Blair Garrett Amidst the COVID-19 chaos, it is tough to get out and do many of the things we’re so accustomed to doing. The virus has everyone on red alert, and with awareness of germs and transmission of illnesses at an all-time high, opportunities for a fun day trip seem like a distant venture. But […]
James Rada, Jr. Two hundred years ago, Western Maryland was the American frontier. With a sparse population spread throughout hills and valleys and only rarely clustered in cities, the Appalachian Mountains formed a mental, if not physical, border to the United States. Yet, the land beyond the mountains to the Mississippi River was also part […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs In mid-February, going into whatever this thing was and is, only the words of Charles Dickens from his mid-19th-century novel seem aptly to describe: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” So much going for us, the economy, a mild winter, gearing up for March Madness, […]
by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg $1.87 Million Budget Presented The Emmitsburg Commissioners will consider approving a $1,870,067 general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2021 during their June meeting. This is 3.1 percent or about $60,000 less than the FY 2019 budget, which is the last one that the town has audited figures for. The audited […]
Cast From the Gods James Rada, Jr. The Catoctin Banner presents a continuation of fiction serials for your enjoyment. “Cast from the Gods” is a new, original serial set at Site R when it was under construction. Let us know what you think. 3: The Pieces Bruce Nelson was more than happy to allow the […]
Maxine Troxell Nancy Rice has been a Thurmont resident all her adult life. When not sitting at an easel or her workbench, her time is consumed by volunteering at her church, the Thurmont Senior Center, and wherever else she is asked to help. Nancy’s interest in art began in junior high school, continuing through high […]
Alone Together by Valerie Nusbaum In January, we began hearing and reading things about a mysterious new virus that had reared its ugly head in China. Randy and I didn’t think too much about it then, but by February and early March, the doctors, scientists, and politicians in the United States were warning us that […]
by James Rada, Jr. Note: “Once Upon A Time” had been planned for April’s issue before COVID-19 shut things down. April 1920, 100 Years Ago Body Of Drowned Girl Not Yet Recovered Miss Lillie Spielman, aged about 17 years, and residing in Frederick County and near Detour, fell from a foot bridge that was placed […]
The Year is…1918 The Pandemic to End All Pandemics — Part 1 by James Rada, Jr. Although the country essentially quarantined itself state by state this spring, it’s not the first time such a thing has happened. However, when it happened in 1918, 675,000 Americans died in roughly two months. Worldwide, the death toll may […]
How to Make Children Feel Safe When the World Doesn’t Feel Very Safe by Anita DiGregory “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of […]
Frederick & Washington Counties’ Lost in the Forgotten War (Part 3) by Priscilla Rall PFC Dailey Francis Dye In September 1950, while the United States was holding onto the southeast corner of South Korea, PFC Dailey Francis Dye was born in 1931 at Big Pool in Washington County. Joining the Marine Corps, he completed his […]
by Buck Reed Boosting Your Immunity Given the state of the world today and the unusual circumstances our health is going through—not just here, but all over the world—I think it is important to remember that there is more we can do as individuals to keep ourselves and those around us safe than the government […]
Christ’s Community Church, Emmitsburg by Theresa Dardanell From the outside, Christ’s Community Church doesn’t look like a traditional church. Don’t let that stop you from going inside. The people are friendly and welcoming. The building not only has a sanctuary for worship, but it also has several classrooms for children, a nursery available for babies […]
Seeking the Things That Unite Us: An Ecological Necessity by Christine Maccabee Lately, I have been pondering a lot about the necessity of thinking and living ecologically, that is, with awareness or consciousness of the intricate web of life within which we all live. Certainly, everyone knows how the balance of nature becomes disturbed when […]
by Dr. Thomas K. Lo Parkinson’s Disease What Is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, the second most common disorder of this type after Alzheimer’s disease. It progresses slowly as small clusters of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain die. The gradual loss of these neurons results in reduction of a critical […]
Jeanne Angleberger, Shaklee Associate for a Healthier Life Keep Your Immune System Healthy Why is it so crucial to keep your immune system healthy? How can you maintain healthy immunity? Maintaining a healthy immune system helps to protect the body against infection and disease. It is truly the healing power from within. This complex network […]
Kelsey Troxell, Rocky Ridge Progressive 4-H Club Reporter For April, our 4-H Club was unable to meet and have our regular monthly activities due to COVID-19. This will surely go down as one of the most unusual times in 4-H history. All Frederick County Clubs have had to stop all in-person activities, and all our […]
Board of Education Votes for More Time Deb Abraham Spalding Applause and cheers concluded a meeting on Wednesday, February 27, 2020, at the Frederick County Public School’s (FCPS) Central Office in Frederick, when Frederick County Board of Education (BOE) members listened to the voices of residents in Northern Frederick County by voting to take more […]
James Rada, Jr. This year marks 50 years of celebrating the area’s maple-syrup-making heritage at the Cunningham Falls Maple Syrup Festival. “A lot of families produced maple syrup on their farms and homesteads, and we wanted to preserve that heritage and teach people about something not well known about this area,” said Ranger Travis Watts […]
James Rada, Jr. Most people in the country will receive a card in the mail by the middle of March, inviting them to participate in the 24th decennial census. Many people consider the decennial census merely a count of all the people in the United States—which is what the U.S. Constitution calls for as a […]
You don’t have to go far to find a great atmosphere with great people. Social gatherings bring out the best in us, and can often help attendees branch out and meet new people. There may be no better way to get out and experience town living to the fullest than an annual St. Patrick’s Day […]
Blair Garrett Dedication is something that often takes a long time to cultivate. For Thurmont native James “Jim” Wisotzkey, 95, bowling is something that has been an integral part of his life for a long, long time. Wisotzkey’s roots in bowling run deep, as his passion for the sport began when he was just a […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs Happy Birthday, Emmitsburg! Established (platted) in 1885, we are now 235 years old. Speaking to age… infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure…there are all kinds. Water, sewer, sidewalks, ADA compliance, parks and recreation, schools, youth activities, and seniors, to name a few. Every municipality needs and wants to provide and maintain its infrastructure. Within […]
Emmitsburg FEBRUARY 2020 Meeting by James Rada, Jr. Baseball will be Played in Town this Summer The Thurmont Little League will play games in Emmitsburg on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Emmitsburg Commissioner Frank Davis has been working to ensure Emmitsburg baseball players will have opportunities to play locally. He said CYA has been trying to […]
James Rada, Jr. Imagine having your own personal farmer who grows nutritious fruits and vegetables and harvests them the day you pick them up. This farmer deals with the dirt and bad weather to make sure you have food that is fresher and more nutritious than what you can buy in a grocery store. That […]