Wood was named the Thurmont Police Civilian Employee of the Year. She began work with the department as a part-time employee in 2014. However, her hard work and initiative to take on other duties allowed her to become a full-time employee in 2017. Citizens have often complimented her good work to the department.

“Her caring and concern for everyone is noticeable every day,” Eyler said. “Ms. Wood has proven to be an outstanding employee for the Thurmont Police Department and the Town of Thurmont.”

Purchases Approved to Extend Gateway Trail

The Town of Thurmont and Catoctin Mountain National Park have been working to develop the Gateway Trail. It begins in Community Park, through town on Altamont Avenue, and out of town on West Main Street. It will then connect to trails in Catoctin Mountain National Park. To complete the trail, the town needs to purchase three pieces of property on West Main Street in order to make a direct connection to the west end of Community Park. Using $75,000 in funds from the county, the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners voted to purchase properties and easements at 128 W. Main Street, 202 W. Main, and a parcel along Hunting Creek for $23,500 to build a six-foot-wide asphalt trail.

Thurmont United Methodist Church Petitioning for Annexation

The Thurmont United Methodist Church has asked to be annexed into the Town of Thurmont. The church leadership would like to create a daycare center, but to do so, it needs to add a sprinkler system, among other improvements. It is uncertain that the church’s well could support the sprinkler system, so it would like to connect to the town’s water system. The church is included in the town’s master plan for future growth.

The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners voted to forward the request to the planning and zoning commission for review and recommendation.

Emmitsburg

New Business News

Christ’s Community Church has submitted their concept plan to build a new 12,500-square-foot church on Creamery Road near Quality Tire.

Federal Stone is preparing engineering plans to submit to the Emmitsburg Planning Commission. The company purchased all of the Emmitsburg East Industrial Park II for its business. The company also planned to submit the final subdivision plat and forest conservation plan to the planning commission in February.

Ripleigh’s Creamery is working to obtain a county building permit for its building work.

Rutter’s is under construction and expected to open late this summer.

The MDOT/SHA Park and Ride design is 15 percent complete, but the project is now on hold due to state budget cuts.

Tuscany’s Pizzeria is now open on the square.

Village Liquors and Plaza Inn is working on completing the final subdivision plat and improvement plat conditions the planning commission asked for. They also need to secure the necessary permits from the town and county.

Residential Work

Emmitsburg continues to see growth, with 32 new residential permits being issued in the town last year.

Park Work Approved

The Emmitsburg Commissioners approved a bid of $14,325 to Frederick County Paving in Thurmont to pour eight concrete slabs for bleachers in town parks. Frederick County Paving was one of 25 bidders for the project.

Green Sites, Inc. of Elkridge will be installing seven new 15-foot-long bleachers (three in Eugene Myers Community Park and four in Memorial Park) for $42,600. Green Sites was one of 11 bidders for this project.

HMF Contractors in Frederick will be paving the gravel area in Memorial Park for $28,980. HMF Contractors was one of 21 bidders for this contract.

All the projects will be paid for with FY2022 Local Parks & Playgrounds Infrastructure (LPPI) from the state.

New Hires

The Emmitsburg Commissioners approved hiring Julie Scott as the new town clerk. She lives in Cascade and was one of 115 people who applied for the position. Her salary will be $63,000 a year. Current Town Clerk Maddie Shaw stepped back to take a part-time position as the town’s grants administrator. This job pays $35.00 an hour but offers no benefits. It is expected that she will be working 16-20 hours a week.

Sabrina King has also been hired as the town office coordinator. She lives in Taneytown and is one of 85 people who applied. She will earn $41,900 a year.

Pool Management Contract Approved

The Emmitsburg Commissioners approved a three-year contract (2022-2024) to have RSV Pools in Gaithersburg manage the town pool during the season. The company will be paid $65,952 for 2022, $67,848 for 2023, and $70,980 for 2024 for the work.

From the Burgess – Woodsboro

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Burgess Heath Barnes

As winter is hopefully ending soon, and spring gets closer, I would like to share some updates from our February meetings. We look forward to exciting things to come in the spring and summer for projects and events that we have in the works for the Town of Woodsboro.

The Woodsboro Planning and Zoning Committee held its first meeting of the year on February 7, 2022. The meeting was held to discuss a town resident’s request to make Arnold Alley an official town road so that they can possibly subdivide and build another home. At this time, the discussion is still in place, and the resident was asked to provide more documents and details about the request.

The town, in partnership the Woodsboro Fire Department, is moving forward with the plans to have a town Easter egg hunt. It will tentatively be held in the town park on Saturday, April 9 (the day before Easter). More details to come.

We continue to have an ongoing issue with cars speeding on Main Street and in front of the elementary school. Discussions were had about how we can get this ongoing problem solved and will be talked about more at next month’s meeting. I did speak with Sheriff Jenkins, and he is going to up the amount of patrol units in the area, particularly during the commuting hours to help curb this. I do request that everyone watch their speed in town, as we do have many residents that walk around town, as well as children out playing.

Town Manager Mary Rice announced that our new mower that was ordered in March 2021 has finally arrived. This will be a nice addition to have for the park area this spring and summer.

I would like to remind residents that town code prohibits any kind of livestock, such as chickens, goats, cattle, horses, etc. to be kept within town limits. We have had a couple of issues in the last few months with this, but have since been resolved.

Commissioner Dana Crum, myself, and the town employees will be meeting with a park equipment specialist this month to gather a list of new equipment needs to present to submit to the county’s Program Open Space grant for the upcoming budget year. We will also be requesting grant money to add in two new flag poles to the monument area and additional lighting where we can fly the USA, Maryland, and Woodsboro flags.

The town has begun to use its grant money that was received from the Federal Government on several of the water and sewage projects that were voted upon in the December 2021 meeting. In addition, I will be submitting the application for the small business grants to the council at the March 8 meeting. We will then start the 30-day application process. Please look for more details in next month’s article and the way to apply for the grants if you are interested.

As the weather begins to get better, the work on stage in the park will continue, as well as the building of new ADA-compliant walking bridge in the park. These projects will both need to be completed by June 1, 2022, to receive the grants that the town was approved for. The town hall building plans have been submitted to the county for review by their engineer. Once the plans are either approved or sent back to us for modifications, we can move forward with opening for bids, etc. to start the building.

