by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Colorfest Fees Continue Being Discussed The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners continue to talk about how to set fees related to Colorfest. After approving a 20 percent increase in permit fees, eliminating the yard sale permit, and increasing the town portion of the parking fee—from $4.00 per car to $6.00 per […]
THURMONT Mayor John Kinnaird Here we are in fall, with the beautiful foliage brightening our view. If you haven’t had a chance to get out and enjoy the colors, be sure to do so soon. Colorfest has come and gone, and we just had Halloween in the Park. Colorfest had a great crowd on Saturday, […]
Richard D. L. Fulton Charles Carroll, III: 1985 “…to defend the liberties of my country, or die with them.” –Charles Carroll. upon signing the Declaration of Independence The United States Postal System (USPS) issued a 14-cent, stamped postal card commemorating Charles Carroll, III, one of four Marylanders to sign the Declaration of Independence, on […]
by Aditi Dhananjaya, High School Student Whether it may be your fear of the unknown or your faith in magic, there will always be superstitions. They have followed humanity for centuries; they act as a flicker between comfort and fear, sitting in our houses like a candlelight. From making a wish at 11:11 to avoiding […]
Chele’s Pick by Michele Tester My Memories | by Charlie Harbaugh | published in 2025 This month, my Book Club pick is My Memories by Charlie Harbaugh of Sabillasville. Charlie was born in the Waynesboro Hospital in Pennsylvania on March 23, 1944, and he has resided in Sabillasville his whole life. In his memoir, Charlie […]
The Frederick County 4-H Therapeutic Riding Center is rebuilding after a devastating barn fire on August 31 that destroyed its barn, tack room, equipment, and hay. The loss forced the program to cancel all of its fall classes as it works to recover and rebuild. The organization’s mission is to provide Frederick County residents with […]
Emmitsburg New Business and Development Briefs 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) — An occupancy permit has been issued. Received as-builts for stormwater. Awaiting as-builts for water, sewer, lighting, and landscaping. The grand opening […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Gettysburg’s Photoplay Theater Gettysburg’s Photoplay Theater was established in 1912, with the first theater advertisements appearing on January 15, 1912. According to the March 28, 1917, issue of The Gettysburgian, the Photoplay Theater, at that time, was located across Baltimore Street from the courthouse. Cinema Treasures’ website (cinematreasures.org) states that […]
It was a beautiful day in Woodsboro as residents gathered for the long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Town Hall. Excitement filled the air as the town officially opened the doors to its very first municipal building—a milestone many years in the making. Burgess Heath Barnes led the ceremony, alongside Woodsboro Commissioners John Cutshall, Bill […]
Alisha Yocum Perhaps the engraving leading up to the Memorial Gates Gardens sums it up best: The Garden serves as a living tribute to all who have passed through the gates of Ritchie. May it forever inspire us to honor the dedicated service of our veterans and all those who contributed to the missions of […]
Alisha Yocum When Frederick Health Hospital Labor and Delivery Nurse Elena Griffis noticed a lack of ongoing support for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, she knew something had to change. As the hospital’s Perinatal Loss Coordinator, she often saw families leave the hospital without the resources they needed to heal emotionally. Determined to fill […]
The Fifth Annual Sporting Clays Tournament to support the Fort Ritchie Community Center was a huge success. Participants from across the region competed in the event, hosted at Orvis Hill Country in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. Randy Rock and Chris Clever each recorded a score of 88 out of a possible 100. Course officials announced Rock as […]
A ribbon-cutting was held on October 11 to celebrate the completion of the DePaul Street waterline, sewer, and street improvements project in Emmitsburg. Town staff and residents along DePaul Street celebrated the completed project with coffee and donuts, provided by Mayor Frank Davis, who thanked the residents for their patience and understanding throughout the project. […]
The Town of Thurmont has once again been recognized for it’s commitment to environmental stewardship, earning Silver-label certification through the Sustainable Maryland program. The honor was presented during the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference, held in October. The certification, awarded by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, recognizes municipalities that demonstrate […]
Several individuals and organizations were honored by the Fort Ritchie Community Center at its recent Volunteer Recognition Dinner. More than 100 guests enjoyed the evening, which featured a catered meal and live music. First United Bank not only sponsored the event but also provided volunteers to assist with the festivities. The dinner was established as […]
Cuddles Cat Rescue in Thurmont is always looking for kind-hearted community members to help make a difference for cats in need—and right now, the rescue is hoping to find foster homes for two gentle cats, Kira and Buzz, who are both shy but full of potential once they feel safe and loved. Kira is a […]
Rodman Myers presented a check to Sabillasville Environmental School, Inc. (SES) in the amount of $200 for the silver offering, which was collected as part of the opening ceremony of the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show in September. In addition, Denise Valentine, superintendent of Baked Goods for the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, presented an […]
Jenifer Zimmer & Mary Geouge Helping Hands and Caring Hearts (HHCH) has only had a presence in the northern Frederick County area for about a year, but the organization and its founder, Jenifer Zimmer, and community volunteer Mary Geouge, have already been making huge impacts throughout the community. Zimmer, a former social worker, was inspired […]
The Emmitsburg High School Alumni Association (EHSAA) met for its 101st banquet on Saturday, October 18, at the Vigilant Hose Community Building with 125 attendees. A 3:00 p.m. social hour was prepared and served by Carolyn Keilholtz Maddox, Nancy Mathias Summers, Shirley Wireman Freshman, and Wanda Valentine. A delicious dinner was provided by Mountain Gate […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton According to Robert K. Headley, as stated in his book, Maryland’s Motion Picture Theaters (Images of America), in the 1950s, there were as many as 200 movie theaters in Maryland. While that may seem to be a relatively small number, Maryland is, after all, a relatively small state. Most of […]
The Sabillasville Environmental School Parent Teacher Organization hosted the 49th Annual Car Show as part of its annual Mountain Fest Fundraiser on October 11 and 12. The winners of the car show were as follows: People’s Choice: Frank Myerly, 1923 Custom Custom Kid’s Choice: Roger Sirbaugh, 1938 Ford Best Motorcycle: Jeremy Mullins, 2012 Fatboy Best […]
The Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) Football & Cheer program has been hard at work this season—not just on the field, but in the community as well. This fall, the organization launched its first-ever “CYA Gives Back Day,” an initiative designed to teach young athletes the importance of generosity, community service, and gratitude. The event, organized […]
With Michael Betteridge Fasten Your Chinstraps Recently, I had a conversation with high school football historian and guru, Sheldon Shealer. Sheldon is the chairman of the Communications Department at Mount St. Mary’s. Sheldon has a Ph.D. in sports media. His website, mdprepfootball.com, is the repository for high school sports history. Sheldon knows high school football! […]
Thurmont Grange Donates Dictionaries The Thurmont Grange delivered Webster’s Dictionaries to third graders in the Catoctin feeder pattern on October 21 as part of its annual Words for Thirds community service project. During their visit, Grange volunteers gave a brief presentation about the organization and shared how students can use their new dictionaries to support […]
Alisha Yocum It was an exciting day not only for Mount St. Mary’s University but for the town of Emmitsburg on October 19. Patrica Hill-Callahan, Vice President for Advancement and Class of ’87, welcomed a crowd of people to the ribbon-cutting of Mount St. Mary’s Timothy E. Trainor School of Health Professions—a building that will […]