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) — Under construction. A slight modifi cation to the improvement plans was made to add a roof drain system. It has […]
A Unique Experience to Benefit the Leader Dogs for the Blind Alisha Yocum Imagine performing everyday tasks—taking a shower, climbing stairs, or eating dinner—without sight. The Glade Valley Lions Club’s Dinner in the Dark aimed to give attendees a firsthand experience of the daily challenges faced by nearly one million Americans living with blindness. Members […]
The 2025 Lewistown Ruritan Club Officers were sworn in by Zone 3 Governor Trevella Foster on March 4. Pictured (from left) are Steve Moser (Director), Patricia Goff (Director), Ron Demory (Director), Trevella Foster (Zone 3 Governor), Jim Brown (President), and Odale Martin (Treasurer). Not pictured: Jeff Barber (Vice President) and Sam Roop (Secretary).
James Rada, Jr. Not much has been heard about the Richard W. Kanode Farm Park—a new county park that will focus on agricultural and equestrian pursuits—since the public hearings last year. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater approved the park master plan in May 2024. Later in the year, Phase 1 Design began with an emphasis […]
The Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum, located at 300B South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, will open for the 2025 season on Saturday, April 4. The museum will be open on weekends, from noon to 4:00 p.m., except for holiday weekends. The collection on display includes several pieces of apparatus and equipment from the early […]
The Town of Thurmont is proud to announce that they have partnered with the Transit of Frederick County for its Adopt-A-Stop program. This is a statewide movement to sustain public transportation ridership, reduce pollution, and keep the community beautiful for years to come. Pictured are Jim Humerick; CAO Town of Thurmont, Jaime McKay; Deputy Director […]
Twenty-four volunteers got out bright and early on the morning of March 22 for the Spring Community Tree Planting at East End Park in Thurmont. A demonstration on proper tree planting was conducted by Anna Twigg from the Maryland Forest Service. Twenty-four trees were planted, including American Linden, Pin Oak, Burr Oak, Sycamore, Eastern Red […]
Lion Ruth Heaney Life is filled with milestones, beginning with being born. From there, an explosion of milestones occurs, including taking your first step and saying your first word, which may sound a bit garbled! A milestone for parents is when diapers are no more! Daycare or school marks another milestone, as you learn to […]
Mountain Gate Family Restaurant in Thurmont hosted the 5 Guys and a Pi Contest on Pi Day, March 14, to benefit a non-profit of the winner’s choice. In the running were several well-known faces around Thurmont: Thurmont Police Chief Dave Armstrong – Supporting Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Commissioner Bill Blakeslee – Supporting Thurmont Food Bank. […]
By Alisha Yocum Ed and Karen Schildt Nominated by: Bill Derbyshire Ed and Karen Schildt (pictured right) have become pillars of the Catoctin community, dedicating themselves to raising awareness and offering support to those struggling with addiction or grieving the loss of a loved one to addiction. Their journey began with their son, Chris, who […]
March Community MeetingGeraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain The Fort Ritchie Community Center welcomed Cascade residents eager to learn of the latest developments in what is now a three-year legal challenge to a proposed Dollar General Market directly across the street from Historic Fort Ritchie on McAfee Road. […]
Alisha Yocum The Town of Thurmont proclaimed Friday, March 21, as Robert Black Day. Black and his family are the owners of Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont. The proclamation was made for Black for following the principles set forth by his father, Harry Black, when he opened Catoctin Mountain Orchard in 1948, his “community stewardship” […]
Catoctin High senior Kaitlyn Bartlett was surprised at her school on Thursday, March 20, with the news that she earned a Dorsey Scholarship to McDaniel College—full room and board for four years. Bartlett was one of two FCPS students to receive a Dorsey Scholarship, and just one of four overall this year. Kaitlynn Bartlett with […]
Maxine Troxell The Thurmont High School Alumni Association banquet will be held on June 7 at 3:00 p.m. at the Rocky Ridge Fire Company Building, located at 13527 Motters Station Road in Rocky Ridge. The evening begins with a social hour at 3:00 p.m., followed by a turkey and oyster dinner. Dinner starts promptly at […]
Thurmont Grange No. 409 is offering two scholarships to any 2025 Catoctin High School graduating senior who will be attending a technical or trade school, a community college, or a four-year college. You do not need to be a Grange member to apply. Applicants are required to submit one letter of recommendation, an essay about […]
by Daniel Hoyle, CHS Student Writer What Are The Kids Doing?What are the kids doing? Where do they go after school or on the weekends? The truth is, nowhere. The Catoctin area is devoid of activities for young people to spend time doing. Most kids (6th through 12th graders) either go to practice for a […]
March once again brought the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Youth Art Exhibit at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center in Frederick. This year’s exhibit featured hundreds of entries selected by art teachers at each school. A total of 73 schools participated. The following students from the Catoctin High School feeder pattern were featured: Catoctin High: […]
Ryan Tokar, CYA Basketball the cold weather sets in and snow and ice blanket the ground. But CYA Basketball aims to keep its players active, learning, and having fun, all while improving their skills and advancing their fundamental knowledge of the game. The organization offers a wide range of programs, from skills clinics for our […]
Make March Madness Appearance Alisha Yocum The Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball Team captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship with a decisive 63-49 victory over the Iona Gaels on March 16. This win marked the Mountaineers’ 22nd victory of the season, setting a new record for most wins in a single season as […]
With Michael Betteridge Mountainball Has Always Been Legendary As April sanity triumphs over March madness, we look forward to our spring high school sports season. It is certain that our Lady Cougars softball team will be exceptional. With Taylor Smith back on the mound, and an experienced, solid infield behind her, this may be one […]
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. THE CLASS OF ‘16 5: Domino Effect When Brian Peyton first heard the distant, mournful cry of the train whistle blend with Will VanSant’s frantic scream over the phone, his heart pounded with urgent resolve. Without a second thought, he snatched his keys […]
by Mitchell Tester, College Student “breathe in nature” I decided to take a break once more from space this month and talk about another thing that is really important to me: the outdoors. I love nature. To get in touch with nature, I like to visit national parks. I frequently visit Catoctin National Park right […]
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®, Partner, Bestgate Advisors Tax Time Should You File an Extension? April is here, and if you haven’t yet filed your 2024 income tax return, time is running out. With the April 15 deadline approaching, you need to decide whether to file your return now or submit an extension request. But […]
By James Rada, Jr. A Wind-Blown Frederick County It could have been an April Fool’s Day joke, albeit a bad one, that Mother Nature played on the region in 1975, except it was a few days late. On April 3, the wind started blowing, and it blew hard. The Frederick Airport measured sustained winds of […]
MICHEL TESTER A Forgotten Art? Is the act of listening a forgotten art? I don’t know about you, but I’m sadly starting to think listening has gone by the wayside. There are times when I am having a conversation with someone and wondering to myself: Are they even listening to me? To be perfectly […]