The Town of Woodsboro will be hiring a part-time code enforcement officer. There will be employment ads being run in the next few weeks. As the town grows and different issues are coming up, the council has decided it is time to add a fourth employee to the town. This person will be responsible for helping to enforce town codes and working with our maintenance staff.

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 call 301-845-0213.

Don’t forget to wear your green on March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day!

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.

Tuscany’s Pizzeria Opens in Emmitsburg

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Blair Garrett

Emmitsburg’s newest restaurant has officially opened its doors, giving patrons a piece of Italy, one slice at a time.

Tuscany’s Pizzeria and Italian Ristorante on the square in Emmitsburg made its grand entrance on February 23, with Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs helping to unveil the town’s newest family-owned business.

The ristorante is owned and operated by a tight-knit team, and they’re excited to start dishing out authentic Italian meals to locals who are itching for a new great place to eat.

The shop is run by owner Cesar Ramos and four brothers, all who play their part in making Tuscany’s into a hopefully thriving business.

“We wanted to give people a place in town they could stop by and enjoy and see if we could give people what they want and deserve,” Ramos said.

Owning a restaurant runs in the family for the Tuscany’s.

“Most of my family has been running restaurants since the 1980s,” Ramos said.

That experience offers Ramos and his team something to lean on while they get everything moving at full capacity.

They’ve absorbed as much information as they can to be successful, and that hard work looks like it’s paying off already.

“Since we moved to this country, we’ve been working with a family who has taught us everything about this business,” Kelvin Martinez said.

Tuscany’s offers a variety of Italian favorites, but their specialty is in their pizza. They’ve got over a dozen styles of gourmet pizzas, with each option as unique as the next.

The new ristorante takes over the shop where Stavros Pizza used to be, with the hopes to continue to bring great pizza to the people of Emmitsburg.

“We want to give people something different and something new from what this restaurant used to be,” Ramos said. “We come in with a new name, new ownership, new menu, and new ingredients. We’re trying to give people the best we can do.”

The team is offering a variety of foods that are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Between the assortment of hot subs, Sicilian pizzas, and house favorites, it’ll be tough to narrow down which specialty meal you like best.

Despite only being here a short time, the crew at Tuscany’s already feels a connection to this town.

“We’re Catholic, so we would come to town sometimes to see Mount St. Mary’s soccer and basketball games, and we support them,” Kelvin Martinez said. “We would always see this town and we really liked it, and the people are always very nice, too.”

Catch Tuscany’s Pizzeria at the square in Emmitsburg to try out some of their specialty dishes.

You can find more information online through their Facebook at: facebook.com/TuscanysEmmitsburg.

Enrique Martinez, Kelvin Martinez, Cesar Ramos, and Yusthin Martinez represent Tuscany’s Pizzeria, the newest restaurant in Emmitsburg.

Photo by Blair Garrett

Thurmont Lions Club’s Police Officer of the Year

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On January 18, 2022, Sergeant Dave Armstrong was honored as Thurmont Lions Club “Police Officer of the Year” at the town meeting.

Sergeant Armstrong joined the Thurmont Police Department in 2012 after retiring from the Frederick Police Department. He assumed his role as the agency’s training coordinator after being promoted and has developed a timeline for all mandated training.

During this past year, Sgt. Armstrong became an advocate for the skateboarding youth in the town and was instrumental in assisting them with their presentation to the board of commissioners, which led to the construction of the Thurmont Skate Park. The Thurmont Lions Club recognized Sgt. Armstrong for his exemplary service to protect and improve the quality of life under his extraordinary leadership for his devotion, dedication, and hard work for the Thurmont community. He was given a Certificate of Dedication, a gift certificate to a restaurant in Frederick, and $400 to be donated to a charity of his choice: the Cub Scouts.

The Thurmont Lions Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at St. John Lutheran Church on Church Street in Thurmont. For more information, visit www.thurmontlionsclub.com or contact Lion Joyce Anthony at jananny@comcast.net or 240-288-8748.

Pictured from left are Lion Jonathan Hamrick, Sgt. Dave Armstrong, and Thurmont Lions Club President Dianne McLean.

Courtesy Photo

No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!

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Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit that builds twin beds and installs them, FREE of CHARGE, for needy families in Frederick County, Maryland, whose kids (ages 4-17) are sleeping on the floor, a couch, or with their parents or siblings. Beds include NEW everything: frames, mattresses, blankets, sheets, and pillows.

In the last three years, our all-volunteer SHP chapter has delivered 700 beds to 475 families. But there are approximately 1,000 more kids in our county that still have no beds. For more details or to request a bed in Frederick County, go to: https://shpbeds.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qwebcorporate.dll?idx=CCK5H2 or contact Chapter President Lou Stavely at Lou.Stavely@shpbeds.org

Free Tax Preparation Services Again This Year

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The Northern Frederick County group of volunteers will again offer free preparation of Federal and Maryland tax returns this spring. You can call 301-471-5757 (the same phone number as last year) to make appointments for the first week in March or later. They are starting their appointments a little later than usual because of COVID, but there will still be plenty of time for them to complete your return. The Federal deadline is April 15, but Maryland has extended this year’s deadline for filing Maryland taxes to July 15. The group, working under IRS guidelines and certified by IRS to prepare certain types of returns, will follow the same general process for making appointments and preparing tax returns as last year. When you call for an appointment, a volunteer will ask you several questions about your 2021 income, filing status, and other tax factors to determine if IRS allows them to prepare your taxes. If IRS does, the volunteer will arrange to meet you at the Thurmont Library parking lot to pick up your documents. Then, the volunteer will call you again when they are done to drop off the finished returns and your documents.

Who Will Be the Thurmont Volunteer of the Year for 2022? 

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The Thurmont Lions Club is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Volunteer of the Year. Nominate an individual(s) who is making a difference in the lives of others—working with children in the schools, helping at the food bank, a member of a service organization or church, a special neighbor who is always there to help whenever needed, and so forth. There are many individuals eligible for this honor. Please nominate those deserving individuals for the goodwill and volunteer services they give to help their community. The volunteer service work must be done in the area of zip code 21788.

