Mayor Don Briggs At a recent National Fire Heritage Center Board meeting, a fellow board member, Carter Jones, told me of a story he had written about, “The Burning of Columbia,” South Carolina, during the Civil War. In forty-eight hours, February 17-18, 1865, more than half of the capital was burned to the ground by […]
by Theresa Dardanell Weller United Methodist Church A Welcoming Congregation When I met with Pastor Bob Kells and several members of Weller United Methodist Church (UMC), I learned that this church is the oldest church within the Thurmont town limits. Although that is an interesting fact, I agreed with Dorothy Clever, president of the United […]
Deb Abraham Spalding Cindy Waynant (pictured right), proprietor of Salon Soleil at 1B East Main Street in Thurmont now offers spray tanning, in addition to traditional tanning bed tanning. Cindy is happy to offer the spray tan alternative. She said, “I’ve used a tanning bed all of my adult life with no ill effects, but […]
The girls of local Girl Scout Troop 81178 are excited to be the first to benefit from the sale of official Girl Scout Merchandise (GSM) in Thurmont. Hillary Rothrock, troop co-leader and owner of J. Rothrock Outfitters, has been granted a contract with GSM to sell uniform necessities, journeys, fun accessories, and other official Girl […]
James Rada, Jr. Although three people were vying for two seats in the Emmitsburg town government, the incumbents maintained their seats. One hundred eighteen votes were cast during the town election on September 26, 2017. Mayor Don Briggs, who was running unopposed, received ninety-eight votes. In the race for Commissioner Joseph Ritz, III’s, seat on […]
Grace Eyler The Emmitsburg High School Alumni Association held its 93rd reunion on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Emmitsburg Ambulance Building in Emmitsburg. Two hundred ten guests checked in and grabbed a name tag. Many didn’t make it too far in the door before seeing long-time friends and classmates, happily taking a moment to […]
by Anita DiGregory Thanks & Giving Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. I love Thanksgiving—the faith-based tradition, the family-time, the fun, the food, and the feasting. Quietly nestled between the sugar overload of Halloween and the incessant over-commercialization of Christmas (I honestly think some retailers had Christmas decorations displayed in September this year!), Thanksgiving has remained […]
by Lisa C. Cantwell Dear Reader: This is a column to help you determine the history and value of your heirlooms, attic finds, flea market purchases, or antique items. Please send a picture and description of your piece, such as how you acquired it and any details about its history, to tomandlisa@wildblue.net. I’ll research any […]
Pumpkin, Anyone? by Valerie Nusbaum I always know when autumn is just around the corner because I start seeing television and online ads for products featuring the delicious flavor of pumpkin spice. There are coffees and teas and pancakes galore. The pancakes are good, but I don’t drink coffee and I don’t like flavored teas. […]
Christine Maccabee Consumer Power: “Think Globally, Act Locally” Some days I go shopping for food, with enough time to look at the ingredients; whereas, other days, I just speed in, get my few items, and speed out. I love the days I have time to be more discriminate, for, as I take more time to […]
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Forced to Allow KKK to March Through Town On May 27, 1988, the Maryland Invisible Empire of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) applied for a parade permit in Thurmont to be held in August. The KKK said the parade was to support the “Just Say No to […]
by Jim Houck, Jr. Veterans Day November 11 Veterans Day is a celebrated holiday that honors all persons that served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces. It dates back to World War I and when the Armistice with Germany ended the hostilities on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the […]
Thurmont American Legion Post 168 Ed Gravatt, Past Commander Just in case any of you haven’t noticed, the Town of Thurmont did an excellent job in cleaning up after Colorfest, and wasn’t it a beautiful weekend. I want to send out a big “Thank You” to several members of our Sons of the American Legion […]
Submitted by Bill Eiker, SAL Historian On October 7, 2017, the Sons of the American Legion (SAL), Post 239 of Cascade held a benefit drawing on the grounds of Fort Ritchie in Cascade. Of the more than 2,500 tickets sold, there were over 1,000 people in attendance. Those present at the bash thoroughly enjoyed the […]
by Buck Reed A Cook’s Efforts If I had to label myself as a cook, I am afraid I would have to call myself “old school.” I get that sous vide and plates laden with foam are the wave of the future (For my readers who are interested in these techniques, I am currently working […]
There are two more excellent films to be shown in Thurmont this autumn, at both the Regional Library and the Main Street Center. The library itself, as everyone knows, is a great resource for our community, with multiple creative activities and books and movies to engage our minds, as well as internet access. The Main […]
Priscilla Rall of Rocky Ridge finished her cookbook, and it has been printed. “This has been a labor of love and a long time in the making. It includes a chapter (with my illustrations) on open hearth cooking, its tools, ingredients, methods, etc. Then, there are 178 recipes, including ones for hoe cakes, all kinds […]
Sabillasville Cookbook Available A cookbook named “Kitchen Help” will be available in November. The book is from St. John’s United Church of Christ in Sabillasville and honors its Ladies’ Guild. The Guild was in existence seventy-five years, from 1932-2007. Inside the book, you will find a story of the first twenty years of the Guild’s […]
Theresa Dardanell Because first impressions are important, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) encourages all schools to demonstrate “curb appeal”—a clean, well-maintained and welcoming appearance. This year, Thurmont Elementary School (TES) and Thurmont Middle School (TMS) earned an award for “Outstanding Curb Appeal.” Although maintenance of the interior of the buildings is just as important, the […]
The Catoctin High School (CHS) Sports Boosters will hold its 9th Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., in the CHS Cafeteria. Cougar apparel, blankets, stadium seats, hats, and miscellaneous novelty items will be available for your Christmas shopping. There will be light refreshments. Payment may be made by […]
On October the 18, 2017, the 1955 graduating class of Thurmont High School celebrated each of their 80th birthdays at The Carriage House in Emmitsburg. Ernest Rice spoke on their friendships lasting over the years, and of the loss of their friend and class president Robert Stitely a few days earlier. Class members attending were: […]
by Deb Abraham Spalding The McAfee family (pronounced Mack-a-Fee), originally from the Island of Bute, Scotland, planted roots in Frederick County, Maryland, around 1774 from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, staking a homestead on land that is now known as Cunningham Falls. Daniel McAfee was the original settler of this land, and transferred the ownership to his […]
James Rada, Jr McKenzie Forrest of Thurmont is only ten years old, but she is a veteran at showing animals. This was her second year showing rabbits at the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show. “I like rabbits because they’re nice and you get to hold them,” grinned McKenzie. She also likes the competition of preparing […]
Denny Black Pouring fresh, chilled milk from a disposable container that was conveniently purchased at a grocery store is something that all of us take for granted these days. Few people remain who remember the time when small local dairies delivered bottled milk to our doorstep. This is a short article about the dairies that […]
September 2017 by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg Creamery Road to be Closed for VHC Spring Fling Anticipating that the Vigilant Hose Company and Emmitsburg Ambulance Company will be combined by the end of this year, next year’s Spring Fling for Vigilant Hose Company will be held at the ambulance company building on Creamery Road. In […]