by Barb Cline America Just Got a New National Park Since 1978, the New River Gorge has been managed by the National Park Service. But now, West Virginia is hopeful that this new status of the Gorge will encourage out-of-towners to travel to Southeast West Virginia and boost tourism for their local businesses. The official […]
Sugar…Why It’s Bad by Dr. Thomas K. Lo Ten things you may not realize that can affect your blood sugar and tips to help you handle diabetes. When you first found out you had diabetes, you most likely tested your blood sugar often to understand how food, activity, stress, and illness can affect your blood […]
Everly Zecher experiences her first snowfall! Her mom, Sam Zecher said, “From inside the house looking out, Everly definitely loved watching the first snowfall of the season. Yet, once she was in it…definitely not a fan! Like most of us with 2020 as a whole.” We saw our first significant snowfall of the season on […]
James Rada, Jr. With the State of Maryland encouraging people to stay in and reducing the ability of businesses to operate, Christmas was sadder than usual this year. However, at least one of the two vaccines against COVID-19 was expected to be approved and starting to be administered by this month. As of December 19, […]
Blair Garrett New Year’s resolution goals seem strange. Why is the turning of the page of a calendar year going to be the vehicle for you making positive changes in your life? More often than not, the ticking of the last column of the date is not enough to continue motivating yourself to stick to […]
Blair Garrett For many of us, winter can feel like the longest time of the year. With cold weather, snowfall, and shorter days highlighting the chilly months of the year, it can be a struggle to motivate yourself to find something new and fun to do to help fight those winter blues. During our proverbial […]
Patricia Sanville, Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association President The 2020 Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association held a virtual annual meeting this year to bring sheep breeders together in a safe manner. At the conclusion of the business meeting, President Patty Sanville moved onto new business, which included the presentation of the Shepherd of the Year […]
Emmitsburg by James Rada, Jr. Public Hearing On Parks Requirement in Subdivisions This Month The Emmitsburg Town Commissioners will hold a public hearing during their January 4 meeting regarding changes to the town’s parks, recreation, and open-space requirement. The goal of the amendment is to make sure all residents have equal access to parks near […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs Town Christmas decorations are up, and the town’s main streets stand dually adorned. To the broad sweep of the engineered virus a faint tribute, a mere tip of the hat, to all the traditional events we have forgone this past year. The pandemic, with certainty, jarred our routines. We have rubbed […]
The Town of Thurmont has been designated as a 2020 Accredited Main Street America™ program. Accredited status is Main Street America’s top tier of recognition and signifies a demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and proven track record of successfully applying the Main Street Approach™. “We are proud to recognize this year’s 860 Nationally […]
“Valley of Blessings” Joins World in Celebration of Local Saint Anita DiGregory “Elizabeth Ann Seton is a saint. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with special joy, and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she sprang forth as the first flower in the […]
James Rada, Jr. A Gettysburg-based writers’ group has released its first anthology, Four Score & Seven Stories Ago. Gettysburg is where President Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech. It is also where he wrote parts of the Gettysburg Address. The town and its history have inspired many other writers to express their feelings and […]
Blair Garrett Children’s books provide immeasurable value to the development of ideas, morals, and creativity for a child’s growing mind. Stories are the keys to unlock the imagination of a child, and they’re a great gift for a parent to be able to share. Rocky Ridge-based author Fabiola Miller has published a children’s story of […]
Community Still Hopes for Charter School James Rada Jr. The Frederick County Board of Education voted to close Sabillasville Elementary School at the end of the 2020-21 school year. The vote was 5-1, with member Rae Gallagher the only opposing vote. However, the Sabillasville community holds onto hope that the board will approve a charter […]
Blair Garrett Amidst COVID restrictions and global pandemonium, Mount St. Mary’s basketball is still underway. Precautions have been put in place to keep players and personnel safe, but the season has not been without its troubles. Breaks in the schedule due to positive COVID tests have put a hold on games through mid-December, but games […]
by Barb Cline Now is the Time to Apply for a New Passport or Renew Yes, the COVID-19 global pandemic has undoubtedly turned the world of international travel upside down in 2020. However, U.S. State Department officials say now is a good time for Americans to renew an expired passport or apply for a new […]
Stories of What It’s Like Returning Home After 25 Years by dave ammenheuser A year ago, in the January issue of The Catoctin Banner, Blair Garrett wrote a nice profile of me and of how my journalism career took me from Thurmont to across the world’s sports stage. I was flattered. Thurmont will always be […]
James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg’s annual Evening of Christmas Spirit had little spirit this year because of COVID-19. About a dozen people were on hand for the lighting of the town Christmas tree in front of the Emmitsburg Community Center on the evening of December 7, 2020. Christmas music played during the brief event that usually […]
Santa and Frosty the Snowman drove through Thurmont on December 13, 2020, beginning at 12:30 p.m., bringing tons of joy to residents. Santa and Frosty were escorted by the Guardian Hose Company and the Thurmont Police Department, and accompanied by Djship, playing festive Christmas music. Photo Courtesy of John Kinnaird
On Sunday, December 6, 2020, the family of the late James E. “Jef” Fitzgerald, Sr., gathered at the Vigilant Hose Company’s (VHC) emergency services stationhouse at 25 West Main Street in Emmitsburg to dedicate the apparatus bay in his memory. Jef, a much-respected and well-known area resident, was instrumental in overseeing all aspects of the […]
The Thurmont Lions Club is collecting much-needed items for its local homeless shelters: baby diapers, baby wipes, and adult white socks. You can drop off your donations at Hobb’s Hardware on 15 E. Main Street in Thurmont, and the McLean residence on 7 Geoley Court in Thurmont (there will be a container at the garage […]
The Grinch visited Thurmont in the beginning of December to the surprise and delight of many onlookers. He could be seen at the square in Thurmont waving as people drove by. Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird noticed that the Grinch “really liked our Christmas tree, so I watched to make sure he didn’t try to take […]
Girl Scout Troop 81069 volunteered at the Black Mountain View Farm Draft Rescue in Thurmont in October to complete their Bronze Service Award. The girls learned all about the horse rescue on Whates Lane in Thurmont, which takes in draft horses from auctions, kill pens, neglection, and from people who cannot care for them anymore. […]
Ana and Ava Morlier (pictured above) thank the community for its generosity of cold weather donations to the Rescue Mission. Thanks to the community, they received two full truckloads to donate to the Rescue Mission.
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment about the odd effects of grief. written by James Rada, Jr. Betty Douglas’s plan to kill Old Kiln Road was working. The tree she cut down to block the road kept cars from killing animals that the road tempted onto it. The road turned gray, and things seemed […]