Forms are available online at www.thurmontlionsclub.com or by contacting Lion Mark Long at Mark.Long999@gmail.com. Nomination forms are due no later than April 5, 2022. Send your completed nomination form to Thurmont Lions Club, ATTN: Lion Mark Long, P.O. Box 306, Thurmont, MD 21788 or email to Mark.Long999@gmail.com. 

Thurmont Lions Club members are eligible to be nominated with the stipulation that the MAJORITY (95 percent) of the volunteer services considered for the award must be performed outside of related Lions Club community service, e.g. church, school, community, another organization, etc.

The Thurmont Volunteer of the Year will be recognized and receive the award at the Thurmont Town meeting on April 19, 2022.

Slow Progress Toward a Royal Farms Store

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James Rada, Jr.

As the Rutter’s in Emmitsburg begins to take shape, people have wondered if another Rutter’s is going to be built on the old Shamrock property along Route 15.

The 2.7-acre property sold last year to Two Farms, Inc. of Baltimore for just under $4 million. Two Farms is a holding company for properties for Royal Farm Stores.

Royal Farms is a convenience store/gas station chain, much like Sheetz and Rutter’s. It is well known for its fresh-cooked chicken. The chain has been around since 1959 and has 205 locations in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Plans for how the Farm Store will look and what it will offer are up in the air. At one point a truck stop was proposed, which Frederick County quickly shot down because it does not allow truck stops.

The Town of Thurmont approached Two Farms about possibly annexing the property so that it could be connected to the municipal water and sewer systems. However, Two Farms believes the well and septic system on the property will be sufficient.

The building is currently having any asbestos removed and is expected to be demolished this spring, according to communications between Two Farms and the Town of Thurmont. Site work could begin this summer.

The Royal Farms Store is expected to be built between the old Shamrock restaurant and Franklinville Road. Traffic flow in and out of the location and across Route 15 is expected to complicate things. It is believed that the Franklinville Road crossover of Route 15 will have to be closed and northbound traffic rerouted to Route 15. This has yet to be determined, though, as things still seem in the early stages

These Businesses “Make Thurmont Proud”

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James Rada, Jr.

Thurmont recently recognized its business all-stars with the “You Make Thurmont Proud” Awards. The awards recognized businesses and individuals who “exceeded or excelled at a county, state, or national level,” Thurmont Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder told the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners.

The first set of awardees came from the Frederick County Office of Economic Development that recognized the top 50 young professionals under 40. Thurmont had two representatives on the list: Alex Uphold with State Farm Insurance; and Amber Seiss with Gateway Candyland, Gateway Liquors, and Farmhouse Exchange.

Seiss told the commissioners that people had told her that she was too young, that she was a bad person, and/or that she wouldn’t make it in business. She said that she considers the naysayers “white noise.”

“It’s a distraction, something that is a waste of energy,” Seiss said.

She focuses on the positive and surrounds herself with people who build her up rather than tear her down.

The next pair of awardees were businesses that received national recognition: Kountry Kitchen was named the Best Chicken in Maryland in 2021 by MSN;          Playground Specialist’s Tim Boyle was named the National Playworld Representative of the Year.

Grinder then listed the various Thurmont businesses that were finalists in the Frederick News Post’s Best of the Best awards:

Best Festival—Catoctin Colorfest (2nd).

Best Company to Work For—Kountry Kitchen (2nd), Woodsboro Bank (3rd). “Two of the three best places to work for are right here in Thurmont,” Grinder said. “That needs to be duly noted.”

Best Barbeque—Bollinger’s Restaurant (2nd).

Best Buffet—Mountain Gate Family Restaurant (3rd).

Best Place to Camp (Regional)—Ole Mink Farm Recreation Resort (2nd).

Best Lodging—Springfield Manor (2nd).

Best Butcher Shop—Hill Side Turkey Farm (2nd).

Best Electric Contractor—G&S Electric (2nd).

Best Bingo—Thurmont Event Complex (3rd).

Best Chicken—Kountry Kitchen (2nd).

Best Local Band—5.5 Men (3rd).

Best Small Town—Thurmont (3rd). Grinder said she and some other municipalities complained to the Frederick News Post because Frederick was considered a small town for this category when it is clearly not. Frederick also took second place, so Grinder said in her mind, Thurmont was actually second.

Next, Grinder went through the local businesses that actually won their categories and were named Frederick’s Best of the Best:

•    Best Tree Service—Baker’s Tree Service (four years in a row).

•    Best Pick-Your-Own Farm/Orchard—Catoctin Mountain Orchard.

•    Best Winery, Distillery, Brewery—Springfield Manor.

•    Best Wedding Venue—Springfield Manor.

•    Best Wine Drink—Springfield Manor’s Farmhouse White.

•    Best Candy Shop—Gateway Candyland.

•    Best Orthodontist (Individual) —Dr. Jon Moles.

•    Best Funeral Home—Stauffer Funeral Homes.

•    Best Landscaping—Hawkins Landscaping (seven years in a row).

•      Best Place to Camp—Cunningham Falls State Park (four years in a row). Park Manager Mark Spurrier told the commissioners, “It’s your park. It’s our park, and everything we do in it is for you in the community and visitors that come to us.”

•      Best Bank—Woodsboro Bank.

Finally, Grinder made a special award called the Community Heart Award. It was given to Kountry Kitchen for their work in providing area students meals while the schools were closed.

The Kountry Kitchen restaurant was providing between 125 and 175 meals a day during the pandemic lockdown.

You Make Thurmont Proud Award recipients (from left): (front row) Mark Spurrier—Cunningham Falls State Park; Sherry and Rob Myers—Thurmont Kountry Kitchen; Alex Uphold—State Farm Insurance; David Hawkins—Hawkins Landscaping; Amber Seiss—Gateway Candyland; Angie Simmons, Stephen Heine, Hannah Smith—Woodsboro Bank; Commissioner Wes Hamrick from Stauffer Funeral Homes; (second row) Thurmont Commissioners Bill Buehrer and Wayne Hooper; Mayor John Kinnaird; and Commissioner Bill Blakeslee.

Beginnings of Area Reformed Churches

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Part 1 of 3

Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry

From History of Maryland Classis of the Reformed Church in Maryland by Rev. Guy P. Bready (1938)

The Thurmont Charge (Trinity, Apple’s, Mt. Tabor, and St. John’s Creagerstown)

Elders, H. D Beachley, Samuel Long, James Firor, Ross Firor; Deacons; Raymond Creager, Marshall Leatherman, Lloyd Mackley, and George Zinkhan.

