Catoctin High School physical education teacher Mike Franklin was named the Frederick County Public Schools 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year during Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban’s “Prize Patrol” visit to his school. The school system’s most prestigious award recognizes outstanding representatives of the teaching profession. In addition to teaching physical education, Franklin chairs the department at […]
Tara Wilhide (pictured above), a Catoctin High School senior, was homeless for three years. In April, she received a $2,000 scholarship and recognition from School House Connection, a national organization that assists students experiencing homelessness. She was one of the 11 students from around the country to receive this award at a ceremony in Florida. […]
“Making a Memory, Creating a Legacy, Changing the World” by Anita DiGregory I was sick. Sick, sick…not playing hooky sick. Home from school sick. Probably another bout of strep throat; I can’t remember. What I do remember was sitting in my little room, in my little chair, at my little table, not happy I was […]
The Catoctin High School Envirothon teams won many awards at the recent county competition. Team 1 members—Sophia DeGennaro, Isabel Rozo, Fernajen Tundag, Kallan Latham, and Karianna Strickhouser—won first place overall, and first in the Forestry category and fifth in the Issues categories. Team 2 members—Wyatt Payne, Cheyenne Van Echo, Josephine Bujold, and Kiandra Strickhouser—won first […]
Michael Metz (pictured above), a sixth grader at Thurmont Middle School (TMS), was one of the top 10 sixth grade finalists at the Baltimore Regional History Bee Competition, held on March 30, 2019. As a finalist, he qualified to attend the National History Bee Championships in Chicago in June, as well as the biennial International […]
by Buck Reed Cheese and bacon are arguably the top two ingredients used to enhance a dish, and, not wanting to take anything away from bacon, I would say cheese has the upper hand. There are basically three types of cheeses: soft, hard, and bleu cheeses. Shown in the chart (below) are the different steps […]
On Catoctin Photo by Andrea Myers Mannix Andrea Myers Mannix captured a beautiful summer day photo of Catoctin Mountain View Farm from Payne’s Hill Scenic Overlook, along the Scenic Byway (Route #15) southbound near Thurmont, Maryland. This vantage point is a popular stop for photographers, young and old, novice and professional, with all kinds of […]
You Could Win! E-mail your best photos in the Catoctin Region to news@thecatoctinbanner.com. Tell us about your photo, and yours could be featured in this column in an upcoming issue. If yours is selected to be featured as the Focus on Catoctin photo, you win $25.00. By submitting a photo, you imply your consent to […]
It’s Just Fun! Just to get things started, The Catoctin Banner’s publisher, Deb Abraham Spalding, has showcased some of her selfies so you can get an idea of how this section works. We will collect selfies of people from, or visitors to, the Catoctin Region and showcase a random selection on this page every month. […]
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Sabillasville by Theresa Dardanell “Small but mighty” was the way that the parishioners described St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sabillasville, when I met with them after a recent Sunday service. Their Facebook page gives this description: “We are a small church. But, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Small […]
A Thurmont Family’s Dangerous Ride on the National Road On June 1, 1915, the Brenamans drove their Ford along the National Road, which had passed its first century of service a few years before. The road had improved a lot since the days of it being a graded dirt path, but it was still a […]
John Reever: New Midway to Normandy and Beyond by Priscilla Rall John Wilbur Reever was born in 1922 in Pennsylvania, but the family soon moved to Harney, then to Taneytown, then to Union Bridge, and finally, to New Midway, where Wilbur attended school through the seventh grade. The Great Depression affected every American, especially farmers […]
Ask Dr. Lo – Is High Cholesterol Having An Effect On Your Health? by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center Blood cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver. It is essential for good health. Your body needs cholesterol to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting […]
by Jeanne Angleberger, Shaklee Associate for a Healthier Life The Scoop on Sprouted Grain Bread I recently learned that breads made with sprouted grains may be easier to digest, a good reason to serve sprouted grain bread instead of white. Sprouted grain means that the grains have been allowed to sprout—to germinate—before being milled into […]
Noise Pollution by Christine Maccabee It is hard to believe that Charles Lindbergh, who made the first transatlantic flight in his plane in 1927, would say such a thing as in the above quote, but he did. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Anne, started a foundation that gave grants to persons who were working […]
The Story of “Hoser” Time-honored Dalmatian Mascot of the Vigilant Hose Company It’s likely that only a few in our community know the significance of the Dalmatian Dog graphics affixed to the larger emergency vehicles of the Vigilant Hose Company (VHC) of Emmitsburg. While many have probably noticed the graphic representations of “Hoser,” they may […]
Old-time accomodations along the c&O Canal James Rada, Jr. When the brass horn would sound at all hours, day and night, the lockkeepers of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal would leave what they were doing and head for their lock. No matter the weather outside, their job was to set the lock for the approaching […]
Blair Garrett The sun may not have been shining, but the smiles and laughter of 100 Little Leaguers surely brightened a cloudy day. Opening day for Thurmont Little League (TLL) kicked off April 6, marking the organization’s 67th year providing kids with an athletic outlet in a supportive, team-oriented environment. It was a day of […]
James Rada, Jr. The year 1899 marks the year that aspirin was created. It is the birth year for Al Capone, Duke Ellington, and August Anheuser Busch, Jr. Henry Bliss became the first person killed in a car accident in the United States. And, Woodsboro Savings Bank of Frederick County was chartered on May 1, […]
James Rada, Jr. Over its history, Emmitsburg has been home to artisans and craftsmen whose pride of craftsmanship made their work collector’s items. One notorious artisan of Emmitsburg is John Armstrong. He is known for crafting Armstrong rifles. John Armstrong was a first-generation American, born in Liberty Township, Pennsylvania on September 5, 1772. It is […]
Carolyn Shields On Saturday, March 30, 2019, Helen Reaver hosted another “Granddaughter’s Day” at her house at the end of a long, dirt road. Eleven of her granddaughters traveled from across the region to attend this special meal with the matriarch of the Reaver Family. Helen prepared a bountiful meal of homemade chili, chicken noodle […]
by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg April 2019 Meeting Town Approved Mandated Cross-Connection Control Program The Emmitsburg Commissioners approved the state-mandated cross-connection control program that will help protect the water supply from pollutants. The program requires all properties to have a backflow prevention device installed on the waterline leading into the property. Each device will cost […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs As always, May brings a lot with it, both in the expected and the unexpected. None more touching, as expected, than the many graduations: pre-K to kindergarten, middle school, high school, and college. The passage of time, a child one day, a youth another, then on to an adult and out […]
James Rada, Jr. Rutter’s opened its first Maryland convenience store/gasoline station in Walkersville in February, and now work has started on an Emmitsburg location. Emmitsburg Town Planner Zach Gulden told the commissioners during their April meeting that Rutter’s plans to build an 8,380-square-foot store at the southeast corner of MD 140 and US 15. It […]
Blair Garrett Tucked away on a quaint 38-acre property in Thurmont lies a little-known winery full of rich experiences, friendly faces, and, of course, plenty of wine. Links Bridge Vineyards, off Old Links Bridge Road, provides local residents a refreshing getaway from life’s stresses, with a variety of red and white wines sure to please […]