by Denise Valentine Hello, everyone. Is it just me or are you ready for the snow, wind, and freezing temperatures to disappear and make way for spring? As I am writing this message, it is snowing…again. So, I am in the mood for some hot, tummy-warming food. I decided to share a main dish recipe […]
Christine Schoene Maccabee Winter Musings: What is Seed Stratification? Through the many days and nights of the long, cold winter, trillions of seeds lay sleeping. They rest in their icy cradles of soil and stone, awaiting the warmth of spring. Offspring of grasses, flowers, and trees, these seeds—though inactive—are changing nonetheless, being prepared by moisture […]
by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg Waits Seventy-three Years for a New Post Office The effort for Emmitsburg to get its current post office took nearly thirty years. At that point, the people who had started the push had passed on. Many long-time residents of Emmitsburg will remember the post office when it was located on […]
For four generations, the Wivell family has strapped on ice skates and taken to the ice for some pond hockey. Deb Spalding Many of you can probably recall a memory of sitting by a camp fire, enjoying the glow of the flames, the toasty warmth on your legs, and the occasional pop of a spark. […]
Grace Eyler Jen Weddle, owner of Jen’s Cutting Edge hair salon, recalls memories of the start of her career. At age fifteen, she began working part-time for Catoctin Hair Studio as a shampoo girl. While attending Catoctin High School, the young stylist began her cosmetology education at VoTech in Frederick (what CTC is today). When […]
Country Butchering A Country Butchering will be held on February 21, 2015, at the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company. A pancake breakfast will be served on the morning of the butchering, from 6:00-10:00 a.m. Benefits the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company. Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Events The Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Association in Fairfield will host the […]
Grace Eyler On January 3, 2015, Anita Marsellars opened Hazel’s Thrift Store on the square in Emmitsburg. This is Marsellars’ first business venture, in honor of her late mother, Hazel. “She was such a kind-hearted person who loved to give back to her community,” said Marsellars. With that in mind, Marsellars understands how the costs […]
Deb Spalding On Tuesday, January 6, 2014, the public was invited to enjoy the Irish tradition of Women’s Little Christmas at Shamrock Restaurant in Thurmont. Outside the dining room windows that day at Shamrock, diners observed beautiful soft snow falling, as they settled in the fire-warmed dining room listening contently as singers, Nita Corn and […]
The P.A.K.N. Program (Police and Kids Night) is a free drop-in cooperative between the Thurmont Police Department and the Frederick County Division of Parks and Recreation. This is a fun opportunity for youth ages 11-17 to play pick-up basketball, soccer, kickball, flag football, or just hang out with friends. It’s a place to interact with […]
James Rada, Jr. Lewistown Elementary School student, Nik Contreras, hunches over a notebook, writing down figures for a loan he needs to buy a bison for his farm. Coming up with his total, he flips to another page and begins sketching a design for the corrals on his farm. It’s all part of his business […]
James Rada, Jr. How might the Ferguson, Missouri, case have played out with different witnesses, questions, and attorneys? The members of the Catoctin High School (CHS) Mock Trial Team are seeing that play out this year with the case patterned after the Ferguson case. The team will compete against other county highs schools four times […]
The Catoctin High School (CHS) Committee for a Safe and Sane graduation is continually working hard to raise the necessary funds for the after-graduation party. A sincere thank you to everyone who has supported us to this point—we couldn’t do this without you! We have some more exciting events planned and ask for your continued […]
Registration for the 2015 Spring Thurmont Little League (TTL) is now open. Online registration is available at their website until Friday, February 20, at www.TLLbaseball.com. Players for Thurmont, Sabillasville, Emmitsburg, Rocky Ridge, Woodsboro, Taneytown and Union Bridge are welcome to register. Come be a part of the Little League experience. At the T-ball, Instructional, Minor, […]
It’s a new year—why not try a new sport? Anyone can play lacrosse—big or small, experienced player or beginner player. There are some great waves being made for the upcoming 2015 spring season, including a new website, a U7 scoopers program, and online registration. Known as the oldest sport in North America, lacrosse was one […]
Registration for spring baseball and softball with the Emmitsburg Baseball and Softball League will continue on Saturday, January 31, from 9:00 a.m.-noon, at the Vigilant Hose Company on West Main Street in Emmitsburg. For more information, Call Tom Kelly at 301-252-4471 or email [email protected].
The Thurmont Food Bank will be moving to 10 Frederick Street in Thurmont, across the street from the town park, in the building where the town offices used to be. The move will take place sometime in mid-to-late February, so watch for signs posted in front of the building. Everyone is invited to a grand […]
Some Birds of Winter by Chris O’Connor I’m not a “birder,” although I find birds fascinating. I’m amazed when a pileated woodpecker lofts hereabouts, catching my eye before it lights in a pine tree. And I’m intrigued with his wee relation, the downy woodpecker that visits feeders in the backyard. The cardinals that touch down […]
James Rada, Jr. Many Emmitsburg residents have the soul of a poet that is striving to be released. On the third Friday of each month they gather in the Holy Grounds Café inside St. Philomena’s Catholic Books and Gifts on the square in Emmitsburg. They order a drink and then settle down to read poetry […]
Must Be Love by Valerie Nusbaum “Whatever you do, don’t tell Randy.” My mother has uttered that phrase to me many times over the years, but her most recent exclamation came a few weeks ago. Forgive me, but I need to give you some backstory for this tale to make sense. Back in the summer, […]
The Dirt on Minerals by Bob Warden I hope your hunting season went well, and your freezer is full of venison and your mind full of memories. My season was successful and I have plenty of bologna, chip, and hot dogs to get us through the year. Now we start the real work to help […]
North Point Center The New Beginning for Homeless Veterans and a Challenging Volunteer Project for Department of Maryland Sons of AMVETS and their Squadrons by Jim Houck, Jr. The sad truth about many Veterans is that when they return home from active duty, some of them have problems adjusting back to civilian life, sometimes turning […]
Buck Reed The Supermarket Gourmet Valentine’s Day: flowers, candy, romance, and hearts all spring to mind on this holiday. But, few people remember that it was named for a Roman priest around 269 AD. He believed that one man wedding one woman for life was more in keeping with Christianity than the polygamy that was […]
Christine Schoene Maccabee Nature’s Quietude I live in a valley cradled between the ancient rolling mountains, just north of Thurmont. This area is a perfect habitat for many species of frogs, toads, birds, and mammals, and I feel blessed to live here. Even though I am a musician, the best and most soothing music for […]
Guardian Hose Company Makes a lot of Noise by James Rada, Jr. From November 16 to November 21, 1953, the fire sirens went off a lot more often than usual around Thurmont, and people took particular note of where they were when they heard the sirens. It wasn’t that there was a rash of fires […]
James Rada, Jr. When Kim Wivell Gerrie was a young girl, she would watch her father when he played softball with different Thurmont-area teams. “I wanted to step out on the field with him,” Gerrie said. Gerrie went on to become quite the athlete. She played softball and ran track and field while attending Thurmont […]