Rev. N. E. Gilds who had served the Mechanicstown Charge since 1867, resigned in November 1874.  In September 1875, Rev. Henry Wissler was called as pastor. In 1875, he organized a congregation at Rocky Ridge under the name of Mt. Tabor and added it to the Mechanicstown Charge.

For some years, it had been apparent that there ought to be a congregation in the village of Mechanicstown. At the annual meeting in 1878, Pastor Wissler laid the whole matter before Classis (governing body of Reformed Churches at the time) for consideration. 

The situation was that a congregational meeting had been previously held at Apple’s Church, and it had been decided by a vote of 17 to 12 to build a church in town. But on account of the close vote, the congregation did not feel justified in proceeding with the erection of a new church, especially as the minority was divided into two parties. One party wished to remain in the old location—that is, Apple’s—while the other desired that if a new church was to be built, to build it at Graceham. Classis advised the congregation to continue its efforts to build in Mechanicstown. The minority was given permission, if so desired, to build a church at Graceham and organize a congregation there. A congregation (now Trinity UCC in Thurmont) was organized at Mechanicstown on September 1880 and a new church was erected. The minority continued at Apple’s Church. Wissler resigned October 1884, and in May 1885, Rev. A. B. Stoner was called as pastor.

In 1886, the Charge was divided.  Trinity at Mechanicstown, Apple’s, Mt. Tabor at Rocky Ridge, and St. John’s at Creagerstown were formed into a Charge to be known as Mechanicstown Charge. St. John’s at Sabillasville and Jacob’s (Fairfield, PA) constituted the Sabillasville Charge. (The Highfield Congregation was not organized until 1892.)  Stoner resigned as pastor in May 1988. Rev. George Whitmore, the next pastor, began his service in the Charge on December 27, 1888. In 1894, the name was changed to Thurmont Charge to conform to the change of name of Mechanicstown to Thurmont.

In 1897, the Thurmont congregation asked to be made a separate Charge but the request was not granted by Classis. In 1898, Thurmont and Apple’s congregations made a similar request. In 1900, Apple’s congregation asked to be separated from the Charge, chiefly because the pastor had ceased to hold services there on account of arrearage of salary. When the congregation promised to pay the amount due, they were assured that regular services would be resumed. In 1901, Apple’s again asked to be detached from the Charge and again the request was refused.

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Apple’s Church, 1825.

Thurmont High School Alumni Association Offers Scholarships

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Attention graduating seniors! Are you related to a graduate from Thurmont High School or Catoctin High School up through the class of 1974? Are you looking for a scholarship?

Check the Community Foundation of Frederick County website at www.cffredco.org for the scholarships offered by the Thurmont High School Alumni Association. Applications are being accepted from March 1 through March 31, 2022, only.

Seniors, remind your parents, grandparents, and their friends that the Thurmont High School Alumni banquet will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the Thurmont Event Complex. Any questions, call 301-418-1760 or email vmnoff@gmail.com.

Catoctin Area 2022 Teacher of the Year Nominations

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It is time to recognize that special teacher who has made an impact on your child’s life and on your school community. Each year, the Thurmont Lions Club honors the teachers of Catoctin High School and the feeder schools (Thurmont Primary, Thurmont Elementary, Thurmont Middle, Lewistown Elementary, Emmitsburg, Sabillasville, and Mother Seton). Anyone can nominate a teacher: parents, students, fellow teachers, and administrators. 

All nomination forms are due to Lion Stephanie Steinly no later than April 8. They can be mailed to Lion Stephanie Steinly, 24 Lombard Street, Thurmont, MD  21788. Please include “2022 Teacher of the Year” on the subject line if emailing.

Forms are available online at www.thurmontlionsclubs.com or by contacting Stephanie Steinly at Stephanie.steinly@gmail.com.

The Thurmont Lions Club 2022 Teacher of the Year will be selected from the finalists by a committee of community leaders and will be announced at the Thurmont Lions Club’s Education Night meeting on May 11, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Lion Stephanie Steinly at Stephanie.steinly@gmail.com or 301-271-3268.

Dedication of First Baptist Church of Thurmont’s Portable Classroom Building

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The dedication of the First Baptist Church of Thurmont’s portable classroom building was held on Sunday, January 30. Director Bruce Conley, Blue Ridge Baptist Association, and Pastor Jay Beard consecrated the building with a prayer of dedication and thanksgiving to God and pronounced it the Family Life Center. 

The building will house the First Baptist Church of Thurmont’s kids and youth ministries, as well as serve as a place for church gatherings and meetings. The church is located at 7 Sunny Way in Thurmont. 

For more information, visit the website at www.fbcthurmont.org.

CHS Senior Spotlight

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This spotlight will continue for a few months until all who submit are published. Please email your student’s name and phone number to news@thecatoctinbanner.com to be included.

Dylan Wangness

Dylan Wangness played in both the football and baseball state championship games. He also runs track, and, at the print of this edition of The Catoctin Banner, was at the state championships in Easton, Maryland, for track as a sprinter, running the 4×2 with Layne Stull, Brody Buffington, and Joshua Glass. This team had the best time for Class 1A schools going into the state competition.

Dylan’s favorite high school memory is the football state championship game because football has always been his main sport. He said, “When I was younger and would watch Catoctin play, I dreamed of playing on that field. Then, when I actually got there [to high school], I thought it would be so cool to win the state championships. I got the opportunity to, and we did it.”

In school, he stayed on the honor roll and participated in the ROAR Club, Outdoor Club, and Crazies Club. He logged service hours at Rocky’s, team breakfasts, and Glory Days serving food. Dylan works seasonally at Scenic View Orchard in Sabillasville.

While at Catoctin, he’s attended CTC for HVAC and plumbing. He’s hoping to have a job in HVAC and plumbing after graduation. In preparation, he’s going to job fairs and networking. He’s also going to state championship for Skills USA for HVAC and plumbing in April.

In his free time, Dylan spends time with friends, plays video games, rides four-wheelers, and enjoys fishing and hunting.

To the community, Dylan said, “Thanks for supporting all the opportunities through four years of high school that helped me become the man I am today.”

Layne Stull

Layne Stull feels his high school career accomplishments are winning the state championship in baseball, competing in state championships for track (despite not ever running track prior to his senior year and running the 4×2 relay), and maintaining good grades throughout high school, even in AP classes. He’s played football, baseball, and ran track for Catoctin.

He’s grateful for the little things in the high school experience like walking the halls with friends, sitting in the parking lot with friends, and just hanging out.

His hobbies are hunting, fishing, and playing paintball. He’s always worked on the farm, throwing straw and planting/picking crops.

After graduation, Layne plans to attend Hagerstown Community College, and eventually enter the police force with the ultimate goal of becoming a detective.

Layne’s message to the community is: “Tell everyone to keep on keeping on and never give up on whatever they want to do. Everything is achievable. I want to thank everyone in the community for being supportive to the school, me and my friends, and our athletic teams, of course.”

Wyatt Davis

Wyatt Davis is the Catoctin High School Class of 2022’s salutatorian. Wyatt’s dream was to play football at Penn State, and he was accepted academically, but an injury to his foot during his sophomore football season led to foot surgery and two screws in his foot.

That was a brief setback for a determined Wyatt. While also playing basketball, baseball, and throwing shot put in track, he started training during his junior year to become a better offensive lineman in football. He trained and attended camps and recruiting events for exposure to college recruiters. His training paid off. He has committed to Shippensburg University to play football for the next four years.

Wyatt has participated in school clubs. He’s not just in the National Honor Society, he’s in the Spanish, Math, and Science Honor Societies, also.

His favorite high school memory was winning the football state championship as a sophomore. He said, “The community support and school support through that was unreal.”

He works on his family’s small beef cattle farm in Emmitsburg. Between that, football, 4-H, and FFA, you could find him volunteering often. After training for football as a customer with Hawg Performance, Wyatt serves as a mentor to Hawg’s 4th-6th grade youngsters.

Wyatt said, “I would like to thank everybody for their support with our athletic teams and for always believing in us even though times were rough. Everyone still came out and supported us. Thanks to all the people who pushed me to be in the position I am today.” He added, “I would like to thank God for all of the Glory of this event. He’s the real reason I’m in this position.”

Wyatt Davis, Dylan Wangness, and Layne Stull

Photo of the three friends after their last high school football game

Close friends, Layne Stull, Wyatt Davis, and Dylan Wangness started out playing flag football together in elementary school and continued playing sports together through middle school and high school. Layne took two years off from football but came back this past season, so all three seniors could play together. Dylan and Wyatt played the CHS football state championship their sophomore year. All three participated in state championships during their high school careers, even achieving more than one state championship in that time in other sports, baseball and track.

2022 Shoot-a-thon Scores Big

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Ryan Tokar, CYA Basketball

On Sunday, January 23, Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) Basketball held its annual shoot-a-thon fundraiser. This is the largest annual fundraiser for the program.  Proceeds go towards necessities like gym rentals, uniforms, equipment, paid officials, and league fees. With the cancelation of its previous season due to COVID-19, it was critical to offset some of the losses in registration fees. The community came out in support of the program in a BIG way. This year’s shoot-a-thon brought in over $13,500 in online and cash donations, one of the largest amounts raised in CYA Basketball history!

The idea behind the shoot-a-thon is simple. Players collect money from sponsors for a chance to win prizes. To be eligible for prizes, each player must raise at least $50.00;  however, they can continue to raise additional money above and beyond that. Prizes are given out to the top overall fundraisers and to the players who have the highest overall percentage of shots made. The number of shots attempted is based on the age group of the player, with anywhere from 20 to 100 shots being attempted. In most cases, shots are attempted from the free throw line; however, the younger ages are moved in several feet closer and shoot on lowered rims. CYA Basketball programs consist of youths ages kindergarten all the way through high school. The boys and girls high school teams served as volunteers to help record the scores for younger players.

The winners of this year’s highest shooting percentage were: Levi Baker—Highest Overall Percentage Foul Shooter; K-1st Clinic—Bryce Yocum; Girl’s 2nd-4th—Peyton Willis; Boy’s 2nd-4th—Luke Wiles; U12 Boys/Girls—Eli McFarland; U14 Boys/Girls—Gage Eyler; Mid MD Boys/Girls—Harley Fitzpatrick. Overall fundraising winners were: 1st Place—Kaydense Cox; 2nd Place— Evan Laird; 3rd Place—Skylar Stidom.

Winners were each awarded a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for their prize. The teams with the most overall donations also earned a free pizza party.

Along with the $13,500 raised, the league also collected several hundred non-perishable goods, which were donated to the Thurmont/Emmitsburg Food Banks to help those in need. Players received raffle tickets for each item they donated, and there were three great prize baskets given away. Tyler Creel won the Movie Basket, featuring a Warehouse Cinemas Gift Card and all the snacks you need for a movie night. Brayden Rickerd won the Baseball Basket, which included a free Thurmont Little League registration with other baseball-themed items. Kathleen Davis won the Football Basket, with a free CYA Football/Cheer registration and other items.

Throughout the afternoon, there were activities that included music, a face painter, and team/individual photos. All in all, it was a great day and a wonderful event.

CYA Basketball would like to thank the community, parents, and volunteers for their support. Without you, it would not have been such a tremendous success.

Courtesy Photos

TLL Kicks Off Spring Season

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Ryan Tokar, Thurmont Little League

It’s hard to believe another season of Thurmont Little League (TLL) is already under way. It may still be a bit chilly outside, but the season is off to a hot start. The registration period for baseball and our brand-new softball program closed on February 13.

Evaluations for the majors and minors divisions were held on Saturday, February 19. Afterward, the drafts were held and teams were assigned so that practices could officially kick-off.

Our majors-level teams will be hard at work, preparing for the annual Garel Hauver Tournament in Brunswick in late March, which officially kicks off the season. The rest of the league will begin play on TLL’s official opening day: Saturday, April 2.

Opening day is always an exciting event for our league. Family and friends come out to watch all the players be announced, as well as to see some take the field for the very first time. This year, there will once again be split ceremonies to help accommodate parking and keep crowds to a minimum, with the COVID-19 protocols for large gatherings still in place.

The T-ball and instructional teams will have their ceremony in the morning, while minors and majors will take place in the afternoon. There will be delicious treats on-site from the TLL concession stand; and, this year, there will be several food trucks, such as The Sauced Savage, Glamourview Creamery, and Kona Ice. The popular TLL Photo Booth will make its return for all those social media opportunities, and we are expecting visits from local celebrities, such as Safety Pup and The Oriole Bird! Other vendors on-site will include local fire and ambulance crews, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Pivot Physical Therapy, and Crucible Performance.

Another extremely big draw during the opening day ceremonies are the raffle baskets. Tickets will be on sale to win a variety of awesome prizes. Baskets include gift cards and other donated items from a variety of local establishments, such as Carriage House; Kountry Kitchen; Mountain Gate; Wait, What? Sauce Company; McCutcheon’s; the Frederick Keys; and more. We will also be having a 50-50 and a table of Spirit Wear and TLL discount cards for sale. Mark your calendar today; you won’t want to miss out on this awesome event!

As always, we are looking for volunteers for the upcoming season. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to us at www.thurmontlittleleague.com. The biggest need is for volunteer umpires. If you are a high school or college student looking for community service hours or semi-retired with time on your hands, we will provide all the necessary training. The league is holding its annual umpire clinic on Sunday, March 6, from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the TLL complex.

We can’t wait for everything this season has in store for our players and families!

Catoctin Sports Snapshots

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Lady Cougars are pictured after a win against Williamsport in February.

Catoctin Girls Basketball fell to undefeated Urbana on February 22, 2022, at Hood College while competing in the Central Maryland Conference championship game. The Lady Cougars’ record is 19-2, leading into the State Championship playoffs that begin March 1.

Catoctin Boys Indoor Track are Class 1A MD State Champions. They competed on February 22, 2022, at the Baltimore Armory.

Brody Buffington was 1st in the 55m and 300; Furious Trammel was 2nd in the 300 and 5th in the 500; Alexander Contrera was 3rd in the 3200 and 5th in the 1600; Garrett Sullivan was 3rd in the high jump; and Wyatt Davis was 4th in shot put; Catoctin was 4th in the 4×8 and 5th in the 4×2.

Catoctin’s Swimming and Diving Team competed in regionals February 21, 2022, at the Fairland Aquatics Center.


Catoctin Wrestling finished 4th as a team in the Frederick County Tournament. They competed in regionals at the end of February.

All Photos Courtesy of Catoctin High School Sports Boosters Facebook posts

Fire, Fire, Burning Bright

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written by James Rada, Jr.

A new serial fiction story for your enjoyment

7: Ready for the Fireflies

Paul Cresap had barely escaped being burned alive, but his office in the Mechanicstown Jail wasn’t as lucky. The roof collapsed shortly after he made it out. He suspected he knew who had set the fire, and the charcoal he found around the building seemed to confirm it. It was most likely the work of a collier, and he had seen Abednego Hunt leaving the scene.

Paul would have followed him, but too many people wanted to know if he was all right and what had happened. It was dawn by the time he finally got his horse saddled and headed up to Abednego’s camp on Catoctin Mountain.

Not unexpectedly, Paul found no one at the camp, but it was the only place he knew of where he might find Abednego. He had to check it first. As Paul rode around the camp looking for the collier, he spotted the handmade grave marker for Meshach Hunt, the brother Abednego had said fell into one of the charcoal stacks and died.

Paul saw no other sign Abednego might come back. Had he abandoned the camp entirely?

He rode his horse down to Catoctin Furnace to find the superintendent for the Catoctin Iron Works. The paymaster for the company directed Paul to a house outside of the village. The superintendent and his family would be staying there since an arsonist had burned the superintendent’s house down yesterday.

“He should still be out there,” the paymaster said. “He hasn’t been in today. He’s probably trying to get things sorted out and order new furniture and clothing since he lost just about everything in the fire.”

Paul thanked the paymaster and headed out to the house. It was about half the size of the ironmaster’s mansion, but it was still much larger than the jail where Paul had been living for the past six months.

He knocked on the front door, but no one answered. He smelled smoke and saw a plume rising from the woods. The superintendent was probably there doing something. Paul walked into the woods and was surprised to see the gagged superintendent tied to a pole with a fire that had already been started under his feet.

Paul rushed forward and kicked at the logs, trying to disperse the fire and get it away from the man. He pulled off his vest and beat at the flames to keep them from spreading to the nearby brush.

Once the flames were out, he freed the superintendent and pulled the gag from his mouth. The man was singed a bit, but the flames hadn’t caught his clothing on fire.

“What’s going on?” Paul asked.

“It’s Ben Hunt. He attacked me and did this.”

“Where is he?”

“He was watching, but he ran deeper into the woods when he heard you coming.”

“Why is he doing this?”

“I don’t know. He’s always been a loner and quiet, but he was a good worker,” the superintendent said.

“What about his brother? Did his brother’s death have anything to do with this?”

The superintendent’s eyes narrowed. “Brother? Ben doesn’t have a brother. He came in the other day wanting death benefits for his brother, but we don’t have a record of a brother being employed by us.”

“But his brother fell into the stack and burned to death. I saw the grave.”

“I checked the records myself because Ben was so upset. We have no brother or any other relative of his working for the company.”

“Then what’s he talking about?”

The superintendent shrugged. “I don’t know. Ben works alone. It’s the best situation. Colliers usually work in teams, in case someone falls through a stack. Ben wanted to work alone, and he does the same work per man as any of the teams, so we let him continue. He doesn’t want to work with a team.”

Paul walked the superintendent back to his house. Then he mounted up to ride back to the collier camp. If Abednego Hunt didn’t have a brother, who was buried in the grave?

Ben rode back to the collier camp. He wasn’t sure why, perhaps it was because he had nowhere else to go. All Ben had wanted was his brother’s death benefit from the superintendent, but the man wouldn’t even admit Shack worked for him.

“Where have you been, Abednego?”

He turned and saw his brother. Ben froze. “Shack? I saw you die.”

Shack brushed non-existent dust off of himself. “I didn’t. I got out of the stack, although I’ve got some burns. That’s why I haven’t been back. I collapsed in the woods and have been nursing myself back to health.”

Abednego ran over and hugged his brother. “Why didn’t you let me help you?”

“You couldn’t. You weren’t ready.”

“Ready? Of course, I was ready to help you. I tore the stack down looking for you.”

Shack shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. You weren’t ready for the fireflies.”

