Jame Rada, Jr. Waiting for Word Bill Freeze stopped in the soft glow of the diner’s overhead lamp, leaning against the doorway to the kitchen. Through the steam-laced air, he watched Celine Winfrey move with deliberate care as she stacked the last customers’ soiled plates and mugs onto a metal tray. She wasn’t the swiftest […]
by Teagan Skowran The warm beams of light shine on my face and I look up and see a ship like no other. It starts to suck me up in its beam and I slowly float up to the ship. I try to move but I can’t and I feel no sense of time or […]
by Michele Tester An interesting thing happened to me while I was trying to think of a topic to write about for my column this month. As I was going through my mail one afternoon, I saw an envelope with my name and address handwritten on the front. I didn’t recognize the return address. It […]
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP® CPA, CFP® Owner, AAA Advisory LLC Are your finances in alignment with your life? One of the most powerful steps you can take in financial planning has nothing to do with money—and everything to do with you. Before diving into numbers or spreadsheets, take a step back and ask: What […]
By James Rada, Jr. Train Goes Into Owens Creek at Christmas As Christmas approached in 1966, people were thinking about gifts that needed to be bought for friends and family and plans for how to spend the holidays. Shortly after noon on December 20, a 44-car Western Maryland Railway train traveling from Hagerstown to Baltimore […]
Johann Peter Zollinger, Jr. From Germantown to Sabillasville Richard D. L. Fulton Sabillasville resident, Johann Peter Zollinger Jr., was born on November 23, 1756, in York County, Pennsylvania, to parents Peter Zollinger Sr. and Maria Barbara Zollinger. According to geni.com, Zollinger, who had preferred being identified by his middle name, Peter, had three sisters, Catherine […]
The National AMVETS Organization was established and signed into Public Law 216 by President Harry S. Truman, making AMVETS the first World War II organization to be chartered by Congress. Thurmont AMVETS Post 7 was established over 40 years ago in the early 80s, making us a staple here within the Thurmont Community. This year, […]
Here’s to wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable 4th of July. National Hire a Veteran Day is July 25. Veterans bring competitive skills to civilian jobs, along with core values cultivated by Military Service. To learn more about this day, check out the website at veteran.com/hire-a-veteran-day. In June, we held an installation of new officers […]
The recipe for this month is a recipe from the A Taste of Carriage House cookbook. Juanita Bowers and her husband owned and operated the Carriage House Candy & Bake Shop in Mt. Pleasant. She developed this cookbook containing some of her favorite recipes. I remember loving to go there for cake decorating supplies and […]
by Buck Reed Vegetables You Are Not Eating But Should Be As summer is firmly here, it is time to explore the farmers markets and the produce aisle of your local supermarket. Really look this time, though. It’s easy to just grab the vegetables that you know and are familar with, along with a bunch […]
James Rada, Jr. July 1925, 100 Years Ago Named to Clerkship Ralph E. Burdette, Park avenue, this city, has been appointed a deputy in the Clerk of Court’s Office to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Millard N. Nusz, who recently resigned. Mr. Burdette is from Thurmont, but recently removed to Frederick. He […]
Proteolytic Enzymes How They Help Reduce Inflammation and Boost Immunity by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing CenterAll the vitamins and minerals we eat, plus all the hormones our bodies produce, need enzymes to work properly. Additionally, enzymes, such as proteolytic enzymes, regulate metabolic functions and assist in maintaining our stamina and […]
by Kristen Bodmer I neglected to congratulate all of the 2025 graduates in my last “Senior Moments” column. We are all so proud of your accomplishments. Reach for the stars. Summer heat is here. If you need to beat the heat, come in for a visit. You will be happy you did. We always welcome […]
BY Caitlyn Kirby It’s going to be a great summer here at Emmitsburg 50+ Community Center! We have a variety of programs to get you out and about this summer season. For the crafty, we have a Mosaic Steppingstone Project on July 9, and a Dollar Craft Day on July 15, where we’ll make a […]
A Season of Grit, Glory, and a “Rent’s Due” Mentality Alisha Yocum “Success is never owned, it’s rented, and the rent is due every single day.” ~Author Unknown This simple quote above, which Catoctin High School’s (CHS) Softball Head Coach Jessica Derr used to inspire her team this season, was pulled from the pages […]
The Story of a Maryland Railroad by Richard D. L. Fulton “Wild Mary” began “her” life as the Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Railroad in 1852, but soon thereafter, in 1853, was renamed the Western Maryland Railroad Company (which would eventually become the Western Maryland Railway). “Wild Mary” apparently became a “pet name” for the Western […]
by James Rada, Jr. T h u r m o n t Public Hearing Held for Budget and Tax Rates The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners recently held public hearings on the proposed tax rates and fiscal year 2026 budget. The personal property tax will remain at $.62 per $100 of assessed value. The real estate […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis As we head into the summer months, I want to give you an update on the projects that have been ongoing for the last several months. The new sewer lift station on Creamery Road is up and running and appears to be operating as designed. This project replaced another piece of […]
Richard D. L. Fulton Maryland’s Appalachian Trail: 2025 The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a sheet of 15 “Forever” stamps, commemorating the Appalachian Trail, 14 of which represented the 14 states that the trail passes through, and a fifteenth stamp commemorating the “Green Tunnel” on February 28, 2025. The 14 that are stated represent […]
The Many Benefits of Shopping at Farmers Markets As warm weather returns and produce begins to ripen, farmers markets are springing to life across towns—offering more than just fruits and vegetables. These vibrant, open-air markets are becoming weekly traditions for many shoppers, and for good reason. From fresh food to stronger communities, farmers markets bring […]
Home for Wayward Elephants by y James Rada, Jr.- published in 2004 – a a coming-of-age novel by Michele Tester This month’s book pick is a novel written by The Catoctin Banner’s very own James Rada, Jr., an Amazon.com bestselling author who writes nonfiction history and historical fiction, as well as fantasy, horror, and young […]
Alisha Yocum Jennifer Zimmer has always dreamed of starting a nonprofit to support those in need. After more than 20 years as a social worker, she witnessed firsthand the daily struggles many families face. “When people needed help, they were just given numbers,” Zimmer recalled. “But if you’re asking for help, you need it in […]
The Savagery Jason Savage and his stepdaughter, Ryleigh Barton, are hitting the road with their latest culinary venture: The Savagery, a food truck serving up creative takes on breakfast and hot dogs. Many may recognize the duo from their first business venture, The Sauced Savage, where they served up delicious BBQ for nearly seven years. […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Waynesboro’s W.T. Grant Company The W.T. Grant stores, a chain of department stores, were established by William Thomas Grant when he opened his first store (dubbed as the W. T. Grant Co. 25 Cent Store) in 1906 in Lynn, Massachusetts. As the sole store evolved into a nationwide chain of […]
The following are the statuses of new businesses and developments coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report: Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of U.S. 15) — Under construction. Town staff is coordinating with the developer and consultants regarding water lines connecting to the WWTP headworks. Christ Community Church (Creamery Road) — The Maryland […]