On July 6, 2016, Maryland Congressmen Chris Van Hollen announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded a $123,810 grant to the Vigilant Hose Company in Emmitsburg. The grant will be used for operations and safety. “First responders are on the front lines of emergencies every day, […]
The Hershey Children’s Hospital and Hershey Rehab, Wyatt Black, of Thurmont, who battled Bacterial Meningitis, was finally able to come home on June 3, 2016. Wyatt is getting better each and every day. His progress is slow and steady, but he is winning the race against this virus. His parents, Chris and Kiona Black, can […]
On Saturday, June 4, 2016, members of the Frederick County 4-H Firepower Club participated in the Maryland AIM Championship at the Harvey’s Cedar Gun Club in Harford County, Maryland. The American Trap Association AIM program stands for Academics, Integrity, and Marksmanship and is held in each of the states in the United States. Each member […]
The 60th annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show will be held at Catoctin High School on September 9, 10, and 11, 2016. Entry of exhibits will take place on Thursday evening, September 8, from 6:00-9:00 p.m., as well as on Friday, September 9, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., in the new gymnasium and in the agriculture department […]
On Thursday, May 12, 2016, Mother Seton School (MSS) conferred the Seton Values Award to the Jack and Shirley Little Family and Sonya Hand, formerly of By Hand Designs, at their annual Donor Appreciation dinner. The dinner is held each year to show appreciation for the support given to MSS throughout the year. “We are […]
Crystal Naff Named 2016 FCPS School Secretary of the Year Congratulations to Catoctin High School secretary, Crystal Naff. During the June 8 Board of Education meeting, she was recognized as an outstanding member of the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) support staff. Naff has worked at Catoctin High since 2002. As the secretary to the […]
Buck Reed, The Supermarket Gourmet “Season to taste.” In the world of culinary arts, this might seem like a small sentence, but in the kitchen this can be a big concept. Say “season to taste” to the wrong student and the fear in his or her eyes grows faster than the line at a Vegas […]
Deb Spalding Twelve-year-old twins, Rianna and Sheridan Chaney, formerly of Thurmont, now call a 3,500-acre ranch in Gosper County, Nebraska, home. They’ll be appearing at the Thurmont Regional Library on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at 6:30 p.m., during Starlight Story Time to share their experiences about ranch life, agriculture, and publishing children’s books. They, along […]
Squash, Anyone? by Valerie Nusbaum Earlier this year, I mentioned that Randy and I had begun a gardening project. I said that I’d report back later in the summer and let you know how our garden was growing; I will do that shortly, but I need to explain some things first. Randy and I both […]
by Jim Houck, Jr. Warren Deardorf Grove Jr. 3rd Class Petty Officer U.S. Navy Warren (Buddy) Grove Jr. was born in Emmitsburg on August 17, 1926, on Crystal Fountain Road. When he was two years old, he and his family moved to Eyler’s Valley on the Seiss farm. Warren had two sisters by the time […]
Christine Schoene Maccabee Wildflowers Along the Railraod Track Anyone who has driven or walked or jogged or biked along Woodside Drive in Thurmont this spring will have noticed the colorful flowers along the railroad track. Many of these flowers are various poppies, mallows, and cornflowers from a mix of flower seeds spread over a few […]
Recollections of the Civil War, Part 2 by James Rada, Jr. Editor’s Note: This is the second of two articles recounting Sarah (Six) Schnure’s recollections of life in Thurmont during the Civil War. Schnure wrote her recollections while living in Hollywood, California, in the 1930s. Sarah Six had been ten years old when the war […]
Utica Mills by “My Father’s Son” Between Thurmont and Frederick has long laid the humbly-pleasant settlement of Utica Mills, marked on the map today with solely the charming title of Utica. Where such an enchanting name derives (though mystery part of its appeal) led to investigation learning Utica to mean “old town” – appropriately so, […]
Deb Spalding This year, the Emmitsburg Heritage Day Event was spectacular for visitors and town residents. The volunteers who worked on the Emmitsburg Heritage Day Committee planned all year to make the day a success. The weather was beautiful, the people were happy, and the fireworks were fabulous. Volunteer Jim Houck, Jr., said, “All (members) […]
James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg’s version of Cape Canaveral is Memorial Park. Once a month this summer, Frederick County deputies and youths will meet to build model rockets and send them soaring into the air over Emmitsburg. “It’s a great project and a lot of fun,” said Deputy Travis Rohrer, one of Emmitsburg’s resident deputies. The […]
Allison Rostad It has been said before that true heroes never die. These words were proven during a memorial for Marine Cpl. William Kyle Ferrell of North Carolina. Cpl. Ferrell grew to call the Thurmont community his second family, as he was assigned to the naval support facility at Camp David. On September 29, 2015, […]
June 2016 by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg FY2017 Budget Approved The Emmitsburg Mayor and Commissioners approved a $3.2-million budget that went into effect on July 1. The budget includes $1,687,388 in the general fund, $621,618 in the water fund, and $921,792 in the sewer fund. The general fund includes $247,950 for police protection, $355,492 for […]
Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company is hosting a Bingo Bash on September 17, 2016. Twenty-two games pay out $250 each, with three big jackpots, plus a meal!
Thurmont was recognized as a Banner City/Town by the Maryland Municipal League (MML) during the convention on June 28, 2016. MML Director of Member Relations Paula Chase Hyman notified Thurmont Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick of the news on May 31, 2016. The Banner City/Town accreditation is awarded to towns and cities that meet stringent […]
I pull down the mailbox door and peek inside, a pile of bills sits there waiting for me. This time, instead of wrinkling my nose in disgust and cursing the weather for the need for heat or air conditioning, I grab them in anticipation and tear them open. I’m excited to see how much less […]
Deb Spalding (Please note, photos taken by The Catoctin Banner during the banquet were corrupt and therefore were not usable. Our apologies for this. Graduates of Thurmont High School (THS) gathered on June 4, 2016, at the Lewistown Fire Hall, to celebrate the school’s 100th Anniversary during a banquet that was hosted by the school’s […]
James Rada, Jr. A forester from the Maryland Department of the Environment Forestry Division toured Thurmont’s Community Park a few months ago, studying each tree. The emerald ash borer had been found on private property in Thurmont, and he wanted to see if the beetle had made it to other properties. The emerald ash borer […]
James Rada, Jr. In 1926, people in and around Emmitsburg raised funds to erect a statue dedicated to those residents who had served in The Great War. Whether the funds came in pennies from soda bottle deposits or dollars from concerts, the money was raised and the statue “Spirit of the American Doughboy” was dedicated […]
Photo Courtesy of Gina Rubino On Saturday, May 7, 2016, the rain broke long enough to bring out the sunshine, along with hundreds of “Wioters” for the Wheels for Wyatt car show event. Folks from all over the tri-state area, and as far as South Carolina, turned up to support Wyatt Black and his family. […]
Joe Eyler Beautiful weather was a blessing this year during the 2016 Covered Wagon Ride from Thurmont to Taneytown on the weekend of May 29, but it sure was a very hot ride. Some people and riders, and some of the animals, had to stop midway the first day because of the heat. This year, […]