Shack threw his hand in the air and dozens of fireflies scattered in front of him, glowing like stars in the sky…or embers.

Paul rode into the collier camp and saw Abednego talking to himself next to a smoldering pile of charcoal, log fragments, and dirt.

“Ben,” he said.

The collier didn’t seem to hear him. He was talking to someone Paul couldn’t see. Abednego walked to the stack he was near, still talking to no one Paul could see. Abednego didn’t even notice that his shoes were smoldering.

“Ben, get out of the fire!” he called.

Abednego didn’t acknowledge him. He bent down and picked up a handful of charcoal embers. They were still smoking, but he acted as if nothing was wrong.

He threw the embers into the air and they spread in a cloud around him.

Some of them fell on him, but he didn’t react as if they were burning him. Some of them started catching his clothing on fire.

Paul ran over to him and pushed Abednego out of the fire. Then he got down next to him and rolled him over and over until the flames went out.

Once the flames were extinguished, he rolled Abednego onto his stomach and tied his hands behind his back.

“I’m arresting you for arson,” Paul said.

Abednego still didn’t seem to even know Paul was there.

Paul put the dazed man on the saddle and rode him back to town. He carried him to Dr. Westgate to have his burns looked at.

“What’s wrong with him?” Paul asked.

“You mean the burns?”

“No, he still doesn’t seem to know we’re here.”

The doctor waved a hand in front of Abednego’s face and snapped his fingers. Abednego didn’t flinch or blink. “I noticed that. I think his mind might be broken. He should be in a lot of pain, but he doesn’t seem to feel it.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It’s beyond me. It could be the heat. It could be the solitude up on the mountain. Or, it might run in the family.”

Paul rode back up to the collier camp. He walked over to the grave and started digging. If he could find a body, it would show whether Ben had a brother.

About a foot below the ground, he found a cigar box. He opened it up and only found pieces of charcoal inside.

Happily Ever After – The Art of Limerick

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by Valerie Nusbaum

In my ongoing effort to educate as well as entertain (and believe me, I know I haven’t been doing a good job of either lately), I thought we could create some limericks together in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It’s not that difficult, and I can assure you that you’ll amaze and delight your friends and family. Your kids will love it, too, because it’s a time-honored tradition of poking fun at someone else and being able to get away with it.

When I was younger, my family and I spent more than one Irish holiday with our friends, the Murphys. We had epic game nights and lots of themed parties and foods, and we did more than our share of silly stuff. The night we wrote the limericks is a fond memory, in part because we couldn’t rhyme much with Lillian, Barbara, or Anita.  Rhyming the name Johnny was easier, but there were three Johns in our group, and don’t even get me started on Rockne.

What exactly is a limerick, you ask? It’s a short, usually funny poem largely associated with the Irish and probably named after the county of Limerick in Ireland.

Limericks have five lines, with the first, second, and fifth line rhyming with each other. Lines three and four must also rhyme with each other, and there’s a certain cadence to follow.  A limerick is usually written about a person and the first line generally ends with the person’s name. If the name is difficult to rhyme, however, it can be used somewhere other than the end of line one, or you may opt to write about a place or activity. It’s really up to you.

Here’s an example:

There was a young fellow called Randy.

With tools he was really quite handy.

But he cut off his thumb,

And stuck it back on with gum.

Now nothing he makes looks as dandy.

I never said I was good at writing limericks. My job is to explain the basics and turn you loose. I have faith in you and know you can do it, probably much better than I can.

Here’s another one:

This next is a tale about Wanda,

Who liked to work out with Jane Fonda.

Twas back in the eighties,

When some of the ladies

Liked to hang their firm buns off a Honda.

Armed with the knowledge of how to create a limerick, I struck out to spread the word and begin the creative process with my loved ones. As predicted, Randy and Gail were the only people who agreed to help me with my project. Randy and I spent a little time working on the cadence of the limerick, but I don’t think I explained it very well. The cadence goes something like this:

Da dum da da dum da da dum dum (Lines 1, 2 and 5), and

Da dum da da dum (Lines 3 & 4).

This is what Randy came up with:

There once was a girl who was smart in

  the head.

Her horoscope said don’t get out of bed.

She once saw a dog

That looked like a frog.

It told her she’d nothing to dread.

I must tell you that he sat straight up in bed last night, asked if he could turn on the light, and grabbed a pencil and paper to write this down.  He’d apparently been thinking about his limerick for quite a while.

A year or so ago, I had a strange dream, and to this day, Randy still laughs about it. I dreamt that I was a young lady in Ireland, and I was being courted by a young Irish lad.  He was very sincere and sweet, but one of his ears was funky looking. 

When I told Randy about the dream, I misspoke and said I’d dreamed about being chased by an Irishman with one funky ear. Randy thought the poor man had only one ear, but that’s not what I meant. Never mind the dream. I’ve evidently started something because I just got an email from Randy containing this limerick:

There once was a fellow named Dylan,

He had only one ear, which was thrillin’,

He didn’t hear the thud,

Which left him in the mud,

Now he’s just lying there chillin’.

My sweet friend Gail came up with this ditty:

I once had a fine friend named Val

She was a super-doop pal

She had quite the mother

Just like no other

The quirkiest kind of a gal.

And she just emailed me another one:

I start out each morning with coffee

It’s best with a wee bit o’ toffee.

Without it I’m mean.

I make quite a scene.

I start out the day a bit “off-ey.”

I had to respond, so I came up with this one:

There once was a lassie named Gail

Who was so good at spinning a tale.

She told us a story

Of a murder quite gory.

Now the house where it happened’s for sale.

That’s all there is to it, my friends.  You have a few weeks until St. Patrick’s Day, and even if you’re not Irish, this is a fun thing to try. Grab a pen and paper, maybe a green beer if you enjoy it, or some corned beef and cabbage and soda bread, and prepare to amaze (and possibly insult) the people you know. Just please don’t tell them I put you up to it.

Once Upon A Time…

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by James Rada, Jr.

March 1922, 100 Years Ago

Timber Land Purchased

Joseph E. Williard of Foxville has purchased 221 acres of timber land from J. Wesley McAfee near Foxville. Mr. Williard will install machinery for the manufacture of lumber of all kinds. He expects to have the mill in operation by April 15th.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, March 23, 1922

Another New Road?

The County Commissioners, Dr. Victor F. Cullen, superintendent of the Sanatorium of Sabillasville, and other citizens of Hauvers District, held a conference with the State Roads Commission in Baltimore last Wednesday relative to the State taking over the road from Thurmont to the sanatorium and converting it into an improved highway.

A bill is now before the Legislature providing for the State to take over and improve all highways leaving from main roads to State institutions.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, March 9, 1922

March 1947, 75 Years Ago

Bond Issue For Schools Asked

Representatives of the Frederick County Board of Education discussed with the County Commissioners Tuesday the possibility of introducing legislation to renew a $200,000 enabling act for school construction… They pointed to what they said are pressing needs for additions and improvements at Thurmont, where classes are held in the halls… The improvements at Thurmont they said, have long been contemplated plans have been drawn and they have reason to believe from qualified sources that bids could be asked soon.

                                          – Frederick Post, March 5, 1947

Beaver Creek Trout Hatchery Soon Open

The State Inland Fish and Game Commission today announced award of contracts for an immediate start of preliminary work for the $300,000 Beaver Creek fresh water fish hatchery in Washington County.… The Commission plans to transfer about 50,000 fingerling brook, rainbow, and brown trout from the Lewistown hatchery near Thurmont to the new pools. When reared, they will be planted in Maryland streams, sometime in 1948.

                                     – Frederick Post, March 28, 1947

March 1972, 50 Years Ago

Town Churches Plan Day Of Prayer

The annual World Day of Prayer will be observed this year in the community of Emmitsburg in Incarnation United Church of Christ at 7:30 p.m. this Friday night, March 3. Everyone is welcome to attend and unite with women around the world in a session of prayer. The theme is “All Joy Be Yours.”

                                          – Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 2, 1972

Local Lady Takes Helicopter Ride

Congratulations to Mrs. Nathan Valentine for taking her first plane ride at age 86. Cora has always been a great fisherwoman but yesterday she used a helicopter to tour the local area and visit her children’s and grandchildren’s homes in Emmitsburg and Thurmont from the highest she has ever been in the air. Allen Davis went along to point out the highlights.

                                          – Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 2, 1972

March 1997, 25 Years Ago

Renovation to Community Center To Begin

Representatives of clubs and organizations that use space in the Emmitsburg Community Center were briefed at a meeting held Thursday, February 20th, on plans and schedules for the upcoming $600,000 modifications to the building.

The first part is scheduled to begin April 1 and completed by September of this year. The second part of the renovation is included in the county’s Capital Improvement Budget for 2002.

                          – The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, March 1997

Crimes Down Against People and Property in Emmitsburg

Deputy Jeff Bartlett presented a yearly summary of policing activities carried out by the town deputies for 1996. Records show that, on the whole, Emmitsburg remains a comparatively quiet, peaceful town with a few trouble spots. “Crimes against people and property are down even though there was an 18% increase across Frederick County,” Bartlett said.

                          – The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, March 1997

Looking Back

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Frederick County’s Lost Cavern

by James Rada, Jr.

In February 1880, the Baltimore Sun reported, “A large cave is reported to have been discovered near Woodsboro, Frederick County, rivaling in extent and splendor the famous Luray cave.”

The cave was known as “fox den.” It was on the George L. Smith farm, north of Woodsboro. Who and how it was discovered that the den was actually a cave is not known, but someone found a reason to enter the den at some point and saw it hid more than foxes. Word spread quickly of the underground marvel.

The Sun sent a reporter to explore the cave and write up a report. A group of local men agreed to show him the cave. “Having procured picks, shovels, old clothing, candles, matches &c., the party proceeded on their way to the cave, and, who knows, perhaps to glory,” according to the Emmitsburg Chronicle.

What the group found was not another Luray Caverns, but something that left them disappointed and disgusted, according to the Chronicle.

A writer with the Chronicle calling himself “Nemo” remained curious about the caverns. He traveled to Woodboro and hired one of the men who had led the Sun reporter to the cavern. The entrance was located near an area that had been quarried at the base of a limestone bluff. The guide used a gushing spring at the base of the bluff as a landmark to find the entrance.

Nemo wrote, “…I put on my ‘crawling suit,’ and with a box of matches in one pocket and candles in another, we were ready to creep.”

To enter the cavern, they had to slide into the den feet first. Nemo wrote “had I been at all aldermanic, I could not have got through.” Aldermanic was a slang term at the time for having a pot belly.

The entrance sloped downward, and they slid about eight feet before dropping into the first room of the caverns.

The first room was about 10 feet by 15 feet with a height of 3 feet. It had an “unbroken limestone arch overhead.”

From this room, they squeezed through a short passage at the north end of the room. It led into another room of the same height, but this room was 25 feet by 30 feet. It was also filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

“The end of one stalagmite knocked loose from the floor, measured five inches in diameter, and had twenty-five clearly defined circles of alternate layers of magnesia,” Nemo wrote. He took it as a sample.

This room had two passages other than the one they had come through. The passage on the north end was too small to crawl through, so they went through the western passage. This room had stalactites and stalagmites in it and a cold pool of water that measured 3 feet by 10 feet.

Going through a southern passage from the chamber, they wound up in a room that was seven feet by eight feet, “this was coverly by a lofty arched ceiling thickly studded with stalactites and supported by rocks forming walls of other apartments,” Nemo wrote.

The only passage from this room they could pass through was one that led back to the original chamber. Once there, they squirmed back up the slope and outside.

Besides mineral samples, Nemo caught a bat hanging from the ceiling, although he didn’t note which room this was in. He also saw bones of animals that had slid into the cavern and had been unable to escape because they were too small.

He believed the cavern could be enlarged, but noted, “It is not likely that this cave, even after a thorough exploration, would rival Louray, or that more recently discovered in Pennsy’vania, but ‘tis a ‘big thing’ for Woodsboro.”

A 1950 report titled The Caves of Maryland by William E. Davies lists the cave as the Centerville Cave. It is described as “A cave consisting of four small rooms is reported in an old quarry in the Wakefield marble, one-half mile east of Centerville, along the Coppermine road.”

However, the report notes that by this time, the cave seemed to have been lost and could not be located during the field work. Perhaps, it collapsed or maybe the entrance is so small it has become hidden.

“

Luray Caverns Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons