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 […]
Katelyn Claxton From stars on the field to stars on the stage, Mr. Catoctin is a perfect way to showcase Catoctin High School’s Senior class. The third annual Mr. Catoctin Pageant was held on December 3, 2014, at Catoctin High School. Not only was it a night filled with catchy tunes, up-beat dances, and tons […]
by Michele Cuseo Emmitsburg December 2014 Mayor Meets with New County Executive, Jan Gardner Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs met with Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner to discuss ideas and concerns for the town of Emmitsburg. Briggs stated that Gardner is meeting with town mayors around the county to discuss their concerns and needs in preparation […]
Irish Women’s Little Christmas The day is January 6, 2015. After much ado, the twelve days of Christmas have successfully been budgeted, baked, wrapped, roasted, bustled, decorated, negotiated, and wined into submission. In wee Ireland, upon the completion of these tasks, the lady of the house goes out to celebrate. It is the Feast of […]
New Premises for Thurmont Town Offices Lindsay Brandt On January 12, 2015, the Thurmont Town Office will open in a new location at 615 East Main Street, in the premises of the former Dailey Funeral Home. After a full renovation of the building, which was once the residence of former Thurmont Mayor James Black, the […]
Thurmont Grange Presents Community Citizen Award Donna Voellinger, dedicated volunteer at the Thurmont Historical Society, was awarded the Thurmont Grange’s Community Citizen Award during a Grange dinner held on November 24, 2014, at the Grange Hall in Thurmont. In addition to her commitment to the Thurmont Historical Society, Donna is a compassionate and dedicated individual […]
James Rada, Jr. As the Confederate Army retreated from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863, they encountered Union troops in the area of Blue Ridge Summit. A two-day battle ensued in the middle of a thunderstorm that eventually spilled over the Mason-Dixon Line into Maryland. “It is the only battle fought on both sides of the […]
Hour of Code Lindsay Brandt Technology never seems to be too far from our hands these days. We have smart phones in our pockets; iPads, laptops, and desktop computers for work; and even smart TVs. Although nobody wants their loved ones to be addicted to technology, it is hard to deny that technology is an […]
Thurmont Little League is Gearing up for a New Season and Some Exciting Changes for 2015 Melissa Kinna It may be cold outside, but that isn’t stopping Thurmont Little League (TLL) as they prepare for the upcoming 2015 Spring Season. Some exciting happenings taking place include a new logo; a new website that will be […]
by Chris O’Connor A Snapshot of my Friends at the Farm It was kismet that I met David and Marge Harman of Sunnyside Hill Farm in Sabillasville, around fifteen years ago. My daughter attended school in Emmitsburg; but, after two years, we made the fortuitous choice to transfer her to Sabillasville Elementary. One day, I […]
Buck Reed, the Supermarket Gourmet Cranberries come from the family of Ericaceae, which is described as an evergreen dwarf. They are cultivated from October until December, which probably explains their popularity during the holiday season. Cranberries are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, B-carotene, lutein, zea-xanthin, folate, potassium, and manganese. Studies have shown […]
Christine Schoene Maccabee Hibernation: A state of being during extreme cold, forcing many creatures to become dormant in their hibernacula (their winter quarters or place of retirement…Florida?). It’s winter. It’s very cold. Climbing out of my warm nest to put a log on the fire, I feel like a turtle in its shell. I would much […]
by James Rada, Jr. — 1938 — The End of a Generation in Thurmont When Thomas H. Shelton died on February 19, 1938, Frederick County lost its last Veteran of the Civil War, seventy-three years after the war ended. Shelton died at the home of his daughter-in-law, Stella Shelton, who lived near Rocky Ridge. The […]
Dennis E. Black The weather forecast for Sunday, November 9, 2014, called for a splendid day for anyone wanting to venture out on an antiquing trip. My friend, Larry Hauver, asked me to consider going along with him that day to the first York Antique Bottle Show. I was reluctant to go, with so many […]
Ashley McGlaughlin On November 8, 2014, Catoctin High’s Cross Country team competed for the 2A State Cross Country Championships at Hereford High School, near northern Baltimore County. The sheer determination, love of the sport, and countless hours practice led the Catoctin Boys’ Cross Country Team to win states for the third year in a row. […]
James Rada, Jr. Statewide, the biggest takeaway from the November 4, 2014, election was the win of Republican Larry Hogan in a heavily Democratic state to become the next governor of Maryland. Frederick County’s election was a historic one, as representatives were selected for the county’s new form of government. Voter turnout in the county […]
by Michele Cuseo Thurmont Snow Removal Ordinance Reminder As winter approaches, here is a summary review of the Thurmont Snow Removal Ordinance: All sidewalks are to be cleared of ice and snow within twelve hours after snow has ceased falling. When removing snow, it should not be pushed into the traveled portion of